Yeah, the small-ball lineup didn't work out too well, but how could it when the Pistons check in at 27th in tempo? If you can put Iverson, Rip Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey and Tayshaun Prince on the floor at the same time, don't walk the ball down the floor.

Oh, you're subscribing to that old-time Pistons doctrine of strict defenses, modest pace and offensive structure? Well, Curry's first team is a robust 23rd in offensive rating. It's not a good idea to be slow and inefficient; it's just boring.

Under Triano, Toronto is 8-19. At least Triano (who's been abetted by enough injuries to require tire rotation on the team gurney) is making it easy for GM Bryan Colangelo to eliminate him from full-time consideration.

It seemingly took Vinny and his veteran assistants a while to notice they have no inside game and a penetrate-and-dish philosophy might be the way to go.

The Bulls used to employ a pretty good coach who probably would have seemed a lot wiser if GM John Paxson had drafted LaMarcus Aldridge and not traded Tyson Chandler for Ben Wallace.

In case you hadn't noticed, NBA players have a tough time respecting anyone. So finding an ex-player for current players to rally around can be a waste of time if that ex-player can't put the current players in a better position to succeed.

The Good

But squeezing toward .500 is an accomplishment considering how the Knicks' big thinkers cleared eventual cap room by trading D'Antoni's top two scorers.

If McHale is allowed to continue making hiring decisions, he might consider keeping himself on the bench.

Spoelstra must be a genius, right? Well, he hasn't alienated his players and it doesn't hurt that Dwyane Wade is back at full strength. The rookie coach also has benefited by the play of rookies Mario Chalmers and Michael Beasley.

The Wait-and-See Crowd

Brooks had the wisdom to put Kevin Durant at small forward where he belongs (especially in defensive matchups) and hand the rock to rookie point guard Russell Westbrook.

We'll know more about Ed Tapscott's coaching chops (8-22 so far) when Gilbert Arenas returns.

Mo and his young, bouncy players failed to figure out how to play with big free-agent ticket Elton Brand, whose presence slowed the Sixers down into a half-court style they weren't very good at.

The recent run of success has occurred during Brand's injury. We'll see if DiLeo can keep the Sixers playing fast and winning with Brand and his offensive-touch requirements back in uniform.