HOOP November/December 2008

160 pag es o f 2008-09 N BA S eas on Pr evi ew G o o dn ess

AN OFFICIAL NBA PUBLICATION

NOV/DEC 2008

IN THIS ISSUE Kobe Bryant

Stronger, Better, Faster…

Smarter The Genius of Kobe Bryant $4.99 USA

The Kids Are Alright

2008 Rookie Roll Call

Baron Davis Boomtown, USA

Broke ’Em

Whose Crossover was the Filthiest?

ALSO INSIDE Chris Paul Chris Bosh Yao Ming Carmelo Anthony Derrick Rose Michael Beasley Ron Artest Patrick Ewing Channing Frye Danity Kane

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Paul Pierce and President George W. Bush didn’t switch day jobs, though this photo might suggest otherwise. And no, that’s not a Kendrick Perkins jersey, W just happnes to be the 43rd president.

NED DISHMAN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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The Detroit Shock won their second WNBA title in three years after sweeping the San Antonio Silver Stars. Front and center is Katie Smith, who likely had the best summer of any pro baller: Olympic gold, a WNBA title and the Finals MVP award.

DAVID DOW/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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Looking more like leaping lords in a neo-Classical painting than part of a basketball play, Andris Biedrins, Kelenna Azubuike and Stephen Jackson all ďŹ nd themselves consecutively pump-faked into submission by the extremely patient David West during the Hornets’ 106-103 preseason win on October 5.

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As a reward for bringing home Olympic gold, Superman—er, Dwight Howard—was awarded the key to the city of Orlando. If he wins a championship, we think he should get keys to Disneyworld. Seems only fair.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008

the gameplan

160 PAG ES O F 2008-09 N BA S EAS O N PR EVI EW G O O D N ESS

FEATURES

08-09 SEASON PREVIEW 66 Season Kickoff AN OFFICIAL NBA PUBLICATION

NOV/DEC 2008

IN THIS ISSUE KOBE BRYANT

STRONGER, BETTER, FASTER… SMARTER THE GENIUS OF KOBE BRYANT Poster CB4 on the front; Adrian Dantley on the back

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT

2008 Rookie Roll Call

BARON DAVIS Boomtown, USA

BROKE ’EM

Whose Crossover was the Filthiest?

ALSO INSIDE

Chris Paul Chris Bosh Yao Ming Carmelo Anthony Derrick Rose Michael Beasley Ron Artest Patrick Ewing Channing Frye Danity Kane

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Are you ready for some basketball? The Celtics ended ’07-08 on top of the hoops world, but 29 teams are ready to take their best shot at KG and the rest of the Beantown boys—namely, those cats from L.A. HOOP gives you our pick on who will be the champ this season, as well as everything else to expect in the year to come.

83 The Baker’s Dozen

With 1,230 games to choose from, unless you have a stockpile full of TiVo’s and months of free time (and probably no girlfriend, natch), you won’t be able to see every minute of NBA action this season. Don’t worry though, as HOOP has picked out a baker’s dozen worth of excitement sure to keep you salivating from October to June.

84 Which NBA Fan Are You?

Are you a newb to the world of the NBA? No problem, we’ve got you covered. Just follow our simple “how-to” guide and find the perfect team to root for no matter your preference in movies, novels, offensive sets or favorite courtside celeb.

101 Crystal Ballin’

None of us claim to be Miss Cleo, but the HOOP staff got together—and also asked the opinions of two recent Hall of Fame inductees—to predict what this year holds. We learned opinions vary—and it might be best if we let our design staff stick to silos—but feel free to dissect and discuss our picks for MVP, ROY, NBA champ and many more.

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102 A Kobe State of Mind

Twelve years ago, who would have known that the cocky teenage phenom would turn into the best player on the planet? Sure, we always knew the skill was there, but it has been his maturation as a thinker, dissecting opponents like a cerebral assassin, that has put Kobe on a level very few players ever reach. With another season under his belt—and a bitter taste in his mouth from last year’s Finals exit—KB24 has only one thing on his mind: a fourth NBA title.

110 Opening Statements

If you were scratching your head over your team’s selection in June’s Draft, don’t fret: We caught up with a bunch of the incoming newbs and politicked about music, sports, movies, college and more. And here’s a hint: If you’re looking for a way to strike up a conversation with an NBA player, mention that Tha Carter III is your favorite album and Love & Basketball your favorite flick, and you should be OK.

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110

63 24 Seconds...

with the Clippers’ Baron Davis

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the gameplan

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008

DEPARTMENTS 16 19

The Point Jumpball

Home is where the wins are for NBA franchises; Debutant Baller: Patrick Ewing; Playlist: Camille Little loves Weezy; Celeb Row: Danity Kane: From halftime to headliners; Old School’n: Rick Barry gives the champs some advice; Fab Five: Jalen Rose vs.

Bobbito Garcia; Brack-It: Best Crossover; Catching Up With... Bob Love; Head2Head: Melo vs. Caron Butler; and more

53

First Five Rodney Stuckey, Julian Wright, Ramon Sessions, Thaddeus Young, Brandon Bass

120 Call Out 123 Check It

24

50

38

130

136

144

158

36

Spin Moves: DeShawn Stevenson rocks Guitar Hero, ’08-09 NBA vidgame roundup and the debut of Nate Robinson, HOOP vidgame editor; The Goods: the latest in cool gadgets; TECHed: Shane Battier keeps a tidy house with the Dyson Ball DC 25; HOOP Gear: the latest kicks for the ’08-09 season and all the fly accessories needed to stay warm this winter

156 Sneaker Game

What’s on the League’s feet

158 Stepback

Reminiscing the League’s past

160 Final Exam

Does Kevin Martin make the grade?

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the point BONUS POINTS 1. I’ve yet to meet someone from Portland who wasn’t a fervent Blazers fan.

2. Green runs deep across generations of Celtics fans.

3. Especially compared to the MLB or the NFL. 4. You know the type: Lakers or Celtics during the’80s, Bulls during the ’90s.

5. Seven stops on the F train, to be exact.

6. You remember those? They had the city in uppercase letters with the team name in script right below it.

7. Some of the dudes that fascinated me: Fat Lever, Ron Harper, Charles Barkley, Byron Scott, Tim Hardaway.

8. And really, if you weren’t old enough to experience it and remember it, it doesn’t count.

9. Starks’ untimely 1994 Finals Game 7 shooting night.

10. Reggie Miller’s infamous scoring burst to steal the opening game of the ’94 Eastern Semis.

11. Ewing’s game-tying Iceman impersonation rolled out.

12. Ewing toughed out the injury throughout the playoffs before succumbing in the 1999 Finals, leaving the Knicks with no chance against the Spurs duo of David Robinson and Tim Duncan.

13. Their current state.

14. Consecutive blown division leads is just cruel and unusual punishment.

15. Statistically, every team will eventually get their time in the sun.

16. I wear pain and suffering like a badge of honor.

Volume 37, No. 1

Editor-in-Chief Ming Wong #2 Design Director Kengyong Shao #31 Associate Editor Tom Gottlieb #0 Associate Designer Matt Candela #52 Assistant Editor Seth Berkman #91 Editor-at-Large Jeramie McPeek #4 D-Editor Bruce Bowen #12 Tech Editor Shane Battier #31 Style Editor Zaza Pachulia #27 Straight Shooter Channing Frye #7 Videogame Editor Nate Robinson #4 Videogame Editor Scott Steinberg #77 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, Adonal Foyle #31, Darryl Howerton #21, Eric Justic #3, Clay Kallam #14, Trevor Kearney #8, Jeff Lenchiner #48, Brett Mauser #25, Melody #34, Glenn Minnis #33, John Nemo #16 Editorial Intern Brett Olson #36 Contributing Illustrators Lina Chen, Jamie Stolarski

Some fans pledge their allegiance to their sports team based on geographical reasons.1 Others are born into 2 it. Many, especially NBA fans,3 are captivated by certain players and follow them from team to team. You also have the fair-weather bandwagon jumpers4 and the purists who love any team provided they play the game the right way. Me? Well, my passion is fueled by misery and heartache—I root for the Knicks. Despite 34 years of living in NYC, my loyalty to the Knicks isn’t based on the fact that I grew up a few subway stops5 from the Garden.

I’m certainly not a generational fan, and while I loved John Starks’ moxie, respected Patrick Ewing’s heart, was bedazzled by Mark Jackson’s no-look, between-the-legs dimes and tipped my old Knicks draft cap6 to the bluecollar approach of Charles Oakley or Anthony Mason, I would say I was more enamored by other players7 around the L. The root of my obsession is beyond the hunger to witness them win (I was a year late for the 1973 title);8 rather, all I have experienced is 2-for-18s,9 eight points in 8.9 seconds,10 missed finger-rolls,11 a bum Achilles tendon12 and bloated payrolls with little in return.13 Still, I stick with the ’Bockers. Maybe it’s because they share the same blue and orange colors as another New York team I spend my summers cheering for, the New York Mets.14 But likely it’s because both teams have had a history of tragic bouts of last-second collapses or periods of embarrassing play. Perhaps this makes me a sadist, but it has defined me as a basketball fan.

New Knicks prez Donnie Walsh and his appointed head coach, Mike D’Antoni, have promised some big changes to the roster, the team culture, the style of play and, more importantly, the results. Walsh has a proven track record to deliver from his time with the Pacers and D’Antoni has been a pioneer in transitioning the game back to a more freewheeling time with his high-scoring schemes. Within a few years, I foresee success, maybe even—hold your breath—a championship.15 And when that time comes and I’m sitting in press row at the Garden, watching my Knicks hoist that Tiffany-manufactured trophy in the air, I will feel torn between the relief of finally overcoming many years of heartbreak and defeat and losing a big part of what it means to me to be a Knicks fan.16

Retired Numbers #6, #11, #13, #30, #99 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 Coordinator, NBAE Production Andrew Pearson Executive Vice President, Global Merchandising Group Sal LaRocca Coordinator, Entertainment Products Matt Holt Department Assistant Evan Levine Manager, Global Media Programs Felecia Groomster

Ming Wong #2

On a down note, the entire HOOP fam gives their best wishes and thoughts to one of our regular illustrators, Jamie Stolarski, who was seriously hurt in an unfortunate traffic accident. Jamie has been the creative genius behind the masterful and dynamic illustrations that kick off our Jumpball section. This issue’s illustration was Jamie’s last until he recovers fully from his injuries. We’re all pulling for a swift recovery, Jamie!

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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.

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BY ERIC JUSTIC #3

jumpball

Home Cookin’

ILLUSTRATION: JAMIE STOLARSKI

MANY FACTORS PROVE THAT IN THE NBA, HOME IS WHERE THE WINS ARE

The noise at an NBA arena can rival a jet engine’s blast. And that’s just when John Mason, he of “Dee-troit Bas-ket-ball” fame, does the introductions at the Palace.

“He used to actually call me for tickets,” says former Piston and current Phoenix Sun Grant Hill. “Now he’s like a celebrity. He gives it some flavor. He helps to create that buzz,1 that excitement, that intimidation.”

Homecourt advantage used to be more low-key, such as when Red Auerbach’s Celtics got opponents sweating with the air conditioning conveniently breaking at the HOOP

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JUMPBALL mascot SuperHugo, whose ring of fire trick during Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals went awry. The fire initially could not be put out, causing a 19-minute delay at New Orleans Arena.

While the added frills might be an eyesore for the basketball purist who relies on only handclapping and a good set of lungs for shouts of encouragement, the homecourt effect is undeniable. Over the past 10 years, home teams have won at a 60.6 percent clip during the regular season,4 higher than MLB and NHL teams (leagues with comparably lengthy schedules). Players feed off their crowds, inspiring

Home teams went 64-22 for a .744 clip in the 2008 playoffs,3 the best winning percentage since ’89-90.

The crowd is so close to the players, it can feel claustrophobic.

“It’s the only atmosphere in professional sports that fans are two feet away,” says forward Matt Harpring of the Utah Jazz. “[Unlike the NFL] we don’t have any equipment to shield the noise. I think it’s loud and it’s obnoxious and every time you go away in a game, the crowd is great for a home team.”

But has the other stuff become too much? Pregame theatrics, pyrotechnic intros, thundersticks, music and sound effects frequently reach rockconcert decibel levels. And then there’s Hornets

spurts that lead to victories.

“The crowd in Phoenix5 is a lot like the team,” says Hill. “Once we start getting into a rhythm and start playing well, it starts rolling.”

Players sometimes need that burst of energy to get through a season, as stars see more action on the court than other sports.

“NBA starters play a greater percentage of the minutes in a game than any other sport,” said Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban via e-mail. “So when a crowd can get involved and increase the adrenaline of the players, it makes a huge difference.

“In addition, the travel schedule can be brutal and very wearing. The combination of the advantage

of the home crowd and the disadvantage of travel combine for a homecourt advantage of about four points a game.”

Dallas was called the worst franchise in sports prior to Cuban’s purchase in 2000. Gaining a homecourt advantage fueled the turnaround.

Cuban asserts “no one invests more time or money on in-game entertainment than the Mavs.” Dallas players were provided with amenities, too. Lockers are equipped with flat-screen televisions and DVD players, since comfort and pregame routine are very important to players.

Some teams travel with nutritionists and masseuses to deal with adverse elements. It helps overcome sleeping in hotel beds not designed for the typical NBA body, jet lag or the higher altitudes in places such as Denver and Utah. Players also have to adjust to the nuances of every arena, such as the lighting at Staples Center, cramped visiting locker rooms in Milwaukee and Sacramento or tight rims in Chicago and Houston.

“I really feel a lot of guys are not comfortable playing in this arena,” Houston Rockets forward Tracy McGrady told the Houston Chronicle earlier this year.

“It’s not a good shooting arena for whatever reason.

It’s not just our guys. It’s guys around the League.”

There are other distractions on the road. Many players stay under fake names to avoid prank wakeup calls. Fans can be hostile, going beyond the harmless taunting behind the backboard while a player is shooting a free throw or creative methods intended to bother players. (Just Google Robin Ficker, a noted Michael Jordan heckler.)

“Sometimes you get profanity or the fans in your face, or they’ll be waving at you, or yelling at you behind your bench, anything to get on your nerves,” recalls Harpring.

Not that there aren’t perks. Many players enjoy seeing different cities and the vibe in each building.

And of course, there’s no better feeling than silencing the locals.

“It’s not like you are scared or intimidated,” says Hill. “I think as competitors, you enjoy going into those environments trying to quiet the crowd and beat their team on their own court.”

BONUS POINTS 1. Detroit has led the league in regular-season attendance five times in the past six seasons.

2. The air conditioning “broke” in Game 5 of the 1984 Finals, when Magic Johnson and Larry Bird met for the first time in a playoff series. The Celtics won, 119-108, wearing down the Lakers in 97-degree heat.

3. The Celtics went 13-1 at home in their championship run, setting a record for home playoff victories in one year. The old record was 12 by Boston in 1984 and equaled by the Lakers in 1988.

4. It’s better in the playoffs, where teams win at a .650 clip at home.

5. San Antonio has surpassed 30 home victories in each of the last nine seasons. Phoenix has done it seven times over that span.

ILLUSTRATION: JAMIE STOLARSKI

020

old Boston Garden.2 The parquet floor had random dead spots, creating unpredictable bounces for visiting players, much like the narrow Minneapolis Lakers court benefited a tall-beyond-his-years George Mikan.

With courts and conditions being more uniform nowadays, the home edge comes from pyrotechnics that fire up a crowd. Hip-hop and rap thump and disrupt offensive sets during games. Kings fans shake cowbells, while the New York and Philadelphia faithful just boo.

Come playoff time, homecourt advantage peaks.

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JUMPBALL

According to Foyle

New Kid on the Block Full-time baller, full-time gamer. That’s Nate Robinson in a nutshell, and the reason he finds himself as HOOP’s inaugural player videogame editor. The Seattle native got into gaming early, thanks to his mom (who bought the Robinson household a TV Nintendo tuner when Nate was young), and cut his teeth on classics such as Super Mario Bros., Contra and Battletoads. “Remember Battletoads?” he asks. “That was my all-time favorite.

Me and my brother used to play that all night.”

While real-life games cramp his all-night videogaming style these days, Nate still gets in his fair share of button-mashing (his preferred console: Xbox360). And he’ll even give you his gamer tag, if you ask nicely.

To read Nate’s first review, Madden NFL 09, turn to page 125.

For more about Nate's fondness of gaming,

THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Adonal Foyle is a center for the Orlando Magic and is entering 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 022

Photo Buckets NEILSON GAUTAMA & DANNY GRANGER Indonesia

Congratulations to Neilson Gautama, the winner of our first Photo Buckets contest. Last issue we asked readers to submit their best off-court photo with an NBA player and received Neilson’s entry, taken 10,000 miles away during the Pacers’ Danny Granger’s visit to Indonesia in September 2008.

Send us your best fan photo of or 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 * - All submitted entries become property of HOOP

FOYLE: FERNANDO MEDINA; ROBINSON: RAY AMATI/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner collected research and wrote The Leadership Challenge to try to uncover some of the characteristics to being a good leader. Based on their research, along with a series of interviews with leaders, Kouzes and Posner have identified five keys for making a great leader: 1) model the way; 2) inspire a shared vision; 3) challenge the process; 4) enable others to act; and 5) encourage the heart. This book defies the theory that you are either born a leader or you are born without leadership abilities.

Overall, I believe that a leader can be created, as opposed to being born with such traits. To be a leader, it takes work and it takes practice. And the more people know about this, the more they may realize that they may not be leaders right now, but they will see the potential and possibility that they can become leaders, too. And that is something I would like more people to know—if they do not believe themselves to be leaders, it’s not too late for them to change.

This is a book I would recommend not only for players in the League who are trying to embrace a leadership role, but anyone in the business world as well.

Leadership is one of the few traits that span the employment spectrum, at any level, in any profession. When you look at people in the sports world and the business world, a lot of people feel that the leader has to be the “superstar.” But a lot of times, the “superstar” doesn’t make the best leader. The best leader comes from those who take the time to actually go out and practice the qualities of being a good leader. Another misconception is that the leader is the person who is vocal all the time. Although there’s no hard and fast rule on what actually makes a good leader, studying the five keys mentioned above shows that leadership can be within the grasp of all of us, whether or not we are big talkers.

The Leadership Challenge speaks to anyone who wants to be a leader. It is a fascinating book and a no-nonsense approach to leadership style thanks to its grassroots research. It’s something I find refreshing in terms of trying to define a leader, as opposed to talking theoretically about leadership qualities. — Adonal Foyle #31

visit hoopmag.com

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brack-it EIGHT THINGS. ONE UNDISPUTED CHAMP.

JUMPBALL

BEST CROSSOVER

Tim Hardaway vs. Stephon Marbury

Deron Williams vs. Isiah Thomas

The “C” Tim Hardaway wore on his jersey in Golden State may have stood for “captain,” but more appropriately it could have represented “crossover.” Throughout the ’90s, there was no player better at breaking ankles on a regular basis; hence, the nickname “Killer Crossover.” By the time Timmy arrived in South Beach, a new kid appeared on the scene (with a fresh flattop fade to boot), causing havoc on defenders with moves he patented on the courts in Coney Island. There have been few points who attacked the hoop with as much power as Stephon Marbury, but when it comes to handle, we give the nod to Hardaway.

In his three seasons in the League, Deron Williams has established himself as an elite point guard equipped with killer ballhandling skills. The yin to John Stockton’s yang, D-Will is a new generation of floor general in Utah, able to hit the long-range bomb and break down the D with crossovers and dribble drives. But before there was a No. 8 in Salt Lake, a baby-faced guard from Indiana terrorized the court in the ’80s, staking his claim as the top 1 in the Eastern Conference. The Bad Boy Pistons were known for tough D, but it didn’t hurt to have a savvy conductor like Thomas running the show. Deron will have his time to shine for the next decade, but you must respect your elders first. Zeke moves on.

Tim Hardaway vs. Isiah Thomas There’s no doubting that Isiah had the better numbers as a point guard—9,000 assists, nearly 19,000 points—but Hardaway lit up the highlight reel more often.

Jason Kidd, John Stockton; no one was safe from the Killer Crossover, especially Knicks point guards such as Charlie Ward during those classic playoff matches in the late ’90s. And that may be the main reason why Hardaway advances: when it came to crunch time, whether facing the Bulls or Patrick Ewing & Co., #10 wasn’t afraid to break down a defender and then pull up for a three in their grill.

Tim Hardaway vs. Allen Iverson At first we thought Tim Hardaway took this one, but after a little YouTubing we had to re-evaluate our stance. We’re surprised Jacque Vaughn and Antonio Daniels, two of the top defenders in the League, can still walk after what AI did to them on two separate instances. Then we pulled up his most famous shot, from the 2001 NBA Finals, when he crossed up Tyronn Lue and knocked down a J to secure the Game 1 victory. Hardaway definitely set the tone for all crossover kings to follow, but Iverson took the skill one step further and stands alone as having the best crossover in NBA history.

ALL PHOTOS/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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BY SETH BERKMAN #91

Allen Iverson vs. Dwyane Wade There are few players with the mass appeal of Allen Iverson and Dwyane Wade. Both have the heart of a lion, a penchant for falling down and getting right back up, and a nasty crossover move. Most NBA fans normally don’t associate Wade with the best dribble moves in the game, but he has had an abundance of highlight-worthy plays to make defenders look silly (just ask the Utah Jazz). However, Allen Iverson may simply have the best move ever, with Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and hundreds of others falling victim to the six-foot guard’s stutter step and head fakes. At 33, he may not fool as many defenders with the handle as he did a decade ago, but we sure wouldn’t want to have to check AI one-on-one.

Rafer Alston vs. Jason Williams In what could be called the playground battle of the first round, we have two of the flashiest players to ever suit up in the League. Rafer “Skip To My Lou” Alston built his pedigree on the courts of The Big Apple, becoming a mixtape phenomenon with a bevy of no-look dimes and ankle-shattering moves. Meanwhile, Jason Williams took the country by storm in his rookie season, as he and the high-octane Kings’ offense were mainstays on Plays of the Week. Williams, though, was more about flashy passes, and even though he was able to freeze Gary Payton on occasion, Skip gets the nod in this tightly contested matchup.

Allen Iverson vs. Rafer Alston

Skip’s game for the most part has been reined in since he entered the League, but every once in a while he gives us that flash of the scrawny kid who made And1 famous. Meanwhile, Iverson became famous practically overnight while still a rookie—and sans cornrows—when he gave MJ the business at the top of the key. With Phil Jackson calling out His Airness to guard AI, the crowd stood on their feet as he went left-to-right to throw Jordan off-balance, through the legs, and then left-to-right again as he pulled up and wetted a jumper from the elbow (see page 28 for the proof). That and countless other crossovers earn AI a berth in our final.

BEST CROSSOVER ALLEN IVERSON

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BY SETH BERKMAN #91

ALLEN IVERSON March 12, 1997_Bulls vs 76ers, Wachovia Center, Philadelphia

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VICTOR BALDIZON/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Some of us at HOOP were only freshmen in high school—and a few even younger—when Allen Iverson was a rookie in the NBA, but we still remember everybody rocking “The Question” kicks in the hallways, sporting his red, white and blue No. 3 uni and practicing his crossover in gym class. No question, Iverson was already a phenom as a rookie. But he became a legend the morning of March 13, 1997, when everybody in first period was talking about what he did to Money. Called out to guard the rook, MJ got right in AI’s grill and basically challenged him one-on-one. With the ball in his left hand, Iverson gave a mini-crossover to his right to get Jordan off balance, pulled it back between his legs, then crossed him again to his right before popping a jumper as Jordan futilely tried to block the shot. The ball hit nothing but net, the crowd roared its approval, and with that play Iverson became the new king of playground emulations.

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Old School’n

REPEAT DEFENDERS The Boston Celtics better be ready.

Every team that faces the reigning NBA Champions this season will have something to prove. Top teams will gauge their readiness for a postseason run by how well they play against the title-holders. Mediocre teams may experience a necessary momentum boost with a victory, and even losing squads can find solace in a win against last season’s champs. The Celtics worked hard to earn their championship, but now they’ll have to work even harder to stay on top.

Winning a title is one thing; defending it is a whole different challenge. No NBA team has repeated as champion since the Los Angeles Lakers won three titles in a row from 2000-02. The San Antonio Spurs won titles every other year in ’03, ’05 and ’07 but failed to even reach the Finals in each year following their championship seasons. In fact, since the recent Lakers threepeat, only the New Jersey Nets (’02 and ’03) and the Detroit Pistons (’04 and ‘05) have been to the Finals in back-to-back seasons.

Does the lack of a title defense speak to exceptional parity? Perhaps. More likely, however, the failure to repeat is the direct

result of the difficulty of that challenge.

After winning the 1975 title, my Warriors embarked on a quest to repeat (we made it as far as the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Suns in seven games), and I can tell you from firsthand experience it’s no easy task.

Every team wants to beat the defending champs, so every game must be met with proper mental and physical preparation—a difficult task over the course of a long season. Keeping a championship team together is also tricky. Role players, who used the Finals as a forum to showcase their talents, often find themselves wooed away by other teams and large contracts.

Once players change, chemistry changes.

New players or changing roles for remaining players impact the team’s status quo.

Winning a championship takes a little luck. Luck changes. Schedules, travel times, illnesses, injuries and family situations all have an impact on championship chances.

Finally, complacency and overconfidence can easily destroy the likelihood of a repeat.

Defending a championship requires mental focus and unwavering commitment to a goal. Good luck, Celtics. —Rick Barry #24

Debutant Baller WHERE NBA PLAYERS REMEMBER THEIR FIRST GAME PATRICK EWING

OCTOBER 26, 1985: PHILADELPHIA 76ERS VS. NEW YORK KNICKS

My first NBA game was against the Philadelphia 76ers. I can remember it because it’s been broadcast so much over the years. I remember when a shot went up, I came across and got a tip dunk [and they said], “Basketball is back in New York.”

And for the rest of the game Moses Malone proceeded to kick my butt. It was a learning experience for me, but I love this game of basketball, I loved being in the NBA. I’m enjoying the fact I’ve been enshrined into the Hall of Fame. It’s been a long run for me, culminating with being in Springfield.

I didn’t feel that I had a big burden on me, because naturally like any other person coming into any situation, you come in with a sense of belief 030

that you’re going to accomplish great things. The difficulties I had was, back when I first came in, we didn’t have charter flights, [smiles] so I’d be asleep on the flight and wake up and see a camera in my face from the media that was on the flight with us.

That I did not like, I didn’t appreciate. But I made some great friends that year, people who are still my friends now: some of those guys I played with who kept me sane; our traveling secretary Frankie Blauschild, who passed away, he was a great friend to me. But we had our rough times because we won I think only 23 games, and the next year 24, but the camaraderie that came out of that was great.

— Patrick Ewing #33

SHAQ & KOBE: ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES; GEORGE KALINSKY FOR MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

44 MINUTES, 18 POINTS, 6 REBOUNDS, 3 BLOCKS, 8-21 FG, 2-4 FT

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Dance Life

JENN

SACRAMENTO KINGS DANCE TEAM HOOP: Basketball players have special basketball when we go out for either what we call a hot timeout or a sneakers. Does the same exist for dance teams? time to get the crowd pumped up, you can do your own Jenn: We have specific jazz shoes that we order. We freestyle dance moves, or you can grab somebody from normally have two pairs of jazz shoes and two pairs of the crowd and bring them onto the court and dance with tennis shoes. They do have jazz sneakers, but for us they them. You can just play around however you’d like. tend to mark up the court. So we just go with other stuff that’s more comfortable and functional but still fashionable.

HOOP: Whatroad is your favoriteAll-Star music video It’s been a long and winding basketball for two-time Reggiedance Theus. routine of all time?

Since his 13-year playing career ended, Theus has been an NBA broadcaster, HOOP: Do you have any pregame superstitions?

Jenn: I minor-league don’t watch a coach, lot of videos, but thefor one that volunteer college coach, AAU mentor, NBA writer Basketball Jenn: I’ve used the same locker for the last seven years. sticks out a lot in my mind is Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Digest, actor and technical advisor for TV’s Hang Time and the film Be Like Mike, There have been times people and haveassistant tried to move me,Pitino but atNation. ” I don’t know why. [laughs] to Rick the University of Louisville.

I won’t let it happen. I just have to Theus’ be in that same spot. newest role is as Head Coach at New Mexico State University. The former HOOP: turnaround How aboutinthe unusual song guard led the Aggies to a remarkable his most first season, and has that become HOOP: Have you had any on-court malfunctions would make for a good dance routine? one of basketball’s hottest coaching properties. during a routine?

Jenn: Well we did a song last year, and I believe it was Jenn: Yeah, we’ve had them before. But we train the a ZZ Top song. It had no lyrics at all. Which I don’t think girls to handle the situation the best way possible. For many dance teams do; it’s always mainly a popular song example, last year I lost a shoe in the middle of a routine, or a well-known song that people know the words to. so I had to dance the rest of it with one shoe and a sock.

And oh my gosh, last year, we had a girl, it was opening HOOP: What is the definition of true-shooting night, and we were in the middle of a routine, and she has percentage? hair extensions. And her hair got caught in her boot, so Jenn: Is it the calculation of the amount of baskets when she stood up it ripped out some of her extensions. made by the amount of shots taken?

So there was this huge clump of hair sitting on the court.

HOOP: Close. It calculates a player’s field-goal HOOP: Your dance routines are choreographed, percentage if free throws and three-pointers were but is there any improvisation or ad-libbing when also accounted for. —Tom Gottlieb #0 you’re out on the court?

For more questions with Jenn, visit Jenn: There is during the fourth quarter. We have our hoopmag.com routines set for specific timeouts, but in the fourth quarter

REGGIE THEUS

Jenn wasn’t always a dancer. Back in high school and college she was a cheerleader, and contrary to popular belief, it’s a full-contact sport. She broke her nose during a toss—one of three times she has broken it. Now on solid ground, Jenn was recently promoted to dance team manager, a position that requires a lot of administrative duties on top of, you know, that whole dancing thing. The balance is tough, she says. “I have to go to a practice or a game at night and make sure I know what I’m doing, and make sure that the girls are on point and everything is clean. Now that the season is starting, I am getting a little stressed. But I like to think that I can handle it.”

Faces THE MANY FACES OF... PAU GASOL

JENN: COURTESY SACRAMENTO KINGS; PAU: ALL PHOTOS COURTESY NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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Celeb Row

DAWN OF A NEW DAY

It’s the attack of the NBA dancers. It’s a phenomenon that has been going strong for several years now.

It started with the mother of this movement, Paula Abdul, the Laker Girl who parlayed ’80s singing success into an eventual full-time gig on American Idol.

Abdul was followed by The Bachelorette’s Trista Rehn, who left the Miami Heat for the hottest reality TV show in primetime in 2003.

Then the floodgates were turned loose. The Heat’s Jessica Sutta danced her way from the NBA to the PussyCat Dolls to platinum-recording-star status in 2005. Rockets Power Dancer Natalie Alvarado had a

No. 13 Billboard hit with “Goin’ Crazy” in 2005. Knicks City Dancer Laurie Ann Gibson got fame as MTV’s Making The Band 3 and 4’s feisty choreographer starting in 2005. Honeybee Dawn Richard and Trail Blazers Dancer Shannon Bex made Diddy’s team on Making The Band 3 in 2005, taking Danity Kane to platinum status soon after. Laker Girl Moon Bloodgood became a headliner in the 2006 movie Eight Below and parlayed her success to the network gig Journeyman.

Danity Kane’s Richard (pronounced REE-shard) says it’s only natural that her peers are breaking through to pop icon status by the dozens. After all, where else can you nightly hone your craft in front of 20,000 fans?

Nowhere.

“I know when I danced for the New Orleans Hornets, I used it as an opportunity to be out there and it totally prepared me for Making The Band,” says Richard, who danced as a Honeybee from ’02-03 through ’04-05.

“We performed in front of thousands of people like, two or three times a week. I’d be with 21 girls, so I got used to dealing with 21 different attitudes and mood swings. And then they also let me sing the Anthem from time to time because they knew that I did sing. I got media training by going on radio stations and making connections. It was a great platform and it got me exposed and out there and it prepared me.”

Because of the non-fraternization rule with players, she didn’t communicate a lot with the Hornets back

From the Archives

Playlist

then. But that doesn’t mean they were strangers.

“After I made the band, I was in New York with my parents,” says Richard. “It was the first year I was with the group and I ran into [former Hornet] Baron Davis on the street. He tapped me and was like, ‘Oh my God, Dawn!’ We had a huge conversation with him. Turns out he knew who I was, knew my name, thought I was pretty, all this stuff. I never would’ve known. He was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so proud of you. I followed you.’

“Even Chris Paul. I ran into him in New Orleans, and we had a great conversation. He said, ‘It’s so funny because I remember when you were on TV, I was so happy for you.’ It’s just crazy the impact you can make in this business, where one minute you’re the employee and the next...” ...you’re Danity Kane. First album went platinum. Their 2008 follow-up has gold status and is more meaningful to Richard, since she penned five of the 15 songs.

She even inspired the name Danity Kane with comicbook drawings of her alter-ego—which in turn inspired the Danity Kane Comic that’s out now—and you have one female who is more than the coveted triple-threat (a quintuple-threat: dancer, singer, actor, writer, illustrator).

“I just really want to be the best I can be as an artist and performer,” says Richard. “The best thing that NBA dancers can do is take this as a business opportunity and really learn this industry and do it in a positive light.

And you can go far.” —Darryl Howerton #21

CAMILLE LITTLE Seattle Storm

Camille’s favorite tracks:

HOOP Bernard King, November 1983

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“A Milli” “Got Money” “Homecoming” “Whatever You Like” “Luxury Tax’”

Favorite Pregame Song: Anything Lil Wayne. “Lil Wayne pumps me up.”

Favorite Dance Song: Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake, “4 Minutes” Most Embarassing Song on iPod: Selena’s “I Could Fall in Love” Favorite Shower Song: She doesn’t sing in the shower, but she does turn on her iPod radio and hit the shuffle button.

LITTLE: NED DISHMAN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES; DANITY KANE: SOUL BROTHER/GETTY IMAGES

Lil Wayne Lil Wayne (feat. T-Pain) Kanye West (feat. Chris Martin) T.I. Rick Ross (feat. Lil Wayne)

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overheard

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“I just got emails! Quit pushing me.”

—Charles Barkley responding to The New Republic’s suggestion that he finally buy a computer

“Pau. I’ve never played against him, only on the same team. I want to put points on your face.”

—Rudy Fernandez, on who he’s looking forward to playing against the most in the NBA

“Very steakhouse man’s room. You have the stuff to wipe on your face, you’ve got the gum, all that stuff. It was very nice.

And you don’t have to leave a dollar or anything.”

—Darius Miles on his invite to make the Celtics’ roster

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BARKLEY: ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN; SCALABRINE: NED DISHMAN; YI: NATHANIEL S. BUTLER; MILES: BRIAN BABINEAU; GARRITY: FERNANDO MEDINA; FERNANDEZ & GASOL: JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

—former Straight Shooter columnist Pat Garrity on his retirement from the NBA

“I’ve never even heard of this.”

“I got more out of it than I ever dreamed as far as financial rewards and the places the NBA has taken me.

For as long as I played, I was never confident I’d have a 10year career. I got more out of it than I could ever hope for.”

—Yi Jianlian’s reaction, after much debate with his translators about the translation, to being asked if he plays fantasy sports

“I would have come here [to Boston] for five dollars and a bag of Doritos.”

—Brian Scalabrine describing to the perkinsisabeast.com blog the White House bathrooms during the Celtics’ visit this summer

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TOPIC:

WHICH PLAYERS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR THE 2010 AND 2012 USAB TEAMS? Rick Barry says: Well, I am a big believer in the adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” In 2004, “it” was definitely broke and fortunately Jerry Colangelo fixed it for the 2008 Games. Let’s not mess with success. Unless a player doesn’t want to be on the team in 2012, I say we keep them all.

The longer they play together as a team, the better they will perform. Most countries keep their national teams together for years. Not fair to the other NBA players? Forget about fair. It is about winning. The players on the

2008 Olympic Team showed that they could put their egos aside and win as a team. And the best part was they did it with class, the “right way,” as Coach Krzyzewski said many times. Of course, injuries and other circumstances may preclude some of the current players from suiting up in 2012, but I say give them the opportunity if they want it.

Dwyane Wade says: There are a lot of good, young players in our League. Of course, one that comes to mind right away is Kevin Durant. He’s a guy that could be on the team and will be on the team. He’s an unbelievable talent with his height, with his athleticism, with the way he shoots the ball. Even going up against him in practice when we were getting ready for [the Olympics] he played well, because he can get his shot off at any moment. So there’s a lot of young players in this League that are going to get better by the time the next Olympics and World [Championship] come, and there’s going to be some that surprise everybody and will be on the team as well. It’s going to be interesting to see who transitions their game to the NBA the quickest. A lot of

them are going to make an impact for their teams, but who’s going to do it the quickest? Who’s going to do it the best? And that’s what everybody waits to see. I think we’ve got

040

return, the 2008 core will still be in their primes come 2012; LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard and our 3 Points guest, DWade, all will be no more than 30 years old. Time will eventually tell, but the current front-runners for the spots would be: Kevin Martin (good shooter who can find ways to score without the ball); Andrew Bynum (to shore up the dearth of bigs on the ’08 team); Brandon Roy (there’s always a demand for heady team-first players); Amaré Stoudemire (should’ve been in Beijing); and Rudy Gay (should be considered if one of the swingmen from the Redeem Team drops out). Of course, there’s also that phenom who’s running things on his varsity squad right now...

NATHANIEL S. BUTLER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

a great opportunity with Michael Beasley, he’s a [leading] candidate for Rookie of the Year—of course, with Oden being a rookie this year it makes it a little harder—but there’s a lot of good, young players I can name: O.J. Mayo, Derrick Rose, [Jerryd] Bayless, Kevin Love, so many guys that are pretty good. I think it’s going to be interesting to see how this young class pans out.

Editor in Chief Ming Wong says: Fours years is a long time in the sporting world—you’re talking one-third of a typical athlete’s productive career. Assuming they

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the fab five

JUMPBALL

A LONGTIME POP CULTURE AFICIONADO, JALEN ROSE PITS HIS PERSONAL TASTES AGAINST SOME NOTABLE PERSONALITIES. UP THIS MONTH: BOBBITO GARCIA.

Jalen Rose

Bobbito Garcia

Favorite Schoolyard Game “‘21.’ Everyone can participate. If the previous shot was not an airball, when you get the rebound you must take the ball back to the free-throw line. Each basket is worth two points and ‘free throws’ (shot from the top of the key) are one point. If you make three in a row, it’s ‘three and out.’ Big bragging rights if you beat everyone.”

“‘Hot Peas and Butter, Come and Get Your Supper.’ Somebody hid the belt—I mean, I lived in a building with like over a thousand residents, so there’d be like 30 to 40 kids playing—and whoever found the belt had to try to run back to the base and then whip people before they got past you to the base. Yeah, it was a pretty sadistic game. Pretty fun.”

Favorite School Lunch “Salisbury steak—a public-school classic—with gravy and mashed potatoes. These were definitely the days that you had to use the money on your school lunch card.”

“I’ve been eating Sal and Carmine’s pizza for 35 years. ... I went to Holy Name Parochial School and we used to leave during the day, and the slices used to be a quarter back then, and I would never have any money but I would always bum a bite, or my boy Craig would never eat the crust and he would always give me the crust. That was the highlight of the day, to eat Sal and Carmine’s crust.”

Most Embarrassing School Moment “Playing against our high school’s rival Cooley High [Ed note: Jalen attended Detroit Southwestern], I went up for a dunk and got clotheslined, fell on my head, got knocked unconscious, went into convulsions and got carried off the floor on a stretcher.”

“In seventh grade I was part of a holiday theater production, The Nutcracker, and I had to wear a hat, and when I ran out on the stage the hat fell off.

But I didn’t know my hat had fallen off, so it was like first to eighth grade, like 800 students laughing. And I think they’re laughing because I did something funny, but they’re laughing at me, not with me.”

First Date “I can’t exactly remember whom, what or when, but I do know where—the drive-in movie theatre was my spot, enough said...lololol.”

Best School Prank “Wait until a schoolmate is in full motion and set to take a seat then pull their chair from underneath them. These falls are hilarious and they hurt!”

042

“In school I was a really good student, a good kid, but when I was 11, 12, 13, I think that’s probably when I was my most devious. We used to throw eggs, spit—I lived on the 13th floor of my building, so anyone that crossed our backyard was fair game—we used to throw ice at people, we used to throw M80s. Thankfully, I grew out of it really quickly. It’s my youth, I’m not proud of it, but that’s what kids do.”

JALEN: BARRY GOSSAGE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES; GARCIA: COURTESY RAYON RICHARDS PHOTO

“When I was at Brooklyn Tech, I met this girl in my class and she was the first girl I ever tried to kick it to that didn’t live in my neighborhood.

She lived on Roosevelt Island, so I had take the tram. Her ex-boyfriend turned out to be her next-door neighbor and then, like, him and six dudes wanted to beat me up. It was hectic. It wasn’t pretty, man.” [laughs]

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ALL’S WELL THAT STARTS WELL

044

“It really makes you cherish what you have in the United States,” he says. “Our country is simply amazing and a lot of folks take it for granted, what we have here.”

Stoudemire’s vision for Sierra Leone,3 the lowest-ranked country on the Human Development Index,4 also includes the construction of an academic and athletic academy, which he discussed with the minister of sports, the president and the vice president.

“Hopefully we can build a school so they can get an education,” says Stoudemire, who was constantly surrounded by children during the trip. “I’ve been blessed to play this game of basketball, so I just want to bless others to succeed, as well.” —Jeramie McPeek #4

BONUS POINTS 1. The wells Stoudemire helped build can provide water for 450 people.

2. Stoudemire BONUSand POINTS Kidjo visited children and women that are aided by organizations such

BONUS POINTS

1.as With the Children the additions Associated of Reno WithandtheErie, Warthe(CAW), NBA D-League UNICEF, and roster FAWE now(Forum boastsfor16 African teams.

1. The wells Stoudemire helped build can provide water for 450 people.

2.Women Reno Educationalists). fans helped choose the name Bighorns, named after Nevada’s state animal, while the team’s color scheme was a

2. Stoudemire and Kidjo visited children and women that are aided by organizations such

3. The refl ection 2006 of the filmmountains Blood Diamond, in the starring Lake Tahoe Leonardo area. DiCaprio, was based in Sierra Leone.

as the Children Associated With the War (CAW), UNICEF, and FAWE (Forum for African

3.4. Funderberg The HDI measures previously life helped expectancy, launchliteracy, two minor-league educational baseball opportunities teamsand butgross is best known for introducing the Krispy Kreme

Women Educationalists).

hamburger domestic product. to concession stands at Gateway Grizzlies games.

3. The 2006 film Blood Diamond, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, was based in Sierra Leone.

4. Treloar also spent time coaching in Germany, as well as in the CBA, where he coached against future NBA coaches George

4. The HDI measures life expectancy, literacy, educational opportunities and gross

Karl and Flip Saunders.

domestic product.

5. The BayHawks’ NBA affiliates are the Cavs and 76ers, while the Bighorns are affiliated with the Knicks and Kings.

AMARE: COURTESY JSY PUBLIC RELATIONS; LOGOS COURTESY NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE

It was a difficult decision, but Amaré Stoudemire chose not to play for the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team during the Beijing Olympics this summer to rest his surgically repaired knees. However, the All-Star forward of the Phoenix Suns was still a shining overseas representative of both his country and the NBA, as he traveled to Sierra Leone in West Africa to help build new water wells.

“You know, London is only a six-hour flight away, and they have these beautiful freshwater fountains just for decoration,” the 26-year-old explains. “But in Sierra Leone they don’t have anything, as far as freshwater for drinking, so I figured if we could go over there and build some water wells,1 that [it] could prolong some kids’ lives.”

Stoudemire made the trip in early September on behalf of his “Each 1, Teach 1” foundation and the Zee Community Development Foundation, along with GrammyAward winner and UNICEF ambassador Angelique Kidjo.2 The 6-10 forward has contributed to the impoverished and diseaseridden communities of Makereh and Gao Village for some time, but seeing in person the conditions of the tribes he was assisting was an eye-opening and emotional experience.

If you’re a fan of the NBA Developmental League, you know two more teams married into the family1 for the ’08-09 season.

But you probably didn’t realize how much work went into getting the expansion clubs in Reno, NV, and Erie, PA, to the altar.

It all started with applications and expansion dues, not to mention arena agreements. But the real work began once the new markets were introduced. There was the hiring of staff, decisions2 made on team names and colors, and designs created for logos, uniforms and mascot costumes. Then there was that pesky little matter of selling tickets, followed by finding sponsors and getting involved in the community.

“I’m a list guy,” says Tony Funderberg,3 COO of the Reno Bighorns. “But it was a little overwhelming at times when I would go home at the end of the day and my list was longer than when I had arrived that morning.”

On the other side of the business, the “to do” lists included the hiring of coaches. Reno chose former Phoenix Suns player and most recently assistant coach Jay Humphries, while the Erie BayHawks dipped into the college pool to find LSU assistant John Treloar—whose first task was to find his own assistant.

“It was very important, because you’re asking somebody to fill a role that wears a lot of hats,” says Treloar. “Somebody who had played in the NBA, who has a humility to help wash uniforms or sweep the floor, or do whatever it takes, but also be a great teacher.”

Last but not least, the league’s newest teachers needed students. But before any drafting took place, the coaches had to spend their summers scouting.

“It’s not an easy process putting a team together last minute,” Treloar admits. “In college and the NBA,5 you have groups of guys that are together for a number of years, and that cohesion makes good basketball. So for me, it was about finding the best basketball players that are good citizens, unselfish and understand it’s a team game.” —Jeramie McPeek #4

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straight shooter

JUMPBALL

PORTLAND’S CHANNING FRYE

His “bubble gut monster” pose, perhaps? We’ll never know for sure...

Channing Frye knows a thing or two about the NBA life. He’s a veteran of three full seasons, for two teams, two vastly different coaches, in both conferences, on both coasts. He is one of the NBA’s foremost blog voices (check him out at www.channingfrye.com), and his penchant for honest and amusing stories is what drew our attention his way. While we’ll always have a special place in our hearts for the recently retired Pat Garrity (godspeed with your post-retirement plans, Pat), it’s time for the new kid to cut his teeth as our Straight Shooter.

What happens to players after they get dunked on?

Do teammates rib them all game and the next day while watching game film?

Living in Portland, have you ever considered ditching your car for a bike?

Did you ever have the urge to release the “bubble gut monster” during a game or practice?

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen in Portland?

After hitting a game-winning shot, does the team take the hero out for dinner at Cheesecake Factory?

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No way, buddy. The bikers out here are fearless and I’m not trying to be Lance Armstrong and race around downtown Portland.

But really the main reason is that I’m a sweaty guy and biking to a fancy restaurant is bad news for the pits.

Man, I’ve let a couple loose during practice and a game. I figure whatever helps me create space, I’m down to do it. When you go through someone else’s fart in a game, to me it’s hilarious because everyone looks at each other with the same “Who did it?” face.

The weirdest thing in Portland that I’ve seen is the fact that everyone here is so nice and friendly. I mean, I’ve been almost everywhere in Portland and I’ve yet to come across anyone that really was flat-out rude.

No. After a game-winning shot guys just get big props and much love and teasing, but with so many games we have to sleep and rest our bodies up.

I love being the only team in town. We really have done a lot to change the way people look at our organization and tried to do a lot in the community. The best thing I’d say is that the people can focus and get to know us on a good level.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: SAM FORENCICH; THOMAS OLIVER; FORENCICH; OLIVER; NED DISHMAN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

What’s it like being the only pro athletes in Portland?

When players get dunked on it’s one of the funniest things ever. It’s bound to happen, but when it does, if it’s a nasty one, of course you get roasted. If we win then it’s very bad. If you lose the game and get dunked on you might have to wait a day for everyone to really get on you.

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

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Catching Up With...

JUMPBALL

BOB LOVE No one could ever have predicted that Bob Love would one day make his living by giving 300 motivational speeches a year. But today, that’s just what the Chicago Bulls’ Director of Community Affairs does. You see, Love grew up with a debilitating stutter, something he was unable to correct until his 11-year playing career ended. So while Love was the best all-around player on Chicago’s early-’70s squads, earning two All-NBA1 and three All-Defensive and All-Star nods apiece, he could never reap endorsement or media benefits given that, in his words, he “could not speak.”

Love led the Bulls in scoring for seven straight seasons2 before the dawn of the Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen era, so it’s fitting that Love came back “home” to the Bulls in 1993 after being dealt in 1976. He impacts thousands of people every year as a motivational speaker, and even his old coaches and teammates recognize that they are in the presence of someone magical.3

BY BRETT BALLANTINI #97

Oscar showed me and taught me so much. And when the Royals left me [exposed in the 1968 expansion draft], Oscar told them they were making a big mistake.

HOOP: How did mentors like Robertson shape your life after basketball?

Love: Really, I felt like I had nobody when I retired. My back was broken after I was undercut on a dunk, and the doctors said I’d never walk without a cane. My wife left me, out of the blue. I had to remember those who had faith in me like Oscar, or my grandmother Ella Mae Hunter, or else I wouldn’t have made it. I was so, so low.

I was determined that if I ever had the chance, I would try to give back whatever I could to this world.

HOOP: How were you able to climb back into society?

Love: [sighs] Oh boy. I took a job at Nordstrom’s and all they could offer was a position as a busboy.5 I’d see NBA players come in and hear them whisper, “Isn’t that Bob Love?” It was so embarrassing. But I knew if I worked hard, good things would come. I had a chance to take speech therapy, and I was able to overcome the stuttering that had made my life so difficult.

HOOP: How intensive was your therapy, to produce such a remarkable change?

Love: It’s something everyone takes for granted, but the most wonderful gift in the world, for me, is speech. We worked three days a week, two hours a session, for more than a year. Even today I have to practice speaking every morning. You never get over it. It’s like being an alcoholic; stuttering is with you forever.

HOOP: That’s where Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf came in?

Love: I get down on my knees every night and thank God for Jerry Reinsdorf. He retired my [#10] jersey, he treated me with dignity, and he brought me home to do the good work I always dreamed of doing.

HOOP: What’s it like to go from having difficulty speaking a single word to being one of the country’s most popular motivational speakers?6 Love: It’s such an honor to talk to anyone, especially young children.

I tell them that I am living proof that dreams come true. I work in the greatest sports city in the world. I love this town; I love the people.

It still seems like I’m playing for Chicago. I found my niche in life with the Bulls.7

BONUS POINTS 1. Love earned his first All-NBA nod for his tremendous ’70-71 season, when the fifth-year forward averaged

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25.2 ppg and 8.5 rpg in 43.0 mpg.

2. Love’s 12,623 points in only six full seasons with the Bulls still ranks No. 3 behind Jordan (29,277) and Pippen (15,123) among the franchise’s all-time scorers.

3. One former coach, Red Kerr, says, “God gave Bob the perfect name—Love.”

4. The Bulls made a franchise-shifting deal with Milwaukee, getting Love and Bob Weiss for gunner Flynn Robinson on 11/7/68.

5. It paid $4.48 per hour and was the only job Love could get after undergoing a second back surgery, after which his wife left him, having cleared his home of all possessions and leaving a note telling Love she couldn’t live with a man physically crippled and unable to speak.

6. USA Today named Love one of the top five motivational speakers in the country in 2007.

7. To learn more about Love’s story, read his book, If It’s Gonna Be, It’s Up to Me or watch the 2007 documentary

Find Yourself a Dream.

RANDY BELICE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

HOOP: You put up 18 ppg to lead the team in preseason play for the expansion Milwaukee Bucks in 1968, and yet they still traded you away?4 Love: [laughs] They told me it wasn’t going to help them to have a leading scorer who couldn’t give postgame interviews. Afterward I told [then Bucks GM] Wayne Embry, “Sir, I’m still trying to find the guy who can talk that ball into the basket.”

The minute I got on the court, my speech problem went away.

HOOP: Why was Oscar Robertson such a big advocate for you?

Love: I was drafted by Cincinnati but had a hard time breaking in with the Royals.

Oscar never had a roommate before me, but my stutter kept him laughing all the time, and he took me under his wing. My nickname was Butterbean, but Oscar would call me Bayou Beans. We both had a behind-the-head shot, and from there HOOP

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CARON BUTLER

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CARON BUTLER Forward 6-7, 228, Washington WIZARDS SCORING Despite sporting a bulky frame and an intimidating moniker (Tough Juice), Butler leans on an increasingly reliable jumper that, judging by the improvement he displayed last season, now extends out beyond the three-point line. He attempted more three-pointers (185) and hit a higher percentage of them (35.7 percent) than any other season of his career, in the process jacking his scoring average north of 20 for the first time. But for a guy who shoots free throws at such an effective clip (90 percent last season, career 85 percent), attacking the rim and creating contact should be a priority. Butler limits himself by taking a ton of jumpers (73 percent of his FGA, to be exact), thus creating only four freebies a night—and leading to games in which he can be effectively stifled on the offensive end (just look at what the Cavs did to him during the First Round last season). Despite that, Butler is a good fit for the Wiz, playing the jumpshooting complement to Gilbert Arenas’ freewheeling dribble-drive bravado.

FLOOR GAME Last season bore with it an acceleration of Butler’s maturation process. He stopped forcing shots that weren’t there and instead looked for open teammates; as a result, he nearly touched 5 apg, finishing at 4.9—a full 1.2 apg more than his previous career high. He is relied on to board with consistency for a team lacking a true paint presence, and he does so admirably, checking in at 6.7 rpg, the second straight season he topped six and a half. He takes care of the ball well, too, creating nearly as many turnovers as he committed (128 steals against 150 turnovers). And a testament to his all-around game came in the form of three triple-doubles scattered throughout the ’07-08 campaign: November 23 vs. Golden State (26 points/11 boards/10 assists), December 19 vs. Chicago (29/11/10) and March 30 vs. the Lakers (17/12/12).

DEFENSE Butler has always been a reliable scorer, but he initially made a name for himself in the League as a solid defender. His primary gift is playing the passing lanes, where he has a tendency to gamble—albeit, successfully, thanks to superior anticipation—for steals, notching a career-high 2.2 spg in ’07-08. But his blend of size and quickness combined with a stubborn determination (first seen in his draft-day vow to the eight teams who passed him up) allow him to body up the gamut of the League’s 3s in a one-on-one situation without being overmatched. He’s no Ron Artest, but chances are not many dudes look forward to a night of being shadowed by Butler.

CLUTCH PLAY Gilbert Arenas is undoubtedly top banana in Washington when it comes to final shots. But when he’s out with injury, Tough Juice is the Wizards’ second option. And he proved capable of dropping the hammer in key moments last season. Witness the back-to-back wins over the Celtics in January. Caron got it done defensively in the first game, limiting eventual Finals MVP Paul Pierce to a 5-for-13 shooting night (and 15 points) while forcing him into six turnovers in the Wizards’ 85-78 win. So what did he do for an encore the next night? He scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, floating the game-winning layup over the outstretched arms of KG, Pierce and Leon Powe with 19 seconds left and icing it one possession later with a pair of clutch free throws.

LEADERSHIP Coming from the background he did, it would have been easy for Butler to follow many of his childhood friends down a bad path.

But the Racine, WI native has shown tremendous poise since a day he nearly lost everything he worked so hard to achieve, right before he started at the University of Connecticut. No doubt that served him well during last season’s injury-riddled rollercoaster ride. Without Gilbert Arenas by his side, he amped up his scoring, ratcheted up his ballsharing, and was relied on to hit game-winning shots. He did it all and carried a team to the playoffs that featured only one other proven threat accompanied by a bunch of role players. No offense to Gil, but his injury was the best thing that ever happened to Butler’s development as an elite all-around force in the L.

THE VERDICT

CARMELO ANTHONY

Normally we determine these matchups by a straight-up category count. Here, Caron wins a tight one, 3-2. But Carmelo’s advantages are so strong—his ability to net 20plus with the greatest of ease, his willingness to take that final shot, the associated

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FLOOR GAME At first glance Carmelo looks like a banger with his bulky bod, but he also possesses a sweet touch putting the ball on the floor. You may never confuse him with Iverson crossing cats over, but he still handles the rock well enough to get by many defenders. As far as running the break, that’s what the Nuggets excel at and Anthony is a key cog to their freewheeling system.

He can start the running with a rebound (he pulled down a career-high 7.4 rpg last season) or finish on the wing with a patented twohanded slam. Melo will never win an assist title and is turnover prone, making him a good, but not great overall in the floor game.

DEFENSE Going to a Nuggets game for the defense is like going to a Britney Spears concert for insightful lyrics—both are virtually nonexistent. That’s not to say Anthony is a terrible defender, it’s just that in Denver’s system, the emphasis is on scoring, scoring, and more scoring. Put Carmelo oneon-one against any small forward in the League and we’re sure he’d more than hold his own. He doesn’t pose much of a threat in terms of blocks, but has averaged more than one steal per night throughout his career. With Marcus Camby sent packing to L.A., we think he’ll have to step up on the other end of the floor this season without having a blocking machine roaming in the paint as a safety net.

BUTLER: NED DISHMAN; ANTHONY: GARRETT ELLWOOD/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

CLUTCH PLAY Believe it or not, Anthony is one of the better clutch players in the game today. Ever since he arrived in town he was willing to take the final shot, and more often than not, those attempts result in Denver victories. He carries a swagger on the court, always confident in his abilities and keeping a deaf ear to the haters. With the ball in his hands and the time winding down, he can finish you with a three-pointer from the corner or penetrate and pull up for a fadeaway 18-footer. On a team filled with gunners, Denver turns to only one weapon in crunch time, and he wears #15.

LEADERSHIP Anthony has started every game he has played in his pro career—he’s missed more than seven games only once in a season—but you get the feeling that the face of the franchise has yet to fully take the reins of his team in Denver. A leader is not the subject of trade rumors or the ire of fans off the court. Don’t get us wrong, he still gets much more love than hate in Denver, but his maturity issues are cause for some concern. AI has willingly played the cut as he does his own thing, and while his veteran savvy is appreciated, we are all waiting for Anthony to step up and say, “This is my team. Follow me.”

swagger, all coupled with his underrated floor game—that, with all due respect to Butler, we are forced to overrule our own tally and give the win to Melo.

ANTHONY

SCORING During his five years in the NBA, Carmelo Anthony has averaged at least 20 ppg each season. Some felt his scoring numbers would drop with the arrival of The Answer, but they have continued to soar like the peaks of the Rockies (he averaged a career-high 28.9 ppg in ’06-07 and a robust 25.7 ppg last year). His shooting touch has only gotten better, as well. He entered the League shooting 42.6 percent from the field, which he bumped up to a career-high 49.2 percent in ’07-08. And unlike the stock market, last season saw a rise in Anthony’s production from downtown, as he posted a career-best 35.4 percent from three. He’s not as fast as other forwards—it still looks like he has some baby fat on his frame—and his height would make you think he’s not tall enough to bang in the post, but Anthony does both as good as any scorer in the West. This versatility—to make waves in the paint, spot up from the outside and finish at the rack—makes him a lethal force in Denver’s breakneck offense and one of the toughest players in the L to guard.

CARMELO

CARMELO ANTHONY Forward 6-8, 230, Denver NUGGETS

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Rodney Stuckey

Guard Detroit Pistons BONUS POINTS 1. After being voted the consensus 2004 Washington all-state high school boys basketball player of the year, Stuckey played for Eastern Washington, where he averaged 24.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 4.1 apg in his freshman year. He became the first freshman to earn Big Sky Conference player of the year honors.

2. Rodney was the 15th overall pick in the 2007 Draft.

3. Stuckey also averaged 2.8 apg and 2.3 rpg off the bench.

4. The 6-5 rookie averaged 8.2 ppg, 3.4 apg and 22.4 mpg in 17 playoff games.

D. LIPPITT/EINSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

After missing the first 25 games of his rookie season because of a broken left hand, Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey had to learn the game by watching the team vets.

“Chauncey [Billups] and Rip [Hamilton] have been in probably every situation, so I can come to them and ask them anything about basketball. When they’re out there on the court, they don’t back down from anyone,” Stuckey says. “That’s one thing they always told me, when you go out there, just play hard and be aggressive and don’t worry about anything else.”

A point guard at Eastern Washington,1 Stuckey also made the smooth transition as the Pistons’ backup shooting guard with the help of the vets. Despite the early injury setback, the first-round2 pick worked himself into Detroit’s rotation and averaged 7.6 ppg and 19 mpg3 in 57 regular-season games.

The 22-year-old continued to shine in the playoffs,4 even earning two starts when Billups went down with a groin injury.

“I wasn’t nervous or anything. I just had to step in and step up and lead the team to victory and that’s what I did,” Stuckey says. “Every game counts during the playoffs, but I still try to go out there and have fun and not think a lot, just play. It was a good experience for me.”

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Julian Wright

Forward New Orleans Hornets BONUS POINTS 1. Despite the embarrassing initiation, Wright credits teammates such as Chris Paul and Tyson Chandler with helping him adjust to the NBA. “I picked up great advice and was helped by pretty much everyone,” says Wright, who took his rookie treatment in stride. “That meant a lot to me, because I know it’s not necessarily like that on every team.”

2. Although his initial playing time was limited, Wright’s SportsCenter-worthy slams quickly made him a fan favorite in The Big Easy.

3. Wright’s most important contribution in ’07-08 may have been an 11-point outing in Game 4 of the Hornets’ first-round matchup with Dallas. The 97-84 win gave New Orleans a commanding 3-1 series lead and an eventual spot in the Western Conference Semifinals.

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Ask Julian Wright to describe his “welcome-to-theNBA” moment, and he won’t cite one of his high-flying fastbreak dunks, or his first road trip to an exciting city like New York or Los Angeles. Instead, the University of Kansas product will mention the day he received a “My Little Princess” youth backpack.

At the beginning of the ’07-08 season, the 6-8 small forward’s veteran teammates presented him with a pink backpack and baby stroller to tote around New Orleans Arena.

The “gifts” were one way to remind the 2007 Draft pick of his rookie status.1 Not that Wright needed any humbling. Halfway through his first NBA campaign, Wright hoped to earn an invite to the 2008 Sprite Slam Dunk on the Hornets’ home floor. Only one problem: “I didn’t have enough game dunks,” the 21-yearold explains. “There was barely any footage for people to watch to see what I could do.”2 Indeed, the Chicago native appeared in only 35 of New Orleans’ first 60 games. After working diligently during and after practices, Wright joined Byron Scott’s rotation in March. From there, he provided a much-needed spark3 off the New Orleans bench. Wright emerged as a player to watch heading into his second year, one that includes title-contending hopes for the rising Hornets.

“I was like a lot of rookies last year, trying to figure out what was going on,” the amiable Wright says. “I can’t wait to get started. I’m a lot more confident and know what the team needs from me.”

Fortunately for Wright, that no longer includes pink backpacks or baby strollers.

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Ramon Sessions

Guard Milwaukee Bucks BONUS POINTS 1. Teammates also called Sessions, first name pronounced Rah-MAHN, “Young Boy” and “Babyfaced Assassin” based on his NBA D-League stats.

2. Sessions averaged 7.6 apg and 6.5 rpg in his 24 games—including 17 starts—for the 66ers.

3. The 6-3 Sessions was the 56th overall pick in the 2007 Draft after playing three years at Nevada. He ranked second in the WAC in his final season with 4.7 apg, adding 12.3 ppg and 4.7 rpg to earn second team All-WAC honors.

4. Sessions played 17 games for the Bucks last season, including seven starts. His first game he played only four minutes, notching two points and two assists. In the last game of the season, Sessions played all 53 minutes, scoring 25 points and adding 14 assists. He finished the season averaging 8.1 ppg and 7.5 apg in 26.5 mpg.

5. Sessions earned the Eastern Conference T-Mobile NBA Rookie of the Month Award for April. He was the first player with NBA D-League experience to win an NBA monthly award.

GARY DINEEN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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Despite his stellar play toward the end of last season, Ramon Sessions’ Milwaukee Bucks teammates never let him forget he was a rookie.

“Last year I never heard my name called. It was ‘Rook this, rook that,’ no matter what,” he says. “I didn’t even have a name last year.”1 But Sessions wasted no time making his name known to the Bucks’ front office after averaging 21.1 ppg2 for the NBA D-League’s Tulsa 66ers. After 24 games, the Nevada Wolf Pack3 standout was called up to Milwaukee. When he stepped in for injured regulars Charlie Bell and Mo Williams, not only did his minutes increase—so did his numbers.4 “My confidence level from me being in the D-League was a lot higher,” says Sessions. “That was a great experience for me.”

Sessions will have more opportunities to gain experience this season. With the departure of Williams, the starting point guard role could very well be his. And if the last month of the ’0708 season was any indication, he’s more than ready. During April, the Myrtle Beach, SC native averaged a dozen dimes a game. They started calling Sessions “Memo Man” because he was recording personal career highs almost every night. He even broke a 40-year-old franchise record when he dished 24 dimes on April 14.5 The same game he tacked on 20 points; his 20-point, 20-assist effort was the first ever such game in Bucks’ history.

“That’s something you dream about.

To set a record like that ... was a great accomplishment,” Sessions says. “I wanted to show these guys I could play here and I belong in this League.”

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Thaddeus Young

Forward Philadelphia 76ers BONUS POINTS 1. Young’s father played basketball at Jacksonville University from 1976-78 and was drafted by the Buffalo Braves.

2. He was the 2006 Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior, averaging 26.9 ppg and 13.8 rpg.

3. Young ranked 15th in the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring as a freshman in ’06-07, averaging 14.4 points per game.

4. Young appeared in 74 regular-season games as a rookie and was named to the T-Moblie All-Rookie Second Team.

NICK LAHAM/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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Thaddeus Young understood the skepticism of the Philadelphia 76ers fan base entering last season.

After all, the Sixers selected Young1 with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft instead of a more seasoned player, such as Julian Wright or Al Thornton.

“Hey, I liked it,” Young says, reflecting back on this time last year. “I heard the fans were passionate. A player like Al Thornton played four years at Florida State and he was experienced. I got that. I [just] came in with the idea of working as hard as I possibly could.”

Young, who was an All-American at Mitchell High2 in Memphis, played one year at Georgia Tech3 before turning pro. But despite drawing comparisons to Chris Bosh, Young still flew under the radar entering the draft.

“Even though I played in the ACC, I didn’t have that national recognition,” he says. “I kind of liked coming in almost on an anonymous level. When we really started playing well in the second half of last season, I gained more and more confidence.

I’m going to build on that.”

The Sixers4, who started 18-30 but wound up 40-42 and pushed the Detroit Pistons to six games in the First Round of the playoffs, hope that means a deeper run in ’08-09. That is something Thad is looking forward to seeing as well.

“The fans were so pumped up in the playoffs,” says Young. “It got me fired up. It was everything I had heard about the fans before coming to Philadelphia. They were incredible and were behind us all the way.”

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Brandon Bass

Forward Dallas Mavericks BONUS POINTS 1. Bass grew up in Baton Rouge, LA. During his first two seasons, the Hornets played their home games primarily in Oklahoma City after the devastation caused

by Hurricane Katrina.

2. Bass averaged 17.3 ppg, 9.1 rpg and 1.6 bpg during his sophomore season to earn SEC Player of the Year accolades.

LSU went 19-10 in the regular season before bowing to 11th-seeded AlabamaBirmingham in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

3. In 52 games with the Hornets, Bass topped 20 minutes in a game five times.

By contrast, he played at least 20 in all five playoff contests last year for the Mavs. His efforts included a 19-point, eight-rebound night in which he went 5-for-5 from the

Brandon Bass was baffled. His hometown1 Hornets used their second-round pick in 2005 to draft the 6-8, 240-pound behemoth who shredded the Southeastern Conference at LSU,2 and for two years they used him almost exclusively as a spectator. He was left to wonder: Huh? “The frustrating part is that basketball is my life, and when I was with the Hornets, I felt like it was being taken away from me,” Bass says. “Sitting on the bench for two years, the thought pops in your head that this might not be the career for you, even though you know it is.”

The doubt has all but disappeared, in his or anyone’s mind, after signing with and since erupting in Dallas.3 As the season progressed, Bass’ minutes, and consequently his production, spiked. By playoff time, “The Animal” was averaging a dozen points and seven boards in the First Round against, of all teams, the Hornets.

He insists he wasn’t trying to send a message to his former club that it gave up on him too soon.

“They know already,” says Bass.

Instead, it’s all about that elusive championship ring in The Big D.4 Under new coach Rick Carlisle, Bass aims to figure into that pursuit as much as possible.

“I want to continue to get better every day, literally every day,” Bass says. “I want to end my career as one of the best players in the League.”

field and 9-for-9 from the line.

4. Dallas has made the playoffs every year since the ’00-01 season. Only the San Antonio Spurs, who have qualified every year since Tim Duncan’s arrival prior to the ’97-98 campaign, have a longer active streak. While their intrastate rivals have habitually hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the Mavs have yet to be crowned champs in

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their 28 years of existence.

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24 seconds with BARON DAVIS HOOP: What are your expectations for this season?

Davis: To win. I want to lead the Clippers to the playoffs.

HOOP: How big a challenge is that going to be in the West?

Davis: A huge challenge. It seems like the West gets stronger every year. You go into the season with at least four or five spots already taken due to experience.

HOOP: What’s it mean for you to return to L.A.?

Davis: It was an opportunity to go back to the place where I was raised, where my dream started,1 and to play for a team that’s always been an underdog and try to create a spotlight.

HOOP: What separates L.A. from other big cities?

Davis: The fact that it’s so diverse. You have so many different cultures existing in the same place. A lot of people come and live out their dreams in L.A. HOOP: Tell us about your documentary,2 Made in America. Why was that an important story for you to tell?

Davis: Because I grew up in a gang culture, and I’ve seen all the negativity and been around it pretty much all my life. I wanted to shed light on the situation and just bring a positive voice.

HOOP: When did you first become interested in making movies?

Davis: When I was around 19. I used to sit in my house and watch movies every day. I think that really got me interested in bringing stories to life.

HOOP: How many DVDs are in your collection?

Davis: Too many to count.

HOOP: Give us one that would surprise people?

Davis: Maybe The Lion King. That’s one of my favorite movies.

HOOP: We read that you were a big fan of E.T. when you were a kid.

Davis: He was the coolest alien ever. He was like a friend. It was just about friendship and a journey. I think that’s what captivated a lot of kids my age.

HOOP: That’s got to be one of the biggest movies ever made that didn’t have a sequel.

Davis: I know. I wish I could make the sequel. He would come back with his family, but the world would be totally different. I’m sure they would do the same things, trying to capture him and run tests, but at some point he would become a huge, international star. [laughs]

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

HOOP: Speaking of huge stars, you’re all over the place now, with movie reviews on NBA.com, a blog on YardBarker.com and the competitions on iBeatYou.com. How did you get caught up in the Internet?

Davis: I couldn’t really relate to my niece. She thought I was super lame. [laughs] I saw her spending countless hours online, and I wanted to hang out and do what she was doing.

HOOP: How does Gilbert Arenas’ blog compare to yours?

Davis: He’s one of the big reasons why I started blogging. Gil is a pro. Actually he is an All-Star blogger and I’m a rising star. In the future, though, I think my website is going to be king. BaronDavis.com is going to be the most entertaining website in the world.

HOOP: Are you affiliated with BoomDizzle.com?

Davis: No. Somebody stole my name. That’s what happens in the world of the ’Net. I’m coming out with a different name, anyway. It’s time to let the Dizzle go. [laughs] HOOP

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24 seconds with BARON DAVIS

HOOP: Oh yeah? What’s next?

Davis: I got different names. There’s Boom Diddy. There’s my movie critic name, Boom Lyons, like Ben Lyons. There’s Maroon Boom, the sixth member of Maroon 5. And Boom Deezy is my rap name, because it’s “Too Easy for Boom Deezy.”

HOOP: Where did the idea for iBeatYou.com come from?

Davis: Me and my friends4 are so competitive that we’re always challenging each other to do things, but there was no right way to judge who would win. So we started creating a site where we could get outsiders’ opinions on who had the freshest, like, Nintendo Wii Rock Band pose, for example. And then it just started to spread.

HOOP: You’ve gotten some of your NBA friends involved in the site, too.

Davis: Yeah, Dwight Howard just did the best Shaquille O’Neal impersonation. Tracy McGrady started a rock-skipping contest. Chris Bosh says he’s going to have something for me. It’s all coming up for the season.

HOOP: Superman doing a Shaq impersonation?

Davis: I’m a little nervous about him on iBeatYou. He’s good, so I’m going to have to stack up some more points before he sets his profile up.

HOOP: Speaking of, we noticed you’ve got more points than Nash, Arenas and Will Ferrell combined.

Davis: Yeah, they can’t hang with me on iBeatYou. But Nash is coming up. He’s got some stuff in the pipeline.

HOOP: You’ve got a lot, but Jessica Alba has like four times the points5 you do.

Davis: She kills me. But she’s on it all the time.

HOOP: What’s the best movie spoof you’ve seen fans make?

Davis: I would have to say the Dark Knight spoofs. There’s, like, three different ones. One is like a music video, where this guy’s rapping to the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, talking about The Dark Knight. But I don’t think anybody has beaten Nash and I yet.

BONUS POINTS 1. Davis was born in L.A. on April 13, 1979,

HOOP: Who came up with the idea to spoof Step Brothers?

Davis: That was a Nash production. That was a Boom-Nasty Production, actually.

and played ball at Crossroads School in Santa Monica, before going on to hoop at UCLA. 2. The independent film, which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, according to its website, “examines the decades-long cycle of

HOOP: What kind of looks were you getting from people as you were riding the tandem bike through Santa Monica?

Davis: Oh my gosh. There were cameras everywhere. We were afraid it was going to get out before we could put the video up.

Nobody had any idea what we were doing.

social deterioration and despair that has led to the rise of the violent African-American gang culture in Los Angeles.”

3. Davis was 3 years old when E.T.: The Extra-

Terrestrial first landed in theaters.

Warren (Jessica Alba’s husband) launched the site, which features a number of athletes and celebrities competing against each other and

HOOP: Did you hear they’re making a sequel? The rumor is it will be set 10 years after the original, in the ’80s.

Davis: Are they? Oh, I need to get in that. I want to be in that. Oh my gosh. I can be like a breakdancing reporter.

against fans.

5. At press time, Davis had 4,008 points compared to Alba’s 16,495 points.

For visit

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questions

with

BARON,

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

4. B-Diddy and high school teammate Cash

HOOP: Give us your review of the real Step Brothers movie?

Davis: Loved it. I love Will Ferrell. He’s great. He’s one of my favorite comedians of all time. He’s just a phenomenal actor. My favorite of his movies is Anchorman.

hoopmag.com

HOOP

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Twentieth Century Fox:Layout 1

10/3/08

1:35 PM

Page 1

FROM THE TEAM REAL MOVIE FANS COUNT ON! F Š2008 Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC. All Rights Reserved.

TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX, FOX, and associated logos are trademarks of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and its related entities.

Season

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Like a crispy new pair fresh out of the box (that new shoe smell is just a notch below new car smell, isn’t it?), every new season brings new hope for every team and its fans. As the games play out, the kicks see their share of wear and tear. Leather gets scuffed, laces fray, the bottoms get eaten away and the funk inside turns from intoxicating to just plain toxic. The same goes for each NBA team. Players have poor seasons, injuries happen, personnel decisions go sour and teams just don’t play well. As we do every year, HOOP breaks down every team to see which shoe is the best fit for the championship come June. This decade started off with the L.A. Lakers winning a few titles (three in a row, to be exact), so it’s fitting the same team looks to be the favorites to close out the first decade of the new Milennium. HOOP’s shoe-in (pun intended) to win it all in ’08-09: L.A. Lakers Atlantic Division (adidas Attitude Mid NBA, $85) Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets Central DIvision (adidas Forum Mid NBA, $85): Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers Southeast Division (adidas Americana Mid NBA, $85): Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Charlotte Bobcats Southwest Division (adidas American Lo NBA, $80): New Orleans Hornets, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies Northwest DIvision (adidas Attitude Lo NBA, $80): Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder Pacific Division (adidas Forum Lo, $80): Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings HOOP

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08-09 Season Preview

Boston

Celtics The Five + 6 G— Rajon Rondo 10.6 ppg 5.1 apg 1.6 spg G— Ray Allen 17.4 ppg 90.7% FT 39.8% 3-Pt. F— Paul Pierce 19.6 ppg 5.1 rpg 4.5 apg F— Kevin Garnett 18.8 ppg 9.2 ppg 1.2 bpg C— Kendrick Perkins 6.9 ppg 6.1 rpg 1.4 bpg

A

lmost a month before training camp opened for the Boston Celtics, The Truth, Ray Allen and

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Odds and Ends Slam Dunk Boston repeats as NBA Champs 3-pointer Darius Miles plays in more than 10 games for Boston Halfcourt Heave Brian Scalabrine has a career year, causing fans to rename the Celtics’ core “The Big Four”

Leon Powe During his first year at Cal, Leon Powe was downright dominant at times, beasting on bigger opponents with a 6-8, 240-pound frame of pure muscle. He looked destined to become a Lottery pick, but knee surgery cut short his sophomore campaign. He subsequently fell off the radar in terms of national exposure. Selected 49th overall in the 2006 Draft, few thought Powe would do anything but gain bench splinters in the NBA. But during the Finals, he proved the doubters wrong, scoring 21 points in a Game 2 victory over the Lakers. And while he won’t have to score that much, given the talent around him, the C’s will be expecting hefty contributions all season long, which they will need with the entire League gunning to take down the champs.

BIG THREE: FERNANDO MEDINA; POWE: GREGORY SHAMUS/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

the C’s were already in the gym practicing for the upcoming season. See, last year’s success wasn’t part of a one-year plan. When GM Danny Ainge crafted his master blueprint, the goal was to win multiple rings. And while last year was a good start, don’t think for a minute that the Green Monsters are content with just one ’chip.

The usual suspects are back (we’ll get to them in a minute; we all know what to expect from them, anyway), but there are a few fresh faces in Beantown. Former Lottery pick Patrick O’Bryant hopefully can provide some interior help as Kendrick Perkins continues to develop on the block, while rooks J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker look to fill some of the void after the departure of James Posey and his perimeter play on both sides of the ball. But perhaps the most intriguing roster move was when Ainge out of nowhere signed Darius Miles. We really don’t know what Miles has been up to the past few years besides trying to get well, but by all accounts he is back in playing shape after undergoing microfracture surgery on his knee. Still, we’d be surprised if he becomes anything more than a 10-minute per night player for Boston this season.

Much more reliable will be the rotation’s core, specifically The Big Three. Expect Rajon Rondo to build on last year’s maturation, and while he won’t be thrusting his name into the conversation of best young point guards— that’s for the Derons and CP3s of the world—he is certainly one of the most defensively adept of the bunch. As the aforementioned rooks develop, Leon Powe, Sam Cassell and Eddie House will be the main reserves, and Tony Allen and Gabe Pruitt should see minutes here and there.

With no major roster losses, Boston looks primed for a repeat of last year’s success. Toronto and Philly, despite their respective pickups of Jermaine O’Neal and Elton Brand, will have to prove they can beat the Celtics at least two times—and once in Beantown— before we lend any credence to their claim to the division crown, and you can count on Kevin Garnett and Pierce to not let any newbs come after their title without a fight. Don’t be surprised if we see a repeat of last year’s Finals this June, but as any New Englander can tell you, one injury can change everything. Just ask Tom Brady.

6— Leon Powe 7.9 ppg 4.1 rpg 57.2% FG

Burden of Proof

HOOP

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Philadelphia

76ers The Five + 6 G— Andre Miller 17.0 ppg 6.9 apg 49.2% FG G— Andre Iguodala 19.9 ppg 5.4 rpg 4.8 apg F— Thaddeus Young 8.2 ppg 4.2 rpg 53.9% FG F— Elton Brand 17.6 ppg 8.0 rpg 1.9 bpg

Burden of Proof Lou Williams Williams may be in his fourth year, but he just turned 22. He has proved capable as a scoring threat (17.8 ppg per 36 minutes last season), an occasional distributor (3.2 apg), and an adept shooter (36 percent from three). As the first option off the bench for Mo Cheeks, Williams will have to continue increasing that output to prove that his new five-year contract was worth the investment.

C— Samuel Dalembert 10.5 ppg 10.4 rpg 2.3 bpg 6— Lou Williams 11.5 ppg 3.2 apg 35.9% 3-Pt.

Odds and Ends Slam Dunk Elton Brand reverts to his usual 20-and-10 line after an injury-riddled ’07-08

ALL PHOTOS: JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

3-pointer Andre Iguodala earns his first All-Star nod Halfcourt Heave Samuel Dalembert resurrects the playoff mohawk (please, Sam, don’t do it)

I

t was not too long ago Philly said farewell to one of its favorite sons, Allen Iverson, and in his place was

left a muddled portrait of uncertainty, a future strewn with too many tweeners and not nearly enough punch. But then, something funny happened: this all-but-forgotten bunch thrived. Freed from the shackles of Iverson’s awesome if slightly flawed genius, the team formed their own scrappy identity and went 18-11 in the second half of ’06-07. They followed that up with a respectable 40-42 finish last season, punctuated by a tough six-game stand against the Pistons in the First Round. So how does GM Ed Stefanski continue the post-Iverson revival? Orchestrate the biggest coup of the summer in luring All-Star forward Elton Brand to The City of Brotherly Love, of course. The addition of the career 20-10 man lends instant credibility to an interior scoring attack lacking in Philly for quite some time. And it frees up Sam Dalembert to do what he does best: gobble boards and focus on the defensive end of the court. Continued maturation—and a move to small forward—for versatile second-year pro Thaddeus Young will only bolster a solid front line and allow the re-upped Andre Iguodala to roam free and cause havoc from the 2 spot. Throw in the League’s most underrated point in Andre Miller, and the Sixers sport a formidable and balanced starting five with both the athleticism to run all day and the skill to execute in the halfcourt. And the bench is just as balanced: you’ve got your blue-collar big men (Reggie Evans, Theo Ratliff), your hyperactive scoring threat (Lou Williams), and your steady-as-she-goes veteran guard play (Willie Green, Kareem Rush).

In a year and a half, thanks to one trade, two solid draft nights and one big free-agent splash, the Sixers have been transformed from a team most thought would spend a few listless seasons reeling from the eventual departure of Iverson to one of the East’s most fearsome powerhouses. While the expectation of an Atlantic Division crown is likely a stretch (after all, there are those pesky defending champs to deal with...), 50 wins and homecourt advantage in the First Round is a realistic expectation.

HOOP

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08-09 Season Preview

Toronto

Raptors The Five + 6 G— Jose Calderon 11.2 ppg 8.3 apg 51.9% FG G— Anthony Parker 12.5 ppg 4.1 rpg 43.8% 3-Pt. F— Jamario Moon 8.5 ppg 6.2 rpg 1.4 bpg F— Chris Bosh 23.3 ppg 8.7 rpg 2.6 apg

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y all accounts our friends up north underachieved last season. During the ’06-07 campaign

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6— Andrea Bargnani 10.2 ppg 3.7 rpg 34.5% 3-Pt.

Odds and Ends Slam Dunk Newly acquired Jermaine O’Neal plays in more than 70 games 3-pointer Jose Calderon leads the League in assists Halfcourt Heave Chris Bosh resists temptation and doesn’t make a made-for-YouTube video

Burden of Proof Jermaine O’Neal How can a guy with six All-Star nods and three All-NBA honors possibly have to prove anything? Jermaine O’Neal has averaged 19 points and eight boards a game over the past four seasons. However, Toronto isn’t concerned if he can still ball. The trepidation is whether he’ll be in street clothes or his new red-and-white uni on game night; during that same four-season stretch he missed 122 games. For perspective, that’s six games more than the Celtics played in their run to the Larry O’Brien Trophy last season. If Toronto wants to mimic the C’s this season, they’ll need a healthy O’Neal.

BOSH: FERNANDO MEDINA; O’NEAL: RON TURENNE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

the Raptors matched a franchise high with 47 wins, something not accomplished since Vince Carter was the 360-windmill dunking force known as “Air Canada.” But it seemed like those young Raptors, led by Chris Bosh and T.J. Ford, were just happy to be in the postseason, capitulating to the Nets in six.

Expectations ran high last season. Could the team reach 50 wins? Repeat as Atlantic Division Champs?

Advance in the playoffs? Turns out that answer to all the above was no. The season played out with an uninspiring .500 record and another first-round exit.

GM Bryan Colangelo, never one to be gun-shy about offseason moves, refused to sit on his hands and made a move to bring in Jermaine O’Neal. The move is two-fold: it helps lock down the post on both defense and offense (O’Neal, if healthy, is certainly capable of posting a line of 15-18 ppg, 8-10 rpg and 2-3 bpg); and with Ford going to Indiana in the deal, Jose Calderon and his League-best 5.38-to-1 assistto-turnover ratio take the reins full time at the point. Of course, the season now hinges on a lot of “if”s: if O’Neal stays healthy (something he hasn’t done for a full season since ’03-04); if Calderon is ready for a full-time gig; if Toronto’s wing players can continue to overachieve. Anthony Parker has played admirably as the starting two guard since resurrecting his career two years ago, and Jamario Moon, besides being a ferocious dunker, can play solid perimeter defense. However, more pressure will be on their shoulders as defenses will look to double either Bosh or O’Neal in the post, forcing the shooters to hit shots. Of course, the Raptors led the League in three-point shooting last season, but that didn’t translate into more wins.

Why? Sixty-nine percent of their shots came on jumpers, leaving them prone to scoring droughts and such feast-or-famine moments as their 10-5 stretch from January 25 to February 27, when they waxed several lesser teams by 30-plus points and dropped all but one of those losses by fewer than five points. No doubt a scoring presence on the block such as O’Neal helps them execute down the stretch and reverses some of those narrow losses.

One final “if”: Andrea Bargnani, who regressed from his rookie campaign in every way, including shooting a less-than-inspiring 38 percent from the field. It’ll be Bargnani’s job to spell the All-Star bigs, and if he can do that without a major drop-off the Raptors could be pushing 50 wins this season. It’s unlikely they’ll top Boston for the Atlantic Division crown, but anything less than an Eastern Semis appearance should be considered a letdown.

C— Jermaine O’Neal 13.6 ppg 6.7 rpg 2.1 bpg

HOOP

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New York

Knicks The Five + 6 G— Chris Duhon 5.8 ppg 1.8 rpg 4.0 apg G— Jamal Crawford 20.6 ppg 5.0 apg 1.0 spg F— David Lee 10.8 ppg 8.9 rpg 55.2% FG F— Zach Randolph 17.6 ppg 10.3 rpg 45.9% FG

RANDOLPH: D. LIPPITT/EINSTEIN; TEAM: ISSAC BALDIZON/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Burden of Proof Zach Randolph Ever since Randolph dazzled the Big Ten as a freshman at Michigan State, coaches have been effusive in their praise for him. And why not? He’s a big, mobile post player willing to bang. That’s not something you find every day. But when Portland dished the 20-10 man to New York, it was clear the Blazers had enough of the ancillary nonsense that accompanies Randolph’s game. His off-court behavior, casual approach to defense and often-sullen personality are a combustible mix. But D’Antoni’s system needs mobile big men and can offer big rewards for those who will run and play nice with others. If Randolph can be a positive force, the Knicks’ turnaround will get quite a boost.

C— Eddy Curry 13.2 ppg 4.7 rpg 54.6% FG 6— Nate Robinson 12.7 ppg 3.1 rpg 2.9 apg

Odds and Ends Slam Dunk Stephon Marbury ends up with another team before the end of the season 3-pointer Danilo Gallinari uses his expected big role in the D’Antoni system to win the Rookie of the Year award Halfcourt Heave The Knicks advance to the Conference Finals like their sister team, the Liberty

T

here

are plenty of reasons for Knicks fans to hope the future will be brighter. They just need to be aware of what future means in this context. Anyone expecting a rapid turnaround and a burst of contention this season will be disappointed. New GM Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D’Antoni are talking ’10-11 as the arrival of a Knicks resurgence. In the meantime, D’Antoni must hope the pieces currently in place are capable of playing an uptempo style that will at least entertain, if not produce victories. He inherits a team that has more malfunctioning parts than a ’76 AMC Gremlin.

D’Antoni’s offense relies heavily on a smart PG to distribute the rock, so it will be curious to see if the ball-domineering Stephon Marbury will indeed be around for long (keep in mind D’Antoni coached Marbury for a few games before the Suns traded him to New York). But Marbury isn’t the only square peg in the new coach’s round system. The power forward/center tandem of Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry is slow and brings offenses to a screeching halt with their deliberate games. Forward Jared Jeffries, while a capable defender, doesn’t bring much offensively either. The biggest beneficiaries of the new system likely will be Jamal Crawford and Nate Robinson. The athletic and improvisational duo possesses the game to excel in D’Antoni’s track-meet sets.

While Walsh tries to find a willing trade partner among NBA execs, D’Antoni will coax Randolph to stay in shape and play faster while also utilizing go-go point Chris Duhon, no matter how much it goes against the more talented Marbury. Expect jumping-jack forward David Lee to love the fastbreaking life (pictures of flawless outlet passes are dancing through our heads) and rookie Danilo Gallinari to make good use of his inside-outside Eurogame—provided his cranky back complies. The Italian rook should also provide some toughness, defense and the experience of having played professionally on the Old Continent. D’Antoni no doubt hopes second-year forward Wilson Chandler blossoms in the free-flowing system. And point guard Anthony Roberson, signed in July after a strong summer league season, should provide some quality depth.

In the end, the Knicks’ success or failure this season will depend on whether D’Antoni can create a rotation of players willing to sublimate themselves to his style and stay away from insurrections from those who can’t handle diminished roles. Trouble is, in this era of fiscal responsibility, taking on albatross contracts with diminishing returns is typically considered bad business. As a result, New York will likely be forced to suffer through a couple seasons with its baggage until it can unload players entering their final year. For this season, expect some excitement and high-scoring games, but don’t look for too much success unless Walsh is able to snooker four or five GMs into taking his castoffs.

HOOP

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08-09 Season Preview

New Jersey

Nets The Five + 6 G— Devin Harris 14.8 ppg 5.8 apg 1.41 spg G— Vince Carter 21.3 ppg 6.0 rpg 5.1 apg F— Yi Jianlian 8.6 ppg 5.2 rpg 0.9 bpg F— Sean Williams 5.6 ppg 4.4 rpg 1.5 bpg C— Josh Boone 8.2 ppg 7.3 rpg 55 FG%

T

he state of the New Jersey Nets is similar to the last month of your lease for your apartment

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Odds and Ends Slam Dunk Richard Jefferson will receive a rousing ovation when he makes his first return trip to New Jersey 3-pointer Yi Jianlian duplicates Keith Van Horn’s career numbers (18.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 36% 3-Pt.) Halfcourt Heave Vince Carter gets moved before the trade deadline

Yi Jianlian Yi has teased the potential of an insideoutside game that reminds us of there-inspirit Net Keith Van Horn. Alas, Yi’s debut season (8.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, .421 field-goal percentage) was barely better than KVH’s worst NBA season. Yi might have been brought in to woo the large Chinese community in the NY/NJ metro area, but ultimately he has to perform. Let’s not forget that New Jersey traded away solid 20-ppg man Richard Jefferson to acquire him.

CARTER: RON HOSKINS; YI: NATHANIEL S. BUTLER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

before you move on to your new digs: You stop cleaning and maintaining the place you’ll soon be leaving in favor of taking stock of what to pack and what to leave behind. The Nets clearly are in a transitional phase. In the rearview mirror is Eastern Conference (or even simply Atlantic Division) contention, a staple of teams fueled by Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson. Now primed to sit in the ride through the Lincoln Tunnel and over the Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn is Vince Carter, with Devin Harris riding shotgun and Yi Jianlian in the backseat. The trio makes for a decent core at first glance, but each guy is not without major uncertainty. Traded for Kidd last midseason, Harris has the pressure of filling the shoes of a man who almost single-handedly turned around a moribund franchise. Long lauded as one of the best young points in he game, Harris has to live up to the hype. His 25-game showing as a Net last season shows he’s up to the challenge (15.4 ppg and 6.5 apg) but he has to shore up his jumper and cut down on the turnovers (2.72 per game).

While he still possesses the ability to score in bunches when he gets hot, Carter is no longer the guy who inspired a slew of highlight mixes on YouTube. Even during his time as a frequent flyer, Carter was never the guy to carry a team. With Kidd gone and a roster full of neophytes, the onus will be on VC to be that guy.

All eyes will be on Yi this season [see sidebar]. The sixth pick in last year’s draft looked a bit overwhelmed in his rookie season, but he has the goods to be a quality player. The rest of the roster is filled with a mix of role-playing vets (Keyon Dooling, Trenton Hassell, Jarvis Hayes, Eduardo Najera, Bobby Simmons and Stromile Swift) and unproven youth (Josh Boone, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Brook Lopez and Sean Williams).

The bright spot is that a majority of the vets and especially second-year man Williams are all above-average defenders. If they can develop a defensive identity, the Nets have the makings of a tough opponent—albeit, one that likely won’t see the playoffs for a few seasons.

6— Eduardo Najera 5.9 ppg 4.3 rpg 36.1% 3-Pt.

Burden of Proof

HOOP

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Detroit

Pistons The Five + 6 G— Chauncey Billups 17.0 ppg 6.8 apg 40.1% 3-Pt. G— Richard Hamilton 17.3 ppg 4.2 apg 44.0% 3-Pt. F— Tayshaun Prince 13.2 ppg 4.9 bpg 3.3 apg F— Amir Johnson 3.6 ppg 3.8 rpg 1.3 bpg

Burden of Proof

ALL PHOTOS: ALLEN EINSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Amir Johnson As an inexperienced and raw big on a team laden with frontcourt vets, Johnson found himself contributing sparingly last season.

His per-36 averages (10.4 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 3.9 bpg) suggest he is ready to deliver a more full-time role. With Theo Ratliff and Jarvis Hayes eliminated from the crowded frontcourt, he had certainly better be ready to live up to those expectations—especially defending the paint, to make up for a rapidly aging Sheed. Jason Maxiell can only do so much by himself.

C— Rasheed Wallace 12.7 ppg 6.6 rpg 1.7 bpg 6— Antonio McDyess 8.8 ppg 8.5 rpg 48.8% FG

Odds and Ends Slam Dunk The Pistons will advance to the NBA Finals again, finally 3-pointer Rasheed Wallace knocks down five or more in-game left-handed three-pointers Halfcourt Heave Rodney Stuckey supplants Chauncey Billups as the starting point (not yet, kid; your time will come)

A

nother year, another 50-plus wins for the Pistons—and another disappointing pre-

Finals exit. It’s becoming an annual script for one of the L’s most premier franchises, finishing painstakingly short of what they once shocked the world to attain. Is it complacency? Hardly. There are precious few personalities in the League more fiery—outwardly or internally—than those on the Pistons roster. It likely comes down to execution, and give a team this talented enough chances, they’re bound to deliver. They feature a new coach in Michael Curry, something that might flummox some teams in the early going as they struggle to gel and adapt. But the majority of this rotation has weathered two other regimes and still produced, so overlooking them this season would be folly.

The free-agent signing of perennial underachiever Kwame Brown was slightly puzzling; despite losing big man Theo Ratliff and versatile forward Jarvis Hayes to free agency, manchild Amir Johnson waits in the wings, oozing the same kind of potential many once saw in Brown—but which no team has been able to coax out of him. Far be it from us to question GM Joe Dumars, however, who has masterfully constructed the League’s winningest team over the better part of the decade with few missteps (see: Milicic, Darko).

And the team still possesses the same core of players responsible for the majority of the franchise’s recent success. How have they been able to keep the fab four—Chauncey, Rip, Sheed and Tayshaun—so fit for so long? Easy. The Pistons have displayed a preternatural brilliance at dispersing double-digit minutes among their productive players (12 dudes got more than 12 minutes of burn per game last season), thus limiting the season-long wear-and-tear on the bodies of their older horses. It’s a similar blueprint to that which got the Spurs to where they are today: Maintain stability in your regular rotation, get them ample rest early in the season, and fill out the roster with capable veteran role players and a dash of precocious young talent. Their one fatal flaw, however, remains an inexplicable loss of focus at times in big games. It seems sometimes as if they’re bored with how efficient they can be at both ends of the court. Focusing that efficiency will determine—yet again—how far they advance in a rapidly improving Eastern Conference.

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08-09 Season Preview

Cleveland

Headline

Cavaliers Deck which player’s career was most affected by injury?

The Five + 6 G— Mo Williams 17.2 ppg 6.3 apg 1.2 spg G— Wally Szczerbiak 11.5 ppg 41.3% 3-Pt. F— LeBron James 30.0 ppg 7.9 rpg 7.2 apg F— Ben Wallace 4.8 ppg 8.4 rpg 1.6 bpg C— Zydrunas Ilgauskas 14.1 ppg 9.3 rpg 1.6 bpg

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ill 2009 be “mo’ better” for LeBron James & Co., or will they once again be singing the “blues”

6— Delonte West 8.3 ppg 3.8 apg 3.2 rpg

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Mo Williams When Mo Williams arrived in Milwaukee in 2004, he was immediately thrust into a major role, playing more than 25 mpg.

Soon he became a starter, averaging double figures in scoring and posting six-plus assists in all but one season.

Those are the kind of numbers LeBron can appreciate, but we’re not sure if it puts the Cavs over the hump. So it will be up to Williams to produce even more this season to keep Cleveland in the running for a Central Division title.

WILLIAMS: NATHANIEL S. BUTLER; TEAM: DAVID LIAM KYLE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

come June? One would have to lean toward the latter, given the re-emergence of Boston’s dominance in the East, the Pistons’ hunger for one more go-around, as well as improved squads in Philly and Toronto...right? But on second thought, Cleveland always carries an ace (check it: a king) Odds and Ends up its sleeve, one who notched a career year—though likely the first of many—in ’07-08 (peep the 30 Slam Dunk ppg, 7.9 rpg, 7.2 apg, 1.8 spg, and 1.1 bpg). Unfortunately, the king’s court was not up to par, and the LeBron James wins MVP Cavs capitulated short of the Larry O’Brien Trophy again, this time to the Celtics in a tough seven-game honors Eastern Conference Semifi nal.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MING WONG: One of the worst tragedies in sports is to see a world-class athlete in the Stillof inhis need of more firepower, GMhave Danny Ferry added Buckthe point manhuman Mo Williams 3-pointer prime career or atoffensive the cusp of greatness everything takenformer away with harsh reality of an injury. to the backcourt, who will have to adjust from the shadows of being one of the most underrated guards Daniel Gibson follows up his The player who comes screaming into my mind in this regard is Bill Walton. He was on his way to becoming a juggernaut in the game to the spotlight as LBJ’s sidekick—his Hubert Humphrey, so to speak.

Last season in of a center—a scoring, rebounding, passing, inspiring leader in a seven-foot package—until myriad of ankle andT-Mobile foot Rookie Challenge Milwaukee, Williams averaged 17.2 ppg, posting 17-plus for the second season in a row, and added a & injuries chipped at his physical gifts. Put in perspective: of the 984 regular-season games that he could’ve playedYouth in hisJam 12 performance healthy 6.3 apg, a career high.

His arrival should not only take some of the burden off LeBron, but also last season seasons, walton managed to only suit up for 468 of them. Despite it all, he persevered—he won a title, an mvp award and with a win in the free up shots Wally Sasha Pavlovic.

Foot Locker Threewas named tofor theoutside nba’s 50threats greatest.

HadSzczerbiak, injuries notDaniel robbedGibson him ofand at least half his career, though, the pantheon2009 of nba The midseason additions of Ben Wallace and Delonte West weren’t game-changers the way Ferry had Point Shootout epic centers would have had a bushy-haired hippie standing amongst them. hoped, but injury a full year system might be wrecked enough toknee reapinsome dividends.

Walton’s was under tragic, Cleveland’s but how about bernard king’s 1985?

Until thatZydrunas moment, king had become the Ilgauskas should continue to be a dependable double-double threat, but we’re not sure if all that still Halfcourt Heave league’s most unstoppable scorer. The previous spring, he had proven himself to be practically otherworldly by destroying equals enough to put Cleveland over the top.

In the end it will come down to how much LeBron can do, Wally him World grows a ’fro to the pistons by himself in the playoffs—scoring 40 or more in four of the five series games. King’s knee injury forced which, judging by the past few seasons, we imagine can’t be much more than what we’ve already seen. show to miss the entire ’85-86 season and all but six games of ’86-87. Sure, he came back and made himself into an all-star,solidarity with Ben But if he is somehow abletwo to seasons find that took one fi5,000 nal gear, notand onlylimited will hewhat become the undisputed best player and Anderson Varejao but robbing him of those points he could do in subsequent campaigns.Wallace Had king in the world, it might just be enough to lead the Cavs to their second Finals appearance in three years. stayed healthy, he probably would have topped the 25,000-point mark for his career and would have been known as one of the five most dangerous scorers in league history. Give king credit for reinventing his game after the injury, going from a post-up player to a slasher from the wing, but just imagine what he would have done had he not torn His ligament and

Burden of Proof

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Milwaukee

Bucks The Five + 6 G— Luke Ridnour 6.4 ppg 4.0 apg 85.7% FT G— Michael Redd 22.7 ppg 4.3 rpg 36.3% 3-Pt. F— Richard Jefferson 22.6 ppg 4.2 rpg 36.2% 3-Pt. F— Charlie Villanueva 11.7 ppg 6.1 rpg 1.0 apg

Burden of Proof

C— Andrew Bogut 14.3 ppg 9.8 rpg 1.7 bpg

Andrew Bogut It’s got to be tough being Andrew Bogut 6— Ramon Sessions or a team that won only 26 games last season, any shake-up is a good one. And so it was that some nights. Any Bucks fan with the 8.1 ppg new GM John Hammond set out this offseason to improve the Bucks. He wheeled and dealed early slightest sense of “what could have been” 7.5 apg and often, bringing in the always-potent Richard Jefferson, point guard Luke Ridnour and seven-footer realizes by going with the Aussie at No. 1, 42.9% 3-Pt. Francisco Elson while shipping out Mo Williams, Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons. And don’t forget the hiring the Bucks left Deron Williams and Chris of Scott Skiles as the team’s fifth head coach in seven seasons. After the dust settled, some of the team’s Paul on the board. And they just handed bigger names (Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut, Charlie Villanueva) remained intact, but the surrounding roster him a huge payday that many feel he hasn’t featured a much-improved cast of faces.

Odds and Ends earned yet. But take a look at the numbers, Jefferson gives the Bucks a legitimate inside-outside scoring threat in the prime of his career, Slam Dunk and Bogut appears primed for a breakout. something the Bucks couldn’t wait around to sculpt out of Yi. And with the subtraction of Williams, Ridnour The Bucks make the His biggest criticism is his inconsistency; and the quasi-wunderkind Ramon Sessions—he of the 24-assist game after a late-season call-up from the playoffs for the fi rst time in could have unstoppable however, eachcontinued season he’shis increased his scoring attack.

NBA D-League—take over at the point, which is good news for Redd. No longer will he compete with his three seasons Walton brightly hishis first couple years in portland (and his awesome sixth man of the year season in 85-86), scoring byshone at leastsotwo pointsinand PG for shots: Ridnour is a known distributor (6.8 career apg per 36 minutes), and if Sessions’ April dress that, to me, by he’sa secured a place among the elite. Same with king. If anything, king’s legacy is that he was too often the rebounding board a game.

If that trend rehearsal was any indication (11.3 apg in 10 3-pointer best playerBogut on mediocre that i wonder about is Arvydas Sabonis. I remember watching him sprint the court, games), Redd might be finding himself in position to convert continues, will be atteams.

17 andThe 11 guy a game high-effi ciency more often. he tore First-round Joein the ‘88 olympic throw behind-the-back passes and dunk on david robinson’spick head games for shots the ussr.

Apparently this season, a line that will certainly appease But the question remains: Willnba theinroster Alexander wins ROY honors up histhe knees in europe, never received adequate surgery or rehabilitation and, by the time he got to the ’95 moves and the new coach reflect in the win column? Looking even mostplaying hardened of naysayers. at the Bucks of last season, there was one was a shadow of his former self. He did have a couple very good years in portland, and almost got to the finals in ’00. If he glaring problem with this team: a seeming inability to play Halfcourt had played his healthy prime in the nba, who knows what Heave he could’ve done? defense. They surrendered more than 103 points a game; opponents shot 48 percent from the field and a robusthardaway—an 38.4 percent from beyond arc; and to top it off, they had the League’s worst defensive efficiency Michael Redd decides It’s hard to gauge what could’ve been. Another player who comes toto mind is penny all-nbaer whothe was rating.

To address the lack of defensive intensity, Hammond brought in Skiles, well known for preaching drop the catapult jumpshot robbed off his explosiveness and dominance. He was breathtaking his first three years in the league. discipline and defensive responsibility. for something more The hardaway selection makes sense, because he was able to do it all early on in his career. Things became kind of Once the Bucks commit to the defensive end (trust us, if Skiles does anything, have playing some tough D), it simply becomes a matter of gelling all the new conventional shaky in orlando between him and shaq because of their coke-and-pepsi style relationship, buthe’ll there wasthem no questioning pieces—rookie Joe Alexander included. his talent, and the “little penny” character was a classic. Had he not torn up his knee, he would have posted some wild If it all falls into place, the Bucks will very well find themselves competing in the wide-open race for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. stats, particularly once shaq moved on to l.A. We’ll never know...

REDD + JEFFERSON: GARY DINEEN; BOGUT: RON HOSKINS/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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08-09 Season Preview

Chicago

Bulls The Five + 6 G— Kirk Hinrich 11.5 ppg 6.0 apg 1.2 spg G— Ben Gordon 18.6 ppg 3.0 apg 41.0% 3-Pt. F— Luol Deng 17.0 ppg 6.3 rpg 36.4% 3-Pt. F— Drew Gooden 12.0 ppg 8.6 rpg 1.2 apg

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erhaps Lacuna, Inc. can come to Chicago and help the Bulls erase all memories of last

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6— Derrick Rose (no stats, rookie)

Burden of Proof Odds and Ends Slam Dunk Any Bull averages 20 points per game 3-pointer Larry Hughes plays more than 70 games Halfcourt Heave The Lakers offer Kobe Bryant for Rose, Hinrich, Deng, Gooden and Noah

Luol Deng Where did that 21-year-old go? The one who averaged 19 points and seven rebounds two seasons ago? Most NBA experts thought the 6-9, 220-pound small forward was headed to All-Star status last season after his breakout in ’06-07. But the Kobe trade rumors, the team’s slow start and Skiles’ firing all were too much for Luol Deng, whose shooting really suffered as a result (.560 to .528 true-shooting percentage). Now with a new contract in hand and belief still sky-high, the genial 23-year-old wing has to take the Bulls by the horns if they’re going to realize their full potential and make the playoffs.

DENG: GARY DINEEN; ROSE & GORDON: RANDY BELICE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

season’s debacle. Every player had an off year—yes, every player; look it up—and there certainly was no eternal sunshine in Chitown. The preseason trade rumors of numerous players got things off on the wrong foot, and a 2-10 start kept Chicago off-balance all year long. A coach was fired and an interim hired on Christmas Day, player-player feuds and coach-player feuds ensued and it took a few weeks into the offseason for a head coach successor to be named. And when the announcement was finally made, it was a rookie coach, Vinny Del Negro, who was tabbed to lead a wet-behind-the-ears team that now sports an average age of 24.

Alas, it is a new season, and there is still hope for these baby Bulls. It wouldn’t be out of the question for this squad to reverse its 33-49 record from last season. After all, 49-33 was Chicago’s mark in ’06-07, and this installation of the Bulls has added 2008 top pick Derrick Rose to the roster to replace departed backup point guard Chris Duhon. A true PG is just what this spray-shooting team needs to get back on track after posting offensive efficiency and true-shooting percentage numbers that ranked 26th and 29th in the NBA, respectively.

Most of these Bulls have defensive reputations too, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Chicago transform from an average team on D to one of the League’s elite squads again, as was the case under Scott Skiles two years ago. But it’s going to take leadership to put some W’s on the board, and who’s going to lead these Bulls? A rookie coach? His veteran assistants, Del Harris and Bernie Bickerstaff? A 19-year-old point guard? Starters who likely are still unsure if they’re going to play 30 minutes a night? Tough call. But while this roster lacks a 30-year-old veteran, it does have plenty of young if precocious talent. So anything is possible. The guard squad of Rose, Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon and Larry Hughes is better than half the backcourts in the East. Meanwhile, the big men—Luol Deng, Andres Nocioni, Drew Gooden, Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas—all have exhibited flashes of defensive brilliance as well as a penchant for incredible hustle, and in all but Gooden’s case, their career years still lay ahead of them.

They will be balanced (six Bulls averaged double figures last year), they will make mistakes and they will improve throughout the season. And unlike last year’s squad, the ’08-09 team will be fun to watch.

C— Joakim Noah 6.6 ppg 5.6 rpg 48.2% FG

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Indiana

Pacers The Five + 6 G— T.J. Ford 12.1 ppg 6.1 apg 1.1 spg G— Mike Dunleavy 19.1 ppg 5.2 rpg 3.5 apg F— Danny Granger 19.6 ppg 6.1 rpg 40% 3-Pt. F— Troy Murphy 12.1 ppg 7.2 rpg 2.2 apg

Burden of Proof

C— Rasho Nesterovic 7.8 ppg 4.8 rpg 55% FG

Troy Murphy Troy Murphy is only 28 years old, so we 6— Jeff Foster e don’t know if Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird is a supporter of Barack Obama or John know he’s not past his prime. But the 6-11 6.4 ppg McCain, but he appears to have borrowed a running theme from their presidential campaigns, one forward, acquired from Golden State midway 8.7 rpg of “change” and “reform.” After his club finished the ’07-08 season with a disappointing 36-46 record and through the ’06-07 season, has not been 55% FG missed the playoffs for the second straight year, Bird decided it was time to shake things up. And did he able to match his averages from 2004 ever.

In a pair of July trades, the Pacers shipped away their oft-injured but much-loved big man, Jermaine to 2006, when he put up better than 14 O’Neal, to Toronto, followed by packaging forward Ike Diogu with draft pick Jerryd Bayless to Portland. They Odds and Ends points and pulled down 10 boards a night brought in seven new players in return (that’s right, seven!). The key names among the newbies were Slam Dunk for the Warriors. However, he was looking a pair of playmakers in T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack, a veteran center in Rasho Nesterovic, and a couple of Indiana qualifi es for the more comfortable as last season played promising rookies in Kansas scorer Brandon Rush and Georgetown big man Roy Hibbert. playoffs out: He scored 24 points—with five threeOf course, not all is new in Conseco Fieldhouse. You can be sure head coach Jim O’Brien is pleased that could haveacontinued his unstoppable pointers—in win at Chicago on March 22,scoring attack. his team’s top two scorers and three-point 3-pointer shone so brightlyinin his fiover rst couple andWalton recorded 17 rebounds a win New years in portland (and his awesome sixth man of the year season in 85-86),threats are still sporting yellow and blue this season. Although theylegacy play similar Danny Granger andIf Mike that, toame, he’slater. secured a place amongofthe elite.Danny SameGranger with king. anything, king’s is thatroles, he was too often theand Mike Dunleavy meshed well in their first full run together last Jersey week With the departure season, putting up nearly identical numbers.

Dunleavy both average best player on mediocre The guy Jermaine O’Neal, however,teams. the Pacers will that i wonder about is Arvydas Sabonis. I remember watching him sprint the court, In just his third pro season, Granger, the 17th overall pick of thegames 2005 Draft of New Mexico,he ledtore the team at 19.6 ppg while tacking on 6.1 rpg and shooting 40 20robinson’s ppg throwmore behind-the-back passes andthis dunk on david head in the ‘88 olympic for theout ussr.

Apparently need of those kinds of nights percent from beyond the arc.

Dunleavy, meanwhile, vied for Most Improved honors with 19.1 points and up his knees playing in europe, never received adequate surgery or rehabilitation and, by the time he got to the nba in ’95 season to diversify their offensive attack.

5.2 boards a night; for good measure, he shot 42 percent from three-point range. Indiana also returns a Halfcourt Heave was a shadow of his former self. He did have a couple very good years in portland, and almost got to the finals in ’00. If he former double-double man in Troy Murphy at power forward, a veteran rebounder and consummate pro Larry Bird announces he had played his healthy prime in the nba, who knows what he could’ve done? in Jeff Foster, and a reserve guard with scoring potential in Marquis Daniels. All together, the group led an will run for governor of It’s hard to gauge what could’ve been. Another player who comes to mind is penny hardaway—an all-nbaer who was uptempo attack last season, resulting in 104 points a night, the second-highest scoring average in the East Indiana robbed off his explosiveness and dominance. He was breathtaking his first three years in the league. behind Orlando.

Don’t be surprised if that number rises a digit or two this season, too, with Ford and Jack The hardaway selection makes sense, because he was able to do it all early on in his career. Things became kind of pushing the pace from the point position and Rush chipping in some points off the bench. Now if the Pacers shaky in orlando between him and shaq because of their coke-and-pepsi style relationship, but there was no questioning can just hold opponents to a digit or two less in scoring (they allowed a subpar 105.4 ppg last year), they his talent, and the “little penny” character was a classic. Had he not torn up his knee, he would have posted some wild should be able to win a handful more games and possibly return to the postseason party. stats, particularly once shaq moved on to l.A. We’ll never know...

TEAM: DAVID DOW; MURPHY: RON HOSKINS/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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08-09 Season Preview

Orlando

Magic The Five + 6 G— Jameer Nelson 10.9 ppg 5.6 apg 3.5 rpg G— Mickael Pietrus 7.2 ppg 3.7 rpg 1.0 spg F— Hedo Turkoglu 19.5 ppg 5.7 rpg 5.0 apg F— Rashard Lewis 18.2 ppg 5.4 rpg 41% 3-Pt.

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on't

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6— Tony Battie* 6.1 ppg 5.2 rpg 48.9% FG *’06-07 stats

Odds and Ends Slam Dunk Dwight Howard will be named NBA MVP

Burden of Proof Jameer Nelson Short and slow. We’re not criticizing Jameer Nelson, but those are the two of the more commonly heard knocks on his game, and Jameer’s heard a lot of knocks. The six-foot playmaker has had his share of doubters ever since he entered the League in 2004.

But Nelson is a leader in this lineup and a 42 percent three-point threat. And he stepped up during the 2008 playoffs, playing a key role in Orlando’s advancement. Can he continue to improve and lead? Time will tell.

3-pointer Orlando will have three players average 20 ppg Halfcourt Heave Howard will add a Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout crown to his Sprite Slam Dunk title

ALL PHOTOS: FERNANDO MEDINA/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

assume anything. That was the message Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy delivered to his team at the start of training camp this year. Make that the warning he gave them, coming off a successful ’07-08 campaign that saw Orlando win the Southeast Division title and advance to the Conference Semis for the first time since Shaquille O’Neal played in blue-and-white pinstripes. Pointing to last season’s Chicago Bulls, who reached the second round in 2007 only to miss the playoffs completely in 2008, Van Gundy didn’t want anyone in his locker room to get too comfortable or cocky. Those of us in the media, however, don’t have to be so cautious. Making preseason prognostications is our thing, and while we realize that no team is guaranteed success, we like the Magic this season—a lot—and are expecting another step forward for Dwight Howard & Co. It’s easy to feel good about Orlando’s outlook, of course, with Howard’s rapid evolution into one of the game’s elite centers. The 22-year-old (yes, he’s only 22!) averaged a career high 20.7 ppg last season and pulled down a League-best 14.2 rpg (yes, he averaged 14.2!).

Oh, and he also logged a couple blocks a night, shot 60 percent from the floor and played in all 82 games for the fourth straight season. Not bad, huh? The scary thing for Eastern Conference opponents is that Howard has a lot more improving to do, especially on the offensive end with his nascent low-post game and shaky free-throw shooting. Assistant coach and recent Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing has been tasked to tutor the young cornerstone, but no matter how much more he develops, the All-NBA First Teamer can’t carry the team alone, even on his wide shoulders. Fortunately, he has more help than ever before.

The Magic have a strong two-three punch in Rashard Lewis (18.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and Hedo Turkoglu (19.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 5.0 apg), a host of long-distance shooters (Orlando led the League in threeballs last season), and they added some valuable pieces over the summer. All three offseason additions bring needed size and defensive toughness: free-agent signee Mickael Pietrus can man the 2 spot with tenacity; veteran guard Anthony Johnson will back up the point admirably; and Tony Battie, who returns after missing last season with a rotator cuff injury, can put in quality time at power forward. With the experience gained from last year’s playoff success, the continued growth of Howard and the bulking up of his supporting cast, it’s safe to assume the Magic will celebrate their 20th anniversary with their first NBA Championship, right?

Not so fast. We’re not inching out on that limb just yet, but we wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Orlando in the Eastern Conference Finals come May.

C— Dwight Howard 20.7 ppg 14.2 rpg 2.2 bpg

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Washington

Wizards The Five + 6 G— Gilbert Arenas 19.4 ppg 5.1 apg 1.8 spg G— DeShawn Stevenson 11.2 ppg 3.1 apg 38.6% 3-Pt. F— Caron Butler 20.3 ppg 6.7 rpg 2.2 spg F— Antawn Jamison 21.4 ppg 10.2 rpg 1.3 spg

Burden of Proof

C— Brendan Haywood 10.6 ppg 7.2 rpg 1.7 bpg

Nick Young 6— Antonio Daniels It is easy to see what the Wizards liked 8.4 ppg ddie Jordan must be wondering when he’s going to catch a break. The Washington Wizards about Nick Young when they drafted him in 4.8 apg head coach, entering his sixth year, has seen each season begin with promise only to have a 2007. Young strokes the three (40 percent 2.9 rpg key player miss a chunk of games due to injury. It started with Jerry Stackhouse and Larry Hughes back last season), plays high-energy defense, in the day, and over the past three seasons, Jordan’s big three—Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn and provides highlight-worthy dunks. As a Jamison—all have missed significant time due to various ailments. This year is no different: Even before Odds and Ends rookie he scored 7.5 ppg in only 15 minutes. the gym doors were unlocked for training camp, the Wiz found out Gil is going to miss at least a month to Slam Dunk Caron Butler even called him a future 20 ppg clean out his increasingly troublesome left knee.

The Wizards’ “Big Three” each scorer. But like all rookies, peaks brought If anything positive can be taken out of the rash of injuries it’s that last season, 11 different players miss at least 10 games this valleys. In his only start of the season he started for the Wiz—including 10 guys who averaged more than 15 minutes. Those numbers are more season because of injury could haveagainst continued his unstoppable went 1-for-10 Chicago, and in four scoring attack. typical for a team in the cellar of Walton shone indonuts. his first couple years in portland (and his awesome sixth man of the year season ainconference, 85-86), not one that earned the fifth seed in the playoffs. Young playoff games heso putbrightly up three guys such as Andray Blatche and Nick 3-pointer that, to me,out he’sthe secured among the elite. Same with king. If anything, king’s legacy is that he was too often theYoung received quality minutes on a team making a playoff run, Smoothing bumpsaisplace a season-two will certainly pay the dividends Washington the Sabonis.experience best player on mediocre The guy that i wonder aboutgets is Arvydas I rememberthat watching him sprint court, if the Wiz are forced to soldier through more injuries this must for Young, especiallyteams. in support of the season.

The last time the Wizards fi elded a healthy version of their threesome was two seasons ago, when unfortunate luck of playing throw behind-the-back passes team’s sometimes-fragile three and stars.dunk on david robinson’s head in the ‘88 olympic games for the ussr. Apparently he tore they led the East at the All-Star break.

If the LeBron James and the Cavs up his knees playing in europe, never received adequate surgery or rehabilitation and, by the time he got to the nba in ’95 Wizards have any hopes of repeating that type of success, it comes down got to the team’s ability to stay in the fivery rst round for a fourth was a shadow of his former self. He did have a couple good years in portland, and almost to the finals in ’00.

If he healthy. Antonio Daniels, who started 63 games last year in place of the injured Arenas and led the team to a 37-26 record, will again be called upon to fill the void consecutive season had played his healthy prime in the nba, who knows what he could’ve done? with Arenas on the mend.

It’ll take efforts It’s hard to gauge what could’ve been. Another player who comes to mind is penny hardaway—an all-nbaer who was like that for the Wizards to compete in an improved East, from likesinofthe Brendan Heave his first threethe robbed off his explosiveness and dominance. HeHalfcourt was breathtaking years league.Haywood, a mountain disguised as a basketball player, who managed to stay out of foul trouble register his best season, nearly averaging a double-double. DeShawn Stevenson, the Georgetown, co-tenants at The hardaway selection makes sense, because he was able to do it all early on in his career.and Things became kind of guard rounding out the starting fi ve, played in all 82 games for the third consecutive season and saw his the Verizon Center, adds to shaky in orlando between him and shaq because of their coke-and-pepsi style relationship, but there was no questioning offensive role increase, especially with its studies “Gilbertology,” his talent, and the “little penny” character was a classic. Had he not torn up his knee, he would have posted some wild his newly developed knockdown three (a career-high 158 treys, at a 38.6 percent clip). With a healthy version of the three-headed beast and the continued emergence of thenever term coined stats, particularly once shaq moved on to l.A. We’ll know...by Eddie what is one of the East’s more well-rounded supporting casts, the Wizards could crack the 45-win barrier Jordan to explain Arenas’ and advance beyond the First Round—that is, of course, if they avoid LeBron. sometimes odd behavior

ALL PHOTOS: NED DISHMAN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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08-09 Season Preview

Atlanta

Headline

Hawks

Deck which player’s career was most affected by injury?

The Five + 6 G— Mike Bibby 14.1 ppg 6.5 apg 1.1 spg G— Joe Johnson 21.7 ppg 5.8 apg 4.5 rpg F— Josh Smith 17.2 ppg 8.2 rpg 2.8 bpg F— Marvin Williams 14.8 ppg 5.7 rpg 1.0 spg

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he last time we checked on the Hawks they were taking the eventual champs to the brink

C— Al Horford 10.1 ppg 9.7 rpg 49.9% FG

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Marvin Williams As unfair as it may be, the pressure on Marvin Williams to perform will always be there because the Hawks bypassed Chris Paul and Deron Williams to select him in the 2005 Draft. It’s not like he’s been a bust at 14.8 ppg and 5.7 rpg, but Hawks fans are constantly reminded of what could have been every time the PG studs lead their team deep into the playoffs or to Olympic gold. Williams’ career, comparatively, has been stagnant. He can start by recapturing the inside-outside game he displayed in college and taking over Josh Childress’ vacated role of defensive stopper.

WILLIAMS: DAVID DOW; HUDDLE: SCOTT CUNNINGHAM/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

6— Maurice Evans during the First Round of the playoffs as the usually forgotten eighth seed. So naturally, one 8.9 ppg would think Atlanta would be poised to make the leap to midlevel of the Eastern Conference for an encore.

2.9 rpg That would certainly seem to be the case, but for all their postseason noise, let’s not forget Atlanta was 38.8% 3-Pt. still just a 37-45 team that limped into the playoffs because the Eastern Conference was so light on the bottom. During the offseason they lost a crucial part of their bench in Josh Childress, who chose to defect to Greece for Euroleague ball. Statistically, Childress might look like just a productive sixth Odds and Ends man—11.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg—but he was one of the Hawks’ best defenders, usually going chest-to-chest with Slam Dunk the opponent’s perimeter stud. He was also a great teammate and an efficient scorer—Childress’ trueJoe Johnson makes his shooting percentage was .647, good for sixth in the League. third consecutive All-Star We can lament the loss of Childress and his value to the team, but the Hawks still have a cast of EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MING WONG: One of the worst tragedies in sports is to see a world-class athlete inteam the players that fueloraat sustained Josh Smith, theeverything East Coasttaken version of Amaré Stoudemire, can fireality ll up of an injury. prime of his can career the cusprun. of greatness have away with the harsh human aThe stat sheetwho in acomes hurry. screaming Smith’s onlyinto weakness poor selection, as evidenced eld-goal 3-pointer player my mindisin thisshot regard is Bill Walton.

He wasbyonhis his.457 wayfito becoming a juggernaut percentage, a paltry number for a forward who makes his living in the paint.

Hopefully a full season of Mike Hawks finish the of a center—a scoring, rebounding, passing, inspiring leader in a seven-foot package—until myriad of ankle andThe foot Bibby will remedy that.

Although Bibby is not the type of PG that can set the table in the mold of a Chris season injuries chipped at his physical gifts. Put in perspective: of the 984 regular-season games that he could’ve played in hisover 12 .500 Paul or Deron Williams, he does possess a steady hand at the position while also providing points.

This still seasons, walton managed to only suit up for 468 of them. Despite it all, he persevered—he won a title, an mvp award and leaves Atlanta’s best all-around player,Had Joeinjuries Johnson, be discussed. the team’s playmaker was named to the nba’s 50 greatest. nottorobbed him of atAsleast half hisbest career, though,and the shot pantheonHalfcourt of nba Heave creator, the burden will be on JJ to make something happen when all else fails.

As he showed in the playoff Josh Smith nets the everepic centers would have had a bushy-haired hippie standing amongst them. series against Boston, he’s more than able.

Marvin Williams and Al Horford round out the core of the team. rare quadruple-double Walton’s injury was tragic, but how about bernard king’s wrecked knee in 1985? Until that moment, king had become the Williams has shown flashesscorer. of the skilled-size brilliance thathad landed himhimself secondtoonbeDraft night inotherworldly 2005, but by destroying league’s most unstoppable The previous spring, he proven practically he still has fallen far short of the expectations that are bestowed on such a high Lottery pick.

Meanwhile, the pistons by himself in the playoffs—scoring 40 or more in four of the five series games. King’s knee injury forced him Horford with double-double goodness, even when up against DPOY in to miss wowed the entire ’85-86 season and all but six games ofmatched ’86-87. Sure, he came backKevin and Garnett made himself into an all-star, the postseason.

He even played with a vocal edge in the series, something that would be considered but robbing him of those two seasons took 5,000 points and limited what he could do in subsequent campaigns. Had king unbecoming of ahe rookie had itwould not been refreshing.

Both Williams andfor Horford will have step have up tobeen fill known as one stayed healthy, probably havesotopped the 25,000-point mark his career andto would the void left by Childress; that said, as talented a roster the Hawks may have, the loss of an irreplaceable of the five most dangerous scorers in league history. Give king credit for reinventing his game after the injury, going from a glue guyplayer and a to lack of depthfrom will have thembut treading water again season. post-up a slasher the wing, just imagine whatfor he another would have done had he not torn His ligament and

Burden of Proof

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Miami

Heat The Five + 6 G— DwyaneWade 24.6 ppg 4.2 rpg 6.9 apg G— Marcus Banks 6.6 ppg 1.3 rpg 1.7 apg F— Shawn Marion 15.4 ppg 10.2 rpg 50.8% FG F— Michael Beasley (no stats, rookie)

Burden of Proof

ALL PHOTOS: VICTOR BALDIZON/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Michael Beasley On most teams, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft would be an instant starter and a building block for the future. The Heat have big plans for Beasley, but he is certainly not the main cog in the machine. That’s Wade’s job, so Beasley has to adjust to being part of the solution, not the only answer. That will be a challenge for a player who has been lionized throughout his prep and collegiate career. Beasley has to be judicious with his shot selection and make sure he defers to Wade, while being sure to work with Marion in the frontcourt. Beasley must also play some defense, because even though Riley isn’t in charge any more, Spoelstra is a loyal disciple and will demand good effort at both ends.

C— Udonis Haslem 12.0 ppg 9.0 rpg 46.7% FG 6— Dorell Wright 7.9 ppg 5.0 rpg 48.8% FG

Odds and Ends Slam Dunk Dwyane Wade is healthy and back to his All-Star level of play 3-pointer Center Alonzo Mourning’s knee is healthy enough for him to play meaningful minutes in the season’s second half Halfcourt Heave The Heat, in an effort to save energy and help the environment, move all their games outside to South Beach

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hen Erik Spoelstra speaks about the need to revive the Heat’s fortunes, he does so in terms

of the franchise’s proud past and the differences between last year’s crash landing and the commitment that characterized the first years of Pat Riley’s tenure with the team. Spoelstra, a loyal Riley lieutenant, took over bench duties in the spring and now faces the task of steering a team that isn’t in full rebuilding mode but was simply in need of some fresh paint and new furniture. The health of Dwyane Wade, whose contributions to USAB in August showed he is clear of the shoulder and knee ailments that made his past couple seasons so difficult, is the only thing that matters. If Wade is indeed recovered and ready to go at top speed, the Heat won’t have to worry at all about another trip to Lotteryland. The 6-4 guard is good enough to lead practically any team into the postseason, and with the Heat, he won’t have to do it alone. Of all the League’s teams mired in the Lottery muck, Miami is one of the closest to a quick rejuvenation. It starts with Wade, of course, but it also includes wing man Shawn Marion. Though discontent in Phoenix and not exactly the happiest man in South Beach last year, there can be no denying Marion’s skills, particularly in the open court. When teamed with a healthy Wade, Marion can be quite a weapon. Just imagine the two of them, rocking downcourt with speedy point man Marcus Banks in between. Pity the poor defenders charged with stopping that incursion. Expect No. 2 overall pick Michael Beasley to join in the fun on the break—and in the halfcourt, too. A prodigious scoring talent and productive rebounder, the rookie has the potential to be a star. How well he adapts to being part of the puzzle will determine if his first year is a successful one. However, despite a formidable forward triumvirate of Marion, Beasley and the endlessly athletic Dorell Wright, the Heat could give ground on the frontline, thanks to trouble in the middle. Sure, Udonis Haslem is the consummate good soldier and will play in the middle, but at 6-9, he isn’t a shotblocker and will struggle mightily with bigger foes. It would be nice to think the Heat could use Mark Blount, Jamaal Magliore or Joel Anthony on a full-time basis, but none is talented/spry/ experienced enough to handle that. For all the scoring punch this team could possess, it will give up points in equal—if not greater—numbers. The bench has some interesting parts, beginning with Mario Chalmers, who while not a classic point guard is capable of running a team, hitting from the outside and excelling in the pick-and-roll. Picking up the once-promising Shaun Livingston is a high-reward/low-risk roll of the dice. Free-agent pickup James Jones is not a headline-grabber, but he can nail the long ball, a skill the Heat desperately needs. He’ll help, as will Chalmers. Miami has the potential to get back into the playoffs, although not enough to make serious noise once there. But that’s better than the Lottery and a more appropriate way to honor the previous 13 years of Pat Riley’s tenure in southern Florida.

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08-09 Season Preview

Charlotte

Bobcats The Five + 6 G— Raymond Felton 14.4 ppg 7.4 apg 1.2 spg G— Jason Richardson 21.8 ppg 1.4 spg 40.6% 3-Pt. F— Gerald Wallace 19.4 ppg 6.0 rpg 2.1 spg F— Emeka Okafor 13.8 ppg 10.7 rpg 1.7 bpg C— Nazr Mohammed 7.8 ppg 6.0 rpg 51.5% FG

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he Bobcats are a confusing team. Last season, some media folks (including us) thought they

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6— Matt Carroll 9.0 ppg 2.8 rpg 43.6% 3-Pt.

Odds and Ends Slam Dunk DJ Augustin is the team’s starting point guard by the end of the season 3-pointer Gerald Wallace and Jason Richardson both average 20 ppg Halfcourt Heave Adam Morrison’s return from injury rejuvenates the squad, influencing Larry Brown to grow out long locks as well

Raymond Felton Drafted as the point guard of Charlotte’s future, Felton now has No. 9 overall pick DJ Augustin breathing down his neck. And not to add to the pressure, but Larry Brown has tabbed him as a co-captain. Certainly his ’07-08 averages (14.4 ppg, 7.4 apg) are solid. But his shot selection and shooting percentages, while improving on his past two sub-40 percent season, remain poor (41.4 percent from the field, 28 percent from three). If he can’t make better decisions with the ball this season, he might find himself supplanted by the All-Star break.

ALL PHOTOS: KENT SMITH/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

might have enough young, diversified talent to figure in the playoff picture in a top-heavy Eastern Conference. But injuries to Adam Morrison and Sean May quickly left the ’Cats without much size and bench scoring, and the team was thoroughly handled on the boards (outrebounded by more than three a game) and limited to 97 ppg (19th in the League) en route to a disappointing 32-50 finish. Now, a year later, the team appears to be in the middle of an identity crisis. Theirs is a roster populated by a lot, a lot, a lot of young dudes; the bench will likely consist of only one guy (Matt Carroll) with more than two years’ experience. Which makes the procurement of head coach Larry Brown, renowned for being tough on young guys—especially rookies—all the more curious. But perhaps the grad of nearby UNC is getting softer in his older years. During summer minicamps, Brown said of DJ Augustin, the Bobcats’ No. 1 pick (ninth overall) in the draft: “I knew he was a good player, but he’s far exceeded my expectations.” That praise, however, doesn’t really soften the criticism of taking Augustin over multiskilled big man Brook Lopez, who was still on the board at the time of their selection. While they currently have Nazr Mohammed up front, he is best utilized as a complementary piece, and weaning Lopez under the vet’s tutelage would have been an ideal situation for a team desperately in need of young, skilled size. It’s even more puzzling when you realize point guard Raymond Felton is still very much in the picture in Charlotte, averaging a solid 14.4 ppg and 7.4 apg last season. A scoring presence in the paint would have been better suited for the fourth-year point, creating space and allowing him to drive toward the basket with a scoring option on the dump-off instead of being forced to pull up for ill-advised jumpers.

With their No. 1 pick of a season ago, Adam Morrison, likely to return slowly from major ligament surgery, and Sean May always a question to last more than 20 games a season, it’s on Augustin to prove the Bobcats haven’t completely wasted their good draft positions over the past few years. Whether he can effect Charlotte’s chances in the East, however, is another story; unfortunately the answer there is no. Gerald Wallace and Jason Richardson are elite slashing talents, but the Bobcats simply have too much youth and not enough brawn up front to think about competing for the playoffs this season.

Burden of Proof

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08-09 Games to Watch

The Baker's Dozen Sunday, 11.09.08

Boston at Detroit It was at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals that Boston finally learned how to win a playoff road game. The Pistons want to prove to the League that

Celtics look like a bunch of old dudes instead of savvy vets. We’ll see if a title has

emboldened Boston upon its return to Hotlanta.

between the draft’s No. 1 and No. 2 picks is always a compelling storyline. Will Chicago leave thinking, “How’d we pass on that guy?” Maybe Pat Riley will be left muttering, “What if?” Or perhaps both will say, “I like who we got.” Let the potential second-guessing begin.

Wednesday, 01.07.09

Thursday, 12.25.08

their time as a contender hasn’t passed just yet, and there’s no better team to do that against than the World Champs.

Boston at L.A. Lakers Santa must be a basketball fan. How else can you explain the NBA’s propensity for always

New Orleans at Utah Chris Paul has only been in the League for four seasons, but he has dominated all comers.

A ROY award, an All-Star appearance, and the runner-up spot in last year’s MVP voting—he’s

Tuesday, 12.09.08

Orlando at Portland Besides featuring two of the best up-and-coming teams in the League, this game is also the first battle

in the paint between two behemoths, Greg Oden and Dwight Howard. Hopefully the Rose Garden staff has a few extra rims: with G.O. and Superman going at it, we wouldn’t be shocked if one or two get torn down.

having great games on Christmas? In the first matchup since the Celtics knocked off the Lakers in six in June—and the third game of a holiday quintuple-header—expect Kobe & Co. to be looking to exact some revenge for their Finals near-miss.

Friday, 12.26.08

Chicago at Miami The odds of Derrick Rose guarding Michael Beasley are nonexistent, but since when has that colored fans’

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Sunday, 02.08.09

L.A. Lakers at Cleveland For better or worse, the Jordan heir debate always comes down to Kobe and LeBron. Bryant is a threetime NBA Champ and last year’s MVP. James has

made four straight All-Star Games and finished in the top five in MVP voting the past three seasons. When it comes to head-to-head matchups, LBJ has the edge, 6-3, including a fourgame winning streak and a higher scoring average. Let the debate continue.

Wednesday, 02.11.09

Oklahoma City at Portland A lot can change in a year.

Back in ’07, the rain clouds in Portland seemed a little more ominous with Oden’s season-ending knee injury.

The Emerald City was full

Sunday, 01.25.09

L.A. Clippers at Golden State With Baron Davis at the helm, the Warriors turned 12 straight losing seasons into arguably the biggest

Wednesday, 12.17.08

Boston at Atlanta It’s easy to forget the Hawks had a series-deciding game in Boston that could have ended the C’s chances at title number 17. When these two teams met up in the playoffs in Atlanta, the Hawks’ ability to run and play uptempo made the

been unstoppable. Except when he’s facing Deron Williams. D-Will is 8-2 against his fellow Class of ’05 point god, and he’s held CP3 to uninspiring 35.4 percent shooting. Both teams should be fighting for first this season, which makes an already great matchup that much better.

for a division rival after an early opt-out. We have to imagine his return to ORACLE will feature quite a few fireworks—and highscoring offensive ecstasy.

analysis of head-to-head matchups? The first game

playoff upset ever. Now Davis is playing in L.A.

of excitement over two topfive picks in Kevin Durant and Jeff Green and a young core. Now the I-5 rivalry is seven states and 2,000 miles away. Portland looks to be a contender, while the newly christened Thunder still have rebuilding to do.

But don’t forget about the much-belated Oden vs.

Durant matchup.

Sunday, 02.15.09

All-Star Game, Phoenix, AZ With the Sprite Slam Dunk, the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout and numerous celebrity sightings, it’s easy to forget that the NBA’s best are meeting

up to play an actual game.

And the game is pretty competitive as well, even with the “questionable” defense and playgroundstyle alley-oops. Aren’t they what make it more enjoyable, anyway?

Friday, 03.27.09

Memphis at Sacramento No, this is not a misprint.

These teams likely won’t be competing for playoff spots come March, but they certainly know how to light up the scoreboard, thanks

to two of the League’s most stealth stars: Kevin Martin and Rudy Gay. Add to the mix potential ROY candidates O.J. Mayo, Marc Gasol and Jason Thompson, and you’ve got the makings of an entertaining and high-energy late-season matchup.

Saturday, 03.14.09

San Antonio at Houston In each of the past few seasons it seems the Spurs are “over the hill” and one of Texas’ other big three are the new team to beat—first Dallas, now Houston. But the Spurs continue making deep playoff runs, and the Rockets bow out in the first round. That said, the Rockets added Ron Artest while the Spurs added only years to an aging roster, which should finally push

Houston past San Antonio.

But if we’ve learned anything over the past 10 years, it’s to not write off the Spurs.

Wednesday, 04.08.09

Washington at Cleveland It’s a funny rivalry, especially considering the Wizards have yet to beat the Cavs in any of three straight playoff meetings.

DeShawn Stevenson (when he isn’t making knock-off

Usher videos) and Gilbert Arenas manage to talk enough smack to give this matchup an edge so few feature these days. Even mild-mannered LBJ has fired off a few missives.

With this game being so close to the playoffs, expect them to ratchet up the intensity—and, of course, the trash talk.

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Which NBA Team Are You? Follow our handy guide to figure out which team best suits your personality

Rebuilders

3 NCAA Champs on Roster NASCAR Country Located in Major Metropolitan Media Market?

NO Do You Like Quirky Personalities?

NO

One Star Away

Notable Hairstyles YES

YES

Home of the Jazz Franchise

NO

Contenders

History of Championship Success?

Celebrities Sitting Courtside YES

Coca-Cola

Players Dressing As Characters?

Hopes Rest on Franchise Center?

Nike

Flavor For International Game Notable Fans: The Maloofs

Basing Hopes On the Next Jordan

Sinclair Lewis’ Main Street

Notable Fans: Billy Crystal, Penny Marshall YES

Coached by Lenny Wilkins

Action Star as Governor?

NO

Steinbecks’ The Grapes of Wrath

Fast Paced, High Octane Offense Emphasis on Defense and Fundamentals

YES

All Or Nothing

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Former ABA Franchise?

History of Ridiculous Mascots

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Glut of Point Guards NO

Jason Williams?

Warm Weather

Sleepers

Glut of Centers YES Imitating Super Heroes

Blogs, Beefs and Lip- Synching Gold Medal Winning PG?

Fan of the Pick & Roll?

Po’ Boys

Skiing Subway YES Method of Getting to Game NO Turnpike Costello

Dignam

Emphasis on Point Guards?

Indy Car

’80s Icon in Front Office

Young and Hungry

YES Coach Won NBA Title As a Player

NO New Uniforms This year?

Duke Alums

YES

NO

YES Arizona Alums

NO

Draft of Hall Of Famer in 1984?

Bratwurst Fans

Soccer Fans

Class of 2009 Hockey Fans

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08-09 Season Preview

New Orleans

Hornets The Five + 6 G— Chris Paul 21.1 ppg 11.6 apg 2.7 spg G— Morris Peterson 8.0 ppg 2.7 rpg 39.4% 3-Pt. F— Peja Stojakovic 16.4 ppg 4.3 rpg 44.1% 3-Pt. F— David West 20.6 ppg 8.9 rpg 1.3 bpg C— Tyson Chandler 11.8 ppg 11.7 rpg 1.1 bpg

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e don’t mean to add to the hype machine surrounding Chris Paul (he was on our last cover),

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6— James Posey 7.4 ppg 4.4 rpg 38.0% 3-Pt.

Odds and Ends Slam Dunk The Hornets make the Finals 3-pointer At least one starter on the Hornets misses more than 20 games due to injuries Halfcourt Heave Peja Stojakovic trains Tyson Chandler to win the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout

Julian Wright Last season, 2007 13th overall pick Julian Wright flashed enough potential in his 57 appearances to get Byron Scott and the Hornets coaching staff excited about the future—peep his 20 points against New Jersey and his 11 points off the bench in the playoffs against Dallas. Scott hopes to get Wright up to 20 minutes a game this season, almost twice what he saw in his rookie campaign. Even with the addition of super-sub James Posey, the Hornets hope Wright can anchor the scoring in the second unit with the departure of Jannero Pargo to Europe. The bench doesn’t have a lot of offense, so for the Hornets to compete, Wright needs to fill the void when the starters are taking a breather.

CHANDLER & PAUL: LAYNE MURDOCH; WRIGHT: CHRIS GRYATHEN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

but there’s something happening at the New Orleans Arena and you need to know what it is.

Remember how your dad used to get nostalgic about Magic and Isiah? Or how your grandpa told you no one could top Bob Cousy or Jerry West? Someday you’ll be old and gray, telling your kid about the incomparable Chris Paul.

True, he is entering only his fourth year in the League, but Paul is that good. This might seem like hyperbole, but take a look at the season Paul produced last year: No other PG in NBA history besides Thomas in ’84 averaged more than 20 points, 10 assists and 2.5 steals in a season. Paul did all that while shooting 85 percent from the line and committing only 2.51 turnovers a game—both better numbers than Isiah’s. And dude’s only 23. The young PG came into his own last season, taking the Hornets all the way to a Game 7 of the Western Semis against the veteran-laden Spurs.

Now, with the addition of James Posey—who displayed his prowess as a lockdown defender and clutch outside shooter for the Celtics last season—and another year of growth for All-Star David West and paint beast Tyson Chandler, the Hornets are right to start thinking championship—only two years after they couldn’t even think about a permanent residence. However, before team officials start putting champagne on ice, the team needs to address a few concerns that could hinder a late playoff run. The signing of Posey provides defense and veteran leadership, but the Hornets lost Jannero Pargo, the trigger-happy but effective sixth man, to Dynamo Moscow in Russia. Whenever Byron Scott’s team needed an energy boost, Pargo came in and provided scoring and defense. For how good Posey is, he isn’t the type of player to take over a game. And the rest of the bench is filled with young, developing players and journeyman types.

The thin reserve squad makes the health of the five starters even more paramount. Last season they only missed a combined 22 games. But during the ’06-07 campaign, Paul, West and three-point specialist Peja Stojakovic missed 117 games. If the starters can stay healthy, this could be a special season for the Hornets, with 50-plus wins and a deep playoff run. And with CP3 leading the way, we’d expect nothing less.

Burden of Proof

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Houston

Rockets The Five + 6 G— Rafer Alston 13.1 ppg 5.3 apg 1.32 spg G— Tracy McGrady 21.6 ppg 5.9 apg 5.1 rpg F— Shane Battier 9.3 ppg 5.1 rpg 37.7% 3-Pt. F— Ron Artest 20.5 ppg 2.3 spg 5.8 rpg

ARTEST: BILL BAPTIST; MCGRADY & YAO: MELISSA MAJCHRZAK/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Burden of Proof Ron Artest In terms of defense, the rich get richer with the acquisition of Ron Artest. But it’s not his ability to stick a man on the wing that had Yao Ming and some Rockets’ fans weary of his arrival. While he seemed to have matured for the most part in Sacramento, Artest is still vulnerable to a scratch-yourhead moment every now and then. And for a lineup that personified that word “team” last season, it could be a risky move to add such a polarizing figure. But sometimes when your bread-and-butter isn’t working—they haven’t won a playoff series this decade— you need to add a little spice to change things for the better.

C— Yao Ming 22.0 ppg 10.8 rpg 2.0 bpg 6— Luis Scola 10.3 ppg 6.4 rpg 51.5% FG

Odds and Ends Slam Dunk The Rockets advance past the First Round of the playoffs 3-pointer Houston goes on another 22-game winning streak this season Halfcourt Heave Yao Ming drops a guest verse on Ron Artest’s next album

Y

ao

Ming and Ron Artest may be the NBA’s version of Felix and Oscar, but Houston fans will be hoping this “Odd Couple” can help them rocket to the top of the Western Conference. Initially, diplomatic talks between China and Queensbridge were less than friendly, but these two sides from opposite ends of the globe met amicably after initial reactions were actually just lost in translation like Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson.

If Artest comes in and meshes quickly with former coach Rick Adelman and the rest of his teammates, Houston could be a definite problem for the rest of the League. Luis Scola looked downright dominant at times for Argentina this summer (in the absence of Manu Ginobili, he led his nation to a bronze medal).

Throw in the signing of cagey vet Brent Barry (his .607 true shooting percentage is tops among active NBA players and 10th all time) to join a supporting cast of Rafer Alston, Chuck Hayes, Luther Head, Carl Landry and a host of other serviceable role players and Houston has one of the deepest rosters in the Association.

Oh, and let’s not forget about T-Mac, who in the absence of Yao during the second half of last season returned to the prolific scoring ways that copped him All-NBA First Team honors in 2002 and 2003. If Steve Francis—yes, that Steve Francis— is able to capture some rejuvenating lightning in a bottle and play himself into the rotation in H-town, the Rockets would undoubtedly sport the League’s most loaded lineup.

However, despite all these positives there are questions surrounding the Rockets. The West is crowded with talent, and teams like the Lakers, the Hornets and the Spurs will not be pushovers if Houston draws their number in the playoffs. Health is also a major concern considering the history of McGrady’s and Yao’s hospital bills. But we think Ron Ron will ultimately be a positive influence on this squad, and with QB’s Finest and Shane Battier shutting ’em down on D like Onyx, paired with Yao and Dikembe Mutombo in the middle, there is no reason why the Rockets can’t get past the First Round and possibly all the way to the Western Conference Finals—and maybe beyond.

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08-09 Season Preview

San Antonio

Spurs The Five + 6 G— Tony Parker 18.8 ppg 6.0 apg 49.4% FG G— Bruce Bowen 6.0 ppg 2.9 rpg 41.9% 3-Pt. F— Tim Duncan 19.3 ppg 11.3 rpg 49.7% FG

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f there has been one regular-season constant in the NBA the past decade, it has been San Antonio,

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C— Fabricio Oberto 4.8 ppg 5.2 rpg 60.8% FG 6— Manu Ginobili 19.5 ppg 4.8 rpg 40.1% 3-Pt.

Odds and Ends Slam Dunk The Spurs qualify for the playoffs for the 12th straight year 3-pointer Coach Gregg Popovich scraps his defense-first philosophy and lets the Spurs become a loose, running outfit Halfcourt Heave When Ginobili is forced to miss the entire season, Eva Longoria-Parker suits up for a few games (so we’re sayin’ there’s a chance...)

Burden of Proof Michael Finley There is no questioning Finley’s production throughout his strong career. Nor can one fault what he has brought to the Spurs during his time with them. But with Ginobili likely out for at least two months, it will be up to Finley to rediscover his scoring touch and become a key contributor to the offense. During his three years with the Spurs, he has been a 9-10 ppg scorer, perfect for his role. But with Ginobili out, Finley must be more productive from the outset. The trick, however, is to slide back into his complementary role once Ginobili returns at full strength. Battling egos are rarely a problem on a Gregg Popovich team, so if Finley can sublimate himself, the Spurs should be able to be highly productive both with and without Ginobili, fueled in part by his stepped-up play.

TRIO: HARRY HOW; FINLEY: D. CLARKE EVANS/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

which has won at least 56 games each of the past eight seasons. That’s a remarkable number, but it’s likely to end this year, as age and injury conspire to hamper the Spurs’ ability to be consistent enough to win the Southwest title. They may be at full strength by the postseason, but the toll of the first 82 games could well push them far enough down the Western Conference hierarchy to disqualify them from a legitimate title run. The biggest hurdle they will face is Manu Ginobili’s ankle injury, which he aggravated while playing in the Olympics for Argentina. Ginobili will be out until at least December, and it will take him some time after his return to get into game shape. Once fully operational, the Ginobili-Tony Parker-Tim Duncan axis will be as potent as ever; the fear is that the expected win-loss fallout from the two months off could put the Spurs into a position that might cost them playoff homecourt advantage.

So it falls to Duncan and Parker to lead the way early—something with which they are both quite familiar. Duncan remains one of the League’s premier low-post forces at both ends, while few guards can match Parker’s ability to beat rivals off the dribble and finish in traffic in the lane. But the other troubling question facing the Spurs is how well the supporting cast can function, as its components continue to age. Swingman Michael Finley, defensive specialist Bruce Bowen and power forward Kurt Thomas all are 35 or older. Even fourth-year center Fabricio Oberto is turning 34 in the spring. They still will be effective but more than likely in spurts, rather than throughout the season. That’s why it’s vital San Antonio gets contributions from its new faces, even if they are in supporting roles. It appears fifth-year swingman Ime Udoka, who found a home with the Spurs last season, is the heir apparent to Bowen as the designated defensive dervish. Though Udoka has the potential to be a double-figure scorer, his value comes as a physical man-to-man force, and he’ll get more opportunities to fill that role this season. Second-year Frenchman Ian Mahinmi, who saw action in only six games last year, will get an opportunity to play more, thanks to his athletic 6-11 frame. The Spurs did receive some bad news when Tiago Splitter, their top 2008 draft choice, decided to remain in Europe. He would have given the team another board man as well as defensive help from the 4. The loss of long-range specialist Brent Barry to Houston will hurt, but the Spurs hope free-agent pick-up Roger Mason, who connected on almost 40 percent of his three-pointers last year, will help compensate for the loss. Whatever happens, the Spurs must become a more consistent offensive team; during the regular season they found themselves buried early on a number of occasions, while in the postseason they couldn’t hold onto leads. That will determine how much of a run this proud franchise has in them this season.

F— Michael Finley 10.1 ppg 3.1 rpg 37.0% 3-Pt.

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Dallas

Mavericks The Five + 6 G— Jason Kidd 10.8 ppg 10.1 apg 7.5 rpg G— Jason Terry 15.5 ppg 3.2 apg 37.5% 3-Pt. F— Josh Howard 19.9 ppg 7.0 rpg 2.2 apg F— Dirk Nowitzki 23.6 ppg 8.6 rpg 3.5 apg

KIDD: JESSE D. GARRABRANT; NOWITZKI & HOWARD: TIM HEITMAN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Burden of Proof Jason Kidd It’s hard to say that an nine-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer has anything to prove to anybody. But considering the Mavs went just 16-13 after acquiring Jason Kidd in February and fell to New Orleans in the First Round—in which Hornets playmaker Chris Paul told anyone who would listen, “He can’t guard me”—the argument could be and has been made that Kidd is past his prime.

Statistically, the 35-year-old was still among the game’s best performers at the point a year ago (10.8 ppg, 10.1 apg, 7.5 rpg), but he will have plenty of challenges this season matching up with the likes of Paul, Deron Williams, Tony Parker, Baron Davis and Steve Nash on a nightly basis.

C— Erick Dampier 6.1 ppg 7.5 rpg 1.5 bpg 6— Jerry Stackhouse 10.7 ppg 2.5 apg 2.3 rpg

Odds and Ends Slam Dunk Jason Kidd claims the League’s assists title for the first time since ’03-04 3-pointer Rick Carlisle is named the NBA’s Coach of the Year Halfcourt Heave Mark Cuban, fed up with the direction of the team, holds an open tryout to look for the next Vince Papale

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ho are the Dallas Mavericks? That’s not an easy question to answer, and we’re guessing that

their fans are not quite sure themselves. Following their disappointing NBA Finals collapse in 2006 and embarrassing exit against the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors in 2007, the Mavs took another step backward last season, winning a pedestrian (for the Western Conference) 51 games before bowing out in the first round yet again, this time to the upstart New Orleans Hornets. Several months worth of soul searching later and Dallas enters the ’08-09 run with two possible paths ahead. They could continue their spiral downwards, succumbing to self-doubt and/or age (four of their starters are 30 or older). Or they could come out carrying heavy-duty chips on their shoulders and play with some anger, fire and passion, determined to prove they are still legit contenders, despite what all the naysayers have naysaid. If we had to choose between those two scenarios—and, well, we guess we do, huh?—we would have to predict a comeback for the Mavs this season. After all, it’s hard to imagine a team featuring a trio of recent-MVP Dirk Nowizki, nine-time All-Star Jason Kidd and Josh Howard not achieving success together. We know, we know, they were far south of successful upon their union last spring, after Mavs owner/fanatic/dancer Mark Cuban orchestrated the blockbuster trade that brought Kidd back to Dallas, where his NBA career was born in 1994. But it’s not easy to make a dramatic change to a team’s starting lineup in February and hope to find chemistry in time for the playoffs. Just ask the Phoenix Suns. Having just wrapped a full training camp together with plenty of time to develop cohesion in the months ahead, they should improve this season.

That’s not to say, mind you, that we’re penciling in another run to the Finals; the Western Conference is going to be even stronger than it was a year ago. But Mavs fans should at least enjoy a better record and a better chance come April. Dallas made few changes to its roster over the summer, but the change on the bench could be just what the psychologist ordered to save the Mavs from their apparent identity crisis.

New head coach Rick Carlisle knows what it takes to guide a veteran team deep into the playoffs, having led both Indiana and Detroit to the Eastern Conference Finals, and he will start by instilling a new mentality in Mavs country.

“We want to be a great defensive team, a great rebounding team, we want to push the ball and we’ve got to have a real disposition as a team,” he said. “We’ve got to be a tough-minded team, and we’ve got to have some nastiness to really compete at the highest level.”

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08-09 Season Preview

Memphis

Grizzlies The Five + 6 G— Mike Conley 9.4 ppg 4.2 apg 2.6 rpg G— O.J. Mayo (no stats, rookie) F— Rudy Gay 20.1 ppg 6.2 rpg 1.4 spg F— Hakim Warrick 11.4 ppg 4.7 rpg 50.2% FG C— Darko Milicic 7.2 ppg 6.1 rpg 1.6 bpg

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Odds and Ends Slam Dunk Rudy Gay is named an All-Star 3-pointer The Grizzlies notch a third consecutive season of 22 wins Halfcourt Heave O.J. Mayo goes all Reggie Bush on us, leaving his game behind at USC

Burden of Proof Mike Conley With their dearth of quality big men, it will be paramount for the Grizzlies to develop a dependable floor leader to make good decisions. As noted, Memphis has a glut of qualified candidates, but if management had their way, it would be for the guy with the greatest upside, Mike Conley, to emerge.

Conley is blessed with supreme talents, but after returning from a shoulder injury last season he struggled to maintain any consistency. If he doesn’t win the position outright, it could lead to a revolving door at the PG spot and stunt any hope for a Memphis revival.

THREESOME: JOE MURPHY; CONLEY: DOUG PENSINGER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Western elite. They were a card-holding member of the Western Conference playoff club for three years, from 2004 to 2006; the nucleus of Pau Gasol, Mike Miller and Shane Battier looked like a solid, young and growing core, and they had Jerry West’s Midas touch guiding the personnel decisions. Then the wheels suddenly came off and the franchise tumbled back into obscurity. Gone is the trio that brought Memphis its only playoff berths. In its place is a host of nascent but unproven talent, particularly in the backcourt.

Among Mike Conley, Kyle Lowry, Javaris Crittenton, Marko Jaric and first-round pick O.J. Mayo lies a potential point guard stud (and this is with the departure of Juan Carlos Navarro, the Grizzlies’ leading scorer at the 1 last season). The front-runner is Conley, with Lowry nipping at his heels and Jaric and Crittenton pacing third. Despite being undersized at 6-4, Mayo appears better suited playing the 2, thanks to his athleticism. And besides the glut of PGs, the other concern for Memphis’ cadre of guards is the lack of three-point shooting.

The one sure thing on the team will be Rudy Gay. Last season, Gay made the leap into All-Star territory with his all-around game, adding a consistent jumper to his repertoire to crack 20-ppg territory. Much like Philly’s Andre Iguodala, Gay has off-the-charts physical gifts that enable him to wreak havoc on both ends of the court; unlike Iguodala, Gay possesses a better ability to create his own shot.

Memphis’ bigs are a different story; everyone over 6-8 on the roster is a question mark. The only guy who has shown consistency has been Hakim Warrick, but as a tweener, he struggles between the forward spots. Darko Milicic continues to be an enigma after tantalizing the Pistons to pluck him ahead of three members of The Redeem Team. At the twilight of his career, Antoine Walker doesn’t appear to be part of the team’s youth movement. Rookie seven-footers Marc Gasol and Hamed Haddadi may be big, but their impact is likely to be small while adjusting to the NBA. Still, Memphis has a rising star in Gay; if they can manage to parlay their backcourt depth into a productive unit and the frontcourt rebounds and defends, there is hope. Not playoff hope, especially in the crowded West, but certainly enough to avoid a third season of only 22 victories.

6— Kyle Lowry 9.6 ppg 3.6 apg 1.1 spg

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Utah

Jazz The Five + 6 G— Deron Williams 18.8 ppg 10.5 apg 1.1 spg G— Ronnie Brewer 12.0 ppg 1.7 spg 55.8% FG F— Andrei Kirilenko 11.0 ppg 1.5 bpg 4.7 rpg F— Carlos Boozer 21.1 ppg 10.4 rpg 1.2 spg

Burden of Proof

C— Mehmet Okur 14.5 ppg 7.7 rpg 80.4 FT

Ronnie Brewer In his first season as a full-time starter, 6— Kyle Korver Ronnie Brewer gave the Jazz another double9.9 ppg digit scoring option as well as a perimeter 37.5% 3-Pt. defender able to keep up with the dominating 91.5% FT. oming on the heels of having two players cop gold medals at last summer’s Olympic 2s and 3s out West. His 129 steals placed Games (the only team with multiple players on the U.S. team), the Utah Jazz are among the top him in the top 10 in the League last season, contenders for the NBA championship in ’09. making one of the roughest defensive Jerry Sloan’s squad did not go out and make any eye-catching deals this summer, nor did they add Odds and Ends units even more efficient. On a team that any immediate impact talent through the draft. But with the aforementioned Deron Williams and Carlos Slam Dunk functions like clockwork, Brewer can be the Boozer—they of Olympic gold and the annual potential for slightly different but equally effective 20-10 Utah reaches its fi rst NBA explosive X-factor with the ability to take over lines—on board, like Floyd Mayweather, the Jazz automatically have one of the top 1-2 punches in the Finals since 1998 continued unstoppable scoring attack. anycould gamehave on both ends onhis the floor.

West.

Young cats like Morris Almond, Ronnie Brewer and C.J. Miles should see a bump in minutes and Walton shone so brightly in his first couple years in portland (and his awesome sixth man of the year season in 85-86), productivity, while long-range assassins 3-pointer that, to me, he’s secured a place among the elite. Same with king. If anything, king’s legacy is that he was too often the Kyle Korver and Mehmet Okur continue to wreak havoc from the of three.watching him sprint the court, We go an entire seasonSabonis.land best player on mediocre teams. The guy that i wonder about is Arvydas I remember Brevin Knight could beApparently one of the most underrated signings of the offseason. Again, it hardly represents without hearing an throw behind-the-back passes and dunk on david robinson’s head in the ‘88 olympic games for the ussr. he tore a sea change in the Utah rotation, but the savvy vet and assist machine (he has never averaged fewer than announcer slip and refer to up his knees playing in europe, never received adequate surgery or rehabilitation and, by the time he got to the nba in ’95 7.1 apg per 36 minutes during his career) should spell D-Will for a good 15 minutes a game without a huge Deron as “Dare-ON” was a shadow of his former self. He did have a couple very good years in portland, and almost got to the finals in ’00. If he dropoff in production.

And don’t forget Andrei Kirilenko, whose game has more functions than an iPhone. had played his healthy prime in the nba, who knows what he could’ve done?

Top that off with Okur and it should all equate to some sweet music in Utah. The worst-case scenario would Halfcourt Heave It’s hard to gauge what could’ve been. Another player who comes to mind is penny hardaway—an all-nbaer who was be if the contract situation surrounding Boozer affects team chemistry and Deron starts off slow due to Kyrylo Fesenko becomes a robbed off his explosiveness and dominance. He was breathtaking his first three years in the league.

Olympic fatigue.

But Sloan isn’t the longest-tenured coach in the League for nothing, which gives them an defensive force and when The hardaway selection makes sense, because he was able to do it all early on in his career. Things became kind of intangible equaled by only San Antonio and the Lakers in the West. paired with Kirilenko, the shaky in orlando between him and shaq because of their coke-and-pepsi style relationship, but there was no questioning Utah one have three-pointer shortwild of forcing a Game 7 against the Lake Show last year, but we wouldn’t two become as up thehis knee, his talent, and the “little penny” character was a classic.

Had heknown not torn hefell would posted some be surprised if they meet again and force that decisive winner-take-all matchup. If that’s the case, then “Soviet Bloc Party” stats, particularly once shaq moved on to l.A. We’ll never know... we truly will see if Williams and Boozer are the next coming of Stockton and Malone. Jazz fans hope this iteration comes with a much happier ending.

ALL PHOTOS: MELISSA MAJCHRZAK/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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08-09 Season Preview

Portland

Headline

Trail Blazers Deck which player’s career was most affected by injury?

The Five + 6 G— Steve Blake 8.5 ppg 5.1 apg 40.6% 3-Pt. G— Brandon Roy 19.1 ppg 4.7 rpg 5.8 apg F— Martell Webster 10.7 ppg 3.9 rpg 38.8% 3-Pt. F— LaMarcus Aldridge last December, there was no better story in pro basketball than the Trail Blazers, who had 17.8 ppg 7.6 rpg seemingly arrived well ahead of schedule and were making an early but strong playoff push.

1.2 bpg And they were doing so without No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden, sidelined after undergoing preseason knee surgery. The young Blazers were leaning on the inside-outside tandem of LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon C— Greg Oden Roy and were dazzling the League. But the NBA is an unforgiving world, and the fun ended later that (no stats, rookie) winter, precipitating an eventual tumble out of playoff contention. It would have been nice for there to be postseason basketball in Rip City, but the drop into Lotteryville wasn’t so hard to take, since it afforded 6— Travis Outlaw 10.7 ppg Portland a chance to augment its young, talented roster with even more youth. And with Oden returning 3.9 rpg from his year of medical exile, it’s as if the Blazers are adding a top pick along with other first-rounders 39.6% 3-Pt. such as Jerryd Bayless (the top performer in Vegas this summer) and Rudy Fernandez (who impressed during the Beijing Games with his native Spain). Were Portland not coming off an exciting season, the arrival of these fresh faces would be reason enough for excitement. But when coupled with Roy, Aldridge, Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster, it’s cause for high expectations.

Odds and Ends The Blazers can’t possibly meet the ceiling fans have set for them this year, but there is every reason to Slam Dunk believe this team can make the playoffs. It begins up front, where the team’s height gives it a substantial Oden becomes a defensive edge defensively and plays well into their disciplined, patterned offensive style. Adding Oden to strong powerhouse and a shotblocker and board man Joel Przybilla will give the Blazers a sizeable paint advantage. Oden will have rebounding machine some growing pains, but he has the potential to be an immediate force at the defensive end and on the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MING WONG: One of the worst tragedies in sports is to see a world-class athlete in the boards. he career can score points game as ahave rookie, opponents beware. to playreality outside, 3-pointer prime ofIfhis or at12-15 the cusp of agreatness everything taken awayAldridge with theprefers harsh human of an injury. even though he’s 6-11, but that’s fi ne, since it puts other 4s at a disadvantage.

The same goes for Channing Rudy Fernandez tries his The player who comes screaming into my mind in this regard is Bill Walton. He was on his way to becoming a juggernaut Frye, who’s a little more apt to venture into the paint but can hardly be considered a banger.

Roy is a fi ne of a center—a scoring, rebounding, passing, inspiring leader in a seven-foot package—until myriad of ankle andluck footonce more against slasher who can knock down a midrange J as well as he can distribute.

He scored 19.1 ppg last year and Dwight fails injuries chipped at his physical gifts. Put in perspective: of the 984 regular-season games that he could’ve played in hisHoward—and 12 has the potential to push north of 20 the next couple years.

He plays under control and has a great sense seasons, walton managed to only suit up for 468 of them. Despite it all, he persevered—he won a title, an mvp award and of what needs to benba’s done50atgreatest. any give Had pointinjuries in the game.

The small Webster and Outlaw was named to the not robbed him offorward at leasttandem half hisofcareer, though, the pantheonHalfcourt of nba Heave is extremely productive: both can score, rebound a little and make some three-pointers, although Outlaw is Portland becomes this epic centers would have had a bushy-haired hippie standing amongst them. better from long range. season’s Hornets with a Walton’s injury was tragic, but how about bernard king’s wrecked knee in 1985? Until that moment, king had become the The question for the Blazers comes at the point, where the departure of Jarrett Jack leaves Steve Blake charge to league’s most unstoppable scorer. The previous spring, he had proven himself to be practically otherworldly by destroyingwithin one game in forby now.

A careful distributor and solid long-range lacks a King’s tremendous of thehim Western Conference thecharge pistons himself in the playoffs—scoring 40 or moreshooter, in four ofBlake the fiultimately ve series games. knee injury forced upside and isn’t the strongest defender.

The Blazers will look to Bayless and Fernandez for depth, but each Finals to miss the entire ’85-86 season and all but six games of ’86-87. Sure, he came back and made himself into an all-star, has some growing do. Bayless spenttook more5,000 time looking for his ownwhat shot in Fernandez campaigns. Had king but robbing him of to those two seasons points and limited hecollege, could dowhile in subsequent is likely to be a defensive liability at fi rst.

That doesn’t mean each can’t excel down the road, but ithave won’tbeen known as one stayed healthy, he probably would have topped the 25,000-point mark for his career and would happen right away.

Portland has great potential, but it needs to reach the postseason fi rst.

Thanks tothe the injury, going from a of the five most dangerous scorers in league history. Give king credit for reinventing his game after groundwork laid last year and the additions of Oden and others, it should happen sooner rather than later. post-up player to a slasher from the wing, but just imagine what he would have done had he not torn His ligament and

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Greg Oden Portland fans had to exercise patience waiting for Oden to recover from microfracture surgery, but the purgatory is over, and the 7-0 prodigy is ready for his NBA close-up. Fans should like what they see from Oden, who insists he is not only 100 percent healthy but in the kind of physical condition one rarely sees from a first-year player. His impact should be immediate at the defensive end, with his height, bulk and uncanny athleticism for such size. He’ll also probably be good for nearly double-digit boards. And if he can give Portland putbacks, jump hooks, dunks and the occasional short jumper, this team will be more well-balanced than most.

ODEN: SAM FORENCICH; TEAM: CAMERON BROWNET/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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Burden of Proof

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Denver

Nuggets The Five + 6 G— Anthony Carter 7.8 ppg 5.5 apg 1.5 spg G— Allen Iverson 26.4 ppg 7.1 apg 2.0 spg F— Carmelo Anthony 25.7 ppg 7.4 rpg 3.4 apg F— Kenyon Martin 12.4 ppg 6.5 rpg 1.2 bpg

Burden of Proof

C— Nene 5.3 ppg 5.4 rpg 0.9 bpg

Nene It isn’t uncommon for a Brazilian athlete 6— J.R. Smith to don a jersey with only a first name on 12.3 ppg t's been a strange run of late for the Denver Nuggets. Two seasons ago the front office pulled off one the back. While Nene, who legally changed 2.1 rpg of the biggest midseason trades in NBA history by grabbing Allen Iverson from Philadelphia for Andre his name in 2003, isn’t a household name 40.3% 3-Pt. Miller and the equivalent of the spare change at the bottom of the couch cushions. With two of the League’s like Pele or Ronaldinho, he is the man the top four scorers, the players had hopes of 60 wins. The team fell 10 short—still the second-highest win Nuggets need to replace Marcus Camby’s total in franchise history, but worth only an eighth seed out West.

Odds and Ends production in the paint. His entire career Last season, AI and Carmelo Anthony led one of the most prolific offenses the League has seen in years.

Slam Dunk has been riddled with ailments, including an The Nuggets scored 110 points a game, with only the Warriors, by a point, averaging more. However, lockdown Allen Iverson and Carmelo ACL tear in 2005 and testicular cancer last D wasn’t part of head coach George Karl’s vernacular, as evidenced by an average of 107 points allowed, which Anthony fi nish in the top season. Like Camby, Nene isn’t on the roster made the trade of former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Camby to the Clippers even more befuddling. fi ve in scoring again coulda have to take lot of continued shots, but his he isunstoppable expected toscoring attack.

Not known for great one-on-one role became more of a goalie for the Nuggets, protecting the hoop from Waltonand shone so brightly hiscan first couple years in portland (and his awesome sixth man of the year seasonD,inhis 85-86), rebound provide help D. Ifinhe stay defensive lapses by his teammates—a 3-pointer that, to me, he’sthe secured a place healthy, he has athleticism toamong make the elite. Same with king. If anything, king’s legacy is that he was too often thetask he performed admirably well, blocking 3.6 shots and grabbing boards per game. The totally a financial one; owner Stan Kroenke spent $81 million last season, The Nuggets a Sabonis.13.1 best occasionally player on mediocre teams. guy that i wonder about become is Arvydas I remember watching himmove sprintisthe court, fans forget about theThe departed including $13.5 million in salary-cap restrictions once again for an eighth-seeded team. defensive-minded team throw behind-the-back former DPOY Camby. passes and dunk on david robinson’s head in the ‘88 olympic games for the ussr. Apparently he tore This year the Nuggets are hoping Nene fi lls the void left by Camby. He hasn’t played a full season in up his knees playing in europe, never received adequate surgery or rehabilitation and, by the time he got to the nba in ’95 four years and is coming off of surgery last year to remove a malignant tumor. The free-agent signings Halfcourt Heave was a shadow of his former self. He did have a couple very good years in portland, and almost got to the finals in ’00. If he of athletic energy players like Chris Andersen and Renaldo Balkman are a good start, and bringing back Chris “Birdman” Andersen had played his healthy prime in the nba, who knows what he could’ve done?

J.R. Smith should make the bench formidable, but without a total change of philosophy, this team will is allowed back in the Sprite It’s hard to gauge what could’ve been. Another player who comes to mind is penny hardaway—an all-nbaer who was continue to give up points in excess of the century mark.

The last team to give up more than 100 points a Slam Dunk contest, after robbed off his explosiveness and dominance. He was breathtaking his first three years in the league. game and still win the Larry O’Brien trophy was the Bad Boy Pistons in 1989, back when everyone in the missing eight straight dunk The hardaway selection makes sense, because he was able to do it all early on in his career. Things became kind of League seemingly scored in triple digits.

This season in the West, with teams such as Portland and the attempts in 2006 shaky in orlando between him and shaq because of their coke-and-pepsi style relationship, but there was no questioning Clippers looking much more formidable, a playoff spot isn’t guaranteed for Denver. Continuing to try to his talent, and the “little penny” character was a classic. Had he not torn up his knee, he would have posted some wild simply outscore the opposition makes the Nuggets a vulnerable squad, even with a roster spearheaded by stats, particularly once shaq moved on to l.A. We’ll never know... a future Hall of Famer and a captain of the U.S. team.

ALL PHOTOS: GARRETT ELLWOOD/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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08-09 Season Preview

Minnesota

Timberwolves The Five + 6 G— Sebastian Telfair 9.3 ppg 5.9 apg 1.0 spg G— Randy Foye 13.1 ppg 4.2 apg 41.2% 3-Pt. F— Mike Miller 16.4 ppg 6.6 rpg 43.2% 3-Pt. F— Kevin Love (no stats, rookie)

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6— Ryan Gomes 12.6 ppg 5.8 rpg 0.8 spg

Odds and Ends Slam Dunk Al Jefferson keeps movin’ on up, this time to the All-Star team 3-pointer Kevin Love nabs ROY honors Halfcourt Heave Kevin McHale gets the same love as the original Kevin

Burden of Proof Randy Foye Randy Foye was a breath of midseason fresh air for the T-Wolves when he returned from his knee injury at the end of January, averaging 13.1 ppg to go along with 4.2 apg, 3.3 rpg and nearly a steal a night. But this year Minnesota is going to need that effort out of Foye consistently for an entire season if they want to crack the 30-win barrier.

The 24-year-old combo guard has shown in spurts that he can touch 20 points on any given night while shooting at an efficient clip (41.2 percent on threes last season). He’ll need to duplicate that to elevate Minnesota’s backcourt play out of the gutter.

FOYE: DAVID SHERMAN; TEAM: DAVID SHERMAN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

innesota can take solace in the fact that while Boston was transforming itself into a championship team with the acquisition of Kevin Garnett, the Timberwolves were developing Al Jefferson into an All-Star-caliber player themselves—at half the price of KG. Granted, it’s no championship, but it does bode well for Minnesota’s fiscal and basketball future, as the T-Wolves can get more than $20 million below the salary cap next summer.

The future. That’s what it’s all about in these parts, where Minnesota is just hoping to improve on its expectedly dismal 22-60 season. It should be easy to do when you figure the T-Wolves are upgrading their starting lineup with rookie power forward Kevin Love, sharpshooter Mike Miller and combo guard Randy Foye, who missed the first half of last season with a knee injury. And they’re definitely excited about the 23-year-old center Jefferson, who has now established himself as an All-Star-level player, averaging 21.0 ppg, 11.1 rpg and 1.5 bpg in 35.6 minutes a night.

Don’t read too much into the hype, though—Minnesota is still going to take its fair share of lumps this year, and then some. The guards aren’t as consistent as T-Wolves brass would like and the bigs are green.

However, optimism still looms because the frontcourt of Jefferson, Love, Ryan Gomes and Craig Smith is one of the League’s toughest and youngest (all are under 26 years old), and their on-the-job learning curve—save for Love, who only has summer-league experience—has been high. How that translates on the scoreboard remains to be seen. One thing is for certain, though: not since the heyday of Wally World has Minnesota had an outside threat like it does in newcomer Mike Miller, who should erase the nightmares of Antoine Walker chucking up threes on a nightly basis. If Foye and Rashad McCants can continue to shoot treys at a 40-plus percent clip, Jefferson will be that much more effective inside.

Defensively, however, it will be tough for Minnesota to improve much. Let’s face it: they’re just not that effective. Jefferson is the only shotblocker on the team, while the other bigs are all undersized power forwards. They’re outmanned and easy to move around when the true centers come to town. Defensive standout Jason Collins may get the call in those situations, but he is a decided liability offensively. And in the center-dominated West, it sure is hard to succeed when you’re undersized. That said, there are many bright spots coming into the season: the talented rookie Love is in the best shape of his life; Foye is healthy; Miller is here. If the T-Wolves can right the ship for one more season, all will be well.

C— Al Jefferson 21.0 ppg 11.1 rpg 1.5 bpg

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Oklahoma City

Thunder The Five + 6 G— Earl Watson 10.7 ppg 6.8 apg 37.1% 3-Pt. G— Kevin Durant 20.3 ppg 4.4 rpg 87.3% FT F— Jeff Green 10.5 ppg 4.7 rpg 1.5 apg F— Chris Wilcox 13.4 ppg 7.0 rpg 52.4% FG

ALL PHOTOS: LAYNE MURDOCH/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Burden of Proof

C— Nick Collison 9.8 ppg 9.4 rpg 50.2% FG

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he newest residents of the Sooner State capital sold out approximately 13,000 season tickets in

five days.

Jeff Green And that likely could be the high point of the ’08-09 season for the Thunder.

His April numbers (15.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.0 6— Desmond Mason One of the League’s youngest franchises last season, they remain young, featuring 10 guys with fewer spg) suggest he finally adapted to the NBA 9.7 ppg than fi ve seasons in the League. They added some much-needed veteran presence to the roster in the game; his peripherals (40.7 percent from 4.3 rpg offseason, trading for Desmond Mason and Joe Smith. What role they’ll play remains to be seen, and what the field, 15.4 percent from three) suggest 48.2% FG impact they have on-court is likely to be marginalized by a need to get the youngsters as many minutes otherwise. The Thunder aren’t going to be as possible.

When the franchise is unlikely to compete for a couple of seasons, getting the kids into the competing for a playoff spot this season, fl ow is the best option on the table.

Regardless, Smith adds depth to what is now a crowded frontcourt, but that’s certainly what they’re building noteworthy for its mix of slightly undersized but effective bruisers (Nick Collison, Chris Wilcox) and tall, Odds and Ends toward. To get there, Durant needs someone lanky projects (Johan Petro, Mouhamed Sene, Robert Swift). And Mason will provide an adequate stopgap Slam Dunk who can regularly ease the pressure off of (career averages of 12.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg) when Kevin Durant heads to the bench for a breather.

A national sports him. Green was drafted as that sidekick.

As for Durant, he needs to mature as both a scorer and a teammate for the Thunder to be consistently broadcaster slips up and could have continued his unstoppable This season he’ll need to prove he’s worthyscoring attack. successful.

He showed fl ashes of this as the season progressed, but he still scored nearly half his points refers to the Thunder as the Walton shone his first couple years in portland (and his awesome sixth man of the year season in 85-86), of that mantle andsoisbrightly not the in inconsistent on jumpers (10.0 ppg), which made up a whopping 74 percent of his shot selection. It’s not an efficient Sonics at least once that, towe me, he’s secured place among the elite. Same with king. If anything, king’s legacy is that he was too often the rookie saw most of lastaseason. way to score, especially for someone who sports an effective fi eld-goal percentage of only .397 on those best player on mediocre teams. The guy that i wonder about is Arvydas Sabonis. I remember watching him sprint the court, shots.

He needs to get going toward the basket more, where his length should give him an advantage to 3-pointer throw behind-the-back passes and dunk on david robinson’s head in the ‘88 olympic games for the ussr. Apparently he tore hit shots most 2s can only dream of.

And when those shots are not available, he needs to force things Jeff Green bumps his up his knees playing in europe, never received adequate surgery or rehabilitation and, by the time he got to the nba in ’95 less and fi nd his mates more.

He averaged only 2.4 apg despite a usage percentage of 28.1 (for some season averages north of 15 was a shadow of his former self. He did have a couple very good years in portland, and almost got to the finals in ’00. If he perspective, only nine guys—eight were All-Stars—had a higher percentage, and all but Amaré Stoudemire ppg and 6 rpg had played his healthy prime in the nba, who knows what he could’ve done? averaged more assists).

It’s hard to gauge what could’ve been. Another player who comes to mind is penny hardaway—an all-nbaer who was The Thunder surprised some by taking Russell Westbrook with the No. 4 pick in the draft, but don’t be Heave his first three years robbed off his explosiveness and dominance. HeHalfcourt was breathtaking in the league. surprised if Westbrook has usurped starting PG Earl Watson by midseason. He is a freakish athlete in the Kevin Durant gets named The hardaway selection makes sense, because he was able to do it all early on in his career. Things became kind of mold of Charlotte-era (and fellow Bruin) Baron Davis, and his affinity for sticky perimeter defense will be to the All-Star team shaky in orlando between him and shaq because of their coke-and-pepsi style relationship, but there was no questioning a much-needed boon; last season the Sonics surrendered an astounding 607 three-pointers at a 38.5 his talent, and the “little penny” character was a classic. Had he not torn up his knee, he would have posted some wild percent clip.

When you hit only a third of your own treys, winning in that fashion becomes a constant uphill stats, particularly once shaq moved on to l.A. We’ll never know... struggle. The Thunder still have a long way to go before they plug all the holes, but they are slowly heading in the right direction.

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08-09 Season Preview

Los Angeles

Headline

Lakers

Deck which player’s career was most affected by injury?

The Five + 6 G— Derek Fisher 11.7 ppg 41% 3-Pt. 88% FT G— Kobe Bryant 30.1 ppg 6.3 rpg 5.4 apg F— Lamar Odom 14.2 ppg 10.6 rpg 53% FG F— Pau Gasol 18.8 ppg 7.8 rpg 59% FG C— Andrew Bynum 13.1 ppg 10.2 rpg 2.1 bpg 6— Luke Walton 7.2 ppg 3.9 rpg 2.9 apg

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et's not be coy about things: HOOP is proclaiming the Lakers as the faves to hand the

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Jordan Farmar While not paramount to the team’s ultimate success, Jordan Farmar taking another step in his point guard role will ease the transition for the Lakers from the aging—but still effective—Derek Fisher. While the Lakers’ offense doesn’t place great emphasis on PG play, they do look for steady playmaking and solid defense, two things that Farmar has to do better this season.

FARMAR: JIM ROGASH; TEAM: NOAH GRAHAM/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

President a purple-and-gold jersey in ’09. OK, maybe it isn’t such a bold pick, being that it’s a popular choice among the experts and fans. After all, the Lakers were the runners-up last season, feature Odds and Ends the reigning MVP (and depending on a flip of the coin, the best player in the game), the shrewdest coach Slam Dunk who preaches one of the most efficient offenses in history, a burgeoning center returning from injury that Kobe Bryant makes it two joins a frontcourt of two versatile forwards, a cast of role players that may rival the threepeat Lakers squad MVP awards EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MING WONG: One of the worst tragedies in sports is to see a world-class athlete instraight the of almost a decade ago, and fi nally, plenty of youth and thus room for improvement.

And if you couldn’t prime of his career or at the cusp of greatness have everything taken away with the harsh human reality of an injury. keep up, wewho were talking about, ininto order, Jackson, AndrewHe Bynum, Odom, Pau 3-pointer The player comes screaming myKobe mindBryant, in this Phil regard is Bill Walton. was onLamar his way to becoming a juggernaut Gasol, Derek Fisher, Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic and Vladimir Radmanovic.

What sets the of a center—a scoring, rebounding, passing, inspiring leader in a seven-foot package—until myriad of ankle andSasha foot Vujacic assumes Lakers apart from the NBA elite is that they have the personnel to match up against any team.

Against Ronny Turiaf’s injuries chipped at his physical gifts. Put in perspective: of the 984 regular-season games that he could’ve played in his 12 role of highrunning teams, they can trot out Kobe, Trevor Ariza and Odom on the wings.

L.A. can triangle the death out stepping, seasons, walton managed to only suit up for 468 of them. Despite it all, he persevered—he won a title, an mvp award andtowel-waving, of halfcourt-oriented opponents.

Teams like tonot gorobbed big willhim findof their frontcourt one of thethough, NBA’s most bench man was named to the nba’s 50 greatest.

Hadthat injuries at least half his career, the pantheonchest-thumping of nba formidable.

Coupled with an offense that has a healthy mix of outside shooting, low-post play and #24 epic centers would have had a bushy-haired hippie standing amongst them. in the closing moments, a defense thatabout can control paint, create knee turnovers and have #24 moment, lock up the Halfcourtthe Heave Walton’s injury was tragic, but how bernardthe king’s wrecked in 1985?

Until that king had become opponent’s best perimeter player (don’t think for a moment that Kobe doesn’t have his eyes on the DPOY Odom, Gasol league’s most unstoppable scorer. The previous spring, he had proven himself to be practically otherworldly by destroying and Bynum award, the rare piece ofinhardware missing from 40 hisor mantle), thefive makings of a Finals favorite. surpass the pistons by himself the playoffs—scoring more inyou fourhave of the series games.

King’s kneeThe injury forced himBird, McHale and only chinks in the Lakers’ armor might be the fragile pinky of Kobe that he opted to not have surgically Parish’s to miss the entire ’85-86 season and all but six games of ’86-87. Sure, he came back and made himself into an all-star, ’86-87 output repaired during offseason and the took departure Ronnyand Turiaf.

A setback Kobe’s digit will but robbing himthe of those two seasons 5,000ofpoints limited what heoncould dosmallest in subsequent campaigns.(61.7 Hadppg kingand 29.7 rpg) surely snuff out any hope for the franchise’s 15th championship banner.

Turiaf’s absence will mean a drop stayed healthy, he probably would have topped the 25,000-point mark for his career and would have been known as one in hustle off thescorers bench and the loss of theGive team’s celebratory dancer—something of energy the fiveand most dangerous in league history. kingbest credit for reinventing his game afterthey’ll the injury, going from a lack come their parade down Figueroa in June. post-up player to a slasher from the wing, but just imagine what he would have done had he not torn His ligament and

Burden of Proof

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Phoenix

Suns The Five + 6 G— Steve Nash 16.9 ppg 11.1 apg 47.0% 3-Pt. G— Raja Bell 11.9 ppg 3.7 rpg 40.1% 3-Pt. F— Grant Hill 13.1 ppg 5.0 rpg 2.9 apg F— Amaré Stoudemire 25.2 ppg 9.1 rpg 59.0% FG

TEAM: BARRY GOSSAGE; O’NEAL: D. CLARKE EVANS/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Burden of Proof Shaquille O’Neal The decision to acquire O’Neal from the Heat was GM Steve Kerr’s way of telling Phoenix players—and then-coach Mike D’Antoni—the team’s freewheeling days were over. O’Neal’s arrival thrilled Miami, which didn’t have to deal with his contract anymore, and put the Suns in a tough spot. How do you play upand-down ball with the League’s most postbound player? The answer was, “Not well.”

So Phoenix will change. There will be more halfcourt sets, and the ball will be dumped in to O’Neal. Whether he is healthy enough to do something with it remains to be seen. The Suns want to change, and O’Neal is a big part of that switch. He must be ready for nearly a whole season of contributing, or the Suns will have a long period of trouble.

C— Shaquille O’Neal 13.6 ppg 9.1 rpg 61.1% FG 6— Leandro Barbosa 15.6 ppg 2.6 apg 38.9% 3-Pt.

Odds and Ends Slam Dunk Shaquille O’Neal misses at least 15 games 3-pointer Grant Hill plays 75 games this season Halfcourt Heave New coach Terry Porter reverts to the old Suns’ gogo style, despite O’Neal’s presence and GM Steve Kerr’s preferences

T

he

grand experiment is over in Phoenix. The Suns are no longer going to be the NBA’s most wild-and-crazy outfit, firing up shots in under seven seconds and piling up points, defense be damned. GM Steve Kerr wants a more traditional team, so he wasn’t too upset that head coach Mike D’Antoni left for the Knicks. New boss Terry Porter will be more committed to playing D and establishing a halfcourt identity. Although some of the Suns’ key fastbreaking components are still around—most notably, guards Steve Nash and Leandro Barbosa and big man Amaré Stoudemire—the midseason acquisition of Shaquille O’Neal slows down Phoenix, no matter how fast it wants to go. That is not to say O’Neal is a drag, but he is not the Big Track Star anymore. O’Neal is a pound-it, bang-it, slam-it type who can’t be asked anymore to dash up and down the court on a regular basis. Phoenix still will fastbreak, but the Suns are going for more efficiency in set patterns. The trouble with that is the team isn’t configured for that life, and it will lose some of its primacy in the West as a result.

The big question is O’Neal, who has two years left on his contract. If he can stay healthy, fit and motivated, the Suns might have a nice ace in the hole. But this hasn’t been the case with him for a while. He turns 37 in February, and he doesn’t seem to have the fire he did five years ago. Stoudemire, on the other hand, is on the verge of an explosion. He showed it during the second half of last season, and he has the potential to score 30 a night. Of course, with his defensive deficiency, he may give up that much at the other end on any given night as well. Whether he commits to playing defense will be a big factor. Don’t expect big numbers from rookie Robin Lopez, but the 7-0 pivot has good passing skills, defends extremely well and can rebound.

He’ll be a fine complement and figures as a large piece of Phoenix’s future. Veteran Boris Diaw remains an excellent player with plenty of skills, but it will be interesting to see how he fits into the new style. New acquisition Matt Barnes isn’t a star, but he should back up aging Grant Hill well at the 3. Barnes is suited for life on the run, but he has shown the ability to hit the boards, play some D and score off the dribble. Hill, meanwhile, can still play a fine all-around game, and should chip in 20-25 minutes of that a night.

Nash is the constant on this team, and he is a master at all parts of the point guard job—except, perhaps, playing physical, sticky defense. But his back has been cranky, and it will be interesting to see if he can keep playing the same number of minutes a night as his impending age (35). Expect to see even more of Barbosa in a combo role, utilizing his blazing speed at both the 1 and the 2. The Suns also expect rookie Goran Dragic to provide assistance at the point. At 6-4, the Slovenian is a tall point man who pushes the ball well in the break and can finish strongly in traffic. He spots up well from three-point range and will play solid defense. His main problem will come as he acclimates to the NBA game. The Suns should experience similar pains adjusting to life not on the run, so anything more than another one-and-done postseason appearance would be a surprise.

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08-09 Season Preview

Los Angeles

Clippers The Five + 6 G— Baron Davis 21.8 ppg 7.6 apg 4.7 rpg G— Cuttino Mobley 12.7 ppg 3.6 rpg 1.0 spg F— Al Thornton 12.7 ppg 4.5 rpg 1.2 apg F— Chris Kaman 15.7 ppg 12.7 rpg 2.7 bpg C— Marcus Camby 9.1 ppg 13.1 rpg 3.6 bpg

B

aron Davis, who had a sometimes-electrifying albeit turbulent start to his career, has

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Odds and Ends Slam Dunk Baron Davis wins an Oscar and gains an All-Star nod 3-pointer The Clippers play games at Staples Center deeper into the season than the Lakers Halfcourt Heave The Clippers trade for Mike Dunleavy Jr., who, midway through the season, gets benched for one game after forgetting to clean his locker

Baron Davis Will this L.A. story have a happy ending?

For the Clippers, that remains to be seen, but win or lose, we’re sure Baron is excited to be back home. That’s not to say we expect him to just collect a check and bask in the sunlight. He is a huge competitor and goal No. 1 will be to win, not collect movie deals or show up at red-carpet events. Though they have a bunch of polarizing personalities on the roster, the Clippers also have lots of talent. Now let’s see if their director can turn this script into a masterpiece as he did at times with Golden State’s precocious band of ballers.

ALL PHOTOS: NOAH GRAHAM/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

emerged as one of the League’s most charismatic stars. So it shouldn’t have been such a shock to the Bay faithful when Boom Dizz—an L.A. native—bolted from Oakland and went down I-5 to sign with the Clippers this summer.

No disrespect to New York, but The City of Angels has always been the place to be to hobnob with celebs during timeouts and boost your A-list status. And for a fledgling director/producer like Davis, a return to Hollywood seems like a perfect fit. There is one problem though; these are the Clippers and not the Lakers. Sure, those endorsements and cameos might be blowing up the two-way, but wins may be a bit harder to come by. Of course, that would have been different if Elton Brand stayed out west instead of pulling his own “Baron” and signing with Philly. But you have to give the Clips credit for snagging Marcus Camby as a safeguard in a trade with Denver for, as Gilbert Arenas put it, “two lottery tickets and a pack of rainbow skittles.” Though he’s not the offensive force down low that EB was, defensively, he and Chris Kaman will instill some much-needed toughness and swag in the paint for the Clips.

Elsewhere though, this team has more question marks than The Riddler. Can Ricky Davis still “get buckets” after averaging less than 14 ppg on a dilapidated Miami roster last season? Will Al Thornton continue to get better in his all-around game, or will he be a one-dimensional scorer? And will rooks Eric Gordon and DeAndre Jordan play vital roles this season or take much longer to develop?

If there’s one sure thing about Papa Dunleavy’s bunch, it’s that the Clippers will at least be much more entertaining on the floor than in years past (though size will probably prevent it from happening, just imagine Boom Deezy, Tim Thomas, Get Buckets, Cat Mobley and Captain Kaman on the court at the same time). In the end, we think the Clippers improve and even challenge for the final playoff spot. But even if those accolades don’t come this year, they’re sure to notch a few spots on the NBA all-interview team this season.

6— Ricky Davis 13.8 ppg 4.3 rpg 1.1 spg

Burden of Proof

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Golden State

Warriors The Five + 6 G— Marcus Williams 5.9 ppg 2.6 apg 38% 3-Pt. G— Stephen Jackson 20.1 ppg 4.4 rpg 4.1 apg F— Corey Maggette 22.1 ppg 5.6 rpg 38.4% 3-Pt. F— Al Harrington 13.6 ppg 5.4 rpg 36.5% 3-Pt.

Burden of Proof

TEAM: DAVID DOW; JACKSON: ROCKY WIDNER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Stephen Jackson The last of the trio of Nellie’s co-captains remaining in the Bay Area, Stack Jack has quite a burden to carry. With Monta Ellis out for at least a month and Corey Maggette adjusting to life in NoCal, a good start—a necessity, lest the Warriors dig themselves an early grave—falls almost squarely on the shoulders of Jackson. Don’t be surprised to see the offense initiated through him often, with Marcus Williams still largely unproven at running an NBA team. Eventually Maggette’s shot-creating ability will alleviate the pressure, but now more than ever is the time Jackson truly needs to be the leader his teammates have always sworn he is.

C— Andris Biedrins 10.5 ppg 9.8 rpg 62.6% FG 6— Kelenna Azubuike 8.5 ppg 4.0 rpg 36.4% 3-Pt.

Odds and Ends Slam Dunk The Warriors lead the League in average points per game 3-pointer The Warriors qualify for the playoffs Halfcourt Heave Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson continue to show up at games despite the absence of Baron Davis

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ood news for the Lakers: offseason drama migrated north this summer to the Bay Area.

First, there was the unsurprising opt-out by Baron Davis, followed by his even more surprising relocation to the Clippers. Then the Warriors went tit for tat by pilfering former Clip Corey Maggette off the free-agent market. To top that, Baron heir apparent Monta Ellis injured his ankle in an offseason accident.

He’ll likely miss the first month of the ’08-09 season, if not longer. His replacement in the meantime? The newly acquired Marcus Williams, he of a whopping nine career starts in New Jersey while languishing behind first Jason Kidd and then Devin Harris.

There is a silver lining for the Warriors amid all of this. The offense, already one of the League’s most prolific, shouldn’t see much of a drop-off once Ellis returns—in fact, we’re willing to posit it might even be slightly more efficient. The loss of Davis hurt, yes. But Maggette is just a flat-out bucket-getter (apologies to the self-monikered Ricky Davis). And when he doesn’t get buckets, he gets to the free-throw line. He gives the Warriors a bulky slasher willing to absorb hard contact in the lane, something the jumpshooting W’s haven’t had since the Nellie Ball circus came to town. His free-throw output is very nearly double any remaining Warriors’ output from last season. All of these are positives for a team that sometimes falls too much in love with jumpshots.

That being said, the Warriors are still sorely lacking in both interior presence and defense of the nongambling variety. Ronny Turiaf is a decided upgrade in both of those areas, adding a sizeable post defender.

The problem is he won’t be getting starter’s minutes, and one role player off the bench certainly won’t make a big enough difference. Nellie Ball is offensive ecstasy and infinitely enjoyable to watch, and he has proven that with the right personnel, it can net a substantial chunk of wins in this evolving era of the NBA. But the roster isn’t improved enough to maintain the 48-win level of a season ago, and while Denver’s likely ouster from playoff contention leaves a spot open from last season’s playoff roll call, we see Portland as more able to fill that final gap in a once-again crowded Western Conference playoff picture.

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08-09 Season Preview

Sacramento

Kings The Five + 6 G— Beno Udrih 12.8 ppg 4.3 apg 38.7% 3-Pt. G— Kevin Martin 23.7 ppg 4.5 rpg 40.2% 3-Pt. F— John Salmons 12.5 ppg 4.3 rpg 1.1 spg F— Mikki Moore 8.5 ppg 6.0 rpg 57.7% FG

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6— Francisco Garcia 12.3 ppg 1.2 spg 39.1% 3-Pt.

Odds and Ends Slam Dunk Kevin Martin finally makes the NBA All-Star team and finds out what it’s like to be Mitch Richmond 3-pointer Reggie Theus wins Coach of the Year with a roster of castoffs Halfcourt Heave The Kings have the best record in California

Burden of Proof Brad Miller You hate to point the finger at Brad Miller again; the veteran center had a nice comeback season in ’07-08, when the Kings needed him most. But because of the dearth of big men on Sacramento’s roster, it cannot have its 32-year-old center’s game ride off into the sunset at this stage of his career. After coming back from his five-game suspension, Miller will need to continue averaging at least 13 points and nine boards while adding as many helpers as possible to keep the offensive machine running smoothly. On D, he will need to withstand the pounding he will endure as the lone intimidator of any kind on the active roster.

Good luck, and godspeed.

MILLER: GLENN JAMES; MARTIN: ROCKY WIDNER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Reggie Theus is able to squeeze 38 wins again out of this turnip, someone please give him the ’0809 NBA Coach of the Year award. After all, last year’s team had no business winning 38, yet the rookie NBA coach was a master motivator in getting Brad Miller’s career back on track while making Francisco Garcia, John Salmons and Beno Udrih believe they were worthy of starters’ minutes. But how exactly did they get those wins? By making threes (37 percent), attacking the hoop (third in the League at drawing fouls) and making 80 percent of their free throws (also third in the League). Their top four long-range snipers are all back after drilling 39 percent or better last season, a feat that helped make Sacramento the seventh-best team in true-shooting percentage. That’s part of the reason why Sacramento thinks it can survive a full season without Mike Bibby and Ron Artest. Those two weren’t especially efficient shooters, so if the Kings can replace Bibby’s playmaking and Artest’s defense, they may just win 38 again.

Regardless, the 2008 trades enable Kevin Martin to rightfully assume his place on the Kings’ throne and not have to battle those two for shots anymore. Martin, who registered an astounding (for a guard) 61.8 percent true-shooting percentage, should see his 23.7-ppg scoring average rise toward the heavier half of the 20-ppg scale. He’s that good, and he has taken to the role of leader with a quiet, do-as-I-do approach.

Martin’s outlet valves—Udrih, Garcia, Salmons and Brad Miller—all overachieved offensively last season, but one thing they still need to improve is getting a better handle on the ball if turnover-prone Sacramento (16.1 tpg last season, worst in the League) is going to be a truly good offensive team. And trust us, they’ll have to get the job done on O, because their D is pretty weak. Without any shotblocking presence and a lack of perimeter intimidation now that Artest is gone, Sacramento’s defense could rank among the worst in the L (they were 26th last year in defensive efficiency). The lack of big-man muscle is this team’s greatest weakness. Miller is bulky but getting older quickly; hustling Mikki Moore’s contributions are limited because of his size (or lack thereof); solid Shelden Williams played his best ball yet, but only saw 13 mpg; active Jason Thompson is only a rookie; and Spencer Hawes is sizeable but only 19.

Theus also will have to battle with the losses of Bibby and Artest, acquiring mostly young, unproven players in return. It’s a good long-term strategy by basketball president Geoff Petrie, but this team overachieved last season, and equaling it with less talent will be tough, barring unforeseen contributions from additions Bobby Brown, Donté Greene or Thompson.

C— Brad Miller 13.4 ppg 9.5 rpg 3.7 apg

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08-09 Awards Predictions

Crystal Ballin' Dick Vitale 2008 Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee How do you not like Boston? The Lakers are certainly gonna be right there, there’s no doubt about it. [Michael] Beasley I think is gonna be a monster. I believe in the League he’ll score 18, 19 every night, get 10 rebounds right out of the gate. I mean, he just has that knack for knowing how to score. I’d take LeBron James [for MVP]. Magic Johnson, he played the game with such spirit, passion and a smile, and could play anywhere on the floor. And that’s what I love about LeBron as well.

Adrian Dantley 2008 Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee It will probably be the same teams [Boston and Los Angeles]. Watch out, the Clippers will be a little bit better and Golden State will be better. Among the rookies, O.J. Mayo is pretty good, [Kevin] Love should be pretty good, and you’ve got the kid from my hometown, Michael Beasley. For this year’s MVP, if I was able to start a franchise, I’d take Chris Paul. He’s a pretty good player.

Seth Berkman Assistant Editor This season everyone seems to love that same old song of Boston and L.A., but like tight jeans and fluorescent t-shirts, I’m tired of the ’80s look. Instead, I like Detroit to crawl out of the East over Toronto, taking on the Houston Rockets. And behind T-Mac’s Finals MVP performance, H-Town will celebrate its third NBA title. Elsewhere, expect LeBron James to pick up his first MVP, Michael “Bees Knees” Beasley to cop ROY and Luis Scola to take home Most Improved Player. Shane Battier will edge out fellow Rocket Ron Artest for DPOY, while the New Jersey Nets will surprise and sneak into the playoffs.

Keng Shao Design Director Keep in mind that I’m in the art department. LeBron James wins MVP and O.J. Mayo for ROY. Most Improved Player goes to Rajon Rondo and the Knicks will be the surprise team of the season. And with my prediction of 52 wins, Coach Mike D’Antoni will get COY (full disclosure: I’m a Knicks fan). The Finals will come down to the Celtics and Hornets, with Boston taking it four games to three. With that said, I see Tyson Chandler picking up DPOY honors. (Again, I’m an art guy, so if it all goes south for my predictions, let it be known this is not my field of expertise.)

Matt Candela Associate Designer

YAO: BILL BAPTIST; JAMES: BRIAN BABINEAU; PAUL: LAYNE MURDOCH/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

There is still no team with the versatility of Boston in the East, so it is hard to imagine them not being in the mix . The Lakers will be there in the West, but I like the Jazz and the continued maturity of Deron Williams to finally push Utah over the hump. Their success will give Jerry Sloan his long overdue coaching honors, and also help a rejuvenated Kirilenko get recognized for his consistent defensive prowess. Look for Beasley to be a big factor is his first year. As far as MVP, now that Kobe has his, I look for LBJ to pick up the first of many. And keep an eye out for the Milwaukee Bucks, who should be a playoff team by year’s end.

accolades. Coach of the Year goes to Rick Adelman, and new Rocket Ron Artest should end up with DPOY honors. And my surprise team: the T-Wolves—with my choice for ROY, Kevin Love.

Darryl Howerton Contributing Writer In the post-Jordan era, I had a saying: “Flip a coin. Heads: Tim Duncan’s team wins. Tails: Shaq’s.” But now that L.A. has a Jordanesque Kobe and a seven-foot ’Drew on the same squad, like I told Kobe after our interview, “Good luck with your new dynasty.” Lakers in 2009.

Eric Justic Contributing Writer Going out on a huge limb, but Houston and Portland will meet in the Western Conference Finals. Provided Yao Ming is healthy and Ron Artest stays in check, Tracy McGrady should finally get past the First Round and might be the surprise MVP. LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy and a precocious Greg Oden are a scary group as good as the Lakers and Hornets.

Anthony Gilbert Contributing Writer The more things change, the more they stay the same. The Lakers and Celtics will vie for the Larry O’Brien trophy again; Kobe wins the Maurice Podoloff, with Dwyane Wade as runner-up.

The East is stronger thanks to the 76ers’ revamped roster, Jermaine O’Neal in Toronto, a full season of Bibby in Atlanta, and Detroit and its championship nucleus. The West ups the ante with New Orleans, the Texas triangle, and the Clippers.

Brett Ballantini Contributing Writer Celtics-Lakers is already so tired. Without new blood to take over in the East, how about Chris Paul pulling the Hornets into the Finals this season to cap an MVP year? Here’s to Marcus Camby going 20-20 on the Clippers, with a few sly smiles and about 10 blocks on the side. Last but not least, break down the wall to the Hall and admit overlooked greats like Artis Gilmore, Mel Daniels, and Chet Walker.

Ming Wong Editor in Chief I guess I’d be a contrarian to say anything besides Lakers for the chip in ’09. But don’t sleep on New Orleans with their diversified team and game, or Houston if Yao and T-Mac can stay healthy. Bron takes home his first MVP, Oden the ROY and our Tech Ed Shane Battier wins DPOY. Dare to dream: my Knicks finish with 40 wins.

Michael Bradley Senior Writer This could be a huge season of change in the NBA. Teams like Dallas, San Antonio, Detroit and Phoenix could wane, while New Orleans, Philadelphia and Portland continue to ascend. Expect the Lakers to win it all, as a healthy Andrew Bynum helps them overcome their interior deficiencies.

The East will belong to Cleveland, as the Celts lose traction because their Big Three will start to feel its age. Kobe wins the MVP. Greg Oden is ROY, and Maurice Cheeks earns Coach of the Year honors.

Brett Olson Editorial Intern Expect the Cleveland Cavaliers to top the New Orleans Hornets in six and LeBron James netting his first MVP. Rookie of the year?

Two words and one seven-footer, Greg Oden. And has anyone taken a look at the Milwaukee Bucks? Michael Redd & Co. won’t win a championship, but playoffs should be in their future.

Tom Gottlieb Associate Editor Chris Paul is a transcendent talent with the ability to dominate a game in multiple ways. But even an MVP has his Kryptonite: namely, one Deron Williams, leader of the Jazz, my pick to win it all. Out of the East I like Cleveland. Chris Duhon should see his numbers rise quickly in Mike D’Antoni’s system, netting him Most Improved

Trevor Kearney Contributing Writer Philly had the best offseason, but will Elton Brand put the 76ers over the top? Don’t count Miami among the East’s elite just yet, but if D-Wade plays like he did this summer and teaches Michael Beasley a thing or two, the Heat will sneak up on some folks.

Jeramie McPeek Editor-at-Large Assuming the Celtics stay healthy, they’ll be back in the Finals come June. Out West, though, it could be anybody’s year. The Lakers and Rockets should both be better. The Hornets and Jazz are both threats. Phoenix and Dallas both have new coaches and new motivation. And then there’s the Spurs, who won titles in each of the last three odd years (’03, ’05, ’07). So who wins in ’09? KG! MVP, that is.

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A Kobe State of Mind Kobe Bryantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brilliance lies not in his vaunted scoring prowess or shutdown defense, but in his ability to play the game on a higher intellectual level

By Darryl Howerton #21 Photograph By Andrew D. Bernstein

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Karpov. Kasparov. Kramnik. Kobe.

World chess champions, all. The former three grandmasters did it on a chessboard. The latter does it on the hardwood.

Oh, Kobe Bryant has always been good at checkers. He was always able to jump over opponents, get himself kinged, and then zig-and-zag past his foe at will. But it wasn’t until he became a grandmaster at chess, controlling all the pieces on the board—his own and his opponent’s—that he was accorded MVP1 respect. Granted, in the post-Shaq era, Bryant wasn’t working with a complete2 chess set—missing a bishop here, a rook there, needing more pawns. But to see the lifetime Laker work these days is to witness a master rule over his craft. He truly has become one of the smartest players to ever play this game called basketball.

Bryant is told the angle of this story. He then breaks into laughter.

“I think what made me smart is the fact that I realized I was stupid,” says Bryant, summarizing many of the growing pains it took for this 18-year-old high school prodigy to become the 30year-old sage we see today. “I always wanted to do more work to become smarter and smarter.

When I came into the NBA from high school, I always felt like there was so much more for me to learn. There were always people or players who knew more than I did.”

Lakers coach Phil Jackson was also searching for his Bobby Fischer. In the Lakers’ championship years at the beginning of the decade, Bryant was the rare facilitator of a highpowered offense who could also average 26 points—give or take a few—every season. With Shaquille O’Neal’s leadership, Bryant was a crucial cog in helping the Lakers win three titles

‘I think what made me smart is the fact that I realized I was stupid.’ despite his under-253 status.

But it wasn’t until Bryant had to lead on his own that Jackson saw his pupil move to the head of the class in truly becoming a master.

“I think letting the game come to him has been the biggest thing for Kobe,” says Jackson.

“I think some of that’s maturation. He now knows when the game needs an insert from his presence. He knows when his team is faltering that he has to take things over as an offensive player. He knows when he’s got to get other people involved that haven’t been involved. He knows when the game’s at a pace that should be slowed or increased, depending on what the game’s all about. Those are the things I think he’s got much better judgment on.”

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NATHANIEL S. BUTLER; NEXT PAGE: JONATHAN FERREY/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

In the summer of 2006, Jackson and Bryant spent a lot of time talking and texting each other basketball wisdom. In a nutshell, Jackson convinced Bryant—just as he convinced Michael Jordan4 16 years prior—they weren’t going to beat the NBA elite, in this case, the Spurs, Pistons, Suns and Mavericks, with Bryant scoring 35 a game. He needed Bryant to become a leader like a father leads his children. Show them the way, but also back off at times. Let your kids make their own mistakes now and then. Comfort them when they need it; cajole them as well.

At no time did Bryant put his chess-play on display better than in the 2008 NBA Western Conference Finals, when Bryant played chess with grandmaster Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs—and won.

The Spurs seemingly had his number in the early games whenever All-NBA defenders Bruce Bowen and Duncan were in the game together, keeping him below his averages, keeping him away from the free-throw line. Yet Bryant always found a way to win at the end. Game after game, Bowen harassed Bryant on the perimeter and Duncan patrolled the paint. Rather than playing into the enemies’ hands and attacking them, Bryant got his teammates involved and built up their confidence. Then whenever either Bowen or Duncan hit the bench for a breather, Bryant attacked the Spurs relentlessly. If Bowen was out, Bryant was continuously shooting 15-foot jumpers over Ime Udoka, Michael Finley or Manu Ginobili. If Duncan was out, he’d attack Fabricio Oberto, Kurt Thomas or Robert Horry in the paint.

In the clinching Game 5, whenever both Bowen and Duncan were in the game, Bryant changed strategies and attacked them both at will—just to show he could—scoring 17 in the fourth quarter to finish with 39 points, his biggest output of the series.

Checkmate. Lakers advance.

“A lot of that was patience and understanding of movements on the floor,” says Bryant.

“That’s Phil’s teaching. That’s Tex Winter’s5 teaching. You have to understand how to use all five guys on the floor, so you’re not just playing a two-man game or a one-man game, but you’re using all five pieces.

“That’s what I’ve learned how to do. I did a good job of communicating that to the rest of the team. And that was for all of us to play the same way. And it worked out well for us.”

Today—as they do for the bulk of October—Bryant and teammate Pau Gasol are playing one-on-one while their teammates get extra conditioning. The two stars are afforded this luxury because they never truly had downtime this offseason thanks to Olympic

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‘He now knows when the game needs an insert from his presence. He knows when his team is faltering that he has to take things over. He knows when he’s got to get other people involved,’ Jackson says.

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‘We can talk on a level that sometimes you can’t talk with other teammates because of that understanding of just how to play basketball.

Even though Kobe didn’t play in college, he just has a high basketball IQ,’ Fisher says.

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Yet, whenever Gasol tries to be physical on Bryant, the shooting guard just goes with the push and fires up a turnaround to wherever he was moved.

“I’m a beast on that block!” he yells.

Meanwhile, the running Lakers are halted at the moment because Derek Fisher is yelling at them to drive home a point. Apparently during the suicide runs, some Lakers are coming up a couple of inches short of touching the baselines with their shoes.

“See? That’s what we did with Boston last year.” Fisher puts his shoe a couple of inches short of the line and makes his point.

Every Laker touches the lines and beyond from this moment on.

Boston is the subject that defines the Lakers’ mindset this year. It drives them.

After being embarrassed in a not-as-close-as-it-seemed six games in the Finals,7 every L.A. player and coach admits they were not as mentally tough as the Celtics. They admit Boston had a better defensive approach. They admit Gang Green was the better rebounding unit.

It’s those three areas that drive the Lakers in ’08-09.

“This year in particular,” says Fisher, “you’re going to see Kobe and I whispering to each other and huddling up about the things we need to do defensively to be a better team.”

Fisher is Bryant’s study partner. They sit next to each other in film sessions and constantly hold deep basketball conversations away from the court. Fish is the perfect sounding board

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commitments to their respective countries. Jackson wants to make sure they don’t overdo it in Lakers training camp. Rest is the order of the month.

In this particular one-on-one contest, the reigning MVP is making like Magic Johnson in the 1980 Finals and playing center against the 7-0, 250-pound Gasol. And he cannot be stopped, even though he is not allowed to step out farther than 10 feet from the hoop.

Kobe’s got the fadeaway off the left block working like MJ. He’s also got that slippery stutter-step that gets him a dunk every other time. And there is not one instance where Gasol can stop Bryant from scoring. Not one.

“Put your hand up,” Sasha Vujacic yells at Gasol, after the guard completes another suicide run ahead of the rest of his teammates as they continue their extra conditioning.

“Kobe’s not going to miss if you don’t get there in time to put your hand up.”

But even though they’re playing an inside game, Gasol can never get close enough to Bryant to get a hand in his face. And on the flipside, Bryant stops Gasol on half his possessions. Mind you, Gasol was one of the five or 10 best big men in basketball last season. But by using some jujutsu moves6—and, yes, extra fouling—Bryant is sticking right-forearm shivers into Gasol and keeping him off balance. Half the time Gasol will score, but the other half has the 6-6, 205-pound Bryant knocking him off course or distracting him with one arm and stealing the ball with his other.

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The Mensa Club

NASH: BARRY GOSSAGE; DUNCAN: JEFF GROSS; PRINCE: JESSE D. GARRABRANT; BATTIER: BILL BAPTIST; THOMAS: ROCKY WIDNER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

The League is filled with tremendous athletes, but a rarer breed is the cerebral player who relies not on vertical leap but rather vertical thinking to dominate their position. Kobe gets the top nod in our book, but other than Mamba, the following quintet earns top grades for playing the game with their brains.

Steve Nash We kept flip-flopping between Nash and Jason Kidd for this spot. The two are so equal in terms of understanding the relationship between themselves and their teammates. Both points equally put their mates in positions to succeed and always know which button to push. We finally settled on Nash because he’s been slightly better of late with his brilliant re-direction of the Suns to perennial contender status. But we haven’t forgotten about Kidd’s impact on the lowly-until-his-arrival Nets. The amazing thing is that for two seasons (’96-97 and ’97-98), these two guys were on the same Suns squad.

Tim Duncan We could’ve easily swapped Duncan onto this cover and called him the smartest in today’s game and we would be right. When it’s all said and done, Duncan will go down as the greatest power forward to ever play in the NBA. His critics say his game is too robotic, but like a perfect machine, he always goes about and delivers consistency and, most importantly, results.

His skilled game aside, TD makes as many mistakes as Mark Price missed free throws—which is to say, not much.

Tayshaun Prince Watch a Pistons game and pay attention to Tayshaun Prince.

Look past the gangly layups and the wonky jumper and you’ll see a cerebral player exploiting the opposition not with fierce will, but with the often-overlooked little things: making the extra move after a fake or cut, finding the open space in the defense, using angles to get an advantage on his man. Even when he’s not playing, look at the bench and you’ll see him studying the game and discussing strategy with teammates and coaches so that when he checks back in, he’ll be even more prepared.

Shane Battier It’s a travesty Shane Battier has never won Defensive Player of the Year; the man is a genius on stopping opponents (with the exception of possibly Kobe).

Battier is a jujutsu master on the floor, using his opponents’ strength and aggressiveness and turning it into his advantage. The 6-8 forward will man up against a scorer and yield just enough to let him think he is winning the battle; in reality he is forcing him to take a contested shot from a difficult vantage point. As a help defender, there might be no one better than Battier in knowing the tendencies of players and anticipating moves to draw offensive fouls.

Kurt Thomas This might be a curious pick to some, especially those unfamiliar with the longtime veteran. Despite a severe ankle injury early in his career and not being blessed with tremendous physical gifts, Kurt Thomas has lasted 14 seasons in the League because of his court smarts.

Don’t let the bruising demeanor and sometimes-crazy-eyed look sway you: Thomas is oh-so-clever at picking his spots and making the most of his skills. On defense he’s a master at using leverage to frustrate bigger, faster and more skilled pivots. On offense he plays the angles to perfection to find space around the basket and is deadly accurate when he slides over to the soft spot of the defense to hit his almostautomatic short jumper.

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“It’s defense first here now,” says Fisher.

Bynum, a great shotblocker and rebounder, was a chess piece that Bryant sorely missed last year in the playoffs. Now that the 21-year-old center is teamed up with Gasol and Odom—both very good and very underrated defenders and rebounders in their own right—L.A.’s frontline may just go down as one of the best in NBA history.

“Outside of the [US national team], this is the team with the most potential I’ve played on in a long time,” says Bryant. “The teams that we’ve had in the past were great, with myself and Shaquille. But this team right here has a lot of depth. We got all the pieces. Now it’s on us to do all the work. If we do the work, we win.”

Assistant coach Kurt Rambis knows basketball smarts. He played during the League’s glory days as one of the hardest workers on the Lakers’ championship teams of the ’80s.

He was teammates with Magic and Kareem. His teams matched up against the likes of Jordan, Bird and Isiah countless times. And he says Bryant reminds him of the smartest players of that day, Magic and Bird. He even believes Bryant can be called the smartest player in the game today, a place Rambis previously reserved for only Duncan.

“He’s on Duncan’s level now, if not higher,” says Rambis. “Kobe has more responsibilities than Duncan does. He’s going to be in more situations than Duncan is.

He can be in every position that Duncan is in, offensively and defensively. He can be in an equal amount, if not more.”

So can he be on the mental pantheon with Johnson, Bird, Jordan and Duncan?

“I think so. Yes,” says Rambis. “Kobe is always educating himself, not only from the physical aspects of the game, but how to improve his individual skills, how to

LEFT: ELSA; RIGHT: NOAH GRAHAM/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

for KB, because both came to the Lakers the same year (1996). Even though Fisher is four years Bryant’s senior, they really connect in a same-age-brother kind of way.

“There are certain guys that you connect with because of different reasons, and Kobe is in a different stratosphere physically a lot of times,” says Fisher. “He’s a guy that’s built all of his own, but mentally I think I can hang with him,” says the 6-1, 210pound point guard, shrugging his shoulders confidently, before bursting into laughs.

“Seriously, we can talk on a level that sometimes you can’t talk with other teammates because of that understanding of just how to play basketball. Even though Kobe didn’t play in college, he just has a high—it’s cliché to say—basketball IQ. That’s always been one of my experiences because I was a smaller guy. So I always had to be smarter than everybody else.”

Fisher and Bryant are constantly stressing to their big men the value of talking. This year, in particular, the Lakers’ defensive principles have changed and the guards and swingmen are going to be constantly harassing the opponents’ perimeter players. They’re going to pressure the ball up the floor a lot more now, too. L.A. has the depth for mass substitution, so players such as Bryant, Fisher, Vujacic, Jordan Farmar and Trevor Ariza will go all-out on D, knowing that the most talented, multi-skilled frontline in basketball— Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom—has their back.

It truly is a dynasty in the making.

“When you’re playing defense as a guard, everything’s behind you,” says Fisher. “So it’s up to those guys behind you to tell you where picks are, to tell you where guys are coming from, to tell you what’s happening with the ball.”

Basically, Bryant and Fisher are trying to turn Bynum, Gasol and Odom into three screaming Kevin Garnetts—which may just cause deafness for Lakers courtside ticketholders if the three truly get as loud as KG. HOOP

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incorporate the mental aspect of the game, not only from his perspective, but the overall team perspective as well.

“Kobe’s entire career has been a learning experience, and now his basketball IQ is obviously as high as it’s ever been.”

Los Angeles Times NBA columnist Mark Heisler notes that Bryant’s court savvy has always been high, but that it did sometimes come into conflict with his overbearing will—also key to his greatness, but in the past the trait that took over, often to his and the team’s detriment, at key moments in games.

“Sometimes the will came before the intelligence,” says Heisler. “It was worse when Kobe wasn’t as smart a player, when he didn’t have it all together. Kobe was always going to impose his will on the game. Now he’s much better about making decisions, deciding when to do this, when not to do that.”

Bryant explains it’s just a matter of letting both will and intelligence coexist.

“They go hand-in-hand,” says Bryant. “You have to be intelligent enough to know that your will doesn’t just turn on and off, but it’s something that you start with in training camp—to have the will every day to practice hard, to play hard. That becomes infectious for your team. Then during the game, it looks like you’re willing your team to victory. When in actuality, you’re doing something you’ve been doing all year and your teammates automatically follow suit because they’ve been doing it all year, too.

“You know what I mean? They go hand-in-hand.”

Kobe’s got the whole world in his hands these days. He’s got all the pieces in hand. All the moves worked out in his head.

Now it’s just time to beat Deep Blue, or whatever obstacles are put before him.

“We’re the favorites for a reason,” says Bryant. “We got all the pieces now.”

Checkmate? Maybe come June.

‘This is the team with the most potential I’ve played on in a long time.

This team right here has a lot of depth. We got all the pieces.’

BONUS POINTS 1. In his ’07-08 MVP season, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to the best record in the West (57-25) while posting averages of 28.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 5.4 apg with a .576 true-shooting percentage.

2. How weak in depth were the ’04-05, ’05-06, ’06-07 Lakers? Before last season’s Finals squad, the previous three Lakers teams had only three players that averaged 24 mpg for their respective teams in ’07-08: Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Andrew Bynum. And on those teams, Bynum didn’t play much because he was a teenager; Odom and Butler played together for only one season.

3. When the Lakers threepeated from 2000 to 2002, Bryant not only led the team in assists, he also averaged 22.5 ppg at age 22, 28.5 ppg at age 23 and 25.2 ppg at age 24.

4. Michael Jordan averaged 33.6 ppg in 39 minutes the year before Jackson was named Bulls head coach; the year after, Jordan averaged 31.5 ppg in 37 mpg as the Bulls won the 1991 NBA title, the first of Jordan’s six. Bryant averaged a career-best 35.4 ppg in 41 mpg in ’05-06, the season before Jackson and Bryant became text buddies; in ’07-08, Bryant averaged 28.3 ppg in 38.9 mpg and the Lakers had their best season of the post-Shaq era. For what it’s worth, Jackson is looking to rest Bryant even more this season, perhaps trimming off a couple more minutes a night.

5. Tex Winter is known as the father of the triangle offense, even writing a book on the subject—The Triple Post Offense, published in 1962. He has nine NBA Championship rings, all acquired as an assistant coach to Phil Jackson, first in Chicago and then in L.A. 6. “I learn most of my best moves from my teammates,” says Bryant. “I picked up some good post moves from Luke Walton. At the Olympics, I was taking moves from Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade. They liked my stutter-step, so they were all jacking that. We all steal from each other.”

7. The Lakers fell in six games to the Celtics, including a 97-91 loss at Staples Center in Game 4 in which the Lakers blew a 24-point lead. It was the largest comeback in Finals history and gave Boston a commanding 3-1 series lead.

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08-09 Season Preview

PRESENTED BY

Opening Statements In this election year, political candidates aren't the only ones speaking their minds. We sat down with this year's rookie class and let them speak out about pop culture, the college life, fashion sense...and oh yeah, basketball.

Derrick Rose

Chicago Bulls

6-3, 190 Guard Memphis The first thing we came across when researching non-basketball related stories was that you have a fear of medical needles. What would be scarier: stepping in and taking a charge from Shaq or going to get shots? Shot. Absolutely. I’d rather take that shot from Shaq. What’s your favorite Bulls moment when you were growing up? When Mike hit the game-winning shot over Bryon Russell in 1998. That was the most memorable moment for me. We know you’ve only played for one of these coaches, but who do you think uses more hair gel: John Calipari, Pat Riley or Rick Pitino? [laughs] I don’t know, man.Calipari looks like he lays it on thick. Yeah, Coach Cal does. But I don’t know, I have no idea. Fair enough. Who’s your favorite Chi-town rapper? My favorite is my guy, Charles Coleman. What are you thinking of doing with your first paycheck? Buy my mom a house. You going to move in with her? [laughs] No, no I’m too old for that. What was your most embarrassing on-court incident in high school or college? No, I never got embarrassed on court. How about off the court, any level of school.

One time, I was riding my bike and one of my friends told me to look down because I hadn’t put up my kickstand. I looked down to try to put it down while I was still riding, and I hit the front of a parked car and I flew up on the hood. Everybody was outside and laughing. Any injuries in that? No, thankfully.

This is a big political year. If you were ever going to run for office, what would your campaign slogan be? If You Know, Vote for Rose. [laughs] As a No. 1 pick you obviously have a lot of hype. But what’s one thing you’ve been working on this offseason? Just my all-around game. It hasn’t been one spot.

I’ve been trying to get my all-around game better, because as a pro, everybody has an all-around game.

Michael Beasley

Miami Heat 6-10, 235 Forward Kansas State

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[Michael Beasley grabs our reporter’s recorder attached to an iPod and shows it off to Donté Greene] It’s recording, look! Check that out. That’s hot! We saw you in Gunnin’ For That No. 1 Spot, but if they made a biography about you for a movie, who would you want to play you? Mike Epps. He’s funny. What’s your favorite Mike Epps movie? My favorite one? Probably Friday After Next. With you and Mario Chalmers now teammates, does that Jayhawks/Wildcats beef get put to rest? A little bit. It still lives. But just not on the court—for right now. What have you been bumpin’ on your iPod this summer? A lot of Jay-Z, a lot of Lil Wayne, Lauryn Hill, go-go music. Have you ever tried to pursue any endeavors in music? I just listen to it. I can’t rap! [laughs] What movies have you caught this summer? I saw Hulk and Iron Man, those were two good movies. What’s the best basketball movie of all-time? Gunnin’ For That No. 1 Spot. [laughs] Let’s say after your playing career you run for office. What would your platform be? I don’t know. That’s a good question I’d just smile a whole a lot. [laughs] HOOP

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Patrick Ewing Jr.

New York Knicks

6-8, 240 Forward Georgetown We have Dr. Dre playing in the background, but what do you like to listen to? Usher, Lil Wayne, I’m waiting for that new Lloyd to come out. I’m gonna bump that from this summer to next summer. And The Dream. Did you ever get involved in music outside of playing basketball? When me and my brother were young—my brother’s really big into music—he’s a producer now and stuff like that and when we were like 10 we had like a little rap group. We had songs and everything, it was crazy. Do you remember the name of the group? I do not, and I’m glad I don’t. [laughs] I hope no one else does either. What movies have you checked out over the summer? The Dark Knight.

It’s one of the top five movies ever. My man Heath Ledger, God rest his soul, he killed The Joker’s part. I’m upset that he won’t be able to play The Joker in another movie. I liked to see how Two-Face became Two-Face in the movie as opposed to the comic book. Cause in the comic book he had acid thrown on his face in the courtroom. I also liked Hancock. I’m looking forward to seeing Step Brothers. I haven’t seen a bad movie in a while. Kung-Fu Panda was nice. What superpower would you want if you were a superhero? I would want to be able to fly probably. Who plays you in the Patrick Ewing movie? Me! I want to be myself, man. Can’t nobody play me better than me.

Chris Douglas-Roberts

New Jersey Nets 6-7, 200 Guard Memphis

Before you were drafted, what kind of preconceived notions did you have about New Jersey?

New Jersey and New York, the whole area was like my second home growing up, because my father lives in New York. So I was back and forth here a lot when I was younger, so I was real familiar with the area. Growing up and visiting here, what were some of your favorite things to do? I came to play ball. I made sure that I played a lot of outside basketball in New York when I came. Any courts in particular?

I can’t remember the names now, just like local parks. It was a good run at every one. How different was the competition up here as opposed to back home? More people took basketball serious up here. In Detroit there were a couple, but you can’t go to every park and find a good run like you can in New York and New Jersey. What have you been bumpin’ on your iPod this summer? Let’s see—I’ve been listening to a little bit of Gucci Mane, T.I. I listen to about everything, it just depends on how I’m feeling. Are you excited for the new T.I. album Paper Trail? Definitely.

T.I.’s my man. What are some of your favorite movies? I’m not a real movie guy. I watch a lot of sitcoms. I like funny stuff so I watch a lot of Family Guy. Who’s your favorite character? Peter! Oooh, wait, hold on—’cause I like the mayor [Adam West], too! The mayor is hilarious. You got one favorite line from Family Guy? The funniest one is when Stewie is asking for his money from Brian, hands down. That’s the funniest— there’s so many of them, there’s so many funny parts in it, but that’s the one that comes to mind. Do you like the other Seth MacFarlane comedies? Yeah I do. At some point I catch them, but I make sure I see Family Guy. Just not as good as the original. Nooo, not even close.

What’s your favorite pregame meal? Pasta. It doesn’t matter what kind. Do you have any pregame rituals? I sleep all the way until the game. If the game is at seven o’clock at night, I’m sleeping the whole day.

Courtney Lee

Orlando Magic

EWING: RAY AMATI; CD-R: ROBERT LABERGE; LEE: FERNANDO MEDINA/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

6-5, 200 Guard Western Kentucky What exactly is a Hilltopper? [Ed note: Lee played for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in college.] [Laughs] Aww man, I went to school there for four years and still don’t know what it is. I guess I’m a Hilltopper. Is Western Kentucky as rural as it sounds? What will you remember most about there? Just being able to play there four years with great teammates. You remember all the experiences with your friends, just enjoying college. What is one thing about the college life that you’re gonna miss the most? Right now I don’t think I’m gonna miss anything because I’m pretty happy where I’m at. But like I said, just being around friends and stuff, the camaraderie at the college level, that’s about it. Are you into the perks of living by all the theme parks near Orlando? Growing up I really didn’t like to ride roller coasters, but I think I’m gonna have to get involved with that a little bit. But I can have family come out and they’ll have something to do, so it works out. What other perks are there about living in Orlando? The location’s good and the weather is always nice and I’m from Indianapolis where we get like 14 inches of snow, so I’m looking forward to not having that. What have you been listening to on your iPod lately? I got that new Nas, that new [Lil] Wayne, I got all the Jay-Zs, Styles P, The Lox, I got it all man. What movies have you seen lately that you really liked? Step Brothers. [laughs] That was a good one, I was laughing from the beginning to the end. I also saw Iron Man and The Dark Knight. Are you a big Will Ferrell fan? That dude got a funny bone. I like to see all his movies. Who would play Courtney Lee in a movie? [pauses] Courtney Lee.

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08-09 Season Preview Ryan Anderson

New Jersey Nets

6-10, 240 Forward California How familiar were you with New Jersey before you got drafted? Not too familiar. I’d been to New York before and I loved it. I went about eighth grade and we always wanted to go back, so it was great to go back to New York when we signed the contract and went through the interviews.

I love New Jersey, it’s great. I wasn’t sure what to expect about New Jersey, you know you always see New York and the lights and how alive the city is; you know they say New Jersey is kind of the suburbanized area of that, which is great, I come from a suburban area and it’s kind of more relaxing. What have you been listening to this summer? I’ve been listening to Lil Wayne, The Carter III. I just download a bunch of different music. I like to put together the mixes and stuff, I don’t really have any kind of genre that I listen to. What do you think is the best basketball movie ever? He Got Game’s a great movie, Hoosiers is a great movie, Blue Chips, those three are probably my top three. Who would you like to portray Ryan Anderson in a movie? [Laughs] Probably Brad Pitt. If you weren’t playing basketball after college, what do you think you’d be doing right now? I think it’d be great to do something in marketing. I’d like to get out there and maybe get on some kind of TV show and advertise something. So being in the New York/New Jersey media markets might help. Yeah, that’s perfect. How was it, growing up in a really conservative neighborhood and then going to a school like Cal, which is traditionally known as a liberal campus? It was different, but it got me used to the real world. I’m used to pretty much everything now. It’s a pretty crazy environment, there are different things that you can’t find anywhere else there, which is great, so it kind of gets me prepared for everything.

Donte Greene

Sacramento Kings

6-11, 226 Forward Syracuse How old were you when you left Germany? I was 13. Have you been back since? No, actually next summer I’m taking a trip back. I’ve just been busy with AAU in the summertime ever since I left. I’m definitely looking forward to going back next year. Were you there when the wall fell down? The wall fell in ’89? Yeah, I was there. What do you do to chill in the summertime? Just relax, try and chill with my family and enjoy my free time. Who’s been dominating your iPod lately? I have a Young Jeezy mixtape on there right now. Of Course Lil Wayne. Lil Wayne’s always on there. Did you play any music growing up? I played the drums in church, but other than that nothing too serious. Do you still have a set now? I’ll be getting one [smiles]. What movies did you see this summer? Hancock was good. I’d like Will Smith to play me. Step Brothers was also a funny one. Are you a big Will Ferrell fan? Yeah, definitely. What would your slogan be if you ever ran for office? 6-9 is right all the time!

DJ White

Oklahoma City Thunder 6-9, 251 Forward Indiana

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ANDERSON, WHITE: FERNANDO MEDINA; GREENE: ROCKY WIDNER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

What’s the best thing and the worst thing about living in Indiana? The best thing about living in Indiana? [laughs] Probably the college town [atmosphere], a lot of different things going on, and the worst part is probably the weather, when it was real bad walking to class and stuff like that. What have you been listening to on your iPod? The new Rick Ross CD. That’s all I listen to. Did you see the new Batman movie? I saw it the first night it came out.

It was great. I hope they come out with another one. I love Batman, I used to watch it growing up. What were some of your other favorite cartoons as a kid? [Teenage Mutant] Ninja Turtles and Batman, that’s basically all I watched. And Bugs Bunny. Who was your favorite ninja turtle? Raphael. [laughs] What’s your favorite basketball movie of all-time? Probably Love & Basketball. I like Hoosiers. Hoosiers was OK. [Ed note: C’mon DJ, you played at Indiana!] Who would play DJ White in a movie? Denzel! He’s a great actor.

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JR Giddens

Boston Celtics

6-5, 215 Guard New Mexico

Anthony Randolph

Golden State Warriors

6-10, 205 Forward LSU

RANDOLPH, GIDDENS: FERNANDO MEDINA; WESTBROOK: JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

I’m of the fake lefty mold; all I do for the most part is write with my left hand. Are you a legit lefty? I do everything with my left hand. You were born in Germany, and you were still there when the Berlin Wall fell. That’s one of those “Where were you when...” kind of moments.

Have your parents ever told you where you guys were when it happened? No, not really.

I haven’t ever asked them all that many questions about that time, I was really young back then. A lot of scouts were worried about whether you would be successful playing forward in the NBA because of your weight. Then you went out and scored 30 in your first summer league game. Do you think that silenced the critics? Not really. I think it’s all a part of the game, the scouts and the critics. All I can do is go out there and work hard. Is the Warriors system as fun to play in as it is to watch? It’s the best thing, as a basketball player, that they allow you to just go out there and play. We read online that you fish. Is there any particular kind of fishing you prefer? Just bass fishing. Me and my dad go up into Arkansas to fish. [Ed note: Anthony is originally from Texas.] What’s the biggest bass you ever caught? I caught a five-pounder one time. Did you get to go to the football national title game when LSU played Ohio State? No, I couldn’t go. I had class! So even though you were only there one year, what are you going to miss most about LSU? I’m just gonna miss hanging out with my friends, and even going to class, stuff like that. What did you do in your downtime from class? Just hanging around with my teammates in my dorm room. What weighs more: Yourself, or the amount of weight Jared lost while eating Subway sandwiches? Probably the weight he lost on his diet. Yep. He lost 240 pounds.

Russell Westbrook

I read you used to be a big fan of Steve Urkel growing up. Yeah, I was a big fan. What were some of your other favorite shows as a kid? Man, I watched everything. I watched a lot of Disney Channel, a lot of cartoons, Dragon Ball Z, you name it. Any sitcoms or shows now you really keep up with it?

Nah, not right now. I just dribble and shoot the basketball a lot. We saw you getting down to Biggie before; what else do you bump? Jay-Z’s the greatest rapper of all-time. So Jay-Z, a lot of Lil Wayne, but I’m more of an R&B guy.

During the day I like to bounce around, but I slow it down for the ladies, you know what I’m sayin’? Who’s your favorite R&B artist? Ginuwine. Ginuwine and Usher. You got the same moves as him? Man, I got moves! That’s why I like Ginuwine because he can dance and sing. Do you have any specific pregame rituals? Sometimes I try to drink a large banana and strawberry shake, but if I can’t do that I’ll play Halo 3. How would you get people to vote for J.R. Giddens? I’d promote world peace, but I think they should put me in the office because I look so good in a suit. Me, in a suit? I can’t lose. I’m winning.

Oklahoma City Thunder

6-3, 187 Guard UCLA Have you thought about bringing back any of the designs shaved into your head this season? Nah, I haven’t decided yet. How often do former players come to UCLA and try to talk to the current guys? Every summer. I met all those guys, the alumni are real good people. They’ll come back and support UCLA always. What have you been listening to a lot this summer? Lil Wayne. Tha Carter III, mixtapes, freestyles a lot of other stuff, too. What’s your favorite basketball movie of alltime? Blue Chips.

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08-09 Season Preview Eric Gordon

Los Angeles Clippers

6-4, 215 Guard Indiana Is it true you went to the same high school as Babyface? Yup. Were you a big fan of his growing up? I was. I like rap now, but I still listen to him. Who are some of the artists you like now? Lil Wayne, Shawty Lo. There’s a lot of other rappers. I like Kanye West too. Now, is it also true you went to the same high school as Jared from the Subway commercials? Yeah.

Are you a big Subway fan? I do eat Subway, I mean who doesn’t as an athlete? What did you like to read growing up?

Goosebumps, remember them? I used to love reading them. What’s your favorite basketball movie of all-time? I do like Coach Carter, Love & Basketball. I’ll say Love & Basketball is tops. They might get mad at you from Indiana for not saying Hoosiers. Oh yeah, I do like that movie. It’s all good. I like that ending. Have you been able to talk to Baron Davis at all to see if he can get you on the A-list and into those parties in LA? Yeah, hopefully I get a part of what he is, but mostly I just want to get used to playing with him as a teammate.

George Hill

San Antonio Spurs 6-2, 180 Guard IUPUI

Is it true you went to the same high school as David Letterman? Yeah, Broad Ripple High School. Would you ever try to get on TV after you’re playing career is over? I’m not sure. First, I’m gonna try to get on television with him. Maybe since we went to the same school, he’ll give me an invite. What has this summer been like? I always take care of my family, so getting to chill with them and have a good time with them, laughing around, that’s what makes me happy. What have you been bumping on your iPod lately? I bump a lot of Chris Brown. Jay-Z and Lil Wayne also. Do you have the dance moves to keep up with Chris Brown on the dance floor? Nah, I don’t do no dancing. I stick to my sport. What flicks have you caught this summer? I liked Iron Man, I just saw Step Brothers. That movie was hilarious. What’s the best basketball movie of all time? Hoosiers. I gotta say Hoosiers. I’m from Indiana! [Ed note: DJ White and Eric Gordon, take note!] Eric Gordon didn’t even say Hoosiers. What did he say? I mean, I like Coach Carter, too. He said Love & Basketball. That’s my favorite movie. I don’t think it’s the best basketball movie, but that’s my favorite movie.

JJ Hickson

Cleveland Cavaliers

What’s today’s media day been like? It’s kinda hectic but fun. I’m enjoying myself. Now, you and Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Jermareo Davidson went to the same high school? Yeah. It was kind of cool knowing the great big men that came out of that high school. Were you able to talk to them a lot growing up? Yeah, they talked to me a lot about things off the court. It was more of a big-brother situation. What was it like to go to school at NC State in an area that’s like the college basketball capital of the world? That was good. It was a good atmosphere, good basketball country. I really enjoyed myself. What were some of your favorite things about the college lifestyle? Just getting up and going to practice and living in dorms with my teammates and enjoying their company. Are you ready for the schedule of an NBA life yet? Yeah, I just gotta go and get my rest in and play hard every game. What have you been bumpin’ on your iPod lately? Probably Tha Carter III the most. Do you think Lil Wayne’s the best out there right now? Yeah, yeah of course. A lot of older rappers complain about the new school, which side are you on? To me he’s the hottest guy out right now. He’s doing his thing, but I can’t discredit other rappers. What are some of your favorite DVDs on the road? Friday, all day long. Who’s your favorite character? Chris Tucker, “Smokey.”

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GORDON: ROBERT LABERGE; HILL: CHRIS LAVATTA; HICKSON: JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

6-9, 242 Forward NC State

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Joe Alexander

Milwaukee Bucks

6-8, 230 Forward West Virginia

JaVale McGee

Washington Wizards

What advice would you give to someone who was thinking about going to China? It’s a great opportunity. Beijing’s a great place to live, especially when you’re young, the cost of living is so low. So once you move there, you’re like rich. So I would definitely recommend it.

Plus the nightlife is awesome. There’s a lot of expats there, people to hang out with. It’s cool.

Have you been back since you moved as a teenager? Yeah, I’ve been back twice. Growing up were you able to see a lot of NBA games on TV? Nah, not at all. What has the summer been like, flying all over to Milwaukee and the Draft, back home, etc.? There hasn’t been any relax time. Just working out and press conferences. A lot of guys saw The Dark Knight.

Did you, too? Yeah, The Joker was awesome. Growing up, did you like comic books? I liked X-Men, that’s about it. What do you have on your iPod? I just bought the new My Chemical Romance CD, which is really good. Linkin Park, Fuel, Staind, Foo Fighters. Did you ever play an instrument? Yeah, I used to play the drums. It’s election season: What is one law you’d like to see changed? Everyone needs to get mopeds. No cars.

7-0, 237 Center Nevada

MCGEE: ROBERT LABERGE; ALEXANDER: JESSE D. GARRABRANT; BAYLESS: ROBERT LABERGE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Washington has a couple of pranksters on the team. Are you worried about them getting you with the rookie hazing this season? I’m not worried about it, but I know it’s gonna happen. It happens everywhere you go. Have you visited Gilbert’s house yet and seen his million-dollar pool? Nah, I haven’t been there yet. What are some of your favorite TV shows?

My Wife and Kids and NBA TV of course. Did you see The Dark Knight? Yeah, it was good. I want to see it again in IMAX though. If you were a superhero, what superpower would you want to have? To be able to fly. What are you listening to a lot lately? T-Pain, Lil Wayne.

Have you ever got involved in music? I play around a little bit, I’ve been making beats on my computer, but nothing serious.

Jerryd Bayless

Portland Trail Blazers

6-3, 200 Guard Arizona What have you been listening to a lot? I listen to everything, a lot of slow jams, a lot of fast things, it just depends on the mood. Have you ever played any instruments or tried to make music? Nah, not really. What’d you think of The Dark Knight? It was good. Heath Ledger should get an Oscar or I’m boycotting them. What’s the best basketball movie of all-time?

He Got Game. Who would play Jerryd Bayless in a film? [laughs] I don’t know. It would have to be a special actor to play that role. Do you have any pregame rituals? Not really. I’m not really superstitious. What are you looking forward to? Just being around those guys and playing in the NBA. That’s a great opportunity to be in that situation and I’m just looking forward to that. How would you encourage people to vote for Jerryd Bayless? There’d be no taxes. [laughs]

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08-09 Season Preview

Mario Chalmers

Miami Heat 6-1, 190 Guard Kansas

Kosta Koufos

Utah Jazz

7-0, 265 Center Ohio State

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ALL PHOTOS: ROBERT LABERGE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

You were offered a contract to play overseas in your native Greece before entering college. How come you turned it down? I respect everything Greece has done for me, but it’s always been my dream to play in the NBA. I fulfilled that dream, I was blessed with the right talents, so I’m just running with it. So you think for most guys, the dream of playing in the NBA outweighs the playing time afforded them overseas? Exactly. But you are on the Greece national team, correct? Yes sir. But recently I had to play in the summer leagues, so I couldn’t make it to the Olympics, unfortunately.

Did you watch them? Yes sir, I was cheering them the whole time. What happens when Greece plays the US? Which way do you root? [laughs] That’s tough, but I have to go with my country [the US]. But I wish the best to all the athletes in the Beijing Olympics. How many times have you been over to Greece? About four or five times. What’s your favorite place to go?

I would probably say, I love Athens, the capital. Or Corinth. Do you think you would have made a good Spartan warrior back in the day? [laughs] I would have been a big target, so probably not. Do you prefer NBA or international ball? I really don’t have a preference. It’s a different type of setting, where European ball is more a skill set, whereas the NBA relies more on athletic ability. You’re going to Utah, and one of the guys on the team is Mehmet Okur. He’s Turkish, and there has been plenty of bad blood between Turkey and Greece throughout the centuries. Do we sense a friendly rivalry developing? [laughs] No, I wouldn’t say that. Mehmet Okur is a great guy, he’s a superstar. And I’m just looking forward to learning from him. So what’s on your iPod right now? I’d say some rap and hip-hop, and some Greek music. What’s that like? I don’t know if I’ve ever heard Greek music... It’s got the same beats, same tempo as American music. It’s just in Greek. So it’s cool, I like it. So you speak fluent Greek then. Yes sir. Is it tough to learn?

Did you have a hard time learning it? It came down through the family, so it was pretty easy to catch on to it. Is there anything you’ve been working on in your game? Everything. Been working on all my skills, working on my strength, trying to take everything to the next level. Can you walk us through your fashion sense? If you’re going out on the town and want to look nice, what are you wearing? Just some lighter colors; I try not to stand out too much with bright colors or anything. Jeans, polo shirts, and I love wearing a suit and a tie.

You’re about as far away in the United States as you can get from Alaska. Are you worried about getting homesick? Nah, I ain’t worried. I still go back to Alaska to visit, but I don’t really live there anymore.

Did you go back when you were at Kansas? Yeah, I went back all the time. I’ll probably go back in the next couple of weeks, actually. So are you a beach guy at all, then? I love warm weather. Wherever it’s hot, I’m there. [laughs] In Miami there’s obviously a great club scene. Can you describe for us your outfit if you’re going out for a night on the town? Depends on where I’m going. If I’m going to a low-class kind of club, I’ll just wear a T-shirt, a T-shirt with jeans. How about your kicks? Air Force 1s. Always. But if I have to go out to something big, I’ll throw on a nice polo, some slacks or some jeans, and Stacy Adams. Crocodile style. Have any particular colors? Black. He knows about the crocodiles! [Ed note: former Kansas teammate Darrell Arthur wandered over at this point] Stacy Adams crocodiles! It’s a signature look for me. But I got it for him.

So do you have any hobbies outside basketball? [shakes head, then asks Arthur, “What were our hobbies outside basketball?” No answer.] That was my roommate right there last year. What’d you guys do in your down time, when you weren’t playing basketball? We played videogames. Call of Duty 4. That was our game.

What’s on your iPod right now? Lil Wayne, Rick Ross. Lot of rap and R&B. What have you been working on this offseason, any particular aspect of your game? Now they’ve got us working out full time, but before they just had us learning all the play. I used to go in early to learn all the plays. We just started lifting last week. I gotta get buffed up! Being from Alaska, do you have any experience with igloos? Nah. Never seen an igloo in my life, ever. Not at all. Up north they might be commonplace, but not down by Anchorage. So you wouldn’t know how to assemble one. Nope. You know, they have igloo hotels now... Really? Oh man, I would never stay in one. That’s way too cold! Your first summer league game was against the Bulls, and you outplayed Derrick Rose. Did you have any particular motivation going into it, after slipping to the second round and now going up against the No. 1 pick? A little bit. But that’s just how I play. Every time I step on the court I’m going to give it my all, every time. Do you have visions of last-second three-pointers dancing through your head when you’re on the court now? I always want the ball, but now I’ve got to give it to D-Wade. So I’ve just got to go spot up somewhere.

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Kevin Love

Minnesota Timberwolves 6-10, 255 Forward-Center UCLA Your dad scored 1,550 points in the NBA and added 29 in the ABA. How long do you think it’s going to take you to eclipse his total? [laughs] Not too long. I think he played what, four years? Four and a half years? So I don’t think it’d take me too long. I’m hoping. If I stay injury-free and I work my way into the rotation and play good minutes, I think I’ll eclipse that pretty easily. Did he show you any game film of himself when you were a kid? Yeah he showed me when he played against Lew Alcindor, when he had—I think—19 points, and he also showed me when they beat UCLA as well in Eugene. Was he rocking the Fu Manchu at the time? No, I think he was clean-shaven, unlike myself, and he had a white-man ’fro, unlike myself. Any aspirations for that kind of look for yourself? I’m probably going to shave this off [points to facial hair] at the start of the season, just to give myself a new look. But I’ll probably keep the short buzzed hair. What have you been working on this offseason? Just cutting down on body fat, getting in better shape. I think the biggest thing I realized, after I played in summer league and I did a pretty good job there, I was put on the practice USA team, the Select Team, and I got to play against a couple of the guys who were over in Beijing. The biggest thing I realized with them, the difference with them, is their bodies. So that’s the biggest thing I’ve been trying to work on. A lot of the criticism aimed at you dealt with how you play “below the rim.” So is it true, then, that white men can’t jump? It’s a perception. But I would say, compared to others, probably. But I can still jump! At the pre-draft, I jumped 35 inches off the ground, and I thought that was pretty good. Joe Alexander also represented for us with 38 inches. So we did a good job. Growing up in Oregon, were you a big Oregon Trail fan, or was that before your time?

No, we actually played that. The computer game, right? Yeah we played that. It always seemed like I would get malaria on my way there; I never ended up beating the game. Even though we played it all through my first- and second-grade years. Being a UCLA alum, I’m sure you came in contact with John Wooden. Did you glean any pointers from the old sage? I tried to talk to him as much as possible. Everybody’s trying to talk to him though, so it’s pretty hard. But I just tried to pick out little things from him, listen to him as much as possible because he’s like a walking landmark. Do you feel a mantle of responsibility coming from such a long line of tradition? Yeah, I think so. It’s a tradition, like they say. My other choice going into college was North Carolina, and they have a big tradition, too. So coming from a name school like that, you kind of have to have a good run in the NBA. How many times do you think you could bench press John Wooden?

I mean, he’s what, 98? And he only looks about 98 pounds, so I think quite a few times. What’s on your iPod right now? Not Beach Boys. Not Beach Boys. We weren’t going to go there, we swear... [laughs] Nah, it’s OK. That’s just usually the question that comes next. I listen to Jay-Z, Lil Wayne. I listen to a lot of hip-hop because I feel like basketball is such a rhythm thing. All that out there, just listening to it beforehand gets you ready. Coming from your family, it’s a big talent pool. If you have kids, will you be disappointed if they don’t turn out to be good athletes? [laughs] You can’t be disappointed in your kids! Come on now. But I would hope that my kids would want to play basketball. My dad put the ball in my hands when I was young, so I’m going to do the same and hopefully have a really tall wife that’ll make my kid around 6-10, 6-11. Make it easy for him. If not, you have to be proud of your kids no matter what they do.

DeAndre Jordan

Los Angeles Clippers

7-0, 260 Center Texas A&M

LOVE: MOLLY MEEHAN; JORDAN: FERNANDO MEDINA/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Is there anybody who you model your game after, past or present? Two past players: Bill Russell and Hakeem Olajuwon. The two present players would be Dwight Howard and Kevin Garnett.

You looking forward to playing against those guys? Oh yeah, definitely. Those guys are pretty advanced right now, but that’s only going to make me better to play against them and help me for the future. I saw you and Joey Dorsey busting out some dance moves before. Do you have a go-to move when you hit the clubs? Just the fist pump. The fist pump kind of starts you off, gets you into everything. It’s kind of like the gateway. Have you been out in L.A. before? I’ve been there a few times, but I haven’t gotten out into the city a lot. Have you found a place out there yet? No, I’m still looking a little bit. But I’m looking to go for probably the Hollywood district, somewhere around there. I’m not sure yet. What was your most embarrassing moment in school?

Warming up one time, I was in the layup line and when I jumped up, my pants popped off and fell down. [Ed. note: we’re assuming these were snap pants...] You didn’t fall or stumble or anything, did you? No, I didn’t thankfully. What are you most looking forward to about being an NBA player? I’m just going to take it seriously. I’m looking forward to just the opportunities I’m going to have, I feel blessed. Have you been getting any advice about what to do during your down time? Not really. My agent has been taking care of most of that for me. What’s on your iPod these days? Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Nas, everything. What’s your song of the moment, what are you feeling most? Nothing in particular. This year has been a big political year. If you were ever going to run for political office, what would your slogan be? Pick me, please. That works. Pandering always play well with the party bases. [laughs] I don’t know what else to have there, man.

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08-09 Season Preview Robin Lopez

Phoenix Suns

7-0, 255 Center Stanford We read you created a series of comic-book characters, five or six of them? Not necessarily comic-book characters. I have comic-book characters, but these are for movies, TV, cartoons, just a bunch of different stuff. What kind of characters are they? It really varies. So there’s a whole series. Yeah. Most of the stuff I do is kind of comedy-adventure. You guys are looking to get those produced? Yeah, we are. That would be great. Is he as involved in this process? He’s the writer, I’m the artist. We also read you guys are into animated movies, but we wanted to ask you which animated TV show you prefer: The Simpsons or Family Guy? The Simpsons. It’s not even close. Don’t like Family Guy at all?

It has its moments. But I really feel The Simpsons, it started hitting its stride around season four. Anywhere from like, season four to 11 or 12 is gold. Especially season six or seven, that’s the peak. So that’s what I should watch? I’ve only seen a handful of Simpsons episodes in my life. [flashes a confused look] Really?? I swear. Wow. [laughs] You guys are the second set of twin big men to come through Stanford. Did you guys talk at all to Jason and Jarron Collins about it, or was that just coincidence? Actually, they played with my older brother in high school. I did talk to them during the recruiting process, I know they really enjoyed it at Stanford and had a great time there. So with that as a model, I really knew I could succeed there. Now you and him are going to be separated a lot. Any concern about adjustments? Nah, we text all the time anyway. So we’ll be texting the whole time, on AIM, Facebook, things like that. [Robin briefly juggles basketballs during his photo shoot] I just saw you juggling there. Is this a secret talent of yours? Well actually at the NBA Players Association camp during my senior year of high school, they had this juggler there to teach hand-eye coordination. So we both picked it up. Brook can do the reverse juggling, I couldn’t.

So you guys would make a pretty good carnival duo then? [laughs] Yeah, I suppose so. The Freakish Twins. How about if you guys were a wrestling duo. Ever come up with a tag-team name? Actually, we haven’t. It would probably have something to do with Batman and Robin though. Fair enough. We heard you’re a big singer, you like to sing random songs. Do you have a go-to song before a game? Before a game it varies. It’s probably some Usher, some Michael Jackson. Any other time, Mariah Carey, Janet. Early Mariah or recent Mariah? Any of it. The whole spectrum. So you’re a bit of a pop-culture junkie, it seems. [smiles] Absolutely. Where did you pick that up? I don’t know, actually. My older brothers always talked about TV shows they used to watch: Magnum, P.I., Hill Street Blues, The A-Team, shows from the ’80s. So I kind of picked it up that way. I got into some of that ’80s stuff, and then the ’90s as I was growing up. I spend a lot of time on Wikipedia and imDB. That’s where I spend about half my work day, instead of researching guys like yourself. [laughs] Exactly, it’s great. So now that you’re in the League with a guaranteed contract, are you going to outfit your place with a DVD room? Oh definitely. I’m going to have a theater system. I think that’s the one area I’m going to splurge in. I’m going to have a fantastic theater system, some vintage movie posters. I read that you did Gaieties at Stanford. Your brother is going to be close to Broadway now. Are you guys looking to parlay that into bit roles in the offseason? [laughs] I’d love to. It’d take a lot of work, but I wouldn’t be averse to it. Any particular plays you enjoy right now? About a month and a half ago my girlfriend and I went to see Wicked. It was showing at the Pantages Theater in L.A. Girlfriend as in, Michelle Wie? No, no. That’s the past, yeah. My girlfriend goes to Stanford, though. It’s funny, because she’s a big Arizona basketball fan. Any conflict of interest during the Pac-10 tourney? Yeah, definitely. Arizona needed that win to advance, so that was kind of rough. Any arguments? Didn’t see her for a couple of days? [laughs, looks away] Alright then.

Brook Lopez

New Jersey Nets 7-0, 260 Center Stanford

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Best movie you’ve seen in 2008 so far is...I liked The Dark Knight and Step Brothers. Those two are so different though, they’re apples and oranges, so you can’t really compare them. My only real gripe with The Dark Knight is that Batman is my favorite comic-book character and I don’t like Batman in the movie. I don’t like his costume, I don’t like the way he talks. I love Bale’s Bruce Wayne, though, his Bruce Wayne is great. I just don’t like their interpretation of Batman. I guess I have to go with Step Brothers then, because I can think of less flaws, right? [laughs] But I’d probably say The Dark Knight, because Heath Ledger was great, Aaron Eckhart was great, and Gyllenhaal did a great job as Rachel Dawes, better than Katie Holmes. So far, I’ll say, it’s the best. Talking to Robin, he said he wants to create a movie room in his apartment. You thinking of doing the same thing? I’d love to do that. I’m thinking of movie posters to put in there already, deck it out with. What movie posters would you go for? I love The Empire Strikes Back, the original release poster. The Blade Runner posters, I’m a big fan of the original Superman, it’s so simple, with just the “S.” And then the Indy [Jones] posters would be there, of course. There’s so many good ones. And then a few older movies posters, you know, pulpy almost. What older movies? I love His Girl Friday and Bringing Up Baby, those are two great comedies. Cary Grant, I think he stars in both of them. [Ed. note: he does.] How about Broadway? You’re nearby, are you going to take advantage of that and try out for anything in the offseason? I would love that. I’ve done drama throughout my whole life. I don’t know if they’d take me, [laughs] but I’ll have season passes or whatever and I’ll be watching all the shows. I’ve always wanted to see Wicked, that’s No. 1 on my list. I heard Legally Blonde is pretty good, I want to see Little Mermaid, and my friend wanted to see The Lion King either some time tonight or tomorrow since he’s in town. Being the creative writer for your characters, do you base that off of personal experiences you’ve had? Or do you just shoot from the hip? Yeah, I go off of personal experience all the time. It makes it a lot easier, writing what I know.

I’m pretty secretive about this stuff, though. [laughs] You guys have been around each other since you were born. Do you guys finish each other’s sentences? [laughs] It’s happened, but I’d say it’s more like certain words will trigger or evoke the same memory.

Or something ridiculous like a word or something will remind us of something similar.

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SEE IT. GET IT. EXPERIENCE IT.

© & TM 2008 Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. © 2008 NBA Digital Holdings, LLC.

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Three players officially gave their two weeks’ notice to the NBA this summer. One-time Sacramento King guard most recently of the Miami Heat, Jason Williams, one of the most memorable showmen of the past 20 years, called it a career after a decade of no-look goodness. Shareef Abdur-Rahim retires as one of the League’s more underrated ballers, with an Olympic gold medal, one All-Star appearance and five straight 20-ppg seasons (’97-98 to ’01-02) under his belt. And Pat Garrity, our Straight Shooter extraordinaire, says goodbye as Notre Dame’s all-time best three-point shooter to move on to the NBA (631, at a 39.8 percent clip).

WILLIAMS: ROCKY WIDNER; ABDUR-RAHIM: TIM HEITMAN; GARRITY: FERNANDO MEDINA/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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The Rockets’ Aaron Brooks (left) and the Comets’ head coach Karleen Thompson and Tamecka Dixon were among those from the two franchises who lent a helping hand to victims of Hurricane Ike, which battered the Texas coast on September 13 and caused an estimated $27 billion of damage in the United States alone.

BILL BAPTIST/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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As part of his annual Chris Paul Weekend in his hometown of Winston-Salem, NC, Hornets’ All-Star guard Chris Paul held a day of service and delivered food to the city’s elderly residents. Any money raised during the weekend’s events went to the CP3 Foundation in support of Paul’s charitable efforts in both Winston-Salem and New Orleans.

KENT SMITH/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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Judging by his comparative size—his feet are twice as large as 7-0 Sam Dalembert’s!—Ronald McDonald probably would have made a pretty decent baller in his day. For this photo op, however, him and Sam welcome kids to the opening of Ronald McDonald/ Sixers Playground at the Wesley House in West Chester, PA on October 6.

JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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The Grizzlies’ Hakim Warrick (left) and Darrell Arthur show off their hopscotch skills to students of Riverdale Elementary School in Germantown, TN on September 26.

The game was part of the Grizzlies’ Get Fit program, which features players guiding children through outdoor activities in an effort to combat childhood obesity.

JOE MURPHY/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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CHECK IT VIDGAMES DVDS The Dark Knight

ELECTRONICS KICKS APPAREL

NBA Live 09

HP TouchSmart Computer

Timberland Macro Fleece Jacket

NBA Antimicrobial Practicewear T-Shirt from adidas Nike LeBron VI

New Balance 576

Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray Player Timberland Earthkeepers

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PLAYER

DeShawn Stevenson DeShawn Stevenson DeShawn Stevenson DeShawn Stevenson DeShawn Stevenson DeShawn Stevenson DeShawn Stevenson DeShawn Stevenson DeShawn Stevenson DeShawn Stevenson DeShawn Stevenson

BY DARRYL HOWERTON #21

DeShawn Stevenson Washington Wizards He came in as a 19-year-old out of Fresno, CA’s Washington Union High School, the No. 23 pick by the Utah Jazz in the 2000 Draft. The 27-year-old Stevenson now has eight years under his belt and a rep for being one of the tougher players in the League. The 6-5, 218-pound shooting guard’s durability is noteworthy: he hasn’t missed a game in three seasons, posting the fourth-longest active consecutive games streak behind only Andre Miller, Tayshaun Prince and Dwight Howard. Plus, Stevenson gets all the tough defensive assignments, which last postseason pitted him against 6-8, 250-pound LeBron James in a series that got heated both on and off the court. All kinds of pop-culture figures—everyone from Jay-Z and Soulja Boy to Pro’-Verb— weighed in on the action. So in turn, we thought we’d let DeShawn take on the entertainment scene.

DeShawn’s music “My favorite artist is Lil Wayne and my favorite CD is Tha Carter III. And I’ll have to add Young Jeezy as another one of my favorites. As for your question of whether I’m gonna do a follow-up to the lip-synch YouTube video of Usher’s ‘In This Club,’ I probably will. I’ve been doing stuff like that since I was a little kid. Just having a good time, man. You gotta have fun.”

DeShawn’s television “I’d have to say Martin and The Jamie Foxx Show. Those two shows were just hilarious. Two good comedians. Always hilarious. Always interesting.”

DeShawn’s videogames “Right now, it’s definitely Guitar Hero. I’m good at it. Good at all of the songs. All of ’em. I’ve played Rock Band, but I don’t like that because you need too many people for that game. I like the individual.”

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DeShawn’s movies “I’ll go with Baby Boy, Love & Basketball and Boss’n Up. Baby Boy was a good movie with good acting. I love basketball and I thought Love & Basketball was just a good movie. I like Snoop Dogg so I had to get Boss’n Up in there.”

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BY NATE ROBINSON #4

Game Rec Game

Madden NFL 09

The Heavy Rotation

XBOX 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, WII, DS

PHOTONATHANIEL NATE: CREDIT/NBAE/GETTY S. BUTLER IMAGES

Madden NFL 09 is the best football game ever, on any system, and definitely the best Madden ever. Every year it gets better and better.

The gameplay is awesome, it always is. They have all the different styles: the running styles, how [quarterbacks] throw, the celebrations. They’ve got the dunking on the goalpost now, that’s awesome.

And they make snow angels in the snow. When you use the hit stick, the whole screen shakes and sometimes you fumble, sometimes you don’t. It’s hot.

You know, when I play the game, I try to look at little things, things they can get better at. For instance, when somebody gets hits hard, their helmets don’t fly off anymore. If somebody grabs your jersey and pulls your jersey, sometimes your jersey can rip. They can get more details into it like that.

Another thing I think would be pretty cool would be if you could play teams online. Like let’s say you have friends at your house, and you want to play with your friends anywhere else, to be able to play two-on-two or four-on-four, I think that would be great, playing teams. Have a team vehicle online.

I like that the game is like a live TV broadcast adcast of a football game. That’s hot. They comment ment on every eve ery

single down, talk about guys being in a groove roove an and nd all that. The [AI] knows all the personnel; each player, pllaye er, all the names. Even if you create a player and use e common names, they know it, they say “Robinson” Robinso on” or whatever it may be.

I remember back in the day, I think it was as ’02, you could have tattoos. Tattoos are hot! I was kind kin nd of bummed they took that out. Or colored d tape, custom shoes. Like if I create myself, I want ant to pic pick ck my shoes—either Reebok, Nike, or Jordan,, or Unde Under er

Call of Duty 4 One of the best shooting games ever invented. You can lay claymores; use a UAV or get air support with helicopters; if somebody throws a bomb at you, you got a couple of seconds to pick it up and throw it back; you can shoot through a wall and kill somebody.

They did a great job.

Beijing 2008 I love this game, but they need to add the 400 in there, and the hurdles, man.

And the 4X100 and the 4X400 relays! Be realistic and add those relays!

Armour, or whatever it is. They need d to add that to the game.

Another thing: you know w how fo for or online you have the videochat, chat, and d yyou ou u can take your picture? They ey shou should uld figure out how to take yourr pictur picture re aand nd d put it on your create-a-player, yer, to m make akke it look like you when you look ook at the player under the helmet. I think th that hat would be hot, people would ld go c crazy razzy off that. For the most part they do oa good job though.

I’ll create myself and I usually sually put myself on whatever team has the best jerseys. But as of right ht now, I ge get et homesick, so I always create ate myself myse elf on on the Seahawks, because I get to se see ee the e stuff before the game, like the Spa Space ace e Needle. And growing up and nd bein being ng a fan of the Seahawks as well. Eith Either her them or the Oakland Raiders, ers, beca because ause e my dad and my family is from om Oaklan Oakland. and.

I play against Mardy Collins ollin a lot. ollins lo Right now I think I’m up, 4-2.

4 And I beat all my friends. I played y this yed one guy, I think he was 19th 9th in the world, and he beat me, 7-3.

3. It was a tough, defensive game. We were in the fourth quarter, and he tackled d my quarterback and I fumbled, bled, and he picked it up and ran it in for a touchdown. I was mad, trust u me. ust I was at home. Oh man. Potty P mouth. [laughs] But it’s fun. And you y have to really play real football when hen you play online, because all they show how is the formation. If you see three e receivers receivers, s, you can’t pick dime, because use you could have three receiverss with two o running backs in split backs, ks, shotgun n or I-formation. So you have e to know how to read. When somebody body plays five wide, that’s when you play dime.

I got it all down pat, man.

NCAA Football 09 I play this and Madden with my brother all the time.

Grand Theft Auto IV A great game, I play it all the time.

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VIDGAMES

Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames

BY SCOTT STEINBERG #77 NBA Live 09 Publisher: Electronic Arts Platforms: PS2, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii Surprise: While its predecessor’s run-n-gun action, lackluster animations and predictable feature set failed to impress, the perennial hardwood hero’s latest rendition just goes to show it ain’t where ya from, it’s where ya at. Not only does on-court excitement enjoy an instant boost from lifelike crowds and athletes now capable of organic motion, ranging from mid-air body adjustments to cringe-worthy collisions. Like tutorials (see new defense/shooting mini-game-filled NBA Academy training facilities), the gameplay itself gets a major overhaul, as do online capabilities, making the 14-year-old franchise’s newest showing among the postmillennium’s best.

Overall flow benefits from rapid-fire playcalling options, with graphical indicators making it easy to string together advanced maneuvers that evolve dynamically as you drive to the hoop. Quickstrike Anklebreaker techniques, tied to the right stick, also improve handling, allowing you to hesitate and bewilder rivals before clowning them with dizzying sendoffs. Thankfully, hot-streak-crushing Lockdown Controls offer defenders the option of really getting up in adversaries’ grills, while anticipating the direction ballhandlers are going to move lets you force added turnovers. Pick-and-roll options also enable effortless manipulation of two teammates at once, affording better command over screeners and offensive strategies in general.

Be A Pro features (which let you focus on a single player and position) and wider FIBA support (24 international teams) aside, the long-term value is inflated most by “Dynamic DNA” [see sidebar for more]. Mirroring real-world performance, authentic player and team data—including stats, injuries, trades and brick-happy jags—are essentially tracked, downloaded and incorporated into the game on a daily basis. In short, recreating last night’s game isn’t only effortless; it’s also possible to do so with unprecedented realism. The best highlight of all, though?

After several gut-wrenching hard-luck seasons, just getting to see the interactive all-star fly high again.

NBA 2K9 Publisher: 2K Sports Platforms: PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 Proving there’s always room to improve on greatness, last year’s No. 1 draft pick returns to make its case for another championship ring. Finally taking true advantage of the technical horsepower of next-gen consoles, both hands-on proceedings and audiovisuals get an instantly noticeable upgrade. Picture sweaty, scowl-sporting dead ringers for hot shots like Kevin Garnett and Ron Artest; ill broadcast-style replays; audiences that react realistically to big moments; and more energetic commentary, with Clark Kellogg joining Cheryl Miller and Kevin Harlan in the booth. While at it, don’t forget savvier computer-controlled allies and antagonists, online digital-video-reel sharing or all-around smoother give-n-go thrills.

True-to-life tactics take top billing, with on-the-fly shot modifications, greater control over teammates’ individual tendencies and sharper transitions affording the power to string together properly calculated assaults. Passing and sinking baskets predictably feels more fluid and intuitive, with denials and fadeaways easier to execute than ever, ensuring doper on-screen shucking and jiving as well as showdowns that unfold at a brisker clip. Franchise mode (lovingly dubbed “The Association 2.0”) further offers playable lessons to help you step up your game, and greater flexibility when it comes to player customization. Bottom line: From classic rosters to rim-rocking legends, if you can dream it, you can build it—and distribute creations online.

Broadband excitement is additionally bolstered by the inclusion of five-on-five online matchups, complete with a ranking system that lets peers know if you’re a useless ball-hog or an actual team player. Thankfully, even if you don’t have the rock, the choice of holding opponents, boxing out ball-carriers or setting picks guarantees there’s never a dull moment. Merely serving to underscore the title’s current emphasis on social elements, such extras should only increase the top-scoring series’ cult-like following. To wit, there’s never been a better excuse for joystick-wagglers to make the jump to broadband.

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Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames Vidgames

NBA 09: The Inside Publisher: Sony Platforms: PS2, PS3, PSP Maybe it’s the addition of story-fueled campaign mode “The Life,” ported over from PS2, which has you follow three separate plotlines chronicling an equal number of aspiring superstars’ topsy-turvy rise to prominence. Perhaps it’s comprehensive support for user personalization, with the ability to pimp out five characters based on achievable goals (cop several rebounds, hit a desperate jumper, etc.) that unlock fresh gear and offer stat-upgrading rewards. Heck, it could just be the not one, but six big-name ballers (LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Carlos Boozer, Carmelo Anthony and Paul Pierce) adorning the cover. Either way, it’s obvious this one-time benchwarmer does things a little different.

Franchise options get the most extreme makeover of the package, forcing couch coaches to juggle trades, salaries and recruitment in logical fashion and concentrate on long-term player and team development. NBA Replay options also make a comeback, allowing you to tackle top scenarios from the ’07-08 season, with weekly downloadable challenges during the ’08-09 calendar sure to keep excitement levels high for months hence. While play additionally benefits from several enhancements such as sharper artificial intelligence, streamlined online connectivity and more natural character movement, the title’s thrust inherently leans more toward increased breadth than depth.

Albeit a predictable leap forward for the brand, with some of the highest-resolution (1080p) visuals and unique cultural components of any holiday offering, it’s a must for casual admirers and home-theater enthusiasts alike. One of the few digital diversions to successfully straddle the line between far-reaching ambition and fan service, quantity is the clear focus here, as evidenced by the inclusion of goofy mini-games like Rabbit and Blacktop Golf. Accordingly, the disc comes most recommended for families containing both League diehards and fair-weather enthusiasts. The good news is that the game’s jack-of-all-trades mentality also jacks up its mass appeal.

DO THE EVOLUTION DO THE EVOLUTION DO THE EVOLUTION DO THE EVOLUTION DO THE EVOLUTION DO THE EVOLUTION DO THE EVOLUTION

DO THE EVOLUTION It’s every ESPN-loving videogame fanatic’s favorite screaming match-starter (new rosters aside): whether annual installments of treasured franchises are actually worth dropping a down payment on a pair of Air Force 1s for. But as if playgrounds and break rooms across America didn’t already play host to enough chest-thumping soliloquies, Electronic Arts’ NBA Live 09 is introducing a new wrinkle into the equation—continuous daily updates.

Thanks goes to a partnership with analytics firm Synergy Sports Technology, which provides stat-tracking services for more than 20 NBA teams, offering up-to-date insight on player and squad performances. Individuals are monitored based on attributes such as shooting percentages, strategic tendencies and sudden play slumps or winning streaks; franchises, by how they rise or fall depending on how athletes operate as a cohesive unit. This “Dynamic DNA” is then downloaded when you login online with your next-generation console, and readouts update every 24 hours. Consequently, every day you play, rosters shift to reflect the latest league happenings, ripped straight from the morning’s headlines, and silicon-powered superstars perform in constant parallel with real-world counterparts.

It’s even possible to precisely emulate games that happened just hours before and observe how pros evolve over time. No matter when free agents sign on or sudden upsets threaten to derail a banner season overnight, you’ll be there to live the drama. While unavailable on underpowered systems like the PS2 and Wii, these features nonetheless promise to add extensive replay value to a series already renowned for its smack-talking allure—the big question ultimately being, of course, whether come next season, the creators will find they’ve shot themselves in the foot. Because, playing devil’s advocate, if audiences really are paying only $60 annually for timely numerics, it’ll be hell convincing cash-strapped fans that higher-resolution cheerleaders are reason enough to make an upgrade. — #77

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DVDs

DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs DVDs

The Dark Knight Warner Bros. Pictures Thanks to a dynamite first installment with Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight arrived with LeBron James-type hype. And just like The King, Heath Ledger as The Joker and Christian Bale as the caped crusader did not disappoint. An intricate plot makes this more than your average superhero flick, with unforeseen twists at every corner. As the NBA’s incoming rookie class told us this summer, it was a fave among the newbs (check page 110), and we are among the supporters for an Oscar nod for the late Ledger in his finest role.

Get Smart Warner Bros. Pictures Steve Carell leaves behind the office in Scranton to play Maxwell Smart in the big-screen remake of the classic sitcom Get Smart. Joined by the sultry Anne Hathaway (Agent 99), the duo investigates some of the biggest crime schemes ever with the help of Alan Arkin and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. In the end, it comes to light that one of the agents is a traitor, but can the bumbling Smart figure out whom before they orchestrate a nuclear attack?

LOST - The Complete Fourth Season Buena Vista Home Entertainment With many fans of the cultural phenomenon abandoning the show after seasons two and three, Lost regained some loyalists with an engaging (albeit shortened, due to the writers strike) fourth season that packed in more action and intrigue than the first three seasons combined. The survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 face more difficult choices than ever as a freighter arrives to the island with mysterious passengers claiming that their intent is rescue. Viewers also are introduced to a new style of storytelling as we “flash-forward” to the experiences of the Oceanic Six after they’ve left the island, and why they might need to go back.

Hancock Columbia Pictures He’s battled aliens, zombies and whatever that spider-robot thing was in Wild Wild West, and now Will Smith fights crime as Hancock, a down-on-hisluck superhero with the ability to fly, lift cars, and woo Charlize Theron. Though he has chosen to pursue less serious roles of late to beef up his credentials as an action star, no one can deny Smith’s box-office appeal, as Hancock pulled in the kind of cash most movie stars can only dream about.

Reebok Presents: Coach Bob Hurley’s Favorite Drills From America’s Greatest Coaches Volume 1 St. Anthony’s (NJ) head coach Bob Hurley—father of former Kings point guard Bobby Hurley—has teamed with Reebok for Coach Bob Hurley’s Favorite Drills from America’s Greatest Coaches Volume 1, a DVD that provides the blueprint for the drills that have produced three national championships and 25 state titles. With input from professional, college and high school coaches, this instructional DVD provides 80 minutes of drills that will help big men on the boards and guards run the break with Steve Nash-like proficiency. It also contains tidbits of wisdom from the coach himself and drills to keep players conditioned and disciplined.

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the goods

BY TREVOR KEARNEY #8

HOLIDAY BUYERS’ GUIDE HP TouchSmart Computer Little phones and ultraportable laptops are usually the gadgets that get all the touches, but HP’s newest entertainment PC deserves a few fingerprints. The 25.5-inch high-definition touchscreen on this Blu-ray-toting desktop doubles as a backup TV. It’s got a dual tuner, so tuck the wireless keyboard and mouse away and set the colored ambient light, and nobody will even know it’s a computer. Of course, the integrated WLAN and Bluetooth, built-in DVD burner and huge hard drive (500 or 750 GB) will give it away—as will Windows Vista, which is the only way you’re getting it, of course. Your biggest problem, though, is deciding whether to put this TouchSmart in your office or your living room.

$1,899

Casio High Speed Exilim EX-FH20 The pros aren’t the only folks who need speed, so Casio’s new light, compact high-speed Exilim camera is for the rest of us. Capturing stills at 40 fps and video at 1000 fps (think Matrix-style slow-motion), the Exilim EX-FH20 has a 26mm wide-angle lens with 20x zoom, an anti-shake function to cancel out your excitement, and a night setting so you can capture evening games. It also records HD movies at 30 fps and prerecords up to 40 still images before you even activate the shutter, ensuring you get the shot you want, not its aftermath.

Flip Mino Everytime something goes down in the HOOP offices, the pocket-sized Flip Mino is there to capture the precious moments. The cell-phone-sized camcorder might not wow with fancy features, but it more than makes up for it with convenient, simple operation. The built-in USB port (it flips out like a switchblade) uploads the 640x480 video and charges the unit.

Of course, the video quality can’t hold a candle to HD, but it blows away any camera phone and even some digital camera video recording. It’s the perfect tool for YouTubing or email.

$599.99

$179.99

Logitech Z-5 Speakers Computer speakers typically fall into one of two categories: underpowered plastic boxes that push out tinny sound or ginormous and expensive setups designed for gamers or mini-home theater setups. The Z-5 is the perfect compromise: elegant sound with just enough oomph and bass in an easy-to-use USB format that fits both PC and Mac. We really dug how full the speakers sounded even when standing away from the sweet spot of its projection.

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Sanyo Eneloop Batteries Rechargeable batteries are great for the environment, but many of them just don’t pack the same life as disposable akalines. Eneloop batteries can be charged 1,000 cycles during their lifespan, and they hold their charge (up to 85 percent) even after sitting idle for a year, a length of time that would completely drain typical rechargeable batteries. The travel pack even contains adapters for C- and D-sized batteries, making it a flexible system for all those “batteries not included” holiday toys.

$29.99

Epson Artisan 800 Say goodbye to trips to the local copy shop and the creepy attendant behind the counter and pick up the Artisan 800. The multifunctional unit offers up fax, scan, copy and print capabilities in one slick package. The inkjet printer shoots out sharp color prints (we were impressed with the quality and speed) in seconds and can even print CDs and DVDs. A computer isn’t necessary, as the 7.8-inch LCD touch panel allows for elementary edits while the multi-format card reader lets you feed cards for direct printing. There’s also WiFi for wireless print sharing on your network.

$299

Belkin FlyWire Wireless HD Transmitter A huge HDTV hanging over the fireplace sure makes a room cozier—but the wires dripping down the wall certainly don’t. When you figure in your set-top box, Blu-ray player and at least one game console, the cords might as well be in 1080p. Enter the aptly named FlyWire wireless HD transmitter, which keeps your home theater looking its best. Connect your players to the console and your TV to the tiny receiver, and all your content (even the 1080p stuff) gets sent sans wires and uncompressed, keeping everything at its highest resolution.

The FlyWire even manages the frequency on its own to avoid interference and has an SD card slot for upgrades and expansions. The package also comes with a remote, a wall-mount bracket for the receiver and three HDMI cables. Fly indeed.

$1,499.99

Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray Player The flaw right out of the box is that this slim standalone Blu-ray player is Profile 1.1. Sure it plays content in—and even upscales your DVDs to—1080p, but how could it not be the latest and greatest? Not so fast, though: Equipped with an ethernet connection, Sony’s first release since the Format Wars accepts firmware updates that bump it up to a Profile 2.0 player, allowing you to access the interactive features of newer titles. The 2.0 upgrade is already available, and the strangely placed USB port in the rear takes care of your storage needs when accessing the enhanced 2.0 content.

$399.99

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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 DYSON BALL DC 25.

The common stereotype of the average NBA basketball player revolves around a super-deckedout bachelor pad with at least 15 flat-screen plasmas and a fountain that dispenses some unreleased flavor of Gatorade. I am sorry to burst your bubble, but the average NBA basketball player is, well, pretty average. Besides the fact that our office is on display for millions to watch, critique, blog about, etc. on a nightly basis, the fact of the matter is that we NBA players wake up every morning, make our oatmeal and maybe a cup of coffee and head to “the office” like everyone else. Don’t believe the hype about having a waitstaff that rivals Buckingham Palace, either: NBA players actually do housework.

Shocking, but truer than you’d imagine. So this article is dedicated to the average Joe NBA player that is in need of that special vacuum to help placate the missus and keep his house “Cribs-worthy.”

Enter the Dyson Ball Vacuum DC 25. You probably have seen this vacuum cleaner in an infomercial at one time or another. The owner of Dyson, James Dyson, was fed up with vacuum cleaners that lost their power after a few months, so he set out to revolutionize the vacuum industry. He improved suction technology and called it the Dyson Dual Cyclone. Two cyclone chambers that use centrifugal force to separate dust and dirt from the air replaced the traditional bag. Larger particles are separated in the outer cyclone, while smaller particles are separated in the inner cyclone. This accomplishes two significant feats for the modern vacuum cleaner: first, because the Dyson Ball does not use bags, when the canister is full, you simply dump it out; second, it creates a vacuum that never loses suction—a novel idea for a vacuum cleaner.

In my home test, I found the Dyson Ball Vacuum to be a solid machine. I cut my own hair every two weeks and tested the Dyson on my carpet to pick up my hair clippings. I also have two large dogs, Bruin and Gertie, who make it their life’s work to shed on every ounce of carpet in my house. The Dyson cut through my hair, the dogs’ hair, and all the dirt on the carpet. The canister was actually kind of gross to look at, seeing how much dust and dirt and dog hair that’s actually on the carpet; with normal bagging systems, you don’t have to worry about looking at what you pick up. In retrospect, it is comforting to know the Dyson worked as well as it did getting rid of the hair, dirt and dust.

I found the Dyson to be heavier than normal vacuums I have used, although the ball mechanism really does make a huge difference in helping the vacuum to turn easier. It’s a great idea. The Dyson also has a hose connected to the main canister. There is no need to have a separate vacuum cleaning for the small jobs, such as sucking the Cheetos out of your sofa cushions or snagging those rogue fries from Burger King that find their way under the driver’s seat in your car. The suction for the hose is as strong as the canister’s suction.

Overall I like this machine, but it has its drawbacks. I think it supplies a deep clean for your carpets and hardwoods (the Dyson cleans equally on all surfaces). I really like the side-hose option; it eliminates the need for an auxiliary vacuum. The Ball technology is great and helps the Dyson navigate corners and tight spaces with aplomb.

My complaints with this machine revolve around two issues. First, it is heavy. As a 6-8, 230-pound small forward, it took some extra effort even from me to move this bad boy around.

Going up stairs would be difficult with this machine. Second, I think $500 is a bit expensive for a vacuum machine. I understand that a lot of technology goes into this vacuum, and as they say at NASA, “Technology ain’t cheap,” (OK, I made that up). But I would have a tough time justifying to my wife a $500 vacuum.

The Dyson Ball Vacuum is a techie’s dream. Sophisticated and powerful, it does the job.

Hopefully you have the muscles and wallet to justify it.

PROS: + Strong suction + Pivoting ball + Filter-free CONS: – Heavy – Expensive

Dyson Ball DC 25 $500

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TM & © 2008 Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. ©Copyright 2008 NBAE. Photos: Nathaniel S. Butler, Garrett Ellwood/NBAE Getty Images

the goods Philips Clock Radio Retire that old bedside alarm—the one with the evil-looking red numbers that violently blares the buzzer or radio during your most blissful slumber—for the Philips AJL305. The generous 7-inch screen offers up space to display the time, calendar and your favorite digital photos. The dual-alarm unit wakes you up with your music of choice (photos and mp3s are loaded through the SD/ MMC card slot and USB port) or FM radio. When it’s time to sleep, preloaded relaxation sounds put your mind to rest.

$129.99

HTC Touch Diamond Enough with the smartphones that are all business and no pleasure. Sure, the Touch Diamond is a Windows Mobile 6.1 phone, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have fun swiping and sliding and zooming in on Web pages. There’s no standard slide-out, swivel or tuck-away QWERTY here; the keyboard is onscreen, and while that takes a little getting used to, it’s not hard to master. The beauty of this phone is the 3D TouchFlo interface, which allows you to slide through menus, zoom in on the Opera Web browser and—gasp!—flip through Office documents.

Monster iSoniCast You can come home and set your iPod on a cradle to continue the tunes in your home stereo, or you can just use the iSoniCast to wirelessly stream music over 2.4 GHz wireless technology. Unlike a separate iPod dock, this allows you to use your existing audio components while using your iPod as the remote control to access your music. No complicated setup necessary: just plug the receiver unit into the stereo and the transmitter into the iPod and you’re good to go.

$249.99

$99

Eye-Fi Wireless Memory Card You’ll never have to take the memory card out of your camera with Eye-Fi’s latest lineup of 2 GB wireless SD cards, which got a bump in speed that makes uploading twice as fast as it used to be. With the Eye-Fi Home card, you can upload pictures to your computer through your Wi-Fi network, but upgrade to the midlevel Eye-Fi Share and you can use your network to add photos straight to your favorite web gallery or networking website. If you’re out taking pictures so much that Starbucks seems more like home than home, though, pop for the top-shelf Eye-Fi Explore, which automatically locates the nearest hotspot and tags your pictures with location information.

Polk Audio SurroundBar 360

Eye-Fi Home: $79.99 Eye-Fi Share: $99.99 Eye-Fi Explore: $129.99

Once you’ve untangled your TV, you still have those surround sound speaker wires to worry about tripping over. So get rid of ’em. Mount this stylish speaker bar below your TV or to your entertainment system and you won’t miss a beat, or a scream, or a boom. Delivering surround audio, including deep bass, the single-corded speaker bar hooks up to an upscaling DVD player (included) for a complete home-theater package. It also includes a USB port for connecting external video or music devices.

$1,199.95

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Dell Mini The thing about the slew of “netbooks” flooding the market is that you’re kind of at the mercy of the inventory. You get the webcam whether or not you want it, or you have to settle for Windows XP to get more than a three-cell battery, even though you’re pining over a little Linux laptop. That’s the difference with the Dell Mini: the choices. Go cheap and get a Linux machine without a camera and only 512 MB of RAM, or bump it up to $500 to get XP, Bluetooth 2.1 and a 1.3-megapixel webcam. By the end of the year, the Mini will even tote built-in mobile broadband, making it the ultimate cross between a laptop and a smartphone.

$349.99

Logitech Illuminated Keyboard Logitech brings sexy back to the otherwise dull world of keyboards with adjustable illuminated keys and a super-thin profile (just peep the pic). If you’re used to run-of-the-mill keyboards with raised keys, the Illuminated Keyboard will take some time to get used to, but the good looks are worth the learning curve.

$79.99

Systemax Gaming PC Consoles are ever the rage, but not even the PS3 can match horespower with a properly configured gaming PC. Systemax’s Intel Core 2 Gaming PC packs a Core 2 Quad 2.66 GHz processor with 2 GB of ram, a GeForce GTX 280 videocard and an Ageia PhysX Physics accelerator card for frame rates that no Xbox or PlayStation can hold a candle to at resolutions beyond pedestrian HD. It even comes bundled with Logitech’s G15 gaming keyboard and G5 gaming mouse for accurate fragging.

We did a session of Call of Duty 4 on it and it made COD4 on the Xbox 360 look like Pong. Our rig came preconfigured, but it can be customized at TigerDirect.com.

$starting at 1,389.99

JVC NX-PN7 Dual iPod/ iPhone Dock It’s similar to an iHome, but with room for two, it’s twice the fun. We didn’t want to listen to it without the Sound Turbo function, which pulls up the bottom nicely and gives the music a richer sound—and makes one wonder why the system wasn’t standardized with Sound Turbo in the first place. Regardless, the sound fills an enclosed area fully without overwhelming the listener. The coolest feature is undoubtedly the iPod wheel mock-up on the remote control, which gives the less engaged among us the ability to scroll through your entire iPod library from across the room (that is, if you can do it without being able to read what’s on the screen). Added bonus: The system will also work with your iPhone.

$150

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hoop gear For the second straight year, adidas will forgo the individual signature shoes for a team shoe for its lineup of athletes. And with good reason—their basketball campaign for the past two seasons has been about brotherhood.

This year, adidas breaks the one shoe concept into two, the Commander and the Creator.

The Commander is for the dominating low-post bangers. In the world of Stripes, that would mean Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Dwight Howard. Before you write this off as another clunky big-man shoe, it was pleasantly nimble based on our tests. Even when moving laterally, the Commander didn’t miss a beat. The ankle strap, unlike many straps that adorn shoes nowadays, proved to be functional, cinching the well-padded ankle collar snugly against the ankles. We were surprised by the lack of any external cushioning system, like adidas’ Bounce technology. Instead, the Commander sports just an adiPrene insole (to be fair, adidas’ Select System insole is high quality, much like a $15 add-on insole you would get) and orthopedic heelpiece for shock absorption. We tried the shoe sans insole and it felt like balling in cement shoes. Needless to say, the SS insole made a difference. In our opinion, the cushioning is fine for guard play, but lacking when it comes to paint-pounding. We also wished it had more ventilation. With the thick ankle collar and the patent upper, that left the mesh tongue as the only place for heat dissipation.

Style-wise, the Commander could use some more court flair. It’s a pretty subdued design that would appeal to the masses, but those looking for more flavor to their court kicks should look elsewhere.

Construction: Comfort: Playability: Value: Style: Innovation:

adidas

TS Creator $100

Weight (size 9): 15.5 oz

adidas

TS Commander $100

Weight (size 9): 16.3 oz

The yin (or yang) to the Commander, the Creator is the guard shoe for adidas’ Team Signature line. Unlike the big-man-oriented Commander, the Creator is designed with the player whose game is about quick strikes; think Tracy McGrady, Chauncey Billups and Gilbert Arenas. [Ed Note: since he favors low tops, Gil will be wearing the low versions of the Creator.]

The first thing we noticed about the Creator is how much of a lower ride it is compared to the Commander, a crucial element for a shoe designed to move. With adidas’ ForMotion on the bottom, your foot is allowed greater lateral freedom. On cuts you can really feel your foot keeping a solid base while your weight shifts across. Unlike the Commander, the Select System insole isn’t found on the Creator, but the full-length adiPrene on the heel makes up for that. The Creator also shifts the lateral support of the shoe (the rubber “stripes” that run up from the outsole) to the forefoot, unlike the Commander, which has it on the midfoot.

For a shoe that is billed as the flipside to the Commander, we wondered about its weight relative to its supposed more rugged sibling, the Commander. At just less than an ounce lighter than the Commander, we felt adidas should’ve pared off some more weight for a shoe predicated on speed and quickness.

The Creator, like the Commander, doesn’t offer up much imagination in its design. It, too, is pretty tame. The main aesthetic element is the repeating capsule pattern that is liberally sprinkled throughout. It does garner a few bonus points in the can-you-rock-it-with-jeans category, but it certainly won’t turn heads.

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High-tops may or may not give you additional ankle support, but it comes at the expense of more limited mobility. We take it Gilbert Arenas agrees with us, since he’s been one of the rare NBA cats who favors lows on the court.

We’ve always been fond of Gil’s joints since he joined adidas; they’ve all been aesthetically pleasing and a pleasure to run game with. This year’s edition is strap-free—a good thing, since it didn’t bring anything to the table in terms of support or performance. The suspension of the shoe is the same as the high version of the Creator: ForMotion in the heel, adiPrene outsole and Torsion arch support. The only other characteristics the two shoes share are the extended “stripes” from the outsole and the mesh tongue for ventilation. The uppers are completely different. The Creator Low has more traditional construction with leather overlays as opposed to the one-piece design of the high version.

Compared to the Creator High, the Low has a more snug fit. With its puffier mesh upper, the Low is almost like a skate version of the High.

Curiously enough, even with its low-cut status, both the Low and High versions of the Creator weight exactly the same. We figured the Low would shave off at least a half-ounce. The ride of the shoe didn’t differ too much from the high version, so there is nothing new to report. There is a big difference in the amount of foot freedom, but that’s the story with any low-versus-high comparison.

adidas

TS Creator Low $100

Weight (size 9): 15.5 oz

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We’ve been fans of the Wades since the first inception. The past few editions of the Wades were scraping the high-end market—especially for Converse, which prices its shoes moderately—with its $100 entry fee.

Coming off his disappointing and injury-filled season, perhaps Converse decided to dial down Dwyane Wade’s signature joints by $10. During an economic downturn like the one we’re mired in, every bit helps.

We’re not sure where the inspiration came from (perhaps the balmy Miami shoreline), but the Wade 4 is dominated by a wavy pattern on the medial and lateral sides. They do offer some functionality; behind each “wave” is “chicken wire” that helps vent the feet. The inner neoprene bootie, a Wade shoe mainstay, continues with the 4. Like previous models, make sure to try it on at the store; you may have to size up a half-size.

We’re not quite sure what to grade the Wade 4. On one hand, it’s a solid court shoe that we found little to complain about. Like previous Wades, the 4 is low profile for an excellent feel of the floor, fairly light and, despite its lack of any fancy patented technology that shoemakers love to bandy about, it has enough cushioning. The only drawback is the awful look of the shoe. We also found the leather upper to have a slight plastic feel to it, and the Converse logo on the lateral side chipped off a bit after an hour (keep in mind we get early product samples to test and not final versions).

It’s true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and typically we don’t spend too much time on looks as it’s too subjective, but we all agree that the Wade 4 wasn’t the prettiest of the bunch. If you disagree—and we hope you do—then take our word that it’s a great shoe to play in.

Construction: Comfort: Playability: Value: Style: Innovation:

Converse

Wade 4 $90

Weight (size 9): 14.5 oz Available colorways: white/black/orange (limited edition); black/red (pictured); white/silver (available February 12)

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hoop gear Converse

EB1 $65

Weight (size 9): 15 oz.

Available colorways: black/red/white (pictured); white/black/red

“What’s up with the dad shoes?”

We know it’s technically a question, but there’s no doubt it was a statement, one coming from some dude at the gym with whom we play weekly pick-up ball. We couldn’t disagree. With its plain-Jane looks, simple two-color colorway and lack of any flash, we can picture dad rocking these on the court with his John Stockton shorts. Just for good measure, we polled around the HOOP office for opinions and there was a correlation between age and how high the Assist scored in terms of taste.

Old-man styling aside, the Assist at least performed like Stockton.

Like many of Converse’s solid basketball offerings, the Assist has the low profile that most players seek. Judging from its name, the Assist is a guard shoe and not meant for a stone-handed center to lace up and then bump bodies in the paint. The flipside to such a responsive shoe is the Assist’s shortcomings in handling impact and providing foot stability. We thought the Assist could use some more cushioning and upper support, the lack of the latter causing us to feel like the shoe was going to cave in if we turned our ankle.

To be honest, we had three users test this shoe out. Two people gave it poor marks while the one tester found it OK. Based on the feedback and its pedestrian looks, we find it hard to give the Assist a passing grade.

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Converse

Assist $70

Weight (size 9): 14.5 oz.

Available colorways: white/red; white/orange; white/blue; white/maroon; white/green; white/black; white/navy (pictured); black/white

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It took nine seasons of criminally overlooked 20-10 seasons for Elton Brand to receive his own signature model, but finally, in his 10th year, Converse made good on a decade of ignorance. Granted, traditionally big-man shoes don’t really sell, but Brand is one of only three active guys in the career 20-10 club (the other two are former MVPs and NBA champions; look it up yourself).

Sold in only JCPenney, the EB1 is an affordably priced shoe ($65) in honor of his mother, Daisy Brand, who raised him as a single mom and regularly shopped at JCPenney. Don’t let the JCP exclusivity and low price tag fool you (and especially don’t compare them to Starburys): the EB1 has some nice touches found on shoes costing $20 more. Let’s start with the sturdy build of the overall shoe. Clearly built for a big man with the chunky upper and the generous midstrap, and reminiscent of some old CB34 Air Maxs, the EB1 also tries to cater to a speed player with the low-to-the-ground outsole. There are some other subtle design elements that showcase some flair (the EB1 was designed by Wade designer Duane Lawrence). There’s the “4” on the left shoe and the “2” on the right that make up “42,” Elton’s longtime uni digits. The left shoe also sports a blue insole while the right features a red one, a nod to his new team, the Sixers.

Like we said, the shoe is a nice compromise between speed and power, but ultimately it satisfies neither too well. Bigs might find the shoe lacking in cushioning; guards might not appreciate the substantial upper. The strap, with its small swath of Velcro, didn’t grip enough and came loose during our trials. And like the Wade 4, the EB1 is plagued with a lower grade of leather.

All in all, we were satisfied with the EB1. It might not be the perfect court shoe for folks, but it’s not a total loss. It would’ve scored higher in the looks column if the strap were detachable, as one staffer noted. But at $65, you can’t really find a cheaper shoe with a 20-10 man attached to it.

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Jacuzzi

1/29/07

2:26 PM

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hoop gear Jordan

Melo M5 $125

Weight (size 9): 15.6 oz Available colorways: black/metallic silver-taxi (pictured); white/metallic silver-court blue-university blue

Carmelo Anthony’s shoes, much like his game of buttery jumpers and tough low-post moves, is equal parts elegance and power. The Melo M5 captures the dual personas perfectly in shoe form. Like Nelly’s Sweat/ Suit double album, the M5 possesses the refined dress shoe look with the patent leather toe that extends across the shoe with the wingtip-inspired perforations. The upper sports a delicate stitch work and “CA” (his initials) embroidery. Turn the shoe and view it from the perspective of the rear and bottom and you’ll see an aggressive rubber in the back and outsole sides, a gritty M-patterned bottom and armor-clad midsole shank plate.

Like the LeBron VIs we review in this issue, the M5 suffers from stiff-shoe syndrome. The mid- and outsole had little give on first wear.

Even a few hours of running in them didn’t do enough to soften things up. We had the benefit of wear-testing for a few weeks, so we’re happy to report that after a few go-rounds, the M5 came around. Unfortunately, lateral movement was still an issue. With Zoom Air, shock absorption was adequate, although a bit lacking in the forefoot.

Style-wise, the shoe was a hit. A few curious dudes thought it was an early leak of the Jordan 24 because of the prominent Jumpman below the ankle area and the patent toe. The M5 has some potential off the court as well, but we definitely like it more paired with shorts. After letting them marinade a bit, we grew fonder of them, but at $125, it’ll require overtime on the paper route.

Construction: Comfort: Playability: Value: Style: Innovation:

KICKIN’ IT

with Richard Hamilton

Rip Hamilton is a perfect example of how people can overcome adversity and succeed in life, both on and off the court. His is a story of hard work, dedication and virtue. These are the same components that inspire the Jordan Brand, making Hamilton the prototype athlete to propel the honor and prestige of his family, his hometown and the Jumpman in true blue-collar fashion. He never takes any shortcuts in epitomizing an NBA superstar.

Taking a cue from Michael Jordan himself, the Detroit Pistons guard is relentless in his pursuit of basketball perfection, a journey that has netted him the 2004 NBA Championship and three consecutive All-Star appearances.

We caught up with Rip at the annual Rip Hamilton Day in his native Coatesville, PA to talk shop.

What’s it mean to be a Jordan Brand athlete?

Explain the style and mystique of wearing the brand.

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In Jordan’s “Be Legendary” campaign they show scenes from your youth, playing for Coatesville.

What are your feelings about that?

“Unbelievable! I mean, I thought that was one of the best commercials because it let people know that we didn’t just get here. You know, if you watch the commercial it showed everybody at the root. This is what we used to be.

I’m still skinny, but I was skinnier then, playing in the hot gym and stuff like

that, so it was fun. It not only represented me, but my hometown of Coatesville, and that’s the best part I love about the commercial, because it gave the opportunity for Coatesville to shine. Not just me representing Coatesville, but the city because it showed my high school gym, my teammates, and the people in the stands, so that was a great thing.”

You have been known to switch up your shoes for different games...

“It’s just a comfort level. [Jordan] makes a sneaker for me to wear the whole season, but I like changing up. I have different sneakers. I always say that I have my jumpshot-shooting sneakers, I have my defensive sneakers, I have my rebounding sneakers, I have my get-to-the-basket sneakers, so all of them have different meanings. That’s why I wear them.”

What can we expect from you with the Jordan Brand in the future?

“Just a lot of great things. I will continue to represent myself the best way I can. When I represent myself, I think of Michael Jordan and how he would represent himself, and that’s the biggest thing. Not just on the court but off the floor as well. It’s the way I carry myself and my community service, that’s what he would also do.”

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“Being a Jordan guy is about the game, but it is really much more than basketball—it’s a representation of the game and the game of life. So it’s a match made in heaven.”

“It’s fun because as a kid, I always wanted to wear it.

My dad always told me, you gotta have nice wheels on your feet. And he always made sure that as a kid I had the nicest sneaks, regardless of where I was going. Jordan represents everything, and when you wear the sneaker you have to carry yourself a certain way, you have to have a certain swagger about yourself. I think anybody, regardless if you are playing basketball or not they have that certain thing about them, so it’s a great thing.”

BY ANTHONY GILBERT #1

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SPONSOR: This survey and sweepstakes contest are conducted by: HOOP Magazine, a publication of Professional Sports Publications (PSP), 519 Eighth Avenue,

30 days after the end of the contest. Total retail value of the prizes is approximately $2,500.

25th floor, New York, NY 10018.

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hoop gear If you were smart or lucky enough to cop the Ol’ School last year, you were treated to a functional shoe that did equally well both on and off the court.

They definitely flew under the radar, in our opinion. The first incarnation had a tame design, whereas this year’s sequel takes more design chances, most of which work. Typically shoes transition from year to year, keeping a cue to the previous model; the Ol’ School keeps the old-school (hence the name?) winged Air Jordan logo on the rear of the shoe. Speaking of the rear logo, each of the various colorways sports a different pattern.

The pictured colorway has a graffiti motif, but they range from argyle to a geometric pattern to just solid colors. The styling of the OSII references a Timberland hiker with the woven fabric overlaid with leather.

While the shoe looks like it was created with style over substance, it’s still a performance shoe, albeit a fairly heavy one. Although the fit of the Ol’ School doesn’t feel as foot-molding as the Melo M5, we liked the more freeform approach the shoe gives the wearer. Whereas the M5 might be a great fit for a select few, the Ol’ School II delivers a better fit to a wider audience. Lateral movement was a bit lacking, and midfoot support was almost nonexistent, but the rear air unit, which is exposed subtly with the clear outsole cutouts on the outsole, brings tried-and-true cushioning to the party.

We have to admit, the Ol’ School II was one of our faves this issue despite the plethora of high-end signature joints to choose from. The sticker price still isn’t cheap at $115, but for a premium product like Jordan, it’s to be expected. While it’s a decent shoe for play, it really scored high in the looks department. We even go as far to say that it looks better with jeans than with exposed legs, a rarity for a basketball shoe, giving it high scores in both style and value (more wears equal better bang for buck).

Construction: Comfort: Playability: Value: Style: Innovation:

Nike

LeBron VI $140

Weight (size 9): 17 oz

Jordan

Ol’ School II $115

Weight (size 9): 16 oz.

Available colorways: Black/varsity red-white; white/MTS navy-stealth (pictured); black/metallic silver-anthracite; white/metallic silver-university blue; white/varsity red-black; black/white-varsity royal-gold; black/blackvarsity red-white; black/black-varsity royal-white

It’s a good thing LeBron James is a strapping 6-8 and 250 pounds, because the VIs, like the previous LeBrons, are heavy at 17 ounces. To put it in context, the Hyperdunk is a mere 13 ounces. In the world of basketball shoes, four ounces is the difference between LeBron James and Jerome James.

Weight aside, the LeBron VI has its selling points. First off, like the guy it was designed for, it’s a ruggedly constructed shoe. The design is a bit plain. More on that later. The only eye-catching element of the VI was the use of triple stitching on the midsole, creating a wide platform that the upper sits on. We did notice a funny element of the VI: There’s a cross piece that goes over the laces. If you’re one that likes to re-lace your shoes or you want to swap out laces, this piece blocks the first two lace holes, making it very tedious to start the lacing process.

Our wear-testing found the VIs stiff. They felt like playing in a pair of Timbs. Like all LeBrons, Zoom Air is featured, but with a shoe this bulky and heavy, maybe Nike should consider going with the bulkier Air Sole unit on the bottom. The outsole sports a more subdued version of the “milkcrate” pattern that made its debut on the Vs. Paired with jeans, the shoe scores high grades as it has some AF1 feel to them with the wide toe box, big swoosh and clean lines. In fact, we had one guy stop us on the street asking if we had on a pair of limited AF1 joints. And at $140, they very well could’ve been.

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If you paid attention to Yao’s feet this summer or peeped our July/August issue, you’d have gotten a preview of Reebok’s shoe for their basketball athletes this season, the Omni Hexride. If you haven’t seen it, Google it (or better yet, pick up a back issue of HOOP) to see the shoe in its complete dragon-y glory.

The Pump Omni Hexride, like the Wade 4, performs well but fails to inspire with its looks. One staffer thought it looked like something “from the’ 90s”; another thought it was an earlier Reebok release we covered a few issues back.

Either way, the POH says “dated.” However, Reebok brings something new to the game. The POH’s piece de resistance is the Hexride, an updated version of their erstwhile cushioning technology, Hexalite, an energy-absorbing compound encased in honeycomb pods. The updated Hexride is basically the same but instead of placing a few pods on the heel, they’re now dispersed along the entire outsole (consider it Reebok’s answer to 360 Air). We dig it—Hexride provided a pillowy landing every time we came down. However, it does come at a cost: added weight and an inch of height to the shoe, reducing foot stability.

The other annoyance is the inner heel tab that kept folding in every time we inserted foot into shoe. A shoehorn is a must with the POH. The POH boasts adequate escape routes for hot air: the mesh internal liner, a low cut on the ankle area, and a mesh cut-out on the outsole to vent the midfoot underside. The shoe has a snug fit as is (consider sizing up), so pumping up the air bladder on the tongue just produces a more claustrophobic feeling to the feet.

After some time we accepted the drawbacks of the POH. Like a lot of Reebok’s basketball offerings lately, the POH will probably fly under the radar. For a big man who can deal with the weight and needs the added suspension, we would highly recommend the POH. Construction: Comfort: Playability: Value: Style: Innovation:

Pony

City Wings 08 $90

ALL PHOTOS/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Weight (size 9): 13.6 oz.

Reebok

Pump Omni Hexride $99.99

Weight (size 9): 16 oz.

Available colorways: white/steel; black/white/orange; black/ hypergreen; white/red/black (pictured); white/orange/neon blue

Pony’s been back in the shoe game for a while now, but we’re finally getting around to reviewing one of their joints: the City Wings 08. For those too young to recall, the City Wings (albeit, a low-cut version) were the shoes on Spud Webb’s feet when he won the 1986 dunk crown for little men around the world. Fast-forward 22 years and Pony is bringing back the City Wings with an updated twist.

The first thing you’ll notice when you put them in your hand is how feathery light the shoe is. Other than the amazingly light Hyperdunk, the CW08 is the lightest basketball shoe that’s come across our desk. At 13.6 ounces, it’s just a shade over a half-ounce heavier than the 13-ounce Hyperdunks. The other thing is the CW’s low profile. Devoid of any extraneous cushioning system (Pony relies on two types of foam to handle shock absorbing), your foot sits just a quarter-inch (on the forefoot) over the outsole, giving the wearer a nice court feel and quick response. Articulation across the shoe was there from the onset; it needed minimal break-in time for the shoe to feel right. Shoe ventilation proved ample, as the entire upper is perforated and the outsole has a nine little mesh vent holes on the bottom—good for heat dissipation, but bad for stepping in puddles.

From a looks standpoint, the City Wings 08 is pretty straightforward; there’s nothing to impress, nor anything to offend. New York’s Wilson Chandler will be the only NBA player rocking them, but we think a few more dudes around the League would benefit from these spry kicks.

Construction: Comfort: Playability: Value: Style: Innovation:

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wear Timberland

Yarn Dye Plaid Softshell Jacket $378

New Balance

576 $180

Timberland

Full Zip Macro Fleece Jacket $79.50

Timberland

Field Boot $125

PHOTO CREDIT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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The North Face

Potrero Parka & Everlong Hat $249; $28

Converse

Force 5 $69.99

Converse

Poorman Pro Leather $49.99

Jordan

Damier Jacquard Jacket & Blase $140; $85

P.F. Flyers

Glide

PHOTO CREDIT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

$170

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wear New Balance

670 $130

Jordan

Shiny Nylon Bubble Vest $115

Converse

Jack Purcell Turf Pro $74.99

Converse

Black/Red $70

Puma

Outwear Jacket $120

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Jordan

Totem Tee & Phly Legend $36; $85

Nike

LeBron VI Sleeveless $35

Nike

Laser Dunk Tee $25

Nike

LeBron VI Short $40

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wear Under Armour

Fitted Coldgear Longsleeve Crew $47.99

Pro-Keds

Royal Master Suede $70

Asics

Arroyo Adventure Pack $50

Under Armour

UA Armour Fleece Attack II Hoody $59.99

Pro-Keds

Court King Leather $70

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Nike

Elite Knit Jacket $70

The North Face

Chinscraper $120

The North Face

Chunky Knit Visor Beanie & Big Stripe Beanie $25; $20

The North Face

Ninja Glove $50

HOOP

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wear Jordan

XX3 Alarm Chrono $279

adidas

Superstar Boston Celtics (17th Championship Limited Edition) $100

Asics

Knit Stripe Beanie $15

Onitsuka Tiger

Saiko Runner MT $70

Onitsuka Tiger

Coolidge Lo $70

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Timberland

Eartkeepers $160

Timberland

Hypertrail $90

P.F. Flyers

Number 5 $100

Saucony

Jazz-O $50

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wear adidas

Originals Tribute Herringbone Jacket + Originals Instinct Hi (Willis Reed, May 8, 1970) $200; $100

Jordan

Break You Down Tee $28

Nike

LeBron Rising Sun Tee $25

Reebok

ERS 5000 II $84.99

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Pro-Keds

Royal Master Leather $70

Nike

Essential Jacket & Pant $50; $40

Saucony

Jazz Lowpro $50

Pro-Keds

Royal Master Mid Leather $70

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wear adidas

Originals ZX ADV $70

adidas

Originals Velour Track Top & Forum Mid $75; $80

Under Armour

Breakaway Jacket $74.99

Under Armour

Breakaway Warm-Up Pant $64.99

adidas

Originals Forum Lo $75

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catching upoffi with… cial

JUMPBALL

BY BRETT BALLANTINI #97

REGGIE THEUS It’s been a long and winding basketball road for two-time All-Star Reggie Theus. Since his 13-year playing career ended, Theus has been an NBA broadcaster, volunteer college coach, AAU mentor, minor-league coach, NBA writer for Basketball Digest, actor and technical advisor for TV’s Hang Time and the film Be Like Mike, and assistant to Rick Pitino at the University of Louisville.

Theus’ newest role is as Head Coach at New Mexico State University. The former guard led the Aggies to a remarkable Hit the gymturnaround sporting thein gear his first theseason, pros wear andwith has become the new one NBAofAntimicrobial basketball’s hottest T-Shirt.coaching Previously properties. available in only black, white and gray, this stylish tee now comes in a variety of team colors. The antimicrobial fabric prevents bacteria from growing while keeping you cool and dry. It also helps prevent odor after a hard workout or a pickup game. Available at the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue, NBAStore.com, Academy and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

HOOP: You’re 20th all-time in NBA assists and 39th on the scoring list, Theus: He gave me a blueprint to work SRP: from. My$25 program mirrors Theus: I enjoy teaching the game and being a mentor. It’s the best and the Wornonly by three all NBA players on-court beforeJohn the game, theand NBAGary On-Court Long Sleeve Shootingprogram.

Shirt is designed with the same budget [laughs], which would and players—Oscar Robertson, Stockton, Payton—are Louisville’s We don’t have worst part about being a college coach. So I don’t see the NBA as the top of a poly-interlock and flYet at-back managementbetechnology keepsThe youbigdrything andI learned was his work ethic, firsthand: The ahead of you on body both lists. being mesh a greatinserts. player ClimaLite and a greatmoisture coach don’t nice, of course. the hill; I’ve been there. What’s important is to be happy, whether I’m in the comfortable, the How tackledotwill team loyalties at a life. You don’t have “office hours”; you often go handwhile in hand. you do it? name on the chest lets everyone know where tirelessyour hours, wherelie. youAvailable don’t have NBA or college. At this point in my life, with all I’ve done, I just want to be the NBA Store on Fifthplayer, Avenue, Sporting andwork.

SportsUntil Authority.

Theus: As a former it’s NBAStore.com, very important toJCPenney, be able toDick’s articulate what Goodsjust everything’s done, you don’t stop. happy. Rebuilding this program has been the biggest challenge of my life, and SRP: you know$70 to kids. I can’t expect them to be the same kind of player, or have the most rewarding. the same work ethic or attitude that I had. I have to try to teach and show HOOP: You were far outside the realm of college coaching when you them how to be successful. Not just how I was successful, but why their were hired at Louisville. How did that come about?

HOOP: Did you ever think you’d find the answer to your dreams in New favorite players in the NBA today have been successful.

Theus: It was a lesson in making the phone call. Coach Pitino had an Mexico?

There’s no secret to success. My story is no different than anyone else’s opening for an assistant for two months, but I didn’t think I would have a Theus: Hey, I never dreamed of being in Louisville, coaching with Rick in terms of our attitudes and work ethic. What’s good for me is that I’ve chance to get it. A friend of mine said he didn’t think Coach was set on Pitino. How weird is that? C’mon. got a story Part Iofcan thepull offifrom cial On-Court my yearscollection, in the NBA, thisbroadcasting, team-issued orfleece coaching is perfect for anybody warming yet. up I didn’t for either know aRick littlepersonally, practice or buta when full-court my friend found out I’m a firm believer in “heading down that road.” Everything I’ve done that fits everypickup scenario game. andThe question. hoody, My made players with Climawarm are in the same polyester placefleece andCoach dazzlePitino overlay would stripes, be interested features an in me, embroidered I almost floffi ew cial down that day. My wife has led me to where I am: 13 years as a player, nine behind a microphone, Ipracticewear was; they want graphic to goonwhere the chest I’ve been. alongThat withmakes adidas relating and NBAtologos. the kids It also features told amefront not pouch to do itpocket because to he’d keepthink your Ihands was a warm little too andmuch, like a stalker. volunteer coaching, the ABA, AAU, driving the 15-passenger van all around pretty easy. a drawstring hood. Available at the NBA [Laughs] Store onI had Fifththought Avenue,theNBAStore.com line would be and goingJCPenney. around the corner with the country with my players now. All those things have prepared me for what people who wanted the job, and I didn’t want SRP: to waste $70 his time—but I was I’m doing today.

HOOP: Is there one particular accomplishment that resonates most with dead wrong. Three interviews later, he gave me the job. your players?

HOOP: So there’s a lot of grit behind the glamour?

Theus: My NBA career, coaching at Louisville, just throwing out Rick HOOP: And that friend of yours is still eating some good dinners off of Theus: Always has been.

Pitino’s name, I have so many references. Sometimes I even bring up Hang that tip?

Time just to joke around.

Theus: [laughs] For sure. Forever.

NBA Antimicrobial Practicewear T-Shirt from adidas

NBA On-Court Long Sleeve Shooting Shirt from adidas

ALL PHOTO/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

| 155

HOOP: A lot of players grew up more with you as [Hang Time coach] Bill Fuller than as an NBA All-Star, right?

Theus: Yeah, my guys crack on me sometimes for that, but I don’t take it too seriously.

HOOP

NBA Performance Fleece Hoody from adidas

NBA On-Court Cap from adidas

HOOP: Did it surprise you to take an Aggies ballclub that was 6-24 in ’04-05 and finish 16-14 in your first season?

Salute your favorite team both on and off the court with this NBA On-Court Cap from adidas. The cap, worn courtside Theus: There was no question in my mind by team I couldpersonnel, do this. I sports knew Ithe could full-color team logo embroidered on the crown, as well as the embroidered NBA logo recruit. I knew I could teach. I knew I could on coach. the back.

There Thewere cap also two features or three an adjustable stretch-fit closure and an interior band that stretches to fit your head players who wanted to play for me right after comfortably.

I got theAvailable job, and at thatthesurprised NBA Store on Fifth Avenue, NBAStore.com, JCPenney, Academy and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

HOOP: Two years ago, you were a hot prospect as up-and-coming me. Already, at a school notoriously knownSRP: for transfers $24and JuCos, next year college coach. Why did you choose NMSU as your first Head Coaching job?

I have four freshmen coming in. That’s outstanding progress.

Theus: This is a very good job and is going to be a great job in the very The national attention we’ve gotten is rewarding. We’re tied for having near future. I talked to Coach Pitino before I took the job and he gave me the the longest win streak for the season (12). We’ve got a 12-game winning criteria for a good head coaching opportunity: The school had to have past streak at home. This kind of success hasn’t happened in an awfully long time success and a great fan base. We’ve had $26 million put into a new practice around here. facility Get in the andzone offices, withand NBA I have Pre-Game administrative Shorts, support the shorts thatNBA would players rival any wear during their pre-game shootarounds. school The flat-back in the country. mesh shorts Best ofhave all, aourdrawstring fan base iswaist on fifor re with a great excitement. fit. They also feature HOOP: embroidered We hear NBA,the team buzzand for you back in the NBA. Where do you see adidas logos. Available at JCPenney, Academy and Dick’s Sporting Goods. yourself heading in the future?

SRP: HOOP: $30 What did you learn from Pitino?

NBA On-Court Pre-Game Shorts from adidas

HOOP

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10/10/08 8:27:08 AM

sneaker game

BY ANTHONY GILBERT #1

WHAT’S ON THE LEAGUE’S FEET 01

ELTON BRAND Converse EB 1

How does it feel to have your own signature sneakers?

“I’m excited that I can start this partnership with Converse. They have 100 years of tradition and history. So I’m happy to be a part of that!

After nine years in the League, getting my own signature shoe, it’s about hard work. Nothing was given to me from high school. I had to work hard to move up through the ranks.”

What was your first reaction of your first signature shoe?

“I was honored. This is The Elton Brand. It feels like a privilege to have a signature shoe, especially with Converse. My logo means a lot to me; it’s shaped like a D, or EB, but the D is actually Daisy Brand for my mom, and Dunbar Heights, where I grew up. The pitchfork is for my high school and college. So this shoe has a lot of me in it.”

02

01

02

03

04

ANDRE MILLER Converse 0100

How do you like being part of the Converse brand?

“I’m just happy to be a part of the brand. I’m one of the first guys that jumped on board when the product made a push in recent years. I’m happy to do whatever I can do to help the company. And as far as my commitment to Converse, I help them, and it also helps me.”

03

HAKIM WARRICK Nike Zoom BB II

You wore Nike at ’Cuse. How important was it to continue with them?

“It’s really important for me because I’ve gotten used to being with Nike.

They are good for me, on and off the court. When I got drafted, Nike, Jumpman and Reebok were looking at me, and when it came down to it, Nike gave me the best deal and that’s the shoe I wanted to be with.”

04

KYLE LOWRY adidas TS Lightspeed

What’s it mean to you being with adidas?

“Adidas is a brand that really was there for me after school ... it is a company that I always liked. I like to play in comfortable shoes and I’ve been wearing them so long now, and I just have a great relationship with that brand.”

What do you look for in a shoe?

“It has to be lightweight, it has to have the ability to bend. I need a flexible shoe, but it also has to be sturdy. My heels and my ankles need support, and the shoe needs to be soft, because I don’t want to feel like I’m going to break the floor when I run. I need stability to handle a lot of turning and cutting. The bottom line is if I like it, I’ll wear it.”

156

BRAND, MILLER: JESSE D. GARRABRANT; WARRICK: SAM FORENCICH; LOWRY: GARY DINEEN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

How important is it to have shoes that perform on- and off-court?

“When I was younger my shoes were all-purpose. They were for basketball and for everything else. It’s good that you can have a pair that you can rock with your jeans and wear for ball as well.”

HOOP

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step back March 26, 1988, PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS vs. HOUSTON ROCKETS,, The Summit, Summit Houston The Houston Summit was the home of the Houston Rockets from 1975 to 2003. The arena later became known as the Compaq Center.

Queen, Led Zeppelin, Parliament-Funkadelic, Paul McCartney, Elvis Presley, Madonna and Michael Jackson all performed at The Summit. The arena also housed WNBA, minor league hockey, indoor soccer, and arena football franchises.

Kevin Duckworth was selected 33rd overall in the second round of the 1986 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs. Only 14 games into his NBA career he was traded to Portland, where he would spend parts of seven NBA seasons, for Walter w Berry. Duckworth also played for Washington, Milwaukee and B tthe th he Clippers.

Clipp ppers.

A two-time All-Star, Duckworth played a substantial role in the Blazers’ two NBA Finals runs in 1990 and 1992. He finished B with career averages of 11.8 ppg and 5.8 rpg, missing only w 16 1 6 games in his six full seasons in Portland.

After retiring from the NBA, Duckworth was an ambassador for the Blazers, often appearing at many team functions and fo representing the franchise at charitable and League events. re Settling down in the Portland area, he took advantage of the S city’s landscape to become an avid fisherman and outdoorsman c until his untimely passing in August from heart failure. u

The greatest center of his era, Hakeem Olajuwon was enshrined in the Naismith h Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September. He garnered two NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, one League MVP, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, one gold medal, six All-NBA First Team All-Star honors and 12 All Star appearances.

P Perhaps Duckworth’s most memorable moment during his playing career came m in 1990 during a playoff series with the Spurs. Duckworth had been injured for three S weeks, but before Game 7 of the Western w Conference Semifinals, he appeared out of C the locker room— à la Willis Reed—and stifled David Robinson on defense, helping Portland secure a series win and an eventual Western Conference title.

Olajuwon, who also was named to The 50 Greatest Players ers in NBA History team in 1996, was born in Lagos, Nigeria, where he played soccer (he didn’t pick up basketball until he was 17); his footwork helped him patent his “Dream Shake” baseline move. He arrived in the United States in 1980 to play for the University of Houston basketball team under coach Guy Lewis, where he and Clyde Drexler would become part of “Phi Slamma Jamma,” the nickname for the e Cougars’ high-octane offense. g g

Since retiring, Olajuwon has found success in the real-estate market and has been involved in many philanthropic efforts across the world.

T Blazers selected Terry Porter in the first round (24th The overall) in 1985. He played NAIA college ball at Wisconsino Stevens Point and went on to spend 10 years in the Pacific S Northwest before stints in Minnesota, Miami and San Antonio.

N Porter holds Portland’s all-time assists record with 5,319. He P is 11th on the NBA’s all-time assist list and was a two-time All-Star.

A

P Porter was named head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks in August 2003. After two seasons he failed to crack the above.500 barrier and took an assistant coaching job with the Pistons in 2006. On June 9, Porter was named head coach of the Phoenix Suns.

158

Petersen has worked for more than a decade de in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ broadcast booth. Petersen was Mr. Basketball in Minnesota before going on to star at the University of Minnesota.

BILL BAPTIST/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

P Porter was named to the Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame and has won the NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. His h favorite movie is The Godfather. fa

Jim Petersen played eight NBA seasons split lit between the Rockets, Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors. He was selected in the third round of the 1984 Draft, where Houston tabbed Olajuwon with the first pick.

In 1989, he was traded from the Kings to the Bay Area for former teammate Ralph Sampson.

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ямБnal exam DOES KEVIN MARTIN MAKE THE GRADE?

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