Around the Association

Hoops fans, gather round the computer. It is time to travel around the greatest league in all of sports, the National Basketball Association:

---Yesterday was a very sad day in the NBA. Jerry Sloan, one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game and a true class act, suddenly resigned. The resignation of Sloan, who had coached the Utah Jazz for 23 exemplary seasons, was nothing short of shocking. Sloan may not have won a championship during his coaching career, but he is as good a coach as the league has ever seen. Whether it be the days of Stockton and Malone or the current era of Deron Williams, Sloan has coached his teams with astounding excellence and professionalism. He will be sorely missed.

---Rumors have surfaced that Deron Williams, the Jazz All-Star point guard and one of the league's elite players, is the man responsible for pushing Sloan out the door. Some believe that Williams' halftime altercation with Sloan during Wednesday's loss to the Chicago Bulls served as the event that triggered Sloan's decision to leave. Count me among those who do not buy the rumor that Deron Williams is to blame. There is no denying the fact that the Jazz have been a frustrating bunch in recent weeks, and their inconsistent play has indeed sparked tension in the locker room. However, both Sloan and Williams know not to let a halftime squabble lead to knee-jerk, emotional reactions. I believe Sloan left because he truly felt that it was time to leave, not because he had an argument with Deron Williams.

---In addition to Sloan, the Jazz will miss the presence of assistant coach Phil Johnson, who stepped down as well on Thursday. As Kenny Smith pointed out last night on TNT, Phil Johnson was synonymous with Jerry Sloan. Sloan and Johnson worked in tandem, and the Jazz will be hard-pressed to find a coaching duo as potent as Sloan-Johnson.

---I wish the best of luck to new head coach Tyrone Corbin, but he has to be as nervous as Charlie Sheen before a drug test. All eyes are on Salt Lake City right now, and Corbin will have to earn the trust of his players if the Jazz are to hold onto their playoff spot in the West.

---Speaking of which, I'm not too confident that Utah will be able to persevere and make the playoffs this season. The Jazz currently possess the seventh playoff spot in the West, but my guess is that the Blazers and Rockets will eclipse the Jazz to make the playoffs.

---The Carmelo Anthony trade rumors persist, and he has now been linked to another suitor: the Los Angeles Lakers. The two-time defending champs are denying the rumors, but a potential Carmelo to L.A. deal is immensely intriguing. If I'm Mitch Kupchak, I would make the trade for 'Melo in a heartbeat. Carmelo Anthony is one of the ten best players in the NBA, and a Kobe-Melo duo would be absolutely frightening for opposing teams. I just do not understand the Lakers' stubborn unwillingness to part ways with Andrew Bynum. Bynum, for my money, is one of the game's most overhyped players.

---However, I hate the Lakers, and I am desperately hoping that Melo does not land in Hollywood. Now back to our regularly scheduled, unbiased programming.

---The Spurs continue to dominate. Gregg Popovich's team is having a season for the ages, and nobody seems to be noticing. I'm sure the Spurs don't mind. That's just the way they like it. I expect Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, Tim Duncan and company to be back in the NBA Finals this season.

---Congratulations to the great Ray Allen, who passed the great Reggie Miller last night to become the NBA's all time three-point leader. Allen is a first-ballot Hall of Famer who continues to perform at a startlingly high level.

---My thoughts and prayers are with the Cleveland Cavaliers. I feel absolutely terrible for Byron Scott's team, whose historic 26-game losing streak has put them at a stunningly bad 8 wins and 45 losses. Here's hoping the Cavs start winning soon. The fans and the franchise deserve better.

---What Kevin Love is doing in Minnesota is amazing. The T'Wolves are terrible, but Love is absolutely brilliant, averaging 15-plus boards a game. Kudos to Commissioner Stern for appointing Love to the All-Star Game. It would have been a crying shame if Love hadn't made the team.

---I will end with an observation regarding LeBron James and the Miami Heat. Yes, they are playing fantastic basketball. However, I still stand behind my belief that they will be unable to defeat the Boston Celtics come playoff time.