The Starting Five

Reigning National League MVP Ryan Braun maintained throughout his 50-game suspension for a positive drug test that it would be overturned and he could work on restoring his “good name”. No longer suspended based on a technicality, restoring his good name will be more difficult than expected.

Also, the once again recovering Texas Rangers Josh Hamilton sounds off on his possible free agency status and what he owes the Rangers -with Bible in hand of course.

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(Photo:Jeff Haynes/Reuters)

Both Kevin Durant and LeBron James put in 36…

Thought the game was pretty good. Very entertaining…had long rang shooting, nice dunks, elite NBA player skill. LeBron should have taken the last shot or dished the rock to Carmelo Anthony. Kobe and Melo getting on LeBron was classic and something LeBron will have to live with. Thought running a play for Deron Williams before LeBron’s turnover was a bad decision considering who was on the floor at the time. Kobe surpassing Michael Jordan for first in All Star Game scoring was good for the game because Mike’s name was mentioned many times. I’ll have a mid-season report up tomorrow.

The NBA 2011-12 regular season resumes on NBA TV on Tuesday, February 28, with the Fan Night game featuring the New Orleans Hornets @ Chicago Bulls at 8 p.m. (ET). And on TNT on Thursday, March 1, with a doubleheader featuring Oklahoma City Thunder @ Orlando Magic at 8 p.m. (ET) followed by the Miami Heat @ Portland Trail Blazers at 10:30 p.m. (ET)

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What did you think about festivities last night?

Had a previous commitment last night so I didn’t see a lick of what went down. Not going to comment here on what I’ve heard simply to see what you all have to say.

TNT’s coverage of NBA All-Star 2012 concludes on tonight at 6 p.m. (ET) with NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com followed by the network’s exclusive coverage of the NBA All-Star Game at 7:30 p.m. (ET).

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Irving hit 8 threes on his way to scoring 34 points and the MVP award

Kryie hit from long long range, DeMarcus showed he’s bigger and deffer, Ricky like Pete dished the spectacular while Paul, John and Tristan soul rock soul soared. Yes, the rookies and sophomores shined. Jeremy got some well needed rest and Blake hypothetically posed for the cameras floating sky high. Those tuning into the game watched and yes in deed, the future looks to be in great hands. It appears the young players coming into the NBA are as skilled as ever and despite the game being basically an entertainment showcase, it was evident that even in a lockout shortened season…where everything is super encapsulated, the game could be fun again…

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Magic put up 25, 9 and 5 in a classic performance

Twenty years ago Magic Johnson took the floor as he was voted in by the  the fans for the 1992 NBA All-Star game only three months after announcing to the world that he was HIV positive. Turning in a performance for the ages – Johnson was voted the game’s Most Valuable Player as he closed out his stellar performance going one on one against Eastern Conference foes Michael Jordan and Isaiah Thomas.

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(Pat Sullivan AP/Photo)

I’m not sure if the All-Star break is a good or bad thing for the 76′ers right now. After last night’s 93-87 loss to the Houston Rockets the Sixers have dropped their last five games due in large to poor shooting, injuries and lack of production from key players.

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(Photo: Morry Gash, AP)

With the season coming up, it is a fair time to look at the greatest player of the last decade. With all apologies to A-Rod, Manny, and even Ichiro, the honor for the best player of the 2000’s was Pujols. He was the human metronome. But as Albert goes from the Cardinal’s red and white to the Angel’s midnight blue and white, it’s not nearly enough to try and figure out whether or not Pujols will be able to keep the beat going in California, but instead if we’ve seen this before. My opinion is that we have. We have seen exactly this kind of thing. When? Ken Griffey Jr. going from Seattle to Cincinnati is the last time that we saw something like this.
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(Marlin Levison/MCT)

For the first time this season the Sixers have lost three games in a row. Friday Doug Coliins’ group held a double-digit lead against the defending champion Mavericks on Friday in a tough loss. Wolves  power forward Kevin Love scored 12 of his 20 points (12 rebounds) in the final period as no team led by more than a point in the last six minutes. Love was fouled by Elton Brand with .01 seconds remaining – sinking the two free throws to gives the Wolves a one point victory.

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From Left: John Franco, David Plotkin, Trent Tucker and Richard Plotkin

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to have a heartfelt conversation with David Plotkin – Founder and Chairman of the Max Cure Foundation. The foundation is named for his son Max, a courageous eight-year old was diagnosed at the age of four with  B- Cell Lymphoma, a form of cancer found in the lymph nodes and in the lymphoid tissues at the age of four years old. In Max, it was found in the bone of his right arm and left knee.

As the father of a healthy eight-year old, this was a sobering interview for me. I was able to count my blessings while at the same time develop a genuine concern for the plight of thousands of children like Max who are or who were fighting pediatric cancer. The Starting Five will do its part in honoring those children battling pediatric cancer.

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The sports world lost two great players from the 1980′s this week - Freddie Solomon and Gary Carter. Two men that I remember vividly from my childhood.

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Do you remember that one time?

Jeremy Lin was added to market the game. There’s nothing else to it and honestly it’s good for his people in this undeniably myopic TV world. Props to the young fella for putting a charge in New York. The game itself is just a showcase to highlight young stars who are doing some things. I tell you what though…when we all look back on this game some time from now, one name will be a glaring omission…Nikola Vucevic of the Philadelphia 76′ers. Trust me on that.

TNT will have exclusive live coverage of the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, Feb. 24, at 9 p.m. (ET). Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal will serve as team general managers. Kenny Smith will serve as the honorary commissioner of the game, while Steve Kerr and Mike Fratello serve as team coaches.

TNT will once again air exclusive live coverage of the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend from Orlando, Feb. 23-26.

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(Douglas Jones/US Presswire)

Chester native Jameer Nelson was inactive the last time the Orlando Magic faced the Philadelphia 76ers. Last night, Nelson more than accounted for his absence by scoring 12 points and a dishing out a career-high 14 assists as the Orlando Magic jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in a 103-87 victory over the visiting 76′ers.

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This Lin run is incredible. There are no holes in this story. It’s all real. Yes, there is a racial component that can’t be questioned, but his talent is stepping up and taking what is his. I’ll have more on Jeremy Lin’s basketball impact later today that includes a relative David Stern quote I got earlier this season.

Voting is open on NBA.com, NBA Facebook Page and Yahoo.com for next week’s Fan Night match-up that will air on Feb. 21. Fans can select between the following games: Detroit Pistons @ Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Hornets @ Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings @ Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers @ Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs @ Portland Trail Blazers.

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(AP Photos)

It wasn’t the laugher that it was two weeks ago, but a win nevertheless for the Sixers.

The last time these two teams met Bobcats head coach Paul Silas was tossed before the half and the game was over in the second period as the Sixers rocked the visiting Bobcats in front of a Friday night crowd that included Will and Jada Smith. Last night, among much less fanfare the Sixers took their show on the road and met a more competitive Bobcats squad but would still pull out the win 98-89.

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