MVN: Most Valuable Network

With everything that happened during yesterday's busy night in the NBA, there's a lot to get to, so I'll just get right to it: here's the league's big movers and shakers.

Rising:

New Orleans Hornets - Not only did the Hornets mount an impressive comeback win over the Spurs last night (their tenth win in the last 12 games, putting them in first place in their division), but they also got to see some history. During the second quarter, Chris Paul stole an intended pass from Tony Parker, establishing CP3 as the NBA record-holder for most consecutive games with a steal (106).

Paul broke a record that stood since 1986, and by the time the streak ends it's likely that it won't be broken for many more decades. The next longest streak by an active player is 22, by Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo. With apologies to Parker, Nash and D-Will, all excellent players, Paul is simply on another level at the point guard position right now. By the way, the Hornets now deserve to be mentioned along with the West's other elite teams (L.A., San Antonio and Utah).

Marcus Camby - Even though the Clippers are still one of the league's worst teams record-wise, they're starting to play much better, and a lot of it has to do with this guy. In the team's last four games, Camby has averaged 14 points and 17 rebounds per game, and the Clippers (surprise, surprise!) went 3-1, with their only loss coming last night in overtime against the Bulls. Despite the loss, Camby put up a ridiculous line of 19 points, 27 rebounds (a career-high) and four blocks. Look for the Clippers to keep piling up wins if Camby continues to play at this level.

Kevin Ollie - Remember this guy? I honestly didn't even think he was still in the league, but apparently the lowly Wolves (his 11th team, by the way) have gotten some use out of the 35-year old point guard from UConn. He's played sparingly so far this season, but he's gotten 26 minutes in each of the last two games, averaging 14.5 points, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals. Not bad for a guy with a career scoring average of under four points per game.

Others: Boston Celtics (16 wins in a row after beating Hawks in Atlanta), Danny Granger (40+ points in two of last four games), and Rodney Stuckey (three double-doubles in last four games since becoming starting point guard).

Falling:

Milwaukee Bucks - The Bucks entered yesterday's game against the 76ers on a roll (at least by the Bucks' standards), having won two in a row. A few minutes after the Sixers' Elton Brand left the game in the third quarter with a dislocated shoulder, Milwaukee took a 10-point lead and appeared to be ready to extend their winning streak to three. Then they shot 2-for-19 in the fourth quarter, losing by three on the road. The Bucks will face the Knicks at MSG next before heading home for a three-game set against the Clippers, Jazz and Pistons. Combine the Bucks' issues with the Packers' troubles and CC Sabathia's departure to the Yankees, and you'll see that times have been tough for Wisconsin sports fans.

Rasheed Wallace - Oddly enough, the Pistons have won three in a row, yet Wallace hasn't been playing at anywhere near the level that he is capable of playing. In his last three he's averaging only six points and has shot a combined 6-for-25 from the field (including 2-for-12 from downtown). He's also drawn a league-leading nine technical fouls on the season and is only six away from receiving a one-game suspension. When his head's there, Wallace is one of the league's best shooting big men, but at the moment I'm not sure where his head is at. At least the Pistons haven't let his poor play affect their winning ways.

Matt Bonner - Bonner is quietly having an excellent season as the Spurs' starting center. His season numbers have eclipsed those of his entire career virtually across the board, and his three-point shot has been especially deadly (he's second in the league in three-point shooting at 47.7 percent). But last night, well, he sucked. Bad. He went 1-of-8 from downtown (3-of-15 overall), and took more shots than Duncan, Parker and Ginobili did. Some of that might be due to the Hornets defense, but it's still not a good thing for the Spurs to have Bonner lead the team in shots. 

Others: New Jersey Nets (held Jazz to seven points in first, then 72 in second half to blow 20-point lead), Caron Butler (five points off only four shots in 36 minutes) and Chris Bosh (16-for-52 in last three games where Toronto went 0-3).