Thom Loverro of The Washington Times: "The biggest figure -- Tim Donaghy -- in what should have been the most scandalous of the sports scandals of the past year -- a corrupt referee -- has faded into obscurity. The sport that should have been crippled for years because of the scandal not only has recovered but seems to be flourishing. David Stern, please come forward to accept the Nobel Prize for Waste Disposal. The NBA commissioner apparently has buried this scandal deep in some New Jersey landfill."
Richard Justice of Houston Chronicle: "The Celtics didn't have a new plan for beating the Rockets. They focused on McGrady, left the perimeter open, and challenged almost every pass. Other opponents have done this along the way. The Celtics simply did it better. Now it's about responding. 'The team that comes out of the West will be the team that comes back,' Adelman said. 'There are going to be bumps in the road.' The Rockets hadn't had one in 48 remarkable days. Along the way, they captivated a city and amazed a sport. They will remember these 48 days forever."
Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Udonis Haslem said he never has had basketball-related surgery or anything beyond minor surgery for a torn eardrum. 'Once they go in there, that'll be the end of his season,' coach Pat Riley confirmed. The question therefore could become whether Haslem has played his final game for his hometown team. The Miami High and University of Florida product has been with the Heat since entering the NBA in 2003 off a season in France as an undrafted free agent. Should the Heat land the top selection in the NBA draft lottery, it likely would select Kansas State power forward Michael Beasley. Beyond that, midseason acquisition Shawn Marion has spent the bulk of his brief Heat tenure at power forward."
Krista Jahnke of the Detroit Free Press: "When Rodney Stuckey tries to think of a big game he has played in -- the kind with ear-popping crowds and must-win pressure -- he comes up blank. 'In college, we were usually two games out of the last spot, or something like that,' he said. 'Nothing can compare to where I'm going to be at this year.' This year, Stuckey will be one of the few rookies with a playoff role on a team competing for a championship. And Pistons coach Flip Saunders sees something that tells him the kid will thrive despite his low-profile background. 'I think it's all relative,' Saunders said. 'His demeanor is one of having a lot of confidence. I think he relishes the opportunity to play in these types of games. And I think he's the type of guy that the bigger the stage, probably, the better he'll play.'"
Jan Hubbard of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "If the Mavericks have proved anything since Jason Kidd arrived for a second tour, it is that they can lose close games to good teams."
Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald: '"I think he (Gerald Green) has the talent to definitely be in the NBA, but I just think he has to develop a better work ethic,' Paul Pierce said. 'I think the coaches he's played for say that's the one knock on him. He knows how talented he is and how good he can be, but it's a matter of wanting to work at it every day. If he ever gets that mind-set, he wouldn't have to worry about being cut and who hes going to play for next. ... Definitely he has the ability, but thats the story in the NBA with these young guys. I've seen guys come and go. They can have the talent, but if they dont work at it they never really make it.'"
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