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Who's Up

Gilbert Arenas' aggressive play has helped Washington weather Larry Hughes' absence. AP

Gilbert Arenas, Wizards

Maybe it's the upcoming All-Star Game -- or more shots created by the absence of Larry Hughes. Whatever the case, he has pumped in 30 or more points in eight of his last 12 games through Thursday, including two 43-point explosions. Overall during that span Arenas has averaged 30.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists to help lead Washington to a 7-5 mark. Oddly, his scoring binge began one night after a three-point, 0-for-12 dud against the Spurs on Jan. 17. Talk about putting a bad day behind you.

Who's Down

Carlos Boozer, Jazz

The former Duke forward who bolted Cleveland to sign a six-year $68-million free-agent deal in Utah last summer is slumping. He hasn't had a double-double since Jan. 23 vs. the Sonics, and is averaging a modest 9.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists over his last six games through Thursday. Cruiser, er, Boozer has even found himself on the bench in the fourth quarter of some recent games. "Some nights he's acted like he didn't care that much," owner Larry Miller told the Deseret News. Cleveland fans must be feeling really bad about it, too.

E-mail Question Of The Week

The NBA has more teams than ever. Isn't an increase in the number of players picked for the All-Star Game a solution to deserving players being left off? Allowing only 12 players per team is too small a number. I'd like to see the league up the number of All-Stars per conference to 15 or 16. What do you think?
  -- Tony Malak, Detroit

I'm not in favor of expanding the All-Star rosters, Tony. Even if there were 15 or 16 players, there would be an argument about who gets left off. Besides, the All-Star coaches already have enough trouble finding time for 12 players. Guys such as Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter are going to put on a far better show if they get a chance to break a sweat and get into a flow. They can't do that if they're constantly rotating in and out of the game for substitutions.

Grudge Match Of The Week

Nuggets at Nets, Sun., Feb. 13

Kenyon Martin returns to New Jersey for the first time since forcing the sign-and-trade last summer that led to the breakup of the Nets' NBA Finals core. In the teams' first meeting, Nov. 23 at Denver, K-Mart had 22 points, 12 rebounds and six assists to help lead the Nuggets to a 90-88 victory. What kind of reception will Martin get from New Jersey fans? Will there be enough fans there to make a difference?

Move We'd Like To See

Antoine Walker to the Sixers

It's one of just many trade rumors involving the Hawks' veteran forward, but it makes some sense. The Sixers need another scorer to take pressure off Allen Iverson, and Walker liked playing under coach Jim O'Brien in Boston. In the last year of his contract, he might just be willing to rebound, defend and share the ball for a chance to show his wares on the playoff stage. By sending a young player like Kyle Korver or Willie Green to the Hawks, along with Glenn Robinson's expiring contract and maybe a draft pick or two, Philadelphia could get a player to push them over the top in the Atlantic Division.

The List

Reggie Miller's announcement Thursday that he planned to retire at the end of the 2004-05 season means he will end his career as the second-longest tenured player with the same team. Players who spent the most seasons with the same NBA franchise:

1. John Stockton, Jazz 19
2. Reggie Miller, Pacers 18
3. Karl Malone, Jazz 18
4. Hakeem Olajuwon, Rockets 17
5. John Havlicek, Celtics 16
6. Dolph Schayes, Syracuse/Philadelphia 16