In what was evidently a strange convergence of energy from the sports gods, four injured All-Stars returned to their respective teams Wednesday with just two weeks left before the the NBA playoffs begin.

Isn’t this why we love professional sports?

• A funny thing happened just hours after Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said it looked like it would require more time before Dirk Nowitzki would return from the left ankle and knee injury he suffered on March 23 in a loss to the Spurs … he started. Nowitzki scored 18 points in 27 minutes during the huge 111-86 win over the Warriors, moving the Mavs alone into seventh place in the West. The Mavs were 2-3 since the injury, but now have a two-game lead and the tie-breaker over the ninth-place Warriors and a one-game lead over the eighth-place Nuggets, who also have the tie-breaker with the sliding W’s.

• Nobody has known what to think about Gilbert Arenas, who has been talking for six weeks that he would return from November surgery on his left knee, but Wednesday night was it for Agent Zero. He came off the bench to score 17 points in 19 minutes for the Wizards in a bizarre, 110-109 loss to the Bucks during which teammates Antawn Jamison (sprained right shoulder) and DeShaun Stevenson (sprained right ankle) were helped off the floor after a scramble for the ball with 6.3 seconds left. The result dripped with irony, not only because it was Arenas’ return, but both Caron Butler (strained hamstring) and Antonio Daniels (sprained wrist) returned after missing a game with injuries as well … so much for the full compliment of players that coach Eddie Jordan was expecting.

• Everything returned to normal for the Lakers when Pau Gasol made his first appearance since suffering an ankle sprain on March 14. He played 32 minutes, contributing 10 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds in the 104-91 win over the Blazers – a huge lift considering the Lakers were 5-5 since he got hurt. They remain just 1.5 games out of the top seed in the West, and have the third seed with first place in the Pacific Division, a game ahead of the Suns.

• And in perhaps the biggest surprise of all, Clippers forward Elton Brand entered the game midway through the first quarter against Seattle, playing for the first time since suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the summer. Predictably rusty, Brand scored 13 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as the Clippers came from behind to run away from the Sonics, 102-84, to end an eight-game road losing streak.

Brand’s move was typical of a quality guy not only showing that he wanted to play when he was ready, but also that he’s worth every penny to someone as a player and a leader if he does opt out of his contract this summer.

But the biggest boon certainly is the return of Nowitzki and what this game did for the Mavs and Warriors in divergent circumstances. Left for dead by so many critics, this was the second win in a row for the Mavs, and certainly the commentary by Johnson earlier in the day about Nowitzki’s status came at the expense of his mentor in gamesmanship – Warriors coach Don Nelson. The Mavs, who still have to travel this weekend to play the Suns and Lakers, suddenly are loaded with momentum after beating their first over-.500 team since acquiring Jason Kidd 22 games ago. They were 0-10 before Wednesday night, but Nowitzki’s return further girded this group – as Kidd had 17 assists compared to just 10 for the Warriors as a team in the game.

That statistic was reflective of how the Warriors have come apart of late. They’ve lost three of their last four and five of eight to slide out of what looked like a strong seventh place. Not only do they lose the tie-breakers to the Mavs and Nuggets, but they’ve lost two in a row for the first time since the Jan. 2-4, and only the second time since an 0-6 start with captain Stephen Jackson suspended. Furthermore, after 37 consecutives games of 100 points or more as the highest scoring team in the league, they had just 86 against the Mavs after managing only 92 in a 24-point loss to the Spurs Tuesday. Jackson, not coincidentally, was 1-for-11 with 2 points against the Mavs and 2-for-12 with a pair of 3-pointers against the Spurs. Eight points in two games won’t do for Captain Jack, averaging 20.4 for the season.

Where they go from here, with a game at Memphis Friday and the road trip ending at New Orleans on Sunday, is anybody’s guess. They do finish the season with four of their last five games at home with a game at Phoenix in between, so this thing could turn again depending on the Mavs and Nuggets. Of the four home games, the Nuggets are the only winning team, with the Clippers, Kings and Sonics the other three.

The Wizards’ position in the East is just as shaky – although they are far from falling out of the playoffs in the less competitive conference. However, the loss dropped them from the fifth seed pushing the Cavaliers for home court into a three-way tie for fifth with the Raptors and Sixers – three games ahead of the eighth-place Hawks – and light years (OK, seven games) ahead of the Nets and Pacers. The status of Jamison and Stevenson is huge moving forward – not only for the remaining seven games but for the playoffs.

As for the Lakers, they’re still waiting for 20-year-old starting center Andrew Bynum to return from the knee injury that has sidelined him Jan. 13. They are hopeful over the next few days, and obviously they’d love for him to play at least a handful of games before the playoffs.

Nobody figured this first Wednesday in April would be so significant, so you never know.

 

There are a lot of reasons why Kevin Garnett should be recognized as the league’s best defensive player this season. Maybe he’ll get the nod and maybe he won’t. The case on why he should isn’t difficult to make, though, as we trace the history of the award and other possible candidates. History tends to dictate the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year is a shot-blocker first and foremost. Since the award — voted on by the media — began in 1983 with Milwaukee Bucks uber-defender Sidney Moncrief winning the first two years, 16 of the next 23 winners were shot-blockers — including Marcus Camby last year.

That’s not to say the shot-blocker, who's virtually always an exceptional rebounder as well, doesn’t deserve the award. It’s just easier to distinguish the cause and effect, recognizing that it isn’t just that particular stat that makes the difference, but the intimidation factor as well. When you have guys like Camby, four-time winner Dikembe Mutombo and multiple winners such as Hakeem Olajuwon and Alonzo Mourning patrolling the paint, it does allow the rest of the team to play tougher on the ball because he’s back there as a fierce last line of defense.

The same can be said for on-the-ball pressure, with Hornets point guard Chris Paul leading the league in steals, although that rarely predicates the award-winner.

It would make it easy to tab Camby again considering he’s leading the league blocks again and is right up there in rebounds. Young Magic center Dwight Howard will garner a lot of votes, too, since he’s leading everyone in rebounding and is near the top of the league in blocks.

The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, a fierce one-on-one defender will get his share of votes because he’s so talented and popular overall. Generally speaking, it’s difficult to single out individual defenders. Over the years, other than Moncrief, the awards have gone to great one-on-one defenders such as Michael Jordan, Gary Payton, Dennis Rodman and Ron Artest. There are those who believe the Spurs’ Bruce Bowen has deserved it for years but can’t get the necessary votes because there is a perceived notion of dirty play on his part.

This year, we’re going a different direction, giving the nod to a team-defense guy who is making everyone around him better: the Celtics’ Garnett. That’s not to say Garnett hasn’t been acknowledged as a great defender before. He was voted first-team All-Defense six years in a row by the coaches until slipping to second team the past two seasons. KG has never been voted the top defender by the media and this time around he should.

Ironically, his overall individual defensive statistics — 1.3 blocks, 1.4 steals and 9.4 rebounds — are below average over the breadth of his career. But the spidery arms, great hands, superior defensive knowledge and instincts of the 6-11, 240-pound Garnett have made the Celtics the best defensive team in the league this season. His help defense has given everybody else on the team more confidence and enhanced the team’s overall defensive IQ.

Heck, Celtics center Kendrick Perkins has more blocks than Garnett. But KG’s presence has given the young starter the freedom and confidence to come from the weak side and becoming an increasingly effective shot-blocker.

It’s hard to say how the rest of the voters will go in this instance. Camby will get a lot of votes again, so will Howard considering how much he and the Magic have risen in the NBA consciousness this season. And certainly neither would be the wrong choice.

Nonetheless, the reason Garnett deserves this is the same reason he will attract a lot of votes for Most Valuable Player too – he does so much to make the other players better with his consistent presence – his overall impact is incalculable.

To be sure, coach Doc Rivers and his staff deserve a lot of credit for transforming this team on the defensive end into a powerhouse that is leading the league in field-goal defense and defensive scoring average But none of it would have been possible without the towering president of “The Big Ticket,” in the middle of the fray to control things.

That’s why in my book, Garnett stands alone as the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year.

The big squeeze is on the Dallas Mavericks.

It isn’t as if we didn’t see this coming considering the past month or so, especially after Sunday’s knee and high ankle sprain to All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki. But the way they came apart Thursday night at Denver to the Nuggets, coupled with the Golden State Warriors coming from behind to handle the Portland Trail Blazers, the fight for the final two spots of the Western Conference is tighter than the Mavericks at the free throw line these days.

The Mavs (45-27) now lead the Warriors (44-27) by a half game and the Nuggets (44-28) by one game as we head into the final 2½ weeks of the season. Should the Mavericks slip out of the top eight, it would be the first time since 2000 they will have failed to make the playoffs, and the first full season since Mark Cuban became the team’s owner in January of 2000 that they will have fallen into the lottery.

And with Nowitzki’s status still very iffy going down the stretch, all eyes continue to focus on point guard Jason Kidd, acquired in late February. Kidd and the Mavs were outstanding in the first half against the Nuggets' porous defense, racing to a 70-60 lead and plenty of second-chance points. More to the point, Kidd had 13 points, 11 assists and 4 steals by halftime.

They were beating the Nuggets up and down the floor, beat them badly on the boards (23-16), and had them on the ropes if only they continued at that pace.

But the second half was a different story, and the Nuggets blew it open in the third quarter. No doubt coach George Karl jumped all over the frontcourt for lack of rebounding, and they turned it around with a 25-16 advantage, forced the Mavericks into bad shots (2-of-13 from 3-point range), and let their high-powered duo of Allen Iverson (31) and Carmelo Anthony (32) take control of the game. The Nuggets even got the huge emotional boost of Nene coming into the game with a little more than a minute left – his first appearance since undergoing surgery for malignant testicular cancer on Jan. 11.

The 118-105 loss makes them 0-9 against winning teams since Kidd has come aboard (10-9 overall). He finished the game with 19 points, 15 assists and 5 steals, so it had nothing to do with his numbers, nor Josh Howard scoring 30 points just two nights after pouring in 32 in a win over the Clippers. They’re just dying for Dirk, the 2007 MVP and cornerstone of their franchise.

Making matters worse, seven of Dallas’ final 10 games are against plus-.500 teams, with six of those 10 games on the road – where they are 15-20 this season. And two of their next three games are against the Warriors, at Oakland on Saturday and in Dallas on Tuesday, with a road game at the Clippers in between on Sunday. As if those games won’t be vital enough, they hit the road next weekend with games at the Lakers and at the Suns. To put it mildly, that five-game stretch will go a long way toward deciding their fate.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets, with a 15-21 road record, split their final 10 home and away, but only three of their five road games are against winning teams. A four-game road trip from Feb. 6-11 begins at the Sonics and Clippers, but finishes with the Warriors and Jazz before they end the regular season at home against the Rockets and Grizzlies.

After a sluggish start Thursday night against the Blazers, the Warriors gradually picked up a head of steam behind their explosive trio of Stephen Jackson, Baron Davis and Monta Ellis to put away the battered young team with a 111-95 victory. But it doesn’t get any easier with six of their final 11 games on the road - although they are an impressive 20-15 on foreign hardwood. Nonetheless, five of their next six games are away from Oracle Arena, beginning at Denver Saturday night. The Mavs come in on Sunday, and then they head out for games at San Antonio, Dallas, Memphis and New Orleans in six days.

The good news for the Warriors is four of their final five games are home, where the Oracle has become the place to be after a generation of lost fans. There will be no empty seats.

So how does it break down? Well, short of something traumatic happening, it would be wise to bet the ranch on the Warriors moving into seventh by some time next week and staying there. The real battle will be for the eighth spot between the wobbling Mavs and the defensively-challenged Nuggets.

Nobody seems to know the status of Nowitzki at this point because it’s so early in the healing process. And even if he does come back for the final week, he’ll be really vulnerable to re-injuring the high ankle sprain – let alone the knee. Can Kidd, Howard and Jerry Stackhouse provide enough leadership and firepower for the Mavericks to hang on in his absence under the most trying of circumstances?

That’s highly debatable, particularly the way they managed just 35 points in the second half against the Nuggets Thursday night.

We’ll also find out the real fit under the most trying circumstances of Iverson and Anthony in this race to the finish for the Nuggets. It’s the total commitment to team and not the individual that will tell the tale. Iverson has proven himself. Anthony has not. We still have to find out if Karl can get this often wild-eyed bunch to defend at crunch time of these games.

Ultimately the Nuggets have just been way too inconsistent all season to say they will beat out the Mavs for eighth … so indeed it’s a tossup between Denver and Dallas for the final playoff spot as they’re coming down the back stretch.

It also leaves us with a situation that was previously unfathomable and now seems likely - somebody winning 50 games will not make the playoffs for the first time in NBA history.

As a wise man once said … that ain’t right. 

 

 

Chris Webber will finally hobble off into the NBA sunset today, and fittingly it leaves us with mixed feelings about a superstar talent with a star-crossed career before his 15th season ever really began.

He leaves the NBA having averaged 20.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists – joining Elgin Baylor, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Kevin Garnett and Billy Cunningham as the only players in history to average at least 20, 9.0 and 4.0 for a career.

He was the most famous member of the illustrious Fab Five at Michigan, leading the group that made it to the NCAA championship game in both of his seasons. But the Detroit native won’t be remembered for that as much as for the timeout he called in the final minute that virtually cost them the title to North Carolina in 1993.

He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft but was dealt by Orlando to Golden State for Penny Hardaway and three No. 1 draft choices. He soon found it impossible to get along with Warriors coach Don Nelson, and was dealt to Washington the first month of his second season.

That Nellie was the guy who wanted him back for this season – only to watch him struggle miserably with that bum left knee limiting him to just 3.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 9 games – was a fittingly ironic end to Webber’s career. Undoubtedly at his retirement press conference you will see Webber impeccably dressed with that million-dollar smile glowing from baseline to baseline. Maybe even a tear will roll down his cheek during his well-articulated diatribe. But this bizarre exit also will be filled with the same double-talk Webber has always provided – the last boast being how much he would help either the Pistons, Lakers or Warriors win a championship this season.

The only thing we’ve ever known for sure about Webber is that he is an assorted bag of tricks. Indeed, his commitment at Michigan helped gain the Wolverines Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson as the most publicized group to ever join one college team. Years later, Webber ended up being the heart of the NCAA investigation regarding illegal money-laundering scandal involving booster Ed Martin. Webber lied to the grand jury and nearly went to prison for perjury – apology accepted.

After being dealt to Washington by Golden State, he played with Howard to form an amazingly talented frontcourt, although it ended with just one 3-game trip to the playoffs in his four years. Predictably, when he was sent to Sacramento in 1998 for washed up Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe, he whined and stomped his feet as if he were sentenced to Siberia.

But it was there that he resurrected his standing among superstar talents, and led the renaissance of a nomadic franchise that had been a bottom-feeder since moving there from Kansas City in 1985. They made it to the playoffs all six of his seasons there, including a heartbreaking Game 7 defeat to the Lakers in the 2002 conference finals in a mass of missed free throws by the Kings in Arco Arena. It was crushing physically and mentally.

Predictably, Webber and the Kings began to erode from there, with Webber beginning to call out his teammates. Meanwhile, his left knee was getting worse and he had microfracture surgery the next season. And when Webber returned he could no longer run or jump. He still had those great hands and timing to rebound. His soft touch from around the key, the elbow and hooks in the lane still worked from experience. Arguably the best passing power forward in the history of the game, he could still find his teammates at will.

But he no longer could perform at the level that his psyche or mouth believed, and Kings president Geoff Petrie finally shipped Webber and his monstrous contract to Philadelphia. That he went with Michael Bradley and Matt Barnes for Kenny Thomas, Corliss Williamson and Brian Skinner in a 2005 deal better characterized Webber’s fall from grace than anything else.

Sure, it was fun for about 15 minutes to hypothesize how Webber and Allen Iverson would get along and drive the Sixers to great heights. But it was destined to fail. They reached the playoffs the first season and lasted five games, and didn’t even get out of the lottery in 2006. At that point, Webber had the look of somebody playing on eggshells the way he often staggered around the court.

Before the next season even hit the All-Star break, Iverson was dealt to Denver and Webber’s contract was bought out by the Sixers. Four days after his release, his hometown Pistons signed him. Sure, he added a passing dimension from the post, some rebounds and was a perimeter threat. But his limitations reflected theirs as the playoffs unfolded in their upset loss to Cleveland in the conference finals … and Webber’s minutes fell accordingly.

That brings us to this marvelously competitive NBA season, with him making noise about how he wanted to help somebody win a championship. There's no telling why Nellie bought his bill of goods and actually thought he could fit in with a lightning-fast team when he could barely jog. Even while cobbling out 61 games last season, he was limited at best.  After not playing until signed on Jan. 29, the Warriors squeezed 9 games out of him – starting 8 in a failed attempt to jump-start what was left in five weeks.

And he was finished.

Somehow it figured to end this way for Webber – nothing but empty promises, just at varying levels. Even so, he played in four All-Star games and his career numbers are special. But he was never destined to win the biggest prize, not on the collegiate level, nor in the NBA.

It’s never appropriate to pin the failings of a team on an individual as so many have done with Webber, whether it was his mouth, passing up big shots or missing big shots. He was a superstar, one of the best power forwards the game has ever seen. But what you saw or heard from him wasn’t always what you got. Insteadin a “C-Webb” of empty assurances - it always caused issues.

In the end, that may very well prove to be his legacy, and that is sad for such a talented athlete to be remembered that way.

They’ve grown up to be a real threat, and that’s been no easy task for the Golden State Warriors after more than a decade of failure.

Until they slipped into the playoffs last year and crushed the Dallas Mavericks in the first round to pull off one of the great upsets in NBA history, they had been a failing franchise in a great sports market.

Even then, they were a novelty item when they fell to the Utah Jazz in the conference semifinals.

Not anymore. The quartet of coach Don Nelson and stars Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis is proving to be as lethal as any combination in the NBA today. They are 40-18 in the 58 games they’ve played together this season, averaging 61.0 points, 13.8 rebounds, 15.1 assists and 5.03 steals. It has everything to do with why the Warriors lead the NBA in scoring at 110.9 per game, including 31 in a row in triple digits, and have remained just 4.5 games out of the top seed in the Western Conference.

The start of the transformation was when general manager Chris Mullin was hired to restore the franchise to what it was like when he was an All-Star player. But even he had growing pains on the job. He turned the roster over and made a horrible hire in Stanford coach Mike Montgomery before he coaxed his old coach Nelson out of retirement in Hawaii.

It was the return of Nellieball -- with the promise, “We’re going to play small and fast, so try and catch us if you can.” That’s the way it was when Mullin teamed with Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond in the “Run TMC” era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Before last season, the Warriors hadn’t even been to the playoffs in 13 years and hadn't won a series in 16 years. Obviously, it was worth a shot and it worked.

This time around, though, it works even better. The change of rules prohibiting hand checking and blocking the path to the basket in the lane has made small and fast more of a style than something charming. If you don’t have special power players, then this is the vogue way to play. So a lot of teams have adopted this brand of ball, and the Warriors, along with the Suns, are the best at it.

Still, the Warriors began the season 0-6 -- some of that having to do with Jackson serving out a suspension for an off-court indiscretion. But they have lost two in a row only once since then and amassed a 42-19 record since the dismal start. That's fourth best in the NBA over that span, trailing only the Celtics, Pistons and Lakers.

The big difference between this season and last is consistency, and that has come as a result of playing well on the road too. Not only are the Warriors a tough 23-10 in the now packed Oracle Arena, where they increased their season ticket sales a whopping 50 percent, but they’re 19-15 on the road compared to 12-29 a year ago.

All of this explains why they guaranteed the final $2 million of Nelson’s to the fashionable $5 million range and already picked up the option for next season despite his 68th birthday coming. After all, he is only 58 wins behind Lenny Wilkens (1,332) for the most in NBA history. Perhaps more importantly, the players love this style.

He has built the team around Davis and Jackson, a couple of unorthodox players with fearless personalities. Davis is a powerful point guard, prone to spectacular streaks and injuries throughout his career -- and not afraid to voice his displeasure with his coach and teammates. Jackson is a long and skinny swingman with a history of emotional explosions on and off the court. Together, they have been nitroglycerin for this dormant franchise. Their potential, though, has always been obvious.

The unexpected piece of this perilous puzzle proved to be Ellis, the 6-3 guard snatched right out of Lanier High School in Jackson, Miss.

Everybody knew Davis and Jackson could be dangerous. But Ellis … well, not exactly. OK, he did lead his team to two state championships, and averaged 38.4 points, 7.9 assists, 6.9 rebounds and 4.5 steals his senior year. But that was high school. He was projected as a point guard, and the history of point guards skipping college for the NBA is littered with disappointment. It’s why he didn’t go until the second round.

Playing him with Davis really changed everything, however. After a predictably erratic rookie year, he exploded late last season – raising his average to 16.5 points while shooting .475 from the field to win the league’s Most Improved Player Award. But even more impressive has been the continual growth, with the latest buzz wondering if he should become the first player ever to win the award two years in a row – and before his 23rd birthday no less.

Not only is he averaging 19.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists, but he’s shooting a blistering .535 from the field. Granted, he hasn’t grown into 3-point range yet … but there seems little doubt he will as he adds to his sub-180 pounds. He became only the ninth guard in history to shoot 60 percent from the field for a month -- averaging 26.0 points while making .602 percent of his shots in February. Even more impressive is the 33 games in a row he has reached double-figures -- averaging 22.7 points while making .566 of his field goal attempts -- dating back to Jan. 7. All of this is why they dealt high-scoring Jason Richardson to Charlotte for the rights to draft 20-year-old Brandon Wright, the immensely gifted 6-10 forward from North Carolina who will be a factor next season.

What we don’t know is what Nelson can get out of the rest of the team. Al Harrington continues to be erratic, with flashes of exceptional play on offense and rebounding – but they come too sparingly. Latvian post player Andris Biedrins, who won’t be 22 for another couple of weeks, is plenty tough and is close to averaging a double-double with 10.0 points and 9.2 rebounds – but he’s still very raw offensively.

The bench is long and effective, with swingman Kelenna Azubuike, Mickael Pietrus and Matt Barnes all 20-minute guys who contribute on both ends of the floor. Veteran streak shooter Austin Croshere has had his moments as well. The shame of it all was the wasted time and effort to recruiting the aging and damaged Chris Webber to help up front. He has contributed virtually nothing while Wright is still trying to gain strength and adapt to the NBA. They could have used a legit big body to support Biedrins for the playoffs.

Nonetheless, they are right in the mix. They are within 4.5 games of the No. 1 seed, and 3.0 games from home-court advantage in the first round (or 3.5 games away from falling out of the playoffs to ninth-seeded Denver). Granted, they still don’t play good enough defense to be a serious threat to win the West – or even return to the second round of the playoffs – but depending on the matchup, that certainly isn’t out of the question either.

So in this topsy-turvy race in the West, the Warriors are one intrepid group daring anyone to stop them from running full blast and cranking up 3-pointers. They’re winning and their fun to watch, and that’s a far cry from where they were for more than a decade – just ask the nearly 20,000 delirious fans that show up each game at the Oracle.

The reconnection has indeed been divine.

Just as we suspected, the landscape of the Western Conference continues to change-- which means the big trades that seemed so clearly defined have taken a U-turn as well.

In other words, this is all still shaking out.

We’re all still flabbergasted by the crazy 22-game winning streak of the Rockets -- second only to the 1971-72 Lakers in NBA history -- which has leapfrogged them into the top seed of the West. It’s a remarkable story that is continuing to add chapters.

And then there is the eye-widening tale of Shaquille O’Neal’s 330 pounds of mass leaping into the stands last Sunday that may not only have tilted the foundation of the U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix, but the Pacific Division and the West as well.

You see, well on their way to yet another defeat at the hands of the Spurs, O’Neal’s wild hustle play to save a ball from going out of bounds ignited the home crowd and sparked the Suns to a come-from-behind win and that may have very well changed everything.

While everyone has been singing the praises of the Pau Gasol theft from the Grizzlies that pushed the Lakers to the top of the conference and the Pacific Division (and rightfully so); lost in the excitement had been Gasol’s failure to play 60 games in two of the previous three seasons with foot problems until he sprained his ankle last week. Now he’s out indefinitely.

Not coincidentally the Lakers have lost three of four.

People had begun writing off the Mavericks for giving up so much to get Jason Kidd. Now they’ve won five in a row.

Throw in the Hornets, Jazz and Warriors keeping pace and a measly 4.5 games separate the top eight teams in the West with 4½ weeks left in the season.

So how did O’Neal’s play change the balance other than the obvious effect on the Richter scale in the southwest?

It guaranteed for the first time in five years the Suns wouldn’t lose the season series to the Spurs, and at least gave some credence to the concept shared by Suns owner Robert Sarver and general manager Steve Kerr that O’Neal could be the difference-maker matching up against Tim Duncan and the San Antonio machine.

That’s not to say you can point to that one play or game as to why the Spurs have lost three in a row and five of six. But for whatever reason, their edge is gone and the Suns have grabbed it. Sure, the Suns miss Shawn Marion -- his rebounding, nose for the ball, perimeter defense and speed on the floor -- from the O’Neal trade. They may even miss him more as time progresses.

Too many people gave up on the Suns too quickly when they lost four of their first six with O’Neal in the lineup. It has already become patently obvious Boris Diaw does not have the aggressive nature to pick up the slack for Marion. His 2006 NBA Most Improved Player Award was more a product of circumstances than how significant a role he would play in the Suns future with a freshly minted and fat long-term contract. That will become more of a story as time progresses. The drop in Leandro Barbosa’s productivity this season hasn’t helped either.

And yet, whatever Grant Hill has left in the tank will pick up some of the slack for time being. Even the recently signed Gordan Giricek had a big hand in their 79 first-half points as they trashed the Kings Saturday night. That helps the cause, too.

But Amare Stoudemire is approaching pre-knee surgery numbers and that speaks volumes for what the Suns have figured out around O’Neal.

The key to what has brought the Suns back to within a game of the Lakers in the division and two games of the lead they had in the Western Conference has been the adjustment made by not only O’Neal, but point guard Steve Nash and Mike D’Antoni -- the masterminds to this franchise. And Stoudemire is now reaping the benefits.

Of course O’Neal doesn’t fit into their fun-and-gun offense that turned the NBA upside down; nor does his skill-set work in their halfcourt pick-and-roll preference. Consequently, the response was D’Antoni is a one-trick pony as a coach and Nash has lost his remarkable feel that made him the top point guard in the game the past three seasons. To arrive at those conclusions in a couple of weeks was ludicrous.

Given time, D’Antoni has stolen a page out of the Tex Winter’s legendary triangle offense to run some of the plays through O’Neal. Now Nash knows not only is the lane more cluttered with bodies, he throws lob passes at or below the rim for O’Neal to dunk. O’Neal’s presence in the post has also opened up Stoudemire’s vastly underrated mid-range game. This wasn’t going to be a sudden change. It just required some time and patience, which nobody seems to have these days in any walk of life -- let alone in the world of sports.

That’s not to say the Suns are now all on the same page and will run the table come playoff time into the Finals. Rather, the turnaround has added credence to the notion that they need to overcome the physical and mental obstacle posed by the Spurs. The Suns are just 8-15 against them with Nash since 2004-05 explaining why their 2-1 series lead this season is so vital. And in the big picture, O’Neal’s presence to deal with Duncan removes a tremendous load from Stoudemire’s shoulders.

With anywhere from 15-17 games remaining on the regular season for these eight teams in the West -- and the Rockets playing in their own stratosphere -- it’s impossible to get a handle on the last team standing in this amazing race. But the past week has reinforced what we learned many years ago … it may get cloudy in Phoenix from time to time, but it never stays that way for long.

With less than a quarter of the NBA season left, it’s time to get serious about the awards voting. Some are easier than others.

We won’t get into those yet because, well, they won’t require the hemming and hawing that voting for the Most Valuable Player Award generally does. Sometimes, it’s obvious, most of the time, it’s not — and that comes from more than 20 years of experience.

This year is no different. Voting for five is no problem because there are five great candidates. Moving from East to West, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to come up with Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant. Some people can even make a case for others. Manu Ginobili comes to mind as a sleeper for the top five, and the same may go for Tracy McGrady if the Rockets continue on their amazing pace … but don’t count on either one to jump into the fray.

Now that we’ve settled on a quintet, let’s break them down.

Garnett has already won the award (2003) in the middle of a historic run of six consecutive seasons of at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. This is different, because this is about leadership and presence that has changed the persona of the Celtics. However, they did very well when he was injured before the All-Star break. His stats — 18.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists — are modest by his standards, and more reflective of involving his teammates while doing what it takes to have the best record in the league.

. The Magic would be nowhere without Howard, who leads the team in scoring, rebounding and blocks — all career-highs — and tops the league in rebounding. He has become the most dominant center in the game, averaging 21.8 points, 14.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. The frightening thing is he just turned 23 and is getting bigger and better.

That takes us to James, whose is leading the NBA in scoring at 30.8 points to go with 8.1 rebounds and 7.4 assists — the latter two career-highs. The combination of stats makes him worthy of comparison to the greatest player in history, also at the ripe age of 23. Remember, too, he has missed six games plus was injured early and did not return in a blowout loss to Detroit; the Cavs were 0-7 in those games. He also leads the league in fourth-quarter scoring and the Cavs lead the league with 15 wins when trailing going into the fourth quarter.

Paul has exploded this season with career-bests in all the vital categories (including shooting percentages) with 21.3 points, 11.0 assists and 2.7 steals. He leads the league in steals and is second in assists, and has controlled the tempo in virtually every game they’ve played. Conversely, when he suffered through ankle problems last season, the Hornets did not make the playoffs. They’ve been near the top of the West since November.

And that brings us to Bryant, who has led the Lakers to the No. 1 seed in the West, which is rather stunning when you consider he wanted out of the organization almost up until opening night. But he stayed focused, the team started well and then the Lakers stole Pau Gasol in February to start a 15-3 run. In fact, it’s even tempting to make Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley and general manager Chris Wallace the co-MVPs for handing the Lakers a potential title on a silver platter.

Nonetheless, the story is Bryant, who despite a torn ligament in his right pinky that will require surgery is averaging 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.0 steals — right on his career marks.

With about 20 games left, things won’t change much for the leading candidates, short of injury. And upon further review, the Celtics’ 7-2 mark without Garnett hurts him more than the others. As for Howard, the fact that the Magic probably can’t be serious contenders in the East may take him out of the MVP picture, too.

Paul and the Hornets are in a very similar situation, although New Orleans is a better team overall. That pushes Paul to third.

And that leaves us where we figured to be anyway — the impossible decision between Bryant and James. Bryant is a newer, bigger model of Michael Jordan, and James is a newer, bigger version of Bryant. Bryant is a better pure shooter and defender, but James is a more natural passer, much stronger and a better rebounder. James taking the Cavs to the Finals last year doesn’t factor into this season, though that 0-7 mark when he’s out is like a neon light.

But the Lakers are nowhere without Bryant either. It’s almost as if his conniption fit over the summer slapped sense into him, and he’s showing leadership like never before. He’s not only playing through the hand injury, but playing so well that the injury is scarcely remembered anymore.

Because of the transition he’s made and where the Lakers are today, he’s earned his first MVP. James will have his day soon enough; and he might win the award anyway.

But from our vantage point, that leaves us with this:

1. Kobe Bryant
2. LeBron James
3. Chris Paul
4. Kevin Garnett
5. Dwight Howard

We’ve all seen what has happened to the Lakers since acquiring Pau Gasol – 11-1 overall, including their present 10-game winning streak headed into the weekend. It’s allowed the Lakers to move into the top seed in the West and just four games behind the Celtics for the best record in the NBA.

Despite a torn ligament in Kobe Bryant’s right pinky that requires surgery, he’s playing at optimum level, and they are showing no signs of slowing down with the hope that young center Andrew Bynum is back from his knee injury and ready to contribute before the end of the regular season.

But the guy whose game has opened up more than anybody since the Gasol acquisition is versatile forward Lamar Odom. So often the target for failing to live up to his vast potential as the key figure in the Shaquille O’Neal trade to Miami,  the 6-10 Odom has done it all with Gasol in the lineup. Already one of only 16 players to average a double-double this season -- 13.5 points and 10.0 rebounds -- he’s been particularly effective over the past dozen games.

Since Gasol joined the team, Odom has failed to reach double-figures in scoring twice and rebounding once -- averaging 14.6 points, 12.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists. He is the facilitator for so much, finally playing the kind of role without pressure that coach Phil Jackson has wanted. It is Odom who is the lightning rod for success on this team, as is the case with all the best teams.

It isn’t the superstar whose numbers put the team over the top -- it’s the other guy that has to show up down the stretch. Now that we’ve gotten past the Lakers and Odom, let’s look at the other dozen teams that figure to be the battling it out for the key playoff spots in the conferences. We’ll ignore the bottom three playoff teams in the East, if only because it’s painful to discuss playoff teams that have no shot at reaching .500. And we’ll also skip the Rockets, now that Yao Ming is down, they will quietly delete themselves from the West race. There’s no way Tracy McGrady has the physical tools he had last season to carry that team.

Rasheed Wallace, Detroit Pistons: ‘Sheed does everything when he’s on his game, which is why his teammates love him. Yes, they get their points from Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton. Tayshaun Prince does all the little things. But at 6-11, Wallace can dominate the paint offensively and defensively, then step outside and drain a 3-pointer. He’s also an exceptional passer. The key phrase always is … when he’s so inclined. Remember, the Pistons have been in the conference finals five years in a row, the last four with Wallace – which is no coincidence.

Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs: We went over this before with this tough and slick southpaw, but he is the key ingredient that puts them over the top. He hits shots from all angles, runs the break, handles the ball and really opens up the floor for everybody else. On defense, he is renowned for taking the charge – or flopping, if you prefer. At 6-6, 210, he is stronger than most shooting guards with great hands that allow him to dominate a lot of players he’s matched up against defensively, as well as scoring. Injuries and occasional loss of focus have gotten in the way, but he is a big-time winner – just check out his three NBA titles, Euroleague Championship and Olympic gold medal.

Ray Allen, Boston Celtics: We know Kevin Garnett is the one who makes everything go for the Celtics and Paul Pierce is the leading scorer, but it is Allen who will be the key to them winning the Eastern Conference. The 18.7 points a game he’s putting up mark the lowest scoring average in nine years, and he just has raised his field goal percentage the past couple of weeks back up to his norm. Approaching his 33rd birthday in July, his ankles are a major concern. And yet, he remains arguably the purest shooter in the game. His performance late in the fourth quarter of the All-Star game gave the East the win and that is exactly what the Celtics will need to be better than a very good team … he can make them great.

Stephen Jackson, Golden State Warriors: Everyone has their eyes on point guard Baron Davis, and rightfully so. He’ll set the pace and create for everyone. Young Monta Ellis does too. But it is Jackson on both ends of the floor who pushes this team to another level. When he’s getting his hands on balls, running the floor and draining 3’s, they are almost impossible to stop from putting a stranglehold on the tempo. Whatever it is emotionally he brings to the table, his teammates feed off of and gain confidence. He has taken so much flak for his occasional temperamental bursts on the court and knucklehead escapades after hours that people sometimes forget what a special basketball player he is. If he stays focused, the Warriors will be dangerous again.

Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets: This team obviously revolves around the scoring of Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, but they do special things when Camby puts up extraordinary numbers. Camby’s blocks and rebounds, along with Iverson’s steals, seem to be the only real defense they play (although Kenyon Martin is coming on strong lately). He is first in the NBA with 4.0 blocks a game and second at 14.1 rebounds per. And there have been special games. In their win over the Celtics, he nearly had a triple double with 11 points, 13 rebounds and 9 blocks. He is not a scorer, but while beating the Jazz earlier in the season, his 8 points told us nothing compared to the 24 rebounds and 11 blocks. Last year’s NBA Defensive Player of the Year, it’s hard to believe he wasn’t added to the All-Star game this season, but Camby doesn’t allow it to be a problem anyway. He’s got the perfect demeanor for this team with two high-profile scorers, and when he’s on his game, they are that much better.

Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic: Approaching his 29th birthday in a few weeks, Turkoglu is having his best season in the NBA, and it has everything to do with the success of the Magic. While Dwight Howard is the superstar, and rightfully attracting all of the attention on and off the court, it is Turkoglu that is giving them consistency. The Magic obviously vastly overpaid Rashard Lewis with the maximum salary to give them 18 points and 5 rebounds, but it has been the 6-10 Turkoglu who has made them competitive with the likes of the Celtics and Pistons. He’s averaging 19.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists – proving to be their best playmaker. It also brings to mind what Kings president Geoff Petrie and their coach at the time Rick Adelman said about him potentially being a terrific point guard despite his size. Maybe the point-guard deficient Magic should consider it.

Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix Suns: If the Suns are going anywhere in the playoffs this season, Barbosa has to be productive scoring, defending and running the break coming off the bench. He earned the Best Sixth Man award last season and he has to get back to that level. For all the focus on Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire, plus the acquisition of Shaquille O’Neal, it is up to Barbosa to give them that extra pop. Grant Hill can still score some, but Barbosa takes it to another level. With the loss of Shawn Marion in the O’Neal deal, a lot of eyes have turned to Boris Diaw, but Barbosa hasn’t been as effective this season as he was a year ago, and with Nash showing signs of age, they need Barbosa to turn on the turbo-jets for the stretch run. His scoring off the bench is a necessity for their success.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland Cavaliers: Even though LeBron James dominates virtually every game the Cavs play, it is Z who can be the difference every night. It’s always been confounding why they don’t run the ball through him in the high and low post more often. Sure, it happens early in the game, but when they keep him involved the entire game, they are really tough to handle. At 7-3, he has amazingly soft hands and a great touch inside and on the perimeter. He is slow and often sluggish on defense and even rebounding on occasion with those problematic feet of his. But he is a terrific offensive player, both scoring and passing, who is underused when you consider what little help James has. Considering he’s averaging 13.5 points, a career-high 9.6 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks, it’s amazing they’ve gotten this much out of him with his 33rd birthday in June. And despite the trade that brought Ben Wallace to help at center, along with Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West for scoring, Ilgauskas gives them balance. They are 9-4 when he scores 17 or more points – that figure is significant as they prepare for the playoffs.

Mehmet Okur, Utah Jazz: On a team dominated by their dynamic twosome of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, they are only a special team when Okur is scoring and rebounding. His size and skill level play out like Bill Laimbeer’s younger, gentler brother. He was hurt early in the year and his numbers were down substantially from last year, but they are 10-3 when he scores 16 or more points. He has to rebound on the defensive end, but more importantly he has to spot up and hit open shots on the perimeter. If he’s moving at all and getting open, then they are a much tougher team. Yes, it removed some pressure from him with the addition of the superb shooting of Kyle Korver, but Okur draws a big man out of the post with his shooting ability if he’s hitting the shot. Watch his numbers – if they’re good, the Jazz will challenge for the Western Conference title.

Josh Howard, Dallas Mavericks: When the Mavs won the Western Conference in 2006, they did not lose a game all season when Howard scored 20 or more points … until the NBA Finals. All eyes are always on Dirk Nowitzki, and how he handles the pressure as the anointed superstar and high scorer, but Howard is the one player who gives them that extra pop. He’s the one coming up with the loose balls, taking rebounds and flying up the floor, and hitting 3-pointers. Howard is a solid, if unspectacular defender, but he does have great hands, and good anticipation for slipping into the passing lanes. Most importantly, they need him to score when Nowitzki is having an off night. Averaging 19.8 points and 7.3 rebounds, the Mavs are 19-5 when he scores 20 or more this season. In other words, keep your eyes on his numbers.

Jose Calderon: Toronto Raptors: There was not only hand-wringing going on in Toronto over the well-being of point guard T.J. Ford when he took yet another bad fall on his already delicate spinal cord, but what would happen to the Raptors chances of competing in the East. Calderon picked up the ball and ran the club without missing a beat and featuring extraordinarily effective numbers. Although 12.7 points 8.7 assists and 1.0 steal aren’t special numbers, his clutch play and shooting percentage really are. Consider that he’s shooting 54 percent from the field, 46 percent from 3-point range and 92 percent from the free throw line. In fact, those kind of numbers scream that as the season progresses, he probably should be shooting the ball more than nine times a game, and start scoring in the 15-point range. On the other hand, they are only 11-9 when he scores 15 or more. Just know that his consistency is the key to what makes Chris Bosh and everybody else on this exceptional 3-point shooting team work.

David West, New Orleans Hornets: The drums are beating louder for Chris Paul to be a serious MVP candidate as long as the Hornets remain in the Western Conference race for one of the top four spots. Rightfully so, considering his consistently great numbers. And yet, West earned his spot on the All-Star team, and at 19.7 points and 9.0 rebounds, he is on the verge of joining that exclusive 20-10 club as well. Not only does he score and rebound, but he blocks 1.3 shots per game. West has had at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in a dozen games this season and they’re only 7-5 in those games, but it’s also an indication of how much an effect he has on every game he plays. When he was preparing for the remarkable 2003 draft after an All-American career at Xavier, he was informed at 6-9, 240, he was too small to be a power forward and too slow to be a small forward. So he slipped to 18th in the draft … lucky Hornets. If he plays well, the Hornets will continue to be a factor – even in the first playoff hunt for the young guys.

The post-trade deadline window is slowly coming down on the teams jockeying for playoff position to sign players receiving buyout contracts, and the intensity is gaining steam.

This can be a frustrating time of year for the mediocre teams, because it only allows the rich to get richer. And we’re talking about the players and the best teams gaining more talent for a cut rate.

We don’t like it one bit … allowing the players to moan, groan and finagle their way out of a contract … and get paid! Yikes. Nonetheless we’re here to figure out who has the most to gain by Saturday’s deadline. Anyone signed after that would not be eligible for the playoffs.

It began with the Spurs getting sweet-shooting little guard Damon Stoudamire, bought out and released by the Grizzlies, on Feb. 3 and it has gained steam from there. In this case, it made sense for the Grizzlies considering they have three other point guards.

The Nets rid themselves of center Jamaal Magloire for a price last week, and the Mavericks picked him up for some much-needed depth in the wake of losing DeSagana Diop in the big Jason Kidd trade. Magloire was essentially a ghost with the Nets, so it was hardly much of a loss with the young big bodies they have, but the Mavs figure there's still some juice left in this lemon.

Wednesday, the Celtics confirmed they had signed P.J. Brown, who did not necessitate a buyout, however, since he retired after playing 20 minutes a game for the Bulls last season. A stout defender and rebounder, the 38-year-old Brown is in his 15th season.

The Pistons, who waived guard Flip Murray to open up a roster spot for a big man, were foiled in their desire for Magloire, and perhaps Brown to a lesser extent. Now it appears they’ll turn their sights on the dormant Dale Davis, who played 37 games for them last year and would be in his 17th season.

The Hornets are holding out hope that Chris Andersen, banned for violating the substance abuse policy two years ago, will get reinstated over the next 48 hours, so they can sign him. A dynamic figure of raw energy who blocks shots and rebounds as a way of life on the court, Andersen would be a huge difference-maker for their lean bench. This is a long-shot.

That leaves three players of interest left – Brent Barry, who was already bought out and waived by Sonics after he, Francisco Elson and a first round draft choice were sent to Seattle by the Spurs for Kurt Thomas; Sam Cassell, still hoping for a reasonable buyout from the Clippers; and Gordan Giricek, on the verge of a striking a deal to be released by the Sixers.

Barry had considered the Celtics, Rockets, Suns and a return to the Spurs -- and a couple of other destinations on the NBA map -- but has reportedly narrowed it to the Suns and Spurs, where he has earned a couple of championship rings and presently lives with his wife and two boys. However, the Suns' open-court style better suits him and he can’t play for the Spurs until March 21 -- the first day a player dealt by a team is allowed to return. So he is stuck in a quandary between allegiance and opportunity for change. Then again, he’s been plagued by a bum left calf the past couple of months and at 36, he’s a bit o####amble for this season. Nonetheless, he is still a great 3-point shooter and exceptional passer.

Should he pass on the Suns and stay put with the Spurs, Phoenix turns its fickle love interest to Giricek, whose most notable contribution this season has been being dealt by the Jazz to Philly with a No. 1 draft choice for Kyle Korver. Since then, Korver has helped the Jazz to a 21-5 burst and they have secured a hold on the Northwest Division lead. Sure, Giricek can shoot the rock, but he also comes with no hops and plenty of whine.

That brings us to Cassell, who led the Clippers to the conference semifinals two years ago. The Celtics and Nuggets badly want his services at point guard for the stretch run. The problem is the Clippers appear amenable to letting him go, but not playing him close to the $2.1 million left on his contract for this season. In fact, they reportedly don’t want to pay him anything.

Quite frankly, why should they? That’s not to pick on Cassell and who would ever have believed that beleaguered Clippers owner Donald Sterling would set a good precedent for the NBA? And this would be a great one. Cassell is the one who wants out. They’re not getting any value in return. So if he’s not playing for them anymore, why should he get paid?

Consequently, if Cassell decides to bolt for nothing, the Celtics or the Nuggets would stand to gain the most, and he would stand to lose the most financially. Isn’t that just lovely irony?

In this wacky NBA season when as many as 10 teams are legitimate contenders to take the title away from the defending champion Spurs, three major stars have changed teams in the past two weeks. That unprecedented movement has changed the landscape of the already fierce competition in the Western Conference.

When the Mavericks finally acquired point guard Jason Kidd from the Nets along with Malik Allen and Antoine Wright in exchange for Devin Harris, Trenton Hassell, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager, retired forward Keith Van Horn, two first-round picks and $3 million, it gave the Mavs the tough leadership they’ve been lacking while on the brink of a title the past three seasons.

But is it bigger than the Suns’ acquisition of Shaquille O’Neal from the Heat for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks on Feb. 6?

And how do either one of them compare to the Lakers receiving Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, two first-round draft choices and the rights to Marc Gasol on Feb. 4?

They obviously were all major moves with the intent being winning now. Consider for a moment the Suns (37-16) entered the All-Star break with the second-best record in the West – just percentage points behind the 36-15 Hornets, while the Lakers (35-17) have the third-best record, the Spurs (34-17) fourth and the Mavs (35-18) fifth. You want a great stretch run? This promises to be one of the most exciting races of the past 20 years considering nine teams are within 4½ games of the top spot in the West.

But to have players of this magnitude traded in such a short period of time – and some potentially busy days remain before the Feb. 21 trade deadline – it has to make you wonder if anything else is about to happen. Will the Nuggets make a move for Ron Artest or Sam Cassell? Will the Jazz look for help up front with the likes of Artest or Ben Wallace?

Considering the movement of Gasol, O’Neal and Kidd, who can doubt anything at this point?

And yet, there is a difference between the three big deals … and the Lakers win, big time.

Both the Mavs acquiring Kidd and the Suns getting O’Neal are gambles that may pay dividends in the short term, but they will suffer ramifications in the long run.

For the Mavs, giving up Harris and Diop is a questionable decision, if only because Kidd has maybe two more years of effectiveness after this season on legs that will turn 35 next month. At the same time, they will have lost the interior defense of Diop while sticking with Erick Dampier, who is at best good for a couple games in a row before he’s hurt, ineffective or just indifferent. And by the time Kidd is done, Harris has the potential to grow into an effective, lightning-quick point guard comparable to Tony Parker.

Kidd does give them the toughness and leadership that has prevented them from winning it all in recent years. Yes, they’re still near the top of the Western Conference with their record. But that’s because they have more overall talent that nearly every team in the league. They’re 12-14 on the road this season compared to 31-10 a year ago, and just how they would compete with the best of the West in the postseason is highly debatable. This move reeks of desperation, and yet with Kidd hitting the boards, distributing the ball and his relentless defense, they’re better suited for a playoff run this season. Beyond the 2008 playoffs, though, all bets are off.

The same goes for the Suns getting O’Neal. He’ll be 36 in three weeks. He’s played in only 32 games this season, as his 330-pound frame continues to slide down that slippery slope toward retirement. He has been more ineffective than his 14.2 points and 7.8 rebounds would indicate. His knees, hips, feet and quads – essentially his lower extremities, period – have virtually no tread left. Of course, he will be a factor on defense because he has been one of the greatest centers ever, knows the game, and at 7-1, 330, still takes up an enormous amount of space. He can pass the ball on offense and dunk.

But this still flies right in the face of coach Mike D’Antoni’s offense, while ignoring how ineffectual O’Neal is in the pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop, which is the bread and butter of what All-Star point guard Steve Nash does in the half-court offense.

That’s not to say Marion has more value than O’Neal. He had become a constant pain to the organization, whining in the locker room about shots, and wanting a huge extension that was far greater than his value. Nonetheless, he’s the guy who matched up defensively with the other team’s best scorer. He’s the one who made the steal or the block, grabbed the loose ball or the big rebound. Boris Diaw will run the floor, move the ball better and hit some open jumpers. But he doesn’t play at the same speed. Grant Hill has a little left in the tank, but not what Marion brought to the table either. And let’s not forget that Nash has back and shoulder issues at the age of 34.

This move maybe doesn’t have the same long-term ramifications as the Mavs giving up Harris and Diop, plus there’s always the outside shot that O’Neal really can get it together and have some juice left for a playoff run. But this is probably the last gasp for that to happen for the Big Question Mark. It’s not a bad bet, just another short-term gamble.

As for the Lakers, there was no gamble at all. The Grizzlies were tired of losing and paying Gasol so much money, and he was tired of being there. What the Lakers gave up to get an All-Star 7-footer amounted to a few shirts, two pairs of pants and some free airline tickets. The Lakers had already helped their depth in the off-season and the bench was remarkably effective around Kobe Bryant. Their problem isn’t the roster. It’s injuries. Not only did they lose young, blossoming 7-foot center Andrew Bynum to a knee injury that will keep him out another month, it’s impossible to know how the 20-year-old will respond to his first injury and the heat of a playoff run. And now what was considered a minor dislocation to the pinky finger on Bryant’s right hand has manifested into a torn ligament and surgery that would keep him out six weeks has been recommended.

This trade was a steal. But the injuries will make it difficult for the Lakers to win it all this season. Bryant has to make a decision quickly about what to do with his hand, and neither option is good. But even if they hang in there somehow and make a run at it this season, that’s not the point. They will be better next year with Bynum having another season of growth and playing next to Gasol and Lamar Odom, with Bryant and either Derek Fisher or Jordan Farmar at point – plus that swollen bench. So if the Lakers can’t quite get it together this spring, it’s easy to go on the record right now as saying the Lakers are the favorites to win the NBA title in 2009.

So which of the three teams made the best deal?

No contest … now if all those fair weather Lakers fans calling for general manager Mitch Kupchak’s head will please step forward, grab your ankles and take your medicine, we can get this over with. Mitch, will you please take the big paddle with the holes in it? And when we’re finished, the knuckleheads in L.A. will have no alternative but to look at you and respond, “Thank you sir, may I have another.”

The next thing we’ll hear is that Al Gore will be speaking at the NBA All-Star Game next week in New Orleans to discuss the effect of global warming in the Western Conference.

It’s no longer as hot as it was just a few weeks ago. Now it’s scorching. We still have the same questions as we had a few weeks ago: Are the Spurs too old to get it together late in the year as they always have? Are the Mavs just too soft to ever win the West? And really, are the Hornets serious contenders or just the flavor of the regular season?

But those questions have become afterthoughts in the wake of the past week.

Last Friday, the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol for three packs of cigarettes, a plane ticket to anywhere in the continental United States, and free Gatorade for a year.

This week the Suns unloaded the incessant whine of Shawn Marion and ineffectual Marcus Banks for what’s left of the mammoth center previously known as Shaquille O’Neal.

Now what do we do?

With Kobe Bryant playing at an MVP level and the rest of the Lakers growing up around him fast, the addition of Gasol not only compensates for having lost blossoming young center Andrew Bynum, it makes them legitimate contenders to win the West in whatever state Bynum returns from his left knee injury in the spring. Unlike last season, when they went belly-up when injuries struck, this year they’re dealing with it. The addition of Gasol will lighten the scoring load on Bryant, open up the floor for the multi-dimensional Lamar Odom, and create more open perimeter shots for the dangerous long-range shooting of Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic and Vladimir Radmanovic.

It’s a lot trickier with the Suns adding O’Neal to the mix and there are far fewer guarantees that it will work. Sure, Marion was a pain in the butt with his constant complaints about his role, his contract and status in the pecking order. But he had a lot to do with why the roadrunner offense of Mike D’Antoni took them to the conference finals a couple of times. Sure, Steve Nash is the driver, Leandro Barbosa the burner, and Amare Stoudemire the closer, but Marion did everything else but wash dishes.

It’s easy to see where fledgling GM Steve Kerr is coming from by adding Shaq – to have the big body they’ve lacked to match up with the Spurs, Jazz and Nuggets inside. But just how do