calling out ROLLIE FINGAZ!
- Thread starter cranrab
- Start date
whatever do you mean??
thank you, sir.
tomorrow night is MUST SEE TV. LOL
i heard the funniest shit tonight. after practice, ben gordon spoke with the media. he proclaimed himself "the best player on the bulls" and demanded that the bulls pay him accordingly.
i understand that ben gordon is in contract negotiations, and asking $15M/year, but WTF is wrong with these delusional euros?
tomorrow night is MUST SEE TV. LOL
i heard the funniest shit tonight. after practice, ben gordon spoke with the media. he proclaimed himself "the best player on the bulls" and demanded that the bulls pay him accordingly.
i understand that ben gordon is in contract negotiations, and asking $15M/year, but WTF is wrong with these delusional euros?
What gets me is that Minnesota didn't have luck with the LAST Euro point guard they drafted..what makes them think that another one will be any better??
Speaking of forwards, I don't get why Howard went to the Mavs when he could play in Boston.
MAAAAAAANnnnnnnnnnn..Charles ain't say shit @ halftime..
But Magic spoke the truth..
But Magic spoke the truth..
I'm trying to catch the highlights on NBA.com but it won't loud on my laptop.
What did Magic say about Wobe and the situation?
he said something about "the Lakers need to make a decision within the next week or two on whether or not to keep Kobe or trade him." something like that
earvin johnson FINALLY manned up and said that tobe was to blame for the problems that tobe had with shaquille o'neal.
earvin johnson put to rest ALL OF THE STANS who insisted that shaquille o'neal was somehow to blame or shared the responsibility for creating the rift that grew between them.
ETHER.
you must've only watched the spurs game. earvin johnson commented further during the fakers game.
Kobe got you stressing like THAT, Jerry??
NBA Suspends Buss For Two Games
October 31, 2007 - 7:23 pm
L.A. Times -
Lakers owner Jerry Buss was not at Tuesday night's season-opener at Staples Center and will not be at Friday's game in Phoenix because of a two-game suspension handed down by NBA Commissioner David Stern for Buss' pleading guilty to misdemeanor drunk driving in September. Buss was also fined $25,000 by the league.
Buss, 74, was arrested in the early hours of May 29 in Carlsbad after police saw him driving his gold Mercedes-Benz on the wrong side of the road. He was sentenced to five years' probation and fined $1,900.
NBA Suspends Buss For Two Games
October 31, 2007 - 7:23 pm
L.A. Times -
Lakers owner Jerry Buss was not at Tuesday night's season-opener at Staples Center and will not be at Friday's game in Phoenix because of a two-game suspension handed down by NBA Commissioner David Stern for Buss' pleading guilty to misdemeanor drunk driving in September. Buss was also fined $25,000 by the league.
Buss, 74, was arrested in the early hours of May 29 in Carlsbad after police saw him driving his gold Mercedes-Benz on the wrong side of the road. He was sentenced to five years' probation and fined $1,900.
Magic said, "Kobe should have worked things out with Shaq, realized that it his team and deferred to him and they wouldn't be going through this drama now."
Van Gundy just ethers Varejao.
He said, He is a good player on a very good team..but he only averages 6 points and 6 rebounds a game. If he was on a lottery team with those numbers he wouldn't even think to ask for 9 million a year.
"He will never be a franchise player so he shouldn't be paid like one."
He said, He is a good player on a very good team..but he only averages 6 points and 6 rebounds a game. If he was on a lottery team with those numbers he wouldn't even think to ask for 9 million a year.
"He will never be a franchise player so he shouldn't be paid like one."
Van Gundy ethers the announce team.
"Can we please stop talking about Kobe Bryant..we need to have a moratorium on talking about him."
"Can we please stop talking about Kobe Bryant..we need to have a moratorium on talking about him."
..you, Van Gundy is a funny cat..
on running up the score:
JVG: "I like it."
Mike T: "What about sportmanship?"
JVG: "It would be different if it was high school..but in the pros, show every one that you're dominant..if you want to keep a team from running up the score, play some defense.."
Preach on, Jeff..
on running up the score:
JVG: "I like it."
Mike T: "What about sportmanship?"
JVG: "It would be different if it was high school..but in the pros, show every one that you're dominant..if you want to keep a team from running up the score, play some defense.."
Preach on, Jeff..
Too bad his teams never ran. Or else he still might be coaching
earvin johnson said a little bit more than that, RF.
i especially liked the TRUTH about the fakers without lamar odom:
"The Lakers are always going to have a hard time if they don't have all their weapons," Johnson said during the telecast. "Without Lamar Odom, the Lakers are a very average team, and with him they are still the seventh- or eighth-seed team, so you can't expect them to go up against a playoff-contender team and expect them to win the game."
and here is the quote about the tobe/shaquille o'neal situation (props to LA TIMES, because i don't know how to embed tivo video):
"If Kobe would have been smart, he would have mended those fences with Shaquille, let Shaquille be 'The Man' and we wouldn't be in this position," Johnson said. "Now, after four years later, he understands that he can't do it by himself. Now he's blaming the organization, and some of that blame should be on him and some on the organization."
..not to change the subject, but I HATE Nene Hilario, or ANY player that thinks they can take the entire summer off and and use the preseason and first few weeks of the regular season to play their way back in shape.
The sound you hear is the sound of Marbury losing his starting spot and going elsewhere next year.
Stephon Marbury benched twice in loss to Cavaliers
BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Saturday, November 3rd 2007, 4:00 AM
CLEVELAND - Knicks coach Isiah Thomas lost confidence and patience with Stephon Marbury early and often in last night's 110-106 loss to the Cavaliers.
Marbury had a rough opener both offensively and defensively, and was pulled for the final eight minutes of the third quarter and was benched again in the fourth after Daniel Gibson hit four straight three-pointers.
"This is the year," Thomas said, "where the best people play."
Thomas preferred Nate Robinson over Marbury, who was 3-for-11 in 31 minutes and was responsible for two boneheaded plays. The game opened with a four-point play as Marbury fouled Gibson on a three-pointer from in front of the Cavs' bench. Later, after Marbury was called for a palming violation, he turned his back and didn't notice that the Cavs already had inbounded the ball. As Marbury sulked, Larry Hughes blew past him for a dunk.
Afterward, Marbury didn't complain about Thomas' quick hook, saying, "Nate was playing well." Robinson scored 19 points with six rebounds off the bench.
Stephon Marbury benched twice in loss to Cavaliers
BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Saturday, November 3rd 2007, 4:00 AM
CLEVELAND - Knicks coach Isiah Thomas lost confidence and patience with Stephon Marbury early and often in last night's 110-106 loss to the Cavaliers.
Marbury had a rough opener both offensively and defensively, and was pulled for the final eight minutes of the third quarter and was benched again in the fourth after Daniel Gibson hit four straight three-pointers.
"This is the year," Thomas said, "where the best people play."
Thomas preferred Nate Robinson over Marbury, who was 3-for-11 in 31 minutes and was responsible for two boneheaded plays. The game opened with a four-point play as Marbury fouled Gibson on a three-pointer from in front of the Cavs' bench. Later, after Marbury was called for a palming violation, he turned his back and didn't notice that the Cavs already had inbounded the ball. As Marbury sulked, Larry Hughes blew past him for a dunk.
Afterward, Marbury didn't complain about Thomas' quick hook, saying, "Nate was playing well." Robinson scored 19 points with six rebounds off the bench.
I want to expand on the above post a little:
Now it's painfully clear that Zeke prefers Nate over Starbury. I think that now would be the time to see if the Lakers would be willing to revisit a Kobe to NY trade.
Now just fucking around to see what trades wwould work, I took note of the following:
Kobe for Marbury straight up WORKS numbers-wise.
New York Trade Breakdown
Incoming Players
Kobe Bryant
6-6 SG from Lower Merion (HS)
LA Lakers Trade Breakdown
Incoming Players
Stephon Marbury
6-2 PG from Georgia Tech
Successful Trade Scenario
Congratulations on a successful trade.
Due to New York and L.A. Lakers being over the cap, the 25% trade rule is invoked. New York and L.A. Lakers had to be no more than 125% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Trade ID #4274509
Now I KNOW this shit would not happen..but I am wondering what trade could be done that would be fair for all parties involved. This would be a start.
Now it's painfully clear that Zeke prefers Nate over Starbury. I think that now would be the time to see if the Lakers would be willing to revisit a Kobe to NY trade.
Now just fucking around to see what trades wwould work, I took note of the following:
Kobe for Marbury straight up WORKS numbers-wise.
New York Trade Breakdown
Incoming Players
Kobe Bryant
6-6 SG from Lower Merion (HS)
LA Lakers Trade Breakdown
Incoming Players
Stephon Marbury
6-2 PG from Georgia Tech
Successful Trade Scenario
Congratulations on a successful trade.
Due to New York and L.A. Lakers being over the cap, the 25% trade rule is invoked. New York and L.A. Lakers had to be no more than 125% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Trade ID #4274509
Now I KNOW this shit would not happen..but I am wondering what trade could be done that would be fair for all parties involved. This would be a start.
Barkley, the outspoken TNT analyst who has fenced with Bryant in the past, suggested Bryant help his awkward situation by waiving his no-trade clause.
"He doesn't want to be traded unless he can control his ramifications . . . he wants the [other] team to keep all the good players they've got and give the Lakers trash," Barkley said. "That's not going to happen. If he's a man of his word, he should waive his no-trade clause."
Arenas, who grew up in Los Angeles, compared Bryant unfavorably to Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson.
"I've never seen Jordan act like that," Arenas told Sports Illustrated. "I didn't even see A.I., when he was going through them bad days, you know? They were always talking about trading him, and he was like, 'If they trade me, they trade me; if they don't, they don't . . . but this is my city.' And I don't understand how Kobe doesn't feel that about L.A. -- it's his city."
Arenas thinks Bryant should stay in Los Angeles and wait for the team to get better around him.
"He doesn't want to be traded unless he can control his ramifications . . . he wants the [other] team to keep all the good players they've got and give the Lakers trash," Barkley said. "That's not going to happen. If he's a man of his word, he should waive his no-trade clause."
Arenas, who grew up in Los Angeles, compared Bryant unfavorably to Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson.
"I've never seen Jordan act like that," Arenas told Sports Illustrated. "I didn't even see A.I., when he was going through them bad days, you know? They were always talking about trading him, and he was like, 'If they trade me, they trade me; if they don't, they don't . . . but this is my city.' And I don't understand how Kobe doesn't feel that about L.A. -- it's his city."
Arenas thinks Bryant should stay in Los Angeles and wait for the team to get better around him.
Deng Declined $57.5 Million Extension With Bulls
November 4, 2007 - 11:20 pm
Chicago Tribune -
The Chicago Bulls are off to a slow start once again, with Luol Deng, Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich all struggling.
Both Deng and Gordon turned down contract extensions last week, and both have been included in trade rumors for Laker superstar Kobe Bryant.
It's impossible not to wonder if Deng's and Gordon's struggles are related to their decisions to turn down multi-million dollar contract extensions and their mention in frequent Kobe Bryant trade rumors, writes Chicago Tribune columnist K.C. Johnson.
Both players continue to offer the right words. But with confirmation that Deng turned down an increased five-year offer worth nearly $57.5 million, speculation about regrets is legitimate.
"The contract and the trade rumors, I try to focus on my game," Deng said. "I don't want to blame me struggling on something like that. When I'm on the floor, I'm supposed to perform and produce. And I haven't done that the last two games."
Said Gordon: "In the NBA, there are distractions all the time. You have to play through those things. You can't let them get into your head and affect your game. When you're on the court, that's the only time you can block everything out. We have to play, have fun and work hard."
November 4, 2007 - 11:20 pm
Chicago Tribune -
The Chicago Bulls are off to a slow start once again, with Luol Deng, Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich all struggling.
Both Deng and Gordon turned down contract extensions last week, and both have been included in trade rumors for Laker superstar Kobe Bryant.
It's impossible not to wonder if Deng's and Gordon's struggles are related to their decisions to turn down multi-million dollar contract extensions and their mention in frequent Kobe Bryant trade rumors, writes Chicago Tribune columnist K.C. Johnson.
Both players continue to offer the right words. But with confirmation that Deng turned down an increased five-year offer worth nearly $57.5 million, speculation about regrets is legitimate.
"The contract and the trade rumors, I try to focus on my game," Deng said. "I don't want to blame me struggling on something like that. When I'm on the floor, I'm supposed to perform and produce. And I haven't done that the last two games."
Said Gordon: "In the NBA, there are distractions all the time. You have to play through those things. You can't let them get into your head and affect your game. When you're on the court, that's the only time you can block everything out. We have to play, have fun and work hard."
LESSONS LEARNED, SAYS SEB
By DAN MARTIN
November 5, 2007 -- He's struggled to get minutes for much of his NBA career, suited up for three teams in little more than three years and been in and out of trouble with the law.
This is not what Sebastian Telfair expected when he was a lottery pick of the Trail Blazers four years ago, straight out of Lincoln High School in Brooklyn.
Last night, the 22-year-old Coney Island native returned to the Garden to face his cousin Stephon Marbury and the Knicks - this time as starting point guard for the youthful T'wolves, insisting he's finally focused on basketball, and on solidifying his future in the NBA.
"Of course I wish I had done some things differently," said Telfair, whose latest trouble was an April arrest on a charge of having a loaded gun in his car.
"I've learned from all of that. Now, here I am, ready to play basketball."
He's entering the final season of a four-year contract and understands how important this year is.
"There's a lot riding on how well I do," said Telfair, who's starting in place of the injured Randy Foye.
Telfair said he had a chance to sign an extension after being traded from Boston, but opted to play out this year.
He points to one of his old high-school rivals, Darius Washington, as proof he made the right decision to forego a chance to play college ball at Louisville. Washington only recently landed with the Spurs.
"Absolutely, absolutely," said Telfair, who had nine points and seven assists in last night's 97-93 loss. "I don't know what would have happened if I went there, if I would get the opportunity to play in the NBA."
But Louisville coach Rick Pitino thinks college could have benefited Telfair - especially off the court.
"I think from a maturity standpoint, it would have helped," Pitino told The Post. "I'm still surprised by that stuff, especially the gun situations."
Regardless of what moves Telfair has made in the past, he's now looking to a future - in Minnesota.
"This could definitely be a home for me," he said. "That's something that's very important to me."
By DAN MARTIN
November 5, 2007 -- He's struggled to get minutes for much of his NBA career, suited up for three teams in little more than three years and been in and out of trouble with the law.
This is not what Sebastian Telfair expected when he was a lottery pick of the Trail Blazers four years ago, straight out of Lincoln High School in Brooklyn.
Last night, the 22-year-old Coney Island native returned to the Garden to face his cousin Stephon Marbury and the Knicks - this time as starting point guard for the youthful T'wolves, insisting he's finally focused on basketball, and on solidifying his future in the NBA.
"Of course I wish I had done some things differently," said Telfair, whose latest trouble was an April arrest on a charge of having a loaded gun in his car.
"I've learned from all of that. Now, here I am, ready to play basketball."
He's entering the final season of a four-year contract and understands how important this year is.
"There's a lot riding on how well I do," said Telfair, who's starting in place of the injured Randy Foye.
Telfair said he had a chance to sign an extension after being traded from Boston, but opted to play out this year.
He points to one of his old high-school rivals, Darius Washington, as proof he made the right decision to forego a chance to play college ball at Louisville. Washington only recently landed with the Spurs.
"Absolutely, absolutely," said Telfair, who had nine points and seven assists in last night's 97-93 loss. "I don't know what would have happened if I went there, if I would get the opportunity to play in the NBA."
But Louisville coach Rick Pitino thinks college could have benefited Telfair - especially off the court.
"I think from a maturity standpoint, it would have helped," Pitino told The Post. "I'm still surprised by that stuff, especially the gun situations."
Regardless of what moves Telfair has made in the past, he's now looking to a future - in Minnesota.
"This could definitely be a home for me," he said. "That's something that's very important to me."
It's interesting that Bassy thinks he made the right decision by skipping school. Short term? Yes. Long term? I'm not so sure. He's never developed his game, or has really improved since he came into the league. I dont believe that he turned down an extension either.
I hope he plays well this year though and stays out of trouble. He might redeem himself.
Personally? I like him in Minny. It's wierd seeing him wear Steph's old number though.Kind of goes full circle:
In a perfect world, he would have ended up as a backup for someone like Nash or Parker so he could learn the game. Hopefully he doesn't go back to NY in the offseason and fuck up again.
Last edited:
another story on Bassy:
Wolves' Telfair says he'll be ready this time
By Jerry Zgoda, Star Tribune
NEW YORK — Ten game tickets and big, fat opportunity await Timberwolves point guard Sebastian Telfair tonight when he returns to New York City and Madison Square Garden to face his hometown Knicks and cousin Stephon Marbury.
With chances offered and not grasped already in two previous NBA stops in Portland and Boston, the former Brooklyn schoolboy star sensed he received his best, and perhaps last, chance when the Wolves acquired him last summer in the Kevin Garnett trade. That possibility has blossomed now that Randy Foye, pegged as the team's starting point guard, is sidelined at least three weeks because of an injured kneecap.
"I believe this is my time," he said.
Telfair started Friday's season opener against Denver at Target Center, played 35 minutes and had nine points, five assists, three steals and three turnovers on a night when the Wolves' offense purred early and sputtered late in a 99-91 loss.
It was a moment he said he prepared for all summer, which he spent in Las Vegas working five hours a day at a training facility to become what he calls "completely committed" to basketball.
"I didn't take any vacations, I didn't do anything else," he said, "and I think it's paying off."
New York state's all-time prep scorer, Telfair went directly to the NBA and became a 2004 first-round pick. He felt the need to rededicate himself after failed attempts with his two previous teams because he shot first and passed later and had two gun-possession incidents.
"I definitely feel more mature, more professional as far as taking the job more seriously," said Telfair, 22. "You learn. You go through things in life, experiences in life and you take things from that."
Wolves coach Randy Wittman has turned to Telfair in Foye's absence and asked what he asks of all his point guards: organize the offense, play under control, get others involved, think pass first. He also wants Telfair to play pressure defense all 94 feet of the floor, a task that makes him unique among Wolves point guard candidates Foye, Marko Jaric and Greg Buckner.
"He has the ability to change the tempo of the game with his speed, his quickness and his ability to defend 94 feet," Wittman said. "I can only go by what my experience with the kid is, not what has happened in Portland or Boston. There are certain situations where a player for whatever reason doesn't work out with one team and suddenly he's a good fit with another team. It's just a matter of finding that right team.
"He's done everything I've asked him to do, and now it's just time to perform when it counts."
Telfair got the Wolves running early for layups and dunks that created an early 19-6 lead Friday. Then he and his teammates settled too often for perimeter shots as the game progressed. Telfair made four of 13 shots -- good numbers, he said, except for not "making more of them" -- and Saturday he said he needed to get the ball inside more, especially to big Al Jefferson.
"I kind of put that on myself," he said. "But it's difficult sometimes to call a play for Al every time down when they've got three guys coming at him."
The Wolves signed Jefferson late Wednesday night to a five-year, $65 million contract and let the deadline to extend Telfair's contract pass until next summer when he will be a restricted free agent. That allows time for Wolves to analyze their new point guard and it gives Telfair time to prove his worth, to the Wolves or another team.
"I knew I have to go out there and earn everything I get," Telfair said, "and I'm OK and comfortable with that. It's good. It keeps me focused to play harder and to get out there, doing the right things."
Telfair need look no further than Detroit's Chauncey Billups to find a guard who played for five teams, including the Wolves, in his first seven NBA seasons before he found a home, and a new $60 million contract, with the Pistons.
"Pretty good," Telfair said of the deal Billups signed last summer. "I hope my story ends up like Chauncey's. A guy who bounced around different places like he did and became an All-Star, that gives you hope."
Wolves' Telfair says he'll be ready this time
By Jerry Zgoda, Star Tribune
NEW YORK — Ten game tickets and big, fat opportunity await Timberwolves point guard Sebastian Telfair tonight when he returns to New York City and Madison Square Garden to face his hometown Knicks and cousin Stephon Marbury.
With chances offered and not grasped already in two previous NBA stops in Portland and Boston, the former Brooklyn schoolboy star sensed he received his best, and perhaps last, chance when the Wolves acquired him last summer in the Kevin Garnett trade. That possibility has blossomed now that Randy Foye, pegged as the team's starting point guard, is sidelined at least three weeks because of an injured kneecap.
"I believe this is my time," he said.
Telfair started Friday's season opener against Denver at Target Center, played 35 minutes and had nine points, five assists, three steals and three turnovers on a night when the Wolves' offense purred early and sputtered late in a 99-91 loss.
It was a moment he said he prepared for all summer, which he spent in Las Vegas working five hours a day at a training facility to become what he calls "completely committed" to basketball.
"I didn't take any vacations, I didn't do anything else," he said, "and I think it's paying off."
New York state's all-time prep scorer, Telfair went directly to the NBA and became a 2004 first-round pick. He felt the need to rededicate himself after failed attempts with his two previous teams because he shot first and passed later and had two gun-possession incidents.
"I definitely feel more mature, more professional as far as taking the job more seriously," said Telfair, 22. "You learn. You go through things in life, experiences in life and you take things from that."
Wolves coach Randy Wittman has turned to Telfair in Foye's absence and asked what he asks of all his point guards: organize the offense, play under control, get others involved, think pass first. He also wants Telfair to play pressure defense all 94 feet of the floor, a task that makes him unique among Wolves point guard candidates Foye, Marko Jaric and Greg Buckner.
"He has the ability to change the tempo of the game with his speed, his quickness and his ability to defend 94 feet," Wittman said. "I can only go by what my experience with the kid is, not what has happened in Portland or Boston. There are certain situations where a player for whatever reason doesn't work out with one team and suddenly he's a good fit with another team. It's just a matter of finding that right team.
"He's done everything I've asked him to do, and now it's just time to perform when it counts."
Telfair got the Wolves running early for layups and dunks that created an early 19-6 lead Friday. Then he and his teammates settled too often for perimeter shots as the game progressed. Telfair made four of 13 shots -- good numbers, he said, except for not "making more of them" -- and Saturday he said he needed to get the ball inside more, especially to big Al Jefferson.
"I kind of put that on myself," he said. "But it's difficult sometimes to call a play for Al every time down when they've got three guys coming at him."
The Wolves signed Jefferson late Wednesday night to a five-year, $65 million contract and let the deadline to extend Telfair's contract pass until next summer when he will be a restricted free agent. That allows time for Wolves to analyze their new point guard and it gives Telfair time to prove his worth, to the Wolves or another team.
"I knew I have to go out there and earn everything I get," Telfair said, "and I'm OK and comfortable with that. It's good. It keeps me focused to play harder and to get out there, doing the right things."
Telfair need look no further than Detroit's Chauncey Billups to find a guard who played for five teams, including the Wolves, in his first seven NBA seasons before he found a home, and a new $60 million contract, with the Pistons.
"Pretty good," Telfair said of the deal Billups signed last summer. "I hope my story ends up like Chauncey's. A guy who bounced around different places like he did and became an All-Star, that gives you hope."
The NY beat writers are late as hell (as usual)
I've been saying that Stpeh should come off the
bench since the beginning of last season. It's
actually the PERFECT role for him because he won't
have to worry about setting up his teamates, he'll
only worry about setting up himself
Plus, I've said since last year that Nate and Jamal's
strengths and weakenesses offset each other and
they would make a HIGHLY compatible starting backcourt
Unfortunately, his salary almost predicates that
he is the starter. No one making 20 million is going
to be coming off the bench. Not if that GM wants to
keep his job
Let me be the first to say...good.
Torn thumb ligament could sideline Nuggets' Nene for 6 weeks
Associated Press
Updated: November 8, 2007, 9:09 PM ET
DENVER -- Denver Nuggets power forward Nene is expected to miss up to six weeks because of a torn ligament in his left thumb.
Nene was injured in Denver's 119-93 loss at Boston on Wednesday night. He saw a hand specialist in Denver on Thursday, and the team said Dr. Carlton Clinkscale will operate on the thumb Friday.
The Nuggets, who have lost three straight games, have been hit hard by injuries for the third straight season. They have three points guards who are out: Michael Wilks (hamstring), Anthony Carter (broken hand) and Chucky Atkins (groin) and are monitoring minutes for power forward Kenyon Martin, coming back from a knee operation last year. Martin isn't playing in back-to-back games and is limited to about 18 minutes a game.
Nene made a successful comeback last season from a knee injury that wiped out almost his entire 2005-06 season.
Torn thumb ligament could sideline Nuggets' Nene for 6 weeks
Associated Press
Updated: November 8, 2007, 9:09 PM ET
DENVER -- Denver Nuggets power forward Nene is expected to miss up to six weeks because of a torn ligament in his left thumb.
Nene was injured in Denver's 119-93 loss at Boston on Wednesday night. He saw a hand specialist in Denver on Thursday, and the team said Dr. Carlton Clinkscale will operate on the thumb Friday.
The Nuggets, who have lost three straight games, have been hit hard by injuries for the third straight season. They have three points guards who are out: Michael Wilks (hamstring), Anthony Carter (broken hand) and Chucky Atkins (groin) and are monitoring minutes for power forward Kenyon Martin, coming back from a knee operation last year. Martin isn't playing in back-to-back games and is limited to about 18 minutes a game.
Nene made a successful comeback last season from a knee injury that wiped out almost his entire 2005-06 season.
final-fucking-ly
i've been saying it for 4 years: lamar odom belongs/deserves the SF spot. so from today's LA TIMES:
Lamar Odom is welcoming the switch to a new, yet old, position.
A power forward the last four seasons for the Miami Heat and the Lakers, he has been switched to small forward. Ronny Turiaf is expected to start at power forward.
"Small forward is kind of like my natural position," Odom said.
i've been saying it for 4 years: lamar odom belongs/deserves the SF spot. so from today's LA TIMES:
Lamar Odom is welcoming the switch to a new, yet old, position.
A power forward the last four seasons for the Miami Heat and the Lakers, he has been switched to small forward. Ronny Turiaf is expected to start at power forward.
"Small forward is kind of like my natural position," Odom said.
I see Mihm is getting the start at center as well.
...thanks for deciding to show up tonight, Melo...
Odom shows what they missed
By Mike Bresnahan, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
November 10, 2007
The game was a concern for the Lakers before it ever took place, a formula for numerous losses last season.
The opponent was the injured, underwhelming Minnesota Timberwolves, an appropriate time for Coach Phil Jackson to dredge up the past, reminding players earlier in the day of their struggles against lesser teams in recent history.
Lamar Odom was back in the lineup and Kobe Bryant made sure the Timberwolves remained winless, scoring 30 points to go with seven rebounds and seven assists.
The Lakers also got ahead of the curve compared with last season, when they went a combined 1-8 against Milwaukee, Charlotte, Portland and New York -- all non-playoff teams.
"Our situation is that we have to play well enough against these type of teams to not be surprised," Jackson said of his pre-game admonition. "I don't think these players will overlook anybody right now."
The Lakers beat the Timberwolves on the boards, 51-44, and had three players with 10 or more rebounds for the first time since a January 2006 game against the Clippers. Odom, Chris Mihm and Andrew Bynum each had 10 rebounds.
Odom started at small forward and had 18 points in 37 minutes after missing the first four games while recovering from off-season shoulder surgery.
For a change, he didn't have to bang against the opposing team's power forward. Instead of guarding Al Jefferson (6 feet 10, 265 pounds), he was matched up against Ryan Gomes (6 feet 7, 250).
Considering he hadn't played a minute in exhibition play and the regular season, Odom looked to be in fairly good shape, slipping past Corey Brewer for a running dunk and taking a bounce pass from Bryant for a two-handed fastbreak dunk. He made seven of 10 shots.
"It feels good," Odom said, repeating it two more times for emphasis. "Hopefully it'll get better. There was a couple of times they had chances for offensive rebounds and I was thinking about going up and trying to snag it with one hand, and I kind of pulled back, so I guess I've got to get over that. But other than that, I feel good."
Odom at small forward gives the Lakers a taller front line and creates more post-up situations for him. Not to mention his ever-present playmaking ability.
"I think it speeds up our game probably in the open court," Jackson said of Odom's return. "This is a great game for him to come back in and get his feet wet and start playing."
The Timberwolves didn't seem overly impressed by Odom's return in the first quarter, taking a 20-12 lead until the Lakers began pounding away, ultimately turning a 56-50 halftime edge into an 83-69 lead after three quarters.
There was a tense moment or two for the Lakers in the fourth quarter after their 16-point lead was reduced to seven, but Bryant made four free throws and a three-pointer in the final 1:15 to help the Lakers win without too much stress.
For the Lakers, it was their first win against a lesser team.
"Most of us were aware we lost a lot of games that we felt we should have won," forward Luke Walton said. "Just him mentioning it gets everyone a little more sharp, a little more on edge as opposed to feeling relaxed."
That the Timberwolves lack a presence without Kevin Garnett has been obvious to just about any observer over the first two weeks of the season.
They are young, inexperienced and injured -- their second-leading scorer, Rashad McCants, sat out Friday because of a sprained ankle, and Randy Foye, penciled in as the team's starting point guard, has not played this season because of a knee injury.
Either way, the Lakers will take the victory. Their next few games won't be easy.
They hit the road next week for an early-season back-to-back test -- Tuesday in San Antonio and Wednesday in Houston. Then they return home to play Detroit next