NBA Team Recap – February 25, 2013

Old%20Man%20River%2C%20Tim%20Duncan%2C%20keeps%20rolling%20along%20by%20dropping%2019%20points%20and%20grabbing%2013%20rebounds%20in%20a%20loss%20to%20the%20Golden%20State%20Warriors.%20This%20was%20the%20Spurs%26%238217%3B%20only%20lost%20in%20their%20last%20seven%20games%20so%20they%26%238217%3Bve%20earned%20the%20top%20spot.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ezra%20Shaw%2FGetty%20Images%29

OKC%20traded%20backup%20point%20guard%20Eric%20Maynor%20who%20didn%E2%80%99t%20bounce%20back%20from%20knee%20surgery%20as%20well%20as%20expected.%20Maynor%20was%20considered%20by%20many%20to%20be%20the%20missing%20X%20factor%20during%20last%20year%26%238217%3Bs%20playoff%20run.%20The%20Thunder%20re-signed%20uber-vet%20Derek%20Fisher%2C%20who%20hopes%20to%20be%20a%20spark%20off%20of%20the%20bench.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ronald%20Martinez%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Clippers%20will%20most%20likely%20break%20all%20sorts%20of%20franchise%20records%20and%20reach%20milestones%20this%20season%2C%20like%20sweeping%20the%20Jazz%20for%20the%20first%20time%20in%2030%20years.%20CP3%20and%20Blake%20Griffin%20are%20leading%20this%20team%20to%20greatness.%20%28Photo%20by%20Andrew%20D.%20Bernstein%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20team%20from%20Memphis%20is%20the%20second%20hottest%20team%20in%20the%20league%20after%20the%20Heat.%20The%20Grizz%20are%20on%20a%20seven-game%20winning%20streak%20and%20finished%20it%20on%20Sunday%20with%20a%20tough%20road%20win%20over%20the%20Nets.%20%28Photo%20by%20Joe%20Murphy%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Danny%20Granger%20looked%20like%20he%20hadn%E2%80%99t%20played%20all%20season%20in%20a%201-10%20shooting%20effort%20in%20his%20comeback%20game.%20Luckily%20the%20Pacers%2C%20who%20with%20their%20defensive%20prowess%2C%20seem%20the%20only%20team%20in%20the%20East%20who%20can%20beat%20Heat.%20%28Photo%20by%20Allen%20Einstein%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Over%20the%20five%20games%20Ty%20Lawson%20has%20played%20incredible%20and%20the%20numbers%20don%26%238217%3Bt%20lie.%20The%20Denver%20PG%20is%20averaging%20over%2025%20points%20with%208%20assists%20while%20shooting%2053%25%20from%20the%20field.%20%28Photo%20by%20Rob%20Carr%2FGetty%20Images%29

After%20limping%20into%20the%20final%20third%20of%20the%20season%2C%20it%20took%20a%20season%20high%20of%2022%20points%20from%20Amare%20Stoudemire%20to%20hold%20off%20the%20slumping%2076ers%20at%20MSG.%20The%20Knicks%20traded%20away%20a%20defensive%20wing%20player%20in%20Ronnie%20Brewer%20to%20make%20room%20to%20sign%20another%20ex-Nugget%2C%20Kenyon%20Martin.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jesse%20D.%20Garrabrant%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Warriors%20have%20found%20themselves%20rebounding%20from%20the%20All-Star%20break%20with%20a%20three%20game%20winning%20streak%20which%20is%20highlighted%20by%20a%20win%20over%20a%20fully%20loaded%20%28Duncan%2C%20Parker%20and%20Ginobli%29%20Spurs%20team.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Ezra%20Shaw%2FGetty%20Images%29

Joe%20Johnson%20has%20morphed%20into%20Jump%20Shot%20Joe%20after%20hitting%20big%20jumpers%20to%20force%20OT%20and%20then%20to%20win%20in%20OT%20over%20the%20Milwaukee%20Bucks.%20%28Photo%20by%20Nathaniel%20S.%20Butler%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

While%20it%26%238217%3Bs%20hard%20to%20believe%2C%20Josh%20Smith%20remains%20in%20a%20Hawks%20uniform%20as%20the%20deadline%20passed%20without%20him%20being%20traded.%20The%20Hawks%2C%20led%20by%20its%20two%20point%20guards%2C%20Jeff%20Teague%20%2823%20points%29%20and%20Devin%20Harris%20%2821%20points%29%20came%20back%20to%20beat%20Bucks%20on%20road.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Kevin%20C.%20Cox%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20watch%20for%20Derrick%20Rose%20continues%20as%20earlier%20comments%20by%20him%20suggested%20he%20might%20sit%20out%20this%20season%20and%20then%20in%20a%20subsequent%20practice%20he%20played%20well.%20In%20the%20meantime%2C%20the%20Bulls%20got%20weatherized%20in%20thumping%20by%20both%20the%20Heat%20and%20Thunder.%20%28Photo%20by%20Layne%20Murdoch%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Gordon%20Hayward%20returned%20from%20an%20injury%20absence%20with%2017%20and%2023%20points%20in%20a%20win%20over%20the%20Warriors%20and%20a%20loss%20to%20the%20Clippers.%20The%20Jazz%20kept%20both%20Paul%20Milsap%20and%20Al%20Jefferson%2C%20but%20perhaps%20should%20have%20traded%20one%20for%20a%20true%20point%20guard.%20%28Photo%20by%20Andrew%20D.%20Bernstein%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20C%E2%80%99s%20have%20scored%20the%20same%20exact%20points%20this%20season%20as%20it%20has%20allowed%26%238211%3B%20averaging%2095.9%20on%20both%20ends%20of%20the%20court.%20Boston%20is%20finishing%20up%20a%20five-game%20West%20Coast%20swing%20in%20Utah%20but%20are%201-3%20on%20the%20trip%20so%20far.%20%28Photo%20by%20Cameron%20Browne%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

James%20Harden%20already%20secured%20his%20first%20all-star%20nod%20and%20is%20playing%20like%20a%20superstar.%20Unfortunately%20for%20the%20Rockets%2C%20no%20team%20vacillates%20as%20much%20as%20this%20team%20which%20was%20epitomized%20this%20week%20in%20wins%20over%20the%20Thunder%20and%20Nets%20and%20a%20loss%20to%20the%20Wizards.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ned%20Dishman%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Lakers%20are%20making%20a%20playoff%20push%20based%20on%20their%20three-game%20winning%20streak%20but%20it%20takes%20everything%20they%20have%20to%20beat%20mediocre%20teams%20like%20the%20Blazers%20and%20Mavs.%20Steve%20Nash%20has%20become%20more%20aggressive%2C%20which%20should%20help.%20%28Photo%20by%20Glenn%20James%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Mavs%20are%20playing%20as%20professionals%20but%20one%20of%20several%20teams%20looking%20to%20get%20in%20the%20potential%20Dwight%20Howard%20sweepstakes%20as%20he%20becomes%20a%20free%20agent%20this%20summer.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Glenn%20James%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Ever%20since%20the%20Sonics%20left%20Seattle%20and%20became%20the%20Thunder%2C%20the%20Blazers%20seem%20like%20it%20has%20lost%20its%20frenemy%20in%20their%20former%20Pacific%20Northwest%20neighbor%20and%20rival.%20Fans%20would%20love%20a%20similar%20rivalry%20to%20start%20again%20if%20the%20Kings%20move%20to%20Seattle.%20%28Photo%20by%20Sam%20Forencich%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Bucks%20traded%20for%20shooter%20J.J.%20Redick%20but%20another%20bad%20defensive%20guard%20to%20the%20mix%20ultimately%20may%20not%20help%20them.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Bruce%20Bennett%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Raptors%20have%20a%20legitimate%20shot%20to%20catch%20the%20Bucks%20for%20the%20last%20playoff%20spot.%20Toronto%20went%207-3%20in%20the%20last%20ten%20games%20with%20upcoming%20winnable%20matchups%20against%20the%20Wizards%2C%20Cavs%20and%20Bucks.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ron%20Turenne%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Head%20coach%20Doug%20Collins%20was%20not%20impressed%20with%20Andrew%20Bynum%26%238217%3Bs%20practice%20performance.%20As%20for%20next%20season%3F%20Perhaps%20only%20Jrue%20Holiday%20and%20Thaddeaus%20Young%20remain%20from%20the%20core.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jesse%20D.%20Garrabrant%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Little%20used%20vet%2C%20Corey%20Maggette%2C%20may%20be%20bought%20out%20as%20the%20Pistons%20continue%20on%20its%20current%20path%20of%20building%20around%20its%20young%20players.%20This%20was%20made%20evident%20when%20Detroit%20traded%20away%20longtime%20Piston%2C%20Tayshaun%20Prince.%20%28Photo%20by%20Allen%20Einstein%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Cavs%20played%20the%20quite%20well%20against%20the%20Heat%20but%20came%20away%20with%20a%20109-105%20loss.%20It%26%238217%3Bs%20apparent%20that%20all%20this%20young%20team%20needs%20is%20to%20continue%20to%20grow%20with%20superstar%20in%20waiting%20Kyrie%20Irving.%20%28Photo%20by%20Issac%20Baldizon%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Who%20would%20of%20thought%20that%20Emeka%20Okafor%20would%20be%20playing%20better%20than%20Dwight%20Howard%20who%20was%20drafted%20one%20spot%20ahead%20of%20him%20in%202004%3F%20Okafor%20averaged%2017%20points%20and%2012%20rebounds%20in%20wins%20this%20past%20week%20over%20the%20Nuggets%20and%20Rockets.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ned%20Dishman%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Anthony%20Davis%20is%20playing%20well%20and%20this%20season%20is%20a%20building%20block%20for%20the%20future%20of%20the%20franchise.%20%28Photo%20by%20Layne%20Murdoch%20Jr.%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Kevin%20Love%20looks%20to%20return%20in%20late%20March%20for%20the%20last%20month%20of%20the%20season.%20%28Photo%20by%20Garrett%20W.%20Ellwood%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Point%20guard%20Isaiah%20Thomas%20has%20been%20the%20bright%20spot%20for%20the%20Kings%20all%20season.%20Sacramento%20needs%20to%20trade%20Tyreke%20Evans%20and%20DeMarcus%20Cousins%20for%20more%20team-oriented%20players.%20%28Photo%20by%20Layne%20Murdoch%20Jr.%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

This%20conglomeration%20of%20players%20just%20didn%E2%80%99t%20fit.%20The%20sum%20was%20not%20greater%20than%20the%20parts.%20The%20Suns%20rejoined%20the%20Morris%20twins%20%28Marcus%20traded%20from%20Houston%29%20to%20join%20brother%20Markieff.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Christian%20Petersen%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Magic%20are%20on%20a%20five-game%20losing%20streak%20that%20followed%20one%20win%20after%20a%2012%20game%20losing%20streak.%20That%20means%20a%201-17%20stretch%20and%20sadly%20not%20many%20games%20were%20close.%20Ouch.%20%28Photo%20by%20Fernando%20Medina%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

If%20only%20changing%20the%20name%20to%20the%20Hornets%20%28the%20name%20of%20Charlotte%20franchise%20until%20moving%20to%20New%20Orleans%20who%20will%20become%20the%20Pelicans%20next%20season%29%20could%20wipe%20away%20the%20Bobcats%26%238217%3B%20experience%20of%20the%20last%20few%20years.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Fernando%20Medina%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29