Here’s the situation–Kobe will enter Thursday’s game against the Sacramento Kings averaging 27.86 points per game. That’s second in the league behind Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant who has a 28.03 points per game average. Durant is done for the year and my statistical experts have informed me that Kobe will need to put up 38 points to claim the scoring title. Head coach Mike Brown, who clearly knows which side his bread is buttered on, affirmed that it’s up to Kobe whether he plays or not without mentioning him by name:

“We’ll probably rest guys, but it won’t just be me saying, ‘Hey, I’m going to sit you down. I give guys some ownership in this.”

Kobe will make a final decision on whether or not he’ll play after Thursday’s shootaround. He’s only been back in the lineup for a few games after recovering from a nagging shin injury but he’s not going to use that as an excuse:

“I’m not on vacation. I was hurt. If I’m healthy, I play.”

Kobe has some issues, but no one has ever doubted his commitment to the game and fierce competitive drive. He’s taken some criticism about ‘putting stats first’ but another superstar from a different sport gets it–L.A. Dodgers’ manager Don Mattingly:

“If you ask (Derek) Jeter, down at the end of the year and we had a four- or five-game lead, he wants to play because he wants to stay sharp. Is that wrong? Some people will say he should’ve taken the rest.”

“I like Kobe. He’s a killer to me, under pressure. He’s one of those guys that wants the ball. He’s hit so many big shots.”

Of course the chattering classes in the mainstream sports media will yammer on about this and no doubt criticize Kobe but here’s the deal–he’s a hyper competitive guy. He’s not going to leave the scoring title there for Durant to win. It’s not that stats are more important it’s just the way he’s wired. It’s also why he has a fistful of NBA Championship rings.

Dwight Howard (Magic) – The Magic would prefer to add not subtract, but if they can’t land another elite scorer to help Howard’s cause, they may have no choice but to unload their stud center before he becomes a free agent in the offseason. However, signs seem to be pointing toward him staying put even if they don’t add another weapon.

Rajon Rondo (Celtics) – With Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen’s expiring contracts ripe for the picking, it seems unlikely Rondo, who is only 26, will be sent packing. However, he is the Celtics best bargaining chip, so if the right offer came their direction, anything is possible.

Pau Gasol (Lakers) – The Lakers big man has been linked to a host of teams in recent weeks, despite his consistent play throughout the season. L.A. needs depth at small forward and point guard, but it will take a quality player or two coming back to give up Gasol.

O.J. Mayo (Grizzlies) – Memphis probably won’t mess with the chemistry as they currently sit in the #3 seed in the West. That said, Mayo is always rumored to have one foot out the door, and his long-range prowess is coveted by teams lacking perimeter scoring.

Steve Nash (Suns) – Phoenix is going nowhere in 2012, which has lead some to believe Nash will be unloaded prior to him entering free agency. The problem is the Suns think they can convince the 38-year-old point guard to stick around for another two years. However, with the Knicks, Mavericks and Trail Blazers showing interest, the odds of Nash staying in the desert seem remote.    

Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry (Warriors) – Considering the Warriors are once again floundering in the Western Conference basement, it’s logical to assume either Ellis or Curry could be swapped for a much-needed post player. Both are very talented outside shooters, but Curry’s ailing foot should be a concern to potential trade partners.

Deron Williams (Nets) – The Nets are deplorable, and unless they trade for Dwight Howard or prove to Williams they can coax him to Brooklyn this summer, Williams is all but gone when he hits free agency. But with Williams the only trade value on the roster, the Nets are backed into a corner.  

Barkley believes Jordan has surrounded himself with too many “yes men” and not enough dissenting voices in the front office. While there’s plenty of blame to go around in Charlotte, the one most responsible in Barkley’s eyes is the man in charge.

“I love Michael, but he just has not done a good job,” Barkley said. “Even though he is one of my great friends, I can’t get on here and tell you he’s done a great job. He has not done a great job, plain and simple.”

Hard to argue with this assessment. Since the team’s surprising playoff appearance in 2009-10, the Cats have been on a downward spiral into the NBA basement. At 4-29, they own the league’s worst record this season and have a roster composed of guards and small forwards. No center or power forward averages double-digits in scoring or more than 5.5 rebounds.

Jordan’s talent evaluating skills have been doubted since the infamous Kwame Brown pick in 2001 when he was president of the Wizards. Since becoming part owner of the Bobcats in 2006, he has greenlit the selection of Adam Morrison, Ryan Hollins, Jared Dudley, Alexis Ajinca and Kyle Weaver, none of whom are still with the team. D.J. Augustin, Gerald Henderson and Kemba Walker have worked out, but they are essentially the same type of player.

Jordan also pulled the trigger on trading power forward/center Gerald Wallace to Portland last February. Wallace was an All-Star in 2010 when he averaged 18.2 points and 10.1 rebounds. He was the key to Charlotte’s playoff run, along with head coach Larry Brown, whom Jordan fired early last season.

Barkley can be a blowhard on occasion, but on this issue he’s 100% correct. Jordan would do well to put aside hie massive ego and listen to his friend.

Source: ESPN.com

With the March 15th trade deadline looming, Orlando appears resolute not to ship Howard elsewhere, even though that’s probably the best course of action. The problem with any deal that might be considered is the lack of appealing talent on the Magic’s roster.

Forward Ryan Anderson has value, but losing him would constitute addition by subtraction since he’s the only other player on the team capable of grabbing a rebound. Jason and Quentin Richardson are old. Hedo Turkoglu, J.J. Redick and Glen Davis are good, but limited.

Adding Ellis makes sense for Orlando, but not so much for Golden State, unless they get a big man in the deal. A big man like Dwight Howard. Therein lies the rub. While Ellis is a notch below Howard on the star scale, he’s still one of the game’s most prolific scorers. The Warriors aren’t going to just give him away without receiving equal compensation in return.

The Magic have little choice but to involve another team or two to balance out the offer. Even if Ellis, or another player, is brought aboard, there’s no guarantee it will be enough to supplant the likes of Chicago and Miami in the East, and in turn prevent Howard from fleeing at season’s end.

Barring a trip to the NBA Finals, Howard seems committed to joining the Lakers, Nets, Thunder or another legit contender.  Orlando is right to pursue a big name player, but it might be too little, too late to stop Superman from changing in another phone booth.

Source: ESPN.com

Rose is adamant the story about him actively recruiting Gasol (or anyone else) is completely baseless.

“I heard about it after (Monday’s) game,” Rose said. “That’s something I wouldn’t say to anyone, that I need someone to come to this team or I’m trying to get rid of someone on this team. It was all false and that’s something I would never do.”

The supposed deal would ship Carlos Boozer and backup point guard C.J. Watson to the Lakers in exchange for Gasol.  That kind of swap might make sense for both teams, but this isn’t fantasy basketball. Just because a bunch of names get tossed around in a hat and linked to one another means little.

Whether or not Gasol is dealt, expect the rumors to persist until the March 16th deadline is reached. However, it’s not as if the guy is playing like a stiff. On the contrary, his points and rebounds are on par with his career averages, and he has yet to miss a game due to injury.

Boozer’s statistics aren’t any better than Gasol’s. Watson would present a slight upgrade over Steve Blake and Derek Fisher, but he’s only started 41 career games, so it’s doubtful he’s the answer to L.A.’s point guard woes. Bottom line: neither side gains much in this trade.

Chicago is competing for the top record in the league. Why rock the boat? The Lakers need some sort of shakeup, but jettisoning Gasol for another power forward might not be the best course of action considering they are lacking at point guard, small forward and bench depth.

Will Gasol be traded? Maybe, but it’s unlikely it will be to the Bulls.

Source: ESPN.com

Johnson, who was named to this weekend’s Eastern All-Star squad, leads the Hawks in scoring at 17.6 points per game, and minutes played. Without him in the lineup, reserve guard  Willie Green will start in his place. Green is averaging 7.3 points, but has netted 17 or more in three of his last five games coming off the bench.

The injury to Johnson deals another blow to Atlanta’s playoff aspirations. They are already missing starting center Al Horford, who is recovering from torn pectoral surgery that will likely prevent him from playing the remainder of the regular season.

The Hawks began the truncated season on a tear, going 11-4 in their first 15 games. Since then, they have dropped 9 of 17, including four of their previous five, and trail the Southeast Division-leading Heat by 6½ games. At 19-13, they sit at the sixth spot in the East.

The team is now without two of their big three stars. Power forward Josh Smith, who is second in scoring and the leading rebounder, will be tasked to pick up the slack, along with point guard Jeff Teague and the aforementioned Green. Smith has totaled 39 boards in his last three starts and narrowly missed a triple-double in two of them.

On a positive note, starting small forward Marvin Williams will be back with the team after a brief leave of absence to attend the funeral of a family member.

Atlanta faces Jeremy Lin and the red hot Knicks tonight at Madison Square Garden.

Source: ESPN.com

The Trail Blazers offered words of support for Oden and his family.

“It’s hard to put into words the heartbreak for everyone involved, but especially for Greg. He’s a young man who has experienced a great number of physical challenges in his playing career and today is yet another significant setback for him,” Trail Blazers president Larry Miller said in a prepared statement.

Obviously, Oden won’t play this season, and hasn’t suited up since December of 2009. In addition to the two microfractures on his left knee, he has also suffered a busted left kneecap and underwent another microfracture on his right knee. Basically, his knees are completely shot.

The 24-year-old seven-footer will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, but at this point it’s unlikely any team would show interest in a player that missed over two full years of action. However, Blazers acting general manager Chad Buchanan isn’t ready to slam the door on Oden’s career.

“Greg’s still very young, in relative terms, for a professional basketball player. He’s recovered from a couple of these before — his last two microfracture lesions have healed fine,” Buchanan said. “So there’s no reason to think he couldn’t come back as long as he shows the work ethic and desire that he’s had in the past to come back. I think it’s premature to speculate anything beyond that.”

To say he’s “recovered” from the other procedures would be inaccurate. If he had recovered he wouldn’t have needed another surgery to repair the defective knee. Despite Buchanan’s glass half full outlook, the odds Oden will ever play again are remote at best.

Not many legitimate doctors are going to recommend a 300-pound man with a pair of wrecked knees to run and jump for a living. The writing has been on the wall for the last two years. It’s time everyone start reading it and admit Oden is finished.

Source: ESPN.com

Smith, who spent the beginning of the basketball year in China because of the NBA lockout, is expected to join the team tonight and be on the court for Sunday’s showdown with the defending champion Mavericks. The 26-year-old shooting guard posted on Twitter his intention to play for the Knicks, choosing them over the Bulls, Lakers, and Clippers, among others.

Smith will reunite with Carmelo Anthony, who he played alongside with for four-plus seasons in Denver. In seven years as a professional, J.R. has averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and shot 37% from three-point land. His best campaign came in 2009-10, when he netted a career best 15.4 points and emerged as one of the top sixth men in the league.

The Knicks have been rotating between Landry Fields and Iman Shumpert at the two guard, but head coach Mike D’Antoni is confident Smith can find a spot in the backcourt.

“We’ll see, but that’ll be a hurdle we’ll get over,” D’Antoni said after Friday’s shootaround. “Obviously, he’s a talented basketball player and you can always use talent. But basically it’s not going to change up a whole lot what we’re doing.”

At the very least, Smith brings solid defense and long-range shooting. If he can keep his head screwed on right, he should provide reliable experience off the bench.

New York is quickly building themselves a contending roster. Once Melo returns to the lineup and adjustments are made, a run at the Atlantic Division title is within reach.

Source: ESPN.com

Iverson has been publicly mum on his future, but a source close to him (relative, agent) expressed a strong desire to mount a comeback.

“Allen only wants to play if there’s a possibility that it leads to the NBA,” the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “That’s the only way he would go to one of these lower leagues. He wants to get back to the NBA and leave the game on his terms.”

Thus far, no NBA teams have displayed interest in acquiring the 36-year-old’s services. His last stint in the league was a return trip to Philadelphia in 2009-10, where he averaged 13.9 points in 25 games. He spent the fall of 2010 in Turkey after inking a two-year, $4 million deal, but calf surgery ended his run in January 2011.

Iverson’s financial woes could be playing a part in his desire to land on a roster. According to various reports, a January court order garnished nearly $860,000 from his bank account to repay an outstanding debt owed to a Georgia jeweler. Representatives from both the Puerto Rican and South American leagues have allegedly contacted Iverson’s people, but no offers have been placed on the table.

Iverson was still playing at a high level as recent as the 2007-08 season, when he netted 26.4 points and 7.1 assists with the Nuggets. A series of trades and ailments have left the four-time scoring champion a shell of his former self. Gone are his signature speed and quickness. One of the most prolific scorers in the history of the NBA is now an unwanted man.

Source: ESPN.com

World Peace even attacked Brown’s coaching resume, which doesn’t sound very harmonious.

“Right now, coach is a stats guy,” World Peace was quoted as saying. “His background is video coordinator or whatever. So he’s all stats. But Ron Artest is all feel.”

Did he refer to himself in the third person using his old name? That might be a first. Anyway, Metta didn’t start the first 20 games of the season and is currently playing like garbage, averaging only 4.7 points, 2.6 boards and shooting a pathetic 19% from beyond the arc.

Brown didn’t back down in responding to Metta’s comments and even offered a little advice to his petulant small forward.

“If I were him, I’d be frustrated. I talked to him about it,” Brown said. “I said, ‘Metta, I don’t take anything personally. I’m OK with it. Just be careful what you say to the media in that regard. But if I was a stats guy, Metta, you wouldn’t be playing at all. Because look at your stats offensively, and then Synergy says you’re the 192nd best defensive player in the league.’ “

Ouch. Funny how those pesky stats can make someone look like an ass. To be fair, World Peace isn’t oblivious to the fact that changes must be made when a new coaching regime takes over.

“When you have new players and new coaches (this season) and it took a long time to build some consistency. That affected not just my game; it affected a couple people early on. Now you see guys starting to hit shots and you can see a slight change.”

The Lakers are off to a less than stellar start at 17-12 and trail the Clippers (?) by 1½ games in the Pacific Division.

Source: ESPN.com