Dirk Nowitzki recorded his second career triple-double in Monday’s win over the Denver Nuggets, scoring 34 points with 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Dirk hadn’t cracked the 20-point barrier in any of the previous four games, making his massive game even sweeter, especially as it comes in such a crucial week for fantasy owners. He made 7-of-17 field goals, 4-of-5 three-pointers, and a whopping 16-of-17 free throws. Denver has never felt Kenyon Martin’s absence more keenly.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Los Angeles: Ron Artest bounced back after a pair of single-digit scoring games, finishing Monday’s loss to New Orleans with 14 points, seven rebounds and two steals in 43 minutes. Not the greatest line (6-of-14 FGs, 1-of-8 from downtown) but it’s an improvement.

Los Angeles: Pau Gasol finished Monday’s loss to the New Orleans Hornets with 26 points and a career-high-tying 22 rebounds, including 10 on the offensive glass. Gasol scored the Lakers’ first 12 points and wound up 11-of-22 from the field and 4-of-4 from the line. He added two assists and two blocks with just one turnover, but his massively economical night wasn’t enough to lift his cold-shooting team to victory.

Dallas: Rookie Rodrigue Beaubois followed up Saturday’s 40-point gem with just five points on 2-of-7 shooting in Monday’s victory. Beaubois played under 15 minutes off the bench, despite the absence of injured guard J.J

Utah: Carlos Boozer (26 points, 14 rebounds) and Paul Millsap (14 points, 10 rebounds) both played well in Monday’s win over the New York Knicks. Neither guy had much luck containing Al Harrington, but it’s nice to see them both double-doubling in the same game. Boozer made 11-of-16 FGs in 37 minutes, while Millsap made 5-of-8 FGs and 4-of-8 FTs in 24 minutes off the bench.

New York: Al Harrington erupted for 26 points and a season-high 17 rebounds vs. the Jazz on Monday, making 8-of-20 FGs, 3-of-9 threes, and 7-of-10 FTs. Harrington was one rebound shy of his career-high, while adding one steal, one block and just one turnover in 39 minutes.

New Orleans: Chris Paul led the Hornets to a win over the Lakers on Monday with 15 points (including one 3-pointer), four rebounds, 13 assists and one steal.

Kevin Durant quickly recovered after Sunday’s dismal effort, scoring 45 points (15-of-24 FGs, 14-of-15 FTs) in Monday’s loss to the visiting Spurs. Durant is averaging 29.5 ppg this season and projects as a top-three MVP candidate. He added one 3-pointer, eight rebounds and three blocks but couldn’t prevent OKC from falling into a tie with the San Antonio Spurs for sixth place in the West.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Utah: Paul Millsap scored 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting with three rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 18 minutes off the bench on Monday. Both him and Carlos Boozer (19 points, nine rebounds) were in foul trouble tonight.

Utah: C.J. Miles poured in 23 points on 8-of-16 shooting (including two threes) with three rebounds, one assist, and one steal on Monday against the Celtics.

Houston: Trevor Ariza played 37 minutes on Monday, notching 18 points, two 3-pointers, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals. This was Ariza’s highest-scoring game since returning from his hip injury on March 9th.

Chicago: Derrick Rose piled up 27 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as the Bulls defeated the visiting Houston Rockets on Monday. Rose played nearly 47 minutes, making 12-of-22 field goals, including 2-of-7 three-pointers.

Dallas: Brendan Haywood finished Monday’s loss to the New Orleans Hornets with 10 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in 26 minutes.

Charlotte: Chris Paul started the Hornets game on Monday, scoring 11 points with three assists in 21 minutes. It was his first action since late January. CP3 was out for 25 games with a knee injury, and his minutes were pre-determined to stay around 20 per game. His conditioning and playing time should slowly increase over the next few games, but the presence of backup Darren Collison means there is no need to overload Paul.

LeBron James has been ruled out for Monday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. He’s not really injured, although his ankles are a bit dinged up. This is simply for some rest, and we do expect him to play Friday against the Sixers. NBA TV is not going to be happy with this news, as they’re showing the game tonight.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

New Orleans: Chris Paul, who is already in week five of his four-to-six week recovery period from knee surgery, has still not been cleared to run and may not be before the end of the week. With only 19 games remaining, coach Jeff Bower said there is no magic date to decide if Paul will play again this year. “Our plan is for him to return when he’s 100 percent healthy and that’s what he wants to do as well,” Bower said. This is not good news at all, and Paul’s chances to return this season will likely decrease with each New Orleans Hornets‘ loss.

Oakland: Andris Biedrins will have surgery to repair a small tear in his abdominal muscle. A timetable will be set for his return after the surgery is performed, but we’re guessing this means his season is probably over. Anthony Tolliver and Ronny Turiaf should hold value the rest of the way,

Memphis: Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph will miss his first game of the season on Monday because of lower back tightness, the team announced just before tip-off.

New York: Tracy McGrady will miss Monday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks due to fatigue and soreness.

Portland: Marcus Camby practiced despite his sprained ankle on Monday and is hoping to play on Tuesday against the Kings. He’s not the most trustworthy center around right now, but it does sound like he will be in the starting lineup on Tuesday, barring any setbacks.

Chicago: Luol Deng missed Monday’s practice with the flu and was sent home with the illness. Deng is now questionable for Tuesday’s game.

San Antonio: Tony Parker will miss approximately six weeks due to his broken right hand, but will not need surgery.

San Antonio: With Tony Parker (hand) sidelined, Manu Ginobili will start at SG for the Spurs with George Hill moving to PG. This is terrific news if you own either guy, both of whom should be safe starts in all leagues. Expect Ginobili’s playing time to increase significantly going forward — he was averaging 27:30 per game as a reserve.

Mike Conley had a season-high 26 points, seven assists, five steals and three rebounds as the Grizzlies knocked off the New Orleans Hornets. Conley has found his stroke and is suddenly playing with extreme confidence on the offensive end. Over his last four games, he’s averaging 17.5 points on 60 percent shooting. Consider this a simple hot streak as we don’t think Conley’s offensive game has turned the corner yet.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Sacramento: Tyreke Evans went 4-for-22 from the field on Wednesday night, but the Sacramento Kings won in Houston anyway. Evans field goal percentage coming into this game stood at a surprising 46.6 percent as he defies critics of his jumper. Consider tonight a mere blip on the road during his ROY campaign.

Sacramento: Beno Udrih started on Wednesday and had 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and a trey in 37 minutes of action Wednesday night. This was Udrih’s fourth straight start as coach Paul Westphal has been true to his word about sticking with Beno. Considering the Kings shockingly won this game in Houston, Beno’s leash just got a lot longer.

Minnesota: Corey Brewer had 24 points, seven boards, four assists, two steals and two 3-pointers in Wednesday’s close loss to the Mavericks. He’d scored 10 or less points in his previous four games, and like most of his teammates on the Wolves, is simply unreliable playing under Kurt Rambis.

Minnesota: Darko Milicic started at center for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, but only played 14 minutes. He had six points, two boards and zero blocks, and this is why we stopped trusting Darko long ago. No matter how good things are looking for him, he rarely answers the call.

Charlotte: Emeka Okafor struggled with foul trouble and ineffectiveness on Wednesday night en route to just 10 points, one rebound and one block.

Boston: Nate Robinson hit 5-of-8 shots and four more 3-pointers for 16 points, four rebounds and three assists in an easy win over the Charlotte Bobcats. Robinson posted an eerily similar line in Tuesday’s win over the Pistons, but the only problem is the minutes. He played 20 or less in both games and things are not going to be so pretty on nights when his long ball isn’t falling.

Russell Westbrook had 30 points, five boards, 13 assists, a steal and a 3-pointer in Tuesday’s win over the Kings. Westbrook is having a dream season and has proven to be one of the more valuable point guards. Also, Kevin Durant had 39 points, 10 rebounds and a 3-pointer on 13-of-26 shooting. The Oklahoma City Thunder have now won nine out of the last eleven games.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Miami: Dwyane Wade went off for 35 points, six boards, 12 assists and three steals on 15-of-23 shooting Tuesday’s win over the Warriors. Leave it to the Golden State Warriors to let an injured guy get healthy. Wade looks good to go for now, but as usual, keep an eye out for news on his tender calf.

Boston: Paul Pierce returned from a thumb injury on Tuesday but had just nine points, one rebound, one assist, one steal and one 3-pointer on 2-of-6 shooting.

Detroit: No word yet on the severity, but Wallace finished with six points, 12 boards, a block and an 0-for-5 free throw shooting night. Hopefully the injury’s not serious and he’s back for the next one.

New Orleans: Sources close to Chris Paul (knee) tell beat writer John Reid that the all-world point guard is about 10 days or so from returning. Reid guesses that Paul “may return” for the beginning of the New Orleans Hornets’ five-game road trip that begins on March 14. Paul is taking part in pregame warmups right now and is doing some running as part of his rehab

Phoenix: Leandro Barbosa (wrist) got full medical clearance on Monday to return to the court. Even though he’ll be practicing, Barbosa likely won’t return to game action until March 12 against the Lakers. When he returns, he’ll wear a light wrap on his right (shooting) wrist. We’re skeptical about how effective he can be and with Goran Dragic’s emergence, it’s hard to expect much.

Darren Collison blistered the Pacers for 18 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists, three steals, a block and a 3-pointer while hitting 7-of-13 shots in Friday’s easy win. Not much to say here, other than the Hornets have two stellar point guards on their hands. Trading Chris Paul would bring back a fleet of studs, but we doubt the New Orleans Hornets are ready to put that kind of deal together.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Miami: Mario Chalmers returned from a thumb injury for 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and four 3-pointers in Friday’s win. He came off the bench and this explosion was a surprise. Carlos Arroyo also played well, while Daequan Cook, who started for Dwyane Wade, hit just 1-of-7 shots for three points.

Miami: Michael Beasley hit 13-of-25 shots for a career-high 30 points to go along with eight rebounds, three steals and a block in a double-OT win over the Memphis Grizzlies. With Dwyane Wade out, Beasley is going to be the focal point of the offense.

Sacramento: The Kings’ new starting lineup Friday night is Tyreke Evans, Francisco Garcia, Omri Casspi, Carl Landry and Jason Thompson. Garcia is the biggest benefactor of the Kevin Martin trade, as we expected.

Toronto: Raptors beat writer Eric Smith expects Chris Bosh (ankle) to sit out Saturday in addition to Friday. It makes sense. After Saturday’s game against the depleted Wizards, the Toronto Raptors don’t play again until Wednesday against the Blazers.

Washington: Coach Flip Saunders said he thinks he’ll start Josh Howard against the Nuggets Friday night. Well that was quick. We assume that Howard will take over at the small forward spot, shift Mike Miller to shooting guard and send Nick Young to the bench.

Atlanta: Josh Smith had a nice all-around game in the Hawks’ 88-80 loss to the Suns on Friday, scoring 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting with five rebounds, one assist, three steals, and four blocks.

Josh Smith hit 7-of-14 shots to record his second career triple-double with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, and added two steals and a block in Friday’s tough win over the Bulls. Smoove is feeling it again and should be primed for a big second half now that he has officially abandoned the 3-point shot.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Minnesota: Jonny Flynn hit 6-of-16 shots and three 3-pointers on his way to 19 points and seven assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Mavericks to snap a 13-game losing streak against Dallas. They’ve also won three straight for the first time all season. All five Wolves starters hit double figures in scoring, while Kevin Love double-doubled off the bench. Flynn surprisingly only had one turnover tonight, and was basically dominated by Jason Kidd and Rodrigue Beaubois, but still got it done for the Wolves.

Charlotte: Peja Stojakovic hit 8-of-14 shots and four 3-pointers for 23 points, three rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in Friday’s loss. He’s averaging 16 points in his last five games and has hit either three or four 3-pointers in four of those.

Philadelphia: Samuel Dalembert, playing through a back injury, had seven points, 16 rebounds and three blocks in Friday’s win over the New Orleans Hornets. Don’t look now, but the Sixers have won three straight games. Rodney Carney, Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young all hit double digits in scoring off the bench, while Andre Iguodala filled the stat sheet in the win. Dalembert isn’t a reliable scorer, but doesn’t miss games and is playing for a contract.

New York: Nate Robinson started at point guard Friday and hit just 3-of-12 shots (zero 3-pointers) for 13 points, four boards, seven assists and a steal in Friday’s loss to the Bucks. Larry Hughes had two points in 20 minutes, while Chris Duhon had six points and three assists in 15 minutes tonight. Robinson will get more chances to start at point guard, so don’t give up on him after tonight’s struggles.

Washington: Caron Butler returned from a knee injury and exploded for a season-high 31 points, including the game-winning 19-footer with 0.5 seconds left on the clock in Friday’s win over the Orlando Magic.

Oakland: Anthony Randolph will remain in a walking boot for another month, according to the Warriors, which means he’s not likely to play again this season. With three torn ligaments in his ankle, Randolph was always a longshot to have an impact again this season. Now it sounds like he’s had a setback and/or the ankle is not healing was originally expected. Once he gets out of the boot, he’ll have a long way to go in terms of rehab and getting back in shape, and we’d be surprised to see him play again this year.

The Clippers have relieved Mike Dunleavy of his coaching duties and have named top assistant Kim Hughes their interim coach for the rest of the season. Dunleavy is expected to remain in his GM capacity. The Clippers are 21-28, seven games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Dunleavy was doomed once No. 1 overall pick Blake Griffin went down this season and Elton Brand surprisingly bolted before last season. Hughes has been with the Los Angeles Clippers for the last seven seasons and the rotations should not change much, if at all.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Charlotte: Following reports of Chris Paul having underwent successful surgery on his left knee that will keep him out 4-6 weeks, the New Orleans Hornets Times-Picayune is reporting that he will spend 2-3 weeks on crutches. If he spends two weeks on crutches, it still seems a bit optimistic that he would be able to return two weeks later in game shape.

Portland: Brandon Roy (hamstring) will practice Friday, and is likely to play Saturday against the Lakers.
While this is good news, there’s a lot of time between now and Saturday. Watch to see how he responds to a full practice Friday before committing to him.

Chicago: The Chicago Bulls have decided to shut down Joakim Noah (plantar fasciitis) until the All-Star break. He was severly hobbled in his last two starts and he can’t afford that with his lack of offensive skills. He’ll miss the next four games but will get 12 days off thanks to the All-Star break. Brad Miller and Tyrus Thomas will benefit the most.

Orlando: Jameer Nelson (left knee) and Mickael Pietrus (right ankle) put in full practices Thursday and appear ready to play against the Wizards on Friday. Nelson ends up just missing one full game with this latest knee problem, but it remains a major concern.

Cleveland: LeBron James started at point guard for the first time since his rookie season with Daniel Gibson (personal) out on Thursday, and finished with 36 points on 9-of-16 shooting (1-of-4 from downtown, 17-of-21 from the foul line) with seven rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. We were expecting some eye-popping assist totals, but they never came, and by halftime Daniel Gibson was back from tending to his pregnant fiancee at the hospital.

Miami: Michael Beasley, who had played just two games since returning from a knee injury, played a season-high 41 minutes on Thursday, and finished with 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting (including a three) with 12 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks.

Warriors G Monta Ellis hit 17-of-23 shots and a career-high four 3-pointers on his way to a career-high 46 points in Wednesday’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Ellis is hot again, despite a sore right wrist. He had a steal, a block and some circus shots, but also committed seven turnovers. With nearly no defense being played in Oakland, Ellis could have another big game on any night.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Oklahoma City: Thunder G Russell Westbrook hit 11-of-18 shots for 26 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists and a block in Wednesday’s win over the New Orleans Hornets. Westbrook has nearly double-doubled in each of his last two games and appears to be out of his recent slump. Kevin Durant chipped in with another 30-point performance, which should put him in the lead for the scoring race, but also committed a season-high eight TOs on the night.

Charlotte: Bobcats F Gerald Wallace said in a television interview during Wednesday’s game that he simply “tweaked his hammy” and expects to return to action on Saturday.

Toranto: Raptors F Hedo Turkoglu is expected to return to action on Sunday against the Kings, according to the post-game recap. Turkoglu is being fitted with a mask and should be back on the court this weekend.

Boston: Paul Pierce will not play on Wednesday and is not likely to play on Friday either, according to Doc Rivers. This should not come as a surprise and it’s entirely possible that he could rest until the All-Star break with his sprained left foot.

Boston: Rajon Rondo had 22 points, six rebounds, 14 assists, three steals and two 3-pointers in Wednesday’s win over the Miami Heat. He’s on fire and is proving to be one of the most valuable point guards around.

Sacramento: Kings’ forward Jason Thompson will miss his next two games to a attend a funeral on the East Coast. That means he’s out Wednesday and Friday, but is supposed to rejoin the team for Sunday’s game at Toronto. Maybe this will give him time to clear his head and get back in the mix for Paul Westphal. In the meantime, look for solid play from Spencer Hawes and Jon Brockman.

Portland: LaMarcus Aldridge torched the Jazz for 27 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in Wednesday’s loss. Aldridge has been stepping up with Brandon Roy (hamstring) out. He has 20+ points in four of his last five games and even has five blocks during that span.

Utah: Mehmet Okur went off for 28 points on 11-of-13 shooting in Wednesday’s win over the Blazers. After three straight subpar showings, the Turkish Tornado put up a season-high even though he made just one 3-pointer. It should be a big confidence booster for Okur going forward.

Jonny Flynn had 14 points and set a career high with nine assists in Wednesday’s loss to the Hornets. Flynn was beaten by Chris Paul for the game-winner, but is playing well. He also had a steal and a three tonight, and is averaging 13 points, seven assists and more than a steal and three over his last five games. Obviously, he’s becoming more comfortable in his role. Ramon Sessions came off the bench for just two points and six assists and is averaging just six points and three dimes over his last five games.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Milwaukee: Milwaukee Bucks PG Brandon Jennings got hot early and finished with 22 points, four 3-pointers, six assists, two steals and two blocks on 8-of-14 shooting in Wednesday’s win over Toronto, snapping a four-game losing streak for the Bucks. Jennings came in shooting just 32 percent in his last nine games, which was a far cry from his hot start. However, the news was not all good as he left early with a left knee injury. He returned briefly after getting hurt, but was not able to finish the game. Hopefully he just banged knees with another player.

Houston: Rockets F Trevor Ariza hit 11-of-19 shots and four 3-pointers for 26 points, five boards, two assists and two steals in Wednesday’s impressive win over the Cavaliers. Ariza has not been a good shooter from the floor this season, but we think his percentage will continue to improve as he gets more selective with his shots. Ariza’s strong play this season is probably one of the reasons the Houston Rockets are in no rush to bring Tracy McGrady back from knee surgery.

New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul had 15 points and 14 assists, and hit the game-winning layup after blowing by Jonny Flynn near the buzzer for a tough win over the Timberwolves.

Oakland: Warriors F Anthony Randolph returned from a personal leave on Wednesday and came off the bench for 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists, a steal and three blocks on 4-of-7 shooting in just 20 minutes of action.

Philadelphia 76ers: Allen Iverson hit just 3-of-10 shots for 11 points, three assists, two steals and a block in Wednesday’s loss – the 11th in a row for Philly.

Allen Iverson is expected to decide by Wednesday whether he’ll accept the 76ers one-year, prorated, non-guaranteed contract offer. A.I. could be offended by the lack of a guarantee, but his desire to prove that he can still play will most likely weight too heavy on his conscious.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Portland: Portland Trail Blazers F LaMarcus Aldridge was a surprise scratch from the Blazers’ lineup on Tuesday, sidelined by a bruised right knee. Aldridge is day-to-day and will be reevaluated prior to Saturday’s home game vs. the Rockets.

Oakland: Oakland Warriors F Anthony Randolph’s sprained left ankle will sideline him for 7-to-14 days. Tough break as assistant coach Keith Smart said that before going down Randolph “was on the verge of having a good game.”

New Jersey: Nets F Yi Jianlian (knee) had an individual workout Tuesday and could return to full-contact practice later this week. Jianlian appears to be on track to play within a week or two.

Milwaukee: Bucks G Michael Redd (knee) said he will not join the Milwaukee Bucks on their upcoming two-game road trip, with games Wednesday and Friday. Hopefully Redd will get more rest and rehabilitation by remaining in Milwaukee. The next game he could play in is Sunday vs. the Cavaliers, though we won’t be surprised if he misses that game too.

Milwaukee: Bucks G Bucks guard Luke Ridnour, who left Monday’s game with a hamstring injury, did not practice Tuesday. Ridnour has made some improvement, however, and will travel with the team for their current two-game roadtrip. Consider him questionable for Wednesday’s game.

Memphis: Rudy Gay is expected to rejoin the Grizzlies in time for Wednesday’s game. Gay wasn’t available on Monday because he was attending the funeral of a family member in Baltimore.

New Orleans: Chris Paul has been working out during morning shootarounds and before games, but he still can’t make cuts on his sprained ankle. The New Orleans Hornets won’t offer a specific timetable (“We continue to wait until he’s able to run, cut and jump,” according to coach Jeff Bower) but beat writer John Reid suspects that Paul could return within 10 days. Stay tuned.

New Orleans: Peja Stojakovic will not play Tuesday against the Lakers because of an illness in his family.
James Posey worked with the first unit at shootaround, and is expected to start in Stojakovic’s place.

Washington: After being held to six points and zero rebounds on Saturday, Antawn Jamison bounced back with 30 points, 12 rebounds and two assists in a win over the Raptors. He made 12-of-22 FGs, 2-of-6 three-pointers, and 4-of-8 FTs.

The Sacramento Kings are discussing a trade that would send Kenny Thomas to New Orleans Hornets in exchange for center Emeka Okafor. Thomas, who is due $8.7, will be an unrestricted free agentin 2010 and this is why he is a coveted player. However, Okafor is due about $62 million over the next five seasons. No deal is imminent, but if the Hornets want on of the Kings young pieces this deal could be dead before it even heated up.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Portland: Blazers F Travis Outlaw is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks with a stress fracture in his left foot, meaning he won’t return until mid-January. This is a tough loss for the Portland Trail Blazers, who have won six straight games and seemed to have finally settled into a set rotation. Rudy Fernandez got the bulk of his minutes on Saturday, but will likely compete with Martell Webster to fill the sixth-man void.

Detroit: Pistons G Ben Gordon scored 29 points (5-of-8 three-pointers) to lead the Pistons to their third consecutive victory on Saturday, defeating the struggling Wizards. Gordon, who was signed in the offseason to a huge contract, scored eight of Detroit’s final 10 points and is excelling as the teams new leader.

Oakland: The severity of Kelenna Azubuike’s “left patella tendon injury” isn’t yet known — we should know more once test results are announced. The Contra Costa Times reports that Azubuike’s kneecap appeared “off to the side,” suggesting a dislocated kneecap (which could require about 3-5 months of rehab). If he ruptured the tendon he would likely need surgery. Check back soon for another update.

Washington: Washington Wizards G Gilbert Arenas said on Saturday that he’s still trying to find his comfort zone under coach Flip Saunders. “I have to try to find a way to keep myself in the game the whole time,” said Arenas. He said he has been too worried about involving teammates and racking up assists, and vowed to bring back the fun-loving Arenas (of “Agent Zero” and “Hibachi” fame).

Utah: Continuing with good rookie play,Utah Jazz G Eric Maynor scored 24 points in a losing effort on Saturday, going 9-of-16 from the field and 6-of-7 from the line, with three rebounds and four assists. Maynor has looked great in the past two games, sans Deron Williams, but the All-Star’s impending return makes him an unlikely fantasy option going forward. Just file this away in case Williams ever sits for an extended period of time.

Only nine games into the season, the New Orleans Hornets have fired head coach Byron Scott. The move will be formally announced at a news conference Thursday afternoon. “Our expectations are high. Our sense of urgency is high. Our patience is low and we hope that translates into results quickly,” GM Jeff Bower explained.

GM Jeff Bower will take over as the head coach of the Hornets. Bower is a one-time Hornets assistant, but has never been a head coach in the NBA. Former head coach Tim Floyd will also rejoin the Hornets as Bower’s top assistant.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Minnesota: Al Jefferson will miss the Timberwolves’ next two games because of an illness in his family.
Jefferson has been somewhat inconsistent this season while recovering from February’s knee surgery, but is still averaging 15.1 points and 6.1 rebounds, and his absence is a big blow to fantasy owners. Jefferson is expected to be back with the team for next Wednesday’s game against the Rockets.

New York: Rookie PG Toney Douglas has averaged 22 points over his last two games and could be on the verge of replacing Chris Duhon at point guard. With the New York Knicks season basically over, why not give the rookie a chance to impress?

Oakland: Head coach Don Nelson said Stephen Jackson was limited to just 18 minutes on Wednesday due to a back or hip injury, although Jackson disagrees. “I’m fine,” Jackson said. “I’ve got a scratch. That’s all it is. My back is not sore at all.” Nelson and Jackson’s relationship has been damaged beyond repair, and Jackson is still not happy. “Regardless of where I’m at, I want to play. I have no control over that, but I want to play.” Nelson said the team is trying to trade Jackson. “He asked to be traded, and we’d like to trade him. That’s if we can.” No trade appears to be imminent.

New Jersey: New Jersey Nets G Chris Douglas-Roberts returned to practice Thursday after missing eight days with the swine flu. CDR said he wants to play, but would not commit to being ready for Friday’s game against the Magic. Stay tuned for updates leading up to Friday’s game
.
Orlando: Ryan Anderson said his ankle is feeling better, but is unlikely to play in Friday’s game against the Nets. He expects to return Monday against the Bobcats. “I was hoping to play tomorrow … but it’s looking great for Monday instead,” Anderson said after practice Thursday. Rashard Lewis is also expected to return to the Magic lineup Monday, causing any fantasy value Anderson might have carried to diminish

2008-09 NBA Team Preview – Cleveland Cavaliers

2008 Record: 45-37
Division Finish: 2nd – Central
2008 Playoffs: Lost, 4-3, to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals

Head Coach: Mike Brown
Season: Going into fourth season
Record At Cleveland: 245-101

Offseason Acquisitions:
Signed Ronald Dupree, F, 1.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, from Seattle
Signed Tarence Kinsey, G, 3.6 ppg., 1.1 rpg from Memphis
Signed center Lorenzen Wright, F-C, 1.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg. from Sacramento
Traded Damon Jones to Milwaukee & Joe Smith to Oklahoma City Thunder. Got guard Maurice Williams, G, 10.2 ppg, 6.1 apg. from Milwaukee

Offseason Transactions:
Resigned guard Daniel Gibson
Resigned guard Delonte West

Offseason Losses:
Damon Jones, G, 6.5 ppg, 1.1 rpg., Free agent
Devin Brown, G, 7.5 ppg., 3.4 rpg., Signed with New Orleans Hornets
Dwayne Jones, C, 1.0 ppg., 2.0 ppg., Signed with Orlando Magic
Detemtris Nichols, F, 1.1 ppg, 0.4 rpg., Claimed off waivers by Chicago Bulls

Rookies:
JJ Hickson, F, 6-9, NC State, 14.8 ppg., 8.5 rpg.
Darnell Jackson, F, 6-8, Kansas, 11.2 ppg., 6.7 rpg.
Sasha Kaun, C, 6-11, Kansas, 7.1 ppg., 3.9 rpg.
Signed Jawad Williams, F

The Skinny:
If the Cleveland Cavaliers want to make that next step from a good team in the East to a great team in the NBA that has a chance to win a championship, they need look no farther than one of their Central Conference foes. The Chicago Bulls wrote the playbook on how to win with a superstar and Cleveland general manager Danny Ferry needs to not only read it, but take the necessary steps.

For my money, the Cavs have the best player in the league in LeBron James. He might not go out and score 50 points in a night like Kobe Bryant and may not play as much defense as Bryant, but he’s more consistent than Bryant. He can beat you in so many ways that I think he’s more versatile than Bryant. He also rebounds a lot better than Bryant and being around the basket creates scoring opportunities with second chance points.

Another reason that makes James a better player in my opinion is that he’s trying to get everyone involved and make them a better team. James’ idol was Jordan and he knows if he wants to be in the same company some day that he has to start winning championships. Jordan was a great player but his status was elevated even higher once he started winning titles. Karl Malone may be one of the 50 greatest players in the league’s history but he’ll start to fade into the background because he was never on a championship team.

James can score just about any time he wants. It’s not a matter of if he could; it’s a matter of does he want to. I’m sure a lot of team would like for him to just to try to score at will. Detroit will let James get 45 points, but hold the rest of the team to 30 and the Pistons will come out on top almost every time.

But LeBron is smarter than that. He knows he has to get them involved because there are going to be nights when he can’t score at will and has to rely on his teammates. He also knows that he needs them because he already gets all of the attention off the court and if that spreads to the floor they won’t be as likely to play as hard. Look at the Lakers for the last few years up until this year. It was the Kobe Show and he wasn’t doing anything to make friends so no one wanted to play hard or play with him and they lost. He became more of a leader, wasn’t a ball hog, shut his mouth some and they went to the Finals.

So the Cavaliers knew they needed help last year when the acquired the services of Ben Wallace in a big midseason trade. Along with Wallace, Cleveland picked up guard Delonte West from Seattle and guard Wally Szcerbiak from Chicago. In the process they got rid of a lot of dead weight as the traded sent six players packing, topped by Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Shannon Brown.

Hughes and Marshall made sense. Both are getting long in the tooth and Marshall isn’t a great team player. Brown isn’t living up to the hype at Michigan State and he’s not doing it in the pros either. The one that surprised me is Gooden. He’s only been in the league six years and was averaging 11.3 ppg. and 8.3 ppg., but you have to give up something in those trades and they felt like Gooden was ready to go.

For his size, 6-foot-9, Wallace has been one of the best rebounders in the league over the last half a decade. However, he is getting a bit old. With a dozen NBA seasons under his belt he is getting close to hanging it up. Szcerbiak is a solid role player who can help a ball team win if he can stay healthy.

I like the edition of West. He’s a younger version of Hughes who averaged 10.3 ppg., 4.5 assists per game and 3.7 rpg. They also picked up Maurice Williams in trade during the offseason. He averaged 10.2 ppg and 6.1 apg for the Milwaukee Bucks so it will be interesting to see what happens in the battle between he and Hughes.

Most of the Cavs offseason moves besides getting Williams weren’t that spectacular. They drafted a pair of pretty solid forwards in JJ Hickson from NC State and Kansas’ Darnell Jackson. With Wallace as a mentor they don’t have to jump right into the fold and be expected to contribute, though they may.

Prediction:
I still think the Cavaliers are a year or two from putting together a championships team though when you’ve got a player the caliber of James anything is possible. If this team sticks together for 2-to-3 more years and they can keep some key guys in place then they may be a contender in 2009-10 or the following year. They have to resign James, but that’s a whole other blog.

They’ve got a great center in Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who averaged 14.1 ppg and led the squad at 9.4 rpg., and he’s locked up until the 2010-11 season. As I stated before I’m also a fan of West and Williams. One of them may have to play the point and the other the off guard because that’s where they’ve got a hole.

The Cavs have a pair of holes in their off guard and power forward. I don’t know if Wallace can hold up through the whole season, though being on the floor with Ilgauskas  and James may take some of the focus away from him and let him be productive like Dennis Rodman was with the Lakers. Hickson and Jackson could be good down the road but it’s hard to tell.

Since I predicted Detroit to win the Central and the NBA title the best I can give Cleveland is a second-place showing in the Central. I’ll give them the upset of Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but they’ll lose to Detroit in six.

Due in large part to the stellar play of point guard Chris Paul, the New Orleans Hornets are considered one of the fastest-rising teams in the NBA. Paul (considered by many to be the NBA’s best point guard) anchors a young, energetic nucleus that turned a lot of heads before losing to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinal. With many of the league’s stars either in or approaching their 30s, expectations – and hopes – are high in the Big Easy.

Early Years

The Hornets were born in Charlotte, N.C., in 1987 when the NBA granted Charlotte one of four proposed expansion teams. The team began play in 1988. Led by Kelly Tripucka, Rex Chapman, and Muggsy Bogues (at 5’3” the shortest player in NBA history), the team went 20-62 in their first season.

In 1989-90, instead of improving, the Hornets finished one game worse, at 19-63. They picked up Kendall Gill, a highly-regarded guard out of Illinois, in 1990, and drafted power forward Larry Johnson out of UNLV in 1991. Led by these young players, the team appeared to contend for a playoff spot in the 1991-92 season, but faded in the spring.

The Hornets drafted Georgetown center Alonzo Mourning in 1992. Mourning, Johnson and Gill led the team to its first-ever winning record and playoff berth. They surprised the favored Celtics in the first round before losing to the New York Knicks in the second round.

Injuries to Mourning and Johnson derailed the Hornets over the next few years. They made the playoffs in the 1994-95 season, but couldn’t get past the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls.

After that season, the Hornets traded Alonzo Mourning to the Miami Heat for three players, including shooting guard Glen Rice. This split up the Hornets’ promising young trio.

The Move to New Orleans

The Hornets moved to New Orleans, La., in 2002, due to decreased attendance and owner George Shinn’s disillusionment with the Charlotte arena. The team made the playoffs in the 2002-2003 season, losing to the Philadelphia 76ers.

They made the playoffs again in 2003-04, losing to the Miami Heat in seven games.

Hurricane Katrina

The entire city of New Orleans was affected by the cataclysmic destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina. The Hornets were no different; they were forced to relocate to Oklahoma City for 2005-06 and 2006-07. The Hornets missed the playoffs both seasons.

2007-08 Season

The Hornets returned to the Big Easy for the 2007-08 campaign. Led by 2005 draftee Chris Paul, the team finished at 56-26 and won its first-ever division title. The upstarts from New Orleans beat the Dallas Mavericks in the first round and took the San Antonio Spurs to seven games in the conference semifinals.

2008-09 Outlook

The Western Conference is wide open in 2008-09. The Lakers, Spurs, Suns, Jazz, Mavericks and even the Houston Rockets all believe they have a legitimate chance to win the West. But it would be a mistake to count out the New Orleans Hornets. All-Stars Paul and forward David West have shown they aren’t afraid of anyone. On the other hand, teams would be wise to be afraid – or at least respectful – of the Hornets.