Marc Stein: Hello, all. One week to go and I'm sure you want to know who I'm voting for as my MVP. Me, too. I'm going to need the next week to figure it out, so let's get that established from the start.

Ron (McKinney, Texas): So, Marc, I see you have dropped the Spurs to #4. It's obvious to anyone watching the team that, for whatever reason, they're not finishing the season as in years past. The interior defense is poor, the rebounding is poor, the free throw shooting is poor (OK, maybe that's the same). What hope do Spurs fans have that Pop will pull a rabbit out of his hat these last two weeks and make the team resemble last year's finely tuned machine by the time the playoffs roll around?

SportsNation Marc Stein: Two things. No. 1: There are no back-to-back games in the playoffs, which has been a major problem. No. 2: Unlike Miami, we know what this group is capable of. The core is title-tested and they've only added to it. That offsets some of the health concerns. Even in this banged-up state, San Antonio is still the favorite to represent the West in the Finals.

Steve (Detroit): So what is your theory behind Wallace refusing to go back into the game against Orlando? Does this have any effect on the Piston's playoff performance?

SportsNation Marc Stein: Ben can be salty on occasion and this is one of those occasions. But I'd say it seems like a bigger deal than it really us because we're so unaccustomed to controversy from the Pistons' starting five. Ben was wrong, but I don't think it's anything we'll be talking about two weeks from now.

Anthony (Chicago): If the Bulls make the playoffs, put up a good fight in Detroit, is there any chance that they could lure Big Ben away from the Motor City in the offseason?

SportsNation Marc Stein: No. Bulls will try but there's no way Ben leaves Detroit. Now that Okur and Darko are gone, Detroit would never let that happen anyway.

Keith (Atlanta, Ga): No MVP questions? Well how about Most Improved? Is Josh Smith making a late surge in that category?

SportsNation Marc Stein: It's too late for a late surge, but he is making a serious surge on my Stein Line List of Beloved Lefties. It apparently took getting snubbed from the Rookies v. Sophomores game at All-Star Weekend to get him going, but I hope (as much as any Hawks fan) that this is the Josh Smith we'll be seeing from now on. He's obviously not just a dunker.

Shawn (Scottsdale AZ): Marc, whats your take on the Suns recent struggles? They still trying to recover from the 3-game Amare interference, which you were right along that he should be shelved for the season? Good call by the way!

SportsNation Marc Stein: The Suns are undeniably tired but I've also heard that knowing that they're pretty much locked into the No. 2 seed -- along with the brief Amare experiment -- has affected their focus somewhat.

SportsNation Marc Stein: As for Amare, I don't know that I can really unleash a string of told-you-sos because I saw him score 20 in the first game against Portland and got my hopes up, too. You don't have to be a Suns fans to want to see this guy play.There's nobody like him in the game. As long as he didn't damage the microfracture knee -- and as long as last week's scope on the other knee was as minor as the Suns believe -- there was some good to come out of the comeback. Now Amare and everyone else knows that coming back this season was not possible, so no one in the desert has to torture themselves with what-ifs when the season ends. But it had to be scary for the Suns to send Amare in for another surgery last week, minor or not. Can't get around the fact that that's two knee operations in six months for the 23-year-old future of the franchise.

Evan (Ridgewood, NJ): Marc, What do you think about the Magic's little run as of late. 12 of the past 16 games are wins, and they have faced dallas, detroit (both home games), and miami on the road... all 3 of which they won

SportsNation Marc Stein: Just like I said in the Power Rankings. They deserve the eighth spot more than Chicago or Philly.

John (Raleigh): Which team would the Suns rather see the first round: Lakers or Kings?

SportsNation Marc Stein: Lakers. Kobe might average 45 in that series, but Suns would still win it five. The Kings are more of a wild card with the ultimate wild card: Artest.

Austin (TX): How about a coach of the year ballot? Give us your top 3?

SportsNation Marc Stein: Haven't narrowed it down to a top three. Names on the ballot include Flip, Avery, D'Antoni, Dunleavy, Zenmeister and . . . I think that's it. Byron Scott would have made the final cut had New Orleans/OKC maintained its playoff pace.

victor alexandria,la: do you think the hornets will make the playoffs still?

SportsNation Marc Stein: Did I really say they would?

SportsNation Marc Stein: You're right. I did. But even the great ones miss on a prediction occasionally.

Big time charlotte, nc: Wll Bernie continue to coach the Bobcats? If not, who?

SportsNation Marc Stein: It's 50-50. If Bernie does come back, next season will be his last season on the bench. But I'm told no one in Charlotte will be surprised if he steps down at season's end to focus on GM work. As for replacements, Charlotte favorite Paul Silas is a good place to start.

Aaron (Austin): You're going to list 6 coaches before Pop? He's only on a 63 win pace with his best player injured and having the worst year of his career.

SportsNation Marc Stein: You're absolutely right. Pop has to be in the mix.

Matt,MPLS: Wolves only get to keep their draft pick if it is in the lottery and then all of a sudden KG and Ricky Davis are hurt and dont play? Whats the deal? Really hurt, trying to get the younger guys some playing time, or tanking it for more ping pong balls? Thanks Marc.

SportsNation Marc Stein: Wolves only keep their pick if it's in the top 10. So I don't think there's a lot of mystery here. It behooves them to lose.

Christopher (Diamond Bar, Ca): better Argentine right now . . . Nocioni or Ginobli?

SportsNation Marc Stein: Nocioni. It helps that Ginobili is hobbled right now, but Nocioni has found a new gear at an important team. Bulls really could dealt Philly a killer psychological blow by winning at their place Saturday, but they've got the schedule edge.

Joshua (Austin): Where's all the coverage of Dallas' win over the Spurs? Wasn't that as important of a statement game as the Mavs could have? Yet, few seem to be discussing it or Dirk's performance against Bowen. The presumption against the Mavs-as-contender seems to be pretty high.

SportsNation Marc Stein: The game was on ESPN, wasn't it? But Dirk definitely deserves some props because he had a big week against the smaller defenders that have given him problems in the past. I've been saying for a while now that he's been chewing up three-men for the bulk of the season and last week he did it to Artest and Bowen in the space of a few days: 59 points. But there's also no denying that Josh Howard's return is just as important. With Howard, Dallas is a top-three or four team. Without him, it's not. It's that simple.

Eric (Indy): Is Rick Carslile's job with the Pacers safe for right now? Alot of Pacer fans are upset with the way he's dealt with the Pacers struggles since the all-star break. How can a team expect to win consistantly with 20-30 plus different starting line-ups per season? GET ONE LINE-UP AND STICK WITH IT! the Injuries are a big reason, but how can a team learn to play together when there's a different line-up almost every night?

SportsNation Marc Stein: I think it's safe to say -- and I think Jermaine O'Neal just said it the other day -- that no one's job in Indiana is safe.

KenRock(Nova Scotia): Trying to settle a debate...Can a person still be a 'fan' of a team in todays sporting world, with GM's, coaches, players changes...not to mention the business side(other than living in the city they support) or is it more about bing a 'fan' of players?

SportsNation Marc Stein: I don't think fans across the country are abandoning their teams because there's more player movement today. But I also struggle to understand how fans can put so much emotion into fantasy when that sometimes means rooting for their fantasy guys to succeed at their favorite team's expense. So I'm probably the wrong guy to ask on this one.

johnny, evanston, ill: Are you purposely avoiding MVP talk or what? Perhaps your face is red because of LeBron making all you ESPN guys look silly. At least Hollinger had the guts to come out and admit it today. How about a public "mea culpa" for hating on LeBron?

SportsNation Marc Stein: Let's see, Johnny. I wrote in last week's chat that LeBron's recent surge has thrown the MVP race wide open. I wrote even more about it in the Weekend Dime. And I think I was even quoted in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer talking about how LeBron is a serious MVP contender now in the wake of this 10-1 run. So am I really avoiding the subject? Now I'm just trying to save something for the column I'm going to be writing where I actually make my official MVP pick. Cool?

SportsNation Marc Stein: As always. thanks for the questions. It should be a good regular-season finish. No. 1 in the West and the MVP trophy are still up in the air. That's a lot to play for. We'll do this again next Monday.