Around the Association

Alright hoops fans, gather round the computer. It's time to go around the Association:

---The start of Blake Griffin's NBA career has been eerily Oden-esque. The Clippers had hoped for months that their number one draft pick would make a full recovery, but Griffin will have season-ending surgery on his left knee cap. Thus, Blake's rookie season has ended without him even stepping on the court during an NBA game. So sad.

---It was a terrible week for the Los Angeles Clippers. In addition to the Blake Griffin news, the Clips were forced to evacuate FedEx Forum in Memphis as the fire alarm went off in the third quarter of Tuesday's Clippers-Grizzlies game. It made for one of the most bizarre scenes in recent sports history.

---There were a couple of breathtaking buzzer-beaters this week in the NBA. On Thursday night in Salt Lake City, Jazz rookie Sundiata Gaines stunned LeBron and the Cavs with a game-winning three as time expired. On Friday night, Hawks' guard Jamal Crawford drained a deep, buzzer-beating three to shock Steve Nash and the Suns.

---The Gaines game-winner may be the moment of the year so far in the NBA. Two weeks ago, Sundiata Gaines was toiling away in the obscurity of the D-League. Gaines entered Thursday's game on the back-end of a 10-day contract with the Jazz, with only one practice under his belt. He received playing time from Jerry Sloan only because Deron Williams was injured. Gaines made the most of his opportunity, taking over in the fourth quarter and becoming the hero for Utah. Call it a hunch, but something tells me Sundiata Gaines is here to stay in the NBA.

---Jamal Crawford, meanwhile, is the most underrated player in the NBA. The most underrated argument is a tricky one, as you could easily make a case for Brandon Roy, Monta Ellis, Tony Parker, Kevin Durant, Rajon Rondo, David Lee, Joe Johnson, and Chris Kaman, to name a few deserving candidates. But for my money, no player gets overlooked more than Jamal Crawford, one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the league. Crawford has a Kobe-like ability to to go on an offensive tear in crunch time, and he is a major reason why the Atlanta Hawks should be taken seriously as title contenders.

---What the heck has happened to the Orlando Magic? Yes, Orlando is a very good team that has the capability to make a deep run into the playoffs. But the defending Eastern Conference champs have looked awfully sluggish this season, a trait that was painfully evident in last night's blowout loss to Portland. Two players deserve the brunt of blame here: Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson. When Nelson plays at full health, he is one of the best point guards in the league. Sadly, Jameer has been plagued with injuries for the last two seasons, and that has led to a noticeable decline in play. As much as I like Anthony Johnson and Jason Williams, neither player is able to fill the void left by Nelson, and that has been a big problem for the Magic. However, the biggest concern regards Dwight "Superman" Howard.

---Dwight Howard is the best center in the the game, and he is a double-double lock every time he steps onto the hardwood. Still, Howard has come nowhere close to fulfilling his potential. This is a testament to Howard's greatness, yes, but it is also a sign of complacency. Defensively, there isn't much to criticize. Offensively, though, Dwight needs to become far more assertive. There are moments when Howard appears timid on the offensive end, and that has to change if the Magic want to re-enter the championship conversation.

---It was only a matter of time before the San Antonio Spurs re-gained their championship swagger. An inexplicable loss to the Bobcats notwithstanding, Gregg Popovich's team has looked fantastic in recent games, including a dominating win over the Lakers. A big part of the Spurs success has been rookie DeJuan Blair. Blair belongs in the rookie of the year mix, alongside Sacramento guard Tyreke Evans, Sacramento forward Omri Casspi, Golden State guard Stephen Curry, and Milwaukee guard Brandon Jennings.

---A player who is a member of the "Guys Who Look Like Couch Potatoes But Win Fans Over With Their Inspired Play" team: Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine. Watching Thursday night's Bulls-Celtics game, I was struck by how much Boston fans love this guy. Their adulation for Scalabrine is easy to understand. He looks like a guy who constantly snacks on Lays potato chips, but he dives after every loose ball, and isn't afraid to let it fly from behind the perimeter. You can't help but root for a player who plays with such a winning energy.

---The Lakers and Cavaliers square off in Cleveland this Thursday night, and I am giddy with excitement. Any time LeBron can prove to the sports world that he is the best player in the league, I'm in. That sound you hear? It's the sound of angry Lakers fans screaming at their computers.

---This just in: The New Jersey Nets are 15-point underdogs to the All-NBA Over-60 team. Sure, guys like Jerry West, Julius Erving, and Walt Frazier may be getting up their in age, but does anybody doubt that they would be able to have their way with the historically awful Nets? I didn't think so.

---And finally, if you have a decent jump shot and are tired of your day job, call Don Nelson. The injury-plagued Warriors could surely use your help.