- Barbara Barker of Newsday: "I can understand why the Celtics might find the idea of Stephon Marbury enticing. Rajon Rondo's game last night against the Knicks was limp at best, and Boston definitely could use more talent at guard. Still, as coach after coach can tell you, the idea of adding Marbury and the reality of doing so are two different things. This is why I have one piece of advice for Celtics coach Doc Rivers when the subject of Marbury comes up: Just say no. Phoenix was smart enough to say no. Orlando was smart enough to say no. Yet the Celtics, who still are the best team in the NBA, made it loud and clear last night that they are interested in the Knicks outcast. Why in the world would the world champions want Marbury? The answer has less to do with the fact that Marbury is cheap and available than it does with this macho NBA syndrome known as hubris. The Celtics are behaving the way many Wall Street traders I know used to behave a few years ago -- as if just about anything they touch can and will turn to gold."
- Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal: "Darius Miles' toothy grin was as flashy as the diamond-studded jewelry he wore. The Grizzlies veteran forward just laughed because he knows the score. Miles' appearance Sunday afternoon was his first in a Grizzly uniform, and nine more with any NBA team would mean Miles' $9 million salary will be reinstated to the Portland Trail Blazers' payroll. 'It just feels good on be on the bench with a team,' Miles said, chuckling at the notion that most observers are counting his games. 'I thought I might get more playing time. But it is what it is. I'm hoping it works out here. I really like Memphis.'"
- Michael Lee of The Washington Post: "Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson may have missed facing the Cavaliers with a sore back, but that didn't keep him from heckling LeBron James from the bench. Wearing a colorful velvet jacket and bow tie, Stevenson jawed with James -- whom Stevenson called 'overrated' last season -- for most of the night. Asked afterward about their exchanges, Stevenson said: 'I don't care. It's whatever. I don't like him. I don't like that dude.'"
- Bob Finnan of The News-Herald: "LeBron James unveiled a new word in the NBA vernacular on Sunday. It came to a head during the Cavs' 80-77 loss to Washington at the Verizon Center. James was called for traveling with 2.3 seconds remaining by official Bill Spooner. 'I took a 'crab' dribble, which is a hesitation dribble and then two steps,' James said. James believes he perfectly executed a jump stop on the play, but was still called for traveling. 'It's a play you don't see much in the NBA,' he said. 'You have your trademark plays, and that's one of mine. It looks like a travel because it's slow and there's kind of like a high step. But it's a one-two (step) that's just as fluent as any other one-two in this league.' The league has taken a close look at James' jump stop and even used it in training videos."
- Mark Heisler of the Los Angeles Times: "There's a West challenger out there looking for the Lakers, all right. This team is just as big as they are, just as talented and just as deep as it gathers itself for the duel of titans everyone knows is coming. Of course, it's not likely to be this season. No matter how bright the Portland Trail Blazers' future may be, they have to get to it. Sunday night, the Lakers, a grown-up powerhouse, showed them how far they have to go, rolling over them, 100-86."
- Chris McCosky of The Detroit News: "Allen Iverson just shook his head. 'Let me tell you something,' he said. 'You know you are having a bad shooting game when you hit the game-winning shot and that don't even go in.' Iverson's high-arcing runner was swatted away by Al Thornton, but referees correctly called goaltending and the Pistons were able to escape Staples Center with an 88-87 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. ... The victory ended the Pistons' winless Sunday streak at six games, and it kept three other streaks alive -- the Pistons' winning streak is now at seven, the Clippers' losing streak is also at seven and the Pistons have beaten the Clippers 12 straight times."
- Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Tribune: "The one Bull who can least afford to be making waves was at it again last week, splashing around, rocking the boat and doing everything but cannonballs in the murky waters of the red, white and black sea. If I were GM John Paxson, I'd throw Joakim Noah overboard as soon as possible. Noah, Tyrus Thomas and Larry Hughes were fined after reacting poorly to coach Vinny Del Negro's reminder that Bulls players are not allowed to eat in the locker room before games. The fine, of course, had nothing to do with food and everything to do with who is running the show. Noah seems to have a problem with the concept. As a rookie last season, he got into a verbal altercation with an assistant coach. Earlier that season, he criticized his teammates for a lack of togetherness. Former coach Scott Skiles noted that had Noah actually played more than one NBA game at the time he spouted off, the criticism might have had some meaning."
- Dave D'Alessandro of The Star-Ledger: "While this isn't exactly a news bulletin, the Nets received a vivid reminder that refs don't really let you defend Dwyane Wade. 'They make it pretty hard,' said Jarvis Hayes. 'He's already a super-talented guy, but some of the calls that he gets, it's kind of hard to take. Those questionable ones, he gets 90 percent of those -- easily.'"
- Jay Greenberg of the New York Post: "Wilson Chandler has an explosive first step. With Danilo Gallinari's season and perhaps a lengthy career in jeopardy, Chandler has become the first step for the Knicks on the way back to contention, not just because he can score inside and outside but because he has no fear of hard work in addition to having no fear of Kevin Garnett."
- Chris Tomasson of the Rocky Mountain News: "When Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony recently played in his 400th game, it made him a career statistical qualifier. It also made him eligible for basketball-reference.com to calculate his probability of making the Hall of Fame. The computer has spewed out numbers. Using a formula that takes into account players who have gained entrance to the Hall, Anthony's chances to make it are rated 26.5 percent. Is that too low? 'I ain't thinking about that,' Anthony said. 'I have 10 more years left.'"
- Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman: "Oklahoma City is filled with attractive pieces, from players with expiring contracts in Joe Sm
ith, Chris Wilcox and Desmond Mason, to veterans like Nick Collison and Earl Watson who could be valuable additions to playoff teams. If we know anything about what kind of value general manager Sam Presti seeks, we know he covets players who fit his desired defensive philosophy, and we know he will not take on any high-priced contracts that will destroy the franchise's upcoming salary-cap space. Presti also has made it clear, through the recent signing of Nenad Krstic and the attempted signing of C.J. Miles last summer, that any acquisition must be a player capable of contributing now as well as in the future. A perimeter shooter, better interior defense and rebounding and improved scoring off the bench are obvious needs that could be addressed as well." - James Davis of the Deseret News: "If you're looking for some NBA Developmental League action this week, look no further than Orem for all the games you can watch and more. The NBA D-League is kicking off its 2008 League Showcase today at 11 a.m. at the McKay Events Center on the Utah Valley University campus. The showcase runs today through Thursday with four games being played each day. Each of the league's 16 teams will be featured at the event, with each team playing two games apiece in front of more than 50 scouts and executives from every NBA team. The unique opportunity will give the league's more than 160 players a chance to catch someone's eye and perhaps move to the next level."
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