NBA FanHouse

Deron Williams, Al Jefferson Missing Games Due to Family Illness

Tom Ziller — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:05:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, Timberwolves, NBA Injuries

Jazz star Deron Williams had to leave his team on a road trip to return back to Salt Lake City due to a family illness. He'll miss tonight's game in Philadelphia, but the Salt Lake Tribune reports he could rejoin the team in time for the Jazz's game in Cleveland Saturday. Jerry Sloan has named rookie Eric Maynor the starter in Williams's place; Andrei Kirilenko will also hilariously serve as a back-up point guard for the shorthanded Jazz.

Similarly, Al Jefferson is out for two games due to a family illness. The Wolves have been in bad shape with Jefferson, the team's best player, and Dallas figures to be an able foe tonight. If nothing else, Minnesota's second tier will have ample opportunity to prove itself in Jefferson's absence -- especially considering Kevin Love is still out.

Deron Williams, Al Jefferson Missing Games Due to Family Illness originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:05:00 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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Stinkface Chronicles: A Brilliant Disguise

Rob Peterson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, Kings, Lakers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Spurs, NBA Videos

Looking back at the first week of the 2009-10 NBA season, someone missed a golden opportunity for a Halloween costume.

Wouldn't it have been great if two Lakers fans had gone as Shannon Brown and Josh Powell with the fan who was Brown holding onto a rim (a Nerf rim would have been fine) and sitting on Powell's shoulders?

"Whatever do you mean, Professor Stinkface?"

You know what I mean. Video after the jump.

Could you imagine the looks on people's faces if two guys walked into a party like that? Their faces would probably mirror the collective look on everyone's faces at the Staples Center on Oct. 30 when Brown yanked down a dunk so ferocious, so nasty we had wished Doug Collins had been announcing just so he could go all 2000 on us.

Just look at what Brown does in this video. He's at the top of the square when he lands on top of Powell's noggin. While Brown's ups are impressive, what's even more so is his timing. Remember, he's doing this off a long, missed 3-pointer. To measure the shot, the carom and then his steps? Incredible.

The four-letter network also was kind enough to do everything we would have done had we had the DVR running -- pause, slow mo, pause. The only thing they didn't do was rewind, and with the Mavericks up 12 at the time, they should have. No one would have complained. Except maybe Phil Mushnick.

Melo on Millsap

Poor Paul Millsap, he of the large contract and one more year of apprenticeship under Carlos Boozer. If riding the pine behind Boozer wasn't bad enough, Millsap suffered greviously when Carmelo Anthony unleashed all the fury of West Baltimore on his head.

Thanks to his own ill-advised and errant pass, Millsap was in the wrong place at the wrong time on Wednesday, Oct. 28 as Melo monster mashed in his mug.

'House's Brett Pollakoff covered this one quite well the night it happened and judging by the tweets, even Melo's peers couldn't help but ooh and ahh. I'll let it lay. You click the link and get your stink on.

Manu v. Bat

We've posted mulitple times on the Spurs' Manu Ginobili taking down the bat on Halloween night. And what the heck, we'll do it again because for the first time in NBA history we have "bat stinkface."

Don't believe me? As FanHouse NBA poobah Matt Watson pointed out, check out Kevin Martin's reaction at about 35 seconds. That's an epic flinch right there. It's tough to blame Martin, though. The bat was headed right for him and Manu saved him from multiple rabies shots. I think a thank you note or at least an iTunes gift card should be in the offing, don't you?

And finally...

A quick shout out to Alexe (or as he's known on YouTube as spankissimo) for not only responding to the first Stinkface post, but for being inspired enough by it to create this video, which went viral big time last week when multiple basketball blogs linked to it.

Congrats, Alexe. We look forward to more.

Stinkface Chronicles: A Brilliant Disguise originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Agent: No Extension for Ronnie Brewer

Chris Tomasson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, FanHouse Exclusive

Talks have ended and no contract extension is expected on Utah guard Ronnie Brewer by Monday's deadline, his agent told FanHouse on Friday.

"Kevin (O'Connor, Utah's general manager) and I have talked, but we have a different point of view (on contract figures),'' said agent Henry Thomas.

Barring the unexpected, Thomas said no more talks are expected to take place by Monday's deadline of players from the 2006 first round able to sign extensions that will kick in for the 2010-11 season. Thomas said the final talks with O'Connor were Friday.

That puts Brewer, taken with the No. 14 pick in 2006, in line to become a restricted free agent next summer. But Thomas said Jazz officials have interest in re-signing Brewer.

"Without question,'' Thomas said. "Kevin made that clear.''

Only four players from the 2006 first round have signed extensions so far -- Toronto's Andrea Bargnani, LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy of Portland and Thabo Sefolosha of Oklahoma City. Only two others -- Memphis' Rudy Gay and Boston's Rajon Rondo -- are apparently still in negotiations.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com

Agent: No Extension for Ronnie Brewer originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Carmelo Puts Millsap on a Poster

Brett Pollakoff — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, Nuggets, NBA Videos

The NBA season is a mere two days old, but the dunk I'm about to show you that Carmelo Anthony threw down over Paul Millsap on Wednesday is in fact, the dunk of the year.

'Melo said after the game, "Once I got the steal, I knew it was just me and him,'' Anthony said. "I wasn't going to lay the ball up. I was going to try to dunk it. If he'd have blocked it, he'd have blocked it. It went the opposite way."

But don't take my word for it: after watching the video, you can read what Dwight Howard and Quentin Richardson had to say about it, via updates they made to their respective Twitter pages after seeing the sensational highlight.

Carmelo Puts Millsap on a Poster originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Harpring's Fate Unknown Until December

Chris Tomasson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:30:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, NBA Injuries

DENVER -- The Matt Harpring watch has been extended. But Utah officials aren't ready to give up on him.

In late September, just before the start of training camp, the team announced the status of the injured forward would be re-evaluated in six weeks. Now, Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor says that, with Harpring not available any time soon, the plan is for medical officials to evaluate him and make a decision around mid-December.

"If not by mid-December, it would difficult for him to get back into any kind of shape for the season,'' O'Connor said Wednesday night in an interview with FanHouse before Utah's game at Denver.

So that pretty much has been established as the drop-dead date as to whether Harpring can return this season or might have to retire due to knee and ankle problems. O'Connor said Harpring is back in his hometown of Atlanta doing rehabilitation and won't return to Salt Lake City until "sometime in December.''

Harpring has had two microfracture surgeries on his right knee and has counted more than 10 surgeries on both ankles. In a September interview with FanHouse, Harpring said he wants to continue playing.

"It doesn't matter whether he wants to play. He's got to do it himself,'' said O'Connor, who said Harpring has to get to the point where joints "don't swell up on him.''

O'Connor said Harpring's knees and ankles are both significant concerns. He said caution must be taken because there is a risk of an injury that could affect Harpring after his career if he continues to play.

"It's not like a broken bone,'' said O'Connor, not wanting to elaborate on specifics about long-term possible risk.

O'Connor said Jazz officials would like to have Harpring back this season. But he said they have to be realistic, calling his return "up in the air.''

"We'd like to think (Harpring will play this season), but every time you look at it and you say..., 'We're a month into (the season) already,''' O'Connor said. "And it will be December before we check it out. But I don't want to pinpoint anything. He's got to be healthy.''

Harpring, making $6.5 million in the final year of his contract, has played 11 NBA seasons, the past seven with Utah. He's the team's second-longest tenured player after forward Andrei Kirilenko, entering his ninth Jazz season.

"Maybe if we make the playoffs, he'll be available,'' Kirilenko said of Harpring. "We all know he's a quality player. You want to always have a player like that on the team with his experience. He knows how to play the game. And he's a tough guy.''

It remains to be seen if Harpring's toughness will be enough to bounce back from this adversity.

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

Harpring's Fate Unknown Until December originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boozer Still Wants to Play for Team USA

Chris Tomasson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, FanHouse Exclusive

DENVER -- Chris Bosh said his contract situation could prevent him from playing for Team USA in next year's World Championships. But another big man off the 2008 gold-medal winning Olympic team has no such reservations.

Utah forward Carlos Boozer told FanHouse on Wednesday morning he wants to play for Team USA in Turkey, and his contract situation has no bearing on it.

"I definitely would love to play if I get invited,'' said Boozer, a free agent next summer. "Not at all (will Boozer's contract situation affect his decision to play). If I've got a chance to put USA on my chest again, I'll do it in a heartbeat. The contract stuff will take care of itself.''

Boozer, whose Jazz open the season Wednesday night at Denver, is the second Jazz player off the Olympic team to express his desire to return. Guard Deron Williams did so publicly last month.

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo has said he will be talking to all the holdovers from the 2008 Olympic team this fall to gauge their interest in returning. Even though Boozer, who averaged 3.3 points in limited minutes in Beijing, wants to play, it is not a slam dunk he eventually will be selected for Turkey.

"If the top seven or eight players from the Olympic team all committed (to the Worlds), you're looking at Tayshaun (Prince) and (Carlos) Boozer... and Michael Redd. Those guys will have competition,'' Colangelo recently told FanHouse.

However, there's a chance some of the top players won't be available. Toronto's Bosh, who can become a free agent next summer, says his contract situation could take him out of the running. Cleveland's LeBron James and Miami's Dwyane Wade, who also can become free agents next summer, also are wavering in their commitments.

"Bosh, D. Wade, LeBron, you don't know what they're going to do. It's a big summer for them,'' said Williams, who welcomed the news Boozer wants to return to Team USA and said he hadn't talked to him about it.

Colengelo has said he plans to draw up a 25-man roster by late fall for the World Championships, although there could be some additions and deletions by next spring. Then, between 14 and 16 players from that roster will be invited to a training camp next July in Las Vegas, with 12 being picked for Turkey.

"I have no idea,'' said Boozer, who missed more than half of last season due to a knee injury, of there being a chance he wants to play but isn't selected. "If I've got the chance, I would love to do it again. ... Obviously, we'd love to win the gold medal. I'd love to go out there (to Turkey).''

Boozer said he hasn't spoken to Colangelo about his intentions. However, such a discussion is soon expected to occur.

Extension for Brewer?

While Boozer will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, Utah officials are focusing now on whether guard Ronnie Brewer will become a restricted free agent. If Brewer doesn't sign a contract extension by Saturday's deadline, that's what will happen.

Brewer said he's "definitely hopeful,'' a deal will get done, but he didn't want to put a percentage on the chances. He said his agent, Henry Thomas, is continuing to talk with Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor.

"Who knows?'' Brewer said about whether negotiations will go right up to Saturday's deadline. "They might not even have come up with a number yet. Who knows? But right now I'm focusing on the start of the season.''

Brewer said the process hasn't been a distraction. He was asked whether it's more important for get security now or, with the possibility of having a top season, perhaps making more money on a deal next summer.

"Both,'' said Brewer, entering his fourth season after averaging 13.7 points in 2008-09. "Either way. Security is cool. It allows you to play stress-free. But, at the same time, as a player you want to improve every year, and that's what I think I've been doing. And that's what I'm doing this year. If they don't (extend Brewer), I'm just going to have a better season than I had last year.''

In this tough economy, only four members of the 2006 draft class (Toronto's Andrea Bargnani, LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy of Portland and Oklahoma City's Thabo Sefolosha) so far have signed extensions. A agent representing a 2006 first-round pick told FanHouse earlier this week that Brewer, Memphis' Rudy Gay and Boston's Rajon Rondo are the only three players from the class still involved in serious negotiations.

"But I think a lot of guys, even if they don't get extensions now, their team is looking to re-up them at the end of the year because a lot of guys are key parts of (team's) plans,'' Brewer said. "Rudy Gay with Memphis and Rondo and Randy Foye. He got traded (from Minnesota to Washington last summer), but he's been having a pretty good career.''

O'Connor declined comment to FanHouse on how Brewer's negotiations are going. Thomas did not return a message.

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

Boozer Still Wants to Play for Team USA originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 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: 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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Player to Watch: Ronnie Brewer

Matt Moore — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz

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

The problem with hard-nosed, legendary coaches is that they drive such a hard line, demand so much, that you often feel like it will never be enough for them. Players will work hard, impress fans, show themselves to be "one of his kind of guys" when it comes to the coach's demanded work ethic and selflessness, and yet, they'll never reach it. The coaches keep them just on the outside, hoping to continuously drive them to further and further heights, 'til they're the absolute best they could possibly be.

One such coach is Jerry Sloan.

One such player is Ronnie Brewer.

Brewer enters his fourth year in the league, after a season where his per game numbers increased, but his per 36 numbers fell with increased playing time. He even dropped in steals, though he was still good enough for sixth in the league. And while arguably Brewer's best contribution has been defense, Sloan still hasn't embraced the kid as a favorite yet. In fact this preseason, Sloan lauded Wes Matthews. So Brewer will continue to work, never stepping out of line, never making great strides but consistently putting forth effort to be the best player he can be.

Brewer can hustle, that's for sure. Since being drafted out of the University of Arkansas, Brewer has shown himself to be one of the best contributers from his draft class, clocking in above league-average PERs over the last two seasons. He shoots a high percentage, but has struggled from the arc, which is where he put his emphasis this summer.

With how talented the Jazz are, Brewer is easy to lose in the mix. But he's fiercely loyal towards Jerry Sloan, busts his backside on every play, and really has the potential to be a very special "No-Stats-All-Star" if he can find his veteran groove. Maybe in this rocky year for a transitioning Jazz he can find that groove. He also needs to work on finding his shot in the flow of the offense. Some 41% of his shots came in the first 10 seconds of the shot clock last year. Great for transition plays, but his percentage plummets almost 20 percent when you get outside that parameter. These are all things that can be fixed, but it's going to take a dedication and patience that's hard to teach, which must be learned, for Brewer to really embrace it.

You'll probably notice a handful of plays from Brewer this year. But keep an eye off the ball sometimes and look for the potential in him. He could be on the verge, in a contract year, of becoming something more than just above-average.

Player to Watch: Ronnie Brewer originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sloan Reflects as Career Enters Twilight

Chris Tomasson — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, FanHouse Exclusive

SALT LAKE CITY -- Jerry Sloan was in his fourth season as Utah's coach and had just one playoff series win to show for it. So when Sloan's Jazz prepared to play the deciding Game 5 of a first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers in May 1992, there was some uneasiness.

"[The series] was 2-2 and going back to Salt Lake,'' said Charlotte coach Larry Brown, then coach of the Clippers. "Before the game, Jerry told me, if he loses, he might not be the coach next year.

"That was 18 years ago.''

We'll never know what might have happened had the Jazz lost. Utah won 98-89 to take the series. The Jazz went on to defeat Seattle 4-1 in the second round before losing to Portland 4-2 in the Western Conference finals. By then, Sloan's job was secure.

Tomasson: Jazz Season Preview | Player to Watch: Ronnie Brewer

Flash forward a generation and it's still secure. Sloan, 67, is entering his 22nd season with the Jazz, something unheard of these days in pro sports.

The next longest-tenured boss is baseball manager Bobby Cox. But Cox, 68, who just completed his 20th season with the Atlanta Braves, already has announced 2010 will be his finale.

In the NFL, the iron man is Tennessee's Jeff Fisher, in his 16th Titans season. But Fisher is not helping his longevity prospects with his team's 0-6 start, the latest defeat a 59-0 humiliation Sunday at New England.

But Sloan will be the one who decides when he steps down.

"I don't know how long I'll coach,'' Sloan said in an interview with FanHouse. "I had to get my knee replaced this summer. I may wake up tomorrow, and say, 'This is it.'"

That's a bit of an exaggeration. But Sloan, whose contract expires next summer, offered no guarantees he'll coach beyond this season.

"I don't know,'' said Sloan, who in the past has regularly not been willing to commit to long-term plans. "I haven't gotten through this year. ... If I'm not healthy or something, I'll get out of it. ... I don't want to hold [the Jazz] up and put them if a tough situation. If they want to change, go ahead and change.''

The only thing that has changed lately is Sloan officially becoming a living legend. Sloan was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last month, joining Brown and the Lakers' Phil Jackson as active NBA coaches enshrined in Springfield, Mass.

"I may wake up tomorrow, and say, 'This is it.' "
- Jerry Sloan When Sloan was named to the Hall last April, the Jazz made an announcement before a game. But you better believe that, unlike the Lakers, who regularly introduce "Hall of Famer Phil Jackson,'' there will be no such routine announcements at EnergySolutions Arena.

If there were, the modest Sloan might unplug the microphone himself.

"He feels it's a team game and, while individuals have to be singled out obviously, he feels that, if you win, everybody gets rewarded,'' said Kevin O'Connor, who has been Utah's general manager since 1999. "I think he appreciates [being a Hall of Famer], but that's not something he strived for. He strived to be a basketball coach and coach the game of basketball.''

It was O'Connor who got the Hall ball rolling when he wrote a letter of nomination for Sloan. But Sloan initially didn't want O'Connor to do it.

"I was reluctant at the beginning, but then I talked to my kids and they said to go ahead and do it,'' Sloan said of his three children, ages 40 to 45, that he had with Bobbye Sloan, his wife of 41 years who died of cancer in 2004. Sloan married his wife, Tammy, in Sept. 2006.

Once he learned of his enshrinement, Sloan prepared for his induction speech as meticulously as he would for a playoff game. But don't think Sloan, who isn't just old school, but rather one-room schoolhouse old, took to the computer.

"I can't even write my name [on the computer],'' he said. "But my wife was able to [write the speech on a computer with notes provided by Sloan] ... As soon as I knew I was going to be inducted, I started writing things down from over my career. I just tried to say who I was about.''

Sloan mostly read from his prepared speech. He talked about some of the tragedies in his life, including the death of Bobbye and of longtime Jazz owner Larry Miller last February from diabetes complications.

"I don't like to do [speeches about himself],'' said Sloan, who said he was ready to "quit in a second'' when Bobbye got "very sick,'' but she urged him to continue. "I just get too emotional about it. I've got a lot of emotional things that have happened to me in my lifetime. It kind of brings that back. ... I was less comfortable, and a little bit intimidated by it.''

O'Connor said "the most nervous I've ever seen'' Sloan was "before he gave his speech.'' But overall Sloan said the Sept. 11-13 weekend in Springfield was quite memorable.

"My college coach is in the Hall of Fame [Evansville's late Arad McCutchan],'' Sloan said. "He won five small-college championships. He was a great coach and a great man, so I was really excited to see the stuff he had among the other people in the Hall of Fame. So that was exciting. I would love to go back sometime with just [Sloan's family], and spend some time [at the Hall]. It was kind of overwhelming.

"It's kind of strange [getting all the praise for being a Hall of Famer]. I don't feel comfortable. ... It hasn't been about me, It's been about the opportunity to be involved with basketball and the players and things like that.''

Two weeks after the induction, though, Sloan was back to where he really feels comfortable: coaching a Jazz practice.

It would be extreme to say the fiery Sloan has mellowed. But some Jazz players have noticed a bit of a change in him since he has become a Hall of Famer, an enshrinement called "way overdue'' by Brown.

"I think he [mostly] hates [being regularly praised as a Hall of Famer], but (in) a little piece of his mind, he enjoyed it,'' said forward Andrei Kirilenko, who has been with the Jazz since 2001. "Not softer, but he's a little different. He's a little bit lighter off the court. I think he's more relaxed. He's more talking with the players in front of them instead of just, 'Let's get ready.' "

Sloan's players have congratulated him plenty on his Hall of Fame induction. He mostly clenches his teeth.

"He doesn't want anybody to pat him on the back,'' said forward Carlos Boozer, who has been with Utah since 2004. "He just likes to go about his business and do it quietly and be unnoticed. ... Coach doesn't like that, but [players have congratulated him on his induction].''

Sloan admits to some change as a coach over the years. He said he longer tries to "be involved with everything that happens,'' delegating more to his assistants.

Of course, Sloan's top aide, Phil Johnson, is hardly a typical assistant. He had been an NBA head coach for all or part of nine seasons and was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1974-75, an award Sloan amazingly never has won.

Sloan, despite a career coaching mark of 1,137-751, also has never won an NBA title, losing in the Finals to Chicago in 1997 and 1998. He insists his hunger to win the final playoff game of the season hasn't diminished, but doesn't believe there will be something significant missing if he retires without a ring.

"I don't think I've ever lost that desire, but I always realize that a lot of guys don't get an opportunity to [win a title],'' said Sloan, who was a gritty NBA guard from 1965-76, primarily with the Bulls, and coached Chicago from 1979-82. "It hasn't happened to me. But I don't think it takes away any of my desire to do the best you can in whatever you're doing.

"Some people won a championship and never played. But that's fine. I don't hold that against them.''

It's doubtful anybody will hold anything against Sloan if he never wins a title. Perhaps his biggest win came 17 1/2 years ago in the first round of the playoffs.

If you ask Brown, it led to a lifetime contract.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com

Sloan Reflects as Career Enters Twilight originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Utah Jazz

Chris Tomasson — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, NBA Preseason, NBA Previews

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

Carlos Boozer is still with the Jazz.

Well, at least he was 10 minutes ago.

Heading into the season, Boozer's status is the biggest issue surrounding the team. He said during radio interviews during the summer that he wouldn't mind ending up in Chicago or Miami, and that Jazz officials told him they were looking to trade him.

The forward, though, didn't get moved. And now he's saying that, if the Jazz keep him throughout the season, impressive things can happen in Utah.

"If they keep us together, we can be very good,'' he said.

SI.com: Boozer, Millsap Adjust | Tomasson: Jerry Sloan Reflects

But there's no certainty Jazz officials won't pull the trigger on Boozer, who is making $12.7 million in the final year of his contract, rather than risk losing him next summer as a free agent and getting nothing.

How long Boozer sticks around could depend on whether the Jazz can stay healthy for a change and be an upper-echelon team in the West. Utah's talent certainly suggests it can.

Boozer, who missed 45 games last season because of a knee injury, has been an NBA All-Star. Center Mehmet Okur and forward Andei Kirilenko are both former All-Stars, although no one would suggest Kirilenko is anywhere near that level anymore.

Meanwhile, the best player on the team, point guard Deron Williams, never has been an All-Star. One figures Williams will find his way into that game in his fifth season.

Utah has two other up-and-coming stars in forward Paul Millsap and guard Ronnie Brewer. Millsap, who signed a four-year $32.5 million offer sheet with Portland that was matched by the Jazz, looks to be the eventual replacement for Boozer at power forward.

Whether eventual means February or next season remains to be seen.

But whatever configuration of players Utah coach Jerry Sloan has, you better believe he'll coach the heck out of them. Sloan was named to the Hall of Fame last month, but Jazz officials will make sure Sloan, who hates it when somebody makes a fuss over him, won't be introduced before games as any sort of living legend.

After missing the playoffs three times following the departures of Karl Malone and John Stockton in 2003, the Jazz have made the postseason three straight years. Last season initially had the makings of being an impressive one, but the Jazz went 48-34 as injuries, in addition to sidelining Boozer, also cost Williams, Okur and Kirilenko a combined 39 games.

But injuries weren't a valid excuse down the stretch. Just as the Jazz were getting healthy, they had a stretch in February and March in which they won 15 of 16, including 12 straight. Utah, though, inexplicably then collapsed, going 7-11 the rest of the regular season and were wiped out 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs by the Lakers.

That left a bad taste for the team. It didn't get any better during the offseason when Boozer took to the radio and looked to be a man ready to pack his bags.

But Boozer hopes good times can return in Utah, and he will be part of it.

He was still with the Jazz five minutes ago.

Last Season By the Numbers

Record: 48-34 under Jerry Sloan. Finished 3rd in the Northwest Division, 8th in the Western Conference. Eliminated by Lakers (4-1) in the first round.

Offense: 110.1 points per 100 possessions, 8th in the NBA; 11th in shooting, 21st in turnover rate, 5th in offensive rebounding, 2nd in free throw rate.

Defense: 107.1 points per 100 possessions, 10th in the NBA; 18th in shooting defense, 2nd in opponent turnover rate, 21st in defensive rebounding, 26th in opponent free throw rate.

Top Performers: Point guard Deron Williams led the Jazz in scoring with 19.4 points per game and finished second in the NBA with an average of 10.7 assists. Center Mehmet Okur averaged 17 points while shooting a sparkling 44.6 percent from three-point range. Injury-riddled forward Carlos Boozer averaged 16.2 points, the lowest in his five years with Utah. Boozer averaged a team-best 10.4 rebounds while playing in just 37 games. Among qualifiers, forward Paul Millsap was the best, at 8.6. After averaging just 8.3 points during a disastrous 2006-07 season, at least forward Andrei Kirilenko posted his second straight increase in a season while averaging 11.6.

Player to Watch

FanHouse's Matt Moore and Tom Ziller preview one player to watch from each team. Here's a snippet of Moore's post on Jazz guard Ronnie Brewer.

Brewer can hustle, that's for sure. Since being drafted out of the University of Arkansas, Brewer has shown himself to be one of the best contributers from his draft class, clocking in above league-average PERs over the last two seasons. He shoots a high percentage, but has struggled from the arc, which is where he put his emphasis on improvement this summer.

With how talented the Jazz are, Brewer is easy to lose in the mix. But he's fiercely loyal toward Jerry Sloan, busts his backside on every play, and really has the potential to be a very special "No-Stats-All-Star" if he can find his veteran groove. Maybe in this rocky year for a transitioning Jazz he can find that groove.

See Moore's full post on Brewer.

Offseason Tracker

IN: Ronald Dupree (free agency), Eric Maynor (draft), Goran Suton (draft).

OUT: Morris Almond (free agency), Jarron Collins (free agency), Brevin Knight (free agency),

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

FanHouse Preview: Utah Jazz originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Utah Jazz Bear Gets Extreme

Tom Ziller — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, NBA Videos

Nitro Circus is a show on MTV where bros pull off awesome extreme stunts and whatnot. Like cycling down a ramp, jumping to another ramp with a weird, non-smooth surface, and bunny-hopping into a lake. The Utah Jazz's mascot Bear joined the cast for said stunt, and -- despite being told by Travis Pastrana he didn't need to do it -- attempted the stunt. It did not end well. (H/T Utah Jazz Blog via Basketball John.)

Utah Jazz Bear Gets Extreme originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tip-Off Timer: 11 Straight Seasons of 2,000 Points For Malone

Tim Povtak — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Friday, there are 11 days remaining.

The NBA All-Star Game every year is filled with players who never score 2,000 points in a single season.

Karl Malone did it a record 11 consecutive seasons, the most significant statistic he recorded during one of the greatest careers in NBA history.

As good as he was every time you saw him play, his longevity and his consistency over the length of his career, is what really set him apart and made him so special.

Wilt Chamberlain, who once averaged 50 points in a season, and Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest player of our lifetime, scored 2,000 points in only seven consecutive years. Kareem Abdul Jabbar, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, never did better than two back-to-back 2,000-point seasons.

There are a lot of good scorers in the NBA today who don't reach 2,000 points because they take too many nights off. Durability is as important as scoring ability when it comes to reaching the 2,000-point plateau. And Malone had both during a 19-year career that ended in 2004. He finished with 36,928 points.

Except for the first and last years of his career, he never dipped below 20 points per game. And in 10 of his 19 seasons (18 with the Utah Jazz), he played all 82 games, a lost art among players today.

He never won a scoring title, and he never won an NBA title, yet twice he was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player and 11 times was a All-NBA First Team selection.

Tip-Off Timer: 11 Straight Seasons of 2,000 Points For Malone originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tip-Off Timer: 14 Teams Without a Title

Matt Watson — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, Cavaliers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Hornets, Jazz, Magic, Mavericks, Nets, Nuggets, Pacers, Raptors, Suns, Timberwolves

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Tuesday, there are 14 days remaining.

For everything the NBA has done to level the playing field -- the draft lottery, the salary cap, the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax -- only a select handful of teams have a legitimate chance to win the championship in any given year.

I know optimism is supposed to reign supreme in October, but here's a harsh dose of reality: in the past 26 years, only seven different organizations have hoisted the Larry O'Brien, and six of those teams have won more than once. In fact, in a league where fluke success is rare and dynasties are the norm, there are 14 teams that have yet to win a title.

Will any of these perennial losers buck their unfortunate losing streaks in the near future? While the Lakers, Spurs and Celtics (winners of nine of the last 11 titles) would disagree, it's a very real possibility.

While many expect the Lakers to repeat -- and at least one Celtic has predicted Boston will win 72 games -- the Magic and Cavaliers have re-tooled through trades and free agency after finishing last season as the two strongest teams in the East.

In fact, this might be Cleveland's last chance in a long time -- if LeBron James can't close the deal this year, he might bolt via free agency (surely you've heard, right?), adding a sense of desperation to their usual motivation. If the Cavs can't separate from the pack early, don't be surprised to see Danny Ferry make wholesale changes by the trade deadline.

The Magic are somewhat better positioned for long-term success, although they mortgaged their future by swapping the promising Courtney Lee in a package for the aging Vince Carter. It also remains to be seen how they perform with the expectations of being an elite team now that they're no longer able to play the underdog role, although you can never accuse a Stan Van Gundy team of being unprepared.

But if Cleveland and Orlando fall short, are we destined to watch yet another dynasty stamp their name in the NBA record book? The Denver Nuggets, who took the eventual champion Lakers to six games in the Western Conference finals last year, beg to differ, as do fellow non-champions like the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz and New Orleans Hornets.

As for the Clippers, Grizzlies and Timberwolves? They all fall into the never-were and never-will-be categories (or at least not-anytime-soon). Same goes for the Suns, who don't seem to know if they're building for the future or playing for today, as well as the Nets and Pacers, who have some interesting building blocks but not much else.

The Raptors and Bobcats hope their rebuilding process is nearing completion, but they'll be considered a success if they simply reach the playoffs, let alone win a game or two in the first round. And if there's anything we can learn from past champions, it's that the real winners are built to last and are never content to simply be there.

Tip-Off Timer: 14 Teams Without a Title originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Carlos Boozer Wouldn't Mind Staying With Utah Past Trade Deadline

Chris Tomasson — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:00:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz

SALT LAKE CITY -- It was a typical listless preseason crowd when the Utah Jazz opened last week at EnergySolutions Arena. But some fans did get riled up enough to express displeasure whenever forward Carlos Boozer's name was called.

"That's how they cheer me. They say 'Boo,''' cracked Boozer, making a play on his name.

At least Boozer is trying to keep it light these days after an offseason in which things got heavy.

Boozer went on Chicago and Miami radio stations this summer talking about how he'd love to play for those teams and about how Jazz officials said they were looking to deal him.

Now, Boozer is on a damage-control tour. He realizes he has some work to do.

"If there are some fans that I've got to win over, I'll win them over,'' Boozer said in a recent interview with FanHouse.

But can he win them over before Utah possibly deals Boozer before the February trade deadline? Boozer went so far as to indicate it might not be wise for Jazz officials to deal him.

"If they keep us together, we can be very good,'' Boozer said. "I'll leave it at that.''

Nevertheless, Utah is expected to continue to monitor Boozer's trade value. Boozer will be a free agent next summer, and the Jazz might not want to risk losing him for nothing.

"Anything is a possibility,'' Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor told FanHouse when asked about the possibility of Boozer being dealt. "I think any time we can improve our team, we would look at doing it. I don't want to sit here and say. 'We're going to trade this guy or trade this guy,' singling guys out. But any time we can improve our team, we'll look to do it.''

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Utah Jazz's Deron Williams stretches out during their practice session at the O2 Arena in London Monday, Oct. 5, 2009. The Chicago Bulls will face the Utah Jazz at the O2 Arena, Tuesday.(AP Photo/Tom Hevezi)

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DALLAS - OCTOBER 5: Brandon Bass #30 of the Orlando Magic goes up for the jumper against Dirk Nowitzki #41 and Jason Terry #31 of the Dallas Mavericks in preseason action at the American Airlines Center on October 5, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brandon Bass;Dirk Nowitzki;Jason Terry

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DALLAS - OCTOBER 5: Brandon Bass #30 and Rashard Lewis #9 of the Orlando Magic go up for the rebound against Dirk Nowitzki #41, Jason Kidd #2 and Drew Gooden #90 of the Dallas Mavericks in preseason action at the American Airlines Center on October 5, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brandon Bass;Rashard Lewis;Dirk Nowitzki;Jason Kidd;Drew Gooden

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DALLAS - OCTOBER 5: Rodrigue Beaubois #3 of the Dallas Mavericks goes up for a shot against Brandon Bass #30 of the Orlando Magic in preseason action at the American Airlines Center on October 5, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rodrigue Beaubois;Brandon Bass

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** RETRANSMISSION OF DNA108 FOR ALTERNATE CROP ** Orlando Magic forward Mickael Pietrus (20), of France, and Dallas Mavericks forward James Singleton, right, scramble on the ground for a loose ball in the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 5, 2009, in Dallas. The Magic won 110-105. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Detroit Pistons center Kwame Brown (8) goes to the basket past Miami Heat center Joel Anthony, right, in the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game Monday, Oct. 5, 2009, in Auburn Hills, Mich. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, left, of Germany, and guard Jason Kidd, right, defend against Orlando Magic forward Brandon Bass (30) as he looks for a shot in the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 5, 2009, in Dallas. Bass scored seven of his 13 points in the final two minutes to lift the Magic to a 110-105 victory over the Mavericks in the preseason opener for both teams on Monday night. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Orlando Magic forward Brandon Bass, right, looks for an opening against Dallas Mavericks forward Kris Humphries (43) in the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 5, 2009, in Dallas. Bass made his first visit back to Dallas where he played last season. The Magic won 110-105. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

** RETRANSMISSION OF DNA108 FOR ALTERNATE CROP ** Orlando Magic forward Mickael Pietrus (20) of France and Dallas Mavericks forward James Singleton, right, scramble on the ground for a loose ball in the second half of an preseason NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 5, 2009, in Dallas. The Magic won 110-105.(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson (14) has his drive blocked by Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd, right, in the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 5, 2009, in Dallas. The Magic won 110-105. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Orlando Magic forward Mickael Pietrus (20), of France, and Dallas Mavericks forward James Singleton, right, scramble on the ground for a loose ball in the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 5, 2009, in Dallas. The Magic won 110-105. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

O'Connor also has gone into damage-control mode. He declined comment when asked if it's true Utah officials told Boozer they would look to move him. But O'Connor did want to make one point clear.

"He opted in,'' O'Connor said. "I'll let you take it from there.''

Indeed Boozer did. He had a chance to become a free agent last summer by opting out of the final year of his contract, one paying him $12.7 million. But, with the economy in dire straits, Boozer chose to stay.

"I love my situation here, No. 1,'' said Boozer, detailing his reasons for not opting out. "No. 2, I always feel I want to be here. No. 3, if you look at the economic market we had this summer, it wasn't as healthy as everybody had anticipated. But next summer, as a businessman, it will be much more healthier. So I was happy (to not opt out).''

No. 3 likely was the most overwhelming reason. But Boozer is on a goodwill tour, and he's trying to make up for a summer when he lost some popularity in Utah.

It's a state that likes loyal athletes. Roads that pass EnergySolutions Arena are John Stockton Street, named for the guard who played 19 seasons with the Jazz, and Karl Malone Drive, named for the forward who logged 18 Utah seasons.

While the team's latest star forward hasn't helped himself in any campaigns for there to be a Carlos Boozer Boulevard, he has admitted he "put my foot in my mouth a few times'' during the summer.

"I just told him to keep his mouth shut,'' said Denver forward Carmelo Anthony, Boozer's Olympic teammate in 2004 and 2008, about advice he has given to Boozer. "He said he learned his lesson the hard way.''

So where did Anthony dispense this advice?

"On the free-throw line,'' Anthony said of when the Nuggets faced the Jazz last week in Salt Lake City.

Wonder if that was when fans were expressing displeasure with a player who signed a six-year, $68 million contract with Utah in 2004, the last time Boozer faced a busload of controversy? That's when Cleveland officials contended Boozer broke an unwritten agreement to be allowed to become an unrestricted free agent if he would re-sign with the team. Boozer has denied the charges, but they did nothing to help his reputation.

"I'm happy to be back,'' Boozer said of his latest controversy. "All hurt feelings aside, let's just play basketball.''

His teammates don't seem too torn up about the situation. Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur, who have been with the team since 2001 and 2004, respectively, both shrugged it off.

So did Paul Millsap. He might be the most interested observer since Millsap is considered the heir apparent to Boozer as the starting power forward. Jazz officials let that be known when they matched a four-year, $32.5 million offer sheet Portland signed Millsap to last summer.

"I don't think that many people paid attention to it as much as everybody outside the locker room,'' Millsap said of the summer controversy surrounding Boozer. "The guys in the locker room know each other. ... We know Carlos is a good guy. We just didn't let that get to us.''

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has yet to name his starting power forward for this season. Millsap is being given a chance to beat Boozer out.

Millsap, 24, averaged 13.5 points and 8.6 rebounds last season. With Boozer missing 45 games due to a knee injury, Millsap started 38 of them.

Boozer, 27, averaged 16.2 points and 10.4 rebounds. He said he played at about "85 percent'' after returning late last season, but is now at "100 percent.''

But while Millsap said it doesn't matter if he starts this season, Boozer might not be in 100 percent agreement there.

"We co-existed a lot last year,'' said Boozer, noting Millsap can play small forward, which, of course, would leave more minutes for Boozer at power forward.

Regardless of what happens, Sloan said he's glad Boozer is still with the Jazz. He went so far as to say he'd love to see Utah re-sign him next summer.

"Sure,'' Sloan said. "We need players who can play.''

That doesn't seem to be a likely scenario. Any hard feelings from Boozer's offseason aside, Utah is way over the luxury-tax threshold and indications are the team wants to return to its days of financial responsibility.

As for this season, Boozer indicated he would have no problem staying past the trade deadline. It remains to be seen whether or not the fans would yell "boo'' or "Boo'' if he were to stay.

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

Carlos Boozer Wouldn't Mind Staying With Utah Past Trade Deadline originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Essentials: LeBron Responds, and New Injury Issues for Suns and Jazz

Brett Pollakoff — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:23:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Jazz, Suns, NBA Injuries

NBA Essentials provides the must-see links, quotes and videos of the day.

Does Braylon Edwards, of the NFL's Cleveland Browns, have some sort of one-sided beef going with LeBron James? It sure seems like it, if you read the quotes from the man Edwards allegedly assaulted early Monday morning outside a Cleveland area night club.

But while Edwards may have a problem with James, LeBron's response made it seem like the two have never even met, much less exchanged any unpleasantries.

"I've never crossed paths with Braylon before, but it seems like there's a little jealousy going on with Braylon and me and my friends. I have no idea why," James said. "I've never said anything to Braylon at all. But for him to do that is very childish. My friend is 130 pounds. Seriously. It's like hitting one of my kids. It doesn't make sense."

Edward Givens, the guy that Braylon allegedly assaulted, is a close friend of LeBron's, and called him early in the morning to let him know what had happened. It's an odd case, especially if Braylon and LeBron don't even know each other. But jealousy makes people do funny things, and since there isn't exactly any fight in the Browns this season, it's not surprising that Braylon Edwards decided to look elsewhere to take out his aggression.

In other news, and some that's certainly more directly related to basketball, the Suns suffered a fairly decent loss on Saturday, after Robin Lopez was found to have broken a bone in his left foot during an intrasquad scrimmage. The injury will require surgery and Lopez is expected to miss six to eight weeks, which will force him to miss the start of the regular season.

This puts the Suns in a tough spot, as they really don't have any size on the bench at all once you get past Lopez. It's unclear at this point whether the team will look to bring in a big man to fill Lopez's spot for the time being, or if they'll choose to go small and just try to run even more than usual until he gets back. But either way, losing Lopez definitely hurts, because most accounts from those around the team had him showing significant improvement from the way he performed a season ago.

The Jazz can relate to the Suns' pain. Stationed in London for a preseason game against the Bulls, the team saw C.J. Miles go down with a ruptured ligament in his thumb, an injury that will also require surgery and will likely force Miles to miss the start of the regular season.

With Matt Harpring's status still up in the air, the team will likely begin the year with just 11 active players on the roster. With over $82 million committed in payroll dollars for the upcoming season, you can hardly blame them for trying to skate by until Miles is able to return.

NBA Essentials: LeBron Responds, and New Injury Issues for Suns and Jazz originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tip-Off Timer: Jerry Sloan Enters Year No. 22 With Jazz

Tom Ziller — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, NBA Coaches

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Monday, there are 22 days remaining.

No league's unofficial averaging coaching tenure is as short as that of the NBA. While NFL and MLB coaches last roughly three years on average, the approximate NBA tenure is at two seasons. The longest-tenured coach in the Eastern Conference, Lawrence Frank of New Jersey, has only been around five years. Only two NBA coaches have been with their current teams the entire decade; one of those particularly stands out as a symbol of stability amid chaos.

That'd be Jerry Sloan, the wondrous Jazz staple who, despite now entering his 22nd year at the helm of Utah, despite going to the NBA FInals twice, despite making the playoffs in all but three seasons of his tenure, despite being the only coach to register 1,000 wins with one team, despite being named to the Basketball Hall of Fame on the strength of his coaching, Sloan has never won a Coach of the Year award.

You figure that's just fine by him, though.

Sloan has never been mistaken for pleasant, at least on the court. His face is permanently sculpted into a scowl, and his attitude deviates little. His teams do two things: run the pick-and-roll, and foul your butt. Hard. The fact that he for so long had John Stockton and Karl Malone surely helps that motif carry on, but it's valid all the same today.

Despite that relative predictability, the Jazz always manage to seem fresh, though that might be owed as much to the continued quality of personnel decisions in SLC. It might have seemed like doom to see a young Andrei Kirilenko "trapped" in the controlled Sloan environment, but the ol' coach actually let AK-47 bloom, and Kirilenko became a cult favorite quickly. That's a view into the secret of why Sloan has been near the top of the game for so long: he's not opposed to evolution, he just makes it seem that way. He keeps his old school cred while letting the athletic freaks fly.

Sloan is winding down -- there are more and more doubts about his return every spring. Sloan's wife of 41 years, Bobbye, died in 2004. He quietly remarried in 2006, but the death of Jazz owner Larry Miller last winter clearly affected Sloan, and the conventional wisdom is that the coach has a few more runs at that elusive championship before walking away. It'll be an uphill battle. But keeping an NBA job for 22 years is pretty darn steep itself.

Tip-Off Timer: Jerry Sloan Enters Year No. 22 With Jazz originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Twitter Mailbag: Social Media, Stockton or Kidd and Replacement Refs

Matt Steinmetz — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, Mavericks, NBA Twitter

Let's get right to it. We asked for your Twitter questions and got some. Now for some answers:

jesiree: Since there are so many NBA players who tweet, how do they feel about new social media rules?
There have been virtually no complaints about the new policy regarding social media and Twitter. By and large, players don't have a problem with them and shouldn't. All the league is asking from the players at this point is to refrain from using Twitter and the like during games.

Players can't use cell phones or communication devices from 45 minutes before a game until their responsibilities with the team are completed afterward. Most seem to agree this is an even-handed and fair guideline.

What is likely to be more of an issue is what players actually end up tweeting. For example, Warriors guard C.J. Watson said on Twitter earlier this week that he had banged up his knee at practice and that he was hoping it wasn't anything serious.

It seemed like a relatively harmless communication at the time; however, that's the kind of tweet between a player and his followers that gets dicey. Turns out, Watson will miss one-to-three weeks with the injury.

That's the kind of information teams do not want players passing along to the media or their followers. That's the kind of thing that will fall into a gray area. But clearly NBA players have to be pleased, in general, with the league's forward thinking as it relates to social media.

pcon34: John Stockton or Jason Kidd in their primes? The Stock was the consummate pro and had no ego. Kidd deadly on the break and could board.
That's a great question. Initially, my first thought was Stockton. Then, after considering further I realized I needed to go to Basketball-Reference.com to get a better look at the numbers.

After taking in some stats it became official: still gotta go with Stockton. It's close, though. Keep in mind, my vote for Stockton is not a repudiation of Kidd.

Stockton's numbers are unbelievable. First and foremost, Stockton's durability is virtually unparalleled. He played 19 seasons, and in 17 of those seasons he played every single game. He played the full 82 games in 16 seasons, and the full 50 during the lockout-shortened season of 1988-99. That is remarkable.

Obviously, when it comes to passing both guys are among the all-time greatest. In fact, it's difficult to make a distinction between the two when it comes to ball-handling, playmaking, and decision-making. Stockton may have been a little more fundamentally sound, but that doesn't mean Kidd isn't right there with him when it comes to delivering the ball, finding the open man and getting teammates involved.

Then again, Stockton's career assist and steal numbers, at this point anyway, are better than Kidd's.

If there is one statistic that jumped out at me regarding these two point guards it would be shooting percentage. The bottom line is Stockton shot 51.5% from the field, and Kidd's field-goal percentage currently resides at 40.2%. That is what you call a major disparity.

On the other hand, Kidd is one of the greatest rebounding point guards in basketball history. Kidd has averaged 6.7 rebounds per game over the course of his career, including seven seasons averaging 7.3 rebounds per game or more. Quite frankly, those are forward rebounding numbers.

Neither player has won an NBA title, so there's no advantage there. Again, great question. But I'm taking Stockton.

DaveSilva58: How much of an impact will replacement refs have. When will this get resolved?
If you're looking for some kind of dramatic impact by replacement officials, that's not likely to happen. By all accounts, replacement officials were adequate in Thursday night's Jazz/Nuggets' game.

It's not like the game will completely deteriorate because of replacement officials. But the replacement officials won't be as good, and because of that, the quality of play will drop, too.

The bigger issue for the NBA is that, in essence, it is acknowledging that it isn't putting the best product out on the floor, and that's something it supposedly prides itself on.

On a practical level, I think what you'll see are far more whistles. It's only natural for an official -- or player, for that matter -- to try to do much when they're given their first opportunity. It won't be unlike Las Vegas Summer League games where you'll see too much scoring from the foul line.

NBA Twitter Mailbag: Social Media, Stockton or Kidd and Replacement Refs originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Despite Denver's Trickery, Replacement Refs Decent in Debut

Chris Tomasson — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:30:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, Nuggets, NBA Referees

SALT LAKE CITY -- It seemed as good of a time as any to test these rookies.

Thursday's preseason opener marked the first NBA game for three replacement officials. The Denver Nuggets didn't wait long before resorting to some trickery.

Late in the first half of their 103-87 loss to Utah at EnergySolutions Arena, Nuggets forward Renaldo Balkman was fouled, and timeout was called. After the timeout, rather than have Balkman, a 53.6 percent career free-throw shooter, go to the line, up stepped Nuggets guard Arron Affalo, a 79.7-percent career marksman.

Thankfully, the replacements caught it and ordered Balkman to the line. If not, they might have been replaced.

"It works in high school,'' Nuggets coach George Karl said of the old trick. "I don't think it's ever worked (in the NBA).'

Not that anybody is going to make a movie about them called The Replacements (wait a minute, that title already has been taken), but overall it wasn't too bad of a night for the substitute teachers. They have been called in to work games with the regular officials locked out after failing to agree to NBA-desired monetary concessions.

So the main attractions Thursday weren't necessarily No. 15, Denver forward Carmelo Anthony, or No. 5, Utah forward Carlos Boozer. They were No. 129, Tre Maddox, No. 110, Deldre Carr, and No. 158, C.J. Washington.

Considering rookie officials historically wear higher numbers, it's a general NBA rule that if the numbers of the three officials add up to be well over 100, it's going to be a long night. But no one had ever seen a game when the numbers of the three officials added up to 397.

"One hundred thousand, five hundred and six, he was good,'' joked Boozer after the game when asked about an official he thought did well.

Actually, Boozer liked how all three performed.

"I was impressed by the refs,'' Boozer said. "They called a fair game. They weren't intimidated by us. I thought they had their composure. They made their calls, and they were confident. ... The good thing about it also is we can talk to them. You could ask them, 'What did I do wrong?' They'll tell you what you did wrong and you move forward.''

The referees earned some respect in another way. The NBA rolled out three young NBADL officials, none of whom even had done an NBA preseason game before, who appeared in better shape than some of the players.

"When was the last time you saw three officials with size-32 waists?'' quipped former NBA coach Tom Nissalke, now an analyst for a Salt Lake City sports radio station.

But, while the referees looked sleek, it must be said that not every call was. In the third quarter, Carr called Utah forward Paul Millsap for a block on Anthony that even Anthony admitted "probably'' should have been a charge.

Minutes earlier, though, a break had gone against the Nuggets. Center Nene was called by Maddox, the crew chief, for a foul on Boozer even though it appeared he got all ball.

"I don't want to be fined in the preseason,'' said Nene, who in the second quarter also didn't like being called for a foul on a three-point attempt by Utah guard C.J. Miles, although that one looked legitimate.

But even Utah coach Jerry Sloan and Karl, who have been known to grumble plenty, both said the officials were "fine.''

"We were worse than they were,'' said Karl, whose Nuggets had 27 turnovers.

The Nuggets also had 39 fouls while the Jazz had 30. Yes, these officials weren't letting a lot go.

``They did what they were supposed to do. They're getting a lot of attention, a lot of pressure is on them. They don't need us to grade them. They already got that."
- Carmelo Anthony, on the replacement refs In the fourth quarter, when Denver rookie Ty Lawson was slow in tucking his jersey in while entering the game, the Nuggets were called for delay of game. Since they already had gotten a warning, that was a technical foul.

"They got a lot of pressure on them,'' Anthony said of the replacement officials. "But what they did was ref the game. They did what they were supposed to do. They're getting a lot of attention, a lot of pressure is on them. They don't need us to grade them. They already got that.''

You better believe they do. The NBA, which does not make officials available after the game unless it is to discuss a rules interpretation to a pool reporter, had an observer on hand, which is standard for every game.

But the NBA also had a representative from the league's referee operations department on hand. Such representatives rarely come to preseason games and only attend about 10 percent of regular-season games. But the NBA is sending about a half-dozen of them to nearly every preseason game.

"I thought the officials did a really good job (Thursday),'' said Nissalke, who was Cleveland's head coach when replacements were used in 1983-84 and a Denver assistant when they called upon in 1995-96. "I liked their mechanics. It's a lot easier when they're working as a three-man team (compared to 1995-96, when two-man crews were used for the great majority of the approximately 40 regular-season days regular officials were out).

"But the game is going to be a lot different when they get to the regular season. Some of the guys might not be tough enough to handle the pressure. Jerry is usually always on the officials, but Jerry got up one time (Thursday).''

At least the officials didn't have to deal with feisty Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin on Thursday. Martin, who earlier this week said he anticipated games with replacements would be "terrible,'' sat out with a minor leg injury.

There certainly was no animosity from the Jazz at the start. Utah forward Andrei Kirilenko, who said it's something he always does, sought out the officials to shake their hands. One seemed quite surprised Kirilenko would walk half the length of the floor to greet him.

"I was trying to keep it light,'' Kirilenko said.

It didn't help him. For those trivia buffs, who do you think was on the wrong end of the first whistle by a replacement official?

Kirilenko was called for traveling by Washington just over one minute into the game. The Russian wasn't enamored with the whistle, calling it a "European'' move.

"I didn't expect it to help,'' Kirilenko said of his pre-game greeting apparently being quickly forgotten.

It's good, though, the officials didn't allow Afflalo to shoot those free throws late in the first half. That wouldn't have been quickly forgotten.

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

Despite Denver's Trickery, Replacement Refs Decent in Debut originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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