Add LeBron to the list of players whining about the new ball…"It's not a good basketball," the Cleveland Cavaliers' superstar forward said. "It kind of feels like a basketball you buy for your kids at Christmas or something." Sometimes you can grip it, and sometimes during the game it sticks to your hand," he said. "It won't bounce, it will just roll on you. I don't know why we can't get used to this ball. But it's just not good."

Some chestnuts from Elias: The Mavericks lost to the Warriors Monday, dropping them to 0-3 on the season. Over the last 25 seasons, the only other team to lose its first three games of a season following an appearance in the NBA Finals was the 76ers, who dropped their first five games in 2001…The Bulls and the Bucks have met 197 times in regular-season competition since the Bucks entered the NBA in 1968. Monday's game gave Chicago a 99-98 edge in wins. Entering the game, it was the most games played in any NBA team-vs.-team series in which the games had been evenly split…The Wizards lost in Orlando Monday, which is nothing new. Washington has lost 18 of its last 20 games there and has posted an all-time record of 6-29 (.171). The only team with a worse record than the Wizards at Orlando is the Nuggets (2-16, .111).

According to the Washington Post, Wizards centers Etan Thomas and Brendan Haywood were got into a scarp Thursday at the team's arena…Apparently, Thomas approached Haywood over comments made by Haywood's agent, Andy Miller, who was critical of coach Eddie Jordan's decision to start Thomas over Haywood…eventually, Thomas began arguing with Haywood over the comments, then threw a punch. Haywood responded by slamming Thomas to the ground and tearing out two of his dreadlocks…Teammates then quickly separated the two…Thomas and Haywood have a history of altercations. Haywood was suspended one game last season after a fight with Thomas during practice…

1) Allan “Swiss Cheese Knees” Houston is now a reporter for ESPN.com…here’s his first column:

AI still elevating his game

When I was playing for the New York Knicks we often used a team approach to defend Allen Iverson. Like many teams, we tried to channel him into one area, and then have the help come. Trying to play a scorer like him straight up is not a good idea -- here comes the crossover! -- so you want to send him where some help of the longer variety can step in. Now, teams can still try that, but they're dealing with the more experienced Iverson now. Instead of driving into three people, he'll step back and shoot. He'll spot the open man. Right now, he just might be at the top of his game in skill and smarts. When you have more miles on your career, you have to be efficient. And Iverson is just that early this season, helping send Philadelphia off to a 3-0 start. He made 49 percent of his shots in averaging 34 points per game before Monday's loss to Indiana. He had 20 points in that 97-86 defeat. But in some ways, at 31 and in his 11th year in the league, he's still the same on court. You see his fearlessness, both mentally and physically, and that extreme energy he had when he first came into the league from Georgetown. So on the court, he's the same, but just better, more mature, these days. And I think he now realizes fully the kind of responsibility he has to his teammates. I believe the same is true off the court. I get the sense, reading and hearing his quotes lately, that he's seeing his career from a bigger picture, not just his legacy on the court, but off it too. He's got his own family, and he may be thinking about how he's going to be remembered. I've found myself in the position of having to defend Iverson on the court. Not easy. Same for trying to do it off court, whether it's his "practice" comment, the gun questions, the league's dress policy and on and on. But overall, I think he's misunderstood. He's from a different world than David Stern. Take the practice comment. My father was a coach who drilled "you play like you practice" to me since I was nine years old. But I think Iverson didn't realize the way that comment would be received. Would he say the same thing now? Probably not. Iverson's wrapped up in the game first and foremost. He's not thinking that his shirt is hanging out, or that his reaction to the officials might be seen as excessive. Now, he's got to carry a team that finished out of the playoffs despite having his best scoring (33.0 ppg) and shooting (44.7 percent) seasons last year. As for their outlook in the playoff race, despite all that AI brings, I still wouldn't put Philly in as a favorite for that eighth spot in the East. But it's hard to count out a team with the experience of Iverson and Chris Webber. Kyle Korver is a shooter, and with players like Samuel Dalembert and Andre Iguodala, this team is going to be in most every game. The Answer will see to that.

2) Chris Mannix of SI.com on the Knicks, Hornets, and other musings:

Get rid of Isiah

It didn't take long, did it? How many hours did it take before the Knicks morphed from the united-we-stand-divided-we-fall bunch that spent the preseason telling us their problems were gone -- now that a certain senior citizen had been pushed out the door -- back into the dysfunctional bunch that ended last season? 72? 96? How long did it take for the Knicks to stop playing defense? Did they ever start? The lone bright spot in a season beginning its slow swirl down the drain was the opening-night win at Memphis. Congratulations. You beat Memphis. Forget the fact that the Grizzlies were playing without their star player (Pau Gasol), are starting a glorified small forward (Hakim Warrick) in his stead, and still had enough firepower to erase a 10-point lead in the final five minutes and force overtime. Three of them actually. How long did it take for the Knicks to stop passing the ball? New York had 14 assists in Saturday night's loss to the Pacers. This from a team that allegedly starts two point guards in their backcourt. Indiana's Jamaal Tinsley had 14 by himself. The ball movement that was supposed to be an integral part of Isiah Thomas' read-and-react offense is just not there. Who knows if it ever will be. How long before we accept that this was not Larry Brown's fault? Brown is old school. I'm not talking about Rick Adelman old school. I'm talking Red Auerbach old school. Don Nelson old school. If a guy is stinking up the joint, Brown's not going to cover for him. You ever hear Red pull any punches? Have you heard Nelson recently? Just from picking up the newspaper, you know that both Adonal Foyle and Baron Davis have, at one time or another, stunk. There are no sources close to Nelson. No cryptic messages sent through the press. Just Nellie standing in front of a Warrior backdrop saying some of his guys aren't getting it done. It was the same thing with Brown, only in New York you are saying it into a megaphone funneled through a bullhorn. Answer me this: Anyone think Brown was wrong? This is gut-check time for James Dolan, who if he doesn't have Kiki Vandeweghe's phone number memorized by now he should have it tattooed to his forearm. The formula doesn't work. Isiah Thomas isn't the coach for this team. Nor the GM for that matter. Stephon Marbury isn't the building block Thomas foolishly hoped he would be. It's time to cut bait. Vandeweghe built Denver from the ground up. He brought in Jeff Bzdelik to get the ball rolling. Then he brought in George Karl to finish the job. He's not a miracle worker. But he knows how to create a product. Winning is the endgame. Time to take the keys away from those who can't and pass them off to someone who can.

Where will Hornets settle down? Having spent a lot of time recently in Sooner country for a story that will appear in this week's Sports Illustrated, I feel I'm as qualified as any to opine on the future of the NBA in Oklahoma City. So here it is: I have no idea. The league (and more specifically, David Stern) is faced with a classic conundrum: Should the NBA walk away from a lucrative market that has embraced pro hoops with the same passion it embraces college football? Or does the league stay and deal another blow to the New Orleans area that can't take many more punches? I will say this: Stern is no fool. The NBA is a revenue-driven league and at the end of the day, Stern has a responsibility to the owners to put teams in the best possible position to turn a profit. And let's not forget, the Hornets are not the Celtics or the Knicks. This is not a team with deep ties to the community. In fact, the New Orleans community barely supported them; the Hornets were at the bottom of the league in attendance in their last two seasons there. Expect the NBA to do everything possible to keep the team in Oklahoma City.

Raving about Rondo - Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge deserves to be criticized for failing to surround Paul Pierce with any semblance of serviceable veteran support. But give credit where it is due: the man knows how to draft. Following up on solid picks Kendrick Perkins ('03), Al Jefferson ('04), Delonte West ('04) and Gerald Green ('05), Ainge has found a diamond in the rough in point guard Rajon Rondo. Boston coaches have been raving about Rondo's playmaking (4.5 assists per game) and several people in the Boston front office feel that if Rondo was a better outside shooter, he would have been a lottery pick.

Waiting on Jalen - Jalen Rose was a solid pickup for the Suns, who were actively seeking help for their bench. But Rose's conditioning was suspect while he was in New York and it will take him some time to adjust to Phoenix's marathon pace. When he does, expect Rose -- who will play small forward and shooting guard with Phoenix -- to provide the kind of instant offense Tim Thomas gave the Suns last season.

Fairy tale beginning - Great story developing in Portland with forward Ime Udoka, who found out he made the team just days after the sudden death of his father. Udoka, a defensive presence at two positions, is a Portland native who has had cups of coffee in New York and Los Angeles before settling into the Trail Blazers starting lineup this season. Let's clear up one thing: Udoka is not a rookie. According to an NBA spokesman, a player loses his rookie status once he plays a game, so Udoka, who played eight games with the Knicks last season and four games with the Lakers in 2004, is technically a third-year player.

Farewell, Red - As a former Celtics employee, I've been asked a lot the last week about my experiences with Red Auerbach. The truth is only a few people in this world can actually claim they knew Red, who kept his inner circle private (or as private as you can be in the middle of a Chinese restaurant). However, one memory that jumps out comes from my first season as a Celtic ballboy. I was 15-year-old kid who didn't know Red Auerbach from Red Holzman (at least not visually) and was just starting out on what would be the greatest experience of my life. Well, a few games into the season I was asked by one of the older staffers (whose identity shall remain nameless) to go into the Celtics locker room and "tell the old guy to put his cigar out." I'd like to say I did it, but the truth is I only got within a few feet of Red before being whisked away by a member of the P.R. staff who scolded me for even thinking of approaching the Boston patriarch with such a question. Over the years, it would become a running joke among a few of the ballboys that whenever a newbie came aboard, we would try and pull the old cigar gag on them. Far as I know, I'm the only one who even came close to falling for it.

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

10 things we learned this week in the NBA

Very quietly, the Utah Jazz are off and running in the Northwest Division ... and we mean running. Yes, a Jerry Sloan-coached team has averaged 107 points a game on the way to its first 3-0 start — winning by an average of 12.8 points — including victories over Houston, at Phoenix, and blowing out Golden State the next night.

1. Item: The high-scoring Jazz don't represent a dramatic turn of strategy from defensive-guru Sloan as much as a sign of the times in the NBA. Scoring is what it's all about — the shutdown defense only matters down the stretch of games. What this really means: The Jazz should be the best team in the weak Northwest Division, where the Minnesota Timberwolves don't quite look like they know what they're doing around Kevin Garnett; there's always something askew with the Denver Nuggets; the Portland Trail Blazers are as young as some college teams; and the Seattle SuperSonics don't know whether they're coming or going ... literally. Three games into it, and Carlos Boozer — finally after two injury-marred seasons — looks like the guy they invested $68 million in. He's averaged 20.7 points and 15 rebounds — a double-double in each game — and is dominating inside on offense. Mehmet Okur is the second coming of Bill Laimbeer's shooting and rebounding (without the severe case of the "ugs") and Andre Kirilenko is the best all-around defensive small forward in the league. Add second-year point guard Deron Williams and a slew of youngster like C.J. Miles and Dee Brown, with veterans Derek Fisher and Matt Harpring coming off the bench — and this is the first Jazz team equipped to seriously compete in the West since the end of the Stockton-Malone Era.

2. Item: The 76ers were an even less likely bet than the Jazz to come out of the gate so quickly. But Philly handled a young Atlanta club easily, won a tough one at Orlando, then overcame an 11-point third-quarter deficit to easily handle the defending champion Miami Heat. What this really means: Say what you will about Allen Iverson off the court, or even the way he dominates the ball on the floor, but the guy is relentless and just as everyone was about to write them off, he has taken control. Averaging 34 points, 9.7 assists and shooting .493 from the field, Iverson has shaken off all the trade talk and proven once again that nobody has ever played the game with more passion to win than he does. More importantly, his leadership appears to now be getting the mandatory productivity out of Kyle Korver (18.7) and Andre Iguodala (15.3). If those two consistently score in that area, while Iverson and Chris Webber continue to put up close to double-double numbers, then Samuel Dalembert will only have to maintain his present status in the middle (8.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.8 blocks) for the Sixers to seriously push the New Jersey Nets in the Atlantic Division.

3. Item: Not only did the Miami Heat set an NBA record by losing 108-66 at home to the Bulls in their opener, but Shaquille O'Neal is already day-to-day with a bruised left knee that kept him out of Sunday's loss to the Sixers. What this really means: It's way too early to arrive at any conclusions about the Heat, but with Shaq already hurting and Dwyane Wade already saying he's tired from all the off-season demands, this is going to be a rugged regular season for the Heat. A big part of the reason the Heat have been the consensus pick to repeat as Eastern Conference champions is by default. They won't be challenged to win the Southeast Division, and the experience of having won the title will go a long way toward helping them in the playoffs. More interesting will be the way coach Pat Riley juggles the lineup and how much Alonzo Mourning will be capable of contributing in the middle to relieve the burden from Shaq as his annual maladies take him out from time to time. But it will come down to Wade and just how bright his star will shine when it matters most. So far, it's been blinding.

4. Item: In case you weren't sure about how the demonstrative the officials would be with their "zero tolerance" for complaints from players and coaches, they have already made themselves — in the inimitable words of Richard Nixon — perfectly clear. Of course Rasheed Wallace was ejected after 23 minutes in his opener for the Pistons, and Carmelo Anthony also suffered the wrath with an ejection after just 20 minutes of his opener for the Nuggets. And just for frosting, both of their teams lost. What this really means: It's always obvious when commissioner David Stern implements any change of rule, the officials begin the season over the top just so there are no misconceptions by the players. But this has been crazy. According to the Boston Globe, 30 technical fouls — including four ejections — had been leveled in the first 17 games. During the first 17 games last season, seven technical fouls were called and no ejections. Those numbers are ridiculous enough that the point has been already. Enough said. Not only do the players need to calm down as instructed, but so do the officials. It has been true forever that when the players whine too much about the officiating — however bad it is — calls are NEVER changed. So drop it. On the other hand, basketball is a highly emotional game and players are going to react to a tough call. A reaction is inevitable and common sense from the officials has to come into play here. They have to remain cool and not call a technical every time a play sticks his arms out with a momentary plea — whether it's Wallace or Tim Duncan. This is still about basketball. And the decorum edict has to be in the background or it can hurt the legitimacy of the game.

5. Item: Coming off a six-game loss in the Finals — their best season in franchise history — the Dallas Mavericks have begun 0-2 without leaving the state. They lost their home opener to the Spurs by six, then went down to Houston and were humiliated in a 31-point defeat to the Rockets — the first time in 13 years they were winless after two games. What this really means: The Spurs victory was not a surprise considering how upset they were after the seven-game loss in the thrilling conference semifinals in May, but the way the Mavericks lost to the Rockets and Yao Ming's 36 points was a warning shot. Just a week into it, and this could very well mean the Mavs will have their hands full repeating, not only with the Spurs but the Rockets as well. Keep in mind, the Mavs are still in unchartered waters. They've never defended a conference title before and we'll see how well they handle being targets this season. This will be all about leadership. Only so much of it can come from coach Avery Johnson. We have to see Dirk Nowitzki play like one of the top five players in the game and Josh Howard improve his consistency. But more than anything one of the guards — whether it's Jason Terry or young Devin Harris — have to step up and consistently make plays for either themselves or their teammates. Despite all the moving parts and depth, without that consistent leadership, there are too many other exceptional teams in the West for them to repeat.

6. Item: The legend of LeBron James traveled to San Antonio, and the result was the end of a losing streak that dated back to 1988 for the Cleveland Cavaliers — when James was just a 4-year-old. What this really means: James was spectacular at times with 35 points, often taking the ball right at Tim Duncan with a variety of drives that gave the Cavs the confidence to pull out an 88-81 victory. But excluding James, who was 14-of-26 from the field, the rest of the team shot an anemic .328. The Cavs are one of the teams that a lot of prognosticators feel have a shot at winning the East this season, but unless the rest of the team figures out how to contribute offense on a consistent basis, it's not going to happen. Larry Hughes was great in their opening night win over Washington with 27 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. But since then he's averaged 14 points, 2.5 rebounds and an assist — plus he's made just 10-of-27 shots. It's only three games, but Hughes, Drew Gooden and Zydrunas Ilgauskas have to contribute to the offense so it's not all resting on James' shoulder — regardless of how broad they are.

7. Item: Panic hasn't hit quite yet in the Valley of the Sun despite the 1-3 start for the Phoenix Suns. And by Friday, they had signed swingman Jalen Rose, who was bought out by the New York Knicks, for a minimal contract. What this really means: Perhaps the Suns have decided they don't need big players ... rather they'd just rather have interchangeable parts altogether and just ignore their fatal flaw. But it's painfully obvious that the Suns have plenty of issues when you look at their complete lack of defense and rebounding. They're 30th (last) in rebounds allowed per game, 29th in rebounding differential and points allowed, 28th in rebounds themselves, and 26th in defensive field goal percentage. In other words, Amare Stoudemire is a long way from making the kind of impact they hoped he might after spending virtually all of last season rehabilitating the microfracture surgery on one knee and arthroscopic surgery on the other. Kurt Thomas is back and helping inside, but they are just getting manhandled inside and Stoudemire too often has that stiff-legged gait that is so disconcerting after knee surgery. Sure, it's just four games into it, but he's got just 28 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks — which is what he averaged in the playoffs two years ago. Instead, he's playing just 16 minutes and is very uncertain. Now that they have Thomas and Stoudemire — unlike the stretch run last — an identity crisis could linger.

8. Item: Just like their NFL counterparts — the New Orleans Saints — the NBA Hornets won their first two games on the road before coming to New Orleans for their opener. And just like the Saints, the Hornets didn't disappoint the sellout crowd — beating the Houston Rockets. What this really means: The Hornets are in first place in the stellar Southwest Division at 3-0, thanks primarily to the superb performance of second-year point guard Chris Paul's 16 assists and the underrated play of forward David West. With the moves of signing Peja Stojakovic and Bobby Jackson, along with trading for Tyson Chandler, coach Byron Scott — a far better mentor than anyone cares to admit — has a team that is eminently capable of making the playoffs. What we all want to know, of course, is whether or not they will return to New Orleans next year after playing 35 games in Oklahoma City again this season. Commissioner David Stern again promised the Hornets would be back in New Orleans next year, bringing the 2008 All-Star game with them. But long-range ... well, that would be anybody's guess — the predominant rumor has the Hornets moving back to Oklahoma City as part of a swap with new Seattle owner Clay Bennett and Co., and that would leave it up to George Shinn. He could either keep the Sonics in Seattle, move them to New Orleans, or move them somewhere else. Sunday's game was great and special for the city and the team — but it is no way indicative of what the future holds for this franchise.

9. Item: The Los Angeles Lakers raced to a 3-0 start as well until running into a buzz saw Sunday night in Seattle — a 117-101 loss to the Sonics. Nonetheless, this version of the Lake Show already has an interesting look about them — especially considering Kobe Bryant didn't play until the third game as he is recovering from knee surgery. What this really means: Led by Lamar Odom's all-around play, young center Andrew Bynum and forward Luke Walton, there was an energy about the Lakers without Bryant that looked totally different than with him. Odom, recovering from the stunning loss of a child during the off-season, seems more resolute and comfortable with what he has to do to make this team go as a leader. The 7-1 Bynum, still only 19, is huge at 285 pounds, agile, and very talented. Now we'll see how they look as Bryant tries to fit back in. They were awful and sloppy Sunday night with 22 turnovers, but the Sonics' energy had a lot to do with that. But just like it unfolded during the playoffs when they blew a 3-1 lead to the Suns, it's on Bryant to fit back in with his teammates as opposed to the other way around. With Odom's maturity, it should be a lot easier and once Bryant gets his legs and timing back, this team has a chance to be a significant factor in the Pacific Division.

10. Item: For just one night, it was a night of celebration for the Sonics — indeed the 40th anniversary of the franchise. They forgot about the first two defeats to start the season that featured a continuation of the worst defense in the NBA last year, they thrilled the sellout crowd that came to see the best players in the history of the franchise honored at halftime. What this really means: The win prevented the Sonics from taking their worst start in 21 years out on a five-game road trip. Had that happened, this season could have quickly spiraled out of control — what with all the negative publicity about the likelihood of new ownership moving the club to Oklahoma City. Instead, Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis and Luke Ridnour led an aggressive defense that forced 22 turnovers to pin the first loss of the season on the Lakers. All of the honored players except Gary Payton (playing with the Miami Heat), Nate McMillan (coaching the Portland Trail Blazers) and Dennis Johnson (previous commitment) were on hand, with beleaguered Shawn Kemp (claiming he's bound for Italy) drawing by far the biggest ovation. For all the criticism and unsettled stature, the Sonics are not as bad as so many believe them to be if only because so many other teams don't play defense either. They have a lot of scoring capability and a decent rotation. They have the look of a 40-45 win team that may or may not be able to slip into the playoffs. But on this one night, none of it mattered — not having missed the playoffs three of the past four seasons, not the prospect of the team leaving after this season, and not the previous two losses. For one night, they all basked in the bubble of Sonics history and everybody in attendance deserved it.