The NBA regular season is winding down and the former Husky heroes fantasy dream team has shot its way into title contention.  As the playoffs near, many of the Husky hoopsters are positioning themselves and their teams for a playoff run.

Ray ‘He Got Game’ Allen is having the best shooting season of his career while the Boston Celtics are gearing up a for a chance to win back-to-back championships.

Allen may face another top dog, Richard ‘Rip’ Hamilton in the first round of the playoffs.  ‘Rip’ has led the Pistons to a resurgent second half after struggling earlier in the year.  Hamilton has been reinstated into the starting lineup after moving into a sixth man role to accommodate Allen ‘The Answer’ Iverson.  Not surprisingly, the Pistons turned a losing streak into a winning streak and could give Boston all it can handle.

Old dog Donyell Marshall and the Philadelphia 76ers are another potential first round foe for the Celtics.  Marshall has seen limited duty throughout the season but did have a 14-point outburst recently.

Three other UConn alumni are fighting over the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.  Charlie ‘Says Love My Good And Plenty’ Villanueva has been desperately trying to carry the load for the injury depleted Milwaukee Bucks.  It appears the Bucks have finally run out of gas as they have slipped out of the eight spot.

Ben ‘Big Game’ Gordon and the Chicago Bulls have plugged along all season long and have moved ahead of the Bucks into the final spot.  Gordon erupted for 43 points recently against Miami and has averaged over 20 points a game for the season.  

Emeka ‘Oak Tree’ Okafor and the Charlotte Bobcats are putting the pressure on as they have steadily moved up the standings, hot on the Bulls heels.  Okafor has provided his usual nightly double-double and even went off for 28 points against the Clippers recently.

Hilton ‘Towers’ Armstrong has seen his minutes increase as the New Orleans Hornets have gotten healthy, beginning to play like the western contender from last season.  Armstrong had a career game, going for 14 points and 11 rebounds in his most recent action.

For the rest of Husky Dream Team, the end of the regular season will mean time for vacation.  Josh Boone and Marcus Williams remain the biggest disappointments.  Boone has had a miserable year after a breakout second half of the season in New Jersey, while Williams was cut by the Golden State Warriors after riding the pine all year long. Caron ‘The’ Butler is finishing with a hamstring injury while his Washington Wizards are just looking to end their horrific season.  Kevin Ollie and Jake ‘The Snake’ Voskuhl are both getting starters minutes in Minnesota and Toronto in what could be their final years.