NBA FanHouse

Could Nancy Lieberman Become the NBA's First Female Head Coach?

Chris Tomasson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Mavericks, WNBA, D-League, FanHouse Exclusive, NBA Coaches

The D-League today. The NBA tomorrow.

Why not?

If there ever will be a female NBA head coach in my lifetime, I'm thinking Nancy Lieberman has got a shot. Lieberman took the first step toward that Thursday when she was named head coach of the Dallas Mavericks' D-League team in Frisco, Texas, that will begin play next year.

"If I am successful, I'm sure that I will be looked at (by the NBA),'' Lieberman, while on her way to her press conference to be introduced, told FanHouse by phone. "If I'm not successful, I won't be.''

More: Lieberman Officially Introduced

Lieberman, the first woman ever to be a head coach in the D-League, is thinking primarily about that stint now. But she doesn't deny an eventual goal is to be the first woman to coach an NBA team.

"I'm aspiring to be the best coach I can be,'' said Lieberman, 51, who has been an ESPN NBA analyst in recent seasons but has stepped down from that position to concentrate on next season's coaching gig.

It was the same way when the Hall of Famer was a player. She made the 1976 U.S. Olympic team at 17, starred at Old Dominion and was a top pro.

When there weren't U.S. women's leagues in which to star, she battled the guys. Lieberman made history by playing against men in the United States Basketball League with the Springfield (Mass.) Fame in 1986. She also played against NBA players in summer leagues, being coached by Pat Riley in a 1980 Los Angeles league and by Frank Layden in a 1986 Salt Lake City league.

"I've always been a pioneer,'' she said.

Now, she's one in the D-League. The league is for players trying to get to the next level, so why not coaches?

For now, Lieberman, who has been a head coach in the WNBA, doesn't think it will be a big deal coaching guys.

"The players want to have instruction, and I'm sure they will (have no problem with her being a woman),'' said Lieberman, who long has lived in the Dallas area and said she was approached about the job a "few months ago'' by Donnie Nelson, the D-team's part-owner and a Mavericks executive. "It's like in the (sports media) business. There are woman sports editors who are able to do the job.''

If any player doubts Lieberman, all they need to know is she's a Hall-of-Famer. So how many current D-League coaches are enshrined in Springfield, Mass., which is interestingly where Lieberman broke down barriers 23 years ago?

That would be zero.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@hotmail.com and on Twitter @christomasson.

Could Nancy Lieberman Become the NBA's First Female Head Coach? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael 'Sinbad' Fey Hopes to Find a Place with L.A.

Elie Seckbach — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, NBA Videos, D-League, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Basketball has taken former UCLA center Michael Fey across the globe. From China to Poland to the United Arab Emirates, Fey has run the journeyman's version of the Four Corners of the globe. But these days, Fey has been putting in the work at the Lakers training camp as the NBA champions are getting ready for another title defense.

In this video we talk to Michael about how his workouts are going, what type of nicknames Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom have dished out to the Lakers newcomers, whether he'd play for the D-Fenders and more.

Check out the video after the jump.

Michael 'Sinbad' Fey Hopes to Find a Place with L.A. originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meet the NBA's Replacement Referees

Tim Povtak — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:10:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Referees, D-League

The NBA has opened its training camp in New York for replacement officials, a group that includes 35 with experience in the NBA's Development League, six with WNBA experience and two that worked in the NBA before being fired in recent years.

Those numbers are based on the list of 44 officials -- obtained by FanHouse -- who had agreed to be part of the camp. (You can find the list, which has not been confirmed by the NBA, at the end of this post.)

The league has been preparing to open both its exhibition schedule next month and the regular season with replacements after contract talks with the referees' union hit a stalemate.

Although league officials sounded confident that the replacements will be better prepared than they were when last used in 1995 (during another contract dispute), they did not have an easy time getting enough quality officials into this camp.

"A lot of guys turned them down,'' said one referee who declined an offer from the NBA to join the group of replacement officials, "... for different reasons.''

The exhibition schedule begins Oct. 1 in Utah. The replacements, according to one source, will be paid $1,100 per game, which is less than a third of what the average regular official makes. They also will be paid $80 a day in meal money, along with all travel and hotel expenses.

Most notable among the replacement officials are Robbie Robinson and Michael Henderson, both of whom were fired by the NBA for poor job performance.

Here is a tentative list of the referees who have agreed to serve as replacement officials, according to information obtained by FanHouse:

Steve Anderson, Brett Barnaky Scott Bolnick, Lorenzo Bronson, Nick Buchert, Deldre Carr, Jose Carrion, Marcus Clayton, Andre Crawford, Kane Fitzgerald, Edward Gaines, Carlos Gonzalez, Micheal Henderson, Don Hudson, Byron Jarrett, Keith Kimble, Marat Kogut, Karl Lane, Jamey Luckie, Tre Maddox, Glenn Mayberry, George McDaniels, Will Mensah, Matt Myers, Brent Nansel, JT Orr, Mike Price, Robbie Robinson, Kevin Scott, Garrick Shannon, Brian Shelley, Lamont Simpson, Jeff Smith, Kevin Sparrock, Clark Stevens, Ben Taylor, Josh Tiven, Tony Turner, Scott Twardoski, Kurt Walker, Ken Washington, CJ Washington, James Williams and Jeff Wooten.

Meet the NBA's Replacement Referees originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Time for Michael Jordan to Put His Money Where His Hall of Fame Speech Is

Matt Watson — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:20:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, Jazz, D-League

Love it or hate it, no one will forget Michael Jordan's Hall of Fame induction speech any time soon, especially his story about how Bryon Russell once talked trash in 1994, when Jordan was retired and Russell was a rookie, and how Jordan proceeded to go out of his way torch Russell every chance he had after returning. "From this day forward," Jordan concluded, "if I ever see him in shorts, I'm coming at him."

Russell took the challenge in stride, confirming Jordan's story while at the same time refusing to back down. "I'll play his a-- right now," he told Yahoo! Sports. "This is a call-out for him to come play me."

Jordan hasn't publicly responded yet, but Brandt Andersen, owner of the D-League's Utah Flash, is hoping to goad him into action, putting $100,000 of his own money on the line for a one-on-one contest.

From Andersen's blog:

So here is my offer: Michael Jordan vs. Bryon Russell-1 on 1 challenge to 21. I will personally donate $100,00 to charity in the name of the winner. We can do it during the half time of the Utah Flash home opener on December 7th. $100,000 in cash for a 15 minute pickup game. MJ even you can't say no to that.

Our venue is the perfect place for this challenge because it brings BRuss back to Utah and Michael Jordan has a home just outside of Park City (I have seen his Carolina Blue Jump Man plane on the runway at Million Air in SLC) so it is convenient for both guys. Not to mention that it would be sacrilegious to have this take place anywhere outside of Utah.

Andersen claims he's already convinced Russell to participate but is still trying to reach Jordan via a mutual friend.

Good luck with that.

Jordan may be the most competitive person alive, but he's also not one to be publicly bullied. And considering he reportedly earned $45 million last year, $100,000 is less than a day's pay for him, so it'll take a lot more than that for him to risk damaging his pride.

If Jordan were to actually get involved with a charity exhibition, it'd likely be on pay-per-view with a dozen sponsors and a commemorative shoe, not halftime entertainment at a D-League game.

Even so, I admire Andersen's entrepreneur-minded challenge -- he just bought more publicity than his franchise has ever received without spending a dime. Whether Jordan responds or not, Andersen is already ahead.

Time for Michael Jordan to Put His Money Where His Hall of Fame Speech Is originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coach Voted Into Job by Fans ... Again

Tom Ziller — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 11:10:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Fans, D-League

Sports Illustrated's Alexander Wolff founded a minor league basketball team -- the Vermont Frost Heaves -- in 2005. He has used the team to experiment with the sort of management styles suggested by sports fans over the years, and has also written about the sports ownership experience in the magazine. One of the gimmicks Wolff implemented was to let Frost Heave fans vote on who would coach the team. Will Voight, a Vermont native and three-time champion of the Norweigan league (seriously) won the job.

This summer, the unstable Bakersfield Jam of the NBA's Developmental League decided to also let fans vote for the team's next coach. Guess who they picked? Yep, Will Voigt.

Ridiculous Upside, the best D-League blog on the planet, bemoans the selection based on Voigt's lack of qualifications. (ABA success just doesn't bring the buzz it used to. You know, in 1972.) But it goes further than that for the Jam ownership, who are really reaching into a bag of tricks to make money off the team.

The Jam will cater almost completely to Bakersfield's wealthy this year, offering pricey season tickets which include catered meals, valet service, suite seating, tickets to Lakers games, a round of golf at a local country club, an open bar and access to a cigar room in the arena. The arena that seats 550 people, mind you.

You can only buy tickets to a Jam game at this new Jam Center by purchasing one of those season tickets, which runs $3,000 for 18 games at the low end -- $166 per seat per game at minimum, some $70 more per ticket than the average Lakers seat. So basically, it's a country club setting with the sideshow of 10 dudes running around the hardwood playing for their professional lives. (The Jam will also play two weekend games at a larger Bakersfield arena with cheaper tickets available. How generous!)

Somehow, I don't think this is what David Stern or Alexander Wolff had in mind.

Coach Voted Into Job by Fans ... Again originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 11:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeremy Tyler to Slovenia?

Tom Ziller — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 09:23:00 EST

Filed under: Euroleague, NBA Draft, D-League

Jeremy Tyler, the San Diego prospect who dropped out of high school as a junior to pursue a professional career in Europe, has been looking for a team since April. The issue is not that there is no interest from the Old World, it's that handler Sonny Vaccaro wants the right fit (and the best deal).

In May, concerns were raised that Vaccaro aimed too high, that if Tyler landed on too good a team, he'd spend two years wallowing on the bench. Coaches in Europe can't afford to allow their top teams to suffer growing pains for the benefit of an American who will leave at first chance.

Well, Tyler reportedly has a team -- Olimpija Ljubljana in Slovenia -- and DraftExpress's Jonathan Givony thinks it's a bad idea.

Givony tweeted the news and his instant reaction Friday night.

Mixed reactions on Jeremy Tyler to Olimpija news. Unstable club financially many say, extremely difficult to find Americans who succeeded[.] My prediction? Tyler will be back in States by the new year, likely to play in the D-League. Adriatic League is no place for a high schooler[.]

The Adriatic League is business, having served as the farm system for many Slavic players of NBA note. The club league is well-stocked. Never mind the Euroleague, where Jennings barely got a taste last season, and where Tyler will open his pro career in October against teams like CSKA Moscow and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

This isn't to say Tyler isn't ready: perhaps he will do fine in Slovenia. Height is an asset you can't ignore. But the difference between Olimpija and, say, Louisville or the Clippers, is that there is no incentive for Olimpija to develop Tyler (unless you think he'll be bringing a club title home to Ljubljana at age 18) whereas Rick Pitino and Mike Dunleavy depend on developing their young players for future success. This is where the European flight experiment breaks down.

Givony reports Tyler will make $150,000 per year for three seasons, with a $400,000 buy-out available after the 2010-11 season. (Tyler is eligible for the 2011 NBA draft.) Assuming Tyler could have signed a smaller, two-year contract to avoid the buy-out situation, that reeks of Vaccaro attempting to stick it to the NBA. Teams can pay up to $500,000 of an acquired player's buy-out; that $400,000 buy-out conveniently falls under that level, and equates to what is effectively a raise on the rookie salary scale.

As for the D-League, if things truly go to seed in Ljubljana: I hope there's a condition of the contract not yet reported, because the top D-League salary isn't quite $30,000. Not exactly what Tyler had in mind, I'm sure.

Jeremy Tyler to Slovenia? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 09:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Houston Rockets Starting First-of-Kind Partnership NBA D-League Squad

Terrance Harris — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:25:00 EST

Filed under: Rockets, D-League

A true minor league system, something similar to what has allowed Major League Baseball to thrive, has seemed a natural for the NBA for years.

Perhaps the league with the most underdeveloped young talent is on the brink of landmark movement.

The Houston Rockets announced Monday they are entering into a single-affiliation partnership with their NBA D-League squad, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, making them the first such NBA team to do so. Under this agreement, the Rockets will take over the Vipers basketball operations, while Alonzo Cantu and his local ownership group in Rio Grande Valley will continue to oversee the business operation. Rockets GM Daryl Morey will oversee the Vipers basketball operations starting this upcoming season.

Sounds like a sensible deal and one that is similar to deals in baseball.

"Mr. Cantu has done a great job integrating the Vipers into the community and we look forward to working with him to build upon the success he has already achieved," said Morey. "This unique partnership with the Vipers affords us the opportunity to take an increased role in the development of our young players while also introducing an exciting and competitive brand of NBA-style basketball to fans in the Rio Grande Valley. We look forward to the mutual benefits the partnership will provide both organizations."

Under this type of partnership, NBA teams will get to guide the development of their players and have say-so in the comings and goings of talent. This might also make the NBADL a more viable option for high school players who have no desire to play college ball for a season or go overseas for a year, which is threatening to become a trend.

Currently, only the Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City and San Antonio owned their D-League affiliates. That will likely soon change.

"This is a watershed moment for the Vipers and for professional sports in the Rio Grande Valley," said Vipers President/GM Brian Michael Cooper. "The Vipers' partnership with the Rockets further demonstrates our commitment to Vipers fans to place the highest quality product on the court, and we look forward to the Rockets' guidance and leadership in basketball operations. Vipers fans should be very excited about the future and direction of their franchise."

Houston Rockets Starting First-of-Kind Partnership NBA D-League Squad originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA's D-League to Allow Top Seeded Teams to Pick Their Playoff Opponent

Brett Pollakoff — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:47:00 EST

Filed under: Mavericks, Warriors, Playoffs, D-League

I am one of the countless lucky individuals who finds himself on the D-League's daily e-mail distribution list. Normally, this entitles me to receive such fascinating news alerts as (in all caps, mind you) "IOWA'S DEMETRIS NICHOLS CALLED UP TO NEW YORK KNICKS."

Not exactly breaking news, but you can't blame people for trying. So typically, I glance at the announcement, select the message, and hit the "archive" button. (Hey, GMail has a point: Who needs to delete when you have over 7303.442525 megabytes (and counting) of free storage?)

A message that came in Monday, however, immediately became required reading. Because it was an announcement that promised an "innovative 2009 playoff format," and the details definitely did not disappoint.

From the official press release:

New for the 2009 postseason, the three division winners will have the unique opportunity to select their first round opponent from the teams ranked five through eight. The top-seeded division winner will select its opponent first, with the second and third ranked division winners following in that order. The fourth seeded team will play the remaining team.

How great is that? What this translates to is basically a three-team draft where each will select their first round playoff opponent!

If the NBA did this one day, couldn't you easily imagine this becoming an hour long event on TNT, with commentary from the coaches and general managers explaining their decisions, along with a newly freed Charles Barkley (inevitably) decrying some of the choices as being "turrible?" So could I.

That's why it would be awesome. Now obviously, very few teams would deviate from choosing an opponent other than the one they'd face as determined by the standings, for fear of providing some false motivation to a club that really shouldn't be in the same league (in the first round anyway) as a top-seeded team. And for the most part, it probably wouldn't make that big of a difference in the results; the teams that end up at the top of the heap are the ones that have proven to be consistently good over the course of an 82-game season.

What about that one year when it would have mattered, though? Dallas Mavericks fans know where I'm going with this.

The Mavs had the league's best record at 67-15 and an MVP-winner in 2007, when they faced the one team that posed a matchup nightmare for them -- the Golden State Warriors. They lost to the eighth-seeded Dubs in six games, but if this system was in place, who knows? We might view Dirk Nowitzki and Avery Johnson in a completely different light, and the Warriors may never have had their moment in the spotlight.

I'm not saying whether this would be a good or a bad thing for the league, and with seven-game series being played in the first round, it likely would be just a thing. But you can't say it wouldn't be interesting, and anything you can do to add an additional element of intrigue to a major sport's playoff system is definitely worth investigating.

NBA's D-League to Allow Top Seeded Teams to Pick Their Playoff Opponent originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Essentials: Matt 'Captain Canada' Bonner

Tom Ziller — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:55:00 EST

Filed under: Knicks, Spurs, FIBA, Thunder, D-League

NBA Essentials provides the must-see links, quotes and videos of the day. Want to submit an item? Hit us up on Twitter (@NBAFanHouse, #essentials).

* "During a recent trip to Toronto earlier this month, Matt Bonner talked with the media about how the combination of his grandfather - a 'Newfie' as he affectionately referred to him - and his wife being from Canada has led him to feel a strong connection to this country. Bonner also recently discovered that he has some cousins who are Canadian. Because of these factors Bonner has decided to file the necessary paperwork to gain his Canadian citizenship. Not only that, but he's also expressed a strong desire to play the Canadian national team." -- Hoops Addict.

* Kevin Durant says it will be a travesty if Russell Westbrook doesn't win Rookie of the Year. -- ksmoove35's Twitter.

* Nate Robinson retires from the dunk contest. -- Ball Don't Lie.

* "Things evolve. Right now, basketball statistics are evolving. There's nothing anybody can do to stop it, and out of all this, in the not-too distant future, will be arriving some essential and lasting new developments in how we see the game. Go ahead, dip your toe in." -- TrueHoop.

* "If the NBA was smart, they would do something to keep our talent here in America. Give these guys an opportunity. It's not like they don't deserve it. They work their butt's off through college, go undrafted, end up in locale's like the Rio Grande Valley, a place called Erie and, soon enough, the second most popular city named Portland in the United States. From their, they take seven day road trips like Fort Wayne is about to embark on: Los Angeles to Anaheim to Reno to Bakersfield to Austin. While going to five different cities in seven days, they stay two to a room at Days Inn's, bussing to half their destinations, all while trying to impress some NBA general manager, who might be in attendance or watching on futurecast, possibly looking for a certain talent they possess, making about $17,000 for the season." -- Ridiculous Upside.

NBA Essentials: Matt 'Captain Canada' Bonner originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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D-Leaguer Serves Up Best Dunk Contest Perfomance of Weekend

Nate Jones — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:00:00 EST

Filed under: NBA All-Star Game, NBA Videos, D-League

Saturday's Slam Dunk Contest was quite entertaining. Dwight Howard and Nate Robinson put on a great show with their Superman and Kyrpto-Nate act. However -- minus the comic book showmanship -- the dunks themselves might have been topped in another dunk contest earlier in the weekend.

In Friday's D-League Slam Dunk Contest, former first round pick James White put on a show that lived up to the folklore of his dunking ability. After the jump, take a look at some at the dunks White threw down during the D-League contest.

I know those highlights went by pretty quickly, but don't sleep on that free throw line dunk. That was a REAL free throw line dunk with White's foot well behind the free throw line at take off. I'm still hopeful that "Flight" White will eventually be in the NBA long enough to be invited to the Slam Dunk Contest. I have a feeling that he's holding out some of his best dunks for an eventual NBA Slam Dunk Contest appearance. I mean, the guy has completed both through-the-legs and windmill dunks from the free throw line. Believe me, no one in the NBA wants to compete with this guy in a Slam Dunk Contest.

Anyhow, here are some more slow motion "Flight" White highlights from the D-League Dunk Contest:

D-Leaguer Serves Up Best Dunk Contest Perfomance of Weekend originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mike Taylor: Making NBA History With Grit, Determination and Talent

Elie Seckbach — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:05:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, NBA Videos, D-League, Interviews

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Mike Taylor of the Los Angeles Clippers is much more than a talented player, he is also in the history books of the NBA, becoming the first D-League player drafted by an NBA team. In this video we catch up with Mike to ask him about his experience in a league that is known as being much more physical than the NBA. We also hear from Al Thornton, Ricky Davis and Chris Kaman.

Check out the full video after the jump.

Mike Taylor: Making NBA History With Grit, Determination and Talent originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Essentials: We're Goin' Streaking

Tom Ziller — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: Hawks, Lakers, Wizards, D-League

NBA Essentials ranks our six favorite stories of the day.

1. Basketball-Reference. What do the season-opening streaks by L.A., Atlanta and Washington mean? Less than you'd think.

2. Wages of Wins. Signing the song of Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Also, a reminder that Antoine Walker made three All-Star Games. (Shareef? One.)

3. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Not only is Atlanta surprising at 5-0, but they seem completely different from the Hawks of last year.

4. Basketball Prospectus. A tremendous analysis of the Lakers defense, which reminds Kevin Pelton of George Karl's SOS Pressure defense from mid-90s Seattle.

5. Ridiculous Upside. If you want in depth D-League draft analysis ... you are in need of therapy. Also, you belong to Ridiculous Upside.

6. Mr. Irrelevant. JaVale McGee is looooooooong.

And on a non-NBA note, FanHouse alum Howie The Hype Guy has a new comedy project you should definitely check out.

NBA Essentials: We're Goin' Streaking originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Essentials: Captain Kirk Keeps His Job

Tom Ziller — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:20:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Knicks, Spurs, Warriors, Thunder, D-League

NBA Essentials ranks our six favorite stories of the day.

1. Blog-a-Bull. All the evidence suggests Kirk Hinrich is locked in as Chicago's starting ... two-guard. Also: on Ben Gordon's leaping toe pain.

2. Ball Don't Lie. Another great comic from the Garbage Time All-Stars, this one featuring Thunder the Deposed Warriors Mascot's hit list.

3. Dime. On a TNT conference call, Marv Albert reveals other OKC team names he had to use in his audio work for NBA Live 09: Pioneers, Roughnecks, Sunset and Thundering Herd. !

4. Ridiculous Upside. GMs are surprisingly down on "upside" when it comes to keeping D-League alums versus old, old veterans.

5. Hardwood Paroxysm. The Spurs will never die.

6. SLAM. Mike D'Antoni and Jamal Crawford, translated.

NBA Essentials: Captain Kirk Keeps His Job originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Essentials: Those Who Can't Do, Blog

Tom Ziller — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, Clippers, Hornets, Wizards, NBA Referees, D-League

NBA Essentials ranks our six favorite stories of the day.

1. Hoops Addict. Blogger tries out for D-League team. Blogger gets injured within 30 minutes. Blogger still gets a good story with great video out of it.

2. ESPN.com, via FD. Bill Simmons puts together a great Elgin Baylor column.

3. Rumors and Rants, via BDL. David West vs. a heckler at an Obama rally.

4. Nothing But Net. Our first "I should have stayed retired" joke from Larry Brown is in the books.

5. True Hoop. Abbott wonders, "If there were another Tim Donaghy, would the NBA catch him?" Terrific analys

6. SLAM. That epic Gilbert Arenas interview you've heard about.

NBA Essentials: Those Who Can't Do, Blog originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Essentials: Secret Life of Nightmare Ant

Tom Ziller — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:09:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Hawks, Kings, Lakers, Magic, D-League

NBA Essentials ranks our six favorite stories of the day.

1. ESPN The Magazine The Blog, via BDL. Investigating the birth of Nightmare Ant.

2. Third Quarter Collapse. Everyone thinks Hedo Turkoglu could be a great fit on the Lakers. Here's an exhaustive look at possibilities.

3. Chicago Tribune, via Blog-a-Bull. "[Derrick] Rose is having the best training camp of anybody on the team."

4. 48 Minutes of Hell. Joel Kimmel, the guy that does those awesome NBA portraits, has an art book coming out in a few weeks.

5. Ball Don't Lie. One-time European player Dominique Wilkins thinks Josh Childress made a bad move this summer. Of course, 'Nique works for the Hawks ...

6. The Blowtorch. More life lessons with Brad Miller.

NBA Essentials: Secret Life of Nightmare Ant originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Essentials: Rudy, Salim are OPEN, Man

Tom Ziller — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, Spurs, Suns, Trail Blazers, D-League

NBA Essentials ranks our six favorite stories of the day.

1. The Oregonian. Rudy Fernandez has made landfall. Cheer appropriately, you lucky Blazers fans you.

2. SLC Dunk. A great Jazz blog interviews a Jazz great: Mark Eaton (Part II is here.)

3. The Blowtorch. Salim Stoudamire's open, man.

4. Upside and Motor, via TSB. Who will think of Boris Diaw? (Put your hand down, Miss G.)

5. Hoops Avenue. Carnival of the NBA #60.

6. Ridiculous Upside. Yep, even the D-League has an expansion draft!

NBA Essentials: Rudy, Salim are OPEN, Man originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Essentials: Bring It, Self!

Tom Ziller — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Suns, SuperSonics, Wizards, D-League

NBA Essentials ranks our six favorite stories of the day.

1. Arizona Republic, via BSotS. Amare Stoudemire trash talks himself during practice, using his nickname in the process: "STAT, you can't miss two in a row, let alone three!"

2. Ball Don't Lie. The Nightmare Ant boogie.

3. Bullets Forever. Stop saying the Wizards have settled for 45 wins by signing their stars.

4. SuperSonicSoul. A survey of SuperSonic offspring playing ball. Only one belongs to Shawn Kemp.

5. Philadelphia Style, via True Hoop. Fantastic interview with Sixer Samuel Dalembert, with discussion of growing up in Haiti and Sam's lack of bling.

6. South Florida Sun-Sentinel. No suspensions for Mario Chalmers or Darrell Arthur. Back to the bench, Banks.

NBA Essentials: Bring It, Self! originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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