A season highlighted by the reborn Celtics, upstart Blazers and ice-cold Heat reaches its unofficial midway point in New Orleans Sunday at the NBA All-Star Game (Feb. 17, 8:30 pm/ET, TNT). Four-time All-Star Doug Collins, now an analyst for TNT, is glad to see Boston’s resurgence because they’re a “flagship franchise…[that] made the right moves, got a little lucky…and here we are talking about them [having] the best record in the NBA.” The Blazers’ turnaround, which included a 13-game win streak in December, has been perhaps the biggest surprise. “I think everybody felt Portland was going to have a throwaway year because [No. 1 draft pick Greg] Oden got hurt. [Instead] they have been a wonderful story.” Meanwhile, the surge of the hometown Hornets into playoff contention has been a boon to New Orleans, which is fighting to retain its NBA franchise while still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. “This is so great for the ...
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