And now J.R. Smith, new teammate are on fire for Nuggets
By Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News November 28, 2006
Facing a life-changing decision, J.R. Smith did what teenagers have been doing for centuries: He turned to an elder.
In this case, the advice he sought came from a 19-year-old who was less than a year removed from college.
Carmelo Anthony turned out to be a big influence on Smith, then 17, as he wrestled with the decision whether to attend the University of North Carolina or make the jump from high school to the NBA.
"He was definitely an adviser," Smith said Monday. "He told me to make the best decision possible, but if I really wanted to be serious about basketball, I should go pro."
Less than three years later, Anthony is benefiting from Smith's decision to pursue a basketball education in the NBA.
Twelve games into their relationship as Nuggets teammates, Anthony is the second-leading scorer in the league at 31.1 points per game and Smith has given him strong support on the wing, averaging 17.9.
Their combined 49-point scoring average is tops in the NBA.
"Those guys are playing well. They're getting the majority of the shots, so they get a chance to score the ball a lot, and we're looking for them," Nuggets center Marcus Camby said. "They're just making basket after basket, and they seem to be jelling well in the early part of the season."
Though playing together for the first time in the NBA, Anthony and Smith began cultivating a relationship a few years ago when Smith was contemplating his future.
Anthony was near the end of his rookie season with the Nuggets when he attended the 2004 McDonald's All-American Game in Oklahoma City. Smith, representing the East team, took advantage of Anthony's presence, asking him for guidance.
Anthony won a national title as a freshman at Syracuse before leaving for the NBA. Should Smith follow that same path and develop his game for a year at North Carolina?
"I was like, 'Look, whatever you want to do. If you feel like you're ready, then come on in. If not, then go to college,' " Anthony said. "Obviously he felt like he was ready."
In hindsight, it is tough to say whether Smith made a good or bad decision. He was the 18th overall pick of the 2004 draft and averaged 10.5 points as a rookie, but he experienced some serious growing pains in two seasons with the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets.
Smith lost his confidence - and his place in the rotation - after clashing with Hornets coach Byron Scott in 2005-06. An offseason trade to Denver, via Chicago, has provided a fresh start and a chance to play alongside his friend and mentor Anthony.
"Eventually we was going to play on the same team because nobody stays on the same team forever," Smith said. "Hopefully we play together throughout most of our careers."
If Smith, 21, and Anthony, 22, continue to click, the Nuggets will have no reason to separate them.
During Denver's current five-game winning streak, the two are combining to average 55.6 points - Anthony 31.8 and Smith 23.8. Smith has made 17 three-pointers during that span; Anthony has done much of his damage in the post, at the free-throw line and in the open court.
Anthony was recognized for his effort Monday when he was chosen Western Conference Player of the Week. It is the fourth time he has received the award in his four NBA seasons.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it," Anthony said. "Anybody tell you that they don't like to hear that they got player of the week, it's (not true)."
In four Denver victories last week, Anthony averaged 31.3 points on 54.8 percent shooting. He also averaged 5.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 steals.
"He's hot right now. In my eyes, he's the MVP of the league," Camby said. "I don't see anyone playing better. He's scoring. We all know he can do that, but he's also rebounding and passing, something he has been lacking in the past."
Anthony, who lost out to LeBron James for the 2003-04 Rookie of the Year award and has not yet been an All-Star, is not about to get caught up in MVP talk, but Nuggets coach George Karl sees a special fire in his franchise player.
"Last year after the All-Star break, I thought he was on a mission," Karl said. "I think the USA team (experience last summer) showed that he was very much on a mission, and I think he's on a mission to pick this team up and be a winning playoff team."
Karl also has been impressed with Smith but remains cautious in his praise as Smith works on improving his defense and overall decision-making skills.
"I'm not going to jump off any bridges yet. I'm happy for J.R., but a career is not built on 10 games; a career's built on season after season of improvement," Karl said. "But I can't deny that he's made us very happy."
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Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Spurs Ginobili out with back injury
SEATTLE -- San Antonio forward Manu Ginobili missed theSpurs' game Sunday night against Seattle because of a lower backcontusion.
Coach Gregg Popovich said he didn't expect Ginobili to miss anextended amount of time.
Ginobili was injured Friday in the third quarter of a 95-92 homeloss to the Mavericks. Ginobili fell onto his back trying to pullthe ball away from two Dallas players. He didn't play the fourthquarter.
Popovich said Ginobili's back was stiff and the fifth-year guardwas receiving treatment in the locker room before the game Sunday,the start of a three-game road trip. Popovich said while he doesn'texpect Ginobili to be ready for Monday's game at Golden State, hemight be able to play Wednesday at Utah.
"It's probably loosened up a little bit, but not enough for himto play," Popovich said.
Michael Finley started in Ginobili's place.
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Coach Gregg Popovich said he didn't expect Ginobili to miss anextended amount of time.
Ginobili was injured Friday in the third quarter of a 95-92 homeloss to the Mavericks. Ginobili fell onto his back trying to pullthe ball away from two Dallas players. He didn't play the fourthquarter.
Popovich said Ginobili's back was stiff and the fifth-year guardwas receiving treatment in the locker room before the game Sunday,the start of a three-game road trip. Popovich said while he doesn'texpect Ginobili to be ready for Monday's game at Golden State, hemight be able to play Wednesday at Utah.
"It's probably loosened up a little bit, but not enough for himto play," Popovich said.
Michael Finley started in Ginobili's place.
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Thursday, November 23, 2006
Graham grabs his chance
DOUG SMITH
SPORTS REPORTER
It's been written and said so many times it might be the biggest cliché around the Raptors but if Joey Graham can provide some consistent minutes and effort, he's going to be a valuable member of the team.
The Good Graham arrived at the Air Canada Centre last night, all energy and effort and rebounding and defence, as he admirably filled in for Morris Peterson in a 95-87 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Graham, who had been used sparingly this season as the Raptors went with a swingman rotation of Fred Jones, Anthony Parker and Peterson, had 16 points and eight rebounds in 28 minutes that included all 12 of the final quarter.
"I just came out and tried to mix things up a little bit, tried to be as aggressive as possible and good things happen when I do that," said Graham, who guarded LeBron James well down the stretch. Graham's biggest contribution was his eight boards since that's an area Toronto's been terrible in so far this season. But, last night at least, Graham went often and hard to the boards, regardless of what size opponent was waiting for him.
"Just try to stay active," he said. "The Lord blessed me with this body ... and that's what I tried to do, go in and help the big men. (Zydrunas) Ilgauskas is humongous down there (he's 7-feet-3), LeBron's going to rebound, Drew (Gooden) is going to rebound.
"I had to throw my body in there and mix it up a little bit."
But the question remains: Can he do it consistently?
"That's the thing," said coach Sam Mitchell. "We need Joey to play like that more consistently because he's our physical, athletic guy who can guard twos and threes like that.
"That's what we drafted him for, to give us that, and we've just got to find a way to get him more consistently doing it."
Graham is sure to get more time now that Peterson is on the shelf. The veteran swingman has a slight tear in a tendon in his left elbow. He had received treatment on it through the Raptors' five-game road trip, and had been playing with a protective sleeve on the arm.
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SPORTS REPORTER
It's been written and said so many times it might be the biggest cliché around the Raptors but if Joey Graham can provide some consistent minutes and effort, he's going to be a valuable member of the team.
The Good Graham arrived at the Air Canada Centre last night, all energy and effort and rebounding and defence, as he admirably filled in for Morris Peterson in a 95-87 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Graham, who had been used sparingly this season as the Raptors went with a swingman rotation of Fred Jones, Anthony Parker and Peterson, had 16 points and eight rebounds in 28 minutes that included all 12 of the final quarter.
"I just came out and tried to mix things up a little bit, tried to be as aggressive as possible and good things happen when I do that," said Graham, who guarded LeBron James well down the stretch. Graham's biggest contribution was his eight boards since that's an area Toronto's been terrible in so far this season. But, last night at least, Graham went often and hard to the boards, regardless of what size opponent was waiting for him.
"Just try to stay active," he said. "The Lord blessed me with this body ... and that's what I tried to do, go in and help the big men. (Zydrunas) Ilgauskas is humongous down there (he's 7-feet-3), LeBron's going to rebound, Drew (Gooden) is going to rebound.
"I had to throw my body in there and mix it up a little bit."
But the question remains: Can he do it consistently?
"That's the thing," said coach Sam Mitchell. "We need Joey to play like that more consistently because he's our physical, athletic guy who can guard twos and threes like that.
"That's what we drafted him for, to give us that, and we've just got to find a way to get him more consistently doing it."
Graham is sure to get more time now that Peterson is on the shelf. The veteran swingman has a slight tear in a tendon in his left elbow. He had received treatment on it through the Raptors' five-game road trip, and had been playing with a protective sleeve on the arm.
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Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Ironman streak over for Mo Pete
DOUG SMITH
SPORTS REPORTER
No mo’ Mo.
For the first time in 362 games, the Raptors are playing without Morris Peterson as the current NBA Ironman streak has come to an end.
Peterson, who hadn’t missed a game since Feb. 12, 2002, is out of the lineup Wednesday night because of a sore left elbow.
“I pride myself on going out there and playing, playing hard, playing every night,” Peterson said before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. “But every night there's a possibility you can get hurt.”
Peterson can’t remember doing anything specific to the elbow but the pain grew worse and worse during the just-completed road trip. He took part in this morning’s shootaround but saw a doctor this afternoon and was told he shouldn’t play.
“To be able to play as many games as I have in a row, it's a blessing, it's luck also,” the 27-year-old said. “I do pride myself on going out there and playing, but at the end of the day, you have to do what's right.”
Peterson’s spot on the active roster was taken by Uros Slokar, who made his regular season debut.
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SPORTS REPORTER
No mo’ Mo.
For the first time in 362 games, the Raptors are playing without Morris Peterson as the current NBA Ironman streak has come to an end.
Peterson, who hadn’t missed a game since Feb. 12, 2002, is out of the lineup Wednesday night because of a sore left elbow.
“I pride myself on going out there and playing, playing hard, playing every night,” Peterson said before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. “But every night there's a possibility you can get hurt.”
Peterson can’t remember doing anything specific to the elbow but the pain grew worse and worse during the just-completed road trip. He took part in this morning’s shootaround but saw a doctor this afternoon and was told he shouldn’t play.
“To be able to play as many games as I have in a row, it's a blessing, it's luck also,” the 27-year-old said. “I do pride myself on going out there and playing, but at the end of the day, you have to do what's right.”
Peterson’s spot on the active roster was taken by Uros Slokar, who made his regular season debut.
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Sunday, November 19, 2006
Spurs' Bowen not going to adjust his game
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Tim Duncan pushed himself from the chair in front of his locker, felt his right ankle start to buckle and for one brief moment late Friday, the Spurs' championship hopes appeared to hinge on, of all things, the stability of a small, plastic bottle.
Fortunately for Duncan, the bottle underneath his foot gave way just as he started to stumble, spraying red sports drink up the wall of the locker and allowing him to regain his balance. As Duncan stared down at the floor in disbelief, someone wondered aloud if Bruce Bowen, branded in recent days as the NBA's most notorious foot fiend, had somehow played a role in the near accident.
Duncan looked across the room at Bowen. "You're going to be getting a call," he said, "from Stu."
"That's not funny," Bowen replied before laughing.
Stu would be Stu Jackson, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations, otherwise known as the league's lord of discipline. It was Jackson who – much to the chagrin of Spurs officials -- phoned Bowen a week ago to tell him he faced a possible fine or suspension should his feet again find their way underneath those of an opponent.
Bowen admits the warning unsettled him and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich doesn't think it's a coincidence that Houston's Tracy McGrady lit up the Spurs for a half two nights later. Or that Charlotte rookie Adam Morrison scored 27 points against Bowen on Wednesday.
"You try to move past and do things where that doesn't necessarily affect you," Bowen said. "I figured with all the new rules changes and all that, maybe I could get past this as well. But it's a little different."
Which is why Bowen was relieved when Popovich pulled him aside Friday morning and told him to forget Jackson's warning. Keep playing, Popovich said, the same way you've always played.
"He told me, 'Hey, I need you to be who you are,' " Bowen said. " 'Not this guy worrying about what someone is going to say or do regarding you.'
"Once I got his word, it was almost like, 'You may marry my daughter.' I was like, 'Well, OK.' "
With Popovich's permission, Bowen returned to the same harassing ways that have made him one of the league's best defenders – and one of its most infuriating pests. On Friday, he helped limit Chicago point guard Kirk Hinrich to 12 points. When Popovich switched him onto Ben Gordon, he helped force a pair of traveling violations and an offensive foul.
It's been a rough start to the season for Bowen. New York guard Steve Francis sprained his ankle after landing on him, which triggered another round of stories questioning whether Bowen is endangering shooters by stepping under them. Francis never made the allegation himself, but when the teams met again four days later, Knicks coach Isiah Thomas threatened to break Bowen's foot.
Bowen is accustomed to scrutiny, much of which has been generated by his run-ins with Seattle's Ray Allen. But Spurs coaches worry that the recent attention has begun to wear on him. One referee recently told Bowen he needed to watch himself because he's now a "marked man."
"It's funny how for somebody that doesn't do a whole in this game," Bowen said, "I'm sure talked about a whole lot."
The league has instructed its officials to call a foul whenever a defender doesn't give a shooter enough room to land. But Popovich didn't think Bowen needed a warning from the league. He was further upset that Jackson never spoke with anyone from the team about the call until Friday.
"I don't agree that he even thought he had to call him for any reason," Popovich said, "let alone that he did call him."
Bulls coach Scott Skiles thinks the league will have a difficult time fairly evaluating whether a defender is encroaching too much on a shooter or whether he's simply doing his job well.
"Pretty much every game, if you challenge a shot properly, there's a possibility a guy could land on your foot," Skiles said. "Now why that has happened to (Bowen) so many times I don't know.
But that would be very hard to judge if that is intentional or not. I tend to think it's not.
"It's just an unfortunate thing that happens. Maybe not enough guys challenge shots. Maybe that's the reason you don't see it more."
Bowen wants to be liked and respected for his accomplishments just like anyone else. Few players are more active in the community, and he hopes that work isn't tarnished by the controversy that's followed him on the court in recent years.
But Bowen also said he can't afford to worry too much about what others think. Tonight, he'll probably spend time on both Kevin Martin and Ron Artest. Over the next week, he'll face Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki and Allen.
"One thing I learned is I can't be somebody I'm not," Bowen said. "So whenever I hear things like, 'Oh he's dirty,' I can't control that.
"I can only control the way I am, and that's about going out and working hard."
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Express-News Staff Writer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Tim Duncan pushed himself from the chair in front of his locker, felt his right ankle start to buckle and for one brief moment late Friday, the Spurs' championship hopes appeared to hinge on, of all things, the stability of a small, plastic bottle.
Fortunately for Duncan, the bottle underneath his foot gave way just as he started to stumble, spraying red sports drink up the wall of the locker and allowing him to regain his balance. As Duncan stared down at the floor in disbelief, someone wondered aloud if Bruce Bowen, branded in recent days as the NBA's most notorious foot fiend, had somehow played a role in the near accident.
Duncan looked across the room at Bowen. "You're going to be getting a call," he said, "from Stu."
"That's not funny," Bowen replied before laughing.
Stu would be Stu Jackson, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations, otherwise known as the league's lord of discipline. It was Jackson who – much to the chagrin of Spurs officials -- phoned Bowen a week ago to tell him he faced a possible fine or suspension should his feet again find their way underneath those of an opponent.
Bowen admits the warning unsettled him and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich doesn't think it's a coincidence that Houston's Tracy McGrady lit up the Spurs for a half two nights later. Or that Charlotte rookie Adam Morrison scored 27 points against Bowen on Wednesday.
"You try to move past and do things where that doesn't necessarily affect you," Bowen said. "I figured with all the new rules changes and all that, maybe I could get past this as well. But it's a little different."
Which is why Bowen was relieved when Popovich pulled him aside Friday morning and told him to forget Jackson's warning. Keep playing, Popovich said, the same way you've always played.
"He told me, 'Hey, I need you to be who you are,' " Bowen said. " 'Not this guy worrying about what someone is going to say or do regarding you.'
"Once I got his word, it was almost like, 'You may marry my daughter.' I was like, 'Well, OK.' "
With Popovich's permission, Bowen returned to the same harassing ways that have made him one of the league's best defenders – and one of its most infuriating pests. On Friday, he helped limit Chicago point guard Kirk Hinrich to 12 points. When Popovich switched him onto Ben Gordon, he helped force a pair of traveling violations and an offensive foul.
It's been a rough start to the season for Bowen. New York guard Steve Francis sprained his ankle after landing on him, which triggered another round of stories questioning whether Bowen is endangering shooters by stepping under them. Francis never made the allegation himself, but when the teams met again four days later, Knicks coach Isiah Thomas threatened to break Bowen's foot.
Bowen is accustomed to scrutiny, much of which has been generated by his run-ins with Seattle's Ray Allen. But Spurs coaches worry that the recent attention has begun to wear on him. One referee recently told Bowen he needed to watch himself because he's now a "marked man."
"It's funny how for somebody that doesn't do a whole in this game," Bowen said, "I'm sure talked about a whole lot."
The league has instructed its officials to call a foul whenever a defender doesn't give a shooter enough room to land. But Popovich didn't think Bowen needed a warning from the league. He was further upset that Jackson never spoke with anyone from the team about the call until Friday.
"I don't agree that he even thought he had to call him for any reason," Popovich said, "let alone that he did call him."
Bulls coach Scott Skiles thinks the league will have a difficult time fairly evaluating whether a defender is encroaching too much on a shooter or whether he's simply doing his job well.
"Pretty much every game, if you challenge a shot properly, there's a possibility a guy could land on your foot," Skiles said. "Now why that has happened to (Bowen) so many times I don't know.
But that would be very hard to judge if that is intentional or not. I tend to think it's not.
"It's just an unfortunate thing that happens. Maybe not enough guys challenge shots. Maybe that's the reason you don't see it more."
Bowen wants to be liked and respected for his accomplishments just like anyone else. Few players are more active in the community, and he hopes that work isn't tarnished by the controversy that's followed him on the court in recent years.
But Bowen also said he can't afford to worry too much about what others think. Tonight, he'll probably spend time on both Kevin Martin and Ron Artest. Over the next week, he'll face Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki and Allen.
"One thing I learned is I can't be somebody I'm not," Bowen said. "So whenever I hear things like, 'Oh he's dirty,' I can't control that.
"I can only control the way I am, and that's about going out and working hard."
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Friday, November 17, 2006
Nowitzki is in the groove
By Art Garcia
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
DALLAS -- If the Mavericks were a pair of pants, they would be crumpled and sitting in the bottom of the hamper after four games.
Three victories later, they're on the ironing board.
"We've stopped trying to iron the whole pant," coach Avery Johnson said Thursday. "We're just taking sections."
Progress is being made one leg at a time, with Dirk Nowitzki holding the iron. The team's MVP has looked like it during the three-game winning streak, averaging 30.7 points on 53.1 percent shooting and 9.0 rebounds. He's also hitting 96.9 percent (31 of 32) at the foul line.
"He's in more of a groove with his teammates," Johnson said.
Better spacing and feel for those around him have Nowitzki back in a comfort zone. In each of the three wins, Nowitzki has scored at least 10 points in the first quarter.
His fast starts have coincided with those of the team. The Mavs have enjoyed double-figure leads in the opening period in wins against Phoenix, Portland and Chicago.
Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse have followed Nowitzki's lead, increasing their production in the past week. They've combined for 43.7 points per game in the three wins.
"We're working better together," Nowitzki said. "The preseason was tough. We had a lot of injuries, and we couldn't really practice together the way we wanted to. But everyone's starting to get a grasp of the system we're trying to run, defensively and offensively."
Nowitzki was scoring 22.5 points in the season-opening four-game skid, down from the career-high 26.6 points he averaged last season.
"Not to say he was being apprehensive, I think he was trying to feel other guys out and trying to play with us," said point guard Anthony Johnson, one of several newcomers to join the rotation.
"We need him to be the leader, whether it's scoring and being aggressive. We just need him to go out and do what he does, and we'll adjust to him."
After Nowitzki spent another summer playing with the German national team, the coaching staff had a deliberate plan to rest him whenever possible during October. He sat out several practices and much of the preseason.
Avery Johnson had to "forcefully" get Nowitzki to take extra time off to rest and recover last season. The approach worked then, so why change it now?
"He never really missed a beat," Johnson said, referring to last season. "That's what we were trying to convince him to do, rest your body."
mavs.com
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Star-Telegram Staff Writer
DALLAS -- If the Mavericks were a pair of pants, they would be crumpled and sitting in the bottom of the hamper after four games.
Three victories later, they're on the ironing board.
"We've stopped trying to iron the whole pant," coach Avery Johnson said Thursday. "We're just taking sections."
Progress is being made one leg at a time, with Dirk Nowitzki holding the iron. The team's MVP has looked like it during the three-game winning streak, averaging 30.7 points on 53.1 percent shooting and 9.0 rebounds. He's also hitting 96.9 percent (31 of 32) at the foul line.
"He's in more of a groove with his teammates," Johnson said.
Better spacing and feel for those around him have Nowitzki back in a comfort zone. In each of the three wins, Nowitzki has scored at least 10 points in the first quarter.
His fast starts have coincided with those of the team. The Mavs have enjoyed double-figure leads in the opening period in wins against Phoenix, Portland and Chicago.
Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse have followed Nowitzki's lead, increasing their production in the past week. They've combined for 43.7 points per game in the three wins.
"We're working better together," Nowitzki said. "The preseason was tough. We had a lot of injuries, and we couldn't really practice together the way we wanted to. But everyone's starting to get a grasp of the system we're trying to run, defensively and offensively."
Nowitzki was scoring 22.5 points in the season-opening four-game skid, down from the career-high 26.6 points he averaged last season.
"Not to say he was being apprehensive, I think he was trying to feel other guys out and trying to play with us," said point guard Anthony Johnson, one of several newcomers to join the rotation.
"We need him to be the leader, whether it's scoring and being aggressive. We just need him to go out and do what he does, and we'll adjust to him."
After Nowitzki spent another summer playing with the German national team, the coaching staff had a deliberate plan to rest him whenever possible during October. He sat out several practices and much of the preseason.
Avery Johnson had to "forcefully" get Nowitzki to take extra time off to rest and recover last season. The approach worked then, so why change it now?
"He never really missed a beat," Johnson said, referring to last season. "That's what we were trying to convince him to do, rest your body."
mavs.com
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Tuesday, November 14, 2006
O'Neal sidelined with hyperextended knee
MIAMI -- Shaquille O'Neal was inactive for the Heat's gameagainst Denver because of a hyperextended left knee, his secondinjury to the knee this season.
O'Neal's status is day to day, the Heat said. He was hurt in acollision Sunday with Houston's Chuck Hayes, who is expected tomiss up to two weeks with a bruised and hyperextended left knee.
O'Neal missed the third and fourth games of the season with abruised knee. He has averaged 14.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in fourgames.
Alonzo Mourning replaced O'Neal in the starting lineup against Denver.
The Heat decided to delay activating guard Jason Williams for atleast one more game. He has yet to play since undergoingarthroscopic knee surgery July 21.
"A couple of more practices, and I think I'll be ready,"Williams said.
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O'Neal's status is day to day, the Heat said. He was hurt in acollision Sunday with Houston's Chuck Hayes, who is expected tomiss up to two weeks with a bruised and hyperextended left knee.
O'Neal missed the third and fourth games of the season with abruised knee. He has averaged 14.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in fourgames.
Alonzo Mourning replaced O'Neal in the starting lineup against Denver.
The Heat decided to delay activating guard Jason Williams for atleast one more game. He has yet to play since undergoingarthroscopic knee surgery July 21.
"A couple of more practices, and I think I'll be ready,"Williams said.
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Sunday, November 12, 2006
Parker searching for some 'mojo'
BY ROSS SILER, Staff Writer
EL SEGUNDO - As he talked with his cousin after Friday night's game, Lakers guard Smush Parker realized something was missing.
"I don't have my mojo right now," Parker said. "He said the same thing during the game. My offense is off. My defense is off. I've just got to get my mojo back."
The contrast between the start of this season and lastseason has been striking for Parker, who scored 20 points or more in three of the Lakers' firstfourgames last season. He is averaging 8.1 points so far this season and shooting 36.4percent.
Parker had all the incentive to have a good game Friday against Detroit, the team that released him in January 2005. Instead, Parker finished with 5points on 2-of-7 shooting and had three turnovers.
In the first quarter, Parker made just one of four 3-pointers and threw a pass so wildly on the fast break that Lakers coach Phil Jackson fell out of his seat yelling for Jordan Farmar to replace him.
Parker got caught between hands going up for a layup. He tried to use his right hand from the left side of the basket and missed. That was one example he cited Saturday in saying, "Everything is off."
Jackson was asked how Parker could get back on track. It was something Parker never was able to do in the Lakers' first-round playoff series against Phoenix last season.
"I have no idea," Jackson said. "One of my coaches was saying, last year at this time Smush had like 10 dunks and eight steals and no turnovers in the first so many games. He (got) going really quick. This year, people are ready or whatever it is. He's just not in the rhythm of the game right now."
Parker said one reason he is struggling is because he did not play in an NBA summer league for the first time in his career. It was not necessary for him to do so after starting all 82 games for the Lakers lastseason.
"This summer, I didn't play any ball," Parker said. "I couldn't find anywhere to play. I was here half the summer by myself working out, just doing individual work, so I didn't get the chance to run any."
Jackson noted that Parker was able to succeed last season because his offense fed off his defense. He ranked 12th in the league in steals, averaging 1.71 a game, but has only sixsteals in seven games this season.
Although he sat Parker the final 15 minutes of Friday's game in favor of Farmar, Jackson said he was not inclined to make a change in the starting lineup.
"We just have to stay solid here for a little bit and see how it plays out," Jackson said. "It's too early to pull the plug on anything."
Strong enough: Kobe Bryant estimated Saturday that he is playing at 70 percent on his surgically repaired right knee. Bryant guessed that after taking fourdays next week to strengthen the knee, he could be at about 95 percent.
"Four days makes a big difference," Bryant said. "I've had huge leaps in two days."
Bryant said he would know his knee was all the way back when he was able to turn and go after coming down with a rebound.
Also: Center Kwame Brown went through practice Saturday with his injured right shoulder and will be a game-time decision tonight.
Brown still plans to see a doctor about the shoulder Monday
ross.siler@dailynews.com
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EL SEGUNDO - As he talked with his cousin after Friday night's game, Lakers guard Smush Parker realized something was missing.
"I don't have my mojo right now," Parker said. "He said the same thing during the game. My offense is off. My defense is off. I've just got to get my mojo back."
The contrast between the start of this season and lastseason has been striking for Parker, who scored 20 points or more in three of the Lakers' firstfourgames last season. He is averaging 8.1 points so far this season and shooting 36.4percent.
Parker had all the incentive to have a good game Friday against Detroit, the team that released him in January 2005. Instead, Parker finished with 5points on 2-of-7 shooting and had three turnovers.
In the first quarter, Parker made just one of four 3-pointers and threw a pass so wildly on the fast break that Lakers coach Phil Jackson fell out of his seat yelling for Jordan Farmar to replace him.
Parker got caught between hands going up for a layup. He tried to use his right hand from the left side of the basket and missed. That was one example he cited Saturday in saying, "Everything is off."
Jackson was asked how Parker could get back on track. It was something Parker never was able to do in the Lakers' first-round playoff series against Phoenix last season.
"I have no idea," Jackson said. "One of my coaches was saying, last year at this time Smush had like 10 dunks and eight steals and no turnovers in the first so many games. He (got) going really quick. This year, people are ready or whatever it is. He's just not in the rhythm of the game right now."
Parker said one reason he is struggling is because he did not play in an NBA summer league for the first time in his career. It was not necessary for him to do so after starting all 82 games for the Lakers lastseason.
"This summer, I didn't play any ball," Parker said. "I couldn't find anywhere to play. I was here half the summer by myself working out, just doing individual work, so I didn't get the chance to run any."
Jackson noted that Parker was able to succeed last season because his offense fed off his defense. He ranked 12th in the league in steals, averaging 1.71 a game, but has only sixsteals in seven games this season.
Although he sat Parker the final 15 minutes of Friday's game in favor of Farmar, Jackson said he was not inclined to make a change in the starting lineup.
"We just have to stay solid here for a little bit and see how it plays out," Jackson said. "It's too early to pull the plug on anything."
Strong enough: Kobe Bryant estimated Saturday that he is playing at 70 percent on his surgically repaired right knee. Bryant guessed that after taking fourdays next week to strengthen the knee, he could be at about 95 percent.
"Four days makes a big difference," Bryant said. "I've had huge leaps in two days."
Bryant said he would know his knee was all the way back when he was able to turn and go after coming down with a rebound.
Also: Center Kwame Brown went through practice Saturday with his injured right shoulder and will be a game-time decision tonight.
Brown still plans to see a doctor about the shoulder Monday
ross.siler@dailynews.com
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Warriors Cruise Past Pistons
By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer
Golden State 111, Detroit 79
Oakland, Nov. 11(AP) -- Baron Davis had 20 points, nine assists and five steals, and the Golden State Warriors beat the worn-down Detroit Pistons for the first time in three years with a 111-79 victory Saturday night.
Jason Richardsonadded 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists playing on a tender knee for the Warriors, who ended a five-game losing streak to the Pistons with their first win in the series since an overtime victory on Nov. 12, 2003, in Oakland.
The Pistons have still won 16 of the last 21 meetings and have an 11-game winning streak at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Lindsey Hunter had 14 points for Detroit, which finished a four-game West Coast road trip with a sloppy, uninspired performance against a team it had become accustomed to beating.
Tayshaun Prince was held to 11 a night after scoring 31 to match his career high.
Chauncey Billups also had only 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting after he had 21 a night earlier in a win over the Lakers in Los Angeles - Detroit's lone victory on this road swing that featured three double-digit defeats.
Richardson, who was questionable until just before game time because of fluid buildup and stiffness in his surgically repaired left knee, returned to the lineup after sitting out Golden State's 121-116 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Thursday night. He had arguably his best dunk so far this season on an alley-oop, one-handed jam in the second quarter, and made two of Golden State's 12 3-pointers.
Davis made his first three shots for eight points as Golden State hit seven of its first eight field-goal tries to build a 17-4 first-quarter lead. The Warriors' perimeter players took advantage of the Pistons playing again without Richard Hamilton, who missed his second straight game with a hyperextended right elbow.
Jason Maxiell also had 11 points for Detroit, which was outrebounded 42-38 and couldn't overcome all of its missed opportunities early. The Pistons trailed by as many as 25 points in the first half and 57-32 at halftime.
Flip Murray, playing in place of Hamilton, was held to six points for the Pistons after three straight games in double figures. Detroit didn't get to the free throw line for the first time until 1:41 before halftime because it couldn't consistently work the ball inside.
Mickael Pietrusdrove through the middle of the key for a pretty two-handed jam on Golden State's first possession of the second quarter and finished with 13 points. Andris Biedrins also added 13 and Monta Ellis scored 12 and made four assists.
Fans chanted ``We want Foyle!'' in the waning minutes for center Adonal Foyle, who has a greatly diminished role in Don Nelson's system. He never got in the game, the only player for Golden State who didn't.
Notes: Warriors G Dajuan Wagner made his first appearance in an NBA game since Dec. 18, 2004, and scored four points. ... Hamilton averaged 25 points in the two meetings with the Warriors last season. ... Golden State's current seven-game homestand matches the longest in team history without playing at a neutral site. ... The teams' athletic trainers, brothers Mike (Detroit) and Tom Abdenour, had their first reunion of the season. ... A moment of silence was held before the national anthem for Veteran's Day.
Copyright 2006 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited
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Golden State 111, Detroit 79
Oakland, Nov. 11(AP) -- Baron Davis had 20 points, nine assists and five steals, and the Golden State Warriors beat the worn-down Detroit Pistons for the first time in three years with a 111-79 victory Saturday night.
Jason Richardsonadded 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists playing on a tender knee for the Warriors, who ended a five-game losing streak to the Pistons with their first win in the series since an overtime victory on Nov. 12, 2003, in Oakland.
The Pistons have still won 16 of the last 21 meetings and have an 11-game winning streak at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Lindsey Hunter had 14 points for Detroit, which finished a four-game West Coast road trip with a sloppy, uninspired performance against a team it had become accustomed to beating.
Tayshaun Prince was held to 11 a night after scoring 31 to match his career high.
Chauncey Billups also had only 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting after he had 21 a night earlier in a win over the Lakers in Los Angeles - Detroit's lone victory on this road swing that featured three double-digit defeats.
Richardson, who was questionable until just before game time because of fluid buildup and stiffness in his surgically repaired left knee, returned to the lineup after sitting out Golden State's 121-116 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Thursday night. He had arguably his best dunk so far this season on an alley-oop, one-handed jam in the second quarter, and made two of Golden State's 12 3-pointers.
Davis made his first three shots for eight points as Golden State hit seven of its first eight field-goal tries to build a 17-4 first-quarter lead. The Warriors' perimeter players took advantage of the Pistons playing again without Richard Hamilton, who missed his second straight game with a hyperextended right elbow.
Jason Maxiell also had 11 points for Detroit, which was outrebounded 42-38 and couldn't overcome all of its missed opportunities early. The Pistons trailed by as many as 25 points in the first half and 57-32 at halftime.
Flip Murray, playing in place of Hamilton, was held to six points for the Pistons after three straight games in double figures. Detroit didn't get to the free throw line for the first time until 1:41 before halftime because it couldn't consistently work the ball inside.
Mickael Pietrusdrove through the middle of the key for a pretty two-handed jam on Golden State's first possession of the second quarter and finished with 13 points. Andris Biedrins also added 13 and Monta Ellis scored 12 and made four assists.
Fans chanted ``We want Foyle!'' in the waning minutes for center Adonal Foyle, who has a greatly diminished role in Don Nelson's system. He never got in the game, the only player for Golden State who didn't.
Notes: Warriors G Dajuan Wagner made his first appearance in an NBA game since Dec. 18, 2004, and scored four points. ... Hamilton averaged 25 points in the two meetings with the Warriors last season. ... Golden State's current seven-game homestand matches the longest in team history without playing at a neutral site. ... The teams' athletic trainers, brothers Mike (Detroit) and Tom Abdenour, had their first reunion of the season. ... A moment of silence was held before the national anthem for Veteran's Day.
Copyright 2006 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited
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Friday, November 10, 2006
Early wakeup call just what Bosh, Raps needed
By STEVE BUFFERY, TORONTO SUN
Chris Bosh felt a bit like a vegetable when the Raptors opened up the regular season in the Garden State last week.
Against the New Jersey Nets at the Continental Airlines Arena on Nov. 1, Bosh managed just 14 points and five rebounds in 25 minutes as the Raptors dropped the opener, 102-92 -- numbers that made the 2005-06 NBA all-star blush and the front office mandarins reach for the worry beads.
Since then, Bosh has averaged 15 boards and 25 points in his past three games.
Head coach Sam Mitchell called the Jersey game a much-needed wakeup call for his star power forward and a rather big relief for himself, because if the Raps have any chance of being competitive this season, they need big games from Bosh.
"I felt the Jersey game was a good, hard slap in the face for Chris," Mitchell said. "That game reminded him to continue to get better. You have to work, and Chris is a worker. But not only do you have to work, you have to be focused and you have to come with that effort every night and every day. And the best thing that ever happened to him was having that happen to him the first game of the season."
In his defence, Bosh was subpar against the Nets more because he had missed three pre-season games as a result of a sore left heel and also was forced to skip practices.
"I wasn't where I wanted to be mentally or physically in that game," Bosh admitted. "I didn't really know what to expect. I hadn't played much prior to that, so I was just kind of going into the game blind. But after that, I kind of reassessed myself and just came in and started working hard and building my confidence back up."
Despite the plantar fasciitis in his left heel, Bosh seems to be back in all-star form and credits the fact that he has been fresher late in games as a result of the increased depth on the bench this season.
Last year, Bosh often played right through the second half or fourth quarter because Mitchell didn't have a lot of options on the bench. As a result, Bosh was often worn out in the fourth quarter, and in overtime. That was quite obvious, as the Raptors went a dismal 1-9 in OT.
This year, Mitchell expects big newcomers Jorge Garbajosa and Kris Humphries to come off the bench and give the team quality minutes and keep the Raptors in the game until Bosh is ready to come in and help wrap things up.
In the dramatic 106-104 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday night, an energized Bosh nailed a 32-foot jump shot with 6.1 seconds on the board to give the Raps the win.
"Garbo and Kris Humphries came in and gave us real good minutes and I was able to sit down and rest instead of playing the whole second half like times last year," Bosh said of Wednesday's affair. "So when I came into the game, I had a lot more energy. I was ready to go and I could run up and down the court a little bit faster and get more quality minutes."
The Raptors play host to the surprising Atlanta Hawks (3-1) tonight at the ACC before departing on a 11-day, five-game west coast swing, beginning in Sacramento on Sunday.
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Chris Bosh felt a bit like a vegetable when the Raptors opened up the regular season in the Garden State last week.
Against the New Jersey Nets at the Continental Airlines Arena on Nov. 1, Bosh managed just 14 points and five rebounds in 25 minutes as the Raptors dropped the opener, 102-92 -- numbers that made the 2005-06 NBA all-star blush and the front office mandarins reach for the worry beads.
Since then, Bosh has averaged 15 boards and 25 points in his past three games.
Head coach Sam Mitchell called the Jersey game a much-needed wakeup call for his star power forward and a rather big relief for himself, because if the Raps have any chance of being competitive this season, they need big games from Bosh.
"I felt the Jersey game was a good, hard slap in the face for Chris," Mitchell said. "That game reminded him to continue to get better. You have to work, and Chris is a worker. But not only do you have to work, you have to be focused and you have to come with that effort every night and every day. And the best thing that ever happened to him was having that happen to him the first game of the season."
In his defence, Bosh was subpar against the Nets more because he had missed three pre-season games as a result of a sore left heel and also was forced to skip practices.
"I wasn't where I wanted to be mentally or physically in that game," Bosh admitted. "I didn't really know what to expect. I hadn't played much prior to that, so I was just kind of going into the game blind. But after that, I kind of reassessed myself and just came in and started working hard and building my confidence back up."
Despite the plantar fasciitis in his left heel, Bosh seems to be back in all-star form and credits the fact that he has been fresher late in games as a result of the increased depth on the bench this season.
Last year, Bosh often played right through the second half or fourth quarter because Mitchell didn't have a lot of options on the bench. As a result, Bosh was often worn out in the fourth quarter, and in overtime. That was quite obvious, as the Raptors went a dismal 1-9 in OT.
This year, Mitchell expects big newcomers Jorge Garbajosa and Kris Humphries to come off the bench and give the team quality minutes and keep the Raptors in the game until Bosh is ready to come in and help wrap things up.
In the dramatic 106-104 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday night, an energized Bosh nailed a 32-foot jump shot with 6.1 seconds on the board to give the Raps the win.
"Garbo and Kris Humphries came in and gave us real good minutes and I was able to sit down and rest instead of playing the whole second half like times last year," Bosh said of Wednesday's affair. "So when I came into the game, I had a lot more energy. I was ready to go and I could run up and down the court a little bit faster and get more quality minutes."
The Raptors play host to the surprising Atlanta Hawks (3-1) tonight at the ACC before departing on a 11-day, five-game west coast swing, beginning in Sacramento on Sunday.
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Hawks Seeks Fourth Straight Victory, Visit Raptors
By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA, STATS Senior Writer
2006-07 Stats at a Glance
Joe Johnson is accustomed to making his share of 3-pointers. He isn't used to winning with the Atlanta Hawks.
It's rare when Chris Bosh makes a shot from beyond the arc - or when the Toronto Raptors are in position to move above .500.
In a matchup of teams off to surprisingly strong starts, Johnson and the Hawks look to move three games above .500 for the first time in 7{ years when they face Bosh and the Raptors on Friday at the Air Canada Centre.
Johnson scored 25 points - six on consecutive possessions in overtime - and Atlanta (3-1) won its third straight, 104-95 on Tuesday night over Cleveland.
Johnson, in his second season with the Hawks, made a long 3-pointer to put the Hawks up 101-93 in overtime and has made 50 percent (11-for-22) of his 3s this season.
Atlanta is two games above .500 for the first time since Nov. 5, 2002, when it was 3-1. The Hawks can move three games above .500 for the first time since finishing the strike-shortened 1999 season 31-19.
``It feels good, but it's a long season,'' said Johnson, averaging 27.8 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game. ``Three-and-one doesn't mean a lot right now. We've got to keep grinding it out, working hard and who knows what's going to happen.''
Atlanta, which has had seven consecutive losing seasons, is showing signs of life two seasons after winning just 13 games and one season after it started 2-16. The Hawks didn't get win No. 3 last year until Dec. 10 and finished 26-56.
The Hawks never recovered after opening last season 0-9. With a young nucleus including Johnson and Josh Smith, though, they're confident 2006-07 will be different.
``This is a big confidence boost for us,'' said Atlanta point guard Tyronn Lue, who made a buzzer-beating layup over LeBron James to force overtime Tuesday. ``We've found a way to win these games down the stretch.''
Hawks guard Speedy Claxton sat out the second half because of soreness in both knees. He's still building up his minutes after missing the entire preseason with a broken bone in his left hand. His status for Friday's game is uncertain.
Bosh didn't make a 3-pointer last season, but after working on his long-range shooting last summer, Toronto's talented forward saw it pay off Wednesday night. Bosh made a go-ahead 3 with 6.1 seconds left and finished with 29 points and 14 rebounds, lifting the Raptors (2-2) to a 106-104 victory over Philadelphia.
With two wins in its last three games, Toronto has a chance to move above .500 for the first time since it was 4-3 on Nov. 13, 2004.
Bosh made his first 3-pointer of the season earlier in the game, his first since April 13, 2005, against New York. He went 0-for-13 from behind the arc last season, but was 2-for-2 on Wednesday. He's 10-for-40 in his career.
``Chris Bosh - words can't describe how he's playing and the challenge he's taking. The scary thing is, he's 22 years old,'' Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said.
Bosh is averaging a team-high 22.0 points and 12.8 rebounds per game.
Atlanta ended a run of five straight losses to Toronto with a 113-111 overtime road win March 1.
Copyright 2006 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited
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2006-07 Stats at a Glance
Joe Johnson is accustomed to making his share of 3-pointers. He isn't used to winning with the Atlanta Hawks.
It's rare when Chris Bosh makes a shot from beyond the arc - or when the Toronto Raptors are in position to move above .500.
In a matchup of teams off to surprisingly strong starts, Johnson and the Hawks look to move three games above .500 for the first time in 7{ years when they face Bosh and the Raptors on Friday at the Air Canada Centre.
Johnson scored 25 points - six on consecutive possessions in overtime - and Atlanta (3-1) won its third straight, 104-95 on Tuesday night over Cleveland.
Johnson, in his second season with the Hawks, made a long 3-pointer to put the Hawks up 101-93 in overtime and has made 50 percent (11-for-22) of his 3s this season.
Atlanta is two games above .500 for the first time since Nov. 5, 2002, when it was 3-1. The Hawks can move three games above .500 for the first time since finishing the strike-shortened 1999 season 31-19.
``It feels good, but it's a long season,'' said Johnson, averaging 27.8 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game. ``Three-and-one doesn't mean a lot right now. We've got to keep grinding it out, working hard and who knows what's going to happen.''
Atlanta, which has had seven consecutive losing seasons, is showing signs of life two seasons after winning just 13 games and one season after it started 2-16. The Hawks didn't get win No. 3 last year until Dec. 10 and finished 26-56.
The Hawks never recovered after opening last season 0-9. With a young nucleus including Johnson and Josh Smith, though, they're confident 2006-07 will be different.
``This is a big confidence boost for us,'' said Atlanta point guard Tyronn Lue, who made a buzzer-beating layup over LeBron James to force overtime Tuesday. ``We've found a way to win these games down the stretch.''
Hawks guard Speedy Claxton sat out the second half because of soreness in both knees. He's still building up his minutes after missing the entire preseason with a broken bone in his left hand. His status for Friday's game is uncertain.
Bosh didn't make a 3-pointer last season, but after working on his long-range shooting last summer, Toronto's talented forward saw it pay off Wednesday night. Bosh made a go-ahead 3 with 6.1 seconds left and finished with 29 points and 14 rebounds, lifting the Raptors (2-2) to a 106-104 victory over Philadelphia.
With two wins in its last three games, Toronto has a chance to move above .500 for the first time since it was 4-3 on Nov. 13, 2004.
Bosh made his first 3-pointer of the season earlier in the game, his first since April 13, 2005, against New York. He went 0-for-13 from behind the arc last season, but was 2-for-2 on Wednesday. He's 10-for-40 in his career.
``Chris Bosh - words can't describe how he's playing and the challenge he's taking. The scary thing is, he's 22 years old,'' Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said.
Bosh is averaging a team-high 22.0 points and 12.8 rebounds per game.
Atlanta ended a run of five straight losses to Toronto with a 113-111 overtime road win March 1.
Copyright 2006 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited
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Wednesday, November 08, 2006
NBA: Boo
By Lynda Collins
The NBA -- some say appropriately -- chose Halloween as its 2006-2007 coming-out party.
A quartet of teams took the court for the first time in regular season play, though this momentous occasion was somewhat blurred in the holiday hullabaloo and ongoing NFL wars.
"People are still into football," said New Frontier bookmaking chief Tony Nevil.
"It'll be that way for three or four weeks more, at least until the end of the colleges.
"These are weeks that pretty much will define the NFL also.
"Interest in basketball, pro and college, will pick up when they (colleges) start playing those late November tournaments.
"I once heard a man say, 'You start the NBA in short sleeves and end it in short sleeves too.'
"That's so true."
Nevil noted a goodly share of early NBA action focuses on totals.
"It's a struggle those first four or so weeks as teams work out their rotations," he said.
"I kind of look at it as an extension of the preseason.
"It's a time when handicappers follow teams in local newspapers (on the Internet)."
November also is when the basketball faithful look months ahead to spring's playoffs and start speculating on which clubs will win the league's conferences.
Some Las Vegans may keep an even closer eye on the league than normal, because the city will host February's 2007 NBA All-Star Game.
That once-presumed unreachable level was achieved largely due to efforts by the Maloof Family, owners of the Palms Hotel and Casino as well as the Sacramento Kings.
Friends of NBA Commissioner David Stern since George Maloof Sr. owned the Houston Rockets in the 1980s, the clan had little trouble convincing Stern to stage the annual extravagaza smack in the middle of America's sports gambling Mecca, once bookmakers agreed not to accept action on the East-West talent showcase -- a stance considered a bit hypocritical by some.
Early Finals futures action is, as usual, spread around.
Teams garnering the most play are those that have dominated in recent years, though a few longer shots are getting wagering attention.
"The Spurs, Mavs, Suns and Heat," Hilton SuperBook oddsmaker/supervisor Jeff Sherman said as he surveyed computer listings that told the top contenders.
Defending champion Miami and San Antonio, which has won two titles in for years, opened as 4/1 Hilton co-favorites, with Phoenix close behind at 9/2 and Dallas at 5/1.
Detroit, the 2004 titlist, was posted at 8/1.
The Spurs are 4/1 current favorites, with the Suns, Mavs and Heat at 9/2 and Pistons at 9/1.
Sherman clicked off Cleveland, Chicago and the Los Angeles Clippers when asked to name clubs regarded as long shots that are getting bites.
The Cavaliers have gone from 15/1 to 11/1 to win the Championship as expectations of LeBron James continue to rise.
The Bulls, who stampeded on the Heat 108-66 in their Tuesday opener, are still 15/1, while the Clippers remain at 40/1.
The Los Angeles Lakers, always a local favorite, also are still 40/1.
Nevil figures he's fairly safe predicting the Suns, who lost 114-106 Tuesday to the Lakers, who were playing without Kobe Bryant, will win the West.
"They're young, aggressive and, if they stay healthy, are going to be tough to beat on the left coast," Nevil said.
He feels he's going out on a limb in forecasting Cleveland to cop the East.
"They're a long shot, but I'll take LeBron and the Boys," Nevil said.
"Maybe this will be their year.
"They're young and hungry enough."
Lynda Collins is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of her articles at www.procappers.com/Lynda_Collins.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lynda_Collins
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The NBA -- some say appropriately -- chose Halloween as its 2006-2007 coming-out party.
A quartet of teams took the court for the first time in regular season play, though this momentous occasion was somewhat blurred in the holiday hullabaloo and ongoing NFL wars.
"People are still into football," said New Frontier bookmaking chief Tony Nevil.
"It'll be that way for three or four weeks more, at least until the end of the colleges.
"These are weeks that pretty much will define the NFL also.
"Interest in basketball, pro and college, will pick up when they (colleges) start playing those late November tournaments.
"I once heard a man say, 'You start the NBA in short sleeves and end it in short sleeves too.'
"That's so true."
Nevil noted a goodly share of early NBA action focuses on totals.
"It's a struggle those first four or so weeks as teams work out their rotations," he said.
"I kind of look at it as an extension of the preseason.
"It's a time when handicappers follow teams in local newspapers (on the Internet)."
November also is when the basketball faithful look months ahead to spring's playoffs and start speculating on which clubs will win the league's conferences.
Some Las Vegans may keep an even closer eye on the league than normal, because the city will host February's 2007 NBA All-Star Game.
That once-presumed unreachable level was achieved largely due to efforts by the Maloof Family, owners of the Palms Hotel and Casino as well as the Sacramento Kings.
Friends of NBA Commissioner David Stern since George Maloof Sr. owned the Houston Rockets in the 1980s, the clan had little trouble convincing Stern to stage the annual extravagaza smack in the middle of America's sports gambling Mecca, once bookmakers agreed not to accept action on the East-West talent showcase -- a stance considered a bit hypocritical by some.
Early Finals futures action is, as usual, spread around.
Teams garnering the most play are those that have dominated in recent years, though a few longer shots are getting wagering attention.
"The Spurs, Mavs, Suns and Heat," Hilton SuperBook oddsmaker/supervisor Jeff Sherman said as he surveyed computer listings that told the top contenders.
Defending champion Miami and San Antonio, which has won two titles in for years, opened as 4/1 Hilton co-favorites, with Phoenix close behind at 9/2 and Dallas at 5/1.
Detroit, the 2004 titlist, was posted at 8/1.
The Spurs are 4/1 current favorites, with the Suns, Mavs and Heat at 9/2 and Pistons at 9/1.
Sherman clicked off Cleveland, Chicago and the Los Angeles Clippers when asked to name clubs regarded as long shots that are getting bites.
The Cavaliers have gone from 15/1 to 11/1 to win the Championship as expectations of LeBron James continue to rise.
The Bulls, who stampeded on the Heat 108-66 in their Tuesday opener, are still 15/1, while the Clippers remain at 40/1.
The Los Angeles Lakers, always a local favorite, also are still 40/1.
Nevil figures he's fairly safe predicting the Suns, who lost 114-106 Tuesday to the Lakers, who were playing without Kobe Bryant, will win the West.
"They're young, aggressive and, if they stay healthy, are going to be tough to beat on the left coast," Nevil said.
He feels he's going out on a limb in forecasting Cleveland to cop the East.
"They're a long shot, but I'll take LeBron and the Boys," Nevil said.
"Maybe this will be their year.
"They're young and hungry enough."
Lynda Collins is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of her articles at www.procappers.com/Lynda_Collins.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lynda_Collins
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Tuesday, November 07, 2006
The NBA's Magicman
By Jonathon Hardcastle
Earvin Johnson Jr., known simply as “Magic” to millions of basketball fans all over the world, has been one of the NBA’s best players and biggest winners. Standing 6-9, Johnson revolutionized the point guard position with his pure passing and all-around versatility.
Johnson was a winner at every level of his career, starting in high school and including college, professional and international. At Michigan State University, he injected a much-needed dose of enthusiasm and passion into the college hoops scene, eventually leading his school to the 1979 National Championship over Indiana State which was led by another legendary basketball player, Larry Bird. Bird would become Johnson’s closest rival throughout their respective careers. Their college championship showdown became the most watched college basketball game in history.
Johnson later joined the Los Angeles Lakers and was their heart and soul for 13 seasons, leading them to five NBA championships. He was named to the NBA All-Star team 12 times, league MVP three times and NBA Finals MVP three times. In 2002, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and was voted to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996.
In 1991, Johnson announced that he was HIV-positive and retired from the NBA. He was among the first sports celebrities and one of the most popular public figures to ever do so.
Johnson earned his nickname back in high school when he was an All-American at Everett High School in Lansing, Michigan. He was 15 at the time and he had an amazing game where he finished with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists. That inspired a local sports writer named Fred Stabley to christen Johnson as Magic. In his senior year, Johnson led Everett to the state championship (27-1 win-loss record).
When he entered the NBA in 1979, the league suffered from a poor image and was ranked third in popularity behind the NFL and MLB. But Johnson’s rivalry with Bird, who had joined the Boston Celtics, revitalized the NBA. In their first three years in the league, the duo produced two championships – two for Magic and one for Bird. Before they were done, the dynamic duo would have eight NBA championships between them – five for Magic and three for Bird.
Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Sports, Games, and Arts
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathon_Hardcastle
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Earvin Johnson Jr., known simply as “Magic” to millions of basketball fans all over the world, has been one of the NBA’s best players and biggest winners. Standing 6-9, Johnson revolutionized the point guard position with his pure passing and all-around versatility.
Johnson was a winner at every level of his career, starting in high school and including college, professional and international. At Michigan State University, he injected a much-needed dose of enthusiasm and passion into the college hoops scene, eventually leading his school to the 1979 National Championship over Indiana State which was led by another legendary basketball player, Larry Bird. Bird would become Johnson’s closest rival throughout their respective careers. Their college championship showdown became the most watched college basketball game in history.
Johnson later joined the Los Angeles Lakers and was their heart and soul for 13 seasons, leading them to five NBA championships. He was named to the NBA All-Star team 12 times, league MVP three times and NBA Finals MVP three times. In 2002, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and was voted to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996.
In 1991, Johnson announced that he was HIV-positive and retired from the NBA. He was among the first sports celebrities and one of the most popular public figures to ever do so.
Johnson earned his nickname back in high school when he was an All-American at Everett High School in Lansing, Michigan. He was 15 at the time and he had an amazing game where he finished with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists. That inspired a local sports writer named Fred Stabley to christen Johnson as Magic. In his senior year, Johnson led Everett to the state championship (27-1 win-loss record).
When he entered the NBA in 1979, the league suffered from a poor image and was ranked third in popularity behind the NFL and MLB. But Johnson’s rivalry with Bird, who had joined the Boston Celtics, revitalized the NBA. In their first three years in the league, the duo produced two championships – two for Magic and one for Bird. Before they were done, the dynamic duo would have eight NBA championships between them – five for Magic and three for Bird.
Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Sports, Games, and Arts
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathon_Hardcastle
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Monday, November 06, 2006
13 NBA Betting Tips
By Joseph Mattern
It's October, and that means that basketball is right around the corner. Here are some NBA betting tips to help you win your wagers throughout the NBA season.
1. Look for reasons to bet against the public teams. Certain teams always get treated like champions even when they don't play like champions. The Lakers are a prime example of this theory. Yes, Kobe is a great player, but one great player isn't enough of a reason to pay a premium when wagering.
2. Play the over/under for value. The totals wager is one where you can really get some value if you do your homework. Look for high scoring teams at home, teams with good shooting percentages and teams that make a lot of threes. And, of course, look for teams that don't play defense. Be careful with the overs early in the season, though, until the shooters really hit their stride and the defenses soften up.
3. Take a look at the player prop bets. This is another place to find some value, especially with a superstar player getting an unusually high or low number. Check the player's average stats per game, and then take a look at how he has done against individual teams in the past. Make sure to be confident in your pick however, because these wagers come with inflated juice.
4. Don't forget about futures bets before the season begins. If you have a good line on how you think a team will fare, don't be afraid to lay some wood on it. Make sure you bet money that you don't mind having tied up for the duration of the season.
5. Do your homework. Scour injury reports, study the box scores, watch as many games as you can and read the relevant websites, including the sites of the local papers of the teams you are following. Being a winning gambler is about exploiting tiny edges, and so the more you know, the more it may help you. Use caution though, because the people who set the lines will probably have even more information than you do.
6. Specialize. Pick a couple of teams that you can devote some time to follow closely, and a particular type of bet that you feel comfortable with, and try to get an advantage in this way. Keep it simple.
7. Consider the halftime lines. Watch the first half of a game that you're wagering on, see what's going on, who's hot, who's in foul trouble, etc., then check the second-half lines, and wager from a position of strength, if you feel that you are getting good value on your bet.
8. Always shop around for the best lines. The Internet makes this easy to do. Open a few accounts and do not overpay for a wager. A point here or there may not seem like much, but over the long term, it's absolutely huge.
9. Be responsible. Don't bet money you can't afford to lose, and be sure to employ the principles of sound money management. Use a percentage of bankroll system whereby you bet the same small percentage of your total bankroll (say 1 percent) on each individual wager. This protects your downside while increasing the amount of your wagers as your bankroll grows.
10. The most important decision you make as a gambler may be deciding which games NOT to bet on. Part of the advantage that you have as an individual gambler is the ability to pick and choose which games you want to bet on, and which ones to pass on.
11. The new ball being introduced this year may not make a lot of difference one way or another, but pay close attention to the scoring, especially early in the season, when there may be some value to be gained with the unders.
12. Focus on match-ups when picking sides, position by position. Also, take a look at a team's recent performance, and for instance, where it is on a road trip. If an east-coast team is at the end of a long road trip out west, they may be looking ahead to the trip home and not play as well as the other factors would suggest.
13. Pace yourself. The NBA is a marathon, not a sprint. Remember, it's a long season, and there will be ups and downs. Try to go with the flow, and learn as much as you can as the season progresses. Hopefully, by the end, you will be up.
Well, hopefully you are a little more prepared for the NBA season. Eighty-two games from now, you will have another year under your belt. But for now, have fun and good luck, and remember, it's only a game.
Check Doc's Sports site for daily sports betting articles, NFL Schedules, NFL Odds, and Offshore Betting information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Mattern
It's October, and that means that basketball is right around the corner. Here are some NBA betting tips to help you win your wagers throughout the NBA season.
1. Look for reasons to bet against the public teams. Certain teams always get treated like champions even when they don't play like champions. The Lakers are a prime example of this theory. Yes, Kobe is a great player, but one great player isn't enough of a reason to pay a premium when wagering.
2. Play the over/under for value. The totals wager is one where you can really get some value if you do your homework. Look for high scoring teams at home, teams with good shooting percentages and teams that make a lot of threes. And, of course, look for teams that don't play defense. Be careful with the overs early in the season, though, until the shooters really hit their stride and the defenses soften up.
3. Take a look at the player prop bets. This is another place to find some value, especially with a superstar player getting an unusually high or low number. Check the player's average stats per game, and then take a look at how he has done against individual teams in the past. Make sure to be confident in your pick however, because these wagers come with inflated juice.
4. Don't forget about futures bets before the season begins. If you have a good line on how you think a team will fare, don't be afraid to lay some wood on it. Make sure you bet money that you don't mind having tied up for the duration of the season.
5. Do your homework. Scour injury reports, study the box scores, watch as many games as you can and read the relevant websites, including the sites of the local papers of the teams you are following. Being a winning gambler is about exploiting tiny edges, and so the more you know, the more it may help you. Use caution though, because the people who set the lines will probably have even more information than you do.
6. Specialize. Pick a couple of teams that you can devote some time to follow closely, and a particular type of bet that you feel comfortable with, and try to get an advantage in this way. Keep it simple.
7. Consider the halftime lines. Watch the first half of a game that you're wagering on, see what's going on, who's hot, who's in foul trouble, etc., then check the second-half lines, and wager from a position of strength, if you feel that you are getting good value on your bet.
8. Always shop around for the best lines. The Internet makes this easy to do. Open a few accounts and do not overpay for a wager. A point here or there may not seem like much, but over the long term, it's absolutely huge.
9. Be responsible. Don't bet money you can't afford to lose, and be sure to employ the principles of sound money management. Use a percentage of bankroll system whereby you bet the same small percentage of your total bankroll (say 1 percent) on each individual wager. This protects your downside while increasing the amount of your wagers as your bankroll grows.
10. The most important decision you make as a gambler may be deciding which games NOT to bet on. Part of the advantage that you have as an individual gambler is the ability to pick and choose which games you want to bet on, and which ones to pass on.
11. The new ball being introduced this year may not make a lot of difference one way or another, but pay close attention to the scoring, especially early in the season, when there may be some value to be gained with the unders.
12. Focus on match-ups when picking sides, position by position. Also, take a look at a team's recent performance, and for instance, where it is on a road trip. If an east-coast team is at the end of a long road trip out west, they may be looking ahead to the trip home and not play as well as the other factors would suggest.
13. Pace yourself. The NBA is a marathon, not a sprint. Remember, it's a long season, and there will be ups and downs. Try to go with the flow, and learn as much as you can as the season progresses. Hopefully, by the end, you will be up.
Well, hopefully you are a little more prepared for the NBA season. Eighty-two games from now, you will have another year under your belt. But for now, have fun and good luck, and remember, it's only a game.
Check Doc's Sports site for daily sports betting articles, NFL Schedules, NFL Odds, and Offshore Betting information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Mattern
NBA Northwest Division Preview
By Jimmy Boyd
The Northwest Division is the worst division in the Western Conference and the Denver Nuggets will likely be the only team advancing to the playoffs from this division. K.G. could miss the playoffs for the third straight year and Ray Allen for the second. The Blazers will be far from blazing but rookie Brandon Roy might give us a reason to watch.
Denver Nuggets: The Nuggets will take the Northwest and will likely be the only team advancing to the playoffs out of their division. Denver has depth and a number one option in Carmello but the fact that no one can make a jumper outside of 18 feet holds the Nuggets back. Karl wants to get shots up even quicker this season. Andre Miller will be vital to this team pushing the ball and finding shots for his teammates.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Too bad the T-Wolves couldn’t play in the Eastern Conference where having one star can be enough to make the playoffs as we’ve seen with AI in Philly and Paul Pierce in Boston. Garnett once again won’t have enough around him and will likely be out of the playoffs for the third straight year.
Utah Jazz: The Jazz will fall just short of the T-Wolves. I like Sloan’s defensive mentality, but the Jazz can’t score enough points to win. Kirilenko is a great high energy player who can block shots, rebound, and play defense, but he doesn’t have enough offensive skills. Deron Williams is this team’s biggest bright spot, but it’s hard to play the point when you don’t have anyone to pass to.
Seattle Super Sonics: Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis will launch away and they will win the games when they are hitting and they will lose the games when they are not. Seattle doesn’t play enough defense to win when they don’t shoot well. A team with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis could miss the playoffs for the second year in a row. That doesn’t seem right, but it just goes to show you how important the front line is in this league.
Portland Trailblazers: Darius Miles and Zach Randolph are talented players, but not the kind of players who can put a team on their shoulders and lead them to victory. I’m expecting big things from Brandon Roy at the shooting guard position. He will get an opportunity to star right away and might just be this season’s rookie of the year. The Blazers need to keep adding pieces and chipping away.
Jimmy Boyd is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Jimmy_Boyd.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Boyd
The Northwest Division is the worst division in the Western Conference and the Denver Nuggets will likely be the only team advancing to the playoffs from this division. K.G. could miss the playoffs for the third straight year and Ray Allen for the second. The Blazers will be far from blazing but rookie Brandon Roy might give us a reason to watch.
Denver Nuggets: The Nuggets will take the Northwest and will likely be the only team advancing to the playoffs out of their division. Denver has depth and a number one option in Carmello but the fact that no one can make a jumper outside of 18 feet holds the Nuggets back. Karl wants to get shots up even quicker this season. Andre Miller will be vital to this team pushing the ball and finding shots for his teammates.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Too bad the T-Wolves couldn’t play in the Eastern Conference where having one star can be enough to make the playoffs as we’ve seen with AI in Philly and Paul Pierce in Boston. Garnett once again won’t have enough around him and will likely be out of the playoffs for the third straight year.
Utah Jazz: The Jazz will fall just short of the T-Wolves. I like Sloan’s defensive mentality, but the Jazz can’t score enough points to win. Kirilenko is a great high energy player who can block shots, rebound, and play defense, but he doesn’t have enough offensive skills. Deron Williams is this team’s biggest bright spot, but it’s hard to play the point when you don’t have anyone to pass to.
Seattle Super Sonics: Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis will launch away and they will win the games when they are hitting and they will lose the games when they are not. Seattle doesn’t play enough defense to win when they don’t shoot well. A team with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis could miss the playoffs for the second year in a row. That doesn’t seem right, but it just goes to show you how important the front line is in this league.
Portland Trailblazers: Darius Miles and Zach Randolph are talented players, but not the kind of players who can put a team on their shoulders and lead them to victory. I’m expecting big things from Brandon Roy at the shooting guard position. He will get an opportunity to star right away and might just be this season’s rookie of the year. The Blazers need to keep adding pieces and chipping away.
Jimmy Boyd is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Jimmy_Boyd.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Boyd
NBA Southwest Division Preview
By Jimmy Boyd
The state of Texas will rule the Southwest this season. I like the Spurs to regain bragging rights over Dallas and for the Rockets to have their best season during the McGrady/Yao era. Chris Paul will make plenty of noise across the league as he quickly reaches elite point guard status and without Gasol for a good chunk of the season, Memphis won’t make it out of the basement.
San Antonio Spurs: I know the Mavs made it to the NBA Finals, but I like San Antonio to win the Southwest over Dallas with a healthy Tim Duncan. Duncan battled a foot injury nearly the entire season last year. He will be determined to get the Spurs back to the Finals to get a crack at his fourth ring. Tony Parker had a break out season and if he can continue to improve his passing, he can be one of the game’s top point guards. Ginobli is the X-factor. If he can stay healthy, he gives the Spurs the energy that makes them a championship team.
Dallas Mavericks: Dirk had his best season in his professional career but it ended on a sour note with a loss to Miami in the Finals. I like Jason Terry at the two-guard, but Devon Harris is too inconsistent at the one. Stackhouse and Diop are the only help off the bench. Tim Duncan dominating Dampier and Diop will be the difference in this rivalry this season.
Houston Rockets: The Rockets will join the all-Texas party at the top of the division. Yao came on strong down the stretch averaging 25.7 points per game and 11.6 rebounds per game after the All-Star Break. Combine that effort with a healthier Tracy McGrady and the Rockets may finally have the duo they were hoping for this season. Shane Battier is a good fit, he will be able to guard the other team’s best player which was a job that McGrady often had to endure.
New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul may be the best pure point in the NBA next to Steve Nash. He will make everyone else on the Hornets better. The Hornets will pose some problems for some veteran teams as they run very well. Bobby Jackson is very good in transition as is Desmond Mason and Tyson Chandler. Chandler will help boost interior defense and rebounding. Stojakovic’s impact is still to be determined. But we know that Chris Paul will definitely get him open looks.
Memphis Grizzlies: With Gasol out until January, Memphis will start the season in the cellar and never climb out. Mike Miller’s shooting percentage will dive as he becomes a default first option. We’ll see what Stromile Swift is really made of this season. We know he can run and jump out of the gym, but we don’t know if he can be an scorer in this league. With a pair of aging guards in Stoudamire and Jones, the Grizzlies are in NBA purgatory. They’ll probably need an overhaul following this season because I don’t see this team with this personnel challenging in one of the NBA’s toughest divisions.
Jimmy Boyd is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Jimmy_Boyd.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Boyd
The state of Texas will rule the Southwest this season. I like the Spurs to regain bragging rights over Dallas and for the Rockets to have their best season during the McGrady/Yao era. Chris Paul will make plenty of noise across the league as he quickly reaches elite point guard status and without Gasol for a good chunk of the season, Memphis won’t make it out of the basement.
San Antonio Spurs: I know the Mavs made it to the NBA Finals, but I like San Antonio to win the Southwest over Dallas with a healthy Tim Duncan. Duncan battled a foot injury nearly the entire season last year. He will be determined to get the Spurs back to the Finals to get a crack at his fourth ring. Tony Parker had a break out season and if he can continue to improve his passing, he can be one of the game’s top point guards. Ginobli is the X-factor. If he can stay healthy, he gives the Spurs the energy that makes them a championship team.
Dallas Mavericks: Dirk had his best season in his professional career but it ended on a sour note with a loss to Miami in the Finals. I like Jason Terry at the two-guard, but Devon Harris is too inconsistent at the one. Stackhouse and Diop are the only help off the bench. Tim Duncan dominating Dampier and Diop will be the difference in this rivalry this season.
Houston Rockets: The Rockets will join the all-Texas party at the top of the division. Yao came on strong down the stretch averaging 25.7 points per game and 11.6 rebounds per game after the All-Star Break. Combine that effort with a healthier Tracy McGrady and the Rockets may finally have the duo they were hoping for this season. Shane Battier is a good fit, he will be able to guard the other team’s best player which was a job that McGrady often had to endure.
New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul may be the best pure point in the NBA next to Steve Nash. He will make everyone else on the Hornets better. The Hornets will pose some problems for some veteran teams as they run very well. Bobby Jackson is very good in transition as is Desmond Mason and Tyson Chandler. Chandler will help boost interior defense and rebounding. Stojakovic’s impact is still to be determined. But we know that Chris Paul will definitely get him open looks.
Memphis Grizzlies: With Gasol out until January, Memphis will start the season in the cellar and never climb out. Mike Miller’s shooting percentage will dive as he becomes a default first option. We’ll see what Stromile Swift is really made of this season. We know he can run and jump out of the gym, but we don’t know if he can be an scorer in this league. With a pair of aging guards in Stoudamire and Jones, the Grizzlies are in NBA purgatory. They’ll probably need an overhaul following this season because I don’t see this team with this personnel challenging in one of the NBA’s toughest divisions.
Jimmy Boyd is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Jimmy_Boyd.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Boyd
NBA Pacific Division Predictions
By Jimmy Boyd
The Suns will run and gun again and take the Pacific with both LA teams right behind. Abdur-Rahim finally got into the playoffs last year, but the Kings won’t make it back this year. Expect Nellie to shake things up for Golden State, but they won’t make any major progress this year.
Phoenix Suns: The Suns have proven that they can win with the run and gun style of play that many experts have been skeptical of. Amare Stoudemire won’t be full strength right away, but the Suns have proven that they can play well and win in his absence. The emergence of Diaw last season was as pertinent to the Suns’ success as the play of Steve Nash. Nash will be Nashty again and with Bell, Marion, and Diaw, they will rule the Pacific.
Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers proved that they weren’t regular season pretenders in last year’s playoffs. Brand showed that he can be a franchise player on both ends of the floor. Shaun Livingston has the potential to be a star in this league as a big point guard. Leading with Cassell and coming in with Livingston will be a great one-two punch. Kaman is a great interior finisher which is something that most teams around the league are dying for. With Maggette, Livingston, and Tim Thomas coming off the bench, the Clippers have the best depth in the west and should finish second in the Pacific.
Los Angeles Lakers: For the second season in a row the Lakers will have to play second fiddle to the Clippers. Kobe and Phil get this team in the playoffs, but Odom will have to be consistently good as will Brown in the post. Luke Walton’s brains may finally get him some serious minutes. He could be the missing link in LA’s triangle offense. Kobe makes this team a threat each and every night, but some of these others players will have to play with Kobe’s passion before they can take things to the next level.
Sacramento Kings: The Kings have one of the best shooting point guards in the league and a ticking time bomb in Ron Artest. When things are going nowhere for this team a couple months into the season, watch out for Artest’s dark side to show back up. Kevin Martin can play, but he isn’t Doug Christie. Brad Miller is listed as center, but he plays outside and can’t guard taller more athletic fives. The Kings have officially been dethroned out west.
Golden State Warriors: Don Nelson is back from his hiatus and he will make the Warriors a better team with his unconventional offensive tactics, but the Pacific is too tough a mountain for them to climb this season. This is a soft team with Dunleavy and Murphy at the four and five. Expect Nellie’s up and down philosophy to benefit this team.
Jimmy Boyd is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Jimmy_Boyd.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Boyd
The Suns will run and gun again and take the Pacific with both LA teams right behind. Abdur-Rahim finally got into the playoffs last year, but the Kings won’t make it back this year. Expect Nellie to shake things up for Golden State, but they won’t make any major progress this year.
Phoenix Suns: The Suns have proven that they can win with the run and gun style of play that many experts have been skeptical of. Amare Stoudemire won’t be full strength right away, but the Suns have proven that they can play well and win in his absence. The emergence of Diaw last season was as pertinent to the Suns’ success as the play of Steve Nash. Nash will be Nashty again and with Bell, Marion, and Diaw, they will rule the Pacific.
Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers proved that they weren’t regular season pretenders in last year’s playoffs. Brand showed that he can be a franchise player on both ends of the floor. Shaun Livingston has the potential to be a star in this league as a big point guard. Leading with Cassell and coming in with Livingston will be a great one-two punch. Kaman is a great interior finisher which is something that most teams around the league are dying for. With Maggette, Livingston, and Tim Thomas coming off the bench, the Clippers have the best depth in the west and should finish second in the Pacific.
Los Angeles Lakers: For the second season in a row the Lakers will have to play second fiddle to the Clippers. Kobe and Phil get this team in the playoffs, but Odom will have to be consistently good as will Brown in the post. Luke Walton’s brains may finally get him some serious minutes. He could be the missing link in LA’s triangle offense. Kobe makes this team a threat each and every night, but some of these others players will have to play with Kobe’s passion before they can take things to the next level.
Sacramento Kings: The Kings have one of the best shooting point guards in the league and a ticking time bomb in Ron Artest. When things are going nowhere for this team a couple months into the season, watch out for Artest’s dark side to show back up. Kevin Martin can play, but he isn’t Doug Christie. Brad Miller is listed as center, but he plays outside and can’t guard taller more athletic fives. The Kings have officially been dethroned out west.
Golden State Warriors: Don Nelson is back from his hiatus and he will make the Warriors a better team with his unconventional offensive tactics, but the Pacific is too tough a mountain for them to climb this season. This is a soft team with Dunleavy and Murphy at the four and five. Expect Nellie’s up and down philosophy to benefit this team.
Jimmy Boyd is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Jimmy_Boyd.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Boyd
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