Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images Baron Davis is ready to take over the play calling in Los Angeles The thing you have to realize about Baron Davis is that this wasn’t what he had in mind.

By Chris Sheridan In college at TCU, Kurt Thomas once led the nation in scoring and rebounding, making him one of only three players in NCAA history to do so. Two-and-a-half years ago, his expiring $8 million contract was deemed so unappealing by Suns owner Bob Sarver that Phoenix agreed to surrender two unprotected 1st-round draft picks to Seattle, getting back only a 2nd-rounder in return (the second of those unprotected 1st-round picks goes to the Thunder this June, which is why Phoenix is currently looking for at least one 1st-round pick in any Amare Stoudemire trade).

Those players lucky enough to be invited to All-Star weekend probably have an assortment of goals: To get some rest. To attend this or that party. To rub elbows with corporate sponsors.

Jason Quick of the Oregonian , on an incident that occured during Andre Miller’s 52-point game in Dallas over the weekend: During a timeout with 41 seconds left in regulation, two women walked onto the court and into the Trail Blazers huddle.

The Mavericks have lost eight of the last 14 to the Warriors, including a 111-103 setback earlier this season at AAC.

By John Hollinger SAN ANTONIO—Sometimes one can’t appreciate a player with subtle skills until circumstances push him to the forefront. The recent play of the Denver Nuggets provides a good example. With league-leading scorer Carmelo Anthony sidelined by an ankle injury, one would think the Nuggets would struggle mightily

By John Hollinger ATLANTA – As far as hits go, this one was a big miss.

If you make smart estimates of Kobe Bryant’s upcoming years, he’ll obliterate Magic Johnson in the Laker record book . Lots of people have addressed yesterday’s bullet about LeBron James being called for fouls at half the rate of an average NBA player. One strong theory is that he plays a brand of defense that protects him, as best explained by John Krolik

APThe Dallas Mavericks rolled to the biggest win in franchise history, ignoring the absence of two starters to crush the New York Knicks 128-78 on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images This season Allen Iverson has been both cut by the Grizzlies and voted an All-Star starter