Wolvestix

Oh, Timberwolves. Has it gotten that bad?

Four cans of these delicious kernels, by the way, are on sale for three bucks. That's assuming you have a Cub Foods Price Cut Card, but who doesn't at this point?

(Via the Twitter account of Canishoopus.)

6

Cleveland 102, Miami 90

I suppose it's in poor form to get angry on someone else's behalf. To become upset when that person has no interest in gritting their own teeth. To burn with frustration, when that person doesn't seem to give a rip.

For all I know, the Miami Heat care. They'll get angry behind the scenes and put in untold hours perfecting their form, working on that unreliable (if, overall, quite good) offense, and divining ways to help defensively. In the end, though, when pressed all I see is a Heat team that relies almost exclusively on bad habits to get themselves out of jams, despite the zero percent success rate this season. The long shot when a drive is needed, the overdribbling when movement and passing are due. A turned head, when Anthony Parker is wide open in the corner.

Make no mistake -- the Cleveland Cavaliers earned this game due to the team's brilliant defense, and fantastic effort. They came out with a spark, never stopped moving, never stopped looking to move

As you may already know, LeBron James and the Miami Heat visited the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night, in the team's second and final 2010-11 appearance in Cleveland following Ohio-native James' sign-and-trade to the Miami Heat last July.

Back in December, the first meeting between the teams provided a chorus boos, though the rancor hardly mattered as the Heat won handily. This time around, with the Cavs bringing up the NBA rear with a 14-58 record, James' appearance was predicted to be "less raucous," which would be nice.

And then the Cavs decided not to allow the entourage they had coddled and employed for years into the building with James on Tuesday afternoon.

And then, during player introductions, this happened:

That's right, tough-as-nails LeBron decided to skip on the player introductions, and also (this will get the comment brow-beaters in a frenzy) the playing of the "Star-Spangled Banner." LeBron told reporters after the game that he was in the restroom while his

AlTy

It's one thing to lose at home to the Washington Wizards. That's reason to fume alone, no matter how bad your team is.

It's another thing to be benched for the entire fourth quarter, and even overtime at home in a loss to the Washington Wizards. Especially when you're a former 20-and-10 guy who was counted on to put your team over the top.

Nothing's gone over the top for Al Jefferson this season outside of his temper. Following another embarrassing showing on Monday night, he stormed out of Energy Solutions Arena, declining to talk to the media for the third time in four games.

Tony Jones of the Salt Lake City Tribune has the news:

When [Jefferson] stood during timeouts, he did so far from the team huddle, with his hands on his hips. When the buzzer sounded, he was the first off the bench and into the locker room. And when approached by the media following the defeat, he refused to comment, forcefully waving reporters off with his left hand.

(That's about the only time he's used his

MD1

This fan was totally telling Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni that he needs to implement the practice of staging game-day shootarounds while the Knicks are at home more often.

OK, probably not. The fan was actually yelling at D'Antoni for not instructing his Knicks to foul Jason Richardson late in Monday's win over the Magic. The Knicks were up three and allowed Richardson a chance to tie the game and send it to overtime, though New York rallied to pull out a needed overtime win.

And D'Antoni is all, "whatever dude," here:

MD2

The shootaround debate is still ripe for discussion, though. New York held its first shootaround of the season while in New York on Monday (the team regularly has them while playing on the road), and D'Antoni chalks his decision regarding the lack of a semi-practice due to the commute several of his players have to endure.

Frank Isola has the biz:

"New York's a little bit different than other places," D'Antoni said Monday. "I just don't know if Amar'e being in a car for

RRIn 2011, we might be at a point where just about any anonymous source described as "a little birdie" should be immediately dismissed. And the Minnesota Timberwolves haven't had much fun this season, so when Pioneer Press columnist Charley Walters drops this nugget, we should at very least quote it.

You know, just in case.

Charley?

A little birdie says the Timberwolves have received word from Ricky Rubio's family that he's open to signing with them for next season — if there is a season.

The NBA's labor agreement expires June 30, and that's an issue for Rubio, the Wolves' 2009 first-round draft pick who could continue playing for FC Barcelona in Spain if there is an NBA lockout. The 6-foot-4 point guard is averaging 5.5 points and 4.0 assists in 45 games this season.

Now, all indications are that Rubio wants absolutely nothing to do with playing in the NBA next season, or any time after that.

And, as the hype behind this kid's skills has faded away (Rubio hasn't seemed to develop much

Wayne

Did the playoff-bound Philadelphia 76ers lose to the lowly Sacramento Kings on Sunday afternoon because several players went to a Lil Wayne concert the night before? It's tough to say.

Did the playoff-bound Philadelphia 76ers lose to the lowly Sacramento Kings on Sunday afternoon because of the game's scheduled noon starting time? That might be the bigger factor. Sure, the Kings had to play at that unfamiliar time as well, but you never know how each team will react once their shift is turned on its ear.

Sixers guard Lou Williams brought up the unofficial team field trip following the loss on Sunday. From The 700 Level:

LouWill did hit the big three at the regulation buzzer to send the game into overtime, his only made field goal of the game, but he told reporters after the game that a team outing to said hip-hop concert that included such artists as Nicki Minaj may have taken a little out of their step.

"We took a chance [Saturday night] by going to the Lil Wayne concert," Lou said

Droze

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: Off the Dribble. The Bulls have long been the NBA's most profitable franchise. Is it time for the team's ownership to start paying the luxury tax? Also, here's a very cool look at Derrick Rose's MVP-ness.
PF: Connect2Utah. C.J. Miles explains the shot to the gut Utah took when Jerry Sloan retired.
SF: The Point Forward. 'The Jodie Meeks All-Stars' is as good a read as you'd expect from Zach Lowe.
SG: Off the Dribble. Gerald Wallace is feeling it again, friends.
PG: RaptorBlog. Trying to keep a tuff chin up in Toronto.
6th: NetsDaily. Must-read documentation of Nets owner Mikhail Prokorov's right-hand man.
7th: YouTube. Just one of many clips from a 4-OT Suns/Trail Blazers game I thought you'd enjoy.
8th: MLive: Help Chris Iott honor Dennis Rodman in preparation for D-Rod's jersey