I'm not entirely sure what "small market" means these days, but I know it's bad. In fact, I'd go so far as to suggest that it's replaced "thug" as the NBA's most loaded bit of language. "Small market" is also easily among the most vague phrases in sports. When first we said it, did it refer to actual market size (population? television stations?), a team's national notoriety, or a general mediocrity that makes us turn away in disgust? Read Full Article

Let's say you are building a house. A really expensive house. A $70 million McMansion. You pick the property. You have the foundation in place. And you start to piece together all the different amenities, which are considerable since you have $70 million to spend. And then the county inspector takes a look around and says there may be some issues with the foundation. Technically, you could get away with moving forward, he tells you. But it could very well have a negative long-term impact. Read Full Article

Sixty-four teams remain alive in the NCAA Tournament, but the Utah Jazz locker room is already down to the Final Two. Carlos Boozer's Duke and Wesley Matthews' Marquette are the last teams left standing among Jazz players currently in the NBA. Neither player lacks in confidence for their alma maters' March Madness chances, either. Read Full Article

Each game Sasha Vujacic plays, it is a step in the right direction for him. After missing eight games with a sprained right shoulder, Vujacic has played in four consecutive games, the one against the Sacramento Kings Tuesday night at Arco Arena being his best. He had six points on three-for-four shooting. Read Full Article

As an analyst for NBA TV and TNT, Kevin McHale gets paid to talk about the National Basketball Association. He doesn't get paid to talk about his alma mater, Minnesota, which plays Xavier at the Bradley Center on Friday in the first round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. But Wednesday during a telephone interview, the former Gophers and Boston Celtics forward was willing to take on all basketball questions whether on pay or non-pay turf. We fed a number of questions to him in the post, and he responded: Read Full Article

When Shaquille O'Neal tore the ligament in his right thumb and had surgery on March 1, some observers wondered if the Cavaliers would tread water until he returned. However, after the Indiana game on Wednesday, they've done anything but merely stay afloat. They've won 10 of their last 11 games playing without the 7-foot-1, 325-pound center. Read Full Article

Rashard Lewis knew Wednesday would be a good night just 16 seconds into the Orlando Magic's game against the San Antonio Spurs. He spotted up on the baseline, received a pass from Vince Carter and drained an 18-foot jump shot for the game's first points. The basket sparked what followed. Read Full Article

James Harden sat at his locker before Wednesday's game at Charlotte with his arms folded and his right hamstring tightly wrapped with ice. By the way he answered questions about his injured leg, using crisp, to-the-point responses, it was clear that the Thunder's rookie shooting guard was not pleased with his progress and certainly didn't feel like talking about his setback. And that was with things being on schedule. Read Full Article

After getting medically cleared to begin running last week, New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul is now cutting and moving lateral during his pregame workouts. Though there is no set target date on his return, Paul said he is getting closer toward returning to the lineup after requiring knee surgery on Feb. 4. Paul could return this Saturday against Utah or on Monday night at home against the Dallas Mavericks. Read Full Article

When Mike Woodson was asked if he's concerned about Mike Bibby's problems guarding quick point guards, the Hawks coach turned the question around. Read Full Article