HoopsHype.com RumorsMonday, December 3Visit the HoopsHype Forums to discuss the latest news and rumors in the NBA. |
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» Update: 08:15 PM ET |
 Steve Kyler: For those asking --- Hornets emphatically deny any interest in trading Ryan Anderson... they are absolutely thrilled with him. Twitter @stevekylerNBA But Miller, 32, who rehabbed during the summer while not picking up a basketball for more than two months, feels like a new man and wants to play at least two more seasons after this one. He said this is the healthiest he’s been in a long time. FOXSports Florida Heat swingman Mike Miller is aware he could be amnestied by the Heat next summer. “Business is part of basketball just like injuries,’’ said Miller, who would have to paid off by the Heat $12.8 million for the final two years of his contract. “If their business is to financially improve this team, they’re going to definitely do what’s best for them and I completely understand. That’s part of basketball. I’ve been traded before, too. I understand, and that’s what you sign up for.’’ Sulia Taking all that into account, DeronWilliams.com is cutting edge. Operated by a company called Athlete Interactive, the site has Williams-centric game stories, Williams-centric features and Williams-centric photo galleries. The site's editors shoehorn "Williams" or "D-Will" into roughly 90% of their headlines, which, to be fair, is sort of the point. The headline of one particularly exhaustive 1,850-word game story last week: "D-Will Stars as Nets Topple Knicks." "They do a great job of making sure it's personalized," Williams said. Wall Street Journal This isn't muckrake journalism—Williams and his representatives at Excel Sports Management get to vet everything that goes live on the site—but they feel it serves a purpose. Launched not long after the Jazz traded Williams to the Nets in 2011, it was originally conceived as a way to enhance his appeal to sponsors in a new market. Jaymee Messler, the senior vice president for marketing at Excel, described it as "creating a larger brand portfolio" for him. "I don't think many people outside of Utah got to know him," Messler said. "He really does treat this like a digital magazine. He's involved on a big level." Wall Street Journal But websites maintained by individual athletes, featuring fresh material on an almost daily basis, are few and far between. Humphries, for example, has his own eponymous site—which was last updated in April, back when the Nets were still marooned in New Jersey. "I don't even know what's on there," he said. Wall Street Journal Our company has moved into a new building which used to house the training court for the Vancouver Grizzlies and we are looking for anyone interested in taking the floor off of our hands! Asking $13, 000. Pictures attached. Perfect for any fan of the Grizzlies when they were around or even an NBA collector! Craiglist |
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» Update: 06:51 PM ET |
 Marc J. Spears: Free agent point guard Earl Boykins is in great shape working out in Denver altitude and says he's ready and waiting for a call. Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo Chris Forsberg: Maine Red Claws sign Dajuan Summers and (in mild surprise) waive Brian Cusworth, who was an affiliated player with Boston. Twitter @ESPNForsberg Mike Miller grew during the offseason. Well, at least that’s the word on the Miami Heat. The swingman long has been listed at 6-foot-8. But this season he’s said to really be that height. “He’s 6-8 again,’’ cracked Heat center Chris Bosh. “He’s not hunched over.’’ FOXSports Florida “I feel better than I've felt in five years. I don’t know what it is,’’ Miller, scarcely believing he could feel so good after electing not to have surgery during the offseason, said in an interview with FOX Sports Florida. “I've dealt with something every year for the last four. So, knock on wood, I feel great, I feel real good.’’ FOXSports Florida The Los Angeles Lakers' point guard woes just got worse. Lakers guard Steve Blake will undergo laparoscopic surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn abdominal muscle and will miss at least 6-8 weeks, the team announced Monday. Blake was diagnosed with an abdominal strain on Nov. 12 and has missed the Lakers' past 10 games. Blake's extended absence leaves with no depth at point guard. USA Today Marc J. Spears: Free agent point guard Baron Davis is still rehabbing from knee surgery and appeared out for season based on our conversation two weeks ago. Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo Mike Trudell: Steve Nash is out of all 3 games on this road trip, but is w/the team to continue his rehabilitation. Making progress; no target date. Twitter @LakersReporter  Darnell Mayberry: Russell Westbrook will play in the Air Jordan XX8's Tuesday night against the Nets inside Barclays Center. http://t.co/47l2vEzJ Twitter @DarnellMayberry Chris Littman: The Jordan XX8 is $250 (per @darrenrovell). Guess many will balk, but I want to know what you WOULD pay for them. Twitter @chrislittmann  It's been said you don't really know a man until you walk a mile in his shoes. But in the case of Warriors guard Jarrett Jack, that might take awhile. Jack, an NBA veteran who is fast becoming a valuable addition as the team's primary reserve, has a major thing for shoes -- basketball sneakers, specifically. In fact, he probably has the largest collection of them in the league. Jack claims to own more than 1,500 pairs of sneakers, many of them hard-to-procure limited editions, and he rarely wears the same pair twice in a row, whether it be in games, practices or out on the town. "There are only 365 days in the year," he said. "So I can only wear so many." Contra Costa Times Jack, 29, is in his eighth NBA season but his first with the Warriors after being acquired via trade in July. His new teammates are only beginning to learn the scope of his fixation, but have noticed he always has the flashiest size 12s on the floor. "He's worn a different pair of shoes every single day this year," said guard Stephen Curry. "I have not seen a shoe game like his." Contra Costa Times Scott Cacciola of the Wall Street Journal writes Monday on a growing phenomenon -- professional athletes who not only have their own websites but their own beat reporters to cover them! DeronWilliams.com was set up after D-Will was traded to the Nets to take advantage of the new marketing possibilities the nation's biggest market presents. Now, it's more than that. It's still a marketing vehicle, with links to his work for Red Bull, American Express, Metro PCS and Baller Beats. NetsDaily |
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» Update: 04:46 PM ET |
 And Howard, who can become an unrestricted free agent in July, even hinted that if he didn’t think he could win in L.A., he would move on from Southern California in the summer. ``You only get one shot. People might not ever understand that, but at the end of the day it’s not their life. You can’t let anybody else dictate how they want your life to be,’’ he said. ``I only have one shot to play and do something that I love. Not everybody is blessed and have an opportunity to do what they love. ``So I want to do it the best that I can and I’m going to take everything in I can to get what I can out of the NBA. Which, for me, is winning a championship,’’ he added. ``So if I have to play on another team or do whatever I have to do to get one, that’s my goal. This is my passion, so I’ll continue to fight.’ NBA.com Not that this is new as there have been rumors and suggestions for more than a year: Josh Smith, maybe New Orleans’ Ryan Anderson, the latter a D’Antoni stretch four. He fits, but Gasol to New Orleans makes no sense for the Hornets who basically want no part of the playoffs or a higher lottery seed. But there is one deal that has to happen. Gasol for Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon. The Lakers probably give back a point, like Darius Morris. NBA.com It’s obvious for the Lakers. Bargnani is the ultimate D’Antoni player, which is even why Toronto general manager Bryan Colangelo has tried to unite with D’Antoni for years. Why not? They had a brilliant run in Phoenix. And Colangelo just missed on Steve Nash last summer. Bargnani, a former No. 1 overall pick, has run out of affection in Toronto. But he’s a seven footer with an excellent three point shot who spreads the floor like few bigs. Nash is still out, and even when he returns isn’t a 30-minute player anymore. Calderon is in the final year of his deal and a point guard who plays pick and roll and scores and can be a perfect backup for Nash. NBA.com  KC Johnson: If Bulls sign somebody, he will be behind Butler and Belinelli in rotation. Wouldn't be surprised to see Marko Jaric return. Twitter @KCJHoop The Houston Rockets have recalled rookie forward Terrence Jones from Houston's single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley, according to the team's twitter account. USA Today John Denton: Kobe on Dwight after #Lakers loss to #Magic : "Dwight has it in him as well. Even though he smiles a lot, he cares a lot about this." Twitter @JohnDenton555 Jody Genessy: Whether he's smiling or not, Randy Foye said one thing's sure of Chris Paul: "He's out there trying to rip your heart out on the court." Twitter @DJJazzyJody  The New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony and the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant today were named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 26, through Sunday, Dec. 2. Anthony helped lead the Knicks to a 3-1 mark, averaging a league-best 29.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. In New York's 106-99 home victory over the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 2, Anthony scored a game-high 34 points, and added six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. USA Today The Brooklyn Nets' Avery Johnson and the Memphis Grizzlies' Lionel Hollins today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in October and November. Johnson led the Nets to an 11-4 (.733) mark in October and November, with the 11 wins tying for the most in the conference (Miami Heat, 11-3; New York Knicks, 11-4). The Nets, off to the best start through 15 games in franchise history, ranked second in the NBA in team scoring defense, holding opponents to 90.4 ppg. The Nets recorded their largest road win (107-68) in franchise history on Nov. 9 against the Orlando Magic. USA Today  Christopher A. Vito: Asked to speak with Andrew Bynum today after Sixers practice. Team said Bynum was unavailable, as he was receiving treatment at the time. Twitter @ChrisVito Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Blake will undergo laparoscopic surgery Wednesday to repair a torn abdominal muscle, the team announced Monday. Blake is expected to miss a minimum of six to eight weeks following the surgery, which will be performed by Dr. Craig Smith. ESPN.com Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez did not practice Monday, a good indication he will not play Tuesday when the Nets host the Thunder at the Barclays Center. Instead, Lopez had an MRI on his right foot. He suffered a mid-ligament sprain in that foot in the Nets' win over the Celtics on Nov. 26. Nets coach Avery Johnson is a stickler for players practicing before returning from injury. New York Daily News  Chicago Bulls guard Rip Hamilton will be out indefinitely after tearing the plantar fascia in his left foot Saturday night. "We'll see," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said of Hamilton's prognosis after Monday's practice. "It could be a week, it could be two weeks, it could be longer. Once he feels good enough to play, he'll be back." ESPN.com Hamilton tore the plantar fascia in his left foot during Saturday's victory over the 76ers. Thibodeau said Hamilton was in good spirits on Monday and rode the stationary bicycle. There is no timetable for his return. "It could be a week," Thibodeau said. "It could be two weeks. It could be longer. Once he feels good enough to play, he’ll be back." Chicago Tribune Marvin Williams went through a pregame shoot around this morning with the Jazz on Monday, and has been medically cleared to play six days after hitting his head on the court in New Orleans. The Jazz list the starting small forward as a game time decision and Williams said he will meet before the 7 p.m. game with doctors and trainers to determine his status. Salt Lake Tribune  On Saturday morning, a Halloween picture of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker holding fake guns to the head of a Joey Crawford impersonator went viral, surfacing on Reddit and quickly spreading across the Internet. USA Today In the photo, the San Antonio Spurts teammates are pointing fake guns at the back of the head of a man dressed in a makeshift Crawford referee uniform. A noose hangs above the fake Crawford. Duncan, dressed like the comic book hero The Punisher, presses his fake gun against Crawford's head while Parker, in a leather jacket and an eyepatch, points his fake gun and mugs for the camera. USA Today Manu Ginobili, who was at the party where the photo was apparently taken, said the photo should not be taken out of context. “I don’t know exactly what people are saying about it,” said Ginobili, who went dressed as Zorro. “What I know is, it was Halloween. If somebody dressed like Pop was there, I probably would have done the same with my little sword. I think it was a joke. It was very innocent. They were just probably kidding. I didn’t see it at the time, but nothing to be serious about.” San Antonio Express-News Ginobili said he did not know who the man dressed as Crawford was, describing him as a random attendee at the party. “He was somebody without hair, he decided to dress like a ref,” he said. “He was part of the party. It was a big party, a lot of people. It just happened.” Ginobili said he does not think the action deserves action from the league office. “Why would I?” he said. “I’m not concerned. I don’t think it’s something to take so serious. But who knows what’s going to happen?” San Antonio Express-News  SLAM: You hosted a basketball camp this past summer in Michigan. How’d that go? Jonas Jerebko: It went great. That’s something I always wanted to do. I kind of wanted to do it at home—coming from Sweden, I wanted to give an NBA experience to the kids over here. But I just felt like the best situation was in Detroit and I wanted to have my own basketball camp. We got about 50 people signed up for it, and then we decided to fill the camp up—we wanted to have a full camp—so we got in contact with an AAU team down in downtown Detroit, and we gave that team free scholarships for the whole camp and we just decided to fill the camp up with free scholarships. We had kids from all over Michigan send applications via YouTube on why they should come to the camp for free. Kids were driving three hours [to come]; we had kids from downtown who couldn’t even get to the arena, so we went and picked ‘em up. The kids got free t-shirts and gear—Lil Wayne was really nice and sent a lot of Trukfit gear. SLAM SLAM: Wait, what? JJ: I don’t really know how he found out about it, but somehow Wayne got word of it and was kind enough to send gear for all the kids. SLAM: That’s awesome. Did you get to speak to him at all? JJ: No, I didn’t. I would want to thank him though, but he’s a busy man. He was kind enough to sponsor my camp with a lot of t-shirts, and I’m very thankful for that. SLAM |
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» Update: 01:00 PM ET |
 Alex Kennedy: With Richard Hamilton sidelined, the Bulls may pursue free agent Mo Evans. Chicago has expressed interest in Evans in the past. Twitter @AlexKennedyNBA The Spurs have recalled French rookie Nando De Colo from the Austin Toros of the NBA Developmental League, the parent club announced Monday. San Antonio Express-News Mary Schmitt Boyer/Jodie Valade: Kyrie Irving getting closer to returning for #Cavs, he's cleared for all but contact drills with broken left finger. Twitter @PDcavsinsider Mary Schmitt Boyer/Jodie Valade: #Cavs' Dion Waiters receiving treatment on sprained left ankle at shootaround, Byron says he's 50-50 for game at Detroit tonight. Twitter @PDcavsinsider Ted Leonsis: Frankly, more than half our team is now made up of seasoned and complementary playing vets. We have seven new vets in our lineup this season as well. And Cartier Martin, who has played with our team before. People advocate for change, and sometimes having so much change at a time when you also have core players out with injuries makes for a very tough start to a season. I am supportive of our young players, and will continue to advocate that we build around a core of players that we have drafted and developed. We have made trades to add the vets. We have done some free agent signings. What we haven’t done is wade into free agency to add a big star to our team. Ted Leonsis Ted Leonsis: Jan Vesely and Trevor Ariza are best situated in a running, fast-paced offense. We have now had to slow down play without John Wall in the lineup, and we are asking players to play half court sets. This is a miss -match for their specific skill sets. Jan Vesely is in his second year of development. You always support a young, talented player, who is 7 feet tall, can run and is fundamentally sound. Jan has our support, and is working hard to develop his all-around game. But this is his second year in the NBA, and he is playing without a starting point guard who can push the pace of play. We shouldn’t be so fast to write him off as a player. This is easy to do in media but not something that is smart to do for our franchise. I support Jan Vesely. Ted Leonsis But Stack has a secret. It’s Taaj Jaharah, an innovative New York trainer and therapist whose work on agility and flexibility basically throughout his career helped Kareem Abdul-Jabbar play until he was 42 and at a high level. “I have worked with him (Stackhouse) since his rookie year in Philly,” Jaharah said in an email. “He has been fastidious in his desire to continue to retrain and to maintain his ease of movement, a truly dedicated athlete. They don't last 18 years in the league without that.” It’s a great lesson for young kids. Players like Abdul-Jabbar and Stackhouse realized when they were kids that training their bodies for that sort of flexibility would extend their career. They probably never realized how long. And this at a time whether to just keep busy more players than ever seem to want to continue their careers. There are eight players at least 38 with the return of Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace and Derek Fisher and Grant Hill and Kurt Thomas over 40. NBA.com I'm getting a lot of e-mails and feedback on Twitter over a photo of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker from Halloween obviously just having fun, but with toy guns pointed at someone dressed up as NBA referee Joey Crawford. There is also a noose hanging in the background. Crawford is the league's more controversial referee, and once ejected Duncan from a game while he was on the bench. The league suspended Crawford for the incident. WOAI.com |
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» Update: 11:28 AM ET |
 Nash said he plans to fly with the team to receive further treatment, but he hardly sounded optimistic about his return. "Another 10 days to two weeks?" Nash wondered aloud. "That's a total guess. Since I can't run, I'm not going to play this week." Los Angeles Daily News Nash has already missed 15 games, his longest span since 1999. He said he's not currently planned to take another MRI. Nash has participated in various agility and jogging drills in the past week, and shot jumpers during pregame warmups. "The recovery time is getting better," Nash said. "But it's a small improvement." Los Angeles Daily News  John Denton: #Magic Jameer: "I definitely want to be in Orlando. I could have gone somewhere else, but this organization has been so, so true to me." Twitter @JohnDenton555 John Denton: Magic PG J.Nelson made sure to point out after game that he could have left as a FA, but stayed cause Magic org and fans been true to him. Twitter @JohnDenton555  With the regular season underway, 14-year NBA veteran Mike Bibby is on the outside looking in for the first time in a long time. The offseason came and went and Bibby, like a bunch of other experienced players, remained unsigned. But the former King is not giving up on his NBA career just yet. Bibby is working out in the Phoenix area, playing pick-up ball and waiting for the phone to ring. "I'm getting ready for any call," Bibby told HoopsHype in an interview. "It's reassuring that Derek Fisher got that call. People are still getting calls right now. It can happen somewhere down the line, I'm not worried about that. I'm just keeping myself ready when that call comes." HoopsHype "Last year everybody was telling me 'It's a lockout, lockout, lockout', so I was trying to take it easy, saving my body a little bit," Bibby said. "Then two days later I have to be here and go. It was tough to have only a few days to get in shape into training camp. Not being in shape at the beginning of the season, I think it hurt me." He ended up the year on a brighter note, averaging 23.6 mpg and shooting 41.2 percent from three in the playoffs for the point-guard depleted Knicks. Bibby, who claims to be in much better shape now, thinks he can still contribute in many ways. "I can bring leadership, I can play mentor, I can play whatever role that the team wants me to play", Bibby said. "I can still shoot the ball. I feel I can still move pretty well, getting the ball to the stars on the team... Doing a little stuff like that. I'm a good locker room guy." HoopsHype Bibby's agent, the well-known David Falk, expects NBA teams to call for his services pretty soon. "I think the window of opportunity for players like him will open around December 15, when teams are able to trade some of the free agents they signed," Falk said. "I'm cautiously optimistic he will get signed between mid-December and mid-Janaury. He would be a good addition for a playoff team. He can win playoff games with his shooting." HoopsHype  Alexander Chernykh: Eddy Curry may join Tracy McGrady in Qingdao, replacing underperforming DJ Mbenga, according to Sina report. Twitter There’s been lots of talk among Cleveland fans that perhaps the Cavs should trade center Anderson Varejao “while he’s hot.” Varejao is indeed off to a career start, but the problem with this thinking is non-contenders with assets don’t want to trade them, and most contenders don’t have the assets. FOXSportsOhio One contending team loaded with young players it’s not using and the always-tempting draft picks: Oklahoma City. The Thunder, however, are playing well and have no interest in making a trade at this time, according to a team source. FOXSportsOhio Q: Can we get Pau Gasol? -- Gordon, Miami. A: The Heat essentially would have to include Chris Bosh to make the money work, and Bosh has proven far more willing to play center than Gasol. While Mike D'Antoni might be tempted by some of the Heat's shooters, there is almost no way they could be aggregated to match Gasol's salary. Would the Lakers move Gasol? It sure is starting to look that way. But there would be other teams with pieces that would make more sense. The heart of your question comes down to which player is better for the Heat: Gasol or Bosh? At the moment, Bosh rates a clear advantage for what the Heat are trying to accomplish. South Florida Sun-Sentinel  After Gibson signed a four-year extension -- worth up to $39 million with certain escalators -- on opening night, Thibodeau saw what many saw early this season in regards to Gibson's play. "Thibs said 'You're pressing,'" Gibson said after Saturday night's win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Thibodeau watched proudly as Gibson developed into one of the best reserves in the game over the past few years. The USC alum was a force defensively and worked hard to develop a consistent mid-range jumper. ESPN.com The happy-go-lucky forward isn't hiding from the pressure of the new deal, though. He knows a lot is expected from him and he wants to live up to his new deal. "Of course I think about that," he said. "But then that's too much ... I can't put too much pressure on myself. I have to just go out there and just do my job. There's already added pressure wearing a Bulls jersey, but just thinking about all the other stuff that's going to pull you down, you just have to go out there and just play and have fun. That's what I've been doing the last couple of games and just getting back to the basics. Just focusing on defense and when it's time to score, just take my looks." ESPN.com But this season was different. Since the preseason and the constant chatter about whether he would get an extension done, Gibson didn't look like the same player. He wasn't playing with the same zeal and looked increasingly frustrated at times on the floor. So Thibodeau picked up the phone a couple weeks ago and tried to get the 27-year-old back on track. "I remember one day he called me, he pulled me to the side and said, 'Don't worry about it, you're pressing,'" Gibson said. "Just play your game, have fun, you're doing a great job on defense and doing good leading our defense. Just stay with the fundamentals, just have fun, and that's what I'm trying to do. "Every day in practice I'm going hard, I'm going in early, I'm staying late and I'm just trying to get better. It's going to be ups and downs, that's what I realized early in my career, it's been times when I wasn't shooting the ball well, but then come playoff time I'm at a high. Just got to stay the course and keep playing." ESPN.com Lakers fans quickly latched on to his nonstop energy, enthusiasm and high socks. But McRoberts’ time with the Lakers proved short-lived. On the heels of shipping Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers signed McRoberts just before training camp started to a two-year deal using their mini mid-level exception worth $3 million. He then became trade bait this offseason for the Howard deal. “It wasn’t like they traded me for a washing machine or something,” said McRoberts, who averaged 2.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 14.4 minutes last season with the Lakers. “They traded me for one of the best players in the league. Obviously they didn’t trade me straight up for him, I was a part of that trade. So, it’s kind of like anybody could have a part of that.” Los Angeles Daily News Did he feel like a chapter was closed by playing his old team? "That chapter was closed when I got traded." Is he happy in L.A.? "Obviously, I'm enjoying myself," he said almost morosely. Howard flat ignored some questions from an Orlando television reporter with whom he had a hostile relationship after asking to be traded by the Magic. A Lakers publicist stepped in toward the end, telling the reporter to "quit antagonizing him." Los Angeles Times Dave McMenamin: Howard on playing Orlando: "It wasn't emotional." Dwight on Hack-a-Howard: "I don't have any thoughts on it" Twitter @mcten Howard made just nine of his 21 attempts, including seven of his 14 tries in the fourth quarter. Pouty Howard didn’t shake anybody’s hands after the game.“That’s fine,” Jameer Nelson told The Sentinel’s Josh Robbins.. “Certain guys don’t shake hands after the game. “I don’t have any hard feelings to the guy. He made a decision to do what he did. He’s on the team that he’s on. I’m here in Orlando, where I want to be. I just wish him the best of luck. I’m not going to go up and hug him and kiss him or anything like that. “ Orlando Sentinel With the talent gap, Vaughn went for tactics. He admitted beforehand that he might purposefully send Howard to the line, then he turned to it in the second half. "I am a gentleman who believes in playing within the confines of the game," he said, saying his words as precisely as Gus Fring on "Breaking Bad." "And I think that falls in line with playing in the confines of the game." They fouled him seven times as soon as he crossed half court and once after he grabbed an offensive rebound. He made only eight of the 16 attempts. The Lakers lost their rhythm and soon thereafter lost their lead. D'Antoni left Howard in, while keeping Gasol on the bench in the fourth quarter. The Lakers paid for it, and might continue to do so. They've played the most home games in the league, 12, but have only a 7-5 record to show for it. In other words, the hard part is still ahead, including most of their national TV games against the toughest competition. ESPN.com Howard opened up a little bit, eventually, about his dire free-throw shooting. "I'm going to continue to practice," he said. "That's all I can do, is continue to practice and they'll start falling." Coach Mike D'Antoni said he wouldn't remove Howard in late-game situations despite his 46.5% free-throw accuracy. "I could, but you want to do that? You take him out, that's drawing a big line," D'Antoni said. "He'll get through this." Los Angeles Times  Meanwhile, in Gasol's corner of the locker room, there was muted talk about being held out of the final 6:07 of the fourth quarter, benched again in favor of Antawn Jamison. Gasol started the game smoothly but finished with 11 points on four-for-11 shooting. He did not score in the second half, missing all four of his shots. "I don't get irritated," he said. "It's upsetting for me as a player, but I don't allow it to irritate me. Coach makes his decisions and you've got to respect them." Gasol sat near the end of the bench for the final minutes, his chin resting on his left hand, a towel slung around his shoulders. Bryant, who had 34 points and five assists, had some advice for him. "Put your big boy pants on. Just adjust," he said. "You can't whine about it. I'm 34 years old. I'm running screen-and-rolls out there. Steve [Nash] is out and my [tail] is running up and down the court more than I have my entire career. You have to adjust to it. I stay after practice and work on my ball-handling, my screen and roll." Los Angeles Times Pau on his latest fourth-quarter benching: "I like to be out there. It's upsetting for me as a player, but ... I don't allow it to irritate me. We're all trying to do our best and find ways to win the game. Coach (D'Antoni) makes his decisions, and you have to respect them." Sulia Gasol scored 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting. "Pau will have to make some adjustments to his game," Bryant said. "He's not posting up as much as he likes, but he has to adjust. - Pau's talented enough and good enough to do it. It's not like he can't do myriad of things. "It's about making that adjustment." Los Angeles Daily News Kevin Ding: D'Antoni on Pau: "We're slow right now. Athletically, we're struggling." Twitter @KevinDing Kobe was blunt about the opportunity the Lakers' 3-gm road trip provides to a team w/ a 1-4 road record so far ... A reporter stated to Kobe that the Lakers' 3-game road trip through HOU, NO and OKC this week will be an opportunity for the Lakers to improve upon their abysmal record away from Staples Center. Kobe's response? "Or get our ass kicked. It will be one or the other." Sulia Mike Trudell: Gasol's been dealing with knee tendinitis, & it does look like his lift has been hard to come by. Just 4 of 11 FG's for 11 points. Twitter @LakersReporter Mike Trudell: It's not accurate to say Kobe called out Gasol after the game. He was asked about Pau, & Kobe said Gasol had to adjust & not complain. Twitter @LakersReporter David Brickley: D'Antoni: "Another disappointing loss. Its one good one, one bad one, one good one, one bad one." Twitter @DavidjBrickley David Aldridge: Worthy killing the Lakers on the postgame. "This team is not as good as they think they are...not even really being professional athletes".. Twitter @daldridgetnt David Locke: James Worthy "Then Kobe gets in that mode when "I got shoot every time" and it is a losing effort at that point" Twitter @Lockedonsports Jameer Nelson: I'm happy we won, but I'm happier for the fans In Orlando! We appreciate the support and the commitment!!!! Twitter @jameernelson Josh Robbins: Jameer Nelson on the win: "It means a lot, honestly." Twitter @JoshuaBRobbins  It was not just the defeat and his 3-for-11 shooting that hurt. Williams is painfully aware that if the Nets are going to take the next step in their transition from jokes from Jersey to contenders from Brooklyn, he has to do more. “I definitely need to play better. We could be a great team,” Williams said. “You’ve seen us win five straight and I haven’t shot the ball well. We’ve had some good wins so I think these two days of rest will be great. We haven’t had rest in a while. So this will be good for us.” New York Daily News Beasley judiciously held his words beyond that, only saying he did not feel good after playing less half the game for the sixth time this season. It certainly was not him alone. He only made two of the 17 turnovers and was not responsible for most of the 12 3-pointers New York made when the Suns often scrambled to cover Tyson Chandler on pick-and-rolls. “We didn’t go out to have fun and play together,” said Gortat, who had his first double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) since Nov. 12. “We didn’t enjoy being out there. It has to change. Every team, at some point, has some type of swagger and, quite honestly, we don’t have a swagger. Each one of us is frustrated. “Each one of us wants to be a hero and do it on his own, but we can’t play like that. We’ve got to share the ball and create open shots for teammates.” Arizona Republic It was the surest sign yet that Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro's faith in the versatile forward could be rewarded sooner rather than later. Del Negro said he's determined to support Odom, who was out of shape to start the season. "I think Lamar is continuing to make progress," Del Negro said. "I see he's working hard every day. I thought he made some really good passes for us (against the Kings). His overall presence is getting better." Los Angeles Daily News At least Carmelo Anthony has been the picture of health. He snagged 34 points yesterday, shooting just 11-of-27 but drilling four 3-pointers and hitting a series of post-up turnarounds that have become deadly. “MVP!’’ chants were heard in the third quarter. Through 16 games, the Knicks have outscored their opponents by 159 points with Anthony on the court — third-best for an individual player in the league. “It’s good to hear,’’ Anthony said. “You can’t ignore it. If I said I don’t feel good to hear that, I’d be lying to you. Last year, there was no way I could do that. We’re working as a team. As a result, that’s what you hear.’’ Last season, Anthony had one nick-nack injury after another — hip, wrist, elbow, calf, ankle and, ultimately, a broken ego under Mike D’Antoni. “I’m healthy,’’ Anthony said. “I wasn’t 100 percent last year. We’re winning basketball games and doing it in a great fashion.’’ New York Post Steve Novak did his hands-to-the-waist sign, mimicking putting on a championship boxing belt. Raymond Felton and Ronnie Brewer, the only other Knicks who made threes in a game when they shot too many, allowing Phoenix to pull within six points late, didn’t even bother doing anything. “It just means three," Novak said of Wallace’s sign. “ We just sit around and come up with these kinds of silly things." New York Daily News The Knicks have been doing it all season. Even in an MSG commercial shown before the game, you see Wallace tapping his head after he nails a three. “I’m just representing my man, Rasheed Wallace — three-to-the-dome," Anthony said. “It’s just three, nothing major." If it was a gun reference, as has been strongly suggested in references on the Internet, then you can bet it would be major, and the Knicks would have to stop using it. There is no place in an NBA game for glorifying guns. That would send the wrong message to everyone. When it comes to guns, it’s never a minor issue, as if some players need to be reminded how guns have sometimes tragically affected their lives, or the close calls some have been in when they’ve been around firearms. New York Daily News Patrick Patterson has become so much more confident in his shot, he has joked about getting a spot in the All-Star Weekend’s 3-point contest. He quickly added that despite the increase, he does not take or make enough 3s to be included in that group. More than a result of his own increased confidence, however, he said he is looking for his shot more often because teammates now expect that of him. “My teammates are looking for me,” Patterson said. “If I’m knocking them down, I’m going to keep shooting them. My teammates having that confidence, passing to me when I’m on the perimeter, makes me want to shoot it more.” He got the message, even before Harden sang “Shoot it” in the locker room. Houston Chronicle Stoudemire was asked if he still is on target to return six to eight weeks after his Oct. 31 operation. "We'll see," Stoudemire said before laughing. It's possible that Stoudemire, who had a procedure to remove damaged or dead tissue, won't know until he actually practices and puts his knee to the test. He has been working out more the last couple of days, running, shooting jump shots and turning on the knee. But it's unclear when he will be able to practice fully. There is a stretch after this week's three-game road trip when the Knicks will play every other night, which will give him opportunities to practice. There has been speculation that he'll return around Christmas, but he's quiet on that matter. "I'm focused," he said. Newsday  New Orleans Hornets rookie Anthony Davis is expected to be sidelined for another week because of a stress reaction in his left ankle that has forced him to miss seven consecutive games, Coach Monty Williams said Sunday. "If I have to guess, I think he’s a week away from us thinking about him ramping up his conditioning; let alone playing,'' Williams said. "So I just think it's still far off.'' New Orleans Times-Picayune Rip Hamilton has a torn plantar fascia in his left foot, an MRI revealed Sunday. Hamilton injured the foot in the third quarter of the Chicago Bulls' win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. The team said Hamilton would return the court "as his symptoms permit." The injury occurred with just under three minutes left in the third quarter. Hamilton had to be helped off the floor by teammates Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng and was putting no weight on the foot. "I felt something pop," Hamilton admitted after the game. ESPN.com Either Marco Belinelli or Jimmy Butler will start at shooting guard. Hamilton could be out a week or more. The Bulls have one roster spot open, but if they sign somebody that player wouldn't crack the rotation ahead of Belinelli or Butler. Chicago Tribune  On the Lakers: “Jimmy Buss strikes again. … (Mike) Brown was horribly inept. He was terrible in timeouts. His practices were long and useless. He made bad adjustments. His players ridiculed him behind his back. But Jimmy Buss didn’t want Phil Jackson back, and one of the reasons is the competition that exists among the siblings, meaning Jeannie Buss. So if Phil is back, then Jeannie has more influence probably than Jimmy does. So I think he was looking for a way to not hire Phil despite the clamor from the local media and the fans, so he made up a whole bunch of stuff — Phil wanted $18 (million), Phil didn’t want to go to road games, blah blah blah, which was all total nonsense. Lies. So he goes for the gold, the glitter, by bringing Mike D’Antoni is, which is a bad fit. D’Antoni doesn’t know what to do with post-up players.” SheridanHoops Phil Jackson wasn't the only one who got a late-night call last month. It was early compared with the one Dan D'Antoni received. Mike D'Antoni's brother was sleeping peacefully in Charlotte, N.C., when the phone rang at 3:30 a.m. It was his son, Nick. He had some bewildering news. "Dad, you're going to L.A.," he said. Dan D'Antoni didn't believe it. "Mike had told me his name was being bantered about, but he said, 'We're not going to get it. Phil [Jackson] is going to get it,'" Dan D'Antoni said. "I told my son he was out of his mind. He said, 'No, it's all over the news.' I got up, went in there to the TV and there it was. I couldn't go back to sleep. I called my son the next day and said, 'You could have waited until 7. I'm dead tired now.'" Los Angeles Times Joining the Lakers' staff was the latest turn in an unorthodox career for Dan D'Antoni. He left behind 28 years of coaching at Socastee High in Myrtle Beach, S.C., to be on his brother's staff with the Phoenix Suns in 2004. He was barely part of it. He was the fourth of four assistants. He sat behind the bench for games. But he watched, learned and studied the intricacies of his brother's offense. Now he's Mike D'Antoni's most important sounding board on the court. He's also a caretaker while Mike D'Antoni recovers from knee-replacement surgery he had Oct. 31. They live together in a rented Manhattan Beach home. "You've seen the series 'Two and a Half Men'? We're 'Two Half Men,'" Dan D'Antoni quipped. "I've got to drive everywhere, I've got to carry his bag, I've got to open the daggone door. Even the coaching part, I've had to be a little more of a voice than I would have been if he had his vitality. It's still hard on him until he gets his strength back, which will probably happen in a month or so." Los Angeles Times  Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban loves competition and wants to win championships. Cuban, a billionaire according to Forbes magazine, also understands business. Winning titles and making money do not always follow the same path, as Cuban knows well, having lost money for years as the Mavs' owner and having won a championship in 2010-11. Like so many thoughts that have emerged since the NBA fined the San Antonio Spurs $250,000 for coach Gregg Popovich's decision to rest healthy players against the Miami Heat, Cuban saw both sides with clear-eyed vision. "Everybody who planned to watch San Antonio vs. Miami on TNT, we've got disappointed customers all over the place," Cuban told reporters Saturday. "When I say our biggest customer, TV is our biggest customer. "So I'm not saying San Antonio did the wrong thing. I'm just saying I understand exactly why the league did what they did." USA Today  Klutch Sports Group, the new NBA player representation firm founded by LeBron James’ longtime friend and new NBA contract agent Rich Paul, will start making strategic hires, possibly including a marketing agent, early next year, Paul said last week. Paul shocked many in the basketball world in September when he left CAA Sports, where he had worked under James’ longtime contract agent, Leon Rose, taking James and three NBA players with him. James and the three — Los Angeles Clippers point guard Eric Bledsoe, San Antonio Spurs guard Cory Joseph and Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson — are now clients of Paul, who was certified to represent NBA players in contract talks by the National Basketball Players Association a little more than a week after he left CAA. Sports Business Daily The NBA and owners need to keep TV partners and fans from souring on the game. One NBA owner who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the topic told USA TODAY Sports that he sided with Stern's decision and called the fine fair. While it may not have played a factor in Miami last week, owners in general want an opponent's best players playing, when healthy, because it helps sell tickets in many markets. The diverging interests of the league and teams played out Thursday with Popovich's decision to send healthy players home instead of playing them against the Heat and the subsequent fine. After reading Stern's statement Friday and his comments to reporters at a Board of Governors meeting in April 2010, the timing of Popovich's decision rankled Stern – a TNT game against the defending champions one month into the season. Stern pointed out in his statement it was an "early-season game" and the Spurs "did a disservice to the league and our fans." USA Today Apparently, Karl Malone likes bowling more than his alma mater's football team does. Louisiana Tech reportedly turned down an invitation to participate in the Independence Bowl, and the Bulldogs announced Sunday that they were not selected to any other bowls despite going 9-3. La. Tech was holding out hope it would be invited to a different bowl, so it turned down the Independence Bowl invitation to play against rival ULM, the AP reported. That led to the Mailman delivering an interesting Twitter rant in which he showed his respect for La. Tech athletic director Bruce Van De Velde is about as low as it used to be for Greg Ostertag's work ethic. "I am Bulldog to the core," Malone wrote. "I am heartbroken and embarrassed that our university would do this to Tech Nation. To our football and staff this is exactly what is wrong with our university." Deseret News In further tweets from @TheDeliverer_32, Malone continued to vent about his old school's predicament. The Hall of Famer also offered to replace Van De Velde, USU's former AD, at La. Tech. "Now it's time to get former athletes to run our program," he tweeted. "I'm 6-9 and not hard to find." More tweets from the former Utah Jazz star: "TechNation what I have been saying for a long time,start hiring former tech athletes to get the pride back into The university and athletics." "Whoever made this desicision (sic) have the (guts) to tell the guys why. As one alumni of La. Tech I want to know why." "To Bleed tech Blue, you got to be Tech." Deseret News Sources connected with the couple tell TMZ ... Nash's ex-wife Alejandra wants to move the former couple's three children from AZ to L.A. We're told Nash has objected and is waging a legal war to prevent it from happening. Our sources say Alejandra hired one of the biggest divorce lawyers in L.A., Lance Spiegel, to fight Nash in both AZ and California courts. TMZ.com As for why Nash doesn't want his kids moving closer to him, we called his rep but haven't heard back. Based on our research, one thing's for sure ... Nash will get socked for WAYYY more child support in CA than AZ. TMZ.com |
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