Threevie-Steevie Mullings sent this link to me and it is absolutely awesome…http://gorillamask.net/shawnbradley.shtml…for all the times Shawn Bradley’s been dunked on, I’m still struggling to pick a favourite…

Ouch…LeBron turned his ankle in a 96-73 loss to the Pistons last night…no word on the severity of the injury, but with the playoffs coming up fast there could be trouble…

Young Rook…Gerald Green scored 22 points Wednesday. At the age of 20 years and 76 days, Green became the youngest player in the Celtics' franchise history to score 20 points in a game. The previous mark was 20 years, 82 days by Antoine Walker on Nov. 2, 1996…that was back when he still did the Shimmy…

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports Shawn Kemp won't be making a comeback with the Mavericks this season. According to the newspaper, when the NBA rejected the team's request to sign an extra player because of injuries, Kemp no longer became an option.
"It's dead," Avery Johnson told the newspaper. Johnson added that the failure to work out Kemp in Houston last week didn't factor into the decision.

Apparently, after the game Wednesday, Jazz owner Larry Miller came to Denver's locker room to meet with Nuggets assistant Adrian Dantley, a former Jazz star who many believe should have his number retired. "He needs to know there's not any misgivings," Miller said. "We've been occupied with (retiring John Stockton's uniform last season and Karl Malone's this season). I wanted to make sure to do the right thing for those guys, and over the summer, (we) can talk." Miller stopped short of saying Dantley's number definitely will be retired. Dantley called it a "good talk."

I’ll be giving my awards countdown over the next several postings…here’s my most improved player and runners up for this year:

Winner: Boris Diaw, SG/SF/PF/C, Phoenix Suns…honestly, look at the numbers, nobody though he’s replace Joe Johnson, but he might actually be abetter fit, and he’s certainly the most versatile player in the NBA

2004: 66 G; 4.8 PPG; 2.6 RPG; 2.3 APG; 9 3PTM; 42.2 FG%; 74.0 FT%; 0.6 SPG; 0.3 BPG
2005: 76 G; 13.5 PPG; 6.9 RPG; 6.0 APG; 8 3PTM; 52.7 FG%; 73.4 FT%; 0.7 SPG; 1.1 BPG

1st runner up: Mike James, PG, Toronto Raptors…the upswing in minutes is really responsible for the improvement, but the increase in FG% and FT% are remarkable considering…

2004-05: 74 G; 11.8 PPG; 2.8 RPG; 3.6 APG; 100 3PTM; 44.1 FG%; 75.2 FT%; 0.9 SPG; 0.1 BPG
2005-06: 75 G; 20.0 PPG; 3.3 RPG; 5.9 APG; 159 3PTM; 47.0 FG%; 82.3 FT%; 0.9 SPG; 0.0 BPG

2nd runner up: Gerald Wallace, SG/SF, Charlotte Bobcats…if dude could make a shot outside of 12 feet he’d average 25 instead of 15…

2004-05: 70 G; 9.8 PPG; 5.5 RPG; 2.0 APG; 17 3PTM; 44.9 FG%; 66.1 FT%; 1.7 SPG; 1.3 BPG
2005-06: 52 G; 15.4 PPG; 7.5 RPG; 1.7 APG; 14 3PTM; 53.6 FG%; 61.7 FT%; 2.5 SPG; 2.1 BPG

3rd Runner up: David West, PF, New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets…might have had more to do with a bad knee all of last year than an improvement in skills, but the numbers don’t lie…

2004-05: 30 G; 6.2 PPG; 4.3 RPG; 0.8 APG; 2 3PTM; 43.6 FG%; 68.0 FT%; 0.4 SPG; 0.5 BPG
2005-06: 71 G; 17.0 PPG; 7.4 RPG; 1.3 APG; 3 3PTM; 50.8 FG%; 84.1 FT%; 0.8 SPG; 0.8 BPG

Honourable mention:

Delonte West, PG/SG, Boston Celtics…

2004-05: 39 G; 4.5 PPG; 1.7 RPG; 1.4 APG; 24 3PTM; 42.6 FG%; 70.4 FT%; 0.5 SPG; 0.2 BPG
2005-06: 71 G; 11.8 PPG; 4.1 RPG; 4.6 APG; 84 3PTM; 48.7 FG%; 85.1 FT%; 1.2 SPG; 0.6 BPG


Kevin Martin, SG, Sacramento Kings
2004: 45 G; 2.9 PPG; 1.3 RPG; 0.5 APG; 5 3PTM; 38.5 FG%; 65.5 FT%; 0.4 SPG; 0.1 BPG
2005: 68 G; 10.8 PPG; 3.7 RPG; 1.3 APG; 61 3PTM; 48.0 FG%; 84.8 FT%; 0.7 SPG; 0.1 BPG

Smush Parker, PG/SG, Los Angeles Lakers
2004: 16 G; 3.0 PPG; 0.8 RPG; 0.9 APG; 3 3PTM; 41.9 FG%; 69.2 FT%; 0.3 SPG; 0.0 BPG
2005: 78 G; 11.4 PPG; 3.3 RPG; 3.7 APG; 113 3PTM; 44.7 FG%; 68.0 FT%; 1.7 SPG; 0.2 BPG

1) Randy Hill of Foxsports.com with his own unique awards:

These NBA 'sharpies' were clearly off the mark

With the NBA staggering toward its round of 16, we have a few issues to settle. That's right, it's awards time. It's a time for individuals in a team sport to step forward and be counted. It's a time to recognize those who've left an unmistakable mark on the game that we may be unable to erase. Please note that the Most Valuable Player Award is not on this column's agenda. We also couldn't care less about Rookie or Coach of the Year. And the Sixth Man seems more of a concern for Paris Hilton's press agent than it does for us. What we're bringing to this particular table is a motley squad of rascals who seem well-quipped for a food fight. Some, it should be pointed out, have made more mistakes than others. But after the last pie has been lobbed, the following NBA sharpies will be left standing with Dubious Distinction (D2) honors for 2005-06. For the record, no paper cuts were registered during the voting for these awards.

Rick Pitino Award - Rick, who thought it was going to be cool to coach the Boston Celtics and ruin their talent base, may have nothing on Larry Brown. As this year's winner, Larry chose to work as coach of the New York Knicks instead of achieving some sort of employment in Cleveland. As a Cavalier, he could have been known as Larry LeBrown. But he chose New York, where he soon learned that the only Brown with a real dream job is Dee.

Hanging Chad Award - The hanging could have been more substantial, but the voting certainly was shaky. When it was over, the judges decided that Knicks rookie Nate Robinson was the slam dunk champion despite logging a lower field-goal percentage than he might have had in the three-point competition.

Muhammad Ali Award - If you float like a horsefly and stink like a B-movie, you must be Ron Artest. Artest qualifies as the Ingrate-st of All Time by deciding he no longer wanted to be an Indiana Pacer. All Ron did to the Pacers was wreck an entire season (2004-05). All the Pacers did was stand behind him. Eventually, he was dealt to Sacramento, where having your palms out doesn't bother the Maloof brothers.

Baryshnikov Award - We're pretty sure he hasn't had a fling with Sarah Jessica Parker, but Kobe Bryant has made a fashion statement. In an effort to tighten up even more than Archie Bell and the Drells, the L.A. Lakers star began wearing tights under his game shorts. The resulting hubbub has produced the most discomfort among the league's male observers since everyone realized that John Stockton and Richard Simmons had the same short-length preference.

Scottie Pippen Award - By refusing to go back in after he was taken out, Detroit Piston Ben Wallace demonstrated that he's still committed to being defensive. He also reminded us that it's possible for another Wallace to think his first name is Rasheed.

T-Wrecks Award - With Rasheed Wallace already on hand, let's give him credit for missing a game in exchange for exceeding the league limit for technical fouls in one season. This suspension ended a streak during which the Pistons started Rasheed, Ben, Rip Hamilton, Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince. And we thought this run would be interrupted by Darko Milicic.

Even Joe Dumars Screws Up Award - Let's continue our clumsy-segue tactics by crediting Darko (since traded to Orlando) with being the low-water mark in the talent-acquisition history of otherwise astute Pistons GM Joe Dumars. With that on the record, we now move to Atlanta, where the Hawks passed on an opportunity to draft point guard Chris Paul. Instead of selecting the eventual Rookie of the Year, the Hawks selected small forward Marvin Williams. Please note that, despite a shaky rookie season, Marvin is expected to be much better than Darko.

And 1 Tour Award - This honor belongs to Masha Lopatova, a former Russian pop star and the current wife of Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko.
According to a published report, Masha gives Andrei an allowance of one road-trip fling with another woman per season. So, in addition to cheating into the passing lane every night, Kirilenko is free to exercise his libido. We're not sure if — in the event that Andrei takes a year off — Masha offers a rollover plan.

Donald Trump Award - Miami Heat president Pat Riley didn't exactly fire Stan Van Gundy; credit for that has gone to Heat center Shaquille O'Neal.
Van Gundy insisted that it was his idea to quit as head coach of the Heat. Insiders still believe that Stan is spending more time with his family and turned down an opportunity to work as Ron Jeremy's stunt double.

Smelling Like a Rose Award - After Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver alienated free-agent candidate Joe Johnson, GM Bryan Colangelo was obliged to work a sign-and-trade deal with the Hawks. The Phoenix-bound throw-in was Boris Diaw, who has developed into the best-passing big man in basketball. Colangelo, who woke up and smelled the coffee, now works in Toronto.

Nothing but Cabernet Award - For providing us with more vintage whine (the refs are against me), Miami's O'Neal has another piece for his trophy room.

Wife Swap Award - Then-New York Knicks forward Antonio Davis went into the stands to protect some guy who was having a verbal altercation with Mrs. Antonio Davis. A few days later, Davis was traded to Toronto and waived by the Raptors. We don't think Antonio played enough to qualify as having a better half of this season.

Neal Walk Award - In 1969, the Phoenix Suns lost a coin flip with the Milwaukee Bucks and selected Walk, a 6-foot-11 center from Florida, as the draft's second overall pick. With the first pick, the Bucks selected some guy named Lew Alcindor. The circumstances are different, but the Chicago Bulls — thanks to a deal with the Knicks — are threatening to have the most ping-pong combinations as we lurch toward lottery night in Secaucus, N.J. That would have had the Bulls sitting pretty in regards to drafting 7-foot high school lane monster Greg Oden. Unfortunately for them, Walk Award winner David Stern — who also doubles as league commissioner — decided that high school hotshots must be a year removed from the prom before achieving draft eligibility. The Bulls may take heart in realizing that very few ping-pong combo leaders actually secure the first overall pick.

Bob Whitsitt Award - Whitsitt, the guy who wrecked the Portland Trail Blazers, seems to have been an inspiration for Isiah Thomas. As this year's winner, Isiah handed Larry Brown an even more difficult lineup than Lee Marvin faced in The Dirty Dozen.

2) John Jackson of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Al Harrington is tampering with himself…which sounds a little bit…well…you know:

Harrington not hiding that he's Bulls material

Because there will be no quality centers on the free-agent market this summer, the player who probably makes the most sense for the Bulls to pursue is forward Al Harrington of the Atlanta Hawks. Harrington made it clear Wednesday night that he's definitely interested in the Bulls. "Obviously, the season is still going on, and I'm still an Atlanta Hawk,'' he said before the Bulls and Hawks played at Philips Arena. "But I am going to free agency unrestricted, and I'm looking at every situation out there. "What's going to be the biggest thing that's going to help me decide where I go is the winning factor. I'm definitely trying to get back to the playoffs.'' Harrington, 26, has been keen on the Bulls since the end of his time in Indiana. He reportedly asked the Pacers to trade him to the Bulls but instead was shipped to Atlanta in July 2004. "The No. 1 thing is their tradition and their history, and then you look at the steps they're taking to get back to that level,'' Harrington said when asked why the Bulls are attractive. "Right now, I would love to be in the situation they're in, where they're fighting for their lives for a playoff spot and they have a very good chance of making it.'' His interest in the Bulls is more than just passing. He has told friends around the NBA that he admires coach Scott Skiles' system and likes the Bulls' style of play. Harrington, who's averaging 18.6 points and 6.9 rebounds this season, even went so far as to consider how he would fit in. "I look at the way they play and they don't have any inside presence,'' he said. "That's something that I think I can fill for any team I go to, and definitely [for the Bulls].'' Because Harrington -- who didn't play Wednesday because of a bruised left hand -- still is under contract to the Hawks, the Bulls are not able to comment on whether they'd be interested in him. But it's no secret the team had an eye on him going back to his days with the Pacers. Regardless of where he ends up, Harrington is happy the decision will be his to make. "I can choose my own destiny now,'' he said. "My thing is that I just want to win. Whatever the best situation is where I can get back to the playoffs and start competing for a championship, that's what I'm going to do.''