NEW YORK -- Like teammate Paul Pierce (and Baron Davis), Antoine Walker has no chance of being asked to play on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team. Taunting Larry Brown last season, among other coaches, has come back to haunt him.

Being passed over for the Olympic job greatly upset Lakers coach Phil Jackson. In fact, when it got out that Brown was the prohibitive favorite, Laker executive Jeannie Buss (daughter of team owner Jerry Buss) contacted specific Selection Committee members to campaign for her boyfriend.

When various elite players (excluding Shaq and Kobe) were informally polled about whom the committee was considering as coach, they all said they would love to play for Brown.

Look for World Championships assistant Gregg Popovich to play the same role in the qualifying tournament and in Athens.

Hate to think how much grief Michael Jordan would have heaped on Wizards teammates had any of them committed the strain of unpardonable sins he registered last week.

In Tuesday's home loss to the Pacers, His Aff-Airness irrationally touch-fouled Ron Artest (vs. hammering him, or simply keeping his hands to himself) as he was finishing a fast break drive, creating a 3-point play and 89-77 third-quarter lead.

Four days later, Jordan inexcusably took an extra dribble in the final seconds of a one-point home loss to the 76ers, which got him into inescapable traffic trouble, translating into a turnover. A player who is aging rapidly before our eyes makes these kind of mental mistakes.

Ten days ago, the Pistons steamrolled the Pacers at Conseco, shattering their nine-game winning streak. A large part of that failure was negligence at the free-throw line; they missed 11 of 24 attempts.

Afterward, according to players, Indiana coach Isiah Thomas severely scolded them. "Championships are won and lost at the free-throw line," he lectured. "They're not won with slam dunks and fancy behind-the-back passes. A lot of people misunderstand what it means to be tough. It doesn't mean how hard you hit or how physically fit you are, it's taking care of the ball, blocking out and making free throws."

Since that sermon, the 14-2 Pacers have converted 87 of 96 freebies for 90.6 percent; 14-16 vs. Washington, 18-22 vs. Dallas, 35-36 vs. Washington and 20-22 vs. The Paper Clips. Before each game, Thomas reminds the players of those rudiments.

If Shaq stays healthy, the Lakers are still favored to win the championship. That is, if they make the playoffs. Jackson's jugheads are used to slow starts, but 6-12 is enough to convince Jeannie Buss to start playing the field.

Miserably mediocre (3-3) since Shaq left his private table at Burger King, LA Lore has proven so mundane, citizens of other NBA stops are practicing burning down their own cities.

Sunday's three-point home loss to the tepid Timberwolves left the Purple Pretenders tied for last in the Pacific Division with the other Staples' sub-letter, the Roach Clips.

The last time Minnesota won in L.A. (16 straight defeats), Kevin Garnett was a junior in high school and taking home the league minimum (long before he thought about skipping college and the second round of playoffs.)

Granted, the Lakers are far from healthy, playing without Robert Horry and Samaki Walker, while Devean returned after missing 10 games following his notorious "lapse dance" against the Wiz. "We're so banged up," said Kobe Bryant, who notched 22 points and 11 assists, yet botched a crucial foul shot with seven seconds left that would have tied the score, "I have to check the roster each night before deciding who to berate."

While the Lakers are doing their level best to be the best team in their own building, at least last year's other finalist isn't afflicted with that problem; the Nets still appear capable of handling Seton Hall.

Nevertheless, there have been very few gimmes for Lord Byron Scott's team. His team arrived home Tuesday (vs. Atlanta) for a five-game stretch sitting in a not-so-cozy sixth place in the Eastern Conference, thanks in no small part to some outstanding late-game lameness, both physical and mental. There were blown leads -- even in victory -- Don Chaney (Knicks coach) would have been proud to have authenticated. Missed free throws, missed assignments and missed wives, the Nets accomplished it all.

The good news is, Dikembe Mutombo is only days away from the paint and a pension.

Afterthought: Jason Kidd is one of the few NBA players I would pay-per-view to see.

Clearly, Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks has a lot on his mind each evening in Night Court. November was the Blazers first losing month (7-8) since the 1995-96 season, which doesn't count an 0-3 mark vs. the law.

Ruben Patterson says his arrest for allegedly beating his wife never would have happened if he had driven back from Seattle with Stoudamire and Rasheed Wallace.

As they prepare for their group discount day in court, the Jail Blazers have copyrighted the phrase, "With Authority."

Vlade Divac publicized plans to hold a fantasy camp next summer for adults who believe the Kobe draft day trade evenly benefited both teams . . . Eddy Curry is confused about getting demoted as a Bulls' starter. "If it's nothing major I did to get out," he expressed, "then what can I do to get back in?"

How do you reason with a guy who doesn't realize how overpaid he is?

Yao Ming says he has no information about Wang Zhizhi being held as a political prisoner on the Clippers' bench.

Following Friday's verbal confrontation between Ricky Davis and Tyrone Hill, Cavaliers sources say coach John Lucas told the team both would be suspended. Only Davis was.

Since when does a coach intercede in such mealy-mouthing? Aren't players supposed to settle it between themselves?

Grant Hill ices his ankle for 20 minutes after every game, practice and question about Tracy McGrady . . . During the Magic's charter back to Orlando from the West Coast, T-Mac suffered back spasms after sleeping awkwardly on the league MVP trophy.