- The stalling on the NBA?s new Collective Bargaining Agreement is a sign that a work stoppage is now a real possibility.

Is there going to be a work stoppage?

Right now?  No.  It doesn't look good though.

In Denver at the All-Star game, it appeared that the owners and the players would waltz to a new agreement, but the sunshine back then has set.

The NBA is healthy financially, but a work stoppage that lasted more than two months would really cripple the fragile state of the game in the United States, causing an even greater amount of leaning on the international aspects of the game.

Both sides should be more apt to settle after witnessing the NHL season long work stoppage and sports fan?s apathetic response.  Hockey has done a David Copperfield and like the slick magician, few seem to miss it.

- With Joe Johnson likely shelved for the remainder of the series, the Suns are not the lock for the Western Conference finals, which they looked like in Game 1.

Fortunately they stole Jimmy Jackson from the Hornets, but their thin bench is now a problem, as the minutes rack up for the Suns? starters.

- Rasheed Wallace?s Game 4 guarantee was carried out, so c?est la vie.  He will pose the most problems for the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, should the Pistons advance.  His ability to step out to the 3-point line makes him one of the most difficult power forwards in the NBA to guard.

- A Pistons remark I have yet to hear is ?Ron Artest should be playing in this series.?

Such a comment would acknowledge the unjust beating the Pacers have received this season and how very undermanned they are in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The other side to that statement is that the Pistons should be cruising to Miami, facing a team playing without one of their best two or three players.

- Chris Webber is already voicing his displeasure being in Philadelphia and though they may not be saying it, trading for the often injured power forward is a mistake that Allen Iverson may not be around to experience.

Philadelphia has seen one washed up All-Star after another come in to play with Iverson and contribute next to nothing.  The world deserves to watch what Iverson can do on a decently talented team, with one legitimate frontcourt option.

A resigned Samuel Dalembert, along with Iverson would make a lot of teams salivate, particularly the Celtics, who despite denials, appear set to test the market with Paul Pierce.

Andre Iguodola is one reason why Iverson might want to stick around.  He is a Ron Artest in the making, except with high-flying acrobatics and without the head issues.

- The embarrassment that the Warriors were expected to feel by watching the Wizards in the playoffs were squashed by the finish they had, as well as the way the Heat dominated Arenas, Hughes and Jamison, even without Shaquille O?Neal when the series shifted to Washington.

Losing Arenas back in 2003 was perceived as a devastating blow, but Chris Mullin must be happy with the way things transpired.  He acquired Baron Davis, the point guard the Warriors have been searching for ever since Tim Hardaway was traded to the Miami Heat.

Davis is a true point guard, whereas Arenas is a shooting guard playing the point guard position.

No trade backs.

Christopher Reina is the Managing Editor of RealGM.com.  His From The Upper Deck column appears on www.RealGMBaseball.com and his From The Sky Box column appears on www.RealGMFootball.com.  He may be reached at Christopher.Reina@RealGM.com.