- Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News: "Josh Howard's exit from the Mavericks went from amicable to a bit testy after he made his debut in Washington on Wednesday night. Howard said after his first game as a Wizard that he looks forward to being able to 'stick it to the Mavs' regarding the trade after six-plus seasons in Dallas. The Mavericks took the high road, with owner Mark Cuban saying only, 'I wish Josh nothing but the best.' The juicy piece of irony is that Howard ended up in Washington, which may well have been the site where he had the beginning of the end, according to several Maverick sources. They say Howard had a long night of partying on Jan. 19, the night after the Mavericks had won in Boston and less than 24 hours before playing the Wizards. The team officially said he missed the game against Washington on Jan. 20 with a stomach illness. But sources said team officials could not deny that it was a self-inflicted game off."
- Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post: "The game froze. Overtime. Tie game. Six seconds left. Carmelo Anthony. LeBron James. 'I knew I wanted the ball,' Denver's Anthony said. 'I was going to get the ball, my teammates knew I was going to get the ball -- and I made the shot.' It was the shot of the season. In the Nuggets' 118-116 win Thursday night at Cleveland, the cold-blooded Anthony swished a 20-footer in James' face with 1.9 seconds left in overtime. James, of course, took the final shot on the other end. But his 3-point attempt clanked off the rim, and Cleveland's 13-game winning streak was history. Down in New Orleans, Team USA point guard Chris Paul tweeted: 'That game wit Bron vs Melo jus now was the best head 2 head matchup so far this season ... best part was that they BOTH guarded each other!' "
- Brian Windhorst of The Plain Dealer: "When the playoffs come around you will read me, if you so chose, writing a lot about margin of error. I feel this is an important concept to examine when breaking down playoff games and playoff series. Basically, it means what teams can give up or get away with and still win rugged playoff games. For example, last season against the Magic the Cavs had a small margin of error. They were dependent on Mo Williams (or somebody) to make shots other than LeBron because of the way the games were going. They were high scoring and the Cavs needed offense and not enough guys were contributing. In fact, no one was besides LeBron. On defense, the had a small margin of error because they had to make concessions with their scheme to deal with the Magic's weapons. The matchups eliminated their ability to get away with many mistakes. When Rafer Alston turned into Steve Kerr, well, that broke the camel's back. You wouldn't think it would, but see, the Cavs had a small margin of error. They needed Alston -- or Mickael Pietrus -- to miss shots. Didn't get it. It was just the opposite against the Altanta Hawks, who simply could not execute against the Cavs defense and had very little margin for error when running their offense. The Cavs knew they could stop them and therefore had more margin of error on offense and in every game generally. Anyway, this season the Cavs have significantly reduced their margin of error because they have improved in the matchup game. And they have better shooters, which means they have outlets for LeBron when he's being heavily guarded or having a bad night."
- Jeff Miller of The Orange County Register: "The best player in the NBA sat during the Celtics-Lakers game Thursday night. Can't blame him. By then, LeBron James had scored 43 points and added 15 assists and 13 rebounds. Poor fella had to be exhausted. Sorry, Lakers fans, but the best player in the league today isn't your guy. Is there anyone other than Kobe Bryant we'd rather have with the ball at the end of a game waiting to be won? No. Is there anyone better suited than title-tested Bryant to lead these Lakers on another postseason run? No. Is there anyone more polished than Bryant at the art of rescuing unexpected victory from looming defeat? No. But is there anyone in the NBA better than LeBron James right now? No. No. And -- say this one with extra-special emphasis -- no! Breathe deep, Kobe Nation. We know you get a little defensive when it comes to questions about Bryant's status as a living bronze statue. And recall that just a few weeks ago Bryant was anointed as 'unguardable' in this very space. If there's a word that pays greater homage to a basketball player, we've never heard it. But still, James scores more, assists more and rebounds more. He blocks more shots and shoots field goals more accurately, even three-pointers."
- Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle: "The term 'Rick Adelman offense' was always a euphemism for 'Rick Adelman's Sacramento offense.' It really did not describe his offense with the Trail Blazers. It certainly did not cover his offense with the Rockets when Yao Ming played. Even now, with Yao out, there are some similarities, but loads of differences, too from the offense he ran with the Kings. If anything, Adelman prides himself for an ability to adapt to the talent on hand, from the Clyde Drexler-Buck Williams Blazers, to the Chris Webber-Mike Bibby Kings and the Yao Ming-Tracy McGrady Rockets. There are some things, however, that Adelman wants from any offense. Just as Jeff Van Gundy would believe after any loss that the Rockets could have played harder, Adelman will always want better movement of players and the ball. His offense, however, has been based on his players. But with all that said, euphemistically speaking, Kevin Martin loves 'the Rick Adelman offense,' and it loves him."
- Dave Hyde of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Here's the point: We don't know what Pat Riley knows when it comes to this coming summer. And it's his job to know something. Some wink-wink from an agent. Some measured word from the right person. Something that doesn't guarantee anything but tempers the involved risk. It's his career's final swing at stake. It's four wasted years of this franchise if this doesn't work out. There are no illusions after Thursday's trade deadline, either. Riley can deliver heaven or hell to the Heat next year. That's what makes this so gutsy (if it works out) or foolhardy (if it doesn't). Either way, it's fascinating to watch unfold. There's probably never been a front-office tightwire act like this in sports, a team president capable of delivering a championship next season or the worst team in the league. Until Thursday at 3 p.m., Riley could have veered to Plan B. He could hedged his hopes by trading for Amare Stoudemire or Carlos Boozer. He could have dealt some collected poker chips for the lesser names that changed teams. Instead, the Heat was one of the few teams with plenty in play that did nothing. And you know what? I'm fine with that by this point. There's no turning back now."
- Phil Miller of the Star Tribune: "Darko Milicic will be at Target Center on Friday night, and the Timberwolves insist they're happy about that. For the moment, they might be the only ones. David Kahn met with Milicic and his agent, Marc Cornstein, on Thursday in New York and tried to convince one of the most notorious flops in NBA draft history that being traded to the Timberwolves is an opportunity, not an aggravation. It wasn't easy. 'I don't think you can understate how traumatized he is -- it's not a stretch to say 'distraught' -- about how his NBA career has played out,' the Wolves' president said, one day after obtaining the seldom-used Knicks center in exchange for forward Brian Cardinal. 'You can't reverse that much frustration in one meeting.' ... The meeting helped, Cornstein said. 'I'm a believer when a trade happens, it's a new opportunity that you make the most of,' he said. 'I think Darko will.' Yes, but for 27 games, or beyond April? 'I wouldn't read too much into his comments. He's [in Minnesota] now, that's what's important,' Cornstein said. 'I feel like this could end up positively for both sides.' "
- Chris Iott of MLive.com: "Go ahead. Trash Joe Dumars. Curse the day he sent Chauncey Billups packing. Drag the underachieving corpse of Darko Milicic out of the closet one more time. Wonder why Dumars hired Michael Curry or traded for Allen Iverson. Give one more lashing to whichever dead horse you choose. But don't give Dumars, the Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations, a hard time for not making a deal at the trade deadline. He doesn't deserve it. Dumars stood pat Thursday, letting the deadline pass with Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, et al still on the roster, for one reason: All his phone dialing failed to lead to any deals he thought would make the Pistons better in the long run. 'We communicated with teams throughout the league,' Dumars said in a one-sentence statement released by the team, 'but at the end of the day, we were not presented with anything we thought was beneficial to us at this point.' "
- David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune: "If failure is the best teacher, it's fair to say Tyrus Thomas always looked willing to learn. Thomas' shot selection was as bad at times this year as it was his rookie season. His attitude was just as unpredictable last week as it was the last several years. Oh, Thomas could make our jaws drop with athletic plays few NBA players can make. But just as easily he could make your head throb. Players selected as high as Thomas are supposed to make teams better by staying, not leaving. By their fourth seasons they are supposed to make news by intimidating opponents, not their own coaches as Thomas tried recently when he confronted Del Negro in his office. Those realities forever put Thomas high on the all-time category of Bulls draft busts, somewhere in the Top 5 behind Brad Sellers, the fool's gold standard picked ninth overall in 1986. Among draft busts in this sports city Thomas was Corey Patterson in short pants, a more disruptive version of Cedric Benson. Chicago's very moan. 'A lot of people have a perception of me based on what they read instead of giving me the opportunity to show the real me,' Thomas said. 'A different scenery for me can be real good.' It will be good for everybody. Incidentally somebody needs to adjust the Bulls archives to add an assist to Bobcats President Michael Jordan's career total. Historically, it was always John Paxson assisting Jordan but not this time.
- Gordon Monson of The Salt Lake Tribune: "It wasn't a deal to end all deals, it wasn't a deal to bring something back for Carlos Boozer, it wasn't a deal to bolster a championship run, it was a deal to cut the Jazz's luxury-tax penalty in half. That's the half of it, anyway. The other half: to breathe air into a crowded spot where Wesley Matthews, Kyle Korver, and C.J. Miles are left to pick up the minutes Ronnie Brewer would have gone on taking without the trade. And to get a decent future draft pick in return that costs the Jazz nothing for the time being. Which was the more significant half? Kevin O'Connor says it was the asset-in-return part, not the assets-in-the-bank part. 'There was some duplication [at shooting guard],' he says. 'And we were able to get an asset. ... [The money] was something that was addressed, but it was not the driving force.' Believe what you will. Brewer himself isn't sure. 'I wouldn't think it was an on-court thing,' he says. 'I thought I was contributing to the team, hustling and playing defense.' Either way, some combo-pack of those reasons explains why the Jazz moved Brewer a hiccup or two before the trade deadline on Thursday, evacuating a former No. 1 draft pick, a good defender and an athletic presence and a pro's pro for whatever it is that Memphis' eventual protected pick will bring."
- Doug Smith of Toronto Star: "It was about a week ago that Chris Bosh and Jarrett Jack were talking about good health and good fortune and good times. We know now it takes about a week for a jinx to hit. In that conversation, Bosh was bragging about how he'd played every game up to an NBA all-star break for the first time in years, that he felt strong and healthy, ready to finish out the season strong. He probably won't feel so good sitting at home in Toronto on Friday night, watching the Raptors face the New Jersey Nets and nursing a mildly sprained right ankle. 'I guess we spoke too soon and should have kept it to ourselves but I'm sure he'll be doing the necessary things to get himself back and ready to play as soon as possible,' Jack said Thursday.
- Brian T. Smith of The Columbian: "Marcus Camby as a Trail Blazer: It already looks and feels right. If the sight of Camby trading jokes with fellow ageless wonder Juwan Howard wasn’t enough, the beaming smile on the face of Blazers coach Nate McMillan said it all. So did the view of Camby and Howard playfully teasing rookie Jeff Pendergraph as the trio traded shots at the team’s practice facility in Tualatin, Ore. Thursday was Day One for Camby in black and red. He aced it. Professional, polished and pristine, Camby fit in as only a widely respected, often-praised 14-year NBA veteran can. Brandon Roy, Portland’s $80-million man with a $2 hamstring, said Camby was a natural. Funny thing: That’s the same name Roy was given not too long ago."
- Jeff Rabjohns of The Indianapolis Star: "George Hill wants people to see the number and think. Think about relentlessly pursuing dreams, about how possible they are to achieve, regardless of beginning or background. Hill hopes his No. 3 that now hangs on the west wall of IUPUI's gymnasium will be emblematic of his journey -- from an Indianapolis Public School to IUPUI to the NBA. 'I want people to think about someone who came from a not-so-positive background, a not-great neighborhood, an IPS school and know that anything can be accomplished if you work at it,' Hill said. 'Anything in life.' The No. 3 he wore for three seasons at IUPUI was retired Thursday night after the Jaguars beat Missouri-Kansas City 103-65. Hill joins Carlos Knox, who wore No. 34 from 1994-98, as the school's only men's basketball players to have their number retired."
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