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Steve Nash doesn't seem to see a championship in the Suns' future, saying that he won't come back to Phoenix if the team doesn't improve drastically. Nash mentioned that, hypothetically, were LeBron James to extend an invitation for Nash to join him, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, Nash would totally listen (hint, hint). It's a long wait until next season, but will Nash decide that he's better off going for a championship on LeBron's team than trying simply to make the playoffs on his own?

Which team will Steve Nash be playing for next season?

•  
  46%
  Heat
•  
  18%
  Suns
•  
  36%
  Another team

(Total votes: 5,700)

Will Steve Nash ever win a championship?

•  
  40%
  Yes
•  
  60%
  No

(Total votes: 92,052)

Which team looked more impressive in victory?

•  
  26%
  Heat beating the Mavericks
•  
  74%
  Thunder beating the Lakers

(Total votes: 85,782)

We can understand if you don't want to take the time to grade your tech-support help on the other end of the telephone, but when we're talking about the dollars and emotion you've invested in sports, we think it's worth the effort. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.

Take part in the 2011 MLB survey
2010 MLB Ultimate Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels (Overall: No. 3)
2. Tampa Bay Rays (Overall: No. 6)
3. Colorado Rockies (Overall: No. 13)
4. Minnesota Twins (Overall: No. 14)
5. Atlanta Braves (Overall: No. 15)

Take part in the 2011 NFL survey
2010 NFL Ultimate Standings
1. New Orleans Saints (Overall: No. 1)
2. Indianapolis Colts (Overall: No. 4)
3. Green Bay Packers (Overall: No. 9)
4. Arizona Cardinals (Overall: No. 19)
5. Baltimore Ravens (Overall: No. 20)

Take part in the 2011 NBA survey
2010 NBA Ultimate Standings
1. Orlando Magic (Overall: No. 2)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Overall: No. 7)
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (Overall: No. 10)
4. Dallas Mavericks (Overall: No. 24)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (Overall: No. 25)

Take part in the 2011 NHL survey
2010 NHL Ultimate Standings
1. Pittsburgh Penguins (Overall: No. 5)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Overall: No. 8)
3. Washington Capitals (Overall: No. 11)
4. San Jose Sharks (Overall: No. 12)
5. Chicago Blackhawks (Overall: No. 16)

• Vote: Was Yao Ming's return encouraging or discouraging?
• Vote: Play "20 Questions" for the NBA season | Did Rajon Rondo claim PG supremacy?

One day down and, what, only 168 more to go? It's almost time to talk magic numbers.

Always the 100-yard sprint that starts a marathon season, the NBA's opening night took on a new dimension this season with the Heat and Celtics enjoying a playoff-like atmosphere in Boston. But with 81 games to go, instead of something between three and six in a playoff series, SportsNation blogger cvgolfguy takes some solace in the parallels with another debut flop.

• " Boston knows who they are, they have an identity, been playing with each other for a while now. Miami doesn't have an identity, they haven't been playing for years and years together, so they were a little confused about what was going on. ... I wonder if the sort of media backlash that happened when the Jets lost will happen to Miami. Like when the Jets talked it up all offseason long, lost the first game, and everyone wrote them off." -- Check out cvgolfguy's blog.

“

The Heat came within 3 in the fourth quarter, despite the fact that dwayne wade was suffering through one of the worst games of his career, which was an aberration, not the norm. That's a fact.

” -- brennangh

“

Nice win by the Lakers Last night! I loved our bench they really stepped up big time. And the Rockets got my respect they showed they really wannna fight for a playoff spot this season. But to me Shannon Brown & Steve Blake stole the night!!

” -- RocAFella248

“

i am about ready to trade hill, lopez, and frye. Give hills position to josh or try to get carmelo, and get some descent bigmen

” -- Mr Ntense

• Rank 'Em: Which teams are most likely to challenge the Lakers?
• Rank 'Em: Are Carmelo Anthony and Tim Duncan the top potential 2011 free agents?

A consolidation of player power in Miami is the talk of the offseason, for obvious reasons. But when do we talk about a diffusion of power in the Western Conference?

Phoenix moves on without Amare Stoudemire but with Hedo Turkoglu. Utah has to hope Al Jefferson and Raja Bell equal the departed Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver. Dallas kept Dirk Nowitzki, no minor feat, but it's hard to envision Tyson Chandler as the missing piece of the puzzle. Will impending free agency distract Carmelo Anthony? Will Yao Ming stay on his feet for an entire season? Should we just let the Lakers skip ahead to the NBA Finals?

In following Horace Greeley's advice, Al Harrington said he picked the Nuggets instead of the Mavericks based on each team's potential (the extra money inherent in suggestions that the Mavs were loathe to give him five years probably didn't hurt). We say if Harrington can judge Western Conference potential, he's a better man than us.

jay (uptown dallas)

are the mavs seeking ant other trade scenerios right now

ESPN Dallas' Jeff Caplan

Jay, Donnie Nelson says the team will be as active as ever. They'll continue to probe New Orleans about Chris Paul. the Hornets just fired GM Jeff Bowers, so things are in flux there and Paul is getting increasingly uneasy about the direction of the franchise. Otherwise, the Mavs will keep calling clubs for trades, kicking around Carmelo, as if that's going to happen, but yes, they will be looking for trades, particularly a blockbuster to land a star to pair with Dirk. I think the percentages are low. Full transcript

“

Great signing by Denver. Al Harrington was the only bright spot on a horrible Knicks team. He's young and from NJ so you know he has energy and toughness.

” -- mcbrinkosu

• Vote: Is Amare's exit the end of Steve Nash's championship hopes in Phoenix?
• Rank 'Em: Did Amare Stoudemire just ditch the NBA's best point guard?

When you're an NBA big man dependent on other people getting you the ball, can you really put a price on something like playing with one of the greatest passing point guards in league history? Well, yes, and it appears $100 million is a pretty good place to start.

That's the total the Knicks will shell out for Stoudemire, give or take a few million, when free agents are officially allowed to sign contracts later this week. It remains to be seen if signing Stoudemire will help (or hurt) lure any other big names to the Big Apple, but Steve Nash definitely won't be coming with him. And in New York parlance, that strikes some SportsNation bloggers as akin to paying $100 million for a Mario Batali restaurant and staffing it with the local McDonald's crew.

• "I think it is funny that Amare says it will give him a chance to show his leadership and lead the Knicks back to a winning team. He definitely has the offenisve skills to help the Knicks show promise but his defensive skills and rebounding prowness will hurt the Knicks from great improvement. As we all know Amare did a lot to help the Suns go to the Western Conference Finals but he did have a PG named Steve Nash. What do the Knicks have to offer? Hmm lets see I believe Chris Duhon and compared to Nash that is a joke." -- Read greg_g74_pt.2's full post.
• "Is it just me or do they not need a point guard, unless you think Duhon, Rodriguez or House are gonna fly. Wilson Chandler, well....okay. I like him, but we are going to need a lot more from him. Who is the center?? I am so curious to know what happens next? Who do the Knicks go after now? Who, if anyone, can A'mare lure here? I admit, he is an attractive piece to a puzzle, but of course, we need to see what other "pieces" to the puzzle they can fit together." -- Read Sports2571's full post.

“

And all the years of the Knicks being the toilet of the league and this is the game changer? They've mortgaged their future on Elijah Price.

” -- bitter_walnut

“

Stoudemire got his numbers by playing alongside and continually being fed by one of the best point guards in league history. Lee's just a gamer who isn't in it for flash or notoriety. HUGE difference. Just wait... you'll see.

” -- golamb

• Vote: Is Amare Stoudemire a better sidekick than Dirk Nowitzki? | Series outcome?
• Vote: What do you think on the intersection of sports and social issues?
• More from ESPN.com: Suns send jersey statement | Arizona governor responds

How do you know the Suns and Spurs have a real honest-to-goodness rivalry? It has its own Wikipedia page. Or you could just watch the games, but come on, we all know which of those is the real judge.

The Suns made a statement Wednesday by donning their "Los Suns" jerseys in what owner Robert Tarver made clear was a protest against the new Arizona immigration law. Then they made a statement of the basketball variety by seizing a 2-0 lead in the latest series against the Spurs. It's the fourth playoff meeting between the teams since Steve Nash arrived in Phoenix, but it's the first time the Suns have enjoyed a 2-0 lead.

The 2006-07 team won 61 games with Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, Raja Bell and Boris Diaw running Mike D'Antoni's system to perfection. But with a new cast of characters around older versions of Nash and Stoudemire, are these Suns better?

Dan (AZ)

Are we watching the best Steve Nash Suns team? Watching them recover from the two second half runs from the Spurs makes me think that this version is a better basketball team than the previous incarnations.

John Hollinger

Still would like to see what the first team would have done if Johnson had been healthy, and I still think the '07 team with the nose-bleed/suspensions was the best of them all ... but the West isn't quite as strong at the top as it used to be, so this could be the one that breaks through as a conference champion. Full transcript

• Rank 'Em: Which go-to player do you want to have the ball in crunch time?
• Rank 'Em: Playoff Power Rankings | Vote: Which teams win each series?
• More from ESPN.com: Land O' Lakers blog from ESPN Los Angeles
• Watch Sat. on ESPN3 (ET): Hawks-Bucks, 5:30 | Heat-Celtics, 8 | Jazz-Nuggets, 10:30

Sometimes you're the dog, and sometimes you're the hydrant. Or in the language of the NBA playoffs, sometimes you're Michael Jordan against anyone. And sometimes you're Charles Smith against the Bulls.

The postseason has arrived, and for the first time in his career, Kevin Durant gets a shot (or more likely, 20-plus shots per game) to forge his own primetime reputation on the big stage. You know it's the big stage because Phil Jackson is already taking subtle swipes at Durant and either getting in his head or poking the bear, depending on your perspective.

In all honesty, the No. 1 seed's first-round series is usually only slightly more interesting than Duke playing Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but thanks to Durant's expected duel with Kobe Bryant, it appears all eyes this year will be on the Lakers and Thunder.

Not that every SportsNation blogger expects the series to be all that close.

• "Okay, lets be realistic here. Everybody thank the Thunder for showing up, but Kobe will not allow the Lakers to get booted out of the first round. The only way Oklahoma City will sneak by and pull 1 game off is if Kevin Durant puts up 50. Even though the Lakers have been slumping as of late, they are a whole different beast when it comes to the playoffs." -- Read wwechamp69's full post.

Mikeyho (Taiwan)

Hey Chris. Just heard several analyst label the Cavs as "much better" than the Magic. This year's additions put them over the top. I feel like I'm watching last years comments. I'm not saying the Magic should even win. Just want to know if you think it'll be really competitive (around 50/50), or slightly competitve (Cavs's clear favorites)?

Chris Sheridan

Right now I would pick the Cavs in 7 in that series, but I would not label them heavy favorites. Both teams are so much different than they were a year ago (Jamison, Shaq, Vince, Barnes) that it makes comparisons between last year's series and this year's somewhat irrelevant. What's relevant is whether Shaq will be able to contain Dwight and whether the Magic will still find the individual matchup they can exploit. And Stan Van Gundy is good at that. Full transcript

It's just like the census, only this one is fun and doesn't come in the mail. And nobody from FOX News or MSNBC will yell at you about it. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.

Take part in the 2010 MLB survey
2009 MLB Ultimate Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels (Overall: No. 1)
2. Milwaukee Brewers (Overall: No. 7)
3. Tampa Bay Rays (Overall: No. 16)
4. Minnesota Twins (Overall: No. 23)
5. Philadelphia Phillies (Overall: No. 24)

Take part in the 2010 NFL survey
2009 NFL Ultimate Standings
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (Overall: No. 3)
2. Green Bay Packers (Overall: No. 13)
3. Indianapolis Colts (Overall: No. 14)
4. Tennessee Titans (Overall: No. 15)
5. New England Patriots (Overall: No. 19)

Take part in the 2010 NBA survey
2009 NBA Ultimate Standings
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (Overall: No. 5)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Overall: No. 9)
3. New Orleans Hornets (Overall: No. 12)
4. Houston Rockets (Overall: No. 17)
5. Orlando Magic (Overall: No. 18)

Take part in the 2010 NHL survey
2009 NHL Ultimate Standings
1. Carolina Hurricanes (Overall: No. 2)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Overall: No. 4)
3. Washington Capitals (Overall: No. 6)
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (Overall: No. 8)
5. St. Louis Blues (Overall: No. 10)

Tuesday was a busy day and night in the NBA. The Trail Blazers landed Marcus Camby in the afternoon and then got Brandon Roy back (briefly) for the evening's win against the Camby-less Clippers. The Thunder proved still having Kevin Durant may beat having Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood for the first time. And the Lakers won again without Kobe Bryant. All good stuff. But the focus in the NBA remains squarely on Thursday's trade deadline. The Daily Dime took the pulse of J.A. Adande, Tim Legler and Jalen Rose on five key questions, and now we're posing the same questions to you.

• 1. Should the Suns trade Amare Stoudemire?
  
  Jalen Rose's answer: "Yes, because they've already determined that they didn't want to pay him." | What Adande and Legler said | Vote
• 2. Who should the Cavaliers pursue: Amare or Antawn?
  
  Tim Legler's answer: "Antawn, because I worry about the effects of how bad the Cavaliers can become defensively up front at times with Amare and Shaq together." | What Adande and Rose said | Vote
• 3. Should the Knicks give up Jordan Hill and future first-round picks to Houston to get Tracy McGrady and clear cap space?
  
  J.A. Adande's answer: "The Knicks should give up as much as Houston will accept for McGrady and the max cap space. If this is their only strategy, might as well go all-out." | What Legler and Rose said | Vote
• 4. Should the Celtics trade Ray Allen?
  
  Jalen Rose's answer: "No, at this point in the season, chemistry with a veteran-laden team is hard to manage and his style of play fits in with the skill sets of the other players. Also, they won a championship together." | What Legler and Adande said | Vote
• 5. Should the Lakers trade for Kirk Hinrich?
  
  Tim Legler's answer: "No, Kirk Hinrich's too young to be regressing the way he is. That's a red flag, and they've found the guard production off the bench that they need." | What Rose and Adande said | Vote

mucha (cp)

Do you believe Hinrich is a Bull after the 18th?

Chris Broussard

That's a great question. A lot of people around the league would be shocked if the Bulls don't do something. Hinrich is the guy that has the most trade value among the players they'd be willing to give up. I wouldn't be stunned if he is not, because I understand how difficult it is to make moves in the league. I think he's traded. The Lakers have interest, the Celtics have some. Any team that doesn't have a great PG is looking at him to try and step in. Full transcript

Greg (Syracuse)

What options do the Celtics have right now? Do you think Ray Allen is moved by the trade deadline?

Chad Ford

Danny Ainge continues to maintain that a trade is unlikely. He's willing to move Ray Allen to get a young player back, but the guys he's pursuing -- Monta Ellis, Kevin Martin, Andre Iguodala, etc -- aren't available for just an expiring deal (at least not yet). And I don't think the Celtics want to take on a horrific contract like Corey Maggette or Richard Hamilton. That's the problem. I know some GMs around the league think Boston is desperate. But after making some calls yesterday, I think they are content with just doing something small. Full transcript

Michael (Chicago)

There's many opinions on what exactly T-MAC has left in the tank. Do you think he can still play or is he just an expiring contract?

Chris Sheridan

What's important in the McGrady situation is that there are some members of the Knicks organization who think McGrady can still play, others who want to go to Tim Grover's gym and take a closer look. As of last week, the Rockets hadn't granted anyone permission to inspect T-Mac in Chicago. Full transcript

• Rank 'Em: What are the biggest deadline day deals of the last 10 seasons?
• Vote: Would Amare Stoudemire or Chris Bosh be a better Heat fit? | Trade Machine

SportsNation wants to see Amare Stoudemire play with both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade when it comes to Team USA's entry in this year's FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Olympics. But the more pressing question is whether or not he'll be playing with either of them by Friday.

Forget the points, rebounds, blocked shots and monster dunks. As Stephen Colbert might put it, we know Stoudemire is back to superstar status after microfracture knee surgery because the market tells us he is. Stoudemire is the biggest prize widely rumored to be on the move before Thursday's trade deadline, and both the Cavaliers and Heat are reportedly among the teams in pursuit.

Temporarily shifting our superhero focus from the Superman imbroglio, would Stoudemire be a better sidekick for LeBron or D-Wade?

Aron (Jacksonville, FL)

Please enlighten me as to why the Suns would want to trade Amare for J.J. Hickson and cap relief. Hickson's production is nothing special, and Lebron makes him look better than he really is (which is true of everybody on the Cavs). Are the Suns this desperate? Surely not ...

Chad Ford

I've been wondering the same thing. Especially since we know Miami is in the mix. The best the Cavs can offer right now is Hickson plus their first round pick (which should be about No. 29 or No. 30). The Heat can offer the same cap relief as the Cavs plus they have Michael Beasley and they have two mid first round picks. How is that not a better deal for Phoenix? Even if they don't want Beasley, two first round picks from Miami is a better deal than Hickson. That's why I'm skeptical Cleveland makes this happen unless Steve Kerr is more interested in just helping out a friend or he's still bitter about the whole Shaq deal two February's ago. Full transcript

Greg (Syracuse)

Can Amare and Shaq co-exist? Is Bron good enough to do that when Nash couldn't?

Chris Sheridan

Amare would step into Hickson's starting role and slide over to center when Varejao comes off the bench, so in effect he'd be replacing both Hickson and Ilgauskas. That's why the trade makes so much sense for Cleveland and why the Cavs are trying to make it happen. There's a lot of talk around the league that if the Cavs stand pat, it'll impact LeBron's decision on whether he'll stay or go. So the Cavs have reason to be proactive this week. Full transcript