Start of All-Star Week

Only the Mavs play 3 times this week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday with Thursday-Sunday off for everyone) and they kicked off this exciting week on the NBA calendar in Philadelphia. The game looked putrid on paper as the Sixers won 84-76. The Mavs looked ready for a break as they only shot 35.1% from the field as a team and committed 14 turnovers. For Philly Andre Miller was solid again with 21pts, 8rebs and 7assts and showing teams why they should want him and is the main reason Lou Williams is still coming off the bench. Who knows, maybe the Sixers will keep him for the season considering nothing has been done yet.

San Antonio is looking forward to finishing up their long Rodeo road trip while playing and winning in Toronto tonight. They were led by Manu Ginobili who had 34pts, 15rebs, 6assts while making 6-12 treys. Needless to say, he helped a bit for owners in this shortened week. Jose Calderon was the main man for the Raps logging in 27pts and 6 dimes. He should be an All-Star and while he's not a forward, he should have been the man to replace KG rather than Rasheed (and I'm a HUGE 'Sheed fan). Other big news for the Spurs, they are expecting Tony Parker back from injury after this AS weekend.

In Orlando, it seems that after the Magic's hot start to the season, they have yet to put together another good run of wins. Tonight was no exception, Cleveland went into Florida and even though it was mostly a 2-man show again for the Cavs, Larry Hughes dropped 40pts to help the Cavs win 118-111. Lebron wasn't too shabby either with 29pts, 10assts and 7rebs. Orlando got their big games from their guys, but perimeter D (Hughes and Lebron?) was once again their issue as it has been for much of the season.

The Lakers won again tonight on the road in Charlotte and so far the Gasol trade could not have worked any better for LA. He had 26pts, 6rebs and 6assts tonight, playing 2nd fiddle to Kobe's 31pts. Ray Felton had a nice line with 29pts, 8assts and Nazr Mohammed added 22pts and 11rebs, but it wasn't enough to hold off the Lakers, who were efficient shooting 50% from the field and 29-34 from the line winning 118-111.

That other LA team won by the same margin at a different eastern conference arena. The Clips went into Milwaukee's Bradley Center and beat the Bucks, 96-89. They were led by rookie Al Thornton (25pts) who replaced the injured Tim Thomas in the starting lineup. Sam Cassell also chipped in 21pts and 8assts. For Milwaukee, Mo Williams had a rare great game with Michael Redd in the lineup with 31pts, but not doing much else. While Redd was bad from the field (3-13), he contributed by dishing out 11assts and grabbing 7 boards. Desmond Mason also recently made his return to the rotation taking over the starting forward spot and scoring 14pts in this one. Mason's been known for some scoring, but he doesn't score well from the line or from three so pick him up only if you expect some points contributions.

In Houston, the Rockets continued their playoff push against Portland, who's youth seems to be catching up with them. The Rockets won 95-83, led by Yao's 25pts and Rafer's all-around game (17pts, 7assts, 5rebs). The young Blazers just didn't have it on the road tonight. They got 22pts from LaMarcus Aldridge, but he took 26 shots and only made 10 of them.

In Golden State, there was a high scoring affair as there generally will be with the Warriors involved. Golden State pulled out a tight one in the end against the Wiz, 120-117. Washington was only playing with an 8 man rotation, but were hot early led by Roger Mason, who had 32pts and 6assts. The Wizard frontline both posted 20-10 games. Haywood had 20-10 and Jamison added his own 25-10 game. Golden State made up a 16pt deficit after the half though behind Stephen Jackson's season high 41pts.