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HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS -- It's crazy talk, we know.

But it's hard to ignore what rookie point guard Darren Collison is doing for the New Orleans Hornets while superstar point guard Chris Paul is out with an injury.

We're not suggesting there should be a point controversy upon Paul's return to the lineup. We're just wondering if there will be one ... someday?

After all, how much of Collison do you have to see before you realize that he could potentially be every bit as good as his more high-profile rookie classmates Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings and Ty Lawson?

Collison isn't the flashiest of this group but he might very well be the best true point guard of the bunch.

For all that the others have done this season, and each of them has had a standout moment that has captivated the masses (and in some cases several of those), only Collison has put together a 20-assist performance.

Collison joined Suns' All-Star and two-time MVP Steve Nash as the only point guards this season to pile up 20 assists, after working the Warriors over Monday night.

Toss in the fact that Collison has been an absolute warrior while Paul has struggled with injuries this season -- the rookie has played a mind-bending 40 or more minutes in 14 straight games -- and it's hard to see this man returning to the bench for anyone, even a New Orleans icon like Paul.

We fully understand that raising the question has probably cost us our comfy seat at the table in some of our favorite haunts in the Big Easy -- goodbye corner table at Commander's Palace.

We know it's blasphemy to utter anything that might question the position of Paul, who we agree is arguably the most dynamic point guard of his generation and right behind Drew Brees on the list of beloved figures in a city with lover overflowing.

But we're willing to take that risk to speak freely.

Some news, notes quotes and an even an opinion or two from around the league (including the Mighty Mavericks keeping their streak alive, the Cavaliers reaching 50 wins without the King, a wild finish at Madison Square Garden and more):

Twelve and counting for Marion and the Mavs

Eddie Sekfo of the Dallas Morning News: "When a win streak reaches a dozen, sooner or later you're going to get a gimme. Make that 26 gimmes, as was the case Monday night. That's how many times Minnesota gave the ball away to the Mavericks, who happily took advantage with a whopping 32 points off turnovers that made a 125-112 victory seem all too casual at Target Center. The Mavericks should be preparing thank-you notes today for the Wolves. Five days earlier, they committed 22 turnovers in Dallas. The 26 on Monday were the most this season by a Mavericks opponent. "That helped a lot," coach Rick Carlisle said. "We weren't necessarily doing a great job of stopping them. But the turnovers and the points off turnovers were a big boost." The night, however, ended on a sour note as J.J. Barea stepped on Darko Milicic's foot with 2:29 left in the fourth quarter. Barea limped to the locker room. X-rays were negative, and Barea said, "I think it'll be OK" as he hobbled around the locker room. It couldn't put a damper on the winning streak, however. The run is tied for fifth-longest in franchise history, and it'll be another 11 days before they face a team with a winning record. Plus, their next four games are at home. In addition, nobody has been able to slow them offensively lately. They have averaged more than 116 points in the last four games. Shawn Marion had his biggest offensive night of the season with 29 points and added 14 points. And all nine Mavericks who suited up played and scored against the invisible Wolves' defense. "Offensively, I think we're in a pretty good groove with the small lineup," Dirk Nowitzki said. "Shawn's been in a groove slashing and scoring. So it's been fun. But we know small ball just isn't going to cut it in the long run against the big boys."

Shorthanded Cavs claw past Spurs for 50th win of season

Brian Windhorst of the Plain Dealer: "The 50th victory of the season for the Cavaliers had a significantly different feel than those than came before it. In some ways it may have been the most satisfying yet. The Cavs slipped past the streaking San Antonio Spurs, 97-95, Monday night on depth, surprising clutch free-throw shooting and Manu Ginobili's toe. They started the game without Shaquille O'Neal, who was somewhere resting his thumb, and LeBron James, who was on the bench resting everything. By four minutes into the second half, they were also without Antawn Jamison, whose role as leading scorer was cut short when he was forced from the game with soreness in the back of his left knee. He had 17 points before leaving and will have an MRI at the Cleveland Clinic on Tuesday. Jamison said he's experienced knee stiffness earlier in the season and was able to get rid of it with rest and treatment. He's hoping for the same this time and said he's planning on playing Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers. Whatever the outcome, the Cavs (50-15) didn't have him against a Spurs (36-25) team that was on a four-game winning streak, not showing any ill effects of not having injured star Tony Parker, and riding a white-hot Ginobili as he sizzled to 38 points. In short, things didn't look good. It appeared like the omens were sending the Cavs to their 10th straight loss when playing without James dating back three seasons. None of that even takes into account that Anthony Parker had to briefly leave the game with a dislocated finger and Mo Williams made huge free throws after aggravating a middle finger injury in the final seconds. "After Antawn went out, our guys could've dropped their heads," coach Mike Brown said. "They were pretty resilient and that was good to see."

Knicks turn wandering eye to Hawks' star Johnson

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News: "Joe Johnson is not on LeBron James' talent level, nor does he have the same global appeal. But Johnson stands alone in the 2010 free-agent class in that the All-Star shooting guard may be the most realistic option for the talent-starved Knicks. Johnson already has rejected a "max" deal with the Atlanta Hawks and has a good history with Mike D'Antoni. Plus Johnson's agent, Arn Tellem, is responsible for orchestrating the trading deadline deal for Tracy McGrady that freed up additional salary-cap space for the Knicks. Team president Donnie Walsh traded two first-round picks to Houston to finalize the deal and the feeling around the NBA is that Walsh never would have given up so many assets if he didn't have a good indication that one of the top free agents is strongly considering New York. "I don't think it's a reach to say that Arn could influence Joe's decisions," said a Hawks official. "There's nothing wrong with that. But we could still offer the most money." "Wink-wink" deals are against NBA rules, but they are next to impossible to prove and happen all the time. That doesn't mean the Knicks have such an agreement in place with Johnson. In fact, Johnson was clear last night that his preference is to sign with a ready-made team, which would seem to include Atlanta but not necessarily the Knicks. "I can't backtrack," Johnson said before the Hawks lost to the Knicks at the Garden. "I can't go into a situation like when I first got here to Atlanta." The Knicks have suffered through nine straight losing seasons but, unlike most team executives with cap space this summer, Walsh has enough money to sign two "max" players. Plan A, of course, is to sign James. But if that doesn't work out, the Knicks would gladly "settle" for Johnson and Toronto's Chris Bosh. "Maybe so for a guy who is considering coming here, maybe he would like for them to have another (max) player because that would attract some interest," Johnson said. "It's going to be a tough decision." Johnson added that he won't "base my decision on what LeBron does" and he also reminded reporters that he isn't ruling out re-signing with the Hawks."

Hang Time's Grizzlies hold off Nets

Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal: "The night began with Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins delivering sort of a public service announcement. He cautioned that the New Jersey Nets' status as the NBA's worst team record-wise didn't make them a collection of misfits whose spirit could be easily broken. The Nets have played better of late, making themselves anything but an easy out. Hollins -- and perhaps he was the only one among the 10,317 in FedExForum -- didn't look too surprised after the game extended beyond its halfway point. The Grizzlies' 21-point lead had all but evaporated. By the end of their 107-101 victory Monday night, the Griz had simply escaped the energetic Nets. "It would have been a really bad loss if it happened," Griz center Marc Gasol said. "We've got to get to the point mentally where we can close it out. If you get up by 20, you should want to win by 30." It took an all-out effort for the Griz to end an eight-game home losing streak without their starting power forward Zach Randolph. The team's leading scorer and rebounder sat out for the first time this season with a stiff back. Still, the Griz won the rebounding battle (52-45) and outscored the Nets in the paint (58-48) thanks in part to a rare explosion from the bench. The Grizzlies' reserves accounted for 31 points and 21 rebounds with rookies Sam Young and DeMarre Carroll each tossing in 10 points. The pair also combined for 15 rebounds. Rudy Gay and Mike Conley had 21 points apiece to lead the Griz, who ended the Nets' three-game road winning streak. "I don't know if they realized the magnitude of the losing streak with the lack of energy in the second half," Hollins said. "We just made enough plays to win."

Nuggets Martin will return this season

Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post: "The pain in Kenyon Martin's left knee was so bad Saturday, he couldn't play golf — "that's my plant leg" — so the Nuggets forward spent the sunny day indoors, instead golfing on a Nintendo Wii video game. The pain has persisted, and now Martin will miss an undetermined amount of time while undergoing platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy. He plans to return this season, although perhaps not until the NBA playoffs, the team announced Monday. Martin began the PRP therapy Monday. It's definitely a good news-bad news situation for the Nuggets (42-21), who rank third in the Western Conference. The good news is Martin won't require surgery on the knee, which is suffering from patella tendinitis. The bad news is the race in the West is tight and without Martin, the Nuggets will be without their "defensive quarterback," as coach George Karl calls him. "I think everybody's got to step up, everybody's got to take a stab at his position," said all-star forward Carmelo Anthony, whose team is 4-4 without Martin this season. "Sometimes, when Kenyon's out there, we can let him play his man straight up and we don't have to worry about anything. But now we all have to come together as a team and deal with that." According to the website of the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, where doctors have worked with Martin's knee, PRP therapy is "an 'autologous blood therapy' that uses a patient's own blood components to stimulate a healing response in damaged tissues. In response to an injury or tissue damage, your body naturally recruits platelets and white blood cells from the blood to initiate a healing response." Martin, 32, has undergone two microfracture knee surgeries in his 10-season NBA career. He is having one of his better seasons, averaging 11.8 points and 9.6 rebounds. "He completes (the Nuggets) as far as a team that can legitimately compete against the Lakers and for a title," Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan said."

Lakers are suddenly a team on the edge

Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times: "The Lakers were already sporting a different look Monday, with  Sasha Vujacic back on the court and  Ron Artest unveiling his second hairdo in two days. Even cosmetic changes were welcome for a team returning home following its first three-game losing streak in more than two years. Kobe Bryant described the Lakers as "upset" and "a little edgy," supporting his descriptors with a series of curt answers to reporters' questions. Asked if he was feeling better a day after stomach issues forced him to miss the team bus to Amway Arena in Orlando, Bryant said, "I'm getting a stomach virus now with all these questions." The Lakers all seemed a bit queasy after losing three consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 23-27, 2008. Coach Phil Jackson lamented his team's lack of execution, and forward Pau Gasol said the Lakers needed to improve their ball movement. Gasol had not previously experienced a losing streak this long since joining the Lakers in February 2008, but he said their recent defeats weren't as vexing as the defending NBA champions' inability to play to their potential. "That's what's disappointing and frustrating," Gasol said. "That's why I want us to get ourselves going and playing well and being confident and having that swagger of the best team in the league, and lately we haven't been carrying that with us." Bryant had a more succinct explanation for his team's recent struggles. "The game in Miami, the game in Charlotte, we didn't play hard," he said. "Against Orlando, we just lost to a good ballclub. It's as simple as that." Veteran guard Derek Fisher said injuries have also contributed to the Lakers' woes, and that's one area where the team could see immediate improvement. Vujacic, who has been sidelined since Feb. 18 because of a sprained right shoulder, practiced and could play Tuesday night at Staples Center against the Toronto Raptors. "He looks OK," Jackson said. "His shot's a little short still and he's still working through that. I think he's ready to play." Although a loss Tuesday would give the Lakers their first four-game losing streak since April 2007, Fisher forecast brighter days ahead. "I know there's been a lot of rain in L.A., but it's not our fault," he said. "The sky is not falling."