As far as on the court, Del Harris was supposed to take the wheel of what, as promised, has turned into one of the most intriguing teams in the league, but he handed off to Donn Nelson. Just when you thought the story couldn't get any more interesting -- team striding toward the playoffs as the coach battles the Big C and all that. Now, the coach is replaced by his son. That was the way it was once supposed to be on a permanent basis, but Sidney Moncrief has since been anointed the eventual successor and Donn appeared to have lost his place in line. Then, suddenly, another chance to impress, here or somewhere.

Being low key and loyal, he's not trying to make it an audition. Harris' move didn't shock those who know him best -- selfless, they call it -- just as continued success by the Mavericks in what could be a trying emotional time will not be a surprise here. They'll still have Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley and Steve Nash, right?

	Strickland

These are not his mistakes, but he knew that signing on for the job meant inheriting them and, more pointedly, dealing with them. Maybe in February, when a salary-cap technicality will make it slightly easier to trade Rod Strickland, slightly easier being the operative phrase since, contract aside, he'll still be trying to move a guy who acts like Rod Strickland. This week was a reminder of that.

That forever night in Salt Lake City with the hellacious flu and defenders running at him and momentum in a championship series in the balance was a walk in the park compared to pulling the Wizards out of this nosedive. It won't happen this season. In other words, now we're talking real gridlock in Washington.

	Webber

He said nothing will happen until the offseason. Then every time the Celtics spiral downward some more, it can't help but raise speculation that Pitino won't wait that long to reach for the ripcord.

	Snow

The encouraging thing for the 76ers is they have already lived with so many distractions -- injuries, rap albums, coaching breaks --and did more than survive. The challenge now is to get their rhythm back at home. Getting Eric Snow -- the heart of the team, even if Iverson is the headlines -- back from a fractured ankle, in mid-January at the earliest, is key. Plenty of time for the long playoff run that will follow.

It's not just luck, of course. Portland has re-asserted itself, or at least reminded everyone else of what could be, after the labored start, beating the Lakers and Jazz on the road in consecutive games. They're baaaaaaack. It was such a good week that we almost don't have the heart to remind them of the upcoming stretch, beginning Jan. 8, in which nine of 12 games are on the road, including two trips east in slightly more than two weeks. If they're still standing at the all-star break, they're trouble for the long term. And if they're not standing, Paul Allen will sell a few shares and buy them all new legs.