When you ask yourself, “Is D-Wade back?” and if that question isn’t answered after his Olympic performance last summer, it should be answered watching this dunk of Emeka Okafor. Absolutely sick.

Last night the draft took place, and outside of the Grizzlies getting OJ Mayo, who was originally drafted by the T’Wolves, for Kevin Love, there wasn’t a whole ton of surprise. Here’s a recap of the Top 10.

1.) Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose: This thing was done the moment they landed the No. 1 pick. It’s his hometown, he was the best player in March, and it all made sense. What happens to Kirk Heinrich is up in the air, but this guy will be a star in this league for a long, long time.

2.) Miami Heat, Michael Beasley: Beasley with Marion and D’Wade? Not bad. Not bad at all.

3.) Minnesota T’Wolves, OJ Mayo: He was traded for Kevin Love.

4.) Seattle Supersonics Russell Westbrook: This is the guy I felt would be the steal of the draft, but at the No. 4 spot, is he still a steal? Regardless, he’s going to play lockdown D on anyone that’s got a ball in front of him. Great pick.

5.) Memphis Grizzlies, Kevin Love: Traded for OJ.

6.) New York Knicks, Danilo Gallinari: He’s an Italian guy, one I don’t know much about, but those European players are either great or they bust. The bad news? There’s not many people coming from Europe that play defense, something the Knicks really, really lack.

7.) LA Clippers, Eric Gordon: The one-year Indiana star. We’ll see how he does with the big boys.

8.) Milwaukee Bucks, Joe Alexander: He’s 6′8″, 220 pounds, and they just acquired Richard Jefferson. Where does that put Alexander on the roster?

9.) Charlotte Bobcats, DJ Augustin: Say goodbye to Raymond Felton.

10.) New Jersey Nets, Brook Lopez: Ric Smits, maybe?

I don’t know enough about players who were in college for one year, so I won’t attempt to make a mock draft that will only belittle my sports knowledge. But I will link you here, where ESPN has their 2008 NBA Mock Draft.

While I won’t make my own list, I will ask a couple of questions about this one.

• First and foremost, how in the hell do the Bulls have the No. 1 overall pick? There’s been conspiracy talk for years, and my God, just let us see the freaking ping pong balls drawn. That way, when a team that was supposed get No. 9 actually gets No. 1, we don’t feel like we’re being Tim Donaghy’ed.
• That said, the Bulls have to take Michael Beasley. Derrick Rose will probably be the best player, but they just re-signed Kirk Heinrich to a five year deal.
• Which means, in short, the Heat won, because they’re going to take Rose, and he and Dwyane Wade — barring the guy can stay healthy for a year — will be totally sick.
• No. 3 pick, Brook Lopez. Say hello to Darko Milicic.
• OJ Mayo to Minnesota? The guy will be the worst pick in the NBA Draft. He’s got no sense of what a team is, and he’s one of those guys that will never realize that athleticism will only carry you all the way in high school.
• If the LA Clippers get Russell Westbrook with the seventh pick, they’ll get the steal of the draft.
• Kevin Love to the Bobcats: Charlotte just keeps wanting to add to their list of big name college players that just don’t pan out. Sean May got fat. Love already is fat. May not be the best selection.
• DJ Augustin to the Pacers would fit nicely with Jermaine O’Neal.
• Roy Hibbert to Utah makes more sense than anything, given that Utah plays slow and, well, Roy Hibbert is really slow.

Mike D’Antoni, former coach of the great Suns and current coach of the sorry Knicks, has officially entered purgatory, as he was announced as the Knicks coach today.

“I will adapt what I do. Now I like to play fast, move the ball and all that stuff, and we’ll try to do that as best as we can,” D’Antoni said Tuesday. “Obviously you’re going to be a little slower than [the Suns], but at the same time there’s no reason why you can’t run, be exciting and have good ball movement.

“There’s 30 teams out there all with the same goal in the off-season, and that’s to make the playoffs. And I can’t think of a better team to be with than the Knicks.”

You can’t think of one, Mike? Let me help: San Antonio, Golden State, the Lakers — hell, the Clippers — the Heat, the Hawks, the Celtics, the Bucks, the Cavs, the Bobcats, the Grizzlies, Duke, Alabama, the Bruins. . . .

Charlotte Bobcats 107, Indiana Pacers 103: This probably isn’t the highlight of everyone’s NBA Saturday, but it was mine. With the Hawks gripping a two game lead in the East for the final playoff spot, their last three games are against Boston, Orlando, and Miami. Indiana, who’s two games back, has Charlotte at home, at Washington, and New York at home to close the season. The Hawks lost to Boston, and beating Orlando will be tough. Thankfully, though, Indiana seems to be worse down the stretch than the lowly Hawks. The Pacers had Charlotte at home, a perfect opportunity to gain one on the Hawks, and choked it up. Danny Granger had 37 points for the Pacers, but it wasn’t enough to stop a well balanced Bobcats team (that almost sounds like an oxy-moron), who were led by Jason Richardson’s 26 points. Jermaine O’Neal played 20 minutes for the Pacers, getting seven points and five rebounds. The Hawks magic number is now down to one.

Boston Celtics 99, Hawks 89: When you look at their final three games, and figure how they’re going to clinch, you don’t really chalk this one up as a W. I’m a Hawks fan, and I’ve been stuck with many, many years of terrible teams, so this year I’m not getting any hopes up for the playoffs; that said, I can’t blame them for losing to a team that has far better talent and players. All five Hawks players scored in double digits, led by Joe Johnson’s 21, but KG had 24 points for the Celtics, and Sam Cassell came off the bench to add 20. It was Boston’s 64th win of the season.

Denver Nuggets 97, Utah Jazz 124: A couple of days ago, Denver had a two game lead after beating the Warriors. A couple of days later, their tied with the Warriors, and what was looking like their playoff spot to be had suddenly looks like something they’re losing their grip on. It was a three point Jazz lead at the half, but Utah outscored Denver 62-38 in the second half, showing why they’re one of the best teams in the NBA when they’re playing at home. Carlos Boozer, Ronnie Brewer, Mehmet Okur all finished with 20 points for the Jazz, and Deron Williams finished with 19. Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson combined to score 50 points in the losing effort.

New Orleans Hornets 91, Sacramento Kings 94: The loss puts the Lakers and Hornets tied for first, and the Spurs are only half a game back. I can’t remember the last time three teams were this close to winning the West this far into the season, but it’s making the NBA season fun to watch.

LA Clippers 116, Golden State Warriors 122: Read above about the Warriors and Nuggets: They’re now tied for eighth place, though Denver does take the tiebreaker. Let me ask you this: If you’re LA, New Orleans, or San Antonio, and you finish first in the West, who would you rather play: The Warriors, who beat the Mavs in Round 1 last year, or the Nuggets, who often choke in the playoffs?

Phoenix Suns 96, San Antonio Spurs 79: I wouldn’t look at this game as what would happen should the two meet in the first round (it’s a good possibility they will), only because San Antonio seems to step it up about ten notches once in the playoffs. With that said, the Suns absolutely pummeled. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker combined for 43 points, but the rest of the Spurs team scored only 36. Shaq had 16 points and nine rebounds, hopefully justifying some of the many, many millions that he receives annually. Six Suns players scored in double digits, led by Amare Stoudemire’s 21.

New Orleans Hornets 122, Minnesota T’Wolves 90: After a horrible shooting night two days ago, the Hornets found their cure: Play the T’Wolves. The Hornets shot 56 percent from the field, just under 50 percent from beyond the arch, and were led by seemingly everybody. Chris Paul had 19 points and an average — only what Chris Paul would consider average — 16 assists.

Milwaukee Bucks 93, Toronto Raptors 111: Chris Bosh had 32 points and 11 rebounds, helping Toronto avoid a four-game losing streak. The Raptors are still in seventh place, which sets them up to play Detroit in Round 1 of the playoffs.

Charlotte Bobcats 107, New York Knicks 109: The Knicks have won three straight! Quick, extend Isiah’s contract!

With no football games, it’s hard to gamble, so, thankfully, we can throw our money away on NBA games that can really go either way. But it’s entertaining, right? And, in short, that’s the main reason we gamble. We don’t do it to win or lose — we do it because it takes an otherwise boring chunk of the night and becomes very, very entertaining, even if the entertainment is accompanied with many hours of grief afterwards. Enjoy my picks. I’m the best.

Last Night: 2-1
On the Season: 43-41-1

Tonight’s Games:

Charlotte Bobcats (+11) @ Toronto Raptors: Picking Charlotte doesn’t mean by any stretch of the imagination that I’m picking a winner. But the Raptors have struggled, and 11 points seems a bit high. Raptors win, ‘Cats cover.

Philadelphia 76′ers (+2) @ Atlanta Hawks: I hope the Hawks win. I always do when I make these picks. But they’ve beaten up on bad teams, they’ve won five straight, and when you’re an Atlanta fan, you know five straight is about three too many. The streak ends. Points are nice, but Sixers in an upset.

New York Knicks @ New Orleans Hornets (-15.5): It’s been a while since I’ve seen a spread this high and taken it. But we’ve all seen the Knicks, which should be enough said.

New Jersey Nets (+10) @ Detroit Pistons: Take the points.

Dallas Mavericks (+6) @ LA Lakers: Every time these two teams play, the game is close. Look for another OT thriller. Mavs win.

With no football games, it’s hard to gamble, so, thankfully, we can throw our money away on NBA games that can really go either way. But it’s entertaining, right? And, in short, that’s the main reason we gamble. We don’t do it to win or lose — we do it because it takes an otherwise boring chunk of the night and becomes very, very entertaining, even if the entertainment is accompanied with many hours of grief afterwards. Enjoy my picks. I’m the best.

How I’m doing:

Last Night: 2-2
On the Season: 38-38-1
It seems I’m doing well not winning and not losing, doesn’t it?

Tonight’s Games:

Toronto Raptors (-2) @ Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks struggle against good teams, and though not great, the Raptors are solid. I hope I’m wrong — believe me — but I just don’t see it happening for Atlanta.

Indiana Pacers @ Boston Celtics (-10): The only way this doesn’t hit is if Paul, Ray and KG all go down, and Sam Cassell transfers back to LA. Otherwise, you’re in the clear.

Golden State Warriors (+6) @ Dallas Mavericks: This game is like the playoffs right now. And we know what happens when Golden State and Dallas meet in those type of games.

New Orleans Hornets (-11) @ Miami Heat: It’s rare in the NBA that you find a road team favored by double digits. It’s also rare in the NBA to find a roster that looks like Miami’s.

Cleveland Cavaliers (-2) @ Charlotte Bobcats: Hard not to bet on a team when they’re barely favored over the Bobcats, and they’ve got LeBron James.

Miami Heat 85, Indiana Pacers 105: If you look at Miami’s schedule the rest of the year, they’ve got one game where they may be favorites, when Memphis strolls into town April 11. Beyond that, they’ll probably be ‘dogs, and rightfully so. It’s hard to imagine how a team that won a championship two years ago, had one of the best big men and best young stars in the league, has come to this, but numbers don’t lie: 13 wins.

Toronto Raptors 104, Charlotte Bobcats 100: The win helped Toronto snag onto the sixth spot in the East, jumping the Sixers, which would ultimately help them avoid playing Detroit in the first round. Chris Bosh scored 32 points and grabbed eight boards, helping the Raptors get back on track.

Atlanta Hawks 116, Memphis Grizzlies 99: The Hawks are clinging to the eight-spot in the East, with the Nets breathing down their necks, and what better way to cling than playing the Knicks and Grizzlies in back-to-back games? That easy streak is about to end, though: Of their remaining eight games, five games come against Philadelphia (twice), Orlando, Boston, and Toronto.

Washington Wizards 87, Utah Jazz 129: The Jazz shot 59 percent from the floor, and nailed 15 three-pointers in their rout of the Wizards. Seven Jazz players scored in double figures, led by CJ Miles 29 point effort.

Denver Nuggets 117, Phoenix Suns 132: The Suns were down by 18 at the half, and trailed by as many as 22, but rallied on the back of Amare Stoudemire’s 41 point effort. ‘Melo and AI were a combined 16-37 from the field.

Dallas Mavericks 93, LA Clippers 86: Jason Kidd finally got something going on offense, scoring 27 points but only managed four assists. Dallas sits in the seven-spot of the West right now, gripping onto a one-game lead over the ninth-place Nuggets.

With no football games, it’s hard to gamble, so, thankfully, we can throw our money away on NBA games that can really go either way. But it’s entertaining, right? And, in short, that’s the main reason we gamble. We don’t do it to win or lose — we do it because it takes an otherwise boring chunk of the night and becomes very, very entertaining, even if the entertainment is accompanied with many hours of grief afterwards. Enjoy my picks. I’m the best.

Last Night: 4-2
On the Season: 33-33-1

Detroit Pistons (-1) @ Toronto Raptors: Raps have been struggling. Pistons are good. Take Detroit.

Milwaukee Bucks (+7) @ Atlanta Hawks: I like the Hawks to win, but take the gift seven and the Bucks.

Miami Heat @ New York Knicks (-7): It’s a hard bet to take. I know. Just swallow and do it. Because betting the Heat will be even worse.

Phoenix Suns @ Boston Celtics (-5): Boston just dropped one at home to the Sixers, so I figure they can’t possibly lose two in a row. Lay the five, C’s cover.

Minnesota T’Wolves @ Houston Rockets (-11): Minnesota, on the road, against one of the better teams in the NBA. Rockets cruise.

Charlotte Bobcats @ LA Lakers (-11): See above.