How about those Suns…I know I’m a bit behind, but I’m still not quite over the midcourt tie-up in overtime of Game 4 which shoe very clearly that”

a) Steve Nash was fouled before a jump ball was forced
b) Boris Diaw screaming at referee Bennett Salvatore for a timeout from three feet away
c) Luke Walton's foot was actually out of bounds when he tied Nash up.

OK…as for last night’s game, did you see Barbosa take that elbow from Kobe? Seriously, when is this going to stop? You could put together a tape of about 5 or 6 elbows Kobe has thrown in the series…seriously, the dude is turning into Karl Malone…anyway, ‘Bosa took four stitches in his lower lip in the first quarter after being elbowed by Bryant with, of course, no call…For the Suns to come back and win was truly remarkable…the Lakers, just turltled in overtime, allowing the Suns to ourscore them 21-13 in only a 5 minute overtime period…the play of the night came with a minute left in overtime…Steve Nash saves a loose ball off a Lakers miss to Tim Thomas, who hands it right back to Nash…the suns advance the ball 94 feet with three passes, two dribbles, and all of a sudden Shawn Marion is stuffing the alley-oop…Kobe’s 50 was dope, but Steve Nash absolutely dominated Smush Parker…check the line: Nash had 32 points on 9-14 from the floor and 13-13 from the stripe and 13 assists…Smush Parker was 0-5 from the floor with 2 assists, 3 turnovers and only two points…domination…However, Tim Thomas may wish he didn’t say this: "I felt the Lakers were tight down the stretch. They don't have too many guys with experience in these types of situations. They wouldn't take the shots -- they kept passing to Kobe."

If you’re ever in Phoenix…http://www.stoudemiresdowntown.com/

Shaq Daddy was channelling Shaq-Fu from the 90’s last night…Dude had 30 points, 20 rebounds and 5 assists...and most importantly 3 fouls…O'Neal stayed on the floor, and the Miami Heat knocked the Chicago Bulls out of the playoffs with a 113-96 victory on Thursday. "This was the first time I wasn't in foul trouble, so I was able to do what I do," O'Neal said. By the way, at 34 years and 59 days old, Shaq is the 2nd oldest player to ever have a 30 ande 20 night…here’s the list and check the Wilt line:

Date Player Age: Yr,Day Pts-Rbs
May '99 Charles Barkley 36-82 30-23
May '06 Shaquille O'Neal 34-59 30-20
May '97 Karl Malone 33-293 32-20
May '70 Wilt Chamberlain 33-258 45-27

Speaking of the Bulls, this series was really the Andres Nocioni coming out party…Great Quote from Chris Ballard of SI.com: “Nocioni reminds me of that guy at the Y, the one in his late 30s who's still playing with the younger guys and takes every game very, very seriously. He's the dude setting hard picks (and yelling "Use it! Use it!") while playing with a bunch of teenagers who are goofing off. He's the guy who lifts weights after he plays, the guy who never wants to play 21 or H-O-R-S-E, because what's the point of that? Nocioni is that guy if he were 26 years old, 6-foot-7 and had the athleticism to dunk on James Posey. The other day, Scott Skiles described him repeatedly as "a man" while trying to explain Nocioni's effectiveness, and it was easy to see the coach's admiration for his forward. In fact, Nocioni might be a decent approximation of Skiles had Skiles been 6-7 (remember, Skiles once tried to fight Shaquille O'Neal).”
In Pacerland, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter proved the undoing of the Pacers as the combined for 54 points in New Jersey's 96-90 win over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night. The Nets won the best-of-seven series in six games and advanced to play Miami in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Meanwhile, former Net scrub Net Anthony Johnson scored a career-high 40 points almost single handedly brought the Pacers back…"It's bittersweet," Johnson said. "It would be great if it was in a winning performance. I've never shot that much in my life, and I've never scored that much in my life. I had it going." Jefferson scored 30 points and Carter added 24, while Ason Kidd bricked his way to an almost triple-double with eight points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds. Jermaine O'Neal scored 21 points for the Pacers

Stat note from Elias: Gilbert Arenas and LeBron James have combined for 350 points in the first five games of the Wiz-Cavs series. They are within striking distance -- if the series goes seven games -- of the NBA record for most points by two opposing players in one postseason series. That record is held by Jerry West and John Havlicek, who combined for 463 points (265 for Mr. Clutch and 198 for Hondo) in the 1969 NBA Finals. The Celtics won that series in seven games.

1) From Dime Magazine, don’t believe the hype:

Miner, Bradley headline overhyped players

In an article from Wednesday's Houston Chronicle, Rockets GM Carroll Dawson had this to say about 2004 draft pick Vassilis Spanoulis: "You'll like this guy. He can get into the paint like Tony Parker. He's like Kobe, but not on that level." Even with the tacked-on disclaimer, that's some pretty hefty praise for Spanoulis, a combo guard who is currently playing in Greece — but who will likely join the Rockets next season. Spanoulis was picked 51st overall in 2004, after guys like Ha Seung-Jin, Royal Ivey and Donta Smith were already off the board. In defense of Dawson's skills as a talent evaluator, however, he was the guy who, once upon a time, drafted Robert Horry over the much more-hyped Harold Miner.
Still, Dawson's comments about Spanoulis got us thinking of some of the more over-hyped players we've seen in recent memory. Starting, of course, with "Baby Jordan."

Harold Miner - It used to be that rocking a shaved head, wearing No. 23 and ridiculous hops could earn you a nickname like "Baby Jordan." Then Miner came along and exposed the farce. Although we can't even front on his college resume — Miner is still USC's all-time leading scorer — the 1992 lottery pick flamed out after winning the All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk contests in '93 and '95. He lasted just four seasons in the NBA and finished with a career average of nine points per game. But the dude could get up; we have to admit that fact.

Shawn Bradley - Pro scouts fell in love with Bradley, a fairly athletic 7-foot-6 stickman who put up 14 points, seven boards and five blocks a game in his only season at BYU. When he became the talk of the 1993 draft, Bradley hadn't actually played competitive basketball for more than two years, spending that time overseas on a Mormon mission. Still, the Sixers, in love with his potential and athleticism for a guy that big (he supposedly batted close to .400 on his high school baseball team), took Bradley with the second overall pick — ahead of Penny Hardaway, Jamal Mashburn, Vin Baker and Allan Houston. (Gheorghe Muresan was a high second-round pick in that same draft.) Bradley had a 12-year run in the league before retiring with the Mavericks last year. But he never lived up to the hype that followed him out of college, peaking as an off-the-bench player who averaged eight points, six rebounds and 2.5 blocks in his career. Bradley was best known for getting posterized by some of the NBA's best (as well as just average) dunkers, including the famous one where T-Mac rode him like a horse in the 2005 playoffs.

Keith Van Horn - Hype-wise, Van Horn was Adam Morrison before Adam Morrison; another guy who was constantly compared to the great Larry Bird. Van Horn justified it by putting up big numbers at Utah, dropping 20 points and eight boards per season over four years. He was taken second overall in the 1997 draft (again by the Sixers, but they traded him to New Jersey that same day) ahead of Chauncey Billups, Tim Thomas and Tracy McGrady. While KVH's scoring numbers hovered around 20 points per game during his first few seasons as a pro, he was always regarded as a soft player and is now a reserve spot-up shooter for the Mavs.

Trajan Langdon - When arguing the pro potential of one J.J. Redick, Duke-haters and Redick detractors can always point to Trajan Langdon. Similar to Redick, the "Alaskan Assassin" was a dead-eye, three-point shooter who was automatic from the stripe for Coach K's squad, an undersized two-guard who also possessed questionable defensive and ball-handling abilities. While Langdon wasn't quite the volume scorer Redick was in college, he also played on a more-talented Duke team that featured Elton Brand. Langdon was picked 11th overall by the Cavaliers in 1999 — ahead of Corey Maggette, Ron Artest and Andrei Kirilenko. He played only three seasons in the NBA, averaging five points per game and hitting just 39 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. He is currently one of the best players in the Euroleague, but he may never make it back to the NBA.

Khalid El-Amin - It's easy to see why El-Amin had so much hype behind him. Standing just 5-foot-9 and weighing 200 pounds, he was Mr. Everyman; a guy built more like your dad's poker buddies than an NBA guard; not to mention his infectious on-court energy and the fact that he'd led UConn to a national championship in 1999. NBA scouts knew better than to make El-Amin a high draft pick, and he fell to the Bulls in the second round. (El-Amin was still selected before Michael Redd.) We remember how, at the time, a lot of fans still thought El-Amin would walk in and start doing the same things in the league that he did in college. Not so much. El-Amin lasted all of one season with the Bulls, averaging a respectable six points and nearly three assists per game. Like Langdon, he also plays overseas.

2) Andrew Lawrence of SI.com reports on the night of nights for AJ:

Johnson jettisons journeyman tag

Games like this aren't supposed to happen to Anthony Johnson. Yes, the Nets won Game 6, 96-90, the series 4-2, and the right to face Miami in the Eastern Conference semis -- but Johnson certainly tried his hardest to delay the inevitable. To say that his sudden emergence in this year's playoffs came as a surprise would be the understatement of the season. The entirety of Johnson's eight-year NBA career has been defined by a single modifier -- journeyman. A year in Sacramento. Two more in Atlanta. A trade to Orlando, then back to Atlanta, then over to Cleveland. Then a 10-day contract with New Jersey, where he'd spend the next two years learning from the best in Jason Kidd. But in the end, the Nets passed on re-signing Johnson in 2002, feeling him an inadequate backup to the seven-time All-Star. So you can imagine that when the opportunity to prove himself anew presented itself (in the form of Jamaal Tinsley's sore foot and Sarunas Jasikevicius's overall inexperience) that Johnson would rise to the occasion. And rise to the occasion he did: Johnson came into this series averaging 9.2 points. He'd exit it averaging 20.0, posting a series-high 40 points in a losing effort. His swipe of Nenad Krstic on the low block and ensuing cross-court layup set the tone for a first quarter in which Indiana would shoot 61 percent from the field. He scored baskets in traffic, fronting his man, posting his man and off the dribble -- in the process making Jason Kidd look more like one of Bebe's Kids. Johnson outscored the Nets' point 19-0 through the first two periods, shooting 5 of 8 from the field while Kidd didn't even hit iron on the first four of his five attempts. Kidd eventually regained his stroke in the second half, hitting a pair of 3s to start the third frame while contributing a steady stream of rebounds and assists to the boxscore. The double-double king finished with 12 and 11 respectively, leaving mates Krstic and Richard Jefferson to sort out the difference from the free-throw line. Still, Johnson made sure the Pacers didn't go away quietly. His 3 from the left wing (his third make of the night) pulled the Pacers within 92-90 with 56 seconds left and had him flirting with Reggie Miller's franchise playoff-record of 41 points (a mark Uncle Reggie hit twice). Johnson's alpha dog status was such a foregone conclusion that Pacers coach Rick Carlisle chose not Jermaine O'Neal, not Stephen Jackson but Johnson to take the potential game-tying shot. With 14 seconds left and a side-out on their half, Johnson inbounded to Jackson just left of the key, who passed it back to him (while shielding a closing Jason Collins). Johnson got an obstructed look at the hoop, but missed. The rebound bounced to an awaiting Jefferson, whose ensuing free throws would stand as the final points scored. As the final seconds ticked off and Johnson conceded defeat, the Conseco Fieldhouse crowd let him have it -- raining shouts of encouragement onto his slumped shoulders. "Thanks AJ!" "Attaboy AJ!" they cried from the rafters. Then over came Kidd to share a hug and a laugh. What a relief it must be for him to be rid of his understudy, a man who's a journeyman no more.

3) Marc Stein of ESPN.com can’t wait and neither can I:

Bring on Game 7

It wasn't just a theory, apparently. It applies in the playoffs, too. It was true this time, yet again, even with the Suns' Kobe Chopper banned from the building ... even with Terrell Owens leading cheers from a baseline seat while draped in a white No. 8 jersey ... even with Kobe Bryant going for 50 points instead of the mere 40-something that the Phoenix Suns figured they'd surrender in every game of this first-round epic. Kobe scores big, Suns win. Never seems to fail. Kobe hits the big Five-Oh for the first time in his playoff life and Phoenix saves its season with a 126-118 overtime victory on the road. "This team," Tim Thomas said, "has big character and big heart." Not even Scott Skiles would be able to doubt Thomas on Thursday night. Facing elimination for the second successive game, and back at the scene of the two Bryant buzzer-beaters that put the second-seeded Suns in a 3-1 hole, Phoenix rediscovered its swagger (and humor) with the tempo and script it had been hoping for since Game 1. Kobe actually would have beaten the Suns and the trend if he had connected at the regulation buzzer, but it's clear that Phoenix feels like it was overdue for this kind of ending. The confirmation came when Mike D'Antoni and Steve Nash both made the same post-game crack about Phoenix being up 4-2 instead of deadlocked at 3-3, suggesting that they're still struggling to accept that they lost Game 4 in OT here. This certainly helped, though. Like Sacramento when it lost Ron Artest for a night early in the San Antonio series, Phoenix was galvanized by the one-game suspension issued to Raja Bell for Bell's unpardonable takedown of Bryant in Game 5. The Suns basically played six players, got production from all six and looked as tough as you can be giving up 118 points and 50 to one guy. Make no mistake: For the first time in this series that keeps spoiling us, Bryant strayed from facilitating for Kobe's Kids only out of necessity. This wasn't Kobe gunning because Bell was absent. He hadn't scored more than 29 points in any of the first five games, but resurrecting Regular Season Kobe was the Lakers' only chance to win Game 6. The role players who've been so good around him (Smush Parker, most notably) finally began to flutter back to Earth, fading and tightening up in the second half and forcing TO's new favorite player to be the Kobe that Phoenix prefers to see. Deadly but lonely. "[If] Kobe would have made that last shot," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said, "you'd have been saying how great [his aggressiveness] was and everything else. "But he didn't." Jackson was referring to Bryant's chance to break a 105-105 tie at the regulation horn. But Bryant, who banked in a triple at the first-quarter buzzer just as a late-arriving Owens was making his way to his seat, couldn't overcome Shawn Marion's long reach to get that last shot close. Still...As Jackson suggested, Bryant was sensational by any measure. He rung up 50 points in 52 minutes on a mere 35 shots, with just six trips to the free-throw line. Yet it was 50 in the manner Phoenix can live with, because Bryant had to work for everything he got. It's an exaggeration to say that the Suns don't care if Kobe goes nuts; they're fine with him scoring so long as he doesn't zoom past 40 points with bunches in transition or from the stripe. In this case, Bryant's shots were always contested and Lamar Odom was the only other Laker good for a score in the fourth quarter or OT. The other inexperienced Lakers got increasingly gun-shy. So 50, amazingly, wasn't enough to win a playoff game for the first time in this league since Chicago's Michael Jordan went for 50 in a loss to Cleveland on Cinco de Mayo in 1989. It wasn't enough because something else at Staples Center happened out of necessity. The Suns' preferred pace happened. With Bell suspended -- and assigned an NBA security guard for protection as he watched the game off-site after traveling to L.A. with the team -- Phoenix was down three starters if you include the injured Amare Stoudemire and Kurt Thomas. The Suns were also down to just eight players D'Antoni was willing to use and down 3-2 overall. The response? Crisp ball movement, killer shooting and an attack mentality that got Phoenix to the line more than usual.
Leandro Barbosa shook a series full of nerves and a Bryant elbow to the mouth that required four stitches to score 22 points and take turns with Marion trying to stay in front of Bryant. Marion delivered 20 points, 12 boards and that crucial blanketing of Bryant at the regulation horn to make Tim Thomas' 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds left an OT-forcing triple. Thomas, meanwhile, wound up with 21 points and 10 boards, combining with Boris Diaw (19 points and seven assists) to put L.A.'s big men in various degrees of foul trouble. Oh, yeah: Nash looked like he might have even deserved a few of those MVP votes, with 32 points and 13 dimes and 13 free throws without a miss. "See you Saturday," D'Antoni said as he wrapped up his post-game address. Yes you will, Mike. Yes you will. You wouldn't dare miss what happens next, would you? Not with Bryant and Bell, after all their barbs and shoves, poised to take their season-long feud into a decisive seventh game . . . in a series that has delivered five close ones already. Not after the Suns, for the first time all season, finally survived one of these OT heartbreakers. Not with a chance to see if Kobe's Kids can forget that they just blew a home-court chance to clinch a Hallway Series with the Clippers. Their best chance? "There's a lot at stake," concedes Jackson, who has never lost a first-round series in 14 previous attempts. "For them, it would be a terrific comeback. For us, it would be a monumental upset."

4) Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com with a funny free agent watch:

Stock Watch: Who's the next Jerome James?

Nobody wants to be the next Jerome James, but there are 29 million reasons why that might not necessarily be such a bad thing. The portly 7-footer parlayed a strong first-round playoff series last season for Seattle into a $29 million free agent contract with the New York Knicks, reaping a windfall reward for the one and only productive stint of his career. The stakes are higher in the playoffs, especially for the players trying to impress the buyers who will be out shopping for free agents two months from now. Entering the playoffs, it looked like a ho-hum free agent market, especially at shooting guard, but Bonzi Wells and Jared Jeffries are establishing some enhanced value. Wells was the offensive star for the Kings on Sunday with 25 points and 17 rebounds as Sacramento evened its series with San Antonio at 2-2. That same day in Washington, Jeffries was the defensive difference-maker for the Wizards. He drew LeBron James' fourth charging foul with 2½ minutes left, then fouled out Larry Hughes 30 seconds later on another charge as the Wizards tied the Cavaliers 2-2. "Jared has done a tremendous job of helping himself," said his agent, Andy Miller. "The impact he makes on both ends of the floor, he does a lot of things that don't show up in the box score, the types of things teams are looking for." Here's a look at how a few other upcoming free agents (listed alphabetically) are doing in the playoffs, and whether their stock is up or down (all free agents are unrestricted unless otherwise noted):

Shandon Anderson, Heat: Still chuckling over the $19 million buyout he got from the Knicks, count on him re-signing with Miami or finding another warm weather city. Stock: Low.

Chucky Atkins, Grizzlies: A decent Game 3 with 20 points, but his mediocrity in Games 1, 2 and 4 (19 points, nine assists combined in those three games) against Dallas made everyone in Memphis miss Damon Stoudamire a little more.
Stock: Down.

Antonio Burks, Grizzlies (restricted): Played eight inconsequential minutes (no points, one assist) in Game 2, and scored three points in five garbage-time minutes as Memphis was swept in Game 4. A DNP-CD in Games 1 and 3. Stock: Low.

Sam Cassell, Clippers: Averaged 14.6 points and 5.4 assists in the Clips' five games against Denver. A proven winner, he's eager to cash out in what may be his final NBA contract. Stock: Up.

Kelvin Cato, Pistons: Taking up space on the end of Detroit's bench for now, but could be used against Shaquille O'Neal in the conference finals.
Stock: Low.

Tony Delk, Pistons: Getting spot duty behind Rip Hamilton and shooting 58 percent against the Bucks. One or two big games down the road could earn him some money. Stock: Even.

Francisco Elson, Nuggets (restricted): The suspension of Kenyon Martin has pressed the third-year big man into duty, but his totals against the Clippers were 13 fouls, six points and 11 rebounds in 76 minutes. Stock: Down.

Reggie Evans, Nuggets: He'll make some money off what he did for Denver in the regular season after his trade from Seattle, but he was a dud in the postseason (3.8 points, 4.6 rebounds). Stock: Down.

Devean George, Lakers: He's been steady and has made a few timely 3s for the Lakers, but he won't supplant Luke Walton in the rotation. Stock: Even.

Eddie Gill, Pacers: Logged 57 stat-free seconds in Game 2 at New Jersey. Stock: Low.

Drew Gooden, Cavaliers (restricted): Has had one outstanding game (24 points on 11-for-12 shooting, 16 rebounds in Game 2) and three mediocre ones against Washington. Stock: Even.

Adrian Griffin, Mavericks: Does what he does, and is good at it. Had four steals in Game 1 vs. Memphis, and is shooting 58 percent in the series.
Stock: Up.

Alan Henderson, Cavaliers: On the end of the bench in Cleveland, the 11-year vet probably can make some money overseas next season. Stock: Down.

Lindsey Hunter, Pistons: Still one of the league's best on-the-ball backcourt defenders, he's happy contending for titles in Detroit. Stock: Even.

Bobby Jackson, Grizzlies: Didn't increase his value in the playoffs, committing 14 turnovers against the Mavs. Stock: Down.

Jermaine Jackson, Bucks: Keeps finding places to land on an NBA roster, but might need to become part of another sign-and-trade (he went from NY to Chicago in the Eddy Curry trade) to avoid having to extend his career overseas. Stock: Low.

Jim Jackson, Lakers: An insurance policy for the Lakers, but could earn himself a one-year deal and a 15th NBA season with one big game. One wrinkle: Kobe Bryant has requested his No. 24 jersey for next season. Stock: Down.

Jared Jeffries, Wizards: Washington doesn't want to lose another shooting guard after refusing to overpay for Larry Hughes last summer, but will they match if someone else wants to overpay Jeffries? Stock: Up.

DerMarr Johnson, Nuggets: Shot only 3-for-13 from the field against the Clips. Still making a living on his potential. Stock: Down.

Ervin Johnson, Bucks: Hard to believe he's been around for 13 seasons, and hard to see anyone bringing him back for a 14th. Stock: Low.

Fred Jones, Pacers (restricted): Averaging 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists against the Nets. Started in Game 4 when Peja Stojakovic sat out. Stock: Up.

Toni Kukoc, Bucks: After missing two games with back spasms, went 3-for-4 on 3-pointers and had six assists in Game 3 -- proving he can still help someone win a playoff game. Stock: Even.

DJ Mbenga, Mavericks (restricted): A player to keep an eye on in the later rounds. Will be paid this summer on potential. Stock: Even.

Walter McCarty, Clippers: No playoff stats other than two fouls in seven minutes against Denver. Stock: Even.

Nazr Mohammed, Spurs: Lost his spot in the starting lineup Sunday night to Rasho Nesterovic in San Antonio's Game 4 loss at Sacramento. Stock: Down slightly.

Alonzo Mourning, Heat: Just back from a torn calf muscle, has played only 22 minutes against Chicago but did take time to rip Stu Jackson.
Stock: Down.

Lamond Murray, Nets: Six points and seven fouls in four games against Indiana. Stock: Low.
Flip Murray, Cavaliers: Gave up his Bird rights when he waived his trade veto to come to Cleveland; might have established mid-level exception value. Stock: Up.

Nene, Nuggets: The feud between Kenyon Martin and George Karl has increased the value of the injured Brazilian forward, who stands a better chance than Martin of being back for Denver's training camp. Stock: Up.

Jannero Pargo, Bulls: An energy guy but an expendable part for the scrappy Bulls. Stock: Even.

Gary Payton, Heat: Might have earned himself a job elsewhere next year by arguing so vehemently with teammate Dwyane Wade on Sunday.
Stock: Down.

Eric Piatkowski, Bulls: As expendable as Pargo for Chicago, but might land a veteran's minimum deal somewhere. Stock: Even.

Scot Pollard, Pacers: With big bodies in short supply, will find employment for a 10th NBA season. Scoreless in four playoff games vs. Nets.
Stock: Even.

Vladimir Radmanovic, Clippers: Knocked down seven threes in Games 1-4 against Denver, and rebounded a little, too, then went 0-for-4 in the Game 5 clincher. Stock: Even.

Peja Stojakovic: This is a heck of a time for him for Peja's knee injuries to have flared up. They were 0-2 without him and 2-0 with him heading into Game 5 in New Jersey on Tuesday. Stock: Down.

Jason Terry, Mavericks: Dominated the point guard matchup against Chucky Atkins and Bobby Jackson in the sweep of Memphis, averaging 17.5 points and 5.5 assists. Stock: Up.

Tim Thomas, Suns: Can't blame him for the 3-1 deficit to the Lakers. Thomas is averaging 15.8 points on 53 percent shooting, including 13-for-23 from 3-point range, with a team-high 9.3 rebounds. Stock: Up.

Nick Van Exel, Spurs: Had a DNP-CD Sunday night after going 0-for-3 and 0-for-5 from the field in Games 2 and 3 against the Kings. Stock: Down.

Keith Van Horn, Mavericks: Out with a broken hand but on the Mavericks' postseason roster, he conceivably could play if the Mavs reach the NBA Finals. Stock: Down.

Jacque Vaughn, Nets: The first guard off the bench for New Jersey, an often overlooked key contributor for his smarts and leadership. Stock: Even.

Ben Wallace, Pistons: The Bucks attacked him in Game 3 Saturday and got away with it, but it's a virtual certainty Detroit will keep its defensive anchor. Stock: Even.

Bonzi Wells, Kings: His less-than-stellar reputation will scare some teams away, but he's the No. 1 shooting guard on the market for a position that's tough to fill. Stock: Up.

Jiri Welsch, Bucks: Has stayed in the league only because of the three-year rookie deal he signed. Will likely play in Europe next season. Stock: Down.

Lorenzen Wright, Grizzlies: Played 40 minutes off the bench and had 10 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in Game 3 after totaling just 27 minutes in Games 1 and 2. Didn't do much in Game 4. Stock: Low.