NBA FanHouse http://nba.fanhouse.com NBA FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://nba.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif NBA FanHouse http://nba.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Free-Agent Salvation for Knicks, Nets? Won't Happenhttp://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/23/free-agent-salvation-for-knicks-nets-wont-happen/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/23/free-agent-salvation-for-knicks-nets-wont-happen/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/23/free-agent-salvation-for-knicks-nets-wont-happen/#commentsFiled under: ,

Jay-Z and LeBron JamesIt's time for the Knicks and the Nets to end this nonsense and stop teasing their fans. It's time to stop dreaming. All the salary cap room in the world this summer isn't going to save NBA basketball in the New York/New Jersey area.

The two worst teams in the Eastern Conference will remain the worst for the next few years. So get used to it.

LeBron James won't be walking through the door anytime soon. It doesn't matter how storied Madison Square Garden feels, or how many celebrities come to the games, or how wonderful the Nets-to-Brooklyn blueprint looks, or even the intensity of James' crush on rapper Jay-Z.

Free agents-to-be Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce, Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki or Joe Johnson aren't coming, either.

Although this purging of players and clearing of cap room along the Hudson River sounded like a good plan when it began in both spots a few years ago, everything since then has been a disaster.

The two teams have spiraled downward so badly that no real star in his right mind would consider playing there now. And even if they would, history says they won't.

It's been more than 13 years since Shaquille O'Neal left Orlando as a free agent to play for the Los Angeles Lakers, dramatically changing the shape of the NBA. And since then, very few true superstar free agents have changed teams.

Not one since O'Neal has made the jump and won an NBA title.

It's not how the game is played now.

NBA rules discourage the movement of superstars, allowing current teams to offer them more as free agents, as much as $30 million in guaranteed money over a maximum allowable contract. It's a good rule, too, allowing the NBA to avoid the constant player movement that has damaged Major League Baseball.

When O'Neal left Orlando, there was no cap on individual salaries like there is now, allowing the Lakers to outbid the smaller-market Magic.

Since O'Neal, the only NBA superstars in their prime to jump teams as free agents have been Grant Hill (Detroit to Orlando, 2000) and Steve Nash (Dallas to Phoenix, 2004). Hill unfortunately was then buried by injury. And Nash left because Dallas wouldn't pay him.

That won't happen with any of the players the Knicks and Nets are targeting. All of them will be getting maximum allowable money from their current teams, so outbidding the current team won't be possible.


Another issue is that all of the targeted stars already are on good or at least decent teams with promise, something the Knicks and the Nets can't promise. With O'Neal in Cleveland, James already is knocking on the door of the Finals. It's insane to think he would leave to start a rebuilding project in New York or New Jersey.

Johnson and the Hawks are surging. Nowitzki and Dallas still are contending. Bosh and the Raptors already have a nice young nucleus in place. Even Miami looks encouraging now to Wade.

All of which is not good news for the Knicks and the Nets, who really are beginning to look like the former Chicago Bulls, which had plenty of salary cap space after Michael Jordan retired, but no real star willing to take it for years.

What's likely to happen now is that the Knicks and the Nets will overpay for some second-tier free agent like Michael Redd or Carlos Boozer, players who will help but not significantly change a team.

For the Knicks and the Nets, it's time to draft well, trade smart and hope for a slow but steady improvement. The dream of an instant turnaround next summer is merely a fantasy.
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Free-Agent Salvation for Knicks, Nets? Won't Happen originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chris BoshDwyane WadeGrant HillJoe JohnsonLeBron JamesShaquille ONeal Steve NashTim PovtakMon, 23 Nov 2009 19:20:00 EST Nate Robinson Shoots at Wrong Basket, Mike D'Antoni Is Not Amusedhttp://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/nate-robinson-shoots-at-wrong-basket-mike-dantoni-is-not-amuse/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/nate-robinson-shoots-at-wrong-basket-mike-dantoni-is-not-amuse/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/21/nate-robinson-shoots-at-wrong-basket-mike-dantoni-is-not-amuse/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Just after the first quarter buzzer sounded at the Meadowlands, Nate Robinson of the Knicks turned and fired a three-pointer at the basket of the New Jersey Nets. The shot went in, and, being as the period had already ended, the basket was waved off by the official.

No harm done, right? Uh, wrong. Mike D'Antoni was furious at Robinson for even trying such a stunt, especially with it coming so closely after the buzzer.

(UPDATE: Apparently, D'Antoni holds a grudge: he kept Robinson on the bench for the rest of the game.)

Knicks! Nets! NBA action at its finest. Video of the shot and the exchange, after the jump.

Knicks 98, Nets 91: Recap | Box Score | Full NBA Scoreboard

[via Jose3030]
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Nate Robinson Shoots at Wrong Basket, Mike D'Antoni Is Not Amused originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>mike dantoninate robinsonBrett PollakoffSat, 21 Nov 2009 14:35:00 EST How Low Will the Winless Nets Go?http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/19/how-low-will-the-winless-nets-go/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/19/how-low-will-the-winless-nets-go/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/19/how-low-will-the-winless-nets-go/#commentsFiled under: , ,

MILWAUKEE -- As the New Jersey Nets are ringing up losses, Scott Hastings has a vested interest.

Hastings, you see, was on the expansion 1988-89 Miami Heat that set the record for most losses to start an NBA season at 17. So Hastings is hoping the Nets will knock the Heat out of the record book, right?

Try again.

"Absolutely not,'' Hastings said. "We were a bad team. We deserved our record, and I'm disappointed any time anybody gets close. Go Nets.''

Hastings, a big man who somehow lasted in the NBA from 1982-93 while averaging 2.8 points, sees it as a badge of honor to at least be known for something. Then again, he did appear on the Late Show with David Letterman in the early 1990s due to, by his own admission, being one of the worst players in the NBA.

But there's a chance Hastings' Heat could get knocked completely of the record book. Miami was tied by the Los Angeles Clippers' 0-17 start in 1998-99. And the Nets are 0-12 after Tuesday's 99-85 loss at Milwaukee.

Let's just say the Nets would be quite eager to accommodate Hastings and not reach the futility mark.

"You never want to be in the record books on that side. But hopefully we don't get to 0-17. We don't want to let that happen.''
- Rafer Alston,
Nets guard. "You never want to be in the record books on that side,'' said guard Rafer Alston. "But hopefully we don't get to 0-17. We don't want to let that happen.''

Not long ago, it looked as if there was no way was it going to happen. The Nets lost two close games to Philadelphia and fell at Miami last Saturday on a last-second three-pointer by Dwyane Wade. Surely, they would break through this week.

But the Nets are now reeling. They lost 91-83 at home Tuesday to Indiana in a game that wasn't nearly that close and were outscored in the second half 58-37 by the Bucks after somehow taking a 48-41 lead into halftime.

The Nets have been often down to eight players recently due to a wave of injuries. It's really catching up.

"You're going to have doubters,'' said forward Bobby Simmons, perhaps wondering why anybody would doubt this gang that can't shoot straight (40.1 percent for the season). "I hope it doesn't get to 0-17. You just take it one game at a time. We only have eight [players]. We're trying to do the best we can with what we have.''

On Saturday, the Nets have their best chance for a while to break through when they play host to 2-9 New York in the shadow of the Big Apple. Actually, the game should be known as the battle of the Apple Core.

If the Nets don't win that one, it could get quite hideous. They head out on a four-game Western trip.

By then, Hastings really will be sweating.

In losing its first 17 in 1988-89, the Heat usually never came close to winning. Miami lost nine times by 15 or more points, including a 47-point drubbing at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers.

"It got absolutely ugly,'' said Hastings, whose Heat did somehow manage to finish 15-67 and avoid Philadelphia's 1972-73 mark of 9-73 for worst in NBA history. "We were so bad. We didn't have anybody who could play.''

Nevertheless, on Dec. 14, 1988, the Heat finally broke through. With Rory Sparrow, Grant Long and Pat Cummings each scoring 15 points, Miami beat the 89-88 on the road for the first win in team history.

Scott Hastings"It was like the seventh game of the playoffs,'' Hastings (pictured right, in 1988-89), who scored four points in six minutes, said of the postgame celebration. "We didn't have champagne. None of us made very much money. So we used Diet Cokes on each other [for dousing].''

Miami was in the record books by itself until the Clippers showed up for the 1998-99 lockout season. They lost their first 17 en route to a 9-41 season, which would translate to about 15-67 for a normal campaign.

The Clippers were similar in the dreadful category, also losing nine of the 17 by 15 or more points. But, behind 18 points from Darrick Martin and 16 from Eric Piatkowski, they broke through on March 11, 1999, by beating Sacramento 106-92 at home.

"I'll never forgive them,'' Hastings said of the Clippers having knocked Miami out of its solo hold in the record.

By that time, Hastings had begun to really like being part of NBA lore for being lousy. In fact, he dubs the Heat the opposite of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who went 17-0 for the greatest single-season mark in NFL history.

"I'm like the Miami Dolphins in reverse,'' Hastings said. "I'm part of NBA history, and I want to remain part of NBA history. I watch those losing streaks like [Nick] Buoniconti and [Bob] Griese and those [Dolphins] watch the winning streaks in the NFL. There's has to do with success, mine with duress.''

Hastings is now a television analyst for Denver, so he can't cheer for the Nets if they're 0-13 and trying to stop the streak next Tuesday at the Pepsi Center. But he'll be pulling for them the rest of the time.

No doubt Lawrence Frank would appreciate that. This is, if Frank remains New Jersey's coach.

"I don't even focus on the 0-17,'' Frank said. "I think for us, we've just got to take it one game at a time.''

If it ends up being one loss at a time for the Nets, they would tie the NBA record Nov. 29 on the road against the Lakers and break it Dec. 2 against Dallas at the Izod Center.

By then, it might be renamed the I-God-awful Center.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com or on Twitter @christomasson.
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How Low Will the Winless Nets Go? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>bobby simmonslawrence frankrafer alstonscott hastingsChris TomassonThu, 19 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST Nets Make Losing a Marketing Gimmickhttp://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/17/nets-make-losing-a-marketing-gimmick/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/17/nets-make-losing-a-marketing-gimmick/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/17/nets-make-losing-a-marketing-gimmick/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trenton HassellMost struggling teams tend to gloss over their losing ways when trying to sell tickets, but with winning in short no supply this season, the 0-10 New Jersey Nets have accepted that ignoring the big, fat goose egg in "W" column is no longer possible ...

... which is why they've unveiled the "10 is Enough" promotion, which involves giving every season ticket holder two free tickets to Tuesday's game and selling a bunch more tickets to the general public for $10 a pop. Yes, losing streaks are now fuel for advertising taglines.

"Your team has played very hard this season, but with an unprecedented amount of injuries we just haven't been able to attain a victory," said NETS CEO Brett Yormark. "But even with the injuries, the entire team believes that '10 is Enough.' That's why we are asking you, our loyal fans, to rally around your team like never before at Tuesday night's game."

Capitalizing on losing to fill empty seats -- it sounds kind of funny at first, but it's better their first idea: trying to convince fans to cheer for the other team.

(via NYT's Off the Dribble)

Nets Make Losing a Marketing Gimmick originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Matt WatsonTue, 17 Nov 2009 06:00:00 EST Dwyane Wade Sends the Nets to 0-10http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/14/dwyane-wade-sends-the-nets-to-0-10/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/14/dwyane-wade-sends-the-nets-to-0-10/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/14/dwyane-wade-sends-the-nets-to-0-10/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Nets have had a string of injuries take away their chance to be at all relevant the first part of this season, and in fact, they were winless through nine games heading into Miami to face Dwyane Wade and the Heat on Saturday. They appeared to have a chance to get their first win of the season, though, thanks to a sluggish effort from a Miami team that was missing Jermaine O'Neal from the start, and Mario Chalmers after five minutes due to injury.

New Jersey led by three with 30 seconds remaining, before Quentin Richardson accidentally banked in a three-pointer to tie the game at 78. The Nets got the lead back, thanks to a tip-in from Brook Lopez with just under four seconds remaining.

But unfortunately for the Nets, Dwyane Wade plays for the Heat. And even though he hadn't made a shot the entire second half, he drained a three with 0.1 left on the game clock to make sure that New Jersey stayed winless.

Video after the jump(er).

Dwyane Wade Sends the Nets to 0-10 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>brook lopezdwayne wadequentin richardsonBrett PollakoffSat, 14 Nov 2009 23:04:00 EST Van Gundy Love Note Inspires Howardhttp://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/van-gundy-love-note-inspires-howard/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/van-gundy-love-note-inspires-howard/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/van-gundy-love-note-inspires-howard/#commentsFiled under: ,

ORLANDO -- Magic center Dwight Howard arrived at Amway Arena for Friday night's game against the New Jersey Nets to find a handwritten note in his locker.

It was signed by the same guy who had been prodding him the past couple days, criticizing him for his lack of energy, his rebounding drop off and his sudden inability to block shots.

Howard read the note twice, then left it where he could see it again at halftime. He also saw it after the game, and he smiled.

"There is no one better or smarter in the NBA. All you need to do is play with great energy and enthusiasm,'' the note said. It was signed "Stan,'' as in Coach Van Gundy.

"I kind of took it to heart,'' Howard said. "We had talked about some things in a meeting earlier, about my responsibilities, and how I need to lead this team by example. I played pretty well tonight.''

Howard snapped out of his mini-slump - he had averaged only eight rebounds and one blocked shot in the previous six games - and dominated the Nets with his best, all-around game of the season.

The Magic won easily, 88-72, crushing the decimated Nets. Howard had 26 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots, once again looking like the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year. The Magic still are playing well below the level of the Celtics and Cavs - the two top teams in the Eastern Conference - but at least they can start closing the gap with Howard regaining his edge.

The Magic were coming off of an embarrassing loss at home to Cleveland, a game that accentuated Howard's lack of energy defensively. Unable to outplay the aging Shaquille O'Neal, Howard may have hit bottom that game.

"For us to be successful, I have to lead this team defensively, erase any mistakes and control the paint,'' he said. "We talked about my responsibilities in leading this team.''

The Magic (7-3) expect to get a boost Monday when All-Star Rashard Lewis returns from his 10-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy, along with the return of Ryan Anderson, another outside-shooting big guy.

"We have a long way to go to play at that level (of the contenders),'' Van Gundy said. "We're not there yet. A lot of improvement has to be made before we reach that level. But there's also still a lot of time.''

Rafer Alston, who was traded by the Magic this summer to New Jersey, had the first triple double of his career, getting 17 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds, but it had little effect on the game. It was Alston, obtained at midseason, who helped the Magic reach the Finals as the starting point guard in the absence of Jameer Nelson.

"With Dwight here, and playing like that, Orlando is always going to be tough to beat,'' Alston said. "He might have a down game or two, but you know he's going to be there. Sometimes it just takes a little nudge.''

Van Gundy Love Note Inspires Howard originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>dwight howardrafer alstonrashard lewisstan van gundyTim PovtakFri, 13 Nov 2009 23:35:00 EST Alston Still Thrilled by Finals Experiencehttp://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/alston-still-thrilled-by-finals-experience/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/alston-still-thrilled-by-finals-experience/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/alston-still-thrilled-by-finals-experience/#commentsFiled under: ,

Rafer AlstonORLANDO -- It doesn't matter how much you poke, prod, lead, bait or beg New Jersey guard Rafer Alston during a conversation, he just sticks to the high road.

Alston has every reason to be upset -- or at least frustrated -- by the way he was treated a few months ago, yet he just shrugs and smiles, still thankful to be living his dream in the NBA.

Alston rescued the Orlando Magic when he came from Houston at midseason, giving them a starting veteran point guard who guided them all the way to the NBA Finals. After Jameer Nelson was lost for the season with a shoulder injury in late January, the Magic were desperate, sinking without a ball handler, and Alston delivered big time.

Then, two weeks after the Finals, they threw him overboard. Or even worse, they sent him packing to New Jersey, the worst team in the league.

Alston returned Friday night to play against the Magic, walking into the Amway Arena for the first time since he was traded. The Magic are expected to contend again for a championship. The Nets haven't won a game.

"I was only here a short time, but it was the time of my life. It was a ride I won't forget.''
- Rafer Alston "I was only here a short time, but it was the time of my life,'' Alston told FanHouse. "It was a ride I won't forget.''

Alston, in the final years of his contract, was traded, along with Tony Battie and Courtney Lee for Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson, a move made by the Nets for future salary cap purposes.

"I would have been fine being here as Jameer's backup. And I told them that after the season. We could have been a great tandem, just hell for opposing teams to handle,'' Alston said. "It's kind of funny, you're in the Finals, then bam, you're gone. But I understand the business. They got a great player in Vince Carter. How can I be upset about that?''

Alston was supposed to be the backup to Devin Harris in New Jersey, but Harris lasted only two games before he was injured, putting Alston into a starting role again. Yet the Nets are so riddled with injuries, it's tough to imagine them winning very often.

Alston is averaging 10.5 points and 5.1 assists, again proving how capable he is, even if he hasn't stayed anywhere very long. It's unlikely the Nets will re-sign him next summer, intent on landing more high-profile players with so much salary cap room. Alston likely will move to his eighth different NBA team.

Follow NBA FanHouse "I don't dwell on the negative. I just don't. Last season happened so fast. It was so much fun, it was almost like a dream come true, playing in the NBA Finals, which is what you pretend to do when you're a kid in the park,'' he said. "It came true for me.''

The move to New Jersey actually put him back near his home. He grew up in nearby Queens, New York, where he became a playground legend -- Skip To My Lou -- before he even reached the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks.

"I never dwell on what could have been, what might have happened, those kind of things,'' he said. "I'm still in the league. And that's good to me.''

Alston Still Thrilled by Finals Experience originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Rafer AlstonTim PovtakFri, 13 Nov 2009 17:25:00 EST Stinkface Chronicles: Back-to-Backhttp://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/12/stinkface-chronicles-back-to-back/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/12/stinkface-chronicles-back-to-back/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/12/stinkface-chronicles-back-to-back/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's rare that we have back-to-back Stinkface. As a matter of fact, yesterday's Stinkface and today's are the first time we've gone back-to-back.

That's fine by us. NBA teams go back-to-back an average of 20 times a season. Far be it from us to complain about it.

Also, we have an excellent reason for our quick turnaround: Detroit's Will Bynum.

Video after the (two-footed) jump.

Young Mr. Bynum, who is generously listed at 6-foot-0 (in three-inch heels, maybe), blew up all over Charlotte's Tyson Chandler at The Palace last night. And when we say blew up, we mean it.

Thanks to Need4Sheed.com for coining a phrase that perfectly fit Bynum's nasty flush: By-num-ite!

(Can someone get J.J. Walker out of mothballs? Wouldn't you love to hear him drop a "By-num-ite!" on the video board in Detroit? Of course you would.)



It all starts with Bynum handling the rock on the left wing and a simple cut to the top of the key by Ben Gordon. Bynum, who was probably supposed to work the ball to Gordon or to Charlie Villanueva, who was to come off Gordon's screen and probably plant himself on the low block.

Only, the play didn't develop because Bynum, who works his dribble at the 28-foot mark, quickly crossed-over Charlotte's Gerald Wallace. With no one in the post, Bynum was cleared for take off.

With that head of steam, and one of the game's better weak-side help defenders in Chandler coming at him, Bynum shows three things crucial for stinkface-age: aggression, athleticism and an absence of fear. Bynum plants his two feet, takes off from the left block and flies. As Bynum starts his ascent, Chandler, he of 767 career blocks, knows he's not going to get this one and draws his hand away for the fear of getting snapped off at the wrist. Bynum then throws down so hard, not only does he let out a little "Ooooh-uh" as he flushes it through, it sounds as if the rim mic explodes. I hope a sound-tech in the truck didn't have that amped too loud. He'll probably need to have his hearing checked. That, and veteran Pistons announcer George Blaha going bat-guano crazy just adds to the festivities.

Of course, a Stinkface wouldn't be complete if we didn't guage the reaction of the bench, which in this case, merits discussion. Moments after Bynum lands, the Pistons bench nearly runs onto the court en masse in search of a group hug. Then, at the 13-second mark, check out the guy with the lanyard behind rookies DaJuan Summers and Austin Daye. Pause it. Now, THAT'S stinkface.

Perhaps the video's most priceless moment comes at 1:30 when Bynum captures his low-Earth orbit on the video screen above. You deserve to smile big, Will. You were epic.

As for the night's other Stinkface dunk, we give you Andre Iguodala for the second Stinkface Chronicles appearance in a row -- and for the second time on the Nets in less than a week -- this time with only two comments. One, Nets coach Lawrence Frank is not pleased. As soon as Iggy throws it down, he pops off the bench and asks for a sub. He's seen this YouTube before. And two, yes, Mr. Ian Eagle, Iguodala is a highlight machine.

Stinkface Chronicles: Back-to-Back originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>andre iguodalaStinkface Chroniclestyson chandlerwill bynumRob PetersonThu, 12 Nov 2009 14:05:00 EST Stinkface Chronicles: Iggy Poppedhttp://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/11/stinkface-chronicles-iggy-popped/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/11/stinkface-chronicles-iggy-popped/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/11/stinkface-chronicles-iggy-popped/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

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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]]>andre iguodaladonte greenejason thompsonrudy gayStinkface Chroniclesterrence williamstravis outlawRob PetersonWed, 11 Nov 2009 11:55:00 EST Ailing Nets Face Deep-Seated Problemshttp://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/09/ailing-nets-face-deep-seated-problems/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/09/ailing-nets-face-deep-seated-problems/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/09/ailing-nets-face-deep-seated-problems/#commentsFiled under: ,

Monday, the Nets faced practice without Devin Harris (groin), Courtney Lee (groin), Chris Douglas-Roberts (swine flu), Jarvis Hayes (hamstring), Tony Battie (knee), and Yi Jianlian (knee).

That's six guys, three of whom are considered vital components of the young and struggling team, leaving the squad eight players available for practice. And practice they did. Fortunately, one of Yi Jianlian's old nemeses was available to fill in and help out.

That's right. The Chairman was replaced by The Chair.

As we settle back into the season, the have-nots have not only firmly cemented their positions on the bottom rungs of the NBA ladder, but the always predictable worst-case scenarios have befallen not the privileged and entitled but the poor and needy. The Nets are not a good basketball team when at 100 percent health on a good day when the sun is shining and they took their vitamins.

So to have to start the season without their number one (Harris), number three (Yi Jianlian), and number four (CDR) options, is just cruel. These are the hands of fate, and they craft their art most cruelly.

Meanwhile, the Nets coaches are apparently getting a workout, as is the video maven for the team. Perhaps you didn't know they had a video maven. Perhaps you don't know what a video maven is. That doesn't matter right now, because today, he's helping teach weak-side off-ball containment and trying not to get knocked unconscious or worse by the dreaded curse of the 2009-2010 Nets.

On the bright side, if this team was looking for an advantage to legitimately sneak their way to the top of the lottery and the acquisition of John Wall (wait, he's a point), Derrick Favors (wait, they have Lopez), more things to trade for cap space in order to sign LeBron James (there we go), they've certainly found one. Becoming a M*A*S*H* unit isn't good for morale, or ticket sales, but if it gets you where you need to go...

The lottery is painless, it takes on many changes, and the Nets can't do anything but lose...

Ailing Nets Face Deep-Seated Problems originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>chris douglas-robertsChrisDouglas-robertscourtney leeCourtneyLeedevin harrisDevinHarrisyi jianlianYiJianlianMatt MooreMon, 09 Nov 2009 16:45:00 EST NBA HouseCast: LeBron Goes to NYC, Iverson Goes Homehttp://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/09/nba-housecast-lebron-goes-to-nyc-iverson-goes-home/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/09/nba-housecast-lebron-goes-to-nyc-iverson-goes-home/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/09/nba-housecast-lebron-goes-to-nyc-iverson-goes-home/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


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 IversonAllenIversonLeBron JamesLebronJamesNBA HouseCastBrett PollakoffMon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST Nets' Douglas-Roberts Has H1N1 Virushttp://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/07/nets-douglas-roberts-has-h1n1-virus/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/07/nets-douglas-roberts-has-h1n1-virus/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/07/nets-douglas-roberts-has-h1n1-virus/#commentsFiled under: ,

Chris Douglas-RobertsH1N1 has hit the NBA. The Nets announced Saturday afternoon that starting two-guard Chris Douglas-Roberts has come down with the dangerous virus, putting the player out of action and the rest of the team at risk.

Though the Nets have stunk, Douglas-Roberts has had a solid start to the season, a follow-up on a disappointing rookie campaign in which the University of Memphis product got little opportunity for New Jersey. CD-R missed Friday's game at Philadelphia with flu-like symptoms ... a rather prophetic diagnosis.

The Nets are limited to eight or nine players due to injury (Courtney Lee tweaked his groin Friday), so the team can't exactly afford to lose any others to illness. There have been no reports of the virus spreading in Nets locker room, and Nets PR says every precaution has been taken.

Later in the evening, Douglas-Roberts tweeted that he was in good spirits as the Nets hosted the Celtics: Let's go Netttsss!!! Cheering from the bed. I'm the flyest person who will ever have Swine Flu.

Nets' Douglas-Roberts Has H1N1 Virus originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chris Douglas-RobertsTom ZillerSat, 07 Nov 2009 17:15:00 EST At This Rate They'll Be New Jersey Notshttp://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/06/so-far-theyve-been-the-new-jersey-nots/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/06/so-far-theyve-been-the-new-jersey-nots/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/06/so-far-theyve-been-the-new-jersey-nots/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trenton Hassell

PHILADELPHIA -- They just made a stop in Philadelphia, so why not be the first to throw it out. Can the New Jersey Nets make a run at the 1972-73 76ers' all-time futility mark of 9-73?

The Nets are the NBA's only winless team at 0-6 after Friday night's 97-94 loss to the 76ers and every day another player seems to get hurt. Call them the New Jersey Gnats the way they're dropping like flies.

OK, so it's way too early to think these Nets are going to make history for basketball badness. And, besides, Nets guard Rafer Alston gets upset when somebody calls his team the NBA's worse.

"That does (hurt) because you know you have a lot of pride,'' Alston said. "It hurts to be considered the worst ... when you know you have a lot of basketball and life in your game and there's a lot of pride in each man.''
Of course, being bad might be all that bad for the Nets, who had just nine healthy bodies entering Friday's game, a number that dropped to eight when guard Courtney Lee was lost with a strained left groin.

The Nets have tried to clear as much salary-cap room as possible for next summer's big free-agent class, and could have around $24 million. Add in a bushel of lottery ping-pong balls, and there's a good chance of a very high pick to go along with all that money.

That was the formula the Denver Nuggets used early this decade when they tore down the team and went 17-65 in 2002-03. The result was landing Carmelo Anthony, the No. 3 pick in the 2003 NBA draft, to go along with a bunch of cap room, and that has helped the Nuggets make the playoffs the past six seasons.

The general manger of the Nuggets then was Kiki Vandeweghe. The general manager of the Nets now is Vandeweghe, although he doesn't have the same say he did then due to New Jersey president Rod Thorn.

"It's sort of a similar situation,'' said Vandeweghe, comparing those Nuggets with these Nets. "Players are getting a little bit older, great players with longer-term deals, and we weren't winning. So we had to try to figure out a way how you're going to win. What's the best way to go?

"So we tried to redo (the Nets) as quickly as possible. That's what you want to do. How can we win quickly? So we were lucky to be able to move all of the long-term deals and the bigger contracts, which was difficult to do in this economic environment. You try to get as much flexibility as you can.''

Starting with the All-Star break in 2008, the Nets dealt their three big stars in Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter. And they haven't picked up any guys since then with big money.

Wait a minute. They did get one. That would be Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, who is in line to buy the team and hopes to finalize a move to Brooklyn.

The Nets hope the lights of New York City will be enough to tantalize a big-name free agent to come their way. LeBron James? Dwyane Wade? Chris Bosh?

For now, though, NBA bylaws say the Nets still have to play this season. If they had all their bodies, perhaps the Nets wouldn't be the worse team in the NBA. But take away ailing Devin Harris, Yi Jianlian, Jarvis Hayes, Tony Battie, Keyon Dooling, Chris Douglas-Roberts and now Lee, and there's not much left.

"We've got I guess five of our first eight hurt,'' said Vandeweghe, at least expressing some relief that most of those players are expected back within a few weeks.

But there's much less relief for Nets coach Lawrence Frank. He's got a won-loss record sinking faster than the Dow Jones average did last fall.

There is speculation Frank won't end up being long for New Jersey. But he said he can't be worried about his job security.

"I can't control (that),'' said Frank, who calls it a "challenge'' to press on with all the injuries but won't use them as an excuse. "This organization has been great to me. I just have got to continue to do the best job that we can and can't worry about the things I can't control.''

Frank's Nets did fall apart in the second half Wednesday to Denver, losing 122-94 after leading 51-50 at the half. But they battled hard on the road Friday, leading by as many as eight points early in the fourth quarter before their lack of manpower finally caught up.

Count Nets forward Trenton Hassell as a player who is standing behind his embattled coach.

"He's a good coach,'' Hassell said. "You can't really worry about that as a player. You've got to keep on trusting what he is doing and believe in him because he is the leader of this team.''

Also count Hassell as one who, like Alston, doesn't believe his team should be known as the New Jersey Nots.

"I don't think we're the worst team in the league,'' Hassell said. "We just aren't getting the breaks right now. We've been in some tough games, and we've played some great teams. I think we're due.''

Why does one think that perhaps the Nets aren't due Saturday? They play host to the Boston Celtics, who figure to be quite ornery after falling at home Friday to Phoenix for their first loss of the season.

It remains to be seen who the nicked-up Nets might be able to be beat to get out of November with a win. Best bets look to be home games Nov. 11 against Philadelphia, Nov. 17 against Indiana and Nov. 21 against New York.

What should the game against the Knicks, who also will have more than $20 million of room next summer, be called? The Cap-Room Bowl?

But while Nets executives and fans are dreaming of free agents who might come their way next summer, that's not the general view among players. After all, the Nets are in line to have seven of their 15 players become free agents next summer.

"We see it as we've got 15 guys under contract so the future is now,'' said forward Eduardo Najera, who has two years left on his contract after this one. "We're aware there's going to have cap room but, at the same time, there are lot of free agents who are going to try to perform so we stay here.''

A guy who won't be going anywhere for a while is center Brook Lopez, one of the NBA's top young big men who scored a game-high 22 points Friday. But Lopez isn't thinking about the team's long-term future.

He's trying to get a win. And he wants one in a hurry.

"What more can you say now?'' said Lopez, not side-stepping questions about the talk of the Nets being the dregs of the NBA. "We're winless. But we're working really hard.''

The odds say that hard work and getting some players back from injury will get the Nets well past Philadelphia's infamous nine-win total. But can they avoid being the worst team in New Jersey history?

That would be the 1989-90 Nets, who went an NBA-worse 17-65. But they did get the opportunity to pick first in the 1990 draft.

They took Derrick Coleman.

Hmm. Maybe being really bad isn't all it's cracked up to be.

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

At This Rate They'll Be New Jersey Nots originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>brook lopezBrookLopezeduardo najeraEduardoNajerakiki vandewegheKikiVandeweghelawrence frankLawrenceFrankrafer alstonRaferAlstontrenton hassellTrentonHassellChris TomassonFri, 06 Nov 2009 23:45:00 EST NBA TV Analyst Calls Yi Jianlian a 'Chinaman,' Later Apologizeshttp://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/nba-tv-analyst-calls-yi-jianlian-a-chinaman-later-apologizes/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/nba-tv-analyst-calls-yi-jianlian-a-chinaman-later-apologizes/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/nba-tv-analyst-calls-yi-jianlian-a-chinaman-later-apologizes/#commentsFiled under: ,

In his NBA.com video recap of last Friday's Magic-Nets game, NBA TV analyst Rick Kamla made the unfortunate mistake of referring to New Jersey forward Yi Jianlian as a "Chinaman." After FanHouse contacted Turner Sports about the remark, the video was pulled from NBA.com. It ran on NBA TV Friday and has been available on NBA.com since Friday night.

Turner Sports spokesman Jeff Pomeroy relayed to FanHouse an apology to anyone offended by the remark from Kamla and the network, which manages NBA TV and NBA.com. Pomeroy said Kamla was not aware of the connotations of the word, and meant nothing malicious or offensive by it.

Kamla's ignorant slip is far less troubling than the fact this video was broadcast on NBA TV and had been available on NBA.com for five days. The NBA has made serious strides to reach out to all corners of America and to expand the league's presence worldwide, with particular emphasis on Asia. Given the league's emphasis on marketing product to Chinese Americans, for this to go unnoticed within the NBA's digital arm for so long is disheartening.

Kamla isn't the first to make this mistake: AsianWeek took Steve Kerr to task in 2004 for referring to Yao Ming as a "Chinaman." Kerr apologized after being educated as to the history of the term and its continuing offensiveness to Chinese Americans. At the 2008 Masters tournament, CBS broadcaster Bobby Clampett called Chinese golfer Liang Wen-Chong "the Chinaman." He later apologized.

"Chinaman" is a term first used in a derogatory fashion in the American West beginning in the late 19th century. Anti-Chinese activists in California and throughout the West used the term to classify Chinese immigrants as subhuman.

Anti-Chinese sentiment is a sad legacy of the industrial boom of California in the post-Gold Rush era. European American-dominated unions led a fight to deny Chinese families the right to emigrate to the United States, culminating in President Chester Arthur's signing of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. The law not only restricted entry for Chinese families, but prevented Chinese men and women already in the United States from leaving and returning at a future date. The act was not repealed until 1943, and unlimited Chinese immigration was not allowed under federal law until 1965.

Note: An earlier version of this post stated that the clip ran several times on NBA TV Friday and Saturday. Pomeroy clarifies that the clip only ran on NBA TV once -- during the live broadcast of Kamla's highlights Friday evening. The clip was available on NBA.com until this morning, however.
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NBA TV Analyst Calls Yi Jianlian a 'Chinaman,' Later Apologizes originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Rick KamlaYi JianlianTom ZillerWed, 04 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST Vince Carter Sprains Left Ankle in His Return to New Jerseyhttp://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/vince-carter-sprains-left-ankle-in-his-return-to-new-jersey/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/vince-carter-sprains-left-ankle-in-his-return-to-new-jersey/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/vince-carter-sprains-left-ankle-in-his-return-to-new-jersey/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Vince Carter
Vince Carter was about to deliver one of those "don't-you-wish-I-was-still-here" games Friday night in New Jersey, when he fell to the floor clutching his left ankle midway in the second quarter.

Carter, traded by the Nets to the Orlando Magic this summer, had 16 points in his first 15 minutes before he left with a sprained ankle. X-rays were negative and he told reporters that "hopefully,'' he could play Sunday in Toronto.

His mother, who was there, described it to the Orlando Sentinel as a "mild sprain.'' It happened on a drive to the basket when he stepped awkwardly on the foot of New Jersey guard Devin Harris.

Coach Stan Van Gundy, in his post-game press conference, told reporters there was considerable swelling, but did not guess how long it would keep Carter on the sideline. After sitting on the bench for a brief time, Carter limped to the locker room and never returned.

"I was ready to sit back and enjoy one of those great shows because he was rolling,'' Van Gundy said. "It's too bad. We had to find another way to win.''

Carter had hit six of his eight shots. He opened the game against his former team with an emphatic dunk when he blew past Nets guard Courtney Lee, who was sent from Orlando to New Jersey in the trade of Carter.

The Magic, with the deepest team in franchise history, had no problem dominating the Nets, even without Carter, the eight-time All-Star. The game just proved how good the Magic are.

Dwight Howard did as he pleased with 20 points and 22 rebounds - the 24th 20-20 game of his career. The Magic got a big game from second-year forward Ryan Anderson, who came with Carter from New Jersey in the trade that cost the Magic, Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie.

Anderson, who is starting in place of Rashard Lewis (serving a 10-game NBA suspension), had 16 points for the second consecutive game.

His mother, who was there, described it to the Orlando Sentinel as a "mild sprain.'' It happened on a drive to the basket when he stepped awkwardly on the foot of New Jersey guard Devin Harris.

Coach Stan Van Gundy, in his post-game press conference, told reporters there was considerable swelling, but did not guess how long it would keep Carter on the sideline. After sitting on the bench for a brief time, Carter limped to the locker room and never returned.

"I was ready to sit back and enjoy one of those great shows because he was rolling,'' Van Gundy said. "It's too bad. We had to find another way to win.''

Carter had hit six of his eight shots. He opened the game against his former team with an emphatic dunk when he blew past Nets' guard Courtney Lee, who was sent from Orlando to New Jersey in the trade of Carter.

The Magic, with the deepest team in franchise history, had no problem dominating the Nets, even without Carter, their eight-time All-Star. The game just proved how good the Magic are.

Dwight Howard did as he pleased with 20 points and 22 rebounds - the 24th 20-20 game of his career. The Magic got a big game from second-year forward Ryan Anderson, who came with Carter from New Jersey in the trade that cost the Magic Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie.

Anderson, who is starting in place of Rashard Lewis (a 10-game NBA suspension) had 16 points for the second consecutive game.

Vince Carter Sprains Left Ankle in His Return to New Jersey originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Courtney LeeCourtneyLeeDevon HarrisDwight HowardDwightHowardStan Van GundyStanVanGundyVince CarterVinceCarterTim PovtakFri, 30 Oct 2009 23:12:00 EST First Hero of 09-10 Is ... Damien Wilkins?http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/first-hero-of-09-10-is-damien-wilkins/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/first-hero-of-09-10-is-damien-wilkins/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/first-hero-of-09-10-is-damien-wilkins/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Damien WilkinsThe NBA isn't just made at Staples on Sunday afternoons under the lights, or in a Friday night showdown at the Garden. It's every night, players stepping up and making plays.

It's guys that will eventually be answers to trivia questions making huge shots that endear them and their teams to the hearts of young fans who first make a connection with this crazy, random, beautiful game.

The heroes aren't just the guys on posters and All-Star ballots, sometimes they are journeymen who show up every day, don't shoot a great percentage and get the job done.

Wednesday was Damien Wilkins' day.

The Wolves were out of their game against the Nets going into the fourth. Brook Lopez had dominated them, they couldn't get anything to fall, Kevin Love was out, and Ricky Rubio was somewhere across the sea, somewhere waiting for his fee. But somehow, someway the Wolves crawled back into it and had the final possession. And that's when Damien Wilkins showed up for the first buzzer beater of 2009-10.

First Hero of 09-10 Is ... Damien Wilkins? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>al jeffersonAlJeffersondamien wilkinsDamienWilkinsjonny flynnJonnyFlynnkevin loveKevinLovericky rubioRickyRubioMatt MooreThu, 29 Oct 2009 02:00:00 EST Nets' (Soon-to-Be) Owner Reportedly Drops $19K on Lunchhttp://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/nets-soon-to-be-owner-reportedly-drops-19k-on-lunch/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/nets-soon-to-be-owner-reportedly-drops-19k-on-lunch/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/nets-soon-to-be-owner-reportedly-drops-19k-on-lunch/#commentsFiled under:

Mikhail ProkhorovThe uber-rich are people, too, right? Well, they may put their pants on one leg at a time, but they certainly don't eat meals like we do.

Consider this: Mikhail Prokhorov, the Russian billionaire expected to purchase a majority stake in the New Jersey Nets, recently celebrated a positive meeting with the NBA's governors by having lunch with a half dozen friends. What's the big deal, right?

Well, according to the New York Post, his tab for lunch at Nello's, a tony restaurant in New York's Upper East Side, was nearly $19,000. How exactly does one eat the cost equivalent of a mid-size sedan? Keep reading to find out.

The Post obtained a copy of the receipt:
Besides pricey booze, the mogul from Moscow and the men and women in his party spared no expense on food.

Their check included $825 for three orders of truffle tagliolini; $600 for four orders of truffle carpaccio; $210 for three orders of veal chops with mushrooms; and $72 for six large waters.

Not to mention $15 for a bowl of chicken soup.

The lunch was topped off with a $5,000 bottle of vintage 1998 Chateau Petrus and two bottles of 2002 Montrachet Latour for $3,600.

All in all, the bill topped $15,000, not including 25 percent ($3,750!) for gratuity. It's not everyday a waiter gets a tip that can pay for a semester of college.

While Prokhorov hasn't officially purchased the Nets just yet, he's expected to be approved by the NBA's Board of Governors very soon. He's already received the stamp of approval from NBA commissioner David Stern, who hailed Prokhorov's interest in the Nets as a positive sign for the NBA as a whole.

"We think it's a good thing that the attractiveness of the NBA has begun to attract billionaires that are not located only in the United States," Stern told reporters during a conference call on Friday. "[One] of the most successful leagues by many measures, the English Premier Leagues, has 20 teams, and 10 of those are owned by ownership groups that are not located within England. So we think it's good that the NBA is being recognized as an asset worthy of global investment."

Stern unfortunately wasn't asked whether $1,425 for truffles was a wise investment, but Nets fans have to be pleased: a guy who shells out 20 large to fill his stomach seems like he'd also be a guy who doesn't t blink twice at paying a luxury tax.

Are you listening, LeBron?

Nets' (Soon-to-Be) Owner Reportedly Drops $19K on Lunch originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>David SternDavidSternMikhail ProkhorovMikhailProkhorovMatt WatsonFri, 23 Oct 2009 16:45:00 EST New Jersey Nets Renting Out Players to Birthday Parties for $25Khttp://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/new-jersey-nets-renting-out-players-to-birthday-parties-for-25k/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/new-jersey-nets-renting-out-players-to-birthday-parties-for-25k/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/new-jersey-nets-renting-out-players-to-birthday-parties-for-25k/#commentsFiled under:

Terrence Williams and Chris Douglas-RobertsThinking back on my childhood, the one thing I really, really, really wanted on my birthday was for someone to remember it. But after that, easily the No. 2 option was having a famous athlete swing by my party and act like he was thrilled to be dealing with tons of children on a random Wednesday in the middle of the season.

Fortunately, for some child who has insanely rich parents, that dream will possibly come true one day, in the form of a barely recognizable by most kids famous member of the New Jersey Nets. That's right -- the Nets are so desperate for ticket sales that they're making player appearances value adds to those low priced ($25,000) 10-game ticket packages.

From the AP:
For $25,000, the Nets are offering four courtside tickets for 10 games, parking, access to a private lounge at the Izod Center with free food and beverages and something more - a one-hour appearance by a Nets player of your choice at your home, office, school or party.

"It will be interesting to have an NBA player come to your birthday party or come to your bar mitzvah or even just coming to your house for dinner for an hour when your friends are over," Nets chief executive Brett Yormark said. "That's a terrific thing and it's tough to put a price tag on it."
But hey, I wouldn't be an intrepid blogger if I didn't at least try to put a price on it, right?

Alright, let's go then: assuming that a Nets' courtside ticket $500 (even though the AP's report indicates that tickets are $750 a piece), because that's the price that a live chat operateor at nets.com indicated I would be paying.

Now, the "value add" of the Izod Center seems a little tricky; it's not like you're getting a private area or a luxury box. What you're getting is access to the same free food that every single courtside ticket holder gets. Now, the parking pass is a little tougher, because just buying straight courtside tix, you don't get that, although I would imagine that anyone who coughs up 25 large probably warrants someone from the ticket office calling the normal seatholder and requesting that they mail it back in.

Whatever, the point being is that you're paying $20,000 for the tickets and getting the parking pass thrown in (for 10 games, anyway, that's a decent value, relative to the normal purchase). And, on top of that, you're getting a New Jersey Net to come over for dinner, or to your kid's birthday party or for whatever the hell you want, within reason.

Is that good value? Well, actually, yeah. It's not that freaking bad, provided that you're a Nets fan and you have a ton of money to waste and you think your kid would forever cherish the time that Devin Harris attended his birthday. Or, you know, if you're willing to pay 25 grrrr to spend a few hours picking Brook Lopez' brain; now that's a steal.

New Jersey Nets Renting Out Players to Birthday Parties for $25K originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Will BrinsonWed, 21 Oct 2009 03:00:00 EST Tip-Off Timer: 14 Teams Without a Titlehttp://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/13/tip-off-timer-14-teams-without-a-title/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/13/tip-off-timer-14-teams-without-a-title/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/13/tip-off-timer-14-teams-without-a-title/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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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]]>Tip-Off TimerMatt WatsonTue, 13 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST Player to Watch: Yi Jianlianhttp://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/09/player-to-watch-yi-jianlian/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/09/player-to-watch-yi-jianlian/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/09/player-to-watch-yi-jianlian/#commentsFiled under:

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

This is Yi Jianlian. He plays basketball for the New Jersey Nets. He was once a highly desired commodity in the NBA -- so desired that Yi's threat to abstain from joining the NBA when an undesirable team draft resulted in several Important Men, including a United States Senator, traveling to China to negotiate Yi's departure to Milwaukee.

After one year and a Bucks regime change, Yi was traded for a well-respected player, Richard Jefferson. Along with giving up the quite-good Jefferson, the Nets also agreed to take on the onerous contract of Bobby Simmons. (There was also some future cap relief for New Jersey, but suffice it to say Yi was a big deal in this trade.)

Given all the attention, you'd think Yi Jianlian is a great basketball player by NBA standards. But he is not. Yi is a pretty substandard NBA player. The Nets desperately need that to change.

Of all 2007-08 rookies who played at least 400 minutes in 2008-09, Yi rates out as below average in almost all production and efficiency ratings. The kingpin of single-number production stats -- John Hollinger's PER -- rates Yi as the 26th best Class of 2007 product ... out of 34 players. In per-minute scoring, Yi rates 18th of 34, despite his false billing as the Chinese Dirk Nowitzki. Only in rebounding (where Yi rates 7th among the class, of which there are 17 players who primarily man the center, power forward or small forward positions) and shot blocking (9th, or just below average considering the forwards and centers only) does Yi beat the class average. I did not list steals or assists in the graphic, as Yi is obviously low in the rankings.

But Yi's terrible shooting efficiency is what truly stands out. Among the Class of 2007 products who played 400 minutes last season, only Adam Morrison was less efficient with the shot. Adam! Morrison!

Why has Yi been so inefficient? He is utterly devoted to the jump shot -- 75 percent of his FGAs came on jumpers last season, says 82games.com -- and utterly terrible at converting jump shots. And as bad as his jump-shooting percentages are, his conversion rate near the rim is even worse -- the data reports Yi's inside FG% as an astounding 36.3 percent. (By comparison, Yi's much shorter teammate Devin Harris converted at a 54.7 percent rate near the rim. Even Keyon Dooling was at 54.1 percent.)

Problematically, Yi is becoming a bigger part of the Nets attack, for several reasons. First, as mentioned, Yi is seen as important, as valuable, as vital. Highly regarded prospects do not get squelched on the court (unless you're in Chicago, I suppose). New Jersey put out a lot of resources for Yi, and Yi's success (however unlikely) could be major marketing boon in the New York market and overseas. (I mean, Yao got Shane Battier a shoe deal in China.) But also, the Nets traded Vince Carter for players (namely Courtney Lee) who will not replicate his offensive impact, and drafted a player in Terrence Williams who could be an elite defensive role player ... but surely not a possession soaker.

Harris and Brook Lopez can only shoot so much, and with Lee and Williams slated for the staring lineup, Yi is going to be forced to take on a big ol' chunk of offense. And unless Yi's notable offseason regimen (he bulked up) turns massive, immediate dividends, Yi's big ol' chunk of offense is going to be a drag on the Nets. Another season of the status quo might place Yi's NBA career in danger -- or, if nothing else, he'll become the type of international player that hangs onto the edge of the league while flirting with Europe, or in Yi's case perhaps the Chinese Basketball Association.

Making things worse is that unlike most third-year players, Yi is in all likelihood already 25 years old. His handlers billed the 7-footer as a 19-year-old prodigy in the run-up to the 2007 draft. Since his entrance to the NBA, it has been pretty acceptable to assume that the rumors (and potential proof) that Yi was born in 1984, not 1987, are true. Among notable 2007-08 rookies, only Al Thornton and Luis Scola were older. Meanwhile, players picked after Yi -- like Spencer Hawes, Julian Wright, Thaddeus Young -- are far younger, from 21 to 23. Just another stone on the wrong side of the "Yi was a bad choice" scale.

Player to Watch: Yi Jianlian originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Player to WatchPlayerToWatchYi JianlianYiJianlianTom ZillerFri, 09 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST