The Clippers signed center Chris Kaman to a multiyear contract extension Saturday that begins with the 2007-08 season. The 7-footer averaged 11.9 points, 9.6 rebounds (ninth in the league) and 1.38 blocks in 78 games last season. In 11 playoff games, he averaged 10.7 points and 8.0 rebounds. The deal is for a reported 5 years and $52 million…The Mavs have reportedly signed swingman Josh Howard to a contract extension. Terms of the deal were not announced, but ESPN.com reported last week that Howard agreed to a four-year deal worth more than $40 million…The Sonics have signed Luke Ridnour to an undisclosed extension…

Erstwhile Raptors training camp PG Andre Barrett has finally stuck with an NBA team, making the cut as the last guy on the Chicago Bulls roster…

Brendan Haywood is the new jack Benoit Benjamin…Etan Thomas beat out Haywood for the Wizards starting center job… “It was close. It wasn’t a landslide,” said coach Eddie Jordan in the Washington Post. “I’m not ashamed to admit it, but Brendan kicked Etan’s butt up and down the floor today. That’s a good thing because that was what this whole thing was about. Competition. Making each other better.”

Amazing…Sam Ashaolu, the Duquene recruit from Toronto who was shot twice in the head back in August, actually attended practice and shot around a bit yesterday…dude, we are all pulling for you…

Apparently Larry Brown and the Knicks have settled…no terms announced…settled? Yeah, settled the fact that Brown can no longer coach, Thomas is intellectually impaired as a GM and…oh yeah, the Knicks suck…

Monday cuts: James White (Pacers), Kevin Burleson (Bobcats), Luke Schenscher (Bulls), Jalen Rose (Knicks)…Jalen to the Heat, that’s my predictions…or maybe the Lakers…

1) For big Rob Killen, Bill Simmons take on Red for ESPN.com:

After his death on Saturday night, Red Auerbach was remembered as the greatest basketball coach/executive who ever lived. He built 16 championship teams and coached nine of them. He was the first to start five black players at the same time. He invented the victory cigar. He was competitive enough that he announced his coaching retirement before the '65-66 season so every team would have one last crack at him. He drafted Bird, Cowens and Havlicek, traded for Russell, traded for McHale and Parish, lucked into Cousy. He's arguably the most important non-player in NBA history -- really, it's either him or David Stern -- the one person who transcended a franchise and became a one-man Mount Rushmore. But it went deeper than that. For every Celtic fan growing up in New England in the '70s and '80s, Red became part of our families, the crusty old grandfather, the patriarch, the guy who made everyone else feel safe. As long as Red was around, the Celts were in good hands. That's just the way it was. He was our ace in the hole. He was Yoda before Yoda was Yoda. He was like a shark at a poker table raking in huge hands every 20 minutes, puffing on that damned cigar, making everyone else feel inferior. He was the ultimate winner. He gave us a competitive advantage. He was smarter than everyone else. And I can't remember life without him. My father started carrying me into Celtics games when I was 4 years old, the year he purchased a single season ticket behind the opponent's bench. My memories don't kick in until the '76 season, when I was 6. Back then, the Celtics allowed me on the court before games. I stood under the basket as everyone launched jumpers, praying for airballs that I could chase down and toss back to the offending parties. Sometimes I'd amble over to the Celtics' bench and stand next to the coaches and ask them questions. They all knew my name. I even made the front page of the Globe's sports section once -- a big picture of me gazing up at an injured John Havlicek during the Buffalo series. He was standing on crutches with a dumb smile on his face. I was chewing my nails and looking confused that he wasn't wearing a uniform. They ran a caption like, "Why aren't you playing tonight, John?" My father bought about 10,000 copies of that paper. You can't imagine what this team meant to me as a little kid. And Red was always the most important person with the Celtics, by far -- the architect, the leader, the father of Celtic Pride. I met him once, and only once, but he will always be family to me. Like with any family member, you have memories. These are mine.

1976 - We're playing somebody in a big playoff game, that's all I remember. Tommy Heinsohn coached the Celtics in those years like the real-life Oscar Madison, looking constantly disheveled, screaming at officials with a booming voice, waving in disgust at every other call, a constant threat to be ejected from every game. Of course, he ends up getting tossed from this one. His only assistant takes over, a tall, aging, pot-bellied guy who looked like an overmatched police sergeant. This isn't good. Even at the age of 6, I know this isn't good. Suddenly, the crowd starts rumbling. Red Auerbach is getting out of his seat. Sitting across from the benches in Section 12, about eight rows up, right on the aisle, everyone sees him moving toward the court. People are cheering. People are yelling. Red is going to save the day. He reaches the floor, circles behind the bench, says some encouraging words to the players, then sits at the press table next to the Celtics' bench. And he remains there for the rest of the game. Thirty years later, I can't remember any of the details -- just a hazy memory of Heinsohn getting kicked out and feeling worried, then Red moving near the bench and diffusing the tension. Red was there. We were safe. And we ended up winning the game. That's all I could remember. Like anything else that happens when you're a kid, sometimes you wonder if things happened like you remember them, or even if they happened at all. But NBA TV showed Game 5 of the Cavs-Celtics series from '76 this summer, and wouldn't you know it? Same game. Heinsohn got kicked out; Red moved over to the press table; Musburger played it up on CBS like the pope just emerged from the Vatican; they showed Red sitting at the table about 50 times; and the Celtics ended up pulling out a hard-fought win. Just like I remembered. You always remember the things that made you feel safe as a little kid.

1978 - Red is leaving. That's the rumor. He's tired of butting heads with an audacious new owner named John Y. Brown, a cocky Kentuckian who doesn't understand what Red means to Boston. Things bottom out when Brown trades three No. 1 picks for Bob McAdoo without consulting his mortified GM. It's the ultimate anti-Red trade. He hates giving up first-round picks. He hates me-first scorers. Brown should have just dragged Red to midcourt of the Garden and slapped him across the face in front of 15,000 people. Bob McAdoo? A Celtic? For three first-round picks? Red can't take it anymore. Now he's leaving to take the Knicks' job. It's the worst-kept secret in town. Only one problem: We won't let him leave. For two weeks, everywhere he goes, the locals implore him to stay. Cabbies reason with him at stoplights. Restaurant patrons interrupt his dinners. Radio hosts beg for him to reconsider. He cannot go anywhere in Boston without someone pleading with him to stay. Meanwhile, I'm only 8 and completely petrified. Red can't leave. You can't have the Celtics without Red. WHAT WILL WE DO WITHOUT RED??? (Note: This was the same year that my parents separated, and I'm telling you, the thought of Red leaving Boston was nearly as traumatic as the thought of my parents splitting up. Each event carried the same "Good God, what happens now?" ramifications. I am not ashamed to admit this.) Everyone in Massachusetts feels this way, so we make the collective decision to change his mind. It's a guilt trip for the ages. Red Auerbach can't do this to us. He can't leave, and he especially can't leave for the Knicks. This can't happen. He can't leave. He's not leaving. What happens? He stays. Like he had any other choice. Seeing the writing on the wall, Brown avoids becoming a local pariah by switching franchises with Buffalo's owner and moving the Braves to San Diego. So long, John Y., Red wins again. Red always wins.

1983 - We're playing the Sixers in October. We hate the Sixers. They hate us. And even though it's a preseason game, Sixers thug Marc Iavaroni goads Bird into a fistfight that turns into a full-fledged brawl involving Moses, Parish, Toney, Maxwell and others. Just as everything is settling down, Red comes barreling down the stairs in Section 12, furious that a stiff like Iavaroni started the whole thing and endangered his franchise player. He goes right for Sixers coach Billy Cunningham, shoves him and rips his blazer before they're separated. Then Moses says something to him, and before we know it, 66-year-old Red is jamming a finger in Moses Malone's chest and threatening to throw down with the toughest center in the league. You'd think everyone in the Garden would react like someone was dangling a baby over the balcony, right? Nope. They're cheering for Red to get Moses. Fortunately, some of the players hold Red back and nothing else happens. But you know what? Twenty-three years later, I still believe Red would have landed one good punch. Moses Malone was lucky.

1984 - The Celtics have just outlasted the Lakers for their 15th world championship. It ends up being the Finals widely credited with turning the NBA around -- Bird vs. Magic, Gerald Henderson's steal, McHale's clothesline, the unparalleled Heat game and, of course, the Celtics prevailing in at the Garden in another Game 7 -- as well as the most satisfying title of the post-Russell era. Everyone said the Lakers were better. Everyone said Showtime was unstoppable. But the Celtics were tougher. They turned the series into a street fight, reduced the sport to its simplest terms (fast breaks, offensive rebounds and defensive stops) and broke the Lakers down. And when they had nothing left, the Garden fans carried them the rest of the way. Now the Celtics are celebrating in their locker room and pouring champagne on one another. Everyone crams onto a makeshift podium so the commissioner can present the NBA trophy. He makes a little speech and hands the trophy to Red, who's sucking on a victory cigar, as always. And after hearing about the Lakers' "dynasty" from every broadcaster and writer for two weeks, good ol' Red can't resist rubbing it in. "Everyone keeps talking about the Lakers dynasty!" Red yells at Brent Musburger. "Well, here's your dynasty, right here!!!!!!" He holds the trophy up as the locker room explodes. He's holding it like a hunter would display a deer's head. Here's your dynasty. Right here.

1986 - Lenny Bias is a member of the Boston Celtics. At the news conference, Red puffs a cigar and grins from ear to ear. He just added the best college player to the best NBA team ever. This was the kid we wanted all along, he says. One year shy of 70, Red has a realistic chance to dominate the NBA for four consecutive decades. It's a foolproof plan. Bias saves the legs of the Big Three (Bird, McHale and Parish). The presence of the Big Three allows Bias to develop at his own pace. Bird will teach Bias everything he knows and, eventually, pass the torch to him. The Celtics will keep winning and winning. Lenny Bias will lead the way. Lenny Bias is the chosen one. That's the plan. Two days later, Bias is gone. Cocaine overdose. And when he meets the press later that week, for the first time ever, Red Auerbach looks like an old man. Little does he know that the Celtics will never be the same. Or maybe he does.

1987 - Game 4, 1987 Finals, Boston Garden. We're watching one of those larger-than-life games that seems surreal even as it's happening -- the defending champs holding on in a must-win game against the Lakers. After surviving Bias' death, a fleet of injuries and two Game 7s in earlier rounds, they aren't going away. We won't let them. With 12 seconds left, Bird drains a 3-pointer for the lead and nearly causes the roof to collapse. Timeout, Lakers. Magic responds with a baby sky hook for the lead. Timeout, Celtics. Two seconds left. Bird breaks free from Worthy, chases down the inbounds pass, sets his feet and launches a 3 in front of the Lakers bench ... it's dead-on ... everyone holds their breath ... and just as it's going in, it glances off the back of the rim and bounces out. Game over. Series probably over. Dynasty in major trouble. It's so hushed in the Garden, we can only hear the Lakers celebrating and the basketball bouncing away. Everyone is standing in shock. How did that not go in? How the #$^@ did that not go in? Suddenly, there's Red hustling down from his seat and storming across the court. He's furious. The officials cost the Celtics this game. Or so he thinks. He's trying to catch referee Earl Strom before Strom heads into the tunnel and into the safety of the locker room. As it happens, my father and I happen to be sitting right along that tunnel. Here comes Red, screaming and hollering, madder than mad, his face turning maroon. Strom turns around, sees him and screams something like, "Don't start me with me, Arnold!" That's followed by Red ranting and raving and Strom screaming something like, "You're showing all the class I always knew you had!" And that's how the game ends -- 15,000 people standing there in disbelief, 70-year-old Red Auerbach chasing an old nemesis through a tunnel. The Lakers couldn't have beaten us fair and square. No way. We were robbed.

1989 - I make the 45-minute drive from college to catch a home game with my father. In that summer's draft, Red spent his first rounder on a BYU forward named Michael Smith, with Tim Hardaway going one pick later. It was a curious decision -- after all, we needed a point guard much more than we needed another slow white forward. Red maintained that Smith was special. Smith reminded him of Larry Bird. That's what he said. And since he's Red Auerbach, nobody questions him. Of course, Hardaway starts out in Golden State like gangbusters, while Smith can't even get off Boston's bench. In this particular game, the Celtics throw him out there to see what they have. He's gawky and awkward. He can't guard anybody. He looks like one of those dorky guys in intramurals who keeps bumping into everybody and making everyone angry. Quite simply, he's terrible. Fifteen years earlier, maybe he makes it. Not now. The league has become too quick, too fast, too athletic. It's a different era. We watch Smith head back to the bench, his confidence completely demolished. On the other coast, Tim Hardaway is averaging 14.7 points and 8.7 assists per game as a rookie. It's impossible to look at Michael Smith and not think of Tim Hardaway. "Might be time to take the car keys away from Red," my father says finally.

1991 - Red has stepped down at this point, handing the team over to a handpicked successor named Dave Gavitt. He's firmly entrenched in the "Vito Corleone in the last hour of 'The Godfather'" stage of his career, an advisor and nothing more. But his legacy lives on. In Faneuil Hall, a tourist trap in downtown Boston, they now have a statue of Red Auerbach. He's sitting on a bench and holding a cigar, a small smile on his face. Would any other city erect a statue of a coach/executive? Of course not. Walking around with my girlfriend from college, we stumble across the statue. She ends up taking a picture of me proudly standing next to Red. A few days later, I frame the picture and place it on a nightstand next to my bed in college. I have three pictures on that nightstand: one of me with my parents; one of me with my girlfriend; and one of me with Red's statue. For the rest of my senior year, those are the three pictures next to my bed.

1995 - The Celtics haven't won a title in nine years. The Garden has been torn down, replaced by the generic Fleet Center. With the franchise floundering under coach M.L. Carr, Red spends most of his time in Washington now. And maybe that's a good thing. Meanwhile, I'm covering high school sports and answering phones for the Boston Herald. Perusing the computer files in the sports system one night, I find an entire section devoted to prewritten obituaries of older Boston sports legends like Ted Williams, Harry Sinden, Bob Cousy, Johnny Pesky, Bill Russell and, of course, Red Auerbach. It's the weirdest thing ever. None of these people are dead yet. It's downright creepy. I end up reading Red's obituary from beginning to end. Where it says his "age" at the time of death, they have "age XX" in there. I find this to be deeply disturbing. How can you write an obituary of someone who's not dead yet? So when Red dies, they'll just fill in the "age XX" and run this thing in the paper? I glance around the news room. Nobody's looking. I'm going to delete Red's obituary from the system. That's the decision. It's the only way. Of course, I don't have proper clearance to delete anything. I'm just a lowly intern. So Red Auerbach's obituary keeps staring at me, pulsating in green letters on a crappy computer, and part of me wants to flip the computer over and be done with this lousy job once and for all.

2001 - I stop by the Celtics offices to see a friend who works for them. There's a lobby outside the front desk with trophies and pictures hanging everywhere, including year-by-year photos of every Celtics team. So I'm following the photos through the years, seeing players that I hadn't thought of in years, and there's one constant in every photo: Red Auerbach sitting in the middle of the first row, holding a basketball and smiling at the camera. Pick a year and you'll see him: 1956, 1962, 1974. It doesn't matter. And I'm going through the photos and, suddenly, we get to 1998, and there's Rick Pitino and Red sitting in the middle together, awkwardly holding the basketball, and by 1999, Pitino is holding the basketball by himself and Red has been pushed off to the side. Out of all the injustices over the past few years -- Pitino taking Red's team presidency, Pitino ignoring the old man's advice and treating him like yesterday's news, Pitino ultimately running the franchise into the ground with a series of impetuous moves -- this series of framed photos captured everything. You can see Red getting pushed out. Literally. Well, until you get to the 2001 team photo. Pitino is long gone. Red Auerbach is back where he belongs, right in the middle of that season's photo, sitting in the front row, holding that basketball again. Everything is right in the world. As I'm staring at that photo, my friend comes out. "What are you looking at?" he asks me. I point to the 2001 photo. He understands right away. "Isn't that great?" he says. Yes. It's great. That's the perfect word.

2002 - I'm sitting at my kitchen table in Charlestown, trying to start a column that can't be started. A few days before, I had spent 90 minutes hanging with Red in his Washington, D.C., office. Rightfully, the Celtics were protective of his time. The guy running the franchise back then, for all intent and purpose, was a good man named Rich Pond. The past two regimes had pushed Red aside; the current regime made an effort to include Red in everything, even including him in the decision-making process for the 2001 draft. Still, they worried about having writers spend time with him. They were extremely selective. "We're going to let you do it," Rich Pond told me. "But if you make him look bad in any way, I'm going to kill you." He was serious. Like I would ever make Red look bad. As it turned out, the old man was as sharp as ever -- we talked hoops for an hour and he even gave me a ride back into town. It remains one of the greatest thrills of my life. It was like meeting God. Right down to what you would imagine God looks like. And now? I have to write about it. And I'm staring at an empty laptop screen, thinking to myself, "You are not good enough to write this column," even though my whole life had specifically played out for me to write that column. I keep staring at that empty screen, waiting for the words to come. I have never stared at an empty screen longer in my life.

2005 - The call finally comes, the one I had always been dreading. My friend with the Celtics tells me that the rumors are true: Red Auerbach is dying. He's on his last legs. His lungs have filled with fluid. He's not making it through the weekend. He promises to keep me posted and we hang up. Coincidentally, I have a magazine column due the next day. My editor calls and wonders if I should write about Red. Yeah, that seems like the right idea. A couple of beats pass. I can't help but remember that freaking Herald obit and the "age XX" section. "You know what?" I tell him. "I'm not writing about Red until he's actually gone. I don't feel right about it." I pick another topic. And guess what? Red holds on. Red gets better. Red makes it to Opening Day. Red makes it to Thanksgiving. Red makes it to Hannukah and Christmas. Red makes it back to the Fleet Center for another standing ovation. Red makes it through the season. In fact, Red is doing well enough that the team asks for his blessing to have cheerleaders. Every other team has cheerleaders but Boston. And why? Because Red always maintained that the Celtics would have cheerleaders over his dead body. Those were the exact words. Over my dead body. Unfortunately for Red, it's a different league now. You don't need one assistant coach anymore; you need five. You don't need one scout anymore; you need 10. You don't need a scoreboard anymore; you need a Jumbotron with an HDTV picture; you need a good stereo system that plays hip-hop songs during timeouts; and you definitely need cheerleaders. They call it "in-game entertainment." Red never understood this; he always thought the game should be the entertainment. Eventually, he accepted the fact that the world was changing around him, that he couldn't stop it anymore. Sure, the Celtics could have cheerleaders. He wouldn't like it. But they could have them. The cheerleaders were scheduled to debut at Wednesday night's home opener against New Orleans. Not anymore. Red Auerbach stole their thunder by passing away. I will always believe that this wasn't a coincidence. It's just too crazy. The old man waited until the last possible moment ... and then he called it quits. He lived and died without ever seeing a Celtics cheerleader. What a way to go out. Instead of breaking out their dance squad, the Celtics will mourn the soul of their franchise on Wednesday night. Red's seat in Section 12 will remain empty. Old players will show up. Bagpipes will be played. A tribute video will run on the brand-new Jumbotron that Red would have hated. People will cheer, people will clap, people will cry. It's going to be an emotional night. For one final game, 21 years after our last championship, the Boston Celtics will seem more special than every other NBA team. After that? Bring on the cheerleaders. We're going to need them

2) James will love this, from Mike Kahn of Foxsports.com:

Spurs are favorites to win NBA title

The buzz always comes around the same way in the NBA preseason. The wise guys love to name the San Antonio Spurs as the favorites to win the title because they're the safe pick. The other reason might also be that they're also the smartest pick, particularly this season — despite the return of virtually everyone for the defending NBA champion Miami Heat and the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks. And here's why ... they were within an eyelash of winning three of the four games they lost to the Mavs in the thrilling Western Conference semifinals, and this was in a season during which both Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili were hurt most of the year trying to defend their 2005 title. Plus, Duncan, Ginobili and Tony Parker did not play into June in 2006, nor go through the rigorous international play they had experienced in previous seasons. In other words, this team is irritated about what happened last season and healthier than any of the recent years. "Every year there are about three or four teams that can win a championship, and the three that we won, I didn't know we were going to win those," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of titles won in 1999, 2003 and '05. "There could have been other teams that wanted them. We could have easily won last year's and so could Dallas or some other team ... Detroit or whoever you want to plug in there. You lose to someone and I think what's important is how you lose and what the series was like. You don't just change willy-nilly because you lost." So the Spurs didn't. Oh, they added more athletic big men Francisco Elson and Fabricio Oberto to support Duncan (with Nazr Mohammed leaving), plus Matt Bonner, Jackie Butler and Jacque Vaughn. But that isn't the point considering they are ancillary players anyway. There are misconceptions about the Spurs, and that is part of what is driving them. With Duncan inside featuring his brilliant all-around game, Parker emerging as perhaps the best point guard in the game at getting to the rim, and Ginobili still a very tough, multi-dimensional shooting guard, they have three players who can dominate offensively. Plus that's on a team that is also a top-three defensive team, with perennial All-Defense first team forward Bruce Bowen added to the brilliance of Duncan and constant thieving hands of Ginobili and Parker. The concept that this team is old and does not have the athleticism to play with the Mavs anymore may very well be precisely what motivates the Spurs to regain what they lost. "People have to have definitions and people have to describe winners and losers, but that Dallas series could have easily gone the other way," Popovich said. "Nobody would have mentioned that we looked a little old. I guess when you lose, I guess you do and when you win you look real experienced. I think we are as good as anybody, but in the end it takes a lot of things to win a championship; Good fortune is important, getting some good calls here and there, being on a run, having a player that is playing great. We feel good about our team. We have probably become a little bit more athletic inside, but other than that, we are pretty much the same." Most favor the Heat to repeat in the East, but they are old and Dwyane Wade is already exhausted from the off-season before the 2006-07 season even tips off. The Pistons still are tough and dangerous but lacking depth and Ben Wallace. The Chicago Bulls are the vogue pick to watch out for because they signed Wallace, but they lack a go-to player to win the big game. And of course any time LeBron James leads the Cleveland Cavaliers — everyone is in love with the opportunity they may have to turn the world upside down despite the obvious lack of championship quality players around him. Of course, the Mavs remain one of the favorites, and rightfully so. Avery Johnson did a brilliant job in his first full season, helping further evolve Dirk Nowitzki's game, and a defense that was previously a joke suddenly became a factor. It's easy to be excited about the possibilities for the Phoenix Suns to return to the conference finals for a third consecutive year with the return of Amare Stoudemire — with the caveat that his knees really have healed, which is still unproven. And it's fun to fall in love with the Los Angeles Clippers for a second year because they have been so dismal forever, along with the fact that the core of Elton Brand, Sam Cassell and youngsters Chris Kaman and Shaun Livingston are so intriguing. Nonetheless, they are still the Clippers. Besides, this is a reality check, and that's why the Spurs have always been so good and so consistent. They are about reality. They are about defensive toughness and consistency — no easy shots are allowed because they are always there in the half-court and transition. Offensively, they push the ball for easy baskets at every moment — with Parker flowing up the floor more than running, and Ginobili and/or Duncan coming off the wing. They hit big 3-pointers and have clutch veterans, such as Robert Horry, Michael Finley and Brent Barry, to knock down shots from the bench. "I think," Popovich stressed, "that people tend to oversimplify teams." And that's impossible when it comes to the Spurs because they have been for the past seven seasons, they do indeed break down the game to its simplest form. This season will be no different in that regard, with one difference. They have something to prove, and beware of the lion-hearted who believe they've been wronged. They won't be pretty ... just effective on the way to their fourth title in eight years. That's the San Antonio Spurs' way of life, and why the wise guys know that the efficiency of the champions is all that really matters. Because even if the whining and TV ratings say Duncan will bore everybody all the way to the title as opposed to James, Wade or even the Mavs, who cares? Certainly the Spurs don't and won't throughout the 2006-07 season. Get used to it.

3) Chad Ford of ESPN.com rates the rooks:

Rookie report: The good, the bad and the solid

On draft night, I handed out grades based on potential and fit. Four months later, with summer league and most of the preseason behind us, let's reevaluate the rookies based on what we know now. So far, we've seen the good, the bad and the ugly of the freshman class, with a few in-between guys who deserve a "solid" label.

The Good

Brandon Roy, G, Trail Blazers - Since the draft, I've pegged Roy as having the best shot at the Rookie of the Year award, and his strong play in the summer league and preseason indicate that he's still the leading candidate to bring home the trophy. He's poised to have a big year for the Blazers. It appears that he's won the starting two guard position and even will play some point guard for the Blazers.

Rudy Gay, F, Grizzlies - Pau Gasol's injury in the World Championship was devastating to the Grizzlies but good for getting Gay's career going. Without Gasol, the Grizzlies will look for Gay to give them scoring punch. After a lackluster sophomore season at UConn, Gay's performance in the summer league and preseason seem to indicate that he might live up to his limitless potential.

Rajon Rondo, PG, Celtics - I had Rondo ranked at the top point guard in the draft almost all year and thought he should be a top 10 pick. He became the steal of the draft when he fell into the Celtics' lap at No. 21 (via trade from Phoenix). So far in the preseason, Rondo has played as well as, if not better than, Boston starting point guard Sebastian Telfair. Only time will tell whether Rondo will be able to beat out Telfair for the starting job, but the facts are in his favor: Rondo is a much better defender and rebounder, and he has played virtually mistake-free basketball so far. If he can learn to consistently knock down the mid-range jumper, he's got a chance to be a star.

Tyrus Thomas, PF, Bulls - Thomas had the most upside of anyone in the draft, but I thought he was a year or two away from being an NBA contributor. However, his energy, shot-blocking and athleticism in the preseason indicate that he'll be a solid rotation player this season.

Marcus Williams, PG, New Jersey Nets - Williams took a shocking draft night nosedive but found the perfect home in New Jersey.
The Nets will try to limit Jason Kidd's minutes this season, and Williams has shown in the preseason and the summer league that he's ready to handle the team 15-to-20 minutes a night. He really should rack up the assists in Jersey.

The Solid

Andrea Bargnani, F, Raptors - GM Bryan Colangelo took a pretty big risk taking Bargnani No. 1, and so far the results have been inconclusive. He's looked good in a few games, but lost in others. Right now he's spending most of his time on the perimeter. If he's going to be a star, he's eventually going to have to grab some rebounds and block some shots.

Randy Foye, SG, Timberwolves - Foye was awesome in the summer league, but his role in the preseason has been limited. Part of the reason is fit. With Mike James gunning away from the point guard position, they can't really play Foye a lot. Second, Foye has been struggling with his shot and committing too many turnovers. It might take him a little longer to get going than we originally thought.

Shawne Williams, F, Pacers - I wasn't very high on the Pacers pick on draft night, but he's been very solid in preseason play. He won't get much run for the Pacers this year, but so far the word out of Indiana is that everyone's impressed.

Renaldo Balkman, F, Knicks - Isiah Thomas was blasted by me and just about everyone else on draft night for taking Balkman at No. 20. I still think it was the wrong move, given what the two guys taken directly after him (Rondo and Marcus Williams) have been doing. But Balkman hasn't been the bust everyone expected, either. He's hustled, played good defense and brought some passion to the Knicks.

The Bad

Adam Morrison, F, Bobcats - Morrison looked good in the summer league, but he's struggled mightily with his shot in the preseason, shooting just 32 percent from the field. Considering he doesn't play much defense, grab rebounds or do much in the assist department, he'd better start making his shots. The early word out of Bobcats camp is that the team likes him, but he's going to have make big adjustments to his college game to thrive in the pros.

Shelden Williams, F, Hawks - The Hawks reached big-time for Williams at No. 5. Yes, they needed rebounding and shotblocking, and Williams has provided some of that. But his awful shooting percentage, combined with the stellar play of several players taken after him in the draft, continues to make this pick the shakiest one in the draft.

Kyle Lowry, PG, Grizzlies - I was a big fan of this pick for the Grizzlies on draft night and Lowry has shown the Grizzlies his trademark hustle and grittiness. But his high turnover rate and low shooting percentage make you wonder how much he'll play this year.

The Ugly

LaMarcus Aldridge, F, Blazers - Shoulder surgery has kept Aldridge out of the preseason and he'll likely miss the first month of the season. That's usually the kiss of death for rookies. Combine that with the solid play of Tyrus Thomas in the early going and you have to start wondering whether the Blazers made the right call on draft night.

Mouhamed Sene, C, Sonics - On draft night I said Sene had great talent but was years away. So far, his play in the preseason hasn't shown much of the talent, but has lended credence to the idea that he's years away.

J.J. Redick, SG, Magic - Back injuries, DWIs and then a foot injury in the summer have limited Redick's time on the court to just one preseason game. The summer and preseason are vital times for the development of rookies and it appears that Redick might end up missing the boat.

Quincy Douby, G, Kings - I thought this was a questionable pick for the Kings on draft night and I haven't seen anything from Douby to suggest the Kings made the right call here. With Mike Bibby out at least three weeks with a thumb injury, I'm sure Rondo and Marcus Williams are looking better and better to the Kings.

The Sleepers

Steve Novak, F, Rockets - Novak is pretty one-dimensional, but he's been a red-hot shooter in the preseason from just about anywhere on the floor. With Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady commanding double teams all year, this second-round pick could end up having a bigger year than Redick.

Alexander Johnson, F, Grizzlies - It's hard to understand why so many teams passed on Johnson late in the first round, and so far he's made them really second guess themselves with his solid play on both ends of the floor. With Gasol out for a while, he could be another sleeper who makes a surprising impact his rookie year.

Leon Powe, F, Celtics - It's doubtful that Powe will see much run on a stacked Celtics squad this year, but the C's have to be happy about his early play. The last few games he's been a force on the boards and in the paint. Powe has first-round talent. If the knee holds up, he could be a player down the road.

Red Auerbach has passed away this past Saturday at age 89…

Here are a few highlights:

• Coached the now-defunct Washington Capitols to two division titles in 1947 and 1949.

• The 1947 Capitols' .817 winning percentage remained the NBA's highest for the next 20 years. The team also won 17 straight games at one point during the season, a streak that would remain a league record until 1969.

• Coached the Tri-Cities Blackhawks for the 1949-50 season.

• Coached Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1966 winning nine championships, including a stretch from 1959 to 1966 when the Celtics won eight straight NBA championships.

• In 20 years as a coach, he won 938 regular season games, a record that would stand until Lenny Wilkens broke it in the 1994-95 season.

• Led Boston to 99 playoff victories, fourth all-time behind Phil Jackson, Pat Riley and Larry Brown.

• Finished with nine NBA championship rings, later tied by Phil Jackson.

• NBA Coach of the Year in 1965.

• Coached 11 Hall of Famers.

• NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time team coach. (1970)

• Coached in the NBA East-West All-Star Game 11 consecutive years (1957-67) and compiled a 7-4 record.

• Enshrined as a coach on April 13, 1969 in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

• Won the NBA Executive of the Year award with the Celtics in the 1979-1980 season.

• Named the greatest coach in the history of the NBA by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America in 1980.

1) From the AP:

Passing of a legend - Celtics patriarch, Hall of Famer Auerbach dead at 89

WASHINGTON (AP) -- His genius was building a basketball dynasty in Boston, his gift was straight talk, his signature was the pungent cigar he lit up and savored after every victory. Red Auerbach, the Hall of Famer who guided the Celtics to 16 championships -- first as a coach and later as general manager -- died Saturday. He was 89. Auerbach died of a heart attack near his home in Washington, according to an NBA official, who didn't want to be identified. His last public appearance was on Wednesday, when he received the Navy's Lone Sailor Award during a ceremony in the nation's capital. Auerbach's death was announced by the Celtics, who still employed him as team president. Next season will be dedicated to him, they said. "He was relentless and produced the greatest basketball dynasty so far that this country has ever seen and certainly that the NBA has ever seen," said Bob Cousy, the point guard for many of Auerbach's championship teams, who referred to his coach by his given name. "This is a personal loss for me. Arnold and I have been together since 1950. I was fortunate that I was able to attend a function with him Wednesday night. ... I am so glad now that I took the time to be there and spend a few more moments with him." Tom Heinsohn, who played under Auerbach and then coached the Celtics when he was their general manager, remembered his personal side. "He was exceptional at listening and motivating people to put out their very best," Heinsohn said. "In my playing days he once gave me a loaded cigar and six months later I gave him one. That was our relationship. We had a tremendous amount of fun and the game of basketball will never see anyone else like him." Auerbach's 938 victories made him the winningest coach in NBA history until Lenny Wilkens overtook him during the 1994-95 season. "Beyond his incomparable achievements, Red had come to be our basketball soul and our basketball conscience," NBA commissioner David Stern said, "the void left by his death will never be filled." Auerbach's nine titles as a coach came in the 1950s and 1960s -- including eight straight from 1959 through 1966 -- and then through shrewd deals and foresight he became the architect of Celtics teams that won seven more championships in the 1970s and 1980s. Phil Jackson matched those record nine championships when the Los Angeles Lakers won the title in 2001-02. "Red was a true champion and one whose legacy transcends the Celtics and basketball," Sen. Ted Kennedy said. "He was the gold standard in coaching and in civic leadership, and he set an example that continues today. We all knew and loved Red in the Kennedy family." Auerbach was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969. The jersey No. 2 was retired by the Celtics in his honor during the 1984-85 season. "He was a unique personality, a combination of toughness and great, great caring about people," said author John Feinstein, who last year collaborated on a book with Auerbach on the coach's reflections of seven decades in basketball. "He cared about people much more than it showed in his public face, and that's why people cared about him." With the Celtics, he made deals that brought Bill Russell, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale to Boston. He drafted Larry Bird a year early when the Indiana State star was a junior to make sure Bird would come to Boston. "Red Auerbach was one of the most influential people in my life," Bird said. "Not only was he an inspiration to me throughout my career, he became a close friend as well. There could only be one Red Auerbach and I'll always be grateful for having the opportunity to experience his genius and his dedication to winning through teamwork." Auerbach coached championship teams that featured players such as Russell, Cousy, Heinsohn, Bill Sharman, K.C. Jones and Sam Jones, all inducted into the Hall of Fame. After stepping down as general manager in 1984, Auerbach served as president of the Celtics and occasionally attended team practices into the mid-1990s, although his role in the draft and personnel decisions had diminished. "Red was a guy who always introduced new things," Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca told The Associated Press in an interview this month. "He had some of the first black players in the league and some people didn't like that, but you've got to do what's right for the fans." When Rick Pitino took the president's title when he became coach in 1997, Auerbach became vice chairman of the board. After Pitino resigned in 2001, Auerbach regained the title of president and remained vice chairman. When the team was sold in 2002 to a group headed by Wyc Grousbeck, Auerbach stayed on as president. Through all those changes and titles, Auerbach didn't lose his direct manner of speaking, such as when he discussed the parquet floor of the Boston Garden shortly before the Celtics' longtime home closed in September 1995. "The whole thing was a myth," Auerbach said. "People thought not only that there were dead spots, but that we knew where every one was and we could play accordingly. "Now, did you ever watch a ballplayer go up and down the court at that speed and pick out a dead spot?" he asked. "If our players worried about that, thinking that's going to help them win, they're out of their cotton-picking mind. But if the other team thought that: Hey, good for us." As Celtics president, Auerbach shuttled between Boston and his home in the nation's capital, where he led an active lifestyle that included playing racquetball and tennis into his mid-70s. Auerbach underwent two procedures in May 1993 to clear blocked arteries. He had been bothered by chest discomfort at various times beginning in 1986.
Auerbach was also hospitalized a year ago, but he was soon active again and attended the Celtics' home opener. Asked that night what his thoughts were, he replied in his usual blunt manner: "What goes through your mind is, 'When the hell are we going to win another one? I mean, it's as simple as that." Auerbach had planned to be at the Celtics' opener this season, in Boston next Wednesday against the New Orleans Hornets. In his 16 seasons as the Celtics' coach, Auerbach berated referees and paced the sideline with a rolled-up program in his clenched fist. The cigar came out when he was sure of another Celtic triumph. He had a 938-479 regular-season coaching record and a 99-69 playoff mark. Auerbach had a reputation as a keen judge of talent, seemingly always getting the best of trades with fellow coaches and general managers. In 1956, he traded Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan to St. Louis for the Hawks' first-round pick and ended up with Russell -- probably the greatest defensive center of all time and the heart of 11 championship teams.
In 1978, he drafted Bird in the first round even though he would have to wait a year before Bird could become a professional.
Before the 1980 draft, the Celtics traded the No. 1 overall selection to Golden State for Parish and the No. 3 pick. The Warriors took Joe Barry Carroll. The Celtics chose McHale. In 1981, Boston chose Brigham Young guard Danny Ainge in the second round. Ainge was playing baseball in the Toronto Blue Jays organization at the time, but was freed after a court battle to play for the Celtics. In June 1983, another one-sided deal brought guard Dennis Johnson from Phoenix for seldom-used backup center Rick Robey. Born Arnold Auerbach in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Sept. 20, 1917, he attended Seth Low Junior College in New York and George Washington University. His playing career was undistinguished. In three seasons at George Washington he scored 334 points in 56 games. He would often attend games at GW's Smith Center, where the court is named in his honor. As a coach, he was an instant success, posting the best record of his career in his first season. He led the Washington Capitols to a 49-11 mark in 1946-47, the NBA's debut season, and took them to the playoff semifinals. The Capitols had winning records the next two seasons under Auerbach, who moved on to the Tri-Cities Blackhawks for one season in 1949-50. They had a 28-29 mark, Auerbach's only losing record in 20 years as an NBA coach. In the NBA's first four seasons, the Celtics never had a winning record. But Auerbach changed that dramatically when he succeeded Alvin "Doggy" Julian as Boston's coach for the 1950-51 campaign. They went 39-30 that year, and the Celtics never had a losing record in his 16 seasons on the bench. Boston's lowest winning percentage was .611 in his last 10 seasons. His last game as coach was on April 28, 1966, when Boston edged the Lakers 95-93 in Game 7 of the finals to win the NBA title. He was just 48 years old, but ready to move on. On Feb. 13 of that season, Auerbach was honored at halftime of a loss to Los Angeles at Boston Garden.
"They say that losing comes easier as you grow older," he said after the game. "But losing keeps getting harder for me. I just can't take it like I used to. It's time for me to step out." Russell became player-coach the next season, while Auerbach concentrated on his job as general manager. Russell was the first of five Boston coaches who had played for Auerbach. Auerbach is survived by his two daughters, Nancy Auerbach Collins and Randy Auerbach; his granddaughter, Julie Auerbach Flieger, and three great-grandchildren.

2) SI.com’s Jack McCallum reflects:

Seeing Red - Auerbach was one of a kind and earned respect of all

The thing about Red Auerbach is that he remained relevant. It's a neat trick to pull off in the sports world where guys who hang around for a long time eventually get treated like the crazy uncle from Ipswich. Red, who died of a heart attack at 89 on Saturday night, had some of that crazy-uncle in him, to be sure. He growled and grumped his way through life, immune to irony, seeing the world in blacks and whites and no grays. I interviewed him on, oh, 37 different occasions and had to re-introduce myself each time; I'm sure that, had I stopped an interview to use the bathroom, I would've had to re-introduce myself upon re-entry. I was around a lot during the Bird Era, but that wasn't the same as being there in the '50s and '60s, when Red ran the Green and the Green ran the NBA. It was like that with anyone who wasn't in the inner sanctum to which Red held the key. After he hired Dave Gavitt to run Boston's basketball operations in the summer of 1990, Red did a television interview during which he was asked about the Celtics' still unresolved head coaching situation. "I'll hear from -- What's-his name, Dave -- about it," he told a broadcaster. Even by 1985, the year I began covering the league (the Celtics' last championship season by the way), Red was spending much of his time in Washington, and by my reckoning was a titular figure only, iconic but ultimately inconsequential. Not the case. I still remember the excitement in Kevin McHale's voice before a preseason practice. "Hey, Red's here today!" You could get McHale to goof on almost anybody at any time, but he had only the most respectful things to say about Red. It was the same with all the Celtics, Larry Bird included. Bird always had (still has, even though he wears designer suits as the Indiana Pacers' president of basketball operations) a kind of blue-collar resistance to bosses. He didn't snuggle up to owners or team execs. But when Red came around, Bird always treated him with deference. I can still see them huddled together after practice, Bird leaning over and laughing as Red gestured with his cigar, at times, in the later years, unlit. There was always an attempt around Celtic Land to sell the idea that Red was involved in every decision, even into the 1990s. That wasn't the case. Red was a guy who had bamboozled the rest of the league for years with his knack for recognizing talent and motivating his guys, and he simply didn't have the patience to sit in his office and study, say, the ramifications of the salary cap. But he was consulted on major issues, for, on certain matters, there is nothing that beats seat-of-the-pants instincts; for over three decades, Red's were as good as anyone's. An outsider can only guess, ultimately, what the latter-day Celtics got from this man who won his first championship when cities like Fort Wayne and Rochester and Syracuse had pro franchises. But I think it was a sense of bravado. Red never lost it. He walked in a building -- any building -- and it was 1957 all over again and he was going to smirk at you, turn his boys loose, kick your ass, then light a victory cigar in your face. His self-confidence was contagious, and if the current Celtics weren't rolling over the opposition like the old Celtics did, well, their feeling was: Red is still here and we just might do it again. Red is not there anymore and, already, the Celtics -- and the game itself -- feels a little less special.

3) From Ken Shouler of ESPN.com

"One night, during a bad snowstorm in Boston, [player-coach Bill] Russell wasn't able to get to the game. So Red was the substitute coach that night. "Early in the game I missed a few shots in a row that I normally expect to make. My head was kind of hangin' a little bit. "Red called a timeout and he says to me, 'Howell, forget about missing those shots. I will worry about you missing those shots. You just remember if you get any more like that, if you don't take them, you gonna be over here on the bench with me.' "So I went out and started callin' for the ball; I thought I had a hot hand. "He was a master at handling people -- a master psychologist." Time and again you hear Celtics describing Red as "a player's coach." To the world outside his own huddles and locker room he was ornery and miserable, a boisterous dynamo who peered at you through cigar smoke after his troops had impaled yours. But not with his own players. He supported them. He had their backs. They knew it, so they did everything to please him. He emphasized people far more than X's and O's. "Red Auerbach convinced his players that he loved them," said Earl Lloyd, the NBA's first African-American player. "So all they wanted to do was please him." It was the best way of getting the maximum from his squad. He did it to squeeze even the slightest of advantages from situations. Sure, he could be the consummate actor on the sidelines -- waving his arms, stomping his feet, tearing at his hair. He received more fines and was thrown out of more games than any other NBA coach. He was even tossed out while coaching the All-Star Game in San Francisco's Cow Palace in 1967, Rick Barry recalled with a laugh. What does Lloyd remember most about Auerbach's teams? "That they won more than anybody else," he laughs. "That about sums it up." Before Auerbach's nine championships in 10 years (1957-66), before the signature victory cigar on the bench that signaled the enemy was somewhere between simmering and cooked, before Celtic mystique and the parquet floors, there was Brooklyn. Arnold Jacob Auerbach was born on Sept. 20, 1917, the son of Marie Thompson and Hyman Auerbach, a Russian immigrant. Red grew up in the familiar and hardscrabble Brooklyn neighborhood called Williamsburg, where his father ran a dry cleaners. Red helped out with some of the pressing duties and also earned nickels washing taxi cabs. He was a teenager during the Depression, when unemployment in New York rose as high as 50 percent. "I appreciated the fact that my father was a hard-working man," Red once recalled, explaining his father's influence. "Also that he was well liked." Auerbach gravitated to basketball because that's what he had. "In my area of Brooklyn there was no football, no baseball," he said. "They were too expensive. They didn't have the practice fields. We played basketball and handball and some softball in the street." Red, who stood 5-foot-9, went to Eastern District High School and began courting basketball. As a senior, he made all-Brooklyn, second team. After Seth Low Junior College (part of Columbia University) closed in Brooklyn during his freshman year, he transferred to George Washington University in Washington, D.C. It was there at GW, under coach Bill Reinhart, that he learned the running game that would later become a Celtics trademark. With Reinhart's recommendation, Auerbach landed a position as basketball director at prestigious St. Albans Prep in suburban Washington. Coaching, not playing, was his future. He married Dorothy Lewis in the spring of 1941. He also got his master's degree and joined the faculty at Roosevelt High School in Washington, teaching history, health and physical education. An article that he wrote on indoor obstacle courses for the Journal of Health and Physical Education was the beginning of a publishing career that eventually included five basketball books, translated into a half-dozen languages. To make extra money, he refereed basketball games. In 1943 he enlisted in the Navy. By the time Auerbach was discharged in 1946, Walter Brown had helped start the Basketball Association of America. Mike Uline, owner of the Washington Caps, wanted to hire Auerbach as coach. But Auerbach was married and soon to start a family, so the move was risky for him. "I had a permanent job already, but I felt I could always get a job if it didn't work out," he recalled. He took the job, filling a roster with the names of players he remembered from his days in the Navy. Red was only 29. "Some of the guys on the team were older than me," he said. "I just sold the guy a bill of goods to get the job. A lot of guys had better credentials." He paid no one on the team more than $8,500 and insisted on defense and conditioning from his players. In the 1946-47 season, his team finished 49-11. After three years of coaching the Washington Capitols and the Tri-Cities Blackhawks of Iowa in the BAA, and winning 143 of 225 games, he was hired by Brown to coach the NBA's Boston Celtics. Brown was in debt and looking for a head coach for one last go-around with Boston. Fortunately, Auerbach had Bob Cousy during his first year at the helm, helping him turn the Celtics from a 22-46 team in 1949 into a 39-30 team in 1950. Cousy was good right out of the box, scoring 15.6 points and averaging nearly five assists a game in his rookie year. But Auerbach almost didn't get him. Auerbach wasn't short on opinions about who should play on his team. "Am I supposed to win here, or take care of local yokels?" he asked, suggesting that Cousy was touted merely because he played at nearby Holy Cross. Auerbach passed on Cousy in the draft, instead selecting 6-11 center Charlie Share. Local fans were irate. Due to outrageous fortune -- several teams had folded -- Brown offered Cousy $9,000 a year. He signed. Had Cousy taken umbrage at Auerbach's "local yokel" remark and not signed, things might have turned out very differently. Celtic luck may have been born right there. Besides Cousy, the Celtics had a 20-point scorer in Ed Macauley. "We had a good team, but we would get tired in the end and couldn't get the ball," Red recalled. A big man was sorely lacking. "We were good, but hadn't won yet," Cousy said. "But I remember one day in 1956, Red said, 'I think I'm getting a guy that will change things.'" To get Bill Russell required some legendary maneuvering that would take its place in Celtics lore. Rochester was drafting first, with St. Louis second, and the whole world knew about Russell's exploits at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, and at the University of San Francisco, where his team won 55 straight. Rochester was strong up front and looked to draft Sihugo Green. Brown gave Rochester team manager Les Harrison additional incentive to avoid Russell. If Harrison passed on Russell, Brown would arrange for Rochester to get the touring Ice Capades two weeks later. Recalled Auerbach: "Walter got him the Ice Capades, and Harrison said, 'I give you my word that we'll stay away from Russell.'" But all this would have been for naught if St. Louis had picked Russell second. Auerbach called Ben Kerner to see if he would make a deal. Auerbach offered All-Star Macauley. Kerner badly needed stars to keep his franchise afloat, so he asked for Cliff Hagan, too. Auerbach agreed. With Russell in the pivot, the Celtics had a spider-armed, tireless intimidator. He had run track in college and could outrun everyone on the team. "Russell could change a game without scoring," says Don Nelson, a teammate of Russell's in the 1960s. Cousy recalled how Russell would deliberately goal-tend a few shots at the outset of the game -- just to intimidate the other team. He also recalls that Russell's fury on the court was owed in part to the racial slurs he endured. "What made him special was his fantastic reactions," Red remembered. "He was a brilliant guy; you couldn't fool him twice. He had long arms. He was interested in defense. Most big men were interested in scoring. Russell was the opposite; he'd let the other guys shoot the ball." In his first year, Russell led the team in rebounding. Behind rookie Tommy Heinsohn's 37 points, the Celtics won their first world championship that year, winning Game 7 in an agonizing three overtimes, 125-123. In 1958, Russell injured his ankle in the Finals against St. Louis and the Hawks won in six games. It was the last time any team other than Boston would win the title for eight straight years. Former NBA coach Hubie Brown remembered what worked so well: "[Red] had a relentless fast break, pressure defense and Bill Russell in the back that allowed him to play this style. They were also very organized in their play sets. Then, I feel he had the ability to motivate them individually, because it is extremely difficult to maintain excellence. It comes down to that ability to maintain excellence. He knew how to push the right button on each guy to get him to be subservient to the team." Through it all, Red typically ate Chinese food in his room between games, conserving his energy for the grueling travel demands that included more trains and cars than planes. The 1960-61 squad may have been the Celtics' finest under Auerbach. The team went 57-22 and, amazingly, had six scorers averaging between 15 and 21 points a game without one finishing in the top 10. As Brown observed, under Auerbach, the Celtics understood the maxim "There is no 'I' in team." "In any good coach is the ability to communicate," Auerbach explained. "In other words, a lot of coaches know their X's and O's, but the players must absorb it. Team was important. We didn't care who the starting five was. The sixth-man concept was my idea." Frank Ramsey and John Havlicek were the first two players to perform in that role. Auerbach could be a taskmaster in practice. Sure, the Celtics were knee-deep in talent, but they also worked harder than other teams. "Defense and conditioning were the best parts of those teams," says former Celtic Tom "Satch" Sanders. "In those days you had eight teams, 10 guys, 80 players altogether," Brown said. "Nobody had a two-year contract. Everybody played year-to-year." Boston took on all comers, but Los Angeles in particular was victimized more than the rest. In the 1960s, the Lakers never quite had enough to get them over the top. Six different times in the playoffs (1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, and 1969) the Lakers ran out of gas against Boston. Three of those series went the full seven games. As the Celtics' routinely whipped the opposition, Red would frequently sit back and enjoy the end of the game -- with a cigar. Hence, the "victory cigar." "It all boils down to this," Auerbach said. "I used to hate these college coaches or any coach that was 25 points ahead with three minutes left to go, and they're up pacing and they're yelling and coaching because they're on TV, and they want their picture on, and they get recognition. To me, the game was over. The day's work is done. Worry about the next game. "So I would light a cigar and sit on the bench and just watch it. The game was over, for all intents and purposes. I didn't want to rub anything in or show anybody what a great coach I was when I was 25 points ahead. Why? I gotta win by 30? What the hell difference does it make? "The commissioner [Maurice Podoloff] said you can't smoke the cigars on the bench. But there were guys smoking cigarettes on the bench. I said, 'What is this, an airplane -- you can smoke cigarettes but not cigars?' No way. I wouldn't do it." Sanders didn't mind the smoke on the bench, "but the locker room was another story; it was close quarters in there!" Would Red put out his cigar? "Are you kidding?" Sanders snaps. "I smoked all different cigars at that time," Auerbach says. "Sometimes fans would give me some. I did TV promotions for King Edwards." On April 28, 1966, Auerbach, who earlier in the season had announced he'd be retiring, coached his last official game. Appropriately, it was a Game 7, at Boston Garden, against Los Angeles. Russell had 25 points and 32 rebounds, enough to offset Jerry West's 36 points, and the Celtics narrowly won, 95-93. Red's victory cigar was knocked from his mouth by the surging crowd. He lit up another in the dressing room and Russell pointed to Auerbach, saying, "There is the man. This is his team. He puts it together. He makes us win." The Celtics had copped nine world championships in the Auerbach era, and he retired with a record 938 wins. After Russell's 11th title and retirement in 1969, word around the league was that Red had won with Russell, but wouldn't without him. Hubie Brown is unimpressed with that view. "He had Russell, and he won. You think about this," Brown said. "Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor never won. That's the answer to that. Go up to when Red retired [when he appointed Russell as player-coach]. Elgin Baylor, Bob Pettit, Oscar Robertson, West and Chamberlain were the best all-time at that point. Los Angeles got three of them and couldn't win." And win again, Red would. With Havlicek, Jo Jo White and Dave Cowens leading the way, the Celtics, with Auerbach as general manager, won two world championships in the 1970s -- the only team besides New York to accomplish that feat. However, after Havlicek departed in 1978, the Celtics went through lean times again. In two years, the Celtics won 61 games and lost 103. So Auerbach went to work on a player from Indiana State named Larry Bird. Five teams had passed on drafting Bird in the first round in his junior year. "They didn't know he'd be that good, and I didn't either," Auerbach said. "I only saw him play once." But Auerbach didn't pass on him. Picking sixth, he thought Bird would be impressed with the Celtics' history and mystique and would eventually sign without re-entering the draft. It is due to this kind of maneuvering that Auerbach is often regarded as the greatest NBA executive of all time, in addition to his coaching achievements. He scouted talent, recognized it, saw how it would aid his team and signed the player. The Celtics won only 29 games in the 1978-1979 season but leapt to 61 wins the following year with Bird, who averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds a game. In Bird's second year, the Celtics took their 14th NBA title, first knocking off Julius Erving's 76ers and then Moses Malone's Rockets. Two more titles in 1984 and 1986 ran Red's total to 16. Auerbach's singular managerial greatness was again evidenced in 1986. He was plotting the future, even while the Celtics had become what Bird called "the best team I ever played with." Red had been following the fortunes of the Seattle SuperSonics. In the previous two years they had won only 31 games, and Red knew he could trade a respectable player for a draft pick or two. He gave up Gerald Henderson to acquire Seattle's first-round pick, which turned out to be the second pick in the draft. He snapped up a most unusual athlete. In Maryland's Len Bias, Auerbach acquired the size of a young Karl Malone and the ball handling and perimeter shooting skills of a guard in one package. When Bias came to Boston for a visit, he said to Celtics executive vice president Jan Volk, "Please draft me." As commissioner David Stern announced the selection of Bias on national television, the young man beamed and wore a Celtics hat to the podium. Hours later he would be dead of a cocaine overdose. "I was shocked," Red recalled, saying no more.
"It's the cruelest thing I ever heard," Bird added. Beginning with Bias' death and then the early retirements of Kevin McHale and Bird and the sudden death of Reggie Lewis in the summer of 1993, Boston endured a most un-Celtic-like string of bad luck. Now no one dared to speak about the lucky leprechauns who slept beneath the floorboards to tilt the game. Forget Irish fable. The Celtics set off on a Greek tragedy, as if paying off a debt for all their hubris and good fortune. Had Bias lived, his presence might well have extended the careers of Bird and McHale and would have given Boston a good shot at another title or two in the late 1980s. Now, it's been almost 20 years since the team won it all. By the early 1990s, Red was not as active in the day-to-day operations as he once was. "I don't have the desire and the say anymore," once Red told me in a Chinese restaurant, surrounded by shrimp and lobster sauce, fried rice and a platter of fish and beef goodies. "In other words, I can't see myself getting on the phone three and four hours a day and calling this owner and wheeling and dealing. I don't want to do that. To make a deal, you gotta be on the phone all the time." Even while recovering from heart surgery, Red explained that he still enjoyed racquetball and his favorite Nicaraguan Hoyo de Monterrey cigars -- two a day. At Legal Sea Foods restaurant in Boston, a note on the menu read: "No cigar or pipe smoking, except for Red Auerbach." Despite retreating from the basketball scene, Red could still fire off in-your-face opinions. In June he told me, in earnest, that a "Dream Team" made up of players from the late 1940s to mid-'70s could beat a new dream team. "If I was starting a team, I would take Russell," he said. Auerbach's loyalty to his own players, who emerged victorious in 16 NBA seasons, is understandable, and it went both ways. He once told the story about his 75th birthday party, when about 45 of his players showed up from all over the country. "When you treat people good, they will want to reciprocate," Red said. "We're the only team with alumni like that. We're a real group." Then he continued picking his team. "If I was picking 12 all-time guys, I would include Russell, [Kareem] Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain, Bird, Baylor, Pettit, Dr. J [Erving], Magic [Earvin Johnson], Michael Jordan, Oscar [Robertson], Cousy and Havlicek. You can make a case for about five or six guys being the greatest of all time: Bird, Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, Jordan, Russell, Oscar."
But since his 30-year team (dividing the 59-year history of the game in half) would include Russell, Pettit, Baylor, Robertson and West -- with Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain, Havlicek, Cousy and Erving off the bench -- it's hard to argue that the newer guys would run away with it. But who would guard Jordan, I asked. "We'd wear him down with Havlicek and West," Red insisted, noting the need for two fresh defenders. "Besides, who would outrebound our front line of Chamberlain and Russell and Pettit? We would get a load of offensive rebounds and control our defensive boards." There he was, full throttle into this contest of his own conjuring. He was envisioning the competition in his mind, perhaps seeing it played out on some distant court. You could see him coaching his dream team, see him imploring Russell to get a defensive stop, encouraging Chamberlain to take care of the defensive boards, shouting at Mendy Rudolph to let the contact go on Jordan. Who would be better for the task? Who could get more out of his team? Who better to work for an edge, to milk every advantage right to the end? None better than Red.

4) Chris Sheriden of ESPN.com:

Remembering Red

Got word of the passing of Red Auerbach tonight, almost one year to the date from the night when I last saw him. It was opening night in Boston a year ago, and Red was feeling good enough after three separate hospital stays to make the ride up from his home in Washington, D.C., to see his beloved Celtics -- although I'm not sure how beloved they were to him over the past couple of years.
Red was sitting in a chair in the hallway past the visitors' locker room, and the media were invited to come speak to him. We lined up in sort of a semicircle around him, and I found it a bit weird how no one wanted to get too close to him. It was Red in his chair, then 10 feet of space, then the ink-stained wretches and TV types. I asked Red if he had heard from Phil Jackson (whose nine NBA coaching titles equal Red's nine) during his hospital stay. I had always been told there was practically no relationship whatsoever between the two, and I was curious as to whether Phil had reached out to Red when he saw how sick Red had been. But Red's answer was, "No." I'm not old enough to remember Red as a coach. My first exposure to him was during halftime of the old CBS telecasts when "Red on Roundball" would be a weekly segment. I didn't get to see it every week, though, because my dad was a Bucks fan and hated all things about the Celtics, topped only by his distaste for the Bulls (he's still no big fan of Jerry Sloan), and he would often use Red's segment as an opportunity to temporarily turn the channel dial (no remote controls in those days) to an auto race or a golf tournament. I didn't see whether Red had a cigar with him that night a year ago when I last encountered him. Lighting a victory cigar was his trademark during the Celtics' incredible run of titles in the 1960s, and he would have had an opportunity to light one up later that evening after the Celtics defeated the Knicks in overtime. But there undoubtedly would have been a security guard asking Red to extinguish that stogie if he had lighted it up before leaving the building. All smoking is banned up in the new Boston Garden, and they stopped bending the rules for anyone a couple seasons ago after broadcaster and former coach Tommy Heinsohn gave it up. So intolerant are they toward smokers these days in Beantown, I reckon even Red would have been scolded into extinguishing it. But Red is probably free to light one up now, wherever he is, just as Phil Jackson is free to send a stogie -- or at least some flowers -- to the funeral home before Red is buried. I hope he does. Red died still holding a share of the record for the most championships won by a coach, and he passed away just a couple days before the Celtics become the 30th and final NBA franchise to employ a dance team ... a type of entertainment Red abhorred. When the NBA used to have the Celtics fill out a form listing their in-arena entertainment, the front office would always fill in: "Ballboy rolled ball rack to center court." Still holding at least a share of the lead in titles with Phil, along with never having had to witness dancers on his parquet, seems to me like a double victory for Red. I hope he's enjoying both with a nice big cigar.

Here's my Fantasy team:

Guards
Jason Richardson, Golden State Warriors
Raymond Felton, Charlotte Bobcats
Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic

Comments: Richardson has improved in every category consistently for 5 years…Nelson’s assists will climb with the emergence of Darko and the superstardom of Dwight Howard…Felton was the 2nd best PG in the league over the last 20 games of last year and will supplant Brevin Knight as starter this year…

Forwards
Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Richard Jefferson, New Jersey Nets

Comments: KG is always a top 5 fantasy pick and will be motivated after a sub-par year in 05-06…Howard will post David Robinson numbers this year…Richard Jefferson is a stat stuffer and picked up 10-15 lbs. of muscle in the off-season, so he’ll probably go to the line a lot more…

Centres
Tyson Chandler, New Orleans Hornets
Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat

Comment: Chandler will improve in every category simply by sharing the same locker room as Chris Paul…Mourning led the league in blocks per 48 minutes (6.4!!!) and will spell Shaq when the inevitable injury occurs…

Bench:
G Randy Foye, Minnesota Timberwolves
G Larry Hughes, Cleveland Cavaliers
G Mike Miller, Memphis Grizzlies
G Smush Parker, Los Angeles Lakers
F Antoine Walker, Miami Heat
C Primoz Brezec, Charlotte Bobcats

Comment: Foye is a can’t miss star and will eventually cause a SG controversy with Mike James and Ricky Davis…Hughes is a steals king if he stays healthy…Miller shoots a lot of threes, Parker also gets a lot of steals when he’s not getting undressed by Steve Nash in the playoffs…Walker fills points, boards, assists and threes…Brezec is a 15 and 7 guy who is good insurance at C…

Weird: Dallas Cowboys passing game coordinator Todd Haley is suing a suburban McDonald's after claiming his wife and their family's au pair found a dead rat in their salad. The lawsuit filed Thursday in state district court seeks $1.7 million in damages, The Dallas Morning News reported on its Web site.

Here is the quote of the year from Raptors rookie Andrea Bargnani: "The three-point shot is the easier shot…I think so, because when you shoot the two-point shot the distance from the basket is always different. Maybe you are 10 feet, maybe you are 15 feet, but you always have to change your shot for the distance. When you shoot the three-point shot, the distance is always the same. The shot is always the same. It's easier to me.''…lets hope so…

Fantasy notes: Sonics C Robert Swift probably out for the season with a knee injury…Hawks SF Marvin Williams out 6-8 weeks with a broken hand…

Fantastic NBA journal on ESPN.com written by Suns SG Raja Bell: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?id=2637076

Did you see this highlight? Wow…Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo got into it with a fan who allegedly yelled racist slurs at him in the third quarter of the Rockets' preseason loss to the Orlando Magic on Thursday night. Mutombo yelled at the man and gestured back. The fan was ejected. No action was taken against Mutombo. "I am not going to take that. He was insulting my race, my family, my integrity. For him to call me a monkey ... that should not happen today," Mutombo said. "If I get fined, I will go straight into the stands the next time." Magic spokesman Joel Glass said the matter was turned over to NBA security…

As you know, NBA refs have received a clear mandate to T up any6 over-the-top whining and gesticulating by players….the T results in an automatic $1,000 fine… T-Wolves PF Kevin Garnett had this to say after watching teammates Mark Blount and Marko Jaric get T’d up in an exhibition against the Bucks: "You can't really speak to the refs. The refs don't want to hear it," That's almost like Communism. That's like Castro." Overstatement is an art they say…

Paul Forrester of SI.com with his 12 burning questions about the upcoming NBA season:

The 12 hottest questions - We sought out expert advice for these dozen answers

1. Who will assert himself as the NBA's best player? Nagging foot injuries aside, Tim Duncan is still the gatekeeper to the NBA title. But this mythical award isn't reserved for the league's most influential player. This is for the league's best overall talent, the player who can fill up a boxscore, hit the game-winner, ice the contest with key free throws and make the game-clinching steal. By our estimation, that leaves three legitimate candidates:

• Kobe Bryant - Says a league scout, "Ask yourself the following: If you had one possession on offense to win, who would you want to have the ball? If you had to have one defensive stop to win, who would you want to cover the ball? It is hard to imagine you would want anyone else, past or present, to answer the call. He is capable of playing multiple positions and dominates both sides of the ball. We ask champions to never back down from a challenge and to step up when it's time to do so, all of which Kobe has accomplished. We recognize greatness because it thrives under pressure, so does Kobe."

• LeBron James - The only player other than Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan to average at least 30 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for a season, James enters his fourth season as a favorite to win the MVP award this season. This for a man who wasn't legally allowed to order a drink until last December. James' skills set isn't much different than Bryant's or Dwyane Wade's, it's that his 6-foot-8, 240-pound size -- and Cleveland's need -- allows him to use those skills for longer stretches of time. "The big difference was that LeBron played so many more minutes [last season]," a front-office consultant says. "Part of that was probably because Cleveland didn't have as much additional support, so on the nights that LeBron wasn't playing that well, the Cavs lost." Last season, only Gilbert Arenas played more minutes than James, who averaged nearly two more minutes a game than Bryant.

• Dwyane Wade - It's difficult to make a case against Wade after he almost single-handedly dragged the Heat out of an 0-2 hole to win the title in June. "He stepped up and did everything that had to be done," a Western conference scout says of Wade's Finals MVP performance. "Kobe Bryant's a fabulous player, but I don't like what he's done without Shaq, and LeBron hasn't shown me he's capable of leading a team to a championship, but Dwyane Wade has."

Our verdict: Wade's championship credentials have made him the fashionable pick, LeBron is an appearance in the Finals away, but when, as a scout says, "you are the player all others compare themselves to," well, Kobe can take the last shot for us, anytime.

2. Does Shaq have anything left in the tank? After posting career-low averages during the 2005-06 regular season in points and rebounds, Shaquille O'Neal was even less productive in the Finals, averaging 13.7 points and blocking less than a shot a game. All that despite getting unprecedented rest during the regular season, as he averaged less than 31 minutes a game, a career low. Although Wade and a spry Alonzo Mourning helped secure the Diesel's fourth title, the Heat won't be so fortunate should Shaq offer so little over the course of an entire regular season. But Pat Riley's no fool; Shaq's minutes will likely be more limited than ever this season in hopes of guiding an aging O'Neal into shape by the postseason. "Diesels have two tanks," a scout says. "One for long hauls and another for short (28-game playoff) runs. In the regular season, Shaq will show up for the first quarter and average 29.9 minutes per game for roughly 55-60 games. When big games appear on the schedule, so will the dominating Shaq. Nonetheless, the Heat will still clear 55 wins because of wonder boy Wade." But this team, and its repeat chances, still revolves around the big fella. "When you have to gameplan and he's around that basket, that really makes you make a decision," says John Hammond, VP of a Pistons team than knows all too well the dangers inherent in facing O'Neal. "He catches in the post, he kicks out, he re-posts. It's a very, very difficult matchup."

3. Will Isiah Thomas save the Knicks, or even his job? Bad news, Knicks fans -- Isiah Thomas isn't going anywhere this season. Tasked to make progress this year by team owner James Dolan, Isiah should have little problem coaxing this definition of dysfunction to more than the 23 wins they produced last year. "Larry Brown just made that whole atmosphere there so poisonous that you could coach that team to more wins," a team consultant says. "Isiah doesn't have to be the greatest coach in the world, but he can probably get more wins out them by just letting the guys play and have some fun." Thomas likely will employ a wide-open, up-tempo pace that relies heavily on the plethora of versatile guards he has acquired as the club's GM. But will it satisfy the often impatient Dolan? Progress, of course, is a relative term. Will 25 wins keep Isiah employed? 30? No matter, because if Isiah's past work is any indication, any improvement is likely to be a modest one at best. "I scouted Isiah a lot when he was coaching Indiana and, in all honesty, I didn't see him bring a lot to the table," says a former Central Division scout. "I never really had much of an understanding of what he was trying to do and I often had a feeling that he didn't have an understanding of it either. "There was one time they had Reggie Miller bring the ball up the floor on the first possession. He passes the ball to the wing and he goes and posts up. The [scout] next to me throws his pen down and starts cursing. I said, 'What's the matter?' He said, 'I saw them play last night and they did the same thing.' And they did -- every possession in the first half, but not once in the second half." Enjoy, New York -- he's all yours.

4. Will Kobe learn to share? Perhaps an equally important question is: Should Kobe Bryant share? "Nine times out of 10, the formula rings true that a Kobe shot, open or contested, is probably better than most other players open shots," an NBA scout says. "The truth is he might be the best available option on every play he is involved with." Even so, Kobe averaged more than four assists a game last season, a year after he averaged six dimes a night in his first season without Shaq as a teammate. As prolific a passer as he is (4.5 apg for his career), Kobe has rarely been a willing passer, a function in part of his distrust of his teammates but even more because of his supreme confidence in his abilities. "I think the one thing that keeps Kobe from being as great as he could be is a sense with him that every third play down the court, he has to do something that makes the crowd go, 'Wow, nobody else could have hit that shot,'" says a team consultant. "I think Kobe sometimes will pass up an easy opportunity so he can make a more difficult shot." As every superstar has learned -- and Kobe is finding out -- no team can expect to make any legitimate playoff noise off of the hand of one player. Lamar Odom and Vladimir Radmanovic are no Robert Horry and Derek Fisher, but they aren't Von Wafer or Brian Cook, either. After two years of proving he can be "the man," Kobe has an opportunity to burnish his legacy by making the Lakers better than they should be. That will require a level of sacrifice Kobe has yet to demonstrate -- and few expect he ever will.

5. Can the Pistons recover from the loss of Big Ben? Replacing Ben Wallace with Nazr Mohammed is a little like trading in a Range Rover for a Toyota Corolla. The Pistons' new car will work efficiently, but it'll be woefully underpowered when Detroit needs to gain some separation on the road to the playoffs. Mohammed isn't a bad player -- on a per-minute basis, he grabs as many boards and scores twice as much as Big Ben -- but Wallace was the one player Detroit had who was a legitimate difference-maker, a player few teams could effectively counter. Still, the Pistons return 4/5ths of a starting lineup that has reached four consecutive Eastern Conference finals, a safety blanket Detroit will rely on. "We're not going to say, well, Ben's not here, so those four guys are going to play differently," says Pistons VP John Hammond. "We looked at the free-agent class and asked who's a player that we like that we think will help us continue at the same pace that we've been playing at for the last couple of years. We had one guy in mind and that was Nazr." With Flip Saunders calling the shots, that pace has become decidedly open on both sides of the floor. While Detroit's scoring improved to 13th in '05-06 from 24th the season before, the club's defensive field-goal percentage allowed fell from fifth to 13th. The numbers aren't indicative of a team in crisis, but they do suggest a team in slow decline. And with every step the Pistons take further from the title won in 2004, they draw closer to an ugly abyss. "That's one of the dangers of having a real veteran team," a team consultant says. "If things don't go well, then you've got four or five guys who feel like they could coach it themselves, and they can make that a lot tougher for a coach." Though Saunders has the support of management, that means nothing on a bench of players who were quick to point fingers last spring when their playoff end was near. With Wallace now 300 miles to the west, that end may come a lot quicker this season.

6. What do the Mavericks need to get over the top? Not much, considering they won 60 games last season, reached the Western Conference finals and were a quarter away from taking an insurmountable three-games-to-none lead in the Finals. Of course, as we all know, they stumbled while trying to take that final step. So what to do? Well, they tweaked the bench a bit, adding a dash of defense with Greg Buckner and Devean George and a pinch of offense with Anthony Johnson and Austin Croshere. "We wanted to improve our depth and increase our flexibility," Mavs owner Mark Cuban says via an e-mail to SI.com. "Now our defenders can also score and spread the defense." Plus, Cuban has solidified the team's future, with Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Josh Howard and coach Avery Johnson all signing new deals the last few months. Talent has never been at issue in Dallas during the Cuban era; tenacity has been. "It's all an attitude thing," a Western Conference scout says. "As long as they feel like they're being victimized, I don't feel like they're going to reach their full potential. And I think their owner hurts them that way. "He's at every game, he's on the bench, he's screaming about every call. It's a tremendous distraction and it's got to affect the players. You don't worry about things you can't control; you're wasting your energy and misplacing your focus. "They need to just go out and be aggressive and let the chips fall where they may."

7. Will Amaré Stoudemire's return help the Suns reach the Finals? On paper, the return from injury of a 20-point, nine-rebound 23-year-old talent should be enough to bridge the gap from two-time conference finalist to NBA finalist. "He is a perfect fit for their style of play and is exactly what they were lacking against Dallas last season," one scout says. "The West is flexible enough to adapt to Phoenix's style over a seven-game series. The Suns needed Amaré's versatility to dominate inside and increase their scoring and floor balance." Of course, the Suns still won 54 games without him and extended the Mavs to six games in the West finals, which -- if the MVP vote was any indication -- mostly had to do with having Steve Nash on the floor. Really, though, it had as just as much to do with Shawn Marion. In 41 minutes a night last season, Marion averaged 22 points, 12 boards, two blocks and shot a career-high 52.5 percent from the floor and a respectable 33 percent from behind the arc, all without the protective presence of Stoudemire. "To be able to have a guy like Marion play the 4 radically changes how the Suns can play," a consultant says. "And he does it at both ends. Amaré hasn't quite figured out defense yet; he gives up a lot on the [defensive] end." Until he -- and the Suns -- stop being so generous defensively, Phoenix will remain a Western bridesmaid.

8. Is San Antonio's window of opportunity about to close?

It sure seems that way, doesn't it, what with their second-round playoff exit last spring and all of the preseason love that Dallas and Phoenix are receiving. But don't forget that this team was only a bad foul by Manu Ginobili away from dispatching the Mavs in seven games. Also, don't forget that they've added two promising big men in Jackie Butler and Francisco Elson. Oh, and don't forget this team also has a two-time MVP on the roster named Tim Duncan. Yet there's no denying that age and injuries are creeping up on this team. From Robert Horry to Michael Finley to Brent Barry to Jacque Vaughn, the bench is more than veteran -- it's simply old. Also, Duncan and Ginobili were both at less than full strength as they struggled with the aches and pains of playing an average of 100 games a season over the last four years. When healthy and in form, this club has the smarts and skills to win any game in any venue, which should make for another 55-win or more season. When those bones start to feel every minute of their playing days, though, it makes for a vulnerable team. "Their performance in the playoffs, especially against Dallas, against whom they were just terrible on defense, has to be kind of disturbing because that's what they do -- they're a good defensive team," a front-office consultant says. "They tried to go small against Dallas and just had trouble matching up; that's kind of a concern." With a healthy Duncan (coach Gregg Popovich will undoubtedly limit his minutes to that end), the Spurs will reach the Finals. Without? Eva Longoria shouldn't plan for much screen time come June.

9. Will anyone score on the Bulls? Yes -- but it won't be easy, especially after the league's top defense added the four-time Defensive Player of the Year, Ben Wallace. "Pound for pound, game for game, play for play, possession for possession [the Bulls] are the hardest working team in the NBA," a scout says. "[Now] they have aligned a defensive-minded player with a defensive-minded coach on one of the most resilient teams in the league, which combines the No. 1 individual defender with the league's No. 1 field-goal percentage and two-point field-goal percentage allowed defense. It is like a pre-arranged marriage that should last a lifetime." But is it the power couple GM John Paxson hopes it will become? Not without a little more firepower. Chicago hasn't ranked higher than 22nd in field-goal shooting in three years. And consider this: "The Bulls were among the bottom five in the NBA for points in the paint, field-goal percentage inside five feet and percentage of total points from within five feet," adds the scout. "Chicago was a perimeter-based team that relied on outside shooting to make up for inside scoring. The Bulls also were 28th in percentage of points coming from the free throw line." Now manning the middle will be Wallace, who has averaged fewer than seven points a game and shot 42 percent from the line over his career. "Wallace might even be worse than [Tyson] Chandler," notes a front office insider. "They better hope Ben Gordon doesn't get hurt. He's a good player, but for a guy who's not a superstar, there's probably no team that relies on a player for more scoring than they do for him. It's probably even more critical this year. [Coach Scott] Skiles does have a creative playbook, but he doesn't have a lot to work with there." With the league increasingly protecting offensive players by calling defensive play ever tighter, Chicago may regret not saving a little of the $60 million they spent to get Big Ben to add someone who can put the ball in the hoop, rather than keeping it out.

10. Will Don Nelson's return end the Warriors' playoff drought? It has been 12 years since Golden State reached the NBA's second season. Guess who the coach was? Don Nelson, in his return engagement in Northern California, should feel right at home taking over a club with an oddly fitting collection of talents. Troy Murphy is a long-range shooter in a power forward's body. Jason Richardson is a shooting guard without 3-point range. Baron Davis is one of the game's most dynamic point guards but can't stay healthy. And Mike Dunleavy is, hmmm, we'll get back to you on that. "The thing that Nelson is particularly good at is taking guys who have unusual skills and finding a way to have them play in a manner that best suits those skills,"a front office consultant says.
Indeed, Nelson has already donned his lab coat this fall, shifting Murphy to center and eyeing Dunleavy as a point forward. But it often seems that Nellie is as interested in producing unconventional matchups as he is in winning. "I'm not a big fan of his style," a Western Conference scout says. "I think he distorts the game. He spends too much time trying to tweak the rules instead of just playing meat-and-potatoes basketball: play defense, rebound, bang people and move the ball around so you've got an open guy getting the shot." No amount of matchup juggling can overcome a relatively thin talent pool of Warriors talent in a beastly West. In other words, Golden State may be fun to watch this season, but the playoff drought should hold fast.

11. Which teams are on the rise? Houston Rockets…A healthy Tracy McGrady is back -- at least to start the season -- as is Yao Ming, who averaged almost 26 points, 12 rebounds while shooting nearly 54 percent after the All-Star break last season. And holding it all together is the NBA's ultimate glue guy, Shane Battier, acquired in a draft night trade from Memphis. "Obviously a lot hinges on the health of Yao and, in particular, McGrady," notes a front office consultant. "But I love Battier for this team; he's great off the ball defender; on offense he doesn't score a lot, but he doesn't make any mistakes and never turns the ball over. You've also got to guard him on the 3-point line, which allows him to take his guy away from the other scorers, which is a lot more valuable than a lot of teams realize. "With a healthy McGrady and Battier spreading the floor, it'll be hard for teams to counter Yao, who has stretches where he appears to be almost as dominant as any player in the NBA." Assuming McGrady keeps in touch with his chiropractor and Yao his orthopedist, the Western Conference playoff race should make room for one more….Orlando Magic…With Jameer Nelson running the point and Darko Milicic doing all he could to prove the Pistons were wrong to trade him, the Magic won 16 of their last 20 games to end last season. Of course, they didn't do it alone, not when Dwight Howard was busy becoming the league's second-leading rebounder at the age of 20 and Hedo Turkoglu quietly filling in some of the scoring load (including shooting 40 percent from long range) left vacant yet again by an injured Grant Hill. Undoubtedly, part of the Magic's last season-run came at the expense of veteran teams either playing out the campaign or pacing themselves for the playoffs. But as an Eastern Conference scout notes: "If they can stay healthy and ride the momentum of last year's finish, they will be in the hunt come April."

12. Which teams are on the decline? Memphis Grizzlies…Just bad timing for these guys. After trading and drafting to get younger, the Grizzlies saw the core ingredient who will keep them afloat in the playoff race, Pau Gasol, sidelined for a few months of the season with a broken foot suffered in the World Championships. "They have the most underrated team/coach in the league, but they will struggle due to Pau's injury," an opposing scout predicts. "And their offseason moves for more youth and athleticism might take a few seasons to harvest." That won't make for an easy sell to an increasingly disinterested Memphis community for new owners Brian Davis and Christian Laettner…Detroit Pistons…Not only did they lose the player who defined them, the Pistons now have placed their faith in Rasheed Wallace to play the good soldier through what is likely to be at least a subtle downturn in their regular-season fortunes. Good luck with that, Flip Saunders. Even more daunting is the prospect that the Pistons' luck in keeping their starting five healthy is due to run out. "No team gets as lucky as long as they've gotten lucky," observes an opposing consultant. "If they just have the normal number of injuries, that's going to be something they've never had to deal with before." And that could mean a fall into the middle of a beastly Central Division.

NBA Fantasy Draft is tonight…just another year of chump smackdowns…

This quick Q & A reveals why the commish is the Man:

ESPN: Have you polled the players about their reactions to the new ball?

Stern: We have a pretty good idea of what the reaction would be whenever you do something different. We don't do polling. That's not leadership.

Wow…and I quote: “We don’t do polling. That’s not leadership.” I think that’s my new personal slogan…

Fantasy note: Andre Miller reported to Training Camp weighing around 220 lbs., about 15-20 lbs. over his playing weight…Suns PG Leandro Barbosa may have a case of “turf toe” which will probably bother him all season…Kings PG Mike Bibby has a badly sprained thumb, out 2 weeks at a minimum…

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

Lakers will likely get off to slow start

As is always the case in Hollywood, regardless of the validity, the soap opera that is the Los Angeles Lakers always enters an NBA season with great expectations. This one is no different. Make that was no different.

1. Item: The Lakers' woes started with Kobe Bryant's lingering recovery from off-season knee surgery, were followed by center Chris Mihm's slow-healing ankle and now include the shoulder problems of Kwame Brown. And that's not to mention coach Phil Jackson's limited availability due to recent hip surgery. What this really means: For all the expectations coming into this season on the heels of nearly knocking off the Suns in the first round, it's going to be slow going coming out of the blocks for the Lakers. Lamar Odom must establish himself as a leader even more now than ever before, something that may prove difficult in the wake of his infant son's tragic death during the off-season. And then there is Jackson, who is expected back opening night. He unequivocally runs the show and knows this is a very long season that must be based on continued growth. They've added Vladimir Radmanovic for his perimeter shooting, and that should help. And they've got Aaron McKie for leadership. Obviously, they are limited until Bryant comes back, and somewhere along the line, they'll develop young 7-footer Andrew Bynum while figuring out what to do with the underachieving Mihm and Brown. If one of them comes around, then they've got a shot at the playoffs and then with Bryant there, anything is possible. But don't count on it. If their nickname didn't happen to be the Lakers, nobody would be talking about them at all.

2. Item: The NBA office has taken on a zero tolerance approach to excessive protests from players toward officials and will fine them $5,000 for every indiscretion, while accruing further penalties from multiple technical fouls. What this really means: It's about time. The histrionics that have gone on for way too long do nothing but detract from the game and the public's perception of the players — which always needs work. Of course, Rasheed Wallace would say it's targeting him. He's been symptomatic of the problem forever. If he can't control himself and quit acting like an 8-year-old, then he doesn't belong out there anyway. Let's face it, the officials have an impossible job. They are wrong plenty. They are right most of the time. And if guys think they are getting picked on because they moan and groan ... they're probably right. Guys who whine all the time have earned the right to get picked on by officials. Now, if they would just act like adults and play the game, it would be better for everybody. Occasional indiscretions on bad calls will probably be worth the fine — but this complaining on virtually every call has to stop and it has to stop now. Grow up.

3. Item: The road to stardom is always filled with obstacles and Toronto Raptors young star forward Chris Bosh has just met another one — plantar fasciitis. What this really means: All the excitement surrounding the start of the Bryan Colangelo era in Toronto — from the acquisition of T.J. Ford to winning the lottery and using that pick to draft Andrea Bargnani — is great. The additions of Kris Humphries, Fred Jones and Anthony Parker should help too. But if Bosh has a foot problem that drags out the entire season, they've got no shot at raising their level of play. Even with him healthy, they're still a long shot to make the playoffs. This is about the big picture. Sure, Colangelo wants to win now and build. He learned how to do it from one of the best — his dad Jerry — who did just that so often in Phoenix with the Suns. But when your team is so limited in the first place, it's imperative your star is healthy and after seeing what Tim Duncan went through last season, Bosh must take it very slow and consider the big picture — for both the final five months of the season and the rest of his career.

4. Item: Often times it's amazing what one special season can do to the value of a player. Evidently, one season as a key component made Boris Diaw worth a five-year, $45 million extension to the Phoenix Suns. What this really means: It is really rare that a young player — only 24 — has two dormant seasons, then has one outstanding year and is rewarded with a huge contract. But the Suns are banking literally and figuratively on the 6-8, 230-pound native of France to provide the kind of versatility and productivity that made him the surprise Most Improved Player in 2005 after coming over from Atlanta in the controversial Joe Johnson deal. Just because Diaw averaged 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists doesn't justify the money, even if he did crank it up in the playoffs — particularly with his unknown role following the return of Amare Stoudemire. Then again, his age and talent are captivating and the teams that keep their players together the longest have the best chance of maintaining success. And keeping Diaw in the fold is at the heart of that matter for the Suns.

5. Item: This time it's the Doctor putting together the big bucks to buy an NBA franchise. Julius Erving, 56, has organized a group to buy the Philadelphia 76ers from Comcast for what reportedly could be a league-record $450 million. What this really means: The Sixers need a revival of some form, and who better to do it than their most popular player of all time, Dr. J? Whether he can rally enough money is one issue. Whether the Sixers are actually worth anywhere close to those numbers is quite something else. It was only five years ago that Larry Brown coached Philly to the NBA Finals, starring Allen Iverson, but it's been downhill ever since. They invested huge amounts of money in mediocre players and adding the enormous contract of a broken-down Chris Webber hasn't helped either. That's not to blame all of this on the team Billy King built around Iverson, but if they fail to make the playoffs for the third year in a row, they'll clearly have to blow up the team and start over. Erving is the perfect name to throw into the mix as a key ingredient in the reconstruction.

6. Item: The list of long-term deals handed out by Mark Cuban as owner of the Dallas Mavericks continues to grow. But as he closes the loop for now and the future, it was imperative he not get into the regular season without attending to the contract extension of Josh Howard. What this really means: Cuban is so focused and pragmatic about what needs to get done to win, nothing could have juiced him more than for the Mavs to win the West, have control of the finals against the Heat, then blow it. It would be a 50-50 shot to assume Cuban knows his own big mouth and profile when the Mavs went up 2-0 played a role in the team losing focus. So this time around, he understands his role even better. The key to all of it is what he understands best about business — prioritizing products. He re-signed Jason Terry, extended Dirk Nowitzki, extended coach Avery Johnson and has now extended Howard, the most versatile of all the players. All that did is guarantee they've got a great shot at competing for the title over the next four years — and that's something the Mavs have never had before.

7. Item: The story of Sacramento Kings coach Eric Musselman's arrest over the weekend for DUI was disturbing on a lot of levels, and it begins with what he sensed looking in the mirror after the nightmare of early Saturday a.m. What this really means: To be fair, anybody who has any inclination to celebrate on occasion has had too much drink at least a few times, and maybe even driven their car when they should know better. And they didn't get caught. That's not to justify Musselman's actions — just a reminder for the holier-than-thou set. Now for the reality check. Musselman is an unparalleled worker and lover of the game — just like his late father Bill. He's committed to success and making his players perform at the highest level. But he and his family had a rough time when he was (prematurely) fired at Golden State. It produced a divorce, upset his relationship with his two sons and forced him to battle to stay in the game via broadcast or the bench of the Memphis Grizzlies. And for him to be given this shot with such a successful organization as the Kings was exciting for those who know him. How he could have such a lapse in judgment isn't quite clear, but here's hoping the arrest and the embarrassment will get him to clean up whatever issues there are once and for all. He's much too talented and smart to blow this chance.

8. Item: The beauty of Pat Riley to those who have been around him so long is not about the success he achieves. It's more about the manner in which he goes about it, and last week he was back at it again, explaining to his Miami Heat the approach they should take in defense of their first NBA title. What this really means: Riley is not only gifted in his understanding of basketball, but in the pop psychology of motivation. His perception of what it means to come back after a title has been discussed forever. He has the marketing wizardry to come up with the concept "three-peat" when he was coaching the Lakers — even if his guarantee prompted Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to literally stuff a sock in his coach's mouth. But this time around, the coach out-did himself for this group. With 14 of the 15 players from last year's roster returning, his penchant for loyalty and staying on task was very clear. So with the need of one more point guard still apparent, he left his players with this bit of wisdom: "You can either defend the championship or disgrace." One thing is certain in Pat Riley's life it is still dominated by either winning or misery.

9. Item: The plot continues to thicken around the Los Angeles Clippers. Sure, they have Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley signed long-term. Sam Cassell is locked up too, and young Shaun Livingston is one of the most exciting young players in the league. However, life is never dull on a roster whose contracts are controlled by owner Donald Sterling. What this really means: One of the caveats to coach Mike Dunleavy signing his extension was extending young center Chris Kaman, who has been offered a five-year, $50-million extension. It's a fair offer and really right where it should be for Kaman. But the stupid $63-million contract signed by Tyson Chandler and $64-million deal for Samuel Dalembert are lingering over this offer, especially when you consider Kaman is better than both of them. And then there is Dunleavy, who is eradicating the losing culture so embedded in the Clippers organization. A five-year, $30-million deal for Dunleavy is a huge commitment and a lot of money for somebody who hasn't taken his team to the finals in 15 years. But he has done such a masterful job and helped so much in the judgment of talent, it's tough to fathom they wouldn't give him whatever he wants. Of course, this is presuming we're talking about the "New Donald," as opposed to the old one.

10. Item: Whither Jeff McInnis ... the New Jersey Nets point guard whose attitude was so disturbing to the team last season after returning from knee surgery that he has not even been a consideration for coach Lawrence Frank for either the rotation or as a member of the roster. What this really means: Nets president Rod Thorn is doing everything he can to buy McInnis out of the $3.6-million contract he has this season. They've offered McInnis $2 million and he reportedly wants $3.4 million. It sounds ridiculous, then again, why should McInnis give up $1.6 million? The bigger question is why McInnis can't see himself for what he is — a selfish and disruptive force. It's a shame because he does have talent and has been productive from time to time in his career. But he's just one of those guys who at some point in time will always revert to form the way he did in Denver, Cleveland, Portland and with the Clippers. It's gotten so bad that you have to wonder if anybody will even sign him for the minimum if they do buy him out. Then again, what would you expect from the guy who was at the root of the class that caused Dean Smith to retire at North Carolina?

2) Fran Blinebury of the Houston Chronicle reports on Robert Horry getting sentimental about Clutch City:

Horry won't forget Rockets - Return to city gives NBA veteran mixed emotions

Robert Horry was going through the layup line when the video screen began to role out the highlight reel of those championship seasons in Houston and he didn't know whether to feel young or old, achy or spry, happy to be looking back or sad to have to squint to see so far. Life is like that. One moment, you're a 20-something kid who can seemingly run forever and the next you're 36 and always looking for an ice pack. "To be honest, it seems like ages ago," said Horry as he continued preparing for his 15th NBA with Sunday night's 93-72 Spurs loss to the Rockets at Toyota Center. "All those years. All those miles. You've got to love the game. "But it's definitely a little harder now. Because you can't bounce back from the injuries as easy." Horry has six championship rings and still burns to add another bauble or two. Which is why in the quiet on the day after the Spurs were eliminated by Dallas in Game 7 of their epic second-round playoff series last spring, he was the one who stood in the locker room and talked to the team. "No big speech or anything," Horry said. "I just told everybody to just take care of themselves, spend time with their families and then go at it harder.
"It comes from being the veteran guy. But also it comes from realizing that we let a golden opportunity slip through our hands. I feel like we have some of the best talent in the league. We all know in our hearts that we should have gone a little bit further than we did."
Horry has constructed an amazing legacy by being willing to be a soldier rather than a general, a role player instead of a star. "That's how Robert's built," said Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. "He's very willing to handle a role on a team. But what people don't understand about him, is behind the scenes, in his own way, without the glare of the public, he's a mentor for a lot of guys. Just very quietly on his own." Quiet until the playoffs, when everything gets loud and crazy and he usually steps up. Except for last year, when age and the years maybe caught up and he had the worst shooting season of his career. Which is why he rededicated himself this summer to turning back the clock. Just maybe not as far as on the video screen. "All the time I'm meeting people who say, 'Rob, you're always gonna be a Rocket,' " he said. "I tell them I only played four years here. I played seven years in L.A. Then I go out there they show all that (championship) stuff up on the (video) board ... It brings it all back. "I guess I could understand it more if I played in this building. That would probably make it different. But there ain't nothing like The Summit. Notice I said The Summit. Not Compaq Center. It's all different now." Robert Horry smiles, looking back and still looking ahead.

3) Ric Bucher of ESPN.com thinks the Warriors are figuring it out under Nellie:

Warriors feeling golden with Nellie at the helm

The body language is loud and clear, even from the vantage of the second-floor observation balcony and to the Warriors on the farthest of their three practice courts. Just as loud and clear as it was last year. It's the message that is starkly different. Then, coach Mike Montgomery had the demeanor of a captain nervously peering through the fog, one eye searching for a landmark to steer by, the other on his crew, checking for signs of a possible mutiny. Now, Don Nelson watches from the sideline as if there's a blueprint overlay on the floor and a mere glance tells him who among the 10 players scrimmaging is in the right place and who isn't. And rest assured, whoever isn't will be put in his place. "It couldn't be more different," says forward Mike Dunleavy. "The main thing is, there is no BS. If he sees something, he's going to tell you. Everything is put out on the table." As with most players desperate to prove they're better than years of failed expectations, the Warriors are eating it up and asking for more. “A person in my position," says point guard Baron Davis, "just wants to be coached and pushed to a higher level. Coach Nelson, one of the sharpest X-and-O's minds with 1,100 victories, a Hall of Famer, you don't even question that he can do that." The Warriors, collectively, questioned Montgomery's capability of doing that from the day he arrived. For good reason. The belief that a life-long college coach can step into the NBA and push all the right buttons is so naïve that it's still hard to fathom VP Chris Mullin, not owner Chris Cohan, made the choice, as Mullin insists was the case. That said, there isn't anyone more suited for the task at hand than Nelson. He's never been able to push a team to the highest level, but that's not the challenge with the league's longest-reigning bottom feeders -- 12 years and counting of lottery trips to Secaucus being their postseason highlight. So what if his last turn at Golden State, as coach and GM, laid the groundwork for that stretch of futility? This is the NBA, where memories are short and who you know is as important as what you know. And while Nelson's coaching style is as direct as ever, watching neophyte coach Avery Johnson do what Nelson has never done (take a team to the Finals), waiting a year for an offer and being under a former player has tempered some of the megalomania that has led to his downfall everywhere he's been. No one's catching him on the team bus poring over the blueprints for his house in Maui, as the Knicks did, or abusing his owner's largesse by hiring a hundred assistant coaches, as he did in Dallas. Now he can be found hunched, all alone, in front of a big screen with a remote control, as he was before Tuesday's overtime exhibition win against the Blazers, freeze-framing and studying Portland's offensive sets. "He's more into it and sharper than he was when I was last around him," says Mullin. "Getting away is always healthy. Coming to the right place helps, too." Right place, right time. For whatever reason, Nelson never had much interest in stressing the hard-nosed defense or mundane post-up offense that won championships in the '80s and '90s. With the defensive rule changes and the crackdown on hand checking, that no longer matters. Offense sells and the league office, noticing an uptick in interest after years of decline, has taken note, so expect more of the same. Small ball, Nelson's forte, is all the rage.
"What the league is going to now, he's been doing for years," Mullin says. The players know it. When a set goes awry, Nelson doesn't even blow his whistle half the time. He just walks onto the court, explaining who needed to go where and when. Every player turns to watch and listen. "R-E-S-P-E-C-T," says one team official. "It's so nice to see it around here again." He also knows how to get the most bang for his bark. When Troy Murphy is late closing out on Matt Barnes' 3-point attempt from the left corner, Nelson doesn't focus on the slow rotation. Instead, he tells Murphy that if he's going to lunge at Barnes, he should at least keep going toward midcourt, so that the Warriors can snatch the rebound or immediately throw a three-quarter pass and hit him for a breakaway layup.
Or when young forward/center Andris Biedrins lobs an ill-advised pass for second-year guard Monta Ellis and Keith McLeod picks it off and starts a fast break the other way, Nelson doesn't say a word to Biedrins. Instead, he gets after Ellis for not slapping the ball away immediately from McLeod to stop the counterattack. Biedrins knows he screwed up and is doubly chagrined that a teammate is being chastised for not cleaning up his mess. Nothing being said, in this case, is both better and worse than being chewed out. Better because Biedrins' focus is on making up for the error instead of bumming out about the tongue-lashing. Worse because he got someone else in trouble. Ellis, meanwhile, learns not to give up and the importance of covering for a teammate. "I learned stuff here and there over the last four years," says Dunleavy. "But it doesn't compare to what I've learned in the last two weeks." Nelson, also having played in the league, understands what makes an NBA player tick. Asking Murphy to play center and Dunleavy to play power forward means taking a lot of physical punishment under the boards. The tradeoff Nelson offers is that bigs are free to put the ball on the floor and dribble up the court if they're not under pressure -- and there isn't a player in the league who doesn't relish the chance to lead a break or at least show he has a handle. "Letting Murphy handle the ball has him going to chase down rebounds, rather than just rebounding his area," says Mullin. In other words, guys will do more of what he wants because he lets them do more of what they want. Conversely, if they don't do what he wants, however subtle, he'll let them know. "He doesn't miss anything," Dunleavy says.
No doubt. As reporters gathered for a post-practice chat on Monday, Nelson gave the once-over to a certain ESPN The Magazine senior writer with whom he hasn't always had the best of relationships. "Your fly's open," he said.

4) Brian Windhorst of the Akron Beacon Journal thinks the Cavs may have it:

Cavs hope stability will translate into championship

The Cavaliers have been an epic coming-of-age film over the last several years, with you-know-who playing the leading man-child.
Back in 2003, it was as if they'd just gotten their driver's license and the keys to a brand-new muscle car named LeBron James. Of course they didn't exactly know what to do with it. The high jinks and growing pains followed. Three years later the organization feels like an NBA grown-up. And like any newly minted rebuilding graduate, they want to quickly enter the real world of contenders. The chart of progress has been steady. In James' first season, the Cavs won 20 more games than the sickly, lottery-winning outfit from the year before. In Year 2, they put up 42 wins for their first winning season in seven years, but lost a tiebreaker for the last playoff spot.
That made last season the official breakout as James flourished into one of the league's ultra-elite players while pulling his team along. He was named first team All-NBA, All-Star Game MVP and finished second in the MVP voting at the end of the season. The Cavs won 50 games, grabbed their first playoff spot in eight years and won their first playoff series in 13 years. Now they're all back and, as any clichéd movie script would read, looking for more. "I think we can get to the Finals, I think we can win it all," James said. "That's what's on my mind right now, trying to win the whole thing. You shouldn't be in the NBA if you don't want to." You can make a case for it being a realistic cause and for it being foolhardy hubris. But in a town that hasn't won a major professional sports title since 1964 and has a famous self-loathing attitude when it comes to its plight, being able to seriously believe is a major step. Just a season ago, the Cavs were hoping just to get into the postseason. Considering more than half of the NBA's 30 teams make it, that didn't seem like such a heady goal after all this time. But the strong taste of success in April and May, especially the oh-so-close upset of the Pistons in the second round -- be it true or not, most Clevelanders now say they were "a rebound away in Game 6" -- has given everyone wings.
"Last year they just wanted us to make the playoffs, this year they want us to win a championship," said guard Eric Snow, who is James' co-captain and the only player on the Cavs' roster to have played a significant role on a Finals team in his career. "It doesn't sound like much, but that's a major difference. That's what you want, that should be the goal." The Cavs' plan to do it, for the moment, is simple. Not unlike the reigning champs in Miami or the San Antonio model to which general manager Danny Ferry and coach Mike Brown subscribe, the offseason goal was to achieve stability. In his first three seasons, James had three head coaches and a constantly changing lineup. Last season there were eight new players in training camp; the season before there were seven. This summer the Cavs locked up James through 2010 and Drew Gooden through 2009, assuring the same starting lineup will be back. The only free-agent signing expected to be in the rotation is veteran backup guard David Wesley. The aim is for a closer-knit group that has a familiarity with each other and the system. The early season result has been an expansion of James' role as leader. Feeling as comfortable as ever and building off the experience as the co-captain of Team USA over the summer, James has shifted into a new gear. In the early workouts he led the Cavs in wind sprints. He's the one leading the end-of-practice and pregame huddles. All of which dovetails with his already commanding presence on the sideline during games. He's not been afraid to make suggestions to Brown on which plays to run and even what personnel to use in various game situations. "Ultimately when your best player becomes your best example, the better team you will be," said Snow, who played in the same backcourt with Allen Iverson. "It actually makes it easier for the head coach because he's demanding things be done the right way." Or at least that is the plan. The rub is that the lofty expectations could become a weight to the still-developing Cavs. It is hard to believe James can carry any more burden than he did a year ago, when Larry Hughes missed 46 games with two finger surgeries, and free-agent pickups Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones had off years shooting the ball. Even the steady Zydrunas Ilgauskas let down in the playoffs, leaving James to do all the heavy lifting.
James won two games on last-second shots against the Wizards in the first round, when he averaged 35 points and nearly 48 minutes a game. When the Cavs' painfully basic pick-and-roll offense wheezed in Game 7 against the Pistons, James had 27 points and the rest of the team netted a whimpering 34. Brown has installed some new wrinkles into the offense, Jones and Marshall reported to camp in better shape, Hughes has proclaimed himself healthy, and precautions are being taken and promises made to not overplay James. All of that needs to fall in line if the Cavs genuinely expect to contend for an Eastern Conference crown. "We owe it to ourselves to work to help LeBron out and try to get the best out of him, because winning a championship is our goal," said Brown, who won a title as a Spurs assistant. "If we can do that, I like our chances."

According to a report from the Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday, four groups are still in the running, including one that includes Hall of Famer Julius Erving and entertainer Will Smith, a Philadelphia native.

Eric Musselman…new Kings coach and soon to be owner of a brand spanking new criminal record for DUI…he was so drunk that when officers were booking him at the station he gave his home address as Arco Arena…dummy…

Reminds me of the time that then Blazers SF Qyntel Woods was arrested for DUI and then subsequently charged with possession of marijuana…when police pulled him over and approached the vehicle, they noticed smoke pouring out of the windows. The officer tapped on the glass and literally had to fan the pot smoke out form the front of his face as the window rolled down…he then asked Woods for identification and Woods was so stoned he reached into his wallet and handed the officer his Topps NBA rookie card and then offered to sign it for the officer…the official police report states that once the officer called for assistance because he could not stop laughing…

Speaking of the Kings, centre Vitaly Potapenko is in danger of begin cut due to his inability to pass a mandatory team conditioning test…apparently dude is the white Oliver Miller right now…way fat…

Remember Mahmoud Abdul Rauf, or as he was previously known Chris Jackson…aside from being one of the 5 best high school players ever, dude tore up the NCAA as the quickest guy this side of Allen Iverson at LSU and then had a decent NBA career until he was blackballed by the league for refusing to respect the American National Anthem…anyway, he has turned up in the Greek League playing for Aris Thessaloniki…

Now that the Mavs Josh Howard and the Suns Boris Diaw have signed extensions, the next 4th year player who’s up is Chicago PG Kirk Hinrich…

1) From Austin Bruton of Dime Magazine, 10 Q’s with Steve Nash:

10 Sense: Ten Things Straight From...

After putting up 18.8 points and 10.5 dimes per game in ’05-06 and leading the Phoenix Suns to another division crown, Steve Nash won his second straight NBA Most Valuable Player trophy. But for all the debate and controversy over the MVP voting, no one can argue Nash’s status as the best point guard on the planet.

1. The hardest guy for me to guard? Probably Jason Kidd. The hardest defender on me? Jason Kidd.

2. A point guard has a lot more on his shoulders, more than just the physical and the mental part of taking care of himself. He’s got to take care of his teammates, understand the direction of the team … there’s a lot for a point guard to learn. It is the hardest position for sure to adjust to when you’re coming into the League. Not as extensive as a quarterback, but it’s similar. You have a lot more to think about than the rest of the guys.

3. I definitely don’t think I’m the best player in the League. I think I do contribute a lot to my team and I feel proud about that. But on a pure ability level, I can’t compete with (a lot of) other guys. I find a way to have the same impact by trying to use my head.

4. If I played Steph one-on-one, he’d beat me every single time.

5. I think the international game is definitely a lot more open-minded. I think in our part of the world sometimes we can be a little closed-minded.

6. More than anything, I think it’s about having the right motivation. You’re trying to make the right play instead of just trying to rack up assists.

7. I think it’s great for the game that teams are trying to run. The game is best when the ball moves and players move. When the game gets stagnant, I don’t think it’s an effective game for many teams – only the teams with the biggest guy. That’s not a good game for the fans, it’s not good for the sport, it’s not good for the skill development of kids, and it’s not good for using your head.

8. I’m pretty good at soccer, but it would take me a lot of training to compete at that (Major League Soccer) level.

9. I looked up to Isiah Thomas and John Stockton.

10. There are a lot of great players that deserved the MVP as much as I did. I understand that and appreciate it, but for whatever reason, I won it. It’s a great argument and it’s an impossible argument. But let the argument go on as far as I’m concerned.

2) Marty Burns of SI.com thinks something is fishy:

Not-so-Fabolous night - Telfair's necklace stolen ... Celtics lie ... rapper shot

There's something about NBA players, training camp and nightclubs that's making for a volatile mix this month. Two weeks ago, it was Pacers guard Stephen Jackson firing off his gun and getting hit by a car at a strip club. Now comes the bizarre case of Celtics point guard Sebastian Telfair. While visiting a club in New York City late Monday, the night before his team's exhibition game with the Knicks, Telfair said he had a $50,000 gold chain stolen from around his neck. According to press reports, the 21-year-old Brooklyn native had parked his Bentley in front of Justin's, a popular night spot owned by hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs. When informed that the car might be towed, Telfair and his fiancée moved it to a nearby parking lot where he encountered four men, one of whom ripped the pricey bling off his neck. But here's where the case gets bizarre. Almost as bizarre as the Stephen Jackson episode. When Telfair went back in the club, according to the New York Post, he reportedly spotted the sticky-fingered assailant hanging with the crew of rapper Fabolous. Telfair didn't call police, but he reportedly was seen talking on his cell phone. Some two hours after, Fabolous -- also a Brooklyn native - was shot and wounded in the left thigh while standing outside the club. New York police are investigating whether there was any connection between the robbery and the shooting. Telfair says he is simply a victim. He has cooperated, even leaving Tuesday night's game at halftime to help pick suspects out of a lineup. Meanwhile, Fabolous has more to worry about than his wounded leg. After being shot, he and some companions drove away from the scene in their SUV. When stopped later by police, Fabolous and three members of his crew were arrested and charged with having unregistered loaded weapons. Maybe the sequence of events was just a coincidence, but the incident won't help Telfair's image. Last February, as a member of the Blazers, the preps-to-pros phenom was fined by the team for carrying a loaded gun in a bag on the team's private jet. He claimed the gun belonged to his then-girlfriend and that he had accidentally grabbed the wrong bag. Boston GM Danny Ainge, who acquired Telfair in a trade with the Blazers this past summer, can't be too happy. To explain Telfair's mysterious disappearance at halftime (he had 14 points and two assists while outplaying his cousin Stephon Marbury), the Celtics PR staff told the media it was because of "sickness." That lie was supported after the game by Ainge and coach Doc Rivers. On Wednesday, Ainge continued to stand by Telfair, while Rivers defended his decision to mislead the media. "I knew I was not going to make this a circus for the guys in the locker room," he said. "If I had to lie [about the stomach ailment], I had to lie on that." Oh, what a tangled web we weave ... And if players are going to insist on wearing $50,000 pieces of jewelry when out on the town, shouldn't they hire some muscle (as in a licensed security guard) to accompany them?

Your turn, Chris Kaman - With Josh Howard (four years, $40 million) and Boris Diaw (five years, $45 million) agreeing to rookie contract extensions, the heat is now on the Clippers to come to terms with center Chris Kaman. The stringy-haired 7-footer reportedly wants a five-year deal worth around $55 million. The Clippers are offering $50 million over the same span. Kaman says he wants to stay in L.A., but he also wants a fair deal. He and his agent, Rob Pelinka, only have to look at recent free-agent contracts for Samuel Dalembert (six years, $64 million) and Tyson Chandler (six years, $63 million) to get an idea of his worth. The Clippers are worried about staying under the luxury tax next season, especially since Shaun Livingston will be up for his own rookie contract renewal, but they really have no choice. If the Clippers don't sign Kaman before the Oct. 31 deadline, they could still keep him next summer by matching any offer he receives on the open market. But it's going to cost them more than it would now. As one of the few good young true low post centers in the game, Kaman will almost certainly get an offer in the $11 million per year range.

What was Isiah thinking? - Isiah Thomas' tirade against Greg Anthony after Wednesday's Knicks practice was petty and misguided. Doesn't Thomas realize that Anthony is getting paid by ESPN to give his opinion? Thomas said he singled out Anthony because he was a former Knick. But Anthony played for six teams in his career. If he can't criticize the Knicks, Blazers, Grizzlies, Sonics, Bulls and Bucks ... well, that's 20 percent of the league. Thomas also noted that he worked as a TV commentator, and that he never would have criticized the Pistons. Oh really? Did he tell NBC that before he signed a contract? If not, they should demand a refund.

3) Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports on the Rockets:

New Rocket boosts add pressure for T-Mac, Yao, JVG

One splashy offseason move is typically all it takes around here. We saw it again in September, just like the summer before. The Houston Rockets signed Bonzi Wells and, almost instantly, were widely proclaimed to be back among the NBA elite. Those who actually play and work for the Rockets know it isn't so. They remember all the premature praise in circulation this time last year, when Stromile Swift, improbable as it seems now, was afforded full-fledged Missing Piece Status upon signing up to serve as Yao Ming's new frontcourt sidekick. Good health, then, is merely the No. 1 worry for a team that managed to put Yao and Tracy McGrady on the floor together in only 31 of its 82 games last season. Another biggie? "You've got to manage the hype," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "For us, it's all projections and predictions at this point. I've told our guys, I don't want them to underestimate how good they can be. But I also don't want them to underestimate how far we have to go." Van Gundy is famously pessimistic, true, but he's hardly exaggerating about the length of the journey. The Rockets haven't won a playoff series since 1997, went 0-8 last season against their fellow Texans from Dallas and San Antonio, and can't even dream about playoff glories until they know their two superstars can manage the injuries that have habitually interfered with McGrady's vulnerable back and Yao's left foot. It's not as if they're off to the best start, either. Yao has already missed a good chunk of this month with a serious (at least to Van Gundy) toe ailment. And Wells, thanks to persistent groin trouble and then a root canal, has yet to get through a full practice with his new team, meaning he'll undoubtedly start his Rockets career delivering a good bit less than the 23.2 points and 12.0 rebounds he averaged in the playoffs for Sacramento. It also means that Van Gundy will likely open the final season on his contract without a single look at his best five players on the floor as a unit before opening night. Spend time around the Rockets, though, and you don't sense any here-we-go-again discouragement ... yet. Even Van Gundy has been joking about his "new personality" and an accompanying promise "to focus on the positives." Maybe that's because the Rockets made more than one splashy move, which makes a return to the playoffs likely if they can find some sustained health. On draft night, remember, Houston traded the rights to the promising-but-enigmatic Rudy Gay -- and free-agent misfit Swift -- for Shane Battier, one of the league's most revered role players. The Rockets also acquired Kirk Snyder from the Hornets at a minimal cost to add size to their too-small backcourt, scored what appears to be a draft steal with second-round sharpshooter Steve Novak and imported 2004 draftee Vassilis Spanoulis after the versatile guard helped Greece upset Battier's Team USA in the semifinals of the World Championship in Japan. So there was a buzz about the Rockets and their revamping even before the September score of Wells at a bargain of $2.1 million this season, after Wells famously rejected a $7 million-a-season offer from the Kings. Wells' arrival, helped along by McGrady's behind-the-scenes lobbying, inevitably ramped up what Van Gundy termed "the hyperbole of the preseason" ... and justifiably so if he can fit in as a third scoring option. "They asked me about him," said Battier, who played with Wells in Memphis. "I told them that Bonzi is a fiery guy, and sometimes his cup runneth over as they say, but I think a lot of that has been circumstantial. On this team, I think he can be a really good player. He'll be able to get shots and minutes and the ability to produce, and that'll keep him happy." Of course, it appears Houston will need November and December to figure out whether it's best to bring Wells off the bench as the featured gun for the second unit or squeeze him into the starting lineup. If they ultimately choose the latter, Battier's presence is critical, since it's his ability to masquerade as a power forward, in a league where long-limbed three men who can shoot and defend increasingly find themselves at the four spot, that would give Wells sufficient down-low space to operate. Battier might find himself at power forward quite a bit anyway, in spite of what that might do to the Rockets' ability to rebound, with Van Gundy among the growing legion of Yao-watchers who believes that the giant in the middle would benefit most playing alongside a four-man who can shoot and pass. There might also be times when Van Gundy tries Wells as his power forward in a lineup featuring Snyder and McGrady, with the idea that the Rockets' increased size at the swing positions could compensate for how small Houston generally looks when Yao is on the bench. The success of all those possibilities, mind you, flows from the fact that McGrady looks quite spry and smooth these days, especially considering that his oft-interrupted 2005-06 season ended in March. "Tracy is ready for the season to start," Van Gundy declared, relishing what he describes as a "renewed sense of upbeatness" from the 27-year-old. Said McGrady: "Yeah, man, I am back. I'm healthy. I'm just excited for the season. I think we have a really good chance of being a great team." Oh, yeah. Sometimes the hype comes from the Rockets themselves. T-Mac recently announced that Houston's fortified depth, athleticism and perimeter shooting makes this "the best team I've been on in my 10 years in the league." He was a bit more restrained in our chat, knowing that the Rockets -- McGrady, Yao and Van Gundy, specifically -- have some win-now pressure to manage, as well. The coach always feels it, but so do these two stars, neither of whom (a) has gotten out of the first round yet and (b) knows for sure how long his body will cooperate. "You guys are going to put us wherever you're going to put us," McGrady said of the projections and predictions. "It's good if you're all going to have us high, but we haven't proven anything yet. You've got to have the right chemistry. Guys have to be willing to sacrifice their games. Injuries occur -- you saw what happened around here last year. Just because we have Bonzi and Shane, we've still got to go out and prove ourselves."

This is one of the publicity shots from the Jackie and Doug Christie’s reality show on BET…honestly, just when you think it can’t get any funnier, they do this…

Yet another NBA season, yet another Grant Hill comeback…Hill has only played in 135 of his last 492 possible…that’s an injury rate of 70.5% or to put it into a different perspective, Hill has not finished a season healthy in any of the last seven seasons…He has undergone six surgeries, including 5 on his know grotesque left ankle & another last year on a painful sports hernia had him in and out of the lineup last season…Anyway, Hill is apparently healthy now and excited about the prospect of getting back on the floor blah, blah, blah…
If the Celtics don’t start Rajon Rondo at the point over Sebastian Telfair, than Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers have lost their collective minds…Rondo is playing out of his mind in pre-season, showing and improved jumper, great passing instincts, a top 10 handle and he’s the best rebounding PG I’ve seen in years…and have you seen dude’s hands? Very similar to former Celtics PG and Dunk champ Dee Brown, who had dinner plates for hands back in the day…OK one more note. Did you see Rondo’s follow up dunk? Against the Knicks, he came out of nowhere to follow up a missed shot by Gerald Green and threw down a vicious one-handed dunk. He then turned and intercepted the inbounds pass by David Lee, scored and drew a foul for a three-point play…

While were’ talking about the Celtics and in the process, breaking Rob Killen’s heart, it turns out that Ainge has indeed lost his mind…he’s apparently contemplating a trade with Utah that sends PF Al Jefferson to Utah for PF Carlos Boozer…sorry big Rob…

I rarely do Hocky notes, but this appeals to my sens of statistical nonsense: The Society for International Hockey Research is reporting: "Guillaume Latendresse of the Canadiens is wearing No. 84. This marks the first time in NHL history that it's happened during the regular season. (I'm sure it had been worn in exhibitions before by minors-bound players.) It was also the last number that had never been worn in NHL history. Everything else -- including 0 and 00 -- had been worn before. Jonathan Ferland of the Canadiens wore No. 86 last year, leaving only 84 as yet to be worn. Latendresse can now claim to be the greatest No. 84 in NHL history."

Contract note: Boris Diaw has agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Phoenix Suns. Diaw confirmed the agreement after the Suns beat Sacramento in a preseason game on Thursday night. He did not comment on the terms, but a source told The Associated Press it was worth $45 million…Mavericks forward Josh Howard agreed to a four-year, $40 million contract extension Thursday through the 2010-11 season. Howard will play for $1.6 million this season, the last on his existing contract.

Great preseason reviews from actual scouts here:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/specials/preview/2006/enemy.lines/index.html

1) John Denton of Florida Today with a review on the Magic’s chances:

Magic's future depends on progress of Dwight, Darko

Otis Smith can't stop smiling, and it's not just because his Orlando Magic are one of the chic picks to make some playoff noise this season. Instead, the Magic's general manager is beaming like a proud papa these days over the way three of Orlando's youngsters -- namely Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and Darko Milicic -- have matured almost overnight and taken control of the fate of the franchise. First, it was Howard who guaranteed that a Magic squad that hasn't been to the playoffs in three years could go all the way this season. OK, guaranteed might be a little strong, but the 20-year-old didn't bat an eye when backed into a corner in the days before training camp was set to open. "Our team has a chance to go all the way," Howard crowed, seemingly unaware of what he was saying. Pressed on whether he meant all the way to the playoffs, Howard didn't miss a beat. "All the way to the championship," he said. Normally, such a proclamation would cause a head coach to break out in cold sweats and a GM to put a "For Sale" sign up in his front yard. Not Smith, who was delighted to hear that Howard was exuding confidence out of virtually his every pore. "I like the fact the kid was willing to make that kind of investment," Smith said. "That's an investment. He said this team is good enough to win a championship, and you know what, we are. Winning a championship doesn't mean having the best five players at each spot. It's every player having a role and playing that role. This team is good enough to do that. "I'd be disappointed if one through 15 on our team said that the goal was to win 40 games. To me, all Dwight did was say what 480 players in the NBA should be saying. We want to win a championship, or why are we playing?" If the Magic truly are in the infant stages of building a championship contender, the first steps were taken this summer in, of all places, Philadelphia. In August, point guard Jameer Nelson arranged for the team to meet in Philly for a week of basketball, bowling, paintball and bonding. Nelson picked up the tab for the whole thing and even arranged each player's travel schedule and the activities while in the City of Brotherly Love. Smith and the coaching staff might not have gotten an invitation to the players-only retreat, but he couldn't have been happier upon hearing about Nelson's organizing the offseason get-together. Grant Hill and Howard are the stars of this team, but Nelson is the unquestioned leader. And Smith was delighted to see the player who was passed over by major colleges and then passed over by 19 other teams on draft night coming of age as an NBA leader.
"Jameer's leadership has always been there, but you see him taking it to a whole different level now," Smith said. "You'll see it more and more as he matures. You're talking about a third-year guy who took it upon himself to unite his teammates and pick up the tab in Philly. To me, that's a big deal." Then, there's the 21-year-old Milicic, who seems more determined than ever now to shed the label of being one of the biggest busts in the history of the NBA draft. Out of Detroit, where he was buried on the bench for two-plus seasons, Milicic finally has a legitimate shot at meaningful minutes in Orlando. And the Serbian 7-footer, who has had everything from his toughness to his love for the game questioned since he was taken ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in the 2003 NBA draft, seems determined to make the most of this chance. Told he had to become bigger and meaner if he was ever going to reach his potential, Milicic spent four days a week lifting weights this summer. He not only bulked up from 260 pounds to 278 pounds but also had his way with Spain's Pau Gasol and China's Yao Ming in the World Championship. Smith and Magic head coach Brian Hill needed little time to see that with Milicic's newfound dedication, combined with his overflowing arsenal of skills, it was time to promote him to the starting lineup. There, he will combine with Howard to give the Magic 14 feet of shot blockers on the front line.
Smith, an everyday man who still eats breakfast at the same Waffle House every morning and lives in a working class-sized home, was promoted to GM this past spring after altering the course of the franchise with two trades. He swiped Milicic and Arroyo from Detroit and got rid of Kelvin Cato in the process. And, remarkably, he somehow unloaded Steve Francis and the $47 million left on his contract on the New York Knicks. Last season, fans got a taste of just how good the Magic could be. Orlando won 16 of 20 down the stretch, and expectations haven't been this high since Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill signed matching $92.88 million free-agent contracts in 2000. The season-ticket renewal rate and base sales were as high as they have been in 10 years. A new $485 million area in downtown Orlando is close to being approved by the city and county governments. All that is left now is for the Magic to fulfill their vast promise. So what does Smith tell folks when they ask him if they can believe in Magic again? He puts the load on the shoulders of the Magic's kids. "I tell people we'll be as good as those two 20-something-year-old kids take us," Smith said, referring to Howard and Milicic. "And we need Jameer to continue to grow as a leader for us. We'll be as good as those guys are this season." If the preseason is any indication, the Magic have a good chance of being pretty good because of the development of Howard's game. Magic coaches want Howard -- a devout Christian and a sometimes goofy, class-clown-type off the floor -- to be a tougher, rougher physical force this season. Howard is already one of the league's top rebounders; he just missed out on becoming the youngest rebounding champion in the history of the league last season, averaging 12.5 per game. And the Magic feel there is no reason Howard can't become a dominant scorer and an intimidating shot-blocker as well. He's taken that message to heart, and so far this preseason, he's demolishing all those players in his path. Against Charlotte's Emeka Okafor, the player chosen just behind Howard in the 2004 draft, he scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while fouling Okafor out in just nine minutes. And against Atlanta's smallish frontline, Howard was at his do-it-all best with 27 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots. "I'm just trying to work on playing hard every single night and being a great leader for this team," said Howard, who is hoping to make the playoffs in his third NBA season just as fellow No. 1 pick LeBron James did in Cleveland. "I'm still young, but there's a high standard that I expect myself to live up to. If I do that, everyone can do it too." Howard's relentless aggression has seemed to rub off on Milicic, and at times the possibilities seem limitless for the Magic when the two are on the court together. Because their skills are so different -- Howard brings the powerful low-post game, while Milicic has a feathery-soft shooting touch and the passing skills of a guard -- they seem like a match made in heaven. In a preseason game this week against Atlanta, the two displayed their blossoming chemistry by assisting one another on five different baskets. Much like when Milicic emerged after he was traded from Detroit to Orlando, another trade opened the door for Nelson to step into a leadership position with the Magic. Steve Francis not only dominated the ball on the court, but he also had a domineering presence in the locker room. It was no coincidence that the Magic's hot streak last season coincided with the enigmatic Francis' being shipped to New York and Nelson's taking the reigns. Barely 6-feet tall, Nelson morphed into a giant killer last season. He averaged 15.7 points over his final 25 games, topping 20 points seven times. What was most impressive was his willingness to take any shot and take on any teammate and challenge him to do more. The next step, naturally, was one in which he became the Magic's unofficial captain. "I want to be kind of a chameleon for this team," Nelson said. "I want to be able to change, do whatever this team needs for us to win. If it's making the extra pass or hitting the big shot or being a good leader, I'll do it." The wild card for the Magic, of course, is the oft-injured Grant Hill. For six years, Orlando has been hoping Hill could find a way to somehow stay healthy enough to return to the form that made him a seven-time All-Star. But rarely has that happened as he's missed a staggering 70.5 percent of the games since signing with Orlando. Hill spent most of his summer working with abdominal guru Alex McKechnie in hopes of healing the sports hernia that limited him to just 21 games last season. Hill's troublesome left ankle, the one he's had operated on five times, was ultimately blamed for the abdominal troubles with the thinking that his changed gait resulted in undue stress on his midsection. But as it turns out, working this past summer to strengthen his abdominal muscles has given him more range of motion in the ankle. Hill says he feels as good physically as he has in years, but does so of course with his fingers crossed.
Smith has discounted the notion of potentially trading Hill and his expiring contract for an unhappy superstar such as Kevin Garnett or Ray Allen. He knows the value of having a veteran such as Hill around when the Magic are leaning so heavily on youngsters. Hill will play at least 78 games and be a difference-maker this season, Smith predicts. "When we talk about going to the next level, Grant's health is a big key in that," Smith said. "Because when he is on the floor -- and I don't care if he's missed two years or 20 games -- he's still one of the best players out there. I think we're going to have a great year and Grant is, too."

2) Mike Kahn with his weekly 10 things column:

10 things we learned this week in the NBA

Even in the NBA, bad karma among players will linger, even if the money remains obscene. And that could be why there just seems to be no way things are ever going to work out in Utah for Carlos Boozer.

1. Item: During the summer of 2004, Boozer, then a restricted free agent for the Cleveland Cavaliers, coaxed the Cavs into conceding a qualifying offer that was limited because he was a second round draft choice. So they allegedly agreed on a six-year, $40 million deal. However, as soon as they dropped his rights, he stunned the organization and the fans when he signed a six-year, $68 million contract with the Jazz. What this really means: It's been far from pretty, that's for sure. Boozer played in just 84 of a possible 164 games for the Jazz in his first two seasons, with foot and hamstring injuries that drew skepticism from a lot of people in and around the Jazz organization regarding the severity. But that's only part of the problem — as far as coach Jerry Sloan is concerned, his performance tends to be indefensible. And when it comes to Sloan, nobody slides by. At 6-foot-9, 270 pounds, they expect him to be a defensive presence inside. Instead, he puts up solid numbers by hitting jumpers and crashing the offensive boards. Playing on one end of the floor doesn't cut it with Sloan, and it's why Boozer's name is incessantly getting chopped up in the rumor mill. Best guess here is it will continue to do so until he is traded — presuming another team is willing to take on the final four years of that contract averaging more than $11.5 million a year.

2. Item: With the majority of the Memphis Grizzlies being sold — pending NBA approval — to former NCAA champion Duke teammates Brian Davis and Christian Laettner from Michael Heisley — the ramifications are endless for the future of the franchise ... not the least of which is the seemingly inevitable retirement at the end of the season by president Jerry West. What this really means: Just where are the Grizzlies going long range? That is a question that a lot of people may be asking despite the adoration of the FedEx Forum and three consecutive trips to the playoffs. The fact of the matter is they've never won a playoff game, they'll have a very difficult time making the playoffs this season with All-Star Pau Gasol recovering from a broken foot until at least January, and coach Mike Fratello is a lame duck. Heisley, who moved the team from Vancouver because it was a better deal in Memphis, also saw it was a losing proposition financially in Memphis. And that's a perfect example of why there is so much skepticism long-term for all the mid-market to small-market teams. Owners go there, it's hot initially and they get all sorts of freebies tossed at them. But as the owners of the bubble franchises lose money as time progresses and the salaries keep going up, we'll see why retired deputy commissioner Russ Granik became vice president of Galioto Sports Partners to help buy and sell sports franchises. So keep in mind the long-range prospects in markets such as Memphis, Charlotte, Oklahoma City and New Orleans. Once again, this is the reminder of why the globalization of the league is so important — the more revenue streams the better because it hides the reality of franchises losing millions of dollars.

3. Item: Speaking of transition, the consortium headed by Oklahoma City's Clayton Bennett that purchased the Seattle Sonics for $350 million over the summer added four more Oklahoma City businessmen — making it nine natives of Oklahoma City in the group. What this really means: Anyone in the Seattle area who believes this team was bought for any other reason than to guarantee a franchise for Oklahoma City in the very near future is either in complete denial or incredibly naive. Oh sure, if someone in Seattle or suburban Bellevue comes up with the money, land, and deal that makes it feasible to keep the Sonics in the area, the NBA will make sure either the Sonics or another team lands here. But make no mistake about it — this ownership group is focused on the future of the NBA in Oklahoma City. NBA commissioner David Stern has virtually promised the Hornets will play in New Orleans at least next season (despite them taking out an option to remain in Oklahoma City). The bigger question is what happens to the Hornets over the long haul because New Orleans couldn't support the Hornets before Hurricane Katrina and certainly won't be able to in the foreseeable future. So with nine locals from Oklahoma City now in the Sonics ownership group, it's up to the Seattle market to come up with a feasible arena package to make something tenable over the long haul. If not, the lights could go out for the NBA in Seattle for a long time without any promise of them turning on again.

4. Item: Indiana Pacers guard Stephen Jackson pleaded not guilty to felony recklessness when he fired at least five shots in the air from a 9mm handgun after he and three other teammates were involved in a fracas outside an Indianapolis strip club two weeks ago.
What this really means: Jackson even went so far as contend he was right because it was his responsibility to protect himself and his teammates. Yeah, with a 9mm gun? But considering it was long after midnight, there were drugs in the car and they had allegedly been drinking, perhaps Jackson thought he was at the OK Corral. Fortunately, he didn't hit anybody with those shots, but it seemed lost on him that firing shots into the air doesn't guarantee that nobody gets hit when the bullets come down. Obviously, Jackson is a huge problem for the Pacers and the NBA. Don't forget he was the guy who ran into the stands and began pounding on a fan in the Detroit brawl that escalated the Ron Artest situation. Despite his contentions to the contrary this summer, he just doesn't understand his responsibilities as an employee of the Pacers and the NBA. Really, Marquis Daniels, Jamaal Tinsley and Jimmie Hunter also marred what was supposed to be a summer of healing between the Pacers and their fans. The fans have had it with a team that was supposed to be about basketball, but instead is dealing with this situation that happened during the wee hours of the morning during training camp. This is a very sad situation for a franchise saved by owners Herb and Mel Simon and made honorably competitive by Donnie Walsh — and the only strong move they can make is to release Jackson because a trade for his contract (four years, nearly $28 million) just isn't going to happen.

5. Item: The Denver Nuggets extended the contract of coach George Karl through the 2010-11 season, re-signed guard DerMarr Johnson, and are heavily in the market for a high-level shooting guard. What this really means: The Nuggets really are the most interesting team in the Western Conference, if only because nobody is quite sure what to make of them. They most assuredly will be favored to win their second consecutive Northwest Division title, but there are those who believe Seattle and Utah will challenge them. The extension for Karl comes as no surprise, if only because his buddy Mark Warkentien was named executive vice president and Karl has a long-standing relationship with owner Stan Kroenke. Those things are obvious. What we don't know is what happens to the explosive relationship between Karl and forward Kenyon Martin? Carmelo Anthony looked fabulous during the summer and appears to have matured immensely, but what happens if he gets sideways with Karl as has happened before? They are loaded with talent up front with Marcus Camby, freshly-paid Nene and Joe Smith also looking for time with Anthony and Martin. OK, Johnson did improve and has been a nice story coming back from a car accident that paralyzed him ... does that mean he's their shooting guard for the future? Stay tuned ... the stories have just begun to unfold.

6. Item: The Milwaukee Bucks, already having lost second-year 7-footer Andrew Bogut to a sprained lower leg, lost small forward Bobby Simmons for at least a month to a stress reaction in his right heel. What this really means: It's hard to fathom what will happen to the Bucks in the short run and the long run. Not only is their lease running out in the Bradley Center, but the cost of hanging onto the franchise for Sen. Herb Kohl is increasing daily considering how much money he's losing by not selling. Perhaps once he solidifies his next term as senator, he'll come to grips with the inevitable — this team is mediocre at best on the floor and far worse as a business proposition outside the baselines. Terry Stotts did a great job as coach last season, Michael Redd is a bonafide shooting star, and there is a tradition of NBA in Milwaukee. But most of it isn't very good and it's only been exceptional in small doses spread very far apart. The injuries to Bogut and Simmons presumably will only be problematic in the short run. In the big picture they should be back and fine as the Bucks figure to be one of a handful of teams vying for one of the final playoff spots. But they are real vulnerable to collapse because of a thin roster and the even thinner bottom line may create the biggest change of all sooner than later.

7. Item: The Los Angeles Clippers are hoping to reach an agreement with young center Chris Kaman on a five-year extension reportedly worth in the neighborhood of $50 million. He will have the option of becoming a restricted free agent this summer. What this really means: As Clippers owner Donald Sterling continues to work on shedding the moniker of the "most inept owner in the NBA" that has haunted him over the past three decades, the move to pre-empt any problems with their young talented center is another example of progress. They went deep into the second round of the playoffs last season, something that hadn't previously occurred under Sterling's stewardship. Things are only different if this continues. And that includes locking up coach Mike Dunleavy for an extended period of time as well as Kaman. Kaman, still only 24, is an athletic 7-footer who has the look for a double-double guy for a long time. And to have him next to Elton Brand, Corey Maggette and a scary young talent named Shaun Livingston, indeed it could be the Clippers and not the Lakers who will dominate southern California basketball for the next 3-4 years. And that is a story in and of itself.

8. Item: Just the simple fact that Kenny Thomas and Shareef Abdur-Rahim have already been broken up from fighting during training camp for the Sacramento Kings proves that things are different. And that's not a bad thing. What this really means: Eric Musselman's aggressive nature has played right into the transition that began with the acquisition of Ron Artest last season. Thomas has always been an aggressive player and he is competing with Abdur-Rahim for playing time. But if Abdur-Rahim is fighing with teammates — and he is one of the great gentlemen in the game today — then you know the Kings have made the move from a soft, talented team to a group nobody will want to play this season. Despite all the success the Kings had with Rick Adelman and the group led by Vlade Divac, Chris Webber and Peja Stojakovic, there was a softness to them that belied the nature of owners Joe and Gavin Maloof. They always have been and always will be the aggressors in situations and it only makes sense that the team reflects that attitude. Well, with Musselman running the team and Artest the on-floor leader, they now are that team reflecting ownership. All things being equal injury-wise, they'll be factors in the Western Conference, which leaves us with only question — will the city of Sacramento respond to the Maloof brothers' forceful nature or compel them to consider opportunities elsewhere?

9. Item: While young swingman Josh Howard is stewing over the perceived lack of respect he's getting from the Dallas Mavericks with regard to an extension, owner Mark Cuban wrapped up coach Avery Johnson through the next five years with a deal that will pay him more than $20 million. What this really means: Cuban, who signed point guard Jason Terry early in the summer before he headed out on the free agent trail, never takes his eye off the ball. He knew coming into this training camp the primary focus had to be on locking up Johnson and superstar Dirk Nowitzki, then he would get down to business with Howard with an extension. If not, he can become a restricted free agent next summer. It really doesn't matter. Cuban won't let a young, hot open floor player (at both ends) like Howard get out of range emotionally from the task at hand. Besides, the Mavs made their first appearance ever in the NBA Finals in June and Cuban won't rest until they get back there and redeem themselves from being within six minutes of taking a 3-0 lead over Miami, only to collapse in the fourth quarter of Game 3 and never win another game. They may not even win the West this season, but they'll be back. They're too young, too talented, too aggressive and the pieces are in place. Now all they have to do is get their heads there.

10. Item: Maybe the investment in Samuel Dalembert will pay off after all ... which may be the only chance the Philadelphia 76ers have to make waves in the Eastern Conference this season. What this really means: When the Sixers signed Dalembert to a long-term deal worth more than $60 million last season it came on the heels of a playoff series during which the then 24-year-old averaged 11.6 points, 12.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. The athletic 6-foot-11, 250-pounder figured to be an impact player on both ends of the floor for a long time. But he strained his right quadriceps early last season, went into a funk afterward, lost his starting job and never really did contribute on a regular basis. If their recent trip to Europe is any indication, however, the contract may not have been such a disaster after all. In the three games Dalembert averaged 18 points, 14 rebounds and 6 blocks to dominate the paint and make life easy for Allen Iverson and Co. For the Sixers to get back into the hunt with the New Jersey Nets for the Atlantic Division crown, Dalembert must play that way. If he doesn't, they have no shot.

T-Wolves question: how long before Mike James and rookie Randy Foye realize that there’s only one basketball?

The Rockets still put up points without T-Mac, getting 111 in a win over Milwaukee. Yao Ming scored 22 and Steve Novak had 17 on five treys. If you saw Novak play at Marquette last year – especially if you saw him hang 41 on UConn – you know he can light it up from deep. T-Mac has already said Steve was the best shooter he’s ever seen,

Apparenlty the Clippers have offered C Chris Kaman 5 yrs and $50 million, which he rejected of course…why do I say “of course”? Because noted pylons Samuel Delambert and Tyson Chandler signed for 6 yrs and $64 million each…look at the numbers:

Chris Kaman: 11.9 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.4 BPG, 1.0 APG, 52.3 FG%, 77.0 FT%
Tyson Chandler: 5.3 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 1.0 APG, 56.5 FG%, 50.3 FT%
Samuel Delambert 7.3 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.4 BPG, 0.4 APG, 53.1 FG%, 70.5 FT%

Kaman is a better scorer and rebounder, despite having one of the leagues best post up players on his team in Elton Brand…Kaman should be getting 6 yrs and around $70 million, if these other 2 players are comparable…

This from Frank Hughes of the Tacoma Tribune: “I saw something at practice today that I have never seen in 12 years covering the NBA. At the end of practice. Mickael Gelabale ran toward the basket, jumped up and head-butted the backboard. And not the bottom of the backboard. Like, about a foot up. I had to do a double-take at the time.”

Free Agent watch: The Heat are leaning towards signing 34 year old Nick Van Exel…

OK…watch this YouTube of Sherron Collins, the soon to be Kansas PG, throwing himself a left-handed pass off the backboard at the McDonald's All-American Game, catching it in mid-air and finishing with a lefty slam….while you’re doing this, keep these 2 things in mind:
1. Collins is 5-10.
2. Collins is right-handed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSicFi6r0BU

WOW…

Speaking of short guys, did you know that Mavs coach Avery Johnson and former Houston PG Calvin Murphy are the only players under 6 feet to have played more than 1,000 games…

Fantasy notes…Knicks forward Jared Jeffries has a broken wrist that will keep him out for 6-8 weeks…Warrior centre/forward Troy Murphy broke his nose (again) and is out for a bit…

Raptors thoughts:

Somebody asked be the other day if I thought TJ Ford was comparable to any other player…here’s a comparison for you: Kenny Anderson…both small, fast, pass first PG’s with iffy jumpers…

Why isn’t Joey Graham better? Because he’s really just Darvin Ham…

Speaking of ham, have you seen Kris Humphries hands? Watching him catch a rebound in traffic looks more like he’s catching a beach ball in a wind tunnel…

1) Marty burns of Si.com thinks PP should have left the C’s:

Ringless in Boston - Pierce carries the load but will he ever win an title?

His uniform drenched in sweat, Celtics star Paul Pierce sat at his locker before Tuesday night's exhibition loss at New York. The veteran swingman, nursing a sore hip, had just gone through a vigorous workout on the court, but he wasn't going to take any chances by suiting up for a meaningless game in October. "If this were a real game, I'd play," he said with a chuckle. "But this is my ninth season ..." Pierce was just being prudent, of course. The four-time All-Star is the Celtics' franchise player. It makes no sense to risk injury in the preseason. If anybody in the Boston locker room needed a reminder of that, he had only to look down the hall at the sight of Knicks forward Jared Jeffries walking around in a hand cast. But will Pierce ever be rewarded with a championship for his sweat and toil with the Celtics? After watching Tuesday game, I have to wonder. Boston appears as far from an NBA title right now as the distance between South Beach and Faneuil Hall. The Celtics have Wally Szczerbiak and some good young talent to be sure, but youth doesn't win in the NBA. Al Jefferson, Sebastian Telfair, Kendrick Perkins, Ryan Gomes, Delonte West, Tony Allen and Rajon Rondo (see below) are all nice prospects. But they are still learning. Some of them were on the court Tuesday night getting picked apart defensively by New York late in the game. Pierce would never say it, but it must be hard for him to get excited about another season without championship promise. Like Allen Iverson and Kevin Garnett, he seems no closer to winning an NBA title than he was his rookie season. All that sweat, and no bling to show for it. Pierce never should have signed that three-year $59 million contract extension this summer. Not if he really wanted to win an NBA ring. The Celtics are just too far away. Pierce, who just turned 29, has been carrying the load for so long one has to wonder if he'll have enough left in the tank by the time Boston puts the right pieces around him. Even with a youth movement and a new up-tempo offense designed to free Pierce of some of the scoring burden, the Celtics know that the 6-6 wing player is still going to do the heavy lifting this season and beyond. "Paul's going to be Paul," Szczerbiak says. "He's going to be our go-to guy down the stretch. We're going to look for him to make plays." In other words, this year's Celtics will probably look a lot like previous Boston teams come the dog days of January and February. Pierce will have the ball in his hands, trying to single-handedly carry his team to the playoffs. And he'll get for his effort is a sore body -- and, of course, that nice paycheck. But some around the NBA believe Pierce might have made more money if he'd opted out of the final year of his contract next summer and become a free agent. At the very least he would have been able to go some place where he had a chance to win a title. His agent advised him to consider it. So did his friend, Antoine Walker. But Pierce likes it in Boston. "Like I've been saying all year," Pierce said when he signed his extension, "I've been telling everybody that I wanted to be a Celtic for the rest of my career, and that's something I really meant." Pierce's loyalty is admirable. He has a chance to carve out his part in the great Celtics tradition. He has led Boston in scoring seven of the past eight years. If he remains in Boston for the duration of his contract, he will have been a Celtic for 13 seasons, behind only John Havlicek (16) and Robert Parish (14) -- and tied with Larry Bird as well as several other greats. But Havlicek won eight NBA titles. Parish won four (one with Chicago in '97). Bird won three. Pierce has never even reached the NBA Finals and has missed the playoffs in four of his eight seasons. His numbers may scream greatness, but will he be held in the same regard as those legends if he doesn't win a championship? Outside the visitor's locker room, Celtics boss Danny Ainge said the days of hearing Pierce's name in trade rumors are in the past. "Paul's here to stay," Ainge said. "We love Paul. And Paul loves our young guys. He loves being a Celtic. He's looking forward to [playing with] this team." One can only wonder if that will remain the case, and whether Pierce will continue to want it that way. One bright spot for the Celtics in the preseason has been the play of rookie point guard Rajon Rondo. The 6-2 former Kentucky standout, drafted No. 21 overall by the Suns and traded to the Celtics for a future first-round pick, has been an energizer with his ability to get in the paint and set up teammates. He is not a good outside shooter (at least not yet), and his defense needs work (like most rookies), but during his first three preseason games, he has been a skinny little jolt of caffeine in a green headband. "I'm not surprised," said Rondo, who was drafted behind several other point guards. "I wasn't too cocky but I was confident in the type of style I play. I just try to come in every night and play hard. I think I'm doing a good job running the team, trying not to force things." Rondo already has made the top spot on ESPN's top 10 list. Against the Knicks, he soared high in the air to grab a missed shot by Gerald Green and threw down a one-handed dunk. He then turned and intercepted the inbounds pass by David Lee, scored and drew a foul for a three-point play. Pierce even got up off his seat on the bench to hoot and holler.

2) Mike Kahn of Foxsports.com ranks the centres:

Yao could soon pass Shaq as NBA's top center

It's nearly impossible to decide between the two centers. There is no escaping Shaquille O'Neal as the dominant center of this era and one of the best of all time, coming off his fourth championship even if his skills are diminishing each year as his body breaks down at the age of 34. As for all those cynics about the development of Yao Ming, well, last season he proved that he is indeed moving to the star level and this very well could be when he surpasses O'Neal as the top center in the NBA. Ostensibly, all the 26-year-old native of China has to do is get his troublesome left big toe healed, get some help from Tracy McGrady and win a playoff series for the Houston Rockets in the tough Western Conference. That's all. "He is a remarkable young man — that's first and foremost," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "He's a great person and a very diligent worker at his game. He's made incremental progress throughout his time in the NBA. We don't expect any major growth in any one area, but a little growth in a lot of areas, which will continue to make him progress from a very good player, which he is now, to a great player." Nonetheless, winning is always the primary barometer of success in this league, and getting beyond the first round of the playoffs is mandatory for him to actually surpass O'Neal. With O'Neal and the Miami Heat defending champs and expected to compete for the Eastern Conference title again, the Rockets must show some major progress. That's presuming that O'Neal doesn't completely fall into a state of decline this season, and that appears to be a couple of years premature unless his body completely falls apart this season. But if that is the case, then it will clearly be an official passing of the sword to Yao as the supreme of all centers. "Yao's a great center," O'Neal said "Whenever you want to become the best you have to go up against the best. I guess going against me is one of his biggest challenges, along with Mr. (Tim) Duncan in his conference. He's a great competitor who wants to go up against another great competitor." Beyond those two, it's a tough call unless young Amare Stoudemire bounces back to 90-95 percent productivity from surgery to both knees over the past year — the first one the distressing microfracture surgery. The other wild card is young Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, still only 21 and developing physically and mentally in the post — and yet amazingly gifted. Young Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman is also coming on strong from that endlessly talented 2003 draft, and veteran standbys Brad Miller, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, hybrid Ben Wallace and Jamaal Magloire are worthy of recognition. Marcus Camby has proven in recent years to be the most productive and least appreciated center, keeping the injury-riddled Denver Nuggets competitive in the West and then there are a slew of younger players still trying to receive validation. But when it comes down to it for now, the battle for supremacy at the center position in the subjective FOXSports.com ranking of the NBA centers begins and ends with Shaq and Yao.

1. Shaquille O'Neal, Miami Heat, 34, 7-1, 325: The "Dominant One" missed 23 games, an annual occurrence, nonetheless there were the 20.0 pts., 9.2 reb., 1.76 blk., 1.9 ast., .39 stl. and his 60 percent field goal shooting. Oh yeah, and there was the little matter of his fourth championship — the first for the Heat. Indeed, Dwyane Wade was the MVP and star of the show, but they need each other and Shaq — however badly his body is breaking down — can still take over a game at any time as the most powerful force in the game.

2. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets, 26, 7-5, 295: Yao made huge strides — so to speak — with his best season statistically: 22.3 pts., 10.2 reb., 1.65 blk., 1.5 ast., .53 stl., .519 from the field and .853 from the free throw line. But the Rockets were back in the lottery, and without a healthy Tracy McGrady it's tough to say how far they can go. Still, Yao's critics have been much too harsh and he already is the best all-around center in the game. Now he has to learn how to win in the NBA to solidify his status.

3. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic, 20, 6-11, 265: It was only two years ago that people thought the Magic were nuts for taking Howard with the first overall pick instead of Emeka Okafor. Nobody is thinking that now. The 15.8 pts, 12.5 reb., 1.5 ast., .79 stl., 1.40 blk. and .531 field goal percentage don't even begin to tell the story of the way this guy plays the floor. He's the ideal package for the new-age center. He's got a long way to go fundamentally, but he's very bright, confident and aggressive — and his skill level is off the charts.

4. Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns, 24, 6-10, 250: It is difficult to gauge his status after Stoudemire played just three games last spring following microfracture surgery on his left knee last October, then underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in the spring. Training camp 2006 has featured stiffness in both knees, but the *26.0 pts., 8.9 reb., 1.63 blk., 1.6 ast., .96 stl. and .559 field goal percentage, plus the fabulous postseason of 2005, were very real. His prospects for this season are all over the map in both directions — but chances are very strong he will be an impact player at some level.

(*Stoudemire's 2004-05 statistics. He played just three regular-season games in 2005-06.)

5. Ben Wallace, Chicago Bulls, 32, 6-9, 240: This will be a curious season as he was the biggest free agent of the off-season, despite his down year with the Pistons featuring 7.3 pts., 11.3 reb., 2.21 blk., 1.9 ast., 1.78 stl. and .510 field goal percentage. Plus he was a drain on coach Flip Saunders' transition toward an offensive team. He walked out the door screaming. Nobody questions his heart, but to pay him $60M over the next four years for his deteriorating skills? He'd better be a huge performer as opposed to just a defensive advocate for coach Scott Skiles and a tutor for the youngsters. That means returning to the impact defensive player he was in the lane and on the boards 2-3 years ago.

6. Brad Miller, Sacramento Kings, 30, 7-0, 260: For the first time in five years, Miller played virtually the entire season and responded with 15.0 pts., 7.8 reb., .78 blk., 4.7 ast., .77 stl., and made .495 of his field-goal attempts. He's still one of the slickest passing and shooting big men around, if not the quickest or best defender. But he's a nice fit on his team and if he can stay healthy, with the weapons around him, Miller and the Kings should thrive this season with new coach Eric Musselman.

7. Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets, 32, 6-11, 230: Although skinny and injury- prone, Camby remains one of the most underrated players in the game because his 12.8 pts., 11.9 reb., 3.29 blk, 2.1 ast., 1.41 stl. and .465 field-goal percentage consistently make the Nuggets a better team. While Carmelo Anthony went through all of his growing pains, Nene his injuries and Kenyon Martin his temper tantrums, Camby was there with leadership, stability and performance. Now they're loaded up front and that should help Camby as the shot-blocker in the middle.

8. Chris Kaman, Los Angeles Clippers, 24, 7-0, 265: Amid the fabulous play of Elton Brand and the crucial addition of Sam Cassell, the growth of Kaman — 11.9 pts., 9.6 reb., 1.38 blk., 1.0 ast., .58 stl., .523 field-goal percentage and .770 from the free-throw line — often was lost. Sure, he was much better at home than on the road, but he's still young. The key is his skills are superb and with coach Mike Dunleavy and the cast around him, he should only improve. Already he has produced at a much higher level than other higher-paid centers in his age bracket.

9. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland Cavaliers, 31, 7-3, 260: No center in the league has better hands and touch than Z, as his 15.6 pts., .506 field-goal percentage and .834 free-throw shooting indicate. The problem is the inconsistency of his 7.6 reb., 1.74 blk., 1.2 ast. and .49 stl. When the rest of the team is so athletic, where does he fit? Sometimes he's a huge asset because he can score in so many ways, but he doesn't block or alter as many shots as they need, and he too often looks awkward trying to fit in to the LeBron James-charged offense. This will be an interesting season.

10. Mehmet Okur, Utah Jazz, 27, 6-11, 250: Okur thrived in his second season on the Jazz, averaging a career-high 18.0 pts., 9.1 reb., .89 blk., 2.4 ast. and .49 stl., with a .460 field-goal percentage. As a bonus, he's a terrific 3-point shooter — making .342 from long range — and nailing .780 of his free throws. Considering he was drafted and began his career in Detroit, it's tough not to compare his skills to Bill Laimbeer. Now if coach Jerry Sloan can toughen Okur's mind to being even close to Laimbeer's, Okur has a chance to be one of the most productive big men in the game.

Also receiving consideration were: Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia 76ers; Tyson Chandler, New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets; Joel Przybilla and Jamaal Magloire, Portland Trail Blazers; Nazr Mohammed, Detroit Pistons; Zaza Pachulia, Atlanta Hawks; Erick Dampier, Dallas Mavericks; Primoz Brezec, Charlotte Bobcats; and Kwame Brown, Los Angeles Lakers.

This is awesome…http://www.esquire.com/features/articles/2006/061005_mfe_November_06_Gilbert.html


1) Oh my God thank-you...from the AP:

NBA promises zero tolerance for drama queensESPN.com news services

The NBA might have given its players something to complain about this season -- something other than the new basketball. In an attempt to get players to curtail post-whistle whining, NBA referee representatives have made the rounds early in training camp to emphasize the league's zero-tolerance policy. Commissioner David Stern, long fed up with players' histrionics over questionable calls, is threatening to hit them with quick technical fouls -- and later fines -- for those who curse, throw their hands up, or make other gestures that show disgust. Rasheed Wallace, for one, told the Detroit News he took the league's crackdown personally. "It's just another 'Sheed Wallace rule," Wallace, shaking his head, told the newspaper. "It just means I must be doing something right. Any time they change the rules of the game for one specific player, you must be doing something right." Stern's fine system for offenders starts at $5,000 for each instance a player or coach publicly criticizes an official. For multiple technicals, the consequences now are more severe -- $1,000 fine for the first five, $1,500 for the next five, $2,000 for the next five, $2,500 for the ones that follow, and, in addition, a one-game suspension for every other technical after the 15th. The scale was introduced last season. "What happens if I am one of the captains?" Wallace asked the News. "Does that mean I can't talk to them? You can't talk back to them like they're your mom and dad. It's like they're saying, 'If you say something to me I am going to put you on punishment.' That's how it is. I will come up with some way to tell them how I feel." Wallace was issued 16 technical fouls last season and a one-game suspension. It's reasonable to think, if referees consistently show zero tolerance, he could double that total. "It'll be an adjustment for everybody in the league," the Heat's Dwyane Wade told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Heat coach Pat Riley believes players will still be able to express their opinions to officials, but will have to police their body language and tone of voice. "They are going to be very conscious of player complaining," Riley said last week. "That's one of the big things with them. Every call, there's always 10 guys complaining to the officials. They're just telling them to cut it out."

2) Chris Eckstrand of Si.com reviews the camp battles:

Rotation battles - Who plays? Who sits? Keep an eye on these players

For most NBA fans, there's a serious lack of a "wow" factor during the preseason. Rookies are trying to impress the coaching staff. Veterans are working their way into shape. A few players are trying to get their timing back after being sidelined with injuries. Nothing to generate huge headlines. But look a little deeper, below the surface of games in which the outcome is essentially meaningless, and you'll see playing rotations taking shape. On many teams, the composition of the starting five was obvious by August. But those extra rotation spots -- six through eight or nine on most teams -- are there for the taking. And players who have spent time on the outside looking in are battling to get into the rotation. "If I'm starting or coming off the bench, I just want to be in the rotation," Kendrick Perkins, a fourth-year center for the Celtics, recently told the Boston Herald. "I want to know I'm going to be able to contribute." Perkins, who started 40 games last season, is in competition with newly acquired veteran Theo Ratliff for the Celtics' starting center spot. Ratliff, whose shot-blocking prowess has been his calling card during 11 productive seasons, would like to start but figures that he and Perkins will be sharing the center minutes either way. Not every player has such a comfort zone. It has been seven years since Anthony Parker was in an NBA training camp. The former first-round pick of the Nets in 1997 spent three injury-riddled seasons in the NBA with Philadelphia and Orlando from 1997 to 2000 but was never healthy enough to solidify a spot in the league. So Parker, the older brother of University of Tennessee star Candace Parker (the next big thing in women's basketball, folks), took his game on the road, becoming a major star for Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel, one of the superpowers of European Cup basketball. With new Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo giving his team a decidedly European flavor, it made sense for Parker, now 31, to give the NBA another try. "Anthony is a high character and experienced player that has proven over several years now that he belongs in the NBA," Colangelo said. Parker is battling another Raptors newcomer, former Pacers guard Fred Jones, for a spot in the team's revamped starting lineup. Both appear to have the inside track over Joey Graham, the second-year man from Oklahoma State. The winner of this battle could join mainstay Morris Peterson as lucky wing players converting easy baskets on passes from certified blur T.J. Ford. Here are some other battles to watch closely as the preseason chugs along:

ROCKETS: Kirk Snyder vs. Luther Head vs. Vassilis Spanoulis…With the acquisitions of Bonzi Wells and the eminently versatile Shane Battier, there's probably going to be enough minutes for only one of these guys in Jeff Van Gundy's rotation. Snyder has the best NBA body, Head is the quickest, and Spanoulis, once he gets comfortable, is a fearless player who makes things happen (just ask the USA Basketball team).

GRIZZLIES: Stromile Swift vs. Alexander Johnson vs. Hakim Warrick…With Pau Gasol months away from playing due to a left foot injury that required surgery, minutes are up for grabs in the Grizzlies' frontcourt. Swift, who has been here before, obviously has the inside track, but if he disappoints (and we've been there before with him), the rookie Johnson and second-year man Warrick will get opportunities. Johnson, who has an NBA power forward's body, may be able to play some center, while Warrick, a pogo-stick jumper who is quick but lean, is hungry for minutes after a nondescript rookie season. Memphis' other rookie forward, Rudy Gay of Connecticut, is going to get big minutes right from the jump.

WARRIORS: Dajuan Wagner vs. Monta Ellis…Wagner's astonishing recovery after having his entire colon removed has earned him a guaranteed contract from the Warriors, and his return to the NBA is a contender for Story of the Year. Now that he's back in the league, Wagner has a chance to break into Golden State's rotation, something the precocious Ellis has his eye on as well. When it comes to earning the backup job behind the oft-injured Baron Davis, well, let's just say the stakes are high. Backups to Davis often find themselves in the starting lineup for extended periods of time. The departed (to Utah) Derek Fisher ended up playing nearly 32 minutes per game last season.

HAWKS: Marvin Williams vs. Shelden Williams…The ethereally gifted Marvin has the inside track because of his exceptional athleticism, but the brutish Shelden has bona fide shot-blocking ability, something that Atlanta's more established big men, Zaza Pachulia and Lorenzen Wright, don't possess. Both Williamses will play, but the development of Josh Smith, who may be ready for a breakout season, means that frontcourt minutes in Atlanta won't be as easy to come by as they've been recently -- and that's a positive development for the Hawks.

The Dawning of Darko…There's been a palpable and parochial prejudice in the NBA for years against European players, from coaches to journalists to fans. Those constituent groups seem to have endless patience for the development of the latest teenage sensation from the U.S. high school or college ranks but not for the scruffy guys with extra vowels in their names from Europe. Those players, no matter their age, are expected to produce right away. When a 20-year-old Dirk Nowitzki didn't set the league on fire during his first (lockout-shortened) season in 1999, there were whispers that the German wunderkind was a "bust." Manu Ginobili, trying to play through a badly sprained ankle in his first training camp with the Spurs in 2002? "Not really that athletic" was the scouting report that spread like wildfire (at least among those who didn't see him soaring for dunks in the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis). Well, it's time to mark down on your calendar that on this date, it was still fashionable to call Darko Milicic, the former No. 2 overall pick in 2003, a "bust." That label, like the ones initially placed on Nowtizki and Ginobili, may soon be wrong. Now beginning his first full season in Orlando after spending 2½ frustrating seasons chained to the bench in Detroit, Milicic has put in serious time in the weight room in order to earn serious time on the court. He reported to the Magic at 278 well-defined pounds, and he'll likely split minutes with veteran Tony Battie alongside budding superstar Dwight Howard. Milicic, who (not surprisingly) is better prepared for regular NBA minutes now that he's reached the ripe old age of 21, is poised to build on a promising final 30 games with the Magic last season, when he averaged 7.6 points per game in 21 minutes per game. Magic coach Brian Hill has called Milicic a "very skilled player" with a soft touch and outstanding passing abilities. Milicic showed his newfound confidence this summer when he averaged 16.2 points and 9.3 rebounds for Serbia & Montenegro at the FIBA World Championships. He also led the tournament in blocked shots with 17 in six games (2.83 bpg).

My Fantasy sleeper is the Celtics’ Ryan Gomes, who is the new jack Derrick McKey…points, boards, steals, assists and all in the context of team play…

More comment on the new ball...the Suns have been using the ball for about a month, since the start of informal workouts, and it seems that all of them want ol' reliable back. The league's two-time MVP -- one who may handle the ball more often than any player -- is not a fan. "It's very difficult for us," Nash said. "It's almost like you have to relearn how to make your plays because this ball sticks to your hand whereas the old ball slid in your hand nicely and it had a nice little touch off the floor and the backboard. This ball just grips the floor and grips the backboard so you have to change your game."

Kevin McHale said the injured Wolves guard Rashad McCants “looks like a middle linebacker” after spending so much time in the weight room…

My good friend Chris Hunt will love this…T-Mac called Rockets rookie Steve Novak: “…the best shooter I’ve ever seen…I don’t care if he can’t do anything else. I don’t care if he can’t dribble, he can’t rebound, can’t play defence, that man can shoot the ball.” Wow…sounds like he;s describing the second coming of Shawn Respert…

What?...Since having the option on his contract picked up in June, Rockets forward Chuck Hayes has been electrocuted by a water fountain and has slipped on a puddle of a water in practice to injure his groin.

This is awesome: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=alipour/061005

1) Someone please tell me why so many NBA players seem to carry guns? From the AP:

Four Pacers involved in shooting

Indiana Pacers player Stephen Jackson was hit in the mouth, struck by a car and fired a gun outside an Indianapolis strip club early Friday, police said. Jackson, 28, told officers he fired his 9 mm pistol in the air in self-defense after he was slugged in the jaw and hit by a car outside the club, said Sgt. Matthew Mount, spokesman for the Indianapolis Police Department. There were no reports of anyone being struck by the gunfire, and police did not make any immediate arrests. Police are looking for the car that hit Jackson and other individuals involved. Mount said an argument involving Jackson and other members of the Pacers began inside the club. The Pacers players said they left the club, but other club patrons followed them outside. "At some point when leaving the club, a verbal altercation ensued ... that turned into a physical altercation," Mount said. Jackson was hit in the mouth, and an individual tried to run him over with a car, Mount said. Jackson went up onto the hood of the car. Jackson was limping but refused medical treatment at the scene, Mount said. He conferred with a Pacers trainer and sought medical treatment at a hospital. The other Pacers at the scene were Jamaal Tinsley, Marquis Daniels and Jimmie Hunter. Tinsley and Daniels also had guns in their cars, and all three armed players had permits for the weapons, Mount said, although Daniels' permit was issued by Florida. Jackson joined the Pacers in 2004 and averaged 16 points per game during the 2005-06 season.

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

Ten things to watch as NBA camps open

With training camp getting under way this week for the 2006-07 season, the stories that will break and confound prior to and after the regular season begins are likely to be equal parts shocking and predictable. But there will be ongoing stories that will begin at the onset of camp and carry us through the entire regular season ... possibly into the playoffs. So instead of the typical look back, let's take a gander at the stories likely to have the most legs beginning in training camp.

1. Item: Pat Riley returned to coach the defending champion Miami Heat, trying to duplicate the back-to-back titles he won with the Lakers almost 20 years earlier. Do the Heat have a realistic shot at repeating? What this really means: It will take a lot more than the will of Riley, the size and confidence of Shaquille O'Neal and the extraordinary ability of young guard Dwyane Wade. In fact, it's hard to tell how much energy Riley has left considering he took so long to announce his return (however made-for-TV dramatic it may have purposely been). Even more important will be O'Neal; he doesn't dominate games much any more and isn't going to get any lighter or more effective. Besides, he admitted recently he would have retired if Riley didn't return. Granted, it's easy for him to say that now and nobody believes he'd walk away from the $20 million a year he'll be making. But it is in his head. The bigger issue may be Wade. His talent and maturity are unquestionable, but he's in a totally different realm now. With the Finals MVP award, a captainship with the U.S. national team and unprecedented commercials, this mature and generally quiet family man is everywhere. How has this worn on him mentally? Did this summer's tough run in Japan, on top of a playoff run that lasted well into June, wear him out physically? It's impossible not to adore Wade, his presence and his talent, but the immediate future of this team is as fragile as O'Neal's free throw shooting.

2. Item: The Dallas Mavericks signed All-NBA forward Dirk Nowitzki to a long-term extension last week on the heels of leading the Mavs to the finals. What this really means: Just as it's impossible to know what the Heat will do for an encore, the same goes for Nowitzki and the Mavs considering they had the Heat on the canvas ready to go down 3-0 with six minutes left in Game 3. Then they fell apart — in the game, in the series, and Nowitzki went from a top-of-the-hill superstar to a shrinking violet. He is, by all accounts, a top-five player in this league and the unequivocal leader of the Mavs. Chances are he'll respond in kind, but at what level? We know Avery Johnson will not let down in his second full season as coach and will learn from the spanking they took in the finals. However, owner Mark Cuban won't ever back down from how he wants to behave at any given moment, nor from what he wants to say. And while that works great in business, it can wreak havoc on the psyche of a sports franchise. Many believe it did in the finals because he got so publicly cocky when the Mavs went up 2-0. Hanging at the top of the heap is always a tenuous spot and how will Cuban, Johnson and Nowitzki #&151; with Josh Howard sitting in — deal with the pressure of having been so close but not getting the ring?

3. Item: The San Antonio Spurs have admittedly changed their style to a certain extent and have publicly said superstar Tim Duncan will play center a lot more this year as they play smaller and faster. What this really means: Everyone seems to have forgotten that the Spurs played smaller and faster last season, were within one game of the best record in the NBA, and lost to the Mavericks in the second round in a series that was so close, it was a travesty one of the teams had to lose. In other words, they are close to being back to the team that won three titles in seven years — but how much energy do they have left? For one thing, Duncan didn't play in the summer for the first time in years — which allowed him to get healthy in the wake of their early exit. We'll see what kind of competitor he is. Manu Ginobili must return healthy considering how erratic he was with ankle and foot problems last season. Tony Parker was magnificent in the regular season and put up his best numbers, but he is still far too erratic as a scorer and playmaker in the playoffs. Enough about his youth; he's been around long enough to now that he should consistently perform as an elite point guard in the postseason. You'd better believe coach Gregg Popovich believes the same thing.

4. Item: The Detroit Pistons have rebuilt their coaching staff around Flip Saunders in his second season and didn't do much to entice free-agent center and emotional leader Ben Wallace to stick around — so he bolted for Chicago. What this really means: The Pistons' near collapse to the Cavaliers in the second round and complete collapse to the Heat in the conference finals reflected an exhausted team. Maybe even moreso, a team that actually believed it was better than it was. The Pistons were an outstanding defensive team, winning the title in 2004 and losing in the finals to the Spurs in 2005. When Larry Brown left, replaced by Saunders at the start of last season, the players felt freed from Brown's strict principles and put together the best regular season record. But both Ben and Rasheed Wallace faded. Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince played far too many minutes and had nothing left by the middle of the playoffs. This season they'll be refreshed and the edict from president Joe Dumars is to extend the bench — consistently. This will be a make-or-break year for this group and perhaps the perception of Saunders as a head coach in this league.

5. Item: When Chicago Bulls president John Paxson dealt Tyson Chandler to the Hornets for P.J. Brown and J.R. Smith (whom they later released), that completely wiped the slate clean from the Jerry Krause personnel era of the Bulls. What this really means: Paxson has completely transitioned this team into a defensive-oriented group that coach Scott Skiles believes he can compete with in the upper echelon of the East. Signing Ben Wallace and acquiring Brown will serve as a short-term fix to add energy and teach defensive effort to the young players like rookie Tyrus Thomas, Andres Nocioni and Luol Deng up front — along with guards Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon, et al.

6. Item: Last week, Jerry Colangelo agreed to stick around as chairman of the Phoenix Suns' board of directors until 2011. What this really means: Well, considering Colangelo has been with this franchise since its inception in 2008, it could have been just out of habit that he wanted to stick around. But it was odd in the wake of the somewhat controversial (not to metion, rapid) exit as president by son Bryan Colangelo to become president of the Toronto Raptors. Are the motives for Colangelo to stay on board purely out of his love for the Suns, retaining a hand in the franchise for ego purposes, or just the inability to trust his baby with new owner Robert Sarver? Even though he sold the team to Sarver and he hand-picked coach Mike D'Antoni — who is the only NBA coach to be in the conference finals in each of the past two seasons — it seems impossible for Colangelo to walk away considering his name is synonymous with the Suns. And maybe he never should.

7. Item: Even though it was 10 years ago that Don Nelson was perceived as washed up as a coach and permanently headed for Hawaii after the New York Knicks fired him, he did just fine in helping rebuild the Dallas Mavericks with his son Donnie. Now his former star with the Golden State Warriors — GM Chris Mullin — has hired him to return the Warriors to the playoffs. What this really means: Mullin has shown good instincts with players, but the hiring of Mike Montgomery from Stanford was never going to work — and this is, at best, a short-term fix and a bid just to make the playoffs. And perhaps that's all this franchise really needs — a coach to make them believe and eradicate the losing culture that has permeated Bay Area basketball. The problem is Nelson always ends up with as many enemies as allies and it can divide an organization. He's a politician and a bully — a dangerous combination. His version of "smallball" will help the Warriors become more consistent offensively. But if they never play defense, they'll never win either. The hope is a trip to the playoffs can change everything — but if he doesn't do it this year, chances are it will never happen with Nelson as their coach, either.

8. Item: People expected LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to improve last season and make the playoffs. But nobody — probably not even LeBron and the Cavs — knew they could take the Pistons to the brink of elimination in Game 6 of the East semis. What this really means: James and young coach Mike Brown have the Cavs on the brink of getting to the next level, that's for sure. But the off-season moves made by GM Danny Ferry made this team extraordinarily guard-heavy, and the roster seems dangerously imbalanced at this time. Of course, they want to pressure defensively and play fast, but this is way over the top. The Cavs have Zydrunas Ilgauskas, re-signed Drew Gooden, and have every reason to be excited about the future of Anderson Varejao, but that's it when it comes to power players. They drafted two terrific guards in Shannon Brown and Thomas Gibson, but they need more up front to be serious against the best of the East. Then again, when James is involved, there is no such word as elimination.

9. Item: Los Angeles Lakers had the Phoenix Suns down 3-1 in the first round last season and just couldn't put them away. Now they've added hot-shooting Vladimir Radmanovic and seem even more potent. What this really means: There is minor hope around Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom, but they'll need more than just flurries of incredible shooting from Bryant, like the one that totaled 81 points in one game a year ago. But in a strange turn of events, coach Phil Jackson announced last week that he would undergo hip replacement surgery and could be out up to six weeks. Jackson has to be in control if this team is to have any semblance of success, and the timing of this is really hard to fathom. Jackson has known for years he needed the surgery, as he's constantly been in varying degrees of pain and discomfort. Why now? If the Lakers get off to a horrible start this season and never recover to make the playoffs, it's a question he'll be dogged with for more years than he'll care to remember.

10. Item: And of course, what could be more interesting than to keep an eye on Madison Square Garden, where the bizarre Knicks hit the news this week by buying out veteran forward Mo Taylor from their massive $132 million payroll (plus luxury tax). What this really means: Not only is coach and president Isiah Thomas doggedly attempting to get this roster down to a workable salary structure as they move forward with deals and actually attempting to win, he did coax one of his former Indiana University teammates and front office lieutenant in Toronto — Glen Grunwald — to help manage the front office. There has always been genius to Thomas as a player, and even in his draft judgment — he clearly gets basketball. But deep inside those personality quirks, something has always gotten in the way of him completing the task when the ball isn't in his hands. He was at least 50 percent of the problem for the Larry Brown fiasco (last year's coach who will get at least $40 million in a settlement), he is defending himself in the middle of a sexual harassment case, and the Knicks ownership group has told him: "You got us into this mess ... you dig us out." It's an almost impossible task, but it will still play big at the Garden, if only because everybody knows how much New Yorkers appreciate good theatre.

3) Sources: Not enough good leather to go 'round?

The NBA has controversially introduced a new basketball for the first time in 35 years, prompting an obvious question: Why? One potential factor: Spalding, which has manufactured NBA balls since 1983, might have been eager to get out of the leather business. The new official NBA basketball finds itself amid controversy.NBA sources told ESPN.com that Spalding urged the NBA to switch to a composite model because it was having trouble securing the "consistent" leather needed to keep manufacturing the ball that has been used for decades. At the NBA's annual rookie orientation in September, according to sources, first-year players were told by league officials that the change to a microfiber composite ball was caused largely by Spalding's struggles to keep finding the specific leather used for the NBA model. Spalding, though, contends that the change was made because the new model is simply "a better ball." That's according to Dan Touhey, Spalding's vice president of marketing, who told ESPN.com on Thursday that the composite ball can be produced with "more consistency, a better grip and more advanced technology."
"That's not the reason at all, far from it," Touhey said of any leather shortages. "It is a fact that there are very few manufacturers remaining that produce leather. But when you go down the list of reasons why [the ball was changed], that would be No. 999 out of a thousand. "We're always looking for a better material, a more consistent material. Leather, because it's a natural material, is inherently a more difficult material to source. A composite material, because it's a man-made material, is easier to source. … The benefit is consistency. That's probably what the point was [at the rookie orientation]." It remains to be seen if the widespread outcry against the new ball will prompt the league office to consider switching back to leather before the regular season opens Oct. 31. But that seems highly unlikely, given the stance shared by NBA commissioner David Stern in Spain on Thursday. "Every organization plays with a synthetic ball -- high school, college, FIBA and the like -- and so the time of the synthetic ball is here," Stern said of his league. The chorus of complaints has nonetheless been getting louder by the day since Miami's Shaquille O'Neal ranted against the switch Monday, likening the composite model to "one of those cheap balls that you buy at the toy store." New Jersey's Vince Carter, Detroit's Rasheed Wallace, Denver's Carmelo Anthony, Washington's Gilbert Arenas, Phoenix's Shawn Marion and the Suns' reigning two-time MVP Steve Nash are among the big names who have since voiced their displeasure with the change. The most common complaints are that the ball is too sticky when dry and too slippery when it gets wet, much slicker than a wet leather ball. The old NBA ball will be missed by many. Miami's Antoine Walker raised another concern earlier this week, saying, "The problem with this ball is that it wears down very easily and that's not good. During the course of a game, if a guy is 10-for-10 in the first half and now you've got to switch to another ball, that makes a difference. We should have stayed with the old ball. It was better. Those old balls last a long time and you could play with them when they got old. These balls, once they get slippery, it's going to be difficult." Wallace told the Detroit News: "Terrible. I don't know why they did it. The thing that [upsets] me about it is, that's a major part of playing and you can't just change it without getting the players' opinions on the ball before you change it." Yet much like the dress code instituted by the league last fall and its subsequent decision to ban the compression tights sported by several top players throughout the 2005-06 season, changing the official ball -- according to the current collective bargaining agreement -- is another measure that the NBA has the right to impose unilaterally, without consulting the NBA Players Association. NBA vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson, promoted from senior vice president of basketball operations to executive vice president in June, defended the new ball Tuesday, insisting that it has a better grip than its predecessor when wet, not worse. "It's a better ball," Jackson said. "But as a product matter, composite balls are used in every league throughout the world. And they've been used in every level of play over the last 10 years domestically in the NCAA and also in high school." The composite ball has been used at the past two All-Star Games and was modified by Spalding after the first composites were tested by NBA players in 2005. The league dispatched a new ball to every NBA player over the summer and Jackson estimated in June that "99 percent" of the league's players grew up using only a composite ball. But that hasn't hushed or even slowed an ongoing flurry of complaints. "As a kid going up through high school and then college, you dream about playing with that leather NBA basketball," Mavericks swingman Jerry Stackhouse told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "This new ball is the one I played with in the backyard when I was 12. "Nobody that ever played the game would want to change that ball. Nobody. Not Michael Jordan. Not Dr. J. Nobody." Spalding, according to Touhey, was prepared for such reactions, knowing that protest is a reflex response to change. "It takes time," Touhey said. "These guys are professional athletes. They get custom fitted for their shoes. Everything about their lives is about consistency. When you switch out the most important piece of equipment, players are going to be resistant to that. "But we know it's a better ball, so we're comfortable." Bulls coach Scott Skiles told the Chicago Sun-Times: "I think it was my sophomore year in college, the Big Ten -- or maybe it was the whole NCAA -- changed balls. Initially, everybody was kind of frowning on it, but within a couple of months, everybody was fine with it. That will probably be the case here."

5) Chad Ford of ESPN.com debunks some myths:

One month before the season even begins, two big topics concerning next summer are already on the minds of some -- the likely destination of Vince Carter and the supposedly endless cap room of the Lakers. In the spirit of my favorite show, "MythBusters," here are two NBA myths that need a little busting.

Myth 1. Vince Carter will leave the Nets for the Magic next summer. Apparently someone looked at the Magic's glaring need at two guard, saw that Grant Hill is coming off the books next summer, realized that Carter has a home in the Orlando area and ... boom ... an NBA myth was born. It isn't impossible that Carter would bolt New Jersey for the Magic, but as it stands right now, the problem is that he'd have to take a huge pay cut to do it.
True, at first glance it appears that the Magic will be swimming in cash next summer once Grant Hill's contract comes off the books. If the cap were to stay at $53 million, the Magic would have roughly $12 million in cap room. If the cap were to go up to $55 million, the Magic would have roughly $14 million in room. But there's a major caveat. The Magic don't have really any significant cap room until they decide what to do with up coming restricted free agent Darko Milicic. Milicic will have a huge cap hold, which is the amount of cap space the Magic have to set aside for him. The cap hold is 250 percent of his previous salary up to the max salary, for a total of about $12.445 million. The Darko cap hold will significantly reduce the Magic's available cap space down to between zero and two million. The cap hold disappears once Darko either signs with another team (the Magic will have the right to match because he's a restricted free agent) or agrees to a contract with the Magic. If the Darko plays at about the same level he did last season for the Magic, he's probably looking at a starting salary between $5 and 7 million next season (remember that Kwame Brown got $8 million a year with the Lakers for doing next to nothing in Washington). Darko is 7-1, will turn only 22 years old next June, and has shown that, at the very least, he's an outstanding shot blocker. If Darko improves as much as some scouts believe he will this year, he could be looking at a contract with a starting salary of closer to $10 million. If Darko signs a deal with a starting salary of $6 million, his cap hold disappears and the Magic would be left with about $8 million in cap space (assuming a $55 million-dollar salary cap next year). If he signs for $8 million, that number drops to $6 million in cap space. If he really blows up, the Magic can kiss their cap space goodbye if they want to re-sign him.
Carter makes $15 million this year and would be opting out of a deal that would pay him $16 million next year. You do the math. Yes, the Magic could try to make more room by trading players in return for expiring contracts, but who's that going to be? I'm sure they'd love to dump Keyon Dooling or Pat Garrity, but who's going to give up an expiring contract for either player? And don't forget that the Magic, historically a conservative team when it comes to finances, has more than just Darko to worry about next summer. Dwight Howard will be up for a max-type extension next summer and Jameer Nelson is coming the year after that. The most likely scenario is that Carter stays put in New Jersey. Big stars rarely leave the home team, Carter keeps saying he wants to stay and the Nets sound like they want to keep him. If he does leave the Nets, the team with a better shot of luring Carter away could be the Bobcats. If a local connection matters, well, Carter played his college ball at UNC. More important, the Bobcats have a big hole at the two and they'll be looking at a whopping $26 to $27 million in cap room next year. They'll have the money to sign Carter and have plenty left over to do whatever they want.

Myth 2: The Lakers will be big players in the free agent market next summer. This myth has died down a little now that the Lakers spent a significant amount of money on free agent Vladimir Radmanovic this summer -- but it was always bogus. As I chronicled early last year, for the Lakers to get max cap room in the summer of 2007, they would have needed to dump every player on their team except Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum. Then, after spending max dollars on one player, they would have had to fill 10 remaining roster spots with minimum contracts. That was never going to happen. But the question became moot when the Lakers guaranteed the third year of Kwame Brown's contract -- for a whopping $9 million -- midway through last season. As it stands now, the Lakers are looking at a payroll of right around $55 million next year, which should be just around where the salary cap comes in.

Is that the clink of glasses I hear? Nope, just the T-Wolves signing Vin Baker…

MVP…Last year the Suns (naturally) ledt the NBA in scoring…it was the fifth straight season a Steve Nash team led the league in scoring…

Too Funny…when Artest heard the news that Rick Adelman had been replaced on the Kings' bench, he said, "Oh, good. We got Musselman."…then he learned that his new coach would be Eric and not Bill. "Oh," said Artest, "I didn't know it was his son." Artest somehow didn’t know that Bill passed away more than six years ago, even though he attended the funeral…

Awesome…the Knicks picked up Nikolai Skitishvili yesterday…I’m telling you there needs to be a Knicks reality show this year…

According to the LA Times Baron Davis has decided not to care so much this season, and he isn't really interested in being a team leader…apparently Davis got his new outlook on life and basketball during a summer conversation with Shaquille O'Neal, who gave some interesting advice to the frustrated scorer over lunch in Los Angeles. "He told me that I'll become a great player once I stop caring so much," Davis said. "You know, stop forcing myself: 'You've got to do this. You've got to work out.' If I just love what I do, then everything else will take its course. ... Every time I'm on the floor, I'm enjoying my time. Being injured, it can be taken away. I respect that. I appreciate that."…You can’t make this s__t up…

Uh-oh…Shaq hates the new balls…"I think the new ball is terrible," O'Neal said Monday. "It's the worst decision some expert, whoever did it, made. ... The NBA's been around how long? A hundred years? Fifty years? So to change it now, whoever that person is needs his college degree revoked. It's a terrible decision. Feels like one of those cheap balls that you buy at the toy store, indoor-outdoor balls," O'Neal said. "I look for shooting percentages to be way down and turnovers to be way up, because when the ball gets wet you can't really control it. Whoever did that needs to be fired. It was terrible, a terrible decision. Awful. I might get fined for saying that, but so what?"

OK…Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas is thinning the air in his house. "I had my house converted to the Colorado altitude, so I am always above sea level," Arenas said Monday at the Wizards annual pre-training camp media day. Say what? He's going to live at high altitude in the nation's capital? "You know, that's kind of weird," Arenas said. He'll get plenty of nods with that statement, but, yep, he's really doing it. Instead of going to the mountains to train -- as some endurance athletes do -- Arenas has hired a company to simulate those conditions in a home environment. "I had to put a tent in one room, and then they are going to come during training camp and fix the whole house," Arenas said. "Then I have a have a portable tent I'm taking on the road." Arenas' hopes the living arrangement will give him more energy in the fourth quarter of NBA games, when everyone else is getting tired from breathing the same old heavy air. "How I start the game is how I finish the game," he said.

1) Marty Burns of Si.com previews the Central:

Camp preview: Central division - Burning questions for a division full of playoff teams

When it comes to previewing this year's NBA training camps, the Central has as many intriguing storylines as any division, and is certainly the most competitive -- all five teams made the playoffs last season. The Pistons are the defending division champs, but Ben Wallace left them to sign a free-agent deal with Chicago. The Bulls could be dynamite, but their current group has yet to win a playoff series. Meanwhile, LeBron James' Cavs took the Pistons to seven games in last year's Eastern Conference semifinals. Then there are the Pacers, with Al Harrington rejoining Jermaine O'Neal, and the Bucks, with the continued development of Andrew Bogut. Here's a look at the major questions each Central Division team faces as it heads into training camp (teams listed in order of last season's finish).

Detroit Pistons (64-18)
1. Where's Dr. Phil? After racking up the NBA's best record during the regular season a year ago, they crashed and burned in the playoffs. Then they watched their defensive anchor, Wallace, bolt for a free-agent deal with Chicago. It will be interesting to see if there is an emotional hangover at the start of camp.
2. Can Nazr Mohammed man the middle? To replace Wallace, the Pistons signed the veteran Mohammed from the Spurs to a five-year $30 million free-agent contract. The 6-10 Mohammed is nowhere near as good defensively as Big Ben, but he is a better scorer and should fit in with Flip Saunders' more offensive-minded approach.
3. Who emerges as a leader? Wallace was the face of the Pistons and their heart-and-soul. Detroit needs somebody else to step up and fill the role. Chauncey Billups and/or Rip Hamilton seem the most logical candidates, and training camp should provide the first clues.

Cleveland Cavaliers (50-32)
1. Will continuity carry over? The Cavs didn't make many significant changes to their roster, choosing to fill in around the edges with veterans David Wesley and Scot Pollard. Instead they're hoping LeBron James, Larry Hughes, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and the rest of the holdovers can use training camp to further develop cohesion.
2. Can Mike Brown goose the offense? Cleveland ranked 15th in the NBA in scoring a year ago, but the offense was often predictable, with players standing around to watch LeBron. One of the second-year coach's goals this season will be to get more movement and scoring from other players, particularly from the point guard position.
3. What can the other Brown do for them? The Cavs are hoping that top draft pick Shannon Brown, a 6-4 guard from Michigan State, can help make up for the free agent loss of Flip Murray (Pistons). Brown impressed observers in summer league play, but this will be his first chance to test his skills against real NBA competition.

Indiana Pacers (41-41)
1. Will a new vibe translate to more wins? After two straight years of Ron Artest-fueled distractions, the Pacers enter camp in relative peace. All the key players are healthy, and Harrington has returned to Indiana to join his good pal O'Neal in what should be a quieter, more stable locker room.
2. Is Jamaal Tinsley the answer? The oft-injured point guard appears to be fully healthy after missing 40 games a year ago with a torn right bicep and sore right elbow. The Pacers need him to be at full strength, especially with 38-year-old Darrell Armstrong as the only other proven backup distributor on the roster.
3. Can Rick Carlisle go with the flow? Pacers bosses Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh want the team to be more athletic and play at a faster pace this season. It will be a challenge for Carlisle, who is accustomed to calling virtually every play, to make the adjustment and give his players greater rein within the offense.

Chicago Bulls (41-41)
1. Is Big Ben ready to chime? The Bulls will shell out $60 million over four years for Wallace's services, and training camp will be their first chance to see if it was money well-spent. Windy City fans will be waiting to see if the four-time Defensive Player of the Year can still wreak his usual havoc at age 32.
2. Can Andres Nocioni play power forward? Last year the 6-7 Argentinian emerged as a legitimate X factor, adding a reliable long-range shot to his kamikaze slashing and rugged defense. With Luol Deng an emerging star at small forward, Nocioni's ability to play the 4 position could help Chicago take it to the next level.
3. How much can Tyrus Thomas contribute? Thomas, the No. 4 overall pick in last June's draft, won't be asked to do much right away. But the 6-9 forward from LSU showed flashes in the summer league and could be the athletic big man Chicago needs. He'll get his first chance to make a case for immediate playing time next week.

Milwaukee Bucks (40-42)
1. Can Mo Williams replace T.J. Ford? With Ford traded to the Raptors, the Bucks are counting on the veteran Williams to step in and handle the playmaking duties. The 6-1 former Jazzman played well last year as a sixth man, but this will be his chance to prove he's worthy of a full-time starting role.
2. Will Bogie be better at center? Andrew Bogut, the No. 1 overall pick in '05, had a solid rookie campaign as a power forward a year ago. But the 7-foot Australian prefers to play center, and he'll get that chance now that Jamaal Magloire has been traded to the Blazers.
3. Where does Charlie V. fit in? Charlie Villanueva, obtained from Toronto in the Ford deal, will get first crack at the starting power forward spot vacated by Bogut. If the 6-11 former UConn star can nail it down, the Bucks would have two of last year's top three rookies in their starting frontcourt.

2) Burns also previews the Atlantic:

Camp preview: Atlantic division Burning issues for a division steeped in transition

In the Atlantic Division, mediocrity has become the norm. The Nets were the only team to make the playoffs a year ago, and they were easily bounced by the Heat in the second round. The Sixers, Celtics, Raptors and Knicks all wound up in the lottery, with New York also becoming the NBA's premier laughingstock. The Atlantic probably won't be much better in '06-'07. The Nets, Celtics and Sixers made few significant changes. The Knicks still have pretty much the same mishmash roster, even if team president Isiah Thomas has replaced Larry Brown as coach. Only the Raptors, under new GM Bryan Colangelo, could be said to have made significant personnel changes. Here's a look at the burning questions facing each of the Atlantic's teams:

New Jersey Nets (49-33)
1. Who will emerge off the bench? The Nets desperately need some scoring punch off the bench to complement Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson. They're hoping newcomers Eddie House, Bostjan Nachbar and/or rookie Marcus Williams can help fill that role, and training camp will begin to provide some answers.
2. Is Krstic ready to take the next step? Last year Nenad Krstic took his game to a new level, becoming one of the better centers in the East. He wilted in the playoffs against the Heat, but he took the summer off from international competition and the 6-foot-11 Serbian says he's rested and ready to build on his improvement of a year ago.
3. Can Jay Williams make it back? In one of the feel-good stories of the preseason, Williams is attempting to make a comeback from the devastating motorcycle injury that nearly killed him three years ago. The 6-2 former Dukie is considered a longshot to make the Nets roster, but it's one more step in an inspirational return.

Philadelphia 76ers (38-44)
1. What's the Answer's frame of mind? After a summer spent hearing his name in trade rumors, Allen Iverson might not be the happiest camper entering the 2006-07 season. He is saying all the right things, but it will be interesting to see if the sensitive superstar has the same pep in his step during his 11th training camp with the team.
2. How much can Rodney Carney contribute? Carney, the team's top draft pick, is a tremendous athlete with major potential, but he's still considered raw. The 6-7 forward from Memphis could compete for backup minutes at the 2-3 with Kyle Korver and Willie Green, but he'll need to show he's ready over the next few weeks.
3. Who's bringing the travel guide? The Sixers will hold training camp in Barcelona, Spain, and will also play some exhibition games in Cologne, Germany. Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks can only hope the experience will bring the team together and improve a team dynamic that appeared to be shaky a year ago.

Boston Celtics (33-49)
1. How's their health? Paul Pierce (minor elbow surgery), Wally Szczerbiak (arthroscopic knee surgery) and Delonte West (back spasms) all were hampered over the summer by ailments. All three starters are expected to be back in camp, but coach Doc Rivers will be watching closely to make sure they're 100 percent.
2. Who will play the point? Seeking to upgrade the team's point guard position, the Celtics traded for Sebastian Telfair (Blazers) and drafted Rajon Rondo (Kentucky). They hope the two young playmakers can improve the team's speed and decision-making on the break, and perhaps challenge West for playing time at the spot.
3. Did Big Al learn his lesson? Last year Al Jefferson showed up for camp in less-than-optimal shape and went on to suffer nagging ankle injuries that prevented him from ever seizing the starting power forward spot. The 6-10 bruiser says he is healthy and as fit as ever, but the Celtics will find out for sure over the next few weeks.

Toronto Raptors (27-55)
1. Can a new Ford rev them up? In one of the bigger offseason trades, the Raptors acquired T.J. Ford from the Bucks for Charlie Villanueva. The 6-foot Ford is one of the quickest point guards in the league, and he'll be counted on to help lead a new up-tempo attack patterned loosely after Phoenix's free-flowing scheme.
2. Is Rasho the answer at center? After years of searching for a legitimate center, Toronto thinks it finally has one in veteran Rasho Nesterovic. The 7-foot former Timberwolf and Spur, acquired in a trade with San Antonio, will be out to show in camp that he's ready to fill the void and provide a needed presence behind Chris Bosh.
3. How much can Bargnani contribute? Andrea Bargnani, the 7-foot Italian selected No. 1 overall in last June's draft, will be under intense scrutiny around the league. The good thing for the Raptors is that they already have Bosh and Nesterovic at the 4-5 spots, so there shouldn't be too much pressure right away on the soon-to-be 21-year-old.

New York Knicks (23-59)
1. Can Isiah clean up the mess? After the fiasco of '05-06, Thomas jettisoned Brown and finds himself back on the bench as coach. His first job in camp will be to clean up the toxic atmosphere that engulfed the team a year ago and get them playing as a cohesive group.
2. Who's the starting shooting guard? With Stephon Marbury the starter at point guard and free agent signee Jared Jeffries likely to inherit the small forward position, the Knicks have a glut at the 2 spot. Steve Francis, Jamal Crawford and Quentin Richardson will battle it out, which could make for some raw nerves -- and some good fodder for the New York tabloids.
3. Can Renaldo Balkman play? Thomas was criticized heavily on draft night for using the No. 20 pick on the relatively unknown Balkman. The 6-8 South Carolina product will need to show in camp that he can step in and contribute, or Thomas will hear more about it from the MSG hecklers.

3) And Burns continues with the Northwest:

Camp preview: Northwest division - Burning issues for a division full of question marks

The "great" Northwest? Not during the 2005-06 NBA season. The T'Wolves and Sonics both took nosedives in the standings. The Jazz struggled with injuries. The Blazers were dismal. Only the Nuggets made the playoffs, and they flamed out in the first round. This year the Northwest should be considerably stronger. Utah appears healthy again, and should battle Denver for the top spot in the division. Kevin Garnett will always give Minnesota a fighting chance, and the Ray Allen/Rashard Lewis combo makes Seattle a difficult opponent. Here's a look at the burning questions facing each of the Northwest teams as they head into training camp (teams listed in order of last season's finish).

Denver Nuggets (44-38)
1. Can George and K-Mart get along? After feuding during last season's playoffs, coach George Karl and power forward Kenyon Martin reportedly met over the summer and buried the hatchet. They swear they're on the same page now, but a week of two-a-days should reveal more about this volatile pairing.
2. Who will play shooting guard? The Nuggets are hoping J.R. Smith, acquired in a trade with the Bulls, can fill their hole at the 2 spot. If the 21-year-old former high school phenom can't step up to the challenge, Denver might have to go with DerMarr Johnson.
3. How's Nene? The 6-11 Brazilian sat out last season after blowing out his right knee on opening night. He has worked hard at rehab, but admitted over the summer that he's still just 80 percent recovered. It will be interesting to see how much Nene can contribute right away.

Utah Jazz (41-41)
1. Are they finally healthy? Last year Carlos Boozer (hamstring), Gordan Giricek (ankle), Matt Harpring (knee) and Andrei Kirilenko (miscellaneous) missed significant time with injuries. They are all now healthy, meaning coach Jerry Sloan might finally get a glimpse of what they can all do together.
2. Can Derek Fisher play the 2? The Jazz acquired the veteran Fisher in an offseason trade with the Warriors, hoping he could help mentor young point guard Deron Williams. But with the shooting guard position unsettled, they also will use camp to see if Fisher can play there alongside Williams in a small backcourt.
3. Can Rafael Araujo find a niche? The 6-11 Araujo, a draft bust in Toronto, is getting a second chance in Utah. The Jazz are being careful not to put any pressure on him, but they're hoping the former BYU pivot can benefit from a return to familiar surroundings and perhaps become a reliable backup to Mehmet Okur and Jarron Collins in the middle.

Seattle SuperSonics (35-47)
1. Is a Seattle storm brewing? After sitting out the final 46 games last year with what the Sonics called a "sore left knee," forward Danny Fortson is back. But the volatile forward reportedly is not happy with coach Bob Hill, who benched him even before his questionable injury. The Sonics can only hope the Fortson issue doesn't become a distraction in the days ahead.
2. Can Robert Swift take it to the next level? The 7-foot Swift, who came straight out of high school two years ago, averaged six points and five boards in 20 minutes while shooting over 50 percent last season. If he and fellow 21-year-old center Johan Petro can hold down the middle, Seattle has a chance to improve greatly.
3. How is Chris Wilcox's state of mind? Chris Wilcox was hoping to parlay his strong showing down the stretch last season into a big free-agent payday, but he wound up having to settle for a three-year $24 million deal. The Sonics hope he won't let the disappointment affect his play, and that he plays as hungry as he did a year ago.

Minnesota Timberwolves (33-49)
1. Is Mike James the answer? Seeking to upgrade at point guard, the T'Wolves signed veteran Mike James (Raptors) to a four-year $23.4 million deal. They're hoping the 31-year-old veteran can provided some scoring pop and pressure defense. He'll get his first chance to show it in training camp.
2. Where's the beef? With the likes of Mark Blount, Eddie Griffin and Mark Madsen penciled in as Kevin Garnett's main sidekicks in the front court, Minnesota is thin in terms of big man depth. They can only hope everybody stays healthy in camp or they could be in trouble when the real games begin.
3. Is Randy Foye for real? The T'Wolves parlayed the No. 6 pick in last June's draft for the rights to Foye, the former Villanova standout. The 6-4 combo guard dazzled during summer league play and could battle Marko Jaric, Trenton Hassell and Troy Hudson for backcourt minutes right away.
Portland Trail Blazers (21-61)
1. Is Jarrett Jack ready? With Steve Blake (Bucks) and Sebastian Telfair (Celtics) traded in the offseason, the Blazers are counting on Jack to take over the role of starting point guard. The 6-3 second-year playmaker was steady as a backup last year, but this will be his first chance to show he can hold down the spot as a full-time distributor.
2. How will the center glut shake down? Say what you want about the Blazers' shaky perimeter, but they are well-stocked up front. Joel Przybilla, Jamaal Magloire and Raef LaFrentz present coach Nate McMillan three solid options in the middle -- and a potential playing time headache.
3. Can the rookies contribute? Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Sergio Rodriguez give the Blazers three more promising rookies to watch in camp. Aldridge won't participate while he rehabs a surgically repaired shoulder, but Roy and Rodriguez will get a long look as the Portland rebuilding job continues.
4) John Denton of Florida Today with an interesting article about former Raptors PG Carlos Arroyo:

Arroyo magic for Orlando fans

When he gets caught up in the moment or in a particular game, all Carlos Arroyo has to do is gaze into the stands at TD Waterhouse Centre to remind himself of the bigger picture. Carlos Arroyo's arrival in Orlando rallied fans from Puerto Rico and led the Magic to boost its marketing efforts targeting Hispanics. The dozens of Puerto Rican flags that dot the crowd fill the Orlando Magic point guard's heart with joy, and reaffirm that he's playing with a country in his corner. In NBA circles, Arroyo, 27, might be considered just another journeyman point guard. But to Orlando's booming Puerto Rican community and his fans back home on the Caribbean island, Arroyo is a star of the highest regard. It is a responsibility that Arroyo carries with great pride. He is fully aware his presence in the NBA is about so much more than just him. Instead, he says, he's playing for the thousands who support him now and for the future of basketball in Puerto Rico. "Seeing those flags helps me understand that every time I step on the court I'm representing a group of people who really support me," Arroyo said. "I'm sort of here by myself in the NBA, but I'm trying to accomplish more things for Puerto Rican athletes and open more doors. I consider it my job to keep getting better so that I can continue to open doors for other kids in Puerto Rico who love basketball." The Magic are Arroyo's fifth team in five NBA seasons, but never has the fit been as perfect for the flashy point guard. Orlando has the second-largest Puerto Rican community in the United States, trailing only New York. According to the U.S. Census, Hispanics are now the largest minority group in Orlando's metro area with approximately 370,000 people. Nearly 200,000 of them are Puerto Rican. For years, Arroyo said, he dreamed of playing for the Magic. Apparently that was a dream shared by many of his fans in the Orlando area. The day after his trade from the Detroit Pistons to Orlando in February, the Magic sold 150 tickets within the first hour of the ticket office opening. The team sold 75 of Arroyo's No. 30 jerseys within the first week of his arrival. And more than 400 fans turned out at a local car dealership for Arroyo's first autograph signing. "It's been everything I thought it would be and more," Arroyo said. "A lot of people asked me, 'Do you really want to be here?' I used to tell my wife, 'I want to be in Orlando so bad.' She would tell me not to mention it so much because then it would never happen. Of course, we laugh about that now. It's amazing how the people have embraced me here." Of course, that's the way life has been for Arroyo since the summer of 2004, when he helped Puerto Rico to its finest moment in sports. He was chosen to carry Puerto Rico's flag in the opening ceremonies of the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics -- "the highlight of my career," he said -- and things got better from there. Facing the United States in the opening game of the tournament, the 6-foot-2 Arroyo torched NBA stars Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury. Arroyo scored 24 points, including two big 3-pointers down the stretch, and handed out seven assists in Puerto Rico's stunning 92-73 rout of Team USA.
At the time, the loss was the United States' third in 112 Olympic games and its first in 16 years. But to Arroyo, the game held even more significance. It justified his status as an elite, playmaking point guard, and it turned him into a conquering hero in Puerto Rico. "After we beat the Dream Team, he became the Michael Jordan of Puerto Rico," said Gerrie Marrero, a native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, who twice traveled to Orlando last season to watch Arroyo play. "He's just become a bigger and bigger star since then to the people of Puerto Rico." Arroyo still has the letters of congratulations from Puerto Rico's governor, senators and fans after beating Team USA. Various Puerto Rican actors and actresses also befriended him following the 2004 Olympics. Just getting around in his hometown now is a chore because of his popularity. "Every day somebody will mention that game [against the U.S.] and tell me how excited they were," Arroyo said. "A lot of people will tell me how much money they made off that game. And I have guys coming over saying, 'Hey, please kiss my girlfriend.' That's overwhelming to me sometimes, seeing the impact that game had on people." Puerto Rico is also home to baseball stars Bernie Williams, Pudge Rodriguez, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado. But to hear sports fans tell it, none of them can match Arroyo in popularity. "You wouldn't believe it," said Marrero, who traveled to Orlando in the spring with a tour group of 80 people for a Magic game and the team's first Salsa Night. "Everybody down there [in Puerto Rico] are Magic fans now. We watch his games on TV, and everybody talks about how, now that he's in Florida, they hope to come and watch him play." For years the Magic have considered the Hispanic fan base a sleeping giant in Central Florida. Over the past five years, nearly 100 Spanish-speaking people have moved to Central Florida each day. And there are predictions that by 2020, almost one in every three Orlando residents will be of Hispanic descent. Now that Arroyo has stirred that group, the Magic are trying to tap into it. The Magic have fortified their Latin Affairs department and are pouring more resources into luring Hispanic fans to games. They have broadcast games on the radio in Spanish for the past eight seasons, and now their reach will extend beyond that. This summer, the Magic mailed season-ticket brochures in English and Spanish. More radio and television advertising was done on Spanish-speaking media outlets than ever before. The Magic bought a billboard, featuring Arroyo in action, to encourage fans to support their Hispanic hero. And like the Houston Rockets have done by creating a Chinese version of their Web site for fans of All-Star center Yao Ming, the Magic hope to eventually offer a Spanish version of their home page. "The Latin population in our community is almost 30 percent now and when you have that sort of percentage, it's bound to help you in terms of drawing power,'' said Alex Martins, the Magic's chief operating officer. "Really, [Arroyo's arrival] has just helped us step up what we already had in place in terms of a Latin outreach program. Now, it will come to a massive impact for us." Arroyo seemed to feed off the support from his new fans, playing some of the best basketball of his career late last season after arriving in Orlando. In his first home game with the Magic, he delighted a sellout crowd with 18 points and four assists. Salsa music greeted his every basket and those red, white and blue Puerto Rican flags filled the air. The Magic finished last season with a 16-6 run, beating powerhouses Miami, Dallas, Detroit and San Antonio down the stretch. Now, Orlando is one of the chic picks to become a playoff contender this season. That success, Arroyo said, left Magic players more determined to make this season special. "The way we finished last year, everybody left going into the summer knowing how good we can be," said Arroyo, who averaged 21.2 points, 5.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds in the World Championship this summer for Puerto Rico. "That success we had was something that motivated all of us to work on our games and get better. I definitely worked on mine. The whole summer I've been thinking about this season and getting myself ready to contribute to a team that's going to have tremendous success." Arroyo knows he could probably start at point guard for a lot of NBA teams, but he says he's happy in Orlando sharing the ball-handling duties with Jameer Nelson. He said he never wants to leave Orlando, a place where he feels most at home with the throngs of fans supporting him. "I just want to be somebody that people will remember for hard work, discipline and dedication," he said. "It's my dream to be here, and now I know my responsibility is to keep opening doors for others back in Puerto Rico."

5) Chris Sheriden of ESPN.com thinks that judgement day is coming for Zeke:

For Isiah, the end appears near

Isiah Thomas walked to the podium with such a weary hop to his step, he looked like Eddy Curry going for a rebound. Or like Jerome James walking to the vegetable stand. Or Nate Robinson stepping into a Big and Tall Store. Or Quentin Richardson dropping by a Brandy concert. Or Jalen Rose checking into an Overearners Anonymous meeting. No, Isiah didn't look all that comfortable or confident standing all alone at the podium Monday, top Madison Square Garden honchos nowhere in sight but P.R. functionaries and other upholders of Cablevision media policy showing up in abundance, monitoring player interviews and keeping their eagle eyes affixed on Thomas as he rehashed the lines he used over the summer, including the one about how growing up as a youngster in Chicago was a life and death struggle every day, which makes the pressure he's under now pale by comparison. I, for one, don't buy it. This is it for Isiah, his one last chance, and he knows it. I don't blame him if he's scared. He has good reason to be. If Thomas loses this job, he'll never get another one like it. His résumé was already poor, and his deals over the past three years have caused hundreds of millions of dollars in expenses to Cablevision's bottom line, and the hiring Larry Brown will likely go down eventually as his $50 million-dollar mistake, not Dolan's. This is his team. He made this bed," Dolan said in July. It's now three months later, and if anyone needed any indication that ownership will not be perpetuating the mistakes of recent years by dealing expiring contracts for longer ones, Dolan sent such a message unmistakably Friday by jettisoning Maurice Taylor and his $9.9 million contract through a buyout. It would seem the days of Thomas using an expiring contract as a bargaining chip are over -- bad news for those hoping to see Jalen Rose wearing another uniform after the trade deadline. Rose said there had been no buyout talks between his reps and the Knicks, but he's so much a part of the problem rather than the solution that it's hard to see him lasting 82 games with his mouth shut. When Thomas looks for someone to lash out at, don't be surprised if it's Jalen. But do be surprised if it hasn't happened by mid-November when the Knicks get back from a road trip to Denver, Houston and San Antonio following their first four games at Memphis, at Atlanta, then home for Indiana and San Antonio. Can you say 1-6? "The first part of our schedule is extremely hard, so we've got to be tough-minded enough that if we do find ourselves in the hole because of the schedule, that we're strong enough to fight out of it," Thomas said. We'd accuse him of lowering expectations, but we did that a year ago, too, when Brown was saying similar things. This time, we'll just chalk it up to what seems to be the Knicks' theme for the new season: They won't be as bad as last year, and they might even be good enough to keep Isiah around another year. Doesn't exactly sell season tickets, does it? "We were the laughingstock of the league last year, you know?" Jamal Crawford said. "I think that alone motivated guys to come back better." Thomas knows his reputation around the league and his legacy outside of it are at stake, and he's smart enough to recognize that ownership's support for him is only slightly ahead of the dwindling regard they held for previous big cheeses in the dying days of the regimes and mini-regimes of Dave Checketts, Jeff Van Gundy, Scott Layden, Don Chaney, Lenny Wilkens and then Brown. The cycle of despair at Madison Square Garden has now lasted a half-decade, the Knicks' place in the local sports consciousness having dwindled so deep it's below the disinterested stage. Even the crosstown rival Nets are taking advantage of the dynamic, draping their advertising on billboards in Times Square. "When you're down, people kick you in this league. Nobody gives you a hand," said Thomas, who at times looked so apprehensive Monday it was almost like having Layden or Wilkens back in town. "My job, and this is the way I approach it, is to win every single game, and I want us at the end of the year to max out in becoming the best team we can possibly be." Thomas' problem is that he's coaching a team of guys playing for paychecks, most long since sapped of the desire and enthusiasm that earned them the big bucks back when they were young and hungry. Malik Rose noted to reporters that he still has three years left on his deal, and immediately the jokes started about whether they'll be serving hemlock in the press room by 2008-09.
Media day drew a fairly small crowd, and at one point Steve Francis sat ignored by all but a single reporter from a small local cable channel. Nearby, Stephon Marbury held court and showed off the $14.98 sneakers he unveiled recently (Marbury joked that other NBA players have come up to him and said: "Thanks, m-----------, you just shut the sneaker thing down.") and plans to wear in games this season. "We never got an opportunity, me and Steph. We played like 15 minutes together, total," Francis said. "But this year we're looking to lead our team, and I don't think you could ask for a better situation." We could go wise guy on Steve here and point out that Orlando might be a better situation, but there will probably be plenty of time later this season to pile on. That was merely the optimist in Francis talking, drowning out the internal pessimist who no doubt understands that in the competition for minutes between himself, Richardson and Jamal Crawford, one of them will be out of the mix -- and it might just be him, another guy whose mistaken acquisition can be written off as one of Brown's ideas. Another optimist in the room was Jerome James, who said he might weigh in below 280 pounds after a summer of cardio work supervised by strength and conditioning coach Greg Brittenham. After reporting to camp a year ago at 317, that's almost 40 pounds less of the good-natured James we'll have to poke fun at. But aside from Jerome's brief interlude of hopefulness, there was little that left Insider all that inspired or bemused after the NBA's highest-paid team (payroll: $121 million) mostly steered clear of all matters concerning Brown. In fact, Larry would have been proud of them: They ignored him the right way. One other positive piece of news came when Thomas learned he would not be required to remain back in New York for Day 2 of the Brown contract arbitration hearing, sparing the Knicks the embarrassing ordeal of having last season's dead duck keep this season's lame duck from conducting the first day of practice. But it was a discomforting day, too, a day when you looked around the room and realized you were likely seeing a 25-to-29 win team in its infancy, no one trying too hard to fool themselves into believing they'll be any better than so-so. Maybe we're all wrong here and Thomas has got a motivational miracle up his sleeve. But that seems like a long shot, this figures to be Isiah's last gasp in New York -- and maybe his last as a big shot in the NBA -- and the morose look on his face and his timid steps to the podium left me with one overriding impression. That is a man who realizes his end is near. We'd call him Dead Man Walking, except Brown already used that line about himself a couple months ago. Seems unfair to reassign it so soon. Insider's prediction: Isiah is out sometime late in the regular season (we'll set the over/under as March 30), and we'll let the readers ponder the odds of who will be presiding from the podium at Media Day a year from now: Patrick Ewing, Herb Williams, Jerry West, or all of the above.