• The Houston Rockets are rolling.  That's 12 in a row for them now.  Remember a month ago when I said "Put money on them, ya'll"?  Everyone had given up on them, but I think come playoff time they will have worked themselves into a fifth seed or better.  And now I'm sure.  The only thing is (big "if") can they stay healthy?  And can they get some reliable production out of the point guard position? 
  

• Gerald Wallace getting laid out by an elbow, and then getting carried off the court on a stretcher? That just feels, and I'm sorry if it sounds harsh or something, but it is really the man achieving his foregone destiny.  We all knew he was predestined to be the NBA version of Wayne Chrebet.  He's too fearless, and too reckless, to not have four concussions in four years. 
  

• I'm getting tired of listening to the "Rod Thorn is a genius, he got maximum value for an aging point guard" BS from the media.  I'm not as impressed by what Thorn got for a guy who doubles as a huge expiring contract next season ("let's get expiring contracts this season!") and one of the top three point guards in the league (along with Nash and Paul) this season.  This ain't Sam Cassell/Damon Stoudemire here... "aging" is inappropriate.  Maybe "pouty", but "aging"?  Kidd is still a top point right now, and he'll probably be a top point next season, too.  Especially in a contract year... which is why I felt the trade wasn't necessary.  He would have had to play hard next season, to get another top tier contract as a free agent.  He would have had no leverage, and no market, if he had sulked his way through 2009, too.  Especially with other points - Baron Davis, Allen Iverson and Mike Bibby, for example, available in 2009.
  

I never understood why they needed to trade him now.  Kidd wasn't going to tank in a contract year, so he would have played great next year.  And by the way - the biggest player in your franchise's history, the only guy who jersey should ever be retired by the Nets - and you can't even sign him to an extension, just to keep him happy?  Especially after you signed Vince Carter?  Ugh.

And what did Thorn get back?  A point guard who isn't top-10, not even top-15, in the league.  Here are 15 points that I would rather have right now:

Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd (expiring contract is good for team), Deron Williams, Baron Davis, Chauncey Billups, Allen Iverson (same scenario as Kidd), Jose Calderon, Leandro Barbosa, Mo Williams (gets paid less than Devin), Andre Miller, T.J. Ford, Gilbert Arenas, Tony Parker, and maybe Mike Bibby (tough call, but I would rather have the 29-year old Bibby, especially when his contract isn't much longer).

Here are some other occasional "point guard", but who are better as shooting guards: Brandon Roy, Monta Ellis, Jason Terry, Joe Johnson, Dwyane Wade.

Guys that could be better and cheaper, but hard to prove (the "Jose Calderon at the beginning of the season" points):  Steve Blake (a stretch, admittedly), Marcus Williams, Beno Udrih (getting a chance now), Kyle Lowry, Brevin Knight, Acie Law, Marcus Banks and Delonte West (this one is really tough - I would prefer Harris, but let's see how the next two months pan out).

Guys who Harris is closest to right now, in skill level:  Raymond Felton (slightly disappointed), Rajon Rondo , Kirk Hinrich.

Other points Harris is probably better than right now (most of the time): Juan Navarro, Antonio Daniels, Tyron Lue, Anthony Parker,  Jamaal Tinsley, Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, Rafer Alston, Mike James, Sebastian Telfair, Smush Parker.

And that's including contract considerations.  Remember:  Devin Harris signed a 5-year, $45 million contract that kicks in next season (more than Mo Williams).  He might turn out to be a better point guard in three years than those guys on the list, but he might also turn out to be like Richard Jefferson - a middle of the pack starter who never quite made his way into a top-10 at his position (much less All-Star) player, and who gets paid a little too much for that level of play.

• The Blazers are a bit overrated.  I'm getting tired of reading about how they will be a team to be recon with next season.  They aren't.

The Blazers started the season 5-12.  That's including a four-game winning streak in there.  They then had their amazing six-week run, in which they won 12 in a row, and 17 out of 18 games.  I said it then: "Which team is the real Blazers team?  The one that won 17 of the last 18 games, or the one that started off 5-12?".

Answer:  Since then, the Blazers are 7-14.  You can play with the figures - take out their amazing run, and they are 12-26.  Despite winning 12 in a row, they are barely .500.   They are a streaky team - take out their three streak of 4 or more wins, and they only have 8 wins on the season (honestly, I'm not sure what that "stat" illustrates). 

And their fans are acting like, well, last year's Bulls fans.  "No way I would trade Gordon and Deng for Kevin Garnett or Kobe Bryant... what are you, crazy?  Those guys are old, and our guys are young!".  I think we all saw how that turned out for the Bulls.  Meanwhile, every Blazer fan is speaking way to highly of LaMarcus Aldridge and Martell Webster (nice starters, but hardly studs or stars). 

Here's my take on the team: keep Oden and Roy.  Get a point guard somehow in the offseason, even if you have to trade for one.  Do Bill Simmons suggestion, and get Mike Conley from the Grizzlies for one of your young players.  Be patient, let Oden and Conley and Roy mesh.  Wait until the bad contracts expire (LaFrentz, Miles). 

• Daily News writer Mitch Lawrence on the hypocrisy of Gregg Popovich:

Spurs VP-coach Gregg Popovich didn't like it one bit when Memphis gave away Pau Gasol to the Lakers, calling for the formation of "a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense." Apparently, when friends help friends, Popovich's trade committee is OK with that arrangement. In obtaining Kurt Thomas, the Spurs found a willing trade partner in former San Antonio executive Sam Presti, now Seattle's rookie GM. Thomas could be a crucial defensive addition as the Spurs try to defend their title. One of the spare parts Popovich sent to Presti, Brent Barry, could wind up back with the Spurs in another month. Orlando tried to get Thomas, too, but didn't have the same "in" as the Spurs.

That deal saved the Spurs $500,000, or just enough to get in under the luxury cap threshhold, thus making the Spurs eligible for a $2,000,000 bonus check from the NBA.  One of the conditions of the trade was that they would split that money with the Sonics.  And that's why this trade took place - seriously, the Sonics did not gain anything else from this trade.  They traded one expiring contract worth $8 million to the Spurs for two expiring contracts worth $8.5 million, and what might has well be a second-round pick in 2009.  The Sonics have since waived Brent Barry (on Feb. 21st), meaning he can re-sign with the Spurs on March 22nd.

The Sonics could have gotten a better deal in terms of talent and future picks, but they got money from the Spurs, and they got to give an assist to an old friend.  Sounds a bit like Kevin McHale this past offseason trading Kevin Garnett to the Celtics.  Or Memphis trading Pau Gasol to the Lakers three weeks ago....

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