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The Houston Rockets possess that rare chemistry that makes their sum greater than their parts.

Q: Dirk Nowitzki was suspended for taking out Andrei Kirilenko with a bad foul. Why not make players sit out the next time they play the team they hurt? Rockets get to play a Dirk-less Dallas. Jazz lose Kirilenko for multiple games.
— Tracy L. Branch, Salt Lake City

A: It is an interesting idea and falls in the "life is not fair" category. Yes, the Jazz was hurt in theory, even though they played better that week without Kirilenko. It's the vagaries of a long season. If someone deserves a penalty, they should serve the penalty immediately. Things happen and we like to think they even out. What was more interesting in that case is the intimidation I still see among referees about Mark Cuban because he is always reporting them. I believe all his whining does pay off. Nowitzki should have been ejected in that game, but I felt the referees were intimidated by Cuban even though the game was in Utah. I felt he had the same effect in the Spurs series a few years ago when they went to the Finals. He reports referees and has former refs on his staff filing reports to the NBA, and the NBA allows it, which I think makes refs hesitant to make major decisions against the Mavs. I thought that was another case.

Q: I've noticed that since the Mike Bibby trade, Josh Smith’s production has slowed considerably, at least in the statistical sense. Do you believe that this trade has adversely impacted his role in the team?
— J.L., Perth, Australia

A: Well, they have been awful since then when we thought they'd be better. Bibby does hang onto the ball a long time, which takes Smith out of it some. But Smith played too selfishly often, which is epidemic on that Atlanta team, which has a lot of athletes playing for themselves. They should be better.

Q: If Dallas doesn't make the playoffs, who is going to go? I can't imagine Mark Cuban will sit quietly if his blockbuster trade doesn't get him a conference finals appearance, no matter how tough the West is.
— Stewart Wedge, San Antonio

A: Yes, they'd be in panic mode, but I don't see them missing the playoffs. They do have a major adjustment to make as they've been an isolation team and the scorers are getting the ball in different position and not able to survey the defense and go with Kidd handling the ball so much. They have enough to make the playoffs, but like everyone in the West, they'll be sweating the first round. With their long term deals and general limitations on players other than Howard and Nowitzki, they don't have many moves to make.

Q: I notice Steve Nash is closing in on 12,000 points and 7,000 assists. Who else belongs to this club?
— D. Allen Guthrie, Montreal

A: I've never heard much of that club, which Jason Kidd is in but with many others. Obviously, it's the young point guards who should get there with Deron Williams and Chris Paul. I don't know about Tony Parker as he shoots too much.

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