N.B.A. Today

Last night's scores, the upcoming schedule, and the latest news will be right here sprinkled with analysis from lead SOS analyst Cameron Berns and ESPN basketball guru Chad Ford.

Scores & Analysis
Atlanta got a much needed win over Charlotte last night 117-109 behind 34 points and 10 assists from Joe Johnson. Wallace and Richardson each had 27 in the loss. Despite a triple double from LeBron James, Orlando continued its early season run with a 117-116 OT win over the Cavaliers. Dwight Howard had 35 and 16 in the win. The struggling Wizards got a much needed 103-90 win over Indiana as Gilbert Arenas scored 30 with 11 assists. The Pacers have dropped five in a row and are playing like everyone expected them to. Utah has won 5 in a row as they won in Toronto 92-88. Carlos Boozer had 23 points and 14 rebounds in the win, and Andrei Kirilenko had 8 points, 9 boards, 11 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks. That's what I like to call a Swiss Army game. The Celtics manhandled the Nets 91-69 to go to 7-0, but Berns is worried that the Celts stars would burn out come playoff time at the rate they're going:
"Boston is playing its stars too many minutes which could come back to haunt them aroud playoff time."
Dwayne Wade returned from injury, but the Heat lost to the Sonics 104-95 as Durant and Seattle got their first win of the year. I can definitely see Miami having an awful season, so I asked Chad Ford if the Heat would be big sellers come February:
"What do they have to sell? Dwyane Wade? That's the one guy they want to keep. Ricky Davis may have some value because he's in the last year of his deal. Ditto for Jason Williams. But they don't have a lot of coveted players to move."
The Hornets are 7-2, and ranked #2 this week in John Hollinger's power rankings? They beat the Sixers 95-76 and I asked Ford if New Orleans were really that good:
"They're good. They have a great point guard (Chris Paul) and Tyson Chandler is coming into his own (don't the Bulls wish they had him instead of Ben Wallace right now). They've been smart about building the team. David West is good. Mo Peterson looks like a good pickup. Peja has been up and down, but he's a good veteran leader. I think they're a playoff team for sure. Not sure they're the second best team in the West. But they look like that proverbial team no one would want to meet in the first round. Of course this is November. Ask me again in March."
Michael Redd hit a late jumper in Milwaukee's 102-99 home win over Memphis. Redd had 31 and Andrew Bogut had 23 and 12 in the victory. Minnesota got their first win 108-103 over woeful Sacramento as Rashad McCants had 33 in the victory. The Kings blow. Denver keeps rolling as Carmelo Anthony scored 25 in a 110-93 triumph over Portland. The Lakers got a nice road win in Houston 93-90 and Berns had some choice words for the Rockets:
" Houston is the most overated team in the league.( If you don't believe me watch the first half of their loss to the Lakers last night)." Houston was pretty bad in the first half and couldn't come back in time for the win. Berns also believes that the Bulls and Cavs are just .500 teams. Detroit beat the Warriors, and the dysfunctional Knicks fell to the Clippers.

TV Schedule
Tonight on TNT, Tim Duncan and the Spurs head to Dallas in a rivalry match with Dirk and Dallas followed by the Bulls at Steve Nash and the Suns.
A Friday night ESPN twinbill has Yao and the Rockets visiting San Antonio followed by the Pistons facing Kobe and the Lakers.
NBATV has the Bulls at Clippers on Saturday night.
NBATV has a great matchup on Sunday night as the BIG 3 of Boston travel to Orlando to battle Dwight Howard and the Magic.
NBATV on Monday has Kevin Durant and the Sonics taking on Pau Gasol and Memphis.
NBATV Tuesday has the Spurs facing Joe Johnson and the Hawks.
Dallas plays at Houston Wednesday on ESPN.
The league is off on Thanksgiving.

NBA Today

Last night on TNT, Richard Jefferson came through with two late free throws to come back and keep Washington winless 87-85. The Nets are 4-1 and the Wizards are 0-5; Antawn Jamison had 24 and 9. The Bulls got their first win 97-93 over Detroit despite 36 and 9 from Rasheed Wallace. Tyrus Thomas scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for Chicago. 4-1 Dallas got some revenge against 0-5 Golden State as six players hit double figures in a 120-115 win. Baron Davis scored 37 in the Warriors loss.

TV Schedule
Friday- Melo, AI and Denver go to DC to take on Gilbert Arenas and the winless Wizards 8pm ESPN. At 8:30, all of China will be watching as Yi battles Yao in Houston. LeBron and the Cavs go west to take on Kevin Martin and Sacramento 10:30pm ESPN.
Saturday- The Big 3 Battle goes down in New Jersey as Kidd, Carter, Jefferson and the Nets take on Pierce, Allen, Garnett and Boston at 7:30 on NBATV.
Sunday- Respect your veterans. Detroit goes to Seattle to battle Durant and the Sonics at 9pm on NBATV.
Monday- LeBron and Cleveland continue their west quest as they head to Denver against Melo and the Nuggets. 9pm NBATV.
Tuesday- Kobe and the Lakers head deep in the heart of Texas to take on Tim Duncan and the Spurs 8:30pm on NBATV.
Wednesday- Watch Kobe take on all the Texas teams as they go to Houston to battle Yao, T-Mac and the Rockets 9pm ESPN.
Thursday- The best in the west play on TNT as San Antonio plays Dallas at 8, followed by Nash and the Suns hosting the Bulls at 10:30.

News
-Nene will be out 6 weeks with a thumb injury. Amare will play tonight for Phoenix against Miami. Chris Webber could go to Cleveland. Yao-Yi ratings in China could be higher than the Super Bowl. Milwaukee sent 2nd round pick rookie Ramon Sessions down to Tulsa of the D-League.

N.B.A. Thursday- KG Discussion

First of all, I want to say that my thoughts and prayers are with all the people from the Twin Cities area. I then want to say that I find it insanely ironic that the day that the Garnett trade was confirmed, that the bridge collapsed. The foundation of Minnesota basketball in its history is now gone, as is the foundation of a major MPLS and STP thoroughfare. Throuroughly eery isn't it?

That being said, the balance of power hasn't shifted to the East, that's just rediculous. Ray Allen, KG, Zach Randolph, and Rashard Lewis isn't even close to enough to sway the power out east. The best seed in the East may not have beaten Utah in a series last year according to John Hollinger. That being said, the Celtics are now a contender in the East, while the Wolves will still struggle to reach the postseason out West. The trio of Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce will be one of the best threesomes of weapons in recent memory. But Marc Stein is quick to point out that similar aging trios have failed. Case in point, the Olajuwon-Barkley-Pippen days of the late 90's, and Dominique Wilkins, Moses Malone and Reggie Theus for the Hawks in the late '80's. Stein then comments that they didn't play in this Eastern Conference. LeBron reached the finals last year, and his supporting cast consisted of a one footed Larry Hughes and Zydraunas Ilgauskas. Chicago and Detroit will be the main competition for the Celts in the conference, and they should be a lock for the division over surprisingly formidable New York and the Nets, who's big three doesn't really seem so big anymore compared to the boys from Beantown. The issue for the Celtics is now that they've traded their entire team and the ushers and dance girls to the Wolves, who will fill out the roster? They have Rajon Rondo at the point, and it really doesn't matter if he's elite or not at all. Doc Rivers will have 3 set plays for Rondo: pass to KG, pass to Allen, and pass to Pierce. They're looking through Europe and the D-League for roster fillers and they'll be just fine. They could have me in their starting 5 and still reach the Eastern semis in their sleep. This may have saved Danny Ainge's job. What's your take on this matter??