The worst

Overall, the Jazz are a solid team as they are now — perhaps an eighth or even a seventh seed come the playoffs. Should Matt Harpring and Boozer return to form, however, they would gain much needed inside scoring and general toughness — and might very well qualify for a fourth or fifth seed.

In any event, Utah will be fortunate to advance into the second round of the money season.

Straight shooting

I'm taking the liberty of presenting some New Year's resolutions that some citizens of the NBA probably haven't made but should make.

CHARLES BARKLEY — I hereby resolve to do all of my partying at home, and to accept that I am indeed a role model — a negative one.

2009 NBA Finals

Sunday's Game 5

• Lakers 99, Magic 86 (Lakers win 4-1)

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FOXSports.com analysis

• Playoff results, schedule
• 2009 NBA Playoff Central
• Rosen: Why the Lakers won
• Behrendt: L.A's title sequence
• Rosenberg: Kobe not done yet
• Tomasson: Kobe proves critics wrong
• Feigen: Jackson in class of his own

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Video

• Postgame: Lakers celebrate 15th title
• Postgame: Kobe leads Lakers to title
• Postgame: Magic discuss Finals loss
• Marques Johnson's NBA Finals recap

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Photos

• NBA Finals, Game 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1

KEVIN GARNETT — While I understand that Larry Bird established trash-talking as an accepted mode of expression for any Celtic player who's won both an MVP award and a championship, I acknowledge that my in-game taunting of opponents is way over the top. In addition to keeping my mouth shut, I promise to avoid throwing gratuitous elbows (especially during timeouts). And I resolve to stop acting like a jackass.

STEPHON MARBURY — If indeed the Celtics are interested in signing me, I resolve to allow the Knicks to buy me out at a bargain rate. How about a symbolic million bucks? After all, the possibility of (finally) winning a championship is worth more than money. Right?

BARON DAVIS — I promise to willingly adhere to coach Dunleavy's game plan and execute the plays he calls with genuine enthusiasm. Plus I swear to eliminate taking bad shots so that my field-goal percentage will rise above 36 percent.

KENNY NATT — I resolve to confound the dire predictions of every coach I've ever played for and prove that I deserve to be a head coach in the NBA.

RASHEED WALLACE — From now on, I'm going to play all-out on every play in every game. Hey, does this count if I have my fingers crossed?

ANDRAY BLATCHE — What Rasheed says goes for me, too.

CARLOS BOOZER — My resolve is to break as many promises as Larry Brown has.

SAM CASSELL — I resolve to be an NBA coach when/if my playing career ever ends — as long as I don't have to coach anybody like me.

EDDY CURRY — I promise to get in shape. How about a soft oval?

LINDSEY HUNTER — Like Peter Pan, I resolve never to grow old.

GERALD GREEN — Resolved, that this will be the year when I finally live up to my immense potential. Or maybe I'll wait until next year.

STEPHEN JACKSON — I promise to stop acting like I've won as many championships as Kobe.

JEROME JAMES — This is the year in which I'm going to remind everybody that I'm still in the league. I am, aren't I?

KEVIN LOVE — I resolve to make at least half of my layups.

Does Candace Parker have more game than her husband? (Garrett Ellwood / Getty Images)

NENAD KRSTIC — Resolved, to prove to all interested parties that my left hand is alive and well.

TRACY McGRADY — My short- and long-term goal will continue to be proving that basketball is a non-contact sport.

DARKO MILICIC — Resolved, to click my heels and magically return home. Or does that only work to get to Kansas?

ADAM MORRISON — I will positively learn to do something else on defense besides shouting, "HELP!"

DIKEMBE MUTOMBO — Not to let anybody count the rings on my trunk, or discover that I receive a Social Security check every month.

JOEL PRZYBILLA — To keep secret the fact that I'm better than Greg Oden.

SHELDEN WILLIAMS — To become noteworthy for something besides not being as good a player as my wife.

Vox Populi

Why isn't Paul Millsap on your list of underrated players? — Scott, USA

Leaving Rajon Rondo off your list of underrated players is MADNESS! — White Collar Worker

I left them off my latest list simply because both Rondo and Millsap have graduated from the underrated category and are now universally acclaimed as being star-quality players.

That's why.

Travels with Charley

Back in the day, about 25 players were called up from the CBA to the NBA every year, but that number has greatly diminished since the onset of the D League. Even so, CBA veterans who are playing in the NBA now, or played in the league last year, include Earl Boykins, Kaniel Dickens, Eddie Gill, Rafer Alston, Darrell Armstrong, Chucky Atkins, Maceo Baston, Raja Bell, Mark Blount, Bruce Bowen, Greg Buckner, Anthony Carter, Stephen Graham, Adrian Griffin, Troy Hudson, Mike James, Linton Johnson, Damon Jones, Darrick Martin, Jeff McGinnis, Jamario Moon, Mikki Moore, Ira Newble, Kevin Ollie, Bo Outlaw, Anthony Parker, Smush Parker, Kasib Powell, Awvee Storey, Ronny Turiaf and Aaron Williams.

No Hall-of-Famers to be sure, but plenty of starters among them. And virtually every one of them regards their time spent in the CBA as being incredibly valuable in the development of their skills.

Also, the list of present-day and recent NBA coaches who either played or coached in the CBA includes Phil Jackson, George Karl, Eric Musselman, Flip Saunders, Kenny Natt, Scott Brooks, Rick Carlisle, Michael Curry, Marc Iavaroni, Sam Mitchell, Terry Stotts, Pete Myers, Dave Cowens, Bob Hill, Sidney Lowe, John Lucas, Mo McHone, Tom Nissalke and Larry Krystowiak.

"As far as learning how to coach," Flip once told me, "one year in the CBA is as educational as five years in the NBA."

How about referees who graduated from the CBA into the NBA? Bob Delany, Bennie Adams, Mark Ayotte, Matt Boland, Tony Brothers, Tony Brown, Mike Callahan, Jim Capers, Derrick Collins, Sean Corbin, Dan Crawford, Marc Davis, Kevin Fehr, Scott Foster, Pat Fraher, Ron Garretson, Dave Guthrie, Steve Javie, Bill Kennedy, Courtney Kirkland, Ed Malloy, Ken Mauer, Monty McCutchen, Ron Olesiak, Jason Phillips, Violet Palmer, Derek Richardson, Leroy Richardson, Phil Robinson, Eli Roe, Eddie F. Rush, Salvatore Bennett, Michael Smith, Bill Spooner, Derrick Stafford, Tom Washington, Greg Willard, Leon Wood, Haywoode Workman, Mark Wunderlich and Gary Zielinski.

And, during one of our periodic in-game arguments, Ron Garretson (AKA "Junior") once told me this: "The guys who are playing in the CBA don't mean anything. And the guys who are coaching in the CBA, including you, are just as unimportant. The franchise owners, the sponsors, the fans are all beside the point. The CBA actually exists for one reason and one reason only. To train NBA refs."

Like beauty, purpose is in the eye of the beholder.