Some bullets from a lively NBA season…

• A busy Friday night most likely had many people miss out on Kevin Love’s buzzer-beater over the Clips. 
• For the fantasy heads, Marcin Gortat has been ripping the stat sheet lately, averaging 14 points and 9 boards this season.
• Sixers are ranked 3rd in scoring this season, averaging an uncharacteristic 101 points a night. They suffered that tough 4-point loss in overtime against the Nuggets last Wednesday, but bounced back with their 11th win of the season over the Hawks.
• NBA’s worst records? Wizards hold this spot with a 2-13 record to start the season. Charlotte, Detroit and New Orleans just have three wins to this day.
• The Knicks continue slipping with a recent loss against the Milwaukee Bucks. Jennings was able to tear up the sloppy New York defense with 36 points and five dimes.
• Lastly, the streaks: The Houston Rockets have won their last five, and so has Memphis. The Raptors are suffering a 7-game losing skid, while the Hornets have dropped their last five games.

That answered turned out to be yes, as Bryant poured in 42 points, with 31 of those coming after halftime. The Black Mamba hit 14 of 28 shots and shot 12-14 from the free throw line.

Credit: nbcsports.msnbc.com

Despite scoring nearly half of the Lakers’ points, however, the Clippers came out on top with the 102-94 victory. It was the first time in the past four contests that the Lakers were on the losing side of the scoreboard when Bryant toped the 40 points.

The Clippers led from the opening tip and rushed out to a 10-point first quarter lead on a number of occasions. They finished the second quarter to score the last five points and held a 13-point margin at the break, which turned out to be even too large for even Bryant himself to claw his Lakers back.

The Lakers never held a lead in the game.

In the first matchup between the two L.A. squads, much of the hype also surrounded around Chris Paul. Paul was first scheduled to join the Lakers in the shortened offseason, only for that trade to be rejected by the NBA. Paul was later dealt to the Lakers’ next door neighbor in the Clippers. Rightfully so, both the Lakers and Paul were out to show up the other in the building the two teams share.

Tally one for CP3 over the Lakers early in the 2011-12 campaign. Paul finished the game with 33 points on 12-22 shooting, including 3-4 from three-point range. He also notched six assists, four rebounds, three steals and just one turnover.

Not everything turned out to be a fairy tale ending for the Clippers as the final score indicated though. Paul hobbled off the court with just minutes to play in the fourth quarter and didn’t return. It looked as if an apparent hamstring injury was what kept Paul in discomfort after connecting on a late mid-range jumper.

Blake Griffin was sensational as well, posting 22 points, 14 rebounds and five assists for the Clips. Chauncey Billups added 19 points in the victory.

For the Lakers, both Andrew Bynum (12 points and 16 rebounds) and Pau Gasol (14 points and 10 rebounds) posted double-doubles.

Things don’t get much easier for the Lakers as they’ll host the 2010 NBA-champion Dallas Mavericks on Monday. Bryant will look to reach the 40-point plateau for the fifth consecutive game.

The Clippers will host the New Jersey Nets on Monday as well. Tipoff is set for 12:30 p.m., and the court will be transformed to purple and yellow for the Lakers’ game just hours later.

• To start off, it’s crazy to have the NBA back… Tonight’s marquee match ups on TNT will be a must-watch. The Miami Heat could potentially be without Dywane Wade tonight, as his status remains uncertain heading into gametime. LeBron James fared well last night without his sidekick, ending up two rebounds short of having his triple-double. His final line against Indiana, without Wade read: 33 points, 13 assists, 8 boards, 2 steals.
• Most importantly, NO three-pointers taken. I mean, we’re talking about LeBron here, the 6-foot-8 superstar that would settle for the spineless three pointer with the game on the line, in the playoffs… He’s made it clear he’s going to dominate the paint, and continue taking the ball to the hole. Not to mention, those newfound post-moves are beginning to resonate.
• The Blazers have looked superb on both sides of the floor this season, their 4-1 start makes fans feel slightly better about the retiring of their former All Star guard Brandon Roy. Felton remains as the ballsy sparkplug that keeps this team’s high-motor running. Portland is nearly unstoppable in their home court, and still have a load of talent in LaMarcus Aldridge, Gerald Wallace and Wes Matthews.
• The Lakers seem like a whole new team with the return of Andrew Bynum. The young giant center has helped the Lakers maintain a defensive presence. Still the team remains winless when playing away from home, making tonight’s match up an important one to grab. The scoring-minded Bryant is coming off a 37-point night against Houston, look for him to continue his attack mode against Portland.
• Here’s the link to cast your vote into this year’s All Star ballot. All of the special events such as the three-point contest, dunk contest, skills challenge, etc. will take place this season in Orlando, with the All Star game taking place Feb. 26th.
• Some quick notes regarding the ballot: eight Pacers are featured to choose from. Rubio, Love (must vote) and Beasley have all made the ballot following their surprising start. Come to think about it, there’s a lot of trifecta’s featured in this ballot, from the Spurs to the Warriors. One trifecta that didn’t make it to the Ballot were the Raptors’ (Bargnani, Calderon and DeRozan).
• And finally, some notable records of the week: Chicago Bulls (6-1), Miami Heat (6-1), Washington Wizards (0-6), New York Knicks (2-4)… It’s still an early (shortened) season.

Credit: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/

Two of the main story lines heading into the 2011-12 NBA season focus on the Miami Heat in some way, shape or form. The first – how will the ‘Big Three’ of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh fair in the team’s second go-around? After acquiring both James and Bosh prior to last season, the Heat finished with a 58-24 record, the number two seed in the East, and a trip to the NBA Finals. You know the story though; the Dallas Mavericks ousted them in six games. Now months later from the defeat, the Heat are ready to put together a season that ends in a championship. The sting that Finals defeat left in their hearts should drive this team to not only be better in 2012, but great. The ‘Big Three’ will get theirs. The Heat will show up in the Eastern Conference Finals once again, and it’ll be interesting how things shake up. Expect the Heat to get through the East, but a number of athletic, young teams (Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder) in the West could provide problems again in the championship. The addition of Shane Battier gives the Heat a lockdown defender, a proven roll player, and a shooter that can hit open the shots freed up from James and Wade. He’s not a big-time name, but expect this move to be one of the more important of 2011-12. It will lift Miami to their first NBA title since 2006.

Credit: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/

One of the other main headlines includes James’ struggles in the Finals, particularly in the fourth quarter. Again we all know the story; LeBron averaged under 18 points per game and frequently struggled in the final period. He hasn’t hidden from the criticism though, and he’ll be the first one to tell you he underperformed on the game’s biggest stage (see the interview below). The clip offers some insight from The King himself on the Finals and ‘The Decision’. With time to now reflect, time to heal (both physically and mentally), I feel as if LeBron obviously will play like he has something to prove. Not only will he continue to fill up the stat sheet, but I truly see himself taking his game to another level (if that’s possible). The burn of defeat brings out the best in most, and this could be another prime example. Look for James to come out of the gate running, guiding the Heat (along with Wade) to a red hot start to the season. And if LeBron gets another chance in the Finals, I’d be willing to bet the same results won’t be likely this time around. There’s no more being the ‘villain’ for LBJ either.

]]> http://ballb4all.com/2011/12/24/74-reasons-to-get-excited-for-the-74th-nba-season-reason-4/ Sat, 24 Dec 2011 18:54:43 +0000 Daniel Solis Ramos http://ballb4all.com/2011/12/24/74-reasons-to-get-excited-for-the-74th-nba-season-reason-4/ Reason 4: Dallas Mavericks Repeat

Shawn Marion was right, people sleep too much on the Dallas Mavs. It’s easy to see why, after a humdrum off season that brought in the aged Vince Carter, attention-queen Odom and the sketchy Delonte West. But the Mavs can always give you a reason to trust ‘em once they surrender the ball to Nowitzki. Their resilient campaign last year was easily the franchise’s finest, doing nothing but giving them the experience and confidence to do it again this year. The reigning champs will now defend their title going into this season with a huge question mark at their center spot, which is currently occupied by Brendan Haywood, Ian Mahinmi and Sean Williams.

Regardless, Dallas will look to succeed behind their well-seasoned veterans, which have spent years playing around this league. A starting line up headlined by Kidd, Carter, Marion and Dirk are all guys we have recognized to be dominant for their respective teams during their prime. Now all meshed together with one goal in mind; another ring to spawn the dynasty talks. Talks that will resonate to their neighbors in the Spurs, another southern franchise prying tight to their expired superstars. But in Texas, Dallas is a breath of fresh air when compared to what San Antonio has been doing. The Mavericks will get their mojo going at the right time during this shortened season. The back-to-back games could make it tough for the vets, but expect them to get plenty of rest once they grab that playoff spot. The unexpected low lights given to the champs can be looked as nothing more than a reason to make this crew want to shock the world once again behind their play.

Credit: itsrainingdeals.blogspot.com

With the end of the NBA lockout behind us, fans are itching to see some professional basketball once again. And one of the most exciting opportunities to catch every day’s games on live television is through NBA League Pass. The program will cost $169 for the entire season, and games through January 8th will be televised as part of a free trial to start the season. If you’re someone that just enjoys watching basketball, or if your team is straight out no fun to watch anymore, this is exactly what you need. For fantasy gurus, NBA League Pass allows you to watch games and keep up with who’s doing what. There’s nothing better than capping off a night with a west-coast game that runs until roughly 1:00 a.m. You can’t beat it. I’ve never purchased it after the free trial expired in previous seasons, but this year is a must for me. If you’re capable of doing so, I recommend you do the same too.

Back in ’96 when a young 18-year-old Bryant stepped on the NBA hardwood, little everyone know he would go on to become the face of the Lakers for the next decade and more. He was able to earn his rings alongside Shaquille O’Neal for a few years before being recognized as the league’s best scorer. In 2006, Bryant was the sole offense of the Lakers, averaging a staggering 35.4 points a game— he was 28-year-old at the time. Now in 2011, the 33-year-old Bryant may be searching for answers. His game is savvier than ever, and while most of the speed and flash is gone, Kobe can still lead his bunch into the playoffs, with or without Pau Gasol.

The main question facing this franchise going into this season is the team’s chemistry. Preseason games don’t say much, but last night’s loss to the rejuvenated Clippers proved how the competition is growing right next door. It looks like the Lakers will head into this season with high hopes behind their prospects, and the leadership of their veterans. But this team needs something more. Not a ridiculous trade, but something fresh, something new, something to change the vibes in this locker room.

Chris Paul was minutes away from becoming the Lakers’ new pulse, but after the nixing of that trade, it seems as though the franchise was put on a stand-still. Pau Gasol can still put up the numbers and Artest can change his name, but there’s nothing to look forward to here. The team will, once again, put the load on Bryant to take them places, but how much more can this guy do? Bryant has scored 27,868 points in his career, the most of any active player in the league today. But that’s not the concern, the aged shooting-guard has amassed 40,145 minutes of playing time— putting him fourth on the list among active players. Times are changing quick, how will the Lakers take the load off KB24 this upcoming season? That’s something we’re waiting to see in the next few months.

Credit: http://cdn.hot1079philly.com/

It all started when the proposed Chris Paul-to-the-Los Angeles Lakers trade was nixed by the NBA. CP3 was suppose to be a Laker. Days later, it would be another L.A. team, the Clippers, who would nab Paul in a trade with the New Orleans Hornets. The taste leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of the Lakers and its fans for certain. To one day have your prized point guard of the future, only for him to be taken by the squad whom you share your arena with has to be demoralizing to say the least. Now every time the Clips are in L.A. for a home game, the Lakers are reminded of what could’ve been. It could’ve been Paul running the show, rather than Derek Fisher. With everything in place now though, the Lakers will have to adjust and face the facts. It’s always been the Lakers running the town, but with the recent acquisitions by the Clippers (and giveaways by Lakers), tides may have turned in the Western Conference. The two squads will meet three times in 2011-12 – with two matches coming in January – and you best believe the slugfest will begin from tipoff on January 14. The matchups will be highlighted by All-Stars on both teams, and posterizing dunks could become just as frequent as a Pau Gasol jump shot. It’ll be interesting to see how the whole extravaganza plays out, but my money is still on the Lake Show this season.

Credit: http://www.chron.com/

When news broke that former star Brandon Roy was set to retire, the Portland Trail Blazers were itching to find a replacement scorer in the backcourt. Although clearly not playing at the same speed in years past, Roy had the ability to still put up points. And a few days ago, the Blazers filled that void with the acquisition of Jamal Crawford, signing the 2010 NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year with a two-year contract worth $10 million (with a player option for year two). Whether Crawford will start on the Blazers or not is to be seen, but does it really matter? He plays starter minutes anyways, putting in 32.2 minutes per game over his 11-year career. His bread and butter is scoring the basketball, and that’s been portrayed since entering the League. He has averaged 15.4 points per game, and can get his points in a number of ways. He gives the Blazers a go-to scorer when a bucket is needed, and with LaMarcus Aldridge, Gerald Wallce, Nicolas Batum, Marcus Camby, Raymond Felton, Wesley Matthews and Greg Oden, this team could make some surprising noise in the West. Although entering his 12th season with his fifth NBA team, Crawford will continue to put points up on the scoreboard, lobbying for why he still has a few years left in the League.

Credit: thedreamshake.com

At the beginning of June, the Houston Rockets announced the hiring of Kevin McHale as head coach. We’ll no longer be seeing McHale on the set of ‘Inside The NBA’ or commentating for TNT anymore. He’s back on the sidelines in an attempt to plug some life back into this franchise after a roller coaster type of an offseason. Yao Ming decided to retire after season’s end. The three-team blockbuster trade involving Luis Scola and Kevin Martin fell apart, leaving the two in a Rockets uniform as of now. McHale will have his hands full with an extremely young squad, but he had them out of the gate swinging with a 101-87 preseason victory against San Antonio. McHale, who previously coached the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2004-05 and 2008-09 seasons, should certainly have the respect of the players immediately. Although young, McHale could have this squad buying into his schematics from the get-go. He’s been around the game for awhile now, so he understands what it takes to get the job done. Now let’s see if that vision translates onto the hardwood.

The San Antonio Spurs have been a dominant force in the NBA for alittle more than a decade now. And they’ve done it with a similar roster every year. With no other professional sports team in the city, the Spurs have the heart of San Antonio and its residents. There were some struggles, though, in the beginning. It wasn’t until 1997 when the Spurs drafted a power forward out of Wake Forest, named Tim Duncan, who arguably changed the history of the Spurs’ losing ways. “Mr. Fundamental” teamed up with another perennial power forward named David “The Admiral” Robinson, and later won their first NBA championship in 1999 beating the New York Knicks. 2003, 2005, and 2007 would also be championship years for the Spurs. Their four titles ranks them fourth all-time behind the dynasties of the Celtics, Lakers and Bulls.

While it seems like the rest of the Western Conference (Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Hornets) are making roster moves to compete for a championship, the Spurs routinely stay with their core, maybe just adding a player or two (mainly through the draft) who can improve them or give depth. This year, Kawhi Leonard figures to fit in nicely with the already proven vets in SA. Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili have been their ‘Big Three’ for years, and with DeJuan Blair and Richard Jefferson as role players, they are still a dominant force in the West, and have been penciled into the playoffs every year since the late 1990s. Look for more of the same come 2011-12.

Credit: http://headblitz.com/

Danny Granger didn’t play for a star collegiate team or in a powerhouse conference back in the day. He started his life after high school ball at Bradley University for two seasons before heading to the University of New Mexico for his last two. He averaged 16.7 ppg, 8.2 rpg and shot nearly 50% from the field throughout his collegiate days.

He made some noise prior to the 2005 NBA Draft, but fell just outside the lottery when the Indiana Pacers grabbed him with the 17th overall pick. He started 17 games for the Pacers in his rookie season and put in a solid campaign with 7.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in about 23 minutes per night. Granger made a name for himself in his third season – averaging a gaudy stat line of 19.6 points, 6.1 boards and 1.1 blocks per game – that launched his career into All-Star mode. He averaged a career-high 25.8 ppg in 2008-09, good for fifth on the NBA’s scoring list that season, behind Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki. He came back down to Earth last season with a still impressive 20.5 ppg.

But now it’s the 2011-12 season – a shortened one in that – and with the recent acquisition of David West, Granger will continue to put up high point totals. He’s a lethal scorer, and although the 6’8″ forward has struggled shooting the ball in recent seasons (42.8 FG% in 2010; 42.5 FG% in 2011), he’s capable of hitting the three ball, shooting 38.5% for his career. He continues to be active on the defensive end of the floor, and there’s no question West’s presence will free up the lane at times for Granger.

Look for Granger, who is entering his 7th NBA season, to continue his success in 2012 and compete for his second All-Star appearance of his young career. He often gets lost in the limelight, but it’s time for people to recognize this young stud in Granger.

]]> http://ballb4all.com/2011/12/18/74-reasons-to-get-excited-for-the-74th-nba-season-reason-13/ Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:14:39 +0000 CJ Hemerly http://ballb4all.com/2011/12/18/74-reasons-to-get-excited-for-the-74th-nba-season-reason-13/ Reason 13: Kemba Walker’s rookie season

Three-four year college basketball players are a rare commodity now a days, but Kemba Walker did it. Walker is a rare talent who decided to stay in school to improve his game, even when he could’ve left early for the NBA. During his high school career, one of his “claims to fame” was beating an alright player named Derrick Rose. Walker didn’t start as a freshman, but played 25.5 minutes per game, which was more than any regular starter, in leading the Huskies to the 2009 NCAA Final Four. In 2011, the start of his junior year, there was much hype surrounding him as an All-American candidate, but not much hype on his Huskies’ team. After 12 games he averaged 26.7 ppg, which was tops in the nation. Kemba finished the year second behind Jimmer Fredette. And no one will ever forget the Big East Tournament that the UCONN Huskies had. They became the first team to win five games in five days. Walker was named the MVP of that tournament, and scored a combined 130 points in the five games, which is a Big East record. He was a first-team All-American and was arguably the best player in college basketball. He received the Bob Cousy award for the nation’s top point guard, and named the NCAA Basketball Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in helping lead UCONN to another Final Four, and eventually to the championship. Kemba Walker is now in the Huskies of Honor hall of fame, the year after he declared as a junior. Even with all of these accolades, he is still a humble guy. Then in the draft, the Charlotte Bobcats had the honor of selecting him ninth overall. During the lockout, Walker would return to Stoors, CT and support his former team. Now with the lockout over, we will be able to see if his incredible college career continues into the highest level of basketball.

Yes, when we all here talks of the “Big Three” we think of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat, or even the Boston Celtics’ version of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. Surprisingly enough, however, a new “Big Three” is forming down in Oklahoma City. 2010-11 scoring champ Kevin Durant, super athletic point guard Russell Westbrook, and the bearded-fiend James Harden have become a dominant threat in the NBA. Let’s just look at their stats from last year.

Kevin Durant: 27.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.13 spg.

Russell Westbrook: 21.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 8.2 apg, 1.89 spg.

James Harden: 12.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.12 spg.

These numbers, especially for Harden, increased during their playoff run to the Western Conference Finals. The ‘Big Three’ averaged more than 3/4 of the Thunder’s points each game. All three of them are not shy about taking the last shot either.

Jeff Green, who mostly started ahead of Harden before he was later traded away to the Celtics, took some minutes away from Harden. Also, with the addition of Kendrick Perkins (who was aquired in that Green trade), Nick Collison down low, and the fearsome Serge Ibaka, this young Thunder team is something to be reckoned with.

It seems as though Derrick Rose did everything last season but take home the gold. Last year’s MVP led Chicago to a promising campaign that ended with a league-best 62 wins in the regular season. In the playoffs, Rose continued his dominance in the first two rounds, before slipping up against the infamous Miami Heat. His performance in last season’s playoffs are worth looking over once again, more specifically in Atlanta:

Conference Quarterfinals against Indiana: 27.6 PPG/6.2 APG/4.6 RPG/.371 FG%
Conference Semifinals against Atlanta: 29.8 PPG/9.8 APG/4.3 RPG/.450 FG%
Conference Finals against Miami: 23.4 PPG/4.0 RPG/6.6 APG/.350 FG%

You can also notice the slight drop in his shooting percentage and scoring when the Bulls ran into Miami’s defense in the third round. But at this point, it’s nothing to stress over if you’re a Bulls fan, last season’s over and Derrick’s fourth attempt at a championship begins in a few weeks. The franchise is also set to accompany the ‘point-god’ with a solid shooting guard in Rip Hamilton, while also re-working an extension to keep Rose in the Windy city for the long run.

The Bulls have one of the best defenses in the game, the addition of Rip measures to be a ginormous move for Chicago on the offensive side. This is what Rose needs: a guard by his side that can consistently knock down that mid-range jumper. It probably won’t be the final screw that tightens up a championship run, but it’s still early in the season to assume the Bulls are done negotiating. Derrick Rose will somehow put up better numbers than last season, and you best believe he’ll be licking his chops to run that one back against Miami in June.

Yes I know many of you do not tune in to the halftime shows, if they are even aired on TV at all while the players on back in the locker rooms. Many people like to go get some grub or stock up on drinks for the exciting second half. But when you think of some of the halftime shows at various NBA arenas, it is an exciting part of each game. Each game for the different teams bring something new and exciting into the fray. You never know what to expect. Two years ago in Dallas, a human slinky did, well what regular toy slinkys do, except much bigger and moved to music without stopping at the bottom of a staircase. There are also other different spectacles – jugglers, gymnasts, animal performances, people eating fire or knives, and even insane BMX stunts. And then there is everyone’s favorite, the half-time concerts featuring famous pop, rap and country singers. Also, some NBA teams’ mascots excite the crowd with breath-taking dunks off of trampolines. My personal favorite, though original, the various team dancers that perform in their sexy outfits. So the next game you’re watching, maybe stock up during a commercial break before the first half buzzer sounds, and kick back and enjoy these halftime shows. You never know what you are bound to see.

Credit: http://www.thesportsbank.net/

When you think of Demar DeRozan, probably the first thing that comes to mind is one of his ferocious dunks. Whether it be in the 2010 NBA Dunk Contest, his “Show Stopper” dunk in last season’s contest, or on some defender in live game action (my personal favorite), DeRozan never seems to disappoint when soaring above the rim. But get over the fact of his dunking ability for just a few minutes. This guy is capable of much more on the basketball court. In just his second season in the League, DeRozan has increased his stat line averages considerably from his rookie campaign. After the departed Chris Bosh to Miami, DeRozan’s numbers soared even more than his dunks appearing weekly on SportCenter’s ‘Top 10 Plays’. He’s become a scoring machine for Toronto, doubling his rookie season average of 8.6 ppg to 17.2 ppg last season. Yea, the dude put in that many points a game. He started in all 82 games, and shot nearly 47% from the field last season. He’s one of the bright spots on a Raptors team that went 22-60 last season, and with DeRozan set to make $2.625 million in 2011-12, Toronto should think considerably about offering this young stud an extension. For now, let us enjoy what he’s one of the greatest at. Dunking.

Credit: http://rantsports.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/

One of the League’s most underrated stars, forward David West, will be suiting up for the Indiana Pacers in 2011-12 after signing a two-year deal worth $20 million. The move brings in another scorer alongside Danny Granger, as West averaged 18.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for the Hornets last season. Granger is a stud guard that can knock it down from the outside, while West’s smooth baseline jumper will become the norm once again in Indiana. This one-two punch will lead a Pacers team that saw five players average double-figure points last season (not including West), and should improve upon their 99.8 ppg average of a year ago. The acquisition of the two-time All-Star will also put fans in the seats. Other than James Posey and Jeff Foster, the lineup consists of players with eight years of experience or less. The young roster should not only propel this team into the playoffs in 2011, but for years to come in the Eastern Conference.

source: gettyimages, huffingtonpost.com

When it comes to his history of making headlines, World Peace’s name swap is nothing too shocking. World Peace has cited the reason behind change is in order to inspire the youth towards world peace? … Anyhow, the jersey looks somewhat dope and some would say it’s better than changing your name to “Ocho Cinco.” Whether this will give him some more playing time or prompt a stronger emphasis on defense when playing is still the question. World Peace is coming off a disappointing season in Lakerland, putting up career lows in points, assists, steals and rebounds. He also averaged a career low of 24.4 minutes per game last season. Things should certainly change with Mike Brown as the team’s new head coach, look for World Peace to generate more minutes and more production for the revamped Lakers that will likely make the golden push for Dwight Howard in the following days.

Credit: http://www.latimes.com/

In an attempt at creating their own ‘Big Three’ in New York, the Knicks bolstered their front court with the addition of free agent center Tyson Chandler in a sign-and-trade with the Dallas Mavericks, with the Washington Wizards being involved in the three-team deal as well. Now Chandler will be about $56 million dollars richer, while occupying the next four years of his career in The Big Apple.

The 7’1″ Chandler started in 74 games for the Mavericks last season, while averaging 10.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. He’ll be taking over for Ronny Turiaf, and joins forward Amar’e Stoudemire in forming one of the most talented NBA front courts. While Stoudemire possesses the scoring ability down low, Chandler brings in a defensive intensity that has been vacant in recent seasons.

With two All-Star headline players (Carmelo Anthony and Stoudemire) already holding the spotlight in New York, Chandler could benefit from opposing defenses keying in on the two scorers. Chandler fills a void immediately for New York, and the move makes the Knicks instant contenders, not only in the East, but throughout the rest of the NBA.

Credit: http://balljunkie.com/

After news broke that the Los Angeles Lakers’ attempt at trading for Chris Paul failed, the team wasted no time in moving one of the pieces in the proposed three-team deal just days earlier. According to a number of reports, the Lakers have sent forward Lamar Odom to the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks for a first-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, and possibly other draft picks in the future. LA will also receive a trade exception from the Mavs in the deal.

But what does this all mean for Dallas? After losing center Tyson Chandler to the Knicks and forward Caron Butler to the Clippers, it looked as if a big void defensively and in the post was evident. Although the addition of Odom won’t fix all of the problems for Dallas on defense, he possesses the scoring ability to beat defenders in a variety of ways. As last season’s sixth man of the year, Odom averaged 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game for LA last season. He set both career-highs in field goal (53%) and three-point shooting (38.3%) in 2011. The signing will not only provide the Mavs with another scorer, but Odom’s presence on the court will certainly relieve Dirk Nowitzki from possible double-teams on a nightly basis.

With Nowitzki occupying the power forward position, it’s possible the Mavs could run Odom at small forward, which would see two 6’10″+ players that can shoot the ball from anywhere on the court. With Brendan Haywood taking over for the departed Chandler, Jason Kidd running the point, and DeShawn Stevenson at shooting guard, the Mavericks will put out one of the best starting lineups on a nightly basis, to go along with a superb bench in Jason Terry, Shawn Marion (whether it’s him or Odom), J.J. Barea and Rudy Fernandez.

Odom won two NBA championships with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010. After switching from one Western Conference powerhouse to another, Odom will have his eyes set on title number three in 2011-12.

For awhile a deal was in place involving three teams. The Lakers would receive Chris Paul from New Orleans. The Hornets, meanwhile, would have gotten Lamar Odom from the Lakers, as well as Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, Goran Dragic and the likelihood

Credit: http://img.ibtimes.com/

of one or a number of draft picks from Houston. The Rockets would’ve gotten Pau Gasol from LA.

All seemed good for a number of hours, up until news broke that the deal was no more. Supposedly the NBA cancelled the trade request because of “basketball reasons” as stated by NBA spokesman Mike Bass. What “basketball reasons” are these? Who knows. But Paul won’t be joining the Lakers, and the possibility of him remaining in New Orleans could be increasing.

The frenzy for landing Paul isn’t quite over yet. The Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, Orland Magic, New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets (with Deron Williams, I’m not sure why) have all be in the mix in shuffling their lineups in an attempt to acquire the 4-time All-Star.

It’ll be interesting to see the next move on the chess board, especially for New Orleans. Training camps and the official start of free agency is set to begin on Friday. Who know’s what’s in store. Will CP3 remain a Hornet this season? Time will tell.

Remember back in the early 2000′s, when the Detroit Pistons were the perennial favorite to win the Eastern Conference and contend for a championship? Yea neither do I. After the 2008 season, the Pistons fell off the face of the earth, and became a laughing stock of the Eastern Conference. It even came to some members of the team sitting out of games on “strike” because they did not like what now ex coach, Jon Kuester’s, game plans were.

But forget about those bad times; let’s discuss what happened before the bad. This historic franchise, which started in Detroit in 1957, has seen some great individuals and teams. The “Bad Boys” era captured the franchise’s first NBA championship in 1989, after avenging losses to the Celtics and then the Lakers from the previous year. The second title would be won in 1990.

After 10 years of decline, the start of the new century had the Pistons back to winning caliber basketball. When Joe Dumars came back to lead the front office in late 2000, major changes happened. The face of the Pistons, Grant Hill, was traded to Orlando, and rebound machine Ben Wallace was brought in. Fan favorite Rick Carlisle took over as coach in ’01, and in ’02 the roster was greatly revamped. Chauncey “Mr. Big Shot” Billups was signed, “Rip” Hamilton was also inked to a deal, and Tayshaun Prince was drafted out of Kentucky. These new additions would contribute right away, sending the Pistons to six straight Eastern Conference Finals and a 2003 NBA championship.

Then in 2008, the wheels fell off. The leader of the squad, Billups was traded to Denver for the once hot but then cold Allen Iverson. A season earlier they lost Ben Wallace, and a season later they lost Rasheed Wallace. The great Pistons franchise was now a bunch of average Joes.

But now, 2011-12 is the start of the treck back to prominence. Lawrence Frank, who once led the New Jersey Nets to an NBA Finals championship, takes over as head coach. Three college studs were drafted in the ’11 draft – Brandon Knight out of Kentucky, Duke’s Kyle Singler, and Vernon Macklin from Florida. With the addition of these youngsters, plus Rodney Stuckey, Will Bynum, and Austin Daye, to go along with veterans Ben Gordon and Prince, the new look Pistons will be contenders, and not pretenders, again.

Let the thoughts of Jay-Z and Brooklyn clear out. The Nets still have a season left to play in New Jersey with Deron Williams steering the ship. Whether Williams stays or goes next year is the growing cancer, but the front office has begun to make moves. Avery Johnson will begin his second tenure as the team’s head coach, alongside new assistants P.J. Carlesimo and Mario Elie. Like many teams in this lost season, the Nets will be looking to make the big splash this December by adding another big man in the paint. Realistically, New Jersey could have either Nene or Tyson Chandler starting alongside Brook Lopez this season, but the organization hasn’t shied away from taking a shot at Dwight Howard. The signing of a mega-star such as Howard would most likely have Deron Williams on board for the trip to Brooklyn next season, with hopes of a new era.

We can’t deny it, especially the Nets fans: fantasy talks including Dwight Howard or some other money-grubbing scorer would propel this franchise’s reputation in the league. The Nets have this season to worry about though, so a big signing here will help boost this depleted roster. When it comes to trade talks, New Jersey can’t make a solid offer unless Williams or Lopez are involved, making free agency the only option. These next few weeks are crucial to the team’s future in Brooklyn, because it’s obvious they are desperate for another piece to their really confusing puzzle.

Credit: http://losthatsportsblog.com/

After a number of harsh years in Sacramento, it looked as if the Kings would be making a move to a new city to call home, Anaheim. The Kings hold the second-worst winning percentage over the past five years at 33.4% (137-273), and the transition seemed to be almost inevitable. The team has been trying to get a new arena put in Sacramento, but efforts have not succeeded in the past. But the owners of the Kings, Joe and Gavin Maloof, have held off moving to Anaheim for at least the upcoming season, putting the cards in the hands of Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson to try and keep the Kings in town. Although playing in the competitive Western Conference, the Kings possess a number of skilled young players (Tyreke Evans, DeMarcus Cousins, J.J. Hickson and Jason Thompson), to go along with veterans John Salmons and free agents Samuel Dalembert and Marquis Daniels. And after drafting arguably the most-hyped rookie in Jimmer Fredette, there’s no question seats will get filled more quickly in 2011-12. While some believe the transition to Anaheim is bound to happen because the city offers an attractable venue in the Honda Center and is “NBA-Ready” according to Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait, the Kings will be staying in Sacramento for at least one more season.