KOBE BRYANT is the ONE!!

Bryant’s 41 helps Lakers spoil O’Neal’s Phoenix debut, 130-124

2008-02-20T23:37:00.000-08:00

By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer

PHOENIX (AP)—Kobe Bryant spoiled Shaquille O’Neal’s debut with Phoenix. The Suns believe with the big guy just getting started, there are better days ahead.
Bryant, despite his dislocated right pinkie, scored 41 points to help the Lakers to an intense 130-124 victory over Phoenix on Wednesday night.
Lakers newcomer Pau Gasol added 29, including a breakaway dunk that put Los Angeles up 123-117 with 1:15 to play. Lamar Odom added 22 for the Lakers, who won their sixth in a row to move into a tie with Phoenix atop the Pacific Division.
O’Neal scored nine of his 15 points in the final quarter and grabbed nine rebounds in 29 minutes against his old team in his first game in nearly a month.
“I’m in better shape than I thought I was,” he said, “the adrenaline factor and just being out there with the guys.”
O’Neal came to the Suns a week ago in an unexpected trade that sent Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to Miami. O’Neal played for the Lakers from 1996-2004.

“He did seem to get stronger as the game went on, which is incredible,” Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said. “I did really think he’d run out of steam sometime in the second half, and he really didn’t. Him not being used to anything that we do—124 points—I didn’t think we could put that many up, just starting out.”
Amare Stoudemire had 37 points and 15 rebounds for Phoenix, while Steve Nash added 26 points and eight assists, and Leandro Barbosa and Grant Hill each had 17 points.
“I think everyone was excited for the game and to lose is difficult,” Nash said, “but I think if you take a step back it’s encouraging. I thought Shaquille was great, and I think the possibilities are very exciting.”
The Lakers improved to 3-1 against the Suns, clinching the season series and knocking Phoenix out of a virtual tie with New Orleans for the best record in the West.
“The really important part of this is the season series,” Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson said. “We now have an advantage if this is going to be a tight race as it’s been. That’s all you get out of a game like that: momentum, obviously, and some confidence for our team.”
Bryant moved past David Robinson into 27th on the NBA’s career scoring list.
“It was a familiar energy in the building,” he said. “It felt like a playoff-type of environment. It was fun to be a part of.”
O’Neal’s debut came against the team he led to three NBA titles, and the visitors were in control most of the way.
Los Angeles, which routed Atlanta on Tuesday night at home, led by as many as 13 in the first half and was up 65-57 at the break.
Phoenix finally caught up when O’Neal forced a turnover, then scored on a short hook inside to make it 87-87 with 2:31 left in the period. Gasol’s hook shot at the buzzer gave Los Angeles a 95-91 lead entering the fourth.
After Bryant’s layup made it 105-97, rookie D.J. Strawberry twice passed to Barbosa for breakaway layups, then drew an offensive foul against Bryant. Stoudemire followed with a three-point play and Phoenix led for the first time since the early minutes 107-106 with 7:26 remaining.
The Lakers came back, though, and Gasol’s three-point play with 5:43 left capped a 9-2 spurt to put Los Angeles ahead 115-108 5:43 from the end. But O’Neal scored the next six points, the last two on a goaltending call against Bryant, to cut it to 115-114. O’Neal sprinted to the defensive end of the floor after the two points.

Notes
O’Neal dived out of bounds for a loose ball late in the third, taking referee David Guthrie down in the process. … Stoudemire had 11 rebounds in the first half. … Lakers coach Phil Jackson used 10 players in the first half. … O’Neal’s previous three teams (Orlando, the Lakers and Miami) were 3-0 in his debuts. … Phoenix is home against Atlantic Division leader Boston on Friday night and Central Division leader Detroit on Sunday.

New Orleans delivers unforgettable All-Star Weekend

2008-02-18T20:35:00.000-08:00

by J.A. Adande
ESPN.com
NEW ORLEANS -- LeBron James had neither anger nor amusement in his voice, just a resigned tone as the bus inched its way through traffic.
"All-Star Weekend," he said.
All-Star Weekend. Three words and a hyphen -- it's the only way to summarize an event that can put you face-to-face with the famous and the homeless, a weekend that tests the limits of male athleticism and female clothing, a time for excessive spending and insufficient sleep. The black Super Bowl.
If it takes 30 minutes to drive four blocks at 2:30 a.m., as was the case when I tried to get back to my hotel Saturday morning, understand that's part of the experience. It's the price you pay for the only-at-All-Star-Weekend, only-in-New-Orleans sights such as Dikembe Mutombo talking to former LSU coach Dale Brown on the sidewalk outside Café Du Monde, or Arnold Schwarzenegger rolling through the French Quarter in the back seat of an SUV, spitting the tip of a cigar out the window.
So, yeah, the traffic was bad. But there were ways to deal with it. One of the benefits of having the festivities in New Orleans, besides the great food ("That gumbo -- man," Allen Iverson said), was the option of walking everywhere you needed to go. That's what I did Saturday, footing it to the arena, the parties, wherever, despite a right leg that was severely damaged after Charles Barkley's inexplicable decision to sit on my lap Thursday night.
New Orleans has always been the best host for the big sports weekends, and even in its weakened state it still came through.
This year, both the city and the league were better off for the event. That's a big change from last year's run in Las Vegas, which became known for the Pacman Jones strip-club shooting, cranky cabbies and waitresses complaining about poor tips, and a game that looked like it was played by 24 guys who had spent 48 hours in Vegas.
This time, on my plane ride out of town, all people talked about were the events.
Saturday night featured a record-tying shooting display by Jason Kapono, then an enthralling dunk contest that set new standards for the combination of creativity and athleticism displayed by Gerald Green and the winner, Dwight Howard. Afterward, Brian McIntyre, the NBA's senior vice president of communications, was gushing that it was the best All-Star Saturday since Chicago. That was in 1988, when Larry Bird walked off with his index finger in the air even before his final money ball swished through the net in the 3-point shootout, and Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins staged their legendary duel.
Even 1988 didn't advance the event as much as Saturday's dunk contest did. The props, the teammates serving as magician's assistants, made it even more enjoyable. I loved the look on Rashad McCants' face as he climbed a ladder to carefully place a cupcake on the back of the rim, then lit a candle. He took his job so seriously, like Jerome holding Morris Day's mirror. Jameer Nelson, on the other hand, couldn't keep from smiling as he unfurled the red cape Dwight Howard used for his Superman dunk.

Terrell Owens was watching from courtside, filled with awe and jealousy. I give him credit for inspiring all of these gimmicks, starting with his Sharpie. Yes, credit, not blame. What's wrong with having fun in sports? When I ran into him later that night he raved about the creativity of the cupcake dunk, and regrettably said that he wouldn't try to top it the next time he scores a touchdown.
"The NFL's getting too restrictive," he said.
That is football's loss.
If the All-Star Game on Sunday didn't rank with the all-time greats, it at least had its share of highlights, then a hard-played fourth quarter filled with big shots that kept the outcome in doubt until the final minute.
But of course, the game itself might be the smallest part of All-Star Weekend. And this weekend, when compared with the recent C-list extravaganza that was the Super Bowl in Phoenix, also drove this point home: While football is the bigger sport, basketball has produced the bigger stars.
You can't find three football players who could match the wattage produced by Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Julius Erving, who all attended a celebrity billiards event Thursday night. People wouldn't stand three-deep to watch Tom Brady play pool the way they did for Jordan.
Before he grabbed his cue and partnered up with Chris Paul, I finally got a chance to ask Jordan a question I'd wondered for years: If a 1994 draft-night trade of Scottie Pippen for Shawn Kemp had gone through, would Jordan have come out of his first retirement the next year?
"Probably not," Jordan said. "I could have played with Shawn, but I wouldn't have been as comfortable as I was with Scottie."
I always figured that was the case, which makes that the all-time best trade that didn't happen. Reportedly, Seattle's owner nixed the deal after hearing negative reaction to it on local sports-talk radio. So Jordan came back to play with Pippen and the Bulls won another three championships.
Charles Oakley was also at the pool event. What's he up to? He said he wants to do a reality show that would feature 10 current and former athletes vying to prove their toughness, with the winner getting a fight with Mike Tyson. Like you wouldn't watch Oakley do that.
The Thursday night before the weekend really gets going is always my favorite. Enough big-name people are in town to make for good people-watching, and the full crowds and the heavy workload haven't kicked in yet.
But there was a noticeable transformation in town come Friday. The general feeling among my sportswriter buddies who have covered our share of All-Star Games, Super Bowls, Final Fours and the like was we'd never seen an event that featured so many beautiful women strolling around at any and all hours. One group of women, dressed in what seemed to be the official, tight-fitting, form-revealing uniform of the weekend, inspired a man holding a sign that read "Homeless Vet. USMC" to stand at attention and salute.
Even with all of the temptation, most people behaved well (although three people were shot early Monday morning in the French Quarter). The crowds were about one-sixth the size of Mardi Gras, but there was that same, happy-drunk vibe.
Still, for all the parties with players and Playmates, all of the sights and sounds (and, on Bourbon Street, smells), my favorite part of the weekend was a bus ride.

The NBA let a few journalists travel with the players as they went to their designated community service locations to help rebuild New Orleans. I asked for the group that included Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki, two would-be teammates kept apart by forces beyond their control, like the plot to "West Side Story" in the on-again, off-again trade that was a no-go at the time of the trip on Friday.
But it turned out that LeBron was the star of the show. Even amid the veterans -- Kidd, Nowitzki and Steve Nash -- LeBron was the center of attention. Kidd asked Nash if he played much golf lately. Nash invited Kidd to play soccer with him. Nowitzki asked Nash how fun it's been to have Shaq in Phoenix. But it kept coming back to LeBron. It wasn't that he constantly talked about himself. He just drove the conversation, asking questions, setting the agenda.
When I got on the bus he was seeking advice from Kidd on how to be a better free-throw shooter. Kidd told him to keep just one thought in his head.
"When you're going to dunk the ball, what are you thinking?" Kidd asked.
"I'm thinking, 'I'm going to tear the f------ rim off," James said.
Kidd said James needed a similar, singular, positive thought in mind at the free-throw line.
On the ride back, when James asked Kidd what number Kidd would wear in Dallas (prompting Nowitzki's head to pop up three rows away) Kidd joyfully speculated. Since his current No. 5 belongs to Josh Howard and the 32 he wore in Phoenix is worn by Brandon Bass (whom everyone agreed is too big and strong for Kidd to punk for his jersey), Kidd said he'd go for No. 14. One plus four equals five. It also would be the reverse of Nowitzki's 41. Then LeBron demonstrated a surprising bit of knowledge. Isn't 14 Dirk's number on the German national team, he asked Nowitzki. Dirk confirmed it was. How many Americans knew that?
I feel like I got to understand LeBron a little more this weekend. Even though I've been around him at least a dozen times, from locker rooms to parties at the ESPYS, he's never opened up to me much. So this time I observed.
I saw him on the way out of the arena Sunday night. He had finished all of his interviews, changed back into his street clothes and was clutching his All-Star Game MVP award. I liked the fact that he carried it himself instead of doling it off to some assistant to haul. His peeps were waiting for him in the lobby, and he greeted each one -- male and female -- with a customized, multistage handshake.
With Kobe Bryant limited to a token appearance because of his finger injury, I had worried that there wouldn't be anyone to set a standard of effort. James was one of the main people who assumed that responsibility. And you know Kobe was jealous as he watched LeBron take over the game while Bryant sat helplessly on the sideline. Even though LeBron always praises Kobe, you can tell there's a healthy rivalry there. God, I hope Kobe and LeBron meet in the Finals sometime in the next three years.
One thing about the NBA's big weekend is it ends swiftly, with players hustling out of town to rejoin their teams for practice Monday. The star power drops considerably, to the point that when I towed my bags through the hotel lobby Monday morning a guy was desperate enough to want to take a picture with me. His gold teeth glinted, his breath reeked of alcohol.
"I watch the show every day," he said. "Around the Horn, mother f-----."
All-Star Weekend.
J.A. Adande is the author of "The Best Los Angeles Sports Arguments." He joined ESPN.com as an NBA columnist in August 2007 after 10 years with the Los Angeles Times.

Little Help? Why LeBron's Not Into Lobbying

2008-02-12T20:45:00.000-08:00

By Brian Windhorst
ESPN.com

ORLANDO -- A night after the two had a chilly exchange on the bench during an embarrassing loss, LeBron James rolled around on the floor of the visitors locker room at Amway Arena and mocked teammate Damon Jones.

Jones, speaking to a reporter, was trying to clear up a long-running mistake in his bio that he was a ballboy for the Houston Rockets as a kid. James didn't miss a chance for any sophomoric humor in any sentence containing the word "ball."

Then James went out and nearly posted a triple-double in the Cavs 118-111 victory over the Magic. It was as if he wasn't playing minus three key teammates -- down due to injury -- or in the team's fourth game in five nights.

The exchange between James and Jones was just a little slice of life in the Cavs' season, with no particular meaning except it is part of a behavioral pattern the Cavs have gotten used to with their superstar. There isn't much that worries him, there isn't much that gets him down and he's always smiling because he's got time on his side.

Two weeks ago, James raised eyebrows when he matter-of-factly said he hoped his front office was trying to get Jason Kidd when the Nets point guard went public with a trade demand. "I don't think that's something you have to tell the front office," James said.
Was it the beginning of a strategy, some wondered, to apply pressure to get some help on the roster? Was it the first indication of a Kobe Bryant-like demand to get help or else? Could it be the first signs he wants out?
Nope, that is not James. Not in the least.

Even as Cavs fans fill up message boards and pepper talk shows upset that it appears general manager Danny Ferry will let the trade deadline pass without the sort of blockbuster seen in Los Angeles and Phoenix -- a major talent influx that could get the Cavs over the hump -- LeBron will simply smile and solider on.

James said something about Kidd because he was asked about it. If broached with the same question about Pau Gasol or Shaquille O'Neal, he'd give versions of the same answer. Indeed, he would like to play with them, but who wouldn't? But he doesn't have to stand on a soap box to say it or send it through backdoor channels.
James sent his message loud and clear in the summer of 2006. He smiled and told the Cavs he'd be glad to take their maximum contract offer … for three seasons. The Cavs' entire organization relaxed and then took a gulp -- they were back on the clock.

Ever since, he doesn't really need to waste breath or lose sleep over potential trades and free agents. James will almost never put down his teammates. He will shy away from making excuses for the Cavs' shortcomings. He just produces and carries the Cavs night after night, being the difference-maker in virtually every victory.

That's why he didn't even feel the need to shoot Ferry a text message when Kidd's comments hit the national media. Nor was he inclined to check in to see if the Cavs are close to pulling a roster-shaking deal before next week's deadline.

His position on the matter is quite clear. He is committed, and fully committed at that, to the Cavs until the summer of 2010 when James will be only 25 years old and about to enter his prime. Then he'll be able to make another statement about his feelings on the franchise and the roster around him.
That looming date and the massive stakes that come with it in Cleveland, are more than enough to keep the Cavs' attention.
Brian Windhorst covers the Cavs and the NBA for the Akron Beacon Journal.

Kobe, Gasol power Lakers over Bobcats as road trip nears end

2008-02-11T19:07:00.000-08:00

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Kobe Bryant scored 31 points, Pau Gasol added 26 and the new-look Los Angeles Lakers continued their impressive road trip with a 106-97 win over the reeling Charlotte Bobcats on Monday.

The Lakers improved to 4-1 since acquiring Gasol behind Bryant's third straight game scoring 30 or more points.
In improving to 6-2 on their nine-game road trip, the Lakers never trailed but struggled to put away the Bobcats. Charlotte cut a 13-point deficit to 89-86 midway through the fourth quarter before wilting in their seventh straight loss.

Bryant's jumper with 4:30 left made it 96-90. His no-look pass to Lamar Odom for a dunk made it 100-93, and Bryant put the Lakers ahead by 11 with two free throws with 1:07 left.
Gasol had his second-highest scoring game since joining Los Angeles, hitting 9 of 11 shots and 8 of 12 free throws. The Lakers shot 50 percent in their third straight win.
Raymond Felton scored 29 points and Nazr Mohammed added 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Bobcats, who matched their longest losing streak of the season.

The Bobcats played without leading scorer Gerald Wallace for the fourth time in five games. Wallace, hobbled by a strained right foot, was replaced a night earlier in Detroit by rookie Jared Dudley in the starting lineup.
But coach Sam Vincent changed his mind Monday, putting Dudley back on the bench, moving Felton to shooting guard and starting Jeff McInnis at point guard. Felton turned into Charlotte's go-to scorer with Jason Richardson held to 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting.

Felton was two points shy of his career high, hitting 11 of 20 shots, and added eight assists. But the Bobcats had to make up too much ground after a dominating start by the Lakers.
Bryant hit his first five shots, three of them 3-pointers, and Gasol was 6-for-6 including two dunks as the Lakers looked early like the versatile inside-out team with Gasol.
When Bryant finally missed -- a desperation 3 with the shot clock winding down -- Gasol grabbed the rebound, was fouled and hit both free throws to give the Lakers a 49-40 lead.
Bryant and Gasol were a combined 12-of-14 from the field and 9-of-9 from the foul line as Los Angeles led 55-44 at halftime. The Bobcats weren't getting completely blown out thanks to Felton's 18 points and the Lakers' 10 turnovers.

For the second straight day, the Lakers struggled to put away a struggling team. After allowing Miami to come back in the fourth quarter Sunday before finally finished off the Heat, the Lakers saw a 13-point lead with just over 10 minutes cut to three on Charlotte's 15-5 run.
Game notesBobcats coach Sam Vincent hinted Wallace may also sit out Wednesday against Atlanta. It's Charlotte's final game before the All-Star break, which would give Wallace more than a week to recover. "It makes no sense for us to rush Gerald," Vincent said. ... The Lakers signed C DJ Mbenga for the rest of the season after his second 10-day contract expired. Mbenga was brought in when C Andrew Bynum was sidelined with his left knee injury last month. ... The game had nowhere near the drama of last year's visit by the Lakers, won by the Bobcats in triple-overtime despite Bryant's 58 points. ... The Lakers wrap up their trip Wednesday at Minnesota.

ESPN.com

Gasol Steps Back Into A Pressure Point

2008-02-05T23:40:00.000-08:00

By Chris Sheridan

ESPN.com

When Pau Gasol got around to speaking English from the podium Sunday, the topic turned to the pressure he is going to be under in Los Angeles.

The expectations that have been thrust upon him, it was pointed out, are 100 times greater than anything he went through in Memphis, and the scrutiny he will be under will rival what he endures back home in Spain.

"I think it's a great type of pressure -- the pressure to win and being one of the favorites is what you want, and it's something I've been missing since I've been in the NBA. I love that I have that with my national team every summer, I had that before I was in the NBA, with Barcelona [of the Spanish League], and that is what I'll have from now on."

So, he loves pressure, eh?
Wasn't there any pressure in any of those 12 playoff games he played for Memphis? Gasol was 0-12 in the postseason with the Grizzlies.
And what about the pressure cooker that was Madrid back in mid-September, a night when a sizeable portion of the city was barricaded off in preparation for a huge midnight parade and party following the final game of EuroBasket 2007?

What happened then? Only one of the most unlikely upsets in recent international basketball history, made possible by Gasol's late misses.
It didn't make a lot of waves here in the States, but Spain, playing on its home soil against Russia, a huge underdog, lost by one point when Gasol's turnaround 20-footer rimmed out at the buzzer to cap a dreadful fourth quarter in which he also missed five of eight free throws. Prior to his final miss, Gasol had the ball stripped from him with 25 seconds left by Russia's J.R. Holden (almost a carbon copy of Michael Jordan sneaking up behind Karl Malone and swiping the ball away right before making his championship-winning jumper over Bryon Russell in the '98 NBA finals), who scored off the turnover for the winning points.

When the folks en España looked for someone to blame that night, most of them placed it squarely on the shoulders of Gasol, wryly noting that it was a good thing Gasol's foot was in a cast a year earlier (he had broken his foot against Argentina in the semifinals) when Spain defeated Greece in the gold-medal game at the World Championship in Japan.

More than a dozen members of the Spanish media were credentialed Sunday at the MCI Center as the Lakers rode Kobe Bryant's 18-point first quarter to an easy 103-91 victory over the Wizards. Gasol is expected to make his Lakers debut Tuesday night at New Jersey.
Prior to the game, Gasol left Wizards and Lakers officials red-faced by responding en español to the first seven questions he was asked -- all of them were posed in Spanish, too, and with no English translation provided, the rest of the room, heavy on monolinguals, appeared half dumbfounded and half bemused.

In a way, it seemed as though the writers from Spain were jumping all over Gasol before the English speakers could get in a word, and therein is a parallel to be drawn. There is a lot of savior talk being thrown Gasol's way, but folks in Los Angeles might be well served to keep an ear open to what the people in Memphis and Madrid are saying, too. Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley said one of the reasons he decided to trade Gasol, who was being booed in Memphis, was that a local fan told him he would never buy another Grizzlies ticket as long as Gasol was the face of the franchise.
"He seemed to perform when the game was on the line whenever we played against them. The big matchups, [Kevin] Garnett and [Tim] Duncan and those guys, he goes right at them and he's had a lot of success against them. So I don't worry about that too much," Bryant said when Gasol's comment about loving pressure was relayed to him.

Gasol and Bryant will have 36 regular-season games to acclimate themselves to each other before the playoffs arrive.
That's when we will see how Gasol handles the pressure, and if he really, seriously, genuinely loves it, he truly will love L.A.
If, however, he folds under it, the scrutiny he gets in Spain and got in Memphis will be nada compared to what he will get in Lakerland.

After all, Gasol ultimately is going to be a key hombre in determining whether Bryant wants to remain a Laker for life.
And that, mis amigos, is pressure.

In dire need of frontcourt help, Lakers acquire Gasol from Grizzlies

2008-02-03T20:25:00.000-08:00

The Los Angeles Lakers bolstered their banged-up frontline Friday with a key acquisition -- 7-footer Pau Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies.
"It shows a great deal of commitment from the organization," All-Star Kobe Bryant said before the Lakers' game at Toronto. "It's a great step.

"It's a matter of us just gelling now and putting it together," added Bryant, who urged management to improve the team over the summer. "We've got a great bench. We have a lot of length, a lot of versatility. Now it's time to walk the walk."

The Lakers gave up

Kwame Brown, rookie Javaris Crittenton and two first-round draft picks for Gasol. The Spaniard is certain to help a Lakers team reeling from recent injuries to inside players, including blossoming center Andrew Bynum.
"We need a little scoring inside without Andrew Bynum," coach Phil Jackson said. "It gives us a post-up threat right now, and he's a good passer. We like that."

Jackson said Gasol could make his debut when the Lakers visit Washington on Sunday.

"We'd like him to play on Sunday," Jackson said. "I don't know if that's possible or not. He's got to go back to L.A. and have a physical tomorrow."
Gasol, averaging 18.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.44 blocked shots in 39 games this season, can fill in at center until Bynum returns in mid-March, then move to power forward.
"He's a great player," forward Lamar Odom said. "With him and Andrew down there, I'm really excited to see how that works out. We'll protect the basket a little bit more. I'm looking forward to seeing those guys playing together."

The Grizzlies will get the Lakers' first-round draft choices in 2008 and 2010; guard

Aaron McKie, signed earlier Friday for salary cap purposes; cash considerations, and the rights to Gasol's brother Marc, a 2007 second-round pick of Los Angeles.
"That's something you haven't seen before," Jackson said with a chuckle.
The Lakers also receive the Grizzlies' second-round pick in 2010.

Gasol, the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2002 and an All-Star four years later, has averaged 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 476 career games with Memphis. The 27-year-old forward-center, under contract for three more years, is the franchise leader in 12 statistical categories, including points, rebounds and blocks.

But the Grizzlies, 13-33 after finishing with the league's worst record last season, decided to clear salary cap space knowing they aren't in position to win in the next couple of years.
"We're a 13-win team, so when you're in that situation, you've got to make moves," Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said. "Brown was the largest expiring contact we could find in the league where we also got back an attractive young player like Crittenton ... and multiple first-round picks."
Gasol was the MVP of the 2006 world championships after helping Spain win the gold medal.
Additionally, a Grizzlies source told The Commercial Appeal of Memphis that forward Stromile Swift has been traded to the New Jersey Nets for center Jason Collins.
According to the newspaper, the deal had been discussed for the past week and is expected to be finalized on Monday.

"I have to take my hat off to [owner Jerry] Buss and Mitch for going forward with this," Bryant said. "Now it's up to us to go out there and work hard."
Odom said he feels "the sky is the limit" for the new-look Lakers.
"We felt like we could compete for a championship with the team we had," Odom said. "With this addition, hopefully that dream comes true."
The Lakers were one of the NBA's best teams before the 20-year-old Bynum injured his left knee Jan. 13 against Memphis, coincidentally. Los Angeles had a 28-16 record entering Friday night's game at Toronto but had lost five of eight since Bynum was injured.
Center

Chris Mihm has been sidelined with right ankle problems for several weeks; forward Trevor Ariza broke his right foot in practice Jan. 20 and is expected to be out until mid-March, and forward Luke Walton was day-to-day with a right hip pointer. Jackson said Walton would dress Friday but might not play.

Bryant said his first thoughts upon hearing of the trade were for his teammates heading the other way.
"Javaris was like a little brother to me," Bryant said. "I tried to mentor him as much as I could. Kwame, he's been through a lot of ups and downs but he has a great heart."
Brown has been filling in at center since Bynum was injured, but the first overall pick in the draft by Washington in 2001 has been a significant drop-off from Bynum. Brown, earning $9.1 million this season in the final year of his contract, is averaging 5.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in 23 games. He has averaged 7.6 points and 5.7 rebounds in 389 games with the Wizards and Lakers.
Crittenton, the 19th overall pick in the draft last summer, averaged 3.3 points in 22 games for the Lakers. He was expendable because of the fine play by second-year guard

Jordan Farmar as a backup to Derek Fisher. The 20-year-old Crittenton averaged 14.4 points and 5.8 assists as a freshman at Georgia Tech last season.

Marc Gasol, the 48th overall pick in the 2007 draft, is playing for Akasvayu Girona in Spain. The Gasol brothers were members of the Spanish national team in 2006. The younger Gasol is 23 and a 7-1, 280-pounder.
McKie, a 13-year veteran, played in 10 games for the Lakers last season and hasn't played this season. He is expected to be released by the Grizzlies. He has averaged 7.4 points and 2.7 assists for Portland, Detroit, Philadelphia and the Lakers.
The Lakers also signed backup center

DJ Mbenga to a second 10-day contract. The 7-footer from the Congo signed his first 10-day contract Jan. 21 and averaged 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in four games.

Stromile Swift has been traded to the New Jersey Nets for center Jason Collins.
According to the newspaper, the deal had been discussed for the past week and is expected to be finalized on Monday.

Jordan Farmar as a backup to Derek Fisher. The 20-year-old Crittenton averaged 14.4 points and 5.8 assists as a freshman at Georgia Tech last season.

The Lakers also signed backup center

DJ Mbenga to a second 10-day contract. The 7-footer from the Congo signed his first 10-day contract Jan. 21 and averaged 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in four games.But the Grizzlies, 13-33 after finishing with the league's worst record last season, decided to clear salary cap space knowing they aren't in position to win in the next couple of years.

"We're a 13-win team, so when you're in that situation, you've got to make moves," Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said. "Brown was the largest expiring contact we could find in the league where we also got back an attractive young player like Crittenton ... and multiple first-round picks."
Gasol was the MVP of the 2006 world championships after helping Spain win the gold medal.
Additionally, a Grizzlies source told The Commercial Appeal of Memphis that forward

Stromile Swift has been traded to the New Jersey Nets for center Jason Collins.
According to the newspaper, the deal had been discussed for the past week and is expected to be finalized on Monday.
"I have to take my hat off to [owner Jerry] Buss and Mitch for going forward with this," Bryant said. "Now it's up to us to go out there and work hard."
Odom said he feels "the sky is the limit" for the new-look Lakers.
"We felt like we could compete for a championship with the team we had," Odom said. "With this addition, hopefully that dream comes true."
The Lakers were one of the NBA's best teams before the 20-year-old Bynum injured his left knee Jan. 13 against Memphis, coincidentally. Los Angeles had a 28-16 record entering Friday night's game at Toronto but had lost five of eight since Bynum was injured.
Center Chris Mihm has been sidelined with right ankle problems for several weeks; forward Trevor Ariza broke his right foot in practice Jan. 20 and is expected to be out until mid-March, and forward Luke Walton was day-to-day with a right hip pointer. Jackson said Walton would dress Friday but might not play.

Jordan Farmar as a backup to Derek Fisher. The 20-year-old Crittenton averaged 14.4 points and 5.8 assists as a freshman at Georgia Tech last season.

ESPN.COM

Obstacles in way of deal that sends Kidd back to Dallas

2008-01-31T20:33:00.000-08:00

By Marc Stein

ESPN.com

The growing feeling among league executives that the Dallas Mavericks are the most likely winners in the Jason Kidd trade sweepstakes is even stronger now.
Reason being: Within 24 hours of Kidd saying that it's time for him and the New Jersey Nets "all to move on" in separate directions, New Jersey and Dallas engaged in advanced trade discussions with Portland on a three-way deal that would land Kidd back with the team that drafted him in 1994.

Such a trade would involve at least a dozen players, cash sweeteners and future draft picks. In a breakdown of the most noteworthy principles, Portland would land Mavericks guard Devin Harris and possibly Mavs forward Brandon Bass, New Jersey would receive draft and financial considerations, Dallas' Jerry Stackhouse and a trio of young prospects from Portland (Travis Outlaw, Channing Frye and Jarrett Jack) while the Mavericks would score Kidd.
The talks were very active Tuesday, as reported Tuesday night on ESPN2's "NBA Coast to Coast" by ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard. But dialogue between the three clubs had cooled Wednesday to the point that sources close to the situation described them as "pretty much dead."

But another source insisted that the deal still has life and noted that the "pretty much" disclaimer leaves open the possibility that the dialogue can be reheated to Tuesday's levels, especially since the league's Feb. 21 trading deadline is still three weeks away. And what most observers considered to be one of the biggest obstacles for New Jersey and Dallas to either moving or acquiring Kidd -- finding the third team they needed to broaden the deal -- might be less of an impediment than anticipated if Portland could be recruited so quickly.

Some reluctance from the Blazers, sources said, is one of the factors that has stalled the talks. In addition to the short-term concerns about the ankle injury that has sidelined Harris, Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard told The Oregonian newspaper last week that "we're not making any trades" to break up a roster of youngsters that rebounded from Greg Oden's season-ending injury to rank as the biggest surprise team so far in a league filled with surprise teams. Sources say Portland has been shopping Jack on his own, but parting with three or four players is something else, with guard Sergio Rodriguez also potentially involved. Outlaw's development, furthermore, is one of the stories of the Blazers' season.

The Mavericks, meanwhile, might also have some hesitation, even knowing that Kidd has made it clear behind the scenes that a return to Dallas and the opportunity to play alongside Dirk Nowitzki is his preferred outcome, ahead of a move to Cleveland to play with Team USA teammate and close friend LeBron James.

Sources say Dallas is resigned to the fact that it won't be able to reacquire Kidd -- 1994-95's co-Rookie of the Year with Grant Hill as a Mav but who left town in acrimonious circumstances less than two seasons later -- without parting with Harris, who's a fan and Mark Cuban favorite as well as a 24-year-old point guard having by far his best season.
The initial scenarios discussed by the teams, however, also would require Dallas to part with either Bass or center DeSagana Diop. Both are critical role players in the Mavericks' system. Bass ranks as the most effective backup Nowitzki has ever had and Diop operates as one half of the center tandem with Erick Dampier that has been successful against San Antonio and Tim Duncan.

The Mavs, if the deal goes through, would be undertaking the aggressive renovation that many critics have been calling for since they followed up a 67-win regular season with a first-round exit to Golden State last season. Although there would obviously be some risk giving Harris' job to a quarterback who will be 35 in March, Dallas is undoubtedly seduced by the idea of enhancing the scoring abilities of Nowitzki and Josh Howard. Kidd's arrival would likewise address Dallas' team IQ and mental toughness issues after back-to-back epic collapses in the playoffs, first to Miami in the 2006 NBA Finals and then to Golden State.

Yet another potential snag here is that the Nets naturally hope to come out of a Kidd deal with at least one young star. The closest thing to a young star in the scenarios discussed so far -- Harris -- would be going to Portland.

But Outlaw is on the rise, too. Outlaw and Frye, furthermore, are athletic prospects who come with salary cap-friendly contracts in addition to the two future first-round draft picks New Jersey would also likely receive. It's believed that the Nets would immediately buy out Stackhouse and release him if the proposed deal wound up going through.

Yet it seems safe to expect that a Kidd deal involving these three teams will likely happen quickly or fade to all the way dead sooner rather than later. New Jersey has been dealing with speculation about Kidd's future dating to last February's trade deadline, when Kidd was nearly dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers. "But Dallas and Portland," said one source, "won't want this [trade speculation] to linger because then it starts affecting their teams."

Powe, Rondo answer call for Celtics; Heat's Wade, Haslem leave game

2008-01-29T20:16:00.000-08:00

MIAMI (AP) -- Ray Allen arrived at halftime, a white sweat jacket over his flu-riddled head, and took a glimpse toward the scoreboard.
He probably felt much better.
Boston's 'Big 3' were almost silent, and the Celtics still put a big beating on the hapless Miami Heat.
Leon Powe scored a career-high 25 points, Rajon Rondo tied a career-high with 23 points and Tony Allen matched a season-best with 20 points as the NBA-best Celtics rolled to a 117-87 victory Tuesday night over the Heat -- who followed the win that snapped their 15-game losing streak with an absolute clunker.
"I'm embarrassed by the effort," Heat coach Pat Riley said.
The Celtics played without Kevin Garnett (strained abdominal muscle) and Ray Allen (flu), and the third member of their star triumverate, Paul Pierce, was scoreless for most of the first half and finished with only seven points.
Didn't matter.
Boston led by 17 after one quarter, 31 in the second before settling for a 22-point edge at intermission, and when Dwyane Wade checked out for good with 4:41 left in the third quarter the Celtics were up 88-53.
"One of the things that we talked about before the game is that no one before the game is that no one was going to be Ray Allen and no one is going to be Kevin Garnett," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "But all of them could do a little extra."
They were listening.
These numbers -- 51-36 -- told the story. That was Boston's edge in shooting percentage and rebounding. Former Heat guard Eddie House added 20 points for the Celtics, who improved to 35-8.
"We got stops, we shared the ball and guys made plays," said former Heat forward James Posey, as he pulled his 2006 NBA championship ring out of his left pants pocket and fumbled with his specially-made cuff links -- exact replicas of that ring. "If you do that on any team, you can have spurts like that."
Mark Blount scored 20 points for Miami (9-34), which only matched its worst loss of the season, thanks to Earl Barron's jumper with 4.8 seconds remaining. Luke Jackson scored 14 for the Heat.
"It's almost as though the ending of the losing streak pulled the plug," Riley said. "Because we didn't bring anything."
Wade finished with seven points on 1-for-9 shooting, and departed after the third quarter with flu-like symptoms. The Heat lost Udonis Haslem, who was the only Miami player to start all 43 games, with a sprained left ankle in the second quarter.
Haslem left in a protective boot and will not play Wednesday night at Orlando. Wade's status for the game against the Magic won't be known until Wednesday morning.
By the end, there wasn't much booing.
Of course, most who stayed for the final horn donned Celtics green.
With Garnett and Ray Allen out, it seemed like Miami rated a chance of matching its season-high two-game winning streak.
That was the thinking before Miami -- which started this seven-game homestand with a 30-point loss to the Chicago Bulls and ended it with a similar dismal effort -- missed almost every shot it took in the first 12 minutes.
Boston raced out to a 31-14 lead, closing the first quarter on an 17-3 run after Miami shot 3-for-23 -- 13 percent -- in the period. Take Jason Williams' 2-for-3 showing away, and the rest of the Heat shot a robust 5 percent in the first, 1-for-20.
"They, in the first quarter, overwhelmed us with their quickness and their intensity and their play," Riley said. "It was right from the get-go."
And Rondo must have heard Rivers' plea for someone to step up in place of the missing starters. He finished the first with 13 points, 3.7 more than his season per-game average.
"We got off to a great start," Rondo said.
The Celtics' finish wasn't bad, either.
Boston used a 16-2 run in the second quarter to take a 54-25 lead, meaning this game was decided before Pierce scored a single point.
His first basket came with 1:48 left in the half, putting Boston ahead 62-34. His second, and only other, field goal was a 3-pointer with 6:17 left in the third, one that pushed the Celtics' edge to a stunning 83-48.
"If you had told me before the game that Paul, Ray and Kevin would score seven points, I would have said that's not possible to win," Rivers said.
Game notesBoston is 17-0 in games decided by 13 points or more this season, and moved to 18-1 against teams under .500. The Heat are 1-9 in games decided by 13 or more, and 4-20 against teams with winning records. ... With Garnett -- "The Big Ticket," as he's known -- sidelined, Pierce gave Glen "Big Baby" Davis a new nickname before the game. "He's ticket stub now," Pierce said.

ESPN.com

Super Bowl Scufflers: Celtics And Knicks Deliver Warm-Up Act

2008-01-27T20:21:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK -- Exactly what was said between Paul Pierce and Quentin Richardson will remain between the two of them, because neither had the nerve to speak up about it afterward.
As for what was said by Eddie House, which the entire Knicks bench reacted to as though they had been summoned for a street fight, all we have is House's PG-rated version:
"Just keep it down," House said afterward, acknowledging that an adjective or two was being dropped. "It was a little more colorful than that, but that's the gist of it."
House infuriated the Knicks when he turned to their bench yelling and gesturing after knocking down a 3-pointer with 2:24 remaining to increase the Celtics' lead to 20 in Boston's 109-93 victory over New York on Monday afternoon.

The Knicks immediately called a timeout, and a majority of them -- led by coach Isiah Thomas -- walked semi-menacingly toward center court as the timeout wound down, a moment that might have gotten out of hand if veteran referee Joey Crawford hadn't stepped over and said something to Thomas before the Celtics came away from their bench after their timeout.
"I have no comment on that," Thomas answered tersely afterward when asked about the exchange between House and the Knicks' bench, which ended up being the final confrontation in a day of snippiness.
"He's always got something to say," retorted House.

Bad blood and an intense rivalry has long existed between the Red Sox and Yankees in baseball, and the New York vs. New England dynamic is in for a two-week workout as the hype builds up toward the Super Bowl between the Giants and Patriots.
The Knicks and Celtics had a strong rivalry of their own back in the old days when they both managed to be relevant at the same time, though it has been dormant for a long, long while.
Perhaps it's back.

Prior to House's shout-out, Pierce and Richardson had been ejected after Richardson was overzealously physical in defending Pierce, drawing four personal fouls -- and causing the refs to call two double-technicals -- in the space of less than 2 ½ minutes midway through the third quarter.

Richardson called back to Pierce and challenged him to fight as he was being escorted off the court, and security guards and assistant coaches kept the peace by keeping Pierce from exiting the court until Richardson was safely out of the way. Several minutes later, security supervisors were scrambling to find enough burly bodies to station in the tunnel between the locker rooms just in case Pierce and Richardson decided to renew their difference of opinion beneath the stands.
"Q and Paul, they have a past of talking trash, and I guess the refs weren't really going to deal with it," Kevin Garnett said. "But there's not a night that we take the floor that teams aren't talking to us. We just have to keep our composure and understand what it is."
What it is, by the way, is a mixture of jealousy and toughness-testing from opponents -- the Knicks being just the latest -- looking to take a measure of just how good and just how composed these NBA-leading Celtics really are. Monday's victory was Boston's third in a row following a span of three losses in four games, meaning the Celtics can still get back to a 70-win pace if they win their next two -- Wednesday against Toronto and Friday against Minnesota, both at home -- before the mathematical midpoint of their season.

Monday's victory locked up a spot for Doc Rivers coaching the Eastern Conference All-Stars -- an accomplishment that was already such a given that owner Wyc Grousbeck revealed afterward that he chartered a plane a week ago to take Rivers and his coaching staff to New Orleans.

Despite the honor, Rivers was unhappy afterward due to the histrionics involving Pierce and Richardson, and later between House and the Knicks' bench.
"The scoreboard will talk. You don't need to run your mouth," Rivers said. "I wasn't happy with that, and I told the guys that this has happened a couple times, and we've gotten away with it."
But can they continue to get away with it? The answer will come as the Celtics are tested both physically and verbally over the second half of the season.

How they respond will be one of the true measures of their composure. And as of now, 70-win pace or not -- it's fair to say they're not always conducting themselves in a championship-level manner.

By Chris Sheridan

ESPN.com

LeBron Looks Like The MVP लीडर

2008-01-22T19:55:00.000-08:00

Teams will be hitting the midpoint of the 82-game season this week। Let's see who's shaping up as the leading MVP candidate.

1. LeBron James, Cavaliers forward -- Everyone in the East knows it's going to be hard to top a Cavaliers team with an always-improving LeBron in a seven-game series। He's developing his killer instinct, which is not good for the rest of the NBA. The recent win over the Spurs was a good psychological boost.

James is averaging a league-leading 29।7 points per game, along with 7।8 rebounds and 7।5 assists. That's big-time production, approaching Oscar Robertson territory. His team is getting healthy, too, and coach Mike Brown's two-year extension has given the team stability.

2. Kevin Garnett, Celtics forward -- Takes a team that had been playing non-existent defense and helps put it at the top of the league in terms of limiting opponents' field goal percentage (41।5), while also helping it earn the top point differential (plus-11.5). A lot can be attributed to Garnett's ability to play multiple positions and help where he's most needed. His arrival in the East has dramatically shifted the power. Whether or not the Celtics get more help at point guard, he's getting it done, now averaging 19.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.

3. Kobe Bryant, Lakers guard -- Surprise, surprise. Kobe Bean has never won an MVP, and this year won't be any different, even though he generally is recognized as the game's best player at both ends of the floor. He has found a way to nurture and develop his teammates while still scoring 27.7 points per game, second in the NBA. His production figures to pick up with the loss of Andrew Bynum for at least seven more weeks.
Although he is third here, in terms of a trade, which guy would you choose over Bryant? Nobody, in my opinion। That's the truth when it comes to a guy who can score 35 or 40 points and have it not be headline news. Don't forget that no matter what happens in the months and years ahead, Bryant's no-trade deal means he would trade the Lakers, not the other way around.

4. Dwight Howard, Magic center -- Still only 22, a refreshingly traditional big man who averages a league-leading 15.2 rebounds per game. As tremendous a young man as he is a player. Without Howard, the Magic would be a perennial lottery team. As it now stands, he has established himself alongside Tim Duncan and Amare Stoudemire as the game's most powerful and effective big men.
Being the leader of a young team will bring growing pains, but ultimately, we will see Howard put the Magic in position to compete for an East championship every year।

5. Jason Kidd, Nets guard -- Yes, the Nets have been up and down this season, including Sunday's 116-92 loss in Phoenix for a fifth straight defeat, but his ability to produce triple-doubles has us talking about him in terms of Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson on a nightly basis.
He's averaging 11।4 points, 10.7 assists and 8.6 rebounds per game, the kind of numbers most any point guard would take. Right now, he's the face of the franchise. There has been talk of trading him and beginning to rebuild, but I don't see the Nets going down that path and being non-competitive when they move to Brooklyn.

Others considered:
Blazers guard Brandon Roy showed he had a hot hand before the season began, pulling the No। 1 pick in the lottery draw। The Blazers have a built-in excuse to say, "Wait until next year," but he has been a great young leader.

Chris Paul (21.5 points per game, 10.5 assists per game) has stepped up his game; now, it's not a matter of if New Orleans can win a playoff series, it's a question of whether it can find its way through the second round.

Spurs forward Tim Duncan's greatness is something we just take for granted. Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker make up the best "Big Three" in the NBA.

By Jalen Rose
ESPN.com

Second Annual My Bads ...

2008-01-09T21:12:00.000-08:00

Jan. 9, 2008 -- With over a third of the NBA season complete, I thought now would be the perfect time for the Second Annual Race to the MVP My Bads ... If you have ever read my column, you know I have no problem admitting when I'm wrong. So without further ado... My bad, Chris Paul … At the beginning of the season, I said that I would rather have Utah's Deron Williams running my club instead of you. What was I thinking? My bad, Dwight Howard … I thought the Magic were nuts for selecting you over Emeka Okafor with the first pick of the 2004 Draft. Sure, Okafor, who was selected second by the Bobcats, went on to win the Rookie of the Year, but you are clearly the better player at this stage of your careers. With the way you are playing right now, you are a bonafide MVP candidate. You are on pace to become the second player ever to average 20 points, 15 rebounds and shoot 60 percent from the field for an entire season.

My bad, Trail Blazers … You guys are the youngest team in the league, traded away your best player (Zach Randolph) in the offseason and had your franchise player (Greg Oden) get hurt before the season started. I didn't think you would win 21 games all season, let alone 21 of your first 34 games. My bad, Yi Jianlian … In July I spent two weeks in Las Vegas covering the Summer League and I came back to the East Coast telling everybody who would listen that you couldn't play a lick. You are averaging 10 points, six rebounds and an assist a game and if it wasn't for Seattle's Kevin Durant, you'd have a legitimate chance to be named Rookie of the Year. My bad, Jose Calderon … I've pretty much ignored you all season even though you have been one of the top playmakers in the league this season. Since T.J. Ford got injured, you have been running the show in Toronto by yourself, averaging 11.5 points and 8.2 assists. You already have 10 double-doubles this season, equaling the amount you posted the past two seasons combined.

2008-01-08T21:58:00.000-08:00

Power Rankings: Celtics overtake Pistons, regain top स्पॉट

By Marc sten

ESPN.com

Playing Detroit on Dec. 19, as one member of the committee's inner circle likes to say, was the Boston Celtics' first true moment of accountability this season. On their home floor, they lost.
Since then, though, Boston impressively swept through a four games-in-five nights tour through the West and then atoned for that rare defeat by beating the Pistons in Detroit on Saturday night, improving the Celtics' record to a glorious 29-3 … and keeping them on a ridiculous 74-8 pace. So now we're accountable.
We duly move the Celtics back to the top of the ESPN।com weekly NBA Power Rankings, dropping Detroit to No. 2. The New Orleans Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers are climbing, too, and there's also a new No. 30 whose coach has Pistons ties. Guess who?

2007-08 Power Rankings: Week 10
RANK (LAST WK)
TEAM

1 (2)
Celtics
29-3
In each of the past three seasons, there's been 70-win talk with Phoenix, Detroit and then Dallas। But these Celts are the first team to last this long with only three losses since (gulp) the 72-win Bulls in 1995-96.

2 (1)
Pistons
26-8
If the Pistons want No। 1 back right away, they can give us something to think about by winning in Dallas or San Antonio (or both) this week. Before losing to Boston, remember, Detroit had won 11 straight by nearly 17 ppg.

3 (6)
Hornets
23-11
Chris Paul must be seething after failing to win First Trimester MVP honors in the West. How else to explain the venom he played with over the weekend in a big back-to-back road sweep of Golden State and Phoenix?

4 (5)
Lakers
21-11
We've resisted putting the Lakers (or Hornets) above the Suns, Mavs and Spurs. But with the West powers ailing or inconsistent and L.A. at 14-5 since a 7-6 start, plus 2-0 vs. Phoenix, you can make the case for a week.

5 (4)
Spurs
23-9
Duncan insists he's fine after colliding knee-to-knee with Corey Maggette. But Sunday's late hit, just as Manu returned to work, means SA still hasn't finished a game with its three best players intact since November.

6 (3)
Suns
23-10
Our pal Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic has an idea why Suns fans are so edgy when their team leads the West with nine more road wins than home defeats. The reason: Phoenix is 1-6 against the West's top eight.

7 (8)
Mavericks
23-11
Hard to believe Dallas is just 7-8 on the road after last season's 31-10. But some normalcy is creeping back into Mavsland: Dirk has been top scorer in nine straight after it happened just seven times in the first 25 games.

8 (7)
Trail Blazers
21-13
Don't be so sure that the Blazers' seven-game trip will ruin the fairy tale. Portland is 5-1 on the road during this astonishing 16-1 run. And its only road losses since Thanksgiving were at Dallas, San Antonio and Utah.

9 (11)
Nuggets
21-12
The Nuggets and Lakers became 20-game winners Friday night. Which means A) The West now has seven teams on a 50-win pace and B) Denver needs a 40-10 finish to uphold Melo and AI's preseason touts of 60 wins.

10 (9)
Warriors
19-15
Did we jinx 'em? Fair question after the Warriors follow up Stephen Jackson's coronation as the West's First Trimester MVP with their first back-to-back losses (at Mavs, home to Hornets) since the 0-6 start Jack missed.

11 (10)
Magic
22-13
The Magic don't have a road game in the West after Jan. 23. But that might not be such great news after they fell to 7-8 at home with Ls to Jersey and Houston by three points total . . . both with Tiger Woods in the house.

12 (16)
Jazz
18-17
If you're looking for Portland Is For Real testimony, check here: The Jazz still haven't returned to the West's top eight in part because they just finished playing the Blazers four times (and losing three) in 26 days.

13 (18)
Cavaliers
17-17
The floor is LeBron's after his game-turning, 24-point fourth quarter in Toronto: ''. . . We know we're a better team than we've shown early in the season, but it's a new year and we're undefeated so far.''

14 (13)
Wizards
17-15
The skeptic in me says Arenas won't be able to resist the urge to play again before the season ends. But it's good to hear him at least talking about a cautious approach as opposed to the usual bravado we get.

15 (12)
Raptors
17-17
The Raps hoped to build off the happy ending to their grueling seven-game trip, which they closed with wins at San Antonio and New Orleans. But they're 0-2 since coming home, including Sunday's fade against Cleveland.

16 (15)
Rockets
17-17
I'm sure you're expecting (and perhaps even hoping for) concrete Better Without T-Mac evidence, but be advised that Houston is 12-12 when McGrady and Yao are both in the lineup . . . and 5-5 when it's just Yao.

17 (19)
Nets
17-16
Reminiscent of Stefanski's arrival in Philly, Jersey is 3-0 since hiring Vandeweghe, including a double-digit comeback in Orlando. That gulp you hear comes from teams still praying that the Nets make J-Kidd available.

18 (14)
Hawks
15-16
No one misses 2007 more than these guys. The Hawks are off to an 0-3 start in 2008 to sink below .500 for the first time in almost a month, including a loss to the Nets to open a crucial five-game homestand.

19 (21)
Bulls
13-19
The good news: Gordon led the team in scoring in his first five games off the bench for Boylan. The bad news: Chicago's four Ws under Boylan came against teams (Bucks, Knicks, Bobcats, Kings) at a combined 44-85.

20 (17)
Pacers
16-19
Nearly used the word crisis in last week's Pacers comment, with a better-than-ever Tinsley getting hurt just as Indy was hitting the road. No hesitation this week with Indy in a 2-7 funk and eight of the next 10 away.

21 (20)
76ers
14-20
The Sixers finished their six-game, back-to-reality trip with Ls to the Lakers and Nuggets by a combined 44 points. And it gets even tougher on the shorter trip looming in a week: San Antonio, then Houston, then Boston.

22 (23)
Bucks
13-20
A two-game road streak isn't much, especially when the Ws are in Miami and Charlotte. But with Redd ailing, pressure mounting on GM Larry Harris and a 2-15 road record before those Ws, Milwaukee will take anything.

23 (22)
Kings
12-20
With zero games left against the Knicks, playing without Bibby, Martin and Artest is probably going to be a problem. Whether the injured Bibby gets dealt before the Feb. 21 trading deadline is pretty much the focus now.

24 (27)
Grizzlies
10-23
Maybe no one believes in New Year's mojo more than the Grizz. At 1-6 in games decided by three points or fewer and 3-12 overall in December, Memphis has won at Indy, held off Miami and hung with Boston in '08.

25 (24)
SuperSonics
9-24
It's an admittedly big request, but throw out the 0-8 start and there are morsels of progress here, whether it's a 6-9 record against the East or the sight of Durant hanging in there when assigned to guard Nash on TNT.

26 (28)
Clippers
10-21
Same old stories: Kaman has 25 double-doubles in 31 games, but the Clips have won only once in 10 home dates since Thanksgiving (against the Wolves) and still haven't shot 50 percent from the field even once.

27 (25)
Bobcats
11-21
J-Rich is finally starting to heat up, but the sense of doom is only growing for the Bobs' rookie coach with Vincent's team -- whose 12 road games to date are the fewest in the entire league -- in the midst of a 1-7 slide.

28 (26)
Heat
8-26
This is not committee (of one) hyperbole. Seriously: If Miami makes the playoffs from here, it might rank as a better comeback than the '06 Finals against Dallas. The decaying Heat have to go 33-15 just to finish .500.

29 (30)
Timberwolves
4-29
OK, OK: The post-KG Wolves do have nine double-digit losses at home to New York's eight, as well as a 1-14 record since stunning Phoenix on Dec. 8. Unlike the Knicks, though, Minnesota was supposed to be this bad.

30 (29)
Knicks
8-24
With the league's No. 1 payroll, nearly as many double-digit losses at home as the rebuilding Wolves and zero wins involving actual travel -- their only road W came against the Kidd-less Nets -- Isiah's Knicks have earned this.

"We Back Now": LeBron Leads The Dance Party

2007-12-16T18:15:00.000-08:00

CLEVELAND -- With the game well in hand, LeBron James spent a timeout late in the fourth quarter Tuesday bouncing as "Soulja Boy" blasted over Quicken Loans Arena's sound system.
It's been awhile since there's been a reason for the Cavs to dance.
They blew out the Indiana Pacers 118-105, ending a six-game losing streak. But this was more than a victory, it was a get-well game.
The Cavs famously did virtually nothing to upgrade their roster in the offseason. After missing James for five games, Anderson Varejao for 21 and Larry Hughes for 12, getting them all back together made it feel like the team had just pulled a blockbuster trade.
Just to make the point, the Cavs ceremoniously brought them all in together.
For the first time in his NBA career -- and the first time in his life, save for the 2004 Olympics -- James did not start. He said he asked coach Mike Brown to bring him off the bench.
That's what Brown did, along with Hughes and Varejao midway through the first quarter. The 20,000 fans on hand came to their feet. It was the first time they'd seen James play in two weeks, Hughes in a month, and Varejao since the NBA Finals.
"I thought it would raise the intensity of the fans, having me, Larry and Andy come in at the same time and it worked," James said. "I thought by coming in with Andy it might stop some of the boos Andy might get. Andy is one of my favorite players, I was just protecting my teammate."
That's a charming story and it did work. Varejao, who drew the ire of Cavs fans when he told ESPN.com that he no longer wanted to be in Cleveland over two weeks ago, didn't hear jeers.
But it's not 100 percent true. Brown didn't discuss his substitution pattern with James; he was the one who made the move. Not that Brown wanted to get in the way of James' poetic statements.
Nonetheless, it certainly worked on the court. As soon as the trio hit the floor the Cavs tore off a 22-5 run. When they entered as a group again in the third quarter, the Cavs immediately went on a 15-0 run to build their lead to 25 points.
James had 17 points in just 23 minutes. If his sprained left index finger was bothering him under a protective glove, he didn't let it show, especially on a two-handed alley-oop dunk in the second half.
Varejao had a typical night, buzzing everywhere to grab nine rebounds and score six points in 24 minutes.
Hughes, who is back to playing shooting guard after being forced to fill in at point guard from last March until now, hit 13-of-17 shots to score 36 points. It was the most points he's scored in a game in more than two years and he did it in just 26 minutes, the first NBA player to score 36 points in 26 minutes since Tracy McGrady did it as a member of the Orlando Magic in 2004.
"I thought they had two LeBron Jameses out there," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said.
All of it overshadowed Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley's first game since he was involved in a shooting outside an Indianapolis hotel early Sunday morning. Tinsley had 10 points and very little to say after the game.
"We've got another game tomorrow," Tinsley said.
This night was really about the Cavs getting close to whole. Starting point guard Daniel Gibson missed the game after getting a wisdom tooth pulled and Donyell Marshall is out at least another month with a wrist injury, but the Cavs still had the most talent they've had on the floor all season. The results and the good feeling gave them reason to think it could be a turning point.
"You go through a stretch when you're losing games and people were looking at us like we're not a good team," James said. "We knew once we got our guys back that it would be a totally different story. We back now."

Brian Windhorst, a regular ESPN.com contributor, covers the NBA and the Cavs for the Akron Beacon Journal

NBA Rookies: The Rookie Award Contenders for 2008

2007-12-04T01:20:00.000-08:00

If you're a fan of fantasy sports leagues or simply like rooting for individuals instead of teams, there can be fun and sometimes value to be found in individual proposition bets. They can give you a season-long rooting interest in someone's results and, if you know what you're looking for, you might get decent odds for your dollar.
A recent scan of some NBA props revealed some interesting odds for the 2007-08 Rookie of the Year award. The odds-on favorite, no surprise, is NBA-ready stud Kevin Durant who, after one spectacular year at Texas, might be the only hope for the rebuilding Sonics to make fans less sleepless in Seattle. He comes in at 3/2 and, with Ray Allen gone via trade to Boston and Rashard Lewis taking big free-agent dollars in Orlando, the high-scoring guard/forward should get ample opportunity to put up 20-plus points per game and take down the rookie top honor.
But there have been questions about his strength - he could not bench press 185 pounds in NBA pre-draft workouts - and there rarely is value in the chalk when it comes to prop bets. The other favorite, Ohio State product Greg Oden, is probably an even worse pick at 5/2. Young big men typically take a little longer to acclimate - and the 7-footer clearly needs to add bulk - so while he should make an impact with shot blocking and rebounding right away, he probably won't generate good enough numbers to win the award.
The best candidates for the award are usually small forwards (such as last year's winner, Brandon Roy of Portland) and point guards (Chris Paul of the Hornets) who can score right away, or seasoned big men (think Charlotte's Emeka Okafor) who have the physical strength to compete in the league. The award also tends to favor players who have at least some college experience, as past winners have included Tim Duncan and Grant Hill, who each spent four years as starters at respected collegiate programs. Of course, a couple of high schoolers who went straight to the pros have won the award, such as Lebron James and Amare Stoudemire, but the physical and mental maturity of a 22-year-old as opposed to an 18-year-old is usually a safer bet.
So if you are looking for some candidates with good odds and a legitimate chance to win, keep an eye on the following dark horses. All NBA Rookie of the Year odds come from Bodog:

1. Al Thornton, Clippers (12/1) - Might have been the steal of the first round at No. 14, as some draft experts regarded him as one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft. At 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds, he has an NBA prototype body and was a four-year player at Florida State, improving each year and finishing with an ACC-best 19.7 points per game last year. Could have a hard time getting big numbers alongside the likes of Elton Brand and Corey Maggette, but the Clippers have been injury prone in years past and Brand will miss a good chunk of the season as it is. Worth a look at these odds.

2. Acie Law, Hawks (15/1) - Anyone drafted by the Hawks should have a chance to play right away and, unlike No. 3 pick Al Horford, who will have competition at his position from incumbents Shelden Williams and Marvin Williams, Law should take over right away for the disappointing Speedy Claxton. Law started for four years at Texas A&M, and showed improved range in his senior season while repeatedly coming through in the clutch for the Aggies in Big 12 and NCAA Tournament play. Might have been the first point guard taken in the draft had Ohio State phenom Mike Conley Jr. not shined so brightly in the NCAA Tournament.

3. Brandan Wright, Warriors (15/1) - This super-smooth 6-foot-9 forward from North Carolina should fit in perfectly in the up-tempo system at Golden State, which made a shrewd off-season move by dumping the over priced and under-producing Jason Richardson and trading for Wright on draft day. The Warriors need skilled big men who can run the floor and, while some observers believe Wright will need a year or two to develop, don't be surprised if he puts up big numbers right away.

4.Joakim Noah, Bulls (25/1) - Might be the best long shot of the bunch. Dropping to the Bulls with the No. 9 pick, he certainly would have been a top-three selection had he left Florida after the first of its consecutive National Championship campaigns. A hard-nosed player with underrated offensive skills and a great ability to run the floor and defend, he should be a perfect complement to the guard-oriented Bulls, who get the bulk of their scoring from the likes of Ben Gordon and Luol Deng and are in need of a respectable low-post presence.
After you finish this NBA article check out our NBA Gambling lines page. If you plan on betting NBA you'll also want to read our NBA predictions page. Doc's betting NBA second half's resource is a must read for NBA wagering For 35+ years the team at Doc's Sports Service has provided and insight on basketball handicapping.

5. Glen Davis, Celtics (35/1) - The ultimate long shot, but he has a chance nonetheless. After the Celtics traded basically their whole team aside from Paul Pierce to land Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, someone has to fill out the roster and do some dirty work inside to clean up the superstar trio's missed shots. A steal with the No. 35 pick, "Big Baby" likely will play with a chip on his shoulder because he dropped so far in the draft, when he was a sure lottery pick had he jumped to the NBA after leading LSU to the Final Four two years ago. Lost amid concerns about his weight and his injury-plagued final season at LSU was the fact that he developed a nice low-post game to go along with his sheer brute force, and he averaged 17.7 points and 10 rebounds per game. A slimmed-down Davis has impressed in the NBA summer league, putting up 12 points and 10 rebounds a game.

by Josh Nagel

Gasol: Moving to Bulls?

2007-12-04T00:50:00.000-08:00

With the Kobe Bryant trade talks apparently on hold for now, Bulls general manager John Paxson should turn his attention to Pau Gasol and gauge the chances of making a deal for the Memphis Grizzlies big man.
Gasol isn't nearly as talented as Bryant and I can't see any scenario in which fans at the United Center would begin chanting his name, but he'd give the Bulls their first legitimate low-post scorer since Eddy Curry was dealt a little more than two years ago -- and would come at a much cheaper price than what the Los Angeles Lakers are asking for Bryant.
Gasol, 27, is close in age to other members of the Bulls' young core, and his addition likely would make them serious contenders to reach the NBA Finals for the next five years or so. He's exactly what the Bulls need, a big man with a well-rounded offensive game. He can score on a variety of moves in the low post and step out to knock down an 18-foot jumper with regularity.
He averaged 20.8 points and 9.8 rebounds in 36.2 minutes last season. He shot 53.8 percent from the field and 74.8 percent from the free-throw line. Gasol also would give the Bulls a player capable of drawing fouls and getting easy points from the free-throw line. He had 400 free-throw attempts last season in only 59 games. The only player on the Bulls' roster to have that many free-throw attempts was Ben Gordon (440) -- and he played in all 82 games.
Gasol isn't a great defender, but he's big enough to make his presence felt and is a decent rebounder. His pluses far exceed his negatives.
Of course, the first thing Paxson has to do is discover if the Grizzlies have any interest in trading Gasol. Paxson talked with the Grizzlies about Gasol before last season's trading deadline, but it became apparent that they had no interest in making a deal then.
Although it's unlikely the Grizzlies would be willing to pull the trigger on a major deal at this point of the season, it never hurts to inquire. Besides, Memphis has a new general manager (Chris Wallace) and coach (Marc Iavaroni), and they might be more receptive to trading Gasol.
As solid a player as the 7-foot Spaniard has been during his six years with the franchise, he's not the type of player who can create interest in a marginal market. If the Grizzlies continue to play before modest crowds at the FedEx Forum, trading Gasol might be the team's best option from a business standpoint -- especially considering he makes nearly $14 million this season and has an additional three years for better than $49 million left on his contract.
If the Grizzlies get off to a slow start, the chances of the Bulls dealing for Gasol get considerably better.
So what would it take to make a deal? If I'm Paxson, Luol Deng still is an untouchable and so is Gordon in this scenario. I'd put together a package built around Tyrus Thomas, a younger, much cheaper player who could spark some fan interest in Memphis. An offer of Thomas, Andres Nocioni, another player and a pick might get a deal done under the right circumstances.

BY JOHN JACKSON Sun-Times Columnist

MRI confirms LeBron has sprain

2007-12-01T07:44:00.000-08:00

Finger injury could keep James out of tonight's game
LeBron James isn't any better, but more important to the Cavaliers, he isn't any worse.
Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic Toronto performed an MRI on Thursday on James' left index finger. The results confirmed their diagnosis that he suffered a sprain Wednesday in Detroit.
Other than the sprain, which by definition means there was some ligament damage, the Cavs said there is no significant structural problems with the finger.
The team is listing him as ''day to day'' and calling him a game-time decision for tonight's road game against the Toronto Raptors. The Cavs are expected to show extreme caution with their superstar.
This is an injury that could linger with James for the next couple of months.
James suffered the injury in the second quarter, when he wasfouled by Detroit Pistons center Nazr Mohammed while driving to the basket. James sat out the game's second half.
He might not be the only star who will miss the game. Raptors forward Chris Bosh, who scored 41 points on the Cavs last weekend, strained his groin and left a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. His status for tonight also is undetermined.
The Raptors also are missing point guard T.J. Ford with an arm injury and center Andrea Bargnani, who has a bruised knee.
If James does not play, Sasha Pavlovic probably will start in his place at small forward, with Devin Brown starting at shooting guard instead of Pavlovic.
The Cavs are 9-3 over the past four seasons with James out of the lineup, but this would be an extreme challenge. With Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Cedric Simmons all out, the Cavs already are thin in the frontcourt and backcourt. Not to mention James is the NBA's leading scorer at 31 points a game.
Some Cavs, however, resent the implication they cannot win without James.
''At the end of the day, we have other guys that can play,'' Damon Jones said. ''Regardless if anybody gives us credit for what we do. We've shown in the past when he's missed a game we can be formidable.''
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
LeBron James isn't any better, but more important to the Cavaliers, he isn't any worse.
Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic Toronto performed an MRI on Thursday on James' left index finger. The results confirmed their diagnosis that he suffered a sprain Wednesday in Detroit.
Other than the sprain, which by definition means there was some ligament damage, the Cavs said there is no significant structural problems with the finger.
The team is listing him as ''day to day'' and calling him a game-time decision for tonight's road game against the Toronto Raptors. The Cavs are expected to show extreme caution with their superstar.
This is an injury that could linger with James for the next couple of months.
James suffered the injury in the second quarter, when he wasfouled by Detroit Pistons center Nazr Mohammed while driving to the basket. James sat out the game's second half.
He might not be the only star who will miss the game. Raptors forward Chris Bosh, who scored 41 points on the Cavs last weekend, strained his groin and left a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. His status for tonight also is undetermined.
The Raptors also are missing point guard T.J. Ford with an arm injury and center Andrea Bargnani, who has a bruised knee.
If James does not play, Sasha Pavlovic probably will start in his place at small forward, with Devin Brown starting at shooting guard instead of Pavlovic.
The Cavs are 9-3 over the past four seasons with James out of the lineup, but this would be an extreme challenge. With Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Cedric Simmons all out, the Cavs already are thin in the frontcourt and backcourt. Not to mention James is the NBA's leading scorer at 31 points a game.
Some Cavs, however, resent the implication they cannot win without James.
''At the end of the day, we have other guys that can play,'' Damon Jones said. ''Regardless if anybody gives us credit for what we do. We've shown in the past when he's missed a game we can be formidable.''

By Brian Windhorst Beacon Journal sportswriterPublished on Friday, Nov 30, 2007

Kobe Agrees to Bulls Trade Only if He Gets to be Renamed “Michael Jordan”

2007-12-01T07:18:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES, CA and CHICAGO, IL–After weeks of speculation, Kobe Bryant has agreed to be traded to the Chicago Bulls, but with an unusual stipulation.
“The Bulls are ecstatic to announce that we’ve traded for Kobe Bryant today,” announced general manager John Paxson. “Rather, I should say, the Chicago Bulls have traded for Michael Jordan.”
That’s right; the Bulls agreed to the trade with the Lakers, sending the Lakers forward Tyrus Thomas; shooting guard Ben Gordon; forward Andres Nocioni; two draft picks; and one special caveat–that Kobe Bryant is now known as Michael Jordan.
“This is not simply a semantic thing,” said Paxson. “The player formerly known as Kobe Bryant is now actually Michael Jordan. And I gotta be candid, the Bulls are thrilled to have Michael Jordan back in action.”
By a special arrangement as part of the trade, Michael Jordan will get to keep both the stats he accumulated as Kobe Bryant, as well as his previous statistics as Michael Jordan. “I’m thrilled to be back with the Bulls, going for my tenth title,” said Michael Jordan. “I see Luol Deng as being a very similar presence to what we had with Scottie Pippen, and I see Ben Wallace as being a sort of 21st century Dennis Rodman, without the wedding dresses. So overall I really like our chances.”
Lakers head coach Phil Jackson was sad to part ways with Michael Jordan again. “I mean, we won nine titles together – three different three-peats,” Jackson said. “So it’s tough. I wish Michael the best of luck in his return to the Bulls. I think the Eastern Conference is looking better and better with the addition of Michael Jordan.”
Chicago mayor Richard Daley was thrilled about the trade. “Look, I was here when Michael was with the Bulls the first two times, so I know just what a tremendous impact he’s going to have on the Bulls,” he said. “And I couldn’t be happier. Michael is a pillar of this community, and we wish him well as he goes for his 13th scoring title, his tenth NBA finals trophy, and his sixth MVP award. He is truly a treasure of Chicago, and the city welcomes him back.”

http://www.serioussportsnewsnetwork.com/2007/11/kobe-agrees-to-bulls-trade-only-if-he-gets-to-be-renamed-michael-jordan.html

Early MVP Candidates + Garnett Looks Like A Fast Starter In MVP Chase

2007-11-28T02:45:00.000-08:00

We're roughly one-seventh the way through the NBA season. Here's an early look at Most Valuable Player candidates who have emerged. Of note, my top two picks here square off Tuesday in Boston.

1. Kevin Garnett, Celtics forward -- Right now, the best player on the best team in the league. He's extremely dominant on both ends of the court. Basically a double-double machine (20.9 ppg, 12.7 rpg). What I love about him is he's so unselfish on the offensive and defensive end. He'll clearly look to pass first, and does all the dirty work on the defensive end. It's one thing to be a dominant player on a weak team, but to be a dominant player on a great team, which the Celtics are, that's saying something.

2. LeBron James, Cavs forward -- Getting to the Finals last spring, and playing with great players this summer on Team USA, has clearly helped him. He knows he must often get a triple-double, scoring in the 30s, for his team to win. He's been doing it. He had his fourth-triple double of the season Sunday, and is leading the NBA in scoring at 31.4 ppg, along with getting over eight in both assists and rebounds per game. There's a lot of pressure on him, and he's delivering.

3. Tim Duncan, Spurs forward -- People tend to overlook Duncan till the end of the year. His team has consistently a great record (now 12-2) and he's the dominant player, along with 18.2 ppg.

4. Yao Ming, Rockets center -- Ming has been extremely dominant at his position (22.4 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.1 bpg). He's benefited from Rick Adelman's style -- he's much better facing the basket.

5. Steve Nash, Suns guard -- Some people ask what's wrong with the Suns, but they have a great record (11-2), and in my view he's the whole reason that they have it. Still hasn't missed a free throw this year (36-for-36) and is shooting 55 percent from the field.

6. Kobe Bryant, Lakers guard -- Any time he is on the floor you have a chance to win, and the Lakers are still above .500 (7-6) despite losing three straight. Although he missed that late free throw against the Nets on Sunday, he's one of the most clutch players in the game. I don't think he's going anywhere.

7. Dwight Howard, Magic center -- His shoulders alone now seemingly fill the entire lane. He has come into his own as a big-time dominant center, averaging 23.4 ppg, 14.5 rpg and 2.5 bpg for the 12-3 Magic. With Stan Van Gundy doing a great job, I don't see Howard's team dropping off.

8. Chris Paul, Hornets guard -- What elevates his game is that he takes over at the end. That's one big reason New Orleans is off to a great start at 10-5.

9. Carlos Boozer, Jazz forward -- He's emerged as one of the dominant players every night. He's become such a force on both ends of the court -- and he's always been a great rebounder and scorer. He's at 24.2 ppg and 11.5 rpg for a Utah team off to a 10-4 start.

10. Paul Pierce, Celtics forward -- Although Garnett may be the best player on Celtics, The Truth has come through at the end of games and dominates in pressure situations. He leads the team in scoring (22.2) and assists (5.2).
The next group of guys outside top 10 that follow are likely there because their team is struggling. You can expect their status to change.

We would be remiss not mentioning these others off to notable starts. Start with Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki, Baron Davis, Zach Randolph, Tracy McGrady, Michael Redd, Allen Iverson and Jason Kidd. And don't forget about Dwyane Wade and that other big guy in Florida that can still dominate. And there's Chris Kaman and Deron Williams among the players having notable seasons so far.
Former NBA All-Star and ex-Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe is a regular ESPN.com contributor

Varejao on Cleveland: 'I don't want to play there anymore'

2007-11-27T17:05:00.000-08:00

Last season, Anderson Varejao played a key role as the Cleveland Cavaliers won the Eastern Conference title -- he was arguably the Cavs' best young player behind LeBron James.This season, Varejao is playing in a gym more than a thousand miles from Cleveland in Vitoria, Brazil, while the Cavs struggle to replace Varejao's defensive intensity in the middle. What's he doing? Working on his jump hook. Trying to stay in shape. And most importantly, waiting. And waiting for Cleveland general manager Danny Ferry to "show me that he values my contribution to the team," Varejao told ESPN.com by phone in a rare interview." I just want to be treated fairly and I don't think Danny's done that." Varejao expected to be helping the Cavs defend their East crown by now. "I wanted to come back," he said. "I love the fans and I really love my teammates. But there are others there that have made it very difficult. It's gotten to the point that I don't want to play there anymore. I'm just hoping for a sign-and-trade at this point." Ferry isn't ready to give up on bring Varejao back. "We fully understand that negotiations can be emotional," Ferry told ESPN.com. "As for Anderson's potential to remain a Cavalier and put this behind us, we value his presence in this organization, on and off the court, and that has not changed." Varejao, who turned 25 in September, was a vital part of the Cavs' run to the NBA Finals. As the Cavs' sixth man, his basic stats were modest: 6.8 points and 6.7 rebounds in 23 minutes per game. But he led the league in drawing charges, and his energy and interior defense were invaluable to the team. His adjusted plus-minus numbers last season said he was the 22nd-best player in the league. The question for the Cavs is, how much do you pay for those less tangible contributions? That question has been at the heart of one of the most unusual free-agent contract squabbles in NBA history. (One of the handful of similar cases happened when Ferry himself refused to sign with the team that drafted him, the Los Angeles Clippers, decided instead to play in Europe and eventually forced the Clippers to trade him to, yes, Cleveland.) As of now, Varejao has been unable to get another team to sign him to an offer sheet. Because Varejao is a restricted free agent, the Cavs can match any offer he gets, and Ferry has threatened to do just that. This summer that scared off at least one team reluctant to tie its own hands by making an offer that would ultimately result in Varejao merely returning to Cleveland.
The Memphis Grizzlies flirted with making Varejao a big offer in July, but when the Cavs threatened to match and leave Memphis empty-handed, the Grizzlies went after unrestricted free agent Darko Milicic instead. Several other teams told ESPN.com they would have offered Varejao their full midlevel exception (starting at $5.356 million per season), but Varejao has not been willing to sign for that amount because he believes (a) the Cavs would match, and (b) he's worth more. The Cavs' popular forward wants considerably more than the team is offering. He turned down the Cavs' one-year, $1.2 million tender offer. (To retain a restricted free agent, a team must make a tender offer.) He also refused Cleveland's opening offer of five years, $20 million, and then its latest offer of five years, $32 million, with a starting salary slightly below the midlevel exception. But Varejao said media reports that he's asking for a contract averaging $10-11 million a season "just aren't true. There are a lot of things being written that are wrong. I know they aren't talking to me or my agent." He said he and his agent, Dan Fegan, have been more than willing to work out a fair deal with the Cavs. Varejao said he offered to sign a one-year deal at a discount, or to sign a longer-term deal. Varejao further said he would be willing to take the dispute to an arbitrator, for a resolution similar to those found in Major League Baseball. That would minimize the role of Fegan, who is known as a very tough bargainer. "Much has been made about the negotiators in this process, but for the record I have been prepared since training camp to submit our differences to a third-party mediator so that both parties can be assured of more objectivity," Fegan says.The Cavs have rejected all of those counterproposals. Ferry says the Cavs' offer is fair. "We believe the Cavs' offers are very much in line with what is widely perceived throughout the industry as fair market value. We have also included bonuses that would serve as upside protection for Anderson," Ferry said. "We are working to make decisions that are best for short- and long-term interests of the organization, yet clearly stepping up and offering him long-term security at a very fair market value." Varejao said that if the two sides can't agree on a long-term deal, they should agree on a one-year deal that allows both sides to explore their options next year.

From the Cavs' point of view, a one-year deal is counterproductive because it would make Varejao an unrestricted free agent next year, and the team's right to match any offer would disappear. In that case, Varejao could just walk away. But Fegan says that if Cleveland is willing to pay Varejao "fair market value," the Cavs would then be in the best position to sign him next year. "It defies logic for the Cavs to accuse Anderson of demanding too much money on a long-term deal while at the same time refusing to allow Anderson to sign a one-year deal for less money, especially when they retain his Bird rights next year." Fegan said. "It begs the question: If their offer is truly fair, what are they afraid of?" The result has been a standoff that shows no sign of ending. On each side, the frustration level has been rising the past few weeks, as Varejao is left in limbo in Brazil, and as the Cavs have struggled coming out of the gate in training camp and the regular season. In October, Ferry made a surprise visit to see Varejao at his parents' home in Brazil in an attempt to convince him to sign. The move backfired. Ferry showed up without telling Fegan, and working around an agent is a no-no in the NBA. While GMs are allowed to talk with players without an agent present, it is customary that all contract talk goes through an agent. "I was shocked," Varejao said. "He showed up and wanted me to sign a contract. I told him he's got to talk to my agent. He didn't even up his offer. I guess he thought if he just showed up, I would just sign whatever he gave me." Ferry walked away with no deal and with an angry free agent on his hands. He defends his decision to appeal directly to Varejao. "From the start of free agency, we told Anderson and his agent that the ability to communicate with him directly was going to be very important to the process," Ferry said. "The trip was done because our communication with Anderson was no longer available to us." Since that incident, there hasn't been much trust or movement on either side. While many around the NBA believe that Fegan is driving negotiations, Varejao says he is responsible for his own bargaining position. "This is me, nobody else," Varejao said. "He takes the offers to me and I decide. He's told me he'll get a deal done for less. I've told him no. It's me. [The Cavs] told me how important I was to the team. I just want to be treated fairly." Other GMs in the league, while acknowledging that Fegan is a tough negotiator, said that Ferry is equally tenacious. One serious risk, on Ferry's side, is that the team's most important player, James, might see this impasse as another sign of the Cavs' inability to improve the team.
Varejao says that the Cavs' players support him, and that his conversations with James have been positive. "He just says, 'We love you and we're waiting,'" Varejao said. "He keeps telling me he wants me back but to get the best deal I can and to take care of my family. He's a great teammate. He always supports us on and off the court." That sentiment was confirmed by a source close to James, who said, "LeBron wants Andy back. He wants him to get a fair deal. I think his frustration isn't with Andy, it's with the fact that for the past two years, he's been waiting for more help and he hasn't gotten it. This is just a step in the wrong direction." Over the past few weeks, several NBA general managers have told ESPN.com that Fegan has been searching out potential sign-and-trade deals, in which Varejao would agree to terms with another team and then be traded to that team. In recent days, there have been indications that the Cavs are open to the possibility of a sign-and-trade. Two GMs told ESPN.com they believe Varejao would agree to a five-year, $45-million deal in a sign-and-trade, if such an offer were made. "If that's the price, or close to it, I think Danny [Ferry] will get some offers that make sense for the Cavs," one GM said. "I'm not sure he'll get equal value, but right now he has nothing and I don't see it changing." If Varejao leaves, it will be a bitter ending for both parties. But at this point, that might be the most workable option. "I'm willing to go and play in Europe if that's what it takes," Varejao said. "I know it's a risk and I'll be a restricted free agent next year, but at least I'd be happy. I don't think I'll be happy in Cleveland knowing that I was [almost] the lowest-paid player there for three years and am still paid much less than players on the team that I outperform. Life's too short to be unhappy."
Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.

LJ23 TRADED TO CELTICS

2007-11-26T20:02:00.000-08:00

When I hear the number 23 the first person that comes into my mind is Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls but you ask younger fans of the game they answer Lebron James, no doubt he really is the most successfull player to make the high jump to the pro's from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. He really surpassed the expectations and became superstar in his Sophomore year. In the 2005–06 season, James was elected to his second straight All-Star Game appearance and led the Eastern All-Stars to a 122–120 victory, with 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. He became the youngest All-Star MVP at 21 years, 51 days. He was named NBA Player of the Week for an unprecedented three consecutive weeks and concluded the season with five honors. He scored 35 or more points in nine consecutive games and joined Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant as the only players since 1970 to accomplish the feat. For the season, James averaged 31.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game and became the youngest player in NBA history to average at least 30 points. He also became the fourth player in NBA history to average more than 30 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in a single season. The Cavaliers made the playoffs for the first time since 1998, and improved from a record of 17–65 in 2002–03 to 50–32 in 2005–06.
Following the regular season, James was named as one of the top candidates for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. Although he finished second to Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns in MVP voting, he was awarded co-MVP honors with Nash by The Sporting News; an award given by the publication that is based on the voting of thirty NBA general managers.James made his playoff debut against the Washington Wizards. He recorded a triple-double with 32 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds, as the Cavaliers defeated the Wizards 97–86. He joined Johnny McCarthy and Magic Johnson as the only players in NBA history to register a triple-double in their playoff debut. For the series, James averaged 35.7 points, as the Cavaliers defeated the Wizards in six games. In the second round of the playoffs, James and the Cavaliers lost in seven games to the defending Eastern Conference champion and divisional rival Detroit Pistons. James averaged 30.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in the playoffs. At the end of the season, James negotiated a three year contract extension, with a player option for a fourth year. The contract is worth US$60 million and begins at the start of the 2007–08 season. Although it is for fewer years and less money than the maximum he could sign, it allows him the option of seeking a new contract worth more money as an unrestricted free agent following the 2010 season.(wikipedia.org)
Now there is a Rumor that he will be Traded to the Boston Celtics.

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