Part of me — a big part of me — wants to point you toward Golden State and the Mavericks. Those teams, even before the classic 2007 playoff series, have gone at it for years. People may not have been paying attention — remember this nonsense? It happened the same night as this brilliance — but the Warriors and Mavericks are natural enemies. Dog and cat stuff, here, lovelies.

The problem with that is that the Warriors have about 1.75 players on their roster that recognize this enduring reality. Why? Because they're hurt. Too many injuries. Same reason (no Chris Paul(notes)) that I'm not staring straight at the Hornets and Magic.

Lakers and Spurs? This goes back a while, as well. The Lakers used to own the Spurs. Made great Spurs teams timid. And yet, the two most underachieving Lakers teams of our lifetime — those 1999 and 2003 mugs — lost to the Spurs in the playoffs in series that weren't even close.

Two TNT games, tonight, amongst the three. Not sure why. Don't care why. Comment away.

Los Angeles Lakers: 39-13, 93.4 possessions per game (eighth), 109.5 points per 100 possessions (ninth), 102.6 points allowed per 100 possessions (fourth).

San Antonio Spurs: 29-20, 91.4 possessions per game (22nd), 110 points scored per 100 possessions (seventh), 104.8 points allowed per 100 possessions (10th).

All statistics courtesy basketball-reference.com.

It appears to be the only possible deal in this impending all or nothing trade deadline de 2010. The trade deadline that could see half of the NBA moved an inch to the left, or merely Dorell Wright(notes) shipped away from Miami for a conditional second-rounder. Conditional.

Amar'e Stoudemire(notes) and potentially, we think (we're pretty sure, dude's opting out) his expiring contract to the Philadelphia 76ers for Andre Iguodala(notes) and his rather large contract.

It wouldn't be that simple. It never is. Philadelphia would certainly want the Suns to take on Samuel Dalembert's(notes) contract, and the 76ers would probably have to take on Jason Richardson(notes), and various parts (expiring or otherwise) would have to be tossed in so as to even things out. The point being that the 76ers, in the midst of an embarrassing season spent playing in front of some of the most dispassionate and smaller home crowds in this league, for the fourth or fifth year in a row, are trying to re-tool. Rebuild. Re-everything.

And the Suns? For some reason, they want Andre Iguodala.

This game never stops teaching us. And for whatever purpose, it has yet to teach us about Andre Iguodala. You watch him play, and all you can think about is what AI doesn't do right. He doesn't appear to be particularly adept at creating shots. He shows a peculiar affinity for the high-arching three-point bomb, no matter the situation, regardless of his success rate from behind that arc. He just doesn't appear to be much of a game-changer.

And then the game ends. And you see his line. And it reminds of a B-level LeBron James(notes).

And you look at how well the 76ers do with him on the court, and off the court. And you remind yourself to pay particular attention to Andre the next time you see the Sixers, to see what, exactly, he's doing. And you try, for a while, but those Sixers games come on at the same time as four or five other contests, and you have a column to write, and you flip around.

And you never learn why, exactly, it is that this guy's advanced statistics are so, so appealing. We get that he's efficient, that he defends well, that he focuses (at his best) on three-pointers and high-percentage finishes, the most effective takes a man could make. We know he passes, he boards, he creates turnovers, and he can be the biggest reason behind a 12-to-2 run.

But an all-world player? A lot of people think so. I think I think so. The Suns, according to rumor, think so.

Which is funny, because they had a chance at this guy back in 2004. Traded the pick away to Chicago in preparation for the great Steve Nash(notes) signing that summer.

Nash wasn't the only guy, mind you. The nice guy in you tells you that the Suns traded a lottery pick to Chicago for more room to sign Steve Nash. The prat in you reminds you that they also traded a lottery pick to Chicago for more room to sign Quentin Richardson(notes).

The Suns, apparently, are willing to break the bank for this guy. To trade big for small. To take on four more years at an average of $14 million per season. Yes, we know that for Phoenix's reputation as a heap of cost-cutters, the team still does pay the luxury tax, so a deal like this wouldn't exactly be termed atypical in spite of all those draft picks the team tosses away. And while the idea of AI throwing down on the break on a lob from Nash, finishing what he started with a steal or board on the other end excites, it still makes you wonder.

Nash is winding down. His stats might be trending up, but the run (this fabulous, fabulous run) has to end at some point. And this is the guy you're pairing him with work through these final years? Is there something we don't know?

In this league, there always is. As much as you think you might have things sussed out, there's always something that these people can teach you. Even if they traded for Shaq. Even if they valued money and Marcus Banks(notes) over Rajon Rondo(notes) and/or Nate Robinson(notes).

For the Sixers? Yeah, we kind of think we have them sussed out. This is a team that just signed Allen Iverson(notes). Clearly, they're out of ideas. Once you crib from the Grizzlies, after the Grizzlies admit defeat, you're lost.

Losing Dalembert's contract, though? Even if Nash lobs him toward a series of 20 and 20 games? Watching Iguodala blossom in the dry heat? Still faced with having to dump Elton Brand(notes), somewhere, while barely 8000 people show up to witness Amar'e Stoudemire  look strange for a few months in an (admittedly, sweet) 76ers uniform?

Worth it. Rebuilding, when executed properly, always is. Especially if the owner has your back, and Philly GM Ed Stefanski will clearly win points with Sixers owner Ed Snider. This should never be a reason for changing horses, but given the particular stream the Sixers are in, why the hell not? What's going right?

Even if Amar'e is only around for a few months, even if it is a passing paint predilection, you must lust after the chance to start over. Especially if it jettisons all those cap responsibilities. And if you lose Andre Iguodala in the process, oh well.

I think. AI might be the gem I'll never understand. That said, in a team game that demands the presence of four other players on the floor alongside your particular gem, this might not even matter to Philadelphia.

Work with what you don't understand.

A furious friend just left the following message on my Facebook page:

"Chris Kaman named to replace Brandon Roy in All-Star Game! WTF? This was Monta Ellis'(notes) last hope!"

Um, needless to say, I didn't have the heart to tell him this particular news wall-to-wall.

That's right; the young Golden State Warriors guard, known for his sick tunnel trick shots and over-the-backboard acrobatics, was surprisingly not asked to compete in this year's H-O-R-S-E competition, presented by Geico, as a part of the NBA's All-Star Weekend festivities.

Instead, according to a few Celtics' beat writers, Boston All-Star Rajon Rondo(notes) — a.k.a. "The Clinic" — and marketable Sacramento rookie Omri Casspi(notes) will join defending H-O-R-S-E champion Kevin Durant(notes) in the second annual event. This year's shot-making shoot-out raises the stakes, as the contest will be held on All-Star Saturday Night (at 7 p.m. ET) in front of a packed house in Dallas.

Pray Rondo's been workin' on those free throws.

A look around the league and the web that covers it. It's also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren't always listed in order of importance. That's for you, dear reader, to figure out.

C: RedsArmy. "Rajon Rondo is 'The Clinic' ... because he could put one on at a moment's notice."
PF: PBT. Kurt, Matt, Rob, John and Ira are some of the finest NBA writers on the Internet. Enjoy.
SF: Silver Screen and Roll. Rest, baby, rest: An open memo to Kobe Bryant(notes).
SG: Sparty and Friends. The Orlando Sentinel throws it back at Hedo Turkoglu(notes). Well, sort of. Ball.
PG: CelticsHub. A video breakdown of the carnage in Boston over the weekend.
6th: IC. The Wiz have a ways to go before absorbing all of the problems the Pacers caused themselves.
7th: NBA Focus. "The future is now, whether executives acknowledge it or not."
8th: SRI. Danny Ferry thinks this is the best Cavs team they've had in the last five years.
9th: The Cowhide Globe. Deron Williams(notes) doesn't have a lot of respect for Channing Frye's(notes) game.
10th: Sactown Royalty. Ziller, bang on: "The trade deadline is an artificial deadline for making a decision on [Kevin] Martin. The Kings can, and should, ignore it."

Got a link or tip for Ball Don't Lie? Hit me up at jeskeets (at) yahoo.ca, or follow me on Twitter.

Raptors guard Jarrett Jack(notes) entertains the crowd — starring The Basketball Jones' Tas Melas! — prior to a game against the Kings on Sunday afternoon at the ACC in Toronto. Best caption/imaginary conversation wins some fries. Good luck, Waldo.

After the jump, Baby Gasol hits the gym.

Winner, Michael:
Pau Gasol(notes), astronaut. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Marc Gasol(notes) will be that man. Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster ... Well, maybe not any of that, but definitely younger.

Co-runner-up, illmatikkmunk:
"Marc's Journal. February 3rd, 2010: Grizzley carcass in alley this morning, LeBron's footprint on burst stomach. This city is ashamed of me. I have seen its true face. The our record's an extended gutter and the gutter's full of Ls and when the pain finally scabs over, all the jokes will drown. The accumulated Wins of the Kobes and LeBrons will foam up about their waists and all the Darkos and Devins will look up and shout 'Save us!" ... and I'll whisper 'No.'"

Co-runner-up, Jason:
Finally Nautilus has combined the toilet and the lateral press. It's such a time saver. Now it's time to follow up with some refreshing bidet bicep curls!

via '64 and Counting

This is nothing more than a Bill Simmons-like "what-if" scenario, but Nuggets coach George Karl says Denver had a trade in place with the Hawks back in 2005 that would have landed them the second overall pick.

The plan then would have been to use the pick on Illinois' guard Deron Williams(notes).

Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post:

"I don't know why we didn't do it or what happened, but there's no question that I thought he'd be a great player," Karl said. "I like him because his passion and energy for the game is contagious. It's fun to watch and it's difficult to play against."

Atlanta ultimately kept that pick and selected Marvin Williams(notes).

Deron Williams went third to Utah.

Karl spoke Saturday about the ill-fated draft workout he attended in the summer of 2005, which he called a "$100,000 party." Karl attended a workout at Marquette to see his son, Coby, but Deron Williams was there too. Williams had yet to officially declare for the draft. Karl was fined $200,000 and suspended for the first three games of the upcoming season.

Cheers, RealGM.

I'm with Pop Crunch: Is NBA legend Charles Barkley trying to rap like Lil Wayne or impersonate Dr. Seuss in Sunday's flashy looking Super Bowl commercial for Taco Bell?

Regardless, Lakers forward Lamar Odom and the Nets' mascot "Sly" make brief cameos.

Check it out below, and try to tell me this pathetic ad deserves a "B" grade. (No way.)

Also see: LeBron, Dwight's McDonald's Super Bowl ad

Monday to Friday, The Basketball Jones look at the big games and storylines from the night before with a mix of in-depth analysis and irreverent humor. As always, questions and comments are appreciated.

On today's show, Skeets and Tas fight through the football to bring you this weekend's NBA winners and losers. Are the Celtics losing their drive? Could Dirk sitting have helped the Mavs? How did a snowstorm finally make the Wizards a winner? All that, plus Kevin Martin's(notes) chicken legs, a mini-review of the new LeBron/Dwight McDonald's commercial and is Chris Bosh(notes) a sweet potato?

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Broadcast before the kickoff of Super Bowl XLIV, Cavaliers' forward LeBron James(notes) and Magic center Dwight Howard(notes) starred in a remake of the iconic 1993 Super Bowl spot "The Showdown," which featured Michael Jordan and Larry Bird in trick-shot competition for some greasy fast food.

The new 2010 version, titled "Check This," pits James against Howard in their own unique 540-spin on the battle for a Big Mac. It also features the reappearance of "Larry Legend," who apparently has been masquerading as The Hamburglar since the mid-80s.

Check it out below and let us know what you think.