The Second Half

Quotage

Meet Robin Hood

Exiled New York guard Stephon Marbury, on his standoff with the Knicks, who are offering a $17.7-million settlement to his $21.7-million contract:

“It’s a billion-dollar company against me, basically, that’s what it is.”

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Where did our love go?

New Orleans Coach Byron Scott, after Chris Paul and James Posey were ejected in a one-sided loss at Cleveland:

“The true difference between the teams is [the Cavaliers] seemed like they were playing with a real purpose as far as winning the championship.”

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What’s so funny?

Sacramento’s Kevin Martin, after Orlando rained three-pointers on the Kings in the fourth quarter, finishing with a record 23:

“We’re a joke right now. That’s how people look at us.”

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Sunrise?

Denver Coach George Karl, on the Suns’ trade that brought Jason Richardson:

“All of a sudden they’ve got their running game and there’s a unity. . . . The way the playoffs are played now, Shaq [O’Neal] is a force. You don’t ever play a back-to-back. His body and his bounce are better than last year. There’s a quickness to it, a little more of a bounce to it and he’s making free throws.”

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How they rank

RANKINGS, COMMENTS THROUGH SATURDAY

NO, REALLY

1. ORLANDO (33-8)

Lakers win got everyone’s attention but they’re 17-5 on road, 18-4 vs. West. (3)

2. LAKERS (31-8)

Drew perks up -- at one end. Rebounds down from 10.2 to 7.7 in more minutes. (2)

3. CLEVELAND (31-7)

Timing could be better with injuries, Lakers coming off two losses. (1)

4. BOSTON (33-9)

Waking from nightmare: After going 2-7 in schedule crunch, just went 4-0. (4)

ANOTHER WEEK NO ONE EMERGED

5. SAN ANTONIO (26-13)

Team used to putting it together on road loses by 22 in Philadelphia. (5)

6. DENVER (27-14)

4-2 since losing Anthony but all were at home. Eleven of next 15 on road. (7)

7. NEW ORLEANS (24-13)

Some turnaround: 3-4 since beating Lakers, including loss to Knicks. (6)

8. HOUSTON (25-16)

M*A*S*H unit down to Big One Third as Artest joins McGrady on sideline. (8)

9. UTAH (24-17)

Millsap misses three with bruised knee, gets just 4-3 in first game back. (10)

10. PHOENIX (22-15)

O’Neal sits out loss in Denver, plays vs. Minnesota, which beats them, too. (9)

11. DALLAS (23-17)

Howard just missed four with sprained wrist. Mavericks lost three. (12)

12. ATLANTA (23-16)

Horford out ‘indefinitely’ with bruised knee and they just went 1-4. (13)

13. PORTLAND (24-16)

May have to sue doctor who did Oden’s surgery if Greg doesn’t pick it up. (14)

14. DETROIT (22-17)

New AI Pistons win eight of 10, get Rip Hamilton back, lose three in row. (11)

15. PHILADELPHIA (20-20)

In second annual surprise, making small ball work again, going 7-0. (19)

16. MIAMI (21-18)

Reportedly considering Jermaine O’Neal, whose deal is up at right time. (15)

17. MILWAUKEE (20-23)

Memphis offers Conley for Joe Alexander, Sessions. Bucks thinking about it. (17)

CUTE LITTLE FELLERS

18. NEW JERSEY (19-22)

In duel of young titans, uncelebrated Brook Lopez gets 17-6 to Oden’s 2-1.(16)

19. MINNESOTA (12-26)

McHale now up for coach of year: Just went 8-3, won in Chicago, Phoenix. (20)

20. CHARLOTTE (16-24)

There’s something happening here: After 7-18 start, Bobcats are 9-6. (23)

21. CHICAGO (18-23) Hinrich back, starting showcase process with Rose at his old position. (21)

22. INDIANA (15-25) One Dunleavy posting occasional win: Pacers are 3-3 with Mike Jr. (24)

23. TORONTO (16-25) When pieces don’t fit, they don’t fit: After 4-1 boomlet, just went 0-4. (18)

24. NEW YORK (15-24) Curry comeback lasts one game. Out with swelling in knee and in general. (25)

25. MEMPHIS (11-28) 2007 No. 4 pick Conley ticketed to ride with team down on his attitude. (22)

26. GOLDEN STATE (12-29) With Jackson back, Ellis close, can keep giving up 110 and still win. (26)

27. OKLAHOMA CITY (8-33)

Scottie Brooks now up for coach of year: Just went 3-1, beating Jazz, Pistons.(29)

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CALL 911

28. WASHINGTON (8-31) Tapscott, after Nick Young breaks out with 28-12-30-33: ‘Hallelujah!’ (30)

29. CLIPPERS (9-30) Now planning to bring Davis, Randolph back together, hopefully soon. (28)

30. SACRAMENTO (10-31) Kenny Natt not up for coach of year, or even coach next year, at 4-13. (27)

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Looking ahead

CLEVELAND AT LAKERS

7:30 p.m., Monday, TNT

Exciting as the prospect may be, the ballyhooed LeBron James-Kobe Bryant matchup is hardly a “possible Finals preview,” with the Cavaliers missing even more key players than the Lakers.

With little glamour but a lot of effective role players, the Cavaliers, who went 25-2 after a 1-2 start, kept rolling without Zydrunas Ilgauskas, winning six of eight without him before Delonte West fractured his right wrist Thursday in Chicago and was lost for six weeks.

West’s comeback and the arrival of new point guard Mo Williams have put enough shooters around James, for the first time. Always a rock-ribbed defensive team, they’ve gone from 24th on offense to No. 9.

Two seasons ago, they were overmatched against San Antonio in the Finals. With or without a preview, it’s safe to say they won’t be if they get back this spring.