Like a wolf in sheeps clothing, Artest fooled us all if for just a brief while. All evidence seemed to point to the fact that the former bad boy had changed his ways. In a new city, with a fresh start and a different name, he had somehow managed to erase our memories of his merciless self of yesteryear. Until he couldn’t contain himself any longer, and Ron-Ron was re-released.

I don’t know what was more disturbing about the incident with James Harden, the violent elbow itself or the lack of remorse in Artest’s face. He stomped around the still court, brazenly pounding his chest and nodding to the crowd with psychotic eyes. Then, later that night, he tweeted his excuse, pleading ignorance and accident. This was as lazy a justification as it was disingenuous.

Now, two days later, David Stern has handed down the punishment of a seven game suspension. Artest will miss the regular season finale, and more importantly, the Lakers first six playoff games. This, to me, seems like nothing more then a slap on the wrist when you consider the severity of this assault, which has left Harden sidelined with a concussion.

The punishment should be based on a few different criteria’s: Intent, remorse, danger, and the all-important repeat offender factor. As far as I was concerned, Artest should’ve been banned from the league after the Malice at the Palace back in 2004. And although he has had a mild stretch with just a few dangerous incidents since that time, this latest one was the final straw for me. If it were up to me, he should be banished from the NBA. He’s had too many chances and possesses too little regard for the safety of others. Kick him out and let him find other ways to entertain himself. There are plenty of talented players out there who have the necessary brain power and restraint to exist in the league peacefully.

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This surgery will not only end Howard’s regular season, but the Magic’s playoff hopes as well. Without the big man, and the face of their franchise, Orlando stands no chance in the post-season. Bucher also stated that Howard will miss this summer’s Olympics as well.

While Dwight will obviously still garner plenty of attention in the Free Agent market this off-season, you have to believe that this upcoming procedure may cost him a few sheckles come negotiation time. This also coming just days after Howard’s prolonged destination contemplation was referred to as “worse then The Decision“.

With this news, you have to wonder whether Howard regrets dragging his own “decision” out for so long. Obviously there’s no way he could have seen this injury coming, but he has to be kicking himself slightly, knowing that there’s a good chance that he will not get his full market value now.

Regardless, Howard will still cash an enormous paycheck in the very near future. The real victim here is the Orlando Magic Organization. They have been teased and toyed with by their young star, and not only were they unable to secure a quality return for the begrudged big man, via trade, but now they will also fail to watch him perform in this highly anticipated post-season. For Orlando as a whole, it’s yet another case of, “so close and yet so far”.

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This victory was a team effort for Chicago, as always. Everyone played their part and pulled their weight, but if you had to pick a hero for the game it would C.J. Watson. His timely shots and balanced production headlined a Bulls bench that outscored that of Miami’s, 47 to 7 in an all out “mobbing“.

The other key player in this Chicago victory was MVP candidate, LeBron James. As usual, he posted a monster line for 47 minutes before transforming, yet again, into LeBrick. Standing at the foul line with just over 10 seconds left in the game, James had an opportunity to push the Heat’s lead to four and likely seal up a crucial road victory. But, instead, he shanked the freebie and allowed the Bulls one last chance to extend the contest, which they did thanks to a clutch, off-balanced three-pointer from Watson.

From there on, Chicago ran away with this one and never looked back, outscoring the Heat 12-2 in Overtime. The victory was as important for the Bulls as it was thrilling. By clinching the number seed, they ensured home-court advantage for the entire playoffs and thus increased their odds of taking the next step.

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Ordinarily, a mid-season coaching change is the tell tale sign that all hope is lost. However, in the Knicks case this year, it was just another hurdle of adversity in which they leapt. Interim coach Woodson had the team finally gelling as a full unit, rather then simply the Melo show, followed by a bout of Linsanity and then a Chandler parade. They were operating for the first time as the Knicks, a team as successful as the preseason had promised. However, that triumphant union would only last a mere two weeks, before a brand new and likely insurmountable hurdle would rise before them.

The injury-bug has been lingering around Madison Square Garden, nipping at players heals and building strength as the season progressed. But now, as we enter the home stretch, he has grown huge and ravenous like that of a sandworm in Beetlejuice. In one week, the monster has claimed the season’s of two New York stars, Amar’e Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin. These voids will be difficult to replace, to say the least.

Ironically, during their hot stretch, when everything was sunshine and slam dunks, the Knicks appeared to be one of the deepest teams in the NBA. Their bench unit was one that subbed in, five at a time, like that of a hockey line change, and the game never skipped a beat. Yet now, as they are ravaged by injuries and ineffectiveness, the pine reserves are looking a little bare. Baron Davis was supposed to be the starting point guard, until they discovered the Pride of Asia, who had New York so enamored with his play that Davis was relegated to a backup role for the first time in years. And of course, just as the rest of the Knicks season has gone, when they suddenly find themselves desperately in need of his services, he too has been bitten by the sandworm. With stiff back, a swollen knee and a pulled hamstring, it would appear Davis will be joining the rest of the lame squad spectators at the end of the bench. And so it’s back to the drawing board.

Given that it took a fully healthy Knicks squad just to claw their way into the 8th seed, it would seem likely that a makeshift roster of no-name backups and out of position starters will quickly plummet from the playoff picture. But, then again, the Knicks have been an impossible roller-coaster to predict. Every time I think they’re done, from out of nowhere the season takes a wild new turn. And then the higher they rise, the faster they fall from grace. They’ve been nothing short of entertaining, but something tells me that Knicks fans would trade in all the excitement for a boring old trophy, The San Antonio way.

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In their 10 games under interim coach, Mike Woodson, the Knicks have allowed a mere 77 points-per-game to their opponents and that defensive lockdown has translated to eight wins during that span. This new look, New York effort was highlighted by their most recent victory over the Magic, where they not only held Orlando to 86 points, but also kept Superman completely in check. Howard was limited to a miniscule 12 points and 5 rebounds in the game.

Perhaps more impressive then this recent surge alone, is the fact that they’ve been doing it in the face of adversity. Star point guard, Jeremy Lin, and supposed star, Amar’e Stoudemire have each sat idly by in street clothes, watching these past few victories as they recover from their respective injuries. And the face of the franchise, Carmelo Anthony, had failed to score 20 points in a game for eight straight contests in that span. Yet, the Knicks have played arguably their best ball of the season in the past two weeks.

So, now, as New York attempts to continue their winning ways, Woodson is set to employ a smaller roster, in hopes that they can stand tall. Anthony, who’s listed at 6’8, will be shifting down to the post in place of the injured Stoudemire, while Landry Fields will move into Melo’s natural spot. In his place, Iman Shumpert will be re-joining the starting squad and occupying the 2-guard position. This is the same starting-5 that they used against the Magic on Wednesday night, and while it certainly proved effective then, it’s hard to believe that such success will be consistent.

No team, this season, has experienced as much personnel change as the Knicks. Through injuries and ineffectiveness, countless players have heard their names announced in the spotlight of the starting lineup, and just as the team had seemingly settled on a permanent starter, he too would be nipped by the injury bug. Yet they just keep pushing forward. And whether or not, this most recent shakeup will prove successful, it should certainly make for yet another interesting chapter in what has already been a roller coaster season for the Knicks.

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For all the times that Portland GM’s cut the red wire, when in fact it was the blue one which prevented destruction, the team’s greatest remorse have come from two particularly misguided decisions: The 1984 and 2007 NBA Drafts. More frustrating then the underwhelming careers of their chosen players, has been utter brilliance of those who they passed on. The Blazers have dismissed two of the most prolific scorers in NBA history and had nothing to show for it. But which pick is there biggest source of regret?

The obvious choice here would seemingly be passing on Michael Jordan and taking Bowie. I mean, how do you not kick yourself for allowing the greatest player of all time to slip through your fingers? Of course the Rockets also went a different direction on that night but have never been criticized for doing so since they at least acquired a star of their own. So we are now left asking if the 1984 or 2007 was blunder was worse.

If you go by the player that they passed on, then the 1984 draft day flub was undoubtedly their worst decision yet. Michael Jordan was a player who comes along once in a lifetime, and had they chose him, then perhaps there would be an additional six banners hanging in the Rose Garden rafters. But, if your basis for determining the worst is focused on what they actually received, then it was 2007′s selection that has less to show for itself.

The former number one overall pick, Greg Oden was released today, after four and half injury riddled years with the Blazers. In his time in Portland, the fragile 7-footer missed an astounding total of 289 games. And while, during his rare time on the court, he would show occasional flashes of brilliance, his game left much to be desired. If Oden was to retire today, his resume would boast only 60 games started and career averages of 9 points and 7 rebounds. Whereas, Bowie, who ironically also missed 271 games over his five seasons in Portland, was at least able to manage averages of 12 points and 8 boards during that time. And once released by the team, he went on to play six more seasons in the NBA, including a three-year span with the Nets, in which he averaged 14 points and 9 rebounds a night.

But while Bowie has a slight statistical edge to Oden, their careers are otherwise eerily similar, and do not offer us enough to form a definitive answer to the question. So, a new basis for comparison is needed, and that would be the age old quandary of talent versus team need.

Based on this criteria, I would contend once more, that Greg Oden is the worst pick in Portland’s history. Following a 2006 season in which the Blazers had five players that stood 6’11 or taller, not to mention a productive yet undersized forward in Zach Randolph, the team opted to add another big man to the bunch. Meanwhile, their starting small forward spot was occupied by Travis Outlaw, who was averaging a meager 9 points per game, a problem that Kevin Durant would’ve fixed right away. And had they drafted him, Portland would have formed one of the most dynamic and feared tandems in the league, between him and Roy. But, instead they opted for (what they valued as) talent, instead of necessity.

Meanwhile, in 1984, the decision to pass on MJ was based on the fact that the Blazers already rostered a shooting guard, in Jim Paxson, who lead the team in scoring a year prior with 21 points per game. And who’s backup was a first year player by the name of Clyde Drexler, perhaps you’ve heard of him? So, with the two guard spot already accounted for, the ’84 Blazers decided to focus on their gaping hole at Center. Their roster listed just one player standing 6’11 or taller, in Tom Piotrowski, and he averaged team worst statistics in every single category. So, given their situation, the drafting of a 7’1 All-American Center would seem to be forgivable, if not logical.

While none of this will erase the hardships of Blazer fans everywhere, nor will add banners to their building or trophies to their case, it should bring a smile to at least one man’s face. Congratulations Sam Bowie, you are no longer the biggest bust in NBA history or the most hated man in Portland.

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If you watched the game from anywhere but Chicago, chances were that you did not recognize 75-percent of the Bulls on the court. Coach Thibodeau was constantly switching up his personnel, regularly deploying a wave of no-name players who would attempt to collectively fill the void of their missing MVP. And through scrappy hustle and undeniable heart, that’s just what they did.

Although it was just a regular season game, this unlikely victory had a very similar feeling to that of George Mason’s win over UConn in 2006. Or the Golden State Warriors defeating the Number One Seed Mavericks in the same year. I really wish I could’ve heard Coach Thibodeau ‘s pre-game pep talk, as it had to be nearly identical to that of Rick Moranis’s “One Time” speech in Little Giants.

While this short-handed victory for Chicago was certainly shocking, perhaps more impressive is the fact that all year long the Bulls have managed to not only survive adversity, but thrive within it. Rose, Deng and Hamilton have missed a combined 47-games, and yet the team currently boasts the best record in the NBA. In fact, while so many thought that Chicago was merely a one-trick pony who relied too much on their star, Derrick Rose, the Bulls have actually managed an 8-2 record in his absence. And tonight’s Rose-less victory was their greatest to date.

Chicago’s “bench mob” was obviously ready to step up tonight as they outscored that of Miami’s reserves, to the tune of 56-15. John Lucas III was responsible for 24 of those points, many of them coming in the crucial moments down the stretch. He and Watson did far more then anyone expected of them, as they set out to fill the void left by an injured Rose. The two guards combined for 35 points on just 19 shots, and in doing so, they proved that no matter what the situation, they’re ready to play the role.

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