Donnie Walsh has turned the Knicks into a laughingstock

I'm sick of all the praise that's being thrown in Donnie Walsh's direction. Yea, we all see what he's doing, he's trying to put the Knicks in a financial position to acquire LeBron James prior to the 2010 NBA season.

The theory is solid: the Knicks are a major-market team and they want to compete for championships, not playoff spots. With the core they had -- Zach Randolph, Jamal Crawford, Wilson Chandler, Nate Robinson, David Lee, Quentin Richardson, and Chris Duhon -- they were a borderline Eastern playoff team, at best. But at least they were playing with offensive continuity and staying tight with some of the league's better teams.

Aren't any Knicks fans tired of excruciating losses? They got absolutely pounded tonight by the Cavs, and trust me, many losses of a similar variety are on the horizon. Walsh waived goodbye to Randolph and Crawford, easily New York's top two players, and welcomed Al Harrington, Tim Thomas, and Cuttino Mobley to the Big Apple.

Like I said earlier, Walsh's organizational theory is solid, but his execution was downright dreadful this past week. Randolph has been one of the most productive players in the NBA to this point in the season, racking up points and rebounds with relative ease. Crawford was the Knicks' most gifted and dangerous scorer, and their bail-out guy -- the one that bailed them out with the shotclock winding down and little-to-nothing going on offensively.

Now, the Knicks don't even have a best player. How does that happen? If you asked five different Knicks' fans who their star was, they'd probably give you five different answers. How bad is it when Chris Duhon might actually be the best player on an NBA team? He should be a solid bench player at best. Duhon, Robinson, Richardson, Chandler, Lee or Harrington could all be New York's top dog on a given night.

That's a terrible situation. As Lawrence Frank said in a recent interview, "In this league, you can't be a committee team. You need to establish an identity, be consistent, and go to your big guns when it matters most."

The Knicks no longer have big guns. They have a compilation of streaky, average players. The newly-acquired duo of Harrington and Thomas is nothing but trouble. Both have struggled to define their roles and positions with their past teams, which often leads to a lack of team chemistry and offensive flow. Harrington and Thomas are cancers; all their ex-teams and teammates know it.

The point is, this team is going to be awful for the rest of this season, and next year. I don't know about you, but I've lost a few close friends and family members in the past few years; who knows? I could be next. I don't feel like waiting around when life is happening right now. The Knicks were playing surprisingly well with Crawford, Randolph and D'Antoni's offensive system. At least I could watch the games without wanting to vomit all over my friend's flatscreen TV.

Tonight, I was gagging again. Sure it was the first night for Harrington and Thomas with new teammates, but don't expect much improvement overall. The Knicks don't have a go-to-guy, don't have an identity, and don't have a chance to make the playoffs anymore.

Walsh also drafted Danilo Gallinari with the sixth pick in this year's NBA Draft. WHAT A DISASTER. And yet, everyone seems to be in love with Walsh. I hate the guy. We could have had D.J. Augustin, Brook Lopez, Jason Thompson, Brandon Rush, Marreese Speights, Darrell Arthur, and/or Mario Chalmers. Any of those guys could have helped us right away.

Walsh and D'Antoni have also botched the Stephon Marbury situation. I truly believe that if the Knicks drafted Thompson, played Marbury instead of wasting him, and kept Randolph and Crawford, that they could have finished this year as high as fourth in the Eastern Conference.

The starting lineup should have been Marbury, Crawford, Richardson, Chandler, and Randolph, with Robinson, Duhon, David Lee, and Thompson coming off the bench. What the Knicks were missing early on, even when they were 6-3, was another explosive penetrator (Marbury) and another bench big man with athleticism and ability (Thompson).

If Walsh played his cards right from the beginning, the Knicks could have been competing in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, right away, this season. Outside of the Celtics, Cavs, and Pistons, the East is not at all intimidating.

Whatever, Walsh is an idiot. For those of you who want to wait until 2010 (when we can't even guarantee that we get LeBron), well...I hope you don't get hit by a bus tomorrow.

JERRY MANUEL blew the Mets' season (though, he wasn't alone)

That's right, folks...Jerry's the ultimate culprit. I'm sure, reading that, that some of you are steaming right now -- but hear me out. Over the course of the past few weeks, if you want to blame the bullpen or David Wright/Jose Reyes, that's fine; I understand. But when it got to 2-2 top of the eighth inning today, the game was in Jerry Manuel's hands.

If the game was a precious little kitten, Jerry would have let it die. He failed to take care of that thing. Season on the line, and he turns to...

SCOTT SCHOENEWEIS!!??

HELLO! JERRY! Wake the **** up! Seriously, stop looking at Schoeneweis' ERA and going, "Hmm, that looks pretty good, maybe I should trust him more than anyone else."

Jerry Manuel sucks. Scott Schoeneweis is an absolute joke. We're talking about a "major league" pitcher with an 87-89 mph, flat fastball that he throws every single pitch. He just had Brian Stokes in the game -- the Mets' best reliever (though, I guess that's not saying much) -- who throws 95-97 with a fairly sharp slider.

You don't think the Marlins' hitters were salivating when they saw the switch from Stokes to Schoeneweis? Sure, I know what Jerry was thinking: Mike Jacobs was due up so he wanted to bring in the lefty to face the lefty...but Jerry, have you ever heard of a pinch hitter? It's this thing where the manager replaces his hitter for strategic reasons and brings in a batter who more appropriately fits the situation.

His name was Wes Helms, one of the most experienced and trustworthy bench players in baseball. Helms has absolutely killed lefties throughout his career. OK, let's give Jerry the benefit of the doubt and assume that he expected Fredi Gonzalez to make that substitution. That means Jerry preferred the Schoeneweis/Helms match-up to the Stokes/Jacobs match-up...

WHY??? I don't want Schoeneweis in there against anyone! Not even the opposing pitcher! I guess Jacobs is the more dangerous hitter at this stage of he and Helms' careers, but Helms can still crush lefties...especially despicably awful lefties like Schoeneweis.

The fact that Manuel would turn to Schoeneweis with the season hanging in the balance tells me that Jerry knows very little about baseball. It's a sad thing to realize: that you are a more intelligent baseball mind than your favorite team's manager.

I was at Shea today, and as soon as I looked up and saw that Schoeneweis was in the game, I told everyone I was with that our season was over. I meant it. Completely.

The funny thing is, I'm 100% positive that I was far from the only Mets fan thinking that. Don't we all know that Schoeneweis is a piece of garbage???

Jerry doesn't. I'm going to throw up when he gets his contract extension. The hits just keep on comin'...

OK let's get away from the most clueless manager in the game now. Moving on to...

RYAN CHURCH. Is this guy kidding me?? I've never seen a "professional hitter" strike out on three consecutive pitches so often in my entire life. He doesn't even put together quality at bats; it's a combination of a lack of adjustments and a heart as big as an olive. Ryan Church is a gutless loser disguised as a ballplayer. An absolute disgrace to clutch hitters everywhere. I wouldn't mind if he was bagging groceries at Stop and Shop next year. Get him out of my face.

David Wright and Jose Reyes failed to be superstars. It's that simple. People around the league rave about these two constantly, but they consistently failed when the Mets and their fans needed them most. Reyes folded up the tent for the second straight year, and showed that he has no courage and is a very limited hitter. He feasts on poor pitching...that's about it.

Wright, our "golden boy" (in the realm of the Chase Utley's and Grady Sizemore's of the world) is just not a big-money player. He's a guy who piles up stats but when you need him most, he tucks his tail under his legs and whimpers in the corner of the room. He's a full-blown choke artist who I wouldn't mind trading in a second. New York doesn't need a second Alex Rodriguez, and it certainly appears as if we already have one. You suck, David Wright. You are a total embarrassment to yourself and us as fans.

I'd like to take this opportunity to send my love to Johan Santana and Carlos Beltran, the only true superstars on our team. Two players who perform throughout the year, but continue their excellence when the bright lights are shining. Love you guys, keep it up next year.

Kudos also to Endy Chavez, who got buried by Jerry "The Joke" Manuel for no good reason, and yet continued to do his job and do it well. Another spectacular catch for Endy at the ballpark today.

In the end, we can point fingers everywhere. The injuries to Billy Wagner, John Maine, Moises Alou, Fernando Tatis, and Damion Easley (collectively) were devastating. But no excuses. This team just crumbles in the clutch.

Good riddance. Let's go Jets.

Lakers Choke; Pierce, Posey Step Up

Paul Pierce has been around a long time -- but only now has he gained my respect and admiration.

Pierce requested the opportunity to guard the greatest basketball player in the universe, Kobe Bryant, during the second half of tonight's game 4 of the NBA Finals. This was likely the most important game of the season, and quite possibly, the biggest game of Pierce's life.

And what did he do with the opportunity? He didn't meet expectations -- he convincingly exceeded them. Pierce put the clamps on Kobe (although the 4th was the most prolific scoring quarter for Bryant) and forced him into one difficult attempt after another. Kobe was frustrated by the looks he was getting, pissed that none of his shots were dropping, and visibly agitated that no one else on his team could step up and make a big play under the bright lights.

Give most of the credit to Pierce, and surprisingly, some to Doc Rivers for making sure that a help defender was always available to Pierce if necessary.

Not only did Pierce prove that he's one of the league's premier perimeter defenders when determined and dedicated, but he also stepped up on the offensive end. "The Truth" made a slew of tough lay-ups in the third quarter, and a couple of contested fadeaways in the fourth. Unlike the Pierce of old -- the Pierce that choked back to back years against the New Jersey Nets earlier this decade -- he made his clutch free throws this time around.

Pierce played with guts, heart, grit, and fire. That's exactly what it takes to get the best player in the world off of his game. Much love to you, Paul. I promise I'll stop calling you a choker in front of all of my friends. Unless you choke three games in a row and you let your team blow this series; in that case, all bets will be off.

And how about James Posey? The man has no conscience in the clutch. All he knows is catch, shoot, and knock it down from the corner -- and that's exactly what he did tonight. It goes to show you how previous NBA title runs (his came with the Heat) can ease a guy's nerves when it matters most. Ice water in the veins. Much credit to you as well, James.

Also have to shout out my boy Eddie House (former Net that I wanted to keep, but of course, we let him go). House, who has seen his playing time decrease significantly since the regular season, showed that no matter what the circumstances, he's always prepared to jack up critical shots. This time around, he knocked them down -- including a pull-up two-pointer that gave the Celtics their first lead of the game early in the fourth quarter.

On the other end of the court, the Lakers were an absolute disaster in the second half. It goes to show you that no matter how great a coach's credentials are (and Phil Jackson's are incredible), sometimes there's nothing they can do to stop their team from driving off the road and crashing into a big ass tree. That's what the Lakers did tonight: crash and burn.

The biggest culprit? I'm certainly not surprised, and I hope you aren't either -- it was Pau Gasol. Gasol's countless weaknesses have been totally exposed this postseason. Tonight he literally dropped 5 easy passes that would have led to uncontested lay-ups or dunks. He also missed a lay-up, dunk, tip in, and one crucial free throw.

But above all, he failed to help out Sasha Vujacic on the most important defensive possession of the game. With less than 20 seconds remaining, Ray Allen was isolated in a one-on-one with Sasha at the top of the key. Ray Ray let the shot clock run down to 6, at which point he drove right and blew past Sasha without breaking a sweat. With between one and two seconds left on the shot clock, Allen had a clear lane for a lay-up. He continued his explosion to the hoop and finished with a right-handed lay-up, as Gasol slowly and weakly pretended to help from the weak side.

Why wasn't Gasol cheating toward the rim as soon as he saw Allen isolated with Vujacic? In the absence of Andrew Bynum, Gasol has played nothing but center. As the center, it's Gasol's job to clog the lane and protect the rim when his teammates are in need of a bail out. So where was Gasol here? He was cheating over to the left concerned about the Celtics' three-point shooters in the corner.

If he knew anything about basketball, if he had any basketball instincts whatsoever, Gasol would have seen that Allen was completely intent on taking the ball to the rim and getting an easy bucket and/or going to the foul line for two. He wasn't giving the ball up, no way. Besides, by the time he left Vujacic in the dust, there was less than 3 seconds on the shot clock -- odds were against a pass to the corner, catch, and shoot in that period of time. It would have taken a completely clear passing lane to the corner, a perfect pass and a quick release.

Could it have happened? Maybe.

BUT YOU CAN'T LET A GUY WALK RIGHT DOWN THE LANE AND GET AN EASY LAY-UP WITH THE GAME ON THE LINE!!!

Step over and block the damn shot. At least foul the shit out of Allen.

But no, typical Gasol. Gutless, spineless, mindless basketball. A lazy attempt to save a season.

Other problems for the Lakers: Jordan Farmar, Lamar Odom, Vladimir Radmanovic, and Phil Jackson.

Farmar missed a wide open, potentially game-changing three off a beautiful reverse dish from Kobe. A shot he was taking with confidence, and making throughout the regular season. Here? Clank. Obvious choke job.

Odom dominated the first half and allowed himself to be invisible during the Celtics' frantic second half comeback. There is no reason for him to be totally uninvolved in the offense after going 7-for-7 in the first half. Sure, some of the blame can go to his teammates and Jackson, but how about demanding the ball a little? How about bringing some energy and making plays like he did from the opening tip all the way up to the buzzer sounding at the end of quarter 2?

Nah, not Odom. What does he do? Disappear. Not too surprising.

Radmanovic perpetuated the Celtics run by jacking up a contested three-pointer from the corner, three seconds into a Laker possession. Boston was making its run, and the "space cadet" gave them a boost and fueled their transition offense by producing a long rebound off a long shot.

Jackson had the wrong guys out there for the fourth. I thought Derek Fisher was having one of his cleaner games of the playoffs -- he made a number of big plays. But there was the inexperienced Farmar for the first 9 minutes of the fourth, only when Phil got desperate (with 3 minutes remaining) did he throw Fisher back out into the fray. Too little, too late Mr. Zenmaster.

Also, Trevor Ariza was phenomenal in the first half -- rebounding, defending, hustling, knocking down threes, dunking -- but Vujacic was out there instead, undersized in his match-up with Allen and cold with his own jumper. Go figure.

Hey, what do I know? Phil has 9 championship rings and I have...hmm...I don't know, do fantasy sports count?

Regardless, sometimes I think I know about the Lakers' personnel than Jackson.

Don't we all feel that way about the coaches/managers of our favorite teams sometimes?

Either way, this was an excruciating loss for Los Angeles. I just can't see the Celtics allowing the Lakers to win three in a row. Not the way they play defense -- they clamp down when they need to.

So what does that mean? Well, if I had to guess, I'd say it's safe to assume the Lakers are finished.

NBA Finals Prediction

It's been a long, entertaining season in the NBA, and it's finally time for the Big Finish. Commissioner David Stern must be ecstatic about the return of the Lakers/Celtics rivalry, and I'm sure he's expecting a viewing audience improvement over the conference finals. That said, let's get into the match-up itself: Kobe Bryant and his Lakers against the "Big Three" and the rest of the Celtics.

Throughout the year, I've felt the Lakers were going to win it all. Kobe was playing at (arguably) the highest level of his career, and head coach Phil Jackson had Los Angeles playing a beautiful style of team basketball. However, the Lakers haven't been as pretty to watch in the postseason. Sure they battled through the deeper Western Conference to get to the finals, but most of the credit has to go to Kobe. His supporting cast has failed to maintain its regular season efficiency.

Specifically, Pau Gasol hasn't been the No. 2 option that the rest of the media expected him to be, but I can say "I told you so." Don't get me wrong, Gasol is a nice player and I was actually very impressed with his defense against Tim Duncan last series, but Pau's not a true No. 2 scorer. He hasn't even been attempting his short-range, face-up jumper from the foul line, and his back-to-the-basket moves have been soft and ineffective. Virtually all of his buckets have resulted from Kobe dishes.

On the perimeter, Sasha Vujacic and Jordan Farmar haven't had their usual consistency from beyond the arc. Fellow bench player Ronny Turiaf has failed to leave his mark on the postseason, as well.

On the other side of the court, the Celtics also know a few things about disappointing playoff performances -- enter Ray Allen. On the whole, Allen has been absolutely horrific in the postseason; however, and fortunately for Boston, he began to pick it up in the final few games of the Pistons series. The Celtics will need an effective Allen in this series, because if the Lakers' shooters manage to settle in, we know they can score in bunches.

In reference to defensive talent and awareness, the Celtics have a huge advantage. Without a shadow of a doubt, Kevin Garnett is the best defensive player on either team -- he's perhaps even the best defensive player in the entire NBA. Paul Pierce and James Posey have defended the perimeter well, and Rajon Rondo picks up his share of steals.

Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on how you look at it), Pierce, Posey, Allen and Rondo haven't had to deal with Kobe yet. Yes, as a unit, Boston was able to contain LeBron James in the Cavs series, but Kobe is a whole 'nother level. LeBron may be stronger and more explosive, but the threat of Kobe's outside shot is much greater than that of LeBron's.

Unless he's double-teamed from the opening tip to the final buzzer of the final game of the series, there is absolutely no way to stop Kobe Bryant. He can only beat himself.

I've had the past few days to ponder this series, and my gut keeps telling me the Celtics are gonna find a way to win. Maybe it's the homecourt advantage.

But every time I'm almost convinced to give the nod to Boston, I'm reminded of Kobe's repeated fourth quarter dominance. It's really very simple...if the Lakers can just keep it close for the first three quarters of these games, they have a distinct advantage in the fourth against the Celtics. Kobe gives them the advantage over everyone.

The final verdict? Lakers in six. You know I can't bet against my boy. If it does go to seven games, the Lakers will be in severe trouble in Boston, but I'm sticking to my guns -- there will be no game 7.

Are the Mets returning to their 2006 form?

Having won four of their last five, and playing with greater passion and intensity than they have all season, it's a fair question to ask. The Mets are putting together late-inning rallies and come from behind victories, two of the trademarks of the more successful 2006 team. But will this trend continue?

Well, as a Mets fan, you know I want to say yes. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. The Mets are still battling a slew of injuries, and their bullpen -- with the exception of the virtually unhittable Billy Wagner -- is beyond shaky.

As far as the injuries go, I find it hard to believe that right fielder Ryan Church will return to the lineup carrying the hot bat he held prior to his head injury. It's taken him quite awhile to shake off the side effects, and it wouldn't be realistic to expect him to pick up where he left off. Sure, maybe in three to four weeks he'll get his swing back; but who knows, maybe he won't. Maybe he'll be lost at the plate for the rest of the season.

I'm just saying, prepare yourselves Mets fans. Disaster strikes us often.

Then there's Moises Alou, who is injured for the 341st time in the past three seasons (including his final season in San Francisco.) Personally, I love the guy. He's 89 years old and he still makes .320 look like an afterthought -- watching him, it seems like everyone in the league should be hitting .300. It's that easy for Alou, he's a natural.

That said, even when he does return, he'll likely be injured again sometime within the following three weeks. I know, that's pessimistic, but try and tell me that's not a reasonable assumption.

If you ask me, Church and Alou are the Mets' third and fourth best hitters. Church has performed a bit over his head, but I'll give him the 4-spot, behind David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Alou (in that order). Yea, Jose Reyes has the better reputation, but Church is the more polished, professional hitter.

Oh and by the way, as my friend and astute fellow Mets supporter Adam "Fish" Goldsmith would like to point out -- what the hell is up with Reyes' never-ending streak of errors? Yea, the announcers on SNY (Gary Cohen and Ron Darling, in particular) like to rationalize by saying: "Reyes is a young player." All right, enough already. He's been in the league long enough now...he's a big boy. His bat is coming around of late, so all-around confidence shouldn't be an issue for Jose right now. Thanks for the helpful input, Mr. Goldsmith.

Also down with injury are Luis Castillo, Marlon Anderson and Angel Pagan. Of course, of the three, Castillo is the most important piece. Luis struggled early on, but he had been scorching of late and he's one of the Mets' top on-base percentage guys. He's getting old, but he remains a steady, reliable defensive player.

Anderson may be over the hill at this point, but he was the team's premier pinch hitter last year -- a well-deserved distinction. I don't know if he'll ever find his groove again, though. His hand and bat speeds have slowed significantly.

Pagan is no superstar, but he had a nice start to the season. He's a valuable utility outfielder whose presence would rid us of the not-quite-ready Nick Evans, and also keep Endy Chavez a little fresher.

On the pitching staff, there's the never ending Pedro Martinez/El Duque saga. Pedro will make his 9 millionth return from injury this week, and quite simply, who the hell knows with him. "They" say he looks good in rehab, but "they" always do. Usually he comes back, gets hit around, and gets hurt again. He's not like Alou who comes back and looks like a stud. I'd say enough is enough already, but I still think Pedro is better than Mike Pelfrey.

In regards to El Duque, I'd love to have him back at full strength. He was the Mets' top starting pitcher in the second half of the 2006 season, and he was better than solid in his outings last year. I just don't know if he'll ever be full strength again. However, he probably doesn't have to be at full strength to be at least as good as Claudio Vargas. Don't get me wrong, I respect what Vargas has done of late, he's just not a long-term 2008 solution.

I'll tell you what I really want to see. I want to see Aaron Heilman in the rotation...this year.

Yes. I know. Not happening.

Just hear me out. The guy has the third best stuff out of the Mets 15 rotating pitching options. After Wagner and Johan Santana, of course. Hitters are mustering up an extremely weak .190 average against Heilman with no runners on. Get him the ball at the beginning of the game, and let him dig his own holes if that's going to be the case. At this point, it's overtly clear that the guy can't handle inherited runners. But when he's the master of his own fate, he's not half bad. 92-95 mph riding fastball, plus changeup and a sneaky little slider.

My dream rotation? Santana, John Maine, Oliver Perez, El Duque and Heilman in that order.

But I know, I know -- it's not gonna happen. If I have to settle, I'll settle for El Duque and Pedro over Vargas and Pelfrey. I'm sorry, Pelfrey's just not ready -- the Dodgers got themselves out today, the kid didn't do anything special. He sucked for about six starts in a row before this one.

As for the rest of the bullpen, Duaner Sanchez just isn't the same pitcher that he was prior to his devastating injury, Matt Wise is a bum, Carlos Muniz is nothing better than a mop-up guy, and Joe Smith is more hittable than he probably should be. I love the way Scott Schoeneweis has performed, but is he really a lights out kinda guy? I think we know the truth. But he's a gamer, and he throws strikes -- I like the guy.

Pedro Feliciano remains nasty on lefties, but I wish we could trust him a little more for complete innings. With Heilman and Sanchez back there, everything is up to chance.

Where am I going with all this? I'm just saying, don't get your hopes up Mets fans. Do I think we are still a serious contender for a division title? Absolutely. Without question. Just don't forget about the countless number of "ifs" we have.

Predictions for the NBA's Final Four

(Note to readers: I forgot to post this when I wrote it.)

I've been away for awhile, so I have the benefit of making predictions with the Lakers and Celtics both up 3-2; go ahead, give me s--t about it. The predictions themselves aren't what's important here, the importance lies in the reasoning.

The unquestionable affirmation of the phrase "home-court advantage" is the No. 1 story in this year's playoffs. Simply put, the road teams just can't find a way to win. Lately everyone seems to be questioning the officiating, saying that the home teams have been the beneficiaries of blatant favoritism, and I don't know, maybe that's true. Conspiracy theorists would point to Game 5 of the Jazz/Lakers series in L.A. and Game 6 of the Hornets/Spurs series in San Antonio as prime examples.

Regardless of the reason for the trend, the fact remains that it would be foolish to bet against the home teams for the remainder of the conference semi-finals. So of course, Im taking the Lakers and Celtics. But that's not saying much, so I think I'll play Devil's advocate and tell you what it would take for the Jazz and Cavs to climb out of their deep, dark 3-2 holes.

First, the Jazz:

Having lost only four games at home all season, few are doubting that the Jazz can take Game 6 in Utah. Yes, the Lakers were one of the teams who managed to steal a victory, but Kobe was much healthier then, and it wasn't a time of desperation for the Jazz. Carlos Boozer has played horribly on the road thus far in the postseason, but he's been just fine at home. If he plays up to his ability or above, Utah should hold serve.

Keep an eye on shot selection, though -- particularly in regards to Mehmet Okur, Matt Harpring and Kyle Korver. Those three have tended to force tough shots at crucial junctures throughout the postseason. "Heat checks" are understandable, but if there's no rhythm, or the shot simply isn't there, they need to give up the rock.

(Never finished)

The Stock Market Game: NBA Playoffs Style

It's only the second round of the playoffs, but I've learned plenty about the nerves and talents of the postseason participants. I'm not talking about long-term projections here -- I'm referring to sheer playoff performance -- so there's no reason that an older player can't be near the top of this list. If you'd like to check the stock progress of one of your favorite players, now's your chance:

(Note: Rankings are not in any particular order under each heading.)


Rising Off the Charts

Chris Paul-PG, New Orleans Hornets
Joe Johnson-G, Atlanta Hawks

Power Stocks, Holding Strong

Kobe Bryant-SG, Los Angeles Lakers
Tony Parker-PG, San Antonio Spurs
Kevin Garnett-PF, Boston Celtics
Dwight Howard-PF/C, Orlando Magic

Earning Positive Returns

Sasha Vujacic-PG/SG, Los Angeles Lakers
J.R. Smith-SG, Denver Nuggets
Paul Millsap-PF, Utah Jazz
Peja Stojakovic-SF, New Orleans Hornets
Dirk Nowitzki-PF, Dallas Mavericks
James Posey-SF, Boston Celtics
Josh Smith-SF/PF, Atlanta Hawks
Zydrunas Ilgauskas-C, Cleveland Cavs
Daniel Gibson-PG/SG, Cleveland Cavs
Hedo Turkoglu-SG/SF, Orlando Magic
Jameer Nelson-PG, Orlando Magic
Andre Miller-PG, Philadelphia 76ers
Samuel Dalembert-C, Philadelphia 76ers

Currently Holding, But Shaky

Pau Gasol-PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers
Deron Williams-PG, Utah Jazz
Rashard Lewis-SF, Orlando Magic

Declining Steadily

Carlos Boozer-PF, Utah Jazz
Tracy McGrady-SG/SF, Houston Rockets
Steve Nash-PG, Phoenix Suns
Josh Howard-SF, Dallas Mavericks
Paul Pierce-SG/SF, Boston Celtics
Rajon Rondo-PG, Boston Celtics
Mike Bibby-PG, Atlanta Hawks
Caron Butler-SF, Washington Wizards

Plummeting Miserably

Marcus Camby-C, Denver Nuggets
Carmelo Anthony-SF, Denver Nuggets
Shaquille O'Neal-C, Phoenix Suns
Jason Kidd-PG, Dallas Mavericks
Ray Allen-SG, Boston Celtics
LeBron James-SF, Cleveland Cavs
Andrea Bargnani-F/C, Toronto Raptors


Disagree with anything? Anyone missing? Please feel free to comment.

Lakers Maintain Homecourt Advantage

At this point, the Los Angeles Lakers are likely the favorite to win the NBA Championship -- and rightfully so. Boasting a 2-0 series lead over a tough-minded, well-coached Jazz team, the Lakers are now 6-0 in the playoffs. They cruised past the Nuggets in round 1, a team that was arguably the most talented No. 8 seed in league history.

But I don't think the Lakers are unbeatable. They play beautiful team basketball -- thanks in large part to "The Zenmaster" Phil Jackson -- and they feature the greatest basketball player in the universe, Kobe Bryant; but Los Angeles leaves much to be desired on the defensive end. Kobe and Derek Fisher are phenomenal defenders, but I question the defensive toughness of the Lakers' front line, particularly Pau Gasol.

Everyone has been raving about Gasol since he joined the Lakers, and some of the praise is deserving. Gasol is probably one of the top 30 players in the NBA, and he's uniquely skilled for his size. However, I'm not sure about his nerves. His mid-range jumper has been off in the postseason, and he's dropped a number of passes that would have led to easy buckets. The vast majority of his scores have been uncontested lay-ups or dunks.

Defensively, Gasol is skinny and soft. Utah's front line of Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur isn't explosive enough to make Gasol pay in the post, but David West, Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett could all give Pau a ton of trouble in the future -- depending of course, on who advances.

Utah's virtually unstoppable on its home court, so I'd be shocked if the Jazz don't win at least one of the next two. That said, I'm sticking with my initial prediction: Lakers in five.

For the Jazz to make me look like an idiot, Deron Williams has to stop worrying about his teammates, and start shouldering the early scoring load. Williams, who recently made my NBA Top 10 list for the first time, needs to take more shots in the first half. His offensive arsenal is incredibly impressive, and if he needs to go shot-for-shot with Kobe at times, then so be it.

Those of you who stuck with Game 2 until the end, got to see what D-Will is capable of -- 5-of-5 from the three-point line, three of which came in the final four minutes. All of the threes came off the dribble, making the task a bit more difficult.

All things considered, I do think the Lakers are the best team in the NBA. However, the margin between them and the Spurs and Hornets is extremely slim. Hopefully we get to see the Lakers and Hornets in the Western Conference finals -- that'd be a hell of a series.

What the Hell is Wrong with Ray Allen?

This is not a misprint: Ray Allen had zero points in tonight's ugly Game 1 victory over the Cavs. Zip. Not a one.

Quite frankly, he's been painfully awful in the playoffs thus far. He cannot hit a shot. He couldn't shoot a ball into the ocean against Atlanta, and now he comes out 0-of-4 against Cleveland. Sure, four attempts seems like an unusually low number, but Allen is struggling so much with his confidence that he passed up four or five looks he would have normally capitalized upon.

So what's the problem?

Some of it is mechanics. He appears to be getting an unorthodox sideways rotation on his jumper, which flattens out his trajectory and makes the iron unkind. Allen also appears to be tossing up knuckleballs -- shots with absolutely no rotation -- sporadically.

But above all, Ray Allen is just choking. Let's see, no Final Four appearances at UConn; never been to the NBA Finals; failed as a No. 1 option in both Seattle and Milwaukee. I'm not saying his lack of championships are all his doing, just that there's reason to believe that his nerves have gotten to him in the past, and that those same nerves are killing his flow once again.

Man up, Ray Ray. Find a way to make some shots. If you're "the best pure shooter in the NBA" -- a fashionable distinction linked to Allen by NBA analysts and fans across the country -- then you shouldn't be in this long of a slump; especially not when your teammates need you more than ever.

Head coach Doc Rivers needs to run some sets that will open up Allen for chip-shots and lay-ups, so he can establish a rhythm and then carry it out to the perimeter. As the postseason rages on, It'll be interesting to see if the pressure continues to get to Ray Ray.

Doc Rivers Needs to Find a New Line of Work

I love and respect the way the Atlanta Hawks are playing ball right now, but the Celtics should have closed out the series in Game 6. In general, there is no way this should be heading into a seventh game. Sure, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce have underperformed, but I still place the vast majority of the blame on head coach Doc Rivers.

Let's get specific. With less than 25 seconds remaining in Game 6, the Celtics trailed by two. Rivers called a timeout and drew up one of his "fantastic" set plays. It should have been quite simple -- spread the floor, isolate Kevin Garnett on the left block, and let him get an easy bucket against rookie Al Horford. Instead, what does Doc do?

He calls a set that attempted to open up Allen for a potential game-winning three. An inexcusably terrible head coaching decision. You have arguably the premier one-on-one post player in the NBA, matched up against a rookie (or an inferior Zaza Pachulia) and you wanna jack up a three to win it?

It was a desperate call, and when you have the premier team in the Eastern Conference, there is no need to panic. Possibly the worst part? Allen missed about eight shots in a row before that one. I don't think the "he's due" strategy is appropriate in Game 6 of a playoff series. Maybe in the regular season, but not at this time of the year.

They should have attempted a two to tie, it should have been Garnett, and the conclusion of the game would have been up in the air from that point. The funny thing is, Doc called for the exact play I suggested earlier -- spread the floor, isolate Garnett on the left block -- on the next possession when the Celtics were down by four. Perfect time for a cliche:

"Too little, too late," Doc.

If the Celtics somehow lose Game 7 at home, Rivers is done. I wouldn't want him coaching my D-League team.

NBA Top 20

I can't help it...some of the first round playoff action has inspired me to update this list. Not only will I make slight amendments to the Top 10, but I'll extend the list all the way up to No. 20.

I know this probably isn't fair to some of the guys who missed out on the playoffs -- i.e. Vince Carter, Michael Redd, Jason Richardson, and Brandon Roy -- but I can't deny the urge. I point out guys like Carter, Redd, J-Rich and Roy in particular because they are in contention for some of the later spots on the list, but they could be overshadowed by playoff upstarts like Tony Parker, Joe Johnson and Andre Miller.

(Note: A written explanation will follow the ranking only if I have something new to say about the player. See this list, or its precedent to catch up on past player analysis.)


#1-Kobe Bryant, SG-Los Angeles Lakers

#2-LeBron James, SF-Cleveland Cavs

#3-Kevin Garnett, PF-Boston Celtics

#4-Chris Paul, PG-New Orleans Hornets

#5-Tim Duncan, PF-San Antonio Spurs

"The Big Fundamental" is getting a promotion because he was absolutely incredible in Game 1 of the Suns/Spurs series, a game that certainly qualifies for the distinction of "instant classic." Duncan scored 40 points, something he failed to do throughout the regular season. Even more impressive was his unlikely, heroic three-pointer to tie the game at the end of the first overtime.

But the promotion isn't only about Game 1. Despite today's loss, the Spurs are well in command of the series (3-1 lead) and there's no question that Duncan has a greater impact as a two-way player than Steve Nash. Tony Parker has made a mockery of Nash's defense, while Duncan continues to be a defensive force and presence on a nightly basis. In addition, when Duncan gets deep position down low he can score at will -- there's just no stopping him.

It's still an absolute joy to watch Nash control the offensive tempo. So he may be losing his No. 5 spot, but drops only one position to No. 6.

#6-Steve Nash, PG-Phoenix Suns

#7-Amare Stoudemire, PF-Phoenix Suns

#8-Dirk Nowitzki, PF-Dallas Mavericks

#9-Deron Williams, PG-Utah Jazz

It's getting tougher and tougher to decide at the bottom of the Top 10. Congrats to D-Will on making the list for the first time.

There are a few players who I am too disgusted with (with good reason, though) to grant them the honor of a Top 10 selection. They are Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, and Baron Davis.

Iverson and Melo have allowed their Nuggets to get absolutely embarrassed by Kobe and the Lakers, who, mind you, are still without their defensive force Andrew Bynum. Sure, Iverson and Melo are getting their points, but their combined field goal percentage is horrid and they are both totally inadequate defenders. If this was the Top 10 Scorers list, they'd both be on it -- but this one's about more than just offense.

Baron, whom many of you know is one of my favorite players, played so poorly in the most important game of the Warriors' season that head coach Don Nelson was basically forced into benching him. "B-Diddy" didn't even play in the second half. You can't be Top 10 if you're not even on the floor when your team needs you the most.

That leaves us with Deron Williams. He's the best player on the most underrated team in the NBA, and he's a stud in the fourth quarter. Williams creates a large majority of Carlos Boozer's opportunities and has no offensive weaknesses. I like his toughness and intensity on defense as well. Again, big ups to you D-Will.

#10-Dwight Howard, PF/C-Orlando Magic

I'm going against my usual mantra here: "You can't be in the Top 10 if your team doesn't look to you at the end of important games." Yet while that remains true with Mr. Howard, his Magic are up 3-1 against a versatile Raptors' team that quite frankly, is better than I thought. Despite the fact that Hedo Turkoglu and Jameer Nelson are the Magic's closers, D-Howard is still the best player on his team 75-80 percent of the time.

He's a dominant rebounder and an intimidating defender. He plays with fire and he does everything he can to help his team win. The same can't be said of Iverson, Melo and B-Diddy right now.

#11-Allen Iverson, G-Denver Nuggets

#12-Baron Davis, PG-Golden State Warriors

#13-Carmelo Anthony, SF-Denver Nuggets

#14-Manu Ginobili-SG-San Antonio Spurs

Go ahead, say something bad about the way this guy plays the game. Just try it. Yea yea, he doesn't have the regular season statistics that some of the following players boast, but Ginobili is a f--kin winner. When the Spurs need a big play -- just like Duncan and Tony Parker -- Manu finds a way to come up with it.

Whether it's a lefty runner in the lane, a pull-up three, or a steal on the other side of the ball...GINOBILI (!! shout to Charles Barkley) gets it done in the clutch. Much respect for you, Manu.

#15-Tony Parker, PG-San Antonio Spurs

Quick. Clutch. Really, really quick. So damn clutch.

#16-Tracy McGrady, SG-Houston Rockets

Ever since he's been with the Rockets, I haven't been a big T-Mac supporter. I think he's just way too inconsistent with his outside shot. He takes ill-advised, heavily-contested shots that cause him to be one of the lower percentage shooters in the NBA.

That said, he's extremely versatile -- even more so than I originally thought. Watching him in the series with Utah, I've been very impressed with his defensive rebounding and ability to both strip offenders and block shots.

Can't find a way to win any big ones though. He just can't. Without Yao Ming, it's all on T-Mac in Houston. With the exception of Game 3, he's not doing enough to propel his team to victory in the fourth quarter.

#17-Chris Bosh, PF/C-Toronto Raptors

Similar to the case with T-Mac, I'm really not a big "Bosh guy." I feel like his game is very awkward, and he's soft in my mind; but hey, he seems to be puttin up 35 and 15 fairly often. I was extremely impressed with his 39 the other day against D-Howard too.

He features an exceptional mid-range jumper for his size, and being lefty never hurts either.

#18-Gilbert Arenas, G-Washington Wizards

#19-Chauncey Billups, PG-Detroit Pistons

#20-Carlos Boozer, PF-Utah Jazz

Just got too tired for explanations on the last three.

The Mets Are Not a Real Team

When a professional athlete or team is awful beyond the point of logical comprehension, my friends and I always say that player or team is "not real." For example, big left-hander Mark Hendrickson (formerly of the New Jersey Nets) was the Florida Marlins' opening day starter this season. He's "not real." The Miami Heat's roster for the latter portion of this season -- boasting D-League studs like Joel Anthony, Kasim Powell and Stephane Lasme -- was "not real."

That leads us to my New York Mets. Though they currently sit at 8-6, just a half game behind the Marlins for first place in the NL East, the Mets are not real. It pains me to say it, but it's true. Just look at the Mets' everyday lineup:

1-Jose Reyes, SS
2-Ryan Church, RF
3-David Wright, 3B
4-Carlos Beltran, CF
5-Carlos Delgado, 1B
6-Angel Pagan, LF
7-Brian Schneider, C
8-Luis Castillo, 2B

I look at that and I very nearly vomit. That configuration is really difficult to stomach on a nightly basis. Casual baseball fans would say there are 4-5 real players in that lineup: Reyes, Wright, Beltran, Delgado and perhaps Castillo. In reality, the Mets have only three real hitters, if that. They are Wright, Beltran, and maybe Reyes.

Delgado provided a clutch RBI single against the Nationals last night, but it came off big-time bum Jon Rauch. Those of us who are familiar with NL East baseball know that Rauch is definitely not real. Delgado has been OK to this point in the season, but in general he's finished. He can't hit anything at 92 mph or above, and he's a non-factor against left-handed pitching. He blows in the field, too. Delgado actually dropped a throw the other day. Not in the dirt or anything, just an easy toss from Wright -- popped out of his glove. What is this, Little League?

Castillo is nearly a .300 lifetime hitter, so fans who haven't been following closely might think that he's real. Nope. Definitely not. Castillo has two bad knees and he can't hit the ball out of the infield. Not that he hit the ball out of the infield much in the past, but he used to be able to beat out slow choppers. Now he chops them and he's out by 40 feet at first. Nice work on the four-year contract Omar Minaya. Between Minaya and Willie Randolph, I'm gonna be a Royals fan before I know it.

Then there's Reyes. He's "real" because of his basestealing, defense and general raw speed, but I'm still not sold on him at the plate. The mechanics of his lefty swing are absolutely atrocious. He's found a way to make it work in the past, but the herky-jerkyness doesn't lend itself to long-term consistency. His right-handed swing, however, is more natural and smooth. For Reyes, it's too bad that 70-80 percent of pitchers are righties.

So that leaves Church, Pagan and Schneider. I like Church against righties. His stroke is fluid and he really trusts his hands through the zone. He still chases too much junk in the dirt for my liking, particularly against southpaws.

Pagan has played inspired ball, but I think we all know it's just a fluke. He's excited about the opportunity he has in Moises Alou's absence, and he's capitalizing to the best of his ability. But expect his batting average to drop consistently from now until the point when Alou returns. The saddest part about Pagan's inevitable demotion to the bench? We won't get to see the fans at Shea Stadium standing and flapping their metaphorical wings like Disney's "Angels in the Outfield."

And Schneider, well, I've never liked the guy. Ever since Buck Martinez chose Schneider as his catcher for the USA team during the World Baseball Classic, I've hated them both. Schneider just can't hit. He just can't. His lifetime average is below .260.

Sadly enough, the Mets' bullpen is also not real. Aaron Heilman is easily one of the worst setup men in all of baseball, Jorge Sosa is going through a Rick Ankiel control stage, and Matt Wise's fastball was around 67 mph before heading for the disabled list.

On the bright side, both the lineup and bullpen have the potential to become real. If Alou and catcher Ramon Castro can return to the lineup healthy and relatively productive, that will have a drastic impact on the Mets' success.

Formerly nasty right-hander Duaner Sanchez has finally returned to the bullpen after a loooong hiatus. If he can get anywhere near where he was in 2006, the Mets can push shitty Heilman back to the 7th inning, or maybe trade him. The ever-reliable lefty Pedro Feliciano deserves the 7th inning anyway. He's been untouchable the past season and a half. Other lefty Scott Schoeneweis shows occasional signs of life, as well.

As far as starting pitching goes, even without Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez, the Mets' rotation is still real by today's standards. Johan Santana, John Maine and Oliver Perez are a strong 1-2-3, and young sinkerballer Mike Pelfrey is off to a dominant start. Journeyman Nelson Figueroa has been surprisingly effective, too.

So while the Mets aren't "real" right now, they have the potential to improve significantly within the next month and a half/two months. The extent of the improvement will be dependent on Alou, Castro, Sanchez, and perhaps El Duque. Hopefully we can hold our own until some of the "real" players return to form.

Not As Bad As They Seem, Vol. 1: The Bulls

Watching the Bulls/Cavs game tonight, it was overtly clear that the Bulls aren't that bad -- not at all, really. Yet they sit at 29-45, 11th in the "weak" Eastern Conference. I put "weak" in quotes because talent wise, I don't think the East is nearly as weak as people think. As far as results go, well, I can't argue with the East's label as the clearly inferior conference.

But back to the Bulls. I think they have 13 guys on their roster who could make an argument for considerable playing time. Yup, I'm gonna list them: Shannon Brown, Luol Deng, Chris Duhon, Drew Gooden, Ben Gordon, Aaron Gray, Kirk Hinrich, Larry Hughes, Joakim Noah, Andres Nocioni, Thabo Sefolosha, Cedric Simmons, and Tyrus Thomas.

Now Brown, Gray and Simmons are younger guys who have all shown potential in limited minutes. However, I realize they are the bottom three of this list, so for argument's sake let's say head coach Jim Boylan wants to cut it down to a standard 10-man rotation. Gooden came down with what appears to be a season-ending injury toward the end of last week, so let's leave him out as well.

Left over nine: Deng, Duhon, Gordon, Hinrich, Hughes, Noah, Nocioni, Sefolosha and Thomas.

Deng, Gordon, Hinrich and Nocioni are the four key holdovers from the successful Chicago teams of the past two seasons. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I realize Deng, Gordon and Nocioni have battled nagging injuries, but if they're all available, why not just start them all? They have great continuity and fluidity as a unit, that's what made the Bulls a contender in the East the last two years. To stick to the cliche, Scott Skiles shouldn't have been fired, either.

So: PG-Hinrich, SG-Gordon, F-Nocioni, F-Deng. That leaves the center position, and with Gooden out, I guess Noah has earned that position with his play in the season's second half.

PG-Hinrich, SG-Gordon, F-Nocioni, F-Deng, C-Noah, 6-Hughes, 7-Sefolosha, 8-Thomas, 9-Duhon. That's not bad at all. Sefolosha has developed nicely this season, and is a rare young player with exceptional defensive skills. Hughes can handle duties at three different positions -- PG, SG, and if needed SF -- and Thomas brings energy, athleticism and exuberance. Duhon is a pretty heady combo guard.

I don't know. Do they look bad to you? Yea, this season was a mess with the Skiles firing and the Ben Wallace trade involving eight Bulls and Cavs -- but if they retain most of what they have here, I don't see any reason why the Bulls would struggle again next season. Find a solid replacement for the interim (Boylan) and they should be a top 4-6 Eastern team again. I'm sure some experienced coaches out there would love to inherit this level of talent. Maybe Mike Fratello, Larry Brown...hell, maybe even Hubie Brown.

Don't fret, Bulls fans. I think you guys are going to be OK in the near future.

Around the Sports World

I don't have time for a pointed, full-length post so I figured I'd briefly comment on recent action in the sports world.

NBA: I'm watching the Warriors/Mavericks game right now and Dirk Nowitzki has unexpectedly returned from injury. Rotoworld.com reported earlier today that Dirk would definitely not be playing tonight -- so much for that. Dirk looks fine in the early going, he picked up a couple of easy buckets.

As for the game itself, it has major Western Conference playoff implications. If the Warriors win, they'll be in a three-way tie with the Mavs and Denver Nuggets. The Mavs have the homecourt advantage tonight and the momentum of Dirk's return, so it'll be a tough task for the Warriors. Also, the Warriors are without valuable, injured swingman Mickael Pietrus once again tonight.

Monta Ellis has to take advantage of his mismatch with "Grandpa" Kidd. There's no way Kidd can handle Monta's mind-blowing quickness. Although I must say, Kidd looks sharp with his distributing here in the first half.

Along with the Lakers, the Warriors are my favorite team in the West, so I'm in their corner tonight. Unfortunately, with Dirk looking about 90 percent and Josh Howard playing phenomenally of late, I don't think Golden State will pull this one out on the road. Their best hope is to keep it extremely close through the fourth quarter, because they have top-notch closers in Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson.


MLB: I don't know what to think about the Mets. They won an easy one on Opening Day, looked absolutely awful in a loss last night, and smoked the Marlins tonight. As usual, the Metropolitans are going to drive me nuts.

There is a ton of pressure on David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes this season. Moises Alou is injured again, and the Mets will sorely miss his run production and .300-plus batting average. Carlos Delgado continues his downward spiral toward retirement, and who knows what we'll get from Angel Pagan, Ryan Church and Brian Schneider.

And can everyone please stop with Pedro. PLEASE. He's 78 years old and he throws 81 mph. Sure, he occupies the No. 2 spot in the rotation, but anyone who knows baseball knows he's the Mets' fourth or fifth best starter. He's clearly behind Johan Santana, Oliver Perez and John Maine, and if healthy, Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez is probably better than Pedro, as well.

Yea, blah blah Pedro is the emotional leader. Spare me. He's pretty much finished -- he's a decent No. 4 starter in the NL and nothing more. Bring back El Duque and we'll be fine.


NBA: Mike Bibby coming through big time for the Hawks. I posted when the trade happened: helluva job by Atlanta's management. The move for Bibby put them over the top and clearly separated them from the Nets and Pacers. Ugh, the Nets. Don't get me started.

FIRE LAWRENCE FRANK!

Anyway, Bibby knocked down a hugeee three at the end of regulation to tie it against Toronto. Hawks went on to win it with 147 total points after overtime.


MLB: My fantasy team is lookin pretty sharp so far. Home runs from six different guys and it's only Wednesday. Oh, just in case you're wondering: Mark Teixeira, Josh Willingham, Dan Uggla, Nate McLouth, Chipper Jones and Stephen Drew.

Yes, I drafted Nate McLouth and started him the first week of the fantasy season. I'm that good.


NBA: Update on the Warriors' game already. We're down by 16 in the second quarter. The Mavs are looking the best I've seen them all season. I said our chances were slim when we were only down five...just thought I'd throw that out there. We have to get it respectable in the third quarter or else this one is gonna get out of hand like last night against San Antonio.

No Warriors in the playoffs = no fun. Pick it up, Baron. Do it yourself if you have to.

The MLB's Top Starting Rotations

A few days ago, I stumbled upon an interesting MLB forum entitled, "Who has the best starting rotation in the MLB?" The message board had a weird format where the person who wrote the initial question got to choose the "best" response from the ensuing answers. The person who suggested that the Tigers have the best rotation was selected as the victor.

My initial reaction was, "No f---in' way." I was mostly annoyed by the fact that they said the Tigers had "four legitimate No. 1 starters" in Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Kenny Rogers and Dontrelle Willis. Verlander is the only true No. 1 in there. I don't know what they were thinking with Rogers and Willis; Bonderman has fallen off, as well.

Yet as irked as I was, after glancing over all the rotations, the person who picked the Tigers has a decent argument. They employed the wrong reasoning; Detroit's strength isn't that it has "four No.1's" -- its strength is that all five of its starters is at the very least, average. (The fifth starter being lefty Nate Robertson).

Yup, that's where Major League Baseball is at these days. Five average to slightly above average pitchers gives you one of the top rotations in either league. Yikes. Enjoy the feast, hitters.

Now do I think the Tigers actually boast the premier rotation in baseball? No. But they certainly make the top five-to-eight. It's difficult to rank the starting staffs this early in the season, because many integral arms are being placed on the 15-day DL for precautionary reasons; but as it stands right now, here's how I have it:

#1-Toronto Blue Jays: Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett, Dustin McGowan, Shaun Marcum and Jesse Litsch.

I'm giving the Blue Jays the early nod because they have their entire 1-5 intact.

Here are the "ifs": if the Yankees had Joba Chamberlain in the rotation they could probably be No. 1; if the Red Sox had a healthy Curt Schilling they'd arguably be No. 1; if the Angels had both John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar they could certainly be atop the list; if the Mets had a game-ready Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez they might be the class of the league; and if the Diamondbacks had Randy Johnson prepared they could be in the running for the top spot.

What do all of those missing pitchers have in common? They leave a serious question mark behind in the No. 5 spot of their respective rotations. Now I'm not saying that Litsch is an incredible No. 5 starter, but he's the man the Jays finished 2007 with -- he's a young gun who throws strikes and keeps his team in the game. That's all anyone can ask from a No. 5 in today's MLB.

Halladay is still a legitimate No. 1, Burnett has mind-numbingly nasty stuff, McGowan emerged as one of the best young pitchers in the American League ast season, and Marcum joins Chien-Ming Wang, Fausto Carmona, and Jake Westbrook as one of the top sinkerballers in the AL.

You can see how this list is subject to change, because Burnett will likely suffer a serious injury at some point in the season. It's a yearly occurrence. But as of right now, he's healthy and the Blue Jays have a nice balance of youth, experience, depth and sheer talent.

#2-Seattle Mariners: Erik Bedard, Felix Hernandez, Jarrod Washburn, Miguel Batista and Carlos Silva.

Bedard hasn't been impressive this spring, but he unquestionably developed into one of the top left-handed pitchers in all of baseball last season. He features a live, low-to-mid 90s fastball, a little change-up and a sharp breaking ball. Logic insists that Bedard's numbers will only improve as he moves from Baltimore into the spacious confines of Safeco.

Hernandez undoubtedly has one of the top five arsenals -- along with Burnett, Josh Beckett, Chamberlain and either Verlander or Danny Haren. When I say arsenal, I basically mean "stuff." "King Felix" has an electric upper-90s fastball, a devastating splitter, good curve and a developing dive-change. Similarly to Burnett, the concerns with Hernandez are always health related.

Washburn and Batista are solid 3/4's that complement each other well. Washburn is a reliable lefty who isn't afraid to challenge hitters despite average stuff, and Batista is a battle-tested right-hander who relies heavily upon a hard cutter. Both are good for 10-15 wins.

Of course, the weakest link is Silva. Silva picked up a nice chunk of change from the Mariners this offseason, and he's thanked them by getting absolutely shelled this spring. Mariners' fans, I wouldn't be too worried...yet. Silva was a decent No. 3 for the Twins the past two years and he throws strikes, eats innings and has good sink on his two-seamer.

#3-Detroit Tigers: Justin Verlander, Kenny Rogers, Jeremy Bonderman, Dontrelle Willis and Nate Robertson.

Since this group has already been mentioned, I'm not going to go into too much detail. Bonderman and Rogers battled injuries last year and Willis is coming off the worst season of his career, but the friendly confines of Comerica Park should help them bounce back nicely. If Bonderman and Willis get off to extremely slow starts the Tigers won't remain on this list.


#4-New York Yankees: Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, Phil Hughes, Mike Mussina and Ian Kennedy.

This one's probably a bit controversial, in large part because Hughes and Kennedy are entering their first full seasons as Major League starters. That could be a cause for concern to some, but Hughes and Kennedy have some of the best 3/5 potential in the Bigs. Hughes impressed with good stuff and surprisingly sharp command toward the end of 2007, and Kennedy will likely be one of the top 3-5 No. 5 starters in baseball.

Wang and Pettitte will be steady and pick up plenty of wins at the top of the rotation, as long as Pettitte can avoid aging quickly during the course of a single season. Injuries are a slight concern for him, as well. Mussina has looked fairly sharp this spring, and should be a respectable holdover until Chamberlain joins the rotation later on.

#5-New York Mets: Johan Santana, Pedro Martinez, John Maine, Oliver Perez and Jorge Sosa.

The Mets would probably have the elite staff if El Duque was in place of Sosa. Sosa was lights out as a No. 5 starter during the first half of the 2007 season, but he tapered off significantly and was eventually relegated to the bullpen.

Santana is probably still the top pitcher in baseball, Pedro is in tip-top condition by his shaky physical standards, and Maine and Perez are phenomenal 3/4 options. Both Maine and Perez won at least 14 games last year, as they anchored a Mets' rotation that lacked a dominant ace. Sure, Pedro's a question mark, but New York does have El Duque and hard-throwing youngster Mike Pelfrey waiting in the wings. It's tough to find three legitimate pitchers like Santana, Maine and Perez in a MLB staff nowadays.

Honorable Mention:

Boston Red Sox: Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester, Tim Wakefield and Clay Buchholz. (Schilling injured).

Cleveland Indians: C.C. Sabathia, Carmona, Jake Westbrook, Paul Byrd and Cliff Lee.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Brandon Webb, Haren, Doug Davis, Micah Owings and Edgar Gonzalez ("Big Unit" injured)

Chicago Cubs: Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Rich Hill, Jason Marquis and Ryan Dempster. Wild card = Jon Lieber.

Fire Lawrence Frank! Now!

I can't believe that Lawrence Frank still has a job with the New Jersey Nets. We can add tonight's four-point loss in Philadelphia to the "if I was coaching the Nets we would have won" category. Let's get to the specifics:

The Nets were trailing by seven at halftime, only to go on a furious third-quarter run that turned the tides and gave them an eight point lead. Credit the run's success to Vince Carter, Devin Harris, Boki Nachbar and Josh Boone. So, shortly after the Nets' lead extends to eight and the Sixers call a timeout, Frank takes out Harris, Nachbar and Boone...

Enter Marcus Williams, Richard Jefferson and Trenton Hassell. Yes, Trenton Hassell. And if you're wondering, yes...he did airball his first and only shot attempt of the evening. Not a joke. Williams proceeded to commit two crucial turnovers and Jefferson struggled to get going all night.

I blinked, and we were behind in the early stages of the fourth quarter. I know NBA guys need their rest, but this was the biggest game of the season for the Nets and Frank failed to ride the rush. Should have left VC, Harris, Boki and Boone out there until their play indicated fatigue or the Sixers began to turn it around on the scoreboard.

Neither was the case when Frank made his costly substitutions.

Frank's decision-making was equally as horrible or worse in the fourth. He overplayed the physically ailing Nenad Krstic, who allowed Samuel Dalembert to rip down 18 rebounds, including four or five critical bounds in the final three minutes. Krstic is far from athletic, and throw in a pair of bad knees -- how the hell is he supposed to stay with the younger, longer, quicker, more explosive Dalembert?

Krstic had no shot. Frank had two athletic options on the bench -- rookie Sean Williams and the enigmatic Stromile Swift -- but he failed to pull the trigger and play the match-up. Instead he left Krstic out there to rot and when Carter missed a potential game-tying three in the final 25 seconds, Krstic got outjumped by Dalembert (what a surprise) and was unable to snatch a rebound that should have been his.

Cue the annoying timeouts. A Frank trademark. This is the NBA!!! Coach, you have Carter and Jefferson, these guys can close games without one of your terrible set plays that never work. He calls a timeout for every possession in the final 1:30! The frustration on the faces of his players is as clear as the fact that he shouldn't be coaching in the NBA. Take a lesson from Phil Jackson -- the guy lets his players go, and they deliver for him.

Sure, Carter isn't Michael or Kobe, but he does have four game-winners this season. Put it in his hands, let him win the game for you -- Frank's diagrammed plays don't work anyway. Jefferson has a few game-winners too.

I can't even write about Lawrence Frank anymore. I get too frustrated even thinking about him and the way the Nets are playing this season. He coaches pros like they're a bunch of middle schoolers and he's a shell of the man he replaced -- the successful Byron Scott.

If the Nets miss the playoffs and Frank keeps his job...I'm becoming a T'Wolves fan.

The Celtics Make a Statement in Houston

The Celtics snapped the Rockets' improbable 22-game winning streak tonight with a dominant performance in Houston. The game was tied at 40 at the half, but in the second half, the better team took command behind their superstars -- Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce -- and a hungry, young bench player in Leon Powe.

There is absolutely no doubt that the Celtics are a better team than the Rockets. The Celtics were without one of the Big Three (Ray Allen) and they still managed to blow Houston out on its home court, in what was a playoff-like atmosphere. The Rockets are still atop the Western Conference standings with the loss, but they won't maintain a stranglehold on the No. 1 spot. They play cohesively, and with passion and intensity, but they can only ride guys like Mike Harris, Bobby Jackson and Chuck Hayes for so long. Sooner or later the lack of exceptional talent will burn them in the firepit that is the Wild West.

It's difficult to say for sure, but the Celtics may very well be the premier team in the NBA. They have an impressive record against tough Western Conference competition and they won the season series against the Eastern powerhouse Pistons.

Garnett is a pleasure to watch, as he controls the tempo of the game at both ends of the floor. He's active and aggressive on the defensive end and he plays with poise and intellect offensively. He probably has a slight edge over Tim Duncan as the top power forward in the league right now.

I still believe, if healthy, that the Lakers are the team to beat. However, with both Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol out now, the "if" in "if healthy" is a massive "if." A big enough "if" for me to place them slightly behind the Celtics in the overall power rankings. The Lakers have no paint presence without Bynum and Gasol (Chris Mihm is also out) and the Rockets were clearly the better team when they beat L.A. on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Hornets are trying to make a believer out of me, but I just can't see them as a legitimate title contender. They are totally reliant on Chris Paul at the end of games and when it comes down to it, I prefer other team's closers like Kobe Bryant and Baron Davis. Paul has certainly proven himself this regular season, but I'm not sold on his dominance continuing in the playoffs. He's small and has a low release, and I could see bigger defenders hounding him down the stretch of playoff games. Paul's just not a natural one-on-one, go-to type player like Kobe, LeBron, Baron or even Tracy McGrady.

I like Utah's team but they still lack an identity in close fourth quarter situations. Some nights its Mehmet Okur taking long, contested twos or Kyle Korver jacking up threes. What it should be is Deron Williams clearing out at the top of the key and Carlos Boozer coming up for the pick-and-roll. Every time. Let your best two players determine the outcome of a close one. C'mon Jerry Sloan, Stockton and Malone should be your blueprint.

Power Rankings, if healthy (Yao exempted because he's officially out for the season):
1-Lakers, 2-Celtics, 3-Spurs, 4-Pistons, 5-Jazz, 6-Suns, 7-Hornets, 8-Rockets, 9-Warriors, 10-Mavericks

Power Rankings, right now:
1-Celtics, 2-Pistons, 3-Jazz, 4-Rockets, 5-Hornets, 6-Spurs, 7-Lakers, 8-Suns, 9-Warriors, 10-Mavericks

The Celtics-Lakers rivalry could make a triumphant return in this year's NBA Finals. Injuries will make all the difference in the world.

Fantasy Baseball Advice: Second Edition

In volume two, I'll take a look at the deep list of outfielders. Selecting outfielders can get tricky because the range of individual strengths is wider at this position than any other. Meaning, first basemen are generally slow-footed run producers, second basemen are usually smaller guys who hit for average and score runs -- yet outfielders can be monster homerun hitters or speedy little steals specialists.

I think the Rockies' Matt Holliday is a runaway for the No. 1 spot in the outfield. He has no weaknesses -- he hits homers, drives in a ton of runs, scores runs, hits for average, plays in a hitters' ballpark, and even gets his share of steals. He's young and durable, and he should be a fantasy animal again this year.

Spots two through seven are highly interchangeable. I like Carlos Beltran for the No. 2 spot because he managed to hit 33 homers and drive in 112 runs last year despite missing a significant number of games. For that very same reason, some people may not like Beltran. He's a bit injury prone, and although his offseason knee surgery went extremely well, some will be rightfully skeptical of his durability. I don't think Beltran will miss more than 20 games overall, and the Mets need him more than ever with Carlos Delgado on the downside of his career.

Others to consider from two to seven are Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Lee, Grady Sizemore, Magglio Ordonez and Carl Crawford.

Like Ryan Howard, Soriano struggled mightily during the first half of the 2007 season, but he settled in during part two -- particularly in the last month and a half. Soriano is always a source of homeruns and steals, but his RBI total will depend on his position in Sweet Lou's batting order. The latest reports say he has Soriano penciled in for the No. 2 position -- like the one-spot, it won't allow for exceptional run production.

Lee is one of the premier RBI guys in the Majors, and he'll likely enjoy the company of Miguel Tejada this season. Tejada will provide protection for "El Caballo," as will Lance Berkman, Hunter Pence and perhaps even Ty Wigginton. El Caballo should be set for a monster year and I expect him to take more advantage of the Astros' short porch in left. Homers should jump from low 30s to 38-42. 150 RBI isn't an impossibility.

Sizemore's batting average dipped during the regular season last year, but he impressed in the playoffs. Reports are that he is tearing it up this spring, and I have to believe he'll be closer to .300 this season. Sizemore will certainly be among the leaders in runs scored and extra-base hits, and unlike Crawford, he's a "speed guy" who definitely deserves to be considered with this group of top outfielders.

Crawford's obviously a different story. Yahoo Sports actually had a decent column a couple of weeks back about the unwarranted fantasy hype that accompanies Crawford. They had it right. He's solid -- he's a top steals and triples guy -- but he's not a first or second round pick in an average-sized fantasy draft. He lacks the homerun pop of Sizemore or even Curtis Granderson, and the Rays have an unproven lineup that could shrink his runs scored total. There's little to differentiate Crawford from the Rockies' Willy Taveras, who generally goes in the middle-to-late rounds.

Ordonez was a freak last year, leading baseball with a .363 batting average. Yikes -- that's nasty. "Maggs" is an excellent run producer, as well. Because of the cavernous dimensions of Detroit's park, his homerun total leaves a bit to be desired, but he's still a top five to 10 outfielder. RBI and runs scored should increase with the additions of Miguel Cabrera and Edgar Renteria to an already potent Tigers' lineup.

Fantasy Baseball Advice: Volume 1

I know this blog has been devoted entirely to basketball up to this point, but I have a big fantasy baseball draft Monday night. I figured I'd sift through my pre-rankings and provide some advice to my fellow cyber managers. In this volume, I'll focus on infielders.

At catcher, Cubs' youngster Geovany Soto is getting plenty of hype in the fantasy community. I don't know what to think of the kid -- he performed well in a short-term scenario last season, but I don't think he's a sure thing like Russell Martin was last year. I stole Martin in the 21st round of my deep draft last season, because he had already shown his versatility in the form of stolen bases, and the Dodgers' organization kept suggesting that he was their second-half MVP in 2006. Soto didn't have anywhere near that type of impact in 2007. He did well, but I won't be looking to steal him from anyone.

Pre-ranking: 11th catcher. In the vicinity of Ramon Hernandez and Jason Varitek.

Texas' Jarrod Saltalamacchia is another interesting young catcher. "Salty" got hot for the Braves before being dealt to the Rangers last season, and managed to do fairly well with Texas. I like his size and power, the Rangers have an excellent hitters' park, and Salty's also eligible at first base. However, my research tells me that Gerald Laird is going to be Texas' everyday catcher, and lefty Ben Broussard has the job at first. So Salty may very well begin the year in the minors. I think he'll find his way up a few times, though. He's a wild card.

Pre-ranking: bottom of the catchers' list. Could have value later on in the season.

At first base, there's been much debate about the top of the list. It's basically a three-man race: Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder. I've already revealed my hand -- that's the order I have them in.

Pujols is one of the greatest hitters of all time, and even though his lineup protection is limited this season, he'll find a way to hit 35-40 homers and drive in 110-120 runs with a batting average over .300.

Howard got off to an extremely slow start last season, but he tore the cover off the ball in the second half. I believe his second half performance is more indicative of the year he's going to have this season, as the big fella will continue to take advantage of the friendly confines in Philly.

For some reason, I'm a little skeptical about Fielder. Honestly, I think it's his weight that concerns me, because it definitely isn't his swing. Fielder is clearly smoother than Pujols mechanically, and he's better technically than Howard. He hits to all fields and may compliment his power numbers with a .300 average for many years to come.

A couple of other first basemen to watch are the Dodgers' James Loney and the Pirates' Adam LaRoche. Loney has a sweet lefty stroke and he's extremely calm and poised for such a young hitter. Like Fielder, he hits the ball to all fields, and while he doesn't explode with the same regularity, Loney is a capable long-ball hitter. Pre-ranking: 13th first baseman. Around Adrian Gonzalez and Todd Helton.

LaRoche is one of those guys who just looks like a monster at the plate. He's tall, relaxed, has an extremely long swing and a load of homerun power. He's a bit of a free swinger and he strikes out at a pretty high rate, but in his second season in Pittsburgh I expect him to be more settled and accustomed to the offensive backdrop. Pre-ranking: 16th first baseman. In the area of Kevin Youkilis and Carlos Delgado.

At second base, it's mostly a toss-up. There's no question that Chase Utley, Brandon Phillips and B.J. Upton are the class of the position, while Robinson Cano, Brian Roberts, Chone Figgins and Dan Uggla round out the extended group of elites. In the teens, Dustin Pedroia, Kelly Johnson, Placido Polanco and Howie Kendrick can really go in any order -- depends on the roster needs at that particular juncture in your draft.

Toward the bottom of the list two youngsters to keep an eye on are the Indians' Asdrubal Cabrera and the Rockies' Jayson Nix. Both could be reasonable late-round picks, however I don't see either having an incredible influence on this fantasy season.

At third base, I think the Reds' Edwin Encarnacion is the player with the most upside in the teens. I love the Reds' ballpark for fantasy hitters and Encarnacion's confidence should be high after a comeback second half last year. However, the issue still remains with Ryan Freel rotating in from center field to play some third base. The Reds have some big-time prospects they may wanna work in in the outfield and they'll still want to sneak Freel's speed into the lineup. But if Encarnacion gets steady playing time I'd say 25 homers and 90 RBI at least.

Pre-ranking: 12th third baseman. Around Hank Blalock.

The Twins' Mike Lamb is a deep sleeper at third base. Lamb has been an excellent part-time hitter for the Astros in recent years, and it seems as if he's finally getting the opportunity to start. I don't know if he'll produce against lefties, but he should hit right around .300 against right-handers. I could see 15-20 homers and 75-85 RBI.

Pre-ranking: 23rd third baseman. In the vicinity of Scott Rolen and Nomar Garciaparra. (Haha, look at those two names. Five years ago they were both top five at their position. Times change.)

At shortstop, I'm not sold on sophomore Troy Tulowitzki. I know Coors Field makes him a very enticing pick, but I watched the playoffs very closely last year and "Tulo" showed me almost nothing at the plate. Granted, the regular season pitching will be easier to tee off on. I still have him in my top 10 shortstops, I just don't think he's a top 5 guy like most fantasy magazines and websites are projecting. I'd take Carlos Guillen or Miguel Tejada before him.

Pre-ranking: 7th shortstop. Near Guillen and Edgar Renteria.

Don't take the bait on J.J. Hardy, either. J.J. had an incredible first half last year and was a legitimate NL MVP candidate at the midway point. He quickly came back to earth in the second half and looked like the .240 hitter he had been in the past. I don't think he's a total dud, I'm merely saying I'd go with safer selections like Rafael Furcal and Orlando Cabrera.

Pre-ranking: 12th shortstop. Around Cabrera and Stephen Drew.

Speaking of Stephen Drew, he's a guy who people were in love with prior to the 2007 campaign. His regular season numbers were extremely disappointing, but I think he came into his own in the playoffs. Drew features a pretty left-handed swing and is an excellent gap hitter. He's not quite as strong as his brother J.D., but I think Stephen is in for his first impressive regular season. Strengths should be total bases and runs scored.

Cavs Regretting the Ben Wallace Trade?

We can't know for sure if the Cavs' organization is regretting the trade that brought them Ben Wallace and friends, but one thing's pretty clear: LeBron is pissed.

I watched two of Cleveland's losses this week (New Jersey, Washington) and I could feel the tension in LeBron's play. He spent the entire first quarter of the New Jersey game trying to pump up his lethargic teammates, and spent the whole Washington game jarring with DeShawn Stevenson and playing sloppy one-on-one. King James is in a tough spot right now because his new teammates are underachieving, and even with a monster individual performance -- 42 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists -- he was unable to lead his team to victory against a sub-par Nets team.

Let's look closer at his "new teammates":

1. Wallace-the headliner of the trade has already missed a few games due to injury. When he has appeared, his numbers have been OK, but he looks a step slow and doesn't have that contagious bounce in his step. Big Ben makes his share of ugly-looking shots around the rim that probably shouldn't go in, but he's still a major liability at the foul line -- particularly in late-game situations.

2. Wally Szczerbiak-certainly the second-biggest name in the deal, Wally has been absolutely horrific from the perimeter since joining the Cavs. He shot a very solid 46 percent from the floor with Seattle, and yet he's somehow shooting a measly 33 percent with Cleveland. Perhaps I shouldn't say "somehow," because there appear to be some serious deficiencies in Wally's game. Almost every time he attempts a three from a corner, whether it be right or left, he clangs it off the short side of the rim and the backboard. This type of miss comes from a rushed shot in which Wally fails to set his feet and square-up sufficiently. He's probably feeling the pressure of playing with the most-hyped athlete in the universe.

Also, Wally's knees seem to be bothering him and he looks out of shape. I'm sure all of the time off due to injuries limits his ability to maintain the proper playing weight. Regardless, LeBron is definitely missing Daniel Gibson, who (prior to his ankle injury) was making all of the open shots that Wally is missing.

3. Delonte West-I believe he's been starting at point guard for Cleveland since his first game on the active roster, but he's not doing much. Delonte basically just brings the ball over halfcourt and then dumps it off to LeBron so he can run the offense or take it to the rack and tear the rim down. Delonte's an OK defender, but he has a lean frame and bigger point guards will manhandle him. Since West's arrival, I actually think Damon Jones has outplayed him. Jones has been lighting it up from beyond the arc and he uses the threat of the three-ball to open up passing lanes to cutting teammates (which basically means LeBron cutting to the hoop).

4. Joe Smith-the man who I thought would be the biggest help to the Cavs, really hasn't contributed much. He hasn't shown the same confidence in his game that he was showing in Chicago, and maybe that's because LeBron is so good that it makes him feel talentless in comparison. No, I don't really believe that -- but it would be sad if true. I have to admit, LeBron hasn't been looking to get his teammates involved as much as he was earlier in the season, so that may be stunting Smith's output as well.

Of course the Cavs are also suffering through injuries. What the hell are they gonna do about the rotation when Gibson and Zydrunas Ilgauskas return? It's pretty sad, but I don't think any of the four players who came over from the Bulls deserve a spot in Cleveland's primary starting lineup. I'd go with:

PG-D.Jones, SG-Gibson, SF-LeBron, PF-Varejao, C-Ilgauskas.

They'd never do that though, because then they'd look quite stupid for giving away Drew Gooden (who has been a beast for the Bulls) and Larry Hughes. So, Mike Brown will probably go with:

PG-Delonte, SG-Sasha Pavlovic, SF-LeBron, PF-Big Ben, C-Ilgauskas.

That lineup makes me gag. But there is too much pride in the world of professional sports, Brown wouldn't want to hurt GM Danny Ferry's feelings by benching all of the players he just brought in, and playing guys who were already there. If I were calling the shots I'd say to hell with that -- let's play the guys who have earned the minutes. That's Damon Jones, Varejao and lately, swingman Devin Brown.

All I can say to the Cavs' organization is -- good luck cleaning up the mess you made.

"Rocket"ing Into Contention

Very few of the Houston Rockets' 19 consecutive wins have been on national television, and I was finally able to catch them in action against the New Jersey Nets two nights ago. As far as overall talent goes (without Yao Ming), it's difficult not to be underwhelmed by the Rockets. However, their performance and results have been more than impressive -- it's absolutely incredible that this group has won 19 games in a row as a member of the loaded Western Conference.

While most people want to give a majority of the credit to Tracy McGrady (particularly considering the six-straight victories without Yao), I'm giving the credit to head coach Rick Adelman. It would be a travesty if Adelman did not win the Head Coach of the Year award at season's end. Other coaches have done an excellent job -- specifically the Hornets' Byron Scott, the Lakers' Phil Jackson and the Sixers' Mo Cheeks -- but Adelman has unquestionably put forth the best performance considering the talent level (or lack there of) of his roster.

The question on everyone's mind is, how are the Rockets doing it? There are two distinct reasons: 1) everyone knows their role and plays it every night, and 2) defense.

With Yao out of the lineup, someone had to step up and provide more offense than they normally would. Rafer Alston (aka "Skip To My Lou" of the And-1 Mixtape Tour) has been that someone. Alston is an inconsistent outside shooter, but he's been more aggressive attacking the rim in Yao's absence and his scoring average has subsequently increased.

"Rookie" forward Luis Scola has increased his offensive output, as well. I place rookie in quotes, because of course Scola is considered a legend in international ball. He's far from a spring chicken. However, all that matters right now is that he's knocking down some short-range jumpers and finishing around the rim with a variety of low-post maneuvers.

Small forward Shane Battier continues to play his role as a defensive specialist who is capable of knocking down triples (sort of like San Antonio's Bruce Bowen); Dikembe Mutombo has been patrolling the middle, blocking shots and waiving his finger, making him nearly perfect in his role as Yao's replacement at the center position; young forwards Carl Landry and Mike Harris have provided rebounding, energy and easy buckets in the lane; and Chuck Hayes brings intensity and hustle, as always.

Defensively, Adelman has the Rockets playing as a unit. When Mutombo is in, Alston, McGrady and Battier funnel penetrators toward Dikembe, and the old timer makes them pay. Battier and Hayes are phenomenal one-on-one defenders at their respective positions, and Luther Head picks up his share of steals off the pine.

It's all working right now for Houston. That said, I'd be shocked if they made any noise in the postseason -- not enough weaponry, and their commitment to hustle and defense will be matched by their opponents in the playoffs. Regardless, my hat is off to the Rockets' entire organization for the success they've had thus far this season.