Herald    Time to C’s another day
Danny Ainge laughs off rumors
Reformation project
Signs point to improved Kevin Garnett
Kobe Bryant sets mark in LA loss
Gilbert Arenas Posts apology
Tough Feb. slate may keep Nets on track for infamy
Globe    Why nothing's guaranteed in Washington
Reggie Miller suggests Allen pare down workouts
McHale believes Celtics will return to top form
Updates from Celtics-Wizards
Pierce will have x-rays on left foot
Change in Washington?
Ankle sprain sends Pierce to bench
Celtics win with fireworks in 4th

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Refs: Dick Bavetta, Bennie Adams, Marc Davis

The Spurs got off to a slow start, losing 6 of their first 10 games but have righted the ship and, like the Celtics, have won their last 5 games. One of these teams will get their sixth straight victory, while stopping the other's win streak at 5.

Like the Celtics, the Spurs are subject to speculation that their team is too old. Both teams have some nice young players, and both teams have stars that are getting up in age. The average age of the Celtics is 27.9 while the average age of the Spurs is 28.7. McDyess is 35, Duncan is 33, and Jefferson is 29 while KG is 33, Pierce is 32 and Ray is 34.

The Spurs have been off since Sunday, while the Celtics played on Tuesday and are playing in the 3rd game of a 4 game road trip. For some teams, a layoff of 3 days is enough for them to show some rust to begin the game and for other teams, it is enough for them to come out well rested and on fire. The Spurs are a veteran team that should come out focused and so the Celtics need to match that focus and get off to a good start. If they dig a hole in the first quarter, they will find that is isn't easy to come back against a defensive minded team like the Spurs.

In their last game, the Celtics ended the Bobcats' 4 game win streak and hopefully they will do the same for the Spurs 5 game win streak.

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More photos » Mark J. Terrill - AP

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This is part two of my NBA predictions.

I like to check back at times along the year to see how far off I am and what changes need to be made due to trade or injury.

Southwest Division

1) San Antonio Spurs 57-25 – Aging San Ant. ‘done did’ themselves well this off season They aren’t a perfect team, but they have two, perhaps three, key acquisitions in McDyess, Jefferson, and Blair. This team is back in the mix for the whole schnoggy.

2) Dallas Mavericks 50-32 – Shawn Marion finally gets a team and system that should let him flourish a bit like the old days. Why does it seem inconsistent Drew Gooden rarely impacts a game relative to his numbers? Kidd’s not what he was defensively, but he’s still pretty darn good at the other end. What this team really needs is a crushing post player who demands a lot of attention or, less likely, an alpha star to make Dirk the best second option in the game.

3) New Orleans Hornets 47-35 – I say that Okafor helps compared to Tyson Chandler, but for some reason I really can’t explain, I see this team treading water. I like Julian Wright, but I’m not sure he should be a starter yet. Mo Pete should be an off the bench player. Peja’s losing it. Maybe that’s why.

4) Houston Rockets 37-45 – With no go-to guy in sight, I see a tough year for this team. If I’m wrong, give Rick Adelman all the credit for making a team of supporting role players manufacture wins where they shouldn’t. Ariza tries to become a top scorer? He’s looking good so far. Is the apocalypse near? Aaron Brooks looks like he is growing as well. Scola is a great role player that will struggle a bit as a primary option with no other players on the floor to draw double teams.

5) Memphis Grizzlies 32-50 – This team intrigues with Allen Iverson and Zach Randolph added without any major loss (Warrick). They are a talented, if selfish team. They could end up quite a bit better than 32 wins if the two budding stars in Gay and Mayo accept Iverson as the leader and main scorer. I’m guessing that might be problematic. Thabeet has ‘project’ written all over him. Iverson has a small tear in his hamstring right now.

The other divisions are after the jump...

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Boston Celtics - CelticsBlog | LOY's Place | Celtics17 | Red's Army | Hoops Addict | Celtics Central | Celtics Hub |Gino's Jungle

New Jersey Nets - Slippery When Nets | Barkley's Mouth

New York Knicks - Posting and Toasting | Bandwagon Knick

Philadelphia 76ers - Liberty Ballers

Toronto Raptors - RaptorsHQ.com | Hoops Addict

Dallas Mavericks - Mavs Moneyball | The Two Man Game | NBA Mate

Houston Rockets - The Dream Shake | Ballerblogger

Memphis Grizzlies - 3 Shades of Blue

New Orleans Hornets - At The Hive | Hornets Hype

San Antonio Spurs - Pounding The Rock | Project Spurs

Chicago Bulls - BlogABull.com | Give Me The Rock

Cleveland Cavaliers - Fear The Sword | WaitingForNextYear | Cavalier Attitude

Detroit Pistons - Motown String Music  | Empty the Bench | Pistons Nation | Need4Sheed.com

Indiana Pacers - Indy Cornrows

Milwaukee Bucks - BrewHoop

Denver Nuggets  - Denver Stiffs | The Nugg Doctor

Minnesota Timberwolves - Canis Hoopus | Empty the Bench | TWolvesBlog

Oklahoma City Thunder - Blue Blitz | Daily Thunder

Portland Trail Blazers - Blazersedge | A Stern Warning | The Rip City Project | Blaze of Love | BustaBucket | Trail Post

Utah Jazz - SLC Dunk | True Blue Jazz

Atlanta Hawks: Peachtree Hoops    

Charlotte Bobcats: Rufus on Fire | QueenCityHoops

Miami Heat: Peninsula Is Mightier | SportsAgentBlog.com

Orlando Magic: Third Quarter Collapse

Washington Wizards: Bullets Forever | Hoops Addict | Truth About It

Golden State Warriors: Golden State of Mind 

More photos » Rich Pedroncelli - AP

Westphal's team has zero expectations. No wonder he's smiling.

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Official Sactown Royalty Kings 2009-10 Preview - Sactown Royalty

What are the goals for this team? Goal No. 1: do not lose 65 games again. Goal No. 2: No one get seriously hurt, OK? Goal No. 3: Don't lose any home games by 48 points. Goal No. 4: Beat L.A. Goal No. 5: Get Evans the R.O.Y. Goal No. 6: Get Martin to the All-Star Game. Goal No. 7: Playoffs!

The Official Basketball Fiend Sacramento Kings Preview That Was Written After the First Game of the Season and Now I Feel Like Throwing Up | Basketball Fiend

What are the team’s biggest strengths? The honest answer? Helping other teams win games. But "other teams" implies the Grizzlies, and that simply isn’t true. The Grizzlies will be the only team worse than the Kings this season. Therefore, the Kings will not help the Grizzlies win games. Instead I’m going to go with scoring points in garbage time. This one’s all you, Donte Greene!

Cowbell Kingdom.com - A Sacramento Kings Blog

Can Tyreke Evans win Rookie of the Year? Yes. He can and he will. Tyreke Evans has the best chance at winning the award because he has the best chance of leading all rookies in scoring this year. He can get to the basket whenever he wants, plays nice defense, and will shoot a ton of free throws. Throw in Blake Griffin already missing six weeks due to injury and you’ve got yourself a new favorite for winning the ROY hardware.

More photos » Mark J. Terrill - AP

Who's left to lob to?

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Phoenix Suns Season Preview (For SBN) - Bright Side Of The Sun

Keeping Nash and Stoudemire healthy is vital to the success of this team. Nash is aging and tends to wear down over the course of a season. Hopefully Goran Dragic can turn into a dependable back up and be able to provide Nash with plenty of time to rest. Stoudemire is attempting to return from a serious eye injury. Injuries to these two players could spell doom for the 2009-10 Suns.

Phoenix Suns 2009-2010 Season Preview - The NBA Blog | Binary Basketball Blogs

"We're going to be a running team," Gentry promised. "We've got to go back to the culture we've always had here since I've been here and that's to be an attack team on offense, and we are going to get better defensively."

More photos » Kevork Djansezian - Getty Images

Hate and Hater

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We've spent a lot of time focusing on the Cavs, but the Lakers are the true rivals and they currently have what we want back, the title.

Doing Our Part: Previewing the Defending Champion Lakers - Silver Screen and Roll

The versatility, in large part, goes back to the Lakers strengths in the post. Bynum and Gasol are obvious post threats. However, Odom and Artest can also be very effective in the post, and Kobe isn't too shabby. This allows for a greater range of options, both in terms of lineups and offensive sets, regarding who anchors the triangle in the post, and how the triangle forms around him. Defensively, guys like Artest and Odom can easily guard three different positions, meaning that whether we're talking about a big, strong Small Forward like LeBron James, or a long, lanky Power Forward who likes to shoot from outside like Dirk Nowitzki or Rasheed Wallace, the Lakers have options in matching up with them defensively.

Forum Blue And Gold " TrueHoop Network 2009-10 Season Preview: The Lakers

God, it is good to be hated again. It’s an oddly comforting thing for Lakers fans when the entire world seems to be passionately wishing for your team to fail, hoping for an earthquake that will break off Los Angeles and dump it in the ocean so that they don’t have to hear about the Lakers again. When the Lakers are hated, you know they are good. And they are good — very good. Not only did they win the NBA title, they brought back virtually every piece of that team, and made a move to bring in a unique talent (and personality) at another spot. On paper they should be a better team this year — Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant are back to lead, with a more mature supporting cast. But they also will be a different team.

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