SPURS IN THE NEWS Feb 16th

[ATHENEA]

Spurs mentioned
The Brunswick News
BA surviving tough economic times due to its star power
By ANDREW SMITH

Despite the economy that was flailing so badly the government had to give it swimmies, it appears all is well in the NBA.

While much of America is suffering, watching the stock market drop 30 to 40 percent, the NBA has only seen minimal losses and reported record profits on NBA.com for the month of December.

Even this weekend's All-Star spectacular was its typical huge and gaudy self in light of the issues, which may force the league to lower its salary cap next season and beyond.

On Saturday, NBA commissioner David Stern said that his league is holding steady and will continue to do so, even during a worldwide economic downturn that has put many big businesses, like the largest basketball organization there is, in jeopardy.

I think the league is able to keep its head above water because no other league understands star power better than the NBA.

The NBA did what it does best during All-Star weekend by using its stars in a variety of events, capped off by one of the best slam dunk contests in the event's history.

And they bring them all to celebrate in the festivities. Guys that aren't even all-stars get an invite to play in some ridiculous game or skills competition, and most importantly, get their face on TV.

One of the smartest of these endeavors, the Rookie Challenge, is a game pitting rookies and sophomores. Why not put your brightest young stars on the court at the same time? Nothing like spreading the love.

Yet, for all of the positive aspects of the NBA, it lacks one major factor -- parity. As of today, there are probably only six teams that can win the championship and even that might be a stretch.

There are definitely two bona fide contenders in the Eastern Conference (Boston, Cleveland) and one in the West (Los Angeles Lakers). Every other team is just too optimistic for me if they think that they can make a run at the finals with their current roster.

Orlando, owner of the third-best record in the East, isn't quite ready. At 38-13 the youthful Magic, led by Dwight Howard, win most of the games they should, but still can't pick up enough crucial wins against the elite teams in their conference.

In the West, San Antonio is what I'd call a bubble team. Although they have a "big three" in Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, they haven't been healthy at the same time for much of the season.

And although I'd like to, I'm not willing to discount the Denver Nuggets just yet. They are sometimes impressive, but are mainly inconsistent. The only thing that saves them is their personnel. Point guard Chauncey Billups has rings to prove he can cut it in the playoffs, but Carmelo Anthony and the rest of the players still need to prove themselves in the postseason.

There are a lot of good basketball players in the league, but the most successful teams are the deepest clubs where every player knows his role.

The Celtics, Cavs and Lakers each fit the aforementioned parameter and thus have what it takes to hoist the finals trophy in June.

Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are playing as well as the two best players on the planet should play, but this year they have more help from their teams.

James now has a point guard that can score in Mo Williams and a variety of players can step up on any given night. The Cavs could get into the finals, though I've still got the defending champion Celtics slightly ahead in the race.

Heading into the second half of the season, I'm giving the Lakers the edge anybody else.

Kobe is healthy, focused and aware that his chance at a title gets slimmer every season. The rest of the team has stepped up to fill the necessary roles of a championship team and is playing much more physical than it did last year.

[ATHENEA]

Injuries marring NBA seasons for non-U.S. Olympians - USATODAY.com
Injuries marring NBA seasons for non-U.S. Olympians
By Chris Colston
Non-U.S. Olympians haven't fared as well this NBA season as U.S. players who competed in Beijing. Seven of the 16 have been out hurt. The rundown:

Argentina

•Manu Ginobili (San Antonio Spurs) missed the first 12 NBA games after offseason ankle surgery. He aggravated an ankle injury at the Olympics. …Andres Nocioni (Chicago Bulls) has not missed a game. Fabricio Oberto (Spurs) played sparingly and has missed 15 games because of an irregular heartbeat and a sore foot. …Luis Scola (Houston Rockets) has not missed a game.

Australia

•Andrew Bogut (Milwaukee Bucks), who missed time with a bruised knee and back spasms, is out at least eight weeks with a back injury.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Olympics | Beijing | non-U.S

China

•Yao Ming (Rockets) has been dogged by injuries in the past but this season has missed only three games. …Yi Jianlian (New Jersey Nets) has been out since Jan. 9 with a broken right pinkie but is expected back after the break. He previously had a strained neck and a sore foot.

Croatia

•Roko Ukic (Toronto Raptors) has played 45 games as a reserve.

Germany

•Chris Kaman (Los Angeles Clippers) has been out since Nov. 26 with a foot injury. …Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks), out only one game, is having another All-Star season.

Lithuania

•Linas Kleiza (Denver Nuggets) has not missed a game.

Russia

•Andrei Kirilenko (Utah Jazz) has not played since Jan. 20 because of an ankle injury.

Spain

•Pau Gasol (L.A. Lakers) has missed only one game. …Rudy Fernandez (Portland Trail Blazers) has missed two. …Jose Calderon (Raptors) has missed 14 with an ongoing hamstring injury. …Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies) hasn't missed.

[ATHENEA]

Hardwood Paroxysm
Porter Bounced: Who’s Got The Wheel In Phoenix?
by Matt Moore

Coro’s got the official unofficial word. It’s particularly interesting as Friday the Suns pulled hard to refute the rumors.

So the questions abound. Let’s tackle them one at a time.

Did Porter deserve it?

Deserving to get fired is a tricky subject. I mean, really, in order to really “deserve” to get fired, you need to do something inexcusable. You can pile up reasons to go in “another direction” which is closer to what Porter did. He failed to manage egos and failed to bring the best out of the club. He failed to manage rotations effectively. And he failed to provide the team with anything that could even remotely resemble an identity. This may surprise you, but I don’t blame the Suns’ in-game failures on Porter. When I look at the work he’s done, and the attitude he’s taken (the hard practices, the defensive minded coaching, the simplistic pathos), I can’t find fault with it intrinsically. Let me put it this way: If you gave Porter a young club like Portland, Minnesota, Charlotte (pre-trades), or even Miami, I think he might be able to do a pretty good job. He’d be an excellent stepping stone for a team at the very least.

The problem is that this club was made of veterans, who are ready to win now. They don’t need to be pushed, prodded, or bullied. Even Amare, who could use tough love, needs it within the context of a relationship he trusts, not a bully sent in to shove him around. This is an aspect of professional basketball that makes college basketball enthusiasts cry in agony, the concept of a player needing to be “babied.” But it’s a reality in this league, and if you want to get the most out of Amare, you need to let him do his thing, and then convince him that what you want is his idea. My wife pulls this with me all the time, which essentially means that I am the Amare Stoudemire of house chores. But I digress. It wasn’t Porter’s fault that he didn’t do what he needed to, or that he did it badly. He was brought in to do something that wasn’t going to work regardless. Porter could have taught a young team to walk before they run, but the Suns were ready to fly. And in the confusion they crashed and burned.

So who’s fault was it?

You knew this was coming.

Look, Steve Kerr is probably a really great guy. Loves his family. Definitely has the respect of those in the league. Handles himself with class and professionalism. He’s got a great basketball mind and may even have a tremendous mind for basketball business.

None of this changes the fact that he has completely submarined the Phoenix Suns franchise and is now spreading the blame. That Porter was ill-equipped to lead this team isn’t his fault, it’s the fault of the person that chose a drill sergeant for a general’s job. Kerr not only sacrificed this team’s soul, he led it to the dungeon to chain it. Everything has been driven off of the Kerr Defensive Concept.

As a Chiefs fan, I’m uniquely aware of how this kind of thing goes. In 2005, Herm Edwards took over the Chiefs, who at the time held one of the most devastating offensive attacks in the NFL. He promised to keep the offense the same, but add a defensive presence, and said that hybrid would lead to a championship. Yet from the very beginning there were changes that showed that was not the case. And with every excuse for the failures of the club, there were signs that reflected the overall “good ol’ football” approach of Herm’s entire scheme. Similarly, Kerr’s defensive-approach and pro-2003 veterans influence was shown in all of the decisions: Pushing the offense through Shaq. Trading for Jason Richardson. Slowing the game down. Hiring a disciplinarian. It all reflected an overall policy set, one that was deeply, inherently flawed: trying to duplicate the Spurs.

I’m always stunned when Suns fans use this as justification for abandoning a style, system, and approach that netted them at least 55 wins each season. “Yeah, but we won no rings! The Spurs won championships!” This is not only flawed, it’s sad.

Why can’t the Suns be like the Spurs?

There’s only one Tim Duncan in this lifetime.

No, really, why can’t the Suns be like the Spurs?

Because you’re talking about a team that’s won four championships in a decade. A team that’s centered by a once in a lifetime player, who will go down as the best at his position of all time. A team with a GM that was willing to focus on little known foreign talent and work them into a system that was perfect for them, then fill the gaps with reliable veteran shooters. Do you know how tenuous that kind of formula is? And if you don’t believe me, take a look at what they’ve needed to get some of the rings they have. Even Spurs fans would tell you it takes some luck.

You can’t duplicate that kind of success on the fly. And just because you have someone who’s incredible at what they do, doesn’t mean they’re awesome at everything. Steve Nash is a terrible defender. You know, I know it, Steve knows it. He tries. He puts a lot of effort nowadays (at least) into trying to overcome his lack of horizontal quickness and strength with hustle. But he’s just not good at it. You know what? Tim Duncan can’t run the floor. And Duncan’s handle is pretty suspect, especially against the weak-side double. Are they equal players? No. But the point is that if Gregg Popovich decided to go be a coconut farmer in the tropics tomorrow, and you brought in Don Nelson, that team would underperform, be angry and lost. The talent is there in Phoenix. The vision is not.

How does this affect the Amare trade?

It’s unlikely that this signals a change of heart from Kerr that his plan was wrong. He can’t admit that, honestly, even if he thinks that. So the best move would be to appease his owners’ financial concerns and plan for the future. And you know what that means. Drew Gooden and Shaquille O’Neal on the block. But also Tyrus Thomas, a young power forward with tremendous potential that will make for some highlights with Nash. Gentry will have an impact on this, though, because I doubt Kerr’s foolish enough to not even consult him, and Gentry’s won with STAT before.

I’d say Amare’s quote from Friday about being 60-40 staying in Phoenix past Thursday are pretty accurate. Dropping a coach and trading an All-Star in a week is kind of an obvious panic move. After that it’ll come down to whether or not someone will get desperate and put a better deal on the table. This could actually end up helping the Suns down the road, as it puts the pressure back on the suitors to put a deal that convinces Kerr to pull the trigger. And whereas before it seemed that he had to do something he’s now done that. He’s made the obligatory “change in the best interests of the team” and now it just depends on what kind of trust Sarver has in Kerr over his pocketbook. Then again, when you put it that way, Amare’s jersey starts to look pretty red.

Could this plus an Amare trade actually put them back in the running?

This is the trouble I’ve had with Suns fan since this whole debacle started. It seems like I’m just a negative nellie, nay-saying the chances of this Suns team. That all comes back to the first significant move Kerr made, using their most valuable trade asset, Marion’s contract, to land the Shaqtus. I’ve covered that before in detail, so I’ll just leave it at this:It created an impossible problem to solve. His contract and ego demands his involvement, but his style and play devalue the rest of the team. Shaq’s been an All-Star to his team, and yet least valuable to his team at the same time. And the same kind of thinking that says that’s impossible also says that this team should do whatever it takes to be more like the Spurs.

We’re past that point. The question now, and really the only one left to answer, is what direction the Suns choose to head in now that plan A, B, and C have all proven themselves fatally flawed.

[ALSPURS]

Also on Real GM aka Make up trades so people will come to our site!

They have in there wire tap headlines:

Spurs interested in Sheed?

RealGM: Basketball Wiretap Archives: San Antonio Interested In Rasheed?

[ATHENEA]

Duncan lets Shaq stay in spotlight
Duncan lets Shaq stay in spotlight
By Mike Monroe
PHOENIX — Tim Duncan's All-Star moment never involves showing off, but he acknowledged that he had planned to try a few dance moves during the hip-hop introductions at Sunday's All-Star Game.

When the time came?

“I didn't even hear them call my name,” Duncan said.

It was left to Suns center Shaquille O'Neal to dominate “Dancing With the All-Stars.”

“Pretty impressive,” Duncan said. “He lives for that spotlight and does well with it. A lot of moves I can't do.”

Duncan preferred to make his All-Star memory his annual ritual of a photo on the court between the third and fourth periods with his wife, Amy, and their two children.

“Every All-Star (Game) since I've had my kids, we've had a picture on the court,” he said. “We do that every time. Good memories.”

Changes coming: Suns All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire was grilled about published reports that Suns coach Terry Porter will be replaced today by assistant Alvin Gentry, and about his future with the team.

The subject of trade rumors himself, Stoudemire is not sure if Sunday's All-Star Game may, or may not, have been his last in a Suns uniform.

“I'm not sure,” he said of his future with the Suns. “That's kind of iffy. I'm still kind of 60-40, with me being here. Hopefully, that 60 is true, and I will be here.”

As far as the coaching change, Stoudemire said he will wait to see how things work out.

“Only time can tell,” he said. “I think Terry Porter definitely put a lot of hard work in to try and get us on the right track, and I'm sure Alvin is going to do the same.”

Safety first: At the end of the first quarter, NBA officials forced the TNT crew manning one of the network's cameras to move the rig that had been positioned on the baseline near the Eastern Conference bench.

When the crew protested, the official called the large, heavy rig “the most dangerous thing of all time.”

The camera was repositioned to a location much less likely to come into contact a player falling out of bounds.

Happy birthday, Bill: A 75th birthday cake was presented to NBA legend Bill Russell during the second quarter. Russell was honored Saturday when the NBA announced its Finals MVP Trophy will henceforth be presented in his name.

[ATHENEA]

The Pathology of Manu
The Pathology of Manu Ginobili
by Matthew Powell

I no longer have cable television, and my computer is fritzwonkular most of the time. I'm also wading into what is supposedly the most difficult semester of pharmacy school, so watching Spurs games will likely be the rare occurrence for me. But I still plan on writing on special occasions, namely every Monday. Because Mondays are special. And because Mondays mark the beginnings of weeks, a time often devoid of fun, hope and general good feelings.

Much like my writing. So it should be easier for you to swallow.

Every Monday, 8:00 a.m. central time, like Swiss clockwork. I'll always throw something about the Spurs in there, sprinkled amongst ramblings, muffled cries for help, and whines, gripes and curmudgeonings. And Shins' lyrics.

Star-divide

You've been alone since you were 21
You haven't laughed since January

There won't be many photos though. They seem to take a lot of time to find, credit, and caption. And I would always feel like I'm just ripping off FreeDarko's visual non sequiturs.

While watching the Spurs / Hornets game from the anti-bowels of the Where the Spurs Play Center, Wayne commented how much faster Tony seemed in person.

I think Wayne was right.

There was one particularly telling fast break. Sean Marks, back-pedaling at the elbow, was essentially the only guy back for the Hornets. Tony ran at him full speed, went around him and then laid the ball in on the same side of the basket. All Marks had to do was turn around, take one step and block the shot. He didn't even get turned around.

Of course Tony does this every game, against all sizes of opponent. But seeing it live and realizing the guy still seems ridiculously fast when he's 200 feet away from you... it gives you a different appreciation for his insane athletic ability, like watching a cheetah chasing down a gazelle from a helicopter. Except Tony only has two legs.

And he didn't eat Sean Marks.

But my brains can make sense of Tony's greatness. The NBA is obviously comprised of world class athletes. Even amongst them, Tony's one of the fastest end to end, and few can match his quickness. He understands how to attack individual defenders on the fast break and has the ability to finish with either hand on either side of the basket. I understand why Tony is one of the 25 best players in the NBA. It's not complicated.

But I cannot figure out why Manu Ginobili is even in the top 100, let alone the top 20.

(None of what I am about to say is new to anyone who reads this blog. There's nothing left to say about Manu that hasn't been said here before. Well. Manu Ginobili wears 6" Jimmy Choo heels to bed. That would be new. Back to it: but for the grace of Manu goes PtR.)

He's not overly quick. He's not a great leaper. He's not a great shooter. What most befuddles me is how he continually, repeatedly, over and over again, ad nauseum, get wide open step-back jumpers from 18 feet. He'll face a guy up, work some hypnotizing voodoo or some ****, and wind up taking an essentially unguarded 18' jump shot. Most of the time the defender doesn't even get a hand in his face.

It's as if Manu has learned how to imbalance his opponent, how to get him shifting the wrong way. More importantly, he seems to anticipate the vulnerability and execute his step-back as the imbalance is occurring.

He ends up with all the time in the world.

(This must drive other NBA players crazy. It's one thing for a guy like Lebron to get the best of you. That's explainable. Just look at the guy. He's a freak. Dwight Howard? Freak (plus he prays and stuff). Tim Duncan? Tall (plus he's boring so he doesn't count). Kobe? Quick as hell, amazing athlete, crazier than . Yao Ming? Crazy communist genetic-engineering. Chris Paul? Ridiculously quick hands and first step. Etc.)

I don't know how Manu got to be this way. Maybe it's purely instinctual. Maybe he read Book of Five Rings and it all came together in a shroom-induced fury of clearheadedness. Maybe I'll take the sportswriter's easy way out and credit his time playing soccer.

I wonder if even he knows the origin, the planting of the seed. I think he does. I think he guessed the ending of the The Usual Suspects and can sense magma shifting miles beneath the surface of his earth. I think he's trying to unravel the very foundational fibers of the NBA. I think he's diabolical. I think he's formed a one-manned cabal.

The evidence is there.

He'll dribble through a guy's a leg or go around his back during a layup, but only when necessary. He'll occasionally try to dunk on somebody, but only when the situation suggests it is the most prudent course of action. He'll attempt outlandish passes and impossible shot blocks; but allow me to suggest and believe he does it primarily for the same reason Einstein attempted to quantify the universe:

Because there is joy in the attempt. And because he thought he could.

He scrapes, claws, and tosses subtle elbows as he goes to the basket, yet he does it coldly, without aggression. He rarely, if ever, makes eye contact with an opponent, but it never comes off as a lack of respect. You never seeing him talking with opponents during the game. He doesn't smile on the court, but he plays like there's no other place he'd rather be. He doesn't hype his game to the media. He downplays his own abilities and emphasizes his struggles.

This is not by accident. This is part of his game. Part of his plan.

He's won a gold medal and three NBA championships, but he's lacking something so fundamental to the NBA, to sports, to competition in general.

Manu Ginobili is entirely without swagger.

He does not strut. He does not preen. He is not there to put on a show. He does not react to hard fouls. He does not react to being booed. Manu Ginobili's performance may ebb and flow, reacting to his health, or to the situation, or to the quality of defender. But from game to game, the competitiveness never changes. Ginobili doesn't need to be pushed to achieve the paramount of his abilities, and this is why he has un(?)intentionally become a mirror that reflects the inadequacies of the NBA's world class basketball players: deep down we all know that swagger comes hand in hand with insecurity. We strut not to convince competitors of our dominance; we strut to convince ourselves.

[ATHENEA]

How a Lower Luxury Tax Could Kill 10 NBA Teams - NBA FanHouse
How a Lower Luxury Tax Could Kill 10 NBA Teams

by Tom Ziller

On Sunday, we brought you a discussion of the coming deflation of the NBA's salary balloon. Revenues will likely decrease this season as several teams struggle to fill seats and sell the associated concessions and merchandise. While T.V. ratings have increased, the total gates seem to be off league-wide. Likewise, a handful of imploding (or slow-moving) arena projects have restricted bottom-line growth for some usually healthy clubs.

As such, the league's salary cap could very well decrease substantially next season. With it, the luxury tax threshold would be lowered. Unfortunately, a lot of teams already have a ton of salary doled out for 2009-10 and beyond. And if the line moves downward significantly, roughly 10 teams hoping to be under the tax could find themselves in a world of hurt.

You know how we do things: with pictures. Thanks to DraftExpress.com's salary database, we were able to lay out the current payroll structures for next year's NBA teams. Most pre-financial meltdown projections had the luxury tax around $72 million. There's no word how low it could go given the economic conditions; we'll guess $65 million for the sake of example.

Just on the surface, that decrease in the luxury tax threshold would put five teams not currently expected to be over the tax in harm's way. (In case you're not clear on why the tax is so harmful: teams must pay the league $1 for every dollar over the tax line they sit; this money is distributed to non-tax teams. By being one penny over the line, you lose about $3 million in pay-out cash right away ... plus that 100% tax penalty. It's brutal.)

But it's worse than that. Teams below the potential new tax line will probably sign free agents or draft picks. Philadelphia, for example, has no starter level point guard (except combo guard Lou Williams) signed for 2010. Portland and Detroit are expected to play in the market; already thin Atlanta has to deal with restricted free agents Marvin Williams and Josh Childress.

But perhaps this is all more troublesome for teams like Washington, Phoenix, Utah and Denver -- teams already expected to be over the tax. With the previously anticipated tax line, the Wizards (second worst team in the league) needed to cut $4-5 million off their 2009-10 payroll to slip under the tax threshold. Not necessarily easy, but not a pending apocolypse. If the threshold falls to $65 million, Washington suddenly has $11 million in salary to cut, and one year to do so.

And the team will win less than 20 games this season.

Phoenix is trying desperately to exile a 26-year-old all-NBA first-teamer to get under the line. Think about that. This isn't solely a product of Robert Sarver's fidgety ways, or some sort of bad juju in the Valley of the Sun. Multiple teams might be doing this by next February. San Antonio cannot pay the tax -- let alone a few million in tax. Could Tony Parker or an expiring Manu Ginobili hit the fire sale trade market? Denver has a ton of salary tied up in four players, one of which (Kenyon Martin) you couldn't sell for a second-round draft pick in this climate. Unless Stan Kroenke can take a big hit, the Nuggets may very well be forced to pawn off Nene, 'Melo or B-b-b-billups.

We're waiting for New Orleans to break up a team that came a game away from winning the No. 1 seed in the West last season because of the 2009-10 luxury tax, and that's incredibly sad. Multiple that by 10, and that's what we could very well get over the next season. If you hated all the Summer of '10 manuvering because the trades focuses on cap space instead of talent, imagine how you'll feel when a third of the league is making moves not for talent, not for cap space ... but to save their owners a few million bucks.

This will be ugly, friends.

[ATHENEA]

Humor me, Paul Popovich
Bruce Jenkins' Three Dot Blog : The Essential Touch of Humor
The Essential Touch of Humor
By Bruce Jenkins

Last year at this time, speculation concerning potential NBA champions was complete guesswork. Right now, putting aside the injury factor, only four teams -- the Lakers, San Antonio, Boston and Cleveland -- have a chance to win it.

Things were going beautifully in Orlando until point guard Jameer Nelson was apparently lost for the season with a dislocated shoulder. He was vital to the flow of the Magic's offense, aside from being a clutch outside shooter and team leader. There was early-season talk about Detroit, but the Chauncey Billups-Allen Iverson trade destroyed the Pistons' chemistry. Most of the talk in Detroit now concerns unloading the expiring contracts of Iverson and Rasheed Wallace and preparing for the free-agent windfall in the summer of 2010.

As for the West, we'd handicap it this way:

1. Lakers. We saw their remarkable capability when they went 6-0 on their recent road trip, finishing off season sweeps of the Celtics and Cavaliers while getting a 61-point game from Kobe in Madison Square Garden. Their only potential problem is the return of Andrew Bynum. In opting against surgery to repair his injured knee, he has to be diligent in his rehabilitation and get back in plenty of time for the playoffs. If he slips up, or has a setback, he'll either (1) return too late or (2) leave doubt as to exactly how he fits into the Pau Gasol-Lamar Odom frontcourt.

Another key factor is fatigue. Without Bynum in the second half of the season last year, Bryant played a ton of minutes and eventually wore down in the Finals against Boston. He was getting plenty of rest this year until Bynum went down. It's true that the worst of the Lakers' schedule is over, but if they really want that home-court advantage against everybody, Kobe faces a lot of demanding fourth quarters.

2. San Antonio. Loved it when coach Paul Popovich rested Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Michael Finley after the Spurs made a late-night trip from Oakland to Denver in a back-to-back. Not one of them played a minute against the Nuggets, causing a bit of outrage within the league. Popovich, sublimely marching to his own drummer, couldn't have cared less. The decision gave each of those players a five-day break, especially relevant for Duncan and Parker since they won't have an All-Star break (as members of the West team). Great move. Typical San Antonio smarts. Nobody wants to face these guys in the playoffs, and remember, Ginobili is likely to be at full strength this time around.

3. Utah. Deron Williams has been destroying people lately. He's finally healthy, routinely going for 30 points and running the floor as well as anyone in the league. I'd never place the Jazz this high if they couldn't get a healthy Williams, Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko on the floor at once. It hasn't happened yet, but there's hope for the playoffs, and Boozer's absence has allowed for the noticeable blossiming of Paul Millsap.

4. New Orleans. Another underachieving team, but you can't discount the Paul-David West combination when things start to get serious. Paul takes the court in a manner suggesting he owns the league, and while that isn't quite true, he's got a way about him. Don't forget the James Posey factor, either, when the playoffs start.

5. Denver. The Nuggets still have a huge knucklehead factor (Kenyon Martin, J.R. Smith), but Billups' arrival made a tremendous difference and Carmelo Anthony has a lot to prove after being left off the All-Star team. They'll be very difficlt to beat at home.

6. Dallas. Things picked up when coach Rick Carlisle left the play-calling up to Jason Kidd, but these guys never seem to get everyone healthy at once. With Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Josh Howard in flow, they could at least win a first-round series -- but they'd better finish higher than sixth.

7. Houston. No chance to do anything of consequence. Tracy McGrady is now feuding with everyone -- fans, executives, media -- over the state of his knee. Nobody can believe he's that injured, since he takes the floor most of the time, but he says he's in genuine pain, all the while turning people off with that hangdog look on his face. Yao Ming is a nice player and everything, but has a streak of reticence that makes him vulnerable to every serious center-power forward in the league. Ron Artest routinely shackles the offensive flow when he gets the ball and looks for his own shot. Plus, these guys are sniping at each other. Over. Done.

8. Portland. Still waiting for center Greg Oden to develop. Some feel that won't ever happen, not in a major way, but without Oden as a genuine force, they're still a bit too young. If they make a dent in the playoffs, it will be because Brandon Roy reminds so many people of Oscar Robertson and Walt Frazier, a floor leader with measured pace and unlimited capability. There isn't a player in the league with more class. Love to watch Rudy Fernandez, too, and all of the Blazers when they're rolling. It just seems that they're a year or two away.

9. Phoenix. The odd team out. Replacing Porter with Alvin Gentry doesn't figure to make much difference at this stage of the season, especially if the Suns unload Stoudemire in a cost-cutting deal and get nothing close to equal value in return. The Suns' grim decline will have Steve Nash looking toward New York or Toronto (his two favorite places) when he's free in 2010.

[ATHENEA]

Phoenix - Valley Fever - 2009 NBA All-Star Game: Defense (For a Change), Jumpshots, and Forced Drama
2009 NBA All-Star Game: Defense (For a Change), Jumpshots, and Forced Drama
By Martin Cizmar
The only thing the sports media love more than a good feud is a half-assed gesture to end it under meaningless circumstances. So it was that Kobe and Shaq were forced to awkwardly hoist a trophy together at the 2009 NBA All-Star game, just as they did back when they were three-time champions together, long before Shaq dissed Kobe in every medium available, including a famous freestyle in which the big man repeatedly rapped, "Kobe, tell me how my ass taste."

Now, how exactly the two men became co-MVPs when there was fan voting at work is a little mysterious. Did both guys really get exactly the same number of votes by text message? Damn, what are the odds?! But since the moment provided the only real excitement in a humdrum night at US Airways Center, we'll cut the league some slack.

Actually "humdrum" may be too nice a word. The 2009 NBA All-Star Game was a real slog, from start to finish. For some inexplicable reason, the players decided to play defense until the final minutes, which pretty much wrecked the vibe of a night that's usually an aerobatic spectacle. We saw more spectacularly missed dunks than made ones and the East squad alone hoisted up 34 three-point attempts. Yes, 34 three-pointers. In an All-Star Game. Oof.

Here are the rest of our thoughts from the cheap seats.

* There was Lakers gear everywhere at the arena. Guess folks decided to travel from L.A. for the day.
* It's amazing how many looky-loos show up at these things, waiting behind a barricade for hours, hoping for a fleeting glance at the back of Allen Iverson's freshly shorn head. Actually, maybe amazing isn't the right word . . . pathetic?
* The introductions are always a great time to gauge the mood of the crowd. Turns out this one was pretty heavily Western, and all-together anti-Spurs. Tony Parker and Tim Duncan were booed lustily. Kobe got a mix. Yao Ming did pretty well. LeBron James and Allen Iverson did very well.
* Did anyone else know Grant Hill's wife has been nominated for four Grammys? Sure, she didn't win any, but that's still super-impressive.
* If Suns Coach Terry Porter was at the game, we didn't see him. From the looks of things, he's getting ready to get the ax sometime today.
* Does Jordin Sparks have to sing the anthem at every single nationally televised sporting event originating in the greater Phoenix area? We like the girl, but we feel we know every note she's going to hit at this point.
* Shaq stole the show, doing a routine with a dance troupe called JabbaWockeeZ during his introduction. To us, Shaq's mask looked like the one Buckethead wears, but of course the enigmatic axman is much more a fan of LeBron than the Diesel. Here's the video of that little stunt.

[ATHENEA]

All-Star Game: Western vs. Eastern: Result: 146-119 on Sunday: Basketball, SportsYA in English
Together for Western success
The Western Conference took a 146-119 triumph over the Eastern at the All-Star Game; Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal meeting was the highlight at the big NBA event.
The 58th All-Star Game finished with a 146-119 triumph for the Western Conference over the Eastern. The event, which was held at the US Airways Center, Phoenix, was not interesting at all, but the attendance wanted to see just how LA Lakers' Kobe Bryant and Phoenix Suns' Shaquille O'Neal shared the MVP award at the end of the event.

This is so even when O’Neal wasn't the most important player at the beginning of the 21st century; indeed, Kove deserved it more, but it was like an accolade instead of an award.

As for the game, it was not good. The Western Conference win (the sixth in the last ten years) was not the outcome of the performances of the two MVP (27 points from Kobe, 17 points from Shaq) but of the great display of their teammates.

Hornets' Chris Paul got a double-double; Suns' Amare Stoudemire had 19 points and six rebounds, while Pau Gasol showed how he evolved from his debut in 2006.

The Spaniard player, Tony Parker and Brandon Roy scored 14 points each, while Spurs' Tim Duncan and Rockets' Yao Ming were like ghosts.

[ATHENEA]

This All-Star Game was a tribute to Shaquille O'Neal - Ian Thomsen - SI.com
Good vibes abound in what might be Shaq's All-Star Game farewell
By Ian Thomsen
PHOENIX -- "If I hear one more guy start a sentence with, 'In this economy ...'" complained a team executive as we drank beer in a dive bar Friday before a fight broke out among the locals.

It was a place that was supposed to mimic an English pub, especially if you've never been to England or you've never spoken English. The fight started at one of the pool tables and worked its way across the floor to the opposite wall, where one man slammed another up against a Bud Light poster whilst (as they say in English pubs) a shrieking woman rained blows upon his head.

People are going to lose their tempers from time to time, especially in this economy.

Here were some of the most exciting things I saw this All-Star Weekend.

1. The bar fight.

2. The 11 minutes played by Shaquille O'Neal in the West's otherwise uninspired 146-119 win. (RECAP | BOX SCORE)

3. The pregame dance performed by Shaq behind a white mask in the company of the JabbaWockeeZ. "A-plus on the dance floor,'' said Kobe Bryant, who scored 27 points and shared the All-Star MVP award with Shaq and was sharing a press conference stage with him now.

"I appreciate that,'' answered Shaq, who added 17 points.

"That size, moving and all that,'' said Bryant. "He didn't show you the windmill, though.''

"Can't,'' said Shaq, who turns 37 next month.

4. The two chin-ups Shaq performed while hanging on the rim after a third-quarter dunk.

5. The give-and-go pass that Shaq bounced through Dwight Howard's legs on his way to a dunk from Bryant.

6. Shaq's no-look courtlength outlet to Tony Parker.

7. The attempt by 7-1 Shaq to guard 6-1 Mo Williams at the three-point line.

The point here being that the game didn't mean much of anything for the 37 minutes when Shaq wasn't playing. Of course it got off to a start that was entertaining enough, between Tim Duncan whistling through his teeth at the ferocity of a Howard dunk, and Mr. and Mrs. John McCain clapping in exaggerated support of Eva Longoria as they sat courtside while cheering every basket by Tony Parker. But then O'Neal arrived 6:16 into the opening quarter, and the whole game elevated as if he was standing upon the other end of the scale.

In turn, when he wasn't in the game, it sank.

Shaq used his first touch to pass the ball back out to Kobe. He returned the gesture by lobbing to Shaq, who dunked and dangled comically from the rim while its reinforced steel appeared to wilt like the Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

When they ran the pick and roll it was like a reunion of the Star Trek characters in their first movie, like The Police coming back together despite their personality differences. For Shaq and Kobe, there was no room for argument any longer, especially in this economy.

It is a simple truth that success can bring out the worst in people. When times were good across our great land, Shaq and Kobe could afford to fight and divorce in their argument over how to split the riches of their marriage. Now that times are bad, they -- and their league -- need for them to get along. That's why it was arranged that they would be co-MVPs.

Let's be honest. Does anyone really think the MVP vote was split evenly, that Shaq and Kobe received exactly the same number of ballots between them? (For that matter, can anybody believe that the slam-dunk contest Saturday wasn't rigged for Nate Robinson and Howard to meet in the final? Come now: Special shoes had been manufactured for them, and a phone booth had been installed for Howard to disappear into and a specially assembled 12-foot basket had been prepared for him to dunk on -- and Rudy Fernandez was supposed to believe he had any chance of displacing either one of them?) But the vote was surely close between Shaq and Kobe and no harm was done because it was the right call all around. In an economy like this, feel-good stories are especially valuable.

Now some people are going to make more of it than it was. They're going to wax romantically on what Shaq and Kobe could have been had their temper been more playful and less competitive. But they're going to be making too much of a night at the theater.

A closer version of the truth emerged at the press conference they shared afterwards.

Shaq: "It felt like old times. I miss those times. He was really looking for me, especially when we went to a pick-and-roll and they had Rashard Lewis on me. He was really looking for me.''

Kobe: "We are not going to go back to the room and watch Steel Magnolias or something like that. You know what I'm saying, crying all that stuff. We had a good time. That's all.''

One big difference between them now is that Shaq is a natural salesman who believes in selling. Kobe believes the performance should sell itself, and very often, in his case, it does.

The point of this evening wasn't so much a NBAish reunion of Lennon and McCartney. What it turned into was a big, happy tribute to Shaq, who played only 11 minutes yet was the biggest person in the room. Even during timeouts he took over by singing love songs and Caribbean Queen on the jumbotron.

"The game don't look back on a lot of players that come through the league,'' said LeBron James. "But Shaq is definitely one of those guys you always look back on and wish he was still around.''

When commissioner David Stern handed them the single MVP trophy, Shaq made a show of trying to grab it out of Kobe's hands. At the press conference afterwards it sat upon the table equidistant between them.

"Kobe is the best player in the league,'' said Shaq in a hoarse whisper. "So A-plus on that side. And A-plus for being a great guy. He even let me take the trophy home for my boys, so I appreciate him for that. He said I could have it.''

Shaq is approaching the end of his career, and he talked about wanting to make the most of what may be his final All-Star game. But Kobe is 30, with one less NBA championship than the four won by Shaq, and he has a different outlook altogether.

"We got a tough week coming up,'' Bryant said. "We got Atlanta, going back-to-back up against Golden State, which is always tough. As soon as I leave this podium, it is time to get back down to business.''

His face was drawn tight, looking ahead. Shaq's was relaxed in a grin, looking back. The NBA needs both, especially in this economy.

[ATHENEA]

2009 NBA All-Star Games grades - Chris Mannix - SI.com
2009 NBA All-Star Games grades
By Chris Mannix
Western Conference

A
Kobe Bryant, G
29 min., 27 points (12-23 FG, 3-8 3PT), 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals
Here's why Bryant will be a favorite in every All-Star Game he's in: He plays to win. There were no trick shots in Bryant's bag Sunday night, just a steady stream of runners, fadeaways and three-point shots. Like Kevin Garnett, Bryant doesn't seem to have an intensity-off switch.
A
Chris Paul, G
29 min., 14 points (7-14 FG), 7 rebounds, 14 assists, 3 steals
He wreaked havoc in the passing lanes all night, finishing with three steals, and took frequent advantage of the officials' "reluctance" to make traveling calls. He also was part of the play of the night in the third quarter, a give-and-go with Shaq that began with O'Neal threading a bounce past through the legs of Dwight Howard.
D
Yao Ming, C
12 min., 2 points (1-4 FG), 3 rebounds
The West's low scorer struggled all night, even having a shot swatted away by Dwight Howard in the second half. Perhaps the burden of having to carry the Rockets all season slowed him down.
A-
Amare Stoudemire, F
25 min., 19 points (7-10 FG, 5-6 FT), 6 rebounds
The buzz on press row before the game was that Stoudemire, whose name has been attached to trade rumors all week, would make a strong run for the MVP award. He did, finishing as the West's second-leading scorer. Could this be the last time Stoudemire graces the U.S. Airways Center in a "home" uniform?
B
Tim Duncan, F
18 min., 6 points (3-5 FG), 3 rebounds, 2 assists
The workmanlike Duncan doesn't draw oohs and ahhs from the crowd (a 15-foot bank shot just doesn't have the same appeal of a windmill dunk), but like in San Antonio, Duncan didn't miss one defensive rotation. Take that, Kobe!
C
Chauncey Billups, G
19 min., 5 points (2-5 FG, 1-3 3PT), 2 rebounds, 3 assists
Suiting up for the West for the first time, Billups didn't exactly distinguish himself. That's OK though. Mr. Big Shot must be saving it for the playoffs.
A
Tony Parker, G
20 min., 14 points (7-11 FG), 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Parker's grade gets a boost thanks to the superior performance of wife Eva Longoria, who by the end of the first quarter had converted John McCain and his wife into a Parker fan. The former presidential candidate was spotted cheering raucously alongside the Desperate Housewives star after every Parker bucket.
B+
Brandon Roy, G
31 min., 14 points (7-8 FG), 5 rebounds, 5 assists
Typical Roy. He's the West's most efficient perimeter player and half the crowd didn't realize he was on the floor. Some day, when the Bryants and Shaqs are retired, Roy is going to get some much-deserved recognition. I think.
A
Shaquille O'Neal, C
11 min., 17 points (8-9 FG, 1-4 FT), 5 rebounds, 3 assists
The Big Cactus gets an 'A' for entertainment for his smooth performance with The Jabberwockies during the pre-game introductions. O'Neal was pretty good on the floor too.
B+
Pau Gasol, F
17 min., 14 points (5-7 FG, 4-4 FT), 8 rebounds
Gasol deserves extra credit for being part of fellow Spaniard Rudy Fernandez's spectacular behind-the-backboard dunk Saturday night. He deserves even more credit for scoring the quietest 14 points in All-Star Game history.
B
Dirk Nowitzki, F
14 min., 8 points (3-5 FG, 2-2 FT), 1 rebound, 3 assists
Nowitzki has had a number of explosive scoring nights in Phoenix, but Sunday night wasn't one of them. He did make the most of his playing time, scoring with his trademark high-arcing jump shot.
B-
David West, F
14 min., 6 points (3-5 FG), 3 rebounds
West tied Dirk Nowitzki for team low in minutes. And he had six points. And he didn't do much else.

Eastern Conference

D
Allen Iverson, G
16 min., 2 points (1-4 FG), 1 rebound, 3 assists
Gotta love AI. Despite a less-than-All-Star-worthy season (and a ho-hum All-Star appearance that included a missed running layup attempt that sailed over the backboard), Iverson still seemed to be enjoying the moment. When colorfully dressed TNT reporter Craig Sager walked by the East bench, Iverson yanked up Sager's pant leg to reveal an even more colorful sock. Iverson's response: "Damn!" His reaction could be heard three rows deep.
A-
Dwyane Wade, G
27 min., 18 points (6-13 FG, 2-6 3PT, 4-7 FT), 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals
Remember when we thought Wade's broken body meant his All-Star years were behind him? Save for a few errant three-pointers, Wade was arguably the East's top performer. More than a few members of the press commented that if Jermaine O'Neal had anything left in the tank, the Heat are going to be a tough out.
B
Dwight Howard, C
28 min., 13 points (5-11 FG, 0-2 3PT, 3-5 FT), 9 rebounds, 3 blocks
The recently dethroned Slam Dunk champ had the slam of the night in the first quarter when he threw down a monster one-handed jam between Yao Ming and Tim Duncan. As he turned to chase the ball, Duncan mouthed "wow" in the direction of press row. High praise from the low-key Duncan.
B
LeBron James, F
29 min., 20 points (8-19 FG, 2-5 3PT, 2-2 FT), 5 rebounds, 3 assists
Not King James' finest performance. The NBA's MVP front-runner forced a lot of shots in the lane in the first half, though he rallied in the second half and tossed in more than a few spectacular finishes, including a driving, spinning, possibly four-step reverse layup in the fourth quarter.
B+
Kevin Garnett, F
19 min., 12 points (5-5 FG, 2-2 FT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists
You would think Garnett would tone down his intense pre-game rituals for an All-Star event. Not so much. KG was his usual stanchion-pounding, chest-thumping self before the game and a defensive menace during it, as he and Tim Duncan engaged in a surprisingly spirited mano-a-mano.
B-
Devin Harris, G
17 min., 6 points (3-6 FG), 1 rebound
Harris gets props for giving Dirk Nowitzki the "I-can't-believe-I-used-to-play-with-this-guy" face and Tony Parker the "I'm-so-happy-you-got-the-hell-out-of-my-conference" grin. Otherwise a pretty solid performance in the first of what should be many All-Star appearances from Harris.
B+
Mo Williams, G
17 min., 12 points (5-10 FG, 2-5 3PT), 2 rebounds, 5 assists
And to think, a year ago Williams was languishing in basketball purgatory in Milwaukee. A solid All-Star debut for LeBron's sidekick, who showcased his impressive penetrating skills and a feathery jump shot.
F
Joe Johnson, G
22 min., 0 points (0-4 FG, 0-3 3PT), 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 5 TOs
Johnson's performance ranks up with the worst in All-Star history. Seriously. Johnson's stat line was a row of goose eggs, save for the ghastly five turnovers he committed. Maybe he didn't like playing with anyone from Boston.
C
Ray Allen, G
18 min., 8 points (4-10 FG, 0-3 3PT), 3 rebounds
Blame it on the thumb, Ray. The injury replacement was injured himself when he hurt his right thumb last Wednesday. Maybe that had something to do with his un-Allen-like three-point shooting.
B+
Paul Pierce, F
20 min., 18 points (6-11 FG, 1-5 3PT, 5-6 FT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Think Pierce wanted the MVP award? He led the East with 14 first-half points and was in attack mode the entire night. Unfortunately, Pierce cooled considerably in the second half as the West pulled away.
B-
Rashard Lewis, F
21 min., 8 points (3-6 FG, 1-4 3PT, 1-2 FT), 6 rebounds
Poor Lewis. With Chris Bosh injured, the spindly, 6-foot-10 Lewis was the East's backup center and spent most of his minutes banging bodies with the 7-1 Shaq and the 7-5 Yao. But as he has many times with Orlando, Lewis created and took advantage of mismatches by forcing the West's big men to defend him on the perimeter.
B-
Danny Granger, F
11 min., 2 points (1-1 FG), 1 rebounds
SI.com colleague Ian Thomsen summed up Granger's night best after the first-time All-Star slammed home his only shot of the night. "That's it," Thomsen said. "Just point to the coach and yank yourself out of the game."

[ATHENEA]

NFL, no longer NBA, haven for thug life - CBSSports.com News, Fantasy, Video
NFL, no longer NBA, haven for thug life
By Mike Freeman

All-Stars Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan are two faces of the new NBA. (Getty Images)

PHOENIX -- As you spent time around NBA players this weekend there was an inescapable conclusion: These are a bunch of really good guys.

As you read about yet another NFL player getting busted by the police, see Buffalo's Marshawn Lynch charged with carrying a concealed weapon in a car, you again believe a conclusion reached some time ago: the NFL continues to be goon-filled.
Professional basketball was once (mostly wrongly) considered the epicenter for the Thug Life. Now, the NFL is (mostly correctly) viewed as Bone Thugs-N-Harmony 2.0.

The NFL is now the TFL: Thug Football League, and the NBA is now the NBA: Nerd Basketball Association.

The NFL and NBA have switched personas and stereotypes. Finally, after years of being allowed a major pass for the violent acts of its players, football is being held more accountable by the media and fans, and the ugly acts being constantly perpetrated by its players are beginning to stick.

The NBA is different. As the Allen Iversons and Ron Artests fade into Bolivian, as Mike Tyson would say, the new NBA is being overrun by smart, Page Ranking-conscious athletes with fewer and fewer blemishes. Dwight Howard is arguably the league's most popular player not named LeBron or Kobe. He's a 6-foot-11 geek and good dude whose primary goal seems to be to make fans enjoy themselves.
The day there's a warrant out for Chris Paul's arrest is the day someone proves the moon landing was faked.

On and on I could go. Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Yao Ming and dozens of other NBA players are the type of people women could bring home to mom. Meanwhile, NFL players are busy kidnapping moms.

Even former NBA players have revamped their images while football players destroy theirs. Magic Johnson went from a player who acquired HIV through an alleged promiscuous lifestyle into a successful businessman heroically fighting the disease.

And does anyone even remember that Kobe Bryant was once accused of a vicious rape?

James is one of the most scrutinized athletes on the planet and the worst you can say about him is that he doesn't take strong stances on practically any matter. If that's the ugliest remark that can be said about James, he's doing pretty well.

This isn't to say that NBA players are perfect. That would be foolish. So would stating there are no good guys in professional football. Of course there are.

But the TFL continues to embarrass itself. From Plaxico "Gunsmoke" Burress to Pacman "Crimetime" Jones. Recently, Pittsburgh kicker Jeff Reed was cited for disorderly conduct and criminal mischief after teaching a gas station towel dispenser who was boss. The best receiver in the sport, Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald, was accused of domestic violence.

The examples are plentiful and recent and it takes just five minutes on the Internet to compile a list with the aid of various websites. Buffalo's Ko Simpson was accused of hindering police as they tried to make an arrest. San Diego's Vincent Jackson was arrested yet again for suspicion of DUI. Dallas player Anthony Spencer was arrested on a charge of public intoxication and disorderly conduct. Jonathan Vilma of New Orleans was arrested on a charge of reckless driving and resisting arrest. Those arrests came just a handful of days into the month of January.

But wait.

There's more.

Pittsburgh tight end Jonathan Dekker was arrested on a charge of obstruction of justice. Seattle linebacker Leroy Hill was arrested on a charge of marijuana possession after police found him asleep behind the wheel of a car. Kansas City tight end Michael Merritt was arrested on suspicion of marijuana possession.

There was a time when players were scared of commissioner Roger Goodell. That time has clearly elapsed. They're no longer listening to Goodell's pleas to conduct their personal lives in a more professional manner or fear his once epic beat downs of offending asses.

The accusation against Lynch is typical of some TFL players. We all make mistakes, but many of these guys make repeated and serious ones, never learning from their original screw up. Lynch is lucky he even has an NFL career. He was accused of hit-and-run last year and gutlessly took his time admitting that he was behind the wheel of a car that struck a Canadian woman.

After an incident in which he could've killed someone, does Lynch keep his head low and his gonads out of the vice? Nope. He allegedly packs a concealed weapon and is busted by police.

And you know what? I think fans -- finally -- are tiring of the stupidity and the antics. It has taken awhile but fans are finally getting fed up and caring about more than the impact of a player's arrest on his fantasy value.

The new NFL is the old NBA and the new NBA is the old NFL.

Or should I say, TFL.

[ATHENEA]

After reading so much about the state of the NBA I think Stern has to thank the Spurs organization for both present image and style of play in the L.
If it weren't for our Big Three and the professional approach of its members, many franchises wouldn't have changed to adjust to us.
And in doing so, they magnified the imprint of this generation of Spurs

[ATHENEA]

Trade talk: NBA trade buzz gets louder as deadline approaches - ESPN
Trade buzz as deadline approaches
By Marc Stein
(...)
---------------------------------
Vince Carter is the name that was repeatedly linked with Szczerbiak's contract throughout the first few months of the season, but you certainly don't hear that link anymore.


Carter to San Antonio, meanwhile, is another long shot, but something you might have to monitor this week.

The Spurs indeed have some interest in Vinsanity and have weighed the feasibility of lodging a bid. But, given that they're not breaking up their big three, they'd almost certainly have to trade Roger Mason, Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto and at least one other regular (such as Kurt Thomas or Michael Finley) to make it happen. They'd also have to believe that Carter is an over-the-top piece to take the highly un-Spurs-like step of shaking up their roster so forcefully ... and doing so in-season.

There is reason to believe that the Spurs don't believe Carter meets that prerequisite, judging by Tim Duncan's comments during All-Star Weekend.

"No offense to Vince; obviously he's an excellent player," Duncan said. "We'd love to have him. But to give up most of our team to add one guy, I don't think that's the way you want to go."

And ...

"It's a long season and we have a lot of guys who have been here a long time and understand the way we want to play," Duncan said. "Just to insert one new piece and try to teach him in half a season the way we want to play isn't the way that we work."

San Antonio's bigger problem here, even if management thinks the idea is better than Duncan makes it sound, is actually the economics. Carter is scheduled to earn $17.5 million in the 2010-11 season, with $4 million of his $18.3 million guaranteed in 2011-12. Those are huge numbers for the small-market Spurs to swallow.
------------------------------
(...)

[ATHENEA]

Fantasy Basketball Advice | RotoRob
The Hidden Truth: FG Percentage, Part One
By Alex Hardin

Welcome to the first edition of The Hidden Truth, a new NBA fantasy column in which I will be focusing on exposing the stats and players that win fantasy leagues. For instance, everyone knows Allen Iverson can hoop, but what are the consequences of starting him in your fantasy league? Does he shoot a high percentage? For those Roto-lovers out there, all categories are equal. First place in steals is the same as first place in points. So let’s dive in!

The first edition of this column will focus on field goal percentage. It is evident that if you take more shots farther from the rim, your shooting percentage is usually lower, so you have to take these rankings with a grain of salt. Just because Chauncey Billups shoots a low percentage does not make him a worse fantasy player than Ronnie Brewer, who is in the top 10 in FG percentage. To build a championship fantasy hoops squad, you must be balanced, but it does help to have guys with high field goal percentages at all positions.

Today we will look at the guards.

Top 10 High Percentage Finishers

1. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics (50.3%): The Celtic point guard is a solid fantasy player as he puts up decent points, assists, rebounds, and steals, but he shines in the field goal percentage category. This is a product of taking good shots in a good system, but man has he ever come a long way from his rookie season when his shooting was considered a major weakness.

2. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets (49.6%): Mr. Do-it-all also does not miss too often.

3. Ronnie Brewer, Utah Jazz (49.5%): Jerry Sloan likes this slasher because he gets good shots. People may see him as a role player, but he is averaging over 13 PPG this season.

4. Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors (49.4%): Calderon does it a little differently — even though he is more of an outside shooter than Rondo or Tony Parker, he will help you in FG percentage just as much.

5. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs (49.4%): The Frenchman has perfected his 15-to-18 foot jumper from dead-on. This compliments his drives to the basket which create high percentage layups.

6. Ray Allen, Boston Celtics (49.1%): For a guy who chucks up threes at an alarming rate, it is a surprise that Ray-Ray clocks in at sixth on the list. I think people discount all of the layups he gets on baseline drives after doing a pump fake.

7. Andre Miller, Philadelphia 76ers (47.9%): The steady point guard always finds a way to take good shots.

8. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat (47.8%): Flash is back and he is doing his thing.

9. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (47.5%): Kobe makes more difficult shots than anyone in the league.

10. Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers (47.4%): Roy has a nice jumper, but he also can finish near the rim, as we saw on his dramatic game-winning bucket against the Knicks recently.

Honourable mention: Derrick Rose (47.3%), Leandro Barbosa (47.2%), Mike Miller (47.2%), Deron Williams (47.2%), Steve Nash (46.8%), Mo Williams (46.8%)

Note: Jameer Nelson was shooting over 50 per cent from the field, but he is now out for the season, so he was not included on this list.

Top 10 Clankers

1. Baron Davis, Los Angeles Clippers (35.2%): Too many bad shots coupled with injury problems has left B-Diddy as a bust this season.

2. Tracy McGrady (38.8%), Houston Rockets: T-Mac loves to shoot and can be very streaky. Now, he’s on the shelf.

3. Raymond Felton, Charlotte Bobcats (39.4%): Will learn to take better shots.

4. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (40.7%): The former UCLA guard will get better with time as he works off Durant.

5. Randy Foye, Minnesota Timberwolves (40.9%): Nobody in American has seen all of the misses. Have the Timberwolves ever played on national TV?

6. Chauncey Billups, Denver Nuggets (41.6%): Mr. Big Shot is also Mr. Big Miss, but in fairness, he shoots a lot of three balls, and that hurts his percentage.

7. Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks (41.6%): His jumper is as ugly as his kid.

8. Jamal Crawford, Golden State Warriors (41.7%): This baller could drop 30 points or shoot under 30 per cent on any given night.

9. Kevin Martin, Sacramento Kings (41.9%): He forces it a lot, but then again the Kings do suck, so who else is going to chuck it up?

10. Allen Iverson, Detroit Pistons (42.1%): AI has always been a “volume” shooter…everywhere he goes.

Dishonourable mention: Mike Conley (42.4%), Chris Duhon (42.4%), Derek Fisher (42.4%), Mario Chalmers (42.6%), Roger Mason (42.7%), Joe Johnson (43.3%), Nate Robinson (43.8%), Vince Carter (43.9%).

As mentioned before, this list does not determine a player’s overall worth. It is just one factor you should consider when building your fantasy lineup. Also, bear in mind that I tried to focus on fantasy relevant players. I am not going to argue if you say Daniel “Booby” Gibson should be on the list because his percentage is lower than Billups. However, in my mind, anyone named Booby should be a fantasy free agent.

Next: On Wednesday, we’ll take a look at the top-shooting and worst-shooting Forwards.

[ATHENEA]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=11605
Mid-Day Report: Duncan Passes on VC
By: Preetom Bhattacharya

Duncan Passes on VC: The team that has thus far been linked to New Jersey Nets' shooting guard Vince Carter most often is the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs have reportedly put together a package that includes Roger Mason, Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto, and Kurt Thomas, and many believe that the Nets will waive Oberto and Bowen, who are then expected to re-sign with the Spurs at some point before the Playoffs.

Still, though, a four-for-one swap is impossible unless the Nets clear up roster space before making the deal, which isn't something they have done yet.

Additionally, it seems unlikely that the Spurs would be able to commit to Carter's immense salary, though, as he's owed a guaranteed $21.5 million thorough 2012 ($17.5 million for 2010-2011 + $4-million of his $18.3 million guaranteed in 2011-2012; the Spurs could pay the $4-million to get out of the full $18.3 if they choose). For a smaller-market franchise committed to keeping Manu Ginobili (owed $10.7 million through 2010), Tim Duncan (owed $62.1 million), and Tony Parker (owed $26.1 million), Carter's addition could be too much to handle. (NOTE: these salary figures do not count monies owed this season)

But the financial issues aren't the only ones that make a trade for Carter unlikely, as it doesn't really sound like Spurs' star Tim Duncan wants to put a package for Carter together. "No offense to Vince, obviously he's an excellent player," Duncan told Marc Stein of ESPN.com, "We'd love to have him. But to give up most of our team to add one guy, I don't think that's the way you want to go."

Duncan does have a point; should the Spurs chase Carter, giving up that much might not be wise.

Mason has become the team's most deadly outside shooter, fourth-leading scorer (11.9-points per game), and third-most in playing time (30.4 minutes per game, more than Manu Ginobili even). Mason's presence on the floor is huge not only because he extends defenses, allowing more space for Tony Parker to slice through or for Duncan to operate in the post, but because he has already hit five game-winners this season. Having someone that is that clutch on a team chasing championship aspirations is huge.

But losing Mason isn't the only blow, as losing Bowen, Thomas, and Oberto as well really does hurt. All of these guys have been around the Spurs for some time and know the system, know how to produce without necessarily putting up huge stats. Bowen's annoyingly tough defense and scrappy play is a reflection of what head coach Gregg Popovich wants from his role players; Oberto and Thomas definitely bring their lunch pails to work as well.

"It's a long season and we have a lot of guys who have been here a long time and understand the way we want to play," Duncan continued. "Just to insert one new piece and try to teach him in half a season the way we want to play isn't the way we work."

On the New Jersey end of things, team president Rod Thorn told Fred Kerber of the New York Post that no deals are imminent right now and the Nets are still working the phones to see what the best opportunities are.

"We still have a few days," Thorn said. "But as of right now, we have nothing. We've talked to a bunch of teams but we have nothing going on."

With days left before the deadline, this story could end up being interesting to follow .. or it might already be dead.

[ATHENEA]

HoopsHype.com NBA Blogs - Marc Narducci
NBA Blogs - By Marc Narducci
When the San Antonio Spurs got off to a 2-5 start and were hobbled with some key injuries, it was open game for the skeptics. One nitwit even suggested that if things didn’t improve that the Spurs faced the real prospect of missing the postseason for the first time since the 1996-97 season.

Sadly, the person who wrote that forgettable sentence was yours truly in an article for HH.com during the second week of November.

Fast forward to the post NBA all-star break portion of the season and the Spurs are in their accustomed position of challenging for an NBA title.

Two points should be made of the situation.

One, you shouldn’t believe everything you read. And second, it’s both unwise and premature to begin doubting the capability of San Antonio.

In fairness to the skeptics (i.e. me) Manu Ginobili still hadn’t played early in the season while recovering from ankle surgery. Adding to the Spurs woes, Tony Parker had just suffered a sprained ankle on Nov. 7 in a 99-83 loss to Miami that dropped their record to 1-4.

So the Spurs faced the prospect of competing without two of the Big Three, while the third member of that trio, Tim Duncan was forced to play extended minutes early in the season.

Of course doom didn’t appear on the Spurs’ doorstep. Ginobili’s return provided the expected major spark. In his first 38 games back, the Spurs were 29-9.

Parker missed nine games and the Spurs still managed to go 7-2 in those contests.

Duncan, who was averaging nearly 40 minutes per game early in the season, now has his season average to a manageable 35.3 per game. Look for that total to drop over the final 31 games of the season.

Nobody does a better job of getting his team ready for the postseason than coach Gregg Popovich.

So what happened?

The Spurs have received better than expected production from Roger Mason, who is averaging 11.9 points per game and shooting 44.9 percent from beyond the arc. Plus, as the Phoenix Suns will attest to, Mason has shown a penchant for hitting one big shot after another.

Duncan has in his own quiet way continued to be a 20 and 10 machine. When Parker and Ginobili were both out of the lineup, he carried the team.

Both before and after his injury, Parker has been a dominant point guard and a deserving all-star selection and Ginobili remains as one of the top clutch performers in the NBA.

It has all added up to earning the Spurs the second best record in the Western Conference at the all-star break (35-16).

The Spurs have answered the question of being an NBA title contender. The bigger question is can they win with the team intact or do they have to make a move by the trade deadline?

Good question.

The Spurs can no doubt contend, but contending and winning it all are two different things.

It would appear as if the Spurs would have to add an extra piece if they have designs of winning their fifth NBA title since 1999.

Of course the Spurs have been among the teams rumored to have interest in New Jersey’s Vince Carter. And there is no doubt that adding Carter would move the Spurs right into Laker territory.

However, from this vantage point, it would be a surprise if the Spurs would be able to pull this off.

The Nets would seem to want a potential starter and a possible huge expiring contract and the Spurs don’t seem like a fit here.

Of course there could be other additions that are less expensive that could help the Spurs. For instance Sacramento’s John Salmons has been mentioned as being available and somebody like that who plays good defense and is quietly averaging 18.3 points per game, would be a welcome addition.

Of course, Salmons is scoring a lot of points on a bad Kings team, but the fact remains that he would provide the Spurs with the type of depth they need.

One problem is that the Spurs don’t have a lot to offer other teams. Dangling a player like Bruce Bowen isn’t going to bring a hefty return.

If San Antonio could add a piece, then the Spurs would be awfully dangerous. As it is now, they still will be a difficult team in the playoffs.

Still, one would have to worry about the Spurs depth unless players such as Michael Finley and Kurt Thomas suddenly find the fountain of youth.

And Duncan has carried such a big load this year, that one has to wonder if a player who turns 33 in April will wear down at all when the postseason rolls along.

Keep in mind that there are other teams that would like to have the Spurs so-called problems. With three players who are as dangerous as any trio in the Western Conference, the Spurs have the capability to beat anybody.

Whether changes are made or not, one sure bet is that nobody will relish facing the Spurs in the postseason.

[ATHENEA]

NBA Power Rankings - AthlonSports.com
NBA Power Rankings
By Doug Word

1. L.A. Lakers (42-10) — The defensive effort against the Jazz has Kobe concerned. He doesn't want his teammates to forget what made them successful during their seven-game winning streak and before the 113-109 loss in Salt Lake City. Still, this team has put together a tremendous first half. Look for the intensity to pick up as the playoffs approach.
2. Boston Celtics (44-11) — Two solid road wins in New Orleans and Dallas give Boston the best record in the East at the break. Paul Pierce, who finished with 30 points in New Orleans, delivered 18 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter against the Mavs. Rajon Rondo was remarkable, delivering a 19-point, 15-rebound, 14-assist triple-double in the win.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (40-11) — It took the Cavs nearly four months to lose two straight games, and Tuesday's 96-95 loss in Indianapolis was debatable. Still, Mo Williams made sure Cleveland did not lose back-to-back games at home by pouring in 44 points the next night against the Suns as the Cavs improved to 24-1 this season at The Q.
4. San Antonio Spurs (35-16) — San Antonio dropped a nail-biter in Toronto right before the break, but the good news is the Spurs have just three games remaining — all winnable — on their eight-game road trip. Notoriously a strong second-half team, the Spurs will have a difficult time trying to catch the Lakers for the No. 1 seed. They currently trail L.A. by six-and-a-half games.
5. Denver Nuggets (36-17) — Don't look now, but the Nuggets are in a tussle for the second seed in the West. Think Chauncey Billups has had anything to do with the turnaround in the Rockies? Denver has reeled off nine wins in 11 games including four of five on its season-long eight-game road trip.
6. Orlando Magic (38-13) — Orlando has not looked like itself since losing Jameer Nelson. In Wednesday's 82-73 home loss to Denver, the Magic posted a season-worst 24 turnovers, shot just 30.4 percent and scored a season-low 73 points. It is undeniable that all three categories would have been aided by a healthy Nelson.
7. Portland Trail Blazers (32-20) — Oracle Arena is no easy place to play, but the Blazers need to find a consistent scoring option alongside Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge as the season progresses, particularly on the road where the Blazers are just 12-15 compared to 20-5 at The Rose Garden.
8. Dallas Mavericks (31-21) — After a rough start, Rick Carlisle has done a nice job of holding this team together. Against the Celtics on Thursday, however, he admittedly "blew it" by defending Paul Pierce one-on-one down the stretch. The Mavs also missed Jason Terry's scoring in the fourth quarter, and they'll have to find a viable second and third option to Dirk moving forward.
9. New Orleans Hornets (30-20) — The bad news is the Hornets lost in Memphis and at home against the Celtics last week, but the good news is Chris Paul is back and looks to be near full strength. It will be interesting to see what New Orleans gets in return if the organization decides to part ways with Tyson Chandler before the Feb. 19 trade deadline.
10. Philadelphia 76ers (27-24) — Red-hot entering the break, Philly is suddenly just three-and-a-half games out of the fourth spot in the East. The Sixers have won four straight and are simply a better team without Elton Brand. It will be an interesting offseason to say the least, but Philly could make a charge in the interim.
11. Atlanta Hawks (31-21) — Sure the first half hasn't been perfect for Atlanta, but give Mike Woodson the option of 31 wins at the All-Star break, and odds are he would have taken it. The big road win this team had been looking for came in Detroit on Wednesday. It was the first of six straight, so let's see how the Hawks respond.
12. Miami Heat (28-24) — The big name in the Shawn Marion deal was Jermaine O'Neal, but Jamario Moon is also a big-time acquisition for Miami. His shot-blocking, 3-point shooting and overall athleticism will be a nice fit in South Beach.
13. Utah Jazz (30-23) — Look for Utah to build off of the big win over the Lakers on Wednesday night and turn it around in the second half. Injuries have beset this bunch, but a healthy Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko will jell nicely with the role players that have seen increased playing time in their absence.
14. Houston Rockets (32-21) — A first half filled with injuries and locker room issues have thus far spoiled an excellent opportunity to win a title. Tracy McGrady's left knee injury has been the subject of controversy all season long, and his production will be worth monitoring in the second half.
15. Milwaukee Bucks (26-29) — Milwaukee has claimed rights to the eighth seed in the East at the All-Star break while pouring in an average of 122.3 points over its last three contests. Filling in for the injured Luke Ridnour, Ramon Sessions has been the catalyst with an average of 28.3 points, 12.0 assists and 5.3 rebounds in those three games.

[ATHENEA]

NBA midseason update - Sports
NBA midseason update
Lance Miller

With All-Star weekend now in the rearview mirror, the NBA is officially past the half-way point. As the Association hits the home stretch, it's time to review which teams still got game and which cellar-dwellers are on their way to the Lottery.

#1 Lakers

The Lakers were rolling with Andrew Bynum. However now that he is out, it's Kobe-time.

I don't know what it is about Kobe, but whenever he is faced with some sort of hardship or misfortune he seems to step up his game significantly.

Usually Kobe-time is the fourth quarter, but with Bynum out it will have to be all the time. He is hands down the best player in the league and has a "good enough" supporting cast in the likes of Fisher and Odom. The Lakers take the one seed.

#1 Celtics

The Celtics are looking to repeat as the champs in 2009. Their hunger for the top seed seems to be just as genuine as last year - it's as if they are out to prove to everyone that they still belong there.

Although they are Posey-less, they are still the most well-rounded team in the East, with the deepest bench.

They skidded earlier in the season, but it seems that they have corrected their mistakes and are back on track.

#2 Spurs

The Spurs are No. 2, and that's probably where they will remain for the entire season. They have been essentially the same team for almost a decade.

The Spurs have a great recipe for winning. A teaspoon of Tony Parker, add a cup of Tim Duncan and four ounces of Manu Ginobili, mix thoroughly and enjoy.

However, as was proven last year, San Antonio's age may play a factor come playoff time.

#2 Cavaliers

The Cavs, led by LeBron James, are the No. 2 team in the East. LeBron is just too nasty to stop. He has the size of a power forward and the quicks of a guard.

Also, since he was snubbed from the All-Star game, Mo Williams has been tearing it up for Cleveland in the absence of Delonte West.

With Wally-Z lurking on the perimeter and Big Z doing his thing down low, the Cavs will be a headache come playoff time.

#3 Nuggets

The Nuggest may be over-achieving as the third seed in the West, but don't they look brilliant for trading Iverson for Chauncy Billups?

When you get a veteran point guard with championship hardware on his fingers on your team, then you must be one good general manager.

With Carmelo playing some really nice basketball, the Nuggets have climbed their way to the top tier in the west.

However, competition in the conference is fierce, so a team like Portland or New Orleans can easily creep up and steal this seed.

#3 Magic

The loss of Jameer Nelson, who is likely out for the season with a torn labrum, is detrimental to the No. 3 Magic. Orlando is without a point guard, which essentially means that they are without somebody who can get the ball to their most important player, Dwight Howard.

Guys like Rashard Lewis are really going to have to step it up if Orlando is going to hang on to the No. 3 seed, because before they know it, a hungrier team like Atlanta might creep up and steal their show.

#15 Wizards

As for the worst of the worst, I think that Washington, with 11 wins, is throwing this season away in hopes to bid for the No. 1 pick.

Gilbert Arenas has proven that he is no longer reliable. The Wiz need to start from scratch because star Caron Butler is not a franchise player.

They need to draft somebody that they can rebuild their franchise around. Blake Griffin from Oklahoma would be a nice choice, and Stephen Curry would have to be the obvious choice if he were to declare.

#15 Thunder

The west's worst? I think that Oklahoma City is tossing this season.

Enjoying your new franchise, OKC?

They have 13 wins, and even though Sacramento only has 11, I think the Thunder would welcome a high draft pick to team up with Durant and Russell Westbrook in Sea … er … Oklahoma City…