NBA Recap – Week Ending January 20, 2013

A%20perfect%204-0%20this%20week%20without%20Chris%20Paul%20for%20a%20few%20games%20as%20Jamal%20Crawford%20stepped-up%20as%20expected.%20Clippers%20face%20the%20Thunder%20this%20week%20to%20see%20who%20will%20get%20the%20top%20spot%20for%20next%20week%26%238217%3Bs%20rankings.%20%28Photo%20by%20Andrew%20D.%20Bernstein%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

When%20Kevin%20Durant%20shoots%2C%20it%E2%80%99s%20still%20a%20minor%20shock%20if%20he%20misses.%20He%20dropped%2052%20in%20an%20an%20OT%20win%20over%20the%20Mavs%20and%20has%20become%20unstoppable%20with%20his%20range%20and%20length%20to%20get%20to%20the%20hole%20almost%20unaffected%20by%20defense.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Harry%20How%2FGetty%20Images%29

Four%20comfortable%20wins%20this%20week%2C%20even%20when%20sitting%20Duncan%20against%20the%20Hawks.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Kevin%20C.%20Cox%2FGetty%20Images%29

LeBron%20James%20hides%20a%20lot%20of%20the%20weaknesses%20of%20his%20team%20as%20his%20presence%20makes%20everyone%20on%20his%20team%20better.%20The%20Heat%20quietly%20destroyed%20the%20Lakers%20with%2039%20points%2C%207%20rebounds%20and%208%20assists.%20%28Photo%20by%20Rocky%20Widner%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Knicks%20won%20its%20sole%20game%20of%20the%20week%20over%20the%20Pistons%20in%20London.%20Iman%20Shumpert%E2%80%99s%20return%20was%20welcomed.%20Marcus%20Camby%20is%20out%20after%20missing%20much%20of%20the%20season%20and%20Rasheed%20Wallace%20is%20feared%20to%20be%20out%20as%20well.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Nathaniel%20S.%20Butler%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

NEW%20YORK%2C%20NY%20%26%238211%3B%20JANUARY%2018%3A%20Deron%20Williams%20%238%20of%20the%20Brooklyn%20Nets%20%20backs%20up%20to%20the%20basket%20against%20the%20Atlanta%20Hawks%20at%20the%20Barclays%20Center%20on%20JaAnother%20showdown%20with%20the%20Knicks%20on%20MLK%20Day.%20No%20real%20superstar%20with%20Deron%20Williams%20and%20Joe%20Johnson%20not%20playing%20their%20best%2C%20but%20the%20Nets%20are%20one%20of%20the%20most%20complete%20teams%20with%20a%20strong%20bench%20%26%238211%3B%20almost%20as%20good%20as%20the%20Clippers%E2%80%99.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ned%20Dishman%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

One%20of%20the%20worst%20offensive%20teams%20breaks%20down%20opponents%20with%20its%20tough%20defense%20and%20rebounding.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Ron%20Hoskins%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Nuggets%20are%20always%20a%20threat%20to%20run%20and%20gun%20on%20any%20opponent%2C%20evidenced%20by%20a%20121-118%20OT%20win%20over%20the%20Thunder.%20Unfortunately%2C%20not%20surprised%20at%20their%20loss%20to%20the%20Wizards%20two%20nights%20before.%20%28Photo%20by%20Doug%20Pensinger%2FGetty%20Images%29

Zach%20Randolph%20missed%20one%20game%20with%20a%20lower%20back%20strain%2C%20but%20returned%20to%20power%20a%20win%20over%20the%20Bulls%20with%2013%20points%20and%2019%20rebounds.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jonathan%20Daniel%2FGetty%20Images%29

Bulls%20stole%20a%20win%20in%20OT%20from%20the%20Celtics%20100-99%20with%20an%20off-balance%20shot%20by%20Marco%20Bellinelli%2C%20but%20karma%20caught%20up%20in%20an%20OT%20loss%20to%20the%20Grizzlies.%20Joakim%20Noah%20was%20also%20benched%20for%20over%2020%20minutes%20down%20the%20stretch%20in%20the%20Grizz%20game.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Brian%20Babineau%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Steph%20Curry%20missed%20two%20games%20this%20week%20with%20an%20ankle%20injury%20and%20scored%2020%20in%20his%20return%20over%20the%20Hornets%2C%20but%20Klay%20Thompson%20was%20the%20star%20with%2029%20points.%28Photo%20by%20Layne%20Murdoch%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Brandon%20Jennings%20is%20making%20a%20mad%20push%20to%20be%20tapped%20for%20the%20all-star%20game%20playing%20the%20best%20of%20his%20career%2C%20highlighted%20with%2030%20points%20and%208%20assists%20in%20a%20win%20over%20the%20Blazers.%20%28Photo%20by%20Sam%20Forencich%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Unexpected%20production%20from%20a%20lot%20of%20different%20players%20as%20an%20example%20in%20Cavs%20win%3A%20Randy%20Foye%20%2820%20points%29%20and%20Derrick%20Favors%20%2819%20rebounds%29%20and%20Earl%20Watson%20%28nine%20assists%29.%20%28Photo%20by%20Melissa%20Majchrzak%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Slumping%20to%20a%202-8%20record%20in%20their%20last%20ten%20games%2C%20they%20also%20lost%20a%20great%20bench%20player%20in%20Lou%20Williams%20for%20the%20season%20with%20a%20torn%20ACL.%20Head%20coach%20Larry%20Drew%E2%80%99s%20contract%20expires%20soon%20and%20he%20needs%20a%20good%20playoff%20showing%20to%20maintain%20his%20job%20under%20new%20GM%2C%20Danny%20Ferry.%20%28Photo%20by%20Kevin%20C.%20Cox%2FGetty%20Images%29

Rockets%20have%20been%20trying%20to%20get%20a%20big%20force%20down%20low%20since%20Yao%20Ming%20retired%20and%20first%20looked%20to%20Pau%20Gasol%2C%20then%20Dwight%20Howard.%20Now%2C%20rumor%20has%20it%20the%20Rockets%20are%20seeking%20a%20trade%20for%20Grizzlies%20Zach%20Randolph.%20%28Photo%20by%20Danny%20Bollinger%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

After%20beating%20the%20Heat%2C%20the%20Trail%20Blazers%20are%20in%20the%20midst%20of%20a%20five-game%20losing%20streak.%20On%20the%20bright%20side%2C%20most%20of%20the%20losses%20%28except%20Cavs%29%20have%20been%20to%20top%20teams.%20%28Photo%20by%20Sam%20Forencich%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

No%20one%20may%20care%20right%20about%20now%2C%20since%20the%20New%20England%20Patriots%20just%20lost%20the%20AFC%20Championship%2C%20except%20Doc%20Rivers%20who%20after%20Boston%20lost%20to%20the%20Pistons%20during%20its%20current%20three-game%20losing%20streak%20said%20changes%20will%20be%20made.%20%28Photo%20by%20Brian%20Babineau%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

MINNEAPOLIS%2C%20MN%20%26%238211%3B%20JANUARY%2019%3A%20Chris%20Johnson%20%2320%20of%20the%20Minnesota%20Timberwolves%20Unheralded%20center%20Chris%20Johnson%20scored%2015%20points%20off%20the%20bench%20in%20his%20Twolves%20debut%20and%20won%20over%20the%20Rockets%20to%20stop%20a%20five-game%20skid.%20%28Photo%20by%20David%20Sherman%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Vince%20Carter%2C%20the%20almost%2036%20year-old%2C%20has%20been%20recently%20revitalized%20topping%20his%2029%20points%20in%20a%20losing%20effort%20to%20the%20Thunder%20with%20a%20dunk%20over%20Serge%20Ibaka.%20Another%20vet%2C%20Shawn%20Marion%2C%20also%20had%20a%20flashback%20with%2020%20points%20in%20a%20win%20over%20Orlando.%20%28Photo%20by%20Glenn%20James%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Just%20like%20Jennings%20with%20the%20Bucks%2C%20Jrue%20Holiday%20is%20pushing%20for%20an%20all-star%20roster%20spot%20dropping%2030%2C%2029%2C%20and%2033%20in%20his%20last%20three%20games%20that%20included%20two%20wins.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jesse%20D.%20Garrabrant%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Low%20point%20of%20a%20never%E2%80%93ending%20litany%20of%20low%20milestones%20this%20season%20may%20be%20the%20road%20loss%20this%20past%20week%20to%20the%20Raptors%20that%20Dwight%20Howard%20was%20thrown%20out%20of%20for%20two%20techs.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ron%20Turenne%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Rookie%20Andre%20Drummond%20is%20posting%20good%20numbers%20and%20led%20a%20win%20over%20the%20C%E2%80%99s%20with%2016%20points%20and%207%20rebounds%2C%20despite%20claims%20from%20teammate%20Tayshaun%20Prince%20that%20he%20is%20not%20a%20good%20practice%20player.%20%28Photo%20by%20Nathaniel%20S.%20Butler%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Landry%20Fields%20scored%20a%20season-high%2018%20points%20in%20a%20defeat%20of%20the%20Lakers.%20But%20the%20best%20news%20was%20that%20injured%20players%20Andrea%20Bargnani%20and%20rookie%20Jonas%20Valanciunas%20are%20soon%20to%20return.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ron%20Turenne%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Hornets%20lost%20their%20last%20game%20of%20the%20week%20to%20the%20Warriors%20%28116-112%29%2C%20but%20put%20up%20a%20good%20effort%20and%20are%206-4%20in%20their%20last%20ten%20%26%238211%3B%20including%20this%20week%E2%80%99s%20blowout%20wins%20over%20the%20Sixers%20and%20Celtics.%20%28Photo%20by%20Layne%20Murdoch%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Kings%20may%20be%20Seattle-bound%20as%20team%20owners%20are%20seeking%20a%20sale%20after%20years%20of%20financial%20turmoil.%20In%20the%20meantime%2C%20DeMarcus%20Cousins%20is%20its%20best%20asset%20on%20the%20trading%20block%2C%20but%20a%20trade%20is%20unlikely%20until%20any%20new%20ownership%20is%20resolved.%20%28Photo%20by%20Layne%20Murdoch%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

As%20per%20the%20Magic%20this%20year%2C%20they%20lost%20to%20the%20Wizards%20and%20bounced%20back%20with%20a%20win%20over%20the%20Pacers%2C%20but%20then%20lost%20to%20the%20Bobcats.%20%28Photo%20by%20Fernando%20Medina%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Another%20mid-season%20coaching%20change%20saw%20Alvin%20Gentry%20step%20down%20as%20it%20was%20a%20mutual%20decision%20that%20it%20was%20not%20working%20with%20the%20guy%20who%20led%20the%20team%20to%20the%202010%20Western%20Conference%20Finals.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Christian%20Petersen%2FGetty%20Images%29

DC%20should%20look%20forward%20to%20the%20back-court%20of%20the%20future%20in%20John%20Wall%20and%20rookie%20Bradley%20Beal.%20%28Photo%20by%20Noah%20Graham%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Number%202%20overall%20pick%20Michael%20Kidd-Gilchrist%20and%20his%20complimentary%20style%20of%20play%20has%20not%20taken%20root%20in%20a%20team%20full%20of%20complimentary%20players.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Fernando%20Medina%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29