Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your Tastee Wheat.

Brian Windhorst, Cleveland Plain-Dealer: "So there it was, a microcosm of the Knicks' and Cavs' reality. While the Knicks fans, massive media representation and seemingly their front office hang on James' every word regarding the year 2010, the Cavs shrug it off and focus on the day's assignment. Late in the game during a timeout, a fan near the Cavs' bench yelled at James: 'Are you worth the wait or not? We just junked this season and next.'" After the Knicks (7-7) traded their top two scorers in salary-dump trades last week, New Yorkers are hoping the future is bright. The Cavs, meanwhile, feel quite passionately about the present. The Cavs (11-3) now have won 10 of 11 games and are starting to pile up the laughers."

Berry Tramel, The Oklahoman: "Mark it down. NBA basketball returned to the Ford Center not in July, with the Seattle settlement; not in September, when the team was named; not in October, when the Bucks came to town for the season opener. The NBA returned Tuesday night, when the Thunder started giving fans their money’s worth. That’s when the Ford Center finally became the Boomtown it was in the Hornet days. [...] This was the first game all season, at least at home, that Kevin Durant acted like a star and played like one, too, taking big shots at crucial times. The first game that Earl Watson seemed like a point guard with a clue. The first game that Chris Wilcox played like he had a firecracker in his Nikes. The Thunder learned a valuable lesson. This team doesn’t have to win to captivate the crowd. It just has to try hard and be competitive."

Janny Hu, San Francisco Chronicle: "Injured Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas said Tuesday that a second tour of duty with the Warriors was more than likely to happen had his own team low-balled him during free agency this past summer. 'I was close to going back,' Arenas said. 'If (the Wizards) would have flinched any, I would have gone back to Golden State. ... My injury, they felt like they didn't have to throw any money at me because there was nobody there. And then they found out (Baron Davis) opted out and realized (the Warriors) were still looking at me. I was surprised (by the Warriors' max offer) because I talked to BD the night before and he said he wasn't leaving. What surprised both of us was Elton Brand opting out (from the Clippers).'"

Ted Kulfan, Detroit News: "The starting forward spot that was Amir Johnson's, then became Kwame Brown's, could turn into one both share. Pistons coach Michael Curry said Tuesday he will start Johnson or Brown depending on the opposing team's lineup. If it's an opponent with size, the 6-foot-11 Brown will start. If it's a smaller, quicker team, Johnson, 6-9, will start. 'These guys know they're interchangeable,' said Curry, who added he wants to see the two players in positions 'for their strengths on the defensive end.' Johnson, who hasn't started since Nov. 11 in Sacramento, said his approach remains the same. 'Whenever my name is called upon, I'll be ready to go in and play hard,' Johnson said."

Michael Wallace, Miami Herald: "Rookie forward Michael Beasley led the nation in rebounding at 12.4 per game in his lone season at Kansas State. But one of his college strengths hasn't transitioned as well to the professional game. Beasley is averaging 5.5 rebounds with the Heat. He said there's a pretty good reason for the drop-off in his production. 'I'm playing farther away from the basket,' said Beasley, who has played both forward spots with the Heat. 'In college, I was always around the basket, so it was easier. But I can still track them down.' Beasley said he needs to improve on the boards to help the Heat, which starts the league's smallest frontline. 'I've got to get a little more hungry,' said Beasley, who has yet to finish a game with 10 or more rebounds."

Ivan Carter, Washington Post: "If the Washington Wizards are able to turn last night's 124-100 victory over the Golden State Warriors into something more substantial than a one-night blip in an otherwise dismal season, the turning point may have come late in the second quarter. After Andray Blatche sparked a fast break with a block on Corey Maggette, Caron Butler lofted a pass toward JaVale McGee and the long-limbed rookie center threw a charge into the Verizon Center crowd with a two-handed jam over Jamal Crawford. As the Warriors called timeout, Butler celebrated by grabbing his jersey, pounding his chest and encouraging fans to rise to their feet. It is precisely that combination of playmaking and energy that was often missing during the team's 1-10 start, one that led President Ernie Grunfeld to fire Coach Eddie Jordan and replace him with Ed Tapscott on Monday morning."

Tim Kawakami, Talking Points: "Could [Don] Nelson be in trouble, the way Jordan and Carlesimo suddenly got in trouble, [if the Warriors lose nine straight games]? NO, OF COURSE NOT. Nelson can’t get into trouble with the Warriors. Won’t happen, no matter what the record is, since Robert Rowell has guaranteed Nelson’s predominance. Nelson is the king of the Warriors these days, having seized control of all things in the last few weeks and inked a two-year, $12M extension through 2010-’11."

Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel: "Drafted as a shooting guard, Courtney Lee will back up Anthony Johnson, and small forward Hedo Turkoglu could also play some "point forward." 'Yeah, I'll probably talk to Courtney on the plane and [today] at shoot-around,' Johnson said. 'I'm pretty sure 'Rook' will have to handle the ball at some point in time, because Philly likes to pressure.' Coach Stan Van Gundy said the Magic are looking to sign or trade for a third point guard, but 'nothing is imminent.'"

Terry Koshan, Toronto Sun: "Whether [Jermaine] O'Neal plays tonight against the Charlotte Bobcats at the Air Canada Centre won't be known until later in the day. But he has a good idea that he would be in a world of trouble had he not been wearing a brace on his knee when he got hurt against the Nets. 'We talked about it, the training staff and the doctors, and I probably would have been done for the year if I hadn't had the brace on,' O'Neal said. 'I looked at the brace for 50 seconds, I just looked at it and I wasn't going to put it on. Then I said, 'You know what, I'll put it on.' And as soon as I got back in the game, I hurt my knee.'"

Julian Benbow, Boston Globe: "Before the Celtics broke practice at HealthPoint today, coach Doc Rivers gathered the team at midcourt and offered a tribute to Helen J. (Weiss) Heinsohn, the wife of Celtics legend Tommy Heinsohn, who died yesterday in Newton after a six-year battle with cancer. 'She’s just a courageous lady and will be sincerely missed,' Rivers said. Helen Heinsohn's funeral is tomorrow at 11 a.m. at George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home in Needham, while the funeral mass will be held at nearby St. Bartholomew’s Church in Needham at noon. Friends and family are invited, but can also visit this evening from 4 to 8 p.m. Heinsohn will take a break from his normal duties with Comcast SportsNet, taking the next two games off while Donny Marshall steps in on color commentary."

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