“In a regular season of 82 games where we aren’t playing 30-plus games in 6 weeks, then it might have been OK,” Cuban told ESPN. “But the compression of so many games into so few days makes this an enormous mistake. “If we had gone 1 to 16, with the top 12 in, it still would have been rough, but there would have been more separation between play-in and the top 12. This is a season where we have to rest high-usage players. We have no choice. And that can and will have consequences.”

In fairness to the Celtics -- and Candace Parker made this point to O'Neal and Wade on TNT -- it's difficult to create an identity when multiple players are missing just about every game. Washington Wizards

They are not yet at full strength, with center Myles Turner sidelined by an ankle injury, but are nearing a deeper rotation approaching the regular-season stretch run.

One thing is certain: With an active trade deadline day that netted Nikola Vučević as the headliner, the Bulls set expectations higher than sneaking into the last spot of the play-in tournament moving forward -- especially if that's followed by a quick ouster. A stretch run featuring myriad opponents in their stratosphere will be telling.Houston Rockets

The Trail Blazers made a big splash at the NBA trade deadline this season strengthening their starting lineup while parting ways with a nice up-and-coming talent.Dallas Mavericks

I don’t know if I get offended, but it’s not what we are doing. There definitely are teams doing it, it’s just not what we are doing. We just took absolutely catastrophic injuries this year. That’s what happened.

custombasketballsocks.com
Custom Made NBA Socks

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Bobby ''Slick'' Leonard was selected as the ABA's greatest coach. Hall of Fame player George McGinnis considered him a genius.LA Clippers