Nice Uni there Raps…

Nets president Rod Thorn told the New York Post yesterday that no mad rush is necessary to keep Vince Carter in the fold beyond this season. Reason being they are resigned to the fact that Carter’s Mother wants him to go home to Orlando…although Charlotte has lots of money and the NC connection to lure him with…

Uh-oh…Amaré Stoudemire had an MRI on his right knee (not the microfracture surgery-repaired left knee) yesterday because he was a little worried about stiffness…

Oh my goodness…http://ca.askmen.com/specials/2006_top_99/index.html

Globetrotting…the Clippers will hold training camp in Moscow…Suns in Treviso (Italy)…the 76ers in Barcelona (Spain) and the San Antonio Spurs in Lyon (France)….

Shaquille O'Neal, to ESPN's Stephen A. Smith about Rick Barry's offer to teach him underhanded free throws: ``Rick Barry's résumé is not good enough to even come into my office to be qualified for a job. I will shoot negative-30 percent before I shoot underhanded.'' Ummm Shaq, Ricky is a Hall of Famer, has anNBA Championship ring, averaged 23 PPG over his career and is one of the greatest free throw shooters in history (90%)…

1) Ric Bucher of ESPN.com thinks Bonzi has a home:

Bonzi Wells, the last significant free-agent talent on the market, agreed to a two-year, $5 million deal with the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, according to his agent. Wells holds a player option for the second year and fully plans to re-enter the free agent market next summer. "This isn't about the money, this is about being in the right place," said Wells' agent, Merle Scott of BDA Sports. After turning down a five-year, $36 million offer from the Sacramento Kings last month, Wells fired his agent, Bill Phillips, and hired Scott a few weeks ago. Attempts to work a sign-and-trade that might've allowed Wells to match or improve the Kings' offer failed because Sacramento refused to take back any salaries after signing John Salmons with the money refused by Wells. "We never talked about the Sacramento offer because that was gone and that wasn't going to change," Scott said. Wells' loss is clearly Houston's gain. Wells left both Portland and Memphis after being portrayed as a malcontent, but his 13.6 points and 7.7 rebounds in 52 games with the Kings last season and a strong first-round playoff performance against San Antonio restored some of his luster. Wells and Ron Artest were a devastating forward combination and Artest personally lobbied for the Kings to re-sign Wells. Sacramento held Wells' Bird rights, meaning they could've paid him whatever they chose but drew the line with their offer slightly better than the mid-level exception. Wells, a source said, originally wanted Phillips to land him a $50 million deal. Denver, Boston, Charlotte and Miami also made offers but the Rockets did the best job of convincing Wells he was needed. The recruiting contingent included Yao Ming, GM Carroll Dawson, assistant coach Tom Thibodeau, coach Jeff Van Gundy, personnel director Keith Jones and Tracy McGrady, who called Bonzi directly to make his pitch. The Rockets go into training camp next week with a potential starting lineup of Rafer Alston, McGrady, Shane Battier (acquired in a draft-night trade for Stromile Swift and No. 8 pick Rudy Gay), Juwan Howard and Yao, with Wells as the sixth man, but if Wells plays as he did against the Spurs he could challenge Battier and Howard for one of the starting forward spots. "Bonzi doesn't care about starting," Scott said. "He just wants to be some place he can contribute."

2) Check this letter sent to prospective University of Illinois recruits about the Ilini continuing to use a Native American mascot. The letter was posted in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

Copy of professors' letter to prospective Illini recruits

September 14, 2006

Dear Mr. (last name of prospective recruit),

We understand that you are considering coming to the University of Illinois as a student athlete. If that is still the case, we believe you should be aware of one particular issue that is of concern on this campus -- the use of a fictitious Native American, named Chief Illiniwek, as the University’s sports mascot. Native Americans here and around the country have made it a high priority to end this form of racial discrimination and students and faculty of this University have joined them in their effort. The National Collegiate Athletic Association has also taken a strong stand on this. In August 2005, the NCAA ruled it would no longer permit Illinois to host postseason tournaments because Chief Illiniwek promotes a "hostile and abusive" environment. The NCAA also urged all other member colleges and universities not to engage in athletic competition with Illinois and with other institutions with hostile and abusive American Indian mascots. Even after losing two appeals on the NCAA decision, the University of Illinois Trustees have decided to keep the school’s controversial mascot. This decision was made despite UIUC Athletic Director Ron Guenther’s opinion that unless Chief Illiniwek was retired, the NCAA ruling will have "an unbelievably negative effect on our programs" and it was already impacting recruitment. Moreover, Guenther predicts things will get worse. In an interview Guenther said, the NCAA may lobby the Bowl Championship Series to exclude football teams that fail to comply, and in basketball, Guenther predicts that the NCAA could ban Illinois' tournament participation. Guenther also informed his coaches that further sacrifices might be necessary. Accordingly, the UI Trustees, who control the decision, appear to care more about preserving a racially stereotyped mascot than fielding the best teams and winning championships. When the NCAA implemented its policy against Indian mascots, it did so because of the objections of Native American organizations and because of statements from the United States Commission on Civil Rights and the NAACP. Their statements are enclosed. The American Psychological Association also opposes such mascots because research shows they harm Native Americans, especially Native children. A partial list of other educational, civil rights, and religious organizations that also oppose the use of American Indians as sports mascots is attached. You should also know that this problem is so important on our campus that an academic accreditation review stated that it compromises the integrity of this institution and they advised retiring the mascot. The Universities of Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin have banned our mascot from their campuses. In spite of what you may have recently read or heard in the media, after 16 years of debating this issue, the UI Board of Trustees still refuses to take the necessary action and no end appears in sight. Thus, you may want to think twice about whether the University of Illinois is a good environment for you to further your education and athletic career. Do you want to play at a school that refuses to commit to equality for all races and that places more value on an outdated and divisive mascot than on a winning athletic program? In view of the significance and continued negative consequences of racial stereotyping in athletics, we ask you to take this into consideration as you make up your mind where you will pursue your college goals.
. . . Thank you for taking the time to read this and we wish you the very best in achieving your goals.

Sincerely,
Stephen J. Kaufman, Emeritus Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, Thomas H. Anderson, Professor of Educational Psychology
Thomas Bassett, Professor of Geography, Nancy Blake, Professor of Comparative and World Literature, Leigh S. Estabrook, Professor of Library and Information Science and Sociology, Brenda Farnell, Associate Professor of Anthropology and American Indian Studies, Belden Fields, Emeritus Professor of Political Science, Frederick E. Hoxie, Swanlund Endowed Chair, Professor of History, Uriel Kitron, Professor of Pathobiology, John McKinn (Maricopa, Gila River Indian Community), Assistant Director of American Indian Studies, Jay Mittenthal, Associate Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology (ret.), Philip Phillips, Professor of Physics, David R. Roediger, Babcock Professor of History and African American Studies, Carol Spindel, Lecturer, Department of English

3) Marty Burns previews the Southwest for SI.com:

Camp preview: Southwest division - Burning camp questions for the NBA's top division

Last season, the Southwest division featured the two top teams in the West, the Spurs and Mavs, battling it out for the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. The Spurs eventually won out, sending Dallas tumbling to the No. 4 seed (behind the three Western division winners). The Mavs, of course, overcame the injustice to beat the Spurs in the semifinals. Meanwhile, the NBA revamped its playoff seeding formula to make sure the top four teams (the three division winners plus the team with the next-best record) get their corresponding seeds. The NBA was wise to act quickly, since the Southwest could see a similar battle this season. The division is loaded from top to bottom, with the Mavs, Spurs, Grizzlies, Hornets and Rockets all harboring legitimate hopes for the playoffs. Here's a look at the burning questions each teams faces heading into the start of training camp next week (Teams listed in order of last season's finish).

San Antonio Spurs (63-19)
1. Who will play center? The Spurs signed Francisco Elson (Nuggets) and Jackie Butler (Knicks) as free agents, hoping they could replace the departed Rasho Nesterovic (Raptors) and Nazr Mohammed (Pistons). The 6-11 Elson is penciled in as the starter, but the 6-10 Butler could surprise.
2. How's Tim Duncan's foot? The two-time MVP battled a sore foot most of last season, a big reason his numbers dropped off in several key categories. But he opted not to play in international competition, and with a summer of rest he should be 100 percent.
3. Parlez vous Francais? It might help, since the team will be holding training camp in France. They leave on Sept. 29 and will stay in Lyon for five days, ending the trip with an exhibition against the local pro team. At least they have Tony Parker to show them around.

Dallas Mavericks (60-22)
1. Who brings the Bloody Marys? After blowing a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals, there is bound to be a hangover. Avery Johnson will have to find a way to get his team to put the disappointment aside and get mentally ready for what's sure to be a grueling defense of their Western Conference crown.
2. Can they crank up the D another notch? Though they made great strides defensively, Dirk Nowitzki & Co. showed in the Finals they're not exactly stoppers yet. Newcomers Devean George, Greg Buckner and Anthony Johnson should help, but they will need to get acclimated in a hurry.
3. Will Mark Cuban suit up? Hey, you never know. During last year's Finals, the controversial Mavs owner was as much a part of the scene as the players and coaches. It wouldn't be a total shock if he put on a uniform and tried to run a few layup lines during practice one of these years, would it?
Memphis Grizzlies (49-33)
1. Who fills in for Pau Gasol? With the All-Star power forward expected to miss three months with a foot injury, the Grizzlies have a huge hole at the 4 spot. Stromile Swift and Hakim Warrick will get the first shot at filling the void, but neither provides Gasol's low-post scoring dimension and ability to draw double teams.
2. Is Damon Stoudamire back? Memphis suffered a bad blow last season when the veteran point guard went down in January with a season-ending knee injury. Stoudamire is reportedly now fully healthy and ready for camp. Memphis is praying Mighty Mouse can regain his form, and training camp will be the first chance to find out.
3. Can the Czar change his stripes? Memphis coach Mike Fratello has become known in his most recent coaching stints for playing a slow-down, half-court game. But with Gasol on the shelf, he might have to use camp to implement a more up-tempo style in an effort to create easier baskets.

N.O./Okla. City Hornets (38-44)
1. How fast can they gel? Despite a 20-win improvement from the previous season, the Hornets made major changes in the offseason. Peja Stojakovic, Tyson Chandler and Bobby Jackson will have to develop chemistry quickly with the likes of Chris Paul, Desmond Mason and David West in order to avoid a slow start.
2. Which Chandler will show up? Two years ago, Chandler was a high-energy rebounding machine for the Bulls, but he tapered off last year in Chicago after signing a big-money contract. The Hornets hope a change of scenery can help Chandler regain his form and provide a much-needed defensive interior presence.
3. Will CP3 be tired? After a long 82-game season and a summer spent playing with the U.S. national team, second-year point guard Chris Paul could be a little tired. Hornets coach Byron Scott says he isn't worried about his young star's stamina, but he and the Hornets brass will be watching closely.

Houston Rockets (34-48)
1. Are T-Mac and Yao back? Tracy McGrady (back) and Yao Ming (foot) played together in just 31 games last season. Without their two All-Stars, the Rockets never got off the launching pad. McGrady and Yao are now both reportedly healthy and ready to go, but it remains to be seen whether they can hold up.
2. Who will play shooting guard? With David Wesley having left as a free agent (Cavs), Houston has a hole at the 2 spot. The Rockets are hoping Kirk Snyder, obtained in a trade with the Hornets, can fill the void. He will battle second-year player Luther Head for the spot in training camp.
3. Is Bob Sura finished? Sura, the 6-5 veteran guard, hopes to give it one final go after missing the past 16 months with a string of knee and back injuries. The 33-year-old was a sparkplug with his hustle and versatility before getting hurt, and his return would add greatly to Houston's backcourt depth.

4) Chris Broussard thinks Chandler will be better in NO:

Change of scenery has Chandler looking like new man
Nearly two dozen relatives had gathered in Chicago to celebrate last New Year's Eve. There was mingling, and there was music. There was also an absent host. Tyson Chandler was in no mood to entertain. He'd just spent 14 minutes over the previous couple of hours scoring two points, committing three fouls and snaring zero rebounds in a loss to the Suns. What was there to party about? Besides, the conversations had become pretty predictable. Everyone had an opinion about how to fix his game. The coaching staff, the talk radio junkies, even well-meaning family members. So rather than subject himself to any more Monday-morning quarterbacking, Chandler decided it best to sit this one out in his bedroom and mope. Then the one man who had always refused to meddle in Chandler's on-court affairs, his stepdad of 15 years, entered the room. "What's wrong with you?" asked William Brown, as only an ex-Marine can. "Why are you shooting free throws like that? Why aren't you running the floor? Why are you dropping passes?" He didn't wait for answers. He just said his piece and left. "I was like, Wow," Chandler says. "He just went off on me. That was my low point." How could he even make that distinction? Last season was pretty much one long bottom-scraper for Chandler. Fresh off signing a six-year, $63 million deal with the Bulls, what was supposed to be the best of times was instead the most disastrous. Five points a game, nine rebounds, just half his free throws made. It was embarrassing, frustrating and depressing, and it got him off-loaded to the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets during the off-season. That misery is an ancient memory now. On a Tuesday in September, a smiling Chandler works out with three Hornets rookies and second-year forward Brandon Bass at Southern Nazarene University, just outside Oklahoma City. The way the seven-footer explodes off the floor in a dunking drill makes you look for the concealed trampoline. "He looks like a dang video game," says one observer. But that's only part of what makes you stare. Chandler certainly looks out of place in his purple practice gear, but that's not it either. His hair. It's doing strange things. The curls are gone, the waves hard to find. The fade is awfully high. Wait, is that a ... Yup, he's sporting a li'l Mohawk. "My mind-set this summer was to get down and dirty, so I had to get something grimy," Chandler says after the three-and-a-half-hour session. "I thought about throwing on war paint, too." The man means business. His mediocre five-year career has left a bad taste. He's had enough of watching cats who used to look up to him -- guys not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as he was back in high school -- blow up while he's called a buster. So to all those waiting to see how the former man-child will blow it this time, he just wants to say: Hope you're not in any rush. His back is fine, his head is clear and his aspirations are sky-high. Chandler is thinking something on the order of 15-plus points, 12 boards and two blocks a night. He's so confident, he's literally putting his money where his mouth is. "What are you going to play in this season?" someone asks Chandler as he unlaces his black-and-gray Nike Huarache 2K4s in the kitchen of his plush new digs in the OKC. I don't know," he says. "I'm not talking to any shoe companies now." Why not? "Because I ain't Tyson Chandler, I'm this other dude everybody has been talking about. When I become Tyson Chandler again, when I become the All-Star I know I can be, then I'll talk." The warrior's cut was just the first step. Starting in June, Chandler worked out five days a week with his personal coach, Jerry DeGregorio, at the Santa Monica Boys & Girls Club, where he lifted, ran and shot for four and a half hours a day. He worked on jump hooks and sky hooks with both hands, and a turnaround J. He honed off-the-dribble moves, eliminated a nasty hitch in his jumper that had been there since a back injury two years ago, and stuck it out until he made at least 75 of 100 free throws every night. He hired a nutritionist and even slept in a room separate from his wife, Kim, and 5-month-old daughter, Sacha-Marie, so he'd be assured of a good night's sleep. "He worked as hard as any player I've ever seen," says DeGregorio, a former Clippers executive and assistant coach. That's a beat Chris Paul can dance to. The Hornets' precocious star has long been a fan. In 1997, Paul was a ball boy for his older brother's AAU team at the national championships in Orlando. Chandler was a 14-year-old beast on an opposing team. "They ran one play the whole time," Paul says. "Somebody would set a back screen, then they'd throw Tyson an alley-oop. He was just catching alleys and dunking on everybody. I was amazed." So Paul literally jumped for joy when Hornets coach Byron Scott called him after midnight to say the team had traded P.J. Brown and J.R. Smith for Chandler. "All I could think of was those alley-oops," he says. If anyone knows how to mesh a pass-first point with a high-wire big, it's Scott. It wasn't too long ago that he rode Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin to back-to-back Finals with the Nets. Is it so far-fetched to see Paul and Chandler as a younger version of that pair? Paul's knack for finding big men for easy hoops has Scott's head filled with visions of Chandler hovering above the rim. And then there's the buckets he'll get off the glass and on the break now that the Hornets are planning to rev it up even more. "I look at him like a Marcus Camby," Scott says, confirming savvy fantasy players' wildest dreams. "A guy who can change the game on the defensive end, knock down the occasional open shot, run the floor and protect the paint. I don't see any reason why he shouldn't average a double-double this season." But not everyone thinks talking about a major transformation will make it so. How could they, after what little has come before? While no one doubts that Chandler, who had the fourth-most offensive rebounds last season, will hit the boards and defend, many wonder if he can thrive as a leading big man. Even the scouts who like him think he's much better off playing alongside a physical center like Eddy Curry; from that vantage, he can avoid the heavy banging and swoop in to shake things up from the weak side. As for any promise of more offense, well, they'll believe the box scores. "I've seen nothing to suggest he's capable of being a serious threat," one Western Conference scout says. "I'll be more than happy to let him try to beat us with faceup 15-to-17-footers." Chandler understands where the doubters are coming from, but he also knows he used to stroke college-distance threes in high school. He says he began to feel like his old self again after DeGregorio fixed his shot, and he's sure he'll capitalize on slack D when opportunity knocks. And it will knock often in Scott's Princeton set. The new Hornet's first glimpse of his future at Southern Nazarene is eye-opening. "You mean when I catch it here, I can do whatever I want?" Chandler asks as he stands at the foul line. "Yeah, you can pass to a cutter, take a jumper if your man sags or take him off the dribble," his new coach says. Chandler, who guesses he had five plays called for him last season, doesn't quite know what to make of this information. When Scott puts him on the low block and tells him that once the cutters go through he'll have one-on-one coverage about 90% of the time, the big man looks like he will break into a cheer. "I'm so happy," Chandler says later, leaving SNU in his black Range Rover. "It's crazy how things have fallen into place." On the passenger's seat is Beyoncé's new CD, B'Day. Chandler will have a B'Day of his own soon. He turns 24 on Oct. 2. If his family descends on his home to celebrate, it'll be a different scene than the one last winter. This time around, Chandler won't be the sulking killjoy off by himself. He'll be the life of the party.

Nowitzki stays a Mav…Dirk Diggler was already was signed for the upcoming season and had a $16 million-plus option for 2007-08 under the maximum contract he signed in 2001, but he signed a new deal that guarantees that season, plus tacks on three more….He'll turn 33 the summer his new contract expires. Terms of the deal were not released, but with basic raises the extension is likely worth around $60 million.

Speaking of contracts, erarlier this month, the New York Islanders inked Rick DiPietro to a 15-year contract, the longest in NHL history. The 25-year-old goalie will rake in $67.5 million over the course of the deal…am I the only one who thinks this is nuts? This may be the most un-tradable contract in sports history…

Former University of Iowa basketball star and “could-have-been” NBA 1st round pick Pierre Pierce is a free man., who spent the past 11 months in the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility after he was convicted last fall of assaulting and terrorizing his girlfriend, was released Sunday. Pierce will remain on probation for four years and a month, said Fred Scaletta, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Corrections…expect to see him on an NBA roster soon…

You have to play this…it’s so fun…http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/quiz?event_id=2461&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab4pos2

1) Mike Kahn of Foxsports.com with his 10 things:

10 things we learned this week

Incredibly enough, training for the 2006-07 NBA season begins next week, with the regular season commencing just four weeks later. And yet, even with everything about to coagulate for the 30 teams, there are still many issues to be resolved, some major; some minor; and they keep manifesting in a variety of forms on a weekly basis.

1. Item: Following a summer of getting twisted in the wind, things are getting serious for free agent shooting guard Bonzi Wells. Actually, things are always serious when it comes to Wells, which has always been a part of the problem. What this really means: Every year somebody badly miscalculates their value on the free agent market and certainly Wells was this year's poster child — turning down the five-year, $36 million contract to stay with the Kings. But that's in the rear-view mirror now. The Rockets have shown extreme interest, as have the Nuggets and the Heat and the Bobcats have the most money of all. Maybe there will be a sign-and-trade involved for him to get money more to his liking, or in the case of the Rockets, maybe he'll take a one-year deal to prove himself — then get a multi-year deal next season. The real question is how much will a team trust him? Why would the Bobcats, a young and rapidly improving team, spend long-term money on a 30-year-old shooting guard with a mercurial personality on and off the floor? Yes, they need scoring and he'll be happy to oblige, but they're much better off sticking with young players more likely to stay on the same page — not with a veteran leader writing his own book on a daily basis. Wells will only work well at this point of his career on a veteran team with superstars to keep him in line like Miami and Houston. Or maybe he'd just rather go to the Nuggets where he knows management (general manager Mark Warkentien) and they like him. Regardless of where he lands this season, his future is all over the map — literally and figuratively.

2. Item: After two years of turmoil and constant disappointment, the Indiana Pacers are back on track and it's only fitting that coach Rick Carlisle get a contract extension as opposed to beginning 2006-07 as a lame duck. What this really means: The Pacers are still working to regain the stability they lost with two insane seasons of the Ron Artest saga and Peja Stojakovic surprisingly bolting without warning as a free agent. But Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley are claiming to be healthy for a change, Stephen Jackson is always capable of big-time plays at both ends of the floor, they finally re-acquired Al Harrington after much hand-wringing and they're excited about young Danny Granger and rookie Shawne Williams. All of this bodes well for Carlisle and the future. People forget what a great job he did turning around the Pistons, and then after a personality clash joined the Pacers and his former teammate Larry Bird. Only injuries prevented them from upending the Pistons in 2004. Now they've been through the wringer of the nightmare brawl at Auburn Hills, incessant injuries, internal turmoil and inevitable disappointment, but they've awakened as a certain contender at some level in the East. Just how far they go could be how flexible Carlisle proves to be with a team built for speed — and for it all to work, everybody has to be willing to bend a little to be taken seriously.

3. Item: Now that his star glitters as bright as ever, LeBron James and his management team have taken off the gloves. What this really means: At 6-foot-8, 240 pounds, everybody has continued to marvel at James' all-around ability on the floor and maturity, particularly after leading the Cavaliers to a near second-round upset of the Pistons last season. But what everyone has always been even more impressed with has been his poise under pressure from the game and media exposure. We haven't known, however, what kind of personality and how he can deal in the public sector as a man of his immense popularity. Since he's only 21, perhaps the decision now is official we're going to get to know him. Last week he was on the "David Letterman Show" shooting 3-pointers with Dave, lunched with billionaire Warren Buffett, and this figures to be only the start. Unlike the carefully coiffed personality Michael Jordan was taught, James is an original — right out of high school. But how he handles this personality-wise and grows intellectually with his fame figures to be every bit as intriguing as what he does on the hardwood.

4. Item: The drama continues for Hornets owner George Shinn and the fans of both Oklahoma City and New Orleans. This past week, he made contentions of loyalty in both cities — making you wonder if perhaps he was interested in splitting the team in half as the Kansas City-Omaha Kings, however dreadful that three-year experiment proved to be. What this really means: In the wake of taking out an option for a third year next season in Oklahoma City to play there, storm clouds appeared again for New Orleans. But realistically, it was only logical should there be stumbling blocks returning to the Big Easy. And while the city is big, there will be nothing easy about a transition back. Shinn deserves credit for aggressively rebuilding the Hornets around Chris Paul with huge financial commitments by trading for Stojakovic and Tyson Chandler. Nobody is comfortable about the long-term prospects of the NBA in New Orleans, if only because the locals had already cooled on the Hornets before Katrina — with little or no corporate involvement. So how can this work long-range? It can't. But for the first time, it seems Shinn is doing things the right way. He's been inoffensive and committed to a good product. Has he really changed that much from a guy that Charlotte kicked out of town and caused the NBA office to cringe every time his name came up? It's doubtful. At least now he understands the ropes. What we don't know is what he will do as the plot thickens over the next few years. It could be they'll stay in Oklahoma City, go to New Orleans, or go to Seattle. Keep in mind the new Sonics ownership group from Oklahoma City could move the Sonics to Oklahoma City. Or maybe a swap of franchises is coming. One of these cities will be left out in the cold, and with Shinn holding most of the cards, that's never a comforting prospect — despite what he's showing today.

5. Item: In many ways, it's a stunning revelation that Grant Hill is 34. Even more amazing is it was six years ago that he agreed to a seven-year, $93 million contract with the Orlando Magic. What this really means: Unfortunately, he's played in only 135 games out of a possible 496 games — and one of the great talents in sports athletically and intellectually has been a portrait of frustration. After six ankle surgeries with a left ankle that now looks and operates like a telephone pole, he tore the abdominal wall last season perhaps as compensation. Now he's back from spending a good portion of his summer in Vancouver, B.C. with a fitness guru claiming he can galvanize any body part into steel. Indeed, this has been an endless climb and the Magic need him. An optimist would say if they can get a full season with moderate minutes out of Hill to lead capable but erratic Hedo Turkoglu, plus young talents Dwight Howard (20), Darko Milicic (21), Jameer Nelson (24) and rookie J.J. Redick, they've got a chance to compete for the playoffs. If it were anyone else, this story would be tiresome already, but not the charismatic and unassuming Hill. Professional sports need guys like him to set the tone on and off the field of play — and maybe youngsters like James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony can learn from the dignity with which carries himself. If nothing else, he deserves one good year to prove this was all worth it.

6. Item: Speedy Claxton, the free agent point guard handed the ball by the Atlanta Hawks to lead them out of the lottery and into the playoffs, broke a bone in his left hand last week and will be out 5-6 weeks. What this really means: Never mind he is 5-11, 165 pounds and a career 42 percent shooter, this is precisely why Claxton hasn't been handed the ball by any other teams until the Hawks signed him to a four-year $25 million deal this summer. Now 28, and entering his sixth season since being drafted in the first round out of Hofstra by the Philadelphia 76ers, Claxton has played in just 219 out of a possible 410 games in his career. It can't be said Claxton isn't talented enough to play more. He just hasn't been able to. He missed his entire rookie year with a knee injury, played in 67 games his second season and hasn't missed less than 20 games ever since. This is not good for a veteran player, let alone a young one whom you want to be the future floor leader of your club. That's not to say Claxton isn't an exceptional guy with floor skills and a great attitude. He just happens to fit into a long line of professional athletes who never do raise their game and team to the next level because they can't stay on the basketball court. Relatively speaking for this season, this is a minor injury to his off hand, and he'll be ready to go about the time the regular season begins. But in the big picture for the Hawks with Claxton as their point guard, the frame is already cracked.

7. Item: As if things haven't been contentious enough between the Maloof family and the city of Sacramento as they struggle to come up with the money for a new downtown arena to appease everybody, president of NBA basketball operations Joel Litvin issued a memorandum imploring the city and the owners to reach an detailed agreement before it hits the voters for a $535 million arena or else ... What this really means: Or else what? Well, we're not sure. Or else it will be a bloody mess like it is in Seattle where the Sonics appear headed to Oklahoma City considering there hasn't been a peep about a new building despite new ownership's willingness to listen. Gavin and Joe Maloof continue to insist they don't want to move the team and by all accounts, they're being truthful — just frustrated. The latest disagreement is over the 8,000 parking spaces that seemed to vanish from the original plan at the railyard in downtown Sacramento. They've contended that money from those parking spaces is paramount for them to sign off on the proposal before the Nov. 7 election. Yes, this is exhaustive and the NBA doesn't help matters, even though new venues have indeed taken the league into the 21st century. But they never guarantee anything. The rabid Kings fans deserve better than this because they were there when the team was awful for more than a decade and never wavered. Leave it to the politicians and the voters to sort this out. Once the NBA gets involved, it only exacerbates issues with ultimatums. It happened in Seattle and it can happen in Sac-town too if they're not careful. And that's not a healthy situation for any league.

8. Item: And speaking of the Sonics, stars Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis grabbed headlines last week when they led the way to help refurbish the impoverished Cleveland High School basketball team's facility and equipment after it was ravaged by burglaries. What this really means: The kids of the inner-city still sorely need these guys to show they care. The sad part is the kids and the parents were preoccupied by the prospect of the Sonics moving after this season than the realization that the players are focused on this season — the 40th in Sonics history. And that's an organizational issue that won't go away since Howard Schultz, Wally Walker and the rest of the ownership not only sold the team to Oklahoma City's Clay Bennett and his five partners, they sold tradition of the Sonics down the river. People forget the Sonics were the first professional sports franchise of the Pacific Northwest and thus have the deepest roots. It's particularly true in the inner-city, where the interaction is needed most. Unfortunately, greed and lack of perspective has cost this city dearly and unless something unexpected occurs over the next six months, random acts of kindness from the likes of Allen and Lewis will become less prevalent. And as always, it's the kids who lose the most while the rich guys just get another tax break.

9. Item: While we're still somewhat in construction mode, let's get into an old character slipping into a new mode ... and we'll call him the "Big Donald." What this really means: None other than Shaquille O'Neal now is dead serious about helping big skyscrapers in downtown Miami far bigger than himself and literally becoming South Florida's biggest real estate mogul. "The O'Neal Group" is becoming involved with a $1 billion project that will feature the tallest building south of New York, a five-star hotel, a Whole Foods Market, a 24-Hour Fitness franchise, office space, condominiums and restaurants. Although O'Neal contends he will always make Orlando his primary home, he intends to make a mark on South Florida far greater than just bringing the Heat their first World Championship. He is one of the great characters of sport, most successful financially, and he realizes the positive impact he can make. Between making money for his family, he can also continue the revitalization of what was a horrendous downtown area into a renaissance trumping the problems of decades. Or, at least that's what this particular Big Donald has in mind.

10. Item: Finally, Dajuan Wagner has landed and we hope this time he's back in the NBA for good. What this really means: The Golden State Warriors signed the 6-1 guard to a guaranteed one-year contract based on what appears to be a spectacular comeback from not only a series of knee and ankle problems, but a frightening surgery during which he had his colon removed. He lost 30 pounds during the ordeal, but reportedly has gained it all back and actually scored 80 points in an organized league game against other NBA players. The all-time leading scorer in New Jersey high school history, he has 100 points in a prep game and had a superb freshman year at Memphis before the Cavaliers drafted him sixth overall in the 2002 draft. He averaged 13.7 his rookie year, but it was all downhill after that. A combo guard, he's a natural scorer — obviously — and could fit very well within the new system brought in by Don Nelson. Wagner figures to be the fourth guard in the backcourt with Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, and second-year combo guard Monta Ellis. Still only 23, it would have been very easy for him to crash and burn along with some of his old buddies in Camden. Instead, he fought his way back and got a contract. He's a natural scorer, and if he can get some quality time for a couple of years playing for Nelson without injury or sickness, Wagner may yet prove he was worthy of being a lottery pick.

2) Marty Burns of SI.com has a burning sensation:

Camp preview: Southeast division - Each team's burning questions as they head to camp

A chill is in the air. The days are getting shorter. The leaves on the trees are starting to change colors. Yes, it's that time of the year again. Autumn has arrived. For NBA players, that means summer vacation is over and it's time to lace up the sneakers and begin the quest for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. With training camps set to open next Tuesday, it's a good time to consider the major questions facing each of the NBA's 30 teams. In the next six weekdays leading up to camp, we'll take a look at a different division, starting with the Southeast, home to the current NBA champs. (Teams listed in order of last season's finish):

Miami Heat (52-30)
1. Can they avoid complacency? After winning the NBA title in '06, it will be interesting to see if Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, Gary Payton and the rest of Pat Riley's veteran-laden crew leave their golf clubs at home when they show up in South Beach to begin the process of defending their crown.
2. Will Riley ease up? Famous for his grueling training camps, the hard-driving coach might have to alter his approach with so many older bodies. But if he does decide to go slow, he runs the risk of encouraging that laissez-faire attitude that he so despises.
3. What kind of shape will Shaq be in? The big guy has a recent history of coming into camp in less than optimal condition, and after winning the NBA title last summer ... Then again, he played in just 59 games last season and still got the ring, so maybe it doesn't matter.

Washington Wizards (42-40)
1. Is Jarvis Hayes back? The 6-8 swingman says he's healthy and ready to go after sitting out the final 61 games with a fractured kneecap. The Wizards desperately need him to shore up their perimeter depth, especially with Jared Jeffries moving to New York.
2. Is Andray Blatche ready? The 6-11 second-year forward showed flashes of his tremendous shooting and ball-handling skills during summer league, but it's not clear yet if he's ready for prime time. If he can emerge as a legit player and find a niche, he could be an X-factor off the bench.
3. Can the coaches instill a defensive mentality? After losing three games at the buzzer in the playoffs, the Wizards should realize they need to be able to make stops. Coach Eddie Jordan hopes free-agent signee DeShawn Stevenson and new veteran assistant Bill Berry can help bring a defensive edge, starting in training camp.

Orlando Magic (36-46)
1. Is Grant Hill finally healthy? With Stevenson having bolted to the Wizards, Orlando is hoping Hill can fill the role of starting shooting guard alongside Hedo Turkoglu. But Hill played just 21 games last season with a sports hernia, and his history of ankle problems once again make the soon-to-be 34-year-old former All-Star a major question mark.
2. Has Darko Milicic turned the corner? Once regarded as a draft bust in Detroit, the 7-foot former No. 2 overall draft pick showed signs of life after arriving in Orlando in a midseason trade. Playing 20 minutes per game, he averaged 7.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.07 blocks in 30 games. If he can build on it, the Magic could be one of the NBA's most improved teams in '06-07.
3. Can Dwight Howard dominate? Howard finished second in the NBA in rebounding (12.5 per game) while averaging 15.8 points last season. The third-year forward hopes to use camp to develop a more consistent low-post scoring move while also learning how to better defend centers.

Atlanta Hawks (26-56)
1. How much can Shelden Williams contribute? The Hawks used their fifth overall pick on this 6-9 Duke standout in hopes he could help shore up their paper-thin interior defense. If he can step in and contribute immediately, it would help make up for the loss of Al Harrington.
2. Have the Young Guns improved? Josh Smith averaged 15.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in the last 25 games a year ago. Marvin Williams is coming off an MVP performance at the Rocky Mountain Revue. Josh Childress has been steady. Now they need to build on their improved play and show they're ready to give Joe Johnson the help he needs.
3. Can they find a reliable point guard? The Hawks signed Speedy Claxton to a four-year $25 million deal in hopes he could fill their gaping hole at point guard, but the veteran broke his hand and will likely miss all of training camp. Tyronn Lue is a capable backup, but Claxton's absence could set them back early.

Charlotte Bobcats (26-56)
1. Are Sean May and Emeka Okafor ready? Okafor, the '05 Rookie of the Year, says he's fully recovered from the left ankle injury that kept him out of 56 games a year ago. Ditto for May, who dazzled in summer league play after missing 59 games because of an injured right knee. If they return to form, the Bobcats could boast one of the NBA's best young power forward duos.
2. How good is the 'Stache? Rookie forward Adam Morrison has that cheesy Larry Bird-like mustache, but will he resembles Larry Legend in any other way? The former Gonzaga sharpshooter led the Orlando summer league in scoring (24.6 points), but he'll need to show it against NBA competition.
3. Where's the MASH unit? Last year the Bobcats lost 257 man-games to injury, second-most to Houston. Okafor, May, Gerald Wallace and Brevin Knight all missed significant time, forcing coach Bernie Bickerstaff to use 28 different starting lineups. If they can get through camp healthy, it'll be a success.

Well I'm back, rested and ready to go...

I’m sure by now you’ve heard about the shooting at Duquesne…well, the most critical of the wounded is Canadian Sam Ashalou, who remains in critical condition at Mercy Hospital with two bullets in his head, one fragmented, the other intact. Ashalou showed some responsiveness by opening his eyes, and with movement in his extremities Tuesday, but the next few days will be critical to his survival, according to a source. Ashaolu is Hakeem Olajuwon’s cousin….our thoughts and prayers are with him…

Bonzi watch: probable destinations right now are Denver, Houston and Miami with the Rockets in the lead…if Houston gets Wells, all of a sudden they have scoring insurance if (well, really when) Tracy McGrady’s back goes wonky…

The Pacers are set to give coach Rick Carlisle a contract extension by the end of September…for doing what exactly? Right, nothing….

My pick for breakout player this year is Bobcats PG Raymond Felton who averaged 17.2 PPG and 9.8 APG in April…

A Richard Jefferson sighting in New York followed by his arrival at the Nets training facility in East Rutherford NJ has confirmed that Jefferson has been pushing some steel in the off season….Jefferson is reportedly put on 10 -15 pounds of muscle…cue the hamstring pull…

Santa Clara University retired Steve Nash's jersey when the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player and 1996 graduate spoke at the school's convocation ceremony Monday. A banner honoring the Phoenix Suns guard was hung in the rafters at the Leavey Center, and Nash's No. 11 jersey was raised on the opposite end of the gym. Nash is the first Santa Clara athlete whose jersey has been raised. "This is obviously very exciting for me," Nash said. "I don't get a chance to come back to school often, so for me to be here is just great, and coupled with the huge honor it is to be able to be acknowledged for my career, is amazing and very humbling." Nash was recruited by coach Dick Davey, who still heads the Santa Clara program, and arrived at the Bay Area school from Canada in 1992. He led the Broncos to three berths in the NCAA tournament and two regular-season titles in the West Coast Conference, winning the league's Player of the Year award in 1995 and 1996. "I owe so much to my experience here," Nash told the students assembled for convocation. "All of you guys really need to take advantage of this and make the most of your opportunity here. I urge you to really get involved, to be balanced, to do well in school, and make as many friends as possible."

Just something to think about…during the 05-06 season, LeBron James averaged more points than any two of his teammates combined, had 2.4 more assists per game than the starting point guard and led the Cavs in steals per game and defensive rebounds…

1) Kelly Dwyer of Si.com thinks Toni deserves some props:

Toni reward - With retirement looming, Kukoc deserves some praise

Toni Kukoc is still waiting to see if either the Milwaukee Bucks or the Chicago Bulls want to make him a late roster addition, but the 6-foot-11 forward has made it clear he plans to call it quits soon enough. This would hardly be a blow to teams hoping to secure his services -- the soon-to-be 38-year-old averaged only 4.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 15.7 minutes per game with the Bucks last year -- but it would close the book on one of the more remarkable careers we've seen over the last 20 years. Kukoc wasn't the first European player of significance to make the jump to the NBA. Sarunas Marciulionis, Drazen Petrovic and Vlade Divac had each plied their trade Stateside for several years before Kukoc's 1993 debut. And Kukoc was hardly the best European import we've seen; MVP candidate Dirk Nowitzki has them all beat in that regard. What Kukoc was able to accomplish, a trait that may have set him apart from the rest, was his ability to translate his international-style play into a skill set perfect for NBA ball. Kukoc succeeded in showcasing European basketball on the NBA stage, keeping his teammates and coaches happy (most of the time, at least) without betraying his own sense of style and abilities. This isn't to say there weren't numerous roadblocks and near-pratfalls along the way that rivaled even his most satisfying accomplishments. Tipped off by his European scout Ivica Dukan, Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause made securing Kukoc's rights a significant priority after selecting him in the second round of the 1990 draft. The Bulls had yet to win a championship at that point, and Krause's near-obsessive courting of a player whom international scouts compared to Magic Johnson rubbed current Bulls such as Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen the wrong way. Already resentful of Krause's role on the team, Pippen and Jordan made a point to make life miserable for Kukoc in their matchup with Croatia during the gold-medal game at the 1992 Olympics, hounding their future teammate defensively even with the U.S. win assured. Things didn't get any easier upon Kukoc's introduction to Chicago in October 1993. His arrival came just days before Jordan's initial retirement from basketball, and the rookie-to-be could be spied weeping quietly off to the side of the podium where Jordan made his announcement. Starting only eight games in his rookie year, Kukoc was still a revelation. He easily outran most of his power-forward counterparts and seemed to see the court better than most of the game's veteran point guards. Even as coach Phil Jackson harped on his every move, Kukoc feigned translation issues and continued apace, averaging 10.9 points, four rebounds and 3.4 assists while playing 24.1 minutes a game. Even without Jordan, Chicago still won 55 games, two off the pace of the championship season a year earlier.
Though his minutes dwindled a bit in the playoffs, Kukoc still made noise by winning Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals with an arching 20-footer as time expired. The shot is best known for the chaos that led up to it: Pippen, exasperated by a lunkheaded play Kukoc had made during an offensive possession just seconds before, sat out the final 1.8 seconds in protest after Jackson called the final shot for Kukoc. Chicago eventually lost to the Knicks in seven games. Jordan and his massive strike zone were still down in the minor leagues for the next season, but a starting power forward slot opened up for Kukoc, and he averaged just under 16 points and a combined 10 rebounds and assists in 31.7 minutes per game. Yet his defense remained porous, and Kukoc was still acclimating to the NBA lifestyle -- which meant altering his pregame routine of eating seven-course meals including salad, pasta, steak and watered-down glasses of wine. Chicago trainer Chip Schaefer later told author David Halberstam that Kukoc's meals ventured into the territory of 4,000 calories, though the Bulls were later able to steer him in a healthier direction.
More distressing was Chicago's play, with a recently unretired Jordan, in the conference semifinals against Orlando in 1995. Jackson had chosen to double-team Shaquille O'Neal at all costs, which meant the entire defense had to recover in time to check shooters Anfernee Hardaway, Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott, leaving Horace Grant open for elbow-extended 18-footers. It was a shot Grant was entirely capable of making, but it was also a low-percentage try, and much more preferable to an O'Neal throwdown or open three-pointer. Still, Grant nailed his fair share, and the sight of Kukoc struggling to rotate toward the open ex-Bull was enough for Chicago to trade for the defensive-minded Dennis Rodman in the upcoming offseason. Kukoc was not happy with his banishment to the bench, but though his per-game statistics dipped, his overall efficiency improved, netting him the 1995-96 Sixth Man Award. To Kukoc it was a dubious honor, made worse during that year's playoffs when a back injury robbed him of a chance to showcase his considerable talents on a larger stage. Though the Bulls won the championship that year and the next, a nagging foot injury also hampered Kukoc's 1997 playoff run. By 1998, however, he was healthy -- and his clutch performance in a Game 7 win over the Indiana Pacers vaulted Chicago into the Finals. From there, Kukoc's star dimmed a bit. He enjoyed the best statistical year of his career in 1999 (19 points, seven boards, five assists), but it was during the truncated lockout season, and on a Bulls team -- sans Jackson, Jordan, Pippen and Rodman -- that won just 13 games. He offered more of the same the next season but was sent to Philadelphia in a three-team deal that netted Chicago a lottery pick. Stuck on the bench again, Kukoc struggled on a team dominated by defense and Allen Iverson, and was shipped to Atlanta before the Sixers made their Finals run. There Kukoc enjoyed his finest NBA stretch to close out the 2000-01 season, running an effortless pick-and-roll with Jason Terry for an also-ran Hawks team, but injuries and step-slow teammates hindered his efforts during the next season. This was to become a theme. Though injuries often hindered his touch from the outside and his ability to drive, Kukoc boasted a basketball IQ that was often greater than the sum of the four teammates on the floor with him. His expression vacillated between bemusement and frustration as the cutters never cut, the give-and-gos never went and ball movement was quashed in the face of one-on-one play. Kukoc's final great season was for a Bucks team that underachieved horribly in 2002-03, leading to the trade of its best player (Ray Allen) and the dismissal of coach George Karl. Even with all the impediments, Kukoc was a joy to watch. He was a loping, lengthy player who seemed able to orchestrate with the best of them, yet chose to pick his spots among NBA types who never seemed on the same page. When Kukoc did force the action, his play stood out -- always going left, always with a pained expression on his face, always in control, a mix of elegance and function. It probably ends here, which seems natural; Kukoc doesn't seem interested in the game as much if the circumstances (a Midwest locale, especially) aren't ideal, but it was interesting while it lasted. Kukoc proved to a generation that international-style play could thrive within NBA confines, an achievement that will someday outshine the three championship rings he earned. For international NBA imports, he is due myriad thanks. And to Stateside NBA observers, he is due just as many plaudits for turning everyone on to an entirely different style of play.

2) Mike Kahn of Foxsports.com ranks the PG’s with you know who first:

Ranking the top NBA point guards

Until the 2005-06 NBA season, Magic Johnson was the only point guard in NBA history to win multiple Most Valuable Player awards. Until 2005-06, the emergence of Amare Stoudemire appeared to be the reason the Phoenix Suns came out of nowhere to reach the Western Conference finals the year before. But when the Suns repeated as conference finalists for the first time in franchise history last spring — without Stoudemire (sidelined for virtually the entire season from knee surgery) — we found out the basis for all of the above: Steve Nash. And that's why the 32-year-old point guard unequivocally became recognized as the best point guard in the game as the Suns rolled and he was named MVP for the second consecutive year. Once again, previously unsung players emerged with career-best seasons — and the common denominator through it all was the mop-headed, full blast Nash. Sure, a lot of the credit has to go to coach Mike D'Antoni for carving out the freedom and the cast — but were it not for Nash, none of it would work. He is the prototype point guard, pushing the ball up the floor and doling out slick passes with either hand, or burying jumpers with unerring precision. All of that makes the choice of Nash an easy one as FOXSports.com begins it's six-part series on the best players in the NBA with the top-10 point guards. "He does a great job of taking care of himself; that's the first thing," D'Antoni said. "We've asked an awful lot of him, to extend himself to win games because he had to do so much more offensively with Amare out. He never wore down. People thought he was worn down last year, and then he was just ridiculous in the playoffs. If he was worn out, that was a heck of a second wind." Last season was a tougher call with Allen Iverson not only winning his fourth scoring title but also handing out a career-high 7.9 assists as he was moved back to point guard slot. So we went with Iverson. This year was no contest because of not only Nash's 18.8 points and league-best 10.5 assists and .921 free throw percentage, but how this time around he lifted little known Boris Diaw into the league's Most Improved Player. Essentially, that's the definition of a great point guard. It's the manner in which he plays the game, something that Jason Kidd still does at a high level, just not quite at the level he was in his 20s. So he has slipped in the rankings from top drawer down to seventh. And even with some players not "pure point guards," young Chris Paul proved it is not an antiquated concept. The Wake Forest All-American walked in and won the Rookie of the Year honors as he nearly lifted a very poor New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets team into the playoffs. Nonetheless, guys like Chauncey Billups and Gilbert Arenas actually learned how to become point guards around their extraordinary shooting ability. Young Tony Parker, with the extraordinary ability to get into the lane and score, continues to build on his ability to involve other people in the offense through his own creativity and unselfishness. But some of that just can't be learned. With Nash, as with Magic Johnson, it is inherent. "That's why (Nash is) so much fun to watch," Johnson said. "He makes everybody better. That is what the point guard is supposed to do." This is the first of a six-part series. Next week: shooting guards.

1. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns, 32, 6-3, 195 Nash averaged 18.8 points,10.5 assists, .77 steals and shot an incredible .921 from the free-throw line. And yet, the numbers just don't tell the story of how this guy raised his level of play to Hall of Fame-caliber after he turned 30. It just proves what happens when brains and talent meet.

2. Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers, 31, 6-0, 165 A.I. averaged 33.0 points, 7.4 assists, 1.94 steals and sank .814 of his free throws, again top notch numbers. But the Sixers failed to make the playoffs, and the concept of moving him away from the point guard spot seems inevitable again. It explains that just because a guy drives and dishes, it doesn't make him a point guard.

3. Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons, 29, 6-3, 202 Billups averaged 18.5 points, 8.6 assists (both career-highs), with .88 steals and .894 free throw shooting. More than anything, he's ice in the clutch. But Billups, seemingly like the rest of the Pistons, just wore down last season. It will be interesting to see how he bounces back, but he remains one of the most underrated players in the game.

4. Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards, 24, 6-4, 210 Arenas averaged 29.3 points, 6.1 assists, 2.01 steals and sank .820 of his free throws as he became an All-Star and was superb in the playoffs. Arenas is another pure scorer learning the craft of helping his teammates. The key to him is that he tries so hard and is so popular with his teammates; his ascension is inevitable among the elite.

5. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs, 24, 6-2, 180 Parker averaged a career-best 18.9 points, along with 5.8 assists, 1.0 steals and sank a less-than-ideal .707 of his free throws. People forget how young he is because he was a starter at 19, but the questions still remain why he hasn't been able to sustain top-drawer play in the postseason. Physically and mentally, he's still growing, so it appears to be just a matter of time.

6. Chris Paul, New Orleans/ Oklahoma City Hornets, 21, 6-0, 175 Paul came out of the blocks beyond what anyone thought, averaging 16.1 points, 5.1 assists, 2.24 steals and sank .847 of his free throws. More than anything else, his leadership and ability to help the Hornets win blew everybody away. A latter-day Phil Ford, his development and the improvement of the team transformed the Hornets from tragic to a feel-good story.

7. Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets, 33, 6-4, 210 Kidd averaged 13.3 points, 8.4 assists, 1.88 steals and he made .795 of his free throws, as the Nets were incredibly erratic last season. In many ways, it was reflective of Kidd's fading scoring ability to keep defenses honest. Nonetheless, he's still an extraordinary playmaker, eminently capable of taking over the tempo of any game and plays tough defense.

8. Baron Davis, Golden State Warriors, 27, 6-3, 215 Davis averaged 17.9 points, 8.9 assists, 1.65 steals and made just .675, while essentially losing the elite status he had gained by the end of the 2004-05 season by raising the Warriors' level of play. His talent is without question, but a weight problem has made him injury-prone and his attitude is always in question. But with Don Nelson, he could be the second coming of Tim Hardaway.

9. Mike Bibby, Sacramento Kings, 28, 6-1, 190 Bibby averaged a career-best 21.1 points, but he lost nearly 1.5 assists to negate that with just 5.4 per contest, 1.0 steals and sank an impressive .849 from the free throw line. But he was all about streaks. He would have a string of 35-point plus games, then go 2-for-16 — particularly in the playoffs. Without the great passing big men of past teams, he's exposed as a limited point guard.

10. Sam Cassell, Los Angeles Clippers, 36, 6-3, 185 Cassell averaged 17.2 points, 6.3 assists, .80 assists and shot .840 from the free throw line. But more importantly, he led the woebegone Clippers to their best run in franchise history. His confidence raised the level of play for everybody in the organization; and regardless of how much fuel he has left in the tank, he earned his status and new contract.

Also receiving consideration were: Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks; Kirk Hinrich, Chicago Bulls; T.J. Ford, Toronto Raptors; Stephon Marbury, New York Knicks; Jamaal Tinsley, Indiana Pacers; Andre Miller, Denver Nuggets; Raymond Felton, Charlotte Bobcats.

ON vacation for 2 weeks...see you around Sept 19th...

Wow…that’s all I can say…the US played no defence and especially could not defend that “Oh so NBA!!” of plays the pick and roll, which the Greeks used on practically every possession…the US also shot 59 % from the free throw line, which is unforgiveable…but make no mistake, the Greeks won more than the US lost…they shot 63% from the floor for God’s sake…

From the AP:

No gold ... again - U.S. shocked by Greece 101-95 in World semifinals

Fed up with its recent failures, the United States assembled a new program with new plan. The end result was all too familiar. Greece used a sizzling stretch of shooting across the middle two quarters to turn a 12-point deficit into a 14-point lead, and beat the Americans 101-95 Friday in the semifinals of the world championships. "To lose any game is a shock to us," U.S. star Carmelo Anthony said. "We came in with the mentality to win the game and the gold medal." Instead, the best Anthony can do now is add another bronze to his collection. Greece (8-0) can earn a world title to go with the European championship it won in 2005 with a victory over either Spain or Argentina in Sunday's gold medal game. Those teams, also undefeated, met in Friday's second game. "They played like a champion plays," U.S. forward Shane Battier said of Greece. The Americans will have to wait at least two more years to remember what that feels like. Done in again by their inept 3-point shooting -- and they weren't much better from the foul line -- the Americans will fall short of a championship in a major international tournament for the third straight time since winning gold at the 2000 Olympics. The Greeks -- with no current NBA players on their roster -- danced in a circle at halfcourt after their victory. "Big players play big games," said guard Theodoros Papaloukas, the MVP of the European final who had 12 assists Friday. "And today I think we played very good." The U.S. (7-1) will return to the court Saturday against the loser of the Argentina-Spain game, hoping to match the bronze medal it left Athens with in 2004. "Those guys are hurting," said USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo, who was put in charge of the program after a sixth-place finish in the 2002 worlds preceded the disappointment in Athens. "It's probably a better thing we have to come back tomorrow and play again instead of sitting on this for two days." Anthony scored 27 points for the Americans, who couldn't overcome their 32 percent shooting from 3-point range or 59 percent from the foul line. Dwyane Wade added 19 and LeBron James had 17, but the three U.S. captains were unable to make up for their disappointment from Athens. Vassilis Spanoulis, bound for the Houston Rockets, scored 22 points for Greece. Mihalis Kakiouzis added 15 and 6-foot-10 Sofoklis Schortsianitis -- nicknamed "Baby Shaq" -- added 14, shooting 6-of-7. "Basketball is not just about dribbling and shooting," said Greece coach Panagiotis Yannakis, who took a congratulatory call from Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis after the game. "You can come off the bench with a clear mind and give the best of your talent and that's what our players did today."
Continuously burning the Americans' poor defense against the pick-and-roll, the Greeks shot 63 percent (35-of-56) from the field and made 31 of 44 shots over the final three periods. "We didn't make the right adjustments," U.S. center Chris Bosh said. "They ran the same play. We made it easy for them." The U.S. hasn't even played for a world championship since winning the last of its three titles in Toronto in 1994. Mike Krzyzewski -- who was looking for gold after winning bronze with the 1990 team -- and a few American players walked to midcourt to congratulate the Greeks, while most of the U.S. roster quickly headed to the locker room. The Americans, who put together a national team program this year for the first time, now will be forced to qualify for the 2008 Olympics next summer in the FIBA Americas tournament in Venezuela. "This one hurts," said Colangelo, who assembled the team. "We had the gold medal as our goal and anything short is disappointing. We go back to work and get ready for qualifying next summer." The U.S. seemed in control after Joe Johnson's 3-pointer gave the Americans a 33-21 lead with about 61/2 minutes left in the second quarter. It was around then that James told his teammates on the bench: "They don't know what to do." Well, they figured it out in a hurry. Greece scored nine straight points, pulling within three on Theodoros Papaloukas' drive with 3:51 left and forcing Krzyzewski to call a timeout. Dwight Howard converted a three-point play, but the Greeks answered with a 13-2 surge, featuring eight points from Schortsianitis, to open a 43-38 lead and force Krzyzewski to call a second timeout. Greece hit nine straight shots -- its only miss in the last 5 minutes was a heave from halfcourt as time expired -- and led 45-41 at halftime. The Greeks shot 56 percent (15-of-27) in the half. The Americans were 2-of-10 from behind the arc -- after going 10-for-40 in their quarterfinal victory over Germany -- and trailed at the break for only the second time in the tournament. Italy had a nine-point cushion in a group play game. Greece kept it up in the third quarter, hitting 14 of its 18 shots, including all four 3-pointers in the first 5 minutes. Kostas Tsartsaris' 3-pointer with 5:45 left in the period gave the Greeks a 65-51 lead -- the biggest deficit the U.S. faced in the tournament. After shooting 4-of-12 in the first quarter, Greece was 25-of-33 (76 percent) in the second and third and led 77-65 heading to the final period. "It seemed like they didn't miss the whole third quarter," Wade said. Anthony, Wade and James combined for the first 18 U.S. points in the quarter, and the Americans eventually got as close as 95-91 on Kirk Hinrich's 3 with 36 seconds to play. But the U.S. missed its final two attempts from behind the arc, capping a 9-of-28 night.