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Monday, October 19

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Forward LaMarcus Aldridge on Monday said he thinks he will beat the Oct. 31 deadline to sign a contract extension with the Trail Blazers. “I can’t say when, but I know it will get done,’’ Aldridge said after Monday’s practice. “I think both parties are really trying to get it done now. My agent (Arn Tellem) said they have been talking everyday, so that’s good.’’ Oregonian

Utah wasn't bargaining for this, both financially and in terms of dividing minutes between a well-established player in Boozer, who has averaged at least 20 points and 10 rebounds twice, and an up-and-comer in Millsap, who averaged 16 points and 10.3 rebounds in 38 starts last season and whose streak of 19 double-doubles was the NBA's longest since 2006. Until Boozer gets traded, however, which won't likely happen until close to February's trade deadline (if at all), the Jazz will have to find time for both. "It's not going to be tough or awkward, not at all," insisted Boozer, who missed 45 games last season, clearing the way for Millsap to flourish as a starter. "I come back with the same players and the same coaches, and everyone is happy to have me here and I'm happy to be here. This happens every summer. People speculate about this and say that, but at the end of the day, I'm here so I'm no worried about that. The summer is over for me." SI.com

"Boozer came in before we got on the floor and I said, 'You're here to play, I'm here to coach and our job is to try to win,' " said Sloan, who is entering his 22nd season as Utah coach. "That's what you ask them to do. If you're going to carry it on, it's going to be tough. The biggest thing is to play and do your job the best way you can and let that stuff go. I don't know how else to handle it." SI.com

"It's a business and it's something that happened; we all understand and now we can move on and play basketball," Williams said of how the summer played out with Boozer and Millsap. "[Boozer] opted to come back because he wanted to be here, and that's how we attack it. We also paid [Millsap] the big money and he deserves to be on the court. We're going to have to find ways to play him and use him effectively. It's going to be something tough that coach has to deal with, but hopefully we can just stay healthy this season and do some damage." SI.com

O'Connor also said he'll talk this week with the agent for starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer about a rookie contract extension, but he wasn't sure if a deal will get done. Deseret News

General manager Kevin O'Connor said Sunday that the Jazz will wait until after its last two preseason games before deciding if they'll exercise the 2010-11 third-season option on Koufos' contract. Deseret News

The Indiana Pacers released Rod Benson, Demetris Nichols and Lawrence Roberts today to bring their roster down to the league maximum of 15 players. Indianapolis Star

Gabe Pruitt, the former Celtic, is part of a group of players working with the Los Angeles Lakers' NBDL affiliate, the D-Fenders. Pruitt was released by the New York Knicks earlier this month. He was the 32nd overall pick in 2007 and played in 62 games with Boston, averaging two points. He was taken two picks ahead of Glen "Big Baby" Davis and 24 picks ahead of Ramon Sessions. Boston Globe

Center Jermaine O'Neal, going into his 14th NBA season, understands the skepticism, but he also believes there is another All-Star season awaiting him. "A lot of people wonder. A lot of people don't think I can get back to that level,'' he told FanHouse during a recent interview. "But I will dominate my position again. I won't do it the same way I used to. But I'll do it.'' FanHouse

"I averaged 14 (points) and seven (rebounds) on one leg the last couple years,'' he said. "A lot of centers can't do that on two legs. Now that I'm healthy again, I'm prepared to have a great year.'' FanHouse

"I've talked with Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett about this, about being just as effective as you age. They aren't as athletic as they once were, but they can be just as good, just as dominant,'' he said. "And that's what I expect to be. FanHouse

Eight days before the Timberwolves officially kick off their 21st season at home against the Nets, Minnesota tonight will play a preseason in Denver with its two biggest pieces facing uncertain futures -- short and long term -- because of injuries. As expected, forward Kevin Love today will undergo surgery to repair the fractured fourth metacarpal bone in his left hand. He suffered the injury last weekend in Chicago and is still expected to miss six to eight weeks. Minneapolis Star Tribune

Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez, who has missed the last two preseason games with back spasms, underwent an acupuncture treatment on Monday. Fernandez said it was the first time he has ever had the pin-pricking treatment, and he proudly showed a band-aid on his ear, showing where one of the pins was inserted into his body. “They put them in my back, legs, ankles, hands,’’’ Fernandez said of the pins. “I’m OK. Feeling better. For sure, I want to play. But it’s better in the preseason to rest, because the regular season, it is long.’’ Oregonian

Nate Robinson hinted after he soared over Dwight Howard to win his second Sprite Slam Dunk title last February that it might be his last jump. He figured after three appearances in the popular All-Star Saturday event, fans "might be sick of me." On the contrary. His jersey skyrocketed in popularity (top 10 in the NBA) and he often drew cheers in road arenas. So when I asked him before Sunday's exhibition game against Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv if he was reconsidering his plans for All-Star Weekend, Robinson used the opportunity to throw out a challenge. "It's a definite," he said, "only if LeBron does it." Newsday

Not that we asked Nate only about the dunk contest. In fact, I first asked him about his shooting in the preseason. Robinson, who had 19 points, four assists and two steals against Maccabi in 27:29, is shooting 37.9 percent from the floor and 26.9 percent from three-point range. So, since this is the popular excuse around the team, is it the legs? "No, it's never the legs," he said. "For me, it is what it is . . . It'll fall. It's preseason. You've got to get all the kinks out now. One thing about our team, we know we can score points whether we're shooting good or not. We just got to play defense. I think our defense has picked up and it's good to see." Newsday

The good news is the Warriors don't expect Curry to be distracted, bothered or negatively influenced by the surroundings, like other rookies might. That's always what teams fear, that their young players could follow the wrong example or pick up bad habits. Well, Curry has what they don't: A father who knows the deal. "We talked about that," Dell Curry said. "There's going to be situations and circumstances. He just has to be accountable for his own actions, not anyone else's. That stuff going on with other players is not a concern. That's between them and the organization. He's not going to get caught up in that or anything else." NBA.com

If Ronnie Brewer thought he made a positive impression on Jazz coach Jerry Sloan by hitting five jumpers in Sunday’s game, he was unfortunately mistaken. Sloan was not happy after the game with Brewer’s defensive play. “Ronnie’s got to quit chasing the ball so much on the defensive end,” Sloan said. “He chases the ball a lot looking for steals, doesn’t play solid basketball all the time. “A couple of those at the end of the game tonight could have cost us a ballgame when you’re trying to get steals instead of getting back and getting set up defensively.” Salt Lake Tribune

Coach Larry Brown sounded appalled, reading from the box score that the Jazz had as many offensive rebounds (17) as the Bobcats had defensive boards. Those extra chances, combined with all the layups Charlotte allowed, helped the Jazz shoot 52 percent from the field. "We've got to keep people in front of us because right now we have nobody behind,'' blocking and changing shots, Brown said. "That's an awful lot of layups.'' Charlotte Observer

Diaw played 20 minutes Sunday, totaling seven points, three rebounds and three assists. "Obviously Boris is way out of shape,'' Brown said. "He's running foul line-to-foul line right now, which is understandable'' after sitting out several weeks. Charlotte Observer

Carter's new coach won't abandon the shootaround either. When asked about D'Antoni's plan, Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said, "I'm sure there's pluses and minuses both ways. But we're not going to do that, I'll tell you that." Orlando Sentinel

Okay, we forgive Wizards superstar Gilbert Arenas for quitting his addictive blog: He's just too busy being a dad. "Gilbert takes the night shift," said his fiancee Laura Govan. "He's so diligent when he's home -- takes the kids to school in the morning, picks them up after practice, changes diapers. He's amazing." Washington Post

The hoops pro, 27, and his intended, 30, have been together eight years and have two children: daughter Izela, 3, son Alijah, 2. They officially got engaged a year ago -- and have another baby girl due Dec. 24. The new arrival called for -- what else? -- a very pink baby shower Saturday at their Great Falls home. Agent Zero ducked out before the all-girl party, but two dozen of Govan's closest-- her mom, sisters, girlfriends, other NBA spouses -- gathered for the shower hosted by Charrisse Jackson-Jordan, wife of former Wizards head coach Eddie Jordan. The four-hour bash featured plenty of champagne, dinner, cupcakes, shower games, pregnancy pillows for everyone, a "mother-to-be" tiara for Govan -- and lots of luxe baby gifts. Washington Post

And good news, Gilbert! Although Govan's mom would like to see a wedding one of these days, the guest of honor told us she's in no hurry to tie the knot. "We're just comfortable," she said. "I love the fact that we've grown up together. I watched him grow from a boy to a man. I feel like we're married already. We're not in a rush. I'm not going anywhere, he's not going anywhere." Washington Post

Mike Woodson on Josh Smith’s maturity: “He has grown man and it is nice to see. I have never had to deal with young players and it is tough when you got 18 and 19 year olds. When you are trying to learn the NBA game it is frustrating from a coaching standpoint. I knew what I was getting into when I came here and they gave me the opportunity to coach this team. I thank ownership for sticking with me to continue the process and it has been a process. The process is starting to work and we are heading in the right direction.” Sports Radio Interviews

Quentin-standalone Spoelstra said Monday that he'd like to play an eight- or nine-man rotation this season and settle and issue of continuity that didn't really exist with last year's team. While each man has had his moments, Richardson (pictured left) is hoping his balance of deep shooting, defense and downright swagger on the court might give him an eventual edge in the rotation run-off. "When (Spoelstra) brought me here, he told me one of the only ways I would earn playing time is by going out there and stopping people," said Richardson, who has played in up-tempo, run-and-gun systems in Phoenix and New York. "That wasn't a surprise to me. Maybe it was to the general public. I come from a system where there weren't a whole lot of (defensive) principles. This is the most defensive-conscious system I've been in by far. People are being held accountable." Miami Herald

Sloan, 67, is entering his 22nd season with the Jazz, something unheard of these days in pro sports. The next longest-tenured boss is baseball manager Bobby Cox. But Cox, 68, who just completed his 20th season with the Atlanta Braves, already has announced 2010 will be his finale. In the NFL, the iron man is Tennessee's Jeff Fisher, in his 16th Titans season. But Fisher is not helping his longevity prospects with his team's 0-6 start, the latest defeat a 59-0 humiliation Sunday at New England. But Sloan will be the one who decides when he steps down. "I don't know how long I'll coach,'' Sloan said in an interview with FanHouse. "I had to get my knee replaced this summer. I may wake up tomorrow, and say, 'This is it.'" FanHouse

That's a bit of an exaggeration. But Sloan, whose contract expires next summer, offered no guarantees he'll coach beyond this season. "I don't know,'' said Sloan, who in the past has regularly not been willing to commit to long-term plans. "I haven't gotten through this year. ... If I'm not healthy or something, I'll get out of it. ... I don't want to hold [the Jazz] up and put them if a tough situation. If they want to change, go ahead and change.'' FanHouse

It would be extreme to say the fiery Sloan has mellowed. But some Jazz players have noticed a bit of a change in him since he has become a Hall of Famer, an enshrinement called "way overdue'' by Brown. "I think he [mostly] hates [being regularly praised as a Hall of Famer], but (in) a little piece of his mind, he enjoyed it,'' said forward Andrei Kirilenko, who has been with the Jazz since 2001. "Not softer, but he's a little different. He's a little bit lighter off the court. I think he's more relaxed. He's more talking with the players in front of them instead of just, 'Let's get ready.' " FanHouse

"I don't think I've ever lost that desire, but I always realize that a lot of guys don't get an opportunity to [win a title],'' said Sloan, who was a gritty NBA guard from 1965-76, primarily with the Bulls, and coached Chicago from 1979-82. "It hasn't happened to me. But I don't think it takes away any of my desire to do the best you can in whatever you're doing. "Some people won a championship and never played. But that's fine. I don't hold that against them.'' FanHouse

The WNBA's Detroit Shock are moving to Tulsa, Okla., a team official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity Monday because he was not authorized to make the announcement. Detroit made its debut in the league in 1998 and won titles in 2008, 2006 and 2003. The Shock lost last month to the Indiana Fever in the Eastern Conference finals after rallying to earn a playoff spot. AP

American basketball legend Charles Barkley has labelled AFL players "damn idiots" during an interview on US radio. Barkley was in Australia early in 2009 and watched an AFL game. The outspoken Barkley, who retired from the NBA in 2000 after a stellar career mixed with controversial incidents, was not impressed with Aussie rules. He thinks American gridiron players get a better deal. "I don't want to insult the Australians (but) I am like, 'These guys are some damn idiots'," Barkley told the Dallas affiliate of ESPN Radio. "Nobody plays football without pads every week for three, four or five months and don't make any money. "At least in the NFL, you are going to kill yourself and ... you get to be a millionaire after it's over." FOXSports

Arenas has disparaged Jordan's schemes and claimed that Jordan never allowed Arenas to be a team leader. He has also referred to Jordan as "the last coach" rather than by name. "You think it bothers me," Jordan asked with chuckle. "It doesn't bother me, disappoint me. Gilbert is a wonderful person. I know Gilbert personally and I know him professionally. He's a heck of a competitor, one of the top players in the league when he's healthy. He did a lot for the franchise. He did a lot for me as a coach. "Even in professional sports, there is a human side and I think Gilbert is a terrific human being," he said. "I would assume he said some things professionally and you cannot let that affect you." Washington Post

"Injuries. The injury part," Jordan said, when asked why his teams didn't have more success in Washington. "It's not like your 10th, 11th or 12th guy got hurt. It was your first, second and third guy who got hurt, and your best center, a guy who had a career year. That's why we didn't get over the hump. That's for starters. If you see that you can't win when everybody is healthy, then you can ask, 'How come you can't get over the hump? What else did you need?' But when we had everybody healthy, we won." Washington Post

"It wasn't about being hamstrung. This is how the league works," Jordan said of his run with a short-handed roster. "You know there are going to be challenges. You prepare yourself for the challenges and that's when you try to raise your game. How do you prove yourself to be a great coaching staff or a good coach? You try to make adjustments. You try to find ways to get better or be good. Obviously, it's tough without your best players." Washington Post

"The expectations remained that we should be a playoff team, that we should be .500 because we had two all-stars, and we have young talent," Jordan said. "If the expectations weren't going to change, then it was best that we part ways like we did." Washington Post

At the time of his firing, Jordan had been the Eastern Conference's longest-tenured coach. Chuck Daly, the late Hall of Fame coach, once said players start tuning out coaches after a few years, but Jordan wasn't sure if that applies to his situation. "I don't know, maybe it does," he said, "But I don't think San Antonio lost [Gregg] Popovich's voice. I don't think Utah has lost Jerry Sloan's voice, and I don't think the Lakers lost Phil Jackson's voice." Washington Post

Ron Artest demanded a trade out of Sacramento and played with Stephen Jackson in Indiana, so he may have a different perspective on Jackson's trade demands from Golden State and prickly attitude of late. "I know he's a friend, a good guy and a good friend," Artest said before his Lakers faced the Clippers at Staples Center on Sunday. "But I am sure he's going alright. He just wants to win, that's it. They said he played yesterday so my guess is he's alright. For me (my trade demand) was ego. That's it. For Stephen, it's not that at all. I know that for a fact. For me it was more personal and egotistical and just being a bad teammate." Boston Globe

Jackson's spirits have seemed high the past few days. He's been smiling and interacting with his teammates more than in the recent past. During Saturday's game at Sacramento, he was constantly encouraging teammates, and he didn't look as discouraged when things went poorly. Sunday came word that Jackson is hosting a barbecue for his teammates. Contra Costa Times

For now he's collecting a $5.2 million salary -- the last year of his rookie contract, based on the Bobcats choosing him third overall in 2006 -- and hoping his luck changes. “I still haven’t sold my house in Charlotte so I’m renting here,'' Morrison said before playing against his old team Saturday. "You don’t know (how this will work out) and it’s expensive to buy here.'' Charlotte Observer

The Lakers have Artest and Walton signed beyond this season and are looking to trim payroll, so it seems unlikely he'd get much of an offer to stay. What's Morrison's sense of free-agency? “Who knows?'' Morrison said. "All depends on whether I play this year – that’s what it boils down to. I worked hard this summer and hopefully I’ll have a good year here.’’ Charlotte Observer

Nearly two years later, (Marbury) also is still not fully recovered from his father's heart-attack death at the Garden. He wasn't ready to leave his family and go to Europe yet to play. He needs more time. New York Post

Coach Stan Van Gundy said that training-camp invitees G Morris Almond and F Linton Johnson III would be on the team through the eight-game preseason schedule. Orlando Sentinel

Nelson said he's probably going to cut one more player after Tuesday's game. The obvious choice is Shaun Pruitt, a training-camp invitee who is the lone remaining player without a guaranteed contract. "Pruitt has done well here," Nelson said. "He wouldn't be around if he didn't impress me." Possibly, Speedy Claxton, who has played only two games in the last two seasons and has only 25 preseason minutes on a injury-riddled team this year, is an option. "I don't know," Nelson said, before spouting a joke deemed "not for print." "I have too many point guards and he's obviously lost something with his injuries. ... He wants to go into coaching, and we're hoping that he can help us there with our young point guard. He can make (Curry) aware of a few things and talk to him one-on-one about things, and he's been a very willing player that way. He's good to have around, for sure." San Francisco Chronicle

In his first interview on the subject since surgery to remove a tumor from his jaw area in June, James told The Plain Dealer there were several jittery days last January after he had a biopsy on the growing lump under his right ear. "It was a nerve-racking experience but I knew at that point I had to get it done," James said. "I was on edge for those few days, I was lucky the season was going on and we were playing really well so I could concentrate on basketball. My family was nervous." Cleveland Plain Dealer

The better news for James was that between 70 and 80 percent of such tumors are benign. That is what the doctors told him, trying to set him at ease. "I was working with some good professionals," James said. "They were telling me they didn't think it was cancer, but we had to be sure, of course." Cleveland Plain Dealer

It didn't cause James much pain, unless he was hit directly on the right side of the jaw. It happened a few times when he was fouled driving to the basket. In those instances, James was sometimes slow to get up, leaving some to believe he was milking the hits for the referees' benefit. Some of the time he was just suffering in silence, never discussing the tumor with the media. The surgery date ended up arriving faster than James wanted. He went under the knife on June 3, just two days after the Cavs were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals. Cleveland Plain Dealer

"I just stayed in bed for a week or so. I could talk and eat but I didn't really want to do much," James said. "I just relaxed and got some of the best sleep I've had in my life." Cleveland Plain Dealer

Coby Karl said he knows that he has to be something other than the stereotype of white guys in the NBA. ''I just consider myself a basketball player. Being a white basketball player gives the perception that you shoot the ball very well. I don't think I shoot exceptionally well,'' he said. ''I can shoot, but I can do other things. I can handle the ball, pass the ball, run the pick and roll. I can even run the point.'' Akron Beacon Journal

His time in New York was not sweet. Scott Layden adored Lampe but Isiah Thomas did not see him as an NBA player when he got here midway through early in his rookie year. Lampe was thrown into the Stephon Marbury package in the Phoenix blockbuster. "It was a little disorganized,'' Lampe said of his Knicks time. "Having to practice in Westchester, then come a few hours before the game, with traffic all the time. You're in the car a lot. I made a lot of mistakes but you live and learn.'' New York Post

D'Antoni thinks he still could have an NBA future. "He's 6-11 and had a lot of talent and still does,'' D'Antoni said. "He really handled the ball and shot it. He's a little short in certain aspects. I liked a lot of things he did. He's one of those cases it would've served him a lot more staying in Europe a few more years and get more seasoned about his game, like he's doing now.'' New York Post

Artest revealed before Sunday's 114-108 preseason victory over the Clippers that he has been seeing a Houston-based sports psychologist regularly since last season. The sessions have helped him overcome his well-chronicled anger issues, cope with the pressure of joining the star-studded Lakers, and learn how to set aside his ego and become a better teammate. "A lot of people always said, 'He needs a therapist,' but all my problems came from on the court," Artest said. "I was wondering, 'How do I find someone to help me deal with that? When we lost I used to hate it so much, but now I found a way not to accept it but just to deal with it." Riverside Press-Enterprise

"A couple years ago, I was a bad teammate," Artest said. "I'm trying to find the right answer, the logical answer, so my ego's not taking over and is not bigger than the team." Riverside Press-Enterprise

"He gives you more, but, obviously, there is the question that he has had a past of some indiscretions," Dunleavy said. "I don't think it's probably going to be an issue for them. Pasadena Star News

Israeli and Euroleague coaching legend Pini Gershon butted heads Sunday with the NBA’s new replacement referees, and it took a rabbi, several security guards and a whole lot of time to get the situation defused. In one of the more bizarre moments of this NBA preseason, the head coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv stubbornly refused to leave the court for 10 minutes after he was ejected in the third quarter of his team’s 106-91 exhibition loss to the New York Knicks. "Never seen anything like that before, and I’ve been doing this an awful long time," a senior Madison Square Garden security official said in the aftermath of the ejection of Gershon, the 57-year-old coach who led Maccabi to the Euroleague championship twice earlier this decade before leaving to coach Olympiacos, then returning to Maccabi. ESPN.com

A slew of calls had been going against Maccabi when New York’s Al Harrington was whistled for an offensive foul with 5:05 remaining in the third quarter, right in front of the Maccabi bench, for pushing off with his elbow. Perhaps not realizing the call was being made in favor of his team, Gershon jumped in the face and started screaming at replacement referee Ben Taylor, who immediately whistled Gershon for his second technical foul and gave him the heave-ho signal. But Gershon immediately made it clear that he was not leaving, standing upright in front of his bench and shaking his head ‘no’ -- even after security officials from the NBA and Madison Square Garden tried to coax him off the floor (without any assistance, it should be noted, from the Maccabi hierarchy). ESPN.com

"He’s not leaving," said Maccabi forward Yaniv Green, a former Piston summer league player who was clearly amused by the turn of events. ESPN.com

"For sure coach Gershon is a character. You know he’s energetic, he likes the crowd and the crowd likes him very much. In Israel, they come to the game to see him even more than they come to see us. So this was quite in-character," Green said. "It’s a scrimmage game, a friendship game, and I think it’s better if those kind of things don’t happen, but it happened." ESPN.com

"I say to him this game is not a regular game," said Rabbi Grossman, who sang Hebrew songs during a halftime ceremony. "This game is for the children and the children watching, I don't want them to see a fight. I said 'forgive him.' If you forgive him, I can say to the children, you can also forgive after a fight. "[The referee] says this is the law; he has to leave," Rabbi Grossman added. "I tried to make peace." New York Post

Knicks president Donnie Walsh looked incensed as he left the Garden. Maccabi would like to do this game annually, but after that juvenile display, it lessens the chances. New York Post

During the bizarre 10-minute delay, Nate Robinson wandered over to the opponent's bench and eventually was arm-in-arm with Gershon. "I was asking him, 'What's the outcome gonna be? Are we either going to play or are we going home?' " said Robinson, who had 20 points. "Of course he wanted to play, so it turned out for the best." Newsday

Brian T. Smith: Bayless said he believes he should be part of team's rotation. Answered "Who?" when asked about players trying to crack McMillan's lineup. Twitter.com

Ben Golliver: B Roy said that Przybilla told an official that Nic Batum couldn't be whistled for a technical foul because "he doesn't speak English." Twitter.com

Sloan suggested there are pros and cons - and perhaps more cons - to starting power forwards Paul Millsap and Carlos Boozer together like he did Sunday. "There are some things we can do, there are some things we have a tough time doing," Sloan said after Boozer followed a game-high 20-point showing Saturday with a team-high 22 on 9-for-11 field shooting Sunday and Millsap had 12 points on 6-for-9 and a game-high seven rebounds in 32 minutes. Deseret News

Having flown to Russia and back in the span of four days to complete the adoption, Kirilenko poured himself into the action at Staples Center, finishing with 18 points, six rebounds and four assists in 26 minutes. "I was surprised at Andrei's activity," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "He had a long last two or three days, you know? That's one of his better exhibition games, where he shot the ball, ran the floor a lot better. It looked like he had a lot more energy." Salt Lake Tribune

As deliberate as the process was, with the Kirilenkos having to submit medical records and even meet with psychologists, the family had little time to welcome their newest member before Kirilenko had to leave to rejoin the Jazz for Sunday's game. He arrived in Los Angeles on Saturday night and was back on the court less than 24 hours later. Kirilenko's wife will remain in Russia for what he described as "another chapter" of obtaining passports and visas for Alexandra. Salt Lake Tribune

Nelson has looked sound this preseason. So far, so healthy. But he isn't about to change his roughhouse playing style to avoid contact. "I don't know any other way to play. Rashard [Lewis] calls me 'Mighty Mouse,'" Nelson said. "I'm a contact guard. I run into people. I block out. I take charges. Somebody on the team has to do that type of stuff. "I can't just be a jump-shooter. If I'm going to be a jump-shooter, I might as well take off 15 pounds and just back somebody up. But I put muscle on to be a starting point guard. I want to do the dirty work. I want to be that guy." Orlando Sentinel

It's an important role, giving the Bucks a physical presence next to starting center Andrew Bogut at the outset of a game and allowing 27-year- old Hakim Warrick to make a splash off the bench at the power forward spot. "I really didn't know what to expect," the 6-foot-9 Thomas said after the trade was made. "I just wanted to wait until I talked to the Bucks. "They were real upbeat about things and wanted me to come in and contribute. It has been a great adjustment." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Joakim Noah revealed a hilarious story from his rookie season, shortly after James Johnson and Taj Gibson strolled down the hallway wearing their pink backpacks. Asked how bad the rookie hazing became for him, Noah said he actually lashed out the other way. Noah said he and fellow rookie Aaron Gray once poured water on center Ben Wallace as he received a massage. Noah added that Wallace retaliated by taking Gray's car from the Berto Center parking lot, parking it at the nearby Residence Inn hotel and hiding the keys. "I was a rebel rook," Noah said, laughing. Chicago Tribune

Jared Dudley: After adding up all the votes Amare came in 1st as best dress then grant hill I was in 3rd the worst Dress was Earl Clark beating Channing. Twitter.com

Zaza Pachulia: Traffic is crazy after the game. Maybe I'll just stay here in my locker room tonight because I have early practice tomorrow morning. Twitter.com

The Raptors were without Marcus Banks for Sunday's game against the Boston Celtics because he was absent with the flu. Given concerns about the H1N1 virus, the Raptors want any player even remotely flu-stricken to stay away from the team. Banks was tested for that strain of the flu and the tests came back negative. Toronto Star

Point guard Derrick Rose, who has been sidelined since Oct. 2 with an injured right ankle, is getting close to returning but continued to sit Sunday as the Bulls conducted an open practice for season-ticket holders at the United Center. ''I thought I was going to go, but I'm still waiting,'' Rose said afterward. ''I ran. It's getting better every day. I'm happy I'm seeing some progress. Hopefully, I'll be playing in a couple days.'' Chicago Sun-Times

Jamison remains out for the rest of the preseason after suffering a shoulder subluxation last Wednesday but he will travel with the team to Atlanta and Philadelphia. He will be evaluated again later this week, but Coach Flip Saunders said Jamison has made a lot of progress. "It's encouraging. He's able to lift it up and move it and not have a lot of pain," Saunders said. "We'll see when he gets it looked at again. We just want to make sure we get it right the first time. We don't want to take a chance on things." Washington Post

"Antawn should be back shortly. So it's not as bad as it could be," Butler said. "We're fortunate of that. Injuries happen. I'd rather have them happen now than at the end of the season like they normally do [for the Wizards]. I'm not nervous at all. I'm still excited, optimistic and looking forward to the season." Washington Post

Shawn Marion is hoping to return for the team's final preseason game Friday at Houston. In between then, the Mavericks go to Pittsburgh for Tuesday's rematch against Cleveland. Josh Howard continues to make progress, but after several months recovering from ankle surgery, there's still no timetable for his return. Dallas Morning News

Evans doesn't know if he'll be available for team's regular-season opener on Oct. 28. "All I know is that I can't put any weight on my foot and until the swelling goes down, we can't do any tests to find out what's really going on,'' Evans said yesterday. Toronto Sun

Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur sat out Saturday and will miss the rest of the preseason because of a right partial pectoral tear. Arthur originally suffered a pectoral strain a week before training camp began. He aggravated the injury last Monday during the Grizzlies' preseason loss against the Orlando Magic. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Sloan acknowledged that the fines the NBA has handed down in recent days to fellow coaches Larry Brown ($60,000), Stan Van Gundy ($35,000) and Lionel Hollins ($25,000) for criticizing replacement referees did catch his attention. From his perspective, Sloan said that he has tried to give the replacement refs greater latitude as they learn on the job this preseason. "I've tried to have that approach to begin with," Sloan said, "because these guys are thrown in a tough situation and they're wanting to do the best they can and we want them to be as good as they can be." Added Sloan: "They may be here all year, maybe not, I don't have any idea. But some of these guys are going to be good officials, I think." Salt Lake Tribune

"We struggle with the regular refs," Raptors guard Jarrett Jack said. "We don't agree with half of the calls they make, anyway. I just look at it as the same thing. There are not too many times where you'll be like, ‘Good call.'" National Post

Bird didn't return a phone message Sunday, but owner Herb Simon wrote in an email that he's working under the impression that Bird will be here beyond this season because his president hasn't mentioned anything to him about leaving. Bird, who is in his second season with complete control of basketball operations, said in an interview last month that he plans to remain with the organization until at least things get turned around. "That's my game plan," Bird said at the time. Indianapolis Star

Like any prospective owner, Prokhorov will be investigated by the N.B.A. and a security firm that specializes in risk management. They will try to ascertain his net worth, debts, character, associates, personal history and integrity. The process is designed to rule out inappropriate buyers who lack financial clout or present public-relations risks to the league. Commissioner David Stern, who has led the league’s efforts to export its brand for decades, said, “We have a very extensive, stringent, some would say, invasive, but I wouldn’t, process for vetting the character and financial capacity of all owners.” With Prokhorov, he added, “We may have to look wider at our sources, but it’s the same route you travel, just a little longer.” New York Times

But experts in the oligarchy and corporate risk-management said it would not be easy because public records from Prokhorov’s world are scarce or incomplete, Russian bank records are difficult to examine, and news media reports are not always reliable. Mike Ackerman, a former C.I.A. senior operations officer who is the president of the Ackerman Group, a security firm, said the league would have to accept a certain amount of ambiguity in order to approve Prokhorov. “When we vet Russian joint-venture partners for our clients, I tell them there is no black and white in Russia, it’s all gray,” he said. “Information can be had, but you have to be prepared to accept the grayness.” New York Times

The investigation is expected to tap into Russian police, military, diplomatic and intelligence sources, some from the former K.G.B., as well as his partners, competitors and customers. “You need people on the ground to do field work, who can get you the information about his reputation and associates,” said Howard Safir, the chairman of SafirRosetti, an investigations firm owned by the Global Options Group, and a former New York City police commissioner. “You have to do the shoe-leather work.” New York Times

The NBA went into its offseason sales cycle facing the depths of the recession, but while the league didn’t quite complete a slam dunk, it will begin its new season with most of its pending renewals in the bag and no unexpected defections. Sports Business Journal

The Miami Heat is spending up to $10 million for technology upgrades and enhancements at AmericanAirlines Arena, which will be completed in time for the start of the 2009-10 season later this month. Sports Business Journal

Better yet, it was actor Rainn Wilson playing a mustached, mullet-ed, 1977 horn-rimmed glasses wearing cabbie in a new NBA promo. The All-NBA Jazz point guard recently flew to Los Angeles for a few hours to shoot the promo with the love-to-hate Wilson as part of the NBA on TNT promotion. "They (the NBA) came to me and said they had one (promo) for me and that it was gonna be with Dwight from "The Office", said Williams, "It sounded like some fun." Was it fun? "He (Wilson) was hilarious. Rainn was a good dude and made things easy on me." KSL.com

Wilson is a big sports fan, as well as a fan of the NBA. According to Williams, Wilson doesn't typically do things like this but said since he liked watching them play that it would be fun to come hang out for a few hours and shoot the commercial. Having seen him in "The Office" Williams knew he was in for an interesting experience. "He's crazy", said Williams with a big grin, "Most of the stuff he was doing was him on the fly. Ad-libbing and doing his own thing, that's what made it so fun. It's hard not to laugh when guys like that improv and say whatever they want to say." KSL.com

Israeli basketball world is shocked – Moni Fanan, the man everyone identifies with Maccabi Tel Aviv's basketball team was found dead in his apartment on Monday after hanging himself. A Magen David Adom emergency unit was rushed to the scene and tried to resuscitate Fanan for almost an hour, but was ultimately forced to pronounce him dead. Massive police forces and crime scene investigators arrived at Fanan's Ramat Aviv apartment in Tel Aviv in order to collect evidence. Tel Aviv Police Northern District Chief Sigal Bar-Zvi also arrived at the scene and will be briefed on the data. Ynetnews

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