NBA FanHouse

Clippers Broadcast Team Suspended for Comments About Hamed Haddadi

Brett Pollakoff — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:09:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, Grizzlies, NBA Media Watch

The Clippers got what was by far their best win of the season on Friday, but unfortunately, the team's longtime play-by-play man Ralph Lawler wasn't in his usual courtside spot to see it.

Lawler and color commentator Michael Smith were suspended for Friday's game, for what the team deemed to be inappropriate remarks the two made during the Clippers' telecast on Wednesday, when the team faced the Memphis Grizzlies.

The comments in question were regarding Hamed Haddadi, who is a rookie and the first Iranian player to appear in the NBA.

FOX Sports Prime Ticket is the network that televises the Clippers' home games, so they're the ones that issued the suspension, and this statement to go along with it:

"We regret the remarks made by Clippers announcers Michael Smith and Ralph Lawler during Wednesday's telecast. While we believe that Michael and Ralph did not intend their exchange to be offensive, the comments were inappropriate. We extend our apologies to Hamed Haddadi of the Memphis Grizzlies and to anyone who was offended. We have addressed the situation with Michael and Ralph and have taken appropriate action."

Now at this point -- besides questioning the size of the audience of a mid-week game between the Clippers and Grizzlies -- you're probably wondering just exactly what the "inappropriate" comments were that caused the suspension. Thankfully, Diane Pucin of the L.A. Times has the transcription of the exchange.

We won't reprint the entire thing here, but suffice it to say that the comments included a repeated and intentional mispronunciation of the word "Iranian," along with a Borat reference, topped off by a "I guess those Iranians can pass the ball" statement that came after Haddadi made a nice play inside.

Lawler and Smith likely meant no harm, and were probably just doing some late-game shtick to try to keep the audience entertained, considering there were under two minutes left when Haddadi checked in and the Clippers were trailing by 17 points at the time. But it's never a good idea to start riffing on another player's ethnic background, so the suspension, while it may seem severe to some, is completely understandable.

Oh, and about the size of that audience? FOX Sports wasn't exactly flooded with letters and phone calls requesting the heads of the announcing team. Apparently, all it took was one complaint from a single viewer to get the network to apologize and hand down the suspension.

Clippers Broadcast Team Suspended for Comments About Hamed Haddadi originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allen Iverson Back To Denver? Karl Says It Could Happen

Chris Tomasson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:18:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, Nuggets

DENVER -- Allen Iverson back in Denver?

Don't completely rule it out. At least that's the word from Nuggets coach George Karl, who said Tuesday the team would consider bringing back the guard if there were to be an injury on his team.

"A.I. for us is an injury discussion,'' Karl said. "I don't think it's a discussion right now for us... But just say somehow (guard) Ty Lawson is out for the season, I think speed and quickness is what Ty gives us. A.I. would be on the list of speed and quickness.'

For now, though, Karl said the Nuggets aren't eyeing Iverson, who played for them from 2006-08, when he had his last two impressive NBA seasons.

More: Knicks a Possibility? | Circus Leaves Memphis | Fantasy Impact

"I think that I like my team right now,'' Karl said. "I don't think I want that type of, what would the phrase be, energy to be figuring out how to handle that energy.''

Iverson, 34, is on the verge of being waived by Memphis after he and team officials mutually agreed to terminate his contract. He will end up only getting a small portion of his $3 million seasonal salary.

Before the Grizzlies signed Iverson, Karl said the Nuggets had some discussions about bringing him back.

"I can't deny that we did have a conversation on A.I. this summer,'' Karl said.

Iverson's career has gone downhill since he was traded by the Nuggets to Detroit in November 2008. He complained about coming off the bench with the Pistons. Then, after signing with Memphis, he continued to complain about his role as a reserve, which resulted in his exit.

"I think he will,'' Karl said about whether Iverson again will play in the NBA. "A.I. is a smart player and he still has talent. Can he find a piece or a team that fits their puzzle and fits his puzzle?''

Karl, who was surprised at how short Iverson's tenure was in Memphis, believes Iverson would be most effective coming off the bench at this stage of his career.

"If you're playing from the bench, you get 15 to 20 minutes against second-tier players,'' Karl said. "It can sometimes make it easier... That man, if you give him situations where he can score, I think when he's 50 he's going to be able to score.''

Iverson averaged 26.4 points for the Nuggets in 2007-08. But he came down with some nagging injuries in training camp in the fall of 2008 and soon was traded to Detroit. He never again has been the same player.

"Maybe he slowed,'' Karl said of why Iverson has fallen off since leaving the Nuggets. "I don't know. We were playing in an offensive mode and an offensive system that maybe catered to him... It's true for every player that is probably over the age of 34. You got so many opinions. When he you have a bad game is it because you've slowed?... That's a case for a shooter when you're all of sudden not making shots. It all comes. When you get older and you don't maybe have a good game, you get scrutinized higher because maybe he's lost it.''

Also, Karl said Nuggets star forward Carmelo Anthony missed the morning shootaround due to a migraine headache. But he expects Anthony to play in Tuesday's home game against Toronto.

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

Allen Iverson Back To Denver? Karl Says It Could Happen originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iverson Wants to Play Again, With Knicks as Possibility

Tom Ziller — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:20:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, Knicks, NBA Rumors

Yahoo!'s Marc Spears caught up with the personal manager of one Allen Iverson, the surefire Hall-of-Fame guard who earlier Monday agreed to part ways with the Grizzlies after three dramatic regular season appearances. The implication of Monday's event implies that Iverson is done in the NBA -- he didn't exactly have many suitors in the offseason, after all, which required a bit role on the bad Grizzlies in the first place.

You should be unsurprised to learn, however, that Iverson doesn't see it that way. A.I.'s manager told Spears that the guard intends to play again in the NBA ... hopefully this season. How's that gonna happen? Take it away, New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh!

Walsh told Frank Isola of the New York Daily News his struggling club would consider adding Iverson.

"We'll look into it," Walsh told the Daily News. "Right now, I'd say probably not but we'll see."

The Knicks could hardly lose anything by adding Iverson. The team has only three or four youngsters who legitimately need playing time. Danilo Gallinari can play small forward in Mike D'Antoni's system, and while you'd like to see guard Toney Douglas get as many minutes as possible, the Knicks are truly dreadful, and minutes on a 15-win team is more scarring damage than learning experience. If Iverson can help (and he played well enough in his three appearances to make that an honest assessment rather than pie-in-the-sky nostalgia), the Knicks would do well to fit him in.

But of course, Iverson must be willing to compromise, too. And that doesn't sound entirely likely, with Iverson's manager telling Spears that The Answer would come off the bench ... for a championship-contending team. If A.I. really wants to latch on with a team this season, he needs to drop the conditions and be just a touch humbled by his fall from grace. I mean, if Stephon Marbury can get a late-season call (as he did with the Celtics last season), Iverson can. It's just a matter of posturing for public relations' sake.

Iverson Wants to Play Again, With Knicks as Possibility originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Allen Iverson Circus Leaves Town

Chris Tomasson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:45:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies

The sideshow has been shut down. And they never even put the big top up.

Everybody knew Allen Iverson was signed by Memphis in September in order to sell tickets and bring some buzz to a moribund franchise. Everybody knew Iverson wasn't going to crack the starting lineup.

Check that. Everybody knew except Iverson, who, at 34, has declined significantly as a player. He was in a disbelieving state that he was going to show up in Memphis, become a starter and average his usual 25 points per game.

The Iverson experiment was doomed to fail, but nobody realized it would blow up before Thanksgiving and before he even played a home game. Then again, those associated with the Grizzlies can be thankful on the holiday they have ridded themselves of "The Cancer.''

Or maybe that's "The Canswer'' since he once was "The Answer.''

The Grizzlies are about to waive the guard after he agreed Monday to terminate his contract and give up much of the $3 million he was due for this season. If he can't make it in Memphis, one has to think his NBA career is over. That is, unless a team quickly moves to Iverson's native area, Tidewater in Virginia, and erects a big top.

I had written when Iverson signed in September he would be nothing but a sideshow in Memphis. But don't liken Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley to P.T. Barnum. He didn't even get a preseason home game with Iverson.

Iverson missed the entire preseason and the first two regular-season games, both at home, due to a hamstring problem. His only three Memphis games were on the road when he came off bench and complained loudly about it. He eventually took what was called a personal leave before ties were severed 1 1/2 weeks later.

Some believed at the time of Iverson's leave he had the same chance to be seen again walking down Beale Street as Elvis. I'm now putting my money on Elvis.

I like Iverson, whom I covered during his Dec. 2006-Nov. 2008 stint with the Denver Nuggets. We greeted each other when Iverson returned to Denver two weeks ago, one day before he would make his Grizzlies debut at Sacramento after returning from his injury.

Unfortunately, Iverson is delusional about his current abilities and about what NBA teams need. He now conjures up memories of Norma Desmond, the one-time silent-film star from the classic 1950 movie Sunset Boulevard, who refuses to acknowledge she's yesterday's news.

"I am big,'' Desmond says when told that she "used to be big."

"It's the pictures that got small.''

Actually, if Iverson had been willing to be a supporting actor, he have could remained an effective NBA player. But Iverson torpedoed much of those chances last season with Detroit when he complained about being a reserve.

With that in mind, top NBA teams were as wary about A.I. as they are now about H1N1. His only option became the lowly Grizzlies, who, while grooming youngsters O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley, had no apparent desire to make the shoot-first Iverson a starting guard.

Who knows what went on in that late-summer meeting when Memphis brass met with Iverson in Atlanta, where he makes his offseason home? You'd think it would have come up about Iverson's starting chances. But maybe the Grizzlies were so desperate for a box-office draw they simply sat back and sipped iced tea while talking about Iverson's glory days.

Iverson had plenty of them. The NBA likely never again will see dominant scorer at his diminutive size of 6-foot, 165 pounds. He won four scoring titles, had a career average of 27.0, and almost single-handedly led Philadelphia to the 2001 NBA Finals, when Larry Brown was the only NBA coach to effectively utilize Iverson's great skills.

Iverson did have an impressive season with Denver in 2007-08, when he averaged 26.4 points just shy of his 33rd birthday. But that turned out to be his last hurrah.

Iverson began to come down with nagging injuries in training camp the following season. He shrugged them off, but Nuggets officials knew age was finally catching up with Iverson, and they craftily sent him to the Pistons in a deal that landed point guard Chauncey Billups.

After years of not taking ideal care of his body, Iverson finally proved mortal while averaging 17.4 points for Detroit. It was the Rolling Stones, after all, who sang Time Waits for No One.

"Time can tear down a building or destroy a woman's face,'' belted out Mick Jagger, whose face also lost the battle with time.

Time also can slow down Allen Iverson, even if he doesn't believe it.

But we'll see what Iverson's next move will be. Maybe he will retire or maybe he'll head overseas to a team looking to sell some tickets.

Perhaps to France. Then they can call it Cirque Du Iverson.

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

The Allen Iverson Circus Leaves Town originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iverson and the Grizzlies to Part Ways

Matt Watson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:40:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies

Earlier Monday morning, Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley gave Allen Iverson until the end of the week to decide whether he wanted to return to the team or not. As it happens, Heisley got his answer by the end of the day.

From a statement released Monday afternoon by Grizzlies GM and vice president Chris Wallace: "The Grizzlies and Allen Iverson have come to a mutual agreement that because of personal matters that forced him to leave the team on November 7, Allen will step away from the game at this time, allowing him to focus on those matters. As a result, we will be ending our contractual agreement with Allen, which will allow both parties to move forward. We wish Allen the best."

Chris Tomasson: The Iverson Circus Leaves Town
Tom Ziller: Iverson Still Wants to Play; Will the Knicks Sign Him?

It's unclear if Iverson will receive any money via a buyout or if he simply agreed to end his contract, but one thing is clear: Heisley's gamble on Iverson as a box office draw backfired considerably, especially when you consider Iverson didn't play a single home game before his abrupt departure.

According to Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal, Iverson will placed on waivers within days, which leaves open the possibility that Iverson might latch on elsewhere in the league before the end of the year -- assuming, of course, there are any takers.

He didn't have many suitors before settling on the Grizzlies' modest one-year, $3.1 million offer this summer, and his botched stay in Memphis, it's quite possible he's sulked his way out of the league. You can't completely rule out a comeback -- are the 1-9 Knicks desperate enough to give A.I. an iron-clad guarantee that he'll start over Chris Duhon? -- but there's a good chance that his career is all but officially over.

Iverson and the Grizzlies to Part Ways originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grizzlies Set Deadline for Allen Iverson

Tom Ziller — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:13:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies

Update: Grizzlies, Iverson will part ways

Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reports that the previously patience management of the Grizzlies has become less forgiving of Allen Iverson's mysterious exile. Tillery writes that Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley has told A.I.'s agent the guard has until the end of the week to choose between rejoining Memphis or retiring.

Further, Tillery has an Iverson source passing on word it's unlikely The Answer will be back in Memphis. Heisley may be willing to trade Iverson, but that can't happen for another month, and boy would that be one awkward month. If Iverson retires, he'd be restricted from signing an NBA contract for a year, unless he can convince all 30 teams (including the Grizz) to reinstate him early. (This is unlikely. Even Jason Williams, non-controversial as he is, could not get reinstated early.) I have a feeling we have seen the last of A.I. this season.

Grizzlies Set Deadline for Allen Iverson originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grizzlies Sign Troubled Point Guard Jamaal Tinsley

Matt Moore — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:50:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, NBA Transactions

After building a rising core of young players featuring Marc Gasol (arguably their best all-around player at this point), O.J. Mayo (arguably their best scoring player at this point) and Rudy Gay (arguably ... Rudy Gay), the Memphis Grizzlies followed that up by trading for the untradeable Zach Randolph, drafting the undraftable Hasheem Thabeet, and signing the unsignable Allen Iverson. It's pretty much been advanced anti-fan warfare against the seventeen fans they have left.

And the hits just keep on comin'.

The Grizzlies signed Jamaal Tinsley, the former Indiana point guard who hasn't played in nearly two years and was literally told to stay away from the Pacers. He was presumably signed by Memphis to replace Allen Iverson, who is dealing with a personal issue after riling against his bench role.

You know that part in Con Air where Steve Buscemi explains the definition of irony? This is a lot like that. Mostly because the Grizzlies and a plane crash are eerily similar.

Okay, so I could feed you how the 31 year-old Tinsley could help the Grizzlies with their offense, being more of a creator than anyone they have on their team. Of course, that discounts the fact that they've already committed to Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo. I could also mention how Tinsley's probably learned his lesson from the ordeal in Indiana. But then, that discounts how no one else was willing to take a flier on Tinsley after his contract was bought out in July.

Thing is, there are lots of situations where Tinsley could fit in beside capable veterans who are committed to winning and redeem his career. I mean, we're not talking Stephon Marbury here. And hey, in Memphis the only things missing are the capable veterans, commitment to winning, and career redemption.

Let the good times roll. Or, whatever these are.

Grizzlies Sign Troubled Point Guard Jamaal Tinsley originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stinkface Chronicles: Iggy Popped

Rob Peterson — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:55:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Grizzlies, Kings, Nets, Trail Blazers, Warriors, NBA Videos

Rookies. What do they know?

Not much except that, with the per diem paid over the table in NBA instead of under it in college, they need to get the donuts before practice, carry their teammates' bags and stay out of the way of the veterans.

Oh, about that last part? The Nets' Terrence Williams, rookie out of Louisville, may need to work on it a bit.

Video after the jump.

You see, poor Mr. Williams (and to be fair, two teammates) had the misfortune of trying to check the Sixers' Andre Iguodala on a fast break last Friday. And unlike the indignities of fetching fried pastry weathered by rookies off the court, Williams' suffered his inaugural association humiliation on it.

Iguodala, the man who delivered the blow to Williams' self-esteem, unleashed a dunk so furious that Iggy's teammates were moved to hold each other.

Let's look at the dunk itself. Like many of today's bruising, well-built forwards in the NBA, Iguodala tucked the ball in the crook of his elbow as if he were going to plunge into a Lincoln Financial Field end zone instead of emasculating T-Will by sweeping the leg on Williams' Y-chromosome.

But Iggy's tuck served two purposes: one, going one-on-three as he did, Iguodala had to protect the rock, and two, it allowed him to cup it so, as the late, great Chick Hearn once said -- and Sixers announcers Marc Zumoff alluded to -- "rock the baby to sleep." Then again, if anyone rocks their baby like this, I'm calling Child Protective Services, because it's clearly abusive.

Veterans Bobby Simmons, who has never played much defense in his career, and Courtney Lee, who probably had Dwight Howard come down hard on him in practice last season in Orlando more than a couple of times, backed away once they saw Iguodala tuck it. They know you don't pass from that position. But Williams challenged, and the rookie paid the price. Moments after Iguodala sent the Wachovia Center crowd into a frenzy, he nearly sent Williams into the courtside patrons.

Williams will learn. In the meantime, he can always tell his grandkids about the day he gave a piggy back ride to Iggy.

As for the Sixers bench, the dunk was cause for celebration. Because it was early in the game, most of the Philly subs had their warmups on and you can't really tell who's who from the camera angle. But you can see one Sixer get up, run down the length of the bench and embrace a teammate. Very touching.

Yet, the most interesting reaction may be from an assistant coach, who may or may not be Mike O'Koren. Check the video at the four-second mark. Just as Iguodala takes off, the coach two seats to the right of the first Sixer in his warmups, pops up as if his chair were wired for an electric shock. Decorum dictates, however, and he catches himself before he stands up.

Whether the coach was anticipating something great or whether he was just caught in Iguodala's backdraft can be debated. But when a seen-it-all coach does this and gets caught up in a slam, you got stinkface.

Speaking of which, Rudy Gay, who has perpetrated a few nasty slams in his time, got his on Tuesday night as he fought the Outlaw, but the Outlaw won.

Travis Outlaw, my goodness, you're a bad man. First off, the rebound was one of those man-among-boys reach-back-and-snatch-it-right-out-of-your-grille boards. But to follow up with a windmill off of both feet and in Gay's mug, well, sir, I must stand an applaud as the fans wearing jerseys with your number did at the end of the clip. Well done, and yes, as the announcer noticed, "And look at Rudy Gay. He's stunned!"

As were we all.

And finally, our FanHouse man in Northern California, Tom Ziller, threw this one our way, a sweet, sweet inbounds pass from Donte Greene to Jason Thompson. We'll let him explain.

"Nothing great from either bench (GSW was looking morose at that point). But watch Donte when JT actually throws it down. He mimics it, like he was actually executing the dunk off his pass. It's like a talent-show dad doing the choreography from the audience."

Agreed, Greene's reaction was priceless. But there was a slight bench reaction, not, however, from the Warriors players but Golden State coach Don Nelson. He looks perturbed, miffed and altogether bothered. He smacks his hands, shakes his head and thinks, "Paul Mokeski would have never let that happen. I need to go home to Hawai'i."

Nellie only has himself to blame. The Warriors are a mess of his own making and his stinkface may become permanent.

Stinkface Chronicles: Iggy Popped originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hasheem Thabeet Breaks His Jaw

Matt Moore — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:20:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, NBA Injuries

If ever there were an NBA team that the fates deemed the Murphy's Law exhibition squad, it's the Memphis Grizzlies. Just days after their prized free agent acquisition publicly balked at coming off the bench before leaving for personal reasons, the franchise suffered two devastating losses in one night, not only falling to 1-7 in a blowout loss at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers but also losing their young franchise center to a broken jaw.

Hasheem Thabeet, the second overall pick in the 2009 draft, was already having a rough start to the season, but that was to be expected since he's regarded as a project. His primary goal was simply to find some playing time and develop for the future. Unfortunately, that's not possible for the foreseeable future after breaking his jaw in a collision with Zach Randolph.

Oh, the humanity.

Thabeet was considered the safe pick for the Grizzlies, who opted for the big man over exhilarating guards Jonny Flynn, Tyreke Evans or European sensation Ricky Rubio. But when he arrived to camp, he was even more of a project than expected. Now he faces a setback that will not only stunt his growth this year but may also make him think twice about throwing himself into the paint to do battle down the road.

To recap Memphis' drama over the last couple of weeks, Allen Iverson is MIA, Zach Randolph just knocked out the number one pick, Rudy Gay wasn't offered an extension and may or may not be feuding with O.J. Mayo.

It's a good thing the Blues is so good on Beale Street. This team's in need of catharsis.

For his part, Thabeet has shown up and done what he was supposed to do. He was struggling offensively and rebounding the ball, but he was able to generate blocks, his biggest asset. For the team with the worst defensive efficiency in the league, losing another defender certainly won't help. It's not yet known how much time he'll miss.

The Thabeet Era will have to wait.

Hasheem Thabeet Breaks His Jaw originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 NBA All-Star Ballot Announced

Chris Tomasson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Celtics, Clippers, Grizzlies, Lakers, Pistons, Rockets, Suns, Timberwolves, NBA All-Star Game

I wrote in September that perhaps there would be no worthy center to start for the West in the All-Star Game.

But this isn't the way I want to see that solved. Do it on the court, not with the ballot.

When the All-Star ballot came out Tuesday, Phoenix power forward Amar'e Stoudemire strangely was listed as a center. Yes, Stoudemire has played center before, but he's started all eight games for Suns this season at power forward, with Channing Frye being the starting center.

It is true the ballot, which was selected by six media members from around the country, had to be decided upon before the season began in order to provide time for printing. But it has been apparent since at least September that Frye would Phoenix's starting center, with Stoudemire at power forward.

Yes, the crop of centers in the West is not strong, with Shaquille O'Neal having departed from Phoenix to Cleveland in the East and Houston's Yao out for the season due to injury. Still, I don't think it's proper to move players on the ballot to positions at which they don't start.

Anyhow, so much for the Lakers' Andrew Bynum or Minnesota's Al Jefferson getting the starting nod at center for the West. Stoudemire figures to win the fan voting for the Feb. 14 game in Dallas in an election that conjures up memories of Nixon over McGovern in 1972.

Omissions on the ballot were Yao and New Jersey big man Yi Jianlian, but I have no problem with either. Yao is obviously hurt, so it would have been ridiculous to have listed him -- especially because he probably would have won. As for Yi, a 9.8 scoring average last season does not guarantee inclusion on the ballot.

Of course, let's find out now if Chinese-American relations have been damaged.

It was interesting to see two centers listed on the ballot for Boston in Kendrick Perkins and Rasheed Wallace. NBA teams love to tell their fans to vote for all their players, but a Celtics fan won't be able to vote for both Perkins and Wallace or else the ballot will be tossed.

Still, that was a difficult problem to solve. Wallace comes off the bench to play center and forward, and listing him at forward would have given the Celtics three forwards. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are the others, and they're obviously not going anywhere.

Ballot results will show how popular guard Allen Iverson continues to be. Iverson has been named a starter in nine of the past 10 years (he was a reserve in 2007 after having been traded in December 2006 from Philadelphia to Denver). That includes last season when, with Detroit, he was one of the most unworthy players in All-Star history to get a starting nod.

But now that Iverson is squabbling with Memphis and could be sent packing, could he become the first player chosen for the All-Star Game who doesn't have a team? Probably not since it would be stunning if he is voted as a starter again, but it certainly is worth following the results.

And more surprising things have happened before in elections. Don't dead people vote in Chicago?

Plenty of complaints have been coming out of Clipperland with the ballot omissions of guard Eric Gordon and center Chris Kaman, just named Western Conference Player of the Week. I can understand Kaman, who was hurt much of last season and is on a team that has another solid center in Marcus Camby, being left off. But the Gordon omission is a tough one.

Still, it must be noted it's not easy to put together an All-Star ballot. Gordon is more deserving to be on the ballot than Minnesota's Ramon Sessions. But each team must be represented three times, and Sessions was the third man for the Timberwolves.

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

2010 NBA All-Star Ballot

Eastern

Guards
Ray Allen, Celtics
Gilbert Arenas, Wizards
Mike Bibby, Hawks
Jose Calderon, Raptors
Vince Carter, Magic
Jamal Crawford, Hawks
Chris Duhon, Knicks
Raymond Felton, Bobcats
T.J. Ford, Pacers
Ben Gordon, Pistons
Richard Hamilton, Pistons
Devin Harris, Nets
Kirk Hinrich, Bulls
Joe Johnson, Hawks
Courtney Lee, Nets
Jameer Nelson, Magic
Michael Redd, Bucks
Nate Robinson, Knicks
Rajon Rondo, Celtics
Derrick Rose, Bulls
John Salmons, Bulls
Rodney Stucky, Pistons
Dwyane Wade, Heat
Mo Williams, Cavs

Forwards
Michael Beasley, Heat
Chris Bosh, Raptors
Elton Brand, Sixers
Caron Butler, Wizards
Luol Deng, Bulls
Boris Diaw, Bobcats
Kevin Garnett, Celtics
Danny Granger, Pacers
Al Harrington, Knicks
Udonis Haslem, Heat
Andre Iguodala, Sixers
LeBron James, Cavs
Antawn Jamison, Wizards
David Lee, Knicks
Rashard Lewis, Magic
Troy Murphy, Pacers
Paul Pierce, Celtics
Tayshaun Prince, Pistons
Josh Smith, Hawks
Hedo Turkoglu, Raptors
Anderson Varejao, Cavs
Charlie Villanueva, Pistons
Gerald Wallace, Bobcats
Hakim Warrick, Bucks

Centers
Andrea Bargnani, Raptors
Andrew Bogut, Bucks
Tyson Chandler, Bobcats
Samuel Dalembert, Sixers
Al Horford, Hawks
Dwight Howard, Magic
Brook Lopez, Nets
Brad Miller, Bulls
Jermaine O'Neal, Heat
Shaquille O'Neal, Cavs
Kendrick Perkins, Celtics
Rasheed Wallace, Celtics
Western

Guards
Leandro Barbosa, Suns
Chauncey Billups, Nuggets
Aaron Brooks, Rockets
Kobe Bryant, Lakers
Baron Davis, Clippers
Monta Ellis, Warriors
Manu Ginobili, Spurs
Josh Howard, Mavericks
Allen Iverson, Grizzlies
Stephen Jackson, Warriors
Jason Kidd, Mavericks
Kevin Martin, Kings
O.J. Mayo, Grizzlies
Tracy McGrady, Rockets
Andre Miller, Blazers
Steve Nash, Suns
Tony Parker, Spurs
Chris Paul, Hornets
Jason Richardson, Suns
Brandon Roy, Blazers
Ramon Sessions, Wolves
Jason Terry, Mavericks
Russell Westbrook, Thunder
Deron Williams, Jazz

Forwards
LaMarcus Aldridge, Blazers
Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets
Trevor Ariza, Rockets
Ron Artest, Lakers
Carlos Boozer, Jazz
Tim Duncan, Spurs
Kevin Durant, Thunder
Pau Gasol, Lakers
Rudy Gay, Grizzlies
Jeff Green, Thunder
Blake Griffin, Clippers
Grant Hill, Suns
Richard Jefferson, Spurs
Kevin Love, Wolves
Shawn Marion, Mavericks
Kenyon Martin, Nuggets
Paul Millsap, Jazz
Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
Lamar Odom, Lakers
Anthony Randolph, Warriors
Luis Scola, Rockets
Jason Thompson, Kings
Al Thornton, Clippers
David West, Hornets

Centers
Andris Biedrins, Warriors
Andrew Bynum, Lakers
Marcus Camby, Clippers
Marc Gasol, Grizzlies
Spencer Hawes, Kings
Al Jefferson, Wolves
Antonio McDyess, Spurs
Nene, Nuggets
Greg Oden, Blazers
Emeka Okafor, Hornets
Mehmet Okur, Jazz
Amar'e Stoudemire, Suns

2010 NBA All-Star Ballot Announced originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Allen Iverson Mulling Retirement

Brett Pollakoff — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:37:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, NBA Rumors

After Allen Iverson received permission from the Grizzlies to take a personal leave of absence on Saturday, it was only natural to wonder if that was the last we would see of him in Memphis. Iverson was clearly unhappy coming off the bench, and his coach, Lionel Hollins, was clearly unhappy with the distraction the situation was creating for his team.

Most thought that if Iverson didn't return to the Grizzlies, then he would surely end up somewhere else. But according to a report in The Commercial Appeal, retirement is something that instead may be on the iconic superstar's mind.

SI.com: Iverson's Return in Question

Allen Iverson is contemplating retirement if he doesn't rejoin the Grizzlies, according to a source with knowledge of the veteran guard's situation.

The stress associated with a family issue plus Iverson's frustration over playing a reserve role might spell the end of his 14-year NBA career, according to the source.

There's no question that Iverson still has some game left, and he could definitely contribute to a team in a reduced role. But obviously, that remains the sticking point.

Would Iverson, at this point in his career, ever be OK with coming off the bench? Or, looking at the bigger picture, could Iverson come to grips with the concept that the team he plays for would now no longer rely solely on him for its success?

Those are questions that only Iverson himself can answer. But based on the way he's reacted to working in a supporting role both in Detroit last year and in his current situation in Memphis, it doesn't seem like a scenario that he's ever going to be willing to embrace.

Report: Allen Iverson Mulling Retirement originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA HouseCast: LeBron Goes to NYC, Iverson Goes Home

Brett Pollakoff — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Knicks, Nets, Rockets

Welcome to the NBA FanHouse podcast, where our writers get together a few times a week to talk about everything going on in the world of hoops. Want to participate? Leave a comment, or follow us on Twitter @NBAFanHouse.

In this episode, Matt Moore joins me to talk about what went down over the weekend, which included LeBron James' trip to New York on Friday, and Allen Iverson taking a personal leave from the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.

We discuss LeBron's options in 2010, and wonder whether we've seen the last of A.I. in Memphis. All that, plus a discussion of the Houston Rockets, who have been a pleasant surprise so far this season.

Download MP3

NBA HouseCast: LeBron Goes to NYC, Iverson Goes Home originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allen Iverson Leaves Grizzlies Leaving Many Questions, Few Answers

Rob Peterson — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:39:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, NBA Rumors

When Allen Iverson signed a contract with the Memphis Grizzlies this offseason, you just had a feeling it wouldn't end well.

If most reports from Saturday night are true, you were right.

On Saturday, the Memphis Grizzlies granted the one-time league MVP his leave from the team for personal reasons. Yahoo's Marc Spears and ESPN.com's Chad Ford have both reported that Iverson's leave is indefinite and no timetable has been set for his return.

"Allen Iverson has left the Memphis Grizzlies and is not expected to return anytime soon," Spears wrote, "if at all, a source close to the situation told Yahoo! Sports on Saturday."

Mr. Ford?

"Head coach Lionel Hollins said Saturday night that Iverson's departure was "indefinite," Ford wrote on True Hoop. "Owner Michael Heisley said Iverson's absence has nothing to do with his displeasure about his role on the team. "

If it is, as Heisley notes, a personal matter that Iverson needs to take care of, then you have the hope that everything will be OK and that Iverson can get it settled in order to return to the Grizzlies as soon as possible.

But as Spears and Ford are reporting, it seems to be more of a personnel matter than a personal matter. And as anyone who knows anything about Iverson during his career is that he's a spotlight guy. Riding the pine isn't in Iverson's DNA.

Last season, he had problems coming off the bench for the Detroit Pistons, a team that had been to six consecutive Eastern Conference finals. Can you imagine the indignity he must have felt coming off the bench for the Grizzlies, a team that has never won a playoff game?

You don't even need to imagine, really. You can read for yourself. FanHouse's Matt Steinmetz caught up with A.I., who had played his first game after injuring his hamstring, on the recent Grizzlies road trip.

"I had no problems (with the hamstring)," Iverson said afterward. "I had a problem with my butt from sitting on that bench so long. That's the only thing I got a problem with."

Understood. You have two NBA All-Star Game MVPs and more points (24,020) than any active players not named Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Please, continue.

"Yeah, I'll be disappointed (if he's a sub this season)," Iverson said. "I'm not a reserve basketball player. I've never been a reserve all my life and I'm not going to start looking at myself as a reserve. ... To answer the question, 'No, I'm not a bench player. I'm not a sixth man. Go look at my resume and that will show you I'm not a sixth man."

Did you expect anything less from Iverson, who has been a, quote-unquote: warrior, for his entire career? He may not like to practice, but he liked to play. He wanted a ring -- validation for all he had given to the game: heart, soul and body -- and was going to be dragged kicking and screaming into retirement. If anything signaled desire to play, at any cost (and in this case a discount at $3M per), it was signing with the Grizzlies in the first place.

But as of Saturday night, it seems as if Iverson was not going to leave it all on the court. Instead of going down fighting, his career has started to echo those far sadder words said by Gen. Douglas MacArthur soon after Harry S Truman fired him for insubordination: "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away."

Allen Iverson Leaves Grizzlies Leaving Many Questions, Few Answers originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doing Lines: Kobe and Wade Go for 40

Brett Pollakoff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, Heat, Hornets, Lakers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Rockets, Suns, 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.

The last time we got together, three different players scored 40 points or more on the same night. Well, maybe it's not as rare of an occurrence as we thought, since we were just a single point away from it happening again on Wednesday.

Chris Paul missed by one with 39, but Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade each delivered, with 41 and 40 respectively.

Dwyane Wade's 40 points, four rebounds, and five assists were just enough to carry his team to a close road victory over the Wizards. Gilbert Arenas had 32 of his own in the loss, but did it on a far less attractive 9-for-27 shooting line, as opposed to Wade's 14-for-26.

Chris Paul was dazzling, and had 39 points (on 14-for-23 shooting), five rebounds, seven assists, and a couple of steals. On the other end of the court, Jason Terry had 18 in the fourth quarter (and 35 in the game), on 12-18 shooting and 4-5 from three-point land, But ultimately, his two missed free throws down the stretch may have done as more to influence the game's final outcome than his scoring did.

Kobe Bryant had an outstanding line of 41 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals. He did it by shooting a tidy 50 percent from the field, and you could tell from the opening minutes that even on the second night of a back-to-back, that Bryant wouldn't allow himself to be outshined by his former teammate, Trevor Ariza.

Speaking of Ariza, he and Ron Artest basically canceled each other out. Besides the pair picking up double technicals early, there weren't any fireworks to report, and both finished with an identical 15 points. Not only were their numbers similar, so was their play: each hit a clutch three-pointer with under 30 seconds left in regulation, Ariza's coming after Artest's to send the game into overtime.

Other notable numbers from Wednesday's action:

Carmelo Anthony finally cooled off a bit, managing just 22 points on 8-24 shooting. But when you have rookie Ty Lawson coming off the bench for 23 points in 28 minutes, on 9-10 shooting, the end result was still a blowout win for the Nuggets.

Derek Fisher played 34 minutes, and somehow managed to record 0 points, 0 rebounds, and 0 assists -- and he's the point guard! But he did manage two steals, including the one on the game's final play where he stripped the ball from Trevor Ariza.

Allen Iverson once again came off the bench, but in his second game of the season, was more productive in that role. A.I. scored 18 points (on 8-12 shooting) and handed out seven assists in 28 minutes of action.

Amar'e Stoudemire had 19 points and 11 rebounds in the first half against the Orlando Magic. It was the first flash of the old, explosive Amar'e we were used to seeing before his injury last February. Unfortunately, it didn't last in the second half, as he finished with 25 and 14, and the Suns suffered their first loss of the season.

Doing Lines: Kobe and Wade Go for 40 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hollins Already Tired of Iverson Talk

Matt Steinmetz — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:45:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Four games into the Memphis Grizzlies' season, head coach Lionel Hollins says he's done talking about Allen Iverson.

Well, not done all together. But apparently done talking about what Iverson says. Two days ago, Iverson complained about a lack of playing time after he made his Grizzlies' debut in Sacramento, and it was clear those statements didn't sit well with Hollins.

"I'm not commenting on Allen," Hollins said Wednesday when asked if he was surprised by Iverson's comments. "I'm done commenting on what Allen says. Allen has a right to say whatever he wants to say. ... Most of you are ready to leave now, huh?"

Iverson missed the first three regular-season games and all of training camp with a partial tear in his hamstring. He scored 11 points in 18 minutes in an overtime loss to the Kings on Monday.

"I want to talk about the Memphis Grizzlies, and even when Allen was out, I was having to talk about Allen. That's my frustration. I want to talk about the Memphis Grizzlies."
- Lionel Hollins After the game, Iverson was asked about his hamstring.

"I had no problems (with the hamstring)," Iverson responded. "I had a problem with my butt from sitting on that bench so long. That's the only thing I got a problem with."

When Hollins met the media 90 minutes before Tuesday's tip-off against the Warriors, the first topic that came up was Iverson. Hollins eventually expounded on why he was tired of the Iverson topic already.

"My frustration is I have to talk about Allen Iverson in every press setting," Hollins said. "I want to talk about the Memphis Grizzlies, and even when Allen was out, I was having to talk about Allen. That's my frustration. I want to talk about the Memphis Grizzlies.

"If Allen plays well and you want to ask me how he played, that's great. Or if he plays poorly and you want to ask me how he played poorly, that's great, too."

If there's one thing Hollins was emphatic about it's that things aren't likely to change anytime soon.

"Allen has played 20 minutes in two months," Hollins said. "There's no way we're making a change and going in a different direction right now. You want to talk to me about the Memphis Grizzlies as a team? I'm not standing here talking about Allen Iverson. I'm sorry."

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

Hollins Already Tired of Iverson Talk originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hasheem Thabeet a Work in Progress

Chris Tomasson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies

Raw Like Sushi was the name of a Neneh Cherry album. It also could end up being the title for the Hasheem Thabeet rookie highlight video.

Of course, if you think this guy is green now, Memphis coach Lionel Hollins says you should have been around for his first workout after the Grizzlies took the 7-foot-3, 267-pound Connecticut center with the No. 2 pick in last June's draft.

"He was really bad,'' Hollins said. "Even though he's a shot blocker, he only had to stand in the paint in college. Now you've got guys attacking you and how you have to go meet them, he knew none of that. He had no footwork. He had no jump hook. He had nothing. And I can say that out of all the rookies in this draft, he probably has come the farthest. He has the farthest to go, and he still has a long ways to go.''

So perhaps there has been progress in that it took Thabeet 12 minutes to foul out of Sunday's game in Denver. Before, he might have been done in six minutes.

After everybody's top player, Blake Griffin, was ticketed to be taken No. 1 by the Clippers in the draft, the Grizzlies were in a bit of a quandary over what to do next. They had agreed to trade for power forward Zach Randolph and they were armed with a fine young pair of wing players in O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay, so it pretty much came down to a center or a point guard.

The Grizzlies, who have a point guard who could develop into something in Mike Conley, considered Ricky Rubio before going with Thabeet. Since Rubio has elected to stay in Spain for the next two years, it can't be said at this point Memphis blew it.

Then again, available was point guard Tyreke Evans, who played with the University of Memphis and would have needed only to provide a ball boy with a nominal tip to take his belongings from one FedEx Forum locker room to another.

But check back in two years. Thabeet can't look as freshly starched then as he does now.

"You want to talk about a project,'' Hollins said. "There's a guy that's a project. I knew that when we drafted him. I never thought he was a guy who was going to dominate and do things this year. But, with the way the draft was, we felt he was the best option for us, and we go forward looking toward the future.''

So far, you need a microscope to see some of Thabeet's statistics. He's played in three of Memphis' four games, averaging 7/10ths of a point, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks over 8.3 minutes.

To find a top-two pick who figures be as unproductive as a rookie as Thabeet, one can go back to 2003 No. 2 selection Darko Milicic, who was staple gunned to the bench in Detroit. The difference, of course, was the Pistons were a title team that season while the Grizzlies are locked in a battle to win 30 games.

"I've got to learn,'' said Thabeet, the first native of Tanzania to play in the NBA "I want to come here and play well and help the team win. But it's my first year. It doesn't matter how many minutes I play. I just want to get better and then maybe next year [have a bigger role].''

The Grizzlies are now in no hurry to play Thabeet. Starting center Marc Gasol showed up for training camp having shed 20 pounds, and is averaging an impressive 19.0 points and 12.3 rebounds. And Memphis picked up some insurance at the spot last August in Steven Hunter.

So that leaves Thabeet to fight for minutes with another massive project, 7-2, 254-pound Hamed Haddadi, who almost certainly due to FAA regulations can't sit on the same side of the plane as Thabeet. But Thabeet insists he doesn't listen to critics who believe he should be providing more as a No. 2 pick.

"I don't look at it that way,'' he said. "I'm a young guy. I'm learning every day. Whatever [people] are going to say, it doesn't really affect me.''

One scout said, if everything works out for Thabeet, he could be another Dikembe Mutombo. If it doesn't, the scout said he could be another DeSagana Diop.

Thabeet is athletic. He grew up playing soccer, and Phoenix guard Steve Nash, quite accomplished in that sport, remarked how good Thabeet looked in a charity game Nash held over the summer.

In basketball, though, Thabeet sometimes looks lost. He was grabbing at everything when he picked up his six fouls against the Nuggets.

"He needs to learn to play defense in the NBA without his hands,'' Hunter said. "But he's learning a lot. He's very raw, but he has great physical gifts. ... He's going to be good one day. He's going to be a great shot blocker some day.''

For now, though, Thabeet isn't throwing much fear into teams. It was clear Sunday his name wasn't exactly underlined twice on Denver's scouting report.

"He's big,'' was about the only assessment Nuggets coach George Karl had of Thabeet before the game.

Just call Thabeet The Big Construction Site because it's going to be a long time before this project is ready.

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

Hasheem Thabeet a Work in Progress originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Extension for Grizzlies' Rudy Gay

Matt Steinmetz — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:00:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Rudy Gay didn't get his contract extension from the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, but to hear him tell it, he's fine with that. The Grizzlies and Gay had until midnight on Monday to hammer out an extension but didn't do so.

As it is, Gay will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

"We just didn't agree upon it," Gay said after the Grizzlies' 126-117 overtime loss to the Kings. "That's all it was. It's a business."

Gay told Fanhouse on Sunday that he thought he should be paid in the vicinity of $10 million per year for five years.

Obviously, Memphis never made such an offer. Still, Gay said not getting the extension doesn't change his long-term thinking about playing for the Grizzlies.

"No, because there's still a possibility I'm going to be here," Gay said. "My mind is open. I'm thinking the same way I've been thinking. I'm a man. I'm a grown man. That doesn't distract me. If that little something distracts me, think about how many other things can distract me then in my life."

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

No Extension for Grizzlies' Rudy Gay originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iverson Returns, Unhappy About Role

Matt Steinmetz — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:15:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Allen Iverson made his debut for the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night in Sacramento, and for someone who hasn't played in a month or so, it wasn't too bad of one. Iverson, returning from a partial left hamstring tear, had 11 points in 18 minutes in the Memphis' 127-116 overtime loss.

He said the hamstring felt fine. But it was another part of his body that Iverson wasn't feeling so good.

"I had no problems (with the hamstring)," Iverson said afterward. "I had a problem with my butt from sitting on that bench so long. That's the only thing I got a problem with."

Iverson checked into Monday's game with four-and-a-half minutes remaining in the first quarter and finished up the period. But he didn't return until the third quarter, and that's when he strung some buckets together.

But Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins took out Iverson down the stretch of the fourth quarter, allowing Mike Conley to finish up regulation. Iverson's postgame comments seem to make it clear that he wants to be a starter for the Grizzlies -- and maybe someday he will be.

"I'm not a reserve basketball player. I've never been a reserve all my life and I'm not going to start looking at myself as a reserve."
- Allen Iverson But Hollins seemed incredulous before the game when he was asked if Iverson would be in the starting lineup against the Kings.

"He hasn't even been with the team until just a couple of days ago," Hollins said. "He's going to come off the bench. He hasn't played all preseason, hasn't played the three regular-season games (leading up to Sacramento). He only practiced three days in training camp before he got hurt so there's no way I would trot him out there in a starting role."

Apparently, Hollins might want to think about doing it for Wednesday's game against the Warriors. Iverson made it clear he doesn't fashion himself a sixth man; never has.

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"Yeah, I'll be disappointed (if he's a sub this season)," Iverson said. "I'm not a reserve basketball player. I've never been a reserve all my life and I'm not going to start looking at myself as a reserve. ... To answer the question, 'No, I'm not a bench player. I'm not a sixth man. Go look at my resume and that will show you I'm not a sixth man."

Hollins said afterward he doesn't think a three-guard lineup with Mike Conley, O.J. Mayo and Iverson will work. It's got too many defensive deficiencies, according to the coach. Maybe so. But Iverson already seems to be putting the pressure on.

When asked how he felt out there, Iverson responded: "It felt like me. I've been playing basketball 26 years. That's what I do. I'm a professional at it. It felt like me."

And there's no doubt, Iverson feels like he's a starter.

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

Iverson Returns, Unhappy About Role originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doing Lines: Kobe, 'Melo, Mayo Drop 40

Brett Pollakoff — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, Hawks, Lakers, Magic, Nuggets, Raptors, Suns, 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.

It's not every day that we get to see a player hit for 40 points or more in an NBA game. So on Sunday, when we had three different players meet or surpass the mark, it's definitely something worth discussing.

Especially when two of them did it in the same game.

Anytime the Grizzlies take the court, you can just throw defense right on out the window, because no matter what you do, Memphis is going to light it up with their dizzying array of deadly scorers.

Okay, not usually. But the Grizz had no trouble keeping pace with the Nuggets for most of the night, led by a career-high 40 points from O.J. Mayo. Mayo got there by going 17-25 from the field, and also grabbed five rebounds and handed out four assists.

On any other night, Memphis probably leaves with a win. But not when Carmelo Anthony is on the opposing team, and puts up 42 points of his own, on 15-26 shooting, with seven boards and five assists. It was the first time in his career that Anthony has posted consecutive 40-point games, after going for 41 in his team's Thursday night victory at the Rose Garden over the Blazers.

One more 40-point performance to mention, and that was Kobe Bryant going for 41 against a plucky Atlanta Hawks team. Bryant also had eight rebounds, five steals, and three assists -- all to make sure that the defending champion Lakers didn't dip below .500 after the team's first three games.

Other notable numbers from Sunday's action:

Joe Johnson had 18 points in the first quarter for the Hawks, but finished with just 27.

Chris Bosh had 35 points and 16 rebounds in a losing effort to the Orlando Magic. Dwight Howard had 24 and 11, but most importantly, he hit 14 of his 16 free throw attempts.

Channing Frye had 25 points and five rebounds, but that's not the interesting part: he made six three-pointers for the second straight game (this time on 10 attempts), and now has 13 threes on the season. This is a season career-high for him in made threes, after only three games as a Phoenix Sun.

Doing Lines: Kobe, 'Melo, Mayo Drop 40 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rudy Gay Seeks Five-Year, $50 Million Contract Extension

Chris Tomasson — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:24:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, FanHouse Exclusive

DENVER -- With Monday the deadline to sign a contract extension, Memphis forward Rudy Gay said it will take a deal of about $50 million over five years to get his signature.

"I think I should be in that range,'' Gay told FanHouse before his team's 133-123 loss to Denver on Sunday night at the Pepsi Center.

However, Gay said the Grizzlies have yet to offer a deal worth as much as $50 million over five years.

"Yeah, you're right,'' he said.

Monday at midnight ET is the deadline for Gay and other first-round picks from 2006 to sign extensions that would kick in for the 2010-11 season. If Gay and other eligible players don't sign, they become restricted free agents next summer.

Gay said his agent, Jeff Austin, told him Friday it's "50-50'' an extension will be reached by the deadline, and he planned to talk with him again late Sunday night. Gay said he's putting much of the responsibility upon Austin to come up with a suitable contract and had told Austin he only wanted to hear from him in recent days if a deal was close.

"If it's not 50, if it's more, I stand behind him,'' said Gay, speaking of Austin being able to negotiate a contract in excess of $50 million over five years. "I'm not going to turn it down.''

If the Grizzlies don't end up meeting Gay's price, he said he's not concerned about playing out this season and becoming a restricted free agent.

"I've been playing for four years,'' said Gay, who scored 18 points Sunday to raise his average to 17.0. "I only know how to play one way. It's not going to change whether I have a contract or not.''

Gay, drafted No. 8, and Boston guard Rajon Rando, taken No. 21, were the only players from the 2006 class known as of Sunday night to still be involved in discussions regarding possible extensions.

A source confirmed to FanHouse the deadline is expected to pass without Washington guard Randy Foye getting an deal done, but that has been expected for the past week. Foye, taken No. 7 in that draft, did look good Saturday with 17 points and eight assists after moving into the Wizards' starting lineup.

Only five players so far -- Toronto's Andrea Bargnani, LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy of Portland, Oklahoma City's Thabo Sefolosha and Denver's Renaldo Balkman -- have signed extensions. That makes it quite possible a record low will be set since this format started with the 1995 draft (draftees from 1995-97 became unrestricted free agents after three seasons so there was much more urgency). The 2005 draft class got just seven extensions before last fall's deadline.

Balkman's extension was considered a surprise. But Balkman, knowing what a tough economy this is, didn't hold out for more money next summer, and accepted a three-year deal worth around $5 million.

"I feel great,'' said Balkman, apparently now minding less that he hasn't played due to a coach's decision in Denver's first three games.

If the Grizzlies meet Gay's price, he might be feeling great himself by Monday's end.

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

Rudy Gay Seeks Five-Year, $50 Million Contract Extension originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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