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Thursday, February 11

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Would-be starters Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson are out of the NBA All-Star Game. Jason Kidd of the hometown Dallas Mavericks has been chosen to replace Bryant. New York's David Lee is replacing Iverson. ESPN.com

An ankle injury has prevented Bryant from playing in the Los Angeles Lakers' past three games. Iverson has missed Philadelphia's last five games because one of his young children is ill. Both informed the league on Thursday that they needed to withdraw from Sunday's game, sources said. NBA commissioner David Stern, who makes all selections on All-Star injury replacements, then chose Kidd to make his 10th All-Star appearance. Kidd -- who ranks fifth in the league in assists (9.3 per game) -- had already left Dallas to begin an All-Star break vacation in the Phoenix area and is expected to fly back to Dallas on Friday. ESPN.com

However, the question remains of who will start in AI's place. The options are Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, and Joe Johnson. With Dwyane Wade at one guard, you could either direction -- either with a distributor like Rondo or Rose, or a scorer like Johnson. Then again, Johnson's more than capable of handling the ball himself. But Rose ended up with the most votes of the three, and pairing him with Wade will provide just the kind of fireworks this event encourages. FanHouse

But the real winner in this unfortunate development could be Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki. The hometown star could go from reserve to starter and help warm things up here in Dallas, where the snow is still falling. Dirk's presence in the starting lineup should certainly help stir up some local buzz for an event that's going to need plenty of it with the weather wreaking havoc on the travel plans of everyone trying to attend. NBA.com

The All-Star Game might be affected by this surprise weather across the country. It was so bad in New York, Knicks guard Nate Robinson said he might not make it to the dunk contest. Robinson was already considering pulling out of Saturday's featured event at All-Star Weekend in Dallas due to a strained left groin. The snow in New York and Dallas didn't help his chances. Robinson tweeted: "This snow is 4 the birds! I might not make it out for the dunk contest that would be so weak." Dallas Morning News

With 4 inches blanketing the area already and another 2 inches possible this afternoon, the winter storm warning issued this morning lasts until midnight. "All of the events and activities are on schedule and have not been impacted by the weather," Tim Frank, NBA senior vice president for basketball communications told ESPN Thursday. "As far as players, hopefully not. But we'll be monitoring it." The forecast says the weather should be fine for Saturday's Jam Session and Sunday's All-Star Game. Temperatures are supposed to be at least in the 40's on those two days. Will snow keep you from going to the Game and the other events? Dallas Morning News

It's t-minus nine days until the NBA's Feb. 18 trade deadline, and we'll keep this conversation going because the fan appetite for information is certainly strong this time of year. That being said, it's admittedly quite the challenge to separate truth from fiction when it comes to the rumor mill. As one Eastern Conference executive told me today, "half of what I read today (on hoopshype.com) is total bull****." It's not just the media folks trying to sift through it all, though, as front office types often fight the same struggle from a different vantage point. Sacramento Bee

As of my last trade blog post, I hadn't been told that the notion of Indiana-forward-Troy Murphy-to-the-Kings was legit. That has changed, however, as sources close to the Pacers say there is significant Kings interest in the 29-year-old forward. And while I had alluded to a possible three-team deal sending Kevin Martin to Dallas, Josh Howard and his $10.8 million expiring contract to Indiana and Murphy to Sacramento, I've been told that the Kings are pursuing a straight up deal centered around the expiring contract of Kenny Thomas ($8.5 million). Sacramento Bee

A league source confirmed to The Columbian on Thursday that the Portland Trail Blazers are highly interested in Chicago Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas. Columbian

The source said the Blazers' are intrigued by Thomas' youth and his shot-blocking abilities. In addition, Thomas would fit in well with Portland's timeline and current roster needs. Yahoo! Sports originally reported that the Blazers offered either Steve Blake or Travis Outlaw — both of whom have expiring contracts — and two future second-round draft picks for Thomas. The Bulls reportedly declined the deal, though, because they want more value in return. Columbian

I haven't been able to confirm the fact that the Kings indeed inquired about Chicago's Tyrus Thomas, recently but they'd certainly be doing their due diligence by doing so. I was privy to talks from a few months ago, but this may be a cold trail. Sacramento Bee

Thomas is a young, athletic, talented big who could help their frontcourt in ways the current crop doesn't (defending the rim, finishing with authority on a consistent basis). But he's also an unpredictable young player with a few character questions who will be a free agent this summer (qualifying offer of $6.2 million for next season). And considering the Bulls aren't looking to take on any additional money, there's no added incentive of them taking back an Andres Nocioni (of whom they think highly as a person, but I'm told don't want that contract back after he was traded to Sacramento last February) type. Sacramento Bee

Alan Hahn: I think, as I said earlier today, what we know is that the Knicks are in pursuit of McGrady or other deals. A lot under discussion right now. Twitter.com

Rumor: NYK/HOU/WIZ deal that would send McGrady,Miller,James and Stevenson to Knix for Harrington,Hughes,Darko and Mobley. Low probability. Twitter.com

Two sources acknowledged that there have been discussions about the trade but added that nothing is imminent. The Wizards are in discussions with several teams, looking to make deals that one person familiar with the talks described as "retooling on fly" as opposed to rebuilding. When contacted by telephone, Grunfeld would not address any specific rumors, but said that the Wizards "will explore all of our options" when it comes to trades. "This time of year, everybody has conversations. Everybody looks for opportunities to improve, for the present and for the future," he said. "A lot of people are calling, a lot of people are talking and we'll have to wait and see if anything works out for us, if something presents itself we think would be beneficial short term or long term...we'll take the best path." Washington Post

A league source who has spoken recently to Grunfeld said that Grunfeld is aware that the team he assembled didn't work and that the organization has to do something - and soon. Grunfeld committed to his core group of three all-stars - Arenas, Butler and Jamison - with the hope that they could lead the team back into the postseason, but the trio is just 8-14 together this season. When asked if he still believed that three-man group could win together if they are unable to move one or all of them, Grunfeld said, "Look, there is not a three-man group here. No basketball team is a three-man group. Everybody has to contribute. You have to have 12 guys pulling together. Do I think if this group, if they played together long enough and had time to come together, would they win? Yeah. I think they could. But it hasn't been there, so we'll have to look and evaluate the things that we can do. If we can't do anything now, we can do something in the summer." Washington Post

Steve Nash on whether or not he wants the Suns to keep Amare Stoudemire: “Of course. He’s been a huge part of our team and our franchise. We want to see how good this team can be especially after playing so well lately. I’ve always been of the opinion that this trade situation is predicated on the math. On his wanting an extension, to have the maximum contract and our ownership group not feeling comfortable in giving out a max deal. I’m not really sure where it stands now and I’m not really sure where we’re gonna go but as far as if we’re talking about pure do we want Amar’e to stay and be a part of this basketball team? Of course we do.” Sports Radio Interviews

NBA.com: You recently said your team isn't very good right now. Does that change your mindset going up to the trade deadline? Mark Cuban: I've said stuff like that before and everybody makes a big deal about it at every trade deadline. You also qualify it that every team goes through ups and downs during the season. The year we went to the Finals is the year Kobe scored 62 on us and everyone thought we were terrible. Here we are taking about "we suck" and we're in first place in the hardest division in the NBA. Every team has ups and downs. A team that wins 60 loses 22. NBA.com

Do you think the 2010 free agency is going to be a case of musical chairs or when it’s all said and done, most of the stars will be where they played the last year? Mark Cuban: “I think most of them will stay put. Unless there’s a financial reason, you know a team gives up for financial reasons and they’ve been trying to build a winner. I think the primary goal for any of the superstars that might be changing teams is to win a championship and play on a winning team. Most of them are on good teams already and so you don’t see these guys that are on really, really bad teams. Unless something changes that is not expected, I don’t expect them to move. A lot of that has to do with the fact that the new collective bargaining agreement coming up. By staying with your team you get an extra year and more money and I think going into the new deal guys will probably do that to protect themselves.” Sports Radio Interviews

Danny Ainge asked if he is more likely to make a trade that changes the team chemistry or for team need: “Fill a need. It’s all about winning. Our chemistry is fine. It’s more of a playing need. I think it might be to change our approach, change our rotation, change the way we go about it. The chemistry on the court is what I’m more concerned about then I am any sort of personalities. We don’t have any bad personalities in the locker room. So I’m interested in helping our team get better and sometimes a small change can make a difference. A big change would only happen if I felt like it gave us a better chance to win this year.” Asked if he feels there is a lot of interest around the league regarding Ray Allen: Ainge: “At this stage, it’s not so much that there’s other teams looking to acquire Ray. We value Ray much more than anybody else in the league values Ray. Let’s put it that way. What he does for us is much more valuable. The value in today’s economic climate is an expiring contract.” Sports Radio Interviews

Brandon Roy says he thinks the Trail Blazers do not need to make a move at the trading deadline to make the playoffs. “Unless it’s like a great deal for us, then I think I understand the approach of not making a move and letting us fight it out,’’ Roy said. “We are still a good team.’’ Oregonian

Yet Bird says the rebuilding phase that began when the Pacers traded Ron Artest in 2006 is on target, and will move into high gear after next season when the team gets salary cap space. "We knew that we had to clean it out and rebuild it, and we knew we were going to go through some tough times," Bird told The Associated Press this week. "Nobody likes to lose, and everybody wants to be a part of a winner. We think we're on the right track to get there." Bird also took the pressure off coach Jim O'Brien, who is in his third year after back-to-back 36-46 seasons. O'Brien signed a one-year extension last September to coach through the end of next season, and Bird said he is in no danger of being replaced. "The one thing Jimmy bought into when he came here was that we were going to rebuild, and we were going to struggle at times," Bird said. "I always say the losses are on me because I want him to work these guys hard, develop the young guys we have and keep moving forward with what we have." AP

For you personally, it’s been a long road to get where you are now, as an established key player on a top European team. Now you have some of the most efficient stats in Europe, and you’re moving up the Draft Express list of overseas free agents at age 31 – they called you “the Paul Pierce of European basketball.” So we’re wondering if you still have NBA aspirations, or if you’re more comfortable in Europe, where your market value may be higher at this point? Pete Mickeal: Well, I get asked this question a lot, I’ve kind of learned how to answer this question. There’s no aspirations for Europe, there’s no aspirations for NBA. What it is, is every year finding the best possible situation for myself. We’re not only talking about money, we’re talking about living conditions, we’re talking about a chance to win championships, we’re talking about a chance to re-sign for more years. Those are the keys for me. The Painted Area

Mickeal: It’s not only about if somebody in the NBA offers me a contract. First of all, it would have to be enough to at least be the same as my contract here, because of the taxes being so high in the States. You get 45% taxes and another 10% for your retirement fund and that’s 55% of your money already gone. And you get paid in dollars. So those are different things on the business side that I understand. The fact that you have to pay your agent in the States, you have to pay so much in taxes, and it’s a different style of living. For me, I’m very comfortable here in Europe, and I’m also comfortable living in the States playing in the NBA. It’s two great markets. Anybody would be blessed to be in the situation to have both sides wanting you. So that’s the way I look at it – as a blessing more than anything. I don’t really look at it as do I want to be in the NBA or do I want to be in Europe. Every year I’m searching for the best possible situation, and this year I found a great situation here at FC Barcelona. The Painted Area

Minnesota Timberwolves prospect Ricky Rubio has been named the best young male player in Europe for the third year in a row. The Timberwolves said Thursday the honor comes from the European division of the international basketball governing body FIBA. AP

Pete Mickeal: For being 19, he’s well beyond his years. For me, his mind is the same type of mind as Steve Nash for passing and having the mindframe to control the game. We’re not talking about having the exact same skill level, we’re talking about having the mind to control the game, in any situation. He’s 19 years old, but believe me, nobody in this locker room looks at him as 19. We look at him as Ricky, that’s it. He’s proven himself. I’m the only one who jokes with him and calls him “Young Fella” (laughs), but that’s it. He’s proven himself. He goes to work every day, he comes in early to shoot. What I’ve learned for him is that his work ethic is second to none – this is what’s going to get him to the top. The Painted Area

On your blog on HoopsHype, you mentioned that you call him “Rock Star”. What’s the craziest scene of fans interacting with Ricky Rubio that you’ve seen in Spain? Mickeal: Well, he’s got the long, bushy hair and he wears his shorts down… down low (laughs) – and the Rock Star thing came in our first game of the year. We played a team in Galicia, a northern part of Spain, and I saw two girls actually… I mean… I mean… whoa… I don’t know if they passed out, but it was very close to that. I mean, it was unbelievable. I just couldn’t believe it. There were people when we opened the door to come out of our hotel room, and they were already there on the floor. We couldn’t even go to the elevator because they were waiting to see him. And I’ve seen girls... this girl’s face was so red, and she broke down, on the ground. On the ground! Like, two of them – they broke down on the ground. It was unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like that in basketball. So, he’s like the Beatles or the Jonas Brothers? He’s like a Jonas Brother, that’s right. The Painted Area

Pete Mickeal: Fran is the type of guy who goes about his business. He does his job, he’s a very humble guy, and he leads by example. He’s not a big talker. He’s one of those blue-collar guys. He goes to work, he’s gonna play defense, he’s gonna block shots. He’s gonna dunk everything close to the basket. It doesn’t matter where, he’s dunking it. I’ll tell you what: Orlando could use a guy like Fran Vazquez. With the screen-and-roll, the guy can shoot jump shots at the top of the key very, very well, and he also can roll to the basket and finish. He has a great combination of skills that are very rare for European big guys. He loves the top-of-the-key jump shot, that’s his favorite shot. And he also loves to roll to the basket for the alley-oop and you can throw the ball anywhere close to the basket, and 9 times out of 10, he’s gonna finish it. The Painted Area

"We're a team that we have to play extremely hard and we have to play with a lot of intensity to be able to beat good teams, to beat teams, period. If we don't do that, then we get ourselves in trouble and that's what happened tonight. There's no excuses to be made." "We sucked (on defense). We sucked. We sucked in all phases of it. They drove it to the basket. They made jump shots. We had to end up double-teaming and they swung the ball and either made jump shots or drove it to the basket. We didn't play. They scored 66 (actually 77) last night. They had 60 at the half so our defense was terrible and that's the one thing we had been pretty good at. In the five games we won, we were pretty good defensively and did a good job. We didn't tonight. Thanks." Arizona Republic

An MRI revealed no significant injury to Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose, who fell hard to the court during Wednesday's game against the Orlando Magic. The MRI on Rose's lower back and right hip was taken on Wednesday night at Rush University Medical Center. Rose will be re-examined by team physician Brian Cole on Saturday in Dallas, where he'll be attending All-Star Game festivities. ESPNChicago.com

While Chicago Bulls fans are holding their breath waiting for health updates on injured guard Derrick Rose, the NBA is patiently and optimistically giving Rose every opportunity to participate in All-Star festivities this weekend in Dallas. Rose suffered a bruised right hip in the first quarter of Wednesday's game against the Orlando Magic when he went up for a layup and was fouled by Dwight Howard. Rose fell hard to the floor, hit his free throw and left the game. X-rays taken at the arena showed no structural damage, and Rose went for an MRI. "The guy earned his chance to be here, and we want to give him every chance to play," NBA spokesman Tim Frank said from Dallas. "I wouldn't say we have a contingency plan, but I'm sure [NBA vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson] has a list of players who he could replace someone with if someone can't participate. "We're optimistic he'll be here." ESPNChicago.com

Rose underwent an MRI on his low back and right hip last night at the Rush University Medical Center. The results were consistent with the fall and showed no significant injury to the hip or low back. He will be re-examined in Dallas, Texas on Saturday by Bulls team physician Dr. Brian Cole of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. “X-rays so far were negative,” Bulls Head Athletic Trainer Fred Tedeschi said after the game. “I won’t say we completely ruled out a fracture, but it looks unlikely at this point. If there’s not a great deal of inflammation, I think we can be optimistic. If there are some things going on we’ll have to deal with that.” NBA.com

Despite the snowstorm that belted North Texas on Thursday, NBA officials said events surrounding All-Star Weekend are still on schedule. The National Weather Service said a winter storm warning is in effect for the Dallas/Fort Worth area until midnight Thursday with an estimated snowfall accumulation of 4-6 inches by Thursday night. Injuries to All-Stars like Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (sore left ankle) and Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (bruised right hip) have been topics of discussion, but now weather -- and how it might affect travel plans, especially those coming from the East Coast -- might be the story. "All of the events and activities are on schedule and have not been impacted by the weather," Tim Frank, NBA senior vice president for basketball communications, said Thursday. "As far as players, hopefully not. But we'll be monitoring it." ESPNDallas.com

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said when he and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones partnered up to bring the game to North Texas, weather concerns were a small factor. "Never considered we would have a snowstorm," Cuban said in an e-mail to ESPNDallas on Thursday morning. "I'm not worried about events taking place. I'm worried about people driving and getting around. Hopefully the roads will be OK." ESPNDallas.com

So far, nothing has been canceled, and Mark Cuban just sent a Twitter that the Mavs Foundation event on Friday night with Mary J. Blige will go on as scheduled. The NBA All-Star Jam Session at the Dallas Convention Center doesn't get under way until 4 p.m. this afternoon, so we'll see how the weather affects crowds there. Dallas Morning News

While the Mavs haven't given folks a whole lot to get excited about lately with five losses in the team's final seven games heading into Sunday's All-Star Game (capped off by Tuesday night's 36-point shellacking in Denver), hundreds of fans lined up yesterday afternoon at the Dallas Convention Center to grab some ink, a handshake and perhaps a brief conversation from nine-time All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki's appearance highlighted an invitation-only tip-off to the NBA All-Star Jam Session (slide show available soon), which opens to the public this afternoon with a 4 p.m. ceremony featuring NBA commissioner David Stern, owner Mark Cuban and Mayor Tom Leppert. Before taking the stage to sign autographs, Nowitzki participated in a meet-and-greet with the first 10 people to buy tickets to the Jam Session when Nowitzki manned the ticket booth on January 25 at American Airlines Center. Nowitzki's life-size bobblehead, which is being raffled at the Jam Session, was also unveiled, to which he reponded: "The head is freggin' huge." Dallas Observer

Mark Cuban joined ESPN 1000 in Chicago with Waddle and Silvy to talk about the All-Star game this weekend, how important it is to have some of the top players competing in the weekend events, how he thinks David Stern handled the Gilbert Arenas situation, and gives his thoughts on 2010 free agency. Is it true that you said the hosting of the All-Star game will make the hosting of the Super Bowl look like a Bar Mitzvah? Cuban: “Yeah, ‘cause it’s a fact. I absolutely said it (laughing). You know the Super Bowl is obviously bigger on TV, obviously it’s a bigger cultural event no question about it. But just in terms of a big time party weekend, the All-Star blows it away. I mean people go to the Super Bowl for their team and it’s the most important game of the year. People come to the All-Star game specifically for the party. The game itself is kinda secondary.” Sports Radio Interviews

Magic Johnson enjoyed a rather quiet dinner last night at the Pappadeaux on Oak Lawn. *Spud Webb and the good folks at Southwest Airlines are, as we speak, trying to pull off a promotion involving an arriving plane called “Slam Dunk One.’’ But given the fact that a skillion people are stranded from getting into DFW, “Slam Dunk One’’ isn’t quite receiving priority clearance at this moment. It was all supposed to happen at 11:30. Spud’s event is delayed. *Hotel ZaZa is always a Who’s Who of celebrity guests. No surprise that Shaq (and his people) are booked at ZaZa. No surprise that LeBron James (and his people) are staying there, too. The surprise is who didn’t make the cut: Shockingly, the musical giants weren’t accepted along with the basketball giants. So Lil’ Wayne, P-Diddy and Jay-Z had to find other accommodations. DallasBasketball.com

So here's a look at some of the best-dressed NBA All-Stars, and a few of the red-carpet busts, too. Our celebrity fashionistas are Dallas Mavericks Erick Dampier and Shawn Marion, both of whom put a high priority on being sartorially up-to-date, and former Maverick Jerry Stackhouse, who never gets caught looking anything but chic. On Dwyane Wade: "He's the face of the NBA, so everybody expects him to dress well," Dampier says. "Everybody's got their own style. Some guys like suits. Some guys like jeans and sports coats. It's the All-Star Game, and you never know what you're going to see – everything from loud colors to Jheri curls. LeBron looks good in just about anything." "LeBron dresses very nice," Marion says. "He's always going to look sharp. Obviously, he can afford to." Dallas Morning News

On Steve Nash: "Over the years, he's definitely stepped his game up," Marion says. "Most improved by far, definitely. He puts some suits on now and then. He's got some strut going. It depends on what he wants to do and how he wants to do it. Fashion is your own sense of style. Everybody has their own sense. I like to be different. I'm going to stand out." Dallas Morning News

Under the established guidelines, it should be called Watergate but that's taken. Water Fountaingate is unwieldy, so we'll just have to go nameless as we examine the news that the team is returning the free drinking spots to the arena by the end of the month. As you might recall, the team claimed the removal was designed to halt the spread of the H1N1 virus. The claim was debunked by health officials, the NBA and anyone who was aware that the team actually generated revenue by selling water and other goodies at stands all around the arena. So what's bringing them back? According to the team, the reversal is because flu season is coming to an end. It dovetails nicely with their original explanation, until you realize that the state building code of Ohio requires buildings to have one water fountain for every 1,000 people through the gate. The city told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer that the Cavaliers removed the fountains without approval, but that they'd avoid penalties if they reinstalled them. How lucky that it comes just as flu season comes to an end. FanHouse

Actually, Marc Gasol told me the other day, there might be. "Adriá," Gasol said, smiling at the thought of his little, by age, and littler, by size (for now), brother. "He is 16 years old. He might be 6-8 now." The third Gasol is still early in any quest to follow the first two Gasols -- Marc, center for the Memphis Grizzlies and Pau, forward/center for the Los Angeles Lakers. Recovered now from a knee injury, he is back at Lausanne High in Memphis, the college preparatory school that Marc attended from 2001-03 while the oldest sibling played with the Grizzlies. And Adria still is growing. "Oh yes he is. He is," Marc said. "He picked up basketball a little late. It all depends on how much he loves the game and wants to play." NBA.com

Here are some reliable witnesses, doing the compare-and-contrast thing on the Gasols: • Kevin McHale, NBA TV analyst and Hall of Fame big man: "Marc, what he's been able to do, has been unbelievable. First of all, the improvement in his body -- three or four years ago, when I saw him in Europe, he was big. I mean, Oliver Miller-type big. Heavy. "They both have a great feel for the game. They play differently from a lot of bigs. You can get the ball to either Gasol at the elbow and he can make plays. I'm talking about passing plays, helping players get open, making nice reads off of splits. You can put them in the low box and they both can make plays out of there, scoring or passing. For big men, they're both very versatile. "Marc is a little more rugged than Pau. I think Pau is a little better athletically and more agile. NBA.com

Marc Gasol had the benefit of going to school, literally and figuratively, on his older brother. Pau historically has pushed Marc hard to improve, to challenge himself, using a tough sort of brotherly love. Which has been fine. "His criticism, you have to take it from the people who love you because they have your best interest [at heart]," Marc told me. "I always want to take criticism, because most of the time it's going to be for your benefit." It never morphed, he said, into any "I'll show him" motivation, though. "No. I never tried to show anything to anybody," Marc Gasol said. "I just worried about my own, my teammates around me, my coaches, my city. I don't play to show or prove anything." NBA.com

Not everyone is clamoring to join the reading club. The Lakers say the majority of players don't read the books Mr. Jackson gives them. A spokesman for the Portland Trail Blazers says the handful of players on the team who cozy up with novels didn't feel comfortable revealing themselves. Foreign-born players say they don't share books with their American teammates very often—some because they like to read in their native languages and others because they assume American players are more interested in motivational books on leadership, empowerment and business. Pau Gasol, who says he's about 100 pages into "2666," the book Mr. Jackson gave him, says he doesn't share books because he doesn't want anyone messing them up or losing them (he likes to store everything he's read in his home library.) Wall Street Journal

Utah's Mr. Kirilenko, who reads everything from Tolstoy and Bulgakov, says that when he first arrived in the Salt Lake City in 2001, he noticed most of his teammates would don fancy headphones to kill time instead of discussing books. He wanted to blend in, so he gave it a shot, hoping the music would have an equally calming effect and would take his mind off basketball. "I was trying that but it doesn't help me that much," says Mr. Kirilenko, who tears through a different book before every game and sometimes shows up nearly an hour early to pre-game meetings to pick up where he left off. Sometimes teammates try to make fun of him, he says, but he doesn't respond. "You learn to ignore it." Wall Street Journal

We've a bit of a BDL exclusive, my friends, as our man Steve Nash has partnered with vitaminwater to create a perfectly-paced take off on the Dos Equis "Most Interesting Man in the World" adverts. We think ... yeah, we think Dr. Nash has pulled it off. Yahoo! Sports

Rick Pitino is the first high-profile coach to express interest in the Nets coaching job, but they have their eyes on someone even bigger and more decorated. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski hasn’t campaigned – and probably wouldn’t - but he is expected to be a leading candidate to coach the Nets next season, league sources said. “He’s the Nets’ first choice,” said an NBA source with knowledge of the organization’s thinking. “It comes down to if he wants to leave Duke and his comfortable setting and take on a new challenge.” Bergen Record

The Nets could also offer Krzyzewski the title of general manager. Both the coach and general manager posts, currently held by Kiki Vandeweghe, are expected to be available after the season. Krzyzewski’s appeal is a given. He is a Hall of Fame coach, having won more than 75 percent of his games in college and three National titles. He would give the Nets’ instant credibility. He’s also a proven recruiter, something that could come in handy this summer when the Nets need to make important sales pitches to marquee free agents with whom Krzyzewski has relationships. Bergen Record

Rod Thorn was packing his bags Thursday morning in an attempt to make it to Dallas for All-Star weekend. First, he had a situation to deal with -- shooting down the notion that Louisville coach Rick Pitino had contacted the Nets to express interest in being their next coach. "I'm good friends with Rick and have been for long time," Thorn said. "He's never reached out to me and I've never reached out to him about this. He's never indicated to me that he’s unhappy where he is or has intentions of coming back to the NBA. I've certainly never heard about it and never had any conversation with him about it. If he had approached one of our owners or somebody on his behalf had approached one of our owners, I'm sure they say something to me about it." CBSSports.com

But sources said Pitino backers apparently tried an end run around Thorn to get to the incoming owner, Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov. Several persons close to the situation said Pitino supporters sought to reach Prokhorov through members of the billionaire's inner circle. Prokhorov, who is expected to be approved as the Nets' new owner by the NBA Board of Governors soon, will meet this weekend in Dallas with Thorn and Nets CEO Brett Yormark. "I have no idea about that and I have no comment," Thorn said of Pitino's camp approaching Prokhorov. A spokesman for Prokhorov said the billionaire "keeps everything close to the vest" and he does not want to discuss Nets matters publicly until after he is approved by the league's owners. New York Post

NBA.com: What's your relationship like with David Stern? Mark Cuban: I like David. A good business relationship is one where you don't always agree and we don't always agree, but since I'm right most of the time -- not all the time -- he has to go along. NBA.com

The possibility of a franchise in Las Vegas, such a hot topic when the extravaganza was there three years ago, has faded into a non-story. When owners or their proxy gather to discuss league business, as they will in Dallas with labor negotiations front and center, Sin City is rarely mentioned. A study commissioned by the NBA concluded Vegas is a promising market that could sustain a team, a report that at least allows the topic to resurface in a better economy. For now, though, there's no money for a new arena and the league isn't moving there without one. NBA.com

The NBA yesterday announced new multi-year extensions of its marketing partnerships with Haier America and Nike. The extensions include a variety of NBA-themed promotions, such as advertising, retail, hospitality and sweepstakes. Sports Business Daily

But as a player, Red’s prize student wasn’t always the teacher’s pet. And therein lied another lesson. “I was his whipping boy,” remembered Jackson. “If he needed somebody to rally the troops around, he could start yelling at me about a variety of things, whether I gambled on defense or I made a mistake on offense or took a shot that maybe I shouldn’t have, or whatever. And I was the combative one. . .I didn’t like to be the one who was vented at. But with my pecking order on the club, it was natural to do that. And as you find out when you’re the coach, it’s nice to have a player you can use to be a motivator on the team.” The coach-in-waiting had to wait a while. Jackson enjoyed a 13-year NBA playing career, was a key member of the Knicks’ second championship team in 1973, and his 732 games played as a Knick is exceeded in franchise history only by Patrick Ewing, Walt Frazier, Bradley and Carl Braun. Following a brief broadcasting career, the coaching road took him to the CBA, then to Chicago, then to Los Angeles. . .then to the Hall of Fame and a still-unfolding legacy. Knicks.com

However, this doesn't mean it's necessarily a good idea for them to sign on as endorsers, which is exactly what former choirboy Dwight Howard announced this week. Biloxi's very own Sun Herald has the press release in which Dwight divulges the following: "I'm a fan of the designs, and I feel blessed to be provided this opportunity." I don't pretend to know God personally, but I'm fairly sure that "endorsing Ed Hardy" is not on his list of "great and noble blessings to bestow upon the worthy." FanHouse

Steve Nash on who he likes in the 2010 World Cup: “I think Spain and Brazil are the two top teams, but being that my family is English, I’m always rooting for them and I think they’ve got the most talent that they have had in a long time. They’re my dark horse.” Sports Radio Interviews

The New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Hornets are among the multiple teams who’ve spoken to Chicago about Thomas. The Bulls are telling people that they have several teams willing to offer first-round picks – in 2010 or beyond. Yahoo! Sports

Everyone understood Chicago executives are now determined to move Thomas, and a clear price has been established for suitors: Expiring contracts and a 2010 or future first-round draft pick, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Bulls are also exploring ways to package Thomas with guard Kirk Hinrich to free themselves of his contract. The Charlotte Bobcats bid Acie Law, Flip Murray and their 2010 first-round pick, a league executive said. The Bobcats have been searching for a long, athletic forward like Thomas, the fourth pick in the 2007 draft, and are expected to be aggressive pursuers. Portland Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard made an offer they’ll have to improve upon to be taken seriously – one of his expiring contracts (Steve Blake or Travis Outlaw) and two future second-round draft picks. Yahoo! Sports

The Mavericks are playing terrible, emotions are frayed for players, fans and the owner, and everybody expects action before the NBA trading deadline a week from today. Mark Cuban, however, said Wednesday that the Mavericks will not "shuffle the deck chairs," and certainly won't compromise their chances of making a big, free-agent splash in the off-season – unless one thing happens. They can make that big splash now. "There's a fix," Cuban said, "and then there's doing something to do something. If it's an opportunity that we thought would only be available to us in the summer, then we'll grab it. If somebody says, 'We don't want to take the risk in the summer, we'll do it now.' Come on. We'll look at it. "But we're not going to do something to shuffle the deck chairs. That doesn't help us at all." Dallas Morning News

It's the same question you would ask about Sacramento's Kevin Martin. It's not the question you would ask about Washington's Caron Butler, who is not believed to be on the Mavericks' radar anymore. "You just don't know," Cuban said about a possible discount deal in terms of outgoing assets if he's willing to take on big future salary. "If it comes along, here we are. And if it doesn't, we'll wait. "The phones are ringing. And we're answering the phone. We're not out there trying to force anything down anybody's throats. But everybody knows we're always ready, willing and able. It's not like people don't know our number." Dallas Morning News

The Mavs continue to chase Washington’s Caron Butler … have competition for him … and know that for a Josh Howard-for-Butler trade to really qualify as a big score, they need to get center Brendan Haywood back, too. Meanwhile, there are three debate points as the Mavs and the Wizards continue to negotiate: *Dallas is offering tax relief, expiring contracts and an escape from Cap Hell. *Washington is interested but as enough other suitors that it is trying to also pry loose some talent. *The Wizards want to also dump DeShawn Stevenson on the Mavs. DallasBasketball.com

Among those discussions, other sources say, involve Butler going to Dallas in an exchange that almost certainly would include Josh Howard. If the Mavs are able to follow through on their desire to trade Howard, they essentially must do so before the Feb. 18 trade deadline. Howard has a team option at $11.8 million for the 2010-11 season, and as such couldn't be traded after the season unless the Mavs picked up the option -- which would guarantee Howard's contract for next season. CBSSports.com

By the way, we’ve got nothing new on Dallas’ desire for the Kings’ Kevin Martin (meaning there’s no movement there). And we still believe that depending on what happens in talks with Washington, the Mavs will eventually take a stab at the Clippers to talk Chris Kaman and Rasual Butler as a throw-in. DallasBasketball.com

If McGrady ends up getting his contract bought out, one source close to him said, the Knicks are No. 1 on his list to sign with for the rest of the season. Yahoo! Sports

Donnie Walsh is not ready to pull the plug on the season. In fact, according to multiple sources, the Knicks president is working to make an aggressive play to acquire exiled Houston Rockets star Tracy McGrady before next Thursday's trade deadline. Newsday

Alan Hahn: What I'm being told by other sources around the NBA is Walsh is trying to do something. Seeking a third team to help McGrady deal work. Twitter.com

If the Knicks deal for Tracy McGrady by next Thursday's deadline, it will have to be a three-team trade, with Al Harrington headed to the Wizards, a source confirmed. A source familiar with the situation said talks between the Rockets, Knicks and Wizards are continuing, but the source did not sound overly optimistic they would be able to get it done. "It's possible, but I would not say it's likely," the source said. "The good news is there are talks and it's all being discussed." Another league source said, "I think there can be something there at some point, but I think it will be hard for all three teams to hit their goals." New York Post

A report on Yahoo.com Wednesday had the Rockets talking with the Knicks and Wizards about a deal in which the Rockets would receive Butler and Brendan Haywood from Washington, with the Wizards receiving Al Harrington from the Knicks. A person with knowledge of the talks said that deal has not been discussed, but there have been discussions about three-team trades. Those deals are not considered more likely than direct trades and are not expected until next Wednesday or Thursday, if at all. Houston Chronicle

Meanwhile NBA sources also told FOX 26 there is nothing to a Yahoo.com report that has the Rockets, New York Knicks and Washington Wizards involved in negotiations that would send Tracy McGrady to the Knicks as part of a three-team trade. FOX 26 Sports

There remains a chance that the Rockets will not trade McGrady to let his contract expire and seek help in free agency. Rockets players are saying they would be happy to make do. “It's not up to me to say that, but I believe in the team,” forward Luis Scola said. “The team we have here, we could be good. What's in our hands is to control the guys who are here, and with the guys who are here, we could be better. We should be better. Houston Chronicle

Nobody wants to go to New York right now, considering the weather. But if talks progress on a three-team trade proposal involving the Knicks, Rockets, and Wizards, Tracy McGrady might be on his way to the Big Apple by the time the snow is cleaned up. Though sources cautioned that no deal has been finalized, two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed that the teams have discussed a swap that would send McGrady to New York, Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood to Houston, and Al Harrington to the Wizards. Other pieces would have to be involved, but those are the main ones. The holdup, according to one of the sources, is indecision on the part of the Rockets and Knicks to sign off on the proposal. The second person familiar with the scenario characterized it as one of many discussions the Wizards are actively engaged in as they try to clean house in the wake of Gilbert Arenas' season-wrecking firearms suspension. CBSSports.com

Newsday reported Wednesday that Knicks president Donnie Walsh has visited Chicago seeking an answer to that question. Since the Rockets banished him in December, McGrady has been splitting time between Houston and Chicago, where he's worked out with personal trainer Tim Grover at the Attack Athletics gym. Walsh, according to Newsday, could be planning another trip. What he sees could be the tipping point in what would be one of the most significant deals to occur before the deadline. CBSSports.com

Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski had reported on Wednesday that the deal would send Tracy McGrady to the New York Knicks, and ship Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood to the Rockets. The Knicks would send Al Harrington to the Wizards. One of Lee's sources said nothing is imminent, though. Washington Post

McGrady would give Mike D'Antoni the playmaker he craves since the Knicks' two point guards, Chris Duhon and Nate Robinson, have struggled this season. D'Antoni is also looking to remove Harrington from the locker room because he feels the veteran's presence hurts the development of Danilo Gallinari and rookie Jordan Hill. Harrington is aware - and not pleased - with the fact that D'Antoni is eager to trade him. If Harrington isn't traded by next Thursday's deadline, the last six weeks of the season could result in unwanted drama inside the locker room. New York Daily News

Adrian Wojnarowski: The 3-way trade talks with Wiz, NY and Houston haven't progressed today, source says. NY and Wash waiting to hear from HOU to advance ball. Twitter.com / February 10

The Bulls are desperate to recruit Miami’s Dwyane Wade back to his hometown, but one source familiar with Wade’s thinking says he’s ”far less” inclined to bolt Miami unless Chicago has the ability to sign a ”significant” free agent to join him. Tracy McGrady has been working out with trainer Tim Grover in Chicago at his Attack Athletics Gymnasium since late December, waiting for the Houston Rockets to find a trade for him. Yet, the Rockets have been unwilling to let teams interested in trading for McGrady stop by the gymnasium and monitor his progress, one league executive said. ”They won’t allow a ‘casual sitting,’ ” the executive said. McGrady is the center of discussions among the Rockets, Washington Wizards and New York Knicks in a three-team trade scenario. As part of a larger package, the moving pieces would send New York’s Al Harrington to Washington and Washington’s Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood to Houston. Yahoo! Sports

Alan Hahn: But I do know the #Knicks are VERY interested in Luke Ridnour. Hearing the #Bucks are willing to move him before Feb. 18. Twitter.com

Beasley repeatedly has surfaced as the Heat's most valuable asset who could be dealt by the Feb. 18 trade deadline to acquire Amare Stoudemire from Phoenix. ``If they decide to trade me, I don't want to go,'' Beasley said before Wednesday's game against the Hawks. ``Amare's a great player, so you understand whatever happens. You understand that it's a business. You just have to focus on your job.'' Miami Herald

Beasley, the No. 2 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, is averaging 15.7 points and 6.7 rebounds in his second season, and first as a full-time starter. Beasley said he has not been given any indication from Miami or agent Jeff Schwartz that he is being shopped. ``I haven't heard anything from anybody,'' Beasley said. ``So I'm not really thinking about it. If I get traded, I'm going to miss some of my teammates. But I'm going to play wherever I'm at. I'm going to handle my business.'' Miami Herald

The NBA trade deadline is also right around the corner and speculation will certainly come with it. The Bulls reportedly will consider a move to improve their position with respect to the salary cap and this summer’s free agent crop. When asked about a possible move, Rose said he’s fine either way. “I’m alright with the players that we have,” said Rose. “If they choose to do something different, that’s not up to me. It’s up to the front office to make that decision. I’ll be happy with whatever move they make.” Bulls.com

Hinrich, the longest-tenured Bull, does his best to ignore all the speculation. ''I don't read anything; I don't really look at any of the Web sites that throw out rumors,'' he said. ''Really, the only time I hear about is if a friend or family members asks me about it, or someone on the street.'' That approach doesn't mean Hinrich is indifferent to what happens. ''I would prefer to stay here,'' he said. ''It's been a lot of fun this last month or so. Guys have been playing hard; we've been competing. ''But I really don't think about it. It's one of those things I can't control. I try not to dwell on it, really.'' Southtown Star

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Lang Whitaker: I’ve seen people throwing the Lakers around in trade talks. Do you think you guys will make a move? Are you good with what you guys have? Kobe Bryant: I’m good with what we have. I mean, obviously the front office has to do their jobs, but I’m good with what we’ve got. LW: You’ve been around long enough now, when do you know when your team is good enough to win a title? KB: You never really know, because in the Playoffs, one wrong bounce can change a series completely. You never really know until you actually win a Championship. LW: Do you think this year’s team can win a Championship? KB: We’re playing very well, and we have a chance just like anybody else. Obviously, we’re the defending champions, and our stock holds a little bit more value. But at the end of the day, the proof is in the pudding. SLAM

So far, most of Pritchard's conversations have been surface dialogue. A feeling-out process. There have been, he says, only three concrete deals proposed. He has met all of them with a chuckle, and a polite "no thank you." "There are things I would like to do," Pritchard said. "But it comes down to what we have to give up. I'm torn with that all the time. There are deals that could be done today, but it goes back to that thing: We're going to give two, three, four players for one. I know those players mean more to us than that trade." Oregonian

Eventually, probably out of frustration, Pritchard grabbed my pad and pen. He listed the Blazers roster by position, then asked me to circle the players who would be on the Blazers championship team. I circled six: Roy, Oden, LaMarcus Aldridge, Batum, Fernandez and Przybilla. Pritchard would not reveal who he would circle. He then constructed three boxes side-by-side: Untouchables. Players to move. And in the middle, players who have yet to define themselves in either the untouchable or player to move box. He did not want to reveal which players were in the untouchable box, but he said the two players – the ones drawing the most interest in the trade scenarios – were in the middle box, and in his eyes, were trending toward the untouchable zone. Oregonian

Ilgauskas said he was not worried about next week's trade deadline. Because he has an expiring contract, there has been some speculation the Cavs could move him. "I want to be here, but we have to wait and see," he said. "I don't know anything. I've got two kids at home. I've got enough stuff to worry about." He did know one thing, though. "The puppet has a no-trade contract," he said. Cleveland Plain Dealer

With the Feb. 18 trade deadline looming, it was easy to surmise that Allen – the subject of several trade rumors – had just been shipped out. “Yeah, I was thinking of opening by announcing a trade tonight,’’ joked Rivers. “But Ray had trouble moving in shootaround today, and when he got back to the hotel he could barely move. But we’ll just keep moving on. We’re used to it. He couldn’t play if he wanted to. “The good thing now is that he’ll have four or five days (during the all-star break) to rest it.’’ Boston Herald

To his credit, Jordan said after the game that "I went with a small lineup and it sort of backfired. It happens." Brand doesn't think it should have happened in the first place. "I don't call the shots," Brand said at his locker. "I just go out there and play the best I can. I didn't think it was my fault, but I'm easy to get pulled it seems. We weren't down enough (50-41 at the half) to switch what we've been doing in a five-game win streak. That's what we did and we paid for it." When further questioned as to why the move might have been made, Brand said: "Maybe they're getting prepared for something else." Philadelphia Daily News

Magic GM Otis Smith has bad news for all those fans who might dream of the club renting a Chris Bosh or a Carlos Boozer for the stretch run to a possible title shot. Smith said Wednesday that he has no plans to trade for a star player who is in the last year of his contract. The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 18. "The only way you think about that is if you have injuries," Smith said. Smith reiterated that he isn't planning on making any trades. Orlando Sentinel

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said the team's ability to remain in the chase for a playoff spot this season might impact decision making but that the primary goals are more long-term. “If we were on pace, like everyone expected, to win 30-something games, that would have changed where we look at ourselves,” Morey said. “Where we are definitely impacts things. “We're hoping to help this season if we can. Our main goal is still to position ourselves to be a title contender sometime in the future. If it takes multiple steps going into next year, we'll do that.” Houston Chronicle

Curry had 36 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds as Ellis missed his third game of the season, this time with a sprained left knee. In those three games, Curry is averaging 29.3 points, seven assists and eight rebounds. For the record, general manager Larry Riley said both Ellis and Curry are off limits as the Feb. 18 trade deadline approaches. San Francisco Chronicle

David Aldridge: So they're not going to get Manu Ginobili a three-year or four-year extension. They're just not going to do it because they are looking at this year and next year, and then after next year they may as well have to break this team up and start moving people. I think Manu understands that. I'm sure he's not happy with it. He understands it and so he's going to go into free agency and see what's out there and if there are teams that are going to make him a good offer. I think he'll get some interest. I think there will be three or four teams that will have a lot of interest in Manu but it's a matter of whether he gives the Spurs the right opportunity to match whatever is out there or if he just walks. I think frankly the Spurs understand that they are in a position now where they have to prepare for the fact that he may not be there next year. NBA.com

Although he has missed the 76ers' last five games, Allen Iverson is expected to start in Sunday's All-Star Game, according to a source close to the 34-year-old guard. Iverson has not played with the Sixers since Jan. 31; he has been excused to be with his daughter, who is ill. Philadelphia Inquirer

The source also indicated that Iverson would address the media tomorrow in Dallas, the host city of the All-Star Game, and that Iverson intends to return to the Sixers after the all-star break, when they host the Miami Heat on Tuesday. "We haven't really heard much, just [that he is] dealing with the family issues," Sixers guard Lou Williams said. "The only thing I know is that his daughter is sick and he's taking care of her." Philadelphia Inquirer

The Bulls are waiting for results of an MRI, but a person with knowledge of Rose's injury told CBSSports.com early Thursday that the team is "hopeful" that the injury is limited to soft tissue damage and won't keep Rose out of Sunday's game. But any decision about Rose's status will have to take into account whether playing in the game will jeopardize the Bulls' push for a playoff spot. If Rose is held out, the Hawks' Josh Smith and the Knicks' David Lee are the most likely candidates to be named as the injury replacement. My pick would be Smith; he was a more deserving All-Star than Al Horford in the first place. CBSSports.com

Derrick Rose left the Chicago Bulls' game against the Orlando Magic with a bruised right hip, throwing the point guard's status for this weekend's All-Star game into question. At 9:36 of the first quarter, Rose was bumped going in for a layup by Dwight Howard, lost his balance and landed awkwardly on his back. After being tended to on the floor, he made a free throw to complete a three-point play and then walked gingerly to the locker room. ESPN.com

X-rays taken at the arena showed no structural damage, Rose went for an MRI and was unavailable for comment. "He had X-Rays here at the United Center and was examined by our doctors from Rush," trainer Fred Tedeschi said. "And he was pretty sore and stiff. Couldn't finish the game. So, given what's coming up this weekend we decided to get an MRI on him, and he's over at Rush Medical Center getting that right now. We won't know the results until later on [Wednesday night]. Anything beyond that we don't know. We're just getting a precautionary MRI." ESPN.com

In his second year, Rose earned his first All-Star selection and is scheduled to defend his Skills competition title during All-Star Weekend. Now it's wait and see time. "I'm not sure we've completely ruled out a fracture but it looks unlikely at this point," Tedeschi said. "From there I guess it's exotic things it could be, but you saw what happened. He fell ... he was wearing the Adidas compadded shorts and I think that probably soaked up a lot of the blow. Hopefully, it's going to turn out to be not as bad as it could have been." ESPN.com

It was the Lakers' third consecutive victory without Bryant, who has a sprained left ankle, and their success makes him feel better about having to sit out ... and only strengthens the argument for him missing the All-Star game Sunday. "I don't miss games, so if I miss games I want to make sure that I'm ready," Bryant said. "I don't want to miss them in vain. Guys are playing so well, there's no need for me to rush." ESPN.com

Bryant will travel to Dallas to fulfill the multitude of appearances, media obligations and promotions that come with a spot on the All-Star roster. He won't make a commitment beyond that. He has formulated a standard line, which he first put to use Monday in reference to both the Jazz game and the All-Star game: "If it's healthy, I'll play." Expect him to repeat that about 100 times during Friday's 45-minute media session. Bryant said the ankle is "a little bit" better than it was after teammate Lamar Odom stepped on it and caused it to roll in a game against Denver last Friday. "I can put a little bit of pressure on it," Bryant said. "There's no need for me to rush." ESPN.com

There's a pride factor involved for the older generation. Kidd, who will turn 37 next month, has been a nine-time All-Star, including in 2008 when he was 34. He was playing in the NBA when Mavericks rookie guard Roddy Beaubois was 6 years old. "Look at Brett Favre or Lance Armstrong – those guys give us hope that we can play at a high level at 30-something," Kidd says. "You look at our league, and your career doesn't end if you're 35." Dallas Morning News

Nash is arguably the poster child for beating Father Time. Many people – and Mavs owner Mark Cuban led the chorus – predicted Nash's body would break down not long after he bolted to the Suns in free agency in 2004. And yet, he's won two MVPs and is in the midst of an outstanding season. "I think it's all sports," Nash said of athletes trending toward AARP membership. "And I think it's because we know a lot more about the body now. We know a lot more about preparing and recovering and longevity. "I think it's just the evolution of sports – diet, training, recovery, sleep. We're more conscious of all that to retain your athleticism and continue to play at ages that previously weren't as friendly for professional athletes." Dallas Morning News

As Dallas prepares to host its second All-Star Weekend, Webb remains the shortest player to accomplish the giant feat. He will be a judge at Saturday's contest, the Sprite Slam Dunk, at American Airlines Center. "When they asked me to participate in the contest, I thought they were joking," Webb says now. "I wasn't thinking about dunks back then. I was just trying to make a place for myself on the Hawks. If I wanted to be a dunker, I would have gone to play for the Harlem Globetrotters. "But the league wanted me. I was an oddity. I was a hometown boy. They thought I'd compete and be eliminated early. Something like, one dunk and I'd be out. The sideshow would be over ... "What they didn't know was that when I said I would do it, I was in it to win it." Dallas Morning News

So will Robinson benefit by Webb being a judge? "Yeah, it's an advantage to him," said Webb, who also served as a judge for the dunk contest in Atlanta in 2003. "I always pull for the little guys. But he has to do something great. I probably give him more heat than anybody would because I know him." FanHouse

"Dominque did the same kind of windmill dunk he had done before and that didn't get the crowd (overly excited)," Webb said of a Wilkins effort that scored 48. "So I knew what I had to do to win it ... I was like, 'I hope I get a 50 because I don't know if I have another dunk in me.' I knew that Dominique had an assortment of dunks." The tie was broken when Webb indeed got a 50. He bounced the ball off high off the floor, caught it and threw down a reverse jam. "It was great," Webb said. "Nobody expected me to win. And for it to be in my hometown. I don't care how many championships you win, you don't want anybody saying you folded or stunk it up in the dunk contest in your hometown." Instead, Webb was the toast of the town. When Webb was holding up the trophy, Fratello said he felt like a "proud father." FanHouse

Webb improved his shot greatly, and became a three-point shooting threat. After being traded to Sacramento, he averaged a career-high 16.0 points per game in 1991-92 and in 1994-95 led the NBA in free-throw shooting for the Kings with 93.4 percent marksmanship. Not many people remember those seasons. But thank goodness for BlackBerrys. "I'll be a bar and somebody will say, 'Hey you won the dunk contest,'" Webb said. "I'll come back and say, 'Did you know I averaged (16.0) points and led the league in free-throw percentage?' They'll look it up and say, 'Hey, you were a pretty good player.' ... Nobody knows it because I was stuck out in Sacramento, the worst team in the league." FanHouse

Irate Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni waved his arms at Nate Robinson as Robinson approached the bench during a timeout in the third quarter on Tuesday night. D'Antoni barked at Robinson for botching the last play with a bad decision. Robinson shouted right back at D'Antoni. Robinson then turned his head and uttered an F-bomb. The disrespect Robinson showed D'Antoni was palpable. And symbolically the messy scene showed how deep frustration and disarray has attached itself to another Knicks season. When overtime ended to seal the Knicks' crushing collapse to the woeful Kings, D'Antoni stormed off the court and into the All-Star break, shaking his head from side to side, his record as Knicks coach down to 51-82. New York Post

In referencing the reception that Reggie Evans got in his return to the court last night, a reporter made the comment that “people say this is a hockey town” (noting how the fans appreciate hard workers and the hard work that Evans put in to get back on the floor) … and this is how Bosh responded: “It is a hockey town. But people know what basketball is. They cheer when the ball goes in and when we win they cheer even more. It’s a pretty simple game. People follow it easy. People love basketball all over the world. For those who keep saying it’s a hockey town … It’s getting old.” Bosh’s voice sort of trailed off in half-joking / half-sarcastic tone at the end of that comment. At least that’s the way I viewed it. Basically, my interpretation of his “It’s getting old” statement is this … FAN590 / Eric Smith

Hockey isn’t the only game in town. While hockey may be king (which Bosh said as well - in not so many words) there are other sports in Toronto - like basketball - that get a lot of attention and that should get even more love. He’s tired of hearing that it’s JUST a hockey town because it’s not. Toronto sports fans are about more than just hockey these days. Watch the clip yourself and tell me that you don’t agree with my assessment. http://www.nba.com/raptors/video/2010/02/11/RWEB100210BOSHPOST16×9-1228159/index.html Bosh left out one word: “JUST”. (”For those who keep saying it’s (JUST) a hockey town … It’s getting old”) FAN590 / Eric Smith

Even after Andrew Bynum gets healthy again, Lamar Odom might supplant him in the Lakers’ starting lineup going forward. That, however, would be one risky shakeup for a team already on track to win it all. Phil Jackson acknowledged late Wednesday night that his trusted assistants are already lobbying him to make the change to start Odom over Bynum – and he’s going to contemplate it when the Lakers reconvene after the All-Star break. “My coaches are kind of pushing me in that direction, but I’m not ready yet to do that,” Jackson said. “We won last year with Andrew when he came back at the end of the season, going out there and playing the first quarter and starting the games. Even though he wasn’t 100 percent when came back off his injury last year, he still gave us a lot; he gives us a big front. So I have to measure that and see what’s going to happen with this team in the next couple weeks.” Orange County Register

Odom has never been good enough, though, in 10 ½ seasons to be an All-Star, which he alluded to himself before the game Wednesday when talking about the barbeque party he’ll throw in his backyard this weekend. “I’ll do what I always do All-Star weekend: chill out,” he said. Bynum is 22 to Odom’s 30 and will be an All-Star in the future. Part of Jackson’s job is to guide Bynum toward that future while winning it all this season. This more mature Odom, who even for a change did responsible offseason training last summer, realizes that completely. “I want to grow with Andrew,” Odom said, “and find out how we can keep our chemistry high – the three of us (Bynum, Gasol and Odom) always playing at a high level.” Orange County Register

For someone as eccentric as the shot-blocking, mattress-hawking, mustache-rocking Christopher "Birdman" Andersen, it is understood he perpetually lets his hair down. In the past three games, he's literally done that, dropping his spectacularly spiked faux-hawk. And, complemented by his sprouting blond 'stache, Bird looks like, well, Larry Bird. And coincidentally, he's playing much better, with three of his best games this season in the past week — against the Lakers, Jazz and Mavericks, to boot. "He looks shorter for sure," Chauncey Billups said of the 6-foot-10 Andersen's new look. "Whatever it is, I hope he keeps it, because he's really playing Birdman basketball. "When he's getting offensive rebounds, blocks and flying all over the place, and he's the hardest-working, most-energized guy on the floor — we're really hard to beat. When he's not, when he's kind of regular, teams kind of take advantage of us and him and his position. But when he plays how he's played the past three games, that's the Birdman we know; that's the Birdman everyone fell in love with last year." Denver Post

Williams suffered through two years with UNC coach Matt Doherty, flourished when Roy Williams took the reins, and won an NCAA championship with the Tar Heels in 2005. Then, he wasn't drafted by a single NBA team. He still isn't sure why, isn't sure how four other starters on that championship team were drafted while he wasn't. Maybe it's because he has never been a bang-down-low kind of power forward, and he didn't have the smooth skills of a small forward. All he knew is he still wanted to play in the NBA, and he was going to find a way. "I always knew that whenever one door closes, another opens," said Na'Sheema Anderson, his older sister. "I knew my brother would find his way. ... I always knew he was strong and gifted and he would excel. When he wasn't drafted, were we sad? Absolutely. I think my brother took it to heart and knew it must have been something they were looking for that he just didn't present at that particular point. that there was some growing he needed to do or some skills he needed to work on." Cleveland Plain Dealer

Chris Paul limped out of the locker room using one crutch, then suggested that his left knee injury could help the New Orleans Hornets in the long run. "Me being out, this may be a blessing in disguise," said Paul, meeting with reporters for the first time since last Thursday's surgery to repair a meniscus tear. "Some people may say, 'What in the world does that mean?' But I think it gives other guys a lot of confidence right now. Hopefully when I come back ... we can make a push at this playoff run." AP

"This is tough, but this is something I've got to do, " said Paul, walking with the aid of two crutches -- but just one on the way to the interview session. "Rehab is tough because some days it feels like it's getting better, and some days it feels like it could go the other way. "I've just got to stay with it and keep doing everything that I have to do with it to get back on the court." New Orleans Times-Picayune

Colangelo has said on a number of occasions he doesn't see it as a huge hurdle some of the top players on the list can become free agents this summer. Among them are Bryant, James, Wade, Bosh, Stoudemire and Boozer, with Wade the only one USA Basketball officials do not have great optimism about being available. "For sure, it's a factor," Colangelo said. "Free agency comes into play July 1, but that's three weeks before mini camp. It's conceivable many will have their business taken care of then and maybe not. The camp in August starts Aug. 9 or 10. That's six weeks out. "You would think most everybody would have finished taking care of business then. You hope so. But it's an unknown fact of life. We would not put our players at risk if contracts aren't signed. We're going to play it by ear and hope that teams take care of business sooner than later." FanHouse

Adding Wade to the roster was a formality, although he has yet to commit to the team. Wade is among several high-profile players who want to resolve free agency before deciding to compete. ``There will be a time when we talk about that,'' said Wade, who won bronze in 2004 and gold in 2008 with the Olympic team. ``That time is not right now.'' Miami Herald

In fact, it seemed as though Amar'e Stoudemire's days with Team USA were done. But the Phoenix forward, who had turned off USA Basketball officials by pulling out before the 2008 Olympics, was perhaps the biggest surprise when the pool of 27 names for this year's World Championships in Turkey, and ultimately the 2012 Olympics, was announced Wednesday. "There was a time when he was not really going to be considered," USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said of Stoudemire during a conference call. Stoudemire was on the 2004 Olympic team that settled for a bronze medal. "Had he not really reached out through his own efforts personally and his agent about his extreme desire to be part of it, he would not have been part of it." FanHouse

As for Bynum, the Los Angeles Lakers' center, and Rondo, the Boston Celtics' point guard, both were wanted for Team USA. Colangelo said Bynum bowed out at the "last minute," saying he didn't want to make the commitment, and Rondo ignored overtures. "Rondo was not responsive to inquiries regarding his interest," said Colangelo, who said about three or four players other than Bynum and Rondo declined or didn't respond to invitations. "We just assumed that was the case." FanHouse

Andrew Bynum declined an offer from USA Basketball to join the 27-man team from which the national team this summer and the 2012 U.S. Olympic team will be chosen. “Just rest, man,” Bynum said Wednesday when I asked him to explain his thinking. “We go deep into the playoffs, and me having so many injuries, I need that rest time.” Orange County Register

“I do look forward to doing that at some point, but just not right now,” said Bynum, who last season told me he hoped to make the 2012 Olympics in London. Asked if it was a hard decision to decline, Bynum said: “I just knew right away.” Orange County Register

Colangelo had anticipated last week Kidd and injured Milwaukee guard Michaell Redd would be the only two Olympic holdovers not on the list. But it was ultimately decided Detroit forward Tayshaun Prince was not a good fit due to the injuries he has had this season, and Colangelo said it was "time to move on." Others named to the list include Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, a lock for the final roster, Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo of Memphis, the Clippers' Eric Gordon, Indiana's Danny Granger, Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala, Al Jefferson and Kevin Love of Minnesota, New York's David Lee, New Jersey's Brook Lopez, the Lakers' Lamar Odom, Boston's Kendrick Perkins and Charlotte's Gerald Wallace. FanHouse

James was one of 27 players named to the USA national senior men's basketball team announced on Wednesday. "I'm very pleased and honored to be named to the USA national senior men's basketball team," said James, who won a bronze medal in the Olympics in 2004 and a gold medal in 2008. "It's an honor to represent your country and to have the opportunity to play the game I love and to do it at a high level. I've been part of it since 2004 and to be able to stay healthy and still have my game to be relevant for this team is an honor. I'm looking forward to it." Cleveland Plain Dealer

Before tip-off against the Celtics, the New Orleans Arena public address announcer acknowledged Paul's selection. Paul stood near mid court and held up his Team USA jersey to the delight of the crowd. "I'm excited. We had so much fun [in Beijing] in '08, I told them in '08 I wanted to be a part of it again," Paul said. "I want to win another gold medal. If I'm healthy in 2016, I want another one." AP

“I’ve got a chance, a pretty good chance to tell you the truth,” Derrick Rose said about the opportunity. At the same time, Rose expressed a belief that certain spots on the final roster are more or less assured—players like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, for example—which means that only a small amount of roster spots are truly up for grabs. He saw first-hand how intense the practices were was when he was a member of USA Men's National Team mini-camp in Las Vegas last July, so he has a good idea of what to expect. “The [camp] this past summer was really competitive,” said Rose. “People were getting hurt during scrimmages. Everybody was playing hard, and they make you play hard to tell you the truth when you play against each other.” Bulls.com

With the 2004 NBA title under his belt, Chauncey Billups has already won a world championship, but as he said Wednesday, "I want to win a world, world championship." That's Olympic gold, 2012 in London. But first are the world championships later this year. "If I had that opportunity, I would cherish it," Billups said. Denver Post

"Chauncey (told Colangelo and Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski) there's nothing more he wants to do than win a gold medal before his career is over," Colangelo said of Billups, who was on the 2007 Olympic qualifying team but bowed out before the 2008 Olympics due to family concerns. "We collectively believe that he could fit right into the Jason Kidd role ... We're very excited he wants to give it one more shot." FanHouse

Rudy Gay: Team USA has always been a dream of mine! Twitter.com

Louisville coach Rick Pitino is denying a report that he's interested in a return to the NBA with the New Jersey Nets. "There's not an ounce of truth to it," Pitino told ESPN.com's Pat Forde. "I have no interest, period," Pitino said Thursday. "I'm done with coaching professional basketball. I've put the professional ranks behind me." ESPN.com

As snow swirled outside the Meadowlands on Wednesday night when the Nets played the Bucks, talk about Rick Pitino making overtures to the Nets about their coaching job circulated inside the arena. Sources close to Pitino said that the Louisville coach has reached out to Nets brass in recent days, making himself a candidate for the job now held by GM and interim coach Kiki Vandeweghe, and due to open after their woeful season is completed in April. According to sources, Pitino had intermediaries recently contact Nets president Rod Thorn on his behalf. Thorn himself is in the final year of a contract, and is looking to get a new deal from incoming owner Mikhail Prokhorov. New York Daily News

A source close to Thorn said the Nets' president has denied that he spoke to Pitino, while Pitino's camp insists that "no direct contact" was made between the coach and team. Earlier this week, Pitino and Thorn attended the funeral of Knicks Hall of Famer Dick McGuire. "Pitino is interested in the job," said a high-ranking team official, who added that the interest is all one way, coming from Pitino's side. New York Daily News

The Nets have drawn up a short list of candidates, starting with former Knick coach Jeff Van Gundy. But indications are that Pitino is not on the list and likely will not be included in a search. Sources close to Pitino, 57, say the ex-Knick coach and native of Long Island continues to be worn down from the Louisville sex scandal that erupted last summer and almost cost him his job. In terms of basketball, friends say that he feels a threat from in-state arch-rival Kentucky, which has put itself back into the national spotlight with first-year coach John Calipari and one of the top recruiting classes in recent years. New York Daily News

Nets president Rod Thorn refuted a published report in the New York Daily News that said Louisville coach Rick Pitino has contacted the Nets and expressed interest in taking over as their coach next season. The Daily News story, citing unnamed sources close to Pitino and Thorn, said Pitino had reached out to Thorn in the last few days through intermediaries. It quoted a high-ranking Nets official as saying that “Pitino is interested in the job’’ but that the Nets don’t appear to be interested in Pitino. Thorn, responding to a question from The Star-Ledger about the report, said via text message, “Have not had any contact with Pitino. To my knowledge, no one in our organization has, either.’’ Newark Star-Ledger

Several sources believe Bobcats coach Larry Brown views the potential ownership and front-office shakeup as a chance to free himself for a return to the Philadelphia 76ers, where he sees a vulnerable GM (Ed Stefanski) and coach (Eddie Jordan). Yahoo! Sports

NBA sources told FOX 26 Sports Wednesday the Houston Rockets have reached agreements in principle with each of their assistant coaches to return for the 2010-11 season. Elston Turner, T.R. Dunn, Jack Sikma and R.J. Adelman have yet to sign their new deals, but sources told FOX 26 all of the key issues in their contracts have been taken care of. FOX 26 Sports

Nets president Rod Thorn is scheduled to meet with incoming owner, Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, this weekend in Dallas. The meeting could determine Thorn's future with the team. And interim coach/general manager Kiki Vandeweghe's as well. Thorn yesterday declined additional comment on the situation that has arisen in the wake of assistant coach Del Harris' resignation from the team. Harris told the Post's Peter Vecsey that it was his understanding he would become head coach when he and Vandeweghe got the team turned around. Thorn knew of no such agreement and Vandeweghe said no promises were made. "I really don't want to make any further comment at this time," Thorn said. But one team official labeled the side agreement, if true, "a fireable offense." New York Post

Amid growing whispers concerning the future of the Raptors’ chief architect, Richard Peddie set the record straight. It was an emphatic proclamation, one that should finally put to rest whatever wild speculation U.S.-based media outlets intend to circulate. “Bryan is our general manager and he’s not going anywhere. It’s official," the president and chief operating officer of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment said on Wednesday. Toronto Sun

Peddie confided that the MLSEL board convened recently to ensure that Colangelo sticks around beyond this season. In theory, the board could have triggered a clause that carried an option to end Colangelo’s deal following this season. And perhaps the existence of that option fuelled the rumours that linked Colangelo with the New Jersey Nets and even the New York Knicks, teams that are shaping up to undergo some major front-office change. The truth, according to Peddie, is that Colangelo will continue in his role as GM and president of the Raptors through to the 2010-11 season. “I’m delighted," Colangelo said. “I appreciate the vote of confidence the board has demonstrated.” Toronto Sun

DMN: Let's talk about the collective-bargaining agreement. David Stern: We're going to make a deal, maybe by the All-Star Game. (Laughter). Dallas Morning News

Stern: I want to finish on collective bargaining. We have a meeting scheduled for Friday of All-Star Weekend with the players. I don't necessarily want to make news on that. But we've agreed that we're going to submit a proposal before that, and we'll have a meeting. In terms of our biggest event, it's not the best timing, but it's the place where we get our players together and that (NBA Players Association executive director) Billy Hunter can gather his executive committee and both sides consider it important enough to get together, so it's going to take place on Friday of All-Star Weekend. We're going to have the whole owners' group in. Billy's going to have his whole negotiating committee in, and they're going to sit across the table from one another. And that's the first opportunity we've had because the last meeting was before the season and then we've had some smaller meetings. But this involves everyone. Dallas Morning News

Do you see a lockout as the most likely scenario in the summer of 2011 or is that just doomsday talk? Also, what do you see being the key changes that go through the renegotiations of the Collective Bargaining Agreement? (Mookie -- A Stern Warning) David Aldridge: To the first question, unfortunately yes I do. The owners are really putting the doomsday scenarios out there with regard to going through another negotiation and are determined to work out a percentage of what players take from basketball and lower the income significantly. And so I think that's going to be a major part of it. Right now the players get contractually 57 percent, but they obviously get more than that when you factor in bonuses and those things. And the owners are trying to get that to not only a 50-50 split but more of a split for the owners. They want more dollars than their players. I don't know how hard the players are going to fight on that. NBA.com

From the "wah-wah" category: So in the midst of all the discussion of the NBA Players' Union meeting and it's true mission and the role of stars in its makeup is the example used of Joey Dorsey, second-year man for the Rockets who was selected much to his befuddlement. As Ira Winderman wrote for Pro Basketball Talk, Dorsey was selected on account of him having to travel to Dallas anyway, for the NBA D-League All-Star Game on Saturday afternoon (continuing coverage on NBA FanHouse, get excited!). FanHouse

Stern: And the talk of 3-D will be driven by sports. We did it at All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas. We did it in the Finals between Cleveland and San Antonio. And the Mavs did it in a theater. So we're out there leading the way with our teams on 3-D. All the fighting between Fox and Time Warner over re-transmission consent and carriage fees was with sports coming up and whether fans were going to be driving the sports. And then all the leagues have their network. Here we are. We haven't sought as much publicity as we were building our product. But honestly, this season, we're going to have 300 live basketball games on NBA TV. And then we see that that's something we're exporting. NBA TV is going to be in as many homes outside the U.S. as it is inside the U.S. So globalization and digital are going hand in hand to broaden our sport. And that's good. Our buildings, as they approach 90 percent, we got a lot of work to do and the problem is how we manage growth. That's a subject we discuss a lot. How do you manage the world as a market and take advantage of the growth and transformation that's taking place with digital technology, including 3-D. Dallas Morning News

DMN: Has anybody in Dallas inquired about a WNBA franchise? Stern: We had some discussions with a number of people who have been developing buildings and thought a smaller venue would make sense in Dallas – North Texas, I would say. But right now, we've stabilized at 12. We're having some discussions in the Bay Area, but I think we'll probably stay with 12. Dallas Morning News

DMN: How about 30 years as commish? That's a good round number. Stern: This is my 26th year. February 1st. But as long as it's fun, I'll keep doing it. Dallas Morning News

DMN: So, in terms of possible expansion, you go where the money is. In that regard, will there be three teams or four teams in Europe? Stern: (Holding up five fingers.) But it's going to be long after I'm gone. I've moved it up, 10 years from now, which I said three more years ago, so we got seven years to go. And we picked up two new buildings in the interim, one in London and one in Berlin. Dallas Morning News

David Stern: We recognize that here, it's a question of retention – retain your sponsors, retain your paying customers, retain your television audience. On other continents, even in slow-growth situations, our share of their market is so small at current, that the opportunity for growth over a longer period of time is going to be very high. And that's why we're spending so much time on focusing on international markets. China of course is important. But this is the year we'll be opening up offices in Africa and the Middle East. Dallas Morning News

DMN: Lastly, we'll come back to an All-Star question. Will it ever go back to a non-NBA city like Las Vegas? Stern: I guess it's possible. But we don't have any plans because we have a lot of NBA teams that are sort of lined up. We're going to LA. We haven't announced it past that. It's clear that once (the new arena in) Orlando opens up that that's a wonderful hospitality city. We're in discussions about revisiting New Orleans in light of the wonderful marriage of that game (in 2007) and the city's revitalization. And there are some other teams that are interested. I wouldn't rule out another non-NBA city. It wouldn't be Las Vegas, though. Dallas Morning News

David Aldridge: Larry Ellison has been trying to buy the Warriors for five to six years now. And he's still trying to do it, it's just a matter of finding a price that Chris Cohan is comfortable with. I know that the league would very much like Larry Ellison to buy that team obviously as a guy with a lot of not only money but interest. You want people who are interested in running the basketball side of things and I think that's just a matter of when, not if that gets done. NBA.com

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he has initiated talks to buy a stake in the Stars, potentially joining an as-yet unidentified group of investors that is looking into purchasing the NHL club from Tom Hicks. Cuban has been hesitant in the past to take minority ownership in any sports franchise, but taking part in any portion of the Stars’ new ownership is one business venture that interests him. Dallas Morning News

Mark Cuban: met laura bush today. incredibly nice lady. Twitter.com

Was the decision to remove the water fountains just to get people to purchase more water at the concession stand? That is simply not the case. This decision was completely focused on helping create and maintain a more health-safe environment at The Q. Some fans and most media have approached this issue suggesting we did this to sell more bottled water. Again, nothing could be further from the truth. To further demonstrate this, we will now offer dedicated, manned, complimentary water stations around The Q starting with tomorrow night’s Cavaliers game (Thursday vs. Orlando) and continuing until our new water fountains are installed. In addition, we will also continue to offer the complimentary 9 oz. cup servings of water at the over 100 points of service at our concession stands during this period AND after the new water fountains are installed. NBA.com

The NBA is booming for TNT, with viewership up nine percent this season over last. They are not bad if you are ESPN, viewership is flat with last year, according to numbers in the Sports Business Journal (subscription required). You can say the ratings boom hitting other sports has come to the NBA. But as you get into the local markets, it is a mixed bag. There are the haves and have nots. And that is starting to be reflected in the standings, something that should be a concern for the NBA as it heads into this round of Collective Bargaining. NBC Sports

Things are great if you are the Cavaliers. On Fox Sports Ohio they are drawing a league best 8.53 rating, which means 130,000 households a game. Things are great if you are the Lakers, whose ratings on Fox Sports West are 3.84 (fourth best in the league) and in the huge media market that is Los Angeles that means a league best 197,000 pairs of eyeballs a game. And when the Lakers negotiate that lucrative local television deal, they share almost none of that revenue with other teams under the current system. (Only revenue generated from that contract outside of a 75-mile radius of a team's home market has to be shared.) Charlotte on the other hand has the smallest local television viewer ship, 10,000 per game, which means there are actually more people paying to be in the building than watching from home (if you believe the team attendance numbers). And that television viewership is nearly doubled from a year ago. NBC Sports

The NBA does not have the revenue disparity nor the payroll disparity of Major League Baseball, but it is headed that way more than it is trending toward the NFL model. This is one of the things the owners have to figure out -- every team has to be able to compete on a fair court or the business model starts to break down. By the way, nobody is watching the Nets -- 39,000 people a game. On the YES network. They could get better numbers showing a repeat of a random mid-July Yankees/Twins game. So it's not all about the market. NBC Sports

I suppose the saddest thing you could say about the Nets' loss to the Bucks was that, from watching it on TV, nothing felt unremarkable. In fact, when I went to search for pictures from Wednesday's contest, I nearly ended up choosing a pair from a game between the two teams on Jan. 5, one that saw the usual array of empty seats. It was a typical Nets game. Sparsely attended, barely functional in terms of competitive back and forth. The Bucks, a middling Eastern Conference team trying desperately just to make the playoffs, looked like world-beaters against the lowly Nets. But when the hammer comes down and you find out that 1,016 people were able to attend New Jersey's 48th loss in 52 games, you can't help be taken aback. Yahoo! Sports

PETA hopes to help draw attention to the plight of birds by appealing to another bird. Larry Bird, that is. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter on Wednesday to the Indiana Pacers president, asking him to stop endorsing McDonald's. PETA claims that in McDonald's U.S. operations, "chickens still have their throats cut while they are conscious and many are scalded to death in defeathering tanks," while McDonald's European operations render chickens unconscious before they are processed. "With the nagging back problems that plagued him throughout his career, Bird is the first person who should sympathize with the millions of chickens who are killed for McDonald's -- chickens whose wings, legs and backs are routinely broken," PETA director Dan Shannon, who describes himself as a lifetime Boston Celtics fan, said in a release. Indianapolis Star

Suns star Jason Richardson is making a donation of $23,000 to Chances for Children, a local organization that works to save the lives of children living in poverty in Haiti, to aid in the ongoing relief efforts of the Caribbean nation. The Suns organization made an initial donation of $20,000 on January 15, which purchased over 8,000 pounds of food, formula, water, medicine and supplies. “We are grateful for Jason’s donation which will allow us to continue our rebuilding efforts in Haiti. Thanks to the generosity of Jason and the Phoenix Suns, we have enough food to feed the children at the Chances for Children orphanage and the children who attend the village school for four to five months,” said Craig Juntunen, Chairman for Chances for Children. Suns.com

Suns forward Jared Dudley, who has maximized his opportunities for more time on the court this season, is also looking to maximize his opportunities off it. The third-year man attended an ESPN gathering with teammate Steve Nash that was used to promote the network’s “30 for 30” documentary series. The red-carpet function was hosted by renowned wide receiver Terrell Owens and took place at the end of January in Park City, Utah; the same week as the Sundance Film Festival. Nash was invited because of his contribution to the “30 for 30” series, a documentary that he produced about Canadian runner Terry Fox, which is due to air this year. Dudley’s motives for going were a little different. Known for his presence on Twitter and his “JMZ” behind-the-scenes locker room videos, the 6-7 swingman was looking to score himself an internship with ESPN. “I’m trying to set up some work for the ESPYs,” Dudley said in reference to ESPN’s well-known award show. “I’d like to somehow do some interviews on the red carpet or get behind-the-scenes and just be involved.” Suns.com

Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas said he's finally made it. Of course, he was talking about the Nike puppet commercial with LeBron James. It is finally being shown. Z comes into a barbershop and asks if anyone wants DVDs. For those of you who aren't hip, bootleg DVDs are the rage in many barbershops. News-Herald

NBA All-Star Weekend Party Scene, No Secret Department: The Mavs’ Josh Howard, P-Diddy and Mary J. Blige are going to be everywhere. NBA All-Star Weekend Party Scene, Top-Secret Department: I’m told LeBron James is renting out Ghost Bar atop the W hotel for a private shindig (shhhhhh) and if you want a table, all it’ll cost you is $10,000. Yes. Per table. DallasBasketball.com

DallasBasketball.com offers up The NBA's Most Complete And Semi-Official All-Star Weekend Party Planner: Thursday, Feb. 11: *Josh Howard, Devin Harris and BET host Alesha Renee. A “Kickoff’’ party at “The Bank’’ on Main Street in Dallas. *Mary J. Blige puts on a concert benefitting the Mavs Foundation. It’s the All-Star Opening Night concert by Mary J. Blige, with comedian Mark Curry and host Mario Lopez, at 7 at the Majestic Theatre. *Magic Johnson and Alonzo Mourning host a billiards party. Now, that’s the afterparty. The actual event – which includes Dwyane Wade and Mark Cuban – is Centennial Hall at Fair Park. DallasBasketball.com

Roddy Beaubois hosted an All-Star Party, and I believe the Mavs hosting resources are officially tapped out. Really. … JJ Barea is supposely involved in one event at TePheJez Nightclub, “French Cuffs’’ was doing that thing … I’m half-seriously waiting to hear that the NBA is putting on a Roy Tarpley Ironing Exhibition, that Eduardo Najera is hosting a Dance-Off Pants-Off Salsa Night, and that Matty Carroll is having some of the girls over to his place for a Tupperware Party. DallasBasketball.com

The highlight, though, was the Big German. Dirk Nowitzki is not only an All-Star, he is a gamer. Nowitzki purchased a beautiful Rolando Diaz painting for four figures and then the fun came!!!!! The highlight of the live auction was a date with said Nowitzki and Mavs rookie, Rodrigue Beaubois. Not one to be outdone by Mark Followill awesome auctioneering skills, Dirk took the mic himself for his date. Bidding started at $1,000. Dirk worked the room and the mic (I would like to think I was a decent spotter but I doubt my skills had much to do with anything). Bidding was fast and furious and when Kenny Goss topped everyone with a bid of $5,000, Anne Stodgehill matched it! $10,000 for a double date with Dirk! How awesome is that? Turns out, Goss is good friends with Steve Nash and they're going to try to fly Nash into town and do a big group dinner at Goss and George Michael's home in Highland Park. Tons of money raised? Check. Awareness for a great cause raised? Double check. Gobs of fun had by all? Triple check My only regret - not taking any pictures! That Sports Girl

My friends at the Four Seasons in Las Colinas don’t want you to know this, so don’t tell them I told you. But checking in under-cover into their fine establishment as we speak for a weekend of pampering are, among others, Kobe Bryant, Nelly and Jamie Foxx. … all three, in their own ways, masters of drama. DallasBasketball.com

Kobe is the poster boy on a flier touting him as the host of a party at NBA All-Star Weekend in Dallas. The catch: The party is being thrown by Show Magazine -- a men's publication featuring scantily clad and topless women. So why would Kobe -- who dodged a career-ending bullet in 2003 -- make a move that could potentially sully his resurrected image? Kobe's camp isn't talking -- but reps from the magazine and the club where the party is set to go down each insist Kobe negotiated a fee and put his Hancock on a contract. The owner of Show Magazine also claims he had to have the flier approved by the NBA before he could start distributing it around town. TMZ.com

Two local basketball players will be competing in the NBA/WNBA Fit Challenge on Saturday, as part of the NBA All-Star Game festivities in Dallas. Jake Longero, a 14-year-old Shaw Middle School student, and Andrew Bobrowski, a 12-year-old Elizabeth Lenz Elementary School student, will vie for championships in the 13-14 and 11-12 year-old divisions, respectively. The two, who won local and regional competitions, get all-expenses-paid trips to Dallas, free appare and free tickets to every All-Star event. About 100,000 kids nationwide participated in the contest. "I feel pretty excited and I think it will be a great time," Bobrowski said. "Hopefully I have fun. I'm kind of nervous, but I think I can work through it." Reno Gazette-Journal

Video on the internet is not a new thing, and with the new smaller more portable video products available, more and more "behind the scenes" video makes it way onto the internet. HOOPSWORLD will be among the hundreds of outlets bringing you video from NBA All-Star weekend with up-close looks at players, the events and some of the parties, but the best video may be coming from the participants themselves. Last year our friends at Flip gave small portable video cameras called the Flip Mino to all of the players to capture the event from their perspective. This year Flip is giving players personalized Flip Mino HD video cameras and will look to double the amount of behind the scenes video. These videos will be shot in HD and will be used to produce what Flip is hoping to be a record setting amount of video from one event. HoopsWorld

Shaq is back at ABC. Alphabet net has given a second season order to "Shaq Vs.," its summer reality series starring basketball star Shaquille O'Neal. Media Rights Capital and Dick Clark Prods. are behind the unscripted series, and will produce six episodes of the show. "Shaq Vs." stars O'Neal as he faces off against top athletes in their respective fields. In season one, O'Neal faced off with the Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger in football, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh in beach volleyball, the St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols in baseball, Oscar de la Hoya in boxing and Michael Phelps in swimming. Variety

LW: Kids these days are so into video games, do you think this thing you’re doing with Panini will help get them back into collecting cards? Kobe Bryant: That’s the hope, and we believe we have a strategy to be able to do that. We have to breathe new life and try to pump new energy into the industry, so kids nowadays can see the enjoyment or see the fun that you can get out of collecting cards. LW: Do you collect anything now? KB: I collect stuff from movies. Movie props, stuff like that. That’s the only kind of thing I collect right now. SLAM

Chris Douglas-Roberts: I'm getting so many tattoos in the next 3 days.Finishing my arms,back & ribs.Yes yess!Hoping for good news after the break. "CDR! CDR! CDR! Twitter.com

Chris Paul: CONGRATS to my boi @StephenCurry30 for gettin a triple double!!! Took him long enough to get it but he finally did lol Twitter.com

Just like he overcame his nightly struggles at the free-throw line to craft a 16-year career in the NBA, former Portland Trail Blazer Chris Dudley now hopes to overcome a Democratic stranglehold in Oregon to become the state's first Republican governor since 1982. And like fellow NBA veterans turned politicians Kevin Johnson (in Sacramento) and Dave Bing (in Detroit), Dudley is trying to make the transition from private sector to public office without having previously served in, or run for, office. "In the NBA you're working with 12 or 15 players of completely different backgrounds usually," Dudley said. "They're from all over the country working toward a common goal and that's winning a championship. That element of teamwork and working with others is something that translates well into politics." SI.com

Hoping to reel in voters and endorsements with a pro-business (i.e. lower-taxes) message, Dudley has garnered support from party insiders and business associations, but his statewide appeal is still lacking. "People are clearly curious about him, said Jeff Mapes, the senior political reporter at The Oregonian. "He certainly has an excellent chance to win the Republican nomination ... and I've heard several people talk about how personable he is, but some have also said he doesn't seem to have a solid understanding of the issues. Dudley has to show he has some leadership abilities and knowledge of the issues to persuade voters he can be a good governor. He does have the advantage of being a newcomer in politics when voters are pretty upset with incumbents, but learning how to be a candidate is not easy." To his credit, Dudley is trying, regularly putting in 12-hour days and traveling across the state to speak with potential voters before his run gets its first test in a May 18 gubernatorial primary. "It becomes all-consuming," Dudley said of the campaign trail. "My schedule is no longer my own. I get told where I am going and when and how long I need to be there. Life as you know it completely changes." SI.com

Whether you're a sports fan or not, most people know the name Jackie Robinson, who became the first African American to play Major League Baseball in 1947. But most people may not know the name Earl Lloyd. Just 3 years after Robinson took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Lloyd (on Halloween night in Rochester) became the first African American to play in the NBA. He spent 6 years playing for the Syracuse Nationals and is the subject of a new book called "Moonfixer: The Basketball Journey of Earl Lloyd". It was co-written by Sean Kirst, who is also a columnist for the Syracuse Post-Standard. Kirst spoke about the book with WRVO's Ryan Morden. publicbroadcasting.net

The First Arena is pleased to announce that the First Arena will be home to the Elmira Bulldogs of the Eastern Basketball Alliance (EBA) for two games during the 2010 EBA season. The Bulldogs will be playing the Garden City Rebels on Friday and the New York Wizards on Saturday. Both contests will also mark the coaching debut of former NBA great Dennis Rodman. Rodman will be guiding the Bulldogs for both nights while Head Coach and General Manager James R. Schutz takes the night off. The ever-colorful Rodman, also known as 'The Worm,' played for the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. He was known during his NBA career for his fierce defensive and rebounding abilities. Rodman played the forward position in the NBA while earning NBA All-Defensive Team honors seven times and was voted NBA Defensive Player of the Year twice. He also led the NBA in rebounds for a record seven consecutive years and won five NBA Championships. "I am honored to be able to give my childhood hero Dennis Rodman my head coaching position for two games," Schutz said. With a grin, the Bulldogs coach added, "He has a lot more rings then I have. Five more, to be exact." Daily Review

Carl Braun's number doesn't hang from the rafters at Madison Square Garden, nor is his name etched on a plaque in Springfield, Mass., at the Basketball Hall of Fame. But he is an indelible part of Knicks history as one of the franchise's first great players. And a week after the Knicks mourned the loss of legend Dick McGuire, Braun died Wednesday of natural causes in Stuart, Fla. He was 82. Newsday

When Braun joined the Knicks out of Colgate University in 1947, the N.B.A., known then as the Basketball Association of America, was in its second season. College basketball ruled New York, and the Knicks played some of their games at the 69th Regiment Armory court, at Lexington Avenue and 25th Street, because they were hardly likely to fill the seats at the Garden. But Braun, 6 feet 5 inches and 180 pounds or so, could put on a show. On Dec. 6 of his rookie season, he set a league scoring record with 47 points in a road game against the Providence Steamrollers. Braun emerged as the Knicks’ first star, playing for Coach Joe Lapchick with teams that included long-remembered figures like McGuire, Harry Gallatin, Sweetwater Clifton, Vince Boryla and Ernie Vandeweghe. He was an All-Star every season from 1953 to 1957. Braun coached the Knicks during his final two seasons with the team, then joined the Boston Celtics and played on their 1962 N.B.A. champions. New York Times

With two weeks to go before he is sentenced for fatally shooting a limousine driver in 2002, Jayson Williams has been spending time with family and getting his affairs in order. Now, there’s one more thing the former New Jersey Nets star needs to resolve. A former teammate from his days with the Philadelphia 76ers crashed Williams’ car in Myrtle Beach, S.C., last month, but local police believe Williams was actually behind the wheel. Charles Shackleford, 43, who lives in Myrtle Beach, said he was driving the 2006 Cadillac sedan that rear-ended a Jeep last month. But, he insists, police did not ask him for a license and, because of blemishes on his own driving record, he didn’t provide his name. "They just assumed it (was Williams driving), and I didn’t say anything," said Shackleford, who also played for the Nets. Williams owns property in South Carolina. Shackleford said he was driving the Cadillac because he had picked it up at the shop for Williams. He said he would clear up the situation. "I’m going to call my attorney and have them give the people down there a call and see what they can do," he said. Newark Star-Ledger

The Michigan Court of Appeals has refused to revive a lawsuit by a Palace of Auburn Hills employee against two Indiana Pacers players over her injuries in a 2004 brawl. The court released a decision Wednesday upholding an Oakland County judge's decision to throw out the case against then-Pacers players Jermaine O'Neal and David Harrison and the team itself. AP

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