NBA FanHouse

Debate in the Paint: Signing Artest and Odom Make Lakers Offseason's Best

Tim Povtak — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Celtics, Heat, Lakers, Eastern

Every Tuesday this offseason, two of our NBA experts will go at it on a topic. We came up with the catchy title, Debate in the Paint. This week: Which team has had the best offseason?

The Los Angeles Lakers started this decade with three consecutive NBA titles. They will finish it by winning the last two.

Anything less would be a surprise.

Although much was made of the summertime roster additions among the top three contenders in the Eastern Conference - Boston, Cleveland, Orlando -- it was the defending champion Lakers who orchestrated the most significant moves in the off-season.

The best team only got better.

The NBA hasn't had a repeat champion since the Lakers won in 2000, '01 and '02, because San Antonio, Detroit, Miami and Boston all either suffered an emotional letdown after winning a championship, or failed to improve the roster.

The Lakers added pieces, and rest assured, there will be no letdown.

Finding a way to keep free agent Lamar Odom happy was not an easy task, but they did it by committing to a four-year, $33 million deal -- no small concession in tough economic times for a sixth man. Odom flirted seriously with Miami, which would have made him a starter, but he returned after some on-again, off-again negotiations that had the rest of the Western contenders hopeful.

His signing meant that the Lakers would return their top five scorers and top four rebounders from the team that won the 2009 title. The only real defection from that roster was free agent forward Trevor Ariza, who miscalculated his worth, which opened the door for the Lakers to sign Ron Artest: a more-talented, more battle-tested veteran in his place.

Can you say major upgrade?

Although Artest, 29, has wrestled with his demons, he has proven himself time and time again as a scorer, a defender and a competitor. If Lakers Coach Phil Jackson was able to milk the best from wacky Dennis Rodman years ago, Artest will look like a soldier falling in line by comparison.

He isn't going to a team that needs him for leadership. They just need his intensity and toughness. He respects Kobe Bryant, and he loves Odom, who has been a good friend for many years.

Like many veterans nearing the end of their peak years, Artest will be driven by the lure of a championship, giving him a chance to change his suspect reputation. Ariza had a nice second half of the season and a good playoff run, but he is nothing more than a good role player with a 6.9 points-per-game career scoring average.

The Rockets are going to be disappointed in what they just bought.

The Lakers are going to be thrilled.

With Bryant and Pau Gasol returning as the 1-2 punch, Artest gladly will take the No. 3 role. Center Andrew Bynum, who missed almost half of the season after knee surgery, should be much improved. Point guard Derek Fisher can pick his spots with an All-Star cast around him. Even long-lost Adam Morrison might even show he can play because no one will bother guarding him.

Bryant will be hungrier than ever to win his fifth title - one more than Shaq, who went to Cleveland to play with LeBron James. O'Neal will change the Cavs dramatically, but it might not be for the better. The Boston Celtics added fruitcake Rasheed Wallace, but unlike Artest, Wallace already has his championship and won't have the hunger.

The Lakers didn't need much to stay atop the NBA. They got a lot.

Debate in the Paint: Signing Artest and Odom Make Lakers Offseason's Best originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tip-Off Timer: Rise of the Three-Pointer Since '80

Tom Ziller — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Eastern, Western

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Saturday, there are exactly 80 days remaining.

When the NBA completed in merger with the American Basketball Association in 1976, it borrowed a few great things: the slam dunk contest, Dr. J and -- most importantly -- the three-point line. Well, the NBA didn't grab the three-point line right away. It wasn't until the 1979-80 season that the NBA opened the arc for business.

In that premiere '80 season for downtown, the average NBA team took only 227 threes. Last year, Rashard Lewis himself took well more than twice that many (554). The league has come around on the importance of the trey, but it's taken a long time.

This chart shows how much more NBA offenses depend on the three-pointer today versus back closer to its '80 debut.

Back in '80, three-pointers made up only 3.1% of total NBA field goal attempts. Last season, the league set a record with 22.4% of FGAs coming from downtown.

It's been a slow, steady climb ... save for the unfortunate spell in which the league tried to juice offenses by moving the line up to 22 feet. It took no time for teams (and shooters) to realize what a boon the shorter three-point line was. Leaguewide three-point shooting went from 33% in 1994 to 36% in 1995 (the first year with the shorter arc). In just two years, the use of the three-point shot catapulted from 11% of all FGAs in 1994 to 20% in 1996. Fortunately, the league went back to the standard three-point line we see today in 1998.

Nonetheless, the fundamentals of NBA players -- in terms of shooting, at least -- are getting stronger.

Along with the rise of the three-pointer as a weapon, there has been a general increase in the efficiency of the tool. The leaguewide shooting percentage on threes last season (36.7%) equaled the previous high: 1996, one of those's short-arc seasons. In other words, players are shooting 24-footers as well today as they shot 22-footers in 1996. (Or something like that.)

It will be interesting to see whether shooters get so good at some point that the league will consider moving the line back to 24-1/2 or 25 feet. I doubt it (chicks dig the long ball, and viewers dig offense), but we could be heading toward a day when more offenses become undefendable thanks to supreme long-range efficacy.

As always, thanks to Basketball-Reference for the data.

Tip-Off Timer: Rise of the Three-Pointer Since '80 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 08 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Raptors Continue Spending Spree, Extend Bargnani

Matt Moore — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:55:00 EST

Filed under: Raptors, Eastern, Euroleague

Before we get started, it should be noted that NBA bloggers are kind of hard to please when it comes to teams spending money. On the one hand, we sneer in disgust when teams refuse to spend money, patting their fans on the head as we chastise ownership for being "cheap" and turning a profit without ever seriously pushing for a title.

On the other, we tend to flip out when someone spends irresponsibly. There is a salary cap and a luxury tax, after all, and handing off a bazillion dollars to that small guard who has difficulty with creating his own shot and thinks he can tell you what his nickname should be when it should clearly be Iggy can draw our ire as well. Not that I'm naming names.

So it's kind of a sticky situation to begin with. Of course, the Raptors have just poured maple syrup over their particular situation in regards to Andrea Bargnani.

ESPN is reporting that the Raptors have a deal in place to extend the 23-year-old's time in Toronto for five years to the tune of $50 million. So he's got that going for him, which is nice.

Now, there are much worse moves that the Raptors could have made with $50 million in available funds. Ask the Sacramento Kings how much they're paying Beno Udrih and Andres Nocioni this season ($13.5 million would be their answer ... well, either that or they'd vomit on their shoes). And Bargnani was a rare bright spot this season, bouncing back from a sorely disappointing sophomore campaign to show promise as a perimeter frontcourt player. Unfortunately, you couldn't describe his improvement as revolutionary, nor worthy of a premature, long-term, double-digit investment.

The reason for the move is obvious. Alongside the signing of Hedo Turkoglu, the Raptors are putting pieces in place to convince Chris Bosh to re-sign with them next summer in the 2010 Free Agency Summer of Doom. By putting a cohesive unit with star power, they're hoping to secure Bosh for the long haul. It's quite a gamble. If Hedo plays as well as he did this season, and if Bargnani progresses on track (and learns how to rebound every once in a while), and if Jose Calderon can remember the goal is to drive the offense, not drive the offense into a brick wall, then they're set.

But if the Raptors miss with this concoction, not only will they miss out on Bosh, but they will have locked themselves into lengthy, pricey contracts with one player who'll be swan-diving into his mid-thirties and another who hasn't proven he can be a reliable big man.

Still, while most teams are simply clearing room in the house for the expensive china cabinet they have their eye on for next summer, at least the Raptors seem to be aware of the dire circumstances surrounding what's necessary to keep their superstar in house.

Raptors Continue Spending Spree, Extend Bargnani originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Gets High Marks For Diversity

Tom Ziller — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Eastern, Western

American sports leagues have often been fairly criticized for a lack of diversity at the management level. College football famously has problems fixed its incredible lack of blacks among its head coaching ranks, and pro baseball and football have faced the same talk in terms of its front offices.

But a recent study by the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport showed that the NBA is doing it well. Women fill 43 percent of the league's "professional" positions, and the NBA remained the only major American professional sports league with a 'A' grade in both racial and gender diversity. The study also reported that over its history, the NBA has had more than twice as many black head coaches than any other league.

NBA Gets High Marks For Diversity originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LeBron Makes Pass to Greatness

Matt Steinmetz — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Magic, Eastern, Playoffs, NBA Press Box

When the Magic-Cavaliers series begins tonight, two of the better passing big men will be on display: Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu and Cleveland's LeBron James.

At 6-foot-10, Turkoglu is a tough matchup for opposing defenses, and his ability to find teammates was a big part of Orlando's Game 7 win over Boston on Sunday. In that game, Turkoglu had 12 assists.

But we really want to focus on James here because, after all, it's his passing that has put him into an elite group of players. It's fair to say that James, all 6-foot-8 of him, is already one of the greatest passing big guys to ever play the game.

Cavs-Magic: Series Preview | Game 1 Preview

When you talk about Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Rick Barry, all wonderful passers at 6-foot-7 or taller, James now belongs on that exclusive list. He is a little different kind of passer than those other three, but he's every bit as effective when it comes to playmaking and setting up teammates.

For the most part, James doesn't throw passes like Magic, Bird and Barry. Let's face it, those guys were a little prettier, a little more precise and just a tad better at threading the needle and finding cutters.

They might even have an edge on James when it comes to court vision.

But James can do some things that set him a little bit apart, like his ability to elevate and get a different look-see at the court or his gift of throwing bullet-like passes that actually get to teammates a split-second sooner than just your average pass.

Most basketball people will tell you that you shouldn't leave your feet to throw a pass. But James challenges that conventional wisdom.

James can get up so high and he can cover so much ground in the air (cover ground in the air?) that he actually seems to get a different perspective, along with different passing angles, when he's in the air.

The way James does this isn't quite as polished as the way Barry used to do it, but it's every bit as effective.

Barry could go up for his jumper and then at the last moment find an open teammate under the basket with a pass. This sometimes happened with three or four defenders staring awkwardly up at the basket waiting for a shot from Barry that never ended up coming.

Before Bird came along, Barry was considered the best - or certainly one of the best - passers and playmakers from the forward position. Now James is in there. And, of course, Magic, even though he was technically a point guard.

But James puts the ball in teammates' hands faster than those other three could. There is something very real about Johnson, Bird and Barry seeing a play before it developed. Their ability to be a step ahead of the play was nothing short of basketball genius.

James has a little of that, too, but isn't quite there with the other three. But what James is able to do is make a decision and execute a play - or pass - faster and more quickly than anyone else playing the game right now.

Here's a little stretch of an analogy ... Bird, Magic and Barry were sort of like quarterback Joe Montana, someone who knew where a receiver was going to be before the receiver actually got there and then deliver the ball to the spot where he'd end up.

James is more like a Dan Marino, who had an incredible ability to stay in the pocket, then rifle a pass to a teammate who had gotten open at the last possible moment before Marino was going to go down.

Two different quarterbacks, two different styles. Both great.

On the statistical side, James' assist numbers have to be acknowledged. James has averaged at least 7.2 assists per game in each of the past two seasons, and he also averaged as many in 2004-05.

Barry averaged more than six assists per game plenty of times during his career, but he never got to seven. Bird averaged 6.3 assists per game for his career, and one year handed out 7.6 per game.

Of course, Johnson's assist numbers were better because he played the traditional point guard role.

But any way you cut it, James is right there in this group.

LeBron Makes Pass to Greatness originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 20 May 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RoundCast: Angering Fan Bases One Matchup at a Time

Will Brinson — Tue, 05 May 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Celtics, Hawks, Magic, Mavericks, Nuggets, Eastern, NBA Fans, NBA Media Watch

Bloggers knee-jerking on the phone + roundtable style = RoundCast.

Watson, Moore and I got on the phone late Monday night (East Coast FTW, until it comes to late night audio blogging) to talk about recent NBA activity. What we expected was a quick phone call -- yada-yada-yada, Dwight Howard is awesome and goodnight, Irene -- but what we got was Watson attempting to anger every possible fanbase, our collective decision that the Celtics just are not that good and that the Nuggets might beat the Lakers but might not ... simply because they could lose to the Mavericks first.

Also confirmed: Ron Artest is insane and that Sprite commercial sucks. Check it.

To download, right-click here. Intro via PodSafeAudio

RoundCast: Angering Fan Bases One Matchup at a Time originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 05 May 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ray Allen Still Got Game, Saves Celtics

Will Brinson — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Celtics, Eastern, NBA Last Night, Playoffs

You could forgive Ray Allen for being a little timid coming into Monday night's game against the Bulls. He did, after all, shoot an embarrassing 1-for-12 in Saturday's playoff opener.

But after an equally miserable first half, Allen made up for the absence of Kevin Garnett and overcame an outstanding performance by Chicago's Ben Gordon. The Celtics guard scored 30 points and hit a series of big shots down the stretch, including the game-winner with two seconds remaining as Boston tied up its series with the Bulls 1-1.

Celtics 118, Bulls 115: Recap | Box Score
More Action: Spurs Even Series With Mavs

Allen's performance was especially important given the sluggish nature with which Paul Pierce played most of the game, and the determined way in which Chicago attacked the defending champs following an initial Boston offensive surge.

Now, some people will ask, "Are the Celtics back?" The answer to that would be, "No, they are not." There are several reasons to think the C's may topple the Bulls in this series, though they seem a little flimsy at the moment.

Derrick Rose, Saturday's star, was relatively ineffective, scoring just just 10 points, albeit adding seven assists and six rebounds. That can be chalked up to a strong defensive effort by the Celtics, but containing Rose for the length of an entire series seems about as likely as Glen Davis averaging 26 points (his Monday total) the rest of the way home, or Rajon Rondo, whose effort should certainly be commended, posting triple-doubles every night. He threw up a ridiculous 19-point, 12-rebound, 16-assist effort in Game 2.

But then again, Gordon won't score 42 for the Bulls each time out either. Remove Gordon's game, though, and the fact remains that the Celtics needed every conceivable break to beat a Bulls team many expected them to sweep.

That's not to condemn Boston's collective effort, but as long as Garnett isn't on the floor, it seems more and more likely that the Bulls could be the team that puts their hopes of repeating to rest.

Latest NBA Playoff Photos

Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard, left, is defended by San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) during the second quarter of Game 2 of a first-round Western Conference NBA playoff basketball game in San Antonio, Monday, April 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan, left, tips a rebound over Dallas Mavericks center Erick Dampier during the second quarter of Game 2 of a first-round Western Conference NBA playoff basketball game in San Antonio, Monday, April 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan, right, defends Dallas Mavericks forward Brandon Bass, left, during the second quarter of Game 2 of a first-round Western Conference NBA playoff basketball game in San Antonio, Monday, April 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle questions official Joe Forte during the second quarter of Game 2 of a first-round Western Conference NBA playoff basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio, Monday, April 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

SAN ANTONIO - APRIL 20: Jason Terry #31 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots against Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the AT&T Center on April 20, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jason Terry;Tim Duncan

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SAN ANTONIO - APRIL 20: Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the AT&T Center on April 20, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tony Parker

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SAN ANTONIO - APRIL 20: Manu Ginobili #20 of the San Antonio Spurs cheers his team on during the game against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the AT&T Center on April 20, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Manu Ginobili

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SAN ANTONIO - APRIL 20: Jason Kidd #2 of the Dallas Mavericks drives against Roger Mason Jr. #8 of the San Antonio Spurs in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the AT&T Center on April 20, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Roger Mason Jr.;Jason Kidd

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SAN ANTONIO - APRIL 20: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs hugs Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs during the game against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the AT&T Center on April 20, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tim Duncan;Tony Parker

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SAN ANTONIO - APRIL 20: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks drives against Matt Bonner #15 of the San Antonio Spurs in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the AT&T Center on April 20, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matt Bonner;Dirk Nowitzki

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Ray Allen Still Got Game, Saves Celtics originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blake Griffin Will Enter the NBA Draft

Will Brinson — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: Eastern, Western, NBA Draft

Blake Griffin has been picking up hardware for the past few weeks (the Naismith, AP and CBS player of the year awards spring immediately to mind) and, considering that he announced his decision Tuesday to enter the NBA Draft, it's safe to say he's going to be getting a pretty substantial pay raise as well.

Griffin called choice a "tough decision," but the reality is grounded closer in what Oklahoma Jeff Capel meant when he called the decision a "no brainer."

The Oklahoma big man is a virtual lock for the No. 1 overall selection in the upcoming draft -- although there are some folks that currently disagree with that theory -- and stands to make millions and millions of dollars, regardless of who ends up winning the lottery.

And it's not like this decision was ever going to be shocking; nearly everyone knew heading into this year that Griffin had always planned to be a "one and done," primarily because there is simply too much money available to him at the pro level to consider coming back to school for another year.

Blake Griffin Will Enter the NBA Draft originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Rotation: Is NBA's Doomsday Real?

Tom Ziller — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:03:00 EST

Filed under: Eastern, Western

The Rotation is a weekly study on the NBA by one of our All-Star voices. In rotation this week is Tom Ziller.

NBA owners continue to scream bloody apocalypse. The year 2011 marks the doomsday date, with the L-word -- "lock-out" -- graduating from whisper to constant ink. Non-basketball losses and flagging attendance (see update, end of post) make every cent count, and apparently the stars of the show make too many of the dollars. "Two pounds of flesh or stay home," the owners warn.

But David Stern assures you the NBA is fine. Thriving, even. Ratings boom nightly and the league's (to date) soft slip amid global economic Armageddon should reassure those who fret, Stern argues. A ~~$175~~ $200 million expansion of the league's credit store for franchises -- not a "bail-out," but further proof of the league's health!

Should we believe a commissioner preaching relaxation, or are the owners seizing with (some combination of) fear and blood-lust? Is the NBA really screwed?

Six months ago came the first mainstream mention of "lock-out" in the press -- an anonymous owner offered up a quote to Newsday threatening that without major concessions from the players the owners would cancel a season (or two!) Since then, the economy imploded, touching every industry in America. NBA owners tend to dabble in other industries (or maybe I have that backwards?), and many have been reportedly taking baths since the summer. Layoffs in Charlotte and Secaucus, coach flights for billionaire playboys, fire sales everywhere.

Cap space ruled everything around us, but cold cash has taken new precedence. Indiana's owners claim $30 million in losses and a dreadful franchise value. Sacramento might lose $25 million. The aforementioned anonymous seer quoted by Newsday pegged only a half-dozen teams as profitable. This all fuels the believable threats of a work stoppage, and screams for solution.

Let us be frank: all this dire shock doctrine thrashing -- true or not -- helps the owners. No matter how dedicated players have been to sensible financial management, their losses in this downturn will be smaller than those of the owners. It's a simple matter of scale. The owners have their beggar's hands out ... only the beggars can keep their marks from working until they empty their wallets.

Yet, here's Stern -- face of the owners -- painting the rosiest portrait of the NBA imaginable.

"I'd just say the 'doomsday scenario' is that the NBA is somehow going to be irretrievably damaged by some event or another. The predictions of the demise of the NBA were frequent and profound [over the years], and they've always been wrong."

Machismo pride, or an attempt to steady the ship? The commissioner not only asserts full health, but has sanctioned owners and executives who dare relay the doomsday fears on the record. (NBA spokesman Tim Frank said, via e-mail, that speculation on what will happen in 2011 is premature at this point, and reiterated that Stern and the union have regular contact on this matter.)

As the walls crumble, setting the stage for a massive coup for the owners, Stern raises a facade -- potentially true, probably optimistic -- that dampens his case at the negotiating table.

Why? Stern doesn't come across as a man who learns lessons. Pardon my doe eyes, but he's a completely brilliant ball-buster. The Fake David Stern Twitter feed is hilarious because the over-the-top, fictionalized megalomania remains quite nearly believable. Whatever lessons Wall Street and America have learned or are learning from the financial meltdown don't apply to the NBA ... because Stern writes his own play sets. Wall Street covered its collective eyes as the ship burst into flames, and Stern at least appears to be doing the same. "We're fine, we're fine, I SAID WE'RE FINE! GET OFF MY LAWN!"

Now those enabling goons who refused to accurately capture the deep despair the crumbled economy would cause find themselves in the crosshairs of public opinion. Anyone who parrots Stern's lines potentially faces the same fate. Consider that which Stern implies: the collective bargaining agreement going into affect in 2011 must have major concessions from the players ... and we're going to get them, no problem. By brushing the matter under the rug, Stern raises his arms to the sky and declares, "We win."

We can only imagine how shocking Stern's demands will be. The increased age minimum (to 20 years old) is a no-brainer (unfortunately). Shorter contracts? The 2005 contract restricted player deals to six years maximum; Stern will likely want to go five (with four years being the limit for outside free agents). Small contracts? Stern will likely look to limit contract size a few ways: through the elimination of some salary cap exceptions (like the mid-level, which has turned $2-million players into $6-million players), through a constriction of the share of the salary cap maximum-salary players can earn, perhaps through a one-year extension of the rookie scale (a team option, of course).

Can the players say no to anything? Stern has said he'll meet with union chief Billy Hunter this summer to work on the CBA. What stance could Hunter possibly take? If the players association earns a victory, it'll be because Stern asked for far more than the above. Hunter and the players stood against the wall in 1998 and 2005 as Stern and the owners cocked their pistols. I don't see a dissimilar situation this time around.

So why, I asked, has Stern attempted to check the yelps of fear from the NBA's owner class, given that a doomsday horizon only helps make his case come 2011? It's because he has already won. Only the details remain at stake ... unless some hero steps up and defends the players association from conquest.

UPDATE: The NBA said attendance is actually slightly up this season, but does not maintain publicly accessible collected attendance numbers.

The Rotation: Is NBA's Doomsday Real? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LeBron: Dunk Contest Needs to Be 'Cleaned Up'

Will Brinson — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:10:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Mavericks, Eastern, Western, NBA All-Star Game, NBA Fans, NBA Rumors

LeBron James made arguably the biggest noise of the entire All Star Weekend during the dunk contest when he told Cheryl Miller that he was "preliminarily" committing to the 2010 Dunk Contest in Dallas. He followed that up the next day by throwing down an absolutely Earth-shattering, off-the-backboard yimyam that got everyone thinking about the future possibilities.

And, lest you think he was bluffing, he confirmed his early entrance to the contest while explaining that the whole process needs to be "cleaned up."

"It's got to be cleaned up, they have to go back to maybe the '80s with [Michael Jordan] and Dominique [Wilkins]," James said. "You can't have so many chances at dunking the basketball. The whole anticipation of a dunk contest is one or two tries and that's it. If not you get (a score of) 30 or 35. Guys are getting 10 opportunities to do the same dunk, by the time they complete it, it is like ... 'OK, we've seen it.'"

I couldn't agree more, frankly. While it's almost never possible to have every dunk go smoothly on the first try, limiting contestants to one or two attempts is a vastly superior solution to letting Pau Gasol try his behind-the-back flip pass to Rudy Fernandez 40 times. Or watching Nate Robinson awkwardly win (in 2006) after attempting his dunk approximately 452 times before actually hitting it.

James went on to elaborate on his entry, stating that as of right now "I am going to be in it" and taking some prelim steps to entice other "big name" contestants by making sure we know he will "get a few guys." Yes, it's a little early to get too enthusiastic, because plenty of things could derail the 2010 contest. But as of right now, there's no reason to think that it won't be the best one we've seen in 20 some years, "cleaned up" or not.

LeBron: Dunk Contest Needs to Be 'Cleaned Up' originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LeBron James, All-Star Giver of Gifts

Shane Bacon — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:43:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Eastern, NBA All-Star Game, FanHouse Exclusive

FanHouse is coming to you live from Phoenix, covering the 2009 NBA All-Star weekend.

PHOENIX -- LeBron James is only 24, but a lot of things he does off the court suggest he's decades more mature than his actual age would suggest. FanHouse was at the All-Star media zoo on Friday, and before the East players made their way in and got settled at their interview positions, LeBron quickly visited each of the East players' interview stations.

Why was he doing this? Because he had some presents to give out.

"It's like natural glass crystal," James said of the present you see pictured. Each "trophy" has all the players on the East squad labeled vertically on the surface. "I had 12 (made) and we had a few injuries, so I had to get two more late, so Mo Williams, my own teammate, doesn't have one yet and Jameer Nelson, (they) will be here tomorrow morning."

James said he did this because he likes to give stuff to people and doesn't expect or want anything in return. The glass, as you see here, is finished with the saying, "Congratulations! Your Friend LeBron."

How much was this gesture? LeBron, being LeBron, just smiled when answering.

"They're nice, they're very nice presents. Very nice," he said with a grin.

LeBron James, All-Star Giver of Gifts originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pacers Talking to Bobcats about Jamaal Tinsley for Raymond Felton

Matt Moore — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:09:00 EST

Filed under: Pacers, Eastern

Everybody remember Jamaal Tinsley?

The Pacers point guard often called "troublemaker" and "malcontent" hasn't been allowed to play or even practice for the team this season. While the Pacers are still writing his checks, they've made it clear to both Tinsley and his agent that there's just not enough room on the bus, if you buy what I'm selling.

There's a new wrinkle in this particular sale, though, and it seems to be expanding rather quickly. First the NBAPA today announced that they're filing a grievance against the Pacers on behalf of Tinsley. Both sides probably have a case, but the fact that the Pacers removed his nameplate from the locker and sent his stuff to Atlanta (I hope he lives there) does not look good.

Now there's a new development on Tinsley that has him headed to... Charlotte?

Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com reports that there's been a deal brewing for what seems like quite a while that would send Tinsley, Jeff Foster, and Brandon Rush to the Bobcats for Raymond Felton, Nazr Mohammed and Sean May.

I'll give you a moment to recover from the quakes of excitement coursing through your bodies.

The deal gives the Bobcats more depth at the point guard position, but Tinsley's got $14-mil over two years left on his contract versus the expirings they would be giving up. The muscle Foster provides would be helpful and Rush is a nice prospect, but giving up Felton's kind of a big deal. Felton has played well this season under Larry Brown and has been part of the reason for the Bobcats' decent play as of late.

Minority owner Michael Jordan said in an interview today that he had no immediate plans to trade Felton, but his name has been in trade talks since the beginning of the season. While most of the moves made for the Cats this season has helped make them a better team, you have to wonder if this one would. That's one of the reasons the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell doubts the likelihood of the deal.

For the Pacers, it's about time they did something with this situation, and it's yet another indication that while this trade deadline may not be as star-studded as last year's, we may see quite a bit of action yet.

Pacers Talking to Bobcats about Jamaal Tinsley for Raymond Felton originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamar Odom Dominates as Lakers End Cavs' Home Streak

Matt Moore — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:14:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Eastern

If I told you Sunday morning that Kobe Bryant would suffer from such strong flu symptoms as to limit him to 19 points and two assists against the Cleveland Cavaliers, you might have assumed that LeBron and his merry men might have breezed to a victory.

You would be wrong.

Behind an absolutely dominant performance by Lamar Odom (28 points, 17 rebounds), the Lakers used a 29-16 third-quarter surge to rush past the Cavaliers at the Q and never looked back.

Bryant was suffering from the "flu-like symptoms" that have felled what seems like half the NBA, but Bryant elected to play through it. It was incredibly apparent that Bryant felt like a horror film, often looking downright miserable on the bench. Of course, that didn't stop him from outscoring LeBron James 19-16 and helping his team get the win.

The real story of how the Lakers ended the Cavaliers' undefeated home winning streak and and extended their winning streak to six games (4-0 without Andrew Bynum), though, was about the greatness of Lamar Odom, and the failure of LeBron James.

Odom was everywhere -- grabbing rebounds, slamming putbacks, driving, hitting jumpers, working the lane, finishing and playing smart basketball. He scored 15 points in the third to help the Lakers overwhelm the Cavaliers, who led at halftime. His play was everything Lakers fans have been hoping to see from Odom, as if a light had finally, finally been turned on after the trade of backup small forward Vladimir Radmanovic to the Bobcats. Odom played with fire and intensity, leading his teammates and making the plays needed when the Cavaliers defense broke down.

His performance was everything LeBron James' wasn't.

James was remarkably passive for the first three quarters of play, electing for three-pointers and jumpers instead of driving to the basket. The Lakers fronted him on the wing with a guard, often Derek Fisher or Kobe Bryant, then had a low-post defender ready in case he decided to blow past the perimeter defender. The mere presence of the double spurred James to pass, and while he did create 12 assists, they often came from players that you knew the Lakers were willing to let shoot. Mo Williams had a terrific first half, then ran out of magic in the second. But James was the real story, ferocious on the boards but ineffectual in all other phases. When he finally did decide to start driving late in the third quarter, the Lakers defense was willing to collapse on him, and James was unable to finish, particularly when faced with the same kind of aggressive contact the Lakers used to overcome James in their first meeting at Staples Center this season.

With the win, the Lakers have certainly made the remainder of the season academic. They've proven they can defeat the two best teams in the East, on their home floor, by double digits. They split with the Spurs after a series of unlikely events in San Antonio. Orlando proved to be an excellent matchup against them, but with Jameer Nelson's potentially season-ending injury, the odds of the Magic making it to the Finals are slim. The Lakers have shown the best passing, the best shooting, the best size, the best perimeter defense, and good enough interior defense to beat any team in a seven-game series. Believe me when I say that this brings me no joy, but after today, even with it being February, even with the Cavs missing Delonte West, there's simply no way around it.

As of today, and for the vast majority of the 2008-09 season, the Los Angeles Lakers are far and away the best team in the National Basketball Association, and should be considered the unanimous favorite to win the NBA championship this spring.

In closing ... LAMAR ODOM?!

Lamar Odom Dominates as Lakers End Cavs' Home Streak originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TNT Sells Out H-O-R-S-E to GEICO

Will Brinson — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Eastern, Western, NBA All-Star Game, NBA Fans, NBA Media Watch

TNT finally ceded to Bill Simmons' demands this year, offering up a game of H-O-R-S-E at the All Star Game festivities. The competitive game is a throw back to every playground and childhood basketball memory. Despite some giving the network a hard time for going this direction, a game of H-O-R-S-E is awesome for everyone.

Well, unless they try to ruin it with corporate sponsorship. Which is what TNT appears set on doing. Because they're not playing H-O-R-S-E anymore; now it's G-E-I-C-O (via FirstCuts).

As that contest joins dunking and three-point shooting contests as part of TNT's NBA All-Star Weekend coverage, the as-yet unnamed three contestants - who'll be overseen by an NBA ref - will play G-E-I-C-O. As in the insurance company that will be the event's unavoidable sponsor. (Suggestion: The winner then takes on the famous ad lizard to really drive home the brand awareness.)

Actually, if they brought out the GEICO gecko, that would be kind of awesome. Or the pile of money with squiggly eyeballs. What would not be awesome is selling a childhood dream (Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and a heap of thousand island dressing started this thing way back when) down the river for a few bucks.

Look, I understand that the economy stinks that everything needs to be sponsored (this is why Sportscenter has the Coors Light Cold Hard Facts Sponsored by GMC, of course) but at least keep the integrity of the game intact and let it be TNT's HORSE presented by GEICO. Then, instead of selling all our souls, just have a commercial every 12 seconds (fit it in between the Closer, perhaps?) where the gecko and the pile of money with eyes play G-E-I-C-O against each other.

It would have the same effect really, and no one would feel dirty.

TNT Sells Out H-O-R-S-E to GEICO originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nelson Might Miss All-Star Weekend

Matt Moore — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:48:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, Eastern, NBA Injuries

Jameer Nelson was a pretty terrific story this season -- a questionable point guard who truly stepped up his game and helped lead the Magic to the top of the league, and his first All-Star appearance. Of course, today's been a bad day for those with good redemption stories.

Nelson came down fighting for a rebound versus the Dallas Mavericks and dislocated his shoulder Monday night.

Nelson will have an MRI tomorrow after which a formal prognosis will be provided. It's likely that he'll miss several weeks, including, sadly, his first All-Star appearance in Phoenix.During that time, the Magic may have to sign another point guard, as they're currently performing without a net, and Anthony Johnson ain't no acrobat.

For Nelson, it's a disappointing setback, but it also illustrates how much the Magic need this new Nelson, as after his departure, a game already full of struggle for the Magic quickly got out of hand. Nelson has provided the base to the Magic's championship-hopeful soup this season, and without him, they've still got a lot of spice and some tall stalks of celery, but they just won't taste the same. It's possible he can get back sooner, but looking at his swollen shoulder as he immediately rushed to the locker room, I'm not holding my breath.

It is a short term injury, though, and if the Magic can weather the storm, they'll still be sitting pretty. Hedo Turkoglu better snap out of his shooting slump, though. Or the Magic are going to find homecourt advantage a significant step away.

Nelson Might Miss All-Star Weekend originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Andrew Bynum Will Not Have Surgery

Matt Moore — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:39:00 EST

Filed under: Knicks, Eastern, NBA Injuries

As I write this, Kobe Bryant has 34 points in the half, leading to me to ask the question, "Andrew Who?" but after the day Lakers fans have had, they've earned as much good news as we can give them.

Andrew Bynum as you should know, unless you spent the day spelunking, engaged in total emersion, or recovering from a horrific ice storm (hang in there, Boone County!), tore his MCL on Sunday and will miss eight to twelve weeks. But according to Rob Peterson of NBA.com, Bynum has elected to not have surgery on the tear, and will enter rehab in two weeks.

This is a pretty mature move by Bynum, recognizing the urgency of this season for the Lakers and not making his decision solely for his own career. It'll be interesting to track if Bynum is able to maintain his timeline. Last year, that didn't work out the way the Lakers wanted it to.

Last year, just like this year, Bynum turned to his own personal doctor over the notoriously questionable Lakers medical staff. He ended up missing every significant recovery deadline set before scrapping the season. The current estimate puts his return sometime between two weeks prior to the playoffs and two weeks into them. But unless Bynum improves his work ethic in regards to rehab, he's likely to miss them this year as well.

Our own Nate Jones remarked the same thing I thought after really looking at this injury though. How much does this change things? Is this not the same team that made the Finals last year before being largely embarrassed by a Celtics team that looks tremendously more vulnerable this season? And that team was without Trevor Ariza, who's a serious contributor for this squad. Even without Bynum, the Lakers are just fine.

Andrew Bynum Will Not Have Surgery originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Under The Microscope Part II: Dwight Howard, Under the Lights

Matt Moore — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:01:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, Eastern

Each week, Under The Microscope looks at a different player and examines him in the context of a game that week. On Thursday, the Magic toppled the Cavaliers, and we focused on Dwight Howard. Here's a look at how Howard fared. This is part two; you can read part one of this week's UtM here.

The Phrase Is: Drop The Hammer.

The Story of One: It's good to have friends. This Orlando team has kind of developed into the basketball equivalent of Bob Dylan and The Band. The dynamic superpower in the spotlight, and a subtle, deep, artistic backup group capable of bringing down the house on his own. Thursday was the perfect symphony of the two, and it led to a beatdown of the Cavs in the second half.

Howard came out fighting, immediately attacking Ben Wallace and picking up the foul. From early on, Howard set the tone as an eraser down low. Not an enforcer, as Howard doesn't have to resort to unnecessary fouls to protect the paint. He drifts in and out, and the Magic system allows him to freelance. Combine this with his impeccable timing, and you have an eraser capable of blocking anything that comes down low. When the Cavs used the wing pick and roll, Williams found himself constantly running into a 7-foot wall at the baseline. Howard wasn't faced with an elite center to constantly post against Thursday, and it allowed him to play to his strengths.

And certainly one of his strengths is rebounding. Howard is the opposite of Tim Duncan style-wise. Where Duncan extends entirely from his waist, constantly reaching up from his heightened position and clutching at the ball, Howard gathers his energy low, and detonates upwards in a burst of power and strength. This is particularly interesting considering the issues the Pistons have created for him with taking his center of gravity out. I'd always considered it an attack of Howard's weak point, but it may in fact be the simple prevention of the athletic explosion that grants him the advantage. Howard's hustle is also rarely absent on the rebounding edge. While his focus flutters, he keeps it in rebounding situations.

On offense, the contrast to Duncan continues. While Duncan will catch the ball in the post and prefers to measure you, deciphering your weaknesses and daring you into a mistake, Howard prefers to catch it in motion, carry through with his move and finish. The objective for Howard is to be a blur so that when you overreact in anticipation, he hesitates and then you're dead before your feet even hit the ground. This causes him problems with the double comes immediately, as he'll roll into the double, which causes turnovers and blocks. But when the spacing is open and he gets that big step, his combination of speed and size is near ungaurdable. His three step mini-hook was off tonight, but his spinning bank shot was well oiled and that's more important against the Cavs' man-help.

In the block he doesn't necessarily play back to the basket that much, playing deep but parallel to the goal, using his hip as the wedge versus (again) Tim Duncan's backparts. He's very much partial to the two-step-motion-hesitation-finish sequence, suckering the opponent into anticipating his follow through, and then actually delivering it. He also stops mid-way through his pivot often, surprising his defender, who is trying to factor for his entire step. Howard's passing out of the paint is mostly propelled from the elbow, which wouldn't be as effective if he wasn't rocking the gunshow. Seriously. Someone check out the gun laws in Florida, because Howard is packing cannons.

Howard's notorious foul call whining was in play Thursday, and while I usually rest on Howard's side, tonight he actually got away with more than he should have. On one put-back dunk he clearly shoved J.J. Hickson out of the way, and yet when called for the same infraction later, he did his usual frustrated strut downcourt. There's a certain degree of posturing I can understand. Tim Duncan (again the comparisons) has proven that if you complain enough, the influence will stick in with the officials. But Howard could have backed off a bit against the Cavs.

His lateral movement is ridiculous. There's no other word for it. He's able to slide so far, so easily, that often times opponents are driving with an open lane, only to find Howard sprinting over to block their layup, as James discovered in the second quarter off the pick and roll. Speaking of pick and roll, Howard has an interesting style in running it. He creates a momentary impediment before bursting out, instead of following through with the contact. It works well in the Magic's system, because there's not meant to be any hesitation once the play is actualized.

Howard's demeanor is the same as it is off the court: jovial, light-hearted, and liked by everyone. Anderson Varejao, who plays with contempt for every opponent, rubbed Howard's head after accidentally slapping it. He laughs often, both with teammates and opponents. Howard doesn't get angry and buckle down, he lets the game come to him and flourishes in it. At no point does he seem like he's forcing the issue, nor perturbed at any turn of events

He cannot hit free throws.

Howard is the best center in the league, and it's not close. His improvement in using the glass, rebounding prowess, shot-blocking ability, and inherent athleticism combined with size makes the question academic. When his backup band is pounding out hits, it's hard to say that this Magic team isn't a legitimate contender in the East, and if you want to see a true joy for play in the paint, look no further than Dwight Howard.

Under The Microscope Part II: Dwight Howard, Under the Lights originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009 NBA All-Star Reserves: Eastern Conference Discussion

Matt Watson — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:50:00 EST

Filed under: Eastern, NBA All-Star Game

The reserves for this year's NBA All-Star game were announced, and as always, there were a few surprises. We already talked about the West, but keep reading past the jump for a discussion of who made the cut in the East -- and whether anybody deserves to feel snubbed.

And the 2009 Eastern All-Star reserves are ...

F - Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors
F - Rashard Lewis, Orlando Magic
F - Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers
F - Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
G - Devin Harris, New Jersey Nets
G - Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic
G - Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks

First of all, kudos to the coaches for bending the rules and not voting in a center. Bosh, listed as a forward on the official ballot, is more than capable of manning the middle, especially in a meaningless exhibition where no one plays any defense. There are too many players who actually deserved to make the roster to justify lowering the bar for someone like Emeka Okafor simply to fill a hard-and-fast position quota.

With Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett and LeBron James voted in as starters, Orlando now has three All-Stars, Boston two and Cleveland just one. Is that fair? Let's look at who got left out:

-- Mo Williams. The Cavs entered tonight's action with the best record in the league, so the fact LeBron James won't have a sidekick along for the ride in Phoenix looks a little funny. But let's throw Cleveland's record out the window for a second and look at this objectively.

Williams, for all the attention he's received this year, is putting up almost the exact same numbers he did his last two seasons in Milwaukee. If he didn't deserve it then, why is it such a travesty now? When it comes down to it, he's a point guard averaging just 4.2 assists per game. No, it's not his fault the offense flows through LeBron, but I'd put Mike Bibby or Rajon Rondo on the team before I included Williams. Speaking of Rondo ...

-- Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen. I like both of these guys, but who do you take off? It's tough to make everybody happy when there are only seven spots to fill. Rondo is having a very fine season -- he may be the best defensive point guard in the league and continues to improve as a distributor. If he keeps improving, he'll probably make the cut next year. Allen is also having a solid season, but better than Joe Johnson? For that matter, better than Vince Carter? No and no.

If Jameer Nelson's name surprises you, you haven't been paying attention. He's done an incredible job stepping up his game this year and actually ranks in the top four in PER among point guards, trailing only Chris Paul, Devin Harris and Tony Parker, and sitting one spot ahead of Chauncey Billups. That's pretty exclusive company and indicative of the extremely efficient season he's having, shooting 50.4% from the field and 44.6% from three-point land.

Some considered Danny Granger to be on the bubble, but it would have been a shame if he didn't make it. Yes, he's playing on a losing team, but you can't ignore a guy who scores 25.8 points, grabs 5.0 boards and dishes 3.4 assists a night.

All in all, I think the coaches got this right.

2009 NBA All-Star Reserves: Eastern Conference Discussion originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Under the Microscope: Dwight Howard

Matt Moore — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:07:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, Eastern

Each week, Under The Microscope looks at a different NBA player and where they are in the season, as well as how they're perceived on and off the court. On Thursday, the Magic hosts the Cavaliers, and we'll be keeping an eye on Dwight Howard, who is widely considered to be the best center in the league (or at least the best center that hasn't collapsed a dude's lung). Join us after the jump to see where Howard is and where he might be headed.

Name: Dwight David Howard

Tangibles: 6' 11", 265 lbs., 7' 4.5" wingspan, 35.5" max. vertical (measurement stats via Draft Express).

Position: C, Orlando Magic

Born: December 8, 1985

Drafted: 1st Overall, 2004

Key stats: 20.1 ppg, 19.9 pper36, 56% FG%, 56% eFG% (according to Basketball-Reference.com), 25.28 PER (Hollinger, natch), 5.0 rpg, 3.5 apg

Where He's At: Taking the next step. Howard is the best center in the league. The only people that would doubt this wear XL Kobe jerseys and alternately type "BYNUM RULEZ" and "KOBE RULEZ" on forum boards. Or they live in China. Howard's combination of size, athleticism, and raw power has made him an almost unsolvable element. Throw in his ever-increasing emphasis on defense, the product of the coaching equivalent of a religious crusade by Stan Van Gundy, and you've got a franchise center that most teams can only dream of.

This season hasn't been a revelation or a huge explosion for Howard, but he's managed to start filling in some of the smaller gaps. His turnovers are down this season, if only slightly, but are still high at just under three per game. His footwork has improved, and that's helped his mid-lane runner and drop-hook. His drop-hook is still far from reliable, and he still primarily depends on the dunk. Most impressive this season has been his ease with working out of the double team to kick-start the rotation, and that's significantly helped the Magic with their dominant three-point shooting.

Defensively, there's a huge gap between the "good" Dwight Howard and the bad. At times he's simply dominant, using his incredible athleticism and wingspan to completely shut down drives with powerful blocks and being an enforcer in the paint. Yet oftentimes you'll find commentators, or Stan Van Gundy, exasperated by Howard's lack of focus defensively. In fact, if Howard were to fine tune his game to put maximum effort on the defensive end, he could be a dominant defensive center, the likes of which are rarely seen in a generation. His work has improved this season, and actually several of his blocks are "accidentally" goal-tends, where the player clearly misses his shot for whatever reason, but it manages to scrape the backboard just enough to warrant the goaltending charge, even though Howard clearly would have blocked it regardless. He's able to muscle up against the best, doing a fantastic job against Andrew Bynum earlier this season in LA, and routinely shutting down lesser centers.

His rebounding is a particular strength, as he not only uses his size to simply reach up and anticipate the ball, but his athleticism allows him to slide between players out-hustle them as well.

But he cannot hit free throws.

Who He Is To Us: Howard has somehow managed to encapsulate so many of the things we admire in athletes all at once that the Superman theme tends to ring more true than it did with Shaq, regardless of what the Big Suns-Killer might have to say about it. Howard's coming-out party was definitely the All-Star Dunk Contest, but while his synergy of positive regard tends to echo the man of steel, his lighthearted demeanor and fun, friendly attitude -- combined with his devout faith -- bring more reference to Simba from the Lion King. Yet Howard is even more "fun" than that, often times portrayed as the jokester, the clown prince of rebounds, and this makes him wholly likeable. All of this is said before considering his upbringing as the son of a state trooper and his considerable charity work. For some this makes him bland and boring, and to sponsors, a resentment. They prefer big men with a mean streak, crashing into opponents and warning them, verbally or through flagrant fouls, not to enter the lane. Howard prefers to invite you in, chuckling, and then kindly reject you when you attempt a shot. You're welcome in his lane, but no, silly man, you can't score here.

His dunks are the primary image his persona resonates with basketball fans, and they are at once terrifying and jovial. The put-back dunks where he seems to slam the ball so hard you're concerned he may have just buried it into the Earth's molten core are essentially a nightly occurence, and the Superman dunk, or "dunk" for those with a stick in ucomfortable places, defined him for a generation. For many it was refreshing simply to see someone have that much fun on the floor.

There are darker sides, though, as there are with every man, no matter how super they may be. His first son being born should have been a solely joyous occasion, but when someone with that profoundly open of a faith is involved in an extra-marital relationship, particularly in Florida, well, there's going to be some eyebrow raising. In more, actually fair, terms of evaluation, Howard's stymied growth has inspired doubt in some. He's yet to lock down a full-proof drop-step hook, his jumper is abysmal, and as always, his defensive effort is questioned, even on the nights where he pours in double digit blocks. The mark of a great player in this league is the never ending criticism of those who see the incredible, yet demand more from that player. Howard is often criticized for never aspiring to true greatness.

But remember: He is 23.

In many ways, he's the anti-Chris-Paul, or perhaps, Paul's good-natured twin. While Paul has an indomitable will to defeat his opponent, to do whatever it takes and is known for his thirst for vengeance at both ends of the floor as well as his willingness to throw the occasional cheap shot, Howard has never reached that level of malevolence. He's not brutal. He's powerful and exacting, but never cruel. And while Paul is centered around precision and style, Howard is the manifestation of power and might. And though the demands ratchet up every season for him, he's taken the Magic to the playoffs as a top seed, and have people believing this year that they might actually be a legit contender. Insert Gatorade "The Legend Continues" line here.

What to Watch tonight: It's not yet clear whether Zydrunas Ilgauskas will play against the Magic, and reports indicate there's only a 25 percent chance. Howard will be tested by a formidable frontcourt of Anderson Varejao and Ben Wallace. Without Ilgauskas, though, he should be able to keep the upper hand and frustrate the Cavs' frontcourt. Foul trouble is the big question, as the Cavs have the ability to relentlessly attack the basket with LeBron James, and Varejao has been known to flop draw a charge or two. If Howard can't stay on the floor, a major hole opens inside defensively for the Magic. On offense, you'll notice his two-step half-layup-half-hook shot, and he's got that down to a science. Howard is averaging close to 14 rebounds per game, and that's a big key for the Magic to create second-shot opportunities for their perimeter players. The Cavs are defensively sound, so I wouldn't hope for many alley-oops.

Expect Howard's very Shaq-like free throw issues to play a major part, as the Cavs will have no problem fouling him in the second half unless he's attacked the rim and gotten fouls on them in the first. Howard's taken to some strange antics lately, staring at his hand when he hits a free throw and generally goofing around when the game is close late. Think of it as Rasheed Wallace without the rage issues. It should be a fantastic game, and Howard is prime for a big one.

Check back tomorrow to see what the night yielded in particular for Dwight Howard.

Under the Microscope: Dwight Howard originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Redd Tears ACL, MCL

Matt Moore — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:31:00 EST

Filed under: Bucks, Eastern, NBA Injuries

You know what actually made Milwaukee famous? The soul-crushing agony of defeat.

The Bucks had recently turned things around to a certain degree with Scott Skiles and Richard Jefferson. They were a half-game ahead for the 8th playoff spot, had been playing competitively, and had some young talent to complement their core.

And now this: Michael Redd blew out his knee last night, tearing his ACL and MCL, putting him on the shelf for the remainder of the season. Ouch.

So where does Milwaukee go from here?

When something like this happens, a team that's under .500 and in the last playoff spot like the Bucks has to make some decisions. They can weather it out, regroup for next season with a pretty good nucleus (and hopefully a healthy Andrew Bogut), try and add a few pieces, and reboot the system, so to speak.

But they have a ton of tradeable assets. If the Bucks want a complete rebuilding job, they've got Richard Jefferson's contract to move. Jefferson has been a solid contributor for Milwaukee this season, but he's far from having a career year and is getting up there in years (29 in June). Charlie Villanueva has also stepped up his game, and is the kind of player that a lot of teams will be looking for, if he manages to continue his solid rebounding from this season. And of course, Ramon Sessions has already been involved in a ton of discussions for trades with Luke Ridnour having a great season.

Andrew Bogut has not proven he can be a reliable superstar that Milwaukee needs, and the odds of the Bucks making any significant movement in the East, without Redd, are slim. They can test drive the lineup, but Hammond needs to keep his phone line free.

Michael Redd Tears ACL, MCL originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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