Around the Association

Hoops fans gather round the computer. Lets go around the association:

---After a stellar start to the season, the Phoenix Suns looked like a junior varsity high school team this week, enduring two embarrassing blowout defeats at the hands of the Knicks and Cavaliers. The loss to an awful New York team was especially discouraging, as the Suns made Mike D'Antoni's Knicks look like the Mike D'Antoni Suns teams of old. the loss at Cleveland was slightly less disheartening, simply because the Cavs are a formidable opponent. Still, Phoenix was under the thirty-point mark at halftime, and they looked overmatched against an elite team, something that does not bode will for a team that hopes to make some noise in the playoffs.

---Big win for the Boston Celtics last night in San Antonio. The Celtics have lacked that championship swagger in recent weeks, but they were a team on a mission last night. The Spurs, meanwhile, failed in a crucial barometer game, and their sluggish start to the season continues.

---The one bright spot last night for San Antonio was rookie DeJuan Blair. Blair had a monster game, and he is turning out to be the unquestionable steal of the draft. Last year, Hasheem Thabeet was touted as a much better NBA investment than Blair. Now, Blair is the player who has had the bigger impact. While the rookie of the year race is likely to center around Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings, Golden State's Stephen Curry, and Sacramento's Tyreke Evans, Blair belongs in the conversation.

---I hate the Lakers, but my goodness do they look good. The Lakers had such a dominant week, with laughers against the Warriors and Hornets, that Adam Morrison received a lot of playing time. When Phil Jackson is willing to let Morrison take the court, you know the game is out of hand.

---Just when we were willing to count the Rockets out, they flexed their muscles and exhibited their incredible resiliency. Last night's win at the Warriors, a crushing game for this Warriors fan, showed the grit that defines Rick Adelman's team. Trailing by 10 in the final minutes of regulation, Aaron Brooks and Luis Scola willed their team to a comeback win. The injuries may eventually bury the Rockets, but if their season somehow derails, it will not be because of lack of effort.

---LeBron James says that the odds of him participating in this year's Slam Dunk contest at All-Star weekend in Dallas are 50-50. Here's hoping that King James brings his incredible athleticism to the dunk spectacle.

---Allen Iverson was teary-eyed in his press conference the other day, expressing gratitude to the Sixers organization for bringing him back. I don't deny the fact that Iverson's emotions were genuine, but I wouldn't be surprised if in three months, A.I. once again returns to his unhappy, whiny ways.

---Regardless of my feelings for A.I., one thing is clear: He is a first-ballot Hall-of Famer. There is no question about that.

---All is not well in Portland. The Blazers have looked lethargic in three straight losses to the Grizzlies, Jazz, and Heat. One of the problems in Portland right now is the point guard dilemma between Andre Miller and Steve Blake. For my money, Miller is the much better player and a much better fit in Nate McMillan's system. But for some reasons beyond my comprehension, the Blazers are fond of Blake. This uncertainty at the point guard position will cause immense friction and could possibly wreck the Blazers' hopes of making a run in the playoffs. It's time for McMillan and GM Kevin Pritchard to make a decision.

---TNT unveiled the nominees for best playoff dunk of the decade last night. With all due respect to LeBron James, Tracy McGrady, and Shaquille O'Neal, the playoff dunk of the decade came from Baron Davis. B.D's emphatic slam over a helpless Andrei Kirilenko in Game 3 of the Warriors-Jazz series in 2007 was one for the ages. As a diehard Warriors fan, Davis' dunk remains one of my all-time favorite sports moments.

---And finally, if you are looking for some basketball literature this Christmas, you can't go wrong with Bill Simmons' "The Book of Basketball" or Jackie MacMullan's "When the Game was Ours", which chronicles the dominance of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Simmons and MacMullan are two of the most brilliant NBA voices of all-time, and I can't wait to read both books.