The New York Knicks have lost six in a row, shocking just about anyone that thought they'd at least have the lowest seed in the Eastern playoff bracket wrapped up in spite of the team's continued growing pains. Heading into Tuesday, New York is tied with Milwaukee for that final spot, but because the Bucks have beaten New York twice this season, Scott Skiles' flailing crew owns the tiebreaker over February's hottest NBA team. And as with everything that ever seems to happen with these ridiculous New York Knicks, this all makes no sense and all the sense in the world all at once.

[ Related: Adrian Wojnarowski: Dwight Howard determined to leave the Magic for the Nets ]

Of course the Knicks are going to be the NBA's most up and down team, seemingly pairing six-game winning and losing streaks throughout the season. Of course Carmelo Anthony is going to somehow play up to that lame storyline featuring some sort of battle of wills (and, more specifically, ball domination) with second-year point man Jeremy Lin. Of course most NBA observers are going to miss several key points, of course they're going to sign J.R. Smith, or course J.R. Smith is going to be fined for a lewd Twitter picture, and of course coach Mike D'Antoni is going to be on the hot seat. That seat has been hot since Red Holzman was coaching the team.

(In the early 1970s, we mean, and not Red's second go-round with the Knicks. Because even the Knicks can get Red Holzman fired. New York wouldn't have it any other way.)

Rajon Rondo wants to know what you find so strange about this (courtesy NBAOffSeason.com)

"Stuck" in Los Angeles for a few days while his Celtics played back-to-back games at the Staples Center against the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, Boston point guard Rajon Rondo clearly has taken to both the Southern California lifestyle and some of the fresher sources of protein the area has to offer. Namely, as you can see from the ESPN screenshot above (provided by the fine folks at NBA Off-Season), Rajon is tearing into a sushi roll in the minutes before his team's gutty win over the Clippers.

Don't let them ever tell you that learning to use chopsticks is like learning to ride a bike, because I learned how to do both at about the same age, and yet it's a laugh riot whenever I'm forced to down my sashimi without the aid of a fork. In a league that often sees its players gobbling down takeaway greasebombs before a game, it's nice to see Rajon mix it up a little. And use the proper eating utensils.

And, yes, he washed his sushi down with some Gatorade. Gotta stay hydrated, even

Walt Bellamy averaged 31.6 points and 19 rebounds in his rookie season (Getty Images)

A look around the league and the web that covers it. It's also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren't always listed in order of importance. That's for you, dear reader, to figure out.

C: Hardwood Paroxysm. Curtis Harris on the ups and downs of Walt Bellamy's career.
PF: Ted's Take. The Washington Wizards are apparently OK with The Wave. Of course they are.
SF: The Basketball Jones. Swell guy, that Chris Kaman. Available for trade, coincidentally.
SG: CBS Sports. Blake Griffin gets popped by Dominic McGuire, but stays on to finish the round.
PG: Sports Media Watch. Your 2012 NBA playoffs schedule. Yes.

Brandon Jennings and Tyreke Evans in 2010, when the air was sweeter (Getty Images)

Once you take the lockout's chunk out of his 2011-12 paycheck, Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans is making just $3.35 million this season. Milwaukee Bucks point man Brandon Jennings is making even less, at around $2.1 million. Quite a hefty haul, for you and I, but that's pretty slim takings by NBA standards; Jennings even plays for less than half of the league's average salary. It's because they're on rookie-deal contracts, scaled out to them when they entered the NBA in 2009, put in place to counter the outrageous demands of players like Glenn Robinson and Jim Jackson when they entered the NBA (ready to feel old?) nearly 20 years ago.

For their production, it's quite the bargain for Sacramento and Milwaukee. It's also why you don't see many young players (unless their name is "Charlie Villanueva") being dealt to other teams while they're still under their rookie deals. It's also why we have no idea why the Kings and Bucks are apparently shopping the youngsters in anticipation of this Thursday's trade deadline.

Adrian Wojnarowski: Dwight Howard determined to leave the Magic for the Nets

Not because we're incredibly bullish on either player's game. Jennings has improved by a good margin in his third NBA season, but it's taken this long for him to average 40 percent shooting from the floor, and he's firing over six 3-pointers a game despite shooting just 33.7 percent from long range. Evans enjoyed a nice milestone in his rookie season as he averaged 20 points, five rebounds and five assists per game; but he's made some poor choices off the court, and he seems to be lost on the court at times if he's not allowed to completely dominate the ball as he did during that rookie season. Still, what are you going to get for them in return, at their limited price?

Former Bucks, Raptors, Pacers and Spurs guard T.J. Ford is retiring (Getty Images)

NBA players have announced what team they're signing with on Twitter, they've inadvertently announced coach firings on Twitter, they've sent well-wishes on Twitter, and they've cost themselves thousands of dollars on Twitter. We've got a new one to add to the list. San Antonio Spurs guard T.J. Ford, tired of working his way back from frightening neck injuries, has announced his retirement on Twitter.

Soon after the Spurs released a statement telling fans that Ford would be out for the season, Ford took to his Twitter account to relay the news:

twitter.com/tj_ford

Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, and no point guard (Getty Images)

Minds could change, and Houston Rockets point man Kyle Lowry might become a Los Angeles Laker, if the two teams decide to sign off on revisiting last December's deal that could put Pau Gasol in a Houston Rocket uniform. The transaction would presumably also send big forward Luis Scola to Los Angeles. Boston Celtics All-Star Rajon Rondo could become a Los Angeles Laker, if the team decides to part with Gasol, as well. Both options would presumably work wonders for Los Angeles, gifting them a needed creator at a position that isn't ably being filled by Derek Fisher and Steve Blake at the moment. And though Gasol's all-around work would be missed, adding a player like Scola would ease in the transition.

Despite the nouveau Laker front office's desire to depart with Gasol, though, it wouldn't appear to make much of a difference. Because in spite of the team's newfound willingness to put the ball in Andrew Bynum's hands down the stretch of close games, this offense wouldn't appear to take to on-paper improvements. The ball is still going to be going to Kobe Bryant for long stretches, and the team would still need a lights-out shooter more than anything at the point guard position.

Adrian Wojnarowski: Dwight Howard determined to leave the Magic for the Nets

It's a lovely luxury to have, if Los Angeles would just own up and realize it.

If you put a rim at the top of an NBA backboard, I wouldn't be surprised if Washington Wizards center Javale McGee was able at the very least grab it, if not dunk on the thing. Though the 2011 Slam Dunk contest runner-up has had his issues with keeping his head in the game at times so far in his career, the man can jump.

He can't bound this high, though, Washington teammate Trevor Booker:

Just when we thought we'd seen the worst of things on Friday night from New Jersey's DeShawn Stevenson, leave it to a Washington Wizard to take it personally and try to top him. Hat-tip to Ben Golliver, master of the ready-quick NBA video.

J.R. Smith, wondering if he got the lighting right (Getty Images)

Since the advent of the Internet, the very public worldwide forum has allowed otherwise normal (or, whatever you want to call New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith) people to do stupid things. The addition of cell phones that can take pictures that can immediately hit the Internet only accelerated that level of stupidity. Smith wasn't exactly being incredibly stupid when he posted a picture of his girlfriend's large posterior while making a joke about how it was getting in the way of him watching a basketball game on Thursday night. He should have known better, considering his stature of a semi-celebrity, but it wasn't the worst thing he could do.

The NBA disagrees, though. And they've decided to fine Smith $25,000 for his since-deleted NSFW Twitpic of model Tahiry Jose. And though we question Smith's line of thinking as he lined up his girlfriend for a pose she didn't know she was making, we're also not sure as to what jurisdiction the NBA has in fining the oft-disciplined Knicks guard.

Though it was a bonehead move to post the picture to his 75,000 Twitter followers, this is his personal Twitter account, and not one affiliated with the NBA (a league he didn't join until a month ago for the 2011-12 season, as Smith worked a fitful year in the Chinese Basketball Association). Freedom of speech doesn't mean Smith should be allowed freedom from criticism for his dumb "look at my girlfriend's butt"-brand of "speech," but how can the NBA point to some moral turpitude clause in this scenario while fining a player for making a joke that was more silly than lascivious?