NBA FanHouse

Pau Gasol to Return Against the Bulls

Brett Pollakoff — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Lakers, NBA Injuries

After missing the Lakers' first 11 games of the season with a hamstring injury, Pau Gasol appears ready to make his return to the court tonight in a nationally televised matchup against the Bulls.

"I think that I'll be able to go tomorrow," Gasol told reporters on Wednesday. "It felt great today and I don't plan on any reason why it wouldn't feel the same way tomorrow."

Gasol's return will be a welcome addition for a team that has struggled offensively on the nights when Kobe Bryant didn't score 40 or more points. Thankfully for L.A., Bryant has managed to do that in four of the team's 11 games so far, and every time it resulted in a win for the Lakers.

Pau Gasol to Return Against the Bulls originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vinny Del Negro Learning on the Job

Matt Steinmetz — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, NBA Coaches

SACRAMENTO -- Vinny Del Negro is 10 games into his second season as the coach of the Chicago Bulls. He was hired in June 2009, despite never having been a head coach on any level. FanHouse caught up with Del Negro before Chicago's 101-87 win over the Kings on Tuesday night and talked to him about the challenges of his unique situation.

FanHouse: What have you learned as a coach this past year?

Vinny Del Negro: You're always trying to get better, always trying to learn. I was fortunate enough to play for a long time for some great coaches, but you have to do things the way you're comfortable with. I use the relationships I've built over the years, whether it's former teammates who are coaches or former coaches that I had, bouncing things off them and trying to improve.

It's a never-ending process. I don't care if you've done this one year, 10 years, 20 years -- you're always trying to find ways to help your team get better. But there's more of a comfort factor. I know the players better; they know me better and what's expected. I think our time management in practice has been better and the direction we're going is improving.

FH: What kind of a coach do you want to become?

Del Negro: That's going to evolve and it takes time. A lot of times patience is a key, not only with players but in my case with a young coach. I think we're building a good foundation. One of the things I've learned is you have to be yourself. You have to do what you're comfortable with. Whether it's practice or games.

I'm a very detail oriented person and I expect a lot from my guys. I expect them to play hard and understand what their job is on the team, and we have good guys. But I'm always trying to get better because I'm always trying to find ways to improve myself. If I do individually, it will help the team be more successful.

"I played with great players, and learned from them. Had great coaches, and learned from them. ... As far as coaching, though, you have to do it your own way."
- Vinny Del Negro FH: Has there been any advantage to not having coaching experience, maybe because you had no reputation or no negative reputation?

Del Negro: I don't think it hurts. But every situation is different. What I was fortunate to have last year and this year is a very experienced staff. When I took over the job it was late and I was fortunate to put together an experienced staff that could guide me a little bit last year and this year. I've had a staff that is supportive and helped guide me through some of the tough times.

It's a process. It just takes time. There's a lot thrown at you, a lot of quick decisions. We're always going to be second-guessed, but that's part of the business. I've been in basketball a long time as a player and as an executive, and as a coach, so I've seen all different aspects of it. That's an advantage I have, seeing all the different things that I've been able to do throughout my career.

FH: Was there -- or is there -- any insecurity or doubt about your lack of coaching experience?

Del Negro: I understand what you're saying, but I don't second-guess myself. You know what I mean? I go in, I prepare as hard as I possibly can. Some decisions I wish I could do over. Some I think we've done very well. And it's a learning process all the time.

I don't care how many years you have there are so many quick decisions to be made and that's why having an experienced staff has helped me. That's what I mean by that. There's a lot that goes into that. Playing, doing radio, doing TV, director of player personnel, assistant GM, being involved in all those different aspects -- it gives you another look at things. And then in this role I get another look. So I've been able to see things from different viewpoints and that's beneficial for me in this [coaching] role.

FH: So you view that as an advantage because maybe you don't come in with the tunnel vision of a coach?

Del Negro: I played with great players, and learned from them. Had great coaches, and learned from them. I've worked for great organizations. There are a lot of benefits from that. As far as coaching, though, you have to do it your own way. You have to find ways. Every team has different talent levels, different personalities. You try to manage personalities and put them in areas that they can be successful in.

FH: When did you get the coaching bug or is it something you've always been interested in doing?

Del Negro: When I retired I had a couple of coaches who approached me and asked if I'd be interested in working with them. At that time I felt like I had gotten into the TV thing, was living in Phoenix and was happy with the Phoenix Suns. Great organization. And then it just evolved from that into the front office.

I was around basketball all the time and people would talk and say 'Why don't you coach?' So, I was starting to get into it a little, and I had an opportunity to interview for a couple jobs. Fortunately, Jerry Reinsdorf, John Paxson and Gar Forman ... we had good meetings and it worked out.

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

Vinny Del Negro Learning on the Job originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bynum Expects to be All-Star Starter

Chris Tomasson — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:30:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Cavaliers, Lakers, Nuggets, Suns, NBA All-Star Game

DENVER -- Andrew Bynum was talking to his brother early this week when he got the news.

Amare Stoudemire, despite being Phoenix's starting power forward, was listed on the All-Star ballot at center for the Western Conference. That happens to be the same position played by the Lakers' Bynum, and many had considered him the favorite to be the starter after Houston's Yao Ming was lost for the season due to injury and Shaquille O'Neal was traded from Phoenix to Cleveland of the East.

"I was definitely surprised,'' Bynum said in an interview with FanHouse about Stoudemire being listed at center even though he's started every game this season at forward, with Channing Frye having opened at center for the Suns.

But Bynum is determined not to let this ballot business keep him out of his first All-Star Game.

"I'm going to go out there and play the way I need to play,'' Bynum said. "I don't think (it will be hard to be named the starter) if I play well.''

Bynum has done that so far. Entering Friday's game at Denver, he was averaging 21.0 points and 11.3 rebounds, better than the 18.1 points and 7.9 rebounds Stoudemire is putting up.

But Bynum's stats figure to go down a bit after Lakers power forward Pau Gasol returns in a few weeks from a hamstring problem. And Stoudemire has proved to be quite popular before in the fan voting.

Stoudemire last season was named a West starting forward when he accumulated more than 1.46 million votes. Bynum was third among centers with more than 549,000 votes, but has improved greatly since last season, when he suffered a knee injury shortly after the final votes were announced and missed 2 ½ months.

"He looks so big,'' Nuggets coach George Karl said of Bynum, listed at 7-foot, 285 pounds. "I don't know if he grew. (The Lakers have) got another (key) piece.''

JORDAN'S NUMBER GETS LOTS OF DISCUSSION

Much of the discussion before Friday's game was about whether the NBA should retire No. 23 for all teams in honor of Michael Jordan. Cleveland's LeBron James, who wears No. 23, made that suggestion Thursday while saying he plans to switch to No. 6.

Lakers boss Phil Jackson, who coached Jordan to six NBA titles with Chicago in the 1990s, called James' idea "great,'' and said it would be like the NHL having retired No. 99 for Wayne Gretzky. But Jackson did acknowledge there would be ample debate.

"We haven't seen this happen in basketball so it's kind of unique,''he said. "It would maybe be a little step on the toes for a guy like Magic (Johnson) and (Larry) Bird, who made this era a bigger era that Michael could come in and dominate and he had a commercial appeal. But it's up to other people (whether James' idea is heeded).''

Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony is under contract with Brand Jordan. But he's not fully committed to James' suggestion.

"I don't have a problem with it,'' Anthony said. "But I don't wear No. 23 so it's kind of easy for me to say that. You ought to ask them who wear No. 23. It doesn't matter to me either way.''

Anthony jokingly was asked what it would take for his No. 15 to one day be considered for NBA-wide retirement.

"Six (titles),'' he cracked. "(Jordan) got six.''

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

Bynum Expects to be All-Star Starter originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stan Van Gundy on Retiring No. 23: '(Jordan) Is Not Jackie Robinson'

Tim Povtak — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:20:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Heat, Magic

ORLANDO -- LeBron James can stop wearing his No. 23 if he wants -- in deference to Michael Jordan -- but asking the rest of the league to follow his lead is only showing his immaturity.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy was asked Friday morning about James' request, and he didn't hesitate to say he thinks the idea is misplaced.

"It's a nice gesture, but he (Jordan) is not Jackie Robinson. Baseball did it because it had historical significance,'' Van Gundy said. "There actually were guys before Michael who could play the game. Then you should retire numbers that (Bill) Russell, Wilt (Chamberlain), and certainly Oscar (Robertson) wore. I understand LeBron didn't grow up watching those guys, but still. ''

Van Gundy was speaking after his team practiced Friday morning, preparing for the New Jersey Nets. He also rolled his eyes when asked about the Miami Heat retiring Jordan's No. 23 in the spring of 2003 as a show of respect. He was there as an assistant under coach Pat Riley at the time. He obviously didn't like that idea, either.

"I wasn't in the banner department,'' he said. "I'm just not one of those guys who thinks unquestionably that he (Jordan) was the best player of all time. I don't buy that. We've had a lot of great players at a lot of positions, so what are you going to do? Retire all the numbers, and pretty soon our guys will be wearing No. 327 because all the two-digit numbers are gone.''

James made his request after his Cavs beat the Heat in Miami Thursday night with Jordan in the stands sitting alongside Pat Riley, Heat president.

"Michael was a great player, and if the NBA wants to decide that every other team in the league has to worship him, then that's up to them,'' Van Gundy said. "Would I be for that? No.''

Stan Van Gundy on Retiring No. 23: '(Jordan) Is Not Jackie Robinson' originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brad Miller Can't Beat the Buzzer

Brett Pollakoff — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:05:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Nuggets, NBA Last Night, NBA Videos

Great game in Chicago last night, where the Nuggets and the Bulls went down to the final ticks of the clock to decide the outcome. And if you were rooting for the home team, you likely found the ending to be more than a little bit controversial.

With the Nuggets up by one, and 0.3 seconds showing on the game clock, the Bulls inbounded to Brad Miller, who caught it, quickly turned, and appeared to beat the buzzer as the ball left his hand and went through the basket. But after going to the instant replay, the officials ruled the ball was still in his hands as time expired.

To the video!

The action starts at the 1:39 mark:

Incredible shot by Miller there, but after watching the replay over and over again, the ball did appear to still be on his fingertips when the red light behind the backboard came on. The officials got it right.

And just for the record -- because I heard more than one broadcaster make this mistake while discussing the play afterwards -- 0.3 seconds is enough time for there to be a catch-and-shoot, according to the NBA rule book:

"The game clock must show :00.3 or more in order for a player to secure possession of the ball on a rebound or throw-in to attempt a field goal. Instant replay shall be utilized if the basket is successful on this type of play and the clock runs to 0:00.

"The only type of field goal which may be scored if the game clock is at :00.2 or :00.1 is a "tip-in" or "high lob." "

So ideally, as fans, we don't want games to end with referees huddled around a video monitor for several minutes, because it takes the air out of the building after what was undeniably an electric atmosphere, once Miller's shot appeared to be good at first glance. But we do want the game to be decided fairly. And according to the rules that have been put into place by the league, in this case, it was.

Brad Miller Can't Beat the Buzzer originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Power Rankings: Rising Suns

Brett Pollakoff — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Cavaliers, Celtics, Hawks, Lakers, Magic, Mavericks, Nuggets, Suns, Trail Blazers, NBA Power Rankings

We're just eight games into the season, but there's no doubt who the surprise team is at this point. The Phoenix Suns are off to a 7-1 start, and have road wins over two of the three remaining one-loss teams. They've done it with Steve Nash leading the league in assists at almost 13 per game, and with the team leading the league in three-point shooting at a ridiculous 47 percent. But all of that only got the Suns to No. 2 in this week's rankings -- read on to see who's on top.

1. Lakers (6-1) | Prev.: 5
Pau Gasol has yet to play a game this season, and Andrew Bynum has missed the last two. But when Kobe Bryant goes for 40 or more three times in the team's first seven games, well, the wins just seem to come anyway.
2. Suns (7-1) | Prev.: 7
You could make a case for the Suns rising all the way to the top this week, especially considering the strength of their recent competition -- which they mostly steamrolled. But one or two doesn't make a whole lot of difference in November, and Phoenix will get their chance at the top-ranked Lakers soon enough: They head to L.A. for a TNT showdown Thursday.
3. Celtics (7-1) | Prev.: 2
After opening the season with eight games in 11 days, the Celtics looked weary in their last two. But they came out of it with just a single loss, and they still lead the league in point differential with an impressive + 14.1 -- the second best team in that department is only at +7.8.
4. Heat (5-1) | Prev.: 8
Contract years are a beautiful thing. Quentin Richardson is in one, and he's set a career mark for most consecutive games with at least nine rebounds -- Q has done it in five straight (and counting).
5. Hawks (5-2) | Prev.: 11
Jamal Crawford is thriving in his sixth man role, and has led or shared the team lead in scoring three times. The Hawks finally put it all together in a dismantling of the Nuggets at home, but whether or not they can take that same show on the road Friday in Boston will say a lot about exactly where this team is at this early point in the season.
6. Mavericks (5-2) | Prev.: 4
Dallas has actually looked like one of the top teams this season, but the fact that they gave away a game at the free throw line cannot go unpunished. But the next night Josh Howard returned, and so did the Mavs' solid play: They crushed the Raptors by 28 points.
7. Blazers (4-3) | Prev.: 13
Nate McMillan pushed the right button in placing Andre Miller alongside Brandon Roy and Steve Blake in the starting lineup, and the team is 2-0 since he made that adjustment.
8. Nuggets (5-2) | Prev.: 3
After the strong start, Denver has dropped two straight since Kenyon Martin went down with an injury. But Anthony Carter might have said it best after the Nuggets' first loss of the season: "When one person goes down, that's why everybody else gets paid to play. Kenyon ain't the whole team."
9. Magic (5-2) | Prev.: 1
Orlando has done well to start 5-2, playing without the suspended Rashard Lewis since the beginning, and missing Vince Carter for four of the last five with an ankle injury. Ryan Anderson had been filling in nicely, but losing him to an injury was too much to overcome, as Orlando lost by 28 without him in Oklahoma City.

10. Bulls (4-2) | Prev.: 16
Winners of three straight after the slow start, including a close one in Cleveland against LeBron and the Cavs. Joakim Noah has been so solid this season that he's making a local columnist eat his words -- literally, and with salsa no less.

11. Spurs (3-3) | Prev.: 6
Tony Parker is expected to miss about a week with an ankle sprain, but Manu Ginobili made sure the team wouldn't drop two straight. He went nuts against Toronto with 36 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and four blocked shots in 32 minutes off the bench. Batman, indeed.

12. Cavaliers (4-3) | Prev.: 10
The media circus surrounding the Cavs feasted last Friday at Madison Square Garden, when the "LeBron James to the Knicks" talk reached a fever pitch. They've had a few days to recover, just in time for Shaquille O'Neal versus Dwight Howard (and Stan Van Gundy) on ESPN this Wednesday.

13. Rockets (4-2) | Prev.: 9
The Rockets have played better than anyone expected, and have done it by playing smart, hard-nosed basketball. Unfortunately for them, Tracy McGrady is getting ready to come back and ruin everything, although the exact timing of his return is something that (surprise!) he and the team don't see eye to eye on.

14. Thunder (3-3) | Prev.: 14
Took apart a depleted Orlando Magic squad, and showed that if you don't make defense a priority against them, this Thunder team is capable of lighting you up -- they shot over 57 percent from the field, and over 53 percent from three-point land in that one. Oh, and also, there's this.

15. Bucks (3-2) | Prev.: 22
Winners of two straight in convincing fashion over the T'Wolves and the Knicks, and it could have been three in a row had they been able to protect an 18-point lead against the Bulls. But Brandon Jennings continues to impress, Andrew Bugut has done the heavy lifting, and everyone else is contributing just enough to keep the team afloat while Michael Redd is out.

16. Raptors (3-4) | Prev.: 21
It's been a pretty simple formula for the Raps this season: hold the other team under 100 points, and win (three times). Allow the other team to get into triple digits, and lose (four times). In other news, Chris Bosh continues his dominant season, with averages of 29 points and 11.6 rebounds through the team's first seven games.

17. Jazz (3-4) | Prev.: 17
Something's off with this year's Jazz team, but it's hard to tell exactly what it is yet. Consistency is something all teams struggle with, especially early on. But home losses aren't the way Utah normally does business, and they already have two to teams that, on paper, they should seemingly beat: the Rockets and the Kings.

18. Pistons (3-4) | Prev.: 23
Sure, I could drone on about the ups and downs of the team's season with Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince sidelined with injuries. But instead, do yourself a favor and read Matt Watson's excellent piece on the forced rebuilding situation in Detroit.

19. Bobcats (3-3) | Prev.: 18
Charlotte is an interesting team. They hammered the Hawks and hung with the Bulls this week, while Gerald Wallace (much to the delight of our own Matt Steinmetz) finally got himself a few assists -- three, to be exact, after going 94 field goal attempts without one through the team's first four games.

20. Kings (3-4) | Prev.: 26
No Kevin Martin? No problem for the Kings, what with the quick coming of age of rookie Tyreke Evans. Evans has led the team to two wins in Martin's absence, and is quickly making the term "combo guard" look very much like something that GMs should start to consider as a positive.

21. Hornets (3-5) | Prev.: 20
NOLA was very fortunate to beat the Mavs, looked wretched against the Raptors and Lakers, then rose up and delivered a 28-point road beatdown to the Clippers. David West's scoring and rebounding averages are down significantly from last year, and unless he can get back to having some occasionally monster performances, the team's going to continue to struggle.

22. Clippers (3-5) | Prev.: 25
Chris Kaman won the Western Conference player of the week award, which, considering he was competing against some 40-point performances from Kobe Bryant, was somewhat impressive. The Clips went 3-0 on the week, and Kaman averaged 24.3 points on .574 shooting from the field, 9.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. Sure, it all came to an abrupt end on Monday against the Hornets, but it was a good run while it lasted.

23. Sixers (3-4) | Prev.: 15
Philly seems to be still staggering after the Celtics beat them by 31 in the fourth game of the season. Since, they were lucky to beat a seriously undermanned Nets team, and followed that up with losses to the Pistons and the Suns.

24. Pacers (2-3) | Prev.: 29
After starting 0-3 against some quality competition, the Pacers have two wins over the Knicks and the Wizards -- the latter of which caused Washington to sacrifice a snack tray in frustration afterwards.

25. Wizards (2-5) | Prev.: 12
Things aren't going well in Washington, but the rumors of friction between Gilbert Arenas and Flip Saunders seem to be a bit ridiculous. Meanwhile, the team should be fine once Antawn Jamison returns, and three of the last four losses were to upper echelon teams, so it's not time to push the panic button just yet.

26. Warriors (2-4) | Prev.: 28
If these rankings were based on organizational health, the Warriors would be dead last. But as they showed in putting up 146 points on the T'Wolves on Monday, there's some talent on this roster that needs to be dealt with. Unfortunately, as long as Nellie is running the ship and Steven Jackson is in town, winning is going to be the exception, not the norm.

27. Timberwolves (1-7) | Prev.: 27
Jonny Flynn has been solid, but as long as Al Jefferson continues to struggle offensively, the T'Wolves are going to continue to have problems keeping pace.

28. Knicks (1-7) | Prev.: 19
What never gets mentioned in all the "LeBron to New York" talk is the fact that Mike D'Antoni's system appears to be just an awful, awful fit for the talents of King James.

29. Grizzlies (1-7) | Prev.: 24
The team needs to get out of the shadow of Allen Iverson -- whether it's due to trading him, waiving him, or his choosing to retire -- before they'll have any chance of moving in a positive direction.

30. Nets (0-7) | Prev.: 30
Thanks to a rash of injuries and ailments -- including swine flu taking out Chris Douglas-Roberts -- the team was actually forced to practice against furniture due to a lack of available bodies.

NBA Power Rankings: Rising Suns originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doing Lines: Tyreke Evans Busts Out

Brett Pollakoff — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:25:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Hawks, Jazz, Kings, Mavericks, Nuggets, Raptors, NBA Last Night

Every night there are some stupendous, silly, stupid, or downright outlandish individual lines from around the lig. Doing Lines lets you know which one tops the list.

If you're not a close follower of the NBA, then just six games or so into the season, we can't necessarily hold it against you if the name Tyreke Evans doesn't ring a bell. Besides being a rookie, Evans plays for the Sacramento Kings, a team that won just 17 games a season ago, and figured to be about as bad this year with stud scorer Kevin Martin sidelined indefinitely with an injury.

But after what Evans did to Deron Williams in leading his undermanned team to a road win in Utah on Saturday, he won't remain anonymous to basketball fans for much longer.

Evans was the game's high scorer, finishing with a career high (obviously) 32 points, on 7-for-15 shooting, with seven assists and three rebounds. He fearlessly attacked the basket all night long, which is the reason for his 19 free throw attempts -- 16 of which the kid made.

This performance from Evans is a bit of a surprise, considering the fact that when the Kings dropped 127 points on Memphis earlier in the week, the rookie scored just three. But that was with Martin in the lineup, who has the ball in his hands quite a bit -- and with a scoring average of over 30 points per game, shoots it a lot, too. With Martin out, Evans had no problem taking over the leadership role, which is pretty impressive for a rookie playing in just his sixth game as a pro.

Deron Williams had a pretty great game himself in the losing effort, pouring in 29 points and dishing out 15 assists. But since Evans was the one who ended up on the winning end of things, you'd think the least that ESPN could do for him would be to actually get his photo into their game recap.

Down in Atlanta, the Hawks rose up and handed the Nuggets their second straight loss. Denver was playing without the injured Kenyon Martin, and Josh Smith made the most of his absence.

Smith was dominant on both ends of the floor, putting up a ridiculous line of 22 points, nine rebounds, seven assists ... and six blocked shots! When you add in the continued strong play of Jamal Crawford off the bench (25, four, and four), and Carmelo Anthony's struggle to get 30 points on 21 shots, it's easy to see how the Hawks ran away with this one.

Other notable numbers from Saturday's action:

Joakim Noah put up 21 points, on 10-of-12 shooting, and grabbed 16 rebounds in the Bulls' win over Charlotte. He's quietly becoming one of the most reliable centers in the game.

Josh Howard made his season debut for an already solid Mavericks team, and he looked good doing it. Howard was in the starting lineup, and in just 24 minutes, he had 16 points, four rebounds, two assists, and three steals.

Chris Bosh continued his early-season reminder that he too is one of 2010 free agency's top prizes, by putting up another super-solid line of 26 and 12, on 50 percent shooting from the field.

Doing Lines: Tyreke Evans Busts Out originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bulls' Thomas Breaks Arm Lifting Weights

Matt Watson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:45:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, NBA Injuries

Tyrus Thomas will miss the next four to six weeks after breaking his arm in a weightlifting accident, the Chicago Bulls reported Friday afternoon. X-rays confirmed that he suffered a fractured radius in his left forearm, and he's scheduled to undergo surgery Saturday.

It's unclear what exactly happened, but on the surface it sounds like a fluke injury that could have happened to anyone. That said, it's oddly fitting that it happened to Thomas, who's recently suffered through a frustrating string of setbacks, including his team's decision not to offer an extension, inconsistent playing time, alleged arguments with the coaching staff and allegations by the local media that he faked the flu. When it rains, it pours.

Bulls' Thomas Breaks Arm Lifting Weights originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Call for LeBron, No Win for Cavs

Brett Pollakoff — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:05:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Cavaliers, NBA Last Night, NBA Referees, NBA Videos

The Bulls went into Cleveland on Thursday and pulled out a hard-fought win over the Cavaliers. It was a low-scoring, defensive struggle, as neither team shot the ball very well, so it's not surprising that the game came down to the final play.

LeBron James drove to the basket with three seconds left and his team trailing by one, and was met by two defenders when he got there -- Luol Deng, who was guarding him from the play's outset, and Joakim Noah, who came over to help at the last second. James appeared to jump into Noah, and there was definitely contact. But somewhat incredibly, the refs swallowed their whistles, and the Bulls won the game.

Was it the right call? Read on and judge for yourself.

The action starts at the 2:25 mark:

It's not that I necessarily think that a foul should have been called there, and in fact, I'm of the opinion that the refs should let the players decide the game whenever possible, and only intervene in the closing seconds if the call is an obvious one.

But watching this as it happened, I think anyone who's seen LeBron drive like that and get contact on the final possession was stunned to see the officials not blow the whistle. LeBron, like most of the game's biggest stars, will historically get that call 98 times out of 100, even if it's a questionable one.

Mike Brown's discussion of the no-call seemed to back up the officials, although he believed that Noah might have been still on the move when the contact was made.

"I still don't understand that rule," Brown said. "I thought [LeBron] drove the ball, and Noah came across the paint, and as he came across the paint he jumped. I understand the rule of verticality as if you're in the spot, and you jump straight up and somebody runs into you, then it's a no-call.

"But I've got to find out if you're going across the lane and you meet somebody on the other side ... I don't know."

Fortunately in this case, the refs did know, and appeared to make the correct call. It will be interesting to see if the early-season trend of the officials favoring the rules over the game's stars will continue as the season goes on.

No Call for LeBron, No Win for Cavs originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here's What's Jumping Out of (NBA) Box

Matt Steinmetz — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:20:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, Bulls, Kings, Raptors, Wizards, NBA Last Night, Thunder

Couldn't help but notice some interesting box score lines from a busy Friday night of NBA games. Among them ...

Gerald Wallace, Charlotte: 4-for-20 from the field, 0 assists in 53 minutes. You almost have to try not to get an assist in that many minutes. And for what it's worth, five of Wallace's misses were actually blocked. To be fair, we'll mention Wallace's 15 rebounds, but even they come with a caveat. New York, the Bobcats' opponent, shot 38 percent from the field and the game went into double OT. In other words, there were plenty of misses.

Gilbert Arenas, Washington: 23 points on 9-for-22 from the field, 7 turnovers and 4 assists. Arenas made it look easy the other night when he had 29 points and nine assists in a win over Dallas. So ... maybe there are going to be some ups and downs for him.

Nick Young, Washington: 0-for-8 from the field in 12-plus minutes. It's not the eight misses we're focusing on, it's that he got up eight shots in little more than a quarter's worth of work.

John Salmons, Chicago: 2-for-14 from the field. To say Salmons is off to a terrible start shooting the ball is an understatement. He's now 5-for-29 from the floor through two games.

James Harden, Oklahoma City: 8 assists in 16-plus minutes. That's not bad for a two guard, especially when you're talking about a rookie.

Jose Calderon, Toronto: 3 assists and 3 turnovers in 34 minutes. Hey, it's just one game, but we're talking about a player here who had a 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio last season and a 5-to-1 turnover-to-assist ratio two seasons ago. Is the fact the ball isn't going to be in Calderon's hands as much -- with Hedo Turkoglu on board -- going to be a factor?

Kevin Martin, Sacramento: 9-for-29 from the field. No excuse for taking that many shots ... unless you're knocking down more than half of them.

Jason Thompson, Sacramento: 4-for-16 from the field in 39 minutes. That kind of shooting really mitigates those six offensive rebounds.

Here's What's Jumping Out of (NBA) Box originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Ben Gordon Documentary: Coming Soon to a Theater Near You?

Matt Watson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:45:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Pistons, NBA Videos, FanHouse Exclusive

Even though Ben Gordon has played a handful of preseason games in front of lackluster crowds at the Palace and one regular season game on the road wearing Pistons red, white and blue, it wasn't until his name was announced to a sold-out crowd at Detroit's home opener Friday night that he was officially welcomed to the team by the fans.

And as fate would have it, Gordon's introduction came with all the fanfare and pyrotechnics befitting the arrival of a budding star, as he was introduced along with the rest of the starters, filling in for the injured Rip Hamilton. It's a nice start for his Pistons career -- and should provide a fitting conclusion for a documentary seven months in the making.

In the tradition of Kobe Bryant's Doin' Work and LeBron James' More Than a Game, Gordon is the subject of a forthcoming documentary, A Scorer's Aura, which will tell the story of his final months as a Chicago Bull up until his first home game as a Detroit Piston, offering fans an insider's view of what it's like to be a coveted NBA free agent signing with a new team for the first time in his career.

"I have my last bit of filming to do the first home game," said Daemian Brown, the filmmaker driving the project and one of Gordon's childhood friends. "I know it's going to be hectic, he already has like half of his family coming."

Although Brown doesn't expect to finish editing all of his footage for another six weeks, he created the trailer above using several months of footage already filmed. Brown recently spoke to FanHouse about how the project began -- and how things didn't exactly go as planned.

"March 1st was the first day that we started shooting, and that was when the Bulls didn't really know if they were going to end up in the playoffs," Brown said. "There was a bunch of teams last season that were real close, and they were all one game or a half-game apart. ... It just so happened, we got them going in this race to get into the playoffs, and we all know how that ended up with them playing the Celtics in a great matchup in the first round."

In addition to capturing Gordon's off-court preparation for that epic series, Brown's motivation for the film was Gordon's experience as a restricted free agent the previous two summers, which consisted of long, drawn-out negotiations with the Bulls that weren't completed until shortly before each season began. Brown hoped to make a summer full of negotiations the focal point of the film but needed to adjust on the fly when Gordon quickly signed with the Pistons.

"That drama was played out for the last two offseasons, so I'm expecting, 'OK, this is going to be great stuff for a documentary, this is going to be really good with him going back and forth, back and forth, back and forth,' " Brown said. "And it didn't happen like that, so I had to really change the scope of the doc. That really was going to be the selling point for the documentary -- 'OK, here's this athlete, the talking, the first day that you can talk to teams and he's going back and forth between Chicago and whoever else is interested' -- but that didn't happen. He genuinely, really loved the Pistons organization."

Even if the story arc changed, the most compelling aspect of the documentary should be Brown's access to Gordon, who usually maintains a polished front with the media but let his guard down in front of a long-time friend.

"That's the aspect I want people to realize -- it's really that candid. So candid that I can't use everything. It's really that good," he said. "No one is going to be feel comfortable talking to someone that they don't know. But when it's a friend asking you questions, it's like, 'OK, what do you want to know?'

"It turned out to be quite an experience for both of us. There would be times where he would be like, 'I don't really feel like being in front of a camera right now,' and I'd just have to respect that. But for the most part he is gung-ho about it.

"He's going to let people know how he feels about everything that has happened. He's a strong believer that you have to be able to separate the business from the sport aspect of it -- he lives by that. ... You'll see that this dude is like any other 25-year-old. He likes to party, he loves to have fun with his friends. That's another side of him that I'd want to show. On the court you might say he's real stoic, you hardly see BG get excited about a lot of things on the court, even when he scores. But he loves basketball.

"Especially now that the season has started, it's hard -- he's executive producing this project -- it's hard to even communicate with him about anything else except for basketball. ... I remember when he started training, that was it. All the partying basically stopped. He's like, 'You know what? It's time now for me to get serious about basketball.' He worked out three times a day, and you'll see the footage in the trailer from his workout, but that's nothing -- there was a point where I'm like, this is turning into a damn workout DVD, I don't want that. That's all he would do."

When will fans at home get to see A Scorer's Aura? That's yet to be determined. Filming has been a virtual one-man show -- with the help of some other friends as well as Gordon's personal assistant and manager -- and Brown is still editing the final product. Once completed, he hopes to find distribution on the film festival circuit, possibly landing a deal with ESPN or another outlet.

While the documentary didn't go in the direction that Brown expected, he still hopes viewers will appreciate an intimate look at what's it like for a player to have his life turned upside down over the course of several months, a glimpse at someone making decisions affecting not only the rest of his career but also his life.

"It's a story," Brown said. "Stories are usually interesting if told properly. It's not just him as a basketball player, it's him as a person, a person who's in the public eye."

The Ben Gordon Documentary: Coming Soon to a Theater Near You? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spurs Look Winded in Loss to Bulls

Matt Moore — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:18:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Spurs, NBA Last Night

You're going to have to forgive us here in the early season for a bit. If we don't report on trends that are developing, we're ignoring what we're seeing. If we do tell you what we see, we're over-emphasizing games that are so young in this season that they can't even legally get into a screening of New Moon.

Basically, that's my way of imploring you to remember that we do take these things with a gigantic mountain of salt, but here's what happened. And trust me, the Spurs are going to want to brush this one off.

The San Antonio Spurs consider themselves a championship contender. Loaded with talent both young and old, they consider themselves ready to compete with the Lakers for the Western Conference crown. But to do so they'll need to get the highest seed possible to face weaker opponents in early rounds. And in order to get that high seed, they'll need to win back-to-back games on the road. On Thursday they looked like that might be more of a challenge than they're ready for at this early stage, as the Spurs fell to the Chicago Bulls 92-85.

It was a night where the Spurs shot 19 percent from 3-point land, shot only 42 percent overall, and were beaten on the offensive glass, 15-8. But the most glaring thing you came away with in this game was that for a team that was supposed to have reloaded to get rid of that "old, tired" description that's hung around them for years, even when they were winning championships, the Spurs were blown away by the Bulls' speed, energy, and athleticism.

Tim Duncan did what he does, scoring 28 points on 19 shots with 16 boards and 3 blocks, a simply sublime performance. But Manu Ginobili was the only other Spur in double digits with 12, while Tony Parker shot 4-11, Richard Jefferson 3-9, and Roger Mason 0-4. Rookie sensation and instant hype machine DeJuan Blair had only 6 points and 4 rebounds in 12 minutes, good for a rookie, but close to what he'll probably produce night in and night out.

The Spurs were unable to close off penetration lanes, unable to block out Joakim Noah and Luol Deng (10 offensive rebounds combined), and unable to lock down Derrick Rose, who finished with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists with just one turnover. The Bulls consistently were able to produce quality ball rotations leading to open three pointers. If the Bulls had shot better than their putrid 19% from the arc, the difference could have been greater. As it was, Luol Deng looked capable of filling in some of the gap from Ben Gordon's departure, Derrick Rose looked like he was progressing, Joakim Noah is a top 10 center in the league right now, and Kirk Hinrich provides both shooting and defensive toughness with quality minutes.

Perhaps most startling is that the Spurs, normally so resolved mentally, could have such a flat night so early. Just last night they walloped the Hornets, running them ragged and dominating them defensively. But against a Bulls squad who arguably have a better roster 1-10 than the Hornets, the Spurs looked not only slow and languid, but lost.

I'd expect an unpleasant conversation happened in the locker room after Thursday's game and that the Spurs will answer. But the loss might also be best served as a reminder to the Spurs not to believe the hype, and that like they always preach, they've got to keep pounding that rock with the hammer if they want to collect the one for the thumb.

Spurs Look Winded in Loss to Bulls originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Draft Class of 2006 Not Cashing In

Chris Tomasson — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:45:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Celtics, Grizzlies, Jazz, Lakers, Raptors, Trail Blazers, Thunder

Saturday is Halloween, but don't expect many NBA owners and general managers in this shaky economy to dress up as Bill Gates and throw money around.

Oct. 31 is the annual deadline for one-time first-round picks entering their fourth seasons to be eligible to sign extensions that would kick in for their fifth seasons. For stars, it's a chance to land their first really big contract.

But much is silent as the deadline approaches, meaning the overwhelming number of eligible players from the 2006 first round will become restricted free agents next summer. Three players from that draft -- Andrea Bargnani of Toronto and LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy of Portland -- have inked extensions, but not a lot more activity is expected.

An agent who represents a 2006 first-round pick told FanHouse on Monday it's his understanding only three other players from that draft -- Memphis' Rudy Gay, Utah's Ronnie Brewer and Boston's Rajon Rando -- are even still involved in serious negotiations to reach a deal by Saturday.

Even if all three signed extensions by Saturday, that would make the total of six an all-time low since this format started with the 1998 draft (draftees from 1995-97 became unrestricted free agents after three seasons so there was much more urgency). The 2005 class got just seven extensions before Oct. 31, 2008.

Two agents confirmed to FanHouse on Monday their former lottery picks won't sign extensions by Saturday and will become restricted free agents next summer. While it's pretty much confirming the obvious, Mark Bartelstein said Adam Morrison, the No. 3 pick in 2006, won't reach a deal with the Lakers. Guy Zucker said the same is true with his client, Oklahoma City's Thebo Sefolosha, taken No. 13 in that draft.

Indications are Tyrus Thomas, who went No. 4 in 2006 to Chicago, won't sign an extension with the Bulls. Thomas' agent, Brian Elfus, wouldn't offer a confirmation of anything that will happen to his client. But he said he wouldn't consider it a setback if no agreement reached by Saturday.

"I wouldn't be considering it a huge deal (if Thomas doesn't sign by Saturday),'' Elfus said.

With Nos. 1 and 2 selections Bargnani and Aldridge locked up, the highest pick from 2006 bound to be a restricted free agent is Morrison. While there never has been any serious discussion about an extension, Bartelstein said he and Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak decided early this offseason that the team would continue to evaluate Morrison into this season.

"We want to give him this year to get his feet back under him,'' Bartelstein said of Morrison, who was traded by Charlotte to the Lakers last February and then played sparingly, not getting into a single playoff game during their title run. "(The Lakers) have a good feeling about him (for the future).''

Three of the 14 lottery picks from 2006 aren't even eligible for extensions due to having previously not had options on their original contracts picked up. Those busts are No. 5 Shelden Williams, No. 9 Patrick O'Bryant and No. 10 Mouhamed Sene.

Thabo Sefolosha, like Morrison, has been dealt, but a trade doesn't change anything when it comes to eligibility for an extension if the rookie contract third- and fourth-year options get picked up. Zucker said there were talks about the Thunder possibly extending Seflosaha, who started 22 of 23 games after being acquired last February from Chicago while averaging 8.5 points.

Update: Sefolosha Signs Extension with Thunder

"We had some discussions, but it didn't result in any conclusions,'' Zucker said. "But (team officials) like (Seflosha) for the future even though we weren't able to reach any financial arrangements.''

With teams wary about costs due to the economy, that has cut down on the number of extensions. So has fears about the salary cap going down significantly next summer and teams losing flexibility.

"Teams know that a player will be restricted next summer and they can still match an offer on him,'' Bartelstein said of the lack of extensions being handed out. "Each team has a unique set of circumstances and some are trying to create cap room and have flexibility. I would say those factors, cap room, the player becoming restricted, and the economy.''

Also, 2006 won't exactly go down as a landmark draft in NBA history. Roy, a two-time participant, is the only player picked that night who has made an All-Star Game, although Aldridge is knocking hard on the door. Bargnani, No. 7 pick Randy Foye, No. 8 Gay, No. 14 Brewer and No. 21 Rondo are also all very much on the rise, but after that the first-round list drops off at the pace of an Acapulco cliff diver.

Here's a look at the 14 lottery picks and No. 21 Rondo and how they stand as Saturday's extension deadline approaches:

No. 1 Andrea Bargnani, Toronto: Has signed a five-year, $50 million extension.

No. 2 LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland: Has signed five-year, $65 million extension.

No. 3 Adam Morrison, Lakers: It remains to be seen if there's any chance of a Lakers return after he becomes a restricted free agent next summer.

No. 4 Tyrus Thomas, Chicago: Unlikely to receive extension after averaging 7.7 points in three seasons. He will have ample chance this season to continue to prove himself.

No. 5 Shelden Williams, Boston: Originally chosen by Atlanta and then traded to Sacramento, but his third-year option for 2009-10 wasn't picked up the Kings last year. So he's not a candidate for an extension.

No. 6 Brandon Roy, Portland: Has signed a five-year maximum extension that could be worth more than $80 million.

No. 7 Randy Foye, Washington: Unlikely to sign extension, with a so-so preseason not helping. The Wizards will continue to evaluate Foye, acquired last June from Minnesota, in his first season with the team.

No. 8 Rudy Gay, Memphis: After averaging 16.7 points in three seasons, he's definitely in the Grizzlies' future. The sides are talking, and it's 50-50 a deal can be reached.

No. 9 Patrick O'Bryant, Toronto: Originally chosen by Golden State, such a colossal mistake that his third-year option for 2008-09 wasn't picked up before the Oct. 31, 2007 deadline. So he's not a candidate for an extension.

No. 10 Mouhamed Sene, out of NBA: Originally chosen by Seattle, which moved to Oklahoma City, but his option for 2009-10 wasn't picked up and he was waived last February. He's now playing in France.

No. 11 J.J. Redick, Orlando: Unlikely to sign extension. Might be looking for a new home next summer.

No. 12 Hilton Armstrong, New Orleans: Unlikely to sign extension. Might want to change his name to Red Roof Armstrong after he's averaged 3.6 points in three seasons and put his long-term future with the Hornets very much in doubt.

No. 13 Thabo Sefolosha, Oklahoma City: While he won't be extended, he could be another young piece Thunder officials might want to hold on to after he becomes a restricted free agent next summer.

No. 14 Ronnie Brewer, Utah: An intriguing athletic player on a team that always has been short on athleticism. It wouldn't be a surprise if an 11th-hour agreement were to be reached on an extension.

No. 21 Rajon Rondo, Boston: The steal of the 2006 draft, having developed into an upper-echelon point guard. The sides are talking, and it's not out of the question a deal could be hammered out by Saturday.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com.

NBA Draft Class of 2006 Not Cashing In originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tip-Off Timer: Five Titles Should Put Rodman in Hall of Fame

Tim Povtak — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Lakers

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Thursday, there are 5 days remaining.

It takes five years of retirement for a player to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Make it 10 for Dennis Rodman, who always did things differently. He did win five NBA titles.

If you think that Michael Jordan caused a commotion with an unconventional acceptance speech last month when he headlined the Class of 2009, just wait until Rodman shows up in 2010 wearing a dress and lipstick.

Think of the theater. Think of the much-deserved attention it will bring to the greatest names in basketball history. Think of the fun.

Eligible for the first time now - those who have served their five years away - are Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen and Mark Jackson among others.

Malone, the second leading scorer in basketball history with 36,928 points, will join former Utah Jazz teammate John Stockton, who was inducted this year along with their coach, Jerry Sloan. Stockton and Malone formed one of the best tandems the game ever has seen.

Because Malone stayed in the game a year longer, trying unsuccessfully to chase a championship with the Lakers at age 41, he likely will enter the Hall a year behind his assist man.

Pippen, sidekick to Jordan through six NBA titles in Chicago, also is expected to follow his teammate by a year. Unlike Stockton and Malone, there was a clear distinction between the talents of another one of the league's finest dynamic duos.

Pippen, one of the most versatile players in basketball, may have benefited from Jordan's presence, but it also overshadowed his own greatness. He was an eight-time All-Defensive first-team selection, playing Robin to Jordan's Batman in Chicago.

Jackson didn't get the attention of Malone or Pippen, but he also left his mark on the game. He played for seven teams during a 17-year career, recording 10,334 assists, second most in NBA history behind Stockton.

After Jackson, though, the potential candidates in their first year of eligibility are thin. There is Charles Oakley, who played 14 years and collected more than 12,000 rebounds; Horace Grant, who won four NBA titles; and Avery Johnson, the point guard who won a title in San Antonio.

Which brings us back to Rodman, whose absence is as glaring as anyone not in the Hall of Fame today. Easily the best non-center rebounder in history, he won seven consecutive rebounding titles, most by wide margins.

He also was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year twice. Added to his five NBA titles, and - based on his basketball accomplishments -- it's almost impossible to deny him the honor.

Maybe it's time to look past his often zany, sometimes bizarre behavior, and focus on the way he played the game - with a passion that produced championships.

Tip-Off Timer: Five Titles Should Put Rodman in Hall of Fame originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tip-Off Timer: Double 6's Defined Jordan

Tim Povtak — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Wednesday, there are 6 days remaining.

As much as we like to get lathered up over today's talented stars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, it's sometimes good to step back and put them in perspective.

They still don't hold a candle to Michael Jordan.

If you think they do, come back to us when they reach Double 6's, which is the number that explains Jordan's greatness as well as any statistic ever placed beside his name.

During his 13 seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Jordan won six NBA titles. And six times -- on the game's biggest stage -- he was named Most Valuable Player in the NBA Finals.

Several others have won more NBA titles. Bill Russell's record of 11 NBA championships is so far out of reach that it's of mythical proportion. So he doesn't count. And he carried a few Celtic teammates to more titles than Jordan ever won.

Then there's Robert Horry, a role playing journeyman who won seven NBA titles with three different teams, always finding himself in the right place at the right time to capitalize on his clutch shooting ability.

In today's game, Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal each have four now with a legitimate chance this season for a fifth. Bryant, after winning in 2009, also is looking for his fifth with the Lakers.

It's conceivable that one of the three could reach six titles, but it's inconceivable that anyone also will match Jordan's six Finals MVP Awards. Duncan has three, Shaq has two and Bryant one, making the Double 6's an impossible task.

Maybe James or Wade can get in the hunt one day, but it might take three lifetimes to do it. Jordan, as always, stands alone when it comes to greatness.

His basketball management skills might be lacking. He can't seem to get the hang of that trick. And his Hall of Fame induction speech made us cringe a little. Yet Double 6's put him on a pedestal that no one else can approach.

Tip-Off Timer: Double 6's Defined Jordan originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tip-Off Timer: Super 7 Comprise Game's Greatest Winners

Chris Tomasson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Celtics, Jazz, Knicks, Lakers, Nuggets

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

OK, so Quinn Buckner doesn't excite too many. Other than that, this is one of the best basketball lists you'll ever find.

There are just seven men who have won an NBA title, an NCAA crown and an Olympic gold medal. Other than Buckner, they are Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Jerry Lucas, K.C. Jones and Clyde Lovellette.

Other than Buckner, all are Hall of Famers. Jordan, Johnson and Russell are on just about everybody's list when it comes to an all-time NBA starting lineup.

Now, Denver forward Carmelo Anthony and Utah forward Carlos Boozer have a chance to join this super seven. Both have NCAA titles and Olympic golds, and need an NBA championship ring.

"That is history in itself just to get all three,'' Anthony said. "That would just put the nail in the coffin (on Anthony's career if he could join the list).''

Anthony was on Syracuse's 2003 NCAA championship team and on gold-winning Team USA last year in Beijing. Boozer was Anthony's Olympic teammate, and played for Duke's 2001 titlists.

"I would love to (join the list),'' Boozer said. "That's our goal (to win an NBA title). You just think about so many of the good players who already have won at every level, although Kobe (Bryant), LeBron (James) and (Kevin) Garnett never went to college.''

No, they didn't. So even though Bryant and Garnett both have NBA rings and Olympic golds, they're never going to get a college crown unless the NCAA suddenly changes its rules.

At least rules bar players now from entering the NBA directly out of high school. So superstars, if they ever want to join this elite list, might want to do like Anthony, who led the Orangemen to the title as a freshman.

"I've done my research,'' said Anthony, who knew about the magnificent seven when asked. "I hope I can put myself in that category.''

Lovellette was the first to join the list, having won with Kansas in 1952, the Olympics in 1952 and claiming NBA crowns with Minneapolis in 1954 and with Boston in 1963 and 1964.

Before the 1950s were done, Russell and Jones joined him. They were teammates on San Francisco's 1955 and 1956 NCAA winners and on the 1956 Olympic team, and both won numerous titles with the Celtics. Russell claimed 11, starting in 1957, and Jones won eight, beginning in 1959.

Lucas got his trifecta started by winning with the Ohio State in 1960 and in the 1960 Olympics. He then has a 13-year wait before finally claiming his only NBA crown with New York in 1973.

Buckner was on Indiana's 1976 titlists and on the 1976 Olympic team. He won an NBA crown with Boston in 1984 while averaging a meager 3.3 points in 11.7 minutes during the playoffs.

But there was nothing cheap about Johnson and Jordan claiming the triple crown. Johnson won with Michigan State in 1979, took home five rings with the Los Angeles Lakers between 1980-88 and got Olympic gold in 1992.

Jordan claimed his NCAA crown with North Carolina in 1982, mined gold in 1984 and 1992 and won six titles with the Chicago Bulls between 1991-98. That's nine combined NCAA, NBA and Olympic wins, but still puts him third on the list behind the 14 Russell got and the 11 gathered by Jones.

Anthony and Boozer aren't being greedy. They're just looking for a third win, one courtesy of the NBA.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com.

Tip-Off Timer: Super 7 Comprise Game's Greatest Winners originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tip Off Timer: Title No. 10 Ended Debate Over Jackson's Place in History

Tim Povtak — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Lakers

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

Is Phil Jackson really the best basketball coach in history? Or is he just the luckiest coach for all the great players he has had?

The correct answer might be somewhere in between. Or he might be both.

You can't dispute that his 10 championships rings -- breaking his tie with the legendary Red Auerbach -- gives him the most impressive resume of anyone who ever coached in this league.

What is arguable is whether it came because he just had more talented players than anyone before him. Like the winning jockey in the Kentucky derby every year, he doesn't win the roses without the best horse beneath him.

Jackson won six titles in Chicago, all with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen both in their prime. He won three titles with the Lakers by riding burgeoning Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. While Jordan may be remembered as the greatest player in history, O'Neal and Bryant one day will be known as two of the top 10.

After nine championships for Jackson, the debate still was very much a good one. Points could be made both ways. There have been other coaches in the league who would tell you that Jackson didn't do anything that others could not have done.

When Jordan left to play baseball for two years, Jackson and the Bulls didn't get past the second round of the playoffs. And his first two years without Shaq in LA, Jackson didn't get past the first round.

Last season, though, was different. He didn't have two great players for his 10th title. He won it with just Kobe Bryant and a good supporting cast. For Bryant, it was satisfying to win without Shaq overshadowing him. For Jackson, there was satisfaction in knowing he didn't just ride on a pair of great horses. He had one ace like a lot of teams.

Because of age and his balky back, Jackson now travels with his own specially designed chair to sit on the sideline, putting him higher than anyone else on the floor. It makes him look like a king on his throne.

He should be enjoying the view this season.

Tip Off Timer: Title No. 10 Ended Debate Over Jackson's Place in History originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Player to Watch: John Salmons

Tom Ziller — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls

FanHouse previews a player to watch from each NBA team in advance of the 2009-10 season.

Basketball workhorses are usually found in frontlines. We think of the lunch pail being filled with rebounds and scrappy play, not jumpers and reverse lay-ups. Antonio McDyess, Wayman Tisdale, Jeff Foster, Luis Scola -- those are the NBA players we associate with the blue collar.

But I see John Salmons as a basketball workhorse ... a scoring workhorse. In Luol Deng's spot last year, and replacing Ben Gordon for the 2009-10 campaign, Salmons fills in 15-20 points on decent shooting, punches his time card and goes home. It's flashy in the immediate -- when he cocks his head and swishes an 18-footer, or when he goes to the cup and scoops it over the defenders -- but by the end of the game, it's just another day of work.

Scoring can be glamorous, even if it never reaches the standard of beauty. A player like Carmelo Anthony, for instance, doesn't have a particularly heartmelting jumper -- nothing like a Ray Allen or Dirk Nowitzki. And 'Melo typically operates out of the mid-range area -- nothing glitzy about that. But the relentless with which he attacks the scoreboard, the fury of hard dribble to pull-up jumper -- it's a glamorous style of scoring in its totality, with no one piece drawing on beauty.

Salmons's moves also fail to elicit stylistic awe, though they are at times incredible. Salmons just presents them in a way that is so ... ordinary. There are a million stories of timid kids being unleashed when the ball's in their hands -- Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, even Dirk or Michael Redd. But Salmons is never unleashed. He isn't bottling up the energy and focusing it on the ball, like Rose and Durant do. Salmons just doesn't have that energy, that fury gene. He has no burgeoning need for self-expression. Nothing.

He is the equivalent of a chained up Tim Duncan who is allowed only to shoot 15-foot jumpers. (And not bank shots, which have become overly romanticized, causing fans to place unearned sentimentality on Duncan.) A toned down Tim Duncan, people. That's John Salmons on the court: keeping calm because there's no other way to exist. Not no other way to win -- that's Duncan, that's the Spurs. For Salmons, there is no other way to live than quietly. He's the John Wayne of the NBA.

***

In each of the past four seasons -- one with Philadelphia, two with Sacramento, one split between Sacramento and Chicago -- Salmons has increased his shooting frequency and increased his shooting proficiency. This all happened within Salmons's assumed peak (age 26-29), so you aren't looking at a player growing up in the NBA. Salmons had been an established bench player before beginning his road to increased infamy.

Often, a larger role comes with lowered efficiency. But in taking on larger roles every season, Salmons is thriving. It speaks to the sort of player who can't get yoked up playing in a complementary role, a guy who needs the spotlight to thrive. Salmons served as the back-up to Allen Iverson during much of his Philadelphia tenure, and this is classic Iverson: relegated to bench duty, he might as well stay home. Give him the ball every play, and he's a star.

Salmons was awful as a bit player ... on a per-minute basis. As his minutes and subsequently his role in his team's offense have increased, Salmons has not just raised his per-game statistics ... but his per-minute statistics. Back in Philly, if you have Salmons 36 minutes, he'd give you 11 points. Give him 36 minutes now, and he'll give you 18 points. When he is treated like a star, he has thrived.

***

These two observations about Salmons don't fit. How can the most unassuming, flashless 18-point scorer in the league also be so needy in terms of on-court shine to do his thing? Even the unpopular high school girl with the incredible pipes has some visible hope peaking through her eyes. Salmons has none. He is the either the greatest purveyor of misdirection since Cheney, or a true NBA enigma. Believe what you will.

Player to Watch: John Salmons originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Bulls

Will Brinson — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, NBA Preseason, NBA Previews

FanHouse previews all 30 NBA teams in advance of the 2009-10 season.

The 2008 Bulls, hopefully, won't be remembered for defining mediocrity at 41-41. Instead, they'll likely be remembered for a thrilling first round series against the Boston Celtics in which were able to only do so much (it's italicized because it's a shoddy theme, y'all!) before heading home for the offseason.

And that offseason saw them very quickly lose -- even if it was expected -- their top scorer from last year. Ben Gordon's explosive, albeit one-dimensional, game will be missed a team that was already middle of the pack in terms of offensive efficiency last year. And John Salmons, a trade-deadline addition along with Brad Miller, will help counter Gordon's loss, but, guess what? He can only do so much.

Derrick Rose is an All-Star in waiting after winning Rookie of the Year in 2008 -- anyone that doesn't expect him to take another leap of some sorts this year probably ~~hasn't taken their SATs~~ done their homework, but at the same time, he's not a good defender and he shot an amazingly low 250 free throws last year (for comparison's sake, fellow rook Russell Westbrook played 4.5 minutes less per game and made 349 over the season). So, yeah, he'll continue to evolve, we'll be wowed, he'll post some nice numbers, but unless he can make some absolutely tremendous strides in his serious problem areas, well, you know where I'm going.

And while Rose has fans and ownership feeling secure about the long-term future at point guard in Chicago, the aught-nine Bulls have some shorter-term issues: Brad Miller fills the role of "low post scorer" since Joakim Noah can't "hit the broadside of a barn," but he's a free agent after this season which means the Bulls would probably be wise to get something back in exchange for the center from a team that could use him as a championship piece.

But if the season goes "well" (relatively speaking), Chicago may be hard-pressed to consider thinking of the future. And that might hurt them down the road -- if the Bulls wants to make a run at either Dwayne Wade (it's like a poor man's LeBron-->NYC, thanks for asking) or Chris Bosh (the logical scoring big man upgrade from Miller) they'll need to have plenty in place to attract such a player.

All of that is to say that the Bulls will be decent this year; they're probably slotted in the middle range of the playoff teams, but a highly successful season might be a stretch -- even with a full season of a healthy Luol Deng and improved play from an always-and-forever upside-and-potential-riddled Tyrus Thomas, Chicago's still, by almost any account, well outside of the elite in the East.

Which means they'll only be able to do so mcuh

Last Season By the Numbers

Record: 41-41 under Vinny Del Negro. Finished 2nd in the Central Division, tied for 6th in the Eastern Conference. Eliminated by Boston (4-3) in the first round.

Offense: 108.4 points per 100 possessions, 14th in the NBA. 21st in shooting, 17th in turnover rate, 6th in offensive rebounding, 12th in free throw rate.

Defense: 108.7 points per 100 possession, 18th in the NBA. 10th in shooting defense, 15th in opponent turnover rate, 28th in defensive rebounding, 18th in opponent free throw rate.

Top Performers: Ben Gordon, who left as a free agent this summer, led the team in scoring with 20.7 points per game. Midseason acquisition John Salmons scored 18.3 points per game. Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose led the team with 6.3 assists per game. Drew Gooden (traded at midseason) was the team's leading rebounder at 8.6 per game, and Joakim Noah averaged 7.6 rebounds per game in 24 minutes. Tyrus Thomas averaged 1.9 blocks per game.

All statistics via Basketball-Reference.com.

Player to Watch

FanHouse's Matt Moore and Tom Ziller preview one player to watch from each team. Here's a snippet of Ziller's post on Bulls wing John Salmons.

[Salmons] is the equivalent of a chained up Tim Duncan who is allowed only to shoot 15-foot jumpers. (And not bank shots, which have become overly romanticized, causing fans to place unearned sentimentality on Duncan.) A toned down Tim Duncan, people. That's John Salmons on the court: keeping calm because there's no other way to exist. Not no other way to win -- that's Duncan, that's the Spurs. For Salmons, there is no other way to live than quietly. He's the John Wayne of the NBA.

See Ziller's full post on Salmons.

Offseason Tracker

IN: James Johnson (draft), Taj Gibson (draft).

OUT: Ben Gordon (free agency), Tim Thomas (buyout).

FanHouse Preview: Bulls originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The NBA's Three-Pointer Turns 30

Chris Tomasson — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Celtics, Rockets

Had it happened in this era, somebody would have been watching multiple games on television monitors. The game would have been stopped and the ball shipped to the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

But that was hardly the case on Oct. 12, 1979. Early in the first quarter of a game against Houston at the Boston Garden in the regular-season opener, Celtics guard Chris Ford drilled a straightaway three-pointer.

Later that month, Ford heard from a Celtics public relations official.

"More than a week after the game, I discovered that I had hit the first three (in NBA history),'' Ford recalled. "I guess it took them that long to line up all the plays of all the games (that night). I was definitely surprised when I heard that.''

Just as Ron Bloomberg of the New York Yankees had done six years earlier by becoming baseball's first designated hitter, Ford turned into the answer to a trivia question. It was 30 years ago Monday he became the first NBA player to drill a three-pointer.

It wasn't surprising that few initially paid much attention to Ford's feat. The 114-106 win over the Rockets marked Boston forward Larry Bird's first NBA game. And later that night Magic Johnson would debut on national TV as his Los Angeles Lakers defeated the San Diego Clippers 103-102 on a sky hook by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the buzzer.

"It was Bird's first game as a rookie, and that was what all the headlines were,'' said Ford, a solid NBA guard from 1972-82 who is now a Philadelphia scout. "The Garden was hopping that night. It was early in the first quarter where I hit a shot from straight on. The shot clock was winding down, and I had an open look. I knew it was behind the line, but had no idea it was the first one.''

That wasn't determined for a while since nine NBA games were played that night. Four others were in the Eastern Time Zone, starting around the time of the 7:30 p.m. tip at Boston Garden.

Ford went on to be an NBA head coach for 10 seasons, including five years with the Celtics, two coaching Bird. But he might go down known primarily in history for hitting that initial three.

"It's a nice piece of trivia,'' Ford said. "It's why I'm talking to (the media) now. It's nice to be mentioned.''

The three-point shot had grown out of the ABA, which was in business from 1967-76. Before that, the American Basketball League, which played its only full season in 1961-62 and whose champion Cleveland Pipers were owned by none other than George Steinbrenner, was the first league to use the three-pointer.

When the NBA played its first night with a three-pointer, two players at Boston Garden had made threes in the ABA. They were Boston guard Don Chaney, who made one with the Spirits of St. Louis in 1975-76, and Houston forward Rick Barry, who had hit 103 in four ABA seasons.

"I remember when they finally ended up putting the three-pointer in the NBA my final season,'' said Barry, who retired after that 1979-80 campaign and seven years later was in the Hall of Fame. "But I don't really remember that first one.''

Barry no doubt would remember had he been the first. The only other three-pointer during that game came courtesy of Barry, who went 1-of-3.

The Rockets had much less success on that first night from beyond the arc, going 1-for-10. The Celtics were 1-of-3, with Ford making his only attempt.

"Nobody ever really thought about the three-pointer back then like they do today,'' said Barry, whose Rockets that season eventually stopped firing away at will.

Rise of the 3-Pointer: "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."
-- More from Tom ZillerIn 1979-80, three-pointers comprised just 3.1 percent of total NBA field-goal attempts. Last season, teams fired away at a 22.4-percent clip.

"I thought it was good for the game and it changed the game,'' Barry said. "But that shot has been abused. Guys who have no business shooting it are shooting it. If used judiciously, it can be a great weapon.''

While in the ABA, Barry admits he wasn't much of a three-pointer marksman. The stats don't disagree considering he shot 27.7 percent.

But Barry became a bit of a three-point specialist during his final NBA season, when he turned 36. He hit 73-of-221 for 33 percent while attempting and making the second-most in the league. Leading the NBA with 239 attempts and 90 made was San Diego's Brian Taylor, a former ABA bomber.

Ford, then 31, also that season became somewhat of a specialist. He shot 70-of-164, his three-point percentage of 42.7 trailing only appropriately-named Seattle guard Freddie "Downtown'' Brown's 44.3 for best in the NBA.

Finishing third that season at 40.6 percent was Bird, who went 0-of-1 from three-point range while scoring a modest 14 points in his first game, but finished the season a stellar 58-of-143 from beyond the arc.

"I think it certainly strategy-wise has changed the game, and the fans love it,'' Ford said of the 30 years of the NBA having the three-pointer. "The bad thing about it is kids start shooting it at too early of an age, and we've lost the mid-range jumper. It's been somewhat lost in the NBA that (Detroit's) Rip Hamilton makes a living off the mid-range shot. It's either dunks or three-point shots that make the highlights.''

What about four-point shots? Nine days after Ford became the Charles Lindbergh of the NBA, Chicago guard Sam Smith became the first NBA player to make a three-pointer, get fouled, and convert the free throw.

The only Sam Smith most Bulls fans know now is the longtime Chicago sports writer. But former Bulls star Reggie Theus, now a Minnesota assistant, remembers well how "Sudden Sam,'' his former UNLV teammate, drilled the first four-pointer in a 113-111 loss to Milwaukee on Oct. 21, 1979.

"(Then Bulls coach) Jerry Sloan didn't know him, and we needed a three-pointer,'' Theus said of the heroics by Smith, who would play just 46 NBA games over two seasons and fade into obscurity. "I just told him, 'Coach, don't call anything. Just let Sam cross halfcourt and shoot it because he's got in-the-gym range.' It didn't matter how far out he was. He went up, got fouled, and it was a four-point play.''

One would think Smith didn't have to wait more than a week to learn he hit the first four-pointer. Then again, Ford's first three-pointer has had far more staying power when it comes to NBA notoriety.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com.

The NBA's Three-Pointer Turns 30 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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