General NBA watching thread. 2009 - 2010 edition.

[fluid.forty.one]

LOL

Apparently there's naked "cell phone camera mirror" pictures of Greg Oden floating around the internet.

[sefant77]

Greg Oden nude, rofl poor guy

http://www.mediatakeout.com/2010/384..._expected.html

Whats now..."three leg Greg"..."Hoden Oden" (Hoden is the german word for the "balls")

[Underdog]

His face looks 40-years-old, I wonder if the rest of him does too?

<gag>

Oden sorry photos have surfaced

link

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden is apologizing for nude photos that have surfaced on the internet.

Oden says the pictures, taken with his cell phone and sent to a former girlfriend, were taken about 1½ years ago. A friend told the 21-year-old Tuesday morning that the pictures were making the rounds on the internet.

"I would like to apologize to everybody: Portland, the fans, the organization," Oden told reporters at the Blazers practice facility. "It was very embarrassing."

Oden is out for this season after fracturing his left kneecap during a game against the Houston Rockets on Dec. 5. He averaged 11.1 points and 8.5 rebounds in 21 starts.

The 7-foot-center was the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NBA draft out of Ohio State. He missed his rookie season after have microfracture surgery on his right knee.

[MavsWiLLHaVeRinGs]

Originally Posted by Underdog

His face looks 40-years-old, I wonder if the rest of him does too?

<gag>

Yeah you would wonder that you little fruitcake.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by MavsWiLLHaVeRinGs

Yeah you would wonder that you little fruitcake.

At least he's apparently decided not to check, considering the information is easily available on the internet.

[sefant77]

Go Rockets!

Edit: Rockets fail like always in the 4th quarter, even without Carmella

[CadBane]

Timmah with 27 boards tonight! He's still got it.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by CadBane

Timmah with 27 boards tonight! He's still got it.

Psh, that's less than half the record.

[fluid.forty.one]

Kris Humphries had 25 points 8 rebounds tonight.

[GermanDunk]

F the Lakers

[dalger]

The Nuggets took care of the Spurs quite easily. Good for us at it keeps the Spurs behind us. Bad for us as it makes the 2nd place in the conference less and less likely. Denver is on a roll right now thanks to Billups. He really is the head of the snake.

[fluid.forty.one]

At least the Spurs are having a worse season than us.

[AO41]

The West has been tough for several years now, but this year its just ridicules

[twistaeffect2004]

Phew, Kevin Durant is absolutely killer. I sometimes forget he's 21 years old, he's so defined offensively.. he's WELL beyond his years.

Yesterdays game: 16/21 FG, 11/11 FT, 45 points, 11 rebounds

And in January he was completely ridiculous. He averaged 31.1 and shot 50 percent from the field, and 52.3% from beyond the arc. Crazy. He's got to be way up there in terms of MVP as well.

[LonghornDub]

Originally Posted by twistaeffect2004

Phew, Kevin Durant is absolutely killer. I sometimes forget he's 21 years old, he's so defined offensively.. he's WELL beyond his years.

Yesterdays game: 16/21 FG, 11/11 FT, 45 points, 11 rebounds

And in January he was completely ridiculous. He averaged 31.1 and shot 50 percent from the field, and 52.3% from beyond the arc. Crazy. He's got to be way up there in terms of MVP as well.

Shh. Flaco thinks he's overrated.

[fluid.forty.one]

go memphis

[Usually Lurkin]

Originally Posted by twistaeffect2004

Phew, Kevin Durant is absolutely killer. I sometimes forget he's 21 years old, he's so defined offensively.. he's WELL beyond his years.

Yesterdays game: 16/21 FG, 11/11 FT, 45 points, 11 rebounds

And in January he was completely ridiculous. He averaged 31.1 and shot 50 percent from the field, and 52.3% from beyond the arc. Crazy. He's got to be way up there in terms of MVP as well.

and the 1 shoe block!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=copUoW4VcKU

remember last year when the idiot stats guy said the mavs wouldn't take him if he was offered for free?

[GermanDunk]

Devin: 24 points, 4 Rebounds, 14! assists ! vs. Pistons

[quietsavant]

Del Harris Retires from the Nets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Del Harris resigned as assistant coach of the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday, yet another blow to a team on pace for the worst record in NBA history.

The news of Harris' departure was first reported by the Star-Ledger of Newark during New Jersey's 97-93 loss to the Detroit Pistons, dropping the Nets' record to 4-43.

Harris, 72, was hired to assist interim coach coach Kiki Vandeweghe after Lawrence Frank was fired when the Nets got off to an 0-16 start.

"I have seen Kiki go from a man who was trying to encourage a team that was down to one who has developed a good sense of coaching," Harris said in a statement released after the game. "I believe in these recent games there is strong evidence that the team has gotten over the hump and will be much more competitive the rest of the way."

Harris said he was returning home to Dallas, adding he enjoyed his time with the Nets.

"I had not experienced such a losing situation since 1983, but because the players are such good people, the losing of games did not become the chaotic situation that has happened to so many teams who were locked into a total rebuilding year," Harris said in the statement.

Assistant coach John Loyer is expected to step into Harris' role as lead assistant.

Chris Sheridan is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4882179

Translation: The nets are tanking and I want no part of their chicanery

[quietsavant]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindbla...l_blazers.html

Security at the AAC

When loving the Trail Blazers' Rudy Fernandez goes too far: A security breach in Dallas
By Jason Quick, The Oregonian
February 02, 2010, 4:30PM
With the NBA’s All-Star Weekend headed to Dallas on Feb.12-14, let’s hope the Mavericks and the NBA have a better handle on security than they did Saturday when the Trail Blazers were in town.

During a timeout with 41 seconds left in regulation, two women walked onto the court and into the Trail Blazers huddle. One woman wrapped her arms around the waist of Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez from behind. Fernandez, who was not in the game but focused on the plays being diagrammed by coach Nate McMillan, was stunned.

“I was surprised,’’ Fernandez said. “I was listening to the coach on the bench and behind me, she touches me and says, ‘Rudy, I love you. Nice to meet you. Good game.’

“I said, ‘What?’’’

Blazers guard Jerryd Bayless, who was on the perimeter of the huddle, said he saw the whole event transpire.

“They were drunk, obviously,’’ Bayless said. “I was actually close to Rudy, but when I saw them coming, and once they got onto the court, I stepped back.’’

The women were ushered away from the huddle, and amazingly allowed to return to their courtside seats under the basket and watch the remainder of the game, which went to overtime.

McMillan said he hadn’t heard of the incident, but was wide-eyed when told the details on Tuesday.

“What about security?’’ McMillan asked. “That’s not good. I mean, really. If they came out on the floor ...’’

Blazers security guard Bob Hanis was at the game, but was standing post behind the Blazers bench and was unable to reach the pair before the one woman touched Fernandez. The women came from underneath the basket.

Mavericks spokesperson Sarah Melton said the team was not aware of the incident.

Now keep in mind, this is the same Dallas security staff that is annoyingly overbearing. No team checks media credentials as doggedly as the Mavericks and no team’s secruity staff makes it harder for scouts and media to gain access to their seats.

In fact, during a late-game timeout on Saturday, Blazers assistant Monty Williams had to use the restroom, but a security guard tried to deny his access to the hallway leading to the locker rooms. Williams twice had to explain that he was an assistant coach, finally waving off the guard and proceeding to the restroom.

Williams was using the nearest hallway - an entrance at midcourt used by the Mavericks. Opposing teams have a tunnel to reach the locker room hallways on the far end of the arena from their bench.

“Security is one thing, and common sense is another,’’ Williams said. “I am telling the guy, with a notebook in my hand, that I am a coach and I have to use the restroom. And he’s coming up with, like, protocol.’’

When he tried to return to the court via the same route, Williams said he encountered a wall of security.

“They must have walkie-talkied everyone,’’ Williams said. “They had it like Fort Knox. So I had to walk all the way around. I was like, fine, I don’t want to break any rules ...’’

In the Blazers’ December visit to Dallas, assistant Bill Bayno said he was also denied passage to the locker rooms by what he called a “belligerent and arrogant” police officer. Eventually, Bayno took a detour around the court to the Blazers locker room.

“They were blocking fans, and I said I’m not a fan, I’m a coach of the Blazers,’’ Bayno said. “And he just looked at me and screamed at me: ‘You wait right there; Dallas goes first!’’’

Maybe events like Saturday’s Rudy-lovefest wouldn’t happen if the security staff was more focused on bizarre fans trying to get to the players rather than on the people who are trying to do their jobs.

The Feb. 14 All-Star Game will not be in the Mavericks’ American Airlines Center; it is being held at Cowboys Stadium.

Saturday’s incident with Fernandez ended up being a light moment. Fernandez said his teammates razed him on the bench, and later, he found time to laugh about it. But he also admitted that he couldn’t help but think of tennis star Monica Seles, who was stabbed by a spectator in a 1993 tournament in Hamburg, Germany.

“That would be scary,’’ Fernandez said. “This is the first time anything like this has happened.’’

[quietsavant]

Another one bites the dust. Dunleavy fired


EDIT: "RELIEVED"

[mavErika]

Yay, Portland with a coming-from-behind win over San Antonio, SA just got swept by another team!

On a different note, if things go according to plan, Dallas can challenge Denver on Tuesday, February 9th for the second seat in the West. We play Minny tomorrow and GS on Monday, whereas Denver has a tough b2b coming up, starting tomorrow @Lakers and then @Utah. The winner would hold on to it for at least until after the allstar break.

[fluid.forty.one]

lol spurts

[Dirkgreatness]

All-star berth in jeopardy for Carmelo?

Carmelo Anthony's ankle injury is persistent. It has kept the Nuggets star sidelined for six games, and now could threaten his ability to play in the All-Star Game.

If the injury keeps the Nuggets forward out of the team's last four games before the all-star break, Anthony said he would not play in the All-Star Game on Feb. 14.

"I wouldn't do that," Anthony said. "I couldn't have people talking bad about me like that. I care about the All-Star Game, but I really care about my team first."

Anthony went through a full practice Thursday and sounded nothing like a player who will return soon.

"I got up and down the court. I ran, shot the ball well, I could slide left to right," Anthony said. "I'm still looking for my explosiveness. My first step is still a little slow. So, until I get that back, until I'm 100 percent, I'll be on the sideline cheering my team on."

Asked if he could get that explosiveness back by game time at the Lakers tonight, Anthony said it would take a "miracle" for him to play tonight.

Anthony was voted an all-star starter for the second time in his career by fans in a landslide vote over other Western Conference forwards. He'll be there along with teammate Chauncey Billups, who was added this week to the West's roster, and coach George Karl.

All that needs to happen for the seeds of doubt to be removed from Anthony's all-star status is for his ankle to be healed enough to allow him to play at the level to which he's accustomed. After the Lakers, the Nuggets travel to Utah on Saturday, followed by home games next week against Dallas and San Antonio.

"We miss him. Of course we miss him," Billups said. "We miss everything he brings to the table. He's one of our leaders. Everything that we do revolves around Melo. So, we definitely miss him being out there with us."

Anthony shed light on his state of mind Thursday and acknowledged that the injury was worse than he originally thought. The Nuggets are 6-5 this season when Anthony has missed games due to injuries.

"It gets frustrating for me, just to sit and watch my team compete and I can't be a part of it," Anthony said. "But for the most part we've been winning games with me being out.

"Some days are better than others as far as mentally and emotionally. I just want to be out there. I hate sitting out. I think a lot of people didn't realize — even myself — how severe the ankle sprain was. After watching it again (on film), I'm surprised I didn't break it, knock on wood, the way I rolled it."

Link

Hopefully he does sit out the allstar game so that Dirk can get the start.

[dalger]

And still, the Nuggets just beat the Lakers in LA without Carmelo. Impressive.

[mavErika]

Originally Posted by mavErika

On a different note, if things go according to plan, Dallas can challenge Denver on Tuesday, February 9th for the second seat in the West. We play Minny tomorrow and GS on Monday, whereas Denver has a tough b2b coming up, starting tomorrow @Lakers and then @Utah. The winner would hold on to it for at least until after the allstar break.

nevermind, Denver's got the second seat for now

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by Dirkgreatness

Hopefully he does sit out the allstar game so that Dirk can get the start.

That might take the sucky dallas fandom off the hook, but not from where I sit, they are on my list.

[twistaeffect2004]

Yeah.. LeBron is amazing.

After the first quarter vs. the Knicks:

23 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds

At the half:

35 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 4 steals (13-18 shooting, 4-7 from 3 three, 5-5 FT)

It's too bad the Cavs are already up 20. He could score 70 tonight if he wanted, and probably triple double while doing it. No one is close to LeBron. He's beyond good.

[CadBane]

Man, Peja has looked absolutely vintage as of late. Wonder if CP3 was holding him back?

[Underdog]

Southwest Division - last 10 games:

Dallas 4-6
San Antonio 4-6
Houston 4-6
New Orleans 4-6
Mamphis 4-6

[GermanDunk]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Southwest Division - last 10 games:

Dallas 4-6
San Antonio 4-6
Houston 4-6
New Orleans 4-6
Mamphis 4-6

All games rigged

[CadBane]

The Spurs are raping Denver. Such an odd league. We own SA, but Denver owns us. But SA can blowout Denver in Denver. :/

[mcsluggo]

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

At least the Spurs are having a worse season than us.

every year mid-season it looks like the spurs are in a down-year... and then...?

Pop tinkers with things in the early to mid season, and then gets serious for a stretch run. Are they super-powers this year? probably not. are they out of the mix. No way.

[sike]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdNiXidfLcc

[sike]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5qiB...eature=related

[dude1394]

Damn...that's quite a few samoleons timmah gave up.

The next day, a division rival already above the Spurs in the standings got better. Yet when asked about the Mavericks’ trade, Duncan nodded nicely and said, yes, Dallas should be improved.

Duncan is used to Mark Cuban spending more money, and maybe Duncan is used to getting less, too. It’s been going on for a while.

By the time Duncan entered the league, after all, the owners had already reacted to escalating rookie salaries. They put in a monetary scale for first-year players, and even a can’t-miss star such as Duncan was assigned a uniform salary slot.

Glenn Robinson, taken three years earlier as another No. 1 overall draft pick, earned more.

The lockout that ended in 1999 provided another way for Duncan to get less. Because of the new labor agreement, Duncan didn’t earn what he could have.

A contrast: Duncan hit the $20 million level just last year, and Shaquille O’Neal, playing under the old system, was already there in 2000.

Duncan has never groaned publicly about any of it. He was the same this weekend in Dallas when asked about the next, great labor dispute.

“You understand the situation you’re in, and you understand it’s coming, whether we like it or not,” he said. “It’s something we’re going to have to face.”

Duncan has never come across as someone in search of buying his own island. Still, to paraphrase the late Sen. Everett Dirksen: a million here, a million there, and pretty soon Duncan is losing some real money.

His latest came in the fall of 2007, when Duncan volunteered as he did when he worked Friday in Dallas. Then, he agreed to a two-year, $40 million extension with the Spurs.

Duncan could have taken maximum money on a two-year extension worth about $51 million. At the time, Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford approached Duncan knowing he deserved that and more.

But Popovich and Buford also offered an alternative then. They showed Duncan the possible impact on the rest of the roster if he accepted less.

Duncan earns a lot of money as it is. His $20 million salary can buy a few things in San Antonio. Still, the amount he gave up is nearly $11 million.

How many would do the same?

Duncan believed, by agreeing to less, the Spurs could better pursue free agents in the summer of 2010. Coming off his fourth title, he’d hoped the Spurs could find championship players to put around him, as they had done before.

But that changed with the Jefferson trade. The Spurs are already obligated to pay a half-dozen players $54 million next season.

Duncan’s decision will not carve out extra room this summer, because there is no room. Duncan gave up a max contract for minimum return, and that’s why this expensive Spurs mistake is not only rare but different.

It’s shared.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Southwest Division - last 10 games:

Dallas 4-6
San Antonio 4-6
Houston 4-6
New Orleans 4-6
Mamphis 4-6

Glad to see Dallas taking a proactive approach to this slump - I wonder how the other 4 teams in the division are going to pull themselves out?

[sefant77]

Duncan should be pissed because he is kind of paying Jefferson for his sucking season

But honestly i expect Dirk to take such a paycut too and for sure if Cuban can get something with the Dustchip.

[nikeball]

RicBucher Also in Rumor Central: Tor tried to solidify hold on Bosh by trading Banks/O'Bryant for Sasha/Powell, Josh being one of Bosh's best friends.

[Dirkenstien]

Originally Posted by nikeball

RicBucher Also in Rumor Central: Tor tried to solidify hold on Bosh by trading Banks/O'Bryant for Sasha/Powell, Josh being one of Bosh's best friends.

= desperate