NBA 2007-08 Preseason predictions

[Rollie_Fingaz]

With a month and a half to go, let's talk about how the moves that were made in the offseason will affect the teams in the NBA. I will post articles as I find them. As always I welcome the feedback.


2007-2008 Season Preview: Atlantic Division
Authored by Jason M. Williams - 19th September, 2007 - 2:19 pm

With the 2007-08 NBA season only a little over a month away, we here at RealGM decided to offer a six-part series that will break down the off-season maneuvers of each team, take a look at who went where, and pose burning questions that will plague each team as it prepares for the start of the regular season. With great potential surrounding this year’s incoming draft class and plenty of big names migrating from the Western Conference to the East, there are plenty of issues to become aware of prior to the Opening Tip. Stay tuned as RealGM prepares you for the 2007-08 NBA season.


We begin with the Atlantic Division.



- Boston Celtics -

With Danny Ainge hanging onto his job by a thread in Beantown, he swiftly cashed in all of his youthful assets in two major trades that significantly altered the landscape of the Eastern Conference. By dealing away the glut of talent that he has stockpiled over the past four years, he was able to land two perennial All Stars to flank the longtime franchise icon, Paul Pierce. Ainge was able to assemble as powerful a three-man punch that the league has ever seen, teaming Kevin Garnett and sharpshooter Ray Allen with the diminutive Pierce. There is no doubt that this Celtic squad is much improved, but the question that remains is whether or not these three championship-hungry stars will have enough gas left in the tank come playoff season. With a considerable lack of depth on the roster, The (Newest) Big Three will have to carry the team and the city on its shoulders to try to get back to the Promised Land for the first time since 1987.

Draft Picks: Gabe Pruitt (No. 32)

Key Additions: Kevin Garnett (trade – Minnesota), Ray Allen (trade – Seattle), Glen Davis (trade – Seattle), Eddie House (Free Agent – New Jersey), James Posey (FA – Miami), Scot Pollard (FA – Cleveland)

Key Losses: Al Jefferson (trade – Minnesota), Gerald Green (trade – Minnesota), Ryan Gomes (trade – Minnesota), Sebastian Telfair (trade – Minnesota), Wally Szczerbiak (trade – Seattle), Delonte West (trade – Seattle), Jeff Green (trade – Seattle), Allan Ray (waived)

While it is easy to talk about the two major additions of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, it will probably come down to the minor tweaks that will get these Celtics to the playoffs and beyond. Ainge realized that he wouldn’t be able to compete for the Eastern Conference crown with a team consisting of The Big Three, a second year point guard (Rajon Rondo), an inconsistent center (Kendrick Perkins), and not much else outside of Brian Scalabrine. However, the main attraction of competing for a title alongside The Big Three worked in his favor as the was able to sell the idea of coming to Boston to unrestricted free agents Eddie House, James Posey, and Scot Pollard. This gives the rotation more stability and the trade throw-in of Glen Davis from Seattle helps add beef to an already thin frontcourt.

Burning Questions

- Will one of The Big Three get injured?
- Can all three survive the heavy workload all year?
- Will Rondo be an adequate floor leader? Will he be able to get them to the postseason?
- Can Kendrick Perkins maintain the starting center position?
- Will Eddie House bring his deadly outside shooting that he had in Phoenix?
- Will Glen Davis be a bust? Or will he battle the bigs for minutes as a rookie?

Person on the Hot Seat: Danny Ainge

What was once considered one of the deepest caches of young talent, Ainge has thrown away the future for the present. He has dealt many potential All Stars and steady role players for this once in a lifetime opportunity to create a video-game triumvirate of superstar talent. If it works, he will be heralded. If it doesn’t and one of them goes down for the season, don’t expect the Celtics to be in contention for a while.

Team Outlook

In the weak Eastern Conference, there is no reason the Boston Celtics shouldn’t make the playoffs. However, their lack of depth and an experienced point guard could spell trouble come playoff time when the likes of Detroit, Chicago, and Miami come to town.



- New Jersey Nets -

The most important part of this off-season for the New Jersey Nets wasn’t necessarily who to add or who to subtract to the roster, but rather, who will be healthy at the start of the season. The Nets were two games away from the Eastern Conference Finals last season, despite the significant losses of Nenad Krstic, Richard Jefferson, and Josh Boone for large stretches of the season last year.

Draft Picks: Sean Williams (No. 17)

Key Additions: Jamaal Magloire (FA – Portland), Malik Allen (FA – Chicago), Robert Hite (FA – Miami)

Key Losses: Mikki Moore (FA – Sacramento), Eddie House (FA – Boston), Hassan Adams (waived)

The Nets wisely didn’t overspend to retain Mikki Moore following his career year. The Sacramento Kings threw a lot of money at the journeyman power forward who was a spark for the Nets last season, but can probably be lumped into the ever-growing list of forwards who have experienced career years thanks to the fact that they had Jason Kidd setting them up to succeed. Instead, they replaced him with a former All Star in Jamaal Magloire, who will help defend Atlantic Division centers like New York’s Eddy Curry and Philadelphia’s Samuel Dalembert. The Draft selection of the troubled Sean Williams could prove to be the steal of this year’s draft.

Burning Questions

- Will Nenad Krstic rebound from the injury to regain his form from two seasons ago?
- How much does Jason Kidd have left in the tank?
- Will Richard Jefferson be able to remain healthy all season?
- Will Vince Carter experience a drop-off in production now that his contract is extended?
- Will Sean Williams be able to stay out of trouble?
- Will former UConn standouts Marcus Williams and Josh Boone continue to improve?

Person on the Hot Seat: Josh Boone

With the healthy return of Krstic along with the additions of Magloire and rookie Sean Williams, he will have to prove himself on the floor if he wants to see any playing time alongside of Jason Kidd this season.

Team Outlook

These Nets should be able to contend with Boston and Toronto for the Division crown. Their Big Three is capable of being just as deadly as the New Big Three in Boston. Look for the Nets to get a huge boost from the return of Krstic, who has recently reported that he is ahead of schedule and feeling no pain.



- New York Knicks -

The Knicks were much improved last season and were vying for one of the final two Eastern Conference playoff spots until injuries ravaged this youthful squad. Once injuries sidelined David Lee, Jamal Crawford, Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis and Quentin Richardson, the Knicks were fielding a team loaded with rookies and second year players. With another successful off-season, these Knicks look to improve and force their way into the playoffs for the first time since 2003-04.

NBA Draft Picks: Wilson Chandler (No. 23)

Key Additions: Zach Randolph (trade – Portland), Fred Jones (trade – Portland), Dan Dickau (trade – Portland), Demetris Nichols (trade – Portland)

Key Losses: Steve Francis (trade – Portland), Channing Frye (trade – Portland)

Isiah Thomas made one major trade at this year’s NBA Draft, that jettisoned team cancer Steve Francis and the defensively inept Channing Frye to the Trailblazers for 20-10 power forward Zach Randolph and three others. While many believe the frontcourt combo of Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph will be among the slowest and weakest in the league defensively, they also agree that the Knicks will possess the most deadly post attack tandem since the Twin Towers in San Antonio. The main question is: can Isiah Thomas get these two guys to coexist? Another problem that plagues Zeke is his current roster situation. He has 16 men under contract, while the league maximum is 15. He also holds the rights to second rounder Demetris Nichols, who’s outside shooting prowess should warrant him a spot on Isiah’s roster. How to trim two players from his roster is up to Thomas.

Burning Questions

- Can Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry coexist in the paint?
- Who will Zeke dump to limit his roster to 15 players?
- Will Stephon Marbury continue to defer to the big men in order to get this team to the postseason?
- Will Quentin Richardson remain healthy?
- Will Nate Robinson feed off of his Summer League MVP and develop into a better leader?
- How will Isiah find time for second year point guard Mardy Collins?
- Will Renaldo Balkman learn to hit a jumper?
- Will Randolph Morris, Demetris Nichols, and Wilson Chandler see time at the Garden? Or will they be in the NBDL this season?
- How will Zeke utilize Jared Jeffries?

Person on the Hot Seat: Isiah Thomas

He has often been the topic of scrutiny in his tenure as the Knicks General Manager and team President. In his first season as head coach of the Knicks last year, he guided them to ten more wins than they had under “legendary” head coach Larry Brown. With another year of experience for the Baby Knicks, the cancerous Franchise gone, and a roster coming to camp stocked and healthy, can Isiah crack his overpaid underachieving team into the playoffs?

Team Outlook

The Knicks, simply put, have too many players. Despite the fact that Isiah Thomas loves adding depth, it makes things more difficult when the rotation is in disarray. Zeke will have plenty of talent necessary to outscore opponents en route to the postseason, the major challenge for this team will be whether or not they are able to play team defense and stop opponents in crunch time.



- Philadelphia 76ers -

The Sixers were amongst the busiest dealers during this year’s NBA Draft. They entered the Draft with four picks and left by holding onto only one of their original selections. They are now fully in Life After The Answer mode, and have built a team based on youth and athleticism. They are much improved from last season and can expect to be a thorn in the side of many teams out East this year.

NBA Draft Picks: Thaddeus Young (No. 12)

Key Additions: Reggie Evans (trade – Denver), Ricky Sanchez (trade – Denver), Derrick Byars (trade – Portland), Jason Smith (trade – Miami), Herbert Hill (trade – Utah)

Key Losses: Joe Smith (FA – Chicago), Steven Hunter (trade – Denver), Bobby Jones (trade – Denver), Daequan Cook (trade – Miami), Petteri Koponen (trade – Portland), Kyle Fesenko (trade – Utah)

The loss of Joe Smith will hurt more than Sixer fans originally expected, but they were able to obtain plenty of quality talent at this year’s Draft. Philly decided to take a flyer on Thaddeus Young, one of the most explosive and dynamic players available in this year’s draft. He has the potential to become a force for these Sixers for years to come. They were also able to acquire Reggie Evans to help their putrid rebounding and provide insurance on the boards now that Dalembert is suffering from an injury. The addition of Jason Smith flew under the radar on Draft Night, but could prove to be a valuable steal for Philly in the second half of the season.

Burning Questions

- Do the Sixers have enough to compete in the Atlantic?
- Will Andre Miller be a Sixer by season’s end?
- Who will step up from the glut of rookies on the roster?
- Will Andre Igoudala make the leap to superstardom?
- Will Rodney Carney earn a starting spot?
- Will Kyle Korver continue to expand his game from being “just a three point threat?”
- Will Shavlik Randolph come back from his gruesome injury from last season?

Person on the Hot Seat: Samuel Dalembert

Now that the club has cut ties with Allen Iverson and Chris Webber, Dalembert assumes the role of highest paid Sixer. After pleading his case to play for Canada in this summer’s pre-Olympic games, he suffered a stress fracture in his left foot that will keep him on the shelf until camp begins. But with the nature of a stress fracture, he will have to make a careful comeback in order to avoid future setbacks that could spell trouble for this 76er team looking to make it to the postseason.

Team Outlook

The Sixers improved greatly after sending Allen Iverson to the Denver Nuggets last season, and look to build upon their late season success. However, the possibility of a nagging injury to the left foot of big man Samuel Dalembert and the inexperience that floods the depth chart might make for a slow start in Philadelphia. However, by season’s end, you can expect these Sixers to be battling for a playoff spot.



- Toronto Raptors -

The Toronto Raptors turned many heads last year when they stumbled out of the gate before becoming one of the best teams in the Conference last year. They won the Atlantic Division and nearly headed into the second round of the playoffs. With a glut of international sensations on the team, Bryan Colangelo has constructed his team to play selflessly and flawless fundamental basketball. They made some minor tweaks over the off-season and should be primed to defend their division crown.

NBA Draft: None

Key Additions: Jason Kapono (FA – Miami), Maceo Baston (FA – Indiana), Carlos Delfino (trade – Detroit), Giorgos Printezis (trade – San Antonio), Jamario Moon (FA - CBA)

Key Losses: Morris Peterson (FA – New Orleans)

As indicated earlier, the Raps felt content with their squad and didn’t feel the need to make any major moves. They replaced longtime Raptor Morris Peterson with long range assassin Jason Kapono and brought in Argentinean Carlos Delfino from Detroit. With Jorge Garbajosa expected to rejoin the team healthy this season, the fans in Toronto have much reason to be excited for the upcoming season.

Burning Questions

- Will Garbajosa come back from injury and play with same effectiveness?
- Will T.J. Ford remain healthy?
- Will Chris Bosh continue to evolve into an elite power forward?
- Will Anthony Parker be able to duplicate his stellar 2006-07 season?
- Will the impressive Andrea Bargnani continue his ascent into the next Dirk Nowitzki?
- How will Sam Mitchell find time for the recently acquired Jason Kapono and Carlos Delfino?
- Will Maceo Baston return to his University of Michigan form and provide an anchor next to Bosh in the paint?

Person on the Hot Seat: Jason Kapono

Kapono got the big bucks this off-season from the Toronto brass and will have to display his shooting ability and prove it was not a fluke stemming from a contract year. The former UCLA standout will have plenty of similar competition at the wing position with Anthony Parker, Jorge Garbajosa, Juan Dixon, Carlos Delfino, Luke Jackson, and Joey Graham.

Team Outlook

The Raptors are a freshly constructed team of veterans who now have an additional year of experience under their belt. With minor tweaks made to the roster, you can expect to see Toronto making reservations for the playoffs.

 

[hanginbals]

This is my kind of thread!!!! I'll let you finish!!

 

[RunawaySlave]

The person on the "hotseat" for the Nets should be
Lawrence Frank!! Fuck a Josh Boone. Frank has had
this team (that he inherited) for 5 years now and has
barely gotten past the 2nd round. They almost always
UNDERachieve and have gotten decidedly worse every
year since Byron Scott was dimissed

Josh Boone?



Frank got to NJ BEFORE Isiah Thomas got to NY. He
inherited a team that was TWO time Eastern Conference
CHAMPS and Isiah inherited a team that was well into
a decline and hopelessly over the salary cap for YEARS
to come. The Nets barely tread water in a division
that was clearly the weakest in the NBA while the Knicks
made some headway towards respectability

Yet Isiah is on the "hotseat" and Frank isn't?



Just read the outlook for the Toronto Raptors. Jason
Kapono on the hotseat?? How about the NUMBER ONE OVERALL
pick from last year Andrea Bargnini?? How many YEARS
does he get a pass before he gets the bust label?

I'd say his seat should be a little warm too

 

[qweedread]

Even if one of Boston's big three goes down they still will make the playoffs partner. Lets not forget that Cleveland came outta of the weak ass Eastern conference last year with Lebron James and no-one. Also, if Paul hadden been missing most of the year boston would have been alot better, don't forget how much they improved when he returned. And I agree with homeboy, Lawrence Frank aint did shit he should be on the hotseat, Isiah too though.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

2007-2008 Season Preview: Central Division
Authored by Jason M. Williams - 25th September, 2007 - 7:00 pm

The second part of this six-piece series will spotlight the Central Division.

- Chicago Bulls -

After coming up short against the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the postseason, the Chicago Bulls knew that they were still very young and missing very few components to building upon the strong foundation already in place. Rather than overpaying on trade offers for Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O’Neal, or Pau Gasol, John Paxson decided to continue to be conservative this off-season by upgrading his most vulnerable positions. With a gaping hole on the low block in the paint, he knew he needed to add some big men who can put the ball in the hoop. He looked not only to free agency, but also to the Draft for some help.

NBA Draft Picks: Joakim Noah (No. 9), Aaron Gray (No. 49), JamesOn Curry (No. 51)

Key Additions: Joe Smith (Free Agent – Philadelphia)

Key Losses: Malik Allen (FA – New Jersey), P.J. Brown (FA – unsigned), Michael Sweetney (FA – unsigned)

The Bulls basically exchanged P.J. Brown and Mike Sweetney for Joe Smith, Joakim Noah, and some likely bench scoring from Aaron Gray. That is a huge upgrade. They did not overspend and did not have to part with any of their young core in order to deal for a big name power forward. With the same team coming back plus these three additions, watch for the Bulls to make a move on the defending Central champion Detroit Pistons now that they have a very scrappy front line consisting of Ben Wallace, Tyrus Thomas, Joe Smith, and Joakim Noah.

Burning Questions

- Will Tyrus Thomas develop an offensive game?
- Will Aaron Gray battle for minutes up front?
- Will Thabo Sefolosha continue to push Nocioni and Deng for minutes?
- Will Ben Wallace start to break down physically?
- Is Joe Smith going to be enough offense in the paint?
- Is Joakim Noah the same player as Tyrus Thomas and Ben Wallace?

Person on the Hot Seat: Joe Smith

It’s tough to label the ‘new guy’ as the guy on the hot seat, but Joe Smith comes to Chicago with heavy expectations. When the Bulls passed on scoring centers Spencer Hawes and even Jason Smith, Bulls fans knew that the post scoring duties officially belonged to newcomer Joe Smith. Will he be able to produce? Or will the Bulls be on the horn mid-season trying to sure up their scoring in the paint?

Team Outlook

The Bulls have been steadily improving over the past couple of years, but will it continue? They still rely too much on their shooters and their athletic big men who can do nothing but dunk. If Joe Smith can put up 18 points in the paint per night, watch out for these Baby Bulls. If not, it could be another mediocre 45-win season with a second round playoff exit.



- Cleveland Cavaliers -

LeBron James put this team on his back and carried them into the NBA Finals. However, it was obvious that the squad was lacking depth and had too many overpaid veterans that were holding them back rather than propelling them forward. The Cavs enjoyed a magical season in 2006-07, and superstar King James may be enough to get them back to the Finals again this year, but they were still no match for the mighty San Antonio Spurs .

NBA Draft Picks: None

Key Additions: None

Key Losses: Scot Pollard (FA – Boston)

It’s almost amazing that the Cavs didn’t do a single thing this off-season. At this moment, they still have not offered contracts to two of their top five players, Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao, both of whom are restricted free agents. It is widely believed that Danny Ferry is scared to abuse the luxury tax threshold, so he is waiting for other teams to sign offer sheets to Pavlovic and Varejao before making a move. This way, he can offer them the one-year tender, and take his chances with them becoming unrestricted free agents next summer. Either way, it seems way too risky since both have evolved into such integral players on the squad.

Burning Questions

- When will the Pavlovic and Varejao extensions get done?
- After last postseason, how will Daniel Gibson’s minutes be increased this year?
- Will they finally deal for Mike Bibby to solve their woes at the point?
- Will they find takers for overpaid underachieving veterans Damon Jones, Eric Snow and Donyell Marshall? Will anyone absorb the deals of Larry Hughes or Big Z?
- Will the Cavs regret not making a single off-season move?
- Will former Spartan scorer Shannon Brown be a contributor this season?

Person on the Hot Seat: Danny Ferry

He is the one who took over for Jim Paxson and squandered mountains of cap space with lucrative deals on quick fix veterans. While yes, he did get the roster that he engineered to the NBA Finals, he also might have been able to get there with LeBron and a bunch of rookies in the East. If Ferry can swing a deal for a battle-tested point guard like Mike Bibby, or even Jason Williams, the Cavs will be a much improved team. It’s difficult to win when the offense is being run by a group of wingmen, whether or not one of them is LeBron James.

Team Outlook

The Cavaliers were the toast of the East in last year’s postseason, but everyone in their division improved except them. Don’t be surprised to see the Cavs struggle to get to 45 wins this year in the newly improved East.




- Detroit Pistons -

After the Pistons were ousted by the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals last spring, there was much talk of breaking up the team and building anew. That talk lasted about one week. With team leader Chauncey Billups entering free agency, and the trio of Rasheed Wallace, Richard Hamilton, and Tayshaun Prince at their highest trade values of their careers, it would have been easy for Joe Dumars to construct a blueprint for a new direction of success in the D. However, he held tight, and this year’s version of the Bad Boys just might be the best edition yet.

NBA Draft Picks: Rodney Stuckey (No. 15), Arron Afflalo (No. 27), Sammy Mejia (No. 57), Cheick Samb (2006 second rounder – contract purchased)

Key Additions: Jarvis Hayes (FA – Washington)

Key Losses: Chris Webber (FA – unsigned), Dale Davis (FA – unsigned)

Joe Dumars kept his Core Four together by resigning Billups and instead added the exact pieces that he was missing. He brought in Jarvis Hayes to finally give Tayshaun Prince a suitable backup at the forward spot. He resigned Amir Johnson, who many believe can develop into a dominant low post presence. He drafted a steal in Rodney Stuckey, who can finally give the Pistons a scoring point guard who can attack the rim, break down defenses, and find teammates in traffic similar to a young Steve Francis or Stephon Marbury.

Burning Questions

- Did the Pistons overspend on a 31-year-old point guard?
- Will Amir Johnson get minutes this season?
- Will Jason Maxiell continue to develop off the bench? Will he start?
- How will Flip Saunders use Nazr Mohammad?
- Will Afflalo see time at the two-guard position? Will Flip Murray continue to get time?
- Will Antonio McDyess be the starter next to Rasheed?

Person on the Hot Seat: Flip Murray

He was brought in last summer to be a spark plug scorer off the bench, but seemed like he wasn’t living up to the expectations that the organization had set out for him. Now, he comes to camp and must battle with the ultra-quick Rodney Stuckey, the ancient Lindsey Hunter, and the solid collegiate star Arron Afflalo.

Team Outlook

This might be the best Piston team since they won the title in 2004. Expectations in Detroit are high and they are frustrated with the past two exits in the Conference Finals. Anything less than an Eastern Conference title and a shot at the Larry O’Brien Trophy will seem like a failure in Auburn Hills this season.




- Indiana Pacers -

The Indiana Pacers are on a downward spiral into the depths of the Eastern Conference cellar and are, for some reason, holding onto Jermaine O’Neal in the same fashion that the Timberwolves punished Kevin Garnett for years in Minny. With a recent purge of the “problem players” on the team, they have given away, at worst, fringe All-Star caliber players in Ron Artest, Peja Stojakovic, Al Harrington, and Stephen Jackson for basically two career underachieving and overpaid stiffs, Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy. These moves are inexplicable, and now the face of the franchise, JO, must sit and watch as his prime is taken away from him with no one left to go down with him.

NBA Draft Picks: None

Key Additions: Travis Diener (FA – Orlando), Stanko Barac (trade – Miami)

Key Losses: Maceo Baston (FA – Toronto), Orien Greene (FA – Sacramento), Keith McLeod (FA – unsigned), Rawle Marshall (FA – unsigned)

Again, the Pacers did nothing this off-season to help give Jermaine O’Neal any help. What Larry Bird needs to do is access the situation realistically at the All Star break. There is really nothing he can do at this point except pull a Kevin McHale and deal away JO for sixty-five cents on the dollar. However, if his team is mired in a black hole of losing, twenty some-odd games out midway through the season, then it is time to fold up shop, deal him for as many young prospects and picks as possible, and shoot for the top pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. We all saw how McHale waited two or three extra years before he should have dealt Garnett, let’s not see another hero from the Celtic dynasty banish one of the game’s top big men to a culture of losing.

Burning Questions

- Will Jamaal Tinsley play like the old Jamaal Tinsley this year? Will he play at all?
- Will JO survive the season in Indy?
- Will Stanko Barac contend for the Rookie of the Year award?
- Will Ike Diogu finally make the Golden State trade seem somewhat worth the expense?
- Will Danny Granger continue to be the second-best player on the roster?
- Will Murphy and Dunleavy turn around their careers with a full season in Indy?
- Will Marquis Daniels regain the form he displayed in Dallas?

Person on the Hot Seat: Larry Bird

His trades over the past couple of seasons have made the rest of the league seem like he is drawing a blank upstairs. While his deals have ridden the team of the cancerous trouble makers like Artest and Jackson, they have also depleted the roster of bona fide talent and instead eliminated any cap flexibility down the road for years. He needs to either pray that his team can become competitive again, or start finding a deal for O’Neal that will appease the fans of the city while restoring hope that the franchise will once again succeed.

Team Outlook

The Pacers were a decent team until the crazy Golden State trade last year, and instantly became a mess. They need to learn to play with one another’s strengths and hope that veterans like Jamaal Tinsley return to prime form. However, it seems unlikely that they will do too much this season and will most likely finish in the basement of the division, and potentially at the bottom of the conference.




- Milwaukee Bucks -

The Milwaukee Bucks suffered through 2006-07 with the most games missed due to injury in the league. They once again lost Bobby Simmons for the season, missed star shooter Michael Redd for stretches of the year, and also Charlie Villanueva and Andrew Bogut missed plenty of time. Along with restocking the bench with free agents and draft selections, they instantly become one of the more improved rosters in the league just by getting their wounded back.

NBA Draft: Yi Jianlian (No. 6), Ramon Sessions (No. 56)

Key Additions: Jake Voskuhl (FA – Charlotte), Desmond Mason (FA – New Orleans), Awvee Storey (FA – Europe), Royal Ivey (FA – Atlanta), Michael Ruffin (FA – Washington)

Key Losses: Ruben Patterson (FA – L.A. Clippers), Earl Boykins (FA – unsigned), Ersan Ilyasova (FA – unsigned), Damir Markota (released), Lynn Greer (released),

The Milwaukee Bucks made sure to get three guys on their roster, regardless of whether or not they wanted to be there in the first place. Both of their point guards Maurice Williams and Charlie Bell attempted to escape Milwaukee and join the Miami Heat in South Beach. Williams received a lot more money to stay against his first choice, and the restricted free agent Charlie Bell was forced to stay because the team matched the offer sheet he had in place with the Heat. Even more interesting was the Bucks front office decision to pass on proven collegiate stars like Corey Brewer, Joakim Noah, Brandan Wright, and Al Thornton, and instead select Yi Jianlian of China, who specifically indicated that he did not want to go to Milwaukee. While it may seem like this Buck team is being assembled the wrong way, they are now stocked with one of the deepest rotations in the league with talent at every position. While their methods of player retention may seem questionable, Larry Harris has given his team a chance to compete in the strong Central division.

Burning Questions

- Will Bobby Simmons come back to play a full season in Milwaukee?
- Will the return of Desmond Mason make the fans forget that Simmons exists?
- Will Yi Jianlian be as good as advertised?
- Will Charlie Villanueva stay healthy this season?
- Will Charlie Bell get over the offer sheet match and play effectively?
- Will Mo Williams evolve into a top flight point guard?
- Will Andrew Bogut ever live up to the number one overall pick hype?

Person on the Hot Seat: Bobby Simmons

Simmons was signed to a massive deal two summers ago that pays him over $9M annually and did not touch a basketball for the Bucks at all last season. He is still signed for the next three seasons at an alarming total of just under $30M. The Bucks envisioned him as being the perfect compliment to Redd and the big men. If he can come back and play in 70-plus games the way he did in his first season in Milwaukee, that will allow Desmond Mason to come off the bench and really solidify this Buck team as being a legit contender in the East.

Team Outlook

The Bucks are really a crapshoot because their entire probability of success revolves around the health of their players. On paper, a starting five of Williams, Redd, Simmons, Villanueva, and Bogut with Bell, Mason, Yi, and Dan Gadzuric is as good if not better than most teams in the conference. If they stay healthy, don’t be surprised to see the Bucks battling, potentially deep into the Eastern Conference playoffs.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Even if one of Boston's big three goes down they still will make the playoffs partner. Lets not forget that Cleveland came outta of the weak ass Eastern conference last year with Lebron James and no-one. Also, if Paul hadden been missing most of the year boston would have been alot better, don't forget how much they improved when he returned. And I agree with homeboy, Lawrence Frank aint did shit he should be on the hotseat, Isiah too though.

My question is simple: Chicago needs a post player OTHER that Joe Smith..Ainge says that he wants more big men in Boston...The Clips need someone to fill the hole left by Elton Brand...

..why is Chris Webber still available?

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Got this on espn.com. This trafe Idea is almost made the GTFOH thread:

tcash7777 (9/27/2007 at 1:42 PM)

This is the one (works in trade machine)....at least Jerry West would get this done:
PHX gets: Andrei Kirilenko and Brian Cook
IND gets: Bynum, Kwame Brown, Radmonivich and draft picks
LAL gets: J. O'Neal, Marion
Utah gets: Odom

Everybody is happy...especially Kobe. Of course although it's more than fair for Phx they probably won't let the Lakers get this good

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Lakers expect Bryant to be at team's Hawaii training camp

Updated: September 28, 2007, 5:06 PM ET

LOS ANGELES -- The time has come for Kobe Bryant to end months of silence regarding the Los Angeles Lakers.

That's assuming he joins his teammates Monday at media day in suburban El Segundo and then on the flight to Hawaii for the start of training camp Tuesday.

Although Bryant is expected, his spokesperson Catherine Sebring declined comment when asked about his plans, lending a bit of intrigue.

Still, the Lakers are counting on him.

Adande: Marion to Lakers?

After requesting a trade from the Phoenix Suns, Shawn Marion tells J.A. Adande he would be interested in joining Kobe Bryant and the Lakers -- an idea Marion said Bryant "embraced." Story

"Without mentioning specific names, appropriate people in our organization have been in contact with Kobe, and we have no reason to believe he won't be in Hawaii for training camp," team spokesman John Black said.

A posting Friday on Bryant's Web site indicated the 29-year-old will be at camp.

"The countdown to tipoff is on," it began. "Summer is gone, fall is upon us and that can mean only one thing: NBA training camps are just around the corner. While some teams are holding their media days today, the Lakers will invite the media to their practice facility on Monday and will depart shortly after for training camp in Hawaii.

"kb24.com will be at media day to bring you the sights and sounds as the team prepares to kick off the 2007-2008 season."

Bryant hasn't said much about the Lakers since those bizarre couple of days four months ago when he called the team's front office a mess on a local sports talk radio show, asked to be traded on a national show, backed off during an emotional interview on yet another local show, then reiterated his desire to play elsewhere.

The two-time defending NBA scoring champion pushed for an upgraded roster after the Lakers were eliminated by Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight year last spring.

It hasn't happened.

Unrestricted free agents Luke Walton and Chris Mihm were re-signed, and Derek Fisher, a former Laker was added, which should improve the backcourt. But an attempt to land Kevin Garnett from Minnesota was unsuccessful, and nothing developed regarding Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal.

Bryant did apologize to general manager Mitch Kupchak for criticizing him and bemoaning the fact that Andrew Bynum wasn't traded in a video recorded by three fans last spring and sold on the Internet.

But Bryant declined to discuss his situation with the Lakers while playing for the United States earlier this summer in the FIBA Americas tournament. He was a key factor in the USA's triumph, landing the Americans a berth in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Lakers repeatedly have said they won't trade Bryant, who has played his entire 10-year NBA career with them. He has four years remaining on the seven-year, $136.4 million contract he signed following the 2003-04 season -- immediately after Shaquille O'Neal was traded to Miami. Bryant can terminate the deal in two years.

The Lakers won three championships and reached the NBA Finals for a fourth time in O'Neal's last five years with them, but the bad blood between O'Neal and Bryant was well-chronicled.

Right before he asked to be traded, Bryant became infuriated when a Los Angeles Times columnist quoted a Lakers "insider" as saying it was Bryant's insistence on getting away from O'Neal that prompted his trade to Miami.

The Lakers haven't won a playoff series since O'Neal left. They won 26 of their first 39 games last season, but due at least in part to several injuries, lost 27 of their final 43 to finish 42-40.

Bryant said he feels team owner Jerry Buss misled him right before he re-signed by telling him one thing and coach Phil Jackson something else about the team's goals.

Bryant said he was told the Lakers would immediately try to rejoin the NBA's elite. But he said Jackson told him shortly before his request to be traded that Buss was not bringing him back as coach following the 2003-04 season because the team was committed to reducing payroll and rebuilding long term.

Jackson returned after sitting out one season and is about to begin the final year of a three-year, $30 million contract. He has been offered an extension but hasn't made a decision regarding his future beyond this season.

Jackson said earlier this month that he agreed with Bryant -- the Lakers still needed more talent to compete for a championship.

"We've made some changes this summer. I think we still have to make changes to help us out," Jackson said before being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Rookie spotlight shifts to Durant after Oden's season-ending injury

Updated: September 28, 2007, 5:53 PM ET

SEATTLE -- The stage is now all his, not that Kevin Durant wants it. Not yet, anyway.

The second pick in the NBA draft and the supposed teenage savior of the Seattle SuperSonics is still getting over the loss of Greg Oden, the other half of the twin rookie stars of the Northwest. Oden, the No. 1 choice drafted by Portland, is out for the year after major knee surgery two weeks ago.

"I can't imagine, man. I was shocked," Durant tells The Associated Press after a KeyArena photo shoot this week, his first days settling into Seattle and his professional life. "I was devastated. I thought it was just a rumor."

That leaves the rookie superstardom to Durant. Last season, he became the first freshman honored as national college player of the year.

The sleek, 6-foot-9 shooter and slasher is so smooth that old-schoolers liken him to George Gervin and Bob McAdoo. He already has signed with Nike and is on the cover of a video game. Gatorade announced him as its newest spokesman this week, following the branding legacy of Michael Jordan and becoming the first NBA rookie the company has signed.

"I don't think it is ever 'my stage,' " said Durant, who turns 19 Saturday and that day will throw out the first pitch at a Mariners game. "I'm just a rookie, just another rookie in the league. I'm not above anyone or whatever people want to call it. All the vets still call me 'Rook.' They don't think I'm in the higher echelon or anything like that."

Those veterans of the Sonics, a team that has missed the playoffs four times in the last five years and is likely entering its final season in Seattle, have already warned Durant of his tasks once training camp begins Tuesday.

"Wally told me the other day, 'Man, just make sure everybody's got towels and stuff before they take a shower. Or else they'll bury you.' " Durant said of Wally Szczerbiak, the Sonics' veteran swingman.

This trip to the pros almost didn't happen. Durant was convinced he was returning to the Longhorns until two days before he announced he was entering the NBA "to better myself and my family."

Now, he hangs with fellow rookie Jeff Green -- the fifth overall pick from Georgetown whom Seattle got from Boston on draft day with Szczerbiak and guard Delonte West for Ray Allen -- plus veteran Jermaine Jackson, the chaperone at age 31.

No clubs or chic restaurants for them. The mall is more like it.

"I got here on Friday and came to the gym on Saturday," Durant said through a mouthful of Swedish fish candy. "Didn't have my car yet. It was being shipped [not that he is veteran driver, either -- he just got his license last year]. So we walked around the mall. And I mean, nobody stopped me.

"I went into a Foot Action. I looked over and saw my jersey and said, 'Ahhh!' That was kind of crazy for me. Nobody recognized who I was, though. That's the best part."

He's rented a new home. Not amid the trendy nightlife of Belltown, just north of downtown. And not in the area around Bellevue, the upscale suburb most of Seattle's professional athletes call home. Instead, it's Mercer Island.

"Nice area. Real nice area," Durant said of the wooden, exclusive suburb across Lake Washington from downtown Seattle -- and 2,774 miles west of his hometown of Suitland, Md.

He shares the same tony zip code as Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen, owner of the Blazers and NFL's Seahawks. Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren and basketball Hall of Famer Bill Russell live there, too. It's a place of families and Range Rovers and an award-winning school district -- not of a newly minted bachelor.

Durant is living with his mom, Wanda Pratt. He came home from practice one day and his mother had cookies and cakes from the neighbors.

"I see that in the movies all the time," he said. "But I'd never seen that in real life."

On this day, Durant is wearing a white, open-collared dress shirt, untucked. A black sweater vest is draped over black, baggy, designer jeans. His text messanger is within his long reach.

His soft features match a soft voice and warm smile. He is far more understated than the gregarious Oden. For now, there is no girlfriend in the picture.

"No, sir," he said, with a wry smile, as two young women giggle in the back of the room. "Focus on what I got to do."

In addition to his mother, the Mercer Island home now includes cousins Charlie Bell, 24, and Charles "Butch" Johnson, 27, from Maryland. Durant's grandmother is staying for these first two weeks. His dad, Wayne Pratt, is coming for his birthday.

At home, Durant is, well, a teen.

"I have a theater in my house," he said, proudly. "Every day after I come home from practice I go in there and watch 'Entourage' or I play Xbox. I think that's the best invention in the world, a home theater system."

He wants to be "an impact player" in the NBA, "and I think with hard work, I can do that."

There's no mention of becoming rookie of the year, or an All-Star, or of achieving a certain scoring average. The only goals he lists for his debut season are incremental. He wants to shoot 85 percent from the foul line -- it was 82 percent at Texas -- and get his teammates involved in every game.

On the advice of West, he will set monthly goals, not ones for this season or career. And, please, don't call Durant a savior of a franchise that desperately needs one.

"I don't think I'm a savior at all. I'm not the only one on the floor playing, you know. I can't do everything on the floor," he said, speaking forcefully for the only time in a half-hour conversation. "So I don't think it's all on me. I don't know why people are saying, 'Save the organization.' I want to be a team player. That's what my game is all about."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Talkative, healthy Arenas wants to lift Wizards to championship level

Updated: September 28, 2007, 5:41 PM ET

WASHINGTON -- Gilbert Arenas swears he is as healthy as ever.

He's certainly as talkative as ever.

The Washington Wizards' All-Star guard promised Friday he's prepared to go "full speed ahead" on his surgically repaired left knee when training camp opens next week and when the regular season opens next month.

"I've got to prove myself coming back from this injury. I've got to prove myself that I'm an MVP candidate in this league and I'm one of the best point guards in this league," Arenas said Friday.

"If I have to go out there and score 70 or 80, it's going to happen," he added, "but I don't shoot for those goals. Goals of mine are always about winning."

Arenas spoke for a total of nearly an hour with a small group of reporters during his rehab work. He shot baskets in a long-sleeved black shirt in the Wizards' muggy practice gym, rode a bicycle through the city -- without a helmet because, he said, "I look goofy in it" -- and ran sprints on a high school football field with two parachutes tied to his waist.

He didn't wear a knee brace, and there was no sign of a hitch in his step.

It's all part of the grind he is sure will get him back to where he was before tearing his knee during a game in early April.

Remember: He finished third in the NBA with a 28.4-point scoring average, hit shot after shot in the closing seconds of periods and put up three 50-point games in a 30-day span last season.

After playing over the summer, Arenas said he got his confidence back. He says his left knee feels "normal" and he won't have any restraints.

Coach Eddie Jordan begged to differ.

"He's probably going to need some time off in training camp here and there," Jordan said. "We'll watch him."

Among Arenas' other observations Friday:

• He expects Washington to go further in the postseason.

"Anything less than going past the second round is a failure," Arenas said.

• Every Eastern Conference team was relieved not to have to face a healthy Wizards team in last season's playoffs.

"They didn't want to see us. We scored too easy," he said. "When you have a team that scores too easy, what can you really do?"

• Arenas doesn't consider himself old enough to be a team leader; as far as he's concerned, leadership is about age or experience in the league.

"I go by years. I don't want some rookie coming in, just because he scored 30, to tell me what to do," he said.

So, for the time being, the 25-year-old Arenas will defer to the 32-year-old Antonio Daniels and 31-year-old Antawn Jamison.

How long does Arenas have to wait to take over as a team leader?

"Probably until one of them come off the team," he said, then paused and asked. "Twenty-seven? Does that sound about right?"

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

New-look Celtics aren't (just) 'The Big Three'
Hollinger

By John Hollinger
ESPN Insider

Updated: September 28, 2007, 9:23 PM ET

WALTHAM, Mass. -- First things first: Let's get this nickname thing straightened out.

Call Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen what you will, but don't call them "The Big Three."

"Honestly, I don't like that," Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said at the team's media day on Friday. "Because [Kevin] McHale, [Robert] Parish and [Larry] Bird were 'The Big Three.' So come up with another one."

Point taken. Celtics fans will have to create a different moniker for Boston's All-Star trio -- negotiations for use of "The Triplets" are underway in Irving, Texas as we speak -- and quick. Because with excitement for the coming season at a fever pitch, these three players are going to be a major story all season.

The Nicknameless Three are all smiles so far.

And truly, it's a trio of equals -- one that intends to share the credit equally. They took the podium together, and each tiptoed carefully around the "Who gets the rock at the end of the game?" questions while effusing over the prospect of playing with each other.

Garnett, the most intense of the three, also seemed the most excited about the change of scenery after his offseason liberation from Minnesota. He noted that the best part about coming to Boston was "these two guys beside me" and said seeing the Celtics' championship banners immediately got him excited.

"It's the first thing that catches your eye when you come in here," he said, and though they hang in a modern building in an outlying suburb, they're the originals, right down to the multiple stains on the '68 banner.

As for the last shot question, that will linger until the real games start. But Rivers, the man assigned the task of getting the three All-Stars their touches, thinks the roles will work themselves out.

"Kevin will be the easiest to fit in because of the way he plays, from the elbow and the post, and because he's such a great passer," said Rivers. "Paul and Ray will be [the harder] part of working to make it fit. But clearly they're a 2 and a 3, so there's a separation."

Rivers also pointed out that no matter who he calls a play for in the end-game, he's guaranteed to get single coverage because of the threat of the other two on the floor, a luxury he hasn't had the past couple years with a Pierce-centric offense.

However, maybe our focus on Boston's Nicknameless Three is too narrow. Because while those three were getting settled into Beantown this summer, they came to an important realization -- they weren't getting to the Finals by themselves.

"It's not just the three of us that are going to make this thing work," said Allen. "There's more to the team than the three of us sitting here."

How those three impact the other nine players on the roster will go a long way toward determining how far the Celtics go. The production of players like Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins -- Boston's other two projected starters -- are a big part of their equation, especially after the trades for Allen and Garnett denuded the roster of most of its productive role players.

Each has been in town for several weeks working out with the rest of the squad, attempting to set an example and impart their wisdom on the team's youngsters. And Allen has taken his own words to heart, serving as Rondo's shooting coach and mentor. It was a mutual decision: on his own, Rondo started coming to the gym at 7:30 every morning in order to catch up with Allen and get shooting pointers, because he knew Allen was in the gym by 8:00. In turn, Allen started coming in at 7:30 to line up his workouts with Rondo's.

"He's a smart kid," said Allen of Rondo. "He wants to be good and he's been asking questions about his shot. He's out here working on his game to no end."

Because of that, Boston doesn't seem as concerned about its point guard slot as others are.

"In the second half of last year [Rondo] just kept improving," said Rivers. "I've read and heard all the talk about, 'Is he ready?' He has an opportunity to show everyone that he is."

Perkins looked ready too. He said he'd lost 15 pounds and was down to 268, his lightest weight in two years, and that the foot pain that bothered him all last season was no longer a factor (but don't worry: he'll still be wearing those layers of thick socks). Perkins also noted that Garnett's defensive skill will take some of the load off him, as the Celtics will be less likely to have defined match-ups and will instead allow the first big man back to take the first opposing big across halfcourt.

Should Perkins and Rondo deliver, the offseason trades for Allen and Garnett would appear to have Boston positioned for a title run. But a lot of water can leak into the Big Dig between now and then, with six months of regular season looming.

The grind starts tomorrow, as the Celtics set up shop in Rome, Italy, for training camp before playing preseason games in Rome and London. Rivers expressed some concern about the impact of the schedule on his practices, as he's heard horror stories from other coaches about overseas trips and the impact on preparation, including one team that spent 90 minutes in traffic just to reach its practice facility.

The glass-half-full approach, however, is that this isn't such a bad time for Boston to be going overseas. With so many new players needing to be integrated, some time together on the road might help cement the chemistry faster. "It's great for this group of guys because it's a forced bonding trip," said Rivers.

Meanwhile, for local fans the hard part may be the waiting, and I don't just mean for the team to return from Europe. Let's face it: What the team does between now and May is almost totally irrelevant. They'll be judged by what they do in the postseason, and the events leading up to that are secondary.

Thus, we won't know for a long time whether the uniting of Garnett, Allen and Pierce pays off with its stated goal of winning a title, or at the very least the conference. But by any name, the three All-Stars have the Celtics angling for a rare worst-to-first turnaround in the Eastern Conference -- one, it should be noted, that would vastly upgrade the historical legacy of all three.

 

[DANGEROUSBLACKMAN]

Go Hawks.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Matter of practice for Garnett
He doesn't get up just for games
Ten-time NBA All-Star Kevin Garnett took his first official practice as a member of the Celtics quite seriously. Ten-time NBA All-Star Kevin Garnett took his first official practice as a member of the Celtics quite seriously.

ROME - New Celtics forward Kevin Garnett has a strong reputation for playing as hard in practice as he does in games. And in their first official practice for the upcoming season, the Celtics yesterday were able to witness how intense the 10-time NBA All-Star really is.

After hitting a contested jumper late in a scrimmage, Garnett yelled out: "Let's go, baby. Let's go. Get your gas up. Get your gas up."

Just hours after arriving in Rome after flying from Boston, the Celtics practiced at a small southern Rome arena called Palafonte. The venue is the practice facility for Italian Serie A team Lottomatica Roma and the home arena for the minor league Fonte Meravigliosa. The Celtics, Raptors, Grizzlies, and Timberwolves are taking part in NBA Europe Live, which includes training camp and preseason games in Europe.

Garnett's intensity picked up dramatically after his first team lost to the second team. The 2004 NBA Most Valuable Player said he "doesn't like to get beat" and that he got his competitive fire from his mother.

"I enjoy competing," said Garnett. "I enjoy playing the game. I get to come to practice and release some of my energy. Release some of my stress."

During his 12-year career with Minnesota, Garnett often worried his coaches and the front office by practicing extremely hard. Ex-NBA player Robert Pack played with Clyde Drexler, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Chris Webber, Steve Nash, and Baron Davis, but he couldn't recall anyone who practiced as hard as Garnett did when they were Wolves teammates.

"If it wasn't for the other team having the same name on their jersey, you wouldn't know it was practice [with Garnett]," Pack said. "He goes all-out, which should send a message to the rest of the players."

The Celtics' first team in practice included Garnett and Paul Pierce at the forwards, newcomer Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo at guard, and Kendrick Perkins at center. The second team was Tony Allen and newcomer Eddie House at guard, Brian Scalabrine and Leon Powe at forward, and newcomer Esteban Batista at center.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said the two-hour practice went 30 minutes longer than expected because the first team wanted to redeem itself. Garnett's team did win before practice ended.

"I get knocked a little bit to sit my [butt] down," Garnett said. "I figured, while you're out there, get something done."

Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge acknowledged he had some concerns about Garnett practicing extremely hard, but also respected his approach. Ainge said he has had practice intensity concerns with Pierce as well.

"Managing the course of a long season, that's something that Doc will try to do a good job of keeping tabs on how hard he's going and what we need to do for practice," Ainge said.

Rivers, who feared he might not get the best practice out of his team after the flight from Boston, said the Celtics looked sluggish and sloppy. The Celtics are scheduled to practice twice today.

"We have great names," said Rivers, who didn't sleep much on the flight. "But again, we have not won a game. We have not proven ourselves. The East is not that impressed with us right now. And it's our job to do the work and earn it."

Pierce said he is already very comfortable playing with newcomers and fellow stars Garnett and Ray Allen after taking part in voluntary workouts together for three weeks, but it's different in practice.

"Now that we got the coaches out here, it's a different pace and different game," Pierce said. "It's the start of the foundation we're trying to build for the rest of the year."

Center Scot Pollard missed practice with a left ankle sprain suffered several weeks ago. The 11-year veteran is listed as day-to-day and wasn't certain when he'd participate in camp.

"I want to make sure I'm ready when the regular season starts," Pollard said. "I don't want to overdo it and have it drag on."

The Celtics brought 17 players to camp and can keep 15. Ainge expects his roster to be selected from the current one.

"I've looked at everybody's roster," Ainge said. "I've looked at everybody that might have a chance of not being with their team. I don't see anybody out there that I'm trying to covet. But I'm going to keep my eyes open."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Pistons hoping Saunders, Wallace can get along

Associated Press

Updated: October 2, 2007, 9:30 AM ET

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Rasheed Wallace and Flip Saunders insist they're getting along just fine.

"If we weren't, then it would be real hectic around here," Wallace said Monday at the Detroit Pistons' media day. "We're a smooth-sailing ship. No one is trying to jump overboard. Everyone is in it for the long haul, and that's the main thing that makes people comfortable."

Their relationship, or lack of one, seemed to be one of the factors that led to the Pistons' collapse last season.

"I don't think he did anything defiantly toward me," Saunders said. "Are we going to have confrontations? Yes. 'Sheed is a very emotional and animated player, but I know if I challenge him he'll be fine the next day.'

Detroit won the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals only to lose four in a row to the Cleveland Cavaliers, whose home court was the site of Wallace's meltdown and ejection in the final game as he lost control going after an official.

"We didn't reach our ultimate goal last season, and that's always tough to swallow," Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said. "I don't look for excuses or people to point out as the reason why we came up short. I simply say we didn't get it done and we have to do better."

Antonio McDyess said better chemistry between Wallace and Saunders will be important this season.

"For this team, it's important for everyone to get along for us to have a successful season," McDyess said. "It was pretty rough between 'Sheed and Flip at times last year, but I think they've squashed it.

"When things are not going right, everything comes out. Rasheed wanted to win so bad last year and he took things personal when things didn't go his way."

Wallace, who turned 33 last month, looks and sounds like he's ready to prove he's an asset and not a problem.

He has lost about 20 pounds, according to Saunders, and his teammates are impressed and encouraged by his commitment.

"I was surprised to see 'Sheed in here working out like he did this summer," McDyess said. "He showed me he's really serious about winning this season."

Detroit re-signed Chauncey Billups to a $60 million, five-year contract, with $46 million and four years guaranteed, to help its chances of at least advancing to the conference finals for the sixth straight year.

"My heart was in Detroit," Billups said. "I want to end my career here."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Karl, players predict team-record wins total

In 1987-88, the Doug Moe-led Nuggets had the best record in the team's 31-year NBA history. They went 54-28 and won the Midwest Division.

If all goes as planned, coach George Karl figures this Denver edition could move Moe, now a Nuggets assistant, out of the record book.

"I think we can have the best record in Denver Nuggets (NBA) history," said Karl, whose team opens training camp today.

Karl, though, is being conservative. His players want to obliterate the team mark.

They believe they can drive 60.

"It started off as a joke," guard J.R. Smith said. "(Allen Iverson was saying Monday before the start of media day) that maybe we should win 60 games. You never know with A.I. whether he's joking or serious. But a lot of guys were like, 'You know, we can reach that.' "

Turns out Iverson intended no joke.

"I honestly think it's doable," he said. "I've been saying that all summer."

There is reason for optimism. With the exception of point guard Steve Blake, who has been replaced by free-agent signee Chucky Atkins, the Nuggets return all their top players from a team that won 10 of its final 11 games to finish 45-37.

The Nuggets lost a hard-fought first-round series in five games to eventual champion San Antonio.

They overcame injured forward Kenyon Martin being lost after two games, adjusting to the Iverson trade and Carmelo Anthony's suspension for 15 games for fighting.

Now, the Nuggets are counting on a full season of Iverson being paired with Anthony, who was second in the NBA in scoring with a 28.9 average. And Martin is back for his fourth season, with Anthony joking he's "a great free-agent pickup."

"A championship," Anthony said. "That's our goal. We don't have no excuses. . . . If we have everybody healthy, big things can happen."

Karl will take 55 wins. Eight Western Conference teams have won 55 or more at least once this decade, and the Nuggets figure it's finally their turn.

KEYS TO SUCCESS

1 Allen Iverson must continue to be a model citizen. Coach George Karl predicts Iverson will be "10 to 20 percent more confident" heading into a Nuggets season with a training camp under his belt.

2 Carmelo Anthony must fully mature. Early in his first season as a captain, he was suspended 15 games for his role in a brawl, although he had no problems after that. Karl's main concern now is whether fatigue might hit Anthony after he played a second straight summer for USA Basketball.

3 Kenyon Martin must give the Nuggets reasonable production and not complain if he's coming off the bench. Martin, who played in only two games last season before undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee, figures to eventually battle Nene for the starting power forward job. But there doesn't figure to be much competition early with Martin not expected to be back at full strength for a while.

4 The Nuggets must solidify their backcourt starter alongside Iverson. The most likely scenario is Chucky Atkins at the point and Iverson at shooting guard. But Karl said he could go to a second starter by committee. He said Anthony Carter also is a candidate at point and hasn't ruled out Iverson at point with J.R. Smith and Yakhouba Diawara candidates to start at shooting guard.

5 Marcus Camby must remain relatively healthy. After missing an average of 27.1 games in his first seven NBA seasons, Camby, 33, has missed an average of 17 the past four. He sat out only 12 last season and hoisted the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Patient Martin

During the 2006 playoffs, Kenyon Martin was upset over not starting and it eventually led to a run-in with George Karl and a suspension.

Don't expect that to happen again.

"I'm not worried about that," Martin said when asked if he cares about eventually regaining his starting job at power forward, one Nene took over after Martin was lost for the season in November after microfracture surgery on his right knee. "If it happens, great. I just want to be out on the court. First things first. You got to crawl before you can walk."

Martin will be limited to start camp, although he vows to be ready for the Oct. 31 season opener. "In the first 20 or 30 games, we'll be very cautious with minutes," Karl said of Martin, who might have come back too soon last season.

Continuing to cope

No Nuggets player had a more trying summer than J.R. Smith. He was cited in June in an accident in which he hit another car and his friend, Andre Bell, was thrown from the vehicle and killed.

"It's a struggle, but every day's a struggle," Smith said. "It's always going to be a painful thought on my mind . . . I'm sure when I'm 60 years old, it's going to be a thought. . . . All I can do is put it in God's hands."

Smith has found strength by talking with family members, teammates and David Wesley, who, while with the Charlotte Hornets in 2000, was involved in an incident that led to teammate Bobby Phills dying in a car accident.

"I have newfound respect for everyone and everything because my life was almost taken from me," said Smith, who was thrown from his vehicle but suffered only minor injuries. "I've really changed my whole perspective on everything. It could always get worse. That's going to be my motto for a long time. You have to treat every day as if it's your last."

Talking training camp

Karl painted a rosy picture last week when talking about Allen Iverson and training camp.

"I've heard from (former 76ers coach) Larry (Brown) and the people in Philly that in training camp he goes hard," Karl said of the guard acquired last November from Philadelphia. "In training camp, he looks at (it) as the beginning, the spirit, and works hard to get in great shape."

Perhaps. But Iverson, famous for his 2002 "talking practice" rant, on Monday was talking training camp, and it wasn't with a smile.

"I never get happy about coming to training camp," he said. "I never get excited about it until it's over. . . . I have a huge dislike for training camp."

One thing Iverson, 32, also wouldn't like is if his minutes were cut. While Karl indicated he may try to keep Iverson fresher by cutting his time against lesser foes, Iverson said he'd "have a problem (with) my minutes cut down just because of the competitor I am."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

KNICKS A FREAK SHOW BUT NOT A ZEKE SHOW
By MARC BERMAN

October 2, 2007 -- Eddy Curry sat at one table, talking about nearly getting accidentally shot during a robbery at his Chicago home in July. Stephon Marbury sat at another table, saying he found Jesus on June 29. Zach Randolph was in another corner, looking puffy, admitting he's only in OK shape.

Isiah Thomas was not at any table on Knicks media day in Westchester yesterday, was not at their campus, was not on last night's team flight to Charleston, S.C., and won't be at the first practice this morning and possibly all week.

Who'll be running camp with the Knicks coach and president languishing in legal limbo? Probably assistant coach Herb Williams, though nobody knew for sure yesterday.

The balls have yet to be rolled out and the Knicks already are a mess, capping a summer that went downhill after the Randolph trade on draft night. The Knicks improved their roster, not their image.

"It affects us that our head coach won't be there, but we support him," Marbury said. "This is something that has to go on for the time being. It doesn't change our mindset. His presence will definitely be missed, but we all understand what we have to do. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out."

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to deduce owner James Dolan used bad judgment in allowing Anucha Browne Sanders' sexual-harassment suit to go to trial instead of settling and sparing the Knicks immense embarrassment and disrupting training camp.

Yesterday, Thomas was in federal court in Manhattan for jury deliberations. During the trial, Marbury got dragged into the muck for his extramarital truck tryst three years ago with former intern Kathleen Decker surfacing.

"This, too, shall pass," Marbury said yesterday. "If I went into everybody's lives and dug up what I needed to dig up, I'm almost positive there'll be skeletons in some people's closet. Nobody on this earth is perfect."

The Knicks' summer turned surreal, starting in July, when Curry and his wife were tied up during a robbery by gun-wielding punks. In his first remarks on the subject, Curry said he was close to being shot after he and the burglar tumbled down steps.

"The house was dark and one of the guys had a gun in my back and he slipped down the stairs into me," Curry recalled. "I'm just like, 'Man, if that gun goes off, I'm outta here.' But luckily it didn't happen. It wasn't meant for me to go out like that. It wasn't meant for anybody to die that night."

Curry missed two weeks of conditioning, fled Chicago and rented a house in Ocean City, N.J., before coming to New York to work out. This was the first summer he did not work with Chicago training legend Tim Grover.

But he's in better shape than Randolph. Asked if he arrived in top shape, the soft-looking Randolph said, "I'm in OK shape. I'm going to get a lot better once I get practices in."

Curry and Randolph have not been on the court together, as Randolph arrived late to voluntary workouts Wednesday. Even Curry seemed unsure if they'll immediately mesh on the low blocks.

"I've got to be honest with you," Curry said, "I'm so curious to see how we're going to play. I know we're going to play well together. I'm just curious to see what kind of adjustments need to be made so we can both coexist. I'm definitely not saying it's not going to be a challenge, because it will be."

Marbury had a bizarre summer, too, going from being saluted on Oprah to being crucified for seemingly defending Michael Vick and dogfighting. Marbury also ticked off some in the front office for a Post exclusive in which he said he'll play in Italy in two years when his contract expires.

After finding Jesus, Marbury no longer is obsessed with winning an NBA title.

"I'm not caught up in winning no ring," Marbury said. "I want to win a championship as a basketball player. Basketball is not my life. If I win a championship, great. If I don't, life is going to continue to go on. After basketball, you've got to live the next 50, 60 years.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Minnesota Timberwolves' camp is no Turkey
Bonding is goal for Istanbul
BY RICK ALONZO
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 09/30/2007 10:22:13 PM CDT

In terms of the Timberwolves bonding and jelling, Kevin McHale doesn't see much difference between holding training camp in Mankato, Minn., or Istanbul, Turkey.

During their 13-day overseas odyssey, which includes the first scheduled practice today in Istanbul, the Timberwolves should get to know one another better on and off the court. There are nine new faces that weren't with the team last season.

If all goes well, they will form better chemistry during their time spent together on planes, buses and basketball courts. Maybe they'll even find time to go to some restaurants.

McHale believes that coming-together process will be more about the players rather than the environment.

"Well," said the team's vice president of basketball operations, "you're either going to bond or break, depending on your personality. You can bond or break in Mankato. It doesn't have to be Istanbul.

"If you get guys that genuinely play the right way and move the ball and play well together, I think that bond can be developed anywhere. I don't think going to Istanbul is going to further that bonding one way or the other."

With the NBA assigning teams to go oversees as a way to spread the popularity of the league and basketball, McHale and the Wolves didn't have much choice. The Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies and Kevin Garnett's Boston Celtics will be in Europe, as well.

After the Wolves play some team called Efes Pilsen on Oct. 6 in Turkey, they will take a flight
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to London. That's where, on Oct. 10, they will face Garnett in an opposing uniform for the first time since he was traded to Boston in July.

"It will be weird," guard Rashad McCants said.

And that might not even be the most difficult part of the trip. Even the basic things such as commuting on buses from the team hotel to the arena for practice could be a headache because of Istanbul's notoriously jam-packed traffic.

And what is everyone going to eat? Several players had no clue. Forward Chris Richard said he's picky about his food, which he admitted probably won't serve him well.

The Golden Arches might suddenly seem appealing in a strange land.

"I ate a lot of McDonald's in college, so I'm kind of tired of McDonald's," Richard said. "But if that's what I have to do, that's what I have to do."

On the court, coach Randy Wittman has a roster that looks largely unfamiliar. Name tags, anyone?

"It could be like football," Wittman quipped. "Put the name on their helmets so I know their names."

If they're lucky, the Wolves might try to enjoy the rich history of Istanbul, known as one of the world's most beautiful cities. It is aged by centuries of history stretching back to when it was founded in 660 B.C. as Byzantium. A history lesson, though, isn't what the players are hoping to get while they're there.

"I would love to get out and see the sights, but for me personally, that's not my main goal," Richard said. "I want to get better as a person and a player. I'm just focused. I want to get in the best shape I can. I think I'm just going to stay in the hotel and rest and work out."

And though a two-week road trip to start the season might leave the players drained when they return, the team is hoping to make the most of the trip.

The Wolves will participate in five community relations events while in Europe. Owner Glen Taylor, who will attend training camp, spearheaded an effort to distribute hearing aids to more than 1,000 children on Oct. 5 in Turkey. Other events include the dedication of a new school in Istanbul, a city devastated by an earthquake in 1999.

Through all the experiences, from practice to charity events, the players hope to bond.

"You can take advantage of that, being together, out of the country, not knowing anybody there but each other," forward Al Jefferson said. "Being out of the country is good. Not having all the (distractions) bother you off the court when you're here, I think it's going to help us more than hurt us."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Bryant's bright arrival can't overshadow questions about his team

By J.A. Adande
ESPN.com

Updated: October 2, 2007, 7:02 PM ET

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- There was Kobe Bryant, as if nothing at all had happened, walking nonchalantly across the Lakers' practice court to a waiting camera and nailing a one-take taping of a lengthy greeting and ground rules message for Staples Center fans that included this request: "Please refrain from any disruptive behavior."

Of course it was Bryant's behavior that was the most disruptive in Lakerland this summer, with his trade demands, his criticisms of the front office and his swipes at Andrew Bynum.

But here it was, media day, with Bryant still a Laker, Bynum still a Laker, no apologies offered, no resentment revealed and, as of the moment, nothing more to the story.

Seeing the entire Laker roster and coaching staff together served as a reminder that: (a) there actually are other Laker players and (b) there are greater issues at hand for this season than whose feelings got hurt.

When will Lamar Odom's surgically repaired left shoulder be ready for him to play and how effective will he be? He expects to be back on the court by the end of the month, but said he wouldn't rush it if he doesn't feel right.

Can anyone emerge from the trio of Bynum, Kwame Brown and Chris Mihm to give the Lakers a reliable center?

What's in store for Phil Jackson, who has one year left on his contract?

We'll have to wait a little longer for those answers than the 30 minutes after Monday's appointed start time that Bryant finally provided visual confirmation that he would be in uniform for the Lakers this year.

Monday, we saw once again that while Bryant creates more drama than anyone else in the league, there's no one better at shutting it out. This might not even crack the top two in terms of tense, tough media days for him. Four years ago he showed up the day after his first pre-trial hearing for his sexual assault case. The next year he had to answer questions a week after it was revealed that he dropped dime on Shaq during his initial chat with the police in Colorado.

And that was just dealing with reporters. What about his courtroom-to-court performances during the 2003-04 season? Wear a suit and say "Yes, your honor," in Eagle, Colo., during the day, fly back to L.A. and drop 40 that night. "No matter what's going on in and around the peripheral of his life and the team -- his focus once he steps onto the court is unmatched," said Derek Fisher, who finished up his initial eight-year stint with the Lakers that 2003-04 season and now is back for another tour of duty. "As he steps back in here, his focus will be on playing basketball, and if everybody else's focus is on that, then we'll be okay."

Bryant explained his summertime blues thusly: "I was frustrated, so I blew up. Now it's about taking this team that we have to greater heights, and doing what we can. Priority No. 1 for me is to bring the title back here in Los Angeles. "I know they tried [to make moves.] It wasn't a lack of effort. That means a lot to me. They really pushed to get it done. It just didn't happen."

Of his teammates, he said: "It's going to be the same old, same old. I'm going to demand a lot from them, I'm going to demand a lot from myself, we're going to be ready."

There was at least one indication they weren't on the same page. After Bynum said he hadn't spoken to Bryant since that parking-lot video surfaced in which Bryant lamented the Lakers holding onto Bynum and passing on a possible trade for Jason Kidd, Bryant said they had exchanged text messages while Bryant was in Rome.

"I just let him know, 'Sorry how that came out,'" Bryant said. "He understood where I was coming from and the frustration that I feel because I want to win right now and that was that."

After Bryant spoke Bynum was asked again if he had communicated with Bryant. He said no.

Still, Bynum claimed there were no hard feelings, and he practically echoed Bryant's words.

"I thought it was kind of messed up, but he was a frustrated veteran," Bynum said. "He wants to win, and he had an opportunity to get a Hall of Fame point guard. I would have been upset too. The only thing it made me do was work harder this offseason."

Did he work hard enough to become a frontline center? Will the Lakers be good enough to make a dent in the Western Conference, and show enough progress to keep Bryant around beyond the escape clause in his contract in 2009?

Can they get back to being the team that was 26-13 last season after an impressive victory in San Antonio on Jan. 17? Or will they be more like the injury-riddled squad that went 16-27 the rest of the way and folded meekly to the Suns in the first round?

Even if things go right, it's hard to envision anything better than a trip to the second round for this group. Other than Bryant, the Lakers don't have any night-in, night-out matchup advantage. They haven't proven themselves defensively. And if they can't improve dramatically this year, they might need to get themselves a new coach before they get to the task of replacing Bryant.

"They'd like for me to step up and sign again," said Jackson, who is in the final year of his $10 million-per-season contract and is walking with a cane after offseason hip surgery. "But for me, I've got to see that I can physically and mentally get back on beam with this team and they can get back on beam with me.

"We want to run for a championship. If we're not going to challenge, I don't want to be a guy that's coaching this team on the salary I'm getting."

With all of the swirling intrigue, Fisher was asked if it felt familiar. To be honest, for those of us who have been around the Lakers over the past decade there was something almost nostalgic about seeing Fisher standing with his fingers crossed in front of his chest, addressing the latest threat to the team's chemistry.

Fisher said it was, "Not really like old times, because I think those things were centered around bigger personalities and a number of people: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, other personalities that we had on the team. Right now obviously there's a lot of focus on Kobe, but outside of that it's really about, 'Who is this team? What are they really capable of?' And that's really kind of different from before. Before, everybody knew who this team was and what we were capable of doing. It was just a question of would we do it, would we win a championship every year? Now, nobody really knows what this team is capable of doing.

"We're a very young team. At this point we don't have the experience or the maturity to get into a lot of the sidebar stuff. At that time we had some of the most talented and well put-together teams in all of basketball. There was a desire to be successful and want to win, after we experienced some setbacks early in our run together. Once we tasted that first title, no matter what was going on, there was still that desire to get that taste again. Then the fact you had the two best players on the same team, in their prime.

"Now we're in a different place. We don't have that veteran leadership and experience that we had with that group before."

And that was the lesson from Media Day Monday. Bryant is the last thing this team needs to worry about.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Looking for higher ground, Hawks utter 'p' word

By John Hollinger
ESPN Insider

Updated: October 1, 2007, 10:53 PM ET

ATLANTA -- At the Atlanta Hawks media day, expectations are high enough that folks are daring to mention the "p" word again. That's right -- the owners of the league's longest drought at eight years and counting are daring to discuss the postseason.

So is this a playoff team?

"I think so," said head coach Mike Woodson. "I think we've got a legitimate shot of making the playoffs. I thought we had a legitimate shot last season up until the last month and a half."

"Some of our young guys have gotten much, much better. Some of them I can't even call them young guys anymore," he said, pointing out that Josh Smith and Josh Childress were entering their fourth seasons and Marvin Williams his third. "They're not babies anymore.

"The last two or three years you're constantly teaching, teaching, teaching ... I'm past that stage now."

The players seemed to agree.

"Definitely," said Joe Johnson, who is completely recovered from the calf strain that kept him out at the end of last season. "I know we haven't had great results, but I wanted to be part of this rebuilding process."

"I think so," said forward Josh Smith, fresh off a summer working out in Houston with Calvin Murphy and Hakeem Olajuwon. "We can't just talk about it, but & I think we have enough depth to get it done."

"No question about it," said sixth man Childress, who spent his offseason taking classes at Stanford to get his degree in sociology at Stanford. "The mindset we have is we're shooting for the playoffs & I think we all feel we're ready."

Most of the players have been in town for a few weeks working out, and the early reports on rookie big man Al Horford have been strong -- a couple players threw out the word "beast." Horford says he prefers playing power forward, but he may be playing a lot of his minutes at center this year, with Josh Smith and Marvin Williams at the forwards.

In either role, hopes for him are high. "I think he's going to be a big-time player in our league for a long time," said Woodson. "It's no joke, his team winning two national titles."

For the immediate future, a five-man competition for minutes at point guard between Speedy Claxton, Tyronn Lue, Anthony Johnson, Acie Law and Salim Stoudamire should provide the most drama. Woodson says it's an open competition, but if you're looking for horses to put your money on, go with Claxton to win, Lue to show and Law to place.

Claxton bombed as a free agent pickup last year, but he's looked rejuvenated after offseason knee surgery, and the coaches have taken note.

"It's good to have Speedy back healthy," said Woodson. "He's by far been the biggest surprise in the last three weeks playing here. To me he's the Speedy of old. He's happy, he's talking, he's up and down the floor making plays, and he's not laboring like last year."

Claxton had knee trouble all last season but didn't go under the knife until June, when doctors removed floating debris that had been causing him so much trouble. He described himself as at 85 percent, with the mental adjustment being the hardest part -- he'd conditioned himself to avoid moves that caused his knee pain a year ago.

Lue may be more comfortable coming off the bench anyway, a role where he's thrived the past few seasons. "1 through the 5, I don't care, just put me out there," said Lue. "I'll start, come off the bench, 12th off the bench, whatever."

Some other notes from training camp:

• Lue, who won two rings with Kobe Bryant as a Laker, felt his frustrations were just the result of how competitive he is. "He belongs [in L.A.]," Lue said. "A guy that works as hard as he works, he just wants to win. You can't complain about a guy that makes all the money in the world and still wants to win."

• Johnson said Shawn Marion's situation in Phoenix took him by surprise and that "it was great" playing with Marion when the two were teammates with the Suns. "But I don't know what's going on because I'm not there anymore," he said.

• In the wake of Friday's piece on the Celtics needing a nickname other than "Big Three" for Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, a number of fans have written in proposing The GAP band -- standing for Garnett, Allen and Pierce, while also mimicking the name of the late-70s funk band.

• One other tidbit from Boston I couldn't work in on Friday -- the agape mouths of Celtics personnel when Garnett was talking about Boston's wonderful weather. It's all about perspective, people. Fly in from Atlanta for the weekend and it feels a tad chilly. Show up after a decade in Minnesota, though, and apparently it seems like Tahiti.

• And finally, for Golden State fans -- yes, you can pinch yourself. I said "league's longest playoff drought" above, and for the first time in eons your team's name didn't come up.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

At first practice, Durant looks comfortable at shooting guard

Associated Press

Updated: October 3, 2007, 4:12 PM ET

SEATTLE -- Kevin Durant grabbed outlet passes. He stepped out and fed post players who were running down the middle of the floor.

When he did go inside, he soared to the baseline for a rebound over Wally Szczerbiak, the veteran small forward who at 6-foot-7 is two inches shorter but far more bulky than the teenager with the body of a greyhound.

"Way to go, KD!" an assistant coach yelled, proving Durant had an NBA nickname even before his first practice with the Seattle SuperSonics on Tuesday.

The one time he was in the middle during a fast-break drill that ended the 90-minute session, Durant rose above the rim with both hands clutching the ball. Yet instead of dunking, he simply and smoothly dropped the ball through the hoop.

The second overall pick in June's draft was on the outside looking in during the first practice of his NBA life. He was a shooting guard.

It seemed to fit.

"It's the same system we ran at Texas, so I'm comfortable in it," Durant said with a smile.

For now, he's in the same "2" spot that All-Star Ray Allen held in Seattle from 2003 until he was traded to Boston for Szczerbiak, Delonte West and fifth overall choice Jeff Green, moments after the Sonics drafted Durant.

"In my opinion, that's where he's best suited right now," said new Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo, who Tuesday ran his first practice as an NBA head man since Golden State fired him in 1999. "Because of the way he shoots the ball, the way he handles the ball, and the fact that he is not as physical right now as he's going to be before he's done.

"He's like -- he's not like Magic Johnson at all -- but he's like Magic in that you can play him probably any of four positions, if not five. Playing the 2, he's not going to get beat up, box to box, the whole game."

The other conclusion from Seattle's first practice, a month before the season gets real at Denver for a team that finished 31-51 last season: Forget that he was running with the second team Tuesday. Durant will be starting from Game 1.

Carlesimo all but declared that.

"We've got 29 days until we go to Denver. If he's able to get comfortable in those 29 days, then he's going to be [starting]," Carlesimo said. "It's hard for me to imagine him not being in our rotation right off the bat -- but that's not fair to the other guys, and that's not fair to him, because I'm doing exactly what I'm saying everyone else shouldn't do.

"But you ask me my opinion, yes," Carlesimo added, chuckling, "I can't imagine him not being one of our key guys."

Last season at Texas, as Durant became the first freshman to be national player of the year, he often dropped into the low post when a smaller defender dared to guard him. But mostly he stayed outside as a big guard or small forward.

Durant, 6-9, said he's comfortable as a guard in the running-when-available style that Carlesimo, a defensive mind, has hired assistant Paul Westhead to install.

It's not going to be the warp-speed offense that Westhead, who last month won the WNBA championship with Phoenix, famously ran at Loyola Marymount in the early 1990s. Not that Durant would know.

He'd never heard of Westhead's style until last week. Durant looked puzzled at the mention of Hank Gathers' death on the court and LMU's magical run deep into the 1990 NCAA tournament that followed it.

No wonder. Durant was 18 months old when that happened.

Carlesimo sees talent as much as he sees a kid who turned 19 Saturday and is living with his mom in a rented house in the Seattle suburbs.

"He is going to be an exceptional player in this league. It's just going to take time," Carlesimo said.

"This league is not a rookie league. It's a hard league. ... If you look at him, he's a young 19 physically."

Carlesimo compared Durant's physical development to that of a player who entered the NBA skinny and did OK: Michael Jordan.

"If you look at Michael when he first came in the league, then you look at pictures later, you're like, 'Wow!' That wasn't all weight training," the coach said. "A lot of that was Michael was getting big, filling out. And that's what's going to happen with Kevin."

Until then, Durant will be learning the essence of the league, through doing. The games on consecutive nights and four games in five nights. The times in which he is one of the smaller, not bigger, players on the floor.

"Almost without exception, you don't learn that immediately," Carlesimo said. "Even Kobe. Even Michael. Even LeBron. Even the great ones in this league, there's a learning curve."

Szczerbiak thinks that curve will be short.

"He's a great kid. He really is. He's going to be a great player," the eighth-year veteran said. "Everyone says it's going to have to take time. It doesn't have to take time, because he is committed to working hard every single day he steps out onto the floor. When you do that, you're going to be good pretty quick.

"There's a reason why he's the second pick in the draft. He did it in college. I see no reason why it won't just translate over to the NBA."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Perhaps it's always Darko before the dawn for new Grizzly

By Ronald Tillery (Contact)
Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Strolling off the practice court with Pau Gasol alongside, Grizzlies newcomer Darko Milicic was all smiles.

It's only been a few days of training camp. That means limited interaction with teammates and coaches, and the honeymoon period in a fresh system has only just begun.
Grizzlies newcomer Darko Milicic was much-maligned for his start with the Pistons. While he showed flashes of talent with the Magic, he's not been consistent. But he has a good attitude about Memphis.

Already, though, basketball is fun again for the maligned former No. 2 overall draft pick.

Milicic said he feels supported for the first time in his NBA career, and that comfort level is buoyed by his ability to finally bury the past.

A born-again baller, that's Milicic today. The Griz hope that's him midway in the season, too.

Milicic won't make any promises, except to guarantee the Griz will get a higher degree of mental toughness from him for their three-year, reportedly $21 million arrangement.

"I used to get (frustrated) with my situation, but not anymore," Milicic said. "I'm not angry. I just would like to play. Whatever happened before happened for a reason. I just want to play basketball. That's all. Everything else is behind me."

That also goes for the foul comments Milicic spewed last month following his native Serbia's loss in the European championships. It's history, says the 7-footer, who prefers that people focus on his competitive spirit.

"A lot of people were talking bad about me," he said. "It's me. I can't change. If you hate me, you hate me. If you like me, you like me."

Say this about the Griz: They used their money under the salary cap to acquire an edgy big man determined to prove he's not a bust.

Imagine coming to America to play with the veteran Detroit Pistons at 18, being drafted ahead of Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade, and then not meeting expectations.

Milicic became a target for mocking fans and media. He took an emotional beating before being shipped off to Orlando last season. Milicic was inconsistent as a reserve for the Magic but showed flashes of why both teams -- and now the Griz -- were willing to take a chance on him.

"He has to want it. He has to want to be better. Personally, I think he can do a good job," Gasol said. "He needs to feel that we need him and we want him here. We expect a lot of good things from him."

The Pistons, contending at the time, and the Magic, looking for a quick fix, couldn't wait on Milicic to develop the way the Griz can.

The Griz are hoping that Milicic, 22, can grow into a long-term sidekick for Gasol, knowing the two could become a solid low-post, high-post combination for many years.

"I talked to him about making sure he's comfortable with what we do," Griz coach Marc Iavaroni said. "I want him to be selfless and secure in himself. Be someone willing to accept whatever role we give you, and be passionate. I talked to him not just about physical toughness but mental toughness so you can deal with mistakes. I'm very happy with his effort. He wants to be a great player."

Griz general manager Chris Wallace grabbed Milicic because of his size, athleticism and offensive skill set.

Milicic can score with either hand coupled with a nice touch on his passes.

He's not an enforcer but has shot-blocking ability. Milicic said he's already learned many important lessons from Iavaroni.

"He's a great coach," Milicic said. "He's trying to make us work harder on the floor."

It's not uncommon to see Iavaroni pushing, shoving and elbowing Milicic under the basket during practices. Part of the hands-on approach is to curb the bouts of waning confidence that have plagued Milicic.

The constant doubt is somewhat surprising given Milicic has lived on his own since he was 14 when he went to Yugoslavia to play professional basketball and help support his family. He comes from a big family -- at least, in stature.

His father, Milorad, stands 6-7 and was a police officer. His mother, Zora, is 6-3.

Still, there was a time when Milicic felt so small while he was buried on the bench in Detroit that he contemplated an escape. He wrestled with leaving the team, unannounced, and boarding a plane home to Serbia to stay forever.

Giving up is the last thing on Milicic's mind these days.

He's expecting to make his mark on the NBA in Memphis.

"We work like a family, and like Coach says, it's fun getting better and playing like a team," Milicic said. "I'm trying to do my best. We'll see what happens when the season starts. Right now, I'm happy."

 

[DANGEROUSBLACKMAN]

The Boston Celtics Will Be Eastern Conference Champions If All Things Go As Planned.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

The Boston Celtics Will Be Eastern Conference Champions If All Things Go As Planned.

It won't. They lack depth..especially at point guard. They need at least one more. Not picking up Troy Hudson is going to hurt them.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Like a veteran, rookie Yi dodges age question

Associated Press

Updated: October 4, 2007, 6:52 PM ET

MILWAUKEE -- Yi Jianlian finally arrived. His shroud of secrecy continues.

Yi, Milwaukee's top draft pick, joined his new team for his first practice Thursday, but again dodged the question that's hounded him since announcing he was coming to the NBA.

Yi's birth certificate lists him as being born Oct. 27, 1987, which would make him 19, but he's long been rumored older.

"I have no comment on that," Yi said through translator Roy Lu.

Yi, a 6-foot-11 power forward, looked sluggish during practice, the Bucks' fourth of training camp. He traveled Wednesday on a 15-hour flight from Shanghai to Chicago, where he was swarmed by about 75 fans, including one girl who jumped into his arms.

"I'm a little bit tired, it's tough from the long trip," Yi said in English.

Coach Larry Krystkowiak said Yi (EE') didn't sleep well on the plane, and player personnel director Dave Babcock said Yi immediately settled at the hotel instead of going out for dinner.

Yi missed the first two days of training camp because of responsibilities with the Chinese national team, and he's played in about 40 games since the NBA's regular season ended.

"He'll probably hit the rookie wall a bit earlier than most guys, because he's already had his training camp four months ago," Andrew Bogut said.

At Thursday's practice, Yi also showed flashes of the talent that made him the sixth overall pick despite his handlers' attempts to keep him from Milwaukee.

Yi, expected to star alongside Yao Ming for China in the Beijing Olympics next summer, signed with the Bucks after concerns about his development and playing time were eased.

Wearing orange and white high tops embroidered with his name that clashed badly with the Bucks' training apparel, Yi blocked a few shots but showed obvious signs of fatigue, coming up short on several jumpers at the 2 1/2-hour practice.

Still, he caught the eye of Krystkowiak, who said he's learned "Hello" and "Thank You" in Chinese but doesn't plan to learn much more.

"He's got some good skills and everything that we thought all along," Krystkowiak said. "He's got a high basketball IQ and I don't think there's going to be a big issue with the English. He understands English really well in basketball terms."

A handful of Chinese reporters were on hand to watch practice, as well as Yi's former general manager, Liu Hongjiang, who was expected to stay in Milwaukee for a few days to help Yi get acclimated.

Bogut, the Australian selected No. 1 overall in 2005, said Yi was already the subject of Hollywood-style gossip columns in China and that being so far from home will be the toughest part of Yi's transition.

"Everybody's looking at every step ... it's just one of those things he's got to get used to," Bogut said. "Being so far away from home, you can't just pick up the phone and call your mom and your dad, because there's time differences and all kinds of obstacles that come in your way."

Yi seemed to be taking it all in stride and had several good matchups with Charlie Villanueva, the player he'll battle for a starting spot. He hit a turnaround jumper over Villanueva and outworked him on a defensive series, earning praise from Krystkowiak.

Yi, who has taken English lessons for several years, has a better grasp of the language than Yao did when he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Houston Rockets in 2002.

Yi also said he's been impressed by Milwaukee so far, and is eager to explore the city that has a tiny Asian population and is known more for beer and bratwurst than cultural diversity.

"On the freeway I saw a big electronic billboard (and) my picture was on it," Yi said. "It was a big surprise to me and I feel excited. It's a beautiful city, nice downtown, you've got lake, you've got river. It seems comfortable here."

As for his first night in the new city, he only did one thing.

"Just relaxed," he said.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Curry Sheds 20; Randolph Impressing
October 4, 2007 - 3:39 pm
Newsday -
Eddy Curry says he is "about 20 pounds" lighter than last season and Newsday beat writer Alan Hahn says Curry looks leaner.

"I knew I wanted to be able to play at a high level for a large amount of minutes out there so I could help the team," Curry said.

"He’s definitely worked hard over the summer," Isiah Thomas said. "I think he’s finally understanding his body and how to work himself and knowing what’s good for him and what’s not good for him . . . He’s an extremely disciplined athlete right now and an extremely disciplined player."

Observing practice, Hahn says Zach Randolph "is clearly a work-a-holic" with soft hands and a great release. Randolph may not look or move like the typical NBA player but he's "a terrific shooter with three-point range."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Skiles Skeptical Of Practice Claims Made By Thomas
October 4, 2007 - 4:30 pm
Chicago Sun-Times -
Scott Skiles seemed skeptical that second-year forward Tyrus Thomas worked on his jumper as much as he said in recent quotes.

"You mean the supposed 700 to 800 shots he was taking a day?" Skiles said of Thomas, whose conditioning remains an issue. "It would be nice if he can make perimeter shots, but he's got to be able to sustain effort first through a quarter, a game or even a practice, for that matter.

"He's in better shape than he was in camp at this point last year. He had a better summer than he had leading up to his rookie year, but not at the level of the other guys. He's still learning what it takes to be a great player."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Odom Wants To Finish His Career With Lakers
October 4, 2007 - 2:55 am
L.A. Times -
Laker forward Lamar Odom has been the subject of trade talk multiple times since the season ended, and even as recently as last week the talk has not let up.

Odom, however, wants to remain a Laker.

"I don't want to be traded, This is where I'd like to end my career. L.A. is L.A., and it's also my second home."

The Pacers wanted Odom, but they also wanted young center Andrew Bynum, which was enough to turn away the Lakers. Minnesota wasn't thrilled about acquiring Odom in a direct trade with the Lakers partly because of his salary (two years remaining, $27.4 million total). More recently, the Lakers value Odom in the triangle offense as much as, if not more, than Shawn Marion, who wants out of Phoenix.

Odom is again expected to be the team's second-leading scorer, top rebounder and second- or third-best assist man. He might come back with a little edge, as well.

"He obviously wants to prove himself as a player," Coach Phil Jackson said. "I thought he was having a great year last year. He shares the game with players and I think that's a real important aspect of it."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

2007-2008 Season Preview: Southeast Division
Authored by Jason M. Williams - 3rd October, 2007 - 6:01 pm

The third part of this six-piece series will spotlight the Southeast Division.

- Atlanta Hawks -

These Hawks are coming off another year of disappointment from their youthful but talented team. After starting last season hot, they suffered a number of injuries and once again were unstable at the point. Despite the little veteran presence in the locker room, the Hawks are loaded with perhaps the best collection of young talent in the league. If they were smart, they would have packaged some of their extraneous assets and dealt for an impact veteran this off-season.

NBA Draft Picks: Al Horford (No. 3), Acie Law IV (No. 11)

Key Additions: Antwayne Robinson (Free Agent – NBDL), Steven Smith (FA), Jamaal Tatum (FA), Mario West (FA)

Key Losses: Royal Ivey (FA - Milwaukee), Esteban Batista (FA – unsigned), Stanislav Medvedenko (FA – unsigned)

The Hawks once again went young. However, this might be their best draft in recent memory. With a glaring hole at point guard since the days of Mookie Blaylock, the Hawks have continued to pass on the most talented point guard in the top of the draft, namely Chris Paul and Deron Williams. This year, they resisted the urge to take the highly touted Mike Conley of Ohio State, and it may have finally paid off for them. Instead, they used the third overall pick to nab the top NBA-ready prospect not named Greg or Kevin. Al Horford should be a huge upgrade over Shelden Williams and everyone else Atlanta currently employs on the block. More importantly, one of the most dynamic point guards in the nation, Acie Law, slipped to the Hawks at the eleventh pick. The Atlanta brass couldn’t have asked for a better draft.

Burning Questions
- Will Acie Law be the starting point guard before the All Star break?
- Will Al Horford be the starting power forward before the All Star break?
- Will the mesh of youngsters be able to compete without true veteran leadership?
- Will Shelden Williams provide them with strong defense this year?
- Is this the year the Hawks dangle Marvin Williams at the trade deadline to make a playoff push?
- What will they do with four point guards (Speedy, Johnson, Lue, and Law)? Who will play?

Person on the Hot Seat: Speedy Claxton

Last summer’s signing of the veteran backup point guard is now looking like a big mistake. They dealt for super-sub point guard Anthony Johnson last year, and seemed to have drafted their point guard of the future in Acie Law. Throw in a little Tyronn Lue, and suddenly Speedy’s $6M per year, second highest on the entire roster, isn’t looking like such a great move. It’s his job to lose, and he’ll have a lot of pressure to live up to that ‘hefty’ Atlanta paycheck.

Team Outlook

The Hawks just lack experience. They have a glut of wonderful young prospects, but no proven winners or leaders to guide them. The additions of Horford and Law give them two collegiate winners and one of the best draft classes in this year’s draft, but it might not start paying off for another couple of years. The best Hawks fans can hope for this season is a healthy team and a chance to clinch one of the final spots in the Eastern playoff pictures.


- Charlotte Bobcats -

Much like the Atlanta Hawks , the Charlotte Bobcats are equipped with a ton of talented youth. Despite the lack of leadership, the Bobcats had a much improved season last year. They had to deal with a handful of injuries, but those injuries allowed the team to see the potential of the emerging Walter Herrmann and Matt Carroll. These two bright spots helped keep Charlotte afloat and continue their progress towards becoming a playoff threat in the Southeast division.

NBA Draft Picks: Jared Dudley (No. 22), Jermareo Davidson (No. 36)

Key Additions: Jason Richardson (trade – Golden State)

Key Losses: Brandan Wright (trade – Golden State), Brevin Knight (FA – L.A. Clippers), Jake Voskuhl (FA – Milwaukee), Derek Anderson (FA – unsigned), Alan Anderson (FA – unsigned)

Lacking a go-to scorer since the inception of the franchise, Michael Jordan pulled the string on a deal that jettisoned promising big man Brandan Wright (No. 8 overall pick) in exchange for the high-flying Jason Richardson. Richardson alone gives the Bobcats another dimension because he can score from any spot on the court and can deliver a massive rim-shattering dunk, as demonstrated during his two dunk championship performances. However, it will be interesting to see how he is able to play next to Gerald Wallace. The one move that Bobcats made this off-season that had a lot of puzzled looks was the resigning of career camp survivor, Matt Carroll, to a massive six year deal. On the point guard front, the loss of Brevin Knight was stabilized by the resigning of Jeff McInnis, who will provide steady floor leadership off the bench for the Bobs.

Burning Questions

- Will Richardson and Wallace pair together the way J-Rich paired with Stephen Jackson last season?
- Or will their high energy games clash?
- Does the trade for J-Rich and the Carroll extension mean that Adam Morrison is on his way to the bench? NBDL? Overseas?
- Will Sean May be healthy all season?
- Will Emeka Okafor last 75 games?
- More importantly, when will they give Okafor an extension? Will they?
- Will Walter Herrmann 1) please cut his hair? And 2) continue to be as dominant as he was at the trail end of last season?

Person on the Hot Seat: Adam Morrison

Drafted with the third pick in last year’s draft, this natural scorer was supposed to be their go-to guy from the wing. However, his season was widely viewed as a bust, and many wondered why and how Charlotte passed on Brandon Roy with the pick. If that wasn’t bad enough, they brought in Jason Richardson, resigned Gerald Wallace and Matt Carroll and drafted rock-hard small forward Jared Dudley. This sounds like a rather crowed wing for this young Bobcat team with Morrison on the outside looking in. On the bright side, at least he didn’t cry on the court last year.

Team Outlook

This team is similar to Milwaukee. They have all of the talent and weapons they need. They just need to stay out of the trainer’s room. If they can get J-Rich to buy into their system, keep the bigs healthy, and ensure that Morrison keeps his mustache under control, we can very well expect them to fight for a playoff spot.

- Miami Heat -

The Miami Heat suffered last year with key injuries to their dynamic duo – Shaquille O’Neal and Dwayne Wade. They floundered around the playoff border for much of the season until a late season surge put them back in the postseason to defend their title. However, they were annihilated by the much younger and more spirited Chicago Bulls , suffering an embarrassing first round sweep that left Pat Riley and the organization clueless as to which direction to turn this off-season. In this critical off-season, it was vital that they use their tradable assets like free agent James Posey or expiring contract Jason Williams. Let’s take a look at what they did.

NBA Draft Picks: None

Key Additions: Daequan Cook (trade – Philadelphia), Smush Parker (FA – L.A. Lakers), Anfernee Hardaway (FA – Orlando 2005-06), Alexander Johnson (FA – Memphis), Brian Chase (FA – NBDL)

Key Losses: Jason Kapono (FA – Toronto), James Posey (FA – Boston), Eddie Jones (FA – Dallas), Jason Smith (trade – Philadelphia), Stanko Barac (trade – Indiana), Gary Payton (FA – unsigned), Earl Barron (FA – unsigned)

The Heat had one of the worst off-seasons in the league. They lost all of their depth on the wing by allowing Posey, Jason Kapono, and Eddie Jones to walk, and instead signed over the hill veteran Anfernee Hardaway and the marginal Smush Parker. One underrated pickup the Heat made this season was that of Alexander Johnson. He has the tools to be a solid big man off the bench. However, with a crucial transition period staring them in the face with the obvious decline of Shaq and Alonzo Mourning, they were unable to land their marquee free agent, Maurice Williams, and couldn’t even pry his backup Charlie Bell away from Miami. The Heat will get a baby thumbs up if they can swing a deal with Sacramento for Mike Bibby.

Burning Questions

- How will Dwayne Wade come back from his injuries?
- Will Shaq and Zo stay healthy? Will they only be a shell of their former selves?
- How will Riley replace Jones, Kapono and Posey, three of the main reasons they made the playoffs last year?
- Will the Heat ever find a taker for tip-toeing Antoine Walker?
- Will Penny Hardaway win comeback player of the year?
- Will Smush Parker be the starting point guard by midseason?
- Or will we see yet another Jason Williams for Mike Bibby trade?

Person on the Hot Seat: Shaquille O’Neal

The Miami Heat mortgaged their future to bring the big man to the South Beach. Shaq promised a championship to the city and delivered. However, now two years removed from the title, the team looks old and sluggish and he is still on the books for three years and $60M. That is a hefty price for a half-season of health and a roster surrounding him that is depleted of youth, energy, and athleticism. Shaq needs to come back hungry, vengeful, and in shape to dominate – otherwise, the Heat might struggle mightily to reach the postseason.

Team Outlook

This team has not done well since winning the title two years ago. They have aged poorly and were embarrassed in the first round of the playoffs last season. Now, they lost three valuable weapons on the wing and replaced them with one of the top guards in the league…back in 1994. True, the pairing of Shaq and Penny will be exciting to watch, assuming that D-Wade doesn’t get jealous and tear this team apart from within. But in all seriousness, it will take a monster season from Wade and a trip to the fountain of youth for Shaquille O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning to get this depleted and aging roster back to being a contender for the division, let alone the Eastern crown.

- Orlando Magic -

Last year’s Magic team was able to survive in the East and land the final playoff spot. However, they made some huge waves in the off-season and have a newfound plan of attack. They brought in a new coach and a big name free agent. But will that be enough to offset the losses that this team faced in free agency? Will mortgaging the future on two players pay off? Let’s take a closer look.

NBA Draft Picks: Marcin Gortat (2005 second rounder – contract purchased)

Key Additions: Rashard Lewis (trade – Seattle), Adonal Foyle (FA – Golden State), Milovan Rakovic (trade – Dallas)

Key Losses: Grant Hill (FA – Phoenix), Darko Milicic (FA – Memphis), Travis Diener (FA – Indiana), Reyshawn Terry (trade – Dallas), Bo Outlaw (FA – unsigned)

Who isn’t excited about seeing the inside-outside combo of Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis for the next six years? Okay, maybe Orlando’s upper management when they realize they’ll be paying over $40M for the two players in 2012. Despite the fact that, on paper, this seems like an explosive duo that reminds Magic fans of Shaq and Penny, let’s take a step back and realize that Dwight is a freakish athlete, but is extremely limited in his offensive repertoire. He is basically a glorified David Lee with springs on his shoes. He scores the majority of his points on the offensive glass and on vicious dunks. Fine, but in order for Stan Van Gundy to get the most of this combo, he is going to have to get Dwight Howard to be able to control the paint and score off the dribble, which will give Rashard Lewis (and hopefully J.J. Redick) the open looks that he needs to be successful. This is why the best move of the Magic off-season was bringing in Patrick Ewing to coach the man-child’s offensive game.

The thing I don’t like about the Magic off-season is that they gave up four solid players for one. I include Reyshawn Terry because he has the potential to be a valuable backup off the bench, and a second round steal. His gritty UNC upbringing was needed on this team and I don’t have much faith in Marcin Gortat or Milovan Rakovic. The loss of Darko Milicic to Memphis and Tony Battie to a torn rotator cuff leaves them extremely weak in the paint, and Adonal Foyle is not the answer. Foyle will be good for six fouls on Shaq and not much else. One of the primary reasons for the resurgence of the Magic last season was the leadership and solid play of veteran Grant Hill. His loss will go under the radar now, but will loom large when the only players taking his spot will be the underachieving J.J. Redick and career sparkplug Keyon Dooling. That, and if Redick continues to be a bust, then the most consistent three-point threats that will draw double teams off of Dwight will be Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard, two 6-10 forwards. That doesn’t normally translate too many offensive rebounds.

Burning Questions

- Will J.J. Redick be able to win the starting two guard spot?
- Will Dwight and Rashard become the best duo in the East?
- Will Jameer Nelson get his extension?
- Will Stan Van Gundy make this a better team than last year?
- Will Dwight Howard learn how to play off the dribble?
- Will Trevor Ariza ever learn to hit the outside jumper?
- Who will provide reliable three-point shooting outside of Lewis?
- Who will man the paint now that Darko is gone and Battie is out?

Person on the Hot Seat: Rashard Lewis

The acquisition of Rashard Lewis puts the Magic in a hole financially for a long time. He must prove his worth immediately; otherwise this Magic team could struggle to reach the playoffs. With a much improved Eastern Conference, the Magic will have trouble competing with one of the thinnest front lines in the league. Rashard Lewis must step up and account for the lack of depth up front.

Team Outlook

The Magic have plenty of offensive weapons and one of the best defensive big men in the league. They looked poised to turn the corner toward being an elite team, until they decided not to resign Darko Milicic and they woke up to find out that Tony Battie was likely lost for most of, if not all of, the season. Stan Van Gundy has turned nothing into something before, and with this many weapons, he should be able to lead this team toward the brink of the postseason.

- Washington Wizards -

The Wizards were the top team in the East last year until injuries devastated the team. They lost Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, and Gilbert Arenas all in overlapping succession. They still managed to fight their way into the postseason and put up a fight with the eventual Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavs. However, without a healthy Hibachi Trio, the Wizards are far too thin to reach the Promised Land.

NBA Draft: Nick Young (No. 16), Dominic McGuire (No. 47)

Key Additions: None

Key Losses: Jarvis Hayes (FA – Detroit), Michael Ruffin (FA – Milwaukee), Calvin Booth (FA – Philadelphia), Juan Carlos Navarro (trade – Memphis)

The Wizards surprisingly did not make any moves this off-season, but they were lucky to have the highly talented Nick Young fall into their laps with the sixteenth pick. He will make their backcourt very strong playing alongside Arenas, DeShawn Stevenson, and Antonio Daniels. The injuries allowed the Wizards to allow the youngster Andray Blatche to get more minutes and he proved why he was good enough to be selected out of high school two years ago. A healthy season from Darius Songaila will also provide a huge boost to this squad and act as if it was a useful addition this off-season.

Burning Questions

- Will Gilbert Arenas come back strong from his injury?
- Will Caron Butler duplicate his breakout season from a year ago?
- Will Antawn Jamison be even better now that he is in a contract year?
- Will Nick Young be the first guard off the bench by midseason?
- Will Haywood and Etan Thomas get into another fistfight?
- Will Andray Blatche be able to morph his KG-like body with KG-like skills?
- Will Etan Thomas be able to come back from the heart irregularity?

Person on the Hot Seat: Brendan Haywood

What was once the deadly two-headed paint dragon that the Wizards have platooned over the past couple of seasons, might no longer need to learn to coexist without fistfights. An irregular heart condition may keep Etan Thomas out for a large portion of the season and possibly his career. This means that the job belongs solely to Haywood and he no longer has to worry about being physically combative with Thomas, a nuisance that must have been wearing on the rest of the roster. However, when combined with Thomas, their numbers indicate that they have produced a pretty decent presence at the center position. Now, Haywood must prove his value by being able to produce at the center position without his longtime “buddy.”

Team Outlook

The growing theme during this six-part season preview series seems to be: stay healthy. The Wizards are one of the more talented, dynamic, and well-coached teams in the conference. However, when one part of their potent threesome is missing, they are doomed. A big season from the Big Three, a breakout year for Blatche, a calming yet effective presence down low from Haywood, and quick production from Nick Young could spell N-B-A-F-I-N-A-L-S in the District this season.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Despite offseason obstacles, Phoenix expects sunny days ahead

By Marc Stein
ESPN.com

Updated: October 5, 2007, 1:43 PM ET

TUCSON, Ariz. -- They lost Amare Stoudemire to another knee injury before a ball was dribbled at training camp. They opened that Amare-less camp just a week after Shawn Marion went public with a trade demand. Factor in that they'll never really forget how last season ended and there was a natural inclination for the Phoenix Suns to feel as though the color scheme of their new practice gear -- mourner's black -- was uncomfortably fitting.

Then Mike D'Antoni began to share his plans for the season.

The Suns, D'Antoni swears, are going to respond to what happened in the San Antonio series by playing faster, if that's possible.

He says they're prepared to go even smaller with his lineups, if necessary.

He vows that they're going to be looser and happier, too, because D'Antoni contends that the Suns were more uptight than anyone on the outside ever knew.

So he gathered his players at the University of Arizona this week and assured them that they won't be starting over with new philosophies or partaking in lab experiments to make the Suns conventional. To the contrary, D'Antoni believes his small ball kings should try to run even more than they've been running -- and have a lot more fun -- to max out on the potential of their unique personnel mix and finally reach the NBA Finals.

"It can't be, 'This is all a disaster if we don't win the championship,' " D'Antoni said. "You don't enjoy the journey that way and I think we didn't enjoy the journey enough last year. We didn't enjoy January enough when we won 17 [games] in a row. We've got to get back to that gunslinging kind of mentality: 'If we win, we win. If we lose, we lose.' But we don't want to have this big burden on our heads at all times and I think it starts with me. I'll take care of it. Steve will take care of it."

It might not be as simple as D'Antoni makes it sound, but he'll indeed have Steve Nash as his assist man on this project as well. Nash shares his coach's contention that San Antonio's extra layer of togetherness hurt the Suns as much anything in the teams' second-round classic.

It was Nash who famously said last May that the various controversies in that series -- most notably those Game 5 suspensions of Stoudemire and Boris Diaw -- would "haunt us forever." Yet there was Nash on Tuesday in Tucson, conceding that the Spurs' better chemistry was a huge difference-maker, too.

"We need to be the top team in the league in chemistry," Nash said. "Or in the top two."

The problem there is that being No. 1 chemistry-wise -- or even No. 2 -- is an awfully high bar given how heavy their start has been. As if rebounding from the San Antonio disappointment wasn't sufficiently challenging, Phoenix just sent Stoudemire, at 24, to the operating table for the third time in two years and faces a whole new series of challenges with Marion after years of trying to convince the tireless forward -- unsuccessfully -- that he's not underappreciated by coaches, teammates and management.

The Stoudemire-Marion relationship, furthermore, will remain a focal point for as long as they play together, especially with Grant Hill's name now competing for space on the marquee as well. Add it all up and it seems a lot safer to predict a further dip in togetherness as opposed to improvement, even if the Suns' bench is no longer populated by frustrated vets who hoped to play more.

The Suns, though, insist that the outlook is a lot sunnier than it might appear, with Stoudemire scheduled to be back on the practice floor in three weeks, possibly ready to play in time for opening night . . . and with Amare already having beaten microfracture surgery on his other knee pretty spectacularly. Nash, meanwhile, is on record predicting that Marion -- while undeniably still is upset with the Suns' refusal to offer him a contract extension and stung by the trade rumors he's heard for so long -- is a "lovable guy" who will find it hard "to stay angry amongst his teammates."

It's also true that excelling at both ends when he's unhappy or feeling slighted would be nothing new from Marion. Which should help explain why new Suns president Steve Kerr insists that "we're going to be fine."

"We're going to be good," Kerr said. "Shawn told me and he told his teammates that he's ready to play. It was a distraction in the summer, but now it's time to play basketball, and I'm confident that Shawn is going to play and wants to play.

"We have such a veteran group, these guys understand that it's part of the business. It's not a great part of the business, but it's something you have to deal with from time to time. The teams that are professional, they move on."

Good point. The Suns' recent track record in the moving-on game is indeed outstanding, whether it's making back-to-back trips to the conference finals in the face of numerous major injuries (Joe Johnson, Stoudemire, Raja Bell) or playing San Antonio so much closer than anyone else in spite of some difficult circumstances (most notably Nash's bloody nose in Game 1 and the two suspensions).

D'Antoni clearly remembers all that, judging by how much he's talking the Suns up in the midst of this heavy start. He was raving about Hill within minutes of coaching him for the first time, quickly convinced that Hill's ability to penetrate and handle the ball will enable Phoenix to actually speed up its offense. The coach is likewise boasting that he doesn't "even know if we have to call plays" with this group because the ball is moving so crisply.

The two-time MVP, though, probably wanted Hill even more than the coach. Surrounded by so much inexperience at key spots -- Stoudemire, Diaw and Leandro Barbosa all come to mind as special talents still learning the game -- Nash figured his Suns could stand to get a little older and wiser before seeing San Antonio again.

"You don't want to get too old," Suns guard Bell said with a smile, "but I think our window is still there. The Spurs are the champions. They deserved it and they played great. But I think we've moved on. We're going to be right at the top of the league again, vying for the championship."

Said D'Antoni: "If you want to look at [the current situation] with a cloud over our heads, that's one way. The other way is thinking we'll get Boris started [while Stoudemire recovers] and find out what Brian Skinner and Sean Marks can do. Amare's going to be fine, so that's how we'll look at it and hopefully that's the way it'll turn out.

"We're going to attack the league in a different mentality, like we did the first year [after re-signing Nash in the summer of 2004]. ... It's like I told Steve, 'You might have five more years left and you've got to enjoy each one.'

"Same with me. As a coach, I've got the best team you could have, the greatest guys and the best city. If I can't be happy in January, then I should be shot. And I wasn't last January. So I'm going to go read my Zen book and chill out."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Bucks' Coach Says Yi's Playing Time Isn't Guaranteed
October 5, 2007 - 6:05 pm
ESPN -
The Milwaukee Bucks have not given first-round pick Yi Jianlian any guarantees of playing time, coach Larry Krystkowiak said Friday.

"It would be unfair to Yi, unfair to Charlie Villanueva, unfair to a lot of people because nothing is being handed to anyone coming into training camp," Krystkowiak said during the Bucks' annual media day. "I think what happened was that after he was signed, there was such pressure that he wouldn't play here after the draft, that a certain amount of face had to be saved."

Bucks general manager Larry Harris, who took part in the negotiations with Yi and his representatives from China in August, confirmed there "were no commitment or promises made about minutes."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Martin practices at full speed
By Chris Dempsey The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 10/05/2007 06:19:29 PM MDT

Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin took his biggest step to returning today, going through five-on-five scrimmages for the first time in nearly a calendar year.

And by all reports, he passed the preseason test with flying colors.

"It felt good," said Martin, who continues to rehab from microfracture surgery on his right knee Nov. 15. "Just doing all I can now. Just trying to get better, build up to Oct. 31."

Said Nuggets coach George Karl: "It was the best day for him, by far. He got through it all. He's rusty, but by looking at him, I think he surprised us and I think he surprised himself on how much he got done."

Karl emphasized Martin's showing will not speed up the timetable for getting the forward major minutes on the court during the regular season.

The plan remains to ease Martin into playing by monitoring his minutes through much of the first three months of the season. Around the all-star break, if Martin is playing well and playing pain-free, the Nuggets will increase his minutes.

Martin had microfracture surgery on his left knee in the summer of 2005.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

May To Undergo Microfracture Surgery, Done For Season
October 5, 2007 - 6:17 pm
Sports Illustrated -
Charlotte Bobcats forward Sean May will miss the season after deciding to undergo microfracture surgery on his troublesome right knee.

May, who saw two knee specialists this week, will have the surgery Tuesday in New York. Recovery time will take six to 12 months.

"Obviously this is a terrible blow for our basketball team and another setback for Sean," Bobcats coach Sam Vincent said Friday. "We want what's best for him, and unfortunately that requires surgery."

May, the 13th pick in the 2005 draft, has played in only 58 of 164 games over the past two seasons. He had surgery to remove cartilage during his rookie season, then developed a bone bruise last year.

He had been undergoing an extensive offseason program, but was still troubled by knee pain. May missed the start of training camp to see knee specialists in New York and Alabama.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Turiaf, Not Walton, May Start Lakers' Season Opener
October 6, 2007 - 9:57 am
Los Angeles Daily News -
At the end of a routine day, Lakers coach Phil Jackson caused a minor stir by saying he was considering starting forward Ronny Turiaf ahead of Luke Walton when the season begins Oct. 30.

It had nothing to do with Walton's strained right hamstring, which prevented him from practicing Friday. It had everything to do with Jackson's desire to add Turiaf's energy to the starting five.

"We'll see how it goes," Jackson said. "It's still a long time away from tip time, but I know we have to have starters coming off the bench to be a good team."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Knicks Return Likely For Allan Houston
October 6, 2007 - 5:21 am
New York Daily News -
Allan Houston is leaning toward rejoining the Knicks but likely will wait until tomorrow before making a final decision, according to a person close to the veteran shooting guard.

Should Houston choose the Knicks over the Nets, there is no guarantee that he will make the 15-man roster. Isiah Thomas currently has 15 players with guaranteed contracts and would have to make one roster move in order to keep second-round pick Demetris Nichols. If the Knicks elect to keep both Nichols and Houston, the club would have to eat two contracts, which wouldn't make fiscal sense.

When asked why he would go to such great lengths to bring in Houston at the expense of possibly releasing a younger player, Thomas said: "It's out of respect. He's a great Knick. He wants to come back and give it a shot."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Heat hope advancing age trumped by talent, pride

By Chris Sheridan
ESPN.com

Updated: October 6, 2007, 1:46 PM ET

MIAMI -- As was the case a year ago, the Miami Heat are more focused on their recent past than they are on their future.

Last October, they were fat and happy, and it carried over into a season of complacency.

This October, for a change, they're slimmer and grumpier, hoping their mutual sense of self-disgust can fuel a resurgence back into the NBA's elite.

"We've got an old, crusty group, but then we also have nine young young guys with a ton of enthusiasm and hunger," coach Pat Riley said into a microphone as he stood at center court and addressed a crowd of a few thousand fans Friday night as the Heat held an open practice that was missing a big part of that core of old, crusty guys.

Shaquille O'Neal sat out with knee tendinitis, Alonzo Mourning had a quadriceps strain, and Dwyane Wade -- wait a minute, is he already a crusty, old vet? -- was again avoiding contact while counting down the days until mid-November, which is the earliest he is expected to return from offseason shoulder and knee surgeries.

Three other key pieces of last season's Heat were not present either, with Jason Kapono, James Posey and Eddie Jones having departed over the summer.

So what the fans got to see at the open practice, aside from appearances by Heat mainstays Udonis Haslem, Jason Williams and Antoine Walker, were the likes of Brian Chase, Jeremy Richardson, Chris Quinn, Daequan Cook, Devin Green, Alexander Johnson and Joel Anthony running up and down the court trying to win themselves a spot in the rotation or at least a spot on the roster. Just 16 months after winning the NBA title, the team the Heat put on the floor Friday night might have had trouble winning a D-League game, much less a title.

But those same kids, green as they might be, are a big part of the motivational method Riley is employing this fall to try to shake his veterans out of the malaise that enveloped them last October and stuck with them all the way through April, when they were unceremoniously swept out of the playoffs by a hungrier opponent, the Chicago Bulls.

"We need to have them enthusiastic, and I was telling them today about [Green Bay Packers quarterback] Brett Favre, who's 36 or 37 years old and playing re-energized because of all the young guys around him, when a couple years ago he wanted to run away," Riley sad. "Things can happen, the dynamic can change for a player later on in their career if they continue to bring a passion for the game. If they don't have a passion for the game, it's going to be drudgery."

Last season wasn't exactly drudgery for the Heat, but it was a year when they found themselves so satisfied with what they had accomplished the previous June that the defining night of their season probably came on opening night when they accepted their oversized, overjeweled championship rings and then went out and got torched by those very same Bulls who would end their season some six months later.

Miami finished with a somewhat respectable 44 wins, but in terms of successfully defending a title, they were an utter failure.

"It had a lot to do with a lot of those guys, Zo, Gary, Jason, Posey, winning the championship for the first time, and we did not come back in the best frame of mind, then Shaq got hurt in the first game, Dwyane got hurt later, and it was a force we couldn't change," Riley said.

How much of a bitter taste it left in their mouths will go a long way toward determining whether this season will see them rebounding back into form. Or to put it another way, to a certain extend it'll be all about pride -- O'Neal's pride in showing he is not as over-the-hill and in decline as people have been saying for two years; Riley's pride is showing he can still motivate his own team and outcoach whomever his counterpart is on any given night; Wade's pride in re-establishing the spot he held in the summer of 2006 when he was considered the game's best up-and-coming player.

Wade's star faded a little, at least in comparison to two of the players he came into the league with, over the course of the summer of 2007 -- first when LeBron James took the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals, and next when Carmelo Anthony was the best night-in, night-out player on a Team USA squad that stormed through the Tournament of the Americas and began evoking comparisons to the original Dream Team.

"Somebody does something the previous year, that's something to talk about," Wade said of his personal rivalry with James and Anthony. "The main thing is those guys want to see me back on the court, because it's always great competition, it headlines the story.

"That stuff is mandatory, personal pride," Wade said. "I just want to get back on track to being a dominant player in the league. I don't have to one-up LeBron and Carmelo, that's so rookie-year-type stuff. The main thing is to get my organization back on track. We won a championship, so the standards are high here, and for that to happen I have to get myself back to a high level."

Wade is not yet scrimmaging with the team, and O'Neal and Mourning have been rested as a precautionary measure by Riley, who said he be "stupid" to push them this early in the season.

Precaution is of added significance this year after the Heat played only five games last season with the trio of O'Neal, Wade and Riley all healthy. (Riley had midseason knee and hip replacement surgeries.)

Riley issued a statement over the summer promising to serve out the final three years of his coaching contract, a move he acknowledged was made as a preemptive strike against the ever-present "What's Pat's future?" questions that pop up every season (he has not coached a full 82-game season in five years).

But in the first couple of weeks of the season, he's going to be coaching a team without a solid second scoring option behind O'Neal, and it'll be a huge challenge to get the team off to a good start with a tough early November schedule. Three of the season's first five games are against the Pistons, Spurs and Suns, and four of the five games after that are on the road against teams (New Jersey, Boston, Charlotte and New York) that see themselves, at least they will this November, as equal to or better than the Heat.

The outside shooting and perimeter defense that Kapono, Posey and Jones formerly provided will have to be replaced by the likes of Smush Parker (who signed as a free agent for $2.2 million of the Heat's midlevel exception), Richardson and perhaps even Chase, who Riley reports has converted an astounding 75 percent of his field goal attempts during training camp in drills and scrimmages.

Penny Hardaway is in camp, too, with a non-guaranteed contract. And if his lethargic performance in the open practice Friday night was a valid indicator, he's got very little left in the tank.

The second unit will be anchored by Antoine Walker, an anchor in his own right thanks to a contract which pays him $8.3 million this season and $9.05 million next season before the Heat have the right to terminate it in the summer of 2009.

Williams is in a contract year and in "the best shape I've ever seen him in," according to Riley, and O'Neal is noticeably slimmer (you can see it in his face) and reportedly more flexible than he's felt in years after taking up yoga in what was his longest offseason since 1994 -- the only other time he was ousted from the playoffs in the first round.

And finally, let's face it, the Heat have pretty much fallen off everyone's championship prediction radar (colleague Marc Stein has them 20th in his preseason Power Rankings) rather quickly after capturing that title oh so not so long ago.

The spotlight is off them, and they might actually be better off being the hunters rather than the hunted.

"Having the mentality we had last year was totally unacceptable," Mourning said. "We were basically fat and happy with winning the championship. We were content. But I think guys are coming in with a totally different mindset. Losing last year left a very distasteful feeling in our mouths.

"Now we've got a lot of young legs, and the old guys want to redeem ourselves and get back on track. The only thing is health -- if we're not healthy it's going to be hard to accomplish our goals. But we've got some hardened veterans, some battle-scarred veterans, and I think that's the ace in the hole for us. Once we get into peak physical condition, I think everything else will take care of itself."