International Basketball

Draft a good place to find good big men to fill big holes

2009-06-25T02:10:00.000-07:00

Before the last two seasons, there was a stretch in which either Shaquille O'Neal or Tim Duncan won eight of the nine NBA championships. This year, we saw the Orlando Magic become an elite team with the development of Dwight Howard.

The best formula for winning in the NBA starts with a dominant big man, but the likes of Shaq, Duncan and Dwight don't come around often.

Blake Griffin isn't on that level, but he can be an All-Star and make an impact. And he's much more of a sure thing than anyone else in this Draft. So even though the Clippers already have too many big men, they're set to take Griffin with the first pick.

Here are the lottery teams that could use some help on the frontline the most (first round picks in parentheses).

1. Memphis Grizzlies (2 and 27)

Under contract: Marc Gasol, Darko Milicic, Darrell Arthur

With a solid, young core of Mike Conley, O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay and Gasol, the Grizzlies are missing only their power forward of the future. And by getting the second pick in the lottery, they miss him again. With Griffin off the board, the Grizzlies could reach a bit and fill their need with Arizona's Jordan Hill, because Hasheem Thabeet isn't an obvious fit next to Gasol. They also could trade down and get Hill a few picks later.

2. New York Knicks (8)

Under contract: Al Harrington, Eddy Curry, Jared Jeffries

In Mike D'Antoni's system, a traditional big man isn't needed, but the Knicks do need some sort of interior presence, especially on defense, even if they bring back restricted free agent David Lee. Hill might be a good fit, but of greater need is getting someone who can run the offense, and with plenty of point guards to go around, the Knicks may have to find a big man elsewhere.

3. Sacramento Kings (4 and 23)

Under contract: Jason Thompson, Spencer Hawes, Kenny Thomas

The Kings have used their last two lottery picks on Hawes and Thompson, and both have shown promise. But you always need more than two bigs, so the Kings could do worse than bringing another big man into the fold.

4. New Jersey Nets (11)

Under contract: Brook Lopez, Yi Jianlian, Ryan Anderson, Josh Boone, Sean Williams

With Lopez, the Nets should be set at center for years to come. Their other bigs each have various skills, but none is close to being a total package, and none provides the defense and rebounding the Nets need. Five years after he left, this team is still missing the skills of Kenyon Martin.

5. Milwaukee Bucks (10)

Under contract: Andrew Bogut, Amir Johnson, Kurt Thomas, Dan Gadzuric

Before his season was cut short by a back injury, Bogut was starting to look like one of the better centers in the league. Tuesday's trade of Richard Jefferson frees up more money to resign Charlie Villanueva (who is a restricted free agent), but if he goes elsewhere, Milwaukee has a hole at the four.

6. Charlotte Bobcats (12)

Under contract: Boris Diaw, Emeka Okafor, Nazr Mohammed, DeSagana Diop

The Bobcats are solid up front but could use some athleticism to complement Okafor and Diaw. The have a greater need on the perimeter.

Other lottery teams

7. Toronto Raptors (8) -- As they stand, the Raptors need depth beyond Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani, and they may need insurance should Bosh bolt in 2010.

8. Golden State Warriors (7) -- With the way they play, the Warriors don't need a full complement of big men. But should they ever go traditional ...

9. Phoenix Suns (14) -- Shaq's on his way out, but Robin Lopez is waiting in the wings.

10. Oklahoma City Thunder (3 and 25) -- Jeff Green, Nenad Krstic and Nick Collison are a solid trio, but Hasheem Thabeet could make the OKC frontline even stronger.

11. Indiana Pacers (13) -- Roy Hibbert finished his rookie season strong and Troy Murphy had the best season of his career.

12. Los Angeles Clippers (1) -- They don't need another big man, but they're getting one anyway.

13. Minnesota (5 and 6) -- In Kevin Love and Al Jefferson, the Wolves have a terrific young frontline duo.

Non-lottery teams most in need of a big

Detroit (15) -- Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess and Kwame Brown are all unrestricted free agents.

Atlanta (19) -- Zaza Pachulia is a free agent and they've got Al Horford playing center.

Utah (20) -- Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur can opt out of their contracts and Paul Millsap is a restricted free agent.

Cleveland (30) -- Anderson Varejao will likely decline his player option. The rest of the Cavs' frontline is long in the tooth.

Source From : nba.com

TNT's David Aldridge goes one-on-one with NBA bloggers

2009-06-25T01:49:00.000-07:00

David Aldridge: I think most of the time people take the best player available, I don't think that changes much year to year. Sometimes, you have the perfect marriage of need and best player available, but I think most times talent wins out in this league. So, even though you may have a talented player at one position, if there's somebody on the board that's just head and shoulders better than anybody else; I think the feeling nowadays is you can always trade contracts. In this environment, especially with the economy the way it is, people are always looking to save money, so even a bad contract can be dealt if it's an expiring one. I think that best player usually wins out.

2. Are there many teams that are looking to deal their draft picks due to the current financial climate? Or are they more likely to stash players overseas? (A Stern Warning)

DA: I think you'll see some teams maybe not even bother to get into the draft for that reason. I think Denver [Nuggets] is an example of a team that did a lot of work to get under the [luxury] tax last year; I don't think that they are all that fired up about getting back into the draft and paying guaranteed money to somebody that's probably not going to play a lot for the them next year. So, that's the kind of example of the economy impacting what teams do. Instead of being aggressive, I think some teams may be passive. Now you know your Portland's and some of your other teams -- Houston is going to buy in at some point in the first round -- they'll find somebody to do business with. But, I do think that you'll see some teams just not doing anything, as opposed to what they would normally do, which is be active at the end of the first round and try to get one of those late first-round picks.

3. Why are prospects seeming to not want to play for Memphis? What is it about Memphis that is different from other small markets? (3 Shades of Blue)

DA: I think that's a bit overblown, you're talking about one guy in [Ricky] Rubio and the reason why Rubio is reluctant is because Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro didn't have great experiences there, so I'm sure that they've talked to him and probably did not give a glowing picture of Memphis, but I don't think that there's a groundswell of discontent for the city of Memphis or with the Grizzlies. I think that's the case of that particular player; because of his background has had a chance to talk to other players. But no, Memphis is still a place where people are going to want to go, and if it's not Rubio somebody else very good is going to wind up going there.

4. Stephen Curry: Impact player (a la Eddie House) or simply the best shooter in the warm-up lines? Or both? (Peter Robert Casey)

DA: I think he will be much like his father, a very good role player for a long time in the NBA. He's smart and knows how to play. I think he's going to be a pretty solid point guard. ... I don't expect spectacular from him, but I think he's going to be a guy that is going to play for a long time in this league. A great demeanor and great character guy, a guy that's willing to take big shots and make big shots. Whether he's starting for you or he's your sixth man, it doesn't really matter; he's going to wind up helping you win basketball games. I think he's going to be an excellent role player. If he winds up on a good team somehow, he could really make a huge impact next year. But if not, more likely he ends up with a struggling team, it might take him a few years to really break in.

5. Patrick Mills was looking like a world-beater a year ago with St. Mary's and then in the Olympics for Australia, but an injury certainly set him back. Do you think that with this draft being so deep with point guards that Mills' stock will be severely set back by his injury-riddled season? (A Stern Warning)

DA: Well he'll get drafted; I was surprised he stayed in though, because this is a great point guard filled draft. It surprised me that Patty stayed in because he was never a guy that was going to be a top-half of the lottery guy and I thought this year would be a good year for point guards to pass if you weren't assured of being a top-half of the lottery guy. I think you saw [Greivis] Vasquez go back for example, and that made a lot of sense. Patty is going to get drafted, it could be late first [round], but there's teams that could look at him. Dallas [Mavericks] certainly could take him with the 22nd pick, and that wouldn't surprise me at all, but it wouldn't surprise if he lasted into the second round either.

6. What are your feelings towards the Kings draft and what they'll do with the No. 4 selection. Do you think Ricky Rubio will fall to Sacramento? (Kings Forum)

DA: If he's there, and I'm not sure he's going to be there, but if he is there I think that's the guy they will take. I know that there are people in the organization that like Tyreke Evans, so I think that they're having a discussion about that right now about which way they would go if those two were available on the board. But, my guess would be that Rubio would take the argument there. I think Ricky has got star potential, I think he could be a superstar in this league in terms of his ability and his personality. Sacramento certainly needs a little bit of a bump; they need some juice back in that organization. So if he's there I think it's Rubio, if not I think it's Evans.

7. Joe Ingles has not been exposed to American audiences much, coming from Australia. Has there been much positive feedback around the league after his workouts with teams? (A Stern Warning)

DA: I think Joe [Ingles] a couple of weeks ago, maybe right around Chicago [workouts] there was a lot of interest and buzz in him. He did ok in Chicago; he didn't do badly in Chicago, but I think as it's gone on and he's done the individual workouts, I believe with Minnesota and New Jersey, it's kind of cooled a little bit. I don't get the sense that Joe is going to be a first round pick. I think he's a possible second round pick, but I'm not sure. Athletically, I don't think people see the explosion and quickness that a player would need at his position to play in the league. That doesn't mean that nobody will take a look at him, but I certainly don't think he's a first round pick at this point.

8. Rumors have suggested that Stephen Curry might no longer fall to the New York Knicks at the 8th spot, what is the latest you are hearing? (Hugging Harold Reynolds)

DA: [It'll come down to] whoever gets to 5 [pick]. Whoever trades with Washington is going to take Curry, I'm convinced of that. I can't tell you right now who it is, you have to read that on NBA.com or watch NBA TV later today. Whoever gets to that 5th pick is going to take Curry.

9. Have you heard any rumblings at all about a possible Bulls deal that will be happening on Thursday? The Bulls have 2 first round picks which they can use to either move up, or bundle with a couple of nice young players to make a huge move. (Docksquad Sports)

DA: Well they've been trying, I don't know if they're going to be successful. I think that they would love to get a big at that position, but I'm not sure they're going to be able to get it done. I've tried to check with everybody in the top 15, I haven't gotten any sense, other than Washington, that anybody is really gung-ho about trading their pick. I don't think that New York wants to move back, even if it involves getting two picks; I don't get the sense that they would do that. I don't think Minnesota wants to move back, they already have 18 and 25, so they don't have any need to move back. I'm not sure Chicago is going to be able to get this done at this point.

10. With the Suns drafting 14th there's a limited number of guys that are going to available. Which of these draft picks has the greatest potential to be an all star in 5 years? Earl Clark, James Johnson, Austin Daye, Ty Lawson or Terrence Williams. (Bright Side of the Sun)

DA: Terrence Williams won't be there. [James] Johnson has been linked to them for a little while. I could see that or [Earl] Clark. Johnson is a very physical guy, he's not a great athlete but he's got some toughness about him, so I could see that as a possibility. Clark is kind of an up and down guy. He's got a lot of talent, but he's very inconsistent, or at least he was inconsistent at Louisville...that has some people concerned. [Ty] Lawson, I think that may be a pick or two too high for him, especially considering I think they going to resign Steve Nash to an extension of some kind, so I'd be surprised if they took a point there. The more likely scenario is that they take some sort of frontcourt guy there.

Source From : nba.com

Getting Draft pick right not as easy as it might look

2009-06-25T01:35:00.000-07:00

It goes without saying that the NBA Draft is unpredictable. But the most unpredictable element isn't Draft order or trades. It's the mercurial talent.

Will Michael Olowokandi actually be a franchise cornerstone? Are we getting a steal with this Brandon Roy kid? Those are the unknowns. I thought Michael Beasley was going to take the league by storm and put up a slick 18-8 in his rookie season. I was wrong, along with a slew of other suckers. But I was also in a small minority that suspected Mario Chalmers -- with the right squad -- could step in and be a sufficient starting point guard. Young dude started 81 of 82 games last season, tossing in a neat 10 points and five assists a game.

In recent years there is instance after instance where I've nailed it or been egregiously wrong about how a prospect is going to perform. I was pushing for Emeka Okafor over Dwight Howard in 2004. Wrong. That same year, I scoffed at Jay Bilas claiming Josh Smith was going to be the biggest bust of the Draft and, last I looked, Smith has exceeded most early expectations. Earlier in that Draft, when Dick Vitale pilloried the Sixers for drafting Andre Iguodala over -- wait for this one -- Luke Friggin' Jackson, I immediately started looking into Florida retirement homes with mental health facilities for Dickie V. But the next year, I was convinced that Rashad McCants was the second best player in the 2005 Class. Way off on that one. I was dead on, though, in touting Chris Paul as a future great.

You get my point, right? You may think you know, but you really don't. I'm through with claiming any prospect as a can't miss. Everyone is saying this year's class is substandard and I want to agree with that estimation. But how do we know? I see a lot of dudes (Jonny Flynn, Tyreke Evans, Ty Lawson, DeJuan Blair) that could end up killin' it in the league. Blake Griffin? He's supposed to be the new Carlos Boozer. But I'm not excited about anyone claimed to be "the new Carlos Boozer." The "next Tim Duncan" gets me amped. The "new Carlos Boozer"? Yawn. And Boozer can knock down an 18-footer with a good amount of regularity -- Blake Griffin can't. I'm not sold on the big man. Plus, personality-wise, he makes the most stoic athlete seem like Jimmy Fallon. But what do I know?

I think Brandon Jennings could end up being in the Chris Paul/Derrick Rose/Rajon Rondo/Deron Williams crew. Or he could be the next Sebastian Telfair. Why is everyone so high on James Harden? I see a smallish, non-explosive 2 guard. But I could be ignoring the next Brandon Roy.

Stephen Curry is the prospect that scares me the most. On Curry's DraftExpress.com page, there's a YouTube clip of him answering questions at the Draft combine, clearly showing that he's a well-adjusted, articulate, sharp young dude. He also lets on that he wants to be a Knick, given MSG's stage, D'Antoni's system and the Knicks' need for a "point guard that can shoot." Curry must have said "point guard" about 20 times during the four-minute clip. It's like his handlers told him, "Make sure you say 'point guard' as often as possible during this process, so we can dupe folks into thinking that's your natural position." Stephen Curry ain't no NBA point guard. I love his feel for the game, love his IQ, love his clutch-gene, but I see more Jason Terry than Steve Nash.

This could be trouble. For every Ben Gordon and Jason Terry, the league's history is littered with pint-size guards that couldn't hack it as a 2 guard and didn't have the requisite skill set to be a full time team-orchestrator at the point. Think about dudes like Shawn Respert and Juan Dixon and Melvin Booker and Eddie House and all the other tweeners that are relegated to spot duty or just shooed out of the league altogether.

People don't just "like" Curry. Much of the nation is "devoted" to him after he captivated us all when he put David(son) on his scrawny shoulders and slayed a bunch of Goliaths in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Basketball fans want him to succeed and NBA general managers are enthralled by some of the unique things he can do. His release is lightning quick (which always helps undersized guards get off their shots against bigger opponents; see Jeff Hornacek), his range is practically unlimited and he's a crafty driver. Those natural skills could help him as a 2 guard. Problem is, he's only 6-foot-3, so thin it looks like he's made of spaghetti and he's not explosive like, say, Terry or Gordon. He knew this going into his senior year of college so -- to improve his draft stock (and, admittedly, fill a team hole) -- he played full-time point guard. He did alright. NBA point guard, on the other hand, is wholly different than playing point guard in the ACC, let alone the Southern Conference. For Curry to succeed at the NBA's most challenging position, he's going to have to to rewire the way he thinks the game, reconfigure his basketball DNA. I'm suspicious.

Curry can be a Janero Pargo. No doubt about that. Drafting him in the Top 10, though, means you think he can be a top-flight point guard. I don't even know if I think Curry can be a D.J. Augustin point guard. Then again, I thought Deron Williams was gonna be nothing but a somewhat souped-up John Bagley. So ... time will tell. I'm sure of that.

source from : NBA.com

The Lessons Live On

2009-06-03T03:04:00.001-07:00

Rick Mahorn’s coach once told him he’d make a great coach someday, but the remark hardly registered. Not yet 30, Mahorn was in the prime of his NBA career. He had no interest in worrying about life after basketball. The coach didn’t bring it up again.

But that remark, Mahorn says, is when Chuck Daly “planted the seed” for the career in basketball he enjoys today.

On Wednesday, Mahorn, at 50 a former CBA head coach entering his fifth season on the Detroit Shock coaching staff, will put training camp preparation aside and fly to Florida to pay his final respects to Daly, who passed away Saturday from pancreatic cancer at age 78.

In the days since his passing, Daly has been credited for nothing short of revolutionizing the NBA for his emphasis on physical defense, a strategy that between 1988-91 led the Detroit Pistons to four straight conference finals, three consecutive NBA Finals and back-to-back world championships.

The players who implemented that strategy to a notorious degree– Mahorn and Bill Laimbeer, now head coach of the Shock – are Daly’s most loyal coaching progeny. They demand the same hard-nosed defense, all the while exhibiting trust in their players, an approach that is anything but in their face. In following Daly’s guiding principles, Laimbeer and Mahorn have shook up the WNBA in much the same way their mentor did the NBA two decades prior – by winning. A lot.

Laimbeer on Daly

Advised by Daly "not to be fake," Laimbeer is a “straight shooter” with his players, said Katie Smith (icing her knee).
Garrett Ellwood (NBAE/Getty)

No member of the Bad Boys played for Daly more than Laimbeer, who was a second-year center when he was traded from Cleveland to Detroit during the 1981-82 season. The Cavs coach when the deal went down? Daly, winding down a forgettable 9-32 stretch in his first pro head coaching stint.

They were reunited when Daly took over the Pistons before the 1983-84 campaign. In nine seasons Daly spent 851 games on the Pistons bench. Laimbeer played in 848 of them. He remembers the future Hall of Famer and leader of the Dream Team as a work in progress at the beginning.

“He went from a person who was trying to find his way to somebody who was confident [that] he had the right formula,” said Laimbeer, who also will attend Wednesday’s services near Palm Beach, Fla.

In 2002, Laimbeer also was a first-time pro head coach thrown into a messy midseason situation. In 2003, he orchestrated a historic turnaround as the Shock won their first WNBA championship. Detroit upset two-time defending champion Los Angeles in a manner reminiscent of the Bad Boys’ ascendance to the 1989 NBA crown.

“I take a little bit of pride in the fact I think our ’03 team changed the way the WNBA was played,” Laimbeer said during the 2008 Finals. “It became more of a physical, up-tempo, highly competitive basketball game.”

This season offers Laimbeer a third opportunity to win back-to-back championships after title defenses in 2004 and 2007 fell short. Laimbeer has taken some cues about handling a defending champion from Daly, who led the Pistons right back to the title in 1990.

“As you get better and better you’re able to release the team a little bit more, you’re able to trust them more,” Laimbeer said. “You don’t work them as hard physically because they’re already so mentally attuned. So that’s kind of how we did it as a player (under Daly) and how I do it as a coach.”

You don’t have to take the coach’s word on that account. “He prepares well but he also likes to have a good time. You get in, you do your work and you go (home),” said Shock guard Katie Smith last fall. “As a professional it’s not about grinding you for a couple hours. It’s about working hard when you get in there.”

Mahorn on Daly

Even after Mahorn joined the coaching fraternity, Daly wanted to “talk about his grandkids and my kids growing up.”
Domenic Centofanti (NBAE/Getty)

Mahorn went straight into coaching after his playing career, taking over the CBA’s Rockford Lightning for the 1999-2000 season. The novice head coach followed the best example he knew.

“I let the players be accountable for themselves, and basically the players played the game. The only thing I could do is put them in position to be successful,” Mahorn said. “He [Daly] did a lot of that for us.”

Daly made his players and staff responsible for the game plan by opening it to review. If you thought you had a better strategy, anything could be brought to the table for discussion. But once a decision was made, you had better see it through. Mahorn said open dialogue is encouraged in the Shock locker room.

“Chuck never had an ego. If he did, I never knew about it,” he said. “He had some diligent assistant coaches with Brendan Suhr, Brendan Malone, Ronnie Rothstein and Dick Versace, so he wanted input from his coaches but he also wanted input from his players. He’ll ask the players, ‘How do you all feel about this?’ If we committed [to the plan] as players, then we had to do it.”

Mahorn, who switched teams five times (playing for Detroit twice) during his 18-year career, never again captured the kind of rapport he shared with Daly from 1985 to 1989.

“I was more confident and comfortable playing for Chuck Daly as my career progressed,” he said. “That’s when you look back and say, Chuck Daly was a major influence, not only as a coach but as a person.”

A Time To Reflect

Daly’s playoff winning percentage with the Pistons was .628. That’s also Laimbeer’s postseason success rate with the Shock (27-16).
Andrew D. Bernstein (NBAE/Getty)

The Bad Boys’ glory years have been reminisced a lot lately, 2009 being the 20th anniversary of the 1989 championship, the first in Pistons history. Last spring the franchise also celebrated its 50th season in Detroit, including a pregame ceremony honoring the All-Time Team that brought Daly and many Bad Boys together again under The Palace roof.

Then longtime Pistons and Shock owner William Davidson passed away in March, and the memories flooded back as the basketball world mourned its loss. This week, the nostalgia and tears flow anew. As the years pass, the Pistons’ accomplishments under Davidson and Daly seem to grow in stature. Both men were enshrined to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, first and foremost for their transformation of the Pistons.

“I said when we won the championships to anybody who’d listen that it would mean more in 10 years from now than it did then,” Laimbeer said. “Because while you’re doing it, yeah, it’s great, you’re elated, you’re excited about it, but there’s no time to reflect upon it because you’re still playing. There’s still more tasks to be done.”

Laimbeer and Mahorn will take time to reflect Wednesday, and then it’s back to work. WNBA training camps open Sunday, and the Shock are the defending champions. They need to indoctrinate the newcomers, finalize the roster and find a way to pull off that elusive back-to-back. The highly anticipated opener at Los Angeles is three weeks away. There is a lot of work ahead.

And heaven’s watching.

Source From : NBA.com

PHOENIX MERCURY

2009-06-03T02:54:00.000-07:00

Diana Taurasi, left, and Cappie Pondexter will look to get Phoenix back in the playoffs in 2009.
Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images

After winning their first title in 2007, the Phoenix Mercury had the unfortunate fate of becoming the first defending WNBA champion to miss the playoffs in 2008, finishing the season with a 16-18 record.

To be fair, the Mercury did not return the same squad that it had in 2007 when they finished the regular season with a 23-11 mark and defeated Detroit in the WNBA Finals.

Penny Taylor, a two-time All-Star forward who averaged 17.8 points in 2007, chose not to play in the WNBA in 2008 in order to concentrate on training for the Olympics with the Australian National Team. Meanwhile, Paul Westhead, the team’s head coach, left the Mercury to take an assistant coaching job with the Seattle Sonics/Oklahoma City Thunder.

Taking over the head coaching duties was Corey Gaines, an assistant under Westhead for two seasons and a proponent of the same run-and-gun style the Mercury used during their championship run. However, he was unable to find the same success in his first year at the helm.

While the Mercury still had superstars Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter – who finished the season as the top two scorers in the league – they did not have that important third wheel that teams need in this league to achieve elite status. Tangela Smith, who played an important role in pushing the Mercury over the top in 2007, was limited by a knee injury last season that eventually required surgery and forced her to miss the final seven games of the season.

The status of Taylor, the third member of the Phoenix Big Three in 2007, remains unclear for the 2009 season. She just finished playing alongside Pondexter with UMMC Ekaterinburg and helped lead the team past Taurasi’s Spartak Moscow for the Russian Superleague title. However, it is reported that her right ankle requires surgery and that she would have the procedure done once the Russian season ended.

If Taylor is able to return to Phoenix at some point this season, she would give the team a tremendous boost. As Taurasi recently said, "Penny makes us an elite team. If there is a possibility of her coming back, the doors will be open and we'll be ready to rock."

With Taylor being such a big question mark, the Mercury aggressively pursued another elite Australian power forward – unrestricted free agent and two-time WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson. Jackson narrowed her choice to Phoenix or Seattle during the winter, but ultimately chose to return to the Storm, the only team she has played for during her eight-year career.

While the Mercury were not able to land a superstar in free agency, they did make a number of moves that should keep them in playoff contention in the competitive Western Conference.

Phoenix brought in power forward Nicole Ohlde in a trade with Minnesota that saw Kelly Miller and LaToya Pringle join the Lynx. The Mercury also acquired point guard Temeka Johnson from Los Angeles in exchange for their first-round draft pick in 2010. In the draft, the Mercury selected Auburn G/F DeWanna Bonner, whose height, athleticism and skill set should make her a great fit in the Mercury’s up-tempo system.

On the downside, the first week of training camp has been tough on the Mercury. Ohlde arrived to camp with a fracture in her left foot that will require her to miss 3-5 weeks and Murriel Page, who signed with the team on Monday, tore her left Achilles’ tendon on the same day and required season-ending surgery, which was performed on Tuesday.

With Ohlde out, incumbent Le'Coe Willingham will likely retain her starting spot in the post and join Johnson, Pondexter, Taurasi and Smith on the first unit. Gaines will bring Bonner – who can play any position on the floor other than the point – off of the bench, along with sharpshooter Kelly Mazzante and 6-7 center Alison Bales.

With Taurasi and Pondexter, Phoenix has two players that can get hot and carry the team to a win on any given night. Can they do it on enough nights to lift the Mercury back into the playoffs in 2009? Or will the additions of Johnson, Ohlde and Bonner provide enough help to take some of the load off of the dynamic duo?

The Mercury have a new floor general with the acquisition of Temeka Johnson from the Los Angeles Sparks. The 5-foot-3 speedster appears to be a perfect fit for Phoenix’s up-tempo system.

After winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2005 as a member of the Washington Mystics, Johnson was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks prior to the 2006 season. In three years with the Sparks, Johnson’s numbers steadily dipped as she was hampered by injuries in each of the past two years.

Now healthy, Johnson spent the offseason in Israel and performed admirably, averaging 16.0 points and 6.4 assists while leading her team (Bnot Raanana Hasharon) to the semifinals of the Israeli league playoffs.

A key to the Mercury’s success in 2009 will be how fast Johnson is able to learn Phoenix’s system and get comfortable with her teammates. Johnson will be surrounded with plenty of talented scorers, and it will be her job to get each of them their touches in the best position for them succeed.

Source From : WNBA.com

Second day of combine proves more valuable to teams, players

2009-06-03T02:50:00.000-07:00

The NBA Combine came and went, and teams undoubtedly learned more from the information they were able to compile off the court than they did on it.

This week represented an excellent opportunity for general managers and executives to sit down with front-office members from across the NBA and learn how they may able to help each other out on the trade front, as well as gossip about what may be going on with other teams. Plenty of teams also took advantage of the time spent with their own staff to conduct numerous meetings and really get down to the nitty-gritty of how each talent evaluator feels about the players that may be on the board where they are drafting.

Getting accurate medical info, measurements and athletic testing results on most of the draft prospects also gives teams a good starting point to build off of as they sit down in their war rooms and begin the long process of ranking and eliminating players off their draft board.

While the first day of the combine allowed us to see the prospects stacked up against each other from a positional stand point, the second day saw them integrated into groups and asked to show more in terms of their ability to operate within a group setting.

We saw three-on-zero and four-on-zero transition drills, three-on-zero pick-and-roll sets, and a great deal of work in the half-court. The trainers put in simple offensive plays, basic ball-screen action, pass-cut-replace, cross-screens, pick-the-picker and so forth allowing us to see which players can take instructions and internalize new things on the fly.

This was somewhat of a showcase for the point guards to show their leadership skills, basketball IQ and basic passing skills. The big men were able to finally play where they are often most comfortable (the post) and remind us of their athleticism along the way.

As is often the case when you put every NBA general manager, head coach, director of player personnel and scout together in a small gym, the conversations in the bleachers are often far more interesting than on-court action.

Many grizzled, veteran scouts -- fresh off a long year of being on the road for weeks at a time seeing every prospect in this draft dozens of times -- expressed their concerns about this pre-draft camp influencing their front office more than it should.

"The general managers and coaches see certain things here that might not match up with everything we saw during the college season," one regional scout grumbled. "But these are just drills. This doesn't tell us anything about how these guys will perform once the lights come on."

Almost on cue, Ohio State freshman 7-footer B.J. Mullens soars from a foot inside the free throw line to tomahawk jam home an uncontested offensive rebound. An NBA head coach sitting nearby shakes his head in disbelief and scribbles notes down furiously, clearly astonished by the amazing display of athleticism.

The regional scout rolls his eyes, clearly annoyed. "Where was that during the season?"

Regardless, there are players here helping themselves just by being out on the court. Syracuse's Jonny Flynn is like a sponge, absorbing coaches' instructions and then showing his teammates exactly where they need to be on the floor. His swagger is unmistakable.

North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough is clearly a man on a mission. Every time he touches the ball, the entire gym knows, as he takes out all of his frustrations on the rim. He's in great shape, jumping better than many of his counterparts, and also measuring out taller than most people expect him to. He has almost identical figures to that of Blake Griffin. Executives in the gym are starting to warm up to him more and more.

Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair has about as much buzz as any player in the draft right now, and he obviously is enjoying showing off his new chiseled physique. "I lost 38 pounds," he tells us afterwards with a huge grin on his face. He's relishing the chance to make his presence felt in this setting, no longer asked to lead fast breaks or shoot NBA 3-pointers like he was in the first day.

"I felt much more comfortable out there today," he explains. "I wanted to dunk the ball hard. Give them something to remember me by."

Blair particularly shines in the interviews with teams and the media day sessions, showing off his gregarious personality that some go as far as to compare to Shaquille O'Neal. "That's just me," Blair tells us with a smile. "I love being around people."

In addition to the on-court drills, the players also conduct a series of NFL combine-style tests, intended to measure their strength, on-court floor speed, lateral quickness and leaping. The results should be released in the next few days, although it's debatable how much stock NBA teams actually put into them.

Players will be on the road constantly from this point on, conducting a slew of individual workouts in teams' facilities. Three group workouts, in Golden State on June 1-3, New Jersey June 12-14, and Minnesota June 2-3, will help shape the landscape many of participating prospects. They are open to all NBA teams, and will feature far more of the competitive action that was missing here in Chicago.

Stay tuned for our next entry later this week, coming from Treviso, Italy, where we'll be joining representatives of all 30 NBA teams at the Reebok Eurocamp, starting on Thursday.

Source From : NBA.com

MINNNESOTA LYNX

2009-06-03T02:44:00.000-07:00

Anosike and Miller will be playing side-by-side in 2009.
David Sherman/NBAE/Getty Images

The bottom of the Western Conference is familiar territory for the Minnesota Lynx; it’s where they’ve finished the past three seasons. But, thanks to a core of returning players and a strong draft, the Lynx look ready to move out of the basement and into contention.

With the way Minnesota came out of the gate in 2008, you would have thought they’d be the ones facing off against Detroit in the WNBA Finals. Five consecutive wins, including a strong performance over the Shock on opening night, left many fans in the North Star State energized that this could be their year. Then, things shifted south, and Minnesota was unable to muster anything more than a two-game win streak, ending the year at 16-18.

Twenty-plus wins is possible this season, due in part to the return of two-time All-Star Seimone Augustus and center Nicky Anosike. Augustus, the team’s leading scorer (19.1 ppg), has MVP potential should the Lynx improve their record. Anosike (9.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg), meanwhile, led the team in several offensive and defensive categories during her freshman campaign.

They could be joined in the starting lineup by guard Candice Wiggins, who took home Sixth Woman of the Year honors last season. Wiggins, Kelly Miller, Anna DeForge and first-round draft pick Renee Montgomery (4th overall) provide the Lynx one of the deepest guard rotations in the league.

Minnesota ranked among the top teams in scoring and accuracy in ‘08. It was their defense that took them out of games and left head coach Don Zierden scratching his head. So, the third-year coach swung a pair of deals to bring in some new forwards. First, sending center Vanessa Hayden-Johnson in a sign-and-trade swap to the Los Angeles Sparks for Christi Thomas. Then, Zierden shipped center Nicole Ohlde to the Phoenix Mercury for LaToya Pringle and Miller, a Minnesota native who brings championship experience to the club. Thomas and Pringle will be matched with Charde Houston, who last season served as Zierden’s top forward choice off the bench.

The Lynx were also busy in this year’s draft after dealing last season’s assist leader, Lindsey Harding, to the Washington Mystics for first and second round selections. That left them with four picks, including three in the top 15, which Minnesota used on Montgomery (University of Connecticut), center Quanitra Hollingsworth (Virginia Commonwealth), forward Rashanda McCants (North Carolina) and guard Emily Fox (Minnesota).

It’s this youth that gives Minnesota promise for the future, and these women are poised to make waves in the West. The talent is there, at least on paper. Now, it’s up to Zierden to translate that talent into wins.

The Staten Island, N.Y. native has all the tools to become one of the top centers in the WNBA. Now, in her sophomore season, Anosike has a feel for the league and her competition, which could render into some much improved numbers in 2009.

Anosike led the Lynx per game in steals (2.21), blocks (1.26), rebounds (6.80) and finished third in points (9.2). The former Tennessee Volunteer was also just one of three players – Ohlde and DeForge being the others – to start every game last season.

The 23-year-old’s defense is also key to keeping Minnesota in each game. A strong inside presence will mean more opponents shooting from outside the paint and even beyond the arc, a spot on the floor the Lynx were among the best teams in defending.

Finishing in last place is unfamiliar territory for Anosike, who won back-to-back titles with the University of Tennessee the two years before the start of her WNBA career. During that tenure, her star was in the shadow of Candace Parker. Now, it’s Anosike’s time to become one of the faces of a franchise.

Source From : WNBA.com

Former player Tisdale dies at age 44 after bout with cancer

2009-05-17T07:16:00.000-07:00

(AP) -- Wherever Wayman Tisdale went, whatever he was doing, chances were he was smiling.

Tisdale was a three-time All-American at Oklahoma in the mid-1980s before playing a dozen years in the NBA and later becoming an accomplished jazz musician.

But those who knew Tisdale, who died Friday at a hospital in his hometown of Tulsa, Okla., recalled not only his professional gifts but a perpetually sunny outlook, even in the face of a two-year battle with cancer that took his life at 44.

Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images

"I don't know of any athlete at Oklahoma or any place else who was more loved by the fans who knew him than Wayman Tisdale," said Billy Tubbs, who coached Tisdale with the Sooners. "He was obviously, a great, great player, but Wayman as a person overshadowed that. He just lit up a room and was so positive."

Jeff Capel, the current Oklahoma coach, noted Tisdale's "incredible gift of making the people who came in contact with him feel incredibly special."

After three years at Oklahoma, Tisdale played in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. The 6-foot-9 forward, with a soft left-handed touch on the court, averaged 15.3 points for his career. He was on the U.S. team that won the gold medal in the 1984 Olympics.

Gov. Brad Henry attended Oklahoma at the same time Tisdale did and later appointed him to the state's Tourism Commission.

"Oklahoma has lost one of its most beloved sons," Henry said. "Wayman Tisdale was a hero both on and off the basketball court. ... Even in the most challenging of times, he had a smile for people, and he had the rare ability to make everyone around him smile. He was one of the most inspirational people I have ever known."

State senators paused and prayed Friday morning after learning of his death.

Tisdale learned he had a cancerous cyst below his right knee after breaking his leg in a fall at his home in Los Angeles on Feb. 8, 2007. He said then he was fortunate to have discovered the cancer early.

"Nothing can change me," Tisdale told The Associated Press last June. "You go through things. You don't change because things come in your life. You get better because things come in your life."

His leg was amputated last August and a prosthetic leg that he wore was crimson, one of Oklahoma's colors. He attended an Oklahoma City Thunder game April 7 and later that month was honored at the Greenwood Cultural Center in Tulsa. During the ceremony, he spoke about his cancer, saying "In my mind, I've beaten it."

He recently told Tulsa television station KTUL he had acute esophagitis, which prevented him from eating for about five weeks and led to significant weight loss. Among the causes of that condition are infections, medications, radiation therapy and systemic disease.

Last month, Tisdale was chosen for induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

He was the first freshman to be a first-team All-American since freshmen were allowed to play again in the 1971-72 season. He was also one of 10 three-time All-Americans. Patrick Ewing and Tisdale were the last to accomplish the feat, from 1983-85.

"On the court, he was an offensive machine that could score with the best of them," said Dallas Mavericks president Donnie Nelson, an assistant on Tisdale's Suns teams. "Off the court, he was grounded in faith and family."

Tisdale played on an Olympic team that sailed to the gold medal in Los Angeles. The squad was coached by Bob Knight and featured the likes of Ewing, Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins and Chris Mullin.

"Wayman was kind of a catalyst for people accepting roles," said C.M. Newton, the manager of the '84 team and now chairman of the NIT selection committee. "Michael was the leader of the team but Wayman was special in that way."

Perkins and Tisdale shared a love of music and became friends during the Olympics. Perkins later was the best man at Tisdale's wedding.

"That's a real friend who's got your back and would do just about anything for you," Perkins said. "That smile just gets you."

As a musician, Tisdale recorded eight albums. A bass guitarist who often wrote his own material, his most recent album, "Rebound," was inspired by his fight with cancer and included guest appearances by several artists, including saxophonist Dave Koz and country star and fellow Oklahoma native Toby Keith.

His "Way Up!" release debuted in July 2006 and spent four weeks as the No. 1 contemporary jazz album. His hits included "Ain't No Stopping Us Now," "Can't Hide Love" and "Don't Take Your Love Away."

"He was truly an inspiration to me, paving the way for an athlete like myself to pursue a passion for writing and performing music," said Bernie Williams, the former New York Yankees star turned jazz musician. "I had the honor and privilege of having Wayman perform on the title track of my new album, and was looking forward to collaborating with him again."

Tisdale averaged 25.6 points and 10.1 rebounds during his three seasons with the Sooners, earning Big Eight Conference player of the year each season.

He still holds Oklahoma's career records for points and rebounds. Tisdale also owns the school's single-game scoring mark -- 61 points against Texas-San Antonio as a sophomore -- and career marks for points per game, field goals and free throws made and attempts.

In 1997, Tisdale became the first Oklahoma player in any sport to have his jersey number retired. Two years ago, then-freshman Blake Griffin asked Tisdale for permission to wear No. 23, which Tisdale granted. Griffin went on to become the consensus national player of the year this past season as a sophomore.

"I spoke with him pretty frequently this past season and he helped me in ways he probably doesn't even know," Griffin said.

Tisdale is survived by his wife, Regina, and four children.

Source From : NBA.com

Jackson: 'I Couldn't Bear to Leave' Storm Star Explains Decision in Exclusive Interview

2009-05-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

Even over the phone from nearly 8,000 miles away, the emotion in Lauren Jackson's voice was palpable as she described her decision to re-sign with the Seattle Storm on Monday. Having spent the last several months considering her options before reaching a final verdict after sitting down with her family back at home in Albury, Australia, Jackson came to realize that she simply could not leave Seattle.

"I love the Storm - I love playing there," Jackson said late Monday night in her only interview between signing her new contract and leaving for a vacation with her parents. "For different reasons, the opportunity came up to play somewhere else. It came down basically to me loving it in Seattle. I've said for a long time it's my home there in America. I couldn't bear to leave. I just wanted to come home and make the decision and be with my parents and my friends here and do it that way. It was easier for me."

Jackson also referred to potentially leaving the Storm as probably "The biggest mistake that I'd ever made," and reiterated what a special place Seattle has become for her.

"It came down basically to me loving it in Seattle. I've said for a long time it's my home there in America. I couldn't bear to leave."
Aaron Last/Storm Photos

"I'm really fortunate and I'm glad that I had this time to think about it and really put what I love about Seattle in perspective and how I would feel if I left," she said. "I think that I would have lost a huge part of me if I had gone from Seattle, so I'm just glad that I got this opportunity to have this time and realize how important it is."

Timing played a factor in Jackson's thought process. Entering the Storm's 10th Anniversary season, she thought back on the start of her own career, and her development as a player and a person that has in many ways been intertwined with the Storm's growth as a franchise.

"There's definitely a lot of nostalgia when I think about it, like when I first came over to Seattle and I was so scared and I just didn't know what to expect being away from home," Jackson recalled. "Looking back on it, I don't know how I've lasted this long overseas, but I guess that's just a part of growing up and loving what you do. Seattle definitely has been my home, and the 10th season coming up obviously was something that made me want to be there even more, because I feel like I've been part of that program and helped it grow for a long time."

If Jackson ever wavered in that thought, the Storm was there with timely reminders. "They pulled all the right strings," Jackson said in describing the Storm's recruiting efforts, from a video that was shot at the Kangaroo and Kiwi Aussie pub that helps her feel at home in Seattle to a video retrospective of her Storm career and culminating in the e-mails from Storm Season Ticket Holders that Head Coach Brian Agler brought with him when he visited with Jackson in Spain during the Euroleague Final Four.

"I was reading them the night before we played our final game in the Final Four," she said. "I was showing Diana (Taurasi) and Sue (Bird). It made me upset because I really care about being there so much and I never thought that people felt that way back.

"Getting those e-mails, I really had no idea how passionate people were about the Storm and me coming back. When I saw that, I think that was pretty much the clincher right there. It's hard to make a decision like that based on personal feelings, but when you've got the fans out there and people that really want you back and you can put things into perspective, it definitely changes things for you."

Specifically, Jackson was struck by the loyalty of Storm fans, and those who wrote that no matter her ultimate decision, they wanted her to be happy. She was also touched by the understanding shown by the Storm organization.

"Everyone's just been so supportive, which I couldn't believe really initially," said Jackson. "Just to be a part of that, it is like a family, you know? I think that's probably what made the most difference to me is all the support and understanding I had from everybody. It was great."

Jackson's relationship with Agler was also a factor. He made staying in contact with Jackson throughout the offseason a priority, visiting her in Europe on three different occasions. Agler had already won Jackson's loyalty with his support when she had to undergo ankle surgery following the Olympics. Agler stood up for his star in the face of misguided criticism that Jackson should have played through the debilitating injury.

"He was great," she said. "I had a huge amount of trust and respect for him then. I don't think a lot of people understood what was happening, but he was so supportive. I think since then I've been pretty much on his side. Then, of course he's a great coach and everything like that. He's definitely someone I would like to play under for a long time."

Her decision made and official, Jackson's thoughts have turned to excitement about the upcoming season. She feels healthy in the wake of the surgery she underwent last August, noting that the fact that she played fewer minutes for Spartak this season has left her feeling fresh and ready to go. Now, Jackson wants to continue to develop her game, and believes the Storm is the ideal situation to do that.

"I don't feel like I've played my best basketball since before the Olympics," she explained. "I'd love to get back there and get back to my peak performance and get back to myself. I'm really looking forward to that. It's great because I've got the right people around me and people who I know can help me get better and make me get better."

Jackson watched with great interest as Agler built the Storm's roster this offseason, strengthening the frontcourt by getting Jackson's best friend Suzy Batkovic to return to the WNBA - "I'm so stoked" to play with her, said Jackson - and bringing back center Janell Burse after a one-year absence. With Shannon Johnson adding a veteran presence to the Storm's backcourt, Jackson feels strongly that good things are ahead for the team.

"I think it's going to be a great year for us," she said. "Special things can happen this year. We have all the right pieces. I think we're going to have a strong, more confident lineup in terms of how good are bigs are. Having Sue and Shannon Johnson, it's going to be amazing. I think we've got a lot to look forward to this year. I can't wait to be a part of it."

One telling answer came when Jackson was asked what she is most looking forward to from the upcoming season. "Everything, I guess," she answered.

"I'm really looking forward to it," Jackson added. "Yeah, I can't wait. It's going to be a lot of fun. It's going to be an exciting season for sure, and I'm happy that I'm going to be in Seattle. I'm really glad. "

Source From : WNBA.com

Sky Sign Chinese National Team Center Chen Nan Through 2010 Season

2009-05-17T07:07:00.000-07:00

CHICAGO, April 28, 2009 – Chicago Sky Head Coach and General Manager Steven Key announced today that the team has signed 2009 Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) Most Valuable Player, Chen Nan, through the 2010 season. Per team policy, terms of the contracts have not been released. Chen, a 6’5” center, will add even more height to an already big Sky lineup that includes 6’6” center Sylvia Fowles and 6’2” forward Candice Dupree.

Twenty-six-year-old Chen, began playing for the Chinese National Team at age 16, and became a WCBA rookie at age 18. Chen currently plays for team BaYi Stationery of the WCBA, and was named 2009 WCBA MVP averaging 23.1 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game. Chen a four-time WCBA Champion was named 2003 All-WCBA Center of the Year.

Chen has represented the Chinese Women’s National Basketball team for 10 years, appearing in the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, 2006 World Championship in Brazil, and most recently in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing where she averaged 14.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. The dynamic and versatile play of Chen Nan helped lead the Women’s Chinese National team to its best Olympic finish-ever, placing fourth overall.

“It was my dream to play in the WNBA and now as a member of the Chicago Sky my dream has come true,” said center Chen Nan. “The WNBA is the top league for women’s basketball, and hosts the best players in the world. I know it will be a challenge, but I am glad to be playing for the Sky. I am committed to assisting the Sky in any way possible to become a championship team. I’m excited to be on the same team as Sylvia , during the 2008 Beijing Olympics I learned she is an extremely aggressive and dominant player in the paint, I am a lucky dog playing aside her. The Sky to me has been something that I’ve liked since I was young, to me it represents having no limits – the Sky has no limits! ”

“The addition of Nan is a bold and exciting move,” said Head Coach and General Manager Steven Key. “Nan has incredible experience in playing for both the Chinese National Team and in the WBCA, she is prepared, skilled, and ready to compete with the best in the world, which is why we are excited to have her as a member of the Sky. At 6’5” her addition will add to the overall height and size of our front court, which we need to challenge the best in the WNBA. Her ability to shoot from the outside as well as drive to the basket is exceptional for a player of her size. There’s no doubt that Nan dramatically adds to our athleticism and versatility which we must have to build a championship team.”

Nan is the second international player for the Sky, and will arrive in Chicago in early May in time to report to Sky training camp, which begins on May 17, with media day on May 18. The Sky season opens on June 6 at Minnesota. The Sky’s home opener is on June 12 against the Atlanta Dream at 7:30pm at the UIC Pavilion.

Source From : WNBA.com

FEVER SIGNS THREE-TIME WNBA ALL-STAR TAMECKA DIXON

2009-05-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

Three-time WNBA All-Star and one of the league's all-time leading scorers, Tamecka Dixon has signed a free agent contract with the Indiana Fever. Dixon, who has played in the WNBA since its inception in 1997, is 21st on the league's career scoring list with 3,368 points. She has played the last three seasons with the Houston Comets. Per team policy, terms of the contract are not disclosed.

Dixon spent her first nine years in the WNBA with the Los Angeles Sparks, winning championships with that team in 2001 and 2002. She was on the Western Conference All-Star team in 2001, 2002 and 2003. She was selected to start for the West in 2003, replacing the injured Cynthia Cooper. Dixon is among the WNBA's career top 10 in assists (eighth) with 924 and is 20th in league history in steals with 342.

The Indiana Fever celebrates its 10th anniversary season in 2009, opening the summer season at Atlanta on Saturday, June 6 (7:00 p.m.), and hosting the Minnesota Lynx on June 7 (7:00 p.m.) – exactly 10 years after the franchise was founded (June 7, 1999). Led by Griffith, two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time WNBA All-Star Tamika Catchings, Olympic silver medalist Tully Bevilaqua, 2008 WNBA Most Improved Player Ebony Hoffman and two-time WNBA All-Stars Katie Douglas and Tammy Sutton-Brown, the Fever bids for its fifth consecutive playoff appearance in 2009. Season tickets are available at FeverBasketball.com, or by calling (317) 917-2500.

Source From : WNBA.com

More Farmar on Sunday?

2009-05-17T07:03:00.000-07:00

Farmar has outperformed Fisher in the series.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Derek Fisher was able to pull a full 82-game season out of his 34-year-old body this year, but the Playoffs have made the Lakers co-captain age like Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin in the seance scene in Beetlejuice.

After averaging 9.9 points on 42.4 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from three to go with 2.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in the regular season, Fisher's production dipped to 9.4 points on 43.8 and 31.3 with 2.0 boards and 3.0 dimes against Utah and then flopped to 5.2 points on 29.4 percent from the field, seven percent from three with 1.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

In the mean time, Houston's starting point guard, 24-year-old Aaron Brooks, is averaging 18.8 points on 48.1 percent shooting and 37.5 percent from deep to go with 2.3 boards and 2.5 assists.

Before Fisher served a suspension for Game 3 for leveling Luis Scola in Game 2, we wondered if the Lakers were better off without Fisher.

Now, two days before Sunday's win-or-go-home Game 7, it appears Phil Jackson might be wondering that too.

"We really liked some of our matchups that we’ve had out there," Jackson said, referring to Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown. "They’re working well with us.

"Fish has had a little bit of a problem with Brooks, but we like his direction out there to start a game. He didn’t have a feel for it in this last game, he didn’t shoot the ball the way we wanted it or he can shoot the ball. Jordan got us going, we liked the other matchups we had on their other guards."

Then came the kicker that Jackson snuck in before jumping to the next question and left reporters wondering if they really just heard him say it:

"We’re going to have to play guys on Sunday that earn the minutes rather than just our regular rotation, so there may be a change."

Ever since starting in Fisher's absence in Game 3, Farmar is averaging 11 points, 3.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field.

Source From : NBA.com

Sam Smith: Rooting for Kobe vs. LeBron in the FInals

2009-05-17T06:59:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't want to see LeBron and Kobe square off in the NBA FInals?
(Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty Images)

I confess I've been rooting for a Lakers/Kobe-Cavs/LeBron Finals for one of these rare times in NBA history when you truly get the two best in the game going at one another in the Finals.

It was the one thing missing from Michael Jordan's resume, though no fault of his. There was no true star for him to conquer then. Magic Johnson in 1991 was past his prime. We didn't know how far with his HIV diagnosis four months away. Clyde Drexler? Hardly, yet Jordan tried to make it something with the threes in the opener. Barkley? Nah. Karl Malone?

Magic had Bird, which was probably the greatest rivalry in the mid-80s. And Russell had Wilt in the 60s. Wilt was headed out when Kareem came and Walton wasn't there long enough.

There's no dispute now. Kobe and LeBron are one/two in some order, best in the East and best in the West. LeBron's going to get there. But I don't know about Kobe and the Lakers.

And not just because it's 2-2 now between the Lakers and Rockets.

It's the way the Lakers have played, and been beaten by the Rockets. I can see the Nuggets taking out the Lakers as long as George Karl doesn't freeze up, which he's done in big playoff series before. The Nuggets have physical play up front in Kenyon Martin and Nene, that Birdman guy off the bench, Carmelo Anthony to offset Bryant's scoring on some level, and Chauncey Billups, who dominates any Lakers' point guard combo.

It's also where the Rockets without Yao Ming Sunday embarrassed the Lakers. Phil Jackson has done a terrific job realizing he doesn't have a defensive team, particularly with penetration from the perimeter, and taking the offensive way out and succeeding. But the Rockets exploited that with small guards Aaron Brooks and reserve Kyle Lowery, often playing both. Derek Fisher has been a liability defensively (the Lakers best game was with him suspended) and the Lakers bench isn't much help. Pau Gasol has come up marshmallow again against smaller tough guys like Chuck Hayes and Carl Landry and Andrew Bynum, the so called missing piece for the dynasty, has been benched and so out of it even he admits he's having mental issues. And it seems the Lakers have become somewhat distracted trying to erase the reputation they are a soft, Western Conference finesse team.

"I think last year they got punked by the Celtics and they don't want that to happen again," said the Rockets' Ron Artest. "That was the word on the street, that they got punked by the Celtics, so this year they came out tough. I kind of respect them elbows."

Bryant was brilliant in winning Game 3 with big shot after big shot, and if the Lakers are to win the series he'll have to do it twice more. The Lakers seem even more a one man team now than do the Cavs.

Source From : NBA.com

Lakers 80, Rockets 95: Postgame 6

2009-05-17T06:55:00.000-07:00

At halftime of Game 4’s 99-87 loss in Houston, the Lakers trailed by 18 points after a horribly flat 24-minute performance.

At halftime of Game 6, the Lakers trailed by 16 points after a half that really wasn’t that bad despite a 21-3 start for Houston. In fact, it wasn’t a lack of energy that was killing the Lakers, but instead, an inability to stick a jumper. Particularly in the first, the Lakers just couldn’t buy a bucket, going 6-for-20 (30 percent) while Houston made twice that many shots (12-of-21).

Generally, those kind of numbers begin to even out in a basketball game, and sure enough, the Lakers stormed out of the halftime gates on a 16-2 run to cut the lead down to just two and seemingly change the tenor of the game, spurred by Andrew Bynum’s interior defense and Trevor Ariza’s activity on the perimeter.

But if L.A.’d learned anything about the Rockets, it’s that they won’t give up, and true to form, Houston pushed its lead back up to nine heading into the final quarter.

With a raucous Toyota Center living and dying with each possession, Houston got seven points in the first eight minutes of the period from Carl Landry to keep the Lakers at bay until 4:20 remained on the clock, holding onto a 84-75 lead that they’d protect all the way to a Game-7 forcing victory.

Luis Scola was fantastic for Houston in the first three quarters, scoring 24 points with 11 boards to pace the home team, while Aaron Brooks again served as a barometer for Houston in scoring 26 points, including two big jumpers in the lane late in the fourth.

For the Lakers, Kobe Bryant went for 32 points on 27 shots, while Pau Gasol managed just 14 points on 15 shots as both players grew increasingly frustrated by the physical play in the lane that was allowed throughout the contest.

Lamar Odom contributed 14 rebounds in 28 painful minutes, while Bynum failed to score (0-for-3) but did grab seven boards in 19 minutes, none of which came in the fourth quarter despite his effective third period.

Derek Fisher struggled once again for the purple and gold, connecting on only 1-of-7 attempts from the field (0-of-5 from three) in 21 minutes, while Jordan Farmar was a bright spot with 13 points in the same number of minutes.

The good news for the Lakers was that Game 7 would take place in STAPLES Center, where they’d beaten Houston by 40 just two nights earlier.

Until then, some numbers:

0
Times the Lakers led.

1
Point for the Lakers with 6:35 left in the first quarter. Houston had 17.

15
Offensive rebounds for the Lakers, which inexplicably led to only 12 second chance points. This stat exhibits L.A.’s poor shooting night as well as how physical the refs allowed the game to get in the paint, as many second shots came with a body.

18
Missed threes by the Lakers, who hit 5-of-23 (21.7 percent).

35.7
L.A.’s shooting percentage for the game, as the Lakers struggled to hit both open and contested looks throughout the contest.

Source From : NBA.com

Rockets Force Game 7 With Stirring Win

2009-05-17T06:51:00.000-07:00

Luis Scola got the Rockets off and running with a red-hot

start before finishing with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Houston - There are two ways to view the incredible, amazing, too good to be true story that is the Houston Rockets right now.

Either:

1.) They have more lives than a cat, are harder to kill than a cockroach and stem from the same family tree as Lazarus.

Or...

2.) Maybe, just maybe, everyone needs to put aside the tombstones, stop penning eulogies and open their eyes to the fact that, yes, this team is in fact very good and never should have been written off in the first place.

Then again…

On second thought, forget it. Go ahead and proceed with the funeral talk, columnists. Keep chanting, ‘Beat LA!’, Denver fans. Do everything possible to bury, ignore and utterly disregard the Rockets. They don’t mind. Really, they don’t. For they have no witty retort; no clever comeback at the ready. In fact, they have only one response to those with shovel in hand. As it turns out, it’s the only response that matters.

They simply keep winning.

It should come as absolutely no surprise then that the Rockets reprised their resurrection routine once more Thursday night before a capacity crowd of raucous, euphoric witnesses at Toyota Center. Written off and left for dead by seemingly everyone, Houston went wire-to-wire in a convincing 95-80 Game 6 win over the Lakers, forcing the series back to Los Angeles for a decisive seventh game. It was the sort of virtuoso performance which perhaps came as a shock to many around the country, though not to those who had seen the way this club has responded to adversity all season.

“For the last two days all I've heard is that we weren't going back to L.A.,” said Rockets’ head coach Rick Adelman. “Guys in our locker room didn't believe that.

“This team, the way they listened and the way they went about the game plan and the way they executed it was really fun to see because they’ve grown during these last 30 games of the season and the playoffs. They just keep growing. This team has so much heart and they don’t care what people say. Yao went down and we haven’t blinked an eye. We’re just playing to see how far we can take it and you’ve got to give them credit.”

First among those deserving to take a bow Thursday night was Luis Scola, whose scorching start propelled the Rockets to a 17-1 lead right out of the gate. The second-year forward from Argentina finished with terrific numbers - 24 points and 12 rebounds – but just as important were the energy and confidence he instilled in his teammates with the passion, hustle and desire he displayed right from the opening tip.

“Luis has played a lot of big games in his career,” said Shane Battier. “More than most people know. He set the tone tonight and he was awesome.”

source from : NBA.COM

As ping pong balls bounce, fates of 14 teams hang in balance

2009-05-17T06:39:00.000-07:00

Tuesday at 8 p.m. (ESPN), the annual NBA Draft lottery will be conducted in Secaucus, N.J. All 14 teams will send a representative -- some their General Manager (Larry Riley, John Hammond), others their coach (Alvin Gentry, Scott Brooks), others a star player (Kevin Love) -- to watch the excruciatingly painful process of seeing their team's future being decided by a bunch of ping pong balls.

In a Draft such as this, where there appears to be a huge dropoff between the second and third picks, there is that much more on the line.

Here's what will actually happen behind the scenes, from the official NBA press release:

"Fourteen ping-pong balls numbered 1 through 14 will be placed in a drum. There are 1,001 possible combinations when four balls are drawn out of 14, without regard to their order of selection. Prior to the Lottery, 1,000 combinations will be assigned to the 14 participating Lottery teams by a computer.

The Sacramento Kings finished the season with the NBA's worst record (17-65), so they will be assigned 250 combinations. The Phoenix Suns, the best team in the lottery at 46-36, will have five combinations out of 1,000.

Four balls will be drawn to the top to determine a four-digit combination. The team that has been assigned that combination will receive the number one pick. The four balls are placed back in the drum and the process is repeated to determine the number two and three picks. (Note: If the one unassigned combination is drawn, the balls are drawn to the top again.)

The order of selection for the teams that do not win one of the top three picks will be determined by inverse order of their regular season record. Thus, Sacramento can pick no lower than fourth, Washington (19-63) no lower than fifth and the L.A. Clippers (19-63) no lower than sixth.

The actual Lottery procedure will take place in a separate room prior to the national broadcast with NBA officials and representatives of the participating teams and the accounting firm of Ernst & Young in attendance.

Following the drawing, team logo cards will be inserted into envelopes marked 1 through 14 by an Ernst & Young representative. These envelopes then will be sealed and brought on-stage, where the announcement of the Lottery results will be made by NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver. A second representative from each participating team will be seated on-stage. Neither the Deputy Commissioner nor the team representatives will be informed of the Lottery results prior to the opening of the envelopes.

The team whose logo is in the last envelope opened will pick first in NBA Draft 2009, to be held on Thursday, June 25, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City."

Here's what's at stake for all 14 teams participating in the lottery, as well as their odds of coming away with the first, second or third pick.

source from : NBA.com

Top-seeded Lakers aim to make T-Mac's prediction come true

2009-05-03T09:52:00.000-07:00

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Not too long ago, a debate raged on whether Tracy McGrady or Kobe Bryant was the better player. Too bad that this season has made that thought seem like ancient history. Bryant backed up his MVP campaign by leading the Lakers on a 65-win regular-season romp. McGrady averaged just 15.6 points on 38.8 percent shooting in 35 games for the Rockets before a knee injury caused him to shut it down.

While Bryant averaged 27.4 points in dismissing the Jazz in the first round of the Playoffs, the only points McGrady has scored this postseason have been in the candor department. In a radio interview, he predicted the Lakers would win the championship. It's bad enough that for the first time in T-Mac's 12-year career his team made it to the second round with him in street clothes. It's even worse that he already publicly picked his team to lose.

Head-to-Head

Ron Artest's Game vs. Ron Artest's Mouth: The 6-foot-7, 260-pound forward averaged 15.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and a steal a game in the first round and scored 27 points in the clinching Game 6, but it was the comment he made after Game 5 that could have lasting impact on Houston's series with Los Angeles.

"[Brandon] Roy is the best player I've played against," Artest told TNT's Craig Sager. When Sager asked Artest to clarify his statement, reminding him that he has gone up against the likes of Bryant and LeBron James, Artest only reiterated his claim.

Earlier in the season, Artest's trash talking came back to bite him when he called Bryant "the worst player in the world" in their March 11 game in which Kobe scored 18 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Lakers to a road win over the Rockets. While McGrady's comment might have supported L.A., don't think for a minute that Bryant will let Artest's slight slide without using it for extra motivation.

Behind the Numbers

82.0 and 42.9 -- Portland's points per game and shooting percentage in Houston's four wins in the first round. The Rockets will have to ratchet up their defensive efforts to that level if they hope to have success in the second round. The Lakers averaged 103.0 points on 48.2 percent shooting in their four-game regular-season series sweep of Houston.

Five Big Questions

1. Will Yao dominate?

Yao finally got out of the first round for the first time in his seven-year career, but he did it by averaging just 15.8 points and 10.3 rebounds and came up particularly small for a 7-foot-6 guy in Games 2 and 3, totaling just 18 points on 5-for-13 shooting as Portland sandwiched him in the post.

Fortunately for the Rockets, their center's struggles were miniscule compared to the ugly effort the Lakers' Andrew Bynum had against Utah. Bynum averaged 17.3 points and 5.5 rebounds when he came back from a knee injury for the final four games of the regular season, but in the five games against the Jazz, those numbers dwindled to just 5.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.2 fouls (and an even more abysmal 2.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in just 8.7 minutes in Games 3-5).

Benched for the last two games of the first round, the 7-foot Bynum will return to the starting lineup and says he looks forward to it. "Now we got a big guy out there and I'm going to have to play," Bynum said.

2. Can L.A. protect its leads?

The Lakers won't just be playing the Rockets this series, they'll be playing themselves. After losing double-digit leads against Utah, L.A. must rectify the problem on its own.

"We have to give a better effort," Bryant said. "That second unit comes in there and we have to give a better effort defensively -- running back on defense, not giving up easy baskets, stuff like that. We have to continue and keep up with the hustle."

One thing L.A. has going for it if it does end up relinquishing leads is its closing ability against Houston. The Lakers outscored the Rockets by an average of 11.8 points in the fourth quarter in their four meetings this year.

3. How will the long layoff affect the Lakers?

By the time Game 1 tips off on Monday (10:30 p.m. ET, TNT), the Lakers will have had a full six days without a game, while the Rockets will have had just three. While the time off can be a boon for players trying to heal minor injuries (i.e. Luke Walton's ankle), it's also an invitation for rust to settle in. Theoretically, the last team to clinch a spot in a series -- in this case, Houston -- will be sharper because it doesn't lose the rhythm of playing quite as much. Then again, the Rockets don't get as much time to mend (i.e. Von Wafer's back). "[Our] legs will be renewed, so to speak, but you suffer one way or another in this situation," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.

4. Who can stop Aaron Brooks?

Much of the speculation before the Lakers-Jazz series centered on how L.A. planned to stop all-world point guard Deron Williams. The Lakers might face as perplexing of a problem in Houston's Brooks. The 6-foot-1, 161-pound Brooks averaged 15.3 points and 4.3 assists in the first round on 44.7 percent shooting, and 44.8 percent from three. Against Williams, the Lakers spelled 34-year-old Derek Fisher with the strong-bodied Shannon Brown. Don't be shocked if Jackson turns to Jordan Farmar against Brooks to match quickness with quickness, even if Farmar only averaged a point and four minutes in just two games against Utah.

5. What's the more important matchup -- Battier vs. Bryant or Gasol vs. Scola?

Michael Lewis might have made news earlier in the season when he wrote that Shane Battier is a "No-Stats All-Star" for his defense on premier players like Bryant, but the duo that could really sway the series are the "No-Razor All-Stars" in Pau Gasol of the Lakers and Luis Scola of the Rockets. Scola was Houston's leading scorer against Portland, averaging 16.2 points on 56.9 percent shooting to go with 6.7 rebounds per game. Gasol put up 18.4 and 9.0 rebounds on 58.6 percent shooting against Utah, but looked lost against Carlos Boozer at times on defense, never finding the balance between contesting Boozer's midrange shot while battling him down low. Scola plays the same inside-outside game and will have to consistently hit the 15-footer to keep L.A from packing the lane on Yao with Bynum and Gasol.

Prediction

Lakers in 5. If Los Angeles really can improve with every round like Jackson is challenging his team to do, then Houston shouldn't pose a real threat. Yao knows how hard it is to get out of the first round. It will be even harder for him to get out of the second.

Source From : NBA.com

Get To Know Kristi Toliver

2009-05-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

Sky fans, the 2009 Sky season is just around the corner and before you know it your favorite athletes will be back on the court!

Before that happens, we wanted to introduce you to our first round draft pick Kristi Toliver!

Kristi recently sat down for a one-on-one question and answer in the Sky office. Find out how she feels about becoming a member of the Sky, what went through her head when her name was called at the draft, her favorite memory from the University of Maryland and much more!

How does it feel to be a member of the Chicago Sky?

“It feels good. It’ll be better when I get to interact with all my teammates. I feel blessed to be here and to be in the position that I’m in.”

What was the first thing that went through your head when you heard your name called as the third overall pick in the WNBA Draft?

“A sigh of relief! All the anticipation of where I was going to go was driving me nuts, but when I knew I was going to the Sky I knew it would be a good fit for me.”

What is your biggest strength on the court?

“I think one of my biggest strengths is my vision, my ability to get my teammates the ball and to make them look better. That’s something I’ve always taken pride in; making my teammates look like all-stars. With the talent we have here at the Sky, it is going to be fun to get all of the players involved.”

What do you feel you need to improve upon most as you transition into the WNBA?

“My overall strength and having to get back into conditioning and weight training. The WNBA game is only going to be quicker and each player will be stronger than college so I have to get my body right again.”

Do you have a favorite memory from your time at Maryland?

“Winning the national championship my freshman year by far is the best memory I’ve had so far. Being on the biggest stage in women’s college basketball is something I’ll never forger. I hope to have a similar experience here at the Sky!”

What sky players are you most excited to get on the floor and play with?

“I’m excited to play with all my teammates. I’ve played against Armintie Price my sophomore year and also against Sylvia Fowles. I know all about Candice Dupree with her being at Temple. I’m excited to get on the floor with all of them.”

Did you ever imagine you’d be playing in the WNBA one day?

“Growing up I imagined playing in the NBA! To be playing in Chicago in a great sports city like this I’m really excited to be here. To be able to continue playing basketball was all I ever thought or dreamed of as a kid.”

Did you have a favorite player growing up?

“Michael Jordan was the man. I would watch him and Kevin Johnson in Phoenix.”

Who inspired you to play basketball?

“I’m not sure anyone really inspired me. I was just passionate about it at a really early age. By the age of two all I wanted to do was play basketball. I think watching guys like Michael, Magic, Larry, and Reggie Miller inspired me because I saw how much fun those guys were having. I knew I wanted to play as long as I could.”

What are your goals that you will set for yourself this year?

“I haven’t really sat down and thought about goals. I know I want this team to contend for a championship. I know it’s very possible to have a winning season and compete for a championship. Those should be the goals when you enter a season.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“I’m a movie buff, I love to watch movies. I like to go to concerts. I don’t exactly have a lot of free time which is why I stick to movies; you can watch them anywhere.”

What are you looking forward to about living in Chicago?

“Just going out with my teammates and getting to know the city and the people here. I know there’s a lot to do and a lot of good places to eat. This is my first time living on my own and coming from the DC area this will be a nice change for me. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Do you have any predictions for the 2009 season?

“I definitely see us making the playoffs. I see us having a winning record and I see us making it pretty far. We’ll see how it goes.”

Source From : WNBA.com

With a load of time off, Brown busy keeping his Cavs sharp

2009-05-03T09:44:00.000-07:00

The NBA season has a rhythm. You play three or four games every week and rarely have more than two days off in a row. But when you enter the postseason, that rhythm can be broken, especially if you win a series in four or five games

David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images

Such is the dilemma for Mike Brown and the Cavs, the only team to sweep its first round series. Having dispatched the Pistons on Sunday, the Cavs will go at least nine days before they begin the conference semifinals.

When that series begins depends on the result of Friday's Game 6 in Miami. If the Hawks win Friday, they'll be in Cleveland on Sunday for a 1 p.m. ET game on ABC. If the Heat force a Game 7, they would be back in Atlanta on Sunday and Game 1 of the conference semis would likely be Tuesday.

"If you expect to be good and expect to win, you have to deal with things like this," Brown says of the time off. "And this is a good thing to deal with."

After Sunday's win, Brown gave his team the day off on Monday. He's also giving them Thursday off. But in order to stay sharp, the team scrimmaged on Wednesday and will scrimmage again Friday.

"We have to figure out ways to keep them engaged and ways to stay sharp," Brown said. "And they have to do their part too by giving suggestions and so on and so forth, making sure that they stay focused and bring energy every time we step out on the floor."

While the extra time off provides more time to add sets or options to the playbook, Brown says that adding new wrinkles is standard no matter how many days the team has off.

"Just because there's time, we're not doing anything out of character or unusual," he said.

Brown has yet to talk about the Hawks or Heat with his team, but said he may introduce a couple of sets from each team on Friday. And no matter what happens in the next few days, the Cavs' coaching staff is prepared.

Advance scout Bryant Moore has been at every game in the Atlanta-Miami series and has been working with assistant coach Mike Malone in developing game plans for both teams. The coaching staff will watch Game 6 together and will tweak the game plans that Malone has authored.

The staff prepares "playoff books" and video edits for each of the players, as well as video edits for the team to watch together. And all of these are ready to go. Brown says his staff would be ready if the next series started right away.

The Hawks and Heat have some similar characteristics, but each poses distinct challenges.

If the Heat advance, the game plan starts with defending Dwyane Wade. "You've just got to hope that you can make him work for his shots," Brown said. "And if you can do that, you have to make sure that you respect everybody else and know who the different individuals are when it comes time to trying to close out."

It's the other side of the floor that concerns Brown with the Hawks. Atlanta has great length and athleticism and switches on almost every screen.

"Patience is going to be something I really preach to our guys," Brown said, "because [the Hawks] will switch a lot of pick-and-rolls, they'll switch a lot of pin-downs and because of all that switching, they're in front of the basketball quite a bit and they're hard to shoot over."

No matter the opponent, if his team approaches the next series like it did the series against the Pistons, Brown will be happy.

"When I look back at it, I thought we were very business-like with what we were trying to do," Brown said of the first-round sweep. "We did not get over-excited or over-confident at any time throughout the course of a game or the series.

"So our business-like approach to the series, to each game and to each particular possession was something I look back on and I'm very excited about, because this process is so long that you don't want to get too ahead of yourself, nor do you want to get too excited for winning a game or winning the series. It has to be held in the right perspective. I think our guys did do that."

Source From : NBA.com

Raymond To Take Year Off From WNBA

2009-05-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (April 21, 2009) – Citing a need to focus on her duties as an assistant coach with the University of Kansas women’s basketball program, Connecticut Sun forward Tamika Raymond announced today she will be taking a year off from the WNBA.

“I really enjoyed last year with the Sun,” Raymond said in a statement Tuesday. “It was great playing in front of the Connecticut fans again, and everything about the organization lived up to my expectations. But while I would love to return for another season with the Sun, my duties as an assistant coach at Kansas will make that impossible. With the WNBA season starting later this year, and the Sun likely to make another trip to the playoffs, I would probably miss a significant amount of time from my job at Kansas, and that is not acceptable. I wish the Sun good luck this season, and will be cheering them on.”

Raymond became a member of the Sun last March 14th, traded from the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Kristen Rasmussen. The former UConn star appeared in all 34 games for Connecticut, giving the Sun a physical veteran post player who provided valuable minutes off the bench. She was second on the team in offensive rebounds with 48.

“I understand why she’s doing it,” Sun coach Mike Thibault said. “I wish she was able to play this year, but her coaching career, long-term, has to be looked out for, and she’s in a great situation in Kansas. She’s got a great future ahead of her. We’re going to miss the leadership she brought to our team last year, and we’re going to have to find a way to replace it.”

Source From : WNBA.com

Rose, Mayo unanimous picks for All-Rookie team

2009-05-03T09:37:00.000-07:00

Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images

NEW YORK -- Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls and O.J. Mayo of the Memphis Grizzlies were unanimous selections to the 2008-09 T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie First Team, the NBA announced today.

Rounding out the T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie First Team are Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (53 points), New Jersey's Brook Lopez (49 points) and Miami's Michael Beasley (44 points).

The 2008-09 T-Mobile Rookie of the Year, Rose led rookies in assists (6.3 apg), was second in scoring (16.8 ppg), and averaged 3.9 rebounds. A three-time T-Mobile Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month selection (November, December, March), Rose represented Chicago at All-Star Saturday Night in Phoenix, becoming the first rookie to win the PlayStation Skills Challenge with a time of 35.3 seconds.

A two-time T-Mobile Western Conference Rookie of the Month selection (November, April), Mayo led rookies in scoring (18.5 ppg), ranked fifth in assists (3.2 apg), and averaged 3.8 rebounds. Mayo, who shot .438 from the floor and .879 from the free throw line, set a Grizzlies rookie record with 1,516 points this season.

Westbrook, a two-time T-Mobile Western Conference Rookie of the Month selection (December, February) was fourth among first-year players in scoring (15.3 ppg) and second in assists (5.3 apg). Westbrook was the only rookie to record a triple-double this season, posting 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 96-87 win over Dallas on March 2.

Lopez averaged 13.0 points and was second among rookies in rebounds (8.1 rpg) and double-doubles (18). The two-time T-Mobile Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month selection (January, February) led first-year players in blocks (1.8 bpg) and his 151 blocks this season is a Nets rookie record.

Beasley averaged 13.9 points and was eighth among rookies in rebounds (5.4 rpg). The T-Mobile Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in April, Beasley led the Rookie Team in scoring with 29 points at the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge.

The T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie Second Team consists of the Los Angeles Clippers' Eric Gordon (39 points), Minnesota's Kevin Love (34 points), Miami's Mario Chalmers (29 points), Memphis' Marc Gasol (25 points), Charlotte's D.J. Augustin (tie, 17 points) and Portland's Rudy Fernandez (tie, 17 points).

The voting panel consisted of the NBA's 30 head coaches, who were asked to select five players for the first team and five players for the second team, regardless of position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players on their own team. Two points were awarded for first team votes and one for second team votes.

Building upon its already strong appeal to the nation's youth and as the official wireless partner of the NBA, T-Mobile is showcasing the NBA's youngest players -- the Rookies -- through the T-Mobile Rookie Program. Highlights of the program include the T-Mobile Rookie of the Year, T-Mobile Rookie of the Month Awards, and the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, an All-Star competition between NBA rookies and second-year players. During NBA All-Star 2009, T-Mobile and NBA Cares hosted more than 3,800 local students from five school districts in Phoenix, to sit in the lower bowl of the arena to watch this year's T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Friday, February 13.

Source Fom : NBA.com

Carey Announces Retirement

2009-05-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (April 13, 2009) — Connecticut Sun point guard Jamie Carey announced her retirement Monday.

“It’s a hard decision any time you come to that crossroad, but it’s a decision that had to be made,” Carey said. “I’m just very appreciative of the opportunity I had in Connecticut, and at the same time, I’m thankful I was able to start and end my professional career in the same place. It doesn’t happen very often. I’m just very appreciative of the organization, and everything everyone did for me the last four years.”

Signed as a free agent in 2005, the 5-foot-6 Carey was a dependable backup to Lindsay Whalen who played in 105 regular season games with three starts. An excellent three-point shooter, Carey shot a league-best .451 percent from beyond the arc in 2007, and was sixth on the all-time franchise list for made threes with 84.

“Jamie has been a huge contributor to our team the last several years,” Sun coach Mike Thibault said. “I understand her decision, but we will miss her leadership, her competitiveness and her three-point shooting. She’s been a great teammate and a great player to coach. She’s been one of my favorite players to coach here. As a point guard and a coach, she understood what I was looking for as much as anybody.”

Carey works for Triple Crown Sports, a sports event marketing firm, and she recently completed her first season as the head coach of the Legacy High School girls’ basketball team in Broomfield, Colo.

Source From : WNBA.com

Lee breaks loose, shoulders load as Magic trudge along

2009-04-24T05:56:00.000-07:00

ORLANDO -- As part of his season-long rookie hazing, Courtney Lee was locked in a bathroom stall and doused with baby powder on the night the Orlando Magic clinched their Playoff spot.

Good thing his teammates eventually unlocked the door, letting him out with nothing more than white hair.

Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images

He is a baby no more. Lee has become the Magic's unlikely savior in this tougher-than-expected first-round Playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, filling a void left by the surprising struggles of high-profile, high-priced forwards Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu.

While his veteran teammates look like they are running in mud, Lee looks like he is wearing wings.

"Our other guys look like they have the weight of the world on them,'' said a relieved Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. "But Courtney is playing freer and looser. He's just playing. He was tremendous tonight.''

This series, tied at 1-1, moves to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4 Friday and Sunday. The Magic won Game 2 on Wednesday night, 96-87, only because Lee led the charge with 24 points.

Lee, who averaged just 8.4 points this season, kept the Magic close in a Game 1 loss on Sunday when he scored 18 points in a team-high 41 minutes. He saved the Magic Wednesday from an insurmountable 0-2 deficit by playing the best game of his young career -- on the Playoff stage.

With Dwight Howard saddled with foul trouble -- he fouled out after just 30 minutes, 11 points and 10 rebounds -- and the Turkoglu/Lewis combination falling flat for the second consecutive game, Lee became the man. He made steals. He slashed to the basket. He caused havoc for the Sixers, who never expected this to happen.

"Most rookies would not want to be put in that kind of situation,'' Howard said. "But Courtney is different. If we're going to go deep in the Playoffs now, he has to do this every night. I just told him 'coach has given you the ball, now do something with it.'''

Lee, the 22nd pick of the draft from Western Kentucky, was never expected to become so important this soon in his career. Because the Magic were unsure of his talents, they signed veteran free agent Mickael Pietrus this summer to a $25 million contract to become their shooting guard.

Yet when Pietrus struggled with injuries and J.J. Redick still couldn't grab the spot, Lee stepped to the front by midseason. He was overmatched and burned throughout the year trying to guard people like Dwyane Wade, Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton and Joe Johnson, but it toughened him for this role.

"I never imagined anything like this. I just wanted the chance to work hard,'' Lee said. "But I'm grateful for the chance. When the opportunity came, I was ready.''

The Magic, No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference after winning 59 games, have been knocked off their game by the upstart Sixers. They relied all season on the dominating presence of Howard inside to open up their long-distance shooting. They averaged almost 10 3-pointers a game, second most in the NBA this season. Yet they made only five in the Game 1 loss and just six in the Game 2 victory. They look badly out of sync, winning Wednesday on grit, determination and the back of Lee.

A good shooting team has turned cold -- except for Lee. He made 8-of -17 shots in Game 1 and 10-of-17 in Game 2.

"We're just having trouble getting the ball in the basket,'' Van Gundy said. "We're struggling, but eventually, I think in this series, the ball will start going in for us.''

Lewis and Turkoglu, the Magic's second and third leading scorers, combined to hit just 7-of-24 shots Wednesday. Both missed the final two regular season games with nagging injuries, but both insisted they are healthy enough to play, although neither has looked good in the series.

The Magic have given away their home-court advantage, and now must win at least one in Philadelphia to win this series. They have been one of the best road teams in the league the last two years, winning 27 games each season.

Although the Magic beat the Sixers twice in Philadelphia during the regular season, they have given the Sixers confidence in Orlando in this series. In both games, the Magic led by 18 points late in the third quarter, then allowed the Sixers to fight back into the game.

On Sunday, the Magic just collapsed down the stretch. On Wednesday, Lee was there making shots and making plays, offsetting the game-high 30 points from Andre Miller.

"He [Lee] has the mindset that teams don't respect him,'' said Philadelphia forward Andre Iguodala. "But we've got to find a way to slow him now.''

Source From : NBA.com

Nuggets, Lakers feature best benches in the Playoffs

2009-04-21T06:55:00.000-07:00

Andrew D. Bernstein

Conventional wisdom states most teams will shorten their rotations going into the Playoffs. There are good reasons for this. During the regular season, when teams have back-to-backs and four games in five nights, having as many healthy guys as possible is paramount.

In the Playoffs, there is at least one day between every game, sometimes two and occasionally three. Players get more rest. Also, a coach is more apt to use only his best seven or eight players in the postseason. It's better for those players to get into a rhythm. Rare is the team that goes nine-deep in the postseason.

Still, having two or three bench players that can spell the stars for a solid 20 minutes a game is a must. For every Larry Bird, there's a Scott Wedman. For every Magic Johnson, there's a Bob McAdoo. For every Michael Jordan, there's a John Paxson or Steve Kerr.

Here are the eight best benches in the Playoffs:

1. Denver Nuggets

It's hard not to love J.R. Smith when his 3-pointers are falling. It's also hard not to love Chris Andersen's comeback story. Together, they help comprise one of the league's best benches. Save for the Mavericks, no team's bench averages more combined points (33.9), assists (8.0) and rebounds (16.3) per game than the Nuggets. (The Mavericks have a 58.9 combined points, assists and rebounds off the bench; the Nuggets are at 58.2.) Denver's bench leads the league in assists and rebounds per game.

Key stat: 2.46 -- Andersen's average blocks per game, second behind All-Star Dwight Howard.

2. L.A. Lakers

With Andrew Bynum's return to the starting lineup, the Lakers have moved Lamar Odom -- who started 32 games in Bynum's absence -- back to the bench. Having the versatile, 6-foot-10 Odom, who has started 605 of his 665 career games, come off the pine is one of the reasons the Lakers bench is great. Reasons Nos. 2 and 3 are Trevor Ariza and Shannon Brown, two underrated mid-season acquisitions by L.A. in each of the last two seasons. With Odom, Ariza and Brown (or Jordan Farmar or Luke Walton), the Lakers have quality in the post, on the wing and everywhere else.

Key stat: 4.0 -- Number of steals per game averaged by the Lakers' subs, most in the NBA.

3. Dallas Mavericks

Guard Jason Terry is the leading candidate for the Sixth Man award. Guard Jose Barea can be instant offense. Together they constitute the best bench backcourt in the postseason. Terry averaged 19.6 per game this season, by far the best of any reserve. Forward Brandon Bass gives the Mavs some bulk and boards.

Key stat: 110 -- Bench points per 100 possessions for the Mavs, third-best in the league.

4. Utah Jazz

Whenever you have Paul Millsap and Andrei Kirilenko coming off the bench, that's a good bench. Millsap received experience with the first team this season, starting 38 games for the injured Carlos Boozer. Now, he's Boozer's backup. Kirilenko, who isn't the stats sheet stuffer and defender of a few years ago, is still good and averages 11.6 points per game.

Key stat: +487 -- Plus-minus for the Jazz bench, second-best in the NBA this season

5. Portland Trail Blazers

Portland has a lot of firepower from the bench. Travis Outlaw and Rudy Fernandez have 10 starts between them; combined they average 23.2 points per game. The Trail Blazers' reserves averaged 35.3 points per game. Only the Mavericks' 37.9 was better.

Key stat: 9.1 -- Average 3-point attempts per game by Portland reserves, tops in the league.

6. Chicago Bulls

In Kirk Hinrich and Brad Miller, Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro can bring two former starters off the bench. Hinrich can run the point for the second unit and is a pest on defense. Miller might not have the offensive game he once did, but he adds bulk and can still corral the caroms with the best of them. Tyrus Thomas provides youthful energy and athleticism.

Key stat: 2.8 -- Steals per game averaged by Chicago reserves, fourth best in the NBA.

7. Boston Celtics

The defending champions don't play their reserves much (only three benches in this postseason play fewer minutes than Boston), but the Celtics' bench players make the most of their time. With a +522 plus/minus, no bench was more productive in the NBA. Eddie House can be instant offense, Leon Powe adds bulk and gritty postseason experience and Tony Allen and Mikki Moore give the Celtics good energy. And they're physical.

Key stat: 10.1 -- Average fouls per game by Boston's reserves, most of any team in the postseason.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers

Considering many of the teams ahead of them have set the bar pretty high, the Cavs' bench doesn't wow you with athleticism or an explosive sixth man. What they do, and do well, is maintain. The Cavs' starters get a big lead and the Cavs' bench, more often than not, holds it. Joe Smith, signed as a free agent in late February, and Ben Wallace give the Cavs experience and rebounding.

Source From : NBA.com

Best of the first round: Warriors, MJ and Rex's clutch three

2009-04-21T06:53:00.000-07:00

Barry Gossage

The goal in mind for all 16 teams when the playoffs tip off every April is the same: Sixteen wins. Sixteen wins and the commissioner hands out the Larry O'Brien Trophy and Queen's We Are the Champions blares over the P.A. system. Sixteen wins and clips from your Playoffs run are embedded in historic postseason highlight packages for years to come.

But before a team can get to 16, it needs to get to four. Granted, the numbers have changed over the years. Back in 1949, only eight teams made the Playoffs and the first two rounds were best-of-three, with only The Finals being best-of-seven. So before a team could get to eight, it needed to get to two. But you get the idea.

While the greatest moments in Playoffs history tend to come on the grandest stage of The Finals, there have been plenty of classic performances in the first round. Here are some of the best.

Best first-round upset

2007 -- Golden State Warriors 4, Dallas Mavericks 2

The Warriors snuck into the Playoffs as an eighth seed while the Mavs won a league-best 67 wins en route to the No. 1 overall slot. Instead of sticking to what got him there, Dallas coach Avery Johnson changed his starting lineup before Game 1 to contend with Golden State's speed. By that time Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson and Nellie Ball already had won. Basketball people swear that Oracle Arena during that series was the best home-court advantage a team has ever had.

Runner-up: 1994 -- Denver Nuggets 3, Seattle Supersonics 2

Eighth-seeded Denver came back from an 0-2 deficit to shock the Sonics and Dikembe Mutombo was left crying tears of unbridled joy.

Honorable Mention: 1999 -- New York Knicks 3, Miami Heat 2

It's the only other 1-8 upset, but it doesn't have the same pizzazz as the other two because A) The final score in Game 5 was a brutal 78-77, B) It happened during the screwy lockout-shortened season and C) Allan Houston's game-winner was a leaner that got a lot of help from a lucky bounce on the rim.

Best of Michael Jordan

1986 -- Game 2 -- Boston Celtics 135, Chicago Bulls 131 2 OTs

After missing nearly all of his second season with a broken foot, a neophyte shooting guard out of North Carolina hangs 63 points -- the most ever in the history of the Playoffs -- on the eventual champion Celtics. "I think he's God disguised as Michael Jordan," said a prophetic Larry Bird afterward. "He's the most awesome player in the NBA." Jordan played 53 minutes, shot 22-for-41 from the field and 19-for-21 from the free-throw line. No retrospective video of his career is complete without showing the grainy video from that game of him yo-yoing the ball between his legs on Bird and pulling up for a baseline jumper.

Runner-up: 1989 -- Game 5 -- Chicago Bulls 101, Cleveland Cavaliers 100

It was one play that encapsulated everything Jordan ever was as a player -- clutch, confident and supremely talented. Jordan received an inbounds pass near half court with three seconds left, sprinted to the foul line, elevated over poor Craig Ehlo and guided in a dagger. Jordan scored 44 points and gave the Bulls a date in the second round. His high-jumping, fist-pumping celebration that followed is almost as impressive as the shot itself. It was Jordan's first Playoffs series win after going 1-9 in his first three trips to the postseason.

Honorable Mention: 1992 -- Game 3 -- Chicago Bulls 119, Miami Heat 114

Jordan scored 56 points and erased an 18-point Miami lead to sweep the Heat.

1997 -- Game 3 -- Chicago Bulls 109, Washington Bullets 104

His Airness' second-most famous double nickel (55 points) bounced his future team from the postseason.

Best near upset

2007 -- Phoenix Suns 4, Los Angeles Lakers 3

This series had it all, from the league MVP Steve Nash facing off against Kobe Bryant (who was snubbed for the award after averaging 35.4 points per game in the regular season) to Tim Thomas resurrecting his career to hit big shot after big shot to Bryant feuding with Raja Bell to Bryant hitting two dramatic shots in Game 4 to give L.A. a 3-1 series lead to the Suns storming back to take the series after Bryant attempted only two shots in the second half of Game 7.

Runner-up: 2008 -- Boston Celtics 4, Atlanta Hawks 3

Boston won 67 games in the regular season and faced off against a 38-win Atlanta team. The 29-game differential was the fourth-largest gap between first-round opponents in NBA Playoffs history. But the young Hawks pushed Boston to the brink and started a cold-blooded rivalry that carried over to this season.

Honorable Mention: 2002 -- New Jersey Nets 3, Indiana Pacers 2

The eighth-seeded Pacers took the top-tier Nets to double overtime in Game 5 before bowing out. Reggie Miller forced the first OT with a 40-foot bank shot at the buzzer.

Most underrated performance

1984 -- Game 5 -- New York Knicks 127, Detroit Pistons 123 OT

Bernard King led the Knicks to a 3-2 series win with 44 points in the clinching game. That's enough to make the game notable, but it becomes legendary when you sprinkle in the fact that King was playing with a 102-degree fever and two dislocated fingers. Isiah Thomas scored the Pistons' last 16 points in a span of 93 seconds to send the game to overtime, and the game also was notable because it was played in a sauna; the air conditioning at Joe Louis Arena was broken. King finished the series with totals of 36, 46, 46, 41 and 44 points to set an NBA scoring record for a five-game series.

Runner-up: 1994 -- Game 3 -- Phoenix Suns 140, Golden State Warriors 133

Charles Barkley went bonkers, scoring 56 points on 23-for-31 shooting and augmenting his line with 14 rebounds, four assists and three steals in the closeout game. Sir Charles, responding to an anything-less-would-be-uncivilized comment by a Warriors player who called him a "punk" during Game 2, came out sharp as ever and scored 27 points on 11-for-11 shooting in the first quarter to set the tone for the victory.

Honorable Mention: 1973 -- Game 1 -- Boston Celtics 134, Atlanta Hawks 109

John Havlicek fired in 54 points against the Hawks on April Fools Day.

Worst mental lapse

2003 -- Detroit Pistons 4, Orlando Magic 3

Up 3-1 against the Pistons, Tracy McGrady, fresh off the league scoring title, acted like a wide receiver who drops the pass because he's thinking touchdown. McGrady told a reporter how good it felt to "finally be in the second round." That's when the magic ran out on the eighth-seeded Magic's upset bid over the No. 1 Pistons. Detroit went on to win Games 5-7, all in blowout fashion. McGrady's teams have yet to make it out of the first round.

Best buzzer-beater

1997 -- Game 5 -- Seattle SuperSonics 122, Phoenix Suns 115 OT

Veteran Rex Chapman, who came into the league as a high flyer but had changed his game to a sharp shooter by this point, made the ultimate driveway shot to send the game into overtime. It's called a "driveway shot" because it had people across the country tossing the ball into the corner by the Buick and counting down "3...2...1" while imitating Chapman's leg-kick-and-swish motion. Neither team went on to win the championship, so history doesn't really care that the Suns ended up losing the game.

Best debut

2006 -- Cleveland Cavaliers 4, Washington Wizards 2

LeBron James had 32 points and a triple-double in Game 1, the first Playoffs game of his career, and joined Johnny McCarthy and Magic Johnson as just the third player ever to hang a triple-double in his first Playoffs game. James followed it up with 41 points and a game-winner in Game 3, 45 points and a game-winner in Game 5 and 32 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the clinching Game 6 that the Cavs won in overtime.

Highest rated game

1995 -- Game 4 -- Chicago Bulls 85, Charlotte Hornets 84

Jordan, still wearing the No. 45 from his baseball days, closed out the Hornets in Game 4 with 24 points and averaged 32.2 points a game for the series -- his first since his first comeback. "You take him out of the lineup and we win this series easy," said Charlotte's Dell Curry. "His play isn't as important as his presence. You can see the confidence and the pressure relieved off Pippen and Armstrong. He took the pressure off everyone." The game registered a 5.6 rating on TNT. Some 3,606,000 households tuned in.

Best Performance Dwyane Wade is Likely to Replicate

1997 -- Miami 3, Orlando 2

In the Playoffs for the first time without Shaquille O'Neal as a teammate, Anfernee Hardaway put his team full of misfits on his back, scoring 42 points in Game 3 and 41 points in Game 4 to tie the series after the Heat started with a 2-0 lead. Orlando ended up losing in Game 5 by eight points, but Hardaway scored 33 points and had the Magic within three points with 14 seconds remaining. Look for Wade to pull a Penny in the first round against the Hawks this year.

Source From : NBA.com

Georgia Tech profs put heads together, pick an NBA champ

2009-04-21T06:51:00.001-07:00

David Liam Kyle

The Playoffs are filled with talking heads. They're NBA veterans in nice suits, or hard-nosed reporters spending their lives in the locker rooms, all spewing opinions on who the next NBA champion migt be. Once in a while, they even turn out to be right.

What if there were some guys who were never in the league, though, and who never appeared on TV, and they turned out to be better analysts than your typical talking head?

And what if they could kick your butt in a game of Jeopardy, too?

Those guys are professors Joel Sokol, 37, Paul Kvam, 46, and George Nemhauser, 71, at the Georgia Institute of Technology's H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. Together, the professors have invented an equation called the Logistic Regression Markov Chain (LRMC) that can predict the outcome of sporting tournaments. Using this highly complex mathematical equation, they can pick the NBA champion for the 2008-09 season without watching a game.

With the LRMC by their side, these group of mathletes claim to be better prognosticators than Charles Barkley, Gary Payton or any other talking-head analyst on the planet.

"I think we could take on Gary and the guys, when it comes to predictions," says Sokol, the mastermind behind the LRMC.

"We could give this talk about the LRMC to thousands of professors at universities who would love to hear the equation," says Kvam. "But most of them would probably say 'What are Cleveland Cavaliers and why are they playing Jazz in Utah?'"

The LRMC initially was designed to decide the champion of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. The professors were inspired by a last-second shot by Tennessee that knocked Tech out of the tournament in 2002.

Since that game, the LRMC has picked the correct NCAA tournament winner three out of five times, including this year, when North Carolina won. In addition to picking the champ, in 2008 the LRMC got all three of the final rounds correct, and it even got the NIT champion right, too.

"Everyone has this intuition just by looking at head-to-heads and blowouts for who is going to win," says Sokol. "All we are doing is making a more rigorous argument."

Because the professors seemed so sure in their equation, and did pretty well in the NCAAs, we decided to challenge them to see if they could predict the outcome of the NBA Playoffs.

They scoffed. They said they could do it in 20 minutes.

Which, when you think about it, easily beats hours of sports chatter from the talking-head analysts.

The professors took 16 years worth of NBA data from every team in the Playoffs and used that to determine the strength of each team and its ranking. The professors then picked random matches between teams from the past 16 years, took the outcomes and plugged them into a logistic-reasoning equation.

Georgia Tech profs put heads together, pick an NBA champ

2009-04-21T06:51:00.000-07:00

David Liam Kyle

What if there were some guys who were never in the league, though, and who never appeared on TV, and they turned out to be better analysts than your typical talking head?

And what if they could kick your butt in a game of Jeopardy, too?

With the LRMC by their side, these group of mathletes claim to be better prognosticators than Charles Barkley, Gary Payton or any other talking-head analyst on the planet.

"I think we could take on Gary and the guys, when it comes to predictions," says Sokol, the mastermind behind the LRMC.

"Everyone has this intuition just by looking at head-to-heads and blowouts for who is going to win," says Sokol. "All we are doing is making a more rigorous argument."

Because the professors seemed so sure in their equation, and did pretty well in the NCAAs, we decided to challenge them to see if they could predict the outcome of the NBA Playoffs.

They scoffed. They said they could do it in 20 minutes.

Which, when you think about it, easily beats hours of sports chatter from the talking-head analysts.

Atlanta Dream Win Top Pick in 2009 WNBA Draft

2009-04-17T07:57:00.000-07:00

-- Washington Mystics, Chicago Sky Round Out Top Three Picks --

NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2008 - The Atlanta Dream won the eighth annual WNBA Draft Lottery and earned the top pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft, the league announced today.

The Atlanta Dream will get the ball rolling in the 2009 WNBA Draft after winning the lottery today in New York.

Ned Dishman/NBAE/Getty Images

The winning team had 420 chances out of 1,000 to receive the first overall selection. The lottery went exactly according to odds for the first time in WNBA history. The Washington Mystics will have the second pick in the draft followed by the Chicago Sky.

WNBA officials conducted the Draft Lottery in New York City, which included the five teams that did not qualify for the 2008 Playoffs and established the order of selection for the first five picks of the 2009 Draft. Additionally, the order of selection for the remainder of the first round as well as the entire second and third rounds is based on each team's finish during the 2008 regular season.

Following are results of the 2009 WNBA Draft Lottery:

PICK	TEAM	RECORD	CHANCE OF WINNING TOP PICK
	Lottery Teams
1	Atlanta Dream	4-30	42.0%
2	Washington Mystics	10-24	26.1%
3	Chicago Sky	12-22	16.7%
4	Minnesota Lynx	16-18	7.6%
5	Phoenix Mercury	16-18	7.6%

Following is the remaining order for the first round as determined by overall records from 2008:

	Non-Lottery Teams
6	Indiana Fever	17-17	--
7	Sacramento Monarchs	18-16	--
8	New York Liberty	19-15	--
9	Washington Mystics (from L.A.)	20-14	--
10	Connecticut Sun	21-13	--
11	Detroit Shock	22-12	--
12	Seattle Storm	22-12	--
13	Atlanta Dream (from S.A.)	24-10	--

The WNBA will feature 13 teams in 2009, with the Eastern Conference comprised of seven teams: the Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Detroit Shock, Indiana Fever, New York Liberty and Washington Mystics. Six teams will compete in the Western Conference: the Los Angeles Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, San Antonio Silver Stars and Seattle Storm.

Source from :NBA.com

The Best WNBA Images of 2008

2009-04-17T07:36:00.001-07:00

Another Snap Judgment Photo of the Year contest is in the books, and we have a worthy champion in photographer Jesse D. Garrabrant's amazing and poignant image of San Antonio superstar Becky Hammon (right), decked out in her Russian Olympic team uniform, with her hand over her heart during the Star Spangled Banner prior to her matchup in Beijing against her native United States.

Garrabrant's photo topped Gary Dineen's shot of Armintie Price reaching in during the contest finals 73% to 27% as a new record 137,316 votes were cast in the final round alone. In total, over 420,000 votes were logged in the two-month tournament.

Thanks for voting and be sure to tune back in next year!

Instructions: Click on each photo thumbnail to see the photos from each voting group, click on those thumbnails to see full-size versions of the photos and vote for your favorite.

Sweet 16	Final 4	Final	Final 4	Sweet 16
PACIFIC				ATLANTIC

SOUTHWEST				CENTRAL

Central Division - And the winners are...

CHICAGO	DETROIT	INDIANA	MINNESOTA

Reaching In	Zap's Big Jam	Ballin' With Barack	Candice on the Mic

Southwest Division - And the winners are...

HOUSTON	PHOENIX	SAN ANTONIO	MISCELLANEOUS

Holding Out Hope	Diana Gets Pumped	Hammon to the Hoop	Candid Candace

Pacific Division - And the winners are...

LOS ANGELES	SACRAMENTO	SEATTLE	OLYMPIC

Advice From a Legend	Rookie Enthusiasm	Sue Smiles	Seeing Red, White and Blue

Atlantic Division - And the winners are...

ATLANTA	CONNECTICUT	NEW YORK	WASHINGTON

Laughing at the Line	Killer Crossover	Pregame Fireworks	Hall of Fame Matchup

Source from : WNBA.com

Shaq Gets “Punk’d” by Lou

2009-04-17T07:31:00.001-07:00

Shaq may look serene here, but Lou is in trouble. (Josh Greene/Suns.com)" width="540" height="300">

Shaq may look serene here, but Lou is in trouble. (Josh Greene/Suns.com)

I never saw the resemblance between Suns forward Louis Amundson and famous prankster Ashton Kutcher until Tuesday, when the ponytailed reserve decided to punk the “Master of Mischief” himself, Shaquille O’Neal.

In a move that most would consider suicidal, Amundson took it upon himself to retaliate against the “Big Cactus” after Shaq repeatedly “punk’d” Lou all season. Lou, who is a lover of exercise as well as the environment, rides his bicycle to the arena every day for practice. Unfortunately for Amundson, Shaq felt compelled to steal Lou’s bike and hide it in tiny nooks around the arena. Lou could be seen searching for his bike for as much as an hour after practice.

After a season of being the butt of the Diesel’s jokes, he decided “enough was enough.”

Lou was going to adhere to the famous Chinese proverb (perhaps Texan) that advised against “poking the bear.” It appears that Shaq’s year-long treatment of Lou had awakened the hibernating cub inside of Lou.

What that proverb forgot to include was the end part. “Don’t poke the bear… unless you’re actually a much larger bear,” which was an addendum to that age-old aphorism that the “Big Aristotle” knew quite well. It was the part that Lou might regret not having learned earlier.

Now don’t get me wrong. Shaq and Lou have a very amicable relationship. Shaq makes good-natured quips towards Lou at practice, which is a sign in his “Shaq-i-verse” that he likes you. Shaq praises Lou’s effort and energy to the press, appointed him to his “LPC” (the reserves that help him with his player-introduction antics) and even served as his back-up dancer when Lou performed “Ice, Ice, Baby” at the annual Suns & Stars Gala.

The former MVP even gave Lou the nickname “Lightning Lou.” When one Suns.com staffer (not it) suggested that we open Lou’s nickname search (ok, maybe it) to include such gems as “2 Live Lou” and “Lou Skywalker,” Shaq stringently rebuffed the idea, threatening the Suns.com staffer at the mere insinuation of taking his beloved “Lightning Lou” naming rights away from him. You see when Shaq gives you a nickname, you have to adopt it. It’s a rule.

So maybe it was the comfort level that Lou felt towards Shaq, the increased confidence he’s developed with more playing time or maybe just repressed antipathy towards O’Neal’s pranks that caused Lou to strategize his plot for revenge. Well, whatever it was, it worked.

After the Suns defeated the Grizzlies on Monday in their second-to-last game of the season, I was performing my customary postgame duties of interviewing players in the locker room when I saw Lou making a bee-line towards the exit.

Usually Lou, who likes to snarf down postgame food at his locker, was making a not-so-customary move to scamper out, so I stopped him to see what was up. After chatting for a few minutes, Lou revealed to me his master plan to exact revenge on Shaq.

He said, “Don’t tell anyone, but I’m going to get Shaq back after practice tomorrow. I’m calling it ‘Operation Condor.’”

I said, “Oh, no. So the dolphins are in the Jacuzzi?”

He nodded with a glimmer of mania in eye.

With my curiosity and desire to see Shaq get “punk’d” outweighing my impartial journalistic instincts, I pressed further.

“Do you need me to help you get videotape surveillance of it?” I inquired.

“Nah, I got it covered,” he said with a wry smile. “I’m going to have it videotaped.”

Again, with my morality folding like a lawn chair, I proposed, “Hey, we could video it, send it to TMZ and split the profits 50/50.” (of course splitting the profits with the team and Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver… did I mention I love my job?)

Lou agreed and we decided to resume our strategy of the media coverage in the morning. So let’s fast forward to after practice today.

With the full Suns.com entourage alerted to Lou’s shenanigans, our forces staked out Shaq’s “police van” in anticipation of what was about to go down. I stayed by the locker room to remain as a look-out for the Shaqtus.

The beauty of the whole prank lied in the A&E camera crew that was following him. A&E, which is shooting a reality show pilot about Shaq, was following him to his van and keeping him distracted. As he walked by me, he stared at me bewilderingly, and I smiled and pretended that I was working on my Blackberry (really, I alerted the others that he was on his way).

As Shaq sashayed over to his van, everyone remained hidden and calm. Suns teammates Jared Dudley and Alando Tucker looked unsuspicious as they lingered in their cars as they waited for Shaq’s reaction.

So as Shaq walked to his car door like he did every day all season, he had no idea what was in store for him. As he opened up his ride, loads and loads of pink packing peanuts began flooding out of his car. Shaq stood there speechless as he opened the other door which led to the same effect.

At that moment, everyone came out of the woodwork snapping pictures and shooting video of Shaq as the reality of him being the victim of a practical joke began to soak in.

I asked him, “Who do you think is the chief suspect?”

He said smiling, “Lou.”

“Was it Lou,” he asked.

“I really can’t say,” not folding under questioning.

Shaq then opened the doors on the opposite side and witnessed a sea of peanuts spill onto his feet. That is where he started interrogating rookie point guard Goran Dragic, who he summoned to help clean up the mess.

After remaining relatively quiet for Shaq’s standards (presumably formulating his plot) and just making threats to the video cameras for about five minutes, he gathered Dudley and Tucker into a secret huddle.

The details of the plan could not be fully revealed or heard, but the words “shears” and “ponytail” were quite audible. With arena workers gleefully shoveling packing peanuts into a mobile plastic dumpster, Shaq playfully hopped into the dumpster before frolicking about like a little kid.

Knowing that it could be quite the hassle removing him from there, I helped brace the dumpster as he climbed out. Showing that “no good deed goes unpunished,” Shaq came from behind me, picked me up, and gave me a face-first piledriver right into the dumpster.

After helping me out, fellow Suns.com staff member and Publishing Manager Josh Greene became the next victim of Shaq’s wild exuberance. Although lightly, Greene was body-slammed into the bed of peanuts before Shaq helped him back out.

It was an unbelievable prank by Lou, who even received praise from Shaq.

“This is better than “Punk’d,” O’Neal said. “But you don’t mess with the ‘police van’ Lou.”

The whole ordeal lasted about a half an hour and it definitely has Shaq motivated for retribution. But after everything thinned out and Shaq drove away, it left with with the question… so who were the winners?

Suns.com fans who get to see exclusive video of the prank; Tucker and Dudley, who will get to partake in not one, but two pranks; Shaq’s van, which needed a cleaning anyway (I think I saw two Kazaam DVDs in there); the A&E crew that just started shooting its pilot today (yeah, I think that’s going to be greenlit now); and Lou, who finally received his vengeance.

It's safe to say that I got hosed in this whole ordeal. (Josh Greene/Suns.com)" width="540" height="300">

It's safe to say that I got hosed in this whole ordeal. (Josh Greene/Suns.com)

How about the losers?

Definitely Shaq. He was legitimately “punk’d”; me (I still have packing peanuts in my boxers); Lou (he’s dead); Leandro Barbosa (after Shaq reads this blog he’ll know that LB helped shovel the peanuts into the van); and all of the media that didn’t cover the team today. I hope the news services got great video of the firemen getting that cat out of the tree!

So what’s going to be the blowback?

Well, seeing Shaq’s knack for the dramatic and his ability to take anything small and turn it into a hilarious circus, I would be worried if I was Lou.

Why couldn’t have Lou waited until after the game tomorrow? It’s the last game of the season. The offseason was just a day away, but now he left the door open for the “Big Prankster” to take his shot.

If he had me on the strategy committee, I would have packed the peanuts and been on the first flight out of Dodge. Also, with Lou as one of the leading contenders for the Dan Majerle Hustle Award, what if he wins it tomorrow night? And what if Shaq really does something ridiculous to his hair?

He could carve a large “S” into Lou’s cranium before Lou accepts the award. Lou could have his hair dyed like a rainbow. Or, what if the “shears” comment was just used for misdirection and Lou is in for way worse?

Shaq is 325 pounds of pure muscle. He makes his own rules.

When I texted Lou updates of the prank, he told me we was nervous. In fact, he didn’t stay to watch it all unfold because he feared (correctly) for his life. My advice was for him to call in sick tomorrow. Maybe they’ll be a rain-out.

Shaq promised everyone that Lou’s moment of reckoning will come before shootaround Wednesday morning. What will he do? Stay tuned for more…

Source from : sun.com

Making Big Brother Proud

2009-04-17T07:20:00.001-07:00

Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images

Call him Vinny Del Nostradamus.

First-year Chicago head coach Vinny Del Negro called the Rookie of the Year race over back in January and prematurely awarded the trophy to his point guard, Derrick Rose, saying, "It's not even close," between Rose and the rest of the field. Del Negro may have been pegged as a homer, but he was right.

Brook Lopez might have had a PER that made John Hollinger as excited as somebody who just had Publisher's Clearinghouse come to his front door; O.J. Mayo might have scored 500 more points than this year's scoring title champ, Dwyane Wade, did in his rookie season; and Greg Oden might have had more columns devoted to his potential than Obama had penned about his economic stimulus plan, but none of them matched the season that Rose had.

A true of example of what it means to let your game do the talking, getting the shy and reserved Rose to talk about himself is as tricky as figuring out how to sync up your Twitter messages to your Facebook status. But put him on a court, put the ball in his hands and give him four teammates to run an offense with and you'll see him perform in a way that just screams "future star."

His YouTube mixes-to-games-played-in-the-league-thus-far ratio is prodigious and maybe even better than his 2.5-to-1 assist-turnover ratio. One mix, titled quite simply "Derrick Rose -- The Rookie of the Year -- Bulls mix" features all of the 20-year-old's greatest hits: from the reverse layup against Orlando, to the full extension dunk over Leandro Barbosa to finish a fast break to the way he tormented Philadelphia's Andre Miller with a chase-down block from behind and a yo-yo crossover that left Miller down on the hardwood on his behind.

Utah's Deron Williams, one of the finest two or three point guards in the game today, knows the mixes well.

"I heard about him when I was in college, being in Illinois near the Chicago area," Williams said. "I did some YouTubes on him. I knew he was talented, but this year he's blossoming. I think he's learning the game as a point guard a lot better. He's maturing as most players -- most good players -- do."

And then comes the endorsement from Williams that can't be quantified in statistics, but tells you all you need to know about why Rose is so special:

"I think he might be the fastest player in the NBA," Williams said. "Hands down, his first step in ridiculous."

Not that the numbers aren't impressive or anything.

Rose started out as the No. 1 pick in the Draft and improbably led the Bulls all the way a likely No. 6 seed in the Playoffs.

He finished first among all rookies in assists, second in scoring, eighth in steals and tenth in rebounds per game.

He has Chicago riding a five-game winning streak heading into its season finale with Toronto on Wednesday, tied for the longest current winning streak of any team in the league.

In April he's averaging more points (19.0) and more assists (6.8) than he has in any other month of the season and he's shooting a hard-to-compute 54.7 percent from the field, considering the fact that he's a 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard that shoots 43.8 percent of his shots (523-for-1194 according to NBA.com's Hot Spots) from the paint in amongst the trees.

Mayo, our choice for runner-up to Rose, agrees with us.

"The Rookie of the Year, I think, is Derrick Rose," Mayo told NBA.com. "He did a great job in leading his team to the playoffs ... it was definitely a tremendous turnaround. He did a good job."

Line of the Week
Michael Beasley (MIA) April 12 vs. NYK 28 pts, 16 reb, 1 ast, 2 blk 12-19 FG, 3-3 3-PT FG

Mayo added that the two fueled each other by their mutual success. "We were definitely both looking at each other's numbers at the end of every night," he said. "I think it was good for both of us. It definitely got me through the 82 games."

Rose already has bigger things ahead of him than his rank amongst the rookie class with the playoffs right around the corner and further off on the horizon lies a spot on the 2012 Olympics team that Williams, a gold medalist in Beijing, thinks Rose will be ready for.

But for now, it turns out that a Rose is a R.O.Y. by any other name.

Korleone Young Drop of the Week: D.J. Augustin CHA (-1)
Eddie Gottlieb Rise of the Week: A. Randolph GSW (+1)

Source from : NBA.com

Rose stands alone as this season's top rookie

2009-04-17T07:20:00.000-07:00

Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images

Call him Vinny Del Nostradamus.

Utah's Deron Williams, one of the finest two or three point guards in the game today, knows the mixes well.

And then comes the endorsement from Williams that can't be quantified in statistics, but tells you all you need to know about why Rose is so special:

"I think he might be the fastest player in the NBA," Williams said. "Hands down, his first step in ridiculous."

Not that the numbers aren't impressive or anything.

Rose started out as the No. 1 pick in the Draft and improbably led the Bulls all the way a likely No. 6 seed in the Playoffs.

He finished first among all rookies in assists, second in scoring, eighth in steals and tenth in rebounds per game.

He has Chicago riding a five-game winning streak heading into its season finale with Toronto on Wednesday, tied for the longest current winning streak of any team in the league.

Mayo, our choice for runner-up to Rose, agrees with us.

"The Rookie of the Year, I think, is Derrick Rose," Mayo told NBA.com. "He did a great job in leading his team to the playoffs ... it was definitely a tremendous turnaround. He did a good job."

Line of the Week
Michael Beasley (MIA) April 12 vs. NYK 28 pts, 16 reb, 1 ast, 2 blk 12-19 FG, 3-3 3-PT FG

But for now, it turns out that a Rose is a R.O.Y. by any other name.

Korleone Young Drop of the Week: D.J. Augustin CHA (-1)
Eddie Gottlieb Rise of the Week: A. Randolph GSW (+1)

Source from : NBA.com

Making Big Brother Proud

2009-04-17T07:16:00.000-07:00

Before he heads to ARCO Arena for a game against the Houston Rockets on Thursday, Sacramento Kings guard Rashad McCants will be tuned in to the WNBA Draft on ESPN2 as he waits to hear his sister's name, Rashanda, called by WNBA President Donna Orender.

It was nearly four years ago that Rashad was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 14 pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. He knows first-hand the nervousness and excitement that his sister is feeling as the WNBA Draft approaches.

With his sister on the verge of becoming the family’s second professional basketball player, Rashad reflects with pride on his relationship with Rashanda and how they worked together to build her into the player that she is today.

WNBA.com: Describe the relationship that you and your sister had growing up. How close were the two of you and how much did basketball play a role in your relationship?

Rashad McCants: My sister and I were close, but it wasn’t like we were stuck to each other. She was the competitive type to want to play ball with me and my friends all the time. Or want to play football and baseball with us. There weren’t too many girls around where we lived that she was friends with, so if she wasn’t following me she was bossing my little sister around. But once she was old enough to play with me – around 10 or 11 – her skills started to develop and I could choose her on my team to play against my friends. She gave me a reason to pick on my friends about a girl beating them. Basketball helped us become closer because I was able to teach her how to play and she wanted to learn.

Did you play against each other while you were growing up?

Rashad McCants: We would play one-on-one, but I was always hard on her. I would beat her bad and tell her the things she was bad at while beating her. This would help point out what she needed to work on to beat me. I would make her go left every time because I knew she didn’t want to go left. Then I told her to practice dribbling left everyday until it became natural to her. When she got to high school she was a lot better at a lot of things. She was a great defensive player, so to help her with her offense I would beat her off the dribble every time until she learned to move her feet and stop reaching for steals; she had a bad habit of that. By the time she got to college, she was big enough and strong enough to play me straight up. But I was good enough to show her that I was still big brother and she was still little sister. (laughing out loud)

Rashad McCants won a national championship at the University of North Carolina in 2005.

Craig Jones/Getty Images

Rashanda McCants played in two Final Fours during her career at the University of North Carolina.

Kevin C. Cox /Getty Images

When was the last time the two of you played against each other?

Rashad McCants: The last time we played each other was last year and I won five games to zero! She came close one game - she lost by one.

How much of an influence do you think you have been on her?

Rashad McCants: I think I was a huge influence on her because when we were little she looked up to me as a role model even at a young age. Our childhood was not peaches and cream, it was really rough. And I had to be a positive influence to my sisters to keep them positive. My work ethic showed her that if you work hard you can do anything. When it was raining and snowing, I was at the court shooting. If we didn’t have a court or goal, I was dribbling. She would see me doing it and then tried to mirror me. She used to watch me play against older guys at the age of 13 and I would be the best player on the court and it was because of the practice and time I put in. She took the same approach. She is a gym rat and she is a perfectionist. Just like her brother...

How proud are you of your little sister and the success that she has achieved thus far?

Rashad McCants: I always wanted her to get her own success. I didn’t want her to be known as Rashad's sister. And once she was in high school winning all those state titles, I knew she was going to be very successful. I’m very proud of her. It brings tears to my eyes to see that our hard work has paid off and nothing could stop us.

How would you describe Rashanda’s game? What does she need to work on to excel at the next level?

Rashad McCants: I would describe her game as like mine in a woman's body. She can shoot, drive and pass. She plays very good defense. She knows how to win and has proven to be a great team player and go-to player in the clutch.

What do you remember about your NBA Draft experience in 2005? What advice have you given to Rashanda about going through the Draft and as she is about to become a pro athlete?

Rashad McCants: My draft was all about just making it to a team. It wasn't where you were drafted; it was what you did when you got to your team. Success is all about situation and timing. The right situation can give you all the success in the world. The wrong situation can set you back from your expected goals. My advice to her is don't sweat it, relax and be excited for the opportunity.

You and Rashanda are about to become one of just a few brother-sister NBA-WNBA combos, joining duos like Anthony/Candace Parker and Rudy/Marta Fernandez. If we set up a two-on-two tournament, which siblings would win, and why?

Rashad McCants: Two-on-two ... I know we would win because none of those guys can guard me. Ha ha, just joking. My sister loves playing against Ms. Parker ever since high school. It would be a great match up, but I know we are too competitive to lose. Ha ha. I would love to see something like that happen though.

Congrats to UNC on winning the NCAA Championship again this year, as they last did in '05 when you a Tar Heel. What makes UNC so successful in basketball - on both the men's' and women's side? How remarkable was it to play for one of the best programs in your own home state?

Rashad McCants: The program gets kids who want to win and will do whatever it takes to play a role in winning on that team. Roy [Williams] has a system that puts his players in a position to play together and win together; the same with the women's team. It’s all Carolina pride. To play for the home team is something that will stay with you forever because whenever you come back home everyone remember your face and what you did for the state. It’s an honor to be a part of the Carolina Tradition.

Source from : WNBA.com

Choosing this season's award winners an easy process

2009-04-17T07:12:00.000-07:00

It's April. That means it's time to hand out some NBA superlatives. I have been writing these pick columns for 20 years now, and I offer the same disclaimer year after year, to no avail: these are my picks. They only have to make sense to me, not to you. So it is pointless for you to send me notes which "prove" through some amalgam of PER, formulas rejected as unsound by Daryl Morey and your grandma's home-spun philosophies that Anthony Morrow is a better player than Kobe. I will happily read your awards selections on your blog. But this is, at least for now, my column.

So, let's get to it.

Rookie of the Year

WINNER: Derrick Rose, Chicago

We don't really have to have a debate about this, do we? Rose has been the one outstanding constant in the Bulls' up and down season, which has ended with an unlikely playoff berth. To their mutual credit, GM John Paxson and Coach Vinny Del Negro didn't mess around; they gave Rose the ball from minute one. Rose has responded with rock-solid numbers (16.8 points, 6.3 assists) on 47 percent shooting, along with a flair for the dramatic in the last minute. Haven't heard a peep from him off the court, either -- and remember, Chicago is his home. He's a great building block.

RUNNERS-UP: O.J. Mayo, Minnesota; Michael Beasley, Miami; George Hill, San Antonio.

Sixth Man of the Year Presented by Kia Motors

WINNER: Jason Terry, Dallas

There were a lot of worthy candidates, but in the end, it came down to this for me: the Mavericks don't make the Playoffs without Terry's great season (19.5 points, 36 percent from 3-point range) in reserve. Yes, he's always on the floor at the ends of games, and he's a bench player in name only, but hey, he meets the criteria. And give Terry credit for embracing this role; think about all the former starters who've chafed at any thought of coming off the bench (AI, I'm looking at you). To my knowledge, Terry hasn't made a peep, or at least one that caused a distraction.

RUNNERS-UP: Lamar Odom, Lakers; J.R. Smith, Denver; Nate Robinson, New York.

Defensive Player of the Year Pres. by Kia Motors

WINNER: Dwight Howard, Orlando

A third easy call. Superman 2.0 is first in the league in blocked shots, which almost always end the opposition's possession, and first in defensive rebounds, which definitely ends the opposition's possession. Howard's control of the paint means fewer opponent drives to the basket that draw fouls (the Magic is 7th in the league in fewest free throw attempts allowed per game), more low-percentage perimeter shots (Orlando is tied for third in defensive field goal percentage) and gives his teammates the time to close out on shooters (the Magic is tied for second in 3-point field goal percentage allowed per game).

RUNNERS-UP: Shane Battier, Houston; Kevin Garnett, Boston; LeBron James, Cleveland.

Most Improved Player Pres. by Kia Motors

WINNER: J.R. Smith, Denver

Smith epitomizes what this award should be: a recognition of someone who came into the league with a certain amount of skill and who has not only added upon those skills, but has become a better basketball player -- not someone who we all expected to be great, like Kevin Durant. A true knucklehead when he came to Denver, Smith has matured on and off the court, reached a certain comfort with Nuggets Coach George Karl and has become an often lethal sixth man for the vastly improved Nuggets. "The first couple of years, he didn't know if he wanted to be 'Melo or Allen," a Nuggets insider divulges. "Now, he's just J.R. He's not perfect, but he's much more comfortable in his own skin than he's ever been."

RUNNERS-UP: Paul Millsap, Utah; Al Jefferson, Minnesota; Devin Harris, New Jersey.

Coach of the Year

WINNER: Mike Brown, Cleveland

Brown was honest enough when he came to Cleveland that offense wasn't his strength, so he often defers to his assistants. He is secure enough to let his players police themselves in the locker room. But he's been strong enough to demand more out of LeBron James with each passing season, and this season it's all come together. The Cavs are first in the league in points allowed and defensive field goal percentage allowed. They have the league's best record. They are disciplined and tough and together, what San Antonio has been all these years under Gregg Popovich. That's about as good a comparison as I can come up with for a coach.

RUNNERS-UP: Rick Adelman, Houston; Nate McMillan, Portland; Erik Spoelstra, Miami.

Executive of the Year

WINNER: Danny Ferry, Cleveland

Ferry looked at a team that was in the Finals two years ago and said 'nah, not good enough.' He's spent the last two years re-making that team built around LeBron James into an even better one. The Cavs had one legit shooter in '07 in Daniel Gibson; now they have four (Mo Williams, Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak and Gibson). He got rid of Larry Hughes three years after giving him $70 million once it became clear Hughes thought he should handle the ball instead of James. Last summer's trade for Williams was a gamble, and it paid off (and then some: Joe Smith, who was sent to Oklahoma City as part of the deal, came back to Cleveland for the stretch drive, meaning Ferry got Williams and Smith, in essence, for Damon Jones). And Ferry's tough negotiations with Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic in '08 have left the Cavs in very solid shape this summer to add another big piece.

RUNNERS-UP: Mark Warkentien, Denver; John Paxson, Chicago; Otis Smith, Orlando.

Most Valuable Player Presented by Kia Motors

WINNER: LeBron James, Cleveland

Is James a better player than Kobe Bryant? No. Has he been more amazing this season than Dwyane Wade? No. But his value is immeasurable: to the Cavaliers, to the state of Ohio, to the league. Look at the Cavs on the bench. They're clapping for one another, on their feet, enthusiastic, into the game. Which is hard enough to do at the pro level, but doggone near impossible when one player gets all the attention, all the adulation, all the money.

Two years ago, the Cavaliers put James on the opposition's weakest offensive player; now, he often takes the best one. Two years ago, James would break off plays before they started so he could sweep to the basket; now, he patiently runs through the options. He's always believed in the team, but now he believes in his teammates. Big difference.

You take Kobe off the Lakers and they're not a title contender, but they still are a playoff team, with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom up front, and Derek Fisher at the point. You take LeBron off the Cavs, and, no offense, it's Secaucus Time. (You take D-Wade off the Heat, and, oh, my goodness. It's his best argument for MVP.)

The stats speak for themselves: Cleveland's defense, Cleveland's record (including its near-impregnable home mark), James's own individual numbers. But the most impressive number James has this season is this: he's tied for 10th in the league in assists per game.

Let me write that again.

LeBron James, who is asked to score 30 a game every night, and rebound, and defend at a much higher level than in the past, and sell out arenas across the country, and do every interview, and every commercial, and host every show, and help his country win the gold medal halfway around the world (so, too, were Bryant and Wade, to be fair) is tied for 10th in the league in assists per game.

Yes, he has the ball in his hands all the time. So do Tony Parker. And Devin Harris. And Andre Miller. And Chauncey Billups. And Derrick Rose. Any of whom you'd happily have run your team from the point any day of the week. And James has more dimes per game this season than all of them. (Kobe, by comparison, is 35th in assists per game. Which is not bad at all, considering how much defensive pressure he faces every night. But the other guy is 10th.)

Best of all, James allows Mike Brown to coach him. I'm not in Cleveland every day, and I'm not in the Cavs' locker room, or their huddles, or their practices. But it certainly seems like James has the same kind of relationship with Brown that Tim Duncan has with Gregg Popovich, and that Kobe now has with Phil Jackson. Mutual respect, mutual trust.

"For me, that's bigger than anything else," Brown told me Wednesday. "I'm not Phil Jackson. I haven't won titles. I don't have the credibility that [Jackson] has. For me to have a young superstar, who everybody's anointed as the best player in the game, for him to allow me to coach him, makes it that much easier for me to coach everybody else."

Two days after the Cavs lost to the Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, James was back in the gym. Shooting. Lifting. Four or five hours a day. He was furious that the Cavaliers lost with the season on the line, and he was determined -- manically so -- that it never happen again. He has done everything possible this season to make that so.

Source from : NBA.com

Two months, 16 teams, one trophy ... and 10 big questions

2009-04-17T07:08:00.000-07:00

David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images

The 82-game marathon is over. Here's a look at some questions for the two-month, 16-team NBA tournament known as the Playoffs as it begins this weekend:

1. Are the Cavaliers really the favorite to win it all?

Judging by their record and the season LeBron James has put together, you'd have to think so. Mo Williams has fit in perfectly and the supporting cast knows its role. Something, though, just doesn't feel right. Despite one of the best regular seasons ever, Cleveland may be a year away, as crazy as that sounds, from bringing a trophy to title-starved Cleveland. While the Cavs appear destined to get out of the Eastern Conference for the second time in three years, expect the heavily motivated Lakers to be there waiting. More on that later.

2. Can anyone give the Lakers a challenge out West?

Doubtful. The Jazz, on paper, may have been the team most equipped to put a scare into L.A., but they've fallen apart down the stretch and don't figure to pose much of a threat in the first round. From there the candidates are muddled and flawed. Playoff newcomer Portland gave the Lakers the most trouble during the season, but the Blazers may be out before getting a shot at Kobe Bryant and Co. The Nuggets -- bursting with athletes, plus the steady hand of Chauncey Billups -- could put a scare into L.A. if they keep their heads on straight. The Rockets are a possibility with defenders to hassle Kobe in Ron Artest and Shane Battier, plus Yao Ming in the middle. But the Spurs and Hornets are just too banged up, and the Lakers own the Mavericks.

3. Which of these big guys -- Kevin Garnett or Andrew Bynum -- figures to be healthy enough to contribute to a long playoff run?

Garnett's status has to be considered iffy. He sat out the last nine regular-season games and 16 of the final 20. The knee strain suffered back on Feb. 19 continues to be a concern, no matter the positive spin. Boston has the luxury of a relatively stress-free first-round matchup (against the Bulls) to give KG more time to work his way back into the mix. But the C's need a healthy Garnett to anchor their defense in the conference semis and beyond. Watching how he ended the season, the Lakers' Bynum looks to be on track to take a bigger role as the postseason progresses. The 7-footer is finishing at the basket and running without pain. His defensive timing still isn't there and his stamina needs to improve, but the Lakers can continue to bring Bynum along at a steady pace.

4. Out of the Big Four (Cavaliers, Lakers, Celtics and Magic), which team is the most vulnerable?

Book the Cavs and Lakers for the conference finals, so they're out of this discussion. That leaves Boston and Orlando. Assuming the Celtics are healthy -- and that's a big assumption -- the defending champs have the talent, experience and depth to make another title run. The Magic rely too much on the 3-point shot to be seriously considered a title contender. Dwight Howard is amazing, but don't expect Superman to carry Orlando past the semis.

5. Is this the year Houston finally gets out of the first round?

For a franchise that hasn't advanced past the opening round since 1997, this could be the streak buster. The Rockets are stout defensively and possess a high basketball IQ -- two qualities that will serve them well in the Playoffs. Yao and Artest never had a chance to get it going with Tracy McGrady, but Houston has come together around a group of hard-working role players led by Battier, Luis Scola and Carl Landry.

6. Why are the Pistons so cocky?

Yes, they've won it before. And it wasn't that long ago when Detroit was a staple in the East finals. But these Pistons are a shell of their former contending selves. Billups is in Denver. Coaches Larry Brown and Flip Saunders have long since left. Detroit had a losing record this season, Allen Iverson is on the shelf, and LeBron and the Cavs are a freight train. Sorry 'Sheed, we expect only one team to play hard. Just try and keep the towels on the bench.

7. Can Dwyane Wade beat the Hawks by himself?

Wade did a fair imitation of the one-man act in 2006, but that Heat team had considerably more talent than this one. The Hawks parlayed last year's surprising first-round seven-game series with Boston into the East's No. 4 seed and the home-court edge over Miami. Atlanta has the defenders to throw at D-Wade, starting with Josh Smith and Joe Johnson, plus superior depth. Wade alone is enough to steal a couple of games in this series, but his postseason won't last past seven games.

8. Which of the Spurs is most likely to step up in place of Manu Ginobili?

The obvious answer is nobody if you're not counting Tim Duncan or Tony Parker. No doubt the other two cogs of the Spurs' celebrated trio have taken their games to another level at times, but finding another gear for the Playoffs may be a stretch. Duncan, after all, has been plagued by sore knees since the All-Star break. As for the rest of the roster, look to Roger Mason Jr., Michael Finley and Ime Udoka trying to squeeze into Ginobili's irreplaceable sneakers. Each brings something to the table -- Mason (late-game heroics), Finley (veteran know how) and Udoka (much-needed athleticism).

9. What lower-seeded team is most likely to pull a first-round upset?

Since we're scratched Miami off the list in Question 7, expect the East to play out according to plan. That brings us to the West. The Jazz, no chance. The Rockets, Mavericks and Hornets aren't going in intimated by their respective matchups. Stealing one on the road in Games 1 or 2 would swing home-court advantage and set up a possible six-game upset. Of the three, Dallas has the most momentum on its side and is quite familiar with the Spurs.

10. Is there a better potential Finals matchup out there than Lakers-Cavs?

Can you think of one? If this June is the beginning of a Magic-Bird run for years to come for Kobe and LeBron, the NBA and its fans are in for something special.

Source from : NBA.com

Mavs, Spurs lock up in another Lone Star state showdown

2009-04-17T07:02:00.000-07:00

Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images

These bitter in-state division rivals meet for the fourth time in the Playoffs since 2001. The Mavericks are the only team other than the Lakers to beat San Antonio in the postseason during that span, winning a classic seven-game series in 2006. The Spurs own postseason victories over Dallas in 2001 and '03.

"We're going down to the River Walk, a place we've been many times before," Mavs guard Jason Terry said. ".It's going to be an outstanding series, a big rival of ours and they're playing pretty good basketball. Tony Parker is not in the MVP talks, but he should be."

Head-to-head

Tony Parker vs. Jason Kidd: Parker isn't in the MVP conversation, but Terry makes a salient point. The French speedster continues to expand his game, picking up the slack during Manu Ginobili's absences and as Tim Duncan struggles with knee issues. The Spurs wouldn't have had a chance to win the Southwest Division without 26-year-old Parker.

"I never take it for granted," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. "It's his best year and he's carried us a lot with the injuries we've had. He's been a constant factor for us at both ends of the court. Thank heaven he's young. Let's hope he can handle it come playoffs."

Kidd doesn't have the quickness to keep up with Parker anymore, but he still has the guile. The Team USA Olympian and future Hall of Famer has played perhaps his best basketball in a Dallas uniform (second go-around) in the finishing kick that propelled the Mavs to sixth. He wrapped up the regular season with a triple-double.

Behind the numbers

50 percent: The Mavericks made more than half of their shots in three of the four games against San Antonio's vaunted defense, winning twice and losing the other in double OT. Dallas shot 48.1 percent against San Antonio this season -- the Lakers were the only Western Conference team to shoot better.

Five big questions

1. How close is Duncan to 100 percent?

Depends who you ask. Duncan is telling everyone his knees are feeling fine, and to prove it, he recently took off the two braces he was wearing. But his production has been down noticeably since the All-Star break, and he sat at one game in several back-to-backs down the stretch. Duncan's game was never built on explosiveness, but many tend to forget the quickness he once possessed around the basket.

2. Anyone remember Dirk Nowitzki?

The former MVP has manufactured another stellar season without much fanfare. Dallas' franchise stud remains a 7-foot matchup nightmare able to get his shot off at any time. Throw in his 3-point range and 90-percent marksmanship at the line, and San Antonio has quite a chore on its hands. Nowitzki can get pushed around, especially if he's not getting calls. Look for the Spurs to throws different looks at Nowitzki, from Duncan to Matt Bonner to Kurt Thomas to Bruce Bowen to Michael Finely.

3. Which side owns the stronger bench?

The Mavericks have to feel good about their second unit led by Terry, the probable Sixth Man of the Year. Lightning bug point guard J.J. Barea and athletic power forward Brandon Bass are no strangers to crunch time in what figures to be an eight-man rotation for Dallas coach Rick Carlisle.

The Spurs took a big hit, obviously, when Ginobili went down, even though the usual sixth man was starting again. Drew Gooden gives San Antonio its own lively reserve big man with a scoring punch. Thomas is a steady vet who's been through the Playoffs wars, while swingman Ime Udoka has seen his role expand with Ginobili's injury.

4. Which side has the most momentum going in?

San Antonio is flying high after its stunning comeback Wednesday that shook up the West playoff picture. Down five with less than a minute to go against New Orleans, the Spurs rallied to win in OT. Finley nailed a 3-pointer at the regulation buzzer, his second huge last-second shot of the week. San Antonio won its last four to steal the Southwest Division crown away from Houston and go from a possible fifth seed to No. 3.

"You always want to have momentum," Spurs guard Roger Mason Jr. said. "We won a few games here and we're playing better."

The Mavericks can say the same after enjoying a similar climb, going from the eighth seed and a certain first-round exit against the Lakers to sixth in the span of 10 days. The push began with a win over Phoenix before the Mavs knocked off three teams -- Utah, New Orleans and Houston -- ahead of them in the standings. Dallas has won seven of its last nine.

5. How much does the home-court mean?

A lot and not much. Both the AT&T Center and American Airlines Center house hardcore rowdies with a spirited dislike (hate?) for their opponents in this series. As intimidating as both buildings promise to be, it's nothing either side hasn't seen before. The Spurs and Mavs both own multiple Playoffs wins on the other's home court.

"We're a veteran ballclub and we understand how important it is in to win at home and we're confident at home," Kidd said. "We've got to find a way to win on the road in the playoffs."

Prediction

Mavericks in 7

Source from : NBA.com

Hardened Houston faces stiff test in raw but hungry Blazers

2009-04-17T06:56:00.000-07:00

Not only do the Blazers make their triumphant return to the postseason after a five-year absence, they do so with the home-court edge in the opening round. The Rockets don't feel quite as giddy, coughing up a 14-point second half lead Wednesday at Dallas to go from the possible second seed in the Western Conference to fifth.

"Like I told the team," Houston coach Rick Adelman said, "it's a really good learning experience for when we play this weekend because that's what the pressure is going to be like and we're going to have to respond to it."

Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images

Head-to-head

Brandon Roy vs. Ron Artest: In a league ruled by glamour swingmen, Roy sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. The Blazers' shooter already has two All-Star nods under his belt, but the Playoffs are an entirely new ballgame for the 24-year-old guard. "I'm looking at it as a challenge," Roy said.

Artest is no stranger to challenge. Houston's designated stopper doesn't back down to any, and he'll be looking to back down Roy a lot. Though both are roughly the same height -- Artest is listed as an inch taller than the 6-foot-6 Roy -- the difference in weight is nearly 60 pounds. The much-bigger Artest would prefer to punish Roy physically rather than chasing him around.

Behind the numbers

11:15 -- Amount of time Greg Oden logged against Houston this season. Portland's rookie center and his six fouls are going to be needed against Yao Ming, the Rockets' 7-foot-6 man in the middle.

Five big questions

1. Even with falling to fifth, did Houston catch a break getting this matchup?

The Rockets aren't exactly getting grizzled playoff veterans. The Blazers own only 35 games of playoff experience. The top two scorers -- Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge -- are only in their third seasons. Four rookies filled important roles in the rotation.

"We're pretty healthy going in," Portland coach Nate McMillan countered. "I guess most teams want to face us because of our youth, but we play hard and have played the right way all season long. Frankly this is what I envisioned when I came here."

2. Why can't the Rockets get the ball to Yao with the game on the line?

That's been an Achilles' heel for Houston all season. Part of it is the inexperience of point guards Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry. It also doesn't help that the Rockets don't really have a perimeter scorer who can break down the defense, a la Tracy McGrady, and get the ball to Yao at the basket.

"It's the whole team," Adelman said. "It's not one or two guys, it's the whole team. We have to get in the right spots and you've got to be aggressive in moving the ball and understanding that they're taking away with the front, and attack the other sides and be aggressive with it."

3. How will Portland's finesse fare against Houston's brawn?

Though he's the Blazers' power forward, Aldridge would rather shoot jumpers than bang. Roy, Travis Outlaw and Rudy Fernandez thrive in the open court slashing to the rim. Artest, Yao, Shane Battier and Luis Scola embody the Rockets' roughshod ways.

"Houston is a really tough team," McMillan said. "With Yao they're really tough in the post and they have good defenders in Battier and Artest. They're a tough matchup but we've played them well even though they do play both ends of the court."

Added Blazers center Joel Przybilla: "They're going to come in and play physical and we have to match their intensity every night."

4. Which team is the most dangerous beyond the arc?

Both use the 3-point shot at roughly the same frequency and with the same success. The Rockets connected on 621 from downtown at 37.5 percent, while Portland tallied 596 at 38.3 percent. Four players on each squad nailed at least 80 from beyond the arc.

Fernandez broke the rookie record for 3-pointers in a season with 159, including at least one in all 38 of his games at home. Artest paced the Rockets with a career-high 153.

5. Can Blazermania trump Clutch City?

Portland's 34-7 mark at the Rose Garden is the fourth-best home record in the league. The Rockets checked in at 33-8 inside the Toyota Center, setting a franchise record for wins in the six-year-old arena.

Prediction

Blazers in 7

Source from : NBA.com

Hornets have incomparable Paul, but Nuggets have depth

2009-04-17T06:52:00.000-07:00

Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Last season the Hornets were the No. 2 seed and were a game away from making it to the Western Conference finals while the Nuggets were swept out of the Playoffs as the lowly eighth seed. This time around, Denver will be favored to advance as the higher seed and New Orleans will be the group with upset on the mind.

The Nuggets are a vastly different team, thanks to the addition of Chauncey Billups, a clean bill of health for Nene and a season-long commitment to defense. The Hornets haven't found their rhythm this year because of a litany of injuries to their stars.

Head-to-head

Carmelo Anthony vs. past Playoffs failures: When Carmelo Anthony came into the league six years ago, he was known for two things: his smile and his Most Outstanding Player honors in the 2003 NCAA Tournament. Since then, he has gone 4-20 in five first-round exits from the Playoffs and his public image has been ravaged by a sucker punch against the Knicks, the "Stop Snitching" DVD and a couple of other off-court infractions with the law.

The difference between Anthony's postseason chances this year vs. those in years past is that Denver has home-court advantage for the first time in his career. The Nuggets tied a franchise record with 54 wins and get the privilege of hosting Games 1-2 at the Pepsi Center, where the team went 33-8 during the regular season. Anthony started his rehabilitation with the gold medal in Beijing and taking the shears to his cornrows. He can continue to turn the tide of public perception by helping Denver win deep into May.

Behind the numbers

14.7 -- Combined, Denver's blocks per game (6.02, 2nd in the NBA) and its steals per game (8.67, 3rd in the NBA) are tops in the NBA -- one way to quantify the disruptive defense that Denver has added to its arsenal.

Five big questions

1. Who has the edge in the Chauncey Billups-Chris Paul matchup?

As great as Billups is -- he has the ring, Finals MVP trophy and Mr. Big Shot moniker -- Paul is a playing at a completely different level. Five or six players in the league can dominate in every aspect of the game. Paul is one of them. If he can ratchet up his game the way he has over the last week of the season (26 points, nine rebounds, nine assists against Miami; 42, nine and seven against Dallas; 32, nine and 17 assists against Dallas again), Billups -- or anybody else on Denver for that matter -- won't stand a chance at stopping him.

2. How effective will Peja Stojakovic, Tyson Chandler and James Posey be for N.O.?

They've missed nearly a full season's worth of games among them and each brings a vital component to the court. So, what happens if Stojakovic's back keeps him from providing a deep threat, Chandler's ankle keeps him from playing defense and Posey's elbow keeps him from doing all of the above this postseason?

All three played in the Hornets' season finale loss to the Spurs, with Stojakovic going 0-for-5 in 28 minutes, Chandler scoring 10 points but only collecting three rebounds against three turnovers in 20 minutes and Posey contributing two points, an assist and a bunch of zeros in 13 minutes.

Both Stojakovic and Posey had some success in the regular-season matchups with the Nuggets, while Chandler missed all four games. If they aren't at 100 percent, the burden falls even more heavily on the shoulders of Paul and David West. "We're going to need guys to step up," West told reporters. "That's just the bottom line."

3. Will the Hornets play with a sense of urgency?

New Orleans tried to deal Chandler to Oklahoma City under the guise of getting two rebounders in Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith, but really the move was made in order to get under the league's luxury tax threshold. The trade was rescinded after Chandler failed the physical and the team is in the same financial quandary it was in before. With the Hornets reportedly one of the 15 teams to accept millions of dollars from the league's loan program, there is still the elephant in the room that there could be big changes looming in the offseason to dump salary.

Knowing full well that this could be the last go-round as a unit could have a galvanizing effect in the Playoffs for the Hornets.

4. What happens if Denver doesn't win?

If the Nuggets can't get out of the first round with everything on their side -- the home court, the healthy roster, the 8-2 record over their last 10 games -- you have to wonder if it will ever happen with this mix of personnel.

If they fizzle out as they did against the Lakers last season, expect wholesale changes with nobody on the roster (outside of maybe Billups) safe. Anthony already was dangled on the market last summer, and all of the goodwill built up for coach George Karl by supporters of his Coach of the Year candidacy won't save him if the Nuggets make it 0-for-6 in the first round since 2004.

5. Can anybody stop J.R. Smith?

Smith had a breakout season and was TNT analyst David Aldridge's pick for Most Improved Player after upping his averages to 15.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in his fifth season. Smith performed even better against the Hornets, averaging 21.3 points off the bench in the four meetings.

With a prototypical guard's body (6-foot-6, 220 pounds) and incredible strength, speed and leaping ability, Smith has the ability to take over a game. Denver was 6-2 this season when he scored 25 points or more.

Posey will be Hornets coach Byron Scott's first option to put on Smith, followed by second-year wingman Julian Wright, who earned Scott's trust late in the season while filling in when injuries plagued the roster.

Prediction

Nuggets in 6. Denver is at full strength while New Orleans appears to be a team on its last legs.

source from : nba.com

Sixers face a tough task in bringing down beat-up Magic

2009-04-17T06:45:00.000-07:00

The Magic and Sixers are two teams that suffered some untimely injuries down the stretch and didn't finish the season as strong as they would have liked.

Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images

Orlando was without Rashard Lewis (right knee tendinitis) for the last three games of the season, and without Hedo Turkoglu (sprained left ankle) for the last two. The Magic weren't at their best to close the season, losing five of their last nine games.

The Sixers lost Thaddeus Young to a sprained right ankle on March 31 and lost six straight games before edging out the Cavs on the final night of the season. At one point late in the season, they had a shot at the fourth seed, but they needed that win in Cleveland just to finish sixth.

Head-to-head

The Magic vs. the trainer's table: If the Magic are healthy and at their best, they should be making their second straight trip to the conference semifinals and would even have a shot to knock off the Celtics. But their late-season injuries are concerning.

Leg injuries can affect shooters, and no team shoots more threes (on a per-possession basis) than the Magic. So if Lewis and Turkoglu aren't 100 percent and aren't shooting well, they could be in trouble.

Even if they're close to full strength, it will take some time for the Magic starters to get back into a rhythm together.

This team had its best season since 1995-96, but it lost Jameer Nelson in early February. And now the Magic have Turkoglu and Lewis going into the postseason banged up. If they manage to crash the conference finals, it will be quite an accomplishment.

Behind the numbers

31.8 -- The percentage of 3-pointers made by the Sixers this season. They are the worst 3-point shooting team in the league.

Five big questions

1. What exactly is the status of Turkoglu and Lewis?

It's unlikely that either will be at 100 percent to start the series. But it's also unlikely that either will miss a game.

Turkoglu said on Wednesday that his ankle was "getting stronger" after doing some shooting. Lewis was unable to finish shootaround Wednesday morning. But by the time Sunday's Game 1 arrives, they'll each have had more than a week off.

2. So if the Magic don't shoot well, the Sixers will win?

No. The Magic are a lot more than just a 3-point shooting team. Along with the Celtics and Cavs, they're one of the three best defensive teams in the league. When the shots aren't falling, Orlando can rely on its defense much more than in previous years.

The Magic also rank third in the NBA in free-throw attempts per possession. The ability to get to the line is important in the Playoffs.

3. So how can the Sixers pull off an upset?

They need to get running, but that starts with their defense. Philly uses its length to force turnovers and its speed to convert on the other end. With Young healthy again, the Sixers' running game is back at full strength.

The Magic are at the league average when it comes to turning the ball over, but they do a good job of getting back and preventing transition buckets. And that will be priority No. 1 for Stan Van Gundy's team.

4. Can Samuel Dalembert keep Dwight Howard contained?

As long as his head is in the game, Dalembert has the length and the ability to defend Howard pretty well. Superman looked relatively mortal against the Sixers this season, averaging just 15.7 points and 10 boards.

In the third meeting, Dalembert was in foul trouble, but the Sixers also have Marreese Speights and Theo Ratliff to come in and provide 12 more fouls on Howard.

5. Who could be an X-factor?

Louis Williams is the Sixer with the best ability to create his own shot in a half-court setting. He can heat up and carry the offense if Philly can't get running. Williams shot just 7-for-24 (29 percent) against the Magic this season and two of the three games were close. If he had it going in one or both of those games, it may have made a difference in the result.

Prediction

Magic in 5. With Lewis and Turkoglu banged up, the scores may be lower than they would otherwise, but the Magic have proven over the course of 82 games that they're a great defensive team. And if the Sixers can't run as much as they would like, they'll have trouble putting points on the board.

Source from : NBA.com

R2MVP Daily -- April 15

2009-04-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

Tonight, 28 teams will play the final 14 games of the 1,230-game 2008-09 regular season. As Fran Blinebury notes, those 14 games feature a million different storylines.

That's great, but we've followed one storyline here all season, and on the final day of the regular season, we're gonna wear it down to nub. On Friday, we'll publish our final Kia Race to the MVP column highlighting the exploits of the top three players (in alphabetical order): Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Dwight Howard, man of the people.
-- David Dow/NBAE/Getty Images

Admittedly, I focused a lot of the attention in this space to those three, and because of that, maybe we didn't always recognize the stupendous play from the rest of the top 10. Heck, the top 15. It's been that kind of year for the NBA. In 20 years, when those high-def highlights look grainy because we've gone to 2160p on our TVs and we're floating on those WALL-E chaise lounges in space, we'll talk about how good these days were. We'll reminisce about LeBron and Kobe and Wade ... and CP3 and Howard and Billups and Roy and Ray and Yao.

I hope we can look back at this season with appreciation, because, if you think of it, it has been one of the better seasons in recent memory. We have the Cavs and the Lakers with at least 65 wins and a third, the defending champion Boston Celtics, notching 60 wins for the second consecutive season, one in which Kevin Garnett missed 25 games.

Because of this, one of the things I've tried to avoid this season is knock anyone. It's not that I can't. I can lob criticism with the best of them. I never saw the purpose of tearing one man down to build another man up.

But when you place people in a list in which you rank them in descending order from the best on down, comparisons -- and sometimes negative ones -- need to be made. It's the nature of the column and the blog.

With that being said, I could give you the negative reasons why Howard and Paul and Billups and Roy and the others aren't in the top three (Howard, still needs to refine his offensive game; Paul's Hornets have been sliding lately; Billups doesn't have the raw stats; Roy has game and the Blazers are on the rise, but his stats also pale in comparison to the top three), but today, we're going to heap the praise.

But before we get into the players, I have two others upon whom I'd like to heap praise. One, Jeff Case at the NBA.com newsdesk in the ATL. Case patiently waits as I pound away at a New Jersey Starbuck trying to focus on the task at hand. And on the occasion I'm stuck for an angle, Case will provide one. Think of this thank you as me taking a fake photo, Cavs style, of Case in his cube.

And finally, you, the readers. We started this blog on Jan. 3 as a way to fill the space in The Court Reporters. You have responded and, at times, kept me on my toes. (Me? Make mistakes? Rush through research? Not me...)

Today's entry will be the 57th. The first 56 have drawn 19,895 responses, the most of any blog on NBA.com. Granted, most of the comments aren't about the column, but I think of this space like those huge inflatable Moonwalks you find at carnivals and street fairs. We'll provide the space where you can bounce around, we just ask that you remove your shoes and try not to knock anyone over.

After all, we don't want to knock anyone. It's about fun. Now, on to the best of the rest.

No. 4, DWIGHT HOWARD, C, ORLANDO MAGIC

Although he is only 23, Howard is old school in the sense he's a classic back-to-the-basket big man who needs to be accounted for on both ends of the floor. He has the best NBA body ever, even better than David Robinson, who was the previous holder of that unofficial, completely made up title and Karl Malone, who may have been 1B to Robinson's 1A. This season, Howard will lead the league in rebounding and blocks, becoming just the sixth man in the history of the NBA to do so. If he doesn't win Defensive Player of the Year, I'll be as surprised as these people.

No. 5, CHRIS PAUL, G, NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

You already know my proclivity for point guards. I love them. Why? Because they are players from which everything flows. They control the tempo on offense and they're the first line of defense. And no point guard does both better than CP3, the best point guard in the NBA. Yes, I know Deron Williams and the Jazz own CP3 and the Hornets in their head-to-head matchups, but no little man, no point guard is more complete than Paul, who has the highest Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of any player not named L. James or D. Wade. Paul, like Howard, will end up leading the league in two categories: assists and steals. Only the Hornets' regression, mainly because of injury, keeps him at No. 5.

No. 6, CHAUNCEY BILLUPS, G, DENVER NUGGETS

You already know my procl... Anyway, Billups' numbers pale in comparison to the others on this list, especially in field goal percentage (.419). With 6.4 assists per game, he's 17th in the league in assists behind players such as Chris Duhon, Raymond Felton and Stephen Jackson, who's a point forward. So why is Billups here? Simple. Leadership. He's the prime example of an MVP candidate in which his entire reason for being here rests on what can't be measured: he's calm, he instills confidence and he has a basketball creed. Billups has now led his teams to seven consecutive 50-plus win seasons with his measured style. If he had put up these numbers in Detroit, well, ho-hum. Been there. But because he did it with Denver, a team that needed a ringmaster instead of another high-wire act, he will be mentioned. He deserves to be mentioned. Anyone who disagrees doesn't know hoops.

No. 7, BRANDON ROY, G, PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

Here's another player who will be on this list for a long time. Only 24, Roy's in his third season and is the MVP of a team that's on the rise. He's already proven himself to have large onions in the clutch. Just look at the company he keeps. (Hey, what's Nate Robinson doing in there?) As I mentioned in a Race to the MVP column earlier this season, he's a taller, stronger version of Billups. I can think of no higher compliment. He's even getting Most Improved Player love.

No. 8, YAO MING, C, HOUSTON ROCKETS

I said I was going to keep these nice, so consider the following statement a mild rebuke. Yao needs a little more Gordon Gekko in him: "...greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works." Would the Rockets be a better team with Yao calling for the ball all the time? Yelling at his teammates? Would they be better if he were more Machivellian? It may be better for Yao's MVP candidacy (we like big men who put up big numbers), but it may not necessarily be better for the Rockets. And by contributing to the whole, rather than focusing on his personal accolades, Yao becomes more valuable to the Rockets. Strange, but true. Yao once had a teammate who did all that other stuff, and look where it got them. No, Yao, with 76 games under his belt this season, his most since 2004-05, has been the Rockets' anchor instead of an 7-foot-6 albatross around their neck.

No. 9, PAU GASOL, C-F, LOS ANGELES LAKERS

If you could pick any big man for the Triple-Post, aka Triangle, Offense in the NBA, you'd point a finger in the direction of Pau Gasol and say, "That guy. That guy right there. The one who can pass. The one who can set a pick and quickly roll to the hoop. The one who can hit a mid-range jumper. The one who can get weakside offensive boards because of his high basketball IQ. That, guy, because he's tall. That guy, because he's happy and motivated. Him." Pau's not going to wow you with freakish athleticism, but you have to, have to, love the way he thinks and moves in the Lakers' offense. Smart and full of guile, Gasol has given the Lakers 81 games of one of the best season's of his life. Kobe makes the Lakers great. Pau make them greater.

No. 10a and 10b, RAY ALLEN and PAUL PIERCE, G, F, BOSTON CELTICS

I've wavered on the value of individual Celtics players all season. KG, Ray-Ray, The Truth, all of whom contributed mightily to the Celtics' 17th title last season. KG was the heart-and-soul, the maddest of the mad scientists in Boston's swarming defense. Pierce lived up to his nickname, hitting clutch shots and refusing to let Boston lose. And then there's Allen, Mr. Smooth, with an occasional bout of friskiness. But with Garnett missing 25 games this season, a lot of the responsibility has fallen to Pierce and Allen to keep the defending champs looking like champs. While the defense suffers with KG out, Pierce and Allen (with a lot of help from Rajon Rondo), have driven the Cs to their second consecutive 60-win season. And damn it, they deserve consideration, regardless of my foolish insistence early in the season that the Celtics were too talented across the board to single out one player. OK, fine. I'll notice them both.

Happy now?

I am. Thank you for reading. It's been a privilege writing it for you. See you next season.

Saunders should be a good fit in Washington

2009-04-15T20:44:00.000-07:00

My mind cleaves in two when assessing the prospect of Flip Saunders going to the Washington Wizards.

Saunders's name has been around the Wizards' job for weeks. But the news officially broke over the weekend from a variety of sources -- the New York Post being first, I believe -- and, by late Monday, the Wizards were just waiting to hear a verbal or written yes from Saunders on a four-year deal that's believed to be between $16 and $18 million, depending on potential bonuses that Saunders could receive for reaching certain incentives and goals.

An NBA executive told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Saunders has agreed to become the team's new coach, with a formal announcement expected Wednesday.

Even before the news on Tuesday, however, no one believed Saunders would do anything but accept the Washington gig.

To that end, Saunders was finalizing his coaching staff on Monday.

In addition to making former NBA player Sam Cassell, who helped Saunders and the Timberwolves reach the Western Conference finals in 2003, an assistant coach, a league source said that Saunders also wants to bring in Randy Wittman, the former Wolves and Cavaliers coach, to Washington as an assistant. Wittman, who was fired earlier this season by the Timberwolves after starting 4-15, was an assistant in Minnesota with Saunders for parts of eight seasons.

Saunders may also want to find a role for his son Ryan, who was on the University of Minnesota's coaching staff this past season as a graduate assistant after playing college ball for the Gophers.

And this is the group that's going to try and convince Gilbert Arenas to play defense and pass the ball.

On the one hand, Saunders is more than a solid hire. He's a system guy; the Wizards' core group of Arenas, Caron Butler and Antwan Jamison are system players. They were in former coach Eddie Jordan's hybrid Princeton offense for four years (the hybrid involved plenty of clearouts and dribble-drives for Arenas). This is a group that feels best about itself when it's running and scoring; we saw the predictable results of trying to force-feed a team that's offensive-oriented into being a defense-first unit in Phoenix. Saunders can X and O with anybody.

"We are what we are," a member of the Wizards' group said.

As I told you a couple of weeks ago, a Pistons player told me that Saunders's reputation as indifferent to defense while he was in Detroit was terribly overblown, a reaction by Detroit's veterans to no longer having Larry Brown blasting them in every practice for every missed assignment. (Let's get real: the Pistons are a high-maintenance bunch, as this season's implosion should make quite clear.) In his three seasons in Detroit, Saunders' teams were third, second and first in the league in points allowed, and went from 18th to sixth to third in the league in field goal percentage allowed.

As of this writing, the Wizards are 24th in points allowed and 28th in field goal percentage allowed. How much worse could Saunders possibly be?

And the list of potential head coaches in Washington has always been a short one. The Wizards, no matter how much they liked Boston assistant Tom Thibodeau or Dallas' Dwane Casey, couldn't bring in someone with little or no head coaching experience after firing Jordan earlier this season. Their new coach had to be someone with gravitas, with a history of winning something big, not just getting to the first round of the postseason.

To that end, the Wizards made discreet inquiries about the availability of both Pat Riley and Rudy Tomjanovich, according to a league source. But both Riley, the Heat's team president, with five NBA titles on his resume, and Tomjanovich, now a scout with the Lakers, with two titles in the bank while head man in Houston, sent word that they weren't interested in returning to the bench. And we all know that Jeff Van Gundy's power struggle with Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld while both were in New York eliminated him as a possibility even if he wanted the job.

With Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich and Larry Brown spoken for, that doesn't leave many guys with a proven track record of success. In fact, it left exactly two: Saunders and Avery Johnson. Yes, Saunders was a first-round out in seven straight seasons with Minnesota, but so was Kevin Garnett. And Saunders made the conference final in four of his last five seasons as head coach, including three straight years for the Pistons. The Wizards would yodel in Southeast for that kind of success.

But.

There remains the issue of how to best motivate Arenas. It's not that Gil has three heads or is uncoachable; he isn't. But he is a handful. He still seems to be on his own schedule; there seemed to be more of an outline between he and the Wizards about when he would come back, and which games he'd play in, after missing most of the season following knee surgery, than a hard and fast plan.

Saunders is not the confrontational type. Wittman spent four years in Indiana with Bobby Knight, and he can red ass with the best of them. But -- no disrespect intended -- can a guy with a 100-207 career coaching record command attention and respect as the number two guy?

Johnson has a ring from San Antonio, the history of hitting the series-clinching jumper in the 1999 NBA Finals, a 194-70 record in three-plus seasons as coach in Dallas and a Finals apperance with the Mavs in 2006. And he is the next guy on Washington's list if, for some reason, things fall apart with Saunders. More importantly, he doesn't enter a locker room as much as overwhelm it; his brutal honesty and never-pleased attitude caused a mutiny among the Mavericks and led to a quick ouster after last year's playoffs. He might come to blows with half of his next team.

But isn't that kind of what Washington needs, someone to tell them that making the first round of the playoffs isn't good enough?

To his credit, Arenas told me a couple of weeks ago that he has no interest in being Agent Zero right now, and doesn't know if AZ will re-appear next season. In the two games he played, he had 20 assists and 1 turnover. He looked much more interested in facilitating others than getting his own shot off. Part of that was he can't get off right now, as he gets his wind and timing back. So, what will he do next fall if he's back near 100 percent, again able to blow by defenders and finish at the rim?

Maybe Arenas is not the same person at 27 that he was at 23. Lots of guards, like Chauncey Billups, for example -- who swears by Saunders, by the way -- become more team-oriented as their careers continue. It might be that we're looking everywhere else to find someone who can get in Arenas's head when the right guy looks at him in the mirror every morning. If that's true, then Saunders will do just fine.

If that's true.

Source : NBA.com

Thornton chooses to rise above chaos around Clippers

2009-03-24T23:08:00.000-07:00

Four years of college couldn't prepare Clippers forward Al Thornton for this. Exhausted and humiliated after a 28-point home loss to the perennially powerful San Antonio Spurs, on a night when the Clippers used their 26th different starting lineup of the season, Thornton was chewed out in the locker room.

Sterling reportedly called Thornton the most selfish player he has ever seen. He lit into the whole team, threatening to trade every player on the roster.

"I don't think anybody can prepare for anything like that," Thornton says weeks after the March 2 incident. "That was the first time the owner came in here and that type of situation happened to me. It shows you that he cares and he wants to win, that's the bottom line. Some of the things he said I wouldn't agree with, but it shows he wants to win. He wants to be competitive."

Whether Sterling's rant was misguided or not -- particularly the bit directed at Thornton, the Clippers' second-leading scorer (17.1 points per game) and their most durable player -- is beside the point. Thornton got the message.

In the first seven games after being put on blast, Thornton played like a man possessed. He used every inch of his 6-foot-8, 220-pound frame to careen all the way to the hoop, forgoing the awkward midrange fadeaways and leaners, the one unsightly part of this game that still needed work after a full hoops matriculation at Florida State.

"The part about this and the part about the game for Al that's been so strong is that he is no longer settling," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "He's aggressive to attack and when he gets into the paint and raises up, he just jumps over everybody."

Dunleavy hears worse criticism levied his way every Clippers home game than Thornton received from Sterling -- a "Fire Dunleavy" chant echoes throughout Staples Center about as often as Randy Newman's "I Love L.A." plays over the P.A. system -- but Thornton credits Dunleavy for getting him to take the game from an analytical approach.

"I look at the game more from a coach's perspective now than I did at Florida State, in terms of trying to pick out schemes and trying to see it before it happens," Thornton says. "[Dunleavy's] a very smart coach, very intelligent. He studies so much. He might watch more film than any other coach in the league. He knows, play by play, what teams run. He knows everything. I get it from him."

Before Thornton hurt his right shoulder in L.A.'s loss in Detroit on Friday, he had averaged 21.8 points on 62.5 percent shooting and 7.5 rebounds per game after the locker room tirade.

"Being in that attack mode, getting to the rim, finishing strong and getting to the free-throw line -- when you do those types of things, your numbers are going to be in the 20s," Dunleavy said. "That's what [Thornton's] been doing. He's really mixed up his game well between attacking the rim, pulling up for jumpers and being in the position to post up as well."

Thornton's shoulder has him listed at day-to-day, but he sees the value in making a quick recovery even if the Clippers are a lowly 17-53 and the playoffs are out of the question. He's missed only 10 games since entering the league last season.

"We can use this is a starting ground to try to get ready for next year," Thornton says. "I'm assuming that the majority of the players will be here next year, so you just use this and try to get better for next year and build some momentum up. That's all we can do."

If Sterling's biting words about Thornton's play sparked the No. 14 pick in the 2007 Draft to turn it up a notch, the threat of overhauling the roster apparently didn't sink in. With a healthy group returning next year, a top draft pick added to the mix and Thornton continuing to raise his game, there actually is hope on the horizon for the team whose owner nearly disowned.

"Where I want to see myself, I want to be one of the all-time best players in this league when it's all said and done," Thornton said. "Point blank."

As rare as it is for a college senior to be drafted in the first round these days, rarer still is a 25-year-old who puts his head down and decides to get better for his own good after receiving undue criticism. But that's the type of rare that's needed when it comes to lifting the Clippers -- a team that has made just four trips to the postseason in the last 32 seasons -- back to respectability.

That's a task that Thornton is prepared to handle.

Source From : NBA.com

Nets in midst of rough patch with playoffs still in sight

2009-03-16T14:06:00.000-07:00

Several postseason tickets have been punched around the league, but the race for the eighth spot in the East is still up for grabs.

The Nets remain in the pack vying for the final playoff slot, but the task got a little tougher on Friday with a 107-105 last-second road loss to the Clippers on Steve Novak's game-winning 3-pointer from the corner.

Vince Carter had a season-high 41 points along with seven rebounds and six assists for the Nets, but their hopes for the playoffs may have been hurt after leading scorer Devin Harris went down with a strained left shoulder.

The Nets, Knicks and Bobcats all sit at 28-38, a mere 1 1/2 games behind the eighth-seeded Bucks, who are also trying to fend off the Bulls.

"There's six teams fighting for that seventh and eighth spot, and we feel like we're very capable. But talking about it means nothing without executing in the game. And right now, we're not getting the job done," Carter said after the Nets' 11th loss in 15 games. "We've been in close games and still haven't gotten over the hump."

Source From : NBA.com

Bryant, James named Players of the Week

2009-03-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK -- The Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, March 9, through Sunday, March 15.

NBA Players of the Week

March 16
Eastern	F LeBron James, Cleveland
Western	G Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
March 9
Eastern	G Dwyane Wade, Miami
Western	G Deron Williams, Utah
March 2
Eastern	G Devin Harris, New Jersey
Western	F David West, New Orleans
Feb. 23
Eastern	F Dwight Howard, Orlando
Western	F Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers
Feb. 16
All-Star break
Feb. 9
Eastern	F LeBron James, Cleveland
Western	F Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers
Feb. 2
Eastern	F David Lee, New York
Western	G Tony Parker, San Antonio
Jan. 26
Eastern	F LeBron James, Cleveland
Western	C Andrew Bynum, L.A. Lakers
Jan. 19
Eastern	G Jameer Nelson, Orlando
Western	G Chris Paul, New Orleans
Jan. 12
Eastern	F Dwight Howard, Orlando
Western	G Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
Jan. 5
Eastern	G Rodney Stuckey, Detroit
Western	F Al Jefferson, Minnesota
Dec. 29
Eastern	F LeBron James, Cleveland
Western	G Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
Dec. 22
Eastern	G Jameer Nelson, Orlando
Western	G Chris Paul, New Orleans
Dec. 15
Eastern	F Al Harrington, New York
Western	F Tim Duncan, San Antonio
Dec. 8
Eastern	G Dwyane Wade, Miami
Western	F Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas
Dec. 1
Eastern	G Devin Harris, New Jersey
Western	G Brandon Roy, Portland
Nov. 24
Eastern	G Dwyane Wade, Miami
Western	F Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas
Nov. 17
Eastern	F LeBron James, Cleveland
Western	G Chauncey Billups, Denver
Nov. 10
Eastern	F LeBron James, Cleveland
Western	F Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix
Nov. 3
Eastern	F Chris Bosh, Toronto
Western	G Chris Paul, New Orleans

James was second in the league in points (34.0 ppg) and assists (10.8), and added 8.8 rpg, as the Cavaliers went 4-0 and clinched the Central Division title for the second time in franchise history (1975-76). James became the 12th player in NBA history to have three consecutive triple-doubles and recorded his eighth career game of 50-plus points. With three road wins against the L.A. Clippers, Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings, Cleveland improved to an Eastern Conference-best 22-4 against the Western Conference. This is James' sixth Player of the Week Award this season.

Bryant paced the Western Conference in scoring (28.5 ppg) and added 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists, leading the Lakers to a 3-1 week. In a 102-95 win over San Antonio on March 12, Bryant recorded 23 points and six assists as the Lakers clinched their 20th Pacific Division title and their 56th postseason appearance in 61 NBA seasons. This is Bryant's third Player of the Week Award this season.

Here is a recap of the week for James and Bryant:

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

March 10 @ L.A. Clippers: Tallied 32 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, two blocks and two steals in a 87-83 win over the Clippers.

March 12 @ Phoenix: Recorded 34 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds, three blocks and three steals in a 119-111 win over the Suns.

March 13 @ Sacramento: Poured in 51 points, and added nine assists and three blocks in a 126-123 overtime win over the Kings.

March 15 vs. New York: Scored 19 points, and added 10 assists, eight rebounds, four steals and three blocks in a 98-93 win over the Knicks.

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

March 9 @ Portland: Recorded 26 points and three assists in a 111-94 loss to the Trail Blazers.

March 11 @ Houston: Posted 37 points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals in a 102-96 win over the Rockets.

March 12 @ San Antonio: Tallied 23 points, six assists and four rebounds in a 102-95 win over the Spurs.

March 15 vs. Dallas: Scored 28 points, and added eight rebounds and five assists in a 107-100 win over the Mavericks.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta's Joe Johnson, Cleveland's Mo Williams, Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, Miami's Dwyane Wade, New Orleans' Chris Paul, New York's Nate Robinson, Philadelphia's Thaddeus Young and Portland's Brandon Roy.

Source From : NBA.com

Celtics hoping injuries don't cost them home-court advantage

2009-03-16T14:00:00.000-07:00

WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) -- The snow is melting in New England, the NBA regular season is about to enter its final month and the Boston Celtics are running out of time to earn the home-court advantage for the playoffs.

With 16 games left, Boston is 2 1/2 games behind the Cavaliers in the race for the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics lead Cleveland 2-1 in the season series, but their push for the playoffs has been held back by injuries to starters Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo and a slew of backups.

"Whether we get home court or not, the main thing is to just get healthy," Boston swingman Paul Pierce said. "We're a confident ballclub, and if we have to go on the road any point in the playoffs where we don't have home court advantage, we feel like we can still get the job done."

Garnett has missed 10 games with a sprained right knee, and coach Doc Rivers said Saturday that he won't be able to return until "sometime next week." Rondo missed two games -- both losses -- with a right ankle sprain, joining backups Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Brian Scalabrine and Tony Allen in the trainer's room.

"I think we've got a chance, especially with Kevin coming back," Rondo said. "We're just trying to get back into the swing of things. We'll get back into a rhythm and start rolling again."

The Celtics coasted to the best record in the East last year, seven games ahead of second-place Detroit, allowing Rivers to rest his starters down the stretch and give the backups some minutes that proved crucial in the long grind to the franchise's 17th NBA title. This year's race is tighter, and Rivers might soon have to choose whether to challenge for the No. 1 seed or give his players much-needed rest.

"It doesn't look good this year," Rivers said. "Last year we were able to because we had such a big cushion. This year we don't. We're trying to catch Cleveland and trying to stay in front of Orlando. Every year's completely different. And this year's different from last."

Two things have kept the Celtics from walking away with the best record this season: They've gotten worse, and the competition has gotten better. The Celtics are on pace to win 62 games this year -- a number they've surpassed only five times in their illustrious history, but down from last year's 66-16 record.

Although Detroit has faltered, Cleveland has already topped its 2007-08 win total and Orlando is likely to do the same. So are the Los Angeles Lakers, over in the West.

"I don't want to see guys walking out there on one leg and trying to get home court and be burnt out for the playoffs," Pierce said after Boston beat the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night. "It's not going to make sense for these guys to be hopping around, sacrificing right now for later because you wont be healthy in the playoffs. So it's good right now, these guys are taking their time, get 100 percent, and it'll pay off in the playoffs."

Nothing paid off in last year's playoffs like home court. Boston's famous parquet proved to be the difference as early as the first round, when they were forced to a seventh game by the No. 8 seed Atlanta Hawks.

Neither Boston nor Cleveland has won in the other's building since the new Big Three was assembled, and last year they split their home games in the Eastern Conference semifinals before the Celtics took Game 7 at home. Not until they faced the Pistons in the conference finals, and again against the Lakers in the NBA Finals, did the teams manage to win on the road.

Rivers said he doesn't see it as a dilemma -- yet.

"We're not going to injure a guy," he said. "If I thought our guys were tired, I'd react."

Spurce From : NBA.com

Pacers swingman Granger returns after 11 games

2009-03-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

TORONTO (AP) -- Pacers All-Star swingman Danny Granger returned from an 11-game absence on Sunday, coming off the bench in Indiana's game against the Toronto Raptors.

"He's ready to start, I just like the rotations today," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said, adding that Granger will likely start when the Pacers return home Wednesday to play Portland.

Granger had been out since Feb. 18 with a partially torn tendon in his right foot. He is averaging 25 points and 5.0 rebounds. He practiced Thursday and had hoped to play in Friday's 101-87 loss at Atlanta but was not ready.

O'Brien said Granger will play limited minutes until his conditioning improves.

"We do not want to play him for extended minutes at a time," O'Brien said. "You won't see him on the court for a whole quarter."

The Pacers entered Sunday's contest two games out of the final playoff spot in the East. They went 6-5 without Granger, their leading scorer.

Source From : NBA.com

WNBA Stars Shine in EuroLeague All-Star Game

2009-03-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

MVP honors for Becky Hammon and a dunk from Sylvia
Fowles highlight the 2009 EuroLeague All-Star Game.

Recap courtesy of FIBA Europe

Becky Hammon and Sylvia Fowles made basketball headlines again at the EuroLeague Women All-Star Game on Sunday in Paris.

The CSKA Moscow star, who won a bronze medal with Russia at last year's Olympics in Beijing, poured in a game-high 24 points and was voted Most Valuable Player as Europe won 101-78.

The 31-year-old superstar hit three-pointers like they were going out of style, making six of seven in the game.

At half-time, Hammon also won the Three-Point Shooting Contest by beating Sheana Mosch in the final.

"They put on a great show for everyone, today and last night," Hammon said.

"Now I'm just looking forward to going out and having a nice dinner.

"This is my first time in Paris."

Spartak Moscow Region's Fowles, the dominating center of Team USA who captured Olympic gold in Beijing, warmed up for the EuroLeague Final Four with a dunk in the third quarter.

"That's what All-Star Games are all about," Fowles said. "It's all about the fans and making sure everyone has a good time."

MiZo Pecs' rising Hungarian international star Anna Vajda and MKB Euroleasing Sopron's Jelena Milovanovic contributed 16 and 13 points, respectively, for Europe.

LOTOS PKO BP Gdynia's Alana Beard finished with 17 points for the Rest of the World.

The first quarter had plenty of thrills, with ZVVZ USK Prague guard Lindsay Whalen and Hammon providing several.

Whalen's alley-oop pass to Candice Dupree of Wisla Can-Pack Krakow made it 10-9 for the Rest of the World.

Hammon came off the bench and scored almost immediately with a three-ball to put the Europeans in front at 16-13.

Milovanovic showed her ability to make an adjustment in mid-air.

The Serbian left her feet with the intention of passing to Anastasiya Veremeenko but with the Nadezhda center covered, Milovanovic floated towards the basket and scored for a 22-21 Europe advantage.

Right before the first-quarter buzzer, Whalen caught a long pass from Besiktas center Laura Harper and spun calmly before scoring from several feet away.

Veremeenko, one of the world's premier shot-blockers, rejected Dominique Canty early in the second quarter.

Europe's Israel international Shay Doron came to life in the period and scored five points.

Vajda caught Doron's alley-oop pass and scored right before half-time for a 50-38 Europe lead.

Hammon's three-ball just 40 seconds into the second half gave Europe a 57-40 lead.

The Rest of the World responded with a Tamika Whitmore three before Fowles picked off an errant Hammon pass, dribbled in and dunked to bring the crowd to its feet.

The Rest of the World ended up outscoring Europe 25-19 in the third quarter to trail 68-63.

But Vajda buried a three-ball at the start of the fourth and then made a lay-up as Europe took control again and went on to claim a decisive victory.

Source from : WNBA.com

Overseas Update with Temeka Johnson

2009-03-16T13:48:00.000-07:00

Temeka Johnson, who is a restricted free agent,
is currently playing in Israel this offseason.

After a tumultuous year - both on and off the court - in 2008, Temeka Johnson is off to a fantastic start in 2009. She is currently in Israel, where she is spending her WNBA offseason playing for Raanana Hertzeliya, alongside fellow WNBA players Charde Houston and Kelly Schumacher.

Johnson, who leads the Israeli Women’s DI League in assists (6.6 per game), earned her second Round MVP of the season on March 6 for Round 19 (she also won Round 13 MVP on Feb. 3). Her team is currently in the playoffs, with its next game set for tomorrow against Electra Ramat Hasharon, a squad that features Ebony Hoffman and Jia Perkins.

WNBA.com caught up with Johnson to discuss her play in Israel, her free agent status in the WNBA and some of the community service work she has been up to this offseason.

Source From : WNBA.com

Anything you can do, I can do better

2009-03-15T05:05:00.000-07:00

Six years ago, the hype surrounding the 2003 NBA Draft centered on the possibility of the new millennium's version of the Bird-Magic rivalry: LeBron vs. Melo.

Jesse D. Garrabrant/Victor Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images

Carmelo Anthony is averaging 22 points and has the Nuggets on track for another playoff berth, but the head-to-head showdown between he and LeBron James is nothing compared to what has materialized lately between James and Dwyane Wade.

A day after James lit up the Kings for 51 points, Wade followed with 50 points Saturday afternoon in a 140-129 triple-overtime win over the Jazz.

"Just another day at the office," Wade said after the win.

Rightfully so. In the past week, Wade has put up scoring totals of 25, 48, 32 and 50, helping the Heat to a 3-1 record in the four games.

James, not to be outmatched, had three straight triple-doubles and closed out the week with the 51-point outburst.

NBA.com's Race to the MVP has both James and Wade in a battle for the top spot, which James currently holds. But there are five weeks to go. With the kinds of weeks these two have put up throughout the course of the season, the closing days of the season should definitely be entertaining to say the least.

Laker Girls

2009-03-15T04:59:00.000-07:00

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WNBA Stars Shine in EuroLeague All-Star Game

Overseas Update with Temeka Johnson

Anything you can do, I can do better

Laker Girls