Apr 3, 2013; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz shooting guard Gordon Hayward (20) controls the ball during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at EnergySolutions Arena. The Nuggets won 113-96. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

With just 12 days left in the NBA regular season, nearly all of the playoff spots are locked up. Only the 8th seed in the West is left up for grabs. And with only a few games left, it has come down to a three-team race between the Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks.

Today, in Saving The Skyhook’s first roundtable discussion, our writers take a look at the race and give you their pick for who will wind up with that 8th and final spot.

Quentin Haynes (@Haynesenburg) – Give me Utah. Not only are they currently holding on to the 8th overall spot, but their remaining schedule has those two Minnesota games, and that’s where I think Utah will sneak in. Los Angeles has a tough set of remaining games, and so does Dallas. Utah has a brutal one, but Golden State, Minnesota (twice), and New Orleans seem like winnable games. If Utah can snag the Denver or Oklahoma City game, I think they get in. (Editor’s note – Submitted on Wednesday)

Taylor Armosino (@tarmosino) - The Jazz are the team that makes the most sense here due to their manageable schedule moving forward, including a crucial home and home with the mighty Timberwolves, and the fact that they hold the tiebreaker with the Lakers. Having said that, I can’t trust Tyrone Corbin to press the right buttons down the stretch, and so I’m going with the Lakers. They play 5 of their last 7 games at home, really 6 of 7 because one of those ‘road games’ is against the Clippers, where they’re 26-11 on the season. Tuesday night’s huge win over Dallas was possibly the best the team has looked all season and one would have to think they’re going to play with that same sense of urgency from here on out. Despite all their flaws, Bryant and Howard have played well as of late and they now have Pau Gasol back in the fold. Los Angeles has the talent to go on a small run here to end the season and I think they’ll probably go 5-2 in these last 7. Although the cards are stacked against them, given that they must finish with one more win than Utah, the Lakers are a much more talented than the Jazz and I think they pull out that 8th seed.

Mar 27, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) congratulates center Dwight Howard (12) following a basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter at Target Center. Lakers won 120-117. Mandatory Credit: Greg Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Sonny Giuliano (@SonnyCG) - Lakers. It absolutely has to be the Lakers. You would probably guess that this is either a chalk pick (Los Angeles has the slightest leg up in the standings on the date of publication), an talent-will-win-out pick, or a “Please let’s not watch Utah get manhandled by San Antonio in the 1st Round again” pick. I’m going against the grain, and I’m going to say this is a fate pick. I believe in the idea of Sports Gods, and Basketball Gods in particular. If there is such a thing, they will give us a Spurs/Lakers 1st round series. I want Kobe and Duncan, both in the middle of resurgent seasons of sorts, to battle one more time in the playoffs while father time, salary cap rules, and David Stern will allow it. It’s too perfect not to happen.

Reece Hooker (@ReeceJHooker) - Lakers – Following their convincing effort against the Mavericks, I’d be a fool to bet against the Lakers. They have all but one game at Staples for the rest of the season (including one ‘away’ game against the Clippers). Their one away game is one I predict them dropping, against the Blazers on the second half of a back-to-back at the Rose Garden, a venue where the Lakers are 6-23 since 1996 during regular season games. They face tough opposition in their final home run – the Grizzlies, Clippers, Warriors, Spurs and Rockets, but it all seems to be coming together for L.A. and I can’t see Kobe Bryant nor Steve Nash letting their team miss post-season action this year, not with so little time left in their careers.

Jack Maloney  (@jmaloney9) – With the Mavericks currently 3 games back of the Lakers, and only a few games remaining, the race will come down to the Jazz and the Lakers. The Lakers are holding on to the 8th seed by a 1/2 game over the Jazz at the moment, and have played one less game. And despite having the toughest schedule in this final stretch, the Lakers are my pick to get the final playoff spot. They looked fantastic in their crucial win over Dallas on Tuesday, Dwight Howard is starting to look like his old self recently, averaging 20 points and 15 rebounds in the last 5 games, and Kobe Bryant is still playing at an extremely high level. While they certainly haven’t looked like the dominant team myself and others expected them to be this season, I’ve always believed they would do enough to get to the playoffs, and I’m sticking with that belief.

Mike Hallihan (@MikeHallihan) -

I’m going with a simplistic and scientific method to predict who takes the 8th seed in the Western Conference. The almighty power of the simulation.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS (39-36)

(Remaining games = 7 | 5 Home, 2 Away)

Vs. Grizzlies – WIN – Tough home win

@ Clippers – LOSS – Toss up

Vs. Hornets – WIN – Easy

@ Blazers – WIN – Blazers have too many injuries and are out of the picture

Vs. Warriors – WIN – Lakers owe the Warriors

Vs. Spurs – LOSS (Pop will probably “rest” some guys)

Vs. Rockets – WIN – Last game, Kobe finishes with a bang

Finishing Record: 44-38

The Lakers have got this. They aren’t going down without a fight and these last seven games, with the Jazz so close behind them, they’ll be desperate. They do have a collection of tough teams to play, but four of those games are at home and by the time the final three roll around, those teams might have little to play for, having clinched a spot (especially the Spurs, and we ALL know about Popovich’s “resting” strategies). I think even if the Lakers can go 4-3 (worst case scenario), they’ll hang on to the spot. With 5 at home (technically 6 with the Clippers), they should finish 5-2.

UTAH JAZZ (39-37)

(Remaining games = 6 | 3 Home, 3 Away)

Vs. Hornets – WIN – Pfft, easy

@ Warriors – LOSS – Overmatched in Oakland

Vs. Thunder – LOSS – Thunder on a mission to clinch top seed

Vs. Timberwolves – WIN – Home win

@ Timberwolves – LOSS – Timberwolves playing very well recently

@ Grizzlies – LOSS – Grizz as tough at home as Jazz are

Finishing Record: 41-41

The Jazz are already at a disadvantage with one more game played and one back in the loss column. They play so well at home, but only have three of their remaining six at Energy Solutions Arena. Having the Timberwolves back-to-back may look easy on paper, but this team has been playing very well of late and if Kevin Love comes back to get a few games in, they become really tough games. The Warriors and Thunder may or may not have anything to play for with seeding slots, but either way, they’re tough games. Even if the Jazz were to finish 4-2 in these six, that still puts them a game behind in my opinion. I think they end up going 2-4 down the stretch.

DALLAS MAVERICKS (36-39)

(Remaining games = 7 | 4 Home, 3 Away)

@ Kings – WIN – High scoring, close game, but a W

@ Blazers – LOSS – They have to lose at least one of these seven

Vs. Suns – WIN – Phoenix, bleh

Vs. Nuggets – LOSS – Nuggets fighting for playoff positioning, something to play for

@ Hornets – WIN – Tough game, but get the win

Vs. Grizzlies – WIN – Desperation

Vs. Hornets – WIN – 2nd win over Hornets in 3 games, strong finish to the season at home

Finishing Record: 41-41

The Mavs are already way behind the other two teams. Realistically, they’d have to rip off all seven wins to even finish with a 43-39 record, which still might not get the job done. The 1-point, last-second loss to the Nuggets REALLY killed them. They certainly do have some weaker teams remaining with the Kings, Hornets (twice), Suns and banged up Blazers. If I’m being generous and putting them at 5-2 down the stretch, that still leaves them short. The reality is that they’ve dug too deep a whole in the past week to dig out. Oh well, there’s always free agency coming up, right Cuban?

The Mavericks were down 10 points with just 3 minutes to go, but they were led back by who else, but Dirk Nowitzki. The big man scored Dallas’ last 8 points, including a three-pointer with just 2 seconds left that won the game 100-98. Dirk finished with 35 points on a ridiculous 14-17 shooting.

(H/T @shighkinNBA for the video)

One thing he can’t do, however, is lead a fast break. He tried to do so earlier tonight against the Spurs, and finished it by running right through the Spurs’ Cory Joseph.

(H/T to @SBNationNBA)

Feb 13, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings (3) sets up a play during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Bradley Center. The Bucks beat the 76ers 94-92. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

With the trade deadline fast approaching, here are some of the latest news and rumors regarding potential trades around the league.

Brandon Jennings:

Is he happy in Milwaukee or not? Conflicting reports have surfaced about the young point guard’s future in the recent days.

Chad Ford of ESPN.com cited sources saying that Jennings has

“irreconcilable differences”

with the Bucks. Jennings, however, refuted those claims, saying,

“that stuff never came out of my mouth.”

We can’t know the truth, but Jennings did turn down a long-term deal earlier in the year.

If the Bucks do decide to trade Jennings, they will certainly have suitors. According to Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks would be one of those teams.

Mavs, I’m told, do have interest in Brandon Jennings and will be in mix for him if Bucks opt to make RFA-to-be available b4 Feb. 21 deadline

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 13, 2013

The Mavericks recently traded for Darren Collison, but Jennings would be an immediate upgrade at the point guard position.

Utah Jazz:

With an excess of big men, rumors have long been swirling about the Jazz making a move before the deadline. Most people thought that Paul Millsap would be the first one to go, but that may not be the case.

According to Rich Bucher,

“While I noted several days ago that Paul Millsap appeared to be the likelier Jazz big man to be dealt before the February trade deadline, an opposing team executive said there is more league-wide interest in Al Jefferson”

Whether or not they deal one of their many big men, the Jazz will likely not be able to afford both Millsap and Jefferson, especially with Gordon Hayward coming up for an extension soon.

Jan 15, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New Orleans Hornets guard Greivis Vasquez (21) shoots a layup during the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA is a star studded league filled with incredible talent. Guys like Kevin Durant and LeBron James run the Association. However, it’s easy to overlook the talent of the other immensely gifted players, because a lot of people pay closer attention to the best guys on teams that are successful. If you’re on the Magic then forget it you must stink, right? Wrong. I put together a list of five guys, on losing teams, that hardly get noticed for their play. Enjoy.

Kemba Walker, Charlotte Bobcats Kemba Walker is a star in the making and since he plays for the lowly Bobcats, he’s often overlooked. I’ll admit that he didn’t live up to expectations in his rookie year but he’s really made an impact in his sophomore season. Walker has really improved in every facet of the game since last year. Through Tuesday, he’s averaging 17.3 PPG which is almost 5.0 more points a game than last years average. Although, he’s stood pat at 3.5 RPG he has increased his averages in assists, steals, and blocks. In fact, he has either tied or bettered the averages of All-Star, Kyrie Irving. Now I’m not saying that Walker should be an All-star but what I am saying is that his numbers call for more attention than he’s getting. Walker’s field goal, 3-point, and free throw percentages are also all up from last year.

Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons Am I the only one that thinks Lawrence Frank is out of his mind for playing Drummond a measly 20 MPG? According to Basketball-Reference.com, the guy is averaging 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks per 36 minutes. Those are unbelievable numbers for Drummond, who was thought to be extremely raw coming out of college. There is really no justification for starting Maxiell over Drummond and I would love to hear any sort of reasoning Frank might have. Drummond is an explosive athlete with loads of potential. Unfortunately, fans hardly know about his success due to the small amount of playing time he gets and because he plays for the Detroit Pistons. I can’t imagine it will be too much longer until Drummond makes a name for himself in this league.

O.J. Mayo, Dallas Mavericks For some reason I feel like only a handful of people have noticed how vital O.J. Mayo has been for Dallas. The USC product did everything he possibly could to keep the Mavs relevant until Dirk returned from injury. Since Dirk has returned, Mayo hasn’t been as effective but he continues to show us what he can be as a basketball player. After failing to meet expectations in Memphis a fresh start in Dallas was just what he needed. He’d no longer be buried on the bench and he would be able to silence the doubts people may have had. Mayo has averaged career highs in almost every major category. This includes his conversion rate of 42% from beyond the arc. If I’m Memphis, I wish I had kept him because he would’ve been able to fill the void left by Rudy Gay seamlessly. Oh well, all they can do is watch as he quietly does his thing for a struggling Dallas squad.

Greivis Vasquez, New Orleans Hornets Greivis Vasquez is having a career year but playing for the 15th ranked team in the Western Conference doesn’t help. It also doesn’t help that he has rookie phenom Anthony Davis, who garners all of the attention, for a teammate. Vasquez ranks third in the league in assists per game, second if you don’t count Rondo. He’s only trailing Chris Paul by 0.1 assists.

Ill give you a moment to let that sink in. Ok, time’s up. Seeing as Greivis only trails two other point guards in the race for the assist crown, that also means for more mind boggling news. Vasquez has more assists than the likes of Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook, Steve Nash, etc. Those guys are all considered elite and while Vasquez isn’t elite yet, he definitely has the whole passing thing down. Look for him to only get better year after year.

Earl Clark, Los Angeles Lakers Earl Clark was supposed to be a throw in so the Lakers could get Dwight Howard, right? Well if he is just a throw in, he’s a pretty good one. Clark isn’t the kind of guy that’s going to put up eye popping numbers. However, he is someone that’s going to give 110% night in and night out. In 21 minutes per game, Clark is putting up 7 points and 6 rebounds. Again, not exactly star numbers but he’s not really a star, he’s a glue guy. He’s been a small bright spot in the Lakers nightmare of a season, filling in admirably for the likes of Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol. We’ll get to see a lot more of Clark now because of both Howard and Gasol being injured. I wouldn’t be shocked if he was a 10 and 10 guy when Gasol returns in 6-8 weeks.

*All stats from NBA.com unless otherwise noted.*

Follow @TimMaclean_StS

Dec 15, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) carries the ball during the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at the Target Center. The Wolves defeated the Mavericks 114-106 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Warriors (16-8) 115 @ Hawks (14-7) 93

• Leading scorers: GSW – David Lee 20, ATL – Al Horford 17.
• David Lee continues his All-Star-like season with 20 points (10-14 FG), 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.
• Steph Curry was only 6-20 from the field, but almost had a triple double with 18 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds.
• The Warriors ended up with 99 field goal attempts for the game (which was only regulation).
• Josh Smith was freezing cold, finishing with only 3 points on 1-12 shooting.
• Ivan Johnson was solid for the Hawks off the bench with 15 points and 9 rebounds.

Magic (10-13) 107 @ Bobcats (7-16) 98

• Leading scorers: ORL – Glen Davis, Aaron Afflalo 20, CHA – Kemba Walker 32.
• 11 straight losses and counting for the Bobcats.
• The Orlando Magic starters shot a combined 29 for 49 (59%).
• Nik Vucevic had a double double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
• Kemba Walker led the ‘Cats with 32 points (11-20 FG) and 7 assists.
• Gerald Henderson got back into the starting lineup with 34 minutes, 16 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.

Cavaliers (5-20) 102 @ Knicks (18-5) 103

• Leading scorers: CLE – Kyrie Irving 41, NYK – Raymond Felton 25.
• Kyrie Irving had a career-high 41 points (15-25 FG), but it wasn’t enough to top the Melo-less Knicks.
• The Knicks knocked down another 13 threes (on 35 attempts).
• Tyson Chandler had a solid double double with 23 points (9-10 FG) and 10 rebounds.
• J.R. Smith and Jason Kidd combined to shoot 9 for 40 from the field.
• Anderson Varejao was surprisingly quiet compared to his usual 2012-13 self with only 9 points and 8 rebounds.

Wizards (3-18) 72 @ Heat (15-6) 102

• Leading scorers: WAS – Bradley Beal 19, MIA – LeBron James 23.
• Unlike last time, the Heat handled the Wiz easily in this one, behind LeBron’s 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.
• All 13 Heat players that played in the game scored at least 3 points.
• Brad Beal (19) and Cartier Martin (18) were the only players in double figures for the Wizards.

Pacers (13-11) 88 @ Pistons (7-19) 77

• Leading scorers: IND – David West 23, DET – Greg Monroe 18.
• David West continued his efficient scoring with 23 points on 11 for 16 shooting.
• Paul George’s recent scoring binge was down a bit but he still finished with 15 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals.
• The Pistons shot only 38.6% from the field.
• Rodney Stuckey finished with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists.

Nets (13-10) 82 @ Bulls (13-9) 83

• Leading scorers: BKN – Deron Williams 24, CHI – Marco Belinelli 19.
• The Bulls went only 2-10 from downtown.
• Joakim Noah had another solid game with 12 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks.
• Brook Lopez returned, played 25 minutes and still put up a double double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Mavericks (11-13) 106 @ Timberwolves (12-9) 114 – OT

• Leading scorers: DAL – Derek Fisher, O.J. Mayo 20, MIN – Nikola Pekovic 21.
• The return of RICKY RUBIO resulted in 8 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals.
• The Wolves ended up with 15 steals in the game.
• ‘Big Pek’ finished with 21 points and 9 rebounds.
• Andrei Kirilenko finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
• Derek Fisher was the surprise guy for the Mavs with 20 points (5-8 FG, 7-7 FT).

Clippers (17-6) 111 @ Bucks (12-10) 85

• Leading scorers: LAC – Matt Barnes 21, MIL – Marquis Daniels 16.
• This would be 9 straight victories for the Clippers.
• Double doubles for Blake Griffin (18 pts, 11 rebs), Chris Paul (10 pts, 13 asts) and DeAndre Jordan (15 pts, 11 rebs).
• Matt Barnes with a solid game in 29 minutes. 21 points on 8-10 shooting.
• Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis combined to shoot 7 for 27 from the field.

Celtics (12-11) 88 @ Spurs (19-6) 103

• Leading scorers: BOS – Jason Terry, Paul Pierce 18, SAN – Tony Parker 22.
• All 11 Spurs players scored at least 3 points.
• Tim Duncan had his worst shooting performance of the season (2-13, 5 points), not that it mattered.
• The Spurs also knocked down 12 of their 25 3-point attempts.
• Rajon Rondo had a rough game by his standards. 6 points, 9 assists.

Grizzlies (15-6) 99 @ Jazz (13-12) 86

• Leading scorers: MEM – Zach Randolph 25, UTA – Al Jefferson 21.
• Down 10 at the half, the Grizzlies outscored the Jazz 55-32 in the second half.
• Zach Randolph posted a 25 point, 16 rebound effort.
• The Grizz outrebounded the Jazz 48-35.
• Paul Millsap was quiet for the Jazz with 12 points and 4 rebounds.

November 23, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith (5) after being called for a foul during the game against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Hawks win 101-91. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome to The Skyook’s NBA Power Rankings, where any given week, things can change faster than a James Harden trade.

Previous weeks: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3

Week 4 – November 26th, 2012

1. Memphis Grizzlies | 9-2 | Last week: 1

The Grizz ever so slightly edge the Spurs to keep the top spot this week. Though they only had 2 games last week, they beat the Lakers impressively and lost to a hot Nuggets team. Now they have the likes of the Cavs, Raptors and Pistons (a combined 9-32) coming to town.

2. San Antonio Spurs | 11-3 | Last week: 2

Even with injuries to Kawhi Leonard and Stephen Jackson, Spurs still look like a completely well-oiled machine. Tim Duncan just won the Western Conference Player of the Week and while it’s well deserved, he should have split it with his teammate Tony Parker, who’s been just as ridiculous.

3. Miami Heat | 10-3 | Last week: 5

The Heat make their current 4-game win streak look like a cake walk. Home games against the Spurs and Nets this week will provide a test. They lead the league in scoring (104.8), but is something up with D-Wade (18.1 pts on near-career low 15.1 FGA’s per game)?

4. New York Knicks | 9-3 | Last week: 3

The losses to the Mavs and Rockets were ugly, giving up 114 and 131 points respectively. Even giving up 100 to the Pistons was questionable. The Knicks “dream season” won’t continue with that kind of D, especially after they just got done gushing about Melo’s new found defensive presence.

5. Oklahoma City Thunder | 10-4 | Last week: 6

Big wins over the Clippers and Sixers last week get the Thunder to a very quiet 10-4. I don’t think enough has been made about Serge Ibaka’s consistent scoring improvement. He’s coming in at 15.1 points per game, way up from his 2011-12 average of 9.1 and career average of 8.9.

6. Los Angeles Clippers | 8-5 | Last week: 4

After a nice win in San Antonio, the Clips blew up with road losses to the Thunder, Nets and Hawks. As the team gets healthier, the questions are starting to get more serious about where all the minutes are going to go. Can Vinny D figure out a reliable rotation? Time will tell.

7. Brooklyn Nets | 8-4 | Last week: 8

In the wake of their showdown with the Knicks, it looks like the Nets are about about this defense thing, now leading the league in Points Against. They are playing well, but the Deron Williams (.399%) and Joe Johnson (.402%) shooting struggles still concern me.

8. Denver Nuggets | 8-6 | Last week: 11

The absolute streakiest team in the league. The Nugs season looks like this: 3 L’s, 4 W’s, 3 L’s and now 4 W’s again. They get a bump up with a 4-0 week, all against West foes. Though he’s only averaging 18.9 minutes per game, JaVale McGee has a surprising PER of 23.5.

9. Atlanta Hawks | 8-4 | Last week: 18

What a week for Hot-lanta Hawks! A 4-0 week and 5 straight wins overall give them the biggest rise of the week, from #18 up to #9. What’s not to love about Jeff Teague running the show right now? 13.8 points, 7.3 assists, 1.5 steals with very nice percentages (48 FG%, 42 3PT%, 91 FT%).

10. Los Angeles Lakers | 7-7 | Last week: 10

I’m fine with them dropping one in Memphis, but the Kings loss was completely unacceptable. Antawn Jamison is showing some signs of life under D’Antoni, exactly the kind of punch that the Lake Show needs. Looks like Nash is still a couple of weeks away from returning.

11. Boston Celtics | 8-6 | Last week: 9

This is an extremely hard team to figure out. One night, they look like East contenders, the next night they look Lottery bound. The Celtics/Nets divisional battle should be real nice on Wednesday. With the Nets D, can they keep Rondo in check and stop his assist streak?

12. Milwaukee Bucks | 6-5 | Last week: 7

After I give the mad props in last weeks’ Rankings, the Bucks go put up a stinking 0-3 week. Maybe Skiles will give John Henson more run after his 17 point, 18 rebound outburst against the Heat? In the same minutes, how is Udrih (1.0) averaging more blocks than Dalembert (0.2)?

13. Philadelphia 76ers | 8-6 | Last week: 13

Now Andrew Bynum is out “indefinitely,” whatever that means, to which the rowdy Philly fans have already lost their cool with Bynum. Jrue Holiday is earning every single penny of that contract, as evidenced in his most recent outing of 33 points and 13 assists in a win over the Suns.

14. Chicago Bulls | 6-6 | Last week: 14

The Bulls were very out of sorts allowing a handful of 100 point games to only mediocre opponents. When Nate Robinson is leading your bench squad, that has to be concerning. Very weak second unit right now.

15. Utah Jazz | 7-7 | Last week: 15

The Jazz splits trend continues. Now 5-0 at home, while 2-7 on the road. They have to get more of these away games to have a playoff shot in the West. A positive for this team however, is their balance. Favors is 0.1 point away from being the 7th guy averaging double figures.

16. Golden State Warriors | 8-6 | Last week: 17

Really nice 3-1 week for the Warriors, knocking off the Mavs, Nets and Wolves. While Klay Thompson’s PER (9.6) is alarmingly low, his shooting percentage is slowly starting to get better. 23 (10-19), 16 (6-12) and 24 (8-17) in his last 3 games.

17. Dallas Mavericks | 7-7 | Last week: 12

A .500 record at this point is acceptable, but Mavs will be tested heavily with 11 of their next 15 games on the road. It might be time to start giving Jae Crowder more than 19 minutes per game. One would have to consider O.J. Mayo an All-Star at this point right?

18. Charlotte Bobcats | 7-5 | Last week: 22

The Bobs are still floating on Cloud Nine after going 3-1 last week. Interesting to note that they are 2-0 in overtime games this year. Ramon Sessions is quietly  sticking his nose in the 6th Man competition. Very respectable averages in just under 30 minutes and plays in crunch time.

19. Minnesota Timberwolves | 5-7 | Last week: 16

After going 0-3 last week, it’s so so great to see Kevin Love out there again. Arguably a Top 10 player in the league. It’s only 3 games, but the 24.3 points and 14.0 rebounds averages are beautiful. Now the wins need to come, but the team can’t blame him.

20. Portland Trail Blazers | 6-7 | Last week: 20

While 6-7 isn’t the most impressive, the Blazers sure have a nice young core forming. Aldridge, Batum, Lillard and Matthews all averaging over 17 points per game. And their 5th starter, J.J. Hickson is no sloutch averaging a double double.

21. Houston Rockets | 6-7 | Last week: 21

Thoughts and prayers go out to Kevin McHale and his family after an absolute tragedy. On the basketball side, I wonder how much fun Jeremy Lin had in the Rockets hanging 131 points on his former Knick teammates.

22. Indiana Pacers | 6-8 | Last week: 19

No matter how disappointing Roy Hibbert has been, 11 blocked shots (and the Pacers first triple double since 2003) is uber impressive. We’ll see where the Pacers stand after going out on the West Coast to face most of the Pacific division this week.

23. Phoenix Suns | 6-8 | Last week: 23

The fortunate Suns get to start their road trip off this week with the fantastic Cavs, Pistons, Raptors trio. The defense has been horrid, dead last in the league, allowing 103.3 points per game. Jermaine O’Neal is a bit of a feel-good story right about now.

24. Orlando Magic | 5-8 | Last week: 25

With the Spurs, Nets and Lakers on the schedule next, the Magic might be in for a rough week ahead. Maybe I’m setting the bar too high, but shouldn’t Big Baby Davis be shooting better than .418% from the field? More Moe Harkless and more Andrew Nicholson!

25. New Orleans Hornets | 3-9 | Last week: 24

Mostly without Anthony Davis, the poor Hornets have dropped 7 straight games, allowing over 100 points in all of them. With Ryan Anderson’s shooting performance against the Suns (8 for 13 from behind the arc), he has taken over the team scoring lead at over 17 per game.

26. Toronto Raptors | 3-11 | Last week: 26

Is there a team (save for the Wizards) that loses games as brutally as the Raps. The ref-blown game in Charlotte by 1 point, a last second layup the next and then a double OT loss to the tough Spurs at home. Bargnani’s inconsistency is getting very tiring.

27. Sacramento Kings | 4-9 | Last week: 28

The Raps record may be worse, but on a neutral court, I’m taking them over this Kings team. Thomas Robinson is only getting 15 minutes a game and has not made the impact most thought he would. Too early to file him under the “bust” category, given his draft position?

28. Cleveland Cavaliers | 3-10 | Last week: 27

The Irving-less Cavs are pretty dreadful, but Andy Varejao continues to ball out of control and could end up with the rebounding title this season. When are the Cavs going to get anything from C.J. Miles? He’s having a horrible time so far in Cleveland, shooting 29% overall.

29. Detroit Pistons | 3-11 | Last week: 29

At least Lawrence Frank has this team competing on a more regular basis after the horrible start. Is anyone else in the “How the heck has Tayshaun Prince stayed a Piston for this long?” camp? Maybe this will be the year he gets moved, for both their sakes.

30. Washington Wizards | 0-11 | Last week: 30

Give the Wizards credit for their creativity, as they are finding new ways to lose all the time. This week included two overtime games, one of which featured a failed last second tip in from Martell Webster that was waived off at the buzzer. Welcome to Washington.

May 3, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) drives to the basket during game three in the Western Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the American Airlines Center. The Thunder defeated the Mavericks 95-79. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

Dirk Nowitzki
Resume: 21.6 points (8th in league), 6.8 rebounds, 33.5 minutes, 318 free throws made (6th in league), 46% FG, 90% FT (3rd in league) and 37% 3PT… Team record in games played: 33-29 (3-1 without)… Playoffs: 26.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 44% FG, 0-4 record… All-Star, 12th in MVP Voting, 3rd Team All-NBA

A year ago today was a very dark time in the world. On this day in 2011 the NBA players and owners were once again sitting down to attempt to end the lockout, this time with federal mediator George Cohen, who was unsuccessful in his attempt to end the NFL lockout, so naturally he’d find success with a different group of millionaires and billionaires. I remain thoroughly convinced that in some of the earlier meetings the owners and players did nothing that involved rationally ending the lockout. In my head I believe the 3 day series of meetings on October 18^th to October 20^th went something like this: On day one the “negotiations” began when three NBA players and three owners decided they would try to settle the lockout the good old fashioned way: Monopoly. Of course because Monopoly takes forever, they couldn’t finish the game on day one. Day two began and they re-started the game. Three hours into the “negotiations” the players realized that David Stern (the banker) was giving the owners extra money and properties so the game came to a screeching halt. The next four hours everyone sat in complete silence. Then for the rest of day two and the entirety of day three they watched the Godfather Trilogy. The end.

There was really no reason to believe that there would even be a 2011-12 season. This was particularly unfortunate for me, a LeBron James fan, because LeBron was coming off an NBA Finals meltdown that was tragically overshadowing a much bigger story. What had happened a few months prior was Dirk Nowitzki throwing his name in the discussion for 2^nd greatest power forward of all-time after delivering a legacy defining run through the postseason where he not only defeated, but outplayed Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Not an easy feat, but Dirk pulled it off and made a legitimate case that he was the best basketball player in the world, even if nobody really cared too much about it.

If anything, the NBA lockout hurt Dirk’s cause. The extra two months of offseason should’ve given us a little bit longer to discuss what he did in the playoffs, but instead too much of it was being spent discussing LeBron choking, the lockout itself, the Chris Paul trade debacle, and everything else negative.
Dirk showed up for the season out of shape, Mark Cuban decimated the Mavericks in an attempt to
clear cap space, and the Mavericks never really had a chance to compete for a Championship last season. The Mavericks didn’t even get to enjoy raising the championship banner since the Heat decimated them in Dallas on Christmas day. Suddenly everyone had completely forgotten about Dirk and the Mavericks all over again. The playoffs came, Dallas got swept in the first round and LeBron put together a much more dominant run through the postseason than Dirk did in 2011. The media talked about it for weeks, leaving me to ask the question, where was all of Dirk’s praise?

You could make the case that Dirk will be the forgotten star of his era.  Because of the emphasis on endorsements, super teams, personalities and winning multiple titles, there is a decent chance that Dirk is going to be lost in the shuffle of all of the late 90’s/00’s stars when their era is over. Since the Mavericks seemingly don’t have a roster that can compete for a title, these next few years we can’t just forget about Dirk when he is still around. We should appreciate the brilliance of a 7’0 power footer who can score the ball with incredible ease in the same ways a shooting guard and a center would. He’s the closest thing we’ve seen to Larry Bird since Larry Bird, and perhaps the greatest international player in basketball history. For two months in 2011 Dirk outplayed everyone else in the NBA, and even with an offseason that was extended by an extra two months, he wasn’t talked about enough.

• 

  Sep 28, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks shooting guard O.J. Mayo (32) poses for a portrait during media day at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

  O.J. MAYO, SG, Dallas Mavericks
  Last season: 26.8 MPG, 12.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 14.76 PER
  Mark Cuban and the Mavericks are welcoming some newcomers to Big D this season. While Darren Collison, Chris Kaman and Elton Brand will all be featured on a changed Mavs squad, it’s O.J. Mayo that I expect to be the guy who can make the true difference. After almost two full seasons (120 of 137 games) of coming off the bench for the Grizzlies, Mayo will get a chance to start in Dallas. He went as far to say earlier today that his time in Memphis was a “failure.” Think he has a chip on his shoulder? Until very recently (Championship Tyson Chandler), the Big “D” in Dallas certainly didn’t stand for “defense.” Mayo is considered one of the top perimeter defenders in the league, so his contributions on that end will improve at least the Mavs shooting guard slot. From an offensive perspective, it’s easy to forget that Mayo averaged 18.5 and 17.5 points per game in his first two seasons. He should give be able to give Dirk a boost as a third or even second option.

• 

  Oct 1, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin (7) poses for a portrait during media day at the House of Blues. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE

  JEREMY LIN, PG, Houston Rockets
  Last season: 26.9 MPG, 14.6 PPG, 6.2 APG, 19.97 PER
  Linsanity makes his way back to a very unfamiliar Houston Rockets roster for the 2012-13 season. With a lineup very absent of veterans, one of the biggest questions for the Rockets this year will be if Jeremy Lin can repeat what he did last year for the New York Knicks, especially coming back from a major injury? With a potential starting lineup of Lin, Kevin Martin, Chandler Parsons, Patrick Patterson and Omer Asik, Lin will need to be a carbon copy of what he was in NY for this team to win any amount of games. Martin, a career 18.4 ppg scorer, will be option number one, but Lin will need to be option number two. With some fresh-starting bigs this season, Lin will need to be an even better distributor this time around.

• 

  May 5, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay (22) reacts after missing a shot at the end of game three of the 2012 Western Conference quarterfinals against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Grizzlies 87-86. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

  RUDY GAY, SF, Memphis Grizzlies
  Last season: 37.3 MPG, 19.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 17.85 PER
  Rudy Gay is certainly paid like a team’s best player, but with more focus on Marc Gasol (and even Zach Randolph) these days, are we sure he’s even that anymore? Look, I love Rudy Gay and his skill set. When he was rumored to be in talks with Toronto, I was excited that I might get to see him play more than a few times. Now there is nothing wrong with 19.0 ppg, but for Memphis to get over the playoff hump, Gay may have to assert himself even more on both ends of the floor. I may be setting the bar extremely high, as Rudy is already a fine defensive player, but when I see a guy with physical attributes like that, I selfishly demand more. This team has several “stars,” but I want to see Rudy Gay strive to make an All-Star team in the West and become that superstar the Grizzlies need.

• 

  April 4, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets shooting guard Eric Gordon (10) during the first half of a game against the Denver Nuggets at the New Orleans Arena. The Hornets defeated the Nuggets 94-92. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

  ERIC GORDON, SG, New Orleans Hornets
  Last season: 34.4 MPG, 20.6 PPG, 3.4 APG, 19.23 PER
  Yes, Anthony Davis is an obvious X-Factor for these young Hornets. He will be a defensive monster and likely coast to the Rookie of the Year honor. However, with Davis still lacking some offensive polish, Eric Gordon will be the MAN again to provide the biggest chunk of the points for the Hornets. Having only played in 9 games last season for New Orleans, he’ll also have to work his way back into the chemistry of the team, which has definitely added some new parts in Davis, Ryan Anderson, Robin Lopez and Austin Rivers. Gordon certainly has those intentions and was quoted recently as saying, “I definitely want to be an All-Star this year and play a lot of games, because that’s the only thing that’s been holding me back. It’s all about being a leader and helping the team win games.” I’d count on Eric Gordon having a BIG year.

• 

  Mar. 27, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard/forward Kawhi Leonard during game against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. The Spurs defeated the Suns 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

  KAWHI LEONARD, SF, San Antonio Spurs
  Last season: 24.0 MPG, 7.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 16.66 PER
  In a season or two, it’ll be all about the youth movement in San Antonio. Duncan will likely be retiring, Ginobili and Parker will be aging veterans and a new core will have to be formed. That’s why the continued improvement of Kawhi Leonard is extremely important to this franchise. In terms of this season, Leonard’s second, he will see his share of minutes and will be counted on for his efficiency once again. The valuable thing about Leonard is that he doesn’t need to score to be effective. Although I would expect his point average to get up near double digits this season, he’s a terrific defender and when he does score, he does it very effectively (.493%). The Spurs shouldn’t need a ton of “extra,” as they’re successful every season, but an even more dynamic Kawhi Leonard may be enough to deal with the other powers in the West.

May 2, 2012; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard O.J. Mayo (32) reacts after sinking a shot during the second half of game two in the Western Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Clippers at FedEx Forum. Memphis won 105-98. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-US PRESSWIRE

Few players in the NBA needed a change of scenery this off-season as much as O.J. Mayo. After an impressive first season (18.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists a game) where he was named Rookie of the Year runner-up to Derrick Rose in 2008-2009 and an equally solid sophomore campaign with the Memphis Grizzlies where it seemed as though the sky was the limit, Mayo was relegated to a sixth man role by coach Lionel Hollins in his next two seasons and his minutes and stats took quite a hit as a result.

After averaging 17.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game in 2009-2010 while playing 38 minutes a night, Mayo’s minutes were cut to 26.3 and 26.8 the past two seasons. His shooting percentages took a dip as he shot 40.7 (2010-11) and 40.8 (2011-12) percent from the field compared to 43.8 (2009) and 45.8 (2010) and he didn’t averaged more than 12.6 points a game during the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

It also did not help that Mayo experienced some off the court troubles as well, including an infamous fight on the plane with teammate Tony Allen over a gambling debt and a ten-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program. By all accounts however, Mayo handled his new sixth man role with the Grizzlies in stride and was a professional despite the decreased playing time and frequent trade rumors. Mayo was even included in a trade to the Indiana Pacers at the 2011 trade deadline that was not completed due to the paperwork being sent to league offices too late.

Fast forward to the summer of 2012 and Mayo’s free agency, O.J. does not turn 25 until November and teams including the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, and Phoenix Suns showed strong interest before Mayo eventually signed with the Dallas Mavericks on a 2-year, 8.5 million dollar deal with a player option for the second year. He joins Elton Brand, Darren Collison and Chris Kaman as part of a new look Mavericks squad expected to form a solid supporting cast for superstar Dirk Nowitzki.

It’s not as though Mayo forgot how to play the game, he is one of the most decorated high school players in recent memory and has everything it takes to be a prolific guard in the NBA. He has always been able to score, has nice ball handling skills and has shown the ability to be a very good defender in addition to his above average athleticism and strength. In Dallas, he should be immediately starting at shooting guard where his main competition is the corpse formerly known as Vince Carter and can even play the point guard position in spurts. In other words the minutes are there for the taking.

I fully expect O.J. Mayo to replicate, if not surpass Jason Terry’s production with the Mavericks and become the 18-20 point a game scorer fans and people around the league expected him to be when drafted with the 3rd pick of the 2008 NBA Draft. This is the perfect opportunity for O.J. to realize his potential, he can make himself some substantial money and find more long term security in his next contract assuming he plays at a high level in his time in Dallas. While Mark Cuban may have struck out on Deron Williams, Steve Nash and Dwight Howard this summer, he may have found himself a great discount in the signing of O.J. Mayo while maintaining financial flexibility for future seasons.

After the conclusion of last year’s Mavs-Thunder series – where the Mavericks dispensed the Thunder with relative ease in five games – Russell Westbrook pulled a LeBron and stormed off the court without exchanging handshakes with the Mavericks players and coaches.  Afterwards, he was heavily criticized not just for his lack of sportsmanship at the moment, but also his play.  His shot selection and apparent reluctance to let Kevin Durant be the go-to scorer was much maligned – even up to this day.   Subsequently, many were persistently questioning the ability of Westbrook to coexist with Durant.

In this year’s playoffs, it appears that questioning has halted – at least for the moment.  While Kevin Durant has struggled with his jump shot over the first two games – albeit lifting the Thunder in the waning seconds of Game 1 – it was his co-pilot Westbrook who led the charge this time around with 29 points and leading the Thunder to a Game 2 victory.  In these last two games, he’s been the steady scorer that OKC expects Durant to be.  With Dallas having only Jason Kidd – who has 17 years worth of mileage on his legs – and Roddy Beaubois –who has yet to provide the same spark as a backup point guard as JJ Barea used to – to guard him, Westbrook is the single worst matchup for the Mavericks.  A huge reason why Kevin Durant is struggling to find a rhythm is because Rick Carlisle has Shawn Marion to make Durant’s life difficult.  But they have no such answer for Westbrook, and they should take full advantage of that.

Still, the game was very much within reach for Dallas.  Had Dirk Nowitzki not missed a WIDE open three-pointer (which I’m quite shocked that he missed) and a 12-foot fadeaway in the closing minutes, the series could very well be tied.

Should Dallas be worried?

Yes.  For the second straight game, Dallas threatened to steal home court advantage from the Thunder.  But also for the second straight game, they failed to execute down the stretch.  One has to believe that Dirk will not keep missing clutch shots – particularly in Dallas over the next two games.  But they should also be worried about their lack of production from their bench.  Roddy Beaubois and Brandan Wright did not see much time on the floor (5 minutes each), chiefly due to their overall nervous play so far.  Vince Carter has logged 30+ minutes in each of the first two games, but only scored 5 points on 2-9 shooting and only attempted 2 free throws.  He did have some nice moments in these first two games, but for a guy of Carter’s caliber (and with plenty of playoff experience), he needs to play better.

What to expect in Game 3

If you’re Dallas, you have to take some positives from losing two road games by only a combined four points against a heavily favored team.  Quite reasonably, this series could easily be 2-0 in favor of Dallas.  Still, their inability to execute in crunch time in two straight close games is troubling.

If you’re OKC, you’re hoping that KD finds his shot again.  If not, you have to ride Westbrook and let him be “The Man” again, despite seemingly everyone’s preconceived notion that he shouldn’t be more than a second fiddle.

I may be just desperately clinging on to my pre-series prediction at this point, but I just can’t see Dallas going away this easily.  Being at home, I think one of Dallas’s role players – who, outside of Jason Terry, have been fairly nonexistent up to this point – will put his imprint on the series.  I also don’t think Dirk – a proven playoff performer – can choke in three straight games when the game is close.  Therefore, without feeling comfortable with the prediction at all, I say Dallas wins Game 3 fairly handily.

Apr 15, 2012; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Iman Shumpert (21) defends Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Miami won 93-85. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-US PRESSWIRE

• Stat: With Iman Shumpert on the floor this season, Dwyane Wade averaged 10.1 more points and shot 7.5 more free throw attempts per 36 minutes than he did when Shumpert was on the bench.
• Take: Shumpert’s season-ending ACL tear in Miami’s win on Saturday was an obviously devastating loss for the Knicks, but not for the reason most think.  The story goes that without Shumpert – a rare defensive plus on the perimeter as a rookie – Wade will be free to exploit Landry Fields, JR Smith, and anyone else New York sends his way.  But the statistics tell a different story; Wade was much more productive and efficient offensively when matched up against the aggressive rookie.  The sample size here is admittedly small, but the idea remains that the Knicks might be just as adversely affected on offense as they are on the other end without Shumpert.  Though hardly a marksman from long-range, he fared much better than Fields in that regard this season, and his absence means the already limited floor-spacing for New York will be even more scarce.

Orlando Magic at Indiana Pacers (7:30EST on NBATV): Magic lead series 1-0

Apr 28, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers power forward David West (21) shoots the ball against Orlando Magic power forward Glen Davis (11) and Orlando Magic power forward Ryan Anderson (33) during the first half of game one in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Michael Hickey-US PRESSWIRE

• Stat: In Saturday’s 81-77 home loss, the Pacers made just 11 of their 28 attempts at the rim for a mark of 39.8%.
• Take: Dwight Howard sure did a great job protecting the rim and affecting shots in his team’s win on Saturday.  Wait… That Dwight-less Orlando was able to so effectively bother Indy’s shots in the paint is a great indicator of future success in this series.  The Magic blocked eight shots on Saturday – almost double their 28th ranked season-average of 4.2 – with Earl Clark swatting four and the vertically challenged Glen Davis getting three of his own.  The Pacers shot just 58% at the rim this season (good for 29th in the league), so their struggles here are hardly new.  But their inaccuracy in-close was as bad as it gets in game 1, and credit goes not only to Clark and Davis but also Orlando’s general aggressive and scrappy defensive disposition when Indy got the ball in the paint.  If the Magic can continue to wreak collective havoc when the much longer Pacers are at the rim, they’ll have a distinct advantage most everyone thought would be the opposite when this series began.

Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City Thunder (9:30EST on TNT): Thunder lead series 1-0

Apr 26, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Jason Terry (31) looks on against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 106-89. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-US PRESSWIRE

• Stat: With Jason Terry on the bench, the Thunder have a defensive rating of 90.0 against Dallas this season.  When Terry is on the floor, that number jumps all the way to 103.2.
• Take: That stark contrast in OKC’s defensive efficiency is hardly surprising – a nuanced veteran with the shot-making skills of Terry will always give the occasionally undisciplined Thunder fits.  Terry had 20 points on 8-10 shooting Saturday in addition to five assists, posting the Mavericks’ best plus/minus number (+8) along the way.  He hurt Oklahoma City most in primary and secondary transition situations where the Thunder routinely struggle to get back on defense and locate the opposition’s biggest threat.  Terry has one of the quickest releases in the game, and OKC’s preoccupation with Dirk Nowitzki and the unparalleled distribution skills of Jason Kidd make help make him a very tough cover for the Thunder.  He was held in check down the stretch on Saturday, though, as Russell Westbrook devoted full attention to not allow Terry space and used his superior size and strength to push Terry from his most comfortable spots on the floor.  Nowitzki, obviously, is what makes the Mavericks go, but the play of Terry will mean just as much in deciding the ultimate outcome of this series.

Apr 28, 2012; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots the game winning shot against the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter in game one of the Western Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

MVP candidate Kevin Durant struggled with his jump shot all night long.  But did that stop him from taking the last shot in the final seconds when Oklahoma City was down by one?

Not a chance.

Durant’s difficult, contested floater from the foul line barely dropped in before the clock struck zero, and  the Thunder escaped with a 99-98 victory against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the First Round.

Should Dallas be encouraged or discouraged?

After Dirk Nowitzki’s and-one play with 2:20 left in the fourth quarter, the Mavs were up by a comfortable seven points and had this game won.  But some costly turnovers and giving up back-to-back three point plays in the final minutes became their undoing.  Rick Carlisle and Nowitzki blamed the loss on not only these crucial mistakes in the final minutes, but also their inability to get the ball to red-hot Jason Terry (who had 20 points in the first 3 quarters, but none thereafter).  Terry’s explosion in the first half made up for a relatively so-so overall game for Dirk, who put the Mavs in a position to win when he scored 11 of his 25 points in the last 5 minutes.

Still, the Mavs should be encouraged despite the loss.  Not many expected them to be in a position to steal home court advantage, yet they really dictated play for all but the final two minutes of this game.

Apr 26, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Jason Terry (31) looks on against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 106-89. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-US PRESSWIRE

Should Oklahoma City be encouraged or discouraged?

Durant may have provided the last-second heroics, but it was really James Harden who kept OKC in the game.  In his first game since suffering a concussion from Ron Artest’s vicious elbow, Harden scored 19 points and made several timely baskets to keep the Thunder within striking distance.

In the end, I’m not sure if the Thunder should be too high on this win.  Many of the issues that made OKC a mediocre team for the month of April aren’t going away like most expected, perhaps chief among them that Durant still can’t find consistency with his jumper.  One saving grace is that Russell Westbrook seemed to have found his shot, days after going a miserable 3-22 against the Lakers earlier last week.  Still, if not for Harden and an above-average scoring performance by Serge Ibaka (22 points), Dallas could very well have dominated this game.  Durant and Westbrook need to find ways to penetrate Dallas’s zone defense and not settle for outside jumpers,  a trend that has really hurt them all month long.

What should we expect in Game 2?

As I said in my series prediction, Dallas has no fear of the Thunder – a team they made relatively quick work of in last year’s Conference Finals.  Durant, Westbrook, and Harden all have to be playing well in order to knock off Dallas in this series.  For Dallas, as long as they can out-rebound the Thunder and get to the foul line as well as they did in Game 1, I expect Rick Carlisle to rally his guys and come out with the same effort and steal home court advantage. Either way, this is shaping up to be the best first-round series in the playoffs.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

7. New York Knicks (29-27)- Every time it seems like the Knicks’ season might be gone for good, New York goes on a run to save it again. The Knicks have won 11 of their past 14 games, including a statement win Sunday afternoon against the Bulls. Four of the next five games are huge for New York. Two are against the Bulls and the Heat, who serve as potential first round match-ups. The other two can help the Knicks secure a playoff spot (at Milwaukee) and close the gap on the division lead (home against Boston). The way New York has been playing the last few weeks, it would be surprising to see them not make the postseason. Prediction: Make the playoffs.

8. Philadelphia (29-27) What happened? It wasn’t too long ago that the Sixers had a strong lead on the division and seemed like a lock for home-court advantage in the first round. Now, after losing 10 of its last 14 games, the Sixers might not make the playoffs. To make it even worse, eight of Philadelphia’s last 10 games are on the road. The good news is that all but three of those final games are against teams with losing records, and as they’re just three games behind Boston, a hot finish could sneak the Sixers back into the four seed. Prediction: Make the playoffs.

9. Milwaukee Bucks (28-29) The Bucks are on the outside looking in, but play five of their last nine games at home. To make things even better, two of those home games come against New York and Philadelphia. The Bucks do need some help to make it back into the top eight, but the way the Sixers have been struggling, anything is possible. Prediction: Miss the playoffs.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

6. Houston Rockets (32-25) The Rockets four-game winning streak has vaulted them all the way up to the six seed. But can they stay there? Only three of their final nine games are against teams with losing records. That being said, five of those games come against the other four teams fighting for the final three playoff spots. To sum it up, the Rockets largely control whether or not they will be playing in the postseason. Prediction: Make the playoffs.

7. Dallas Mavericks (31-26) Didn’t expect the Mavericks this far down the board this late in the season, did you? Me neither. Dallas looked like a lock for a playoff spot until a recent 4-6 skid. It appears that the shortened, condensed season hasn’t been kind to the veteran-laden Mavs. But you have to believe that Dirk Nowitzki wouldn’t allow Dallas to fall out of the playoff picture, right? Right? Prediction: Make the playoffs.

8. Denver Nuggets (31-26) How fun would it be to have a first round match-up between the Thunder and the Nuggets? They are the two top offenses in the league and are wrought with young talent. We know the Thunder will be there, but what about Denver? It’s been an up and down season for the Nuggets, and the final stretch won’t make it easy on them. Outside of two games against the Timberwolves (no slouch), every team Denver faces the rest of the way has a winning record. Prediction: Miss the playoffs.

9. Phoenix Suns (30-27)- Think that Nuggets schedule was bad? All but one of Phoenix’s remaining games comes against teams with a winning record. The good news, though, is that the Suns finish the season off with five of their final six games at home. And winning at home is exactly how Phoenix played its way back into the playoff picture. The Suns have been one of the  league’s hottest teams (pun intended) since mid-February, winning 18 of their last 26 games. Prediction: Make the playoffs.

10. Utah Jazz (30-28)- What kills the Jazz is that they are two games back of the eight seed in the loss column. With so few games remaining and so many teams fighting for those final playoff sports, the Jazz will have to win almost every game to have a chance. I just can’t see that happening. Prediction: Miss the playoffs.

LOSERS:

 Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard’s Public Image

Mar 14, 2012; San Antonio, TX, USA; Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) shoots a free throw during the first half against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT

Where do we even begin?  After requesting a trade in the off-season, and a series of eyebrow-raising comments and little girly-like, flaky behavior, most expected Dwight to be traded today.  But after changing his mind seemingly every 15 minutes, he ultimately decided to waive his ETO to become a free agent this summer and extend this back-and-forth debacle for another year.  Sure, it’s a temporary relief for Orlando to keep him and have more time to decide what to do with him.  But the stigma of Howard wanting to leave has not changed and will continue to linger with the team.  Here is a notional transcript of how I think conversations between him and those giving him advice (whether it’s his friends, Nets personnel, or anyone not qualified to help him make a decision) went:

• [Dwight]:  Man, I don’t know what to do.  I want to go to Brooklyn and play with my boy D-Will, but I don’t want them to clean out their roster in order to get me.
• [Bad Advisor]:   Why don’t you just sign with them as a free agent for less money?  That way, they’ll keep Brook Lopez, MarShon Brooks, and draft picks they would have had to give up if they traded for you.
• [Dwight]:  Hmm, maybe I could tell them to “roll the dice” [which he stupidly did, by the way] and make them keep me until the off-season, and then maybe I could audition for free agency by carrying my mediocre Magic team to the second roundof the playoffs and beyond!
• [Bad Advisor]:  Oh yeah!  Maybe tell them that you won’t opt out of your contract this year.  That way, you can leave for nothing!

A few hours later, after the Magic told Dwight to sign a waiver to commit to the 2012-13 season:

• [Dwight]:  ****, they’re making me sign a waiver because of what I said!  I was hoping they would just take my word for it!  I don’t know if I want to wait to leave for a whole ‘nother year!  They’re totally on to me..
• [Bad Advisor]:  Sounds like you’re between a rock and a hard place on this one.  They don’t trust you – you have to earn their trust back; maybe after a year, they will think you’re loyal again.
• [Dwight]:  Okay, how about this – I’ll just sign the waiver and try to be super loyal from now until next summer so that they can let me go for free!  And then, the Nets won’t have to blow up their roster before I get there!  And if D-Will leaves by then, I’ll at least have my choice of where I can go when I become a free agent!
• [Bad Advisor]:  Great idea!  Now just let the Magic and their fans know how sorry you are and that you’re in it for the long run – and by that I mean, you’re in it for another year.

Of course, this is all my personal speculation.  But I don’t see anyone else making plausible sense of Dwight’s last 24-48 hours.

Also, if I’m other NBA teams, I don’t even want to touch this guy unless he signs with me long-term.  His logic for what he wants in a team has been shaky at best.  Even though he claims he wants to pair up with a superstar, he doesn’t want to go to Chicago because it’s too cold.  He also wants to be the #1 guy.  He wants to play with his friends.  He wants to have input on personnel decisions.  I mean, seriously, what the heck does he want?  Nobody knows, and that’s why nobody pulled the trigger on a trade.  That’s what he gets for being flaky.

If you’re a Magic fan, you have to loathe this guy right now.  And don’t be fooled for a second – he wants to go elsewhere – just not to a bad and depleted team.  In the super awkward and embarrassing press conference after his decision was announced, Dwight pretended that his decision was a result of his “loyalty” to the team.  Please!  If he were really loyal, he would have signed a long-term extension.  Instead, he’s opting to drag this circus on for another year.  I can’t wait!

Of all the parties listed below, several were directly affected by the Dwight Howard saga.

New Jersey Nets

The obvious loser, at least for the short term, may have to wait until next summer to reap the benefits of Dwight’s exit strategy.   This is a huge blow to their chances of keeping Deron Williams as well, as he may not want to wait an entire year on a bad team before Dwight gets to town.  Their inability to land Dwight led them to make a panic trade for Gerald Wallace from Portland.

New York Knicks

Mar. 14, 2012; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks interim head coach Mike Woodson and small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) on the sidelines during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden. Knicks won 121-79. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

Much of the turmoil and destruction of Linsanity has been attributed to Carmelo Anthony and Coach Mike D’Antoni.  In a league that seemingly values “star” players more than coaches, D’Antoni became the scapegoat.  When D’Antoni resigned, it was a statement by the Knicks that they are behind Carmelo, even though he is the obvious culprit to the Knicks’ struggles.  Back when I was gloating about Linsanity, I warned everyone with a disclaimer that Melo may put an abrupt end to the Linsanity.  Sadly, my fear of Carmelo’s return was fully realized (read the full article here).  Ultimately, Melo refused to adapt to D’Antoni’s offense, and completely destroyed what made Jeremy Lin flourish.   In other words, expect Knicks fans and Melo haters to keep up the “Carmelo Anthony Sucks” forums.  I don’t blame them.  Firing D’Antoni, after he gave the abysmal franchise 10 days of hope without his two “superstars”, and keeping Melo through the trade deadline makes them perhaps the biggest losers of the trade deadline.

Also, blowing out Portland hours after D’Antoni’s firing means nothing.  All that meant is that it was a classic “Which Team is Less Dysfunctional” game.

Los Angeles Lakers

With Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum now fully vested in the team, the Lakers can make some noise in the Western Conference.  But I really have to question their moves today.  After acquiring Ramon Sessions and getting rid of Derek Fisher – who was one of the true staples of the franchise – I’m not so sure if they’re much better.  Sessions is a talented scorer and finisher, but not a true point guard.  How is that going to mesh with their Big 3?  And by getting rid of Fisher, they are going to be relying much more heavily on Kobe Bryant in crunch-time situations.   Given their narrow margins of victory over the last several games, I think this may come back to haunt them – especially in the playoffs.

WINNERS:

Milwaukee Bucks

Acquiring Monta Ellis for the oft-injured Andrew Bogut, their now-former franchise player, makes them a virtual lock to acquire the 8^th seed in the playoffs.  Ekpe Udoh gives them much-needed front court depth, as well.

Dallas Mavericks

I know they stood pat today, but their chances of replacing aging point guard Jason Kidd with superstar Deron Williams has increased exponentially.  After Dwight Howard’s catastrophic PR actions led him to stay in Orlando for another year, he threw a curveball in D-Will’s plans this offseason.  Now, Williams will have to make up his mind as a free agent this summer whether he thinks pairing up with Dwight will be an option or not.

March 09, 2012; Sacramento, CA, USA; Dallas Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd (2) controls the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter at Power Balance Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

San Antonio Spurs

Once again, never underestimate the Spurs.  After a few disappointing seasons by Richard Jefferson, they were finally able to dump him and Stephen Jackson in return.  If you recall, Jackson was once a Spur, and was instrumental in their 2003 championship run.  As a seasoned veteran this time around, he should fit seamlessly in Popovich’s system.  Once again, their savvy roster moves continue to amaze, and  I officially consider them to be a legitimate championship contender this spring.

Dirk and the Mavs show off their hardware

This series was significant for a myriad of reasons that go far beyond the simple fact that it was for the NBA’s biggest prize—the Larry O’Brien trophy. (more…)

The Miami Heat’s failure to capitalize on its first shot at an NBA Championship, with their “Big 3,” in place, will undoubtedly go down as one of the biggest disappointments in Sports History.  It’s not the fact that a team so top-heavy in talent can lose a series; it’s what happened prior to this point, that’s the problem.  This series wasn’t about what Dallas Accomplished, but more about what Miami failed to Accomplish.  The series wasn’t about the dynamic leadership displayed by Dirk Nowitzki, but the lack of leadership by LeBron James.  All of these things are magnified due to the brash and very bold statements made by James, starting with “The Decision.”

The Decision

James’ announcement of his choice of team via Television Special, followed by a proclamation of at least 7 Championships, ultimately set the Heat up for failure.  James was so confident in the team’s ability to succeed, that he hinted at victories even if Pat Riley was the team’s starting Point Guard.  With a team this talented, who’s going to argue LeBron’s statements?  I for one saw the Heat as a dead-lock for the Finals, which was correct.  I initially picked them to lose the Finals versus the Lakers, but uhh…We saw how that turned out for “Showtime!”  Once the Lakers were ousted, I didn’t see anyone standing in the way of Miami’s Destiny.  As a team, they entered the playoffs clicking on all cylinders, and even watched LeBron mature as a player through the first 3 series.  But then came the Big Stage…(Here’s where you insert for favorite sad face : ( perplexed style : / or the highly emotional crying face (,-__-,)

James basically disappeared in the Finals, averaging 18pts, 7ast, & 7reb!!! LeBron is a former NBA Scoring Champ, and averaged 18 ppg!  Let’s also note that James averaged 21ppg as a ROOKIE!  Now, not taking anything away from his overall playoff performance, because he is the reason Miami got to the Finals.  James was playing like a man possessed in the first 3 rounds, and hit some huge shots in both the Boston and Chicago Series’.  You can argue that it’s a team game, and all of the blame can’t be placed on James, which is correct.  However, LeBron’s actions coinciding with his talents are what create the enormous bulls-eye on his back.   He also doesn’t help the scrutiny by his comments, and almost nonchalant attitude at press conferences.  Again this is a team game, but the team itself doesn’t share in the talking aspect, which James excels in.  If you go back to the introduction of “The Heatles,” it was LeBron who did the most talking, and predicting on behalf of the Heat.  Look at it like this…Muhammad Ali was known for his trash talk before, and during, some of the biggest fights of his life.  While Ali didn’t have an unblemished record, he always came back to avenge a loss, thus backing his proclamations.  LeBron doesn’t have a history of closing games, playing to his full potential, nor being the leader that the “Face of the NBA,” should; but talks as if this isn’t the case.  If LeBron showed a little more humility, I don’t believe the backlash would be to this unbelievable level.

So What Exactly Happened?

Aside from LeBron’s shortcomings in the Finals, what else seemed to go wrong for Miami, that didn’t for Dallas?  Let’s start with Miami’s consistency outside of its core.  The bench play was much uninspired throughout the series, while Dallas had its role players contribute on a nightly basis.  But despite the poor role playing on behalf of the Heat, they controlled this entire series.  Splitting the first 4 games, could have easily been a 4-0 Miami Sweep.  Dallas turned the Heat into a jump shooting team, and prevented them from attacking the paint, which is their
strong suit.  Along with Dallas’ defensive adjustment, was Dirk’s relentlessness as a leader.  There wasn’t a moment in this series that Dirk wasn’t in attack mode.  This same thing can be said about Dwayne Wade, who played his heart out throughout the series, and if not for injury, wouldn’t have let up.  If you take each team at 100% attack mode, the Heat should win out every time.  My reasoning is simple; Dwayne Wade and LeBron James excel on BOTH sides of the court, which is a headache for every team in the league.  I fully believe that if LeBron guarded Nowitzki for the entire series, and Wade on either Terry or Barrea (depending on who’s in the game), I don’t see Miami losing this series at all.  This tactic then forces other players to beat you, who aren’t as offensively gifted as the aforementioned Nowitzki, Terry or Barrea.

I also believe that the Heat lost some faith in the process at some point.  Squandering big leads in games they controlled from the beginning, is inexcusable.  The team got extremely passive during the final moments of Game 6, and the stars of the team almost seemed to defer to its role players.  A play that replay’s endlessly in my mind, is the Chalmers turnover under the basket.  With 3 players making over 100 million dollars each, and have the ball in Mario Chalmers’ hands in crucial parts of the game in ridiculous!  I just don’t see the team letting up if Pat Riley is who you have to face when you come off the floor, versus Erik Spolestra.  While Spolestra did improve as the season went on, I think his lack of big game experience is what ultimately did him in.  But again, the coaches aren’t the ones who perform on the floor…it’s the players!

The Fallout

While the Heat are the early favorite to win next year’s Title, something has to change.  With 7 players as unrestricted free agents, 3 will likely return with their player options (House, Jones & Illgauskas).  Mario Chalmers is the team’s lone restricted free agent, and has already been rumored to be receiving a qualifying offer from Miami.  Two things that need to change are the team’s ability to score off the bench, along with the team’s interior defense.  When your Shooting Guard is blocking as many, or more, shots than your big’s…There’s a problem!  But not only does the interior defense need to improve, but the overall toughness of the team.  As it stands, it seems as though when Wade isn’t at 100%, the team loses its heart and backbone.  If Miami is lucky enough, there are a few players that I feel could be added at a bargain price to aid in the team’s improvement.  Perimeter Players – Tracey McGrady, Tayshaun Prince, Al Thornton, Michael Redd, T.J. Ford, Shane Battier, Andrei Kirilenko, and Josh Howard.  Interior Players – Kenyon Martin, Samuel Dalembert, Chuck Hayes, Craig Smith, Chris Wilcox, Boris Diaw, Troy Murphy, and Etan Thomas.  While these are all unrestricted free agents that are all possibilities for the Heat, bigger players like Jason Richardson, Jamal Crawford, Nene, and J.R. Smith, are all likely to command too high of a price tag on the market.  Players like Redd, Prince, Ford, Battier, Kirilenko, Martin and Dalembert, would dramatically improve the Heat’s overall roster.  Dalembert provides added shot blocking, along with Martin, who also would be an enforcer that the Heat desperately need.  Battier, Prince and Kirilenko provide length, and solid perimeter defense, as they can defend several positions on the court.  TJ Ford would be a tremendous upgrade at the Point Guard position, while Redd provides more scoring ability off the bench to go along with Mike Miller & James Jones.  Players like McGrady, Josh Howard and Michael Redd are all very injury prone players, but can be very serviceable if their health/minutes are preserved for a playoff run.

Along with these changes, I have a strong feeling that Pat Riley will step in as the new coach.  Riley worked too hard to put this team together, to see them fail.  Riley is often linked with the great Phil Jackson, as they not only were great coaches, but managed some of the game’s biggest personalities.  Riley has the pedigree to get the most out of this Heat team, and surely would not have allowed them to relinquish those late game leads.  Look for major changes in South Beach, which will result in Miami’s hoisting of the Championship Trophy.  The only thing that could prevent a title run from happening, are another implosion by the team itself, but if Pat is patrolling the sideline, I wouldn’t bet on it!

Follow – @TheKidSkoob

This years remarkable NBA Finals capped off with a remarkable Game 6, one watched by 23.5 million people, producing ABC’s best non-Oscar sunday in five years (and the most watched game 6 since Jordan beat the Jazz in 1998.

Now that the season is done, we’ve got plenty of time to get into intricate detail on how this year’s series stacks up against the greats. We’ve also got a lot of cool things a’brewing here at Saving the Skyhook for the offseason, including a live blog during the NBA Draft, but for now, I’d like to offer up some love for the first time NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks.

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Maybe this is a reflection of the tabloid crazy society we live in, where people are more interested in celebrity than actual craft, maybe not; but this year’s NBA Finals has been covered in tabloid-like manner.

All series long the news has been inundated with stories about Mark Cuban, Dirk’s flu, Wade and LeBron’s mock sickness, and LeBron’s personal life; but there has been surprisingly little focus on what really matters—the game itself.

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How much does God love the Mavericks?

A lot. For everything the Mavericks have had to do to counter the Heat, they’ve been able to do. To come from behind, down 15 in game 2, they do it. For the Heat to shoot 53 percent and score over 100 points in game 5, and the Mavs to have to counter that – they were able to. Someone is looking down on the Mavericks.

I mean, give me a break! Dallas shoots 56 percent, to the Heats’ 53. Plus, Dallas shoots 70 percent from three-point range. Give me a break! They did it! Granted, some were open shots, but a lot were contested… and they still make the shots.

If you said: “Heat shoot 53 percent from the field, and score over 100 points,” without mentioning what the Mavs would do, what would you say? Who would win? HEAT. Don’t try to argue with me that the Mavs would that game. Don’t try to counter me and say, “Mavs shoot 56 percent, they would win.” Don’t give me that! Heat win going away.

But that didn’t happen. God loves the Mavs.

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