by Shannon Booher

Line Of The Night:

Devin Harris — 38 points, 5 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal

These 38 points against the Pistons included 20-24 from the line! The question everyone is going to ask…would Chauncey have allowed that? A.I.’s offense is unquestioned, but he brings a different type of defensive presence than Mr. Big Shot.  Even on O, down the stretch, there were a couple of plays where A.I. made a much different play than Chauncey would have in the same situation, but A.I.’s way worked, too, in those cases. Losing to the teams like the Nets, though, will not work. So it still remains to be seen how well he will fit in defensively–and overall–with a franchise that has become synonymous with the word “team” in recent history.

Worst Of The Night:

Have the wheels fallen completely off in D.C.? The Wiz dropped to 0-4 after a 108-114 loss to the Knicks on Friday. Ever since Agent Zero hurt his knee, they started to develop and identity as a tough, gritty, defensive team, and now, so far this year, they are giving up more points than a great icosahedral 120-cell.

Near Oscar Robertson Of The Night:

Dwyane Wade — 33 points, 10 boards, 9 assists, 3 steals

So this is what he would look like if DWade was allowed to play back at Marquette for a few games. After the Tony Parker injury, San Anton went from a team that traditionally has one of the best D’s in the League, to a team that looks like one of the best D-League teams, in the League.

LeBron James — 27 points, 9 boards, 8 assists, 4 blocks, 1 steal

You know what it is, you know how it is. The four blocks really underscores probably the only underrated aspect of the King’s game–his D. And speaking of game…Business LeBron has plenty of it, don’t he?

C.J. Watson — 9 points, 8 boards, 8 assists, 1 steal, 1 torn elbow ligament

Watson took over Nellie’s point guard reins, in place of DeMarcus Nelson, Friday night, and stuffed the stat sheet, but the team took an L to the Grizz. This could be yet another short-term situation, as Marcus Williams–the most pedigree-ed PG of the three–finally made his Warriors debut and may have this spot on lock soon.

Jason Kidd — 22 points, 10 boards, 9 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal

A near-triple-double list this long would only be complete with the master. Uh…what were we saying about Billups’ D?

Juan Dixon made a surprising run at this section last night, too, but amazingly came up short in the points column with only 5–rarely seen.

Moment Of Reflection Of The Night:

The scene: Carmelo Anthony, fresh off a victory over the Dallas Mavericks, in Chauncey Billups’ (a legit point guard) debut, wanders Denver’s 16th Street Mall, with a mindless grin wide across his face, mumbling:

“And I wonder, if you know, what it means…to find your dreams…And I’m back on my grind…a psychic read my lifeline…Told me in my lifetime…My name would help light up the Denver skyline…and that’s why I’m…7 o’clock that’s prime time…Coach Karl watch, imploring me from the sidelines…he always give me playing time…I’m a star, how could I not shine?…Now Chauncey Billups in the house…Chauncey Billups in the house without a doubt…Something with this deal got me thinking it’s for real…I gotta point!…We got a Black presideeeeeeent…Trade it for nothing, not even a MVP and some riiiiiiiiiiiiings…You ever wonder what it all really mean?…You ever wonder if you’ll ever find your dreams?”

Team Dime Of The Night:

Mike Bibby — 19 points, 12 assists, 3 boards,

Apparently Bibby is not intimidated by all those mean mugs Jose Calderon offers up during games. Apparently the rest of the League should be intimidated by–GASP–the best team in the East, your Atlanta Hawks! They stomped the life out of the Raptors last night (come on fellas, make a run!) despite losing J-Smoove early on to a high ankle sprain. The ATLiens might even be able to keep this type of play up without their star, considering their bench has been a strength so far this season. Smith may decide he has achieved it all and just retire, anyway. Right before he got hurt, he put down a sick alley oop and received a perfect 10 on the vaunted Dominique “Dunk-O-Meter”. Really, what more is there?

Shaq sits out vs. the Bulls in the first game of a back-to-back situation, and with that 6 and 5 line, looks like Steve Nash basically sat out, too…George Hill at least showed the physical attributes to explain his selection by the Spurs in the first round…This just in–the Jazz are good at home…Brad Miller back on the scene, drops a double-double on Al Jefferson’s head, Kings win…Come on. Rudy Gay. That dude is sick. Nastaculous. We once called him the next Tim Thomas. Public apology… FREE RUSSELL WESTBROOK!…Sorry, K-Mart, but we’re not feeling the lip print tattoo behind your ear. It’s not even because it’s red lips. It makes us feel like we have an itch behind our ear…OMG, Brandon Bass, says the Birdman…