Now I know the season is young and underway, but that doesn’t mean my basketball advice will be limited. In fact, I’m going to take a deep look and give you five players that are being underlooked and can make a huge impact on your team.

1. Michael Beasley- I don’t know if it’s just me, or does Beasley look like Juwanna Mann? All kidding aside, he hasn’t done much in his career, and that’s resulted in him being on his third team in five years, the Phoenix Suns.

Why I’m sold on Beasley this season is the scenario he finds himself into. Now the Suns are without Steve Nash and lost out the contract bidding war involving Eric Gordon (they’re probably happy about that one), Beasley’s considered the best scoring option. While he averaged 11 points per-game in his last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, he averaged near 20 one season and has a tendency to shoot consistently.

The 23-year-old has good amounts of potential, but it’s how he transitions with this Phoenix team that will make or break him. I think Beasley will have a solid year of 20 points per-game with six rebounds and two assists. If you buy him low, that’s a steal.

2. Glen Davis- Now since he’s known as “Big Baby,” Davis should be considered a literal sleeper (okay, I have to stop these corny jokes sometime sooner or later). But in all seriousness, this is a very interesting option.

When Davis started his NBA career five years ago, he’s played backup most of his tenure. Once Dwight Howard dramatically left to go to the LakeShow in Los Angeles, Big Baby had his chance to shine. Let’s just say he has, as the preseason production and early season stats have shown he’s got what it takes to be a starting center.

I’m really liking Davis currently, and this is an expected trend. With Al Harrington out, Big Baby will get more touches inside and the rebounds. He’s a player you should consider investing in.

3. Omer Asik- Like Jeremy Lin, the Houston Rockets gave the big man a questionable contract. But if you haven’t been watching, Asik’s become a rebounding machine.

He’s the definition of a one-category player. Asik has averaged seven points and 14 rebounds per-game in his first four starts as Houston’s center. Keep in mind he’s only 26-years-old and is one year away from reaching his potential, so the possibility of consistent scoring can be in the future if you stay patient. The seven-footer is also a pretty good shot blocker.

If you need rebounds or just a big man in general, pick Asik up before he gets more recognized. I’m very optimistic on his abilities and he hasn’t reached his full potential. The best has yet to come.

4. Ben Gordon- Here’s another example of a possible one-category player that could be getting under-looked. Gordon might be reaching his 30′s and slowly regressing into just a shooter, but he’s in Charlotte, where the Bobcats need scoring (and wins).

My point is that being the sixth man and the primary scorer will result in points. Gordon’s projected to average near 15 points-per game and helps with three-pointers, free throws, and field goal percentage. And with the sixth man role evolving in the NBA (take James Harden and Manu Ginobili for example), Gordon might be able to rejuvenate his career if used properly.

Unlike Asik, I think Gordon will stay the same player with no improvement on any other aspects of his game. If you need scoring or just a shooting guard since the depth for that position is weak this year, pick him up. Gordon should be solid.

5. Dorrell Wright- Now we’re talking about a deep sleeper. With Andrew Bynum out indefinitely and Doug Collins loving his bench, Wright seems poised to have a solid year off the bench. His recent start to the year has me convinced he could be potentially starting midway through the year.

So far, Wright’s averaging 11 points and seven rebounds per-game from bench minutes. From what he’s given, the 26-year-old has played to expectations. But keep in mind, with Evan Turner in the looms, Wright might not be able to show what can be available if given starting minutes.

Wright should only be picked up if you’re in a really deep league (12-16 teams). Otherwise, he has no business being on your bench wasting minutes.

If you have any questions or players you want me to evaluate like I did here, ask me through email, message me on Facebook, or tweet at me via Twitter.

When LeBron James hosted an hour long special on ESPN to declare he was signing with the Miami Heat (known as “The Decision”), many people (mostly Cleveland Cavaliers fans) started to dislike him. The way James took care of his free agency situation started a trend of superstars demanding/signing with other stars to form “super teams”. It wasn’t the first time it happened, but since James is regarded as the NBA’s best overall talent, most NBA stars thought, “If he’s teaming up with other stars, I have to do so to beat him.”

Enter Dwight Howard. Howard is currently (and surprisingly) an Orlando Magic. Throughout the past two seasons, we’ve heard mumbles on how he’s been demanding a trade and was involved in the firing of his head coach and general manager. All of this occurs, and Howard opts-in to finish the rest of the 2011-12 season and the next as a Magic.

You’re probably thinking to yourself how can someone be so indecisive. Howard has been demanding a trade to the Brooklyn Nets since midway through the 2011-12 season and has publicly stated his desire to play there alongside Deron Williams.

The Nets have been aggressive in trying to acquire the All Star center since his demands went public. Brooklyn has offered numerous trade requests that have all been denied by Orlando management. It’s gotten to the point where the Nets have recently agreed to a max contract with current center Brook Lopez. In the new CBA, a signed player can’t be traded until midway through the next season, so Lopez can’t be trade bait until January 2013.

Numerous teams have also inquired about Howard’s services. Examples are the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and the Atlanta Hawks. The problem is Howard only wants to play for the Nets and won’t sign an extension with any other team if traded, which is why he’s still in Orlando.

It’s unfortunate the ignorance of a star player is the reason why a franchise can’t clean house. The Magic are trying desperately to move him before next season but have failed miserably. And to think all of this could’ve been avoided if he didn’t opt-in when he clearly didn’t want to.

Part of this blame does fall on the Magic. They knew Howard was going to leave after last season and wanted to. So what was the point of persuading him to stay for just one more year to add more drama? Clearly management didn’t think of this when talking to him. Now they’re trying to rid of him. It makes no sense.

Howard wasn’t the first player to do this to a franchise. Around midway through last season, Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams were both unhappy stars that wanted out. Anthony, instead of Howard, refused to sign an extension and made it clear he wasn’t staying. He set his eyes on the Big Apple and the New York Knicks before eventually being traded there for a kitchen sink of role players. Williams’ relationship with Jerry Sloan caused the Hall of Fame coach to retire and Williams packed his bags to New Jersey (now Brooklyn).

I think that there should be disciplinary actions brought down on players like Howard. The NBA is a business, and the players should only have a say in where they go if they’re free agents. Imagine telling your boss you demand a trade to a new office or you won’t work. You think your boss will beg you to come back? Of course not. He’ll just go to his application list and call the first person that sparks his interest.

That’s why I don’t dislike LeBron James. Of course “The Decision” was publicly aired on television, but most people forget that was to donate the money to the Boys and Girls Club of America. It wasn’t like he wanted a camera to say, “HAHA see yah’ Cleveland! I’m joining Wade and Bosh!” He was also a free agent, so James had every right to address what team he’d play for.

Back to the disciplinary action. If a player holds back an organization like Howard is currently doing, he should be suspended without pay until further notice. I know it sounds harsh, but this has been going on for nearly two seasons. The Orlando Magic and its fans don’t deserve to be going on the Internet every day to see Howard in their uniform while he wants to wear another. The other punishment should be trading him to the Charlotte Bobcats, although that’s probably worse than the first option. I bet David Stern wouldn’t veto that trade.

Dwight Howard is the poster child of what the new CBA was supposed to block. It was supposed to block star players from demanding trades to another team to form a super trio. It was supposed to increase luxury tax and decrease cap space to avoid this. Unfortunately, it’s failed to this point.

Howard is going to get what he wants, but his indecision screwed up a franchise’s early rebuilding stages. There’s still time to rid him, but other franchises know he’s only committing to Brooklyn. People dislike LeBron James for making a decision, but they should turn that attention to Dwight Howard for his indecisiveness.

Billy King’s tenure as the Nets general manager has been bumpier than Lightning Loops. It has seen more twists and turns than The Beast. In the case of some Nets fans, it has even caused as much uplift-force trauma as El Toro.

If King is lucky in his upcoming offseason endeavors, though, the Nets may become about as attractive as the Coney Island Cyclone.

Much like the timeless rollercoaster, which is conveniently located not far from the team’s brand new home in the Barclays Center, the franchise has an opportunity to become a mainstay in the borough of Brooklyn. With recent reports of Magic center Dwight Howard officially demanding a trade to the Nets, King has an chance to make this hypothetical opportunity a reality.

It is no secret that guard Deron Williams will be soon making his decision as to whether he will remain with the Nets, who he has spent the last season and a half with, or head elsewhere such as Dallas. He may even be bringing a future NBA Hall of Famer wherever he goes. With this selection looming, it is imperative the Nets show initiative in establishing a winning tradition.

No, that winning tradition does not begin with a billionaire owner who can barely attend games. Nor does it begin with acquisitions that cost a guaranteed lottery selection in the draft, or free agent contracts that give injury liabilities four years to prove themselves. Instead, Smallville now needs its Superman.

The 26-year-old Howard is tied to the Magic via an opt-in that he agreed to earlier in the year, which removed his eligibility to became an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Rob Hennigan, who is entering his first season as the general manager of the squad, has a difficult position in front of him.

Appease to the man who made a promise and let him dictate his own fate, or be stern and make the man who missed the final stretch of games in 2012 due to a back injury ride out his contract.

The answer? Appease at all costs. Give the man what he wants. If he does, Mr. King will do the same in return.

The Brooklyn Nets are at a point in their history where there is absolutely no going back. The massive investment made by Mikhail Prokhorov has been well-documented by the public, alongside the massive mishaps that have come with it. It has been a series of constant disappointments for the team since letting go of Jason Kidd in a trade with Dallas in 2008, a team that made the trade in hopes of preventing the inevitable fallouts from rebuilding. Needless to say, they were unsuccessful.

It has been five seasons since the Nets last punched a playoff ticket. Since then, they have sported an overall record of 126-268. The time is now for the “all-in” move that can, and if completed, will restore the franchise. It is King’s job to do whatever it takes to acquire the six-time NBA All-Star.

Some argue against trading a man like Brook Lopez, who has averaged 17.4 points per game over his career. At 7-feet tall, he also only collects 7.5 rebounds per contest. He is expendable.

Others say that they must build towards the future with draft picks. After the failure that was the 2012 NBA Draft for the Nets, there is no time to waste on this front.

If the Nets are unable to make a deal for Howard, they must turn their attention directly to Hawks guard Joe Johnson. Despite the fact that they will be taking on guaranteed money, it would provide a unique opportunity for the Nets to posses a backcourt rivals would fear for years to come.

With the acquisition of just one more superstar, Williams will stay. It may not even take that, but for their to be a future for the franchise, and for them to avoid the same fate with him as they did with Kidd, it is imperative whatever is needed is done to make a splash.

Brooklyn has a unique chance to establish a brand never before seen in the NBA. Ditching the past, and moving on to a state where quick and immense turnarounds seem legitimately possible.

The time to win in the borough is now. The time for King to prove his value to the franchise is now. LeBron James didn’t happen. Carmelo Anthony didn’t happen. If Dwight Howard or Joe Johnson don’t happen, then the championship banner raising ceremony at the Barclays Center will not either.

If it does happen though, big things are on the horizon for the Nets. In regards to a potential deep playoff run, perhaps YES Network play-by-play man Ian Eagle says it best with his signature call.

“Book it.”

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After all of the wacky things that happened to the Orlando Magic in the 2011-2012 season, they have decided to clean house (literally). Otis Smith is no longer general manager, Stan Van Gundy is gone, and most of all, Dwight Howard is officially on the trading block. No flip-flopping, Howard will officially be out of Orlando by the end of next season at the latest.

So the big question is where will Superman land. There have been a number of rumored teams interested in the big man’s services, and in this edition of Katz Korner, we’ll explore all of them, as well as give you my opinion on where Howard will go.

Brooklyn Nets- Well the first team on the list is the most obvious one. With the move to Brooklyn, there’s no secret that general manager Bernard King and owner Mikhail Prokhorov want to build a “Big Three” of their own. In order to keep Deron Williams, the Nets will need to establish something this offseason, which will make them very aggressive for Howard as the draft gets closer.

I would expect that in a package for Howard would include Brook Lopez, multiple draft picks, and maybe MarShon Brooks. Remember, Otis Smith is out as GM, so maybe when King comes calling with this ridiculous offer, it will actually get done.

Los Angeles Lakers- The Lakers have been constantly rumored with Dwight Howard, but let me explain why this won’t happen. The Lakers would need to part ways with Andrew Bynum, because Pau Gasol will not cut it. There’s no way the Magic choose to clear house and then decide to take Pau’s contract. It will most likely take Bynum plus draft picks and a player or two.

Even if the Lakers offered the right package, Dwight would have to sign a long-term deal to get the deal done. He has said time and time again that he doesn’t want to be Shaquille O’Neal. If he went to L.A., it would be exactly like the Superman that played before him. So in short, I doubt Dwight goes to the Lakers.

New York Knicks- In short, no. Once again, this could have been a possible landing spot if the Magic weren’t deciding to completely clean house and restart from scratch. They’re going to look for draft picks, which the Knicks don’t have, and big expiring contracts, which the Knicks don’t have. The Knicks have been rumored as to wanting to try to deal Amar’e Stoudemire, but they will have to look elsewhere.

Los Angeles Clippers- Now this is a real possibility. I understand the Clippers haven’t been rumored all that much, but they might become more and more of a likely destination if he isn’t traded during the offseason. Something like Eric Bledsoe, DeAndre Jordan, and multiple draft picks could make a lot of sense for the rebuilding Magic. I know that the Clippers haven’t been mentioned much, but this is a real possibility.

Dallas Mavericks- Well it’s no secret if a big name is out there, Mark Cuban will make a play for him. Cuban could steal the show here. If Dwight doesn’t wind up in Brooklyn before the July deadline for becoming a free agent, then Deron Williams will leave Brooklyn and become a free agent, which means that the Mavs’ become the favorite to land the star point guard who is from the area.

This now gives Cuban the possibility to build his own “Big Three.” He could trade expiring contracts, draft picks, and make a serious play at Howard. This scenario is unlikely, but never rule out Mark Cuban.

Prediction- Dwight Howard winds up in Brooklyn. Not only do the Nets have the most to offer, but Brooklyn is a basketball Mecca. It will become a monster draw for free agents to come. Howard will wind up a Net before or on draft day for Brook Lopez and the team’s draft picks for the immediate future. Deron Williams will stay, and New York basketball will have a rivalry for the first time ever.

Since I did one for the NHL, it would only do justice to follow up with one for the NBA. Here are my five players to watch out for at the NBA trade deadline March 15.

1. Dwight Howard, C Orlando Magic: This is literally just the Shaquille O’Neal situation back in 1996. The Orlando Magic have this superstar center and are refusing to trade him. Based on the way trade talks are going currently, Howard might terminate his contract after this season and test the free-agent waters.

General manager Otis Smith doesn’t intend to trade his star, but rather hold on to him and win now.

Howard has let the public know he’s interested with playing on other teams. Such examples Howard has stated are the Los Angeles Lakers, the Dallas Mavericks, and the New Jersey (soon to be Brooklyn) Nets.

Some of the offers we’ve heard include trading Howard to the Orlando for Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, Howard for Brook Lopez and two first-round draft picks, and Howard for Amar’e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler.

Instead of trading their star, Smith has plans to go out and acquire another star to compliment his big man. That other star’s name will come up later in my article.

Come March 15, Dwight Howard will stay in a Magic uniform. There may be lots of speculation about a potential trade, but this is just history literally repeating itself. The Magic will hold on to Dwight Howard, make their playoff run, lose before the conference finals, and lose him to free agency. And you would’ve thought they learned from the Shaq days.

2. Ramon Sessions, G Cleveland Cavaliers: When the Cavaliers drafted PG Kyrie Irving with the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, it was obvious Sessions would be the odd man out. This season, Sessions has had a pretty solid season, averaging 15 points and 7.5 assists per 36 minutes off the bench.

Sessions’ play has attracted the likes of several teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, and Atlanta Hawks. Making four million dollars each year off the bench, general manager Chris Grant should deal him. And it sounds like it might happen too. Sessions might only require a few second-round draft picks to acquire.

I see Sessions eventually becoming an Atlanta Hawk. The Hawks backcourt is weak, with Jeff Teague being the only productive guard this season. If they want to make a deep playoff run when Al Horford comes back, another guard would be the solution. The deal would involve Marvin Williams for Sessions straight up with a few money insets. Williams would be an upgrade over Omri Casspi, while Sessions would fit in well with Teague.

3. Stephen Jackson, G/F Milwaukee Bucks: Can a player-team relationship get any worse than this? After being acquired from the Charlotte Bobcats on June 23, 2011, he’s been vocal about not being happy with his current situation. He doesn’t even like the franchise in general and is demanding a trade.

The 33-year-old is considered by coaches as an all-around player who is a team player and makes everyone around him better. There have been a few reports surfacing about the Orlando Magic possibly trading for him, but talks have died down. Another team interested is the New Jersey Nets, only because Dwight Howard wants to play with him and Deron Williams. Jackson won’t be hard to acquire since the Bucks are desperate to get rid of him. It might take a second-round pick at the least.

I see Jackson being traded to the Nets. This would be a big step in the right direction for New Jersey in the Dwight Howard sweepstakes. It would also be fitting to see Jackson end his NBA career where it started, as well as helping them win a title or two if Howard decides to go to New Jersey after this season.

4. Steve Nash, G Phoenix Suns: It’s truly a wonder how someone who’s 38-years-old still perform on a star level like Steve Nash has. Always a pass-first guard, Nash has been one of the more loved players in the league. In his career, Nash has averaged nine assists and 15 points.

Although stats don’t show it, Nash is a very good shooter. He’s one of the best free-throw shooters in the league currently and can still drain it from behind the arc.

Unfortunately, once Amar’e Stoudemire left for the New York Knicks, the Suns haven’t been the same. Nash has had similar numbers, but the team around him hasn’t stayed consistent, and general manager Lance Blanks would be smart to get some value out of him now. Nash’s contract is up at the end of the season as well.

As recent as Feb. 27, reports have surfaced that the Orlando Magic are “aggressively” pushing to acquire Nash. A reason for this would be to hopefully keep Dwight Howard in Orlando. If a deal was going to go down, I’d expect Hedo Turkoglu to be involved since he has an expiring contract, Jameer Nelson, and a draft pick.

This one is tough to figure out, since Nash doesn’t mind being traded or staying in Phoenix. He’s publicly stated he’s willing to be traded if it helps out the team.

I say Nash will stay with the Suns. There isn’t a reason why Blanks should trade a star guard (who’s the only reason why they’re relevant) for a package like that. Keep Nash and sign him for two more years and let him finish where he started would be the best option for the Suns.

5. Pau Gasol, F Los Angeles Lakers: Ever since the Lakers were swept by the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Playoffs last season, Gasol has been labeled “soft.” This label has also been the reason why the Lakers have seemed desperate to ship him out of town.

It confuses me why they would want to trade someone as productive as Gasol, who’s averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds this season. But then again, the Lakers have the worst bench production in the league along with an aging point guard. They need to get some value out of the 31-year-old.

Some teams linked to Gasol have been the Orlando Magic, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Houston Rockets.

I see Gasol becoming a Houston Rocket in a few weeks. The Rockets were notably going to acquire Gasol in the Chris Paul to the Lakers trade before the season started, but commissioner David Stern vetoed the deal. Houston has been rumored to request Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry for Gasol. This trade benefits the Lakers because they get that young point guard to run Mike Brown’s system, while getting someone to fill in the void for Gasol who can be just as productive.

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

It smells like Christmas. And no, not ironically because the tentatively resolved NBA season is positioned to start with its signature Christmas Day slate of games; but because it is ripe with potential. Just brimming with possibilities.

The NBA’s David Aldridge already highlighted the 10 things he is looking forward to; it’s totally a great read. So while he covers the season’s top concerns, I wanted to bring attention to the top 3 concerns presented by an issue not discussed in the article: the condensed season length. So without further ado, here is my new column.

Jared Greenspan’s: The Trinity

At the forefront of this issue is the modification of the season’s length.

1) 66 Games – Yeah, we know its more than the previous lockout in which NBA teams only played 50, but how exactly will the season’s dynamic be effected by such a transition? As far as the schedule’s proposed structure, each team would play approximately 48 conference games, and 18 games against the opposing conference. This means each team only plays three teams in the other conference on each of their respective home courts.

This is a game-changer for young rebuilding franchises like the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers, who could potentially be on the cusp of a playoff-berth. If they only have to play an eastern powerhouse like Miami or the Bulls once on and on their home court, they have a shot at obtaining the seventh or eighth seed in the rugged Western Conference. At least in Golden State’s case, they will be heading towards the lottery if they are the one team in their division slumming a back-to-back-to-back road-trip against the Knicks, Celtics and the Magic respectively.

2) Age – You look at teams like the Spurs who have been poised for their “final” championship run for the last five years and you see the young guns like Memphis who upset them during the playoffs. So does 16 less games help or hinder the “old guard” (think Spurs, Celtics, Lakers)?

As an avid Spurs fan, I note that this is definitely a disadvantage. Remember, just because the season only lost 16 games, does not discount the fact that it lost more than 16 games worth of days. This is not Shane Battier’s ideal 70 game season, which would stretch 70 games over the normal season length. There are going to be more back to backs and less three and four-day rests. It probably won’t aid younger teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder as much as people might think, because we have seen young, vital pieces like a Kendrick Perkins get hurt mid-season.

3) Chemistry – Yes, this would be something to talk about even if there was no impending lockout which cast a black cloud over the NBA season. No, there is not a team shrouded in question marks like Miami was last year. With that being said, one could easily make the argument that a shortened training camp will lead to a hyper integration of all offseason acquisitions.

Rookies are going to have to hit the ground running, but free agents and trade bait are going to have to learn alot about new environments very quickly, and adapt even faster. Statistically speaking, the Knicks did not get any better after acquiring Carmelo Anthony mid-season. This means that an effective sign-and-trade deal for big names such as Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Deron Williams will probably be executed sooner rather than later, if at all.

With teams vying for free agents, it will be very interesting to see not only which pieces fit where, but whether or not they will integrate properly into a new system. More to come on that free agency as the season draws closer.

Go NBA, Go Spurs, Go SportsFullCircle – its great to be back.

1 Chicago Bulls vs. 8 Indiana Pacers

As the Bulls have been dominant throughout the NBA season,ending their year at 62-20, they should have no problem handling the Pacers.

The Pacers have fought long and hard for that 8th spot, and they will also be fighting to get farther, which seems a slim chance to none. The Pacers have even said they wanted the 8th spot, possibly to shock the world and show how good they really are. With this mentality, Indiana will surely hope to put up a fight and possibly eliminate the Bulls.

2 Miami Heat vs. 7 Philadelphia 76ers

The Heat started out struggling this year, losing to many top teams. Miami also never fully recovered from all this, though they did pick up a   final win over the Boston Celtics to push them to the third seed at the third to last game of the season. The Heat are also considered big winners over the course of the season, ending at 58-24.

The 76ers have trudged all year and have usually held the 7th and or 6th spot. It would be very surprising to see the 76ers make it past the first round as they are not a great team. In a way, they can be considered at best average, winning 41 games this year. Two starters on their team (Jodie Meeks and Spencer Hawes) are considered below average players, yet they start for the 76ers. The way the 76ers have made it so far is through teamwork and holding out until the end.

Seed 3 Boston Celtics Vs. Seed 6 New York Knicks

Ever since the trade deadline, both these teams have changed drastically. New York acquired Carmelo Anthony for a package of youngsters, and the Celtics traded away Kendrick Perkins. Boston started out well after the deadline, but quickly fell from the top of the conference to third. The best way for a struggling offense (Celtics) to get back on track and win is to play a team who does not care about defense (Knicks). This match-up should be great in its own way.

4 Orlando Magic vs. 5 Atlanta Hawks

This one is most likely going to be not a great and or huge series. Orlando did finish eight games ahead of the Hawks (52-30) and is is seen by many as a stronger force than Atlanta. With Dwight Howard, a dominant presence in the paint, and Jameer Nelson, a great point guard, which they should be able to take control of most of the games and take the wins.

Atlanta always seems to make the playoffs, but never makes it very far. This year looks about the same road for the Hawks. The match will be good, and Orlando will most likely take the series.

That’s my take on the East. Somebody’s got to win it all, maybe the Pacers or the 76ers. Surprises always happen in this sport, so be prepared for great playoff games.

Ok, Ok, Ok. I know I said the next thing I would do is work on more mid–season awards. I swear, my Defensive Player of the Year award is in the proofreading process, and “Sixth Man” is on the way. But tell me, what are the point of midseason awards if I ignore the most obvious one:  The All-Star Game?

EAST ALL-STAR STARTING FIVE

PG Derrick Rose – Chicago Bulls

SG Dwayne Wade – Miami Heat

SF Lebron James – Miami Heat

PF Amare Stoudamire – New York Knicks

C – Dwight Howard – Orlando Magic

Afterthought : For all those NBA think-tankers who doubt the average fan’s ability to vote, this lineup is a wake-up call. The fans got this one as close to right as you can possibly get.

I personally would like to see Celtics G Rajon Rondo, the quickest and most gifted passer in the East, start at the PG position and have the scoring dynamo of Rose come off the bench as a sixth man. Regardless of which one of these two points start, the other one will be robbed. Excellent job voters.

Now for the seven All-Star reserves.  For those of you who don’t know how this works, the NBA coaches get to choose two guards, two forwards, a center, and a wildcard (any position) to come off the bench in each conference. In the East, this should be:

PG Rajon Rondo – Boston Celtics

Dude’s got the highest assists-per-game average since John Stockton averaged 13.7 in 1991-1992. Did I mention he is doing it on the team with the best record in the East? With players like Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, the Celts have tons of personality and Rondo has gone above and beyond to keep everyone happy.

SG Joe Johnson – Atlanta Hawks

This was so tough for me. Mostly because I love the Celtic frenzy (and because Raymond Felton is having an awesome year complimenting Amar’e), but I had to give it Joe.  His points, rebounds and assists numbers are all higher than Ray Allen’s, but it is tough. What it came down to is this: Joe Johnson is the leader of his team on and off the court. At 35, Allen is having career numbers in shooting from the field (and from the three), but while you can argue he is the best player on the Celts, it’s just as easy to argue he’s the fourth best.

SF  Paul Pierce – Boston Celtics

You have a former MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in Garnett. Then, you have the aforementioned Rondo with his passing wizardry. For the heck of it, throw in the greatest shooter in NBA history in the previously mentioned Ray Allen. Who do you give the ball to in the clutch?

This guy, captain and leading scorer Paul Pierce. 19 points-a-game does not begin to show how valuable he is to this team. When Rondo goes down, he passes more. When Garnett goes down, he rebounds more. He knows what he needs to do to win and with shooting numbers like 51% FG, 42% 3FG and 85%, he is doing it within himself.

PF Chris Bosh – Miami Heat

When Lebron is having an off-day, Wade covers for him and the Heat probably win. When Wade is having an off day, Lebron covers for him and the Heat probably win. When Bosh has an off game, Heat lose – plain and simple. At 18.6 and 8.2, it’s tough to merely call Bosh an “X Factor”. The guy is a proven scorer and can take over as long as he is stays confident in his game. At the beginning of the year, I was expecting him to be starting this game – regardless he deserves to play.

C Al Horford – Atlanta Hawks

Thank goodness for this man. The center position in the East is somewhat uncompetitive and after Dwight, there is a huge gap in talent. It’s either between this guy or Joakim Noah (when he’s healthy), but this year its all Al. 16.3 points, 9.7 boards, 3.5 assists, 1.1 blocks .8 assists, 57% FG and 82% from the line are numbers sensational at any position.

WILD – depends on who the coaches pick. There deserves to be at least three Celtics. If they go with Joe Johnson at SG , expect Ray Allen or Kevin Garnett here. If they go with Ray, expect Josh Smith of the Hawks, who is having a sensationally versatile year on the stat sheet as always.

WEST ALL-STAR STARTING FIVE

PG Chris Paul – New Orleans Hornets

SG Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers

SF Carmelo Anthony - Denver Nuggets

SF Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder

C Yao Ming – Houston Rockets

Afterthought: YAO MING!?

Alright, so I get that the NBA is encouraging its “go international” initiative here, but lets be real; Five games-played, 10.2 points, 5.4 rebounds in just over 18 minutes are NOT the numbers of an NBA All-Star (although the 1.6 blocks and 93% FT might be). So many players get robbed every year because China is the most populous country in the world, or last year with Allen Iverson’s support squad pushing him to start. Not cool.

There’s also the issue of two starting SFs in the West and no PFs. I tend to be a traditionalist with my basketball but I must tell you – I love this. The All-Star Game is a fast-pace, offensive show, ESPECIALLY for the first quarter which is when this would matter the most (hence the term “starting”). This is a sort of “affirmative action” for all the years when the West started two PFs with Duncan and Garnett, or Duncan and Nowitzki.

PG Deron Williams – Utah Jazz

Boozer who? The Jazz are rocking one of the best records in the best conference and it’s 100% because of this guy. With over 21 points-per-game, it shows he knows what it takes to win. And for a team known for its fight and fourth quarter comebacks, it’s nice to have a leader like this.

SG Manu Ginobli – San Antonio Spurs

Best player on the best team. Greg Popovich is coaching, but it’s not exactly like he is winning with a team of 12 year-olds. Ginobli’s averaging almost 20 points-per-contest He hustles. He leads. He’s the best.

PF Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks

No 7- footer has his range, and he straight up rocks. If you need stats – refer to my MVP article. No need to read the whole thing – this guy was #1.

PF Blake Griffin – Los Angeles Clippers

Might be the most athletic player in the NBA. This includes Lebron, and Dwight. If that’s not enough, his points and rebound numbers are the highest since Duncan and Shaq were rookies. With those two winding down, this guy is the future. It would have gone to Kevin Love, who is having an awesome season in Minnesota, but both of their team’s are honestly terrible. The difference: Griffin is already learning to win.

C Pau Gasol – Los Angeles Laker

Kobe Bryant is not mentioned in the MVP conversation anymore. Why? Because he doesn’t need to put up 28 anymore. Why? Because this guy steps it up. A double-double machine who is much improved with his back to the basket and defensively. Might be the best PF in the game right now; he’s definitely the most skilled.

C Tim Duncan – San Antonio Spurs

His numbers are down, I know. But come on! He is the consummate professional. He is the anchor of San Antonio’s defense, and is only getting 29 minutes eaxh game. In case you haven’t notice, when the game is close, the Spurs stop running all their “new” pick and roll offenses and lob the ball down-low to this guy. He can still carry a team, Pop’s just playing it cautious.

WILD – PG Russell Westbrook

No I am not talking about Lakers-Celtics, nor the exciting Sacramento Kings LA Clippers match up (that would be a poor attempt at humor). I’m talking Mavs-Spurs baby.

It’s funny how things work out, and I was just talking to Jon about this. There are six teams in the NBA; three in each conference, that stand above the rest. I’m talking about the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and the newly revitalized Orlando Magic in the east (honorable mentions to Chicago and New York) and the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, and Dallas Mavericks in the wild west (shot outs to Utah and Oklahoma City Thunder). The symmetry expands as there are also two pairs of state rivalries with the atmosphere of a college game.

The Spurs and Mavericks are Duke and UNC of the NBA. These teams hate each other, – like really hate each other.  Whether it was the Josh Howard flagrant foul on Bruce Bowen a couple years ago, or Edwardo droppin’ flagrant fouls like crazy during last year’s playoffs – it is heated.

“I hate the Spurs. No, I mean I hate the Spurs. I have a hard time being civil to [Spurs owner] Peter Holt at the board of governors meetings and he has a hard time being civil to me even though we both like each other. It’s what it represents.” – Mark Cuban told the Huffington Post.

The point I am trying to make is this match up is huge. Keys to consider:

-Dirk Nowitzki will be inactive tonight due to the injury he sustained two games against OKC - Duncan is coming off a career low two points. Prepare for the Spurs to capitalize.

-Duncan may be tall for a Power Forward, but the 6’7 Blair is short for a Center. Be prepared for the 6’7 swing-man Shawn Marion to get the start in place of Dirk and guard Blair so that Defensive stopper Tyson Chandler can guard Duncan.

-Jason Terry has been much in the clutch lately – look for him to have the ball in the fourth quarter if the game is close for the Mavs.

-Tony Parker has thrown some amazing passes recently, look for this to spark either Jefferson or Ginobli who was obviously too tired to make shots of his own after doing a stellar job contesting Kobe.

-Watch the Spurs bench rotation among big men. Coach Popovich it will be interesting to see who he delegates backup minutes to between Bonner, McDyess and Splitter. Not all three will be able to log 15+ minutes against Dallas – I am predicting Bonner and Splitter, but I have been wrong before.

-Look for veteran play-maker Jason Kidd to feed swing-man Caron Butler in the first quarter.

Greenspan, out!

The Orlando Magic might get some use out of overly paid Marcin Gortat. This is because PF Rashard Lewis tested positive for an elevated testosterone level. The NBA will punish Lewis with a suspension of 10 games.

Lewis said in a statement that he took a drug towards the end of last season. He wasn’t aware that a substance in the supplement was banned by the NBA.

One of the best three-point shooters in the NBA won’t be able to play against the Nets, Sixers, Raptors, Pistons, Suns, Thunder, Bobcats, or Cavaliers. Worst case scenario is that the Magic will drop three to four games.

Lewis will return on the 18th of November and play against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Orlando.

A 10 game suspension isn’t the only consequence to Lewis’ mistake; he will be docked about $1.6 million of his $18 million salary for the 2009-10 season.

Lewis became the sixth player in the NBA to test positive since the NBA started testing in 1999.

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