- David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune: "After Derrick Rose put the finishing touches on a Jordanesque fourth quarter in a 109-99 victory Thursday night over the weary Spurs at the United Center, it was fair to ask. We knew this marquee matchup would feature the best team in the NBA. But seeing Rose respond to a rousing pre-game pep talk from Tom Thibodeau with a career-high 42 points, can we be sure which team that was? 'It worked,' Rose said of his coach's rare rah-rah approach. First there was the speech. Then came the statement. Nobody rolls their eyes anymore when the Bulls say they can beat anybody because they keep proving it. They did it again against the Spurs, who arrived carrying a 46-9 record and left hoping the next Rose they see is in a garden. 'He's something, huh?' Thibodeau said. And a national TV audience answered, 'Uh-huh!' So too are the Bulls. They already beat the Celtics, Heat, Lakers and Magic on the same floor so maybe we no longer should be surprised. From now on we should expect such excellence from a team 22 games above .500 and 25-4 at home. I know this was billed as a 48-minute measuring stick and the victory indeed will cause some skeptics to reassess the Bulls' place among the NBA elite. But a victory that never was in doubt mostly reinforced the Bulls are the most surprising team in the East and Rose is the MVP of the league."
- Herb Gould of the Star Tribune: "Remember the Alamo? Mindful of their trip to San Antonio last November, when they let the Spurs put together a memorable comeback attack, the Bulls were determined not to let the defense rest Thursday night. With Rose scoring a career-high 42 points amid chants of ‘‘MVP,’’ they achieved their goal. In what some wide-eyed Chicago fans were viewing as an NBA Finals preview, the Bulls headed to the All-Star break on a high note, beating San Antonio 109-99. 'I was just trying to do whatever it takes to win,’ said Rose, who scored the Bulls’ last 10 points. ‘If it led to me shooting the ball, thank God the shots were falling tonight.’ ‘Wow!’ Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. ‘What do you want me to say? Good-looking kid, great demeanor, doesn’t beat his chest. Class act on top of his phenomenal play. All those qualities are going to serve him well.’ After reminding everyone that this game only counts as one win, even the circumspect Tom Thibodeau joined the chorus casting their MVP votes for Rose. 'I can’t imagine anyone doing more, not only individually but for our team,’ the Bulls coach said."
- Tim Griffin of the San Antonio Express-News: "The highlights had barely begun after the Spurs’ loss to Chicago Thursday night before the national naysayers were already slicing through the Silver and Black. Both teams had barely left the United Center court after Chicago’s 109-99 victory before a familiar critic was harping about the Spurs. 'I hate to say it San Antonio because you’ve got some nice guys on that team,' TNT analyst and Hall
of Fame member Charles Barkley said almost gleefully. 'But the Spurs are overrated.' Yes, the 'o' word came out from the mouth of the Chuckster. So what else is new? Even after the loss, the Spurs remain atop the NBA with a 46-10 record. No other team is within five games of them heading into the All-Star break. But still, Barkley argues that their body of work against the top contenders isn’t strong. ... So it’s understandable that the Spurs’ record hasn’t been marked with a lot of so-called statement games. And that body of work led to Barkley agains discounting them, saying that Dallas remains the best team in the state and would wear down the Spurs in a potential playoff series. The Spurs have been the healthiest team of the potential NBA title challengers this season. And that good health has been the major reason the Spurs have charged to the best record in the league so far. To really appreciate how good this Spurs team is, you have to watch them every night and analyze the performances they get up and down the roster on a regular basis. It’s hard for some of the national analysts to understand that unless they watch them play regularly." - Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News: "The Mavericks think they have a way to conquer their bad habit of giving up big leads. They’re going to go into playoff mode. According to owner Mark Cuban -- and confirmed by coach Rick Carlisle -- the Mavericks are going to treat the 26 games after the All-Star break like a boot camp for the playoffs. They have to, according to Cuban. That’s the only way they know how to take care of one of the most pressing issues confronting them. 'That’s something we have to focus on because it’s a lack of focus at different points in the game,’ Cuban said. 'We have to start practicing at playing playoff basketball now, which is something the coach has started preaching.’ The Mavericks have coughed up numerous 20-odd point leads this season. They have been burned on a couple of occasions and hung on for tougher-than-they-should-have-been wins in others. 'It’s something we’re addressing,’ Carlisle said."
- Julian Benbow of The Boston Globe: "So how exactly is this supposed to work at NBA All-Star Weekend? Does it play out like that episode of “The Wire’’ in which Omar Little, West Baltimore’s Robin Hood, finally gets locked up and has to stare down the angry convicts he has stolen from? Will it be like Charlie Sheen having to spend three days locked in a wine-and-cheese party with his scorned ex-girlfriends? Will every Eastern Conference All-Star spend the entire weekend with teeth rather than fists clenched? This season, the Celtics have gone from city to city like outlaws, embracing the idea of being not just the bullies but the villains. And now, with Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo all named to the team and Doc Rivers coaching it, the bad guys essentially are in control."
- Joseph Goodman of The Miami Herald: "Get ready for an awkward NBA All-Star Weekend. There will be a standoff between players and owners, the uncomfortable alliance of the Celtics and Heat and, of course, LeBron James might get booed during player introductions before Sunday’s game. If you don’t think it could happen, then you haven’t been paying attention this season. James has added another phenomenal season to a legendary career, but it hasn’t exactly been a pleasant experience. The delivery of his decision to sign with Miami was a public-relations disaster, and James seemed downright miserable to begin the season. Gradually, he seemed to grow comfortable with his new role as the NBA’s super villain, the most popular player in the league who everyone loves to hate. 'Fans are passionate,' James said. 'They believe that you should live your life and your career through them, and when you don’t do that, they automatically turn. I know that personally.' James uttered those words Wednesday before flying to Los Angeles with teammates Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and James Jones."
- Bruce Arthur of the National Post: "Stop it. Stop it right now. Don’t get excited, or curious, or get your hopes up. Of course, since this advice is centred around talk -- foolish, kernel-of-nothing talk -- of the NBA returning to Vancouver, and since Vancouver itself stopped caring about the NBA a long time ago, telling people not to get their hopes up is just redundancy. The only reason this is a topic at all is that NBA commissioner David Stern, in a podcast conversation with espn.com’s Bill Simmons, started talked about cities that have expressed interest in an NBA team, should one have to be relocated. ... I’d be thrilled to be wrong on this. A new collective bargaining agreement could create a more feasible cost structure, sure -- the league is aiming to reduce player compensation and increase league-wide parity, since a majority of owners feel left out of the Lakers/Celtics/Heat gold rush these days. Maybe that would lower the bar to Vancouver’s re-entry back into the NBA’s foreign orbit. But two years ago, in another podcast on espn.com, Stern said, 'I don’t think we can go back. I think that was a great city, and I think we just didn’t take advantage of the opportunity.' He was right on all counts. Too bad."
- Joe Freeman of The Oregonian: "When the Blazers' invested $32.5 million in the restricted free agent from Utah over the summer, most pundits -- and Blazers fans alike -- shook their head in a different way, questioning the logic behind dolling out so much money to an undrafted player with just one season of NBA experience. But Matthews has more than fulfilled expectations. Since moving into the starting lineup at shooting guard for the injured Brandon Roy, Matthews is averaging 18.4 points per game. He's scored more than 20 points 22 times this season -- second-most on the team behind Aldridge. Among second-year NBA players, Matthews ranks third in scoring average (15.6 points per game), first in three-pointers (105) and second in free throws (189). ... But ask anyone in the organization, and they likely will tell you Matthews' value extends well beyond statistics. He never misses a game. His demeanor oozes 'chip on your shoulder.' And besides his penchant for flashing a set of 3 Goggles every now and then, Matthews is all business, all the time. In a way, he's altered the way the franchise prioritizes talent. 'We'll use him as the benchmark in terms of our future draft picks and any future trades,' assistant coach Bill Bayno said. 'We'll try to get guys close to him. The toughness. The coachability. The unselfishness. But mostly the toughness. To get a guy that brings what we call a pit bull attitude; that's how you win in the playoffs. It's not just skill. You look at the Celtics. They have that killer, I'll-fight-you-to-get-a-ball attitude. Like physically fist-fight you. And Wesley brings that.' Only two Blazers have played in all 56 games this season -- Matthews and Aldridge."
- Ray Richardson of the Pioneer Press: "Anthony Tolliver usually opens up a book or magazine when he settles into his seat on the Timberwolves' charter flight to road games. Most of the publications deal with real estate or the business world. The Timberwolves forward claims he has become so versed on money matters that he can dissect stock market listings and determine which ventures are worth buying or selling. Tolliver's knowledge of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement led to his appointment, by default, as the Wolves' player representative a month ago. 'He had all the answers in the meeting and was explaining things,' point guard Jonny Flynn said of a meeting Wolves players had with lawyers from the NBA players union. 'We were all looking at him. We figured why not make him our player rep?' Tolliver, 25, did not have a sudden revelation about finance after signing with the Wolves as a free agent in August. The two-year, $4.8 million deal is his first guaranteed contract in a sporadic NBA career. Long before that, Tolliver had developed a passion for learning about money. ... Much of Tolliver's financial focus came from the desire to complete his education. Tolliver remembers that finishing school was 'non-negotiable in our family.' When Tolliver was given a basketball scholarship to play at Creighton, he assured his mother he would get his degree, which he did in four years. 'I didn't want to be trying to get my degree for five or six years,' Tolliver said. 'I was blessed with a different mind-set when it came to education. I didn't know any other way. I wanted to get it done.' "
- Bob Finnan of The News-Herald: "He admits he's taken a liking to his nickname, 'Skyenga.' Guard/forward Christian Eyenga took flight on Wednesday in the Cavaliers' 104-99 upset victory over the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. The rookie from the Republic of Congo had the most impressive dunk of his career. It came with the outcome on the line. The Lakers had cut their deficit to 72-71 with less than a minute left in the third quarter. Eyenga got the ball on the baseline. He slipped, placed his hand on the court to steady himself, and elevated. The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder looked like he vaulted off a trampoline, to which Lakers forward/center Pau Gasol can attest. Eyenga threw down his slam over the outstretched arms of Gasol, who was helpless in trying to defend. He was earth-bound. Eyenga was already airborne. 'I try to attack the basket every time,' Eyenga said. 'Yes, it's my best dunk.' "
- Mark Kennedy of The Associated Press: "The playwright behind the Broadway play 'Lombardi' is moving from the gridiron to the hard court. Eric Simonson is working on 'Magic/Bird,' a new play that will chronicle the lives of basketball Hall of Famers Earvin 'Magic' Johnson andLarry Bird. Producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo were encouraged by the response to 'Lombardi' -- the story of legendaryGreen Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi now on Broadway -- to push ahead with a second sports-themed play. 'We've been fired on by the experience to keep on going and feel that it can be a really thriving series,' Kirmser said Thursday in a phone interview. The story will trace the two basketball stars' rivalry and friendship from their days as rookies in the NBA to their appearance on the Olympic Dream Team in 1992. Johnson and Bird were key parts in the storied struggle between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics during the 1980s."
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