Was in Las Vegas over the weekend, where I attended the Los Angeles Lakers-Phoenix Suns exhibition game at the Thomas & Mack Center, the arena on UNLV’s campus that will play host to the NBA All-Star Game in February.

Although quite a bit larger, the arena is a little like the old Miami Arena with its no frills décor and tight concourses. It is likely to require a little dressing up to meet the needs of the NBA’s midseason showcase. Of course, many of the events surrounding All-Star will be held at other glitzier venues on the Strip.

(Meanwhile, Heat All-Star Dwyane Wade shares the cover of Sports Illustrated with LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony in three regional covers for the magazine’s NBA Preview.)

Oh and speaking of Las Vegas’ strip, on a quick tour through New York, New York Hotel & Casino, some souvenirs were conspicuously absent: plenty of New York Yankees’ gear, but nary a Mets T-shirt or cap anywhere. No, they weren’t sold out – there merely weren’t any items representing New York’s other team, which still happens to be playing postseason baseball.