HOOP May/June 2009

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may/june 2009

the gameplan Features

76 Center of Attention

Thanks to the impersonations, dance moves, YouTube videos—and nightly double-doubles, of course—Dwight Howard’s popularity has reached unprecedented heights this season.

We sat down with the new Beast of the East, and learned that the best is yet to come. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet

Rivalry Issue

64 Three Kings

There are many rivalries in the current NBA landscape, but a few stand out from the pack. When it comes to the League’s best all-around talent, three guys—LeBron, Kobe and D-Wade—have elevated themselves from the conventional swingmen. All three are global icons, but only two have titles, and only one an MVP. That all can change by season’s end

67 1-Upsmanship

While Chris Paul receives more accolades, the Jazz remained neck-and-neck with the Hornets in the Western Conference this season, and that is thanks to the other point guard from the 2005 draft—who was drafted ahead of him. No matter who you side with, one thing is for sure: the League is in good hands entering the next decade with CP3 and Deron Williams

70 Revivalry

A player rivalry is one thing, but two teams, two cities locked in decades worth of championship battles? That’s quite another story. The Celtics and Lakers have endured 11 head-to-head matchups on basketball’s grandest stage. With a new cast of heroes and villains, we take a look at the latest chapter of the ultimate sports rivalry

59 24 Seconds... with the Thunder’s Kevin Durant

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the gameplan

may/june 2009

DePaRTmenTS 15

The Point

19

Jumpball

The best of frienemies; Head2Head: Rajon Rondo vs. Devin Harris; Catching Up With: Clyde “The Glide” Drexler; 3 Pts: Best player 6-0 and under; Brack-it: Best NBA Finals; Txt Msg: Ronnie Brewer; Playlist: Picks from Antawn Jamison; Know Your Newb: Marreese Speights, and more

49 82 85

First Five Chris Duhon, John Salmons, Boris Diaw, Charlie Villanueva, Randy Foye

Call Out Check It

Spin Moves: Chris Bosh cheers on Randy “The Ram” Robinson; Game Rec Game: Nate looks at the latest version of a few classics: Resident Evil 5 and Halo Wars; The Goods: Steve Nash’s favorite skincare products and more; Tech Ed: DJ Battier spinning on the ones and twos; Gear: The latest kicks from LeBron and Monta

108 Sneaker Game

What’s on the League’s feet

110 Stepback

Reminiscing the League’s past

112 Final Exam

Does Josh Smith make the grade?

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TM & © 2009 Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. ©Copyright 2009 NBAE. Photos: Brian Babineau, Andrew D. Bernstein, Sam Forencich, Layne Murdoch/NBAE Getty Images

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the point Volume 37, No. 4

Editor-in-Chief Ming Wong #2 Design Director Kengyong Shao #31 Associate Editor Seth Berkman #91, Tom Gottlieb #0 Associate Designer Matt Candela #52 Editor-at-Large Jeramie McPeek #4 Tech Editor Shane Battier #31 Style Editor Zaza Pachulia #27 Literary Editor Adonal Foyle #31 Straight Shooter Channing Frye #7 Videogame Editor Nate Robinson #4 Music Editors Thaddeus Young #21, Carl Landry #14 Movie Editor Danny Granger #33 WNBA Editor Lois Elfman #40 Senior Writer Michael Bradley #53 Contributing Writers Jon Azpiri #15, Brett Ballantini #97, Rick Barry #24, Jon Cooper #10, Jim Eichenhofer #12, Anthony Gilbert #1, Bill Heinzelman #20, Darryl Howerton #21, Eric Justic #3, Trevor Kearney #8, Jeff Lenchiner #48, Brett Mauser #25, Melody #34, John Nemo #16 Editorial Intern Dan Israeli #83 Contributing Illustrators Lina Chen, Jamie Stolarski Retired Numbers #6, #11, #13, #30, #99

Nothing quite stirs up debate like a “list.”1 Last issue, we got a jump on things and ran our All-Decade Team, and in its wake, we’ve been getting a ton of mail2 on the topic. Some have been complimentary, but many readers were calling for our heads at some of our selections and omissions. Let’s address some of the better letters3 and skip the “you suck” ones…

Professional Sports Publications 519 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10018 Tel: (212) 697-1460 Fax: (646) 753-9480 Executive VP Operations Jeff Botwinick Executive VP, Business Development Martin Lewis Executive VP, Sales Steve Farkas Executive VP, Sales Mitch Gibbs Executive VP, Team Relations Dave Gerschwer Executive Administrative Director Julie Wong Manager, Marketing Services Aron Sawyer Production Managers Jaime Collins, Claudette Keane

NBA Publishing/NBA Photos VP, Entertainment & Player Marketing Charlie Rosenzweig VP, NBAE Communications Mike Bass Senior VP, Multimedia Production Paul Hirschheimer Senior Director, NBAE Assignment Desk Marc Hirschheimer Senior Director, NBAE Production John Hareas Executive Vice President, Global Merchandising Group Sal LaRocca Vice President, Licensing Mary Pat Gillin Coordinator, Licensing Tom Cerabino Manager, Global Media Programs Felecia Groomster Directors & Senior Official NBAE Photographers Andrew D. Bernstein, Nathaniel S. Butler Senior Director, NBA Photos Joe Amati Senior Manager, Photos Imaging David Bonilla Official NBAE Photographer Jesse Garrabrant Photo Editor Brian Choi Photo Coordinator Kevin Wright All NBA photos appearing in this magazine, unless otherwise indicated, are copyright of NBA Entertainment. All WNBA photos appearing in this magazine, unless otherwise indicated, are copyright of WNBA Enterprises. All NBDL photos appearing in this magazine, unless otherwise indicated, are copyright of NBDL Enterprises.

HOOP is published monthly, December through June, by PSP. © 2007 Professional Sports Publications. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission of publisher is prohibited. To subscribe to HOOP, call (800) 829-3347.

PRINTED IN THE USA

Paul Pierce “Would you rather have crazy production for six years or a little less crazy for 10 years? Pierce or LeBron? Right now that question seems ridiculous, but this is an All-Decade team…a decade is 10 right? Pierce has been good for 20-plus since Y2K; LeBron was a sophomore in high school then. Lastly there is the intangible, the clutch play. We got to see these two go at it in that epic game 7 last year. Who won? Paul Pierce. I know not many people agree, but that’s because HE IS THE MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER IN THE NBA, and most definitely in this decade.” —Josh Barton We couldn’t agree more with Truth being one of the most underrated players this decade. Just so you know, our original 10 dudes had Pierce in there. We didn’t just overlook his decade of consistency, durability and Finals MVP. We even wrote it up and designed the pages, but in the end,4 we just couldn’t leave out Steve Nash. As we’ll keep repeating, the All-Decade Team isn’t just a mere comparison of numbers and accolades; it’s also about influence.

Nash impacted the overall game with his style and brought 120 points back into vogue.5 The twin MVPs, that’s just gravy.

Vince Carter “The only thing more Half-Man, Half-Amazing than a Vince Carter dunk was the fact that you put him on your All-Decade Team. Really, Vince? What else does he do besides ‘dunk ball good?’ Since when does Slam Dunk Contest titles count for greatness? Did you also consider two-time champ and super dunker Jason Richardson?

When I saw Vince on the list, I puked a little in my mouth. Thanks, HOOP…you owe me lunch.” —Scott V. Hmm…J-Rich, eh? But seriously, how people quickly forget about Vince in the first half of the decade and his impact. The League was just recovering from the lockout, there was a two-year layoff of the dunk contest, and MJ’s second retirement had left a superstar void in the game. With one dunk contest,6 VC brought back interest, the contest was revived and arenas were filled every time #15 came to town. You can even argue the couldas, shouldas and wouldas7 with Carter, but even as is, the guy was pretty special. As for your lost lunch: hit us up and we’ll take you to Sandwich Planet8 one day to make up for it.

Continued on next page

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the point Dwyane Wade “Any list that does not include him is bogus. All that does is fuel Mr. Wade’s fire to the point where he is destroying opponents. He has been doing this all year and since the break, has taken it up a few notches that no one thought he had and has him looking down on LeBron and Kobe. It has to happen this way I guess...”—Joseph Alvarez “WHERE WAS DWYANE WADE in your next decade team? I guess he hasn’t been around long enough to be on the All-Decade Team but he wasn’t even on your Next Decade Team. What’s up with that?”—Max Gietzen More so than Pierce and Carter, we got the most mail on Wade’s exclusion. First off, it’s an All-Decade Team. We need some perspective. I understand the fervor for Wade is fueled by the fact that since the ’08 Olympics, the guy’s been fire, but one season does not make a decade. Take out his pedestrian rookie season and 60-plus games lost to injury over the past two seasons and you’re really looking at three outstanding seasons. And yes, there’s a shiny Finals MVP trophy there, but is that enough for entry to a team that is based on 10 seasons? I appreciate Wade as much as any Wade fanboy9 out there, but I will respectfully have to leave him off our 10.

As for our snub of Wade on the Next-Decade Team, we just couldn’t envision Wade keeping his high level of play for another 10 seasons. We also factored in his all-out style of play, which, while should be commended, could lead to further injuries and the fact that most guards burn brighter, but flame out earlier than big men. The Next-Decade Team is purely speculative10 and was intended to be more fun than fact. Leaving Dwyane off wasn’t meant to be a slight. If we had done a half-decade team, Wade would certainly make the 2005-09 and 2010-14 squads.

Curiously enough, no one really cried foul over LeBron’s inclusion on the team or our cover choices of Shaq, Duncan, and AI. For once, something we can all agree on.11

Ming Wong #2

As a parting gift, enjoy our Just-Missed-The-Cut All-Decade Team:12

Ray Allen

Gilbert Arenas

Elton Brand

Shawn Marion

Tracy McGrady BONUS POINTS 1. There is no such thing as a perfect one; someone will find something they don’t agree with. That is also what makes them so fun.

2. It became a morning ritual to read them over my breakfast.

3. All of them will be rewarded with a handsome HOOP tee.

4. We had to scramble to put the Nash pages together.

5. The League’s rules changes and Mike D’Antoni deserve an assist.

6. The 360 reverse windmill, the behind-the-backboard windmill, the between-the-legs off the bounce, the elbow dunk, and two-handed free throw

Paul Pierce

Ben Wallace

Chris Webber

line slam were the best collective set of contest dunks. Ever.

7. Carter coulda did so much more. With his talent, he shoulda accomplished more. Had he taken the next step, he woulda gone down as one of the greatest ever.

8. Our regular lunch spot near the office.

9. They typically have Wade-themed avatars on message boards.

10. Think about it, the calendar still reads 2009.

12. We purposely wanted to enrage the Wade fans out there by snubbing him again.

13. This is for Scott V., who sarcastically suggested J-Rich

Yao Ming

016

Jason Richardson 13

all photos/NBaE/GEtty ImaGEs

11. Or not. Keep the mail comin’ to hoop@pspsports.com.

HOOP

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By Michael Bradley #53

jumpball

Frienemies

IllustratIon: matt candela

The longer a playoFF series goes, The More FaMiliar The opposiTion BecoMes wiTh one anoTher

Mike Brown would love to stand on the sidelines in the sixth game of a playoff series and call a play that completely befuddles the opposition. A blizzard of cuts and passes renders the defense helpless and leads to an easy bucket. The next time down, another mystery set is signaled, and the process begins anew. It happens again.

And again. By the time the rival coach makes an adjustment, the lead is pushed to 20 points, and the series is all but over, thanks to brilliant strategy.

Not quite. Brown knows the postseason is not the time for moves and countermoves. Oh, he’ll spend many hours poring over tape and will absolutely inject some HOOP

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are no secrets, and there are no easy answers.

“I think adjustments are important in playoff basketball,” says Denver coach George Karl. “But I think the team that has the better foundation of versatility has the advantage in a close series.”

Karl believes that coaches “balance each other out” in most playoff games. Coach A makes a move, which Coach B counters, sometimes immediately. After all of the brainstorming, it’s up to the players and how they have prepared throughout the season. If they have learned schemes and systems so well that they can improvise when set patterns are interrupted, they will be successful. “You have to have another place you can go,” Karl says. They must space the floor, move the basketball, exploit mismatches and finish.

Brown uses the example of defense. When he was an assistant with Indiana,2 Brown was given complete control of the Pacers’ D. He taught his system and mandated that the players adhere strictly to it. There was to be no switching on screens or adjusting mid-possession to what was happening.

Brown understood his rigid approach limited his team’s effectiveness somewhat, but he wanted the team to understand the concepts completely. Once they did that, he allowed for some flexibility. His Cavs are free to switch assignments on the fly, because they understand what’s expected of them. “It’s about communication,” he says.

BONUS POINTS 1. NBA teams play rivals from the other conference twice a year and teams from inside their conference three or four times each season.

2. Brown was an assistant with the Pacers under Rick Carlisle for two seasons (2003-05) and spent three years in San Antonio before that, helping the Spurs to the 2003 NBA title.

3. Karl coached the Sonics from 1991-98 and led them to three Pacific Division titles and the 1996 NBA Finals.

4. Barros played 14 NBA seasons with the Sonics, Sixers, Celtics and Pistons and was one of the League’s top three-point shooters. In 1991-92, he led the League with a 44.6 percentage from behind the arc.

5. P.J. Brown played 15 years in the NBA with six teams and didn’t win a title until his final year.

IllustratIon: matt candela

nuanced changes into his gameplan. He’ll switch some assignments and tinker with his rotation. In the end, success in the postseason does not come down to the chess game. It’s about the basketball IQ. “I think the biggest thing in a playoff series is that your guys have to know how to play the game of basketball,” says the Cavaliers’ coach. “Everybody knows what play is coming. You can’t trick anybody.

You may be able to be successful, but after a few times, they’ll figure it out.”

When two teams lock up in a seven-game series, they may be relative strangers. Sure, they may have met a few times during the regular season,1 but their encounters are fleeting and part of something so much larger that often the two-plus hours they are together on the court will leave no real impression.

That’s the nature of the regular season. It’s about building a team and always working toward the next game.

In a playoff series, life slows down, and the oncourt relationships between the players deepen.

Sometimes, that’s a good thing, since the spirit of competition prevails, and the performances produced reflect that. On other occasions, the blood begins to boil, grudges develop, and the rivalry becomes nasty. Whatever the case, a familiarity develops that prevents teams from surprising the other. By the time the series runs its course, opponents know all. There

On the other side of the ball, players must be able to flow smoothly from a called play that is thwarted into something that can produce a good shot, often in 10 seconds or fewer. That is not about some brand new strategy put in during a practice between games three and four, but how the team works together with the ball throughout a season. “It comes down to execution,” New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank says.

“It’s not sets that get you shots. It’s how well you create space.”

So, the defense communicates. The offense adjusts. The game flows. And then, it comes down to an intangible.

When Karl was coaching in Seattle,3 he was in a tight playoff series and decided to put in Dana Barros,4 a reserve guard.

It was a great move, since Barros hit three three-pointers and then returned to the bench. The Sonics won, but Barros didn’t play again. “Why? Because I got what I wanted,” Karl says.

Brown has a less fond memory of an X-factor’s key contribution. In game seven of last year’s Eastern Conference semifinal against Boston, 38-year old P.J. Brown,5 whom the Celtics had signed for his defense and leadership, registered two putback buckets following offensive rebounds and hit a 17-footer—all in the game’s waning moments. “I respect what Boston did last year, but I think we win that series if P.J. Brown doesn’t do that,” Mike Brown says.

Then again, the Cavs couldn’t say they weren’t familiar with the old forward. After all, they had played seven games against him.

HOOP

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head 2 head devin HaRRis vs. Rajon Rondo The heavyweight battle for the top point guard spot may be a two-horse race between Chris Paul and Deron Williams but there is an overlooked undercard between Devin Harris and Rajon Rondo.

Both of these young points have stepped up their games this season, going from being onesies to 1s for their respective teams—Harris fulfilling the promise that made him the fifth overall pick in ’04 and worth trading Jason Kidd for, Rondo going from wide-eyed question mark point guard for the Big Three to applying for Big Four status. Who’s the best young PG after Paul and Williams? Let’s find out.

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Round

Scoring: This wasn’t even close. With 21.4 ppg almost doubling Rondo’s 11.2 output, Harris wins this category easily. While Rondo is clever with his little scoops and flips around the basket and is seemingly becoming a master at deking dudes with his up-fake, he cannot match Harris’ pure scoring horsepower— although neither has yet to master the art of the three. Whether it’s creating his shot off the dribble, using his lightspeed to blow cats away, wetting outside jumpers or netting free throws (the latter two things being very deficient in Rondo’s game), Harris is one of the best at his position at filling the basket.

Floor Game: Watch a Celtics game and pay attention to nothing but #9. He is a virtual pinball, bouncing from one end of the court to the next, with little logic to his next point of impact. Whether it’s chasing down a loose ball, snapping up a long board or enabling a teammate to score, it is Rondo’s job to fill in every gap in Boston’s lineup. It’s hard to gauge Harris’ skills since the Nets rely on him to be the scoring complement to Vince Carter. The best way to compare the two is to consider Harris a very sharp and reliable pocket knife and Rondo as a multi-tool with a retractable and serviceable blade.

Winner: Rondo

Rajon Rondo Guard 6-1, 171, Boston CeltiCs

Winner: HaRRis

Harris

Rondo

PPG

21.4

11.2

APG

6.5

8.5

RPG

3.2

5.4

SPG

1.6

2.0

AST:TO

2.3:1

3.1:1

FG%

.435

.503

3PT%

.303

.303

FT%

.817

.625

All stats of press time

022

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devin HaRRis Guard 6-3, 185, new jeRsey nets 4

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3

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Defense: Lest you forget, as a Maverick, Harris was once used primarily as a harasser of point guards off the bench.

His job was to come in and disrupt the opposition’s offense by giving opposing 1s fits with his quickness, long limbs and defensive energy. [Ed note: please don’t judge Devin’s D on the YouTube video where he gets hustled by a European streetballer] As a Net, Harris has had to throttle down his D to save himself on O, but he occasionally flashes back to his Big D ways from time to time. KG may cop the accolades for anchoring Boston’s defense, but shrewd observers heap credit to Rondo.

As the first line of defense, Rondo is the man responsible for making entry passes to the post as un-routine as possible, stripping unsuspecting bigs of the rock and corralling ballhandlers with his incredible wingspan.

This season should mark his entry into the League’s All-D squad.

Winner: Rondo

Clutch: We typically grade clutch on the ability to come up big offensively down the stretch. This would be unfair to Rondo since he plays fourth fiddle to clutch kings Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and even Garnett in that regard. Rondo’s contribution in closing moments is his ability on the defensive end, making sure PGs have a hard time setting up the offense with ball pressure. Harris, on the other hand, is looked upon to score or initiate opportunities for teammates with the game on the line. His fumbling gamewinner against Philly was icing on the cake.

Winner: HaRRis

5

Round

Leadership: Both Harris and Rondo are still in the padawan stage of their PG training.

Harris has the benefit of being thrust into the role on a Nets team filled with youngsters looking up to him for guidance. On the flipside, while Rondo might be the green sapling in Boston’s forest of greybeards, he does benefit from learning from the elder statesmen and former NBA point Doc Rivers. What’s better— on-the-job crash training or an apprenticeship from the masters? We think the school of hard knocks prepares one better.

rondo: Glenn JAmes; HArris: dAvid dow/nBAe/Getty imAGes

Winner: HaRRis

tHe veRdiCt Let’s start by saying that any team other than the Hornets and Jazz would love to have either of these fine point guards running their team. Rajon Rondo might’ve lost the shootout against Devin Harris 3-2, but it was certainly a tough call on several categories. Even among the HOOP staff, there are several dissenting opinions—OK, maybe just one—on the matchup, but ultimately, it came down to versatility and adaptability. While both are highly skilled, we feel that Devin Harris’ game translates better across the board as opposed to Rondo’s. Harris could probably go to any NBA team and find a way to make an impact whereas Rondo would have to be in an ideal situation—Boston being an almost perfect system—to shine.

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Celeb Row

3 pts Do you like watching basketball?

My husband (of 17 years, Jeff Tietjens) played basketball in high school. He’s 6-7, so I was lucky to find a boy who was taller than me, and that I liked. He follows it a little more closely than I do. I jump in at the end and I root for the underdog. I’m an underdog lover.

Do you and your husband ever fight over the remote control?

My dad had the predominant responsibility for raising me when I was little. I have very boy-friendly remote habits. I love sports. I love action movies. My husband and I play Xbox and Wii together on a regular basis.

His ability to consume SportsCenter is maybe a little higher than mine. He’s got to have analysis from like the eighth string, 3 p.m. desk jockeys just to make sure he didn’t miss any details. I’m good with one dose of SportsCenter a day. We watch Around the Horn together. He’s definitely lucked out. It’s a battle free house when it comes to the remote.

Tyler On fIre

You’re six feet tall and this is a basketball magazine, so you know the inevitable first question is if you ever played basketball and were you any good?

The few times I played basketball intramurally, I was very effective at scoring points for the other team, so I quickly gave it up. You see these brilliant women in the WNBA and they’re so elegant and so tall. I never remember being that elegant. I am athletic. I’m an avid snowboarder. I do distance bike riding. I’ve run several marathons. All kinds of crazy alternative sports like ice climbing and rock climbing. But I’m not a team sports person. I don’t know why that is, because I love other people. I just don’t want them to brush up against me when they’ve been sweating.

028

What was it like to work with Adam Sandler in Bedtime Stories? Didn’t he break his ankle playing basketball?

He hopped around on set every day for two months and never complained. I know his ankle was killing him. He had this La-Z-Boy and between scenes he would go and recline on the La-Z-Boy and we would watch sports on this enormous plasma screen they had on set.

Is doing stand-up a sense of power to make people laugh?

When you’re on stage and things are clicking and the audience is laughing, it’s electrifying.

You kind of get transported into this zone.

I think it’s the same zone that athletes talk about where things are flowing and clicking and effortless. You’re not thinking about what you’re going to do next. You’re not thinking about what you’re going to say next. Things are just happening. It’s extraordinary.

—Lois Elfman #40

WhO Is The besT under-sIxfeeT Player TO ever ball In The nba?

Chicago Bulls forward Tim Thomas says: I had a chance to play against Muggsy…

Earl [Boykins] was definitely good, but Muggsy was especially great at what he did. Definitely have to put Nate [Robinson] up there as well. I didn’t really get a chance to play with Spud but he was definitely very talented. The best, probably, I would say is Spud. He can score the basketball and would aggravate you on the defensive end as well. Muggsy wasn’t really that much of a scorer, but he would aggravate you like crazy on defense. Overall, because of

the all-around game, I’d go with Spud.

Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo says: Best player under six-feet? Nate Robinson.

I didn’t see Spud Webb play, only played with Earl [Boykins] and Nate [Robinson]. Everybody knows— obviously, he can jump—he’s real athletic and very quick. He can also stretch the defense as well, and he’s knocking down shots now. I’m gonna have to go with Nate, because he’s the only one I’ve ever seen play, along with Earl. On defense he’s real quick. Especially when you’re dribbling the ball around him, he plays the passing lanes and can pick your dribble up. He’s also young—I think it’s his fourth year in the League—so he can only improve if he continues to work hard.

Hall of Famer Rick Barry says: Picking the best “little man” in NBA history was difficult.

It came down to a decision between Muggsy Bogues and Spud Webb. Both played with great intensity and enthusiasm, and we all remember Spud’s electrifying Slam Dunk championship. Statistically, in almost all categories, the difference between them is insignificant. In points per game, Spud averaged 9.9 ppg and Muggsy 7.7 ppg; Muggsy pulled down 2.6 rebounds to Spud’s 2.1 rpg; Spud’s 31.4 percent from three was 3.6 percent better than Muggsy’s; Muggsy was six tenths better than Spud in field goal percentage and four tenths better in steals per game. Both were outstanding career free throw shooters, with Spud coming out on top with 84.1 percent to Muggsy’s 82.7 percent. However, l give my nod to Muggsy because of assists per game. At 7.6 apg to Spud’s 5.3 apg,

Bogues was more of a facilitating guard, which is what I feel a small point guard should be.

celeb row: frederick m. brown, 3 pts: from top: scott cunningham; nich laham; nba photo library/nbae/getty images

We’ve seen Aisha Tyler get cozy with some Friends and enter the world of ping-pong in Balls of Fury. But she’s also taken dramatic turns in films and on TV. Currently performing around the country promoting her stand-up comedy special DVD Aisha Tyler Is Lit: Live at the Fillmore, the former gawky kid talks sports, Shaq and ruling the room.

You once played Shaq’s girlfriend on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

I took his shoe off and held it up to my body. It went from my kneecap to my waist. Honestly, too big. That’s all I have to say about that.

TOPIC:

HOOP

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By dan israeli #83

Catching Up With... had, he worked extremely hard, got rejuvenated by a trade, goes to a new team and wins a championship right away. Now that is similar. After many years of struggling and frustration, you finally get rewarded. But you have to remember, this is a team sport, not an individual sport.

clyde drexler

andrew d. bernstein/nbae/Getty imaGes

When you think of the term “complete player” only a few guys in NBA history fit the bill; one of them is Clyde Drexler. With a career stat line that reads: 20.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5.6 apg, 2 spg, and a 47.2 shooting percentage from the field, there is hardly a chink in this NBA legend’s illustrious armor. After 11-plus hard fought years with the Portland Trail Blazers, in which he led the team to two NBA Finals berths, “The Glide” was vindicated with a title in the spring of ’95 when a midseason trade brought him back to the city where he honed his game, Houston.

We caught up with Drexler to talk about his days in Portland and Houston and what he’s been up to since hanging up his kicks in ’98.

HOOP: If you could pick one game1 to go to this year, which would it be?

Drexler: Oh man, that’s a tough one. [laughs] How about…Lakers and Celtics?

HOOP: That’s a good one. So what have you been up to lately? Other than recovering from your Dancing With the Stars stint2 a few years back?

Drexler: I got four kids, so raising them. I do the Rockets home broadcasts on TV.3 And I’m working on my handicap.

HOOP: Big golf guy, eh? Do you play with any of your former pro friends?

Drexler: Oh, no one that you know. Just regular guys that are members of the club.

HOOP: A lot of the younger fans may not know this, but after such a successful high school and college career in Houston,4 the Rockets passed up on you twice in the 1983 Draft.5 How did that make you feel?

Drexler: I was completely disappointed. [laughs] Here’s a team that has seen me play for the last three years right in their backyard. You’re taking on all challengers and have won most of those battles. They saw me play in the summer against NBA players, the scouts would be in the gym, and I did pretty well against NBA players even as a collegiate. They certainly knew everything about you and then for them to pass up on you was a complete disappointment. But they always say, everything happens the way it should happen.

HOOP: How did it make you feel seeing Kevin Garnett go to Boston and get a ring considering that he had a similar career path to yours, remaining loyal to one team for so many years?

Drexler: Well, [in Portland] we had gone to at least two NBA Finals. [laughs] So there’s a little difference. Still, after 12 years of trying and giving everything he

HOOP: When looking at the game today, is there a player you feel best mimics your game or pays homage to it?

Drexler: Well, when I watch LeBron in transition he eats up a lot of turf like I used to, and he throws it down with power. So that’s similar stuff in transition. But then I watch certain moves that Dwyane Wade makes and I go, “That was my move!” [laughs] You know, I hate to compare eras, but I do look at little things I see in everyone’s game. Carmelo, the way he goes to the offensive boards, I used to do that all the time. There’s so many ways to be productive out on the floor.

HOOP: What is your impression of the Portland team right now? It seems that this franchise always has a deep, talented roster when they are successful. Do you agree?

Drexler: Yeah, today’s team is really good. They put together some great players—Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden, Rudy Fernandez. They got guys like Jerryd Bayless coming off the bench.

And let me tell you something, that guy could play. They got some serious players and I think they’re back, and will be a force to be reckoned with for many years, and Nate [McMillan] has done a wonderful job with that team.

HOOP: That he has. To wrap things up, do you have any interest in getting back into coaching on the college6 or pro level?

Drexler: Yeah, and I probably will when my youngest son finishes high school. He’s got three years left, and when he’s gone, all four of my kids will be gone. I’ll have all the free time. I think I’ll get back as a coach or [general manager] in the League, and I look forward to those days. I like to stick to what I’m good at. I’m not going to be too selective, but most of the times guys get coaching gigs, they’re usually bad teams. [laughs] I want to coach a good team.

HOOP: Well there should be some openings...

Drexler: Oh there’s always going to be some openings. If I wanted to do it this year, there were plenty of openings after the first month of the season. [laughs]

BOnus POints 1. Drexler is a spokesman for the NBA and Alltel’s My Circle Hoops Getaway contest, where five grand prize winners will be chosen and have the opportunity to attend any pro or college basketball game of their choice, via private jet. One lucky winner will also get to meet Clyde.

2. Drexler, paired with dancer Elana Grineko, was the fourth contestant to be eliminated from the competition.

3. The Glide provides color commentary for Rockets home games alongside fellow Houston alum and sportscasting legend Bill Worrell.

4. As a member of Phi Slama Jama, along with Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde and the Cougars were known for bringing an ABA style of basketball to the NCAA. 5. The Rockets selected Virginia big man Ralph Sampson first overall and Louisville forward Rodney McCray with the third pick.

6. Drexler coached the Houston Cougars for the ’98-99 and ’99-00 seasons, compiling a 19-37 record with his former college team.

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brack-it Eight things. OnE undisputEd champ.

JUMPBALL

Best NBA FiNAls

Knicks-Lakers (1970) vs. Warriors-Bullets (1975)

Rockets-Knicks (1994) vs. Bulls-Jazz (1998)

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New York earned its first NBA championship in a dramatic seven-game series between the Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, highlighted by one of the most heroic efforts in sports history. After suffering a severe thigh injury in Game 5, Willis Reed, the regular season MVP, miraculously stepped on to the Garden court for Game 7, scoring the first two (and his only two) baskets of the game, en route to a Knicks victory. The gutsy performance beats out possibly the game’s greatest championship upset, when the Golden State Warriors (48-33 regular season) inconceivably swept the Washington Bullets (60-22). That series is also noteworthy for featuring two African-American coaches (Al Attles and K.C. Jones) in the Finals, a first for any major professional sport.

This battle of ’90s matchups features many of the decade’s greatest (Olajuwon, Ewing, Stockton, Malone, Pippen). But when you narrow the era down to one player, one champion, you are undoubtedly left with one word—Jordan. The Rockets-Knicks seven-game grinder was played as close as a series can be, and is infamously known for the OJ Simpson freeway chase that cut into Game 5, when NBC decided to split the broadcast.

The historic night of television eventually resulted in a Knicks win, but the Rockets went on to win two straight for the chip. As for ’98, Jordan capped the Bulls second three-peat of the decade with a series-winning jumper in Game 6 over Bryon Russell. Whether or not a “push off” occurred, the image of Jordan frozen in time as the bucket dropped signified the glorious end of the Bulls dynasty era. That alone is worthy of a round two advance.

th na pr ei ov G po Fi m ’8 na

Knicks-Lakers (1970) vs. Bulls-Jazz (1998) This semifinal matchup pits Jordan vs. Reed—a battle of two icons that defined each team’s championship victory. While Jordan was up to his typical MJ ways, averaging over 33 points in the ’98 Finals, a hobbled Reed still finished the ’70 series with respectable numbers of 23 and 10 per game. Also, while the Bulls achieved great glory in notching their sixth title in eight years, few people expected that team to lose to the Jazz, while the Knicks-Lakers matchup was a lot tougher to predict. In the end, Jordan will be known for his championship résumé as a whole, while the ’70 Knicks title stands out as a defining victory for a city that has ultimately underachieved on the sport’s biggest stage. Sorry MJ, this one goes to “The Captain.”

Knicks-Lakers (1970) vs. Celtics-Lakers (1984)

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All Photos/nbAe/getty imAges

With apologies to our West Coast readership, two Eastern champs meet in our final round matchup, both titles coming at the expense of the purple-and-gold clad team from LA. While the ’70 Finals is often considered the most memorable display of team unity and perseverance, it would be wise not to underrate the ’84 Finals—not just for its sheer excitement, but for the greater impact it had on the game. Just two years after the League stopped broadcasting games on tape delay, the ’84 Finals became the most watched in NBA history. The rivalry of the Showtime Lakers and the storied Celtics franchise reignited a league that lost some of its luster in the ’70s, by creating a faster-paced, more exciting brand of basketball. Along with the ensuing NBA Draft that summer, which brought Jordan and a host of other legends to the NBA, 1984 forever changed basketball in this country. The ’84 Celtics vs.

Lakers matchup is our winner for Best Finals of all-time.

HOOP

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By dan israeli #83

Lakers-76ers (1980) vs. Celtics-Lakers (1984) We probably could have made a whole list of Finals matchups from the golden era that was the ’80s, but for the sake of fairness, we narrowed down the decade to just two entries. Both include the most prolific squad of the ’80s, the Showtime Lakers, who won five titles in eight appearances. In the ’80 Finals, as a rookie, Magic Johnson took over the center spot for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a decisive Game 6 on the road. The rook came through with a monster line (42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists) en route to a championship and Finals MVP. The series also included Julius Erving’s iconic baseline move in Game 4. It’s hard to believe any matchup could top that, but the ’84 revival of Celtics vs. Lakers, a seven-game thriller taken by Boston, narrowly rises above. More on that later.

e

d

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Celtics-Lakers (1969) vs. Celtics-Suns (1976) In the Celtic’s final championship appearance of the ’60s, they defeated the Lakers to make it nine for 10 on the decade (and 11 overall), capping off the greatest dynasty run in professional sports history. The series pitted Boston’s blue-collar bunch against a favored Lakers squad with a dominating trio—Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. Boston eventually won the title despite the relentless play of West, who, after averaging 38 points in the Finals, was named series MVP—the first and only player to do so in a losing effort. Seven years later—with another trophy already added to the mantle in ’74—the Celtics took on the surprising Suns in a competitive six-game series that included what some call “the greatest game of all time,” a triple-overtime Game 5 victory by Boston. In the end, however, in this tourney, 11 is greater than 13.

Celtics-Lakers (1984) vs. Celtics-Lakers (1969)

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Two eras. Two teams. One rivalry. When it comes down to these two Boston victories, it’s tough to pick a winner when you consider all of the Hall of Fame players, prolific stat lines, and the fact that both series went the distance. But the ’84 Finals, the first time both teams met since the ’69 series, was as memorable as a seven-game playoff series gets. After taking Game 1, the Lakers led late in Game 2 and were poised to clamp the Celts with a 2-0 series edge. But down 113-111 with two seconds left, Gerald Henderson stole a James Worthy pass, and scored a layup to tie the game, which Boston went on to win in overtime. The series lead changed two more times before a dramatic Game 7 road victory for the Celtics. Larry Bird took home Finals MVP honors, his first of two such trophies.

a is

Best nBa finals 1984: BOstOn cEltics vs. lOs angElEs lakErs All Photos/nbAe/getty imAges

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the fab five

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A longtime pop culture AficionAdo, JAlen rose pits his personAl tAstes AgAinst some notAble personAlities. up this month: khloe kArdAshiAn

Jalen Rose Khloe Kardashian Favorite car My first car was a red Dodge Omni. It had a loose belt so it made a loud noise (like scratching a chalk board times 10) when it first started up. I put a house speaker and bass boost in the trunk and would let down the back seat so my sounds would “thump.” My neighbor installed a silver auto start button so it was theft proof. I let every one of my friends in school drive my car. I’m glad no real accidents happened!

A Mercedes SL500. I love that it’s a little sports car and it’s a convertible. It’s just cute and fun.

Favorite vacation spot Las Vegas. No taxes, no curfew, no problem. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It’s beautiful.

It’s so easy to go to. I go with my family at least a couple of times a year or with my girlfriends. It’s the only time I tan, so I love it. I have great memories there.

First job My first job(s) included: having a paper route, cutting neighbors grass, shoveling snow, pumping gas at the local stations, and carrying customers grocery bags to their cars for them for tips.

My first real job was working in my dad’s music company. I was about 16.

First concert Fresh festival at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. It was the FIRST major hip-hop concert tour and it featured Run DMC, LL Cool J, Whodini, and the Fat Boys. It had original style, flavor, lyrics, phat gold ropes, cazals, and it was wall-to-wall packed! My mother filled her car full of teenagers to drop us off and we caught the BUS home!

Either Prince or Madonna. One of my dad’s best friends managed them both, so we used to go all the time. I was really young, but I loved them.

Prince is always going to be a legend. You can listen to his old stuff and it’s just amazing.

Song on iPod you’re afraid to admit

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Gladys Knight’s “Neither One of Us” or “Midnight Train to Georgia.” Those are my guilty pleasures. All my girlfriends say, “You have the oldest soul. You need to calm down.”

jalen: barry gossage/nbae/getty images

Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song.” He‘s (still) the King of Pop. The melody and lyrics of this jam are timeless!

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Dance Life

Bria

Laker GirLs

The Laker Girls are the forerunners of dance teams in the NBA. For three decades they have projected their sunny California flair and style across the League. Third-year member Bria is L.A. born and raised, and she was on the L.A. SparKIDS squad a few years prior to joining the prestigious group in ’06-07.

HOOP: Tell us about your double major of Dance and Pre-med.

Bria: Usually when people hear about my majors, they say they’re total opposites and they wonder how I handle both of them. Of course I like dancing—that’s my passion, and the Pre-med comes in

because I want to get into sports medicine. I want to do physical therapy and athletic training, and I want to tie that into dance, try to get athletic trainers for dancers, and big dance companies, or even the Laker Girls.

HOOP: What do you remember most from your rookie season?

Bria: The girls that had been on the team for a while, and their advice. As soon as I came in they were really helpful in giving hints and tips on everything. I remember their influence, and they were really nice and welcoming, so now that I’ve been here for three years I feel that I can better relate to the girls who are new, and now I’m the older girl.

HOOP: How would you describe being a Laker Girl?

Bria: It’s a huge responsibility, and it’s really an honor to be a part of. When you really step back and look at the scope of everything—the Lakers have such a rich history, and just to be on the court, and to see Kobe [Bryant] set records, just to be a part of that, it feels good. Everything ties together, and it

feels like a family within the Lakers organization.

HOOP: What was it like last year during the Playoffs and NBA Finals?

Bria: It was really exciting to be a part of those games. They are so intense, the lights just seemed brighter, the music seemed louder, and there was so much energy in the crowd. On the court we’re there to cheer them on, and when Kobe received his MVP award it was such a moment for him when he spoke to the crowd, and for us, we were being very supportive, and then it was time to get started and get into game mode.

HOOP: What would you say is the most important position in the triangle offense?

Bria: I think that the center is really, really important, so they can pass the ball if, and when needed. I think that communication between all the players is [important], and knowing your team.

Every person is flexible, and has versatility so they can be relied on for anything, whether it’s their position or not.—Anthony Gilbert #1

Txt Msgs

ronnie: Hey this is Ronnie b HooP: Hey ron...So whats da best bout living in UT? ronnie: The people are really nice, they support the jazz since were the only pro team, the scenery is real cool too, its not everyday you come out your front door and see snow capped mountains. It gets super cold though which I’m not used too, that’s the only bad HooP: Tru…a lot diff. than ARK. I bet. What u miss most bout home? ronnie: Man the southern hospitality, the food, the weather and most of all friends and family HooP: Whats 1 dish from back home u crave but cant get in UT? ronnie: They don’t have waffle house. Some chicken or fried catfish spots back home they don’t have out here HooP: I know!!! Im in nyc and we don’t even have a waffle house! Seen any good flicks lately? ronnie: I went and saw the new Jason movie [Ed note: Friday the 13th] and the international, pretty decent movies.

HooP: Was the new Jason any good? U normally like horror flix? ronnie: I like all types of movies, I watch a lot actually. it was ok not the best truthfully HooP: Tough to top the original...fav actress of all time?

034

ronnie: Actors-denzel Washington, morgan freeman, mel gibson. actresses-halle berry, angelina jolie HooP: if u could invite only one to dinner – halle or angelina ronnie: Halle HooP: we hear u studied broadcast journalism in college… who would u emulate ur announcing style after? ronnie: I think who does a good job is jalen rose, for being a former player he knows the game and speaks really well HooP: Jalen has a column here each issue…he’ll love that.

U got the fashion style to compete with him tho? ronnie: I try to HooP: Ppl think jerry sloan is a tough coach but one of the best.

Any funny stories with coach ppl might not know? ronnie: On the court he’s tough, very hard nosed but very fair, but off the court he sometimes slips n jokes every once n awhile so he’s not so uptight and mean HooP: That’s cool. Well thx for the time and keep putting up buckets nightly. Best of luck the rest of the year. ronnie: Thanks I appreciate that — Seth Berkman #91

bria: courtesy of los angeles lakers; tXt Msg: clockwise froM top right: Melissa Majchrzak; joe Murphy; noah grahaM; andrew d. bernstein /nbae/getty iMages

ronnie Brewer

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clockwise from top left: Barry GossaGe; Gary Dineen; DaviD sherman; jesse D. GarraBrant; victor BalDizon/nBae/Getty imaGes

HOOP

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the day unfolds like a challenging road that raises the essential question: is high performance in your blood or is it really in your tires?

bridgestonetire.com

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1.800.807.9555

3/20/09 11:16:37 AM

JUMPBALL

Debutant Baller Where NBA plAyers rememBer their first gAme KAreem ABdul-JABBAr

dAte: 10/18/69 - 48 miNutes, 29 poiNts, 6 Assists, 12-for-27 fg

My first game in the League I played against the Detroit Pistons and I had a good game and it bode well for my career [Ed note: Before converting to Islam in 1971, Kareem was known as Lew Alcindor]. I really didn’t have any problem with nerves before that game. It went well for me, I had a great game against Walt Bellamy and people got a chance to see me play well and I’m very happy it went that way.

There was a player in the League, Archie Clarke, who

was playing for the 76ers; he was kind of like my uncle. He kind of took me under his wing, talked to me about the game, he’d come and spend time with me—when we were playing Philly he’d have me come over to his house and eat. I first met Archie when I was at UCLA and he was playing with the Lakers.

He really helped acclimate me to the League, so I remember him and Woody Salsbury. — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as told to Seth Berkman #91

Playlist

ANtAWN JAmisoN Washington Wizards Any new artists you like?

There ain’t too many new artists that have been doing anything. I pretty much like the same artists, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne, back and forth between those two. Ain’t too many new artists—as far as rappers—that have really stood out if you ask me.

Antawn’s favorite tracks:

Do you plan on seeing Notorious?

Definitely planning on seeing that as soon as I can. I mean that was my era; Biggie and what he did. Got all of this albums, followed him during his whole rapping career, up until the tragedy. So it should be interesting seeing the movie and how they portray him.

Jadakiss feat. Faith Evans Jay-Z and Kanye West Yung L.A. feat. Young Dro and TI

Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne

“Letter to B.I.G.” “Go Hard” (Remix) “Ain’t I” (Remix) “Dr. Carter” “Any song from Tha Carter III ”

Photo Buckets

From the Archives

Virgil mAyBerry, miA mAyBerry ANd gleN dAVis Boston

Send us your best fan photo with an NBA player for a chance to win a HOOP t-shirt. Each month the winning entry* will also be published in an upcoming issue of HOOP. Send all entries to hoop@pspsports.com or by mail to: HOOP Magazine 519 8th Avenue, 25th Floor New York, NY 10018

HOOP Mike Gminski, October 1981 * - All submitted entries become property of HOOP

038

abdul-jabbar: nba photo library; jamison: ned dishman/nbae/Getty imaGes

Congratulations to Virgil and Mia Mayberry, the winners of this issue’s Photo Buckets contest. Each issue we ask readers to submit their best offcourt photo with an NBA player past or present and chose the Mayberry’s entry, taken after a Northeastern University women’s basketball game, where Mia is a sophomore forward.

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Good Looks

Old School’n

From CoaCh to First Class

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service was an unimaginable luxury. We also had roommates, but I must admit that we certainly were able to develop team chemistry because of it.

Players today receive individual rooms with luxury king-sized beds.

Also, today’s players never have to deal with their own luggage or uniforms. We were responsible for handling our own suitcases, and after games, we would rinse out our uniforms in the shower and hope that they dried in time for a game the next night. We rented cars to get around town while today’s teams use big, fancy buses.

I certainly don’t begrudge the players of today the luxury of their travel. We didn’t know any better at the time and just did our best to get as much rest as possible during a grueling road schedule.

I always felt fortunate that someone was actually paying me to play a game that I loved. I hope today’s players can appreciate what they have and can realize that it wasn’t always that way.

—Rick Barry #24

good looks: bill baptist (3); david sherman; scott cunningham; old school’n: joe murphy/nbae/getty images

Recently, the airline I fly most often turned over their service to a regional airline. Being 6-8, this was not good news. Even in an exit row seat I feel like a sardine in a can. The sensation brought back memories of my NBA days. All teams flew commercial, even cross-country, so we wedged

ourselves into the coach seats and endured hours of leg cramps and back aches. Today’s players suffer no such woes.

Currently, the “Adonis-like” players of the world’s best basketball League are treated to God-like amenities.

All teams fly on chartered jets, or the team’s own custom designed airplane with huge, comfortable seats, an endless choice of audio/video entertainment and catered food. There are no 6 a.m. flights the day after a late game. Teams depart right after a night game, arrive in the city of their next opponent, and get a good night’s sleep in a real bed.

The quality of the hotels that the players of today stay in far surpass anything we ever dreamed of. We never heard “five-stars” in conjunction with any of the places we stayed, and concierge

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frame

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By Seth Berkman #91

Allen IveRSOn February 8, 2009_Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit

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allen einstein/nBae/Getty imaGes

One of the biggest reasons for Allen Iverson’s crossover (slight pun intended) appeal has been his ability to pull off the occasional flashy play. Whether it be a bone-shattering cross on an opposing defender or a behind-the-back dime, Iverson has been a staple on highlight shows for the past decade.

But recently it seems we don’t see AI as much all over the tube, and some have even started to proclaim that the 10-time All-Star has lost a step. His scoring numbers have taken a dip—Iverson was averaging a career low 18.2 ppg at the All-Star break—and given fuel to the fire that he is no longer the dynamic player he once was.

Coulda fooled us.

Just ask the Phoenix Suns—and Grant Hill, specifically—whether or not The Answer can still turn heads on the court.

As the Pistons began a break, Iverson’s court vision caught a streaking Richard Hamilton and he winged about a 45-foot bounce pass—dude was a state champion quarterback in high school—through Hill’s legs and Rip finished for the bucket.

Final Answer? Far from it.

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According to Foyle A ThousAnd splendid suns Khaled Hosseini Publisher: Riverhead This is a story about two young girls from Afghanistan who come together during a time of volatile war within the country.

Mariam and Laila share a plight that is, unfortunately, similar to the struggles many women in their homeland encounter.

Covering the last 30 years of history in AfghanistanÑfrom the invasion of the Soviet Union to the rise of the TalibanÑthe book focuses on the struggles of Mariam and Laila during the time of this historical conßict.

The heroines are fed up with the type of society they were living in. They decide to take their lives into their own hands to try to find their place in a country that is sexist, corrupt and doesnÕt appreciate the role of women. Marian and Laila vow to find their own paths, even if it means losing their lives.

Prior to writing this book, Khaled HosseiniÕs was most noted for The Kite Runner. I am fascinated by Hosseini because he immediately followed his best book with another great book that tells a story about those in Afghanistan who are often forgotten. This book

will go down in history as a tale of the coming of age of women in Afghanistan and a fascinating account of womenÕs liberation.

I praise Hosseini for giving these women a voice. ItÕs been a very long time since IÕve read a book that literally brought me to tears and touched me in a fundamental way.

This is a remarkable story for all women, but absolutely everyone should read this compelling book. It moves you, it takes you places, it makes you see the world through the eyes of Marian and Laila and it pushes you to understand a culture you may not be familiar with.

As a man who grew up in a household led by a feminist, I can tell you it was very inspiring to read a book by a man who understands the idiosyncrasies of the female experience. That is truly remarkable.

— Adonal Foyle #31

Adonal Foyle is a center for the Orlando Magic and in his 12th season in the NBA. For more information about what Adonal is reading, log on to www. adonalfoyle.com. You can also check out his MySpace page at www.myspace.com/ adonaldavidfoyle

Numerology

foyle: fernando medina/nbae/getty images

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Portland’s

Channing Frye

Channing’s ideal birthday party? Probably includes a superhero theme, turkey legs, but no amusement rides.

aims for honest answers to your nBa Questions

What summer movies are you looking forward to seeing?

What’s your favorite amusement park ride?

If I had to pick, I think that anti-gravity elevator ride is my kind of thing, but really, I’m just too big. Nothing in any amusement park is built for people my size. All the safety precautions are for normal people, so it doesn’t apply to me. So my favorite amusement park feature isn’t even a ride at all. When I went to Walt Disney World I barely fit on the rides so I felt like my life was in danger because I might fall out at anytime. But they have a stand with gigantic turkey legs—those turkey legs literally were the size of my leg, but I ate it all day. I loved that farm turkey leg.

What kind of adjustments are you making, given the current economic state?

You know, I changed some investments and I’m being more cautious about what I invest in and I’m a lot pickier and selective about what I spend money on during my daily routine.

Besides the usual, I think overall I’m looking into the future and figuring out what is really important right now with sponsorships and everything.

It’s a great time to create relationships not based on money, but almost a barter system. So hopefully I can create some great relationships with companies that may be feeling the crunch now, so that in the future we can have a stronger relationship with some money involved. That’s what I’m thinking about and adjusting to.

What’s the silliest thing you’ve done on a dare or for money?

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Every birthday I have gets better and better, so my favorite birthday bash was my last. I really enjoy all my friends coming out and us just lettin’ loose. I turned a quarter of a century last year and for the first time I felt like I was getting old. But luckily my birthday is in the summer months so we had a blast doing crazy things outdoors and then we celebrated real hard for one night and I spent the rest of the month recuperating.

I’m usually the one daring people to do stupid stuff. One time I got my friend to eat a whole glob of wasabi for $10 by telling him it was Japanese guacamole. That was pretty entertaining, but ummmm, the craziest thing for money? Really, this is the worst answer, but I never do anything for money.

I’m extremely boring that way. However, if someone has a dare that would be worth my while, I’d be willing to do a lot of things. But it has to be a LOT of money.

from top: sam forencich (2); noah graham; fernando medina; thomas oliver/nBae/getty images

What’s the most memorable birthday party you’ve been to?

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I’m a big-time comic book guy so basically anything that was either a cartoon or comic book, I’m into. Some that I’m definitely gonna see are Watchmen, Transformers 2, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, Dragonball Evolution, and any other ones like that.

Got a question for Channing? Email it to hoop@pspsports.com

4/6/09 2:42:07 PM

Keepin’ It Reel

Know Your Newb

Marreese speights philadelphia 76ers

hoop: We noticed that you sat down and almost immediately broke that chair. [ed. note: Before the interview, Marresse went to sit on a folding chair and broke it in half. True story.] is that something that happens often?

Marreese: No way, man! [Laughs] That chair had to have been messed up already. hoop: Philly fans are notoriously hard on their teams’ players. is there anything you did to prepare for that environment?

Marreese: Just go out there and play my game, and play hard. Honestly, that’s all I can do. So I go out there and do the best I can do. hoop: What part of your game have you been working on? is there anything specific you’ve been focusing on?

Marreese: My conditioning, basically. Just getting myself ready for a much longer season than I had in college. hoop: are you a little concerned about the logjam of forwards in Philly this season?

Marreese: It’s the NBA, so teams are always going to have a lot of big men. I’m not really worried, I’m just going to go out there and work hard and see what happens. hoop: Have you ever had an authentic Philly cheesesteak before?

Marreese: Yeah. hoop: What do you think of them?

Marreese: They’re really good. hoop: You a little worried about fattening up on those this season?

Marreese: [Laughs] No way. I don’t eat ’em during the season. hoop: do you keep in touch with any of the guys from the Florida title teams?

Marreese: All of them, all my teammates. hoop: Have they given any advice to you coming into the league?

Marreese: They just tell me all the time that it’s going to be a grind, so just get prepared for it. hoop: describe for us your fashion sense: What’s in your wardrobe? What’s your typical look when you go out on the town for the night?

Marreese: White T-shirt and some pants. [laughs] hoop: What if you’re going out somewhere fancier?

Marreese: I just throw on a dress shirt, some nice shoes and nice pants. hoop: any particular colors you like?

Marreese: Black. Black and white.

—tom gottlieb #0

Faces

speights: fernando medina/nbae/getty images

the Many Faces oF... david lee

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Chris Duhon

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Guard New York Knicks The past year has been all about change for the New York Knicks.

It began when Donnie Walsh took over as president of basketball operations last April. It continued with the hiring of Mike D’Antoni as head coach a month later. Then there was a changing of the guard—literally—when Chris Duhon was signed last July.

Finally there appears to be some stability in the Garden. And much of that is due to the leadership of the 26-year-old floor general from Slidell, LA.1 Duhon cut his teeth learning how to run an offense during his days at Duke. As a freshman, he was literally thrown to the wolves when Coach Mike Krzyzewski made him a starter for a team featuring future NBA players Shane Battier, Jay Williams, Mike Dunleavy and Carlos Boozer. The Blue Devils went on to win the National Championship.2 “They were guys that supported you and helped you get through those times and that were confident in you,” Duhon says. “There was never a moment where I was out there that I didn’t have my teammates trust or felt that they doubted that I belonged.”

While at Duke, Duhon also met his best friend, Reggie Love,3 a reserve forward for the Blue Devils. Love, who is now an aide for President Barack Obama, invited Duhon to play with Obama a few times when he played for the Chicago Bulls last season.

“Just to have the opportunity to play with Barack,4 it was just fun,” Duhon says. “We talked about everything. His life, mine, just normal conversation.”

Like the current administration, the Knicks now have their own Chicago-transplant running the show, but still have some obstacles ahead to conquer before they return to prominence. But with Duhon averaging career numbers across the board,5 teaming with a young nucleus including David Lee, Nate Robinson and Wilson Chandler, it looks like hope and optimism are back in the Garden.

Now that’s the kind of change Knicks’ fans can believe in.

BONUS POINTS 1. Located approximately 30 miles outside of New Orleans, Duhon’s hometown was greatly affected by Hurricane Katrina. Duhon has been vital in the rebuilding effort in the area, including donating 3,000 boxes of supplies immediately after the disaster.

2. Sharing backcourt duties with Williams, Duhon and Co. defeated a Wildcats team led by Gilbert Arenas, Richard Jefferson and Luke Walton.

3. Love also played for the Duke football team and tried out for the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys. Duhon says the two best friends still talk “at least every day.”

4. Obama’s brother-in-law, Craig Robinson, is the men’s basketball coach at Oregon State University.

5. Duhon is on pace to set career-highs in points, minutes played, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds and assists.

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By andy JaSner #27

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John Salmons

Guard/Forward Chicago Bulls

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BONUS POINTS 1. Salmons averaged 7.5 points per game in ’05-06, his fourth and final season with the Sixers.

2. The Spectrum was the last indoor arena to house a championship team from Philadelphia, when the Sixers won the chip in 1983.

3. Salmons led Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School to the 1997 PIAA state basketball championship.

4. Salmons was dealt by the Spurs with forward Mark Bryant and the draft rights to forward Randy Holcomb to Philadelphia for guard Speedy Claxton.

5. Salmons was traded with Brad Miller from Sacramento to Chicago as part of a multiplayer package. The Kings received Andres Nocioni and Drew Gooden in the exchange.

jonathan daniel/nbae/Getty imaGes

John Salmons remembers what it was like to meet Julius Erving.

“For me, it was like meeting the President,” Salmons says. “Doc was my idol, especially for a kid growing up in the Philly area who loved the Sixers.1 I’ll never forget it because it was after a game at the Spectrum,2 which is going to be torn down soon.”

Imagine how lucky Salmons must have felt when his hometown team3 traded for his draft rights4 on June 26, 2002.

“I remember hearing from my agent that the Sixers were going to acquire me from San Antonio,” Salmons says. “I was blown away. Playing for the 76ers didn’t seem real. I was super excited.”

Salmons played four seasons with the Sixers before signing a lucrative free agent contract with the Sacramento Kings in 2006.

Just before this season’s trade deadline,5 he was traded again, this time to the Chicago Bulls.

But the constant change of scenery doesn’t seem to affect the former Miami Hurricane.

“I feel like it’s good to be wanted,” Salmons says. “I remember it was tough leaving the Sixers, but at the same time, I was happy to go to Sacramento. They have great ownership.

The Bulls have great ownership. The Bulls have great fans like the Kings and Sixers.

I’m not overwhelmed by a big city because I’m kind of a small fish in a big pond type of guy anyway. I don’t go out much except to the movies or dinner.

I hear that Chicago has great restaurants.”

If he continues to develop, Chicago might want to hold onto this catch, which would allow Salmons to sample all of the Second City’s finest culinary delights.

“I’ve always worked on my game,” Salmons says. “I’m never satisfied.

I’m always looking to improve and see what I can do better. They pay me a lot of money to perform.

It’s my job to show them it was a good investment.”

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Boris Diaw

Forward/Center Charlotte Bobcats

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BONUS POINTS 1. Boris’ mother, Elizabeth Riffiod, is widely regarded as the greatest center in French women’s basketball history.

2. Boris once won a French league championship with Orlando Magic swingman Mickael Pietrus.

3. Diaw won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award in ’05-06. Diaw was the second Suns’ player (Kevin Johnson) in team history to win the award.

4. Boris’ father, Issa Diaw, is a former high jump champion from Senegal.

noah Graham/nbae/Getty imaGes

When you’re known for your versatility like Charlotte Bobcats forward Boris Diaw, it is easy to adapt to change.

The 6-81 Diaw is one of the League’s most versatile players, capable of playing every position on the court. After patenting his game after his childhood idol Magic Johnson, Diaw developed an inside-outside game in his native France2 before being selected 21st overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2003 NBA Draft.

Growing accustomed to a new country was the first time the Frenchman had to adapt to change.

After playing a limited role in Atlanta, Diaw broke out in his third season once he was acquired by Phoenix in the trade that sent Joe Johnson to the Hawks. Thriving with the change of scenery, Diaw’s third season numbers tripled from his rookie season to 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game.3 Now, after being traded to Charlotte in a five-player deal between the Suns and Bobcats last December, the 26-year-old is showing even more of what he is capable of in his new city.

“It’s just a different situation,” Diaw4 says about his arrival in Charlotte. “I think it’s a different challenge, but at the end of the day it’s the same thing. We’re here to play basketball and win the game every night.

So, that doesn’t change.”

Since landing in Charlotte, Diaw is posting career-best scoring numbers, while also raising his rebound and assists averages to numbers that rival his ’05 season. A big reason for Diaw’s ascent is the freedom that head coach Larry Brown is allowing the new Bobcats (Diaw, Raja Bell and Sean Singletary) to play with since joining the team.

“I think [Brown] wants to give us confidence and show us that he has confidence in us, and show the team that we are a part of the team right away, so the chemistry can come [easily],” Diaw says. “I don’t think it is going to be an issue as far as the chemistry is concerned.

So far, since we’ve been here, the players all have good relationships.”

Diaw’s versatility on the court grabs the headlines, but the new Bobcat’s ability to thrive as life presents challenges is what makes him someone to keep any eye on wherever his NBA career may take him in the future.

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By Brett mauSer #25

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Charlie Villanueva

Forward Milwaukee Bucks BONUS POINTS 1. Redd’s season ended on 1/24/09 with a torn ACL while Bogut missed two months with a back injury.

2. Villanueva played high school ball with Smush Parker at Queens’ Newton High before transferring to Blairstown Academy in New Jersey as a sophomore.

3. It could be debated that Villanueva was the top option in Storrs as a sophomore.

Villanueva led the Huskies in scoring at 13.6 ppg but was mixed in with four other pros—Rudy Gay, Marcus Williams, Josh Boone and Hilton Armstrong. He won a national title with Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon as a freshman.

4. In late January, Villanueva played 40-plus minutes in three straight games for the first time in his career. He averaged 27 and 9 in that span and Milwaukee went 2-1 against Atlanta, Toronto and Indiana.

5. Villanueva’s always been at home in Milwaukee. As a rookie with Toronto, he dropped a career-high 48 on the Bucks, shooting 20-for-32 from the field.

6. Milwaukee made the Eastern Conference Finals in 1983, ’84 and ’86. They’ve been back just once since, in 2001 against Philadelphia. The Bucks lost all four times and haven’t won a championship since their third season, when Lew Alcindor and Oscar

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Robertson paved the way to the 1971 title.

Michael Redd—out for the year. Andrew Bogut—out for 20-plus games.1 These injuries left Charlie Villanueva with no choice. For the first time since high school,2 he had to be “The Guy,” the centerpiece rather than just a complementary piece. He had teammates to turn to, but more often, they turned to him.

So the fourth-year product out of UConn3 responded by turning up his game. In January and February, when both of the Bucks’ big guns were sidelined, Villanueva averaged 22 points a night, nearly doubling his production from the first two months. The trick has been consistency, though, considering each night he goes up against one of the opposition’s top defenders, no less.

“It’s very difficult, with the amount of games that we play, to do it every night,” Villanueva says. “Now that I’m playing big minutes,4 there can’t be any let-ups. I really have to be mentally strong.”

The experience is going to help.

Villanueva’s intrigued by what the future holds in Milwaukee.5 Out on the floor with the likes of Redd, Bogut and Richard Jefferson, he believes the Bucks, when healthy, are poised to compete for the East.6 “We’re not that far away,” he says. “I think we have a good group of guys who believe we can win. Once you have that, you can accomplish a lot.”

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first five

By John nemo #16

04

Rany Foye Guard

Minnesota Timberwolves

Randy Foye doesn’t plan on waiting around for somebody else to emerge as the Minnesota Timberwolves’ new leader.

“You have to be a leader in the NBA, especially at my position,” says Foye, the point guard that many expected to become a cornerstone of Minnesota’s rebuilding effort when he was drafted out of Villanova three years ago. “I definitely consider myself a leader—I did even before Al1 went down. And the big thing is that most of the time in this League you’ve got to lead by example—on and off the court.”

That doesn’t seem to be a problem for the 24-year-old Foye, who is currently averaging close to 17 points and five assists per game.

Off the court, the New Jersey native2 keeps things in perspective, having grown up with a difficult childhood.3 “It just made me a stronger person,” he says. “I don’t look at it as something to be down about or as a disadvantage. Instead I use it as an advantage to push myself. Sometimes when things get tough, I remind myself that I went through much tougher things in the beginning of my life.”

That’s why Foye isn’t down on the Timberwolves, despite the young squad’s struggles this year.

“We made a nice run in January4 and showed that we can fight through adversity,” he says. “We showed a glimpse of what we can be when we’re healthy, and hopefully we’ll be able to build on that when Al is back next year.”

BONUS POINTS 1. T-Wolves star Al Jefferson was lost for the year after suffering a season-ending knee injury in February.

2. Foye attended East Side High School in Newark and was named the New Jersey state player of the year as a senior.

3. Foye’s father, Antonio, was killed in a motorcycle accident when Randy was three. Three years later, his mother, Regina, dropped him off at kindergarten, and Randy and his brother never saw her again. Foye and his brother were taken in and raised by their grandmother, and her neighbor taught Randy the game of basketball.

4. The T-Wolves started the month on a five-game winning streak and finished January 10-4.

david sherman/nbae/Getty imaGes

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24 seconds with kevin durant HOOP: Your team just landed in Dallas. What’s the Thunder’s charter plane like?

Durant: It’s nice. There’s first class seats in the front of the plane and then there’s a big table with seats around it, where guys play cards or bring their computers.1 HOOP: How about the food?

Durant: Well, it was only a 30-minute flight to Dallas, so we had some chicken tenders and wings. But if we’re on a long flight, we’ll get P.F. Chang’s or a nice steak restaurant. We eat good.

HOOP: Speaking of flying, we hear Michael Jordan nicknamed you “Flight 35”?

Durant: Michael Jordan named me that? That’s the first time I’ve heard that nickname. That’s unbelievable. I didn’t know Michael Jordan even knew who I was.

HOOP: Well, maybe we’re spreading rumors. We read that on Wikipedia.2 Durant: I love it. That’s cool. I’m going to have to use that.

HOOP: How much fun was All-Star for you?

Durant: Oh, I had tons of fun, just mingling with the other NBA players and relaxing for a couple days. It was my first time actually watching the dunk contest live, seeing the three-point contest. So it was fun.

HOOP: You’re parents, grandmother and cousins were there on hand when you set the record3 for points in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge, and won TNT’s H-O-R-S-E competition. That must have been special.

Durant: Yeah, everybody was there. I wanted all my family and all my closest friends, who helped me get to this point, to be there and celebrate with me.

HOOP: We now know you can play H-O-R-S-E, but has Kevin Durant ever ridden a horse?

Durant: No, I haven’t and I don’t think I ever will. I would be terrified of that. Plus, I don’t think the organization would approve of me riding a horse right now.

HOOP: Okay, that was a dumb question.4 Let’s get back to basketball. It sounds like you were consumed by the game growing up.

Durant: Yeah, that’s all I did. As soon as school was over I would jog to the gym and be there until maybe nine or 10 o’clock. And on the weekends, that’s when I’d really play. I’d get up in the morning and go straight to the gym, and be there until 11 at night.

HOOP: Sounds like a Nike commercial. Speaking of which, what’s your alltime favorite Nike spot?

Durant: I think the one where all the guys, like Jason Williams and Vince Carter, were dribbling and they were making like a beat.5 That was my favorite.

HOOP: We enjoyed your NBA commercial last year where you were pulling off all the different jerseys from throughout your basketball career, one by one.

How uncomfortable was it wearing all of those at once?

Durant: It was cool. They made sure everything was properly fitted and it wasn’t aggravating. It was quick and easy.

layne murdoch/nbae/getty images

HOOP: Wait, you really were wearing them all at once? We were joking about that.

We figured that was all done with special effects.

Durant: Oh, yeah? No, I wore them all at once.6 They did a good job.

HOOP: Speaking of jerseys, you traded in your Sonics jersey for a Thunder jersey this season. How was that transition for you?

Durant: That was tough to deal with at first. But I think the organization did a great job to make sure the transition was smooth from Seattle to Oklahoma. It was kind of like getting traded without moving teams.

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24 seconds with kevin durant

HOOP: You got traded, but got to take your teammates with you.

Durant: Yeah, it was a big package deal.

HOOP: How do you like Oklahoma City?

Durant: It’s nice. It’s small, the people are nice. The weather’s always good, aside from maybe a tornado or two.

HOOP: Have you experienced any tornadoes yet?

Durant: Not yet. There was one when we were on the road.

Fortunately, we weren’t there. I think we’ll be prepared, though.

I’ve got a basement.

HOOP: Perfect transition to our next topic. We hear that your favorite TV program is VH1’s Celebrity Homes.

Durant: Oh yeah, I watch that all the time. Tony Gonzalez’s home was really nice. He has a home in California that I really liked.

Hopefully one of these days I can be on there.

HOOP: You told us you have a basement, but what’s the rest of your house like?

Durant: Well, it’s not like MTV’s Cribs, but it’s pretty decent. It’s got five bedrooms and a nice pool in the back. It’s just a blessing to have my first7 house.

HOOP: What’s your favorite room to hang out in?

Durant: It’s like a kitchen/living room. It’s all one big room. We’ve got a TV there and the video games, so that’s where we spend all our time.

HOOP: What’s your favorite decoration or accessory?

Durant: I’ve got a big painting in that same room. So every time I walk in there, I look at it. It goes with the house very well.

BONUS POINTS 1. Durant says he typically listens to music or watches movies on his laptop, or sleeps on team flights.

HOOP: We were setting you up to say your Rookie of the Year trophy.

Durant: That’s in my studio room, where I do all my music and listen to music.

2. The note on Durant’s Wikipedia bio also said that Jordan gave Durant the nickname after meeting him in person during All-Star 2009.

Apparently, not a true story, although we still like the nickname.

3. KD’s 46 points for the Sophomores in the Rookie Challenge were the most ever scored by any player in any All-Star event.

4. Not our first, not our last.

HOOP: Wait, you make music? We didn’t know about this.

Durant: I just got into it this year. Joe Smith got me into it. I do some mixing and try to make some hip-hop beats on the keyboard I have. I just wanted to try something I haven’t done before.

HOOP: Who do you like to listen to?

Durant: Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, I’m a big, big, Beyoncé fan. I think she’s the best artist ever in the world. She’s unbelievable. I love her. I really do love her with all my heart [laughs].

5. Nike’s Freestyle commercial, which HOOP deemed the second best commercial in our Mar/Apr issue. Peep it on hoopmag.com.

6. Upon review, via YouTube, we think we’ve had our leg pulled. No way he was wearing all those jerseys at once, just like we originally

has a smaller collar that would be visible when wearing the Montross Christian jersey. We’re

HOOP: What would Jay-Z say if he heard that you loved her with all your heart?

Durant: I don’t think he would like that, but it really doesn’t matter to me as long as I know it [laughs].

just sayin’.

7. Durant is the first person in his family to have purchased his own home.

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For

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hoopmag.com

questions

with

Kevin,

visit

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suspected. The McDonald’s All-America jersey

HOOP: Have you ever met her?

Durant: No, I haven’t. I don’t know if I ever will because I would just freeze up. I’ve seen her before in person. She walked past me, but I was too scared to say anything.

HOOP

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revivalry N ,

By michael Bradley #53

Doc Rivers was worried. Five games in nine days will do that to you. The start of a West Coast road trip can scare any coach, even one whose team has captured 191 victories in a row. And a meeting with your biggest adversary, in the League’s newest, old rivalry, the one that helped revive the NBA’s East-West antagonism, can be pretty harrowing—especially on Christmas.2 Ho-Ho-Ho? Try Uh-oh.

So, what’s a coach to say before the game? How does he play it, fire and brimstone or low-key? Peel the paint or appeal quietly to the men’s professionalism?

Relax, Doc. When it comes to the Celtics-Lakers—21st century edition—you don’t need the theatrics.

It’s about the game now, and the players know that.

“That was a no ‘pregame speech game,’” Rivers says of the Christmas matchup. “If you need a pregame speech for that one, you’re brain dead.”

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Main photo: brian babineau; top froM left to right: dick raphael (3); andrew d. bernstein/nbae/getty iMages

o matter the decade eltics-lakers Never cgoes out of style

Thanks to last year’s Finals showdown3 between the League’s two most storied franchises, the Celtics-Lakers rivalry, dormant since the end of the 1980s, has been revived in grand fashion. Fans and players alike now anticipate the teams’ meetings like no other games. We may thrill to the nightly exploits of the NBA’s best, but when it’s Boston and Los Angeles, the excitement builds to a crescendo no one else can produce. What was for so many years a nostalgic exercise is now a throbbing reality. Whether you like Boston, L.A., neither or both (is that possible?), the idea that they could meet again for the NBA title is as compelling as it gets.

Talk all you want about the Yankees and Red Sox, but they can’t meet in the World Series. Duke and North Carolina burn white-hot during the regular season, but they have never met for an NCAA championship4.

The same goes for Michigan and Ohio State in college football. Nope, there’s nothing like the Celtics-Lakers rivalry, precisely because its history—ancient and recent—is built on basketball’s biggest stage. Last year, when the teams rejoined the Finals battle (for the 11th time),5 it was a bonanza for the fans and the League, which reveled in the ultimate championship matchup, great TV ratings and a storyline it could follow almost year-round.

“There’s no doubt it was good for the NBA,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson says. “It was a calling card for basketball fans around the country.”

There are other cross-country matchups, but let’s be honest here. A Portland-New Jersey Finals wouldn’t cause a spike in blood pressure.

Sacramento-Atlanta? Ho-hum. New York-L.A.? Okay, a little. As far back as 1959, when the Lakers were still in Minneapolis, and the Celtics were just building the foundation of their dynasty, these teams were meeting with everything on the line. They clashed six times in the Finals during the ’60s and thrice in the ’80s. Back then, it was about Russell and West. Magic and Bird. But the players don’t think about that stuff. They’re completely caught up in the present. “I don’t think that affects them the same way it does the fans,” Jackson says.

This version of the rivalry couldn’t be manufactured through highlights and tales of heroes’ great exploits. It had to have a 21st century component in order to be real. That’s what the 2008 Finals did. It introduced this generation to the hostilities and gave the teams the chance to add their own chapter. Now, fans can talk about Pierce and Kobe,6 instead of reminiscing about the old stars. And players can understand the intensity of the matchup without having to conjure the sensation from stories told by others.

“History doesn’t make you want to beat them,” Rivers says. “At the end of the day, the reason you want to beat them is that they’re in the way of what you want.”

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Center of Attention Whether it’s his effusive personality or awe-inspiring game, Dwight Howard is a commanding presence

By Seth Berkman #91

As the sun sets over Lower Manhattan on an early spring evening, Dwight Howard is sitting in the lobby of The Ritz-Carlton in Battery Park, a picturesque view of the Statue of Liberty shining in the background. Dressed in jeans, an unzipped hooded sweatshirt and an Ed Hardy t-shirt, his voice sounds scratchy and he looks tired after the Orlando Magic’s flight has arrived late into New York. Howard had dinner plans1 with a few teammates, but tells them to go on without him and maybe he will catch up later.

I ask him if he would prefer to sit inside the hotel’s restaurant, where there is only one gentleman at the bar watching an NCAA Tournament game, but he declines and chooses to stay in the lobby, even though there are several more patrons in the vicinity and he can easily be noticed by anyone coming off the elevator. Eventually a few people walk by and glance or wave at the 6-11 Orlando Magic center, and he offers each one a smile or wave in return.

“My mom and my dad really laid a great foundation for me about respect,” Howard says. “They always talked to me about respecting everybody, [in order] to get that same respect back, no matter what their status is in life. That’s the way I grew up, always saying ‘yes sir,’ or ‘no sir,’ always trying to listen to my elders.

“It’s brought me a long way.”

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courtesy of adidas

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Growing up in Atlanta, Dwight David Howard never had a problem presenting himself to the public.

As a child, he dreamed of performing in front of 20,000 screaming fans inside packed arenas, bringing them to their feet with his arsenal of power moves.

Only, it was in the squared circle, and not on a basketball court, where he often acted out his fantasies.

“I used to love watching wrestling,”2 says Howard. “People would say, ‘Man, wrestling is fake,’ and I’d say that I didn’t care, it looked tight.”

Fortunately for his siblings, the days of reenacting the main event at WrestleMania would be short lived.

“One time, me and my brother were wrestling in the house, and I did the Hulk Hogan leg drop on him, and broke his arm,” Howard says with a laugh. “Then, I thought wrestling might be real.”

Though he never got to put on a pair of tights and fly off the top turnbuckle, Howard has now become just as adulated as a heavyweight champ of the world.3 Kids all over the globe buy his merchandise, and cheer loudly for the All-Star center every time he steps onto the court (accompanied with the blasting music and pyrotechnics, of course). But it’s not just the ferocious dunks or massive physique that make him the most popular big man in the game today. If baseball fans have become used to the term “Manny being Manny,” hoop fans are getting accustomed to “Dwight being Dwight”—although this convivial personality comes minus the headaches and juicy back page tabloid headlines.

The ascension of sites like YouTube, Twitter, and even blogs allow anyone with an Internet connection to view this side of him—and professional athletes in general— like never before. For a generation that has grown up with the tools of new media, they often gravitate towards personalities they can relate with. One second you can watch a clip of Howard talking about his pregame routine,4 and the next, see blog photos of him dressed up as Chappelle’s Show character Tyrone Biggums before a team shootaround.

Though some high-profile players might shy away from having so much of their life documented before the public’s eye, Howard, like many of his younger peers in the League,5 has embraced this new method of connecting with fans.

As a result, it has been quite beneficial for his career.

“As long as you’re not doing anything wrong, it doesn’t matter what other people think or see,” says teammate

from top: Jim rogash; noah graham (2)/nBae/getty images

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Tyronn Lue. “He just has fun, is always enjoying what he’s doing. Everyone enjoys having fun, just a lot of people are scared to come out of their shell. It’s like how Shaq6 is. If you’re good with the people, its not a big deal.”

Howard understands that in his position, certain things come with the territory—for example, it’s not like he can just go grab a Fatburger7 without getting noticed (there is a YouTube video of him and Chris Bosh trying to do exactly that while in Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics). But he feels that as long as he stays true to himself, it’s not that much of a hassle.

“I think it depends on what you decide to put out there, but at the same time, you want to let the fans know what type of person you are,” says Howard on dealing with exposure on the web. “The fans really want to know about our lives—they don’t have to know everything—but I don’t mind people talking to me, and getting to know people, even if it’s a complete stranger.

“On the flip side, we can show [through these outlets] the life, the traveling, the work we put in for everything. A lot of people don’t see that. It’s why we have the Twitters, the flip cams and blogs. Fans get a chance to see what we’re thinking, who we really are.”

clockwise from top right: fernando medina (2); gary dineen/nBae/getty images

Dwight Sr. and Sheryl Howard’s oldest son wasn’t always so loquacious.

When Howard first entered the League in 2004 out of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, he was initially perceived as a quiet kid. Though his game showed maturity beyond his age—he averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds a night as an 18-year-old rookie—he had yet to let his true personality show in public.

“It was a different situation for me coming out of high school,” he says. “Basically, I was in this small, little box, and then that box opened and I was released into the world. It was hard at first—I was adjusting to playing all these games, learning how to interact with grown men. It was totally different for me, being 18, talking to a guy who might have two or three kids and a wife.

“I was used to being able to joke around, hanging with guys my age, doing the same silly stuff, making the same silly mistakes. But these guys made those same mistakes ten years ago...it was just a totally different thing.”

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Eventually, a few of the Orlando Magic veterans—guys like Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, and Grant Hill8—taught Howard how to handle some of the pressures of being in the NBA, but also wanted Dwight to just be Dwight.

“They really helped me out a lot,” he says. “Some things they taught me back then, I’m starting to realize right now.

One of the things that really stood out to me was about my personality. When I first came into the League, I was a little quiet, shy. They would always tell me, ‘You always show us who you are, and your friends, but when you get in front of the media, you don’t talk as much or smile, none of that.’ They told me to bring out who I really was.”

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fernando medina (2)/nBae/getty images

This season has seen Dwight Howard’s popularity soar to new heights. His play before the All-Star break included 41 games where he posted a double-double in points and rebounds, as he carried Orlando to a 38-13 record, a franchise best for wins before the midseason exhibition. With the Magic running away with the Southeast Division title, Howard led all players with 3,150,181 fan votes, the most ever in All-Star balloting history. Sure, the averages of 21 points and 14 rebounds per night help—as well as the weak troupe of center options currently in the Eastern Conference—but you have to think his YouTube impersonations of Beyoncé, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and even his head coach Stan Van Gundy had just as much to do with fans checking the box next to his name.

Riding off that success, Dwight Howard has big plans for the future. With his newfound fame, he is one of the leaders of this new era of sports celebrity. And with the recent launch of Dwight Howard TV—his personal YouTube channel—D-12 is primed only to get bigger.

“I’m not camera shy,” he says. “What I see from a lot of actors is, you can’t be afraid to embarrass yourself in front of the camera. I would love to act.”

That dream may come true sooner than later. There have been many rumors of Howard pursuing movie roles this summer, something he says he definitely wants to try his hand at, but only if the outlet is right. For someone who lists Finding Nemo as his favorite flick, Howard understands the type of example he has to set for those who compose the largest portion of his fan base.

“In high school, I would do little experiments to see how whatever I did was magnified to the people around me,” he says. “In our school we had to wear uniforms. One day I went in with my uniform untucked, just to see what the

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left to right: Jed JacoBsohn; fernando medina/nBae/getty images

reaction would be. After I did it, the little kids would untuck their shirts, because they saw me do it. So I thought, ‘OK, these kids are looking up to me. I’m responsible for their actions, basically.’

“I always wonder how it would be to have a role like Denzel [Washington] in Training Day, switching it up like that, but I think for now it would be best if I do stuff that is for a younger generation. Being a role model is something I take very seriously, and have for a long time. I understand that in these days a lot of kids look up to the wrong people and wrong things in life. Having something positive is good for them.”

With him already taking the World Wide Web by storm and Hollywood on the horizon, Howard still hasn’t lost sight of what got him here. Often, once players reach a certain height of popularity, “I” comes before “team,” but Howard assures the Magic faithful that his number one priority is to win a championship.

“Last year I had a great first round,” he says. “The second round wasn’t that good, so I want to have a complete and consistent effort in the playoffs and that’s the only thing that’s been on my mind. Last year, I felt we lost because my consistency wasn’t there. And for my team to be successful, I have to be dominant and I want respect from my team, so I know it starts with me.”

When it’s all said and done, Dwight Howard may even become more popular than Shaquille O’ Neal—the genial, four-time NBA champion and shoe-in Hall of Fame center he is often compared to. Recently, the Big Diesel has experienced a rebirth in popularity (becoming the king of NBA Twitterers) but his playing career is entering its final stages, whereas Howard arrived on the scene at just the right time when media and sports were converging to create new platforms for exposure.

The spotlight is now focused on Orlando’s franchise player and he wants to make the most of his time on top.

“The way I look at it, basketball is a venue for the rest of my life,” he says. “It’s a stage to show people who I am. It always stuck out in my mind that when I’m done playing, and I’m dead and gone, that people would remember Dwight Howard, not for basketball, but for what he did off the court, how he was with the fans, how he was with just anybody.

“I want to go out with a bang. If God buries me, I want y’all to be happy, I want y’all to be dancing. I want the mortician to put a smile on my face. I would tell my friends and family this, and they’d be like ‘Why do you always talk about if you die?’ And I tell them, ‘If I die, I want you all to have a party. I don’t want you to be sad, because when I die, that means I did my part on earth to make earth a better place, and its time for me to go, and my purpose was filled.’”

BONUS POINTS 1. Howard lists Mr. Chow’s, the posh New York restaurant known for it’s celebrity clientele and high-end Asian cuisine, as his favorite spot in the city. His favorite dishes? Green shrimp, chicken and handmade noodles.

2. Sting and Ric Flair were among his favorite wrestlers.

3. Howard met three-time WWE Champion John Cena at a show and later obtained a replica of his championship belt, which is on display at his home.

4. YouTube “Dwight Howard Pregame Ritual” for the full scoop.

5. Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Joe Alexander just to name a few.

6. Lue won two championships with Shaq and the Lakers in ’00 and ’01.

7. Howard elaborates: “Going over to China was just amazing in itself, to see how basketball has touched not only American lives, but lives of people around the world. We were sitting, eating in Fatburger, and there were like a million people taking pictures, just patting us on the back telling us how much they loved basketball. It was amazing.”

8. Howard also mentions Stacey Augmon and Kelvin Cato as important mentors early on in his career.

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call out

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Deron Williams greets Gail Miller, widow of the late Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller, during a special ceremony honoring his legacy before a February 21 home game against the New Orleans Hornets. melissa majchrzak/nBae/Getty imaGes

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Chris Webber looks on as his jersey is retired by the Sacramento Kings during a special ceremony on February 6. Off to the far right is former teammate Vlade Divac, whose jersey was retired on March 31. rocky widner/nBae/Getty imaGes

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Richard Hamilton placed a special dedication to Bill Davidson on his sneakers, who passed away on March 13, and had owned the Detroit Pistons since 1974. allen einstein/nBae/Getty imaGes

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Dr. J takes one last walk on the oor of The Spectrum, the home of the Philadelphia 76ers from 1967 to 1996. The arena, which will be demolished this year to make way for a new entertainment complex, hosted its last professional basketball game on March 13, when the 76ers defeated the Chicago Bulls, 104-101. jesse d. GarraBrant/nBae/Getty imaGes

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CHECK IT Flip MinoHD (customized)

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The controls are foolproof simple and uploading and charging couldn’t be any easier through its retractable USB plug. it’s the go-to cam at HOOp for web videos and documenting office hijinks. We love it so much that Flip even tricked one out just for us. This one is one of a kind, but you can design your own at theflip.com. $229.99

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PLAYER

spin moves

Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh Chris Bosh

by Holly macKenzie #32

chris bosh Toronto Raptors

chris bosh is a self-proclaimed technology aficionado. His famous youTube videos aside, cb4 is a part of the media wave that is taking over the world, nba included. With a Twitter, Facebook, mySpace, his own youTube channel and blogs on FanHouse and on his official website (chris-bosh.com), the man knows how to entertain us in the digital world. almost forgot: did we mention he’s a 20/10 all-Star? So what does a man like that do for his own personal entertainment?

Chris’s movies “The Wrestler, that was a good one. Not my favorite of all-time, but I liked it. I asked for recommendations on Twitter and got some mixed opinions, but I went to see Friday the 13th, that was aight. My favorite movie of all time is The Devil’s Advocate.”

Chris’s television “ I don’t watch television, if I’m on the road and I can’t sleep, I go to movies.

I don’t watch college ball at all. I used to fill out a bracket but I stopped, because I always get it wrong. I don’t know which teams are good, I just know the ones they show on TV all of the time.”

Chris’s videogames “I haven’t played many of the newer ones, but I play Halo a bit.”

Chris’s music “I listen to everything. I’ve got everything [on my iPod]. Kanye, R&B, got some Lloyd, Trey Songz. Something that may surprise people, I guess, is that I like classical.

I listen to a little classical on there.”

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IllustratIon: matt candela; Photo: davId lIam kyle/nbae/getty Images

Chris’s technology “I’ve got an iPhone and Blackberry, but really just laptops, phones and stuff. It’s really not about the device—I’m not that big into gadgets—it’s just about getting stuff I can work with and stuff that is good. It’s not about getting stuff just to have it. I used to get caught up in stuff like that, but I get stuff for a purpose now.”

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Triple Double Three albums. Two players. One dynamic pair of music critics

THADDEUS: JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE/GETTy ImAGES

[Ed Note: As Carl Landry recovers from wounds stemming from an offcourt attack, he was not able to review CDs for this issue. We wish him a speedy recovery and we’ll be keeping Carl’s seat warm until he’s fully healed.

Associate editor Seth Berkman fills in this issue.]

The-Dream Love vs. Money

Charlie Wilson Uncle Charlie

U2 No Line on the Horizon

This is Terius “The-Dream” Nash’s second album, and I really like this entire CD. The man is a triple-threat as a singer, award-winning songwriter (for Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,” and Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” to name a few), and producer. The beats, arrangements, and lyrics make this album worth a listen, but TheDream’s singing ability could be a bit better. I will say though, The-Dream uses his real voice instead of using Auto-Tune (a tool many artists use in the studio for correcting the pitch of their out of key notes) unlike so many other current artists. On most albums you have to skip a few songs to get to a good song. On this album, you don’t have to skip any songs at all.

The song I like the most is “Fancy.” The nice piano and accordion tune playing in the background is kind of peaceful and wistful.

“Right Side of My Brain” is another great track that is very true about guys. They NEVER use the right side of their brain. I learned this studying psychology at Georgia Tech. The song is kind of different in a good way. It’s almost like he is singing a lullaby. Overall, this is a great album. Buy it…you will not be disappointed.

Charlie Wilson’s second release as a solo artist, Uncle Charlie, is a perfect blend of old and new school Charlie. It has a contemporary sound with a classic feel, kind of an ’80s vibe. His voice is very soulful and, again, no Auto-Tune (how refreshing!). My dad danced to Charlie’s music when he was the lead vocalist with The Gap Band. The love ballads and soulful songs are nice to relax to. Although this style is not really my type of music right now, it is still a nice album overall.

The best songs on the album include “Can’t Live Without You,” a nice, smooth vocal song with a slight up beat tempo. The lyrics are the truth. Everyone can relate if they’ve ever been in love. Also, “Homeless” is a touching love song with nice piano play in the background.

Charlie is a tremendous vocal talent and this album is definitely worthwhile.

No Line on the Horizon is U2’s 12th studio album. While I do like some rock, I couldn’t really get into this album at all. Bono is an amazing vocalist, but this album is probably more for the die hard rock fans. I’ve been told by many U2 fans that you have to listen to their albums a few times before it sinks in, and then you appreciate their music.

I didn’t like this album enough (nor do I have the time or interest) to let their music grow on me. In my opinion, the songs and music were lacking and boring.

The one song I did like was “White As Snow” because it sounds like another song I have by The Fray. The song is about Bono’s childhood, and the sad mood over it shines with the beautiful melody.

However, I do not recommend buying this album.

I figured Love vs. Money would be nothing more than the same Ne-Yo/Usher clones that most of R&B seems to be comprised of these days, and in most ways, I was right.

While those two artists may have better voices than The-Dream, his experience in other areas of the music industry does pay off well. The beats are pretty pop-heavy, which bodes well for the club, so he is sure to get plenty of airplay.

Now, I’m no Pavarotti, but whatever happened to real R&B, the ’90s era R. Kelly, 112 or even Ginuwine?—err, scratch that last one. But still, it seems every R&B singer these days wants to be a rapper, and that dilutes the content in my opinion.

I did like the collabo with Mariah Carey “My Love,” and the Kanye track, “Walkin’ On the Moon” was OK, too. While the production on this kinda knocks, the singing on this album is below par. And for an R&B album, that is the where I feel you should excel.

Did Tom Hanks just come out with an album? No, this Charlie Wilson has nothing to do with the former senator from Texas, but he seems just as much a hit with the ladies thanks to his smooth voice and laidback style.

Where the previous album lacked, Wilson’s voice is much more enjoyable and he doesn’t try to overdo it with hip-hop influenced beats.

Taking a more old-school approach to R&B, Wilson will evoke comparisons to guys like Aaron Hall and newer artists like Anthony Hamilton, two of the better in my opinion when it comes to R&B. His first single, “There Goes My Baby” is a hit, while I also agree with Thad and enjoyed “Can’t Live Without You” and “Homeless.”

The collabo’s could have been a bit better, as the song with T-Pain and Jamie Foxx “Supa Sexy,” seems like a forced mish-mash of a track. Also, “Let it Out” featuring Snoop Dogg falls short of his previous hit with Wilson, “Beautiful.”

Overall, this is a much better choice than The-Dream’s.

Originally, the album was supposed to be done with Rick Rubin (famous for his work with the Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jay-Z), but that work never materialized.

Instead, we get a decent effort that is sure to please U2 fans, but not “wow” anybody looking for an album as influential as The Joshua Tree.

I did enjoy more mellow tracks like “Moment of Surrender” and “White As Snow” but the songs they put out as singles were nothing great. “Magnificent” is reminiscent of many U2 singles of late, the kind of song you imagine being played in front of big arenas, while “Get On Your Boots” is a misfired attempt at a more guitar-driven sound.

It would have been interesting to see what direction Rubin would have taken the album, as this seems to lack the completeness of a great effort. If you’re looking for a more dynamic rock album to fill your musical palate this spring, I’d suggest the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ It’s Blitz!

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by danny granger #33

Keepin’ It Reel

danny granger reviews the latest in hot flicks Watchmen

Warner Bros. Pictures

danny’s rating:

I didn’t read the Watchmen novels, but I started reading them ever since I saw the movie. The stories are a little more in-depth—that’s usually the way it goes—but for the most part the movie was pretty accurate. The film had the same presentation and technology used in movies like 300 and Sin City, and Watchmen did a really good job in that aspect, it had some really cool sequences. I’ve always enjoyed CGI—it’s always been really cool to me—so I don’t think they went overboard with it for this film.

Dr. Manhattan was my favorite character because he was the ultimate superhero. I’ve watched a lot of superhero movies and no one can do the things he can do. He was pretty impressive. I also liked The Comedian, even though he was the one that got killed in the beginning, and Silk Spectre II. The storyline was good. I think they made it kind of long and it got drawn out a bit at the end. They could have sped it up a little bit, but I think the ending was very good in the aspect that it didn’t end like you really thought it would.

My favorite scene was where a bullet was shot at Ozymandias—he was one of the fastest of the Watchmen— and they showed him dodge the bullet in slow motion. It was different than how they did it in The Matrix.

Overall, I would give Watchmen 3.5 stars. It’s a film I would recommend to my teammates and to anyone if you’re into the whole superhero thing. I love superheroes and I definitely think that this a movie to see, even if just for the CGI effects.

ron hoskins/nbae/getty images

Other Choice Cuts:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Paramount Pictures Brad Pitt stars as Benjamin Button, a man who ages backwards, growing younger instead of older. Button is raised at a Seniors home, and meets a young girl named Daisy (Cate Blanchett). The two form a bond through the years as they age in opposite directions.

Button’s life is filled with journeys that reflect love and hate, life and death, and everything in between.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop Sony Pictures After failing in his attempt to join the New Jersey State Police, Paul Blart (Kevin James) settles for a security officer job. His mundane gig receives a surprise jolt when a gang of robbers seize the building on Black Friday. As the lone patrolman on site, Blart sets out to thwart the crooks and free the hostages, while police attempt a rescue from the outside.

Taken 20th Century Fox Liam Neeson stars as Bryan Mills, a retired CIA operative whose worst fear is realized when his daughter is kidnapped in France. Mills begins to piece together the clues that will lead to his daughter’s whereabouts and sets out on a one-man search and rescue mission.

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the goods Black & Decker Electric Lawnmower Do the Earth a favor and replace your gas-guzzling lawnmower with a more environmentally friendly electric model. Besides Mother Nature, Black & Decker’s 24-volt mulching mower will also benefit you—no more pull starts (a simple lever starts it up) or trips to the gas station—and your neighbors (relative quiet operation). The mulching mower can adjust from 1.5 to 3.5 inches in cutting height. We had no problem finishing our small lawn in one charge (a full charge can handle 1/3 of an acre).

$449

Samsung Rugby One of us at the HOOP office—we won’t mention any names (#91)—has trouble keeping his electronics in mint condition. Cell phones, battery chargers, iPods, you name it, and he manages to make them look like they’ve been to Hades and back. With the Military Spec 810F-certified Samsung Rugby there were no problems. Built for the most destructible users—seriously, we tossed it around, threw it into the sink, dropped it a few times—this baby protects like Kevlar, so you shouldn’t be replacing phones any time soon. It is a bit wide—for users of more svelte phones, it may be an unwelcome fit—but the easy to use keypad and large display were a plus. The frills are few but it does tout 3G support, GPS and video capability.

$129.99 (with two-year contract)

Samsung Memoir Those days of fuzzy cell phone pics are a thing of the past thanks to the Memoir. Not only does this phone have a QWERTY keyboard (just flip it 90 degrees when texting), great video and music capability, but also an impressive 8-megapixel camera so you can get digital camera quality pics on-the-go and immediately post them online. The phone is relatively light in weight, but more importantly, it drops the necessity of having to carry both your cell and camera at the same time. With face-recognition, touch screen, 16x digital zoom, GPS, bluetooth and 3G capability, this offering from Samsung can do it all, the Shane Battier of the cell phone world if you will.

$249.99 (with two-year contract)

Black & Decker Cordless Electric String Trimmer B&D’s electric string trimmer trims off the cord by going with a 36-volt rechargeable battery that delivers power that rivals their loud and fossil-fuel burning counterpart. We know it’s just a string trimmer, but we really fell in love with the beauty of this particular one (just look at her). Oh, and the gorgeous thing details lawn edges like nobody’s business.

$199 090

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Apple Shuffle

Actual Size

At this rate, the 2015 Shuffle from Apple will be a nanoparticle that is injected via a needle and controlled telepathically. The 2009 version, however, does lay claim as being the smallest mp3 player at 1.8 x 0.7 x 0.3 inches and tipping the scales at 0.38 ounces (friendly warning: keep it away from pets and small children). It packs 4GB of music goodness into the clippable anodized aluminum enclosure. The kicker is the new earbuds with integrated controls and the Voiceover feature that reads songs and playlists to you since Shuffles lack display screens—the latter, a bit unnecessary in our book. The one blemish in an otherwise winning mp3 player is that you can’t use standard earphones, only Apple’s proprietary ones.

Non-Shuffle headphones will leave users unable to have access to the player’s controls.

$79

JVC Everio This palm-sized camcorder handles full HD (1080p) recordings in a familiar flip-open design. The video can be stored in the Everio’s internal 80GB hard drive or the expandable microSD slot—the rewind and fast-forward buttons and whirring tapes are now a thing of the past. The video quality was crisp but we had some minor issues with the button layout and the tiny controls, but certainly nothing to discourage us from recommending this digital camcorder.

$499.99

Hercules Outdoor iPod Speakers Protect that iPod from the water and sand—the two main culprits of summertime iPod destruction—with these outdoor speakers. The rugged and rubberized housing keeps your iPod safe from poolside splashes and blowing beach sand, while the pair of battery-powered 12W speakers (2 x 6W) will keep the tunes going. We loved how the speakers filled a decent 30-foot radius of space, but wasn’t a fan of the four C-batteries it required to power. It does include an AC adapter and 230V car adapter for tethered power.

$79.99

Samsung BD-P4600 Blu-ray Player

If Blu-ray is supposed to be the video format of the future, why does every Blu-ray player in the

marketplace still resemble a VCR? Samsung’s BD-P4600 changes the game with a curvaceous player that matches its series of Touch of Color LCD TVs. Whether you decide to wall-mount or stand it on its base, the slot-loading Blu-ray player resembles a sculpture more than an entertainment component.

$499

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the goods TECHed TECH EdiTor and gadgET junkiE SHanE BaTTiEr TEST-drivES THE laTEST in TECH goodS. in THiS iSSuE, HE TakES on THE numark idj2.

ProS:

ConS:

+ Breadth of options and features

– Steep learning curve for beginners

+ Easy set up

Admit it. We’ve all done it. I am talking about walking into a dance club and believing you can do a better job of deejaying than the clown behind the wheels of steel. “How hard can it be?” is the most common statement that I’ve heard when discussing a particular DJ’s merit. I admit that I am as guilty as anyone in making this mistaken statement.

Fortunately for us, the good people at Numark have allowed the common Joe to channel their inner Biz Markie or DJ AM and mix up some hot tracks on the ones and twos. (For the layperson, ones and twos refer to the traditional deejay setup of two record players that are connected to a mixing station that allows the DJ to play simultaneous songs.) Let us introduce the Numark iDJ2 Performance DJ System for iPod, which now allows amateur DJs to use their iPods to mix songs together and get the party hopping.

Numark claims iDJ2 is the first mixing station that enables you to play two tracks simultaneously from the same iPod. iDJ2 is a powerful DJ performance device with a dual-deck layout, a professional Numark DJ mixer, Numark’s exclusive Crate music-management system on a color LCD, and a dock for the iPod. You can also perform with nothing more than iDJ2 and an iPod. You may also use any mass media storage device such as a USB memory device in lieu of the iPod. You can also connect your laptop to the iDJ2 to retrieve music files off of your computer and to record the different mixes that you create.

To be frank, I had never tried to DJ before this review. I merely thought that you simply played two different songs and when you wanted to change songs, you just slowly moved the crossfade slider to the new song that you wanted to play and “Voila!” you were deejaying. Boy, I was really wrong and naive.

It took me nearly three days just to figure out the basic functions of the iDJ2. After I finally figured out how to play two different songs from my iPod (which was actually easy once I figured it out), I wanted to get adventurous.

I wanted to sample the guitar solo from Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” and attempt to lay the vocals of a different song on top of the guitar solo. The kids are calling this action “mashing.”

First I used the Loop In and Loop Out buttons to make a mini-recording of just the “Beat It” guitar solo.

Your timing must be precise or else you will get a choppy recording that doesn’t mesh well with the vocals.

I literally tried to make a loop 15 times before I was happy with it. Once the loop is created, I saved it and tried to find a good song to mash. I tried to give “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley a chance. The first thing you must do after queuing the song is turn the bass and mid tuners for the new song that you want to mix. Using the tempo sliders, I next tried to match the tempo of the guitar solo to the beat of “Crazy.” This took me around 20 seconds. After I was happy with the pitch and tempo I was ready to mash. Using the crossfader, I slowly faded the lyrics of “Crazy” to the wail of the “Beat It” guitar. I was so excited. After four days of trying to figure this machine out, here was the magical moment and…it sounded terrible. If I were a club DJ, the dance floor would have cleared out immediately.

I quickly realized that it takes serious practice, artistry, patience, and talent to make these songs sound good. Never mind that it took me 30 minutes to mix one—(one!)—song, what DJs do in the booth is nothing short of amazing, considering that they mix on the fly and don’t have time to start over if they screw up.

With that said, I was very impressed with the Numark iDJ2. After a steep learning curve, I thought that I could handle the basics of the machine. I could create a loop, slow the tempo of a song, and fade songs into each other. I found, however, that deejaying is much like the game of basketball; it does not take long to learn, but it takes a lifetime to master. With practice, I am sure that I could improve, but I would be hard pressed to think I could ever be as good as the pros.

If you are an aspiring DJ, this machine is a must-have. The expandable capabilities will challenge you as well as give you all the tools you’ll need to throw a great party mix together. Deejaying in general is a difficult craft to learn, so this machine would be a bit intimidating for the absolute novice, but with practice, I think this could become a great tool.

Numark iDJ2 $499.99

For video reivews of Shane’s TECHed page, check out hoopmag.com 092

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mAn on A miSSion

Mission Skincare Performance Kit A complete regiment for outdoor summer activities, Mission’s complete line of skincare products are engineered with the athlete in mind. While we’re no Steve Nash (see sidebar) or Carmelo Anthony (another of Mission’s NBA athletes), we did give the kit a run with well, a run. The lip balm was as addictive as most lip balms; we applied multiple times to recapture that tingling sensation on the lips. Chaffing was never a problem, but we can only guess that the Anti-Friction cream would be a boon for anyone who suffers from it. We did find the After-Sun gel to soothe sun-blessed skin and the Foot Synergy gel as a welcome salve afterwards.

$29.99

Logitech Harmony 1100 Even more so than the recliner or mini-fridge side table, the all-encompassing universal remote is the ultimate tool for any self-respecting couch potato.

Logitech’s Harmony 1100 might be the best in the game. We loved the sleek design wrapped in grippable rubber, the large color touchscreen and the rechargeable unit, but the real strength was the sheer number of remote-wielding devices we were able to control using Logitech’s database of over 225,000 devices that you can program with the remote. You can even program the remote for one-touch operations; press “Watch DVD,” and the DVD player plays and the TV will turn itself to the right input (for real tricked-out home theaters, the Harmony can even control remote-controlled lights and curtains).

$499.99

Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite (Resident Evil 5 edition) To honor the zombie-blasting franchise, Microsoft did up their latest limited edition Xbox 360 in blood red (the single bundled controller is also red). Like all Elite models, this console includes a 120GB hard drive, but this one also includes a copy of RE5 and a code to download Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix.

$399

With his laidback demeanor and casual style, Steve Nash exudes cool, an important trait for playing in Phoenix. Even when it comes to taking care of his face and skin, Nash keeps it simple. He’s teamed up with Mission Skincare, a company that creates products with the elite athlete in mind, including two-time MVPs. We caught up with Nash to ask him about tips for taking care of the epidermis.

Most guys shy from using “products” on their skin. Why is it so important to have a proper skincare game?

It’s amazing how one tiny blister can really hurt your game or more seriously, how one small melanoma could potentially change your life. It’s important to take care of your skin and protect it.

As an athlete, is more care needed in taking care of your skin?

Nobody abuses their skin more than athletes. Whether the factors relate to your environment or simply the nature of the game you play…whether you’re an athlete, weekend warrior or a fan, we need products that can endure the extreme conditions we put our body and our skin through.

What is your daily routine and regiment for your face?

I’m pretty simple. I wash my face and shave like most guys. I use the Mission After-Sun Gel as an after shave—it’s great for wind burn and razor burn. I am also working with Mission on some new personal care products—body wash, muscle rub and moisturizer—so I have some fun testing those, too.

Most dudes aren’t overly concerned with wrinkles but acne and razor bumps are regular problems. Any advice on how to avoid those?

Absolutely. Keep your skin clean. I usually shower twice a day to keep my face and body clean of perspiration, oils and toxins. I find that it’s best to shave after you take a hot shower. It opens the pores and makes for a closer shave.

Living in Phoenix for most of the year, how do you deal with the sun?

It’s very dry. I need to keep my skin and body hydrated all the time. One of our key features in the Mission Skincare product line is that they have ingredients that restore and replenish your skin’s vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and they keep your skin hydrated, too. I do a lot of training outside too, so I have to watch out for sunburn. Other sunscreens I’ve used bother my eyes, but Mission Anti-Sting Facestick doesn’t have that effect.

With summer approaching, does one have to change up their skincare game?

Actually, I wear SPF all year long. The sun does not take timeouts. If I’m at the beach or training outdoors, I probably step it up in the summer months a little more with extra applications, but overall, I keep my routine constant.

Be honest, have you ever dove into your wife’s supply of skincare products?

I’ve probably used her lotion or something in the past, but I’ve seen her using some of my products these days. She likes the Lip Balmers.

Do you dole out skincare advice and products to your teammates?

Now that my teammates know I’ve worked with Mission on creating products to help us, they talk about their skin much more and borrow some of my products.—Ming Wong #2

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sneaker game

By Anthony GilBert #1

WHAT’S ON THE LEAGUE’S FEET 01

Rudy gay Nike Zoom Phenom

What are you wearing right now?

“These are the Zoom Phenom, and it’s cool because there’s only a couple of us wearing them: me, Deron Williams, and Brandon Roy. It’s unique, I really like them, they’re comfortable, and I have my own personal touch on them with the team colors and my logo.”

How has the House of Hoops campaign been working for you?

“Filming the commercial, it was fun. We went out to L.A. and shot it, it took one day, and it was fun being a part of it…now I just have to live up to it. I feel that I haven’t really done anything yet.”

01

What is the message that Nike is trying to get across?

“Well basically we’re just the young guys, and coming into the League— everyone knows Vince Carter, LeBron James—and we’re trying to make a name for ourselves.”

02

caRmelo anthony Jodan Melo M5

Talk about the new Jordan commercial.

“We just wanted to let the fans know how it really is on the court, in the heat of the battle. I was in there, Chris Paul is in there leading the troops, Rip, Joe Johnson…it was a good campaign. It took two days, and I’m used to it. I shoot four or five commercials every summer.”

What do you enjoy most about your current signature shoe?

“I really like designing them, and just to actually sit there from the beginning, picking the materials. We’re already working on the new one for next year!”

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chauncey billups adidas TS Creator

Talk about the trade and how that worked with your shoes.

“I understood that it wouldn’t be right away, but I knew it was going to take a couple of weeks. It took like two weeks [so] I was playing in Detroit shoes for a while. I knew that adidas was going to bring it, and the most important thing is the wins.”

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clockwise from top left: Joe murphy; layne murdoch (2)/nBae/Getty imaGes

How is your relationship with adidas?

“It’s been great, because I’ve been with a lot of different companies throughout my career, but I’ve been with adidas the longest. Once I came into the family, they’ve been committed to pushing me and promoting me, and I’ve done the same by making sure I represent them well when I’m out there on the court.”

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ďŹ nal exam

Does josh smith make the graDe?

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