Kings playing defense. Gotta have some set plays on offense tho...
Banks aint that much harder than Kenny G.
Well damn.
to the Miami Heat falling apart.
Banks aint that much harder than Kenny G.
Well damn.
to the Miami Heat falling apart.
| 2010-11 Power Rankings: Week 4 | ||||
| RK (LW) | TEAM | REC | COMMENT | |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/no/new-orleans-hornets | 1 (2) | Hornets | 11-1 | Skepticism about Jack truly impacting CP's contentment level is understood after we were all told that upon Jack's arrival in Canada that he was super close with Bosh. But he also makes the league's hottest team better. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/sa/san-antonio-spurs | 2 (4) | Spurs | 11-1 | Focus on the Spurs being in the midst of the eighth double-digit win streak of the Popovich Era? Or that Duncan has five single-digit scoring games already ... which didn't happen last season until March? |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/lal/los-angeles-lakers | 3 (3) | Lakers | 12-2 | The schedule has indeed been cakey. The defense, by Laker standards, has been spotty. The champs, though, are back to crushing people, as evidenced by the league's only current double-digit average scoring margin. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/bos/boston-celtics | 4 (1) | Celtics | 9-4 | You saw the worst of the Celts in their past two games. They didn't have Rondo in Toronto, true, but they also played with a lack of focus and respect, first against Durant-less OKC and then in the Canadian matinee. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/orl/orlando-magic | 5 (10) | Magic | 9-3 | Looks like both of the Magic's main rivals are going to be sweating health all season. Would love to tell you the Magic have the focus/togetherness to take advantage of such helpful circumstances, but I'm still dubious. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/dal/dallas-mavericks | 6 (6) | Mavericks | 8-4 | Good luck trying to explain why the Mavs, for the second straight season, are so much more ruthless on the road than at home. You called that like you predicted Dallas -- Dallas! -- would be winning games with D. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/chi/chicago-bulls | 7 (12) | Bulls | 7-4 | When Boozer comes back to join the long and rangy Noah and Gibson -- and especially if D-Rose starts getting to the line more than 5.5 times per game like he deserves-- these guys can challenge in the East. This season. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/okc/oklahoma-city-thunder | 8 (14) | Thunder | 9-4 | Durant shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and 30 percent on 3-pointers? OKC riding the Westbrook Express to back-to-back wins in Boston and Milwaukee sans Durant and with its most stifling D of the season? Huh? |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/utah/utah-jazz | 9 (5) | Jazz | 9-5 | Now that some of the shock and awe from Resurrection Week has worn off, do we dare suggest continuously falling way behind A) isn't an advisable nightly strategy and B) hints at holes in D-Will's supporting cast? |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/mia/miami-heat | 10 (7) | Heat | 8-5 | Not expecting much sympathy out there for the Miami Hurt, but the committee (of one) can plainly say we're not enjoying this. Can't expect anything from them while Miller and Haslem are out and Wade is hobbled. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/por/portland-trail-blazers | 11 (11) | Trail Blazers | 8-6 | One of the many sad facts in a city with too many to count: The battered Blazers pulled out two nice Ws last week amid the latest heaps of pain ... but never get the props Houston always did for its success when Yao-less. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/den/denver-nuggets | 12 (9) | Nuggets | 7-6 | You tell us, Nuggets Nation. Dismayed by what you're seeing passion-wise from Melo and Co. with the franchise in limbo? Or reasonably satisfied at a game over .500 given injuries to K-Mart and Big Bird? |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/phx/phoenix-suns | 13 (
| Suns | 6-7 | Losing Lopez made a tiny team painfully smaller. Losing Nash next made watching lil' Phoenix painful, as evidenced by the Saturday night surrender of 123 points to a Charlotte team that never scores like that. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/atl/atlanta-hawks | 14 (15) | Hawks | 8-5 | Obviously wouldn't have known this without our friends from Elias, but All-Lefty Team fixture J-Smoove is on course to become the fifth player ever to average 16 points, 9 boards, 4 assists and 3 blocks. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/mem/memphis-grizzlies | 15 (17) | Grizzlies | 5-9 | Will not overreact to a home win over the Wade-less Heat because we already (foolishly) did that after their one-point W at Dallas. Gay is earning that money, but that's as far as it goes for Grizz proclamations here. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/mil/milwaukee-bucks | 16 (13) | Bucks | 5-8 | I want to believe, as an unabashed Bogut and Jennings fan, that the Bucks' offense is going to fix itself as Bogut's elbow gets stronger and Maggette and Salmons shake their recent ankle woes. Really, really want to. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/cha/charlotte-bobcats | 17 (21) | Bobcats | 5-8 | We always get on MJ when he's not visible, but it's hard to quibble with Saturday night's absence. First home game that His Airness wasn't sitting courtside ... and S-Jax uncorks the first triple-double in team history. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/tor/toronto-raptors | 18 (24) | Raptors | 5-9 | Bosh's, uh, character-building November continues. Toronto is suddenly a sparkling 1-0 against mighty Boston since his departure. The Raps, with Bosh, had lost their previous six home dates with the Celts dating to 2007. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/gs/golden-state-warriors | 19 (1 | Warriors | 7-6 | You keep reading and hearing about how soft the early schedule has been, as if the Dubs are going to apologize. After the Cohan Era -- one playoff trip in the past 17 seasons -- 5-1 at home feels unapologetically spectacular. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/ind/indiana-pacers | 20 (19) | Pacers | 5-6 | We continue with the premise that the Pacers used up too much mojo with those 144 points against Denver ... because the only time they've cracked 100 points in the five games since came against the defenseless Clippers. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/ny/new-york-knicks | 21 (23) | Knicks | 6-8 | The committee was holed up in Gotham when a 2-1 start inflated Knicks expectations. Can only imagine how unrealistic some folks will be now after three straight road wins over some West lottery teams. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/det/detroit-pistons | 22 (20) | Pistons | 5-8 | It's one of the untold surprises of the season: Detroit is firmly in the heart of the best-of-the-worst battle for seeds No. 6 through No. 8 in the East, despite that 0-5 start and the player-coach tensions that won't go away. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/hou/houston-rockets | 23 (16) | Rockets | 3-9 | Still no Yao. No Aaron Brooks. No wins in seven tries when the Rockets allow 100 points. And virtually no defense to speak of in the two games since what ranks as an undeniable quality win at home over Chicago. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/cle/cleveland-cavaliers | 24 (22) | Cavaliers | 5-7 | The Cavs took a .500 record into back-to-back games on the road against the top two teams on our list. So, yes, there are roughly 10 to 20 people in Cleveland who feel borderline good about NBA basketball these days. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/sac/sacramento-kings | 25 (29) | Kings | 4-8 | Enraged as I am to see my man Casspi punished for some collectively woeful D to date, there's not much I can say when the Kings hold the Nets and Hornets to 81 and 75 points in the first two games post-lineup change. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/nj/new-jersey-nets | 26 (25) | Nets | 4-9 | Progress report? Five straight losses in games decided by five points or fewer, one public plea already from the new coach for more toughness and accountability and zero double-doubles for a presumed All-Star in Lopez. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/phi/philadelphia-76ers | 27 (26) | 76ers | 3-10 | Iguodala's future is still the story with this team ... even after that New Orleans trade with Toronto that cost the Hornets an asset (Peja's contract) believed to be earmarked for an Iguodala offer. Just tellin' the truth. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/min/minnesota-timberwolves | 28 (27) | Timberwolves | 4-10 | The D-League geek in me can't resist voicing unreserved support -- while acknowledging that nobody in basketball does this yet -- for the baseball- style thought of sending J-Flynn to Sioux Falls on a rehab assignment. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/wsh/washington-wizards | 29 (30) | Wizards | 4-8 | The boot on his left foot isn't the only early obstacle to J-Wall's Rookie of the Year bid. Griffin's dunks and numbers are so irresistibly addictive that he can probably bank on half of the ROY votes, even if the Clips go 1-81. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/lac/los-angeles-clippers | 30 (2 | Clippers | 1-13 | The committee's old friend Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com summed it up on Twitter better than we could: "Worse than the record itself is the fact the last five Ls came against the Knicks, Pacers, Wolves, Nets and Pistons." |
The rejuvenated Tyson Chandler is helping the Dallas Mavericks keep their championship hopes alive.
I don't want to overstate my case here. We expected the Dallas Mavericks to be a middle-of-the-pack Western Conference playoff team that couldn't hang with the big boys, and with Dallas projected to win 49 games and 4th in the West, nobody is making dramatic revisions to their forecasts just yet.
Thus, saying the championship window remains "open" for this team seems like a stretch.
But I would definitely describe it as "unlocked."
In all likelihood, the Mavericks need more help if they're going to pose a legitimate threat to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference. Nonetheless, the good news from the first three weeks of the regular season is that Dallas appears to be in far better shape than generally imagined. Throwing open that window may require a hard push from a midseason transaction, but the thing isn't bolted shut.
I say this not only because of the big-picture stuff -- they're 8-4 with wins over Boston and New Orleans and the Playoff Odds project the Mavs to claim the West's fourth-best record -- but because of the small-picture items that contribute to that picture.
In particular, the dramatic improvements by two players from whom we expected relatively little -- Tyson Chandler and DeShawn Stevenson -- have allowed Dallas to weather the early absence of high-scoring guard Rodrigue Beaubois and maintain contact with scorching-hot rivals like the Lakers, Hornets and Spurs.
Chandler's revival has been the lesser of the two surprises, because we've seen him do this before. In New Orleans, his high-flying finishes around the basket provided the jelly to Chris Paul's peanut butter as they hooked up on countless alley-oops. There was a certain irony in seeing Jason Kidd and Chandler hook up in similar fashion on the first play of the Mavs' game in New Orleans.
(Side note for the league's 30 coaches: This is a far better way to "involve the big guy early" than by running the static, no-chance post play most of you insist on calling to start the game. That's what New Orleans did with Chandler when he was there, even though he has no post game at all, and all it did was guarantee they trailed 2-0 many nights. They'd have been better off just having Peja Stojakovic shoot from half court.)
Previously, Chandler has battled injuries, playing only 96 games due to foot and ankle problems the past two seasons, with last year's campaign in Charlotte being a particularly lost cause. But those injuries haven't given him much trouble this year.
"It feels good to be healthy again," said Chandler when he passed through Atlanta this weekend. "It feels good to not think again. Now I just react. I feel good after games. Last year I would walk out, ice packs everywhere, hurting -- that's no fun."
Chandler appears to be having tons of fun this year, shooting 73.8 percent from the floor and showcasing a vastly improved midrange jumper. He shocked the Hawks by confidently draining a 15-footer early in Dallas' win Saturday, but the real difference is at the free throw line. Chandler, a 61.0 percent shooter from the stripe entering the season, has converted 81.8 percent so far.
"I got with my trainer this summer and it was just nonstop shooting," Chandler said. "Just consistently, every day, taking shots, getting confident in my stroke and letting it fly. I've seen it go in so many times from the same spot, the game is no different."
"It's unbelievable," said teammate Dirk Nowitzki, a fellow who knows a thing or two about shooting. "He's still got a little hitch in there, it's a little awkward-looking, but it's sure going in. It just shows his wanting to improve, [his] work in the offseason. You can't just foul him anymore."
Chandler isn't the only improved veteran in the Mavs' starting five. At shooting guard, Stevenson has shocked the masses by hitting 13 of 23 3-pointers. He made only 19 triples all of last season, while shooting a ghastly 28.3 percent from the floor.
As with Chandler, Stevenson had shown this ability previously, but health woes had sent his career spiraling. In consecutive seasons in Washington he made 40.4 percent and 38.3 percent from downtown, while starting all 82 games both seasons. A back injury crushed his productivity the past two seasons, but this year he's in better shape and letting the jumper rip again.
"I had back surgery two years ago," Stevenson said. "Last year was my first year coming off back surgery. I think it was tough. [But] I'm getting my rhythm back, I dropped a lot of weight and I'm on a great team with a Hall of Fame point guard.
"I'm getting situations where I'm wide-open, so it's a blessing. I don't know if they're going to start guarding me, but I'm just catching and shooting."
The surprising shooting of these two has had another benefit for Dallas. Chandler and Stevenson are two of the Mavs' best defenders, and they've been able to start games and stay on the floor.
With those two and a supporting cast of long-armed veterans, Dallas has befuddled opponents with a variety of junk defenses. If the Mavs aren't the league's leading practitioner of zone defense, they're certainly on the short list, and it's a weapon they used to throw Atlanta's normally potent offense into a tailspin Saturday.
"It's actually a more difficult defense to play than man-to-man," said Mavs coach Rick Carlisle. "You have to be much more alert, there are more complexities to it, the communication factor is much higher; there are a lot of things going on."
"We have to play to our length and our experience," Carlisle said. "We're not the fastest team in the league, but we do have good length and a high IQ. The zone, it's a complex defense, there are a lot of vectors to it, with a lot of different things that go on: overloads, guys running the baseline, different ball screen angles. But it's something our guys have worked hard at, and [assistant coach] Dwane Casey has done a great job teaching it."
Daring to be different has Dallas seventh in the NBA in Defensive Efficiency, helping the Mavs overcome bumpy offensive starts for Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and J.J. Barea and the fact they've had to use Rob Corddry's stunt double as a rotation player.
But Beaubois should be back before Christmas to provide an offensive spark, while owner Mark Cuban's deep pockets will have Dallas in the hunt for the types of trades that can land an All-Star complement to Nowitzki and another body for the frontcourt.
Like I said, they're not there yet, and they're still going to need some help to challenge the West's top three. But the career revivals by Chandler and Stevenson have left Dallas in a far stronger position than it seemed sans Beaubois. Sure, it's a heavy window, but a good shove in the right spot can throw it open again.
http://[h3][/h3][h3]Gee may return to Wizards[/h3]
12:13PM ET
[h5]Alonzo Gee [/h5]
[img]http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/4232.jpg[/img]
Alonzo Gee was waived by the Spurs earlier this month, but it's looking like he's about to find another home.
According to Michael Lee of the Washington Post, two leagues sources have indicated the Wizards are moving closer towards signing him.
Gee played for the Wizards last season on two 10-day contracts and the team was high on his game before he decided to bolt for the Spurs.
Washington has 15 players under contract, so if it decides to sign Gee, someone will have to go.
"Lester Hudson is on a non-guaranteed contract and stands as the most likely candidate," wrote Lee. "Hudson has struggled in a backup role this season, going 0-for-9 from the field with two points and six assists in five games."
Lee also reported via a source with knowledge of the situation that Gee would receive a non-guaranteed deal, meaning the team would have until early January to decided on whether to keep him for the rest of the season or not.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Gibson could be out[/h3]
11:54AM ET
[h5]Taj Gibson | Bulls [/h5]
According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, Bulls power forward Taj Gibson sat out of practice Sunday due to a pinched nerve in his right foot.
"It's real sore," Gibson told the paper. "I don't know if I'll be able to play Tuesday (against the Lakers), but at least we have two more days to let it heal."
If Gibson has to sit out Tuesday's bout with the defending champs, the Bulls will be short staffed up front against Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom.
It's possible Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau could elect to start both rookie Omer Asik and Joakim Noah in the starting lineup to combat L.A.'s size.
If not, Brian Scalabrine may get the starting call at power forward for the Bulls.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Iguodala may return on Tuesday[/h3]
11:07AM ET
[h5]Andre Iguodala | 76ers [/h5]
Andre Iguodala has been dealing with tendinitis in his right Achilles tendon and he missed the last three games. He practiced on Sunday and is optimistic that he'll be able to play on Tuesday against the Wizards.
"It's feeling better, and it's a matter of getting warmed up. It takes a long time." Iguodala told The Philadelphia Inquirer. "We had a good day in terms of running, and I got a chance to get up and down the court."
He says he may have come back too soon before and that's why he didn't rush back this time.
"I took a week off, and then we had back-to-backs and I didn't get a chance to practice. I went through a walk-through" before the Dallas game, he said, "but we didn't get a chance to practice like today, and we have another one [Monday], and that will help a lot."
It is not known if Iguodala will start at small forward when he returns, or replace rookie Evan Turner at shooting guard.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Iverson's broke[/h3]
10:54AM ET
[h5]Allen Iverson [/h5]
According to Kate Fagan of The Philadelphia Inquirer, former NBA All-Star Allen Iverson isn't just playing in Turkey for the love of the game and to see a different part of the world, but because he needs the money.
Fagan wrote on Sunday: "A member of one NBA front office, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the subject matter, said that prior to last season, a member of Iverson's family called to inquire about a contract for Iverson, explaining that Iverson owed that person money and would be unable to pay without a contract. A similar source explained that Iverson is broke, plain and simple. Over his NBA career, including his lucrative deal with Reebok, Iverson made more than $100 million."
Iverson, who signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Besiktas Cola Turka Black Eagles, only scored two points in his Turkish league debut on Sunday.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Bogut's injuries affecting his offense[/h3]
10:27AM ET
[h5]Andrew Bogut | Bucks [/h5]
Andrew Bogut took a nasty fall last April and spent the offseason rehabbing his right hand, right wrist and right elbow. Bogut is doing fine when it comes to rebounding (10.9 per game) and blocking shots (2.67 per game), but his scoring has been off. Bogut admits the injuries are still causing him to have bad form on his shots.
"I don't feel 100 percent," Bogut tells FanHouse. "My arm's still giving me a bit of trouble, especially shooting. Offensively, my right hand is giving me trouble at the moment, especially with free throws. I'm really struggling ... Otherwise, it's not caused me a whole lot of problems other than just trying to work to get into the groove shooting."
For the season, Bogut is averaging 11.6 points, while shooting 48 percent from the floor, his lowest since his rookie season. Bogut is a career 60.1 percent free-throw shooter, but that's down to 46.3 percent.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Wade day-to-day[/h3]
10:06AM ET
[h5]Dwyane Wade | Heat [/h5]
A sprained left wrist kept Dwyane Wade in street clothes on Saturday against Memphis. According to ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst, an MRI on Sunday confirmed the sprain and the shooting guard is listed as day-to-day.
The Heat won't take any chances with Wade, so there's a chance he won't play Monday against Indiana, but could start Wednesday against Orlando. That game will be televised on ESPN.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Haslem out until All-Star break?[/h3]
9:46AM ET
[h5]Udonis Haslem | Heat [/h5]
Miami Heat power forward Udonis Haslem suffered a sprained left foot on Saturday and is scheduled to visit a specialist on Monday.
According to ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein, a source said Sunday night that the team fears Haslem may be out until the All-Star break, if he needs surgery.
Heat president Pat Riley spoke to local reporters Sunday night and said: "We don't know [the severity] right now. With him, I doubt if he'll miss the year, but let's wait until [Monday] to get the final determination of what it is."
Yahoo! Sports also reports Haslem could be out until the All-Star break, or even longer, depending on the severity of the injury.
-- Nick Borges
[h5]ESPN's Tom Haberstroh[/h5]
Heat will miss Haslem's rebounding
http://[h3]Stojakovic's role with the Raptors[/h3]
9:27AM ET
[h5]Peja Stojakovic | Raptors [/h5]
Most pundits analyzing the Hornets-Raptors five-player trade on Saturday think Toronto's role for Peja Stojakovic will be easy to call. They can play him until late February and try to agree on a buyout so he can sign with a playoff team. They could also let his $15 million salary, which was adjusted due to a trade bonus, come off the books in July.
Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo said he's not sure how he will use the small forward.
"Nothing is pre-determined," Colangelo told the Toronto Sun. "I've had conversation with Peja and his agent. They wanted to know what was in our agenda.
"Let's get him here, assess him and let's see if he can help this franchise. He could help mentoring, he could help us win a few games in the process."
Stojakovic and Jerryd Bayless should clear their physicals on Monday and be on the active roster Wednesday against Philadelphia.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Collison may play Monday[/h3]
9:02AM ET
[h5]Darren Collison | Pacers [/h5]
Pacers head coach Jim O'Brien had hoped to have his starting point guard, Darren Collison, back in the lineup on Saturday, but decided to keep him on the inactive list to give the sprained right ankle more time to heal.
"We have a situation where it was sore (Saturday), and I can't afford to be in a situation where he can't go and I have A.J. Price on the inactive list," coach Jim O'Brien told The Indianapolis Star.
According to the newspaper, the team is optimistic Collison, who has missed three games, will play Monday against the Miami Heat.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Lakers eyeing a big man[/h3]
8:45AM ET
[h5]Los Angeles Lakers [/h5]
The Lakers won't have backup center Theo Ratliff on the active roster for three to five more weeks due to left knee surgery and the team is contemplating bringing in someone as a short-term replacement.
"We're looking into that and we hope to get something settled this week," head coach Phil Jackson told the Los Angeles Times on Sunday.
Centers Erick Dampier and Paul Davis have been mentioned as potential targets, but Dampier wants a guaranteed contract for the entire season and Davis is currently playing in Spain.
Veteran Jake Voskuhl, a solid defender and rebounder, might get the call. He has been working out to stay in shape and he's willing to sign a non-guaranteed contract.
"The Lakers are a great situation," agent Mark Bartelstein recently told the newspaper. "Any time they call, you're certainly going to listen. Hopefully something's going to happen."
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Billups' future in Denver[/h3]
7:17AM ET
[h5]Chauncey Billups | Nuggets [/h5]
Chauncey Billups would like to finish his career with his hometown team and then work for Nuggets in the front office when he retires. His future with the club is up in the air due to the uncertainty of Carmelo Anthony and his contract.
Most feel the Nuggets will go into a rebuilding mode if Anthony is traded and that would probably make Billups a candidate to be shopped.
Billups is set to make $14.2 million next season. But only $3.7 million is protected if he's released by the Nuggets shortly after the conclusion of their season.
"I know the business of basketball. Nothing really surprises me in this game. People talk about Carmelo (Anthony), the possibility of me being moved, the J.R. Smith situation -- there are a lot of uncertainties around here. I don't like being part of the uncertainty. But that's what it is, that's the nature of the beast. I've been down the road. I know how this business goes. I respect the process. At the same time, I know what I've done to change the culture around here."
As much as Billups would prefer to stay in Denver, he doesn't want to play for a team that's starting over.
"I don't want to rebuild. They know that and I don't think that they want to do that," Billups said. "I've had some conversations with Josh and Masai. I think that they want to win. I don't think they're looking (to rebuild and then try) to win 6, 7 years down the line. I don't have that kind of time. ... If they want to (rebuild), that's another conversation that we've got to have."
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Yao staying positive[/h3]
7:00AM ET
[h5]Yao Ming | Rockets [/h5]
Yao Ming took part in the Rockets' video session on Sunday and rode a stationary bicycle during practice. Yao is out for another two weeks due to a bone bruise in his left ankle and is trying to look on the bright side of the situation.
He was relieved when a recent test showed no complications to the surgically-repaired foot.
"Be positive," Yao told the Houston Chronicle. "It already happened. It could be a lot worse. At least that proves it was a very successful surgery in that area. We just need to deal with another injury."
Yao's main concern right now is his lack of conditioning.
"It's definitely not enough," Yao said of the lack of workouts.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Flynn's mental block[/h3]
5:45AM ET
[h5]Jonny Flynn | Timberwolves [/h5]
Jonny Flynn is close to playing again, but he's having a "mental block" when it comes to going full speed during conditioning workouts and drills. That's very common for players coming back from injuries.
"In my mind, you feel tightness in certain areas, so you don't want to go past certain barriers," Flynn told the Pioneer Press over the weekend. "That's why you don't see me exploding like I used to or showing that pop in my legs. I'm still trying to get past that."
Flynn is improving each day, after having hip surgery in the summer, and has said he'd be willing to play "a game or two" in the D-League with the Sioux Falls Skyforce before he suits up for the Wolves.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Jamison not pouting anymore[/h3]
5:11AM ET
[h5]Antawn Jamison | Cavaliers [/h5]
Antawn Jamison wasn't happy with the idea of coming off the bench earlier in the season, but he's OK with it now.
"I'm fine," Jamison tells The News-Herald. "It's two things: One, getting healthy. Two, mentally not worried about coming off the bench and pouting like a little kid.
"Once I put it behind me and went out there and competed, no matter how many minutes I had, I started to get a rhythm."
Jamison, since he came back from a knee issue six games ago, is averaging 13.3 points and 7.7 rebounds. He's also shooting 47.9 percent from the field.
"It's been a while (since I've come off the bench)," Jamison added. "You still have to go out there and compete."
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Riley's options[/h3]
4:51AM ET
[h5]Miami Heat [/h5]
The http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=miaMiami Heat should have a rough idea about the length of time Udonis Haslem will be sidelined after he visits a specialist on Monday. Heat president Pat Riley could make a roster move, if it is determined Haslem will be out for an extended period of time.
ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein report the Heat could try to sign http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=181Erick Dampier or http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2810Shavlik Randolph, who played for them last season.
Riley acknowledged Sunday night that the team will miss Haslem's rebounding and that might be the impetus to sign a player who can get the ball off the rim.
"There's a possibility we might need more rebounding," Riley said. "We need more rebounding, and we need obviously somebody that is going to have a big body in the paint that can make a difference and have an impact. We will consider something like that."
The Heat already has a full 15-man roster, so someone would need to be traded or released to open up a spot.
The team could also stand pat and give Haslem's minutes to Juwan Howard or Jamaal Magloire.
| 2010-11 Power Rankings: Week 4 | ||||
| RK (LW) | TEAM | REC | COMMENT | |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/no/new-orleans-hornets | 1 (2) | Hornets | 11-1 | Skepticism about Jack truly impacting CP's contentment level is understood after we were all told that upon Jack's arrival in Canada that he was super close with Bosh. But he also makes the league's hottest team better. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/sa/san-antonio-spurs | 2 (4) | Spurs | 11-1 | Focus on the Spurs being in the midst of the eighth double-digit win streak of the Popovich Era? Or that Duncan has five single-digit scoring games already ... which didn't happen last season until March? |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/lal/los-angeles-lakers | 3 (3) | Lakers | 12-2 | The schedule has indeed been cakey. The defense, by Laker standards, has been spotty. The champs, though, are back to crushing people, as evidenced by the league's only current double-digit average scoring margin. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/bos/boston-celtics | 4 (1) | Celtics | 9-4 | You saw the worst of the Celts in their past two games. They didn't have Rondo in Toronto, true, but they also played with a lack of focus and respect, first against Durant-less OKC and then in the Canadian matinee. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/orl/orlando-magic | 5 (10) | Magic | 9-3 | Looks like both of the Magic's main rivals are going to be sweating health all season. Would love to tell you the Magic have the focus/togetherness to take advantage of such helpful circumstances, but I'm still dubious. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/dal/dallas-mavericks | 6 (6) | Mavericks | 8-4 | Good luck trying to explain why the Mavs, for the second straight season, are so much more ruthless on the road than at home. You called that like you predicted Dallas -- Dallas! -- would be winning games with D. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/chi/chicago-bulls | 7 (12) | Bulls | 7-4 | When Boozer comes back to join the long and rangy Noah and Gibson -- and especially if D-Rose starts getting to the line more than 5.5 times per game like he deserves-- these guys can challenge in the East. This season. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/okc/oklahoma-city-thunder | 8 (14) | Thunder | 9-4 | Durant shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and 30 percent on 3-pointers? OKC riding the Westbrook Express to back-to-back wins in Boston and Milwaukee sans Durant and with its most stifling D of the season? Huh? |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/utah/utah-jazz | 9 (5) | Jazz | 9-5 | Now that some of the shock and awe from Resurrection Week has worn off, do we dare suggest continuously falling way behind A) isn't an advisable nightly strategy and B) hints at holes in D-Will's supporting cast? |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/mia/miami-heat | 10 (7) | Heat | 8-5 | Not expecting much sympathy out there for the Miami Hurt, but the committee (of one) can plainly say we're not enjoying this. Can't expect anything from them while Miller and Haslem are out and Wade is hobbled. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/por/portland-trail-blazers | 11 (11) | Trail Blazers | 8-6 | One of the many sad facts in a city with too many to count: The battered Blazers pulled out two nice Ws last week amid the latest heaps of pain ... but never get the props Houston always did for its success when Yao-less. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/den/denver-nuggets | 12 (9) | Nuggets | 7-6 | You tell us, Nuggets Nation. Dismayed by what you're seeing passion-wise from Melo and Co. with the franchise in limbo? Or reasonably satisfied at a game over .500 given injuries to K-Mart and Big Bird? |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/phx/phoenix-suns | 13 (
| Suns | 6-7 | Losing Lopez made a tiny team painfully smaller. Losing Nash next made watching lil' Phoenix painful, as evidenced by the Saturday night surrender of 123 points to a Charlotte team that never scores like that. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/atl/atlanta-hawks | 14 (15) | Hawks | 8-5 | Obviously wouldn't have known this without our friends from Elias, but All-Lefty Team fixture J-Smoove is on course to become the fifth player ever to average 16 points, 9 boards, 4 assists and 3 blocks. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/mem/memphis-grizzlies | 15 (17) | Grizzlies | 5-9 | Will not overreact to a home win over the Wade-less Heat because we already (foolishly) did that after their one-point W at Dallas. Gay is earning that money, but that's as far as it goes for Grizz proclamations here. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/mil/milwaukee-bucks | 16 (13) | Bucks | 5-8 | I want to believe, as an unabashed Bogut and Jennings fan, that the Bucks' offense is going to fix itself as Bogut's elbow gets stronger and Maggette and Salmons shake their recent ankle woes. Really, really want to. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/cha/charlotte-bobcats | 17 (21) | Bobcats | 5-8 | We always get on MJ when he's not visible, but it's hard to quibble with Saturday night's absence. First home game that His Airness wasn't sitting courtside ... and S-Jax uncorks the first triple-double in team history. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/tor/toronto-raptors | 18 (24) | Raptors | 5-9 | Bosh's, uh, character-building November continues. Toronto is suddenly a sparkling 1-0 against mighty Boston since his departure. The Raps, with Bosh, had lost their previous six home dates with the Celts dating to 2007. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/gs/golden-state-warriors | 19 (1 | Warriors | 7-6 | You keep reading and hearing about how soft the early schedule has been, as if the Dubs are going to apologize. After the Cohan Era -- one playoff trip in the past 17 seasons -- 5-1 at home feels unapologetically spectacular. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/ind/indiana-pacers | 20 (19) | Pacers | 5-6 | We continue with the premise that the Pacers used up too much mojo with those 144 points against Denver ... because the only time they've cracked 100 points in the five games since came against the defenseless Clippers. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/ny/new-york-knicks | 21 (23) | Knicks | 6-8 | The committee was holed up in Gotham when a 2-1 start inflated Knicks expectations. Can only imagine how unrealistic some folks will be now after three straight road wins over some West lottery teams. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/det/detroit-pistons | 22 (20) | Pistons | 5-8 | It's one of the untold surprises of the season: Detroit is firmly in the heart of the best-of-the-worst battle for seeds No. 6 through No. 8 in the East, despite that 0-5 start and the player-coach tensions that won't go away. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/hou/houston-rockets | 23 (16) | Rockets | 3-9 | Still no Yao. No Aaron Brooks. No wins in seven tries when the Rockets allow 100 points. And virtually no defense to speak of in the two games since what ranks as an undeniable quality win at home over Chicago. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/cle/cleveland-cavaliers | 24 (22) | Cavaliers | 5-7 | The Cavs took a .500 record into back-to-back games on the road against the top two teams on our list. So, yes, there are roughly 10 to 20 people in Cleveland who feel borderline good about NBA basketball these days. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/sac/sacramento-kings | 25 (29) | Kings | 4-8 | Enraged as I am to see my man Casspi punished for some collectively woeful D to date, there's not much I can say when the Kings hold the Nets and Hornets to 81 and 75 points in the first two games post-lineup change. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/nj/new-jersey-nets | 26 (25) | Nets | 4-9 | Progress report? Five straight losses in games decided by five points or fewer, one public plea already from the new coach for more toughness and accountability and zero double-doubles for a presumed All-Star in Lopez. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/phi/philadelphia-76ers | 27 (26) | 76ers | 3-10 | Iguodala's future is still the story with this team ... even after that New Orleans trade with Toronto that cost the Hornets an asset (Peja's contract) believed to be earmarked for an Iguodala offer. Just tellin' the truth. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/min/minnesota-timberwolves | 28 (27) | Timberwolves | 4-10 | The D-League geek in me can't resist voicing unreserved support -- while acknowledging that nobody in basketball does this yet -- for the baseball- style thought of sending J-Flynn to Sioux Falls on a rehab assignment. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/wsh/washington-wizards | 29 (30) | Wizards | 4-8 | The boot on his left foot isn't the only early obstacle to J-Wall's Rookie of the Year bid. Griffin's dunks and numbers are so irresistibly addictive that he can probably bank on half of the ROY votes, even if the Clips go 1-81. |
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/lac/los-angeles-clippers | 30 (2 | Clippers | 1-13 | The committee's old friend Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com summed it up on Twitter better than we could: "Worse than the record itself is the fact the last five Ls came against the Knicks, Pacers, Wolves, Nets and Pistons." |
The rejuvenated Tyson Chandler is helping the Dallas Mavericks keep their championship hopes alive.
I don't want to overstate my case here. We expected the Dallas Mavericks to be a middle-of-the-pack Western Conference playoff team that couldn't hang with the big boys, and with Dallas projected to win 49 games and 4th in the West, nobody is making dramatic revisions to their forecasts just yet.
Thus, saying the championship window remains "open" for this team seems like a stretch.
But I would definitely describe it as "unlocked."
In all likelihood, the Mavericks need more help if they're going to pose a legitimate threat to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference. Nonetheless, the good news from the first three weeks of the regular season is that Dallas appears to be in far better shape than generally imagined. Throwing open that window may require a hard push from a midseason transaction, but the thing isn't bolted shut.
I say this not only because of the big-picture stuff -- they're 8-4 with wins over Boston and New Orleans and the Playoff Odds project the Mavs to claim the West's fourth-best record -- but because of the small-picture items that contribute to that picture.
In particular, the dramatic improvements by two players from whom we expected relatively little -- Tyson Chandler and DeShawn Stevenson -- have allowed Dallas to weather the early absence of high-scoring guard Rodrigue Beaubois and maintain contact with scorching-hot rivals like the Lakers, Hornets and Spurs.
Chandler's revival has been the lesser of the two surprises, because we've seen him do this before. In New Orleans, his high-flying finishes around the basket provided the jelly to Chris Paul's peanut butter as they hooked up on countless alley-oops. There was a certain irony in seeing Jason Kidd and Chandler hook up in similar fashion on the first play of the Mavs' game in New Orleans.
(Side note for the league's 30 coaches: This is a far better way to "involve the big guy early" than by running the static, no-chance post play most of you insist on calling to start the game. That's what New Orleans did with Chandler when he was there, even though he has no post game at all, and all it did was guarantee they trailed 2-0 many nights. They'd have been better off just having Peja Stojakovic shoot from half court.)
Previously, Chandler has battled injuries, playing only 96 games due to foot and ankle problems the past two seasons, with last year's campaign in Charlotte being a particularly lost cause. But those injuries haven't given him much trouble this year.
"It feels good to be healthy again," said Chandler when he passed through Atlanta this weekend. "It feels good to not think again. Now I just react. I feel good after games. Last year I would walk out, ice packs everywhere, hurting -- that's no fun."
Chandler appears to be having tons of fun this year, shooting 73.8 percent from the floor and showcasing a vastly improved midrange jumper. He shocked the Hawks by confidently draining a 15-footer early in Dallas' win Saturday, but the real difference is at the free throw line. Chandler, a 61.0 percent shooter from the stripe entering the season, has converted 81.8 percent so far.
"I got with my trainer this summer and it was just nonstop shooting," Chandler said. "Just consistently, every day, taking shots, getting confident in my stroke and letting it fly. I've seen it go in so many times from the same spot, the game is no different."
"It's unbelievable," said teammate Dirk Nowitzki, a fellow who knows a thing or two about shooting. "He's still got a little hitch in there, it's a little awkward-looking, but it's sure going in. It just shows his wanting to improve, [his] work in the offseason. You can't just foul him anymore."
Chandler isn't the only improved veteran in the Mavs' starting five. At shooting guard, Stevenson has shocked the masses by hitting 13 of 23 3-pointers. He made only 19 triples all of last season, while shooting a ghastly 28.3 percent from the floor.
As with Chandler, Stevenson had shown this ability previously, but health woes had sent his career spiraling. In consecutive seasons in Washington he made 40.4 percent and 38.3 percent from downtown, while starting all 82 games both seasons. A back injury crushed his productivity the past two seasons, but this year he's in better shape and letting the jumper rip again.
"I had back surgery two years ago," Stevenson said. "Last year was my first year coming off back surgery. I think it was tough. [But] I'm getting my rhythm back, I dropped a lot of weight and I'm on a great team with a Hall of Fame point guard.
"I'm getting situations where I'm wide-open, so it's a blessing. I don't know if they're going to start guarding me, but I'm just catching and shooting."
The surprising shooting of these two has had another benefit for Dallas. Chandler and Stevenson are two of the Mavs' best defenders, and they've been able to start games and stay on the floor.
With those two and a supporting cast of long-armed veterans, Dallas has befuddled opponents with a variety of junk defenses. If the Mavs aren't the league's leading practitioner of zone defense, they're certainly on the short list, and it's a weapon they used to throw Atlanta's normally potent offense into a tailspin Saturday.
"It's actually a more difficult defense to play than man-to-man," said Mavs coach Rick Carlisle. "You have to be much more alert, there are more complexities to it, the communication factor is much higher; there are a lot of things going on."
"We have to play to our length and our experience," Carlisle said. "We're not the fastest team in the league, but we do have good length and a high IQ. The zone, it's a complex defense, there are a lot of vectors to it, with a lot of different things that go on: overloads, guys running the baseline, different ball screen angles. But it's something our guys have worked hard at, and [assistant coach] Dwane Casey has done a great job teaching it."
Daring to be different has Dallas seventh in the NBA in Defensive Efficiency, helping the Mavs overcome bumpy offensive starts for Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and J.J. Barea and the fact they've had to use Rob Corddry's stunt double as a rotation player.
But Beaubois should be back before Christmas to provide an offensive spark, while owner Mark Cuban's deep pockets will have Dallas in the hunt for the types of trades that can land an All-Star complement to Nowitzki and another body for the frontcourt.
Like I said, they're not there yet, and they're still going to need some help to challenge the West's top three. But the career revivals by Chandler and Stevenson have left Dallas in a far stronger position than it seemed sans Beaubois. Sure, it's a heavy window, but a good shove in the right spot can throw it open again.
http://[h3][/h3][h3]Gee may return to Wizards[/h3]
12:13PM ET
[h5]Alonzo Gee [/h5]
[img]http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/4232.jpg[/img]
Alonzo Gee was waived by the Spurs earlier this month, but it's looking like he's about to find another home.
According to Michael Lee of the Washington Post, two leagues sources have indicated the Wizards are moving closer towards signing him.
Gee played for the Wizards last season on two 10-day contracts and the team was high on his game before he decided to bolt for the Spurs.
Washington has 15 players under contract, so if it decides to sign Gee, someone will have to go.
"Lester Hudson is on a non-guaranteed contract and stands as the most likely candidate," wrote Lee. "Hudson has struggled in a backup role this season, going 0-for-9 from the field with two points and six assists in five games."
Lee also reported via a source with knowledge of the situation that Gee would receive a non-guaranteed deal, meaning the team would have until early January to decided on whether to keep him for the rest of the season or not.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Gibson could be out[/h3]
11:54AM ET
[h5]Taj Gibson | Bulls [/h5]
According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, Bulls power forward Taj Gibson sat out of practice Sunday due to a pinched nerve in his right foot.
"It's real sore," Gibson told the paper. "I don't know if I'll be able to play Tuesday (against the Lakers), but at least we have two more days to let it heal."
If Gibson has to sit out Tuesday's bout with the defending champs, the Bulls will be short staffed up front against Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom.
It's possible Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau could elect to start both rookie Omer Asik and Joakim Noah in the starting lineup to combat L.A.'s size.
If not, Brian Scalabrine may get the starting call at power forward for the Bulls.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Iguodala may return on Tuesday[/h3]
11:07AM ET
[h5]Andre Iguodala | 76ers [/h5]
Andre Iguodala has been dealing with tendinitis in his right Achilles tendon and he missed the last three games. He practiced on Sunday and is optimistic that he'll be able to play on Tuesday against the Wizards.
"It's feeling better, and it's a matter of getting warmed up. It takes a long time." Iguodala told The Philadelphia Inquirer. "We had a good day in terms of running, and I got a chance to get up and down the court."
He says he may have come back too soon before and that's why he didn't rush back this time.
"I took a week off, and then we had back-to-backs and I didn't get a chance to practice. I went through a walk-through" before the Dallas game, he said, "but we didn't get a chance to practice like today, and we have another one [Monday], and that will help a lot."
It is not known if Iguodala will start at small forward when he returns, or replace rookie Evan Turner at shooting guard.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Iverson's broke[/h3]
10:54AM ET
[h5]Allen Iverson [/h5]
According to Kate Fagan of The Philadelphia Inquirer, former NBA All-Star Allen Iverson isn't just playing in Turkey for the love of the game and to see a different part of the world, but because he needs the money.
Fagan wrote on Sunday: "A member of one NBA front office, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the subject matter, said that prior to last season, a member of Iverson's family called to inquire about a contract for Iverson, explaining that Iverson owed that person money and would be unable to pay without a contract. A similar source explained that Iverson is broke, plain and simple. Over his NBA career, including his lucrative deal with Reebok, Iverson made more than $100 million."
Iverson, who signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Besiktas Cola Turka Black Eagles, only scored two points in his Turkish league debut on Sunday.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Bogut's injuries affecting his offense[/h3]
10:27AM ET
[h5]Andrew Bogut | Bucks [/h5]
Andrew Bogut took a nasty fall last April and spent the offseason rehabbing his right hand, right wrist and right elbow. Bogut is doing fine when it comes to rebounding (10.9 per game) and blocking shots (2.67 per game), but his scoring has been off. Bogut admits the injuries are still causing him to have bad form on his shots.
"I don't feel 100 percent," Bogut tells FanHouse. "My arm's still giving me a bit of trouble, especially shooting. Offensively, my right hand is giving me trouble at the moment, especially with free throws. I'm really struggling ... Otherwise, it's not caused me a whole lot of problems other than just trying to work to get into the groove shooting."
For the season, Bogut is averaging 11.6 points, while shooting 48 percent from the floor, his lowest since his rookie season. Bogut is a career 60.1 percent free-throw shooter, but that's down to 46.3 percent.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Wade day-to-day[/h3]
10:06AM ET
[h5]Dwyane Wade | Heat [/h5]
A sprained left wrist kept Dwyane Wade in street clothes on Saturday against Memphis. According to ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst, an MRI on Sunday confirmed the sprain and the shooting guard is listed as day-to-day.
The Heat won't take any chances with Wade, so there's a chance he won't play Monday against Indiana, but could start Wednesday against Orlando. That game will be televised on ESPN.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Haslem out until All-Star break?[/h3]
9:46AM ET
[h5]Udonis Haslem | Heat [/h5]
Miami Heat power forward Udonis Haslem suffered a sprained left foot on Saturday and is scheduled to visit a specialist on Monday.
According to ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein, a source said Sunday night that the team fears Haslem may be out until the All-Star break, if he needs surgery.
Heat president Pat Riley spoke to local reporters Sunday night and said: "We don't know [the severity] right now. With him, I doubt if he'll miss the year, but let's wait until [Monday] to get the final determination of what it is."
Yahoo! Sports also reports Haslem could be out until the All-Star break, or even longer, depending on the severity of the injury.
-- Nick Borges
[h5]ESPN's Tom Haberstroh[/h5]
Heat will miss Haslem's rebounding
http://[h3]Stojakovic's role with the Raptors[/h3]
9:27AM ET
[h5]Peja Stojakovic | Raptors [/h5]
Most pundits analyzing the Hornets-Raptors five-player trade on Saturday think Toronto's role for Peja Stojakovic will be easy to call. They can play him until late February and try to agree on a buyout so he can sign with a playoff team. They could also let his $15 million salary, which was adjusted due to a trade bonus, come off the books in July.
Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo said he's not sure how he will use the small forward.
"Nothing is pre-determined," Colangelo told the Toronto Sun. "I've had conversation with Peja and his agent. They wanted to know what was in our agenda.
"Let's get him here, assess him and let's see if he can help this franchise. He could help mentoring, he could help us win a few games in the process."
Stojakovic and Jerryd Bayless should clear their physicals on Monday and be on the active roster Wednesday against Philadelphia.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Collison may play Monday[/h3]
9:02AM ET
[h5]Darren Collison | Pacers [/h5]
Pacers head coach Jim O'Brien had hoped to have his starting point guard, Darren Collison, back in the lineup on Saturday, but decided to keep him on the inactive list to give the sprained right ankle more time to heal.
"We have a situation where it was sore (Saturday), and I can't afford to be in a situation where he can't go and I have A.J. Price on the inactive list," coach Jim O'Brien told The Indianapolis Star.
According to the newspaper, the team is optimistic Collison, who has missed three games, will play Monday against the Miami Heat.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Lakers eyeing a big man[/h3]
8:45AM ET
[h5]Los Angeles Lakers [/h5]
The Lakers won't have backup center Theo Ratliff on the active roster for three to five more weeks due to left knee surgery and the team is contemplating bringing in someone as a short-term replacement.
"We're looking into that and we hope to get something settled this week," head coach Phil Jackson told the Los Angeles Times on Sunday.
Centers Erick Dampier and Paul Davis have been mentioned as potential targets, but Dampier wants a guaranteed contract for the entire season and Davis is currently playing in Spain.
Veteran Jake Voskuhl, a solid defender and rebounder, might get the call. He has been working out to stay in shape and he's willing to sign a non-guaranteed contract.
"The Lakers are a great situation," agent Mark Bartelstein recently told the newspaper. "Any time they call, you're certainly going to listen. Hopefully something's going to happen."
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Billups' future in Denver[/h3]
7:17AM ET
[h5]Chauncey Billups | Nuggets [/h5]
Chauncey Billups would like to finish his career with his hometown team and then work for Nuggets in the front office when he retires. His future with the club is up in the air due to the uncertainty of Carmelo Anthony and his contract.
Most feel the Nuggets will go into a rebuilding mode if Anthony is traded and that would probably make Billups a candidate to be shopped.
Billups is set to make $14.2 million next season. But only $3.7 million is protected if he's released by the Nuggets shortly after the conclusion of their season.
"I know the business of basketball. Nothing really surprises me in this game. People talk about Carmelo (Anthony), the possibility of me being moved, the J.R. Smith situation -- there are a lot of uncertainties around here. I don't like being part of the uncertainty. But that's what it is, that's the nature of the beast. I've been down the road. I know how this business goes. I respect the process. At the same time, I know what I've done to change the culture around here."
As much as Billups would prefer to stay in Denver, he doesn't want to play for a team that's starting over.
"I don't want to rebuild. They know that and I don't think that they want to do that," Billups said. "I've had some conversations with Josh and Masai. I think that they want to win. I don't think they're looking (to rebuild and then try) to win 6, 7 years down the line. I don't have that kind of time. ... If they want to (rebuild), that's another conversation that we've got to have."
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Yao staying positive[/h3]
7:00AM ET
[h5]Yao Ming | Rockets [/h5]
Yao Ming took part in the Rockets' video session on Sunday and rode a stationary bicycle during practice. Yao is out for another two weeks due to a bone bruise in his left ankle and is trying to look on the bright side of the situation.
He was relieved when a recent test showed no complications to the surgically-repaired foot.
"Be positive," Yao told the Houston Chronicle. "It already happened. It could be a lot worse. At least that proves it was a very successful surgery in that area. We just need to deal with another injury."
Yao's main concern right now is his lack of conditioning.
"It's definitely not enough," Yao said of the lack of workouts.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Flynn's mental block[/h3]
5:45AM ET
[h5]Jonny Flynn | Timberwolves [/h5]
Jonny Flynn is close to playing again, but he's having a "mental block" when it comes to going full speed during conditioning workouts and drills. That's very common for players coming back from injuries.
"In my mind, you feel tightness in certain areas, so you don't want to go past certain barriers," Flynn told the Pioneer Press over the weekend. "That's why you don't see me exploding like I used to or showing that pop in my legs. I'm still trying to get past that."
Flynn is improving each day, after having hip surgery in the summer, and has said he'd be willing to play "a game or two" in the D-League with the Sioux Falls Skyforce before he suits up for the Wolves.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Jamison not pouting anymore[/h3]
5:11AM ET
[h5]Antawn Jamison | Cavaliers [/h5]
Antawn Jamison wasn't happy with the idea of coming off the bench earlier in the season, but he's OK with it now.
"I'm fine," Jamison tells The News-Herald. "It's two things: One, getting healthy. Two, mentally not worried about coming off the bench and pouting like a little kid.
"Once I put it behind me and went out there and competed, no matter how many minutes I had, I started to get a rhythm."
Jamison, since he came back from a knee issue six games ago, is averaging 13.3 points and 7.7 rebounds. He's also shooting 47.9 percent from the field.
"It's been a while (since I've come off the bench)," Jamison added. "You still have to go out there and compete."
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Riley's options[/h3]
4:51AM ET
[h5]Miami Heat [/h5]
The http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=miaMiami Heat should have a rough idea about the length of time Udonis Haslem will be sidelined after he visits a specialist on Monday. Heat president Pat Riley could make a roster move, if it is determined Haslem will be out for an extended period of time.
ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein report the Heat could try to sign http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=181Erick Dampier or http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2810Shavlik Randolph, who played for them last season.
Riley acknowledged Sunday night that the team will miss Haslem's rebounding and that might be the impetus to sign a player who can get the ball off the rim.
"There's a possibility we might need more rebounding," Riley said. "We need more rebounding, and we need obviously somebody that is going to have a big body in the paint that can make a difference and have an impact. We will consider something like that."
The Heat already has a full 15-man roster, so someone would need to be traded or released to open up a spot.
The team could also stand pat and give Haslem's minutes to Juwan Howard or Jamaal Magloire.
I always knew man.
I always knew man.
Originally Posted by Mamba MVP
Not that it's surprising, but still@ A.I. possibly being broke, should have just sold all those oversized clothes to Plato's Closet
Originally Posted by Mamba MVP
Not that it's surprising, but still@ A.I. possibly being broke, should have just sold all those oversized clothes to Plato's Closet
"It's not a problem, it's not a problem - money," Iverson said at an Oct. 29 news conference in New York. "Obviously if it was about money, I would jump out there and say, 'You want me to come off the bench? How much money are you paying?' It wouldn't be a big deal. It's not about money or anything like that."
A member of one NBA front office, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the subject matter, said that prior to last season, a member of Iverson's family called to inquire about a contract for Iverson, explaining that Iverson owed that person money and would be unable to pay without a contract.
http://www.philly.com/inq..._Istanbul.html?viewAll=y
it's no secret that AI loves to gamble....just hope that he doesn't owe money to folks who can do him or his family harm....
"It's not a problem, it's not a problem - money," Iverson said at an Oct. 29 news conference in New York. "Obviously if it was about money, I would jump out there and say, 'You want me to come off the bench? How much money are you paying?' It wouldn't be a big deal. It's not about money or anything like that."
A member of one NBA front office, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the subject matter, said that prior to last season, a member of Iverson's family called to inquire about a contract for Iverson, explaining that Iverson owed that person money and would be unable to pay without a contract.
http://www.philly.com/inq..._Istanbul.html?viewAll=y
it's no secret that AI loves to gamble....just hope that he doesn't owe money to folks who can do him or his family harm....
