HOOP November/december 2009

09-10 Season Preview | NBA Videogame Roundup | Holiday Gift Guide

AN OFFICIAL NBA PUBLICATION

NOV/DEC 2009

24 Seconds with

NBA Commish David Stern

2009 Draft Class Rookie Revelations

phoenix on fire 2009 WNBA Champs

King Without a Crown LeBron James awaits his coronation $4.99 USA

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Also inside Kobe Bryant Chris Paul Allen Iverson Paul Pierce Lamar Odom Baron Davis Kevin Love Blake Griffin Brook Lopez Brooke Burke Sean Kingston

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WARMUPS

David Liam Kyle/NBAE/Getty Images

Sometimes CP3 and LBJ do things so effortlessly on the court, it seems as easy as riding a bike. The two perennial MVP candidates teamed up this summer for the State Farm King For Kids Bike-a-thon at Canal Park Stadium in Akron, OH.

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WARMUPS

NBA Photo Library/NBAE/Getty Images

Jason Terry was just one of many NBA players to travel to China this summer for NBA Basketball without Borders Asia.

Here, Terry is awarded by local children during the unveiling of a Learn and Play Space at the Hongshan primary school in Beijing, China

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The WNBA showed their support for Breast Health Awareness during the month of August, sporting uniforms, sneakers, warmups and even specially colored pink basketballs for the cause.

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WARMUPS

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We hope Nomar doesn’t get jealous. U.S. soccer star Mia Hamm finds a shoulder to lean on in Hall of Famer David Robinson during the opening ceremonies of the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, NY.

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nOV/Dec 2009

The Gameplan

FeaTures 09-10 seasOn preVIeW

49

Race for the Chip

The past two seasons have seen the League’s two most storied franchises walk home with the title. As they raise another banner in L.A. this month, several teams who have never had the chance to raise one will be gunning for their own shot at glory, while some who have been there and done that look for one more run to the top. Do the Lakers and new addition Ron Artest have what it takes to repeat? The road will be harder than many think

60 Hot Seat With the new season comes new expectations, many of which could mean jobs if they are not fulfilled.

Find out which NBA personnel need to put up or shut up entering the new year

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50 Division Dominators We get like CSI and do an in-depth examination of the six divisions, the key players and the new faces expected to make an immediate impact. Is Boston still the class of the Atlantic? Can Washington make a return run towards the top of the Southeast? Will Denver be able to hold off some youngsters our west?

And who deserves to be a first time All-Star in Dallas? That and much more in our breakdown of all 30 teams

54 What Goes Up, Must Come Down Since following trends online is all the rage, we get trendier than a mall full of teens on a weekend afternoon and map out what items in the NBA universe are hot and what’s not

Rave Reviews

50 66 Couch Potato Picks

68 Rookie Revelations

Between NBA TV, TNT, ESPN and ABC’s NBA coverage, nearly a day won’t go by where you can’t get your hoops fix. We pick the cream of the crop to watch, so make sure you have the Doritos and Dr. Pepper fully stocked for these 10 matchups

Every summer we’re lucky enough to spend a day in the outskirts of New York City with the incoming rookie class. In between having burgers and steaks with the likes of Jordan Hill and Stephen Curry, we got to poll the newbs on everything from how they envision scoring their first basket to bowling averages

67 Crystal Ballin’ You should take all of our predictions with a grain of salt, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be fun. From scribes to roundball fans and players themselves, we give you our “can’t miss” events of the NBA season

54

Believe it or not, LeBron James reached a new level of celebrity this past year.

Besides the new commercials and multiple talk show appearances during the offseason, he improved by leaps and bounds where it counts the most—the hardwood. But what makes LeBron so good? We asked those who know him best, his former teammates, opponents, those who coached against him and those who watch him on a nightly basis to break down the ingredients that make the words “LeBron James” synonymous with greatness.

68 45 24 Seconds… with NBA Commissioner David Stern

84 WNBA Champions It was a battle of old vs. new, as the Phoenix Mercury squared off against the Indiana Fever in the 2009 WNBA Finals. A look back at one of the most tightly contested matchups in league history

HOOP

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The Gameplan

nOV/Dec 2009

DeparTmenTs

16 The Point 19 Jumpball Pick a number, any number; 3 Pts: Know your role rook; Playlist: New York Liberty forward Shameka Christon; Brack-It: Best Team Denied a Title by MJ; Straight Shooter: We welcome Steve Nash to the HOOP staff; Bread and Butter: Breaking down Rip Hamilton’s signature move; Transition Game: A look back at Allen Iverson; Celeb Row: Caribbean Crooner Sean Kingston; What Were We Thinking? Our dubious Mar/Apr ’08 cover choice; and more

94 31

86 Call Out

89 Check It spin moves: Brook Lopez <3 Taylor Swift; Game rec Game: With a new jersey number, Nate gives his “two” cents on the ’0910 basketball titles; The Goods: Phil Jackson likes the T-Mobile MyTouch, but do we? Plus new MacBooks, audio treats and yes, a deep-fryer; Tech ed: Shane Battier brings the movie theatre to his living room with the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 8100; Gear: Peep the kicks the pros will be rocking as the season kicks off

112 Final Exam Does Blake Griffin make the grade?

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39 39 First Five Kevin Love, Aaron Brooks, Danilo Gallinari, Anthony Randolph, O.J. Mayo

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110 Stepback Reminiscing the League’s past 012

HOOP

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The Point Dear LeBron,

Volume 38, No. 1

I hope things are good and you’re ready for the upcoming season following your whirlwind world tour this summer promoting your LeBron VIIs1 and More Than a Game.2 Last season was bittersweet. Your Cavs led the L in wins but Dwight Howard and the Magic gave your team all sorts of fits in the Conference Finals, denying everyone the Finals matchup that would’ve brought those puppets to life.3 You did cop your inevitable first MVP trophy. Better clear off some space on the mantel, we envision a few more of those coming your way.4 But let’s get back to the season at hand. After last season’s sour ending and this being your walk year, the media will be trailing you everywhere you go this season, endlessly inquiring about your free-agent plans in a variety of subtle and not-so-subtle ways. Will you be joining your pal Jay-Z and the Russian bajillionaire in eventual Brooklyn? Will that big Nike billboard outside Quicken Loans Arena be folded up and shipped over to be displayed somewhere around 33rd Street and Seventh Avenue?5 Is there a secret alliance between you, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to all sign with the same team, forming an invincible cadre6 to make a run at Bill Russell’s untouchable Eleven?

You have the entire city of Cleveland nervous. Clevelanders will treat every one of your home games this season like a McRib sandwich7 on a McDonald’s menu, which is to say they’ll savor each fleeting one, knowing that it could be the very last time they’ll see it on the menu. They’ll bring the signs proclaiming their love and begging you to stay. The kids will look at you in their child-like innocence and ask you “Why do you have to leave?”8 Fans from visiting arenas will flirt with you, touting their team and city’s laurels.

Danny Ferry knows this. It’s why he brought in Shaq to help you on your way. Nothing says chip like Shaq. I’m sure Kobe and D-Wade told you.9 Want advice from me—a long-suffering Knicks fan, one who has a view of the Garden from his office window and would like nothing more than to see a #2310 in orange and blue? Don’t get swayed by the bright lights of Broadway. Stay in Cleveland. Please. Rep Akron, the city of Cleveland, the state of Ohio like you always say you forever will. Thanks to Nike,11 I had the pleasure of visiting Akron over the summer, to take in St Vincent’s St. Mary, the Ed Davis Community Center, Summit Lake Community Center, the local Salvation Army, places near and dear to you. Where it all started. Met and talked to some of the people who helped shape you into the man you are today: Coach Dru Joyce II, Coach Frank Walker, Sian Cotton, Romeo Travis, the cab driver who drives by said billboard and says a little prayer every time hoping that you’d stay. I saw More Than a Game at the glorious Akron Civic Theater.12 Although I missed it, I was even supposed to try your favorite burger at Swensons.13 As much as I would like to see you high-fiving Spike Lee, chalking up the Garden rafters and trying a Shake Shack burger,14 it would pain me to know the many hearts you’ll be breaking back home. It would also be nice to see another NBA star stay in one place for the entire career like Russell, Bird, Magic, Jordan,15 Duncan, Kobe. Sure, it’ll mean a slower rise back to the top for my beloved Knicks, you’ll likely win a few titles for Cleveland and I’ll likely lament this letter.16 BONUS POINTS 1. The Best LeBron joint to date since the IV. 2. LeBron’s documentary of his high school team and teammates. Not quite Hoop Dreams, but worth a look nonetheless.

3. Imagine the Nike spots had Kobe and ’Bron met in the Finals?

Ming Wong #2

4. I reckon at least another three, maybe four.

5. A little Photoshop magic and it’s good to go.

6. It’d be like the Justice League of America, just with basketball players.

P.S. I hope you like the cover.

7. Make it a menu staple already, McD’s…

8. No matter how you answer it, they’ll retort with cries of, “…but why?” Let’s just hope it’s not accompanied with tears.

9. I’m sure they told you the drawbacks, too, but hey, the man has delivered.

10. Best Knicks player to ever don #23: Marcus Camby

12. It was filled with character and history, unlike today’s Mc-megaplexes.

13. Home of the Galley Boy and other “burgs.”

14. Arguably New York’s most famous burger.

15. As far as I’m concerned, MJ’s NBA career ended with his shot over Bryon Russell.

16. It’s not yet printed and I do already.

016

Editor-at-Large Jeramie McPeek #4 Tech Editor Shane Battier #31 Style Editors Zaza Pachulia #27, Candice Wiggins #11 Straight Shooter Steve Nash #13 Videogame Editor Nate Robinson #2 Music Editors Thaddeus Young #21, Carl Landry #14 Movie Editor Danny Granger #33 WNBA Editor Lois Elfman #40 Senior Writer Michael Bradley #53 Contributing Writers Brett Ballantini #97, Jon Cooper #10, Anthony Gilbert #1, Darryl Howerton #21, Eric Justic #3, Trevor Kearney #8, Holly MacKenzie #32, Brett Mauser #25, Dave McMenamin #35, Melody #34, John Nemo #16, Rob Peterson #9, Earl K. Sneed #23 Editorial Interns Michelisa Lanche #17, Max Willens #84 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 Manager Jaime Collins

NBA Publishing/NBA Photos

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

HOOP is published monthly, December through June, by PSP. © 2009 Professional Sports Publications. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission of publisher is prohibited. To subscribe to HOOP, call (800) 829-3347.

PRINTED IN THE USA

david liam kyle/NBAE/Getty Images

11. During Nike’s LeBron James Innovation and Inspiration Summit to launch the Air Max LeBron VII.

Editor-in-Chief Ming Wong #2 Design Director Kengyong Shao #31 Associate Editor Seth Berkman #91 Associate Designer Matt Candela #52

HOOP

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For Tickets Visit NBA.com/tickets or call 1-800-4NBA-TIX

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By Jeramie McPeek #4

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deep9 into last season’s playoffs and he was thrilled to see Elway return the favor by sporting a #7 Billups jersey when he introduced the Nuggets before a game.

“That was crazy,” Billups10 beamed. “He’s my favorite football player ever. I’m a die-hard Broncos fan, so I just did it to pay homage to John. But that was a magical night when he announced me with that #7.”

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Pop quiz: What do Shaquille O’Neal, Shawn Ron Ron isn’t the only player to have changed his Marion, Ron Artest, Channing Frye and Trevor Ariza all jersey number by choice, of course. Michael Jordan have in common? pulled off the most famous switcheroo of all-time, The above-mentioned NBA players all moved into coming out of retirement in 1995 with his minor new zip codes this summer? Wrong. Well, actually, league baseball number, #45, before dusting off the right, but not the answer we’re looking for. Each guy familiar #23 following an off-night in the playoffs. is wearing a new jersey this season? True, too, but Kobe Bryant swapped his #8 for #24 before the again, not the response we had in mind. ’06-07 season— to one-up Jordan’s #23, conspiracy Give up? The correct answer is those veterans are theorists suggest5—while Amar’e Stoudemire traded in just a handful of the dozens of players around the his #32 for a #1 that same season, to coincide with Association that are sporting new numbers on their the launch of his Each 1, Teach 1foundation. backs this season.

McGrady, meanwhile, chose to turn in his #1 While players entering a new locker room via the Rockets6 jersey this season and take on #3 in draft, free agency or by trade are asked what number anticipation of his upcoming documentary, 3 Points, they’d prefer, not all are granted their first wish.1 about his 2007 trip to Darfur.

With numbers currently taken by new teammates “I had conversations with some of the refugees in or taken out of circulation by retirees2 in the rafters, the camps and their main issues were the three Ps: newcomers often have to pick a new digit. peace, protection and punishment for the people Enter the Matrix. who have committed these acts,” T-Mac told a Marion, who signed with the Mavericks this Jackson, MS television station. “I thought it would offseason, was hoping to regain the #31 he’d be a great idea for me to change my number and worn during his first eight-plus NBA seasons. let them know that I was thinking about them 23 23 The flexible forward had even trademarked and was going to bring awareness back here 23 23 2323 23 3 3 the nickname “Matrix 31,” had it tattooed to the States.”

3 2 2 2 2 23 23 23 3 on his bicep and throughout his ride. He Not all numbers have an inspirational7 23 2323 2323 came close to reuniting win his number, meaning behind them, however. Some players, 23 too, as Mavs guard Jason Terry offered to like Suns center Robin Lopez (#15), choose 2233 2323 give it to him, but it was past the NBA’s deadline to go with the number at which they were 23 2 23 3 23 for JT to request a change. picked in the draft. Others might reverse 23 23 23 23 23 3 “Might as well let the fans pick my number,” a number that they wore before entering 2 23 2 23 3 23 Marion decided, asking for recommendations the NBA, as Mavs All-Star Dirk Nowitzki 3 23 23 2 2 23 3 3 via his website3 and Twitter profile. “I kept did by choosing #41 when #14 was 2 23 23 23 23 3 2 messing with everybody, doing countdowns to taken his rookie year. And still others 3 2 2 23 233 23 23 3 2 23 reveal the number. I sent out a picture and told pick a number8 that their childhood 23 23 23 23 2 them I was getting it tattooed on me.” sports heroes wore, like Knicks 23 3 23 3 23 2 After receiving hundreds of suggestions, guard Nate Robinson who is wearing 23 3 2 23 23 Marion chose the non-number of #0, befitting a #2 this season for 23 his sci-fi nickname.

Deion Sanders.

23 23 23 23 2 3 Likewise, after signing with the In addition, Nuggets guard 23 3 2323 23 223 3 2 23 23 23 Lakers in early July, Artest invited Chauncey Billups took #7 when 23 23 23 23 3 his social media friends, fans and he was traded to Denver last 22 3 23 23 23 23 followers to help him pick out his season (his #1 was in use by 23 23 23 323 23 23 23 23 numeral. Eventually, Artest chose an J.R. Smith).

He’s back in #1 23 2 2 3 23 23 3 23 3 23 2 23 2 idea he received to honor the King this season, thanks to Smith’s 3 2 3 23 23 232 3 3 23 2 2 23 23 of Pop. generosity, but enjoyed 3 2 23 2 23 23 23 “A fan named Trista came up wearing his favorite QB 3 233 23 2 23 23 3 2 23 with the idea to pick 37 because John Elway’s number 23 23 23 23 I like Michael Jackson so much 23 23 23 23 and Thriller was the No. 1 album for 23 23 2 23 3 3 3 2 2 3 2 23 23 2 23 3 3 37 straight weeks,” explains Artest, 3 2 2 23

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retired after announcing he was HIV positive.

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Ariza snatched up No. 1.

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Toni Kukoc’s numbers at some point, too, until the NBA instituted a rule that numbers could not be

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HOOP

his two favorite Bulls, Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman. He planned on wearing Scottie Pippen and

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Twitter handle, saying that 31 will always be his true number.

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who had worn six different numbers4 with his five previous teams.

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with Phoenix in 2007.

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TEAM_iHoops.indd 1

10/13/09 1:13:51 PM

3 pts

TOPIC:

What was your rookie hazing ritual?

Brook Lopez: Last year CDR [Chris Douglas-Roberts], was really talkative and some of the vets didn’t like that, so he got the brunt of it. So he might haze Terrence [Williams] as revenge for what happened to him. I was trying

to be the good rookie, be quiet, so I don’t have any of that pent-up anger.

So if [Terrence] gets it, it will be from CDR.

Al Harrington: I had to wash guys’ cars and I had to get Krispy Kreme donuts every morning and they had to be warm by the time I got to practice. If they were cold I would have to go back and get more or get fined. Now, I just have the rookies carry my bags, get me coffee—I don’t

even drink coffee but I make them get it for me just because. [laughs]

Andre Iguodala: I had to get a McDonald’s breakfast on game days, get donuts and bring Allen Iverson a certain cheesesteak with lettuce and mayonnaise. I had to bring them on the planes as well. The place actually

knew I was coming to get AI’s sandwich, so they already knew what to make. They were easy on me, not too bad.

You haze ’em, but you gotta take care of ’em too. You gottta raise ’em right.

txt msgs

Courtney Paris

022

me the wrong way… So I stopped watching, but I think I might like the new spin with kate plus eight! Although now Johns saying kids need to get away from the cameras, he might be right HOOP: I agree...what are some of ur other fav shows?

Courtney: The office!!! I haven’t watched any of the new episodes, saving it for israel!

HOOP: Yes!!!! better romance: pam & jim or Dwight & angela?

Courtney: Haha! Dwight and angela!!!

HOOP: If u worked in an office, which character would u most resemble?

Courtney: Ha funny that you ask, well I’d for sure be you know like Pam or Jim, seeing that they are the most normal… My sister Ashley would be Michael.

HOOP: Lol…Speaking of paper, u were a journalism major at ou…what was ur concentration? Newspaper, mags, broadcast?

Courtney: Newspapers… Don’t and never really wanted to be a newspaper writer, too strict, I don’t like to “report,” I like to get in the story etc etc…But it forced me to learn the fundamentals of journalism! With that said it is a dream of mine to write for a magazine, go around doing feature stories like [Sports Illustrated writer] Kelli Anderson. Some broadcasting would be cool too.

HOOP: Nice…the way the field is going anyway, we think u made the right choice. Last q: Who wins the Big 12 football title this year?

Courtney: Umm let me think… OU of course! Boomer sooner! Ha thanks for chatting with me! Take care.

—Seth Berkman #91

3 pts: from left: jonathan daniel; ray amati; rocky widner/NBAE/Getty Images; courtney: rocky widner/nbae/getty images

HOOP: Hey courtney…in the airport?

Courtney: Yup! HOOP: Excited? Ur going to israel right? Ever been b4?

Courtney: Really excited! Yeah Israel. Nope never been. Flight delayed two hours, but I’m spending the extra time discovering skype and slingbox!

HOOP: Ahhhh…skype will be important away from home. Do u twitter or fbook a lot?

Courtney: Twitter and facebook, not so much really, not a “techy” person… But I will now that I need a way to communicate!

HOOP: Cool. I read ur a big jon & kate plus 8 fan… gonna keep track overseas?

Courtney: To be honest all the drama kinda rubbed

HOOP

HOOP1112-3Pts-TxtMsgs.indd 22

10/13/09 5:36 PM

fab five

A longtime pop culture aficionado, Jalen Rose pits his personal tastes against some notable personalities. Up this month: brooke burke

Jalen Rose

Brooke Burke

First Pet?

Dogs were the pets of choice. I had a Dobermen Pinscher named “Champ” and a German Shepherd named “Capone.”

I’ve always been a German Shepherd person. We’ve always had German Shepherds at our house.

Last time you laughed so hard that you cried?

Always watching classic stand-up comedy shows like Eddie Murphy’s Delirious or Richard Pryor’s Live on the Sunset Strip are timeless.

Chris Rock’s Never Scared was the most recent...it’s hilarious!

There are so many funny moments [with the kids]. We come from a mixed family. I’m Jewish and my daughter’s father is not. I think one of my funniest moments was when my daughter told me that she was Jewish and Christmas—those were her two religions. I thought, “OK, that works for me.”

Most memorable Halloween costume?

I dressed up like Run-DMC with the dobbs hat, cazals, adidas suits with the shell toe kicks— and no shoestrings in ’em! Plus the phat goldrope chains and belt buckles. This was not just a one-time Halloween prank...this was every day!

My most memorable Halloween costume was around the fifth grade when my girlfriend and I were a two-headed monster. We painted our faces green and gold. We put baby powder in our hair, so much of it that every time we would do trick or treat—she had an Afro—we would pat her Afro to the point where clouds would come out. It was really hilarious.

Scariest movie you’ve watched?

Remember when scary movies were relevant?

My favorites had series—no doubt Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street series’.

Nothing or no one tops Jason and Freddy.

Probably the Friday the 13th series. I don’t watch many scary movies.

Favorite YouTube clip?

Right now, “Forever Wedding,” which is really funny because I was just at a wedding and we were all watching the clip.

Shameka Christon new york liberty Central Florida’s Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport.

offices, its highest grade for gender in a report issued by the University of

The percentage of professional positions held by women in NBA League

playlist

43

Burke: Dana Fineman/Vistalux; jalen: barry gossage; christon: jesse d. garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images

James Brown “The Godfather of Soul,” performing on stage in New York City, while current stars and future legends Michael Jackson and Prince sat in the stands—like fans, literally. He brought both on stage to do “freestyle” segments. Absolutely historic!

Jay-Z Jay-Z Beyoncé Trey Songz Drake

“D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)” “Run This Town” (feat. Rihanna and Kanye West) “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” “I Need A Girl” “Successful” (feat. Trey Songz)

Shameka’s favorite artist: I love everything of Beyoncé, I’m a big fan of hers. I love I Am… Sasha Fierce.

Any pregame music: I don’t listen to any music pregame because then I come out too anxious. [laughs] HOOP

HOOP1112_Fab5-Playlist(new).indd 23

023

10/13/09 5:52 PM

brack-it

Eight things. One undisputed champ.

Best team denied a title by Michael Jordan ’96-97 UTAH JAZZ (64-18) vs. ’91-92 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (57-25) It’s tough to say which shot was more iconic: Jordan over Craig Ehlo or Jordan over Bryon Russell? The first, which came in Game 5 of Cleveland’s first round series against the Bulls in ’89, set the tone for a half-decade of Cavs misery; Jordan’s Bulls would knock that promising Cavs nucleus (Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, Larry Nance) out of contention four more times in the next six years, including a heartbreaking loss in the 1992 Conference Finals. That year, Cleveland finished with the second-best record in the East thanks to great team play (five players averaged three assists or better per game), but it wasn’t enough to get past Chicago. That iconic jumper from the top of the key in the 1998 Finals, is one that everybody remembers (Bryon Russell, in particular, remembers getting shoved out of the way) but the previous Jazz team was actually better. Led by John Stockton and Karl Malone, the ’96-97 squad won two more games in the regular season and led the League in points scored. The Cavs could have been contenders, but the Jazz could have been a dynasty, so they advance.

’92-93 NEW YORK KNICKS (60-22) vs. ’97-98 INDIANA PACERS (58-24) In the early ’90s, Knicks coach Pat Riley realized his team couldn’t compete with Michael Jordan’s transcendent talent, so he decided to knock Jordan around instead. He had the perfect team to do it—the ’92-93 Knicks were street fighters, dominating their opponents on the glass and in the turnover column every night (they ripped down 454 more rebounds than their competition in the regular season). Unfortunately for New York, every time they knocked Jordan down, he got back up. The Pacers, by contrast, tried to outlast their division rival with superior depth and offensive fluidity. They had an imposing front line (Rik Smits, Dale and Antonio Davis), smooth outside shooters (Chris Mullin, Reggie Miller) and a crafty floor general in Mark Jackson. But because the Knicks’ bruising style left more of a mark on the League (both literally and figuratively) and because they managed to get past Jordan’s Bulls at least once, they get the edge here.

JAZZ vs. KNICKS From the mid ’80s through the late ’90s, no two teams epitomized consistency more than the Jazz and the Knicks. Utah went to the playoffs an incredible 20 years in a row, notching two Finals appearances, seven division crowns, and 90 playoff wins during that span. During New York’s own 14-year streak of playoff appearances, the Knicks piled up 83 postseason victories and also made the Finals twice, including one record-setting year as the first No. 8 seed to do so. Both teams did it with defense, finishing the regular season with a top 10 ranking 13 and 12 times, respectively. But if you were to pit these teams against each other, the Jazz would likely persevere thanks to their offense; while the Knicks scrapped for their points in those days, the Jazz offense was a well-oiled machine with two big Hall of Fame cogs, and it rolls on to the final round.

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HOOP

HOOP1112-Brack-It.indd 24

10/13/09 5:40 PM

By max willens #84

’92-93 PHOENIX SUNS (62-20) vs. ’91-92 PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (57-25) People complain that MJ never had to face a truly dominant Western Conference team, but he was hardly competing against a bunch of scrubs.

The Suns have a long and distinguished history of keeping scoreboards sizzling and their ’92-93 team was one of the hottest. The top-scoring team in the League that season, they had seven double-digit scorers, including unstoppable MVP Charles Barkley (25 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists per game), and they burned through the West on their way to the Finals. The Blazers never had the same firepower of those Suns teams, but they were impressively balanced. Led by Clyde Drexler, one of the game’s most complete players, the Blazers ranked in the top seven in both offense and defense thanks to a mix of savvy veterans (Buck Williams, Danny Ainge) and multi-faceted players entering their primes (Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey, Kevin Duckworth). But balance aside, the Suns were deeper than the Blazers, so they move to the next round.

’95-96 ORLANDO MAGIC (60-22) vs. ’95-96 SEATTLE SUPERSONICS (64-18) Jordan had a unique way of making his successes seem inevitable, no matter the competition. And coming into the ’95-96 season, his two chief competitors liked their chances. The Magic, led by an already dominant Shaq, were coming off their first Finals appearance in franchise history (in the process, eliminating MJ from the playoffs in his return to the NBA after flirting with baseball).The Sonics had won 57 games the season before, and their top two stars, Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton, were entering their primes. O’Neal averaged 27 and 11 on his way to the Conference Finals, and Gary Payton cemented his reputation as one of the decade’s best two-way players, averaging 19 points, eight assists and three steals a game on his way to the NBA Finals. But by the time Jordan got finished sweeping Orlando and crushing Seattle in the 1996 Finals, neither team was the same again.

Give Seattle the nod here, despite being one of the most underachieving squads of all time.

SUPERSONICS vs. SUNS Of course, Jordan wasn’t the only thing standing in the way of these teams. Some couldn’t get out of their own way. In fact, if you were to assemble an Underachievers’ Hall of Fame, the ’90’s Sonics teams would probably greet visitors at the entrance. Even though they made it to the Finals once, the ridiculously talented nucleus of Kemp, Payton, Hersey Hawkins, Detlef Schrempf, and Nate McMillan also got bounced in the first round twice (including that infamous upset at the hands of Dikembe Mutombo’s Nuggets), and aside from the ’95-96 team, they never so much as got to the Conference Finals. The Suns, by contrast, were more unlucky than unproductive. Kevin Johnson and Charles Barkley missed 100 games combined over the next two seasons, and both years the Suns got punched out by the Rockets, a team that wound up winning a pair of championships. So basically, Phoenix advances by default.

JAZZ vs. SUNS If the winner of this final frame had to be decided in one game, it could go either way. When those Suns got hot, they could beat anybody with their breakneck pace and top-shelf shooting. But in any series, even best-of-three, the nod has to go to the Utah Jazz. The Suns were never a good defensive team under Paul Westphal; during his coaching tenure, Phoenix never finished higher than 14th in points allowed. The Jazz, meanwhile, never finished lower than 13th during their heyday—and that didn’t come until the ’02-03 season, when a creaky, broken down Stockton and Malone were tremendous defensive liabilities, no matter who they were guarding.

That defense, combined with their team’s unwavering commitment to their offense that made Stockton the NBA’s all-time assists leader, made the Jazz one of the best teams of an era. And they were unquestionably the finest team Michael Jordan kept away from the Larry O’Brien trophy.

Winner: ’96-97 UTAH JAZZ

HOOP

HOOP1112-Brack-It.indd 25

025

10/13/09 5:41 PM

straight shooter

Phoenix’s Steve NaSh aims for honest answers to Your NBa Questions With the new season comes change. taking the reigns of this column is two-time MVP, six-time all-star and all around cool cat steve Nash. We welcome aboard our first international straight shooter as he dishes on his dunking prowess and what you dine on during Canadian thanksgiving

Where do you keep your two MVP trophies?

They’re in the hallway at home. It wasn’t really so much about displaying them. We just put the first one there and the next year we got another one, so put it next to the first one.

They’re on this little… I don’t know what you call it… you know, like one of those tables that you’d maybe put flowers on or something like that. It’s off to the side of the hallway. You could easily walk right by them and not notice them.

How do you get your per diem and what do you do with it?

We get our per diem from Mike Elliott, our assistant trainer, on the bus on the way to the plane. I don’t know what I do with it.

A lot of times I just use credit cards, so sometimes I come home with some extra money, but other times I spend it or take the guys out. It depends. If you’re going on a long road trip, you can blow it all and take them out.

We’ve never seen you dunk. Can you?

I don’t know if I can right now, but two or three years ago I dunked in practice. I was egged on by the guys, but that was the last time. I’ve never really been that type of an explosive player. I used to enjoy dunking with my friends in high school, but after that I realized it took too much effort for very little return, so I have not done a lot of dunking since high school.

Do you celebrate American or Canadian Thanksgiving?

American, because we’re here and everyone is celebrating. We definitely honor the Canadian Thanksgiving, but it’s much more convenient for us to celebrate when everybody else is celebrating. Since it’s basically the same deal, I don’t feel like I’m demeaning one or the other. The food is the same, turkey and all that stuff. The whole spread is great, but my favorite is the turkey.

How do you celebrate a teammate’s birthday?

Being environmentally conscious, do you subscribe to the philosophy of “If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down.”

Usually we’ll have a cake on the plane or in the locker room, depending on if we’re at home or away. But I don’t eat cake. At least not very often. If we happen to be away somewhere, we might go out for dinner, but it all depends on where we are.

I think within reason you need to save as many bowls of water as possible, so there’s nothing wrong with letting it mellow for a while. But you obviously don’t want to be living in a pig sty. Luckily, we have his and hers bathrooms [at home].

got a question for steve? email it to hoop@pspsports.com

8

Eight of the top 15 best-selling NBA jerseys in Europe are of European players: Pau gasol (No.3), tony Parker (No. 6), andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon (No. 8 and No. 9, respectively), Dirk Nowitzki (No. 11), rudy Fernandez (No. 12), Marco Belinelli (No. 13) and Joakim Noah (No.14).

026

barry gossage/Nbae/getty Images

“ham and turkey on wheat bread, [subway] footlongs; sometimes i eat two footlongs,” -al Jefferson, on how he dropped 30 pounds in the offseason

HOOP

HOOP1112-StraightShooter.indd 26

10/13/09 3:34 PM

HOW WILL YOU

TAKE OVER?

IN STORES NOW 2KTAKEOVER.COM

Search for more detailed rating summaries at www.esrb.org

*According to 2008-09 Gamerankings.com and NPD data. ©2009Take-TwoInteractiveSoftwareanditssubsidiaries.Allrightsreserved.2KSports,the2KSportslogo,andTake-TwoInteractiveSoftwarearealltrademarksand/orregisteredtrademarksofTake-TwoInteractiveSoftware,Inc.The NBA and individual NBA member team identifications used on or in this product are trademarks, copyrights designs and other forms of intellectual property of NBA Properties, Inc. and the respective NBA member teams and may not be used, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of NBA Properties, Inc. © 2009 NBA Properties, Inc. All rights reserved. “PlayStation” and the “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. The PlayStation Network Logo is a service mark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. Wii and the Wii logo are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2006 Nintendo. The ratings icon is a registered trademark of the Entertainment Software Association. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Take two.indd 1

9/21/09 12:51:07 PM

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The number of African countries represented during the NBA’s 2009 Basketball Without Borders tour of Africa.

“You see the weirdest stuff—they have an ice cream bar that has corn in it. It’s the weirdest thing but his face is on that too.

You don’t know how popular he is until you go over there.”

-Devin Harris on Yi Jianlian’s popularity in China

Bread and Butter Taking a page from Reggie Miller’s playbook, Rip Hamilton has become the 2K master at running the baselines and coming off screens to nail jumpers. The play is pretty simple but nearly impossible to defend— unless you have a marathon runner who can keep up with the fleet-of-foot Hamilton for 48 minutes.

In a halfcourt set, Rip will normally run the baselines looking for an opening. More often than not, Tayshaun Prince or Jason Maxiell will set the pick, which Hamilton runs towards. As his defender is momentarily thrown off by the screen, the speedy Hamilton is able to get free for a second, catch the ball, set and hit nothing but nylon.

Even at 6-7, and only 193 pounds, his perfection of the play draws the respect of the entire league. Of course, like any smart veteran, Hamilton knows how to take advantage of his reputation.

“He’s so dangerous off the pindown screen,” says Knicks forward Al Harrington. “It’s hard to get there because they allow him to push, they allow him to get that Reggie Miller push [laughs]. Once he gets you offbalance, it’s tough.”

Added advantage or not, Richard Hamilton coming off the pindown screen is one of the hardest plays to stop—and one of the more beautiful plays to watch when perfectly executed. Seth Berkman #91

Richard Hamilton coming off the pindown screen

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HOOP

HOOP1112-BButter.indd 28

10/13/09 5:53 PM

gOOD lOOks

checking the league’s fashion game HOOP’s Style Eds Zaza “ZQ” Pachulia and Candice Wiggins bring a baller’s perspective to the world of fashion. This month’s guest Style Ed: Sneakerhead Bobbito Garcia Patrick Ewing

Emeka Okafor

Candice: He kind of looks like an investment banker on Wall Street. However, I can’t deny that he looks professional in the suit, so kudos to that. I just wish the jacket was a little less wrinkled.

Candice: I love it. The jacket is pretty daring and bold, but the simple button down shirt underneath balances it out.

Some might argue the jacket is too small, but the man is 6-11, give him a break! Any graphic that represents a part of your life always makes a statement and Emeka pulls it off! Bravo!

CaniCe: HannaH foslien; CloCkwise from top left: randy beliCe; layne murdoCH; jesse d. garrabrant; brian babineay; jaCk arent/nbae/getty images

Zaza: For a big guy like Patrick it’s hard to find clothes his size, so I give him credit for finding this great color combination. It’s a great outfit for the Olympic Hall of Fame induction.

Zaza: Emeka is showing some love to his new team. I hope he won’t be wearing this when he goes out for dinner during the season.

Bobbito: Pat Ewing is a classy dude. It looks like he’s giving a high-five. It might look like he’s saying no to the cameras to some people, but I bet he’s giving a young kid in the crowd a high-five.

Bobbito: That jacket looks…I wouldn’t wear that to an ant funeral. But Emeka, props to him, he’s a good player.

Baron Davis

Paul Pierce

Andre Iguodala

Candice: Oh boy. I tried so hard to understand this look, but I can’t! [laughs] I think I know what he was going for, but unfortunately he misses it on pretty much every level. The hat, the glasses, the shirt, it’s all too much. But Baron is a unique individual and if he likes it, I love it! I have those days (but a thumb up for individuality!) sometimes, too.

Candice: Wonderful! Very crisp color palate, and I love the gray tones with the pop of yellow. It’s youthful, yet sophisticatedly mature. Paul gets a high-five and a pound by me. *Candice’s Nattiest

Candice: Hmmm…I had to zoom in 100 times to see what the shirt was underneath. It doesn’t look horrible, but the color is a little overbearing. He could’ve broken it up with a bolder color. And is anyone else getting Jaleel White from the neck up? Because I am. See guys, you wear the “nerd” glasses and sometimes that’s what you end up looking like...

Zaza: Even if you don’t know Baron, you would know he’s L.A. He is total L.A. style and is one of the best dressers in the NBA. * ZQ’s Nattiest Bobbito: Baron Davis, I got ultimate respect for anything he wears. I don’t care if it looks crazy or it doesn’t even match, the dude is so cool.

Zaza: What a strange color combination going on. I’m expecting this combination from old school people. I don’t expect this from Paul, he’s too young for this look.

Bobbito: Here, it doesn’t even matter about the clothes; his smile says it all. That’s a winning smile right there. That’s a true, sincere smile and that’s the best thing you can wear. *Bobbito’s Nattiest

Zaza: I’m glad that Andre will not only be able to learn how to play basketball from Eddie Jordan but will also learn how to dress from his new coach.

Bobbito: Grey is hot. I was just at the New Balance headquarters in Boston and they showed me the catalog for their 2009-2010 stuff and I never realized how fly grey is.

I wear grey a lot, so I give him props on that outfit.

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Memory Lane

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The number of votes (323-163) Diana Taurasi beat out Tamika Catchings for the WNBA MVP award. Taurasi is the first Mercury player to win the award.

Stephen Jackson

June 15, 2003 Game 6, NBA Finals San Antonio Spurs vs. New Jersey Nets 35 minutes, 17 points, three rebounds. 3-for-7 3-pt.

Transition Game

ALLEN IVERSON

“I was congratulating him, just telling him it was welldeserved. And the first thing he said was, ‘I can’t wait to be here for your [Hall induction].’

So I told him, ‘Quit drinking.’”

-Kevin Martin on his conversation with Michael Jordan about MJ’s induction into the Hall of Fame

My most memorable game was Game 6 of the 2003 NBA Finals and winning the championship. Hitting those three three-pointers in the fourth quarter to put us up, I think that has to be my most memorable game. I think very close was the playoff series with Golden State against Dallas in 2007. Being able to beat the No. 1 seed was great for us and that definitely comes close. But anytime you win a championship in anything it’s going to be close to your heart.

Photo Buckets

Jessica Hill - Shreveport, LA Congratulations to Jessica Hill, winner of this issue’s Photo Buckets contest.

Each issue we ask readers to submit their best offcourt photo with an NBA player, past or present. This issue we chose this entry taken with Stromile Swift during a visit to his hometown last season, where he talked at local churches and gave away autographed memorabilia.

*All submitted entries become property of HOOP

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all photos/NBAE/Getty Images

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

“They won last year, and I’m the new addition. The fans expect to repeat.

Everybody in L.A. expects a second ring.

And if we don’t then yeah, they should point it right at me, throwing tomatoes and everything.”

-Ron Artest on the expectations placed upon him this season as a Laker

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know your newb

Jrue Holiday

Philadelphia 76ers

dance life

Erica Celtics Dancer indescribable. I was so anxious to get on the court, there were butterflies in my stomach, I couldn’t stop smiling. I remember looking around and thinking that I never danced in front of that many people in my life.

It was so incredible.

How’s your first NBA training camp different from your practices in college at UCLA? I think we focus a little bit more on the plays. Being a rookie, you gotta go a little bit harder than everybody else.

You gotta prove yourself.

How are you adapting to the Philly sports scene? The Phillies are doing real well and people are always excited about the Eagles; how do you think the Sixers fit in this season?

We have got a real young team so we hope everybody gets to know them and I think our team has a really good chemistry on the court and off the court.

As the point guard, what’s it like to have two incredible athletes on your side in Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young?

It’s crazy. A lot of people don’t see that after Thad gets a rebound, he’s the first one down the court. Andre, just the stuff that he does is so surprising. There are not many players of his caliber. It makes the game a lot easier.

How’s the UCLA/Arizona dynamic working between you and Dre? Me and Jason Kapono, we kind of get on Dre. There’s two of us and one of him. I mean, they beat us once last year and when Jason and Dre played they split, so it goes back and forth.

holiday: jesse d. garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images; erica: courtesy of boston celtics

Has it been hard to get your feet wet in Philly coming from the west coast?

I went back home for a couple days and went back to UCLA to say “What’s up?” to all the players and coaching staff, but then I came back here to get to work.

Have you had a cheesesteak in Philly yet?

Yeah, I had one when I first came out here during high school.

Has your shoe collection grown a lot since you’ve entered the League?

Now that I’m with adidas my shoe collection has gotten a lot larger.

Who did you notify first when you found out you made the team?

Erica: I called my mom. As soon as they announced my name I was in hysterics and crying and I asked my friend for a phone to call my mom. She was screaming and jumping up and down. It was awesome!

Family is a huge part of my life and fortunately my mom was able to come to one game a month last year. She’s kind of like a regular.

All the Celtics organization people know her, it’s great.

How old were you when you began dancing?

Erica: I was five years old when I began dancing. It was a personal interest. I had begged my mom for a while to enroll me in dance classes. I fell in love with it and have been doing it ever since.

Did you have previous experience dancing for professional teams?

Erica: I never danced with any professional teams prior. I danced in high school with a team and in college I was a dance minor [at UMass Boston]. It wasn’t considered a team, but we had dance classes and put on a performance in the spring.

Was it a big change moving from Virginia Beach to Boston?

Erica: Yes, absolutely. I was so used to the warm weather and being at the beach and when I went to Massachusetts it was a whole new ball game. I had to invest in a lot of long johns and scarves, the weather is so cold in the winter.

Did you have a favorite pair of kicks growing up?

The Jordan XII.

And you just completed college?

Erica: I just graduated in May. I majored in marketing and art and minored in dance. I just got a job with a merchant resource group and I will be a marketing coordinator for them.

Have you been able to explore the city yet?

Not really. One part I really like is Center City. It’s cool down there.

—Seth Berkman #91

What was it like to step on the court for the first time?

Erica: It was absolutely incredible, almost

We read that your dream job would be to be a rapper.

Erica: I just feel like rappers just know how to say things the right way. They’re very eloquent and able to say what they feel and I’ve never been someone who can do that very well. Not to mention they get to be on stage and perform in front of so many people.

What would your rap name be?

Erica: [Laughs] It was funny, when I was filling out my bio sheet some of the girls said we’ll call you “E-Labs,” because it’s a combination of my first name and my last name and I thought, “Uhh, I don’t think that’s gonna work really well.” [laughs] So I haven’t really thought of a good rap name.

The Celtics have some of the most loyal fans in the NBA. Have you seen anyone that made you star struck?

Erica: Last season we had Michael Phelps come and we got to take a picture with him and later in the season Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner were in the crowd. It was pretty cool.

Which is a better path to success: the Lakers’ triangle offense or the Celtics’ emphasis on defense?

Erica: I’m gonna go with defense. You gotta be able to block shots and get rebounds to push it up court, so you’ll be more successful with defense and our history has shown that.

—#91 HOOP

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catching up with...

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“I don’t Twitter. I think Twittering and all that facebook crap just makes you a loser.”

-Charles Barkley The total number of points scored between the Phoenix Mercury (120) and Indiana Fever (116) in Game 1 of the

HOOP: The one thing fans most remember about you in your playing career is Game 59 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Chicago Bulls, those missed layups at the end of the game. Do you think that has overshadowed an otherwise productive career?

Smith: Sure, it’s unfortunate if I’m remembered for only a few seconds of one game, no matter how big. On the other hand, I was blessed to be on such a big stage, in a position to knock off the defending champions. And as any team player would say, you win and lose games as a team.

HOOP: Do you get asked about that Game 5 very often?

Smith: Sure, fans get caught up in that sort of thing.

I don’t blame them, but it’s too easy to base a player’s game on stats or a single highlight. There’s so much more to the game. I look at it now the way I looked at it then—it was a test of faith for me. I grew from the failure of that game. I’ll never forget something Avery Johnson told me when I was traded [to the San Antonio Spurs] that next season, that “When one door closes, God opens another one and there were blessings ahead for me.” And Avery was exactly right.

Bonus Points 1. Smith’s East All-Stars lost to the West team, led by 27 points and 16 rebounds from future NBA player and McDonald’s Game MVP John Williams.

2. Expectations Smith largely met, averaging 16.8 points and 8.1 rebounds in his four-year Panthers career.

3. Danny Manning and Rik Smits went No. 1 and No. 2.

4. Smith was dealt for shooting guard Hersey Hawkins and a 1989 first-rounder (Kenny Payne).

5. Smith averaged 18.4 points and 7.0 rebounds in his four Clippers seasons.

6. It was a fairly involved, three-team trade remembered best as the deal that sent Mark Jackson to the Clippers.

7. You’ll find plenty of interesting ex-player features at www.nbrpa.com.

8. Vaughn was a former 1995 first-rounder and a veteran of four NBA seasons who was living in Orlando with no money or home.

9. At the end of Game 5, Chicago’s defense harassed Smith into missing four layup attempts in succession, preserving a win for the Bulls and giving them an astounding momentum shift in the series.

stephen dunn/Getty Image sports

HOOP: In a sense, you and the NBRPA got on the radar for basketball fans with the heartwarming assistance offered to David Vaughn.8 How did that come about?

Smith: I ran across a story online that talked about [Vaughn’s] situation, and frankly he is just the kind of guy who needs to be registered with [the NBRPA].

HOOP: Isn’t every player registered with the NBRPA once he retires?

Smith: No, membership is not automatic and in fact we only have around 600 players registered right now. That leaves close to 2,000 players who are unaware of how the group can help them.

HOOP: What is the function of the NBRPA? Smith: Of course there is an aspect that simply allows all of us former players to keep in touch with one another. But for those like David, down on their luck and in need of some real help, we’re there for them. We offer job placement, continued education, financial planning or assistance, even counseling. There may be a perception that every retired athlete is a millionaire and that’s simply not the case.

But whether or not a player was a superstar in the League, we want them involved in the NBRPA. HOOP: You made that a mission of yours upon becoming executive director, so in a sense the Vaughn case has been helpful?

Smith: I don’t want any of our retired players to be suffering. But that said, things happen, there are bad breaks, layoffs, health issues and it’s important that our organization step up and be visible to all former players, particularly those in need. Too many guys still don’t know about us.

HOOP: Did anything else in your career approach the intensity of the Knicks-Bulls rivalry of the early ’90s?

Smith: Not by a longshot. Those were the most competitive games I’ve ever played, on any level. It was a real spectacle: Michael Jordan in New York City, John Starks with his monster dunk, the gamesmanship of two master coaches like Pat Riley and Phil Jackson.

HOOP: You just wish you could have pushed past the Bulls one of those years?

Smith: [laughs] Well, yeah. I imagine it would be very different being a Knicks fan today if we had.

WNBA Finals, the highest scoring game in league history.

Charles Smith has never shied from a challenge. Upon being named a McDonald’s All-American in 1984,1 he chose to attend the University of Pittsburgh amid enormous expectations.2 On draft day, 1988, Smith was selected third overall3 by the Philadelphia 76ers—and promptly shipped across the country to the Los Angeles Clippers.4 After four strong seasons in Los Angeles that established him as one of the best power forwards in the League,5 the Clippers sent him back across the country in a trade6 with the New York Knicks.

His burgeoning game was muted in New York, where Smith was treated as a role player and he faltered during the aftermath. Five years and one infamous postseason play later, Smith’s NBA career ended.

Since then, Smith has found fortune as a business owner and a year ago was named the executive director of the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA),7 where he’s made it his mission to remember those players long forgotten.

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CHARLES SMITH

By Brett Ballantini #97

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celeb row

Fire Burning for the Hardwood

What players do you enjoy watching the most?

My favorite is Dwyane Wade. He’s the best. He has good handle. I like the way he goes down on the court. A lot of shooting guards, they rush to the hole. He does it more smoothly like he knows how to handle the ball. He also has an amazing shot.

Courtside or box seats?

I like courtside. You can hear them talk trash and you can see all the details, like the coach screaming at the players.

Did you follow the NBA growing up in Jamaica?

My brother is a huge basketball fan, so even if I didn’t want to, I had to. I love the NBA. Basketball is an amazing sport. The fundamentals, the whole game itself is entertaining. A team could be down 35 in the fourth quarter and boom, boom, boom, before you know it, they’re up. It’s crazy.

Was basketball something you played with your friends?

We played basketball in Kingston a lot—at school, at my homeboy’s house.

We had one of those hoops with the wheels on it. You could roll it anywhere.

What do you hope you’re showing about Jamaica through your music?

My heritage and just how much talent Jamaica has. Reggae music is cool. Bob Marley set it on a whole other level. I want to carry that on what Bob Marley was doing.

How loud did you scream during last year’s Olympics when fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt won the 100 meters?

Too loud. I was like, “Yo, this is crazy!” He’s making us proud. That’s a beautiful thing. I like making my country proud. It’s a beautiful country. That’s my job, to let the world know that.

In the video for “Face Drop” there’s an animated version of you. How much say did you have in the creation of Little Sean?

I had a lot of say. I told the director I wanted it to be graphical 3D, real life animation. I liked the way he made it come to reality. I said put him on real sidewalks, real cars, real life. It’s great.

What is it like to perform before a live audience of screaming fans?

It’s a beautiful situation to see the fans participate, put their hands in the air, singing your songs word for word. It’s amazing seeing them into the groove just enjoying the night.

Your thoughts on this NBA season?

I’m rocking with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Shaq and LeBron, can’t beat that.

– Lois Elfman #40

what were we thinking?

kingston: scott cunningham/NBAE/Getty Images

Cover- Mar/Apr 2008, Golden State Warriors Less than a year after turning the 67-win Dallas Mavericks into nothing more than a trivia question, the Golden State Warriors were one of the most popular teams in the NBA. Many—us included, obviously—thought they were on the fringe of contender status, but things soon turned sour in the Bay after this cover. They missed the 2008 playoffs, despite winning 48 games, and two of the three captains featured (Matt Barnes and Baron Davis) left town via free agency. Oaktown hasn’t been the same since.

13

The number of seasons it took Vickie Johnson to win the WNBA Player of the Week Award. She is a two-time All-Star and one of two players to score 4,000 points and collect 1,000 assists in her career. She also holds the league record for games played.

“I don’t see myself really twittering too much. If I had something to say, I’d probably just ask Ron to write it for me.”

-Kobe Bryant

Born in Miami and raised in Kingston, Jamaica (birthplace of HOFer Patrick Ewing), rapper/reggae fusion singer Sean Kingston (born Kisean Jamal Anderson) loves to spend his downtime watching hoops. Although he wishes he could be courtside when the season gets underway, he’ll settle for televised games while on the road promoting his sophomore album, Tomorrow. When he does get to check out live action, no doubt he’ll be hearing his own tunes, because “Fire Burning” is already on many teams’ playlists.

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head 2 head

paul pierce vs. lamar odom

What better way to start the season than with a little comparison of the NBA’s Hatfields and McCoys? In one corner you have “The Truth,” Paul Pierce, who has spent all 11 of his NBA seasons in green and white. In the purple corner you have Lamar “Sweet Tooth” Odom, who not only has a penchant for candy (if there were a category for root canals, Odom would get the check), but double-doubles as well. Who wins this bout is anyone’s guess.

1

Round

Scoring: Odom is a dude that can go off for 20 any night of the season, but Pierce does it with much more consistency (career average of 22.9 ppg). With a dependable three-point shot and a propensity of getting to the line (and making those charity stripe shots), Pierce has been Boston’s best scorer since Larry Legend laced them up in the old Garden. Odom plays well outside of the paint too, but Pierce is much more of an attacking scorer and can come at you in a multitude of ways.

Winner: Pierce

2

Round

Floor Game: Is there any player who better epitomizes floor game for a big man than Odom? It definitely isn’t Pierce—although he is deft at handling the ball and running the floor, Odom is the standard to which teams, players and fans compare all agile forwards. Pat Riley even said that Odom is the only player who could match the ability of Magic Johnson. His versatility sets him apart and makes him such a dangerous threat on both ends of the court.

Winner: ODOM

PAul pierce forward 6-7, 235 Boston celtics

Defense: Given his ability to defend guards, forwards and even centers, Odom should run away with this category. But don’t doubt Pierce’s defensive prowess. The key to Boston’s resurgence has been their D and P-Double is a vital part of that mentality. But since much of his success is built around a team philosophy on D and Odom is the better on-ball and one-onone defender, we give a slight nod to the Laker.

Winner: ODOM

Pierce

Odom

PPG

20.5

11.3

APG

3.6

2.6

RPG

5.6

8.2

SPG

1.0

1.0

AST:TO

1.28:1

2.2:1

FG%

.457

.492

3PT%

.391

.320

FT%

.830

.623

PER

17.74

16.60

’08-09 stats

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pierce: brian babineau, fernando medina; odom: andrew d. bernstein, stephen dunn/NBAE/Getty Images

3

Round

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lamar odom forward 6-10, 230 los angeles lakers

4

Round

Clutch: Paul Pierce has always been option numero uno in the Bean and even with the arrival of KG and Ray, he still gets plenty of looks with the clock running towards zero.

Throughout his career he has shown a knack for thriving in the spotlight, from leading Boston back from the dead against New Jersey in the 2002 Playoffs, to his triumphant return against L.A. in Game 1 of the 2008 Finals. Odom has been given the spotlight before—most notably with the Clippers and Heat—and while he doesn’t shy away from being “the man,” he is much more efficient as a second or third option. Plus, we all know that those last-second shots for the Lakers are reserved for #24.

Winner: PIERCE

5

Round

Leadership: From ’98-06, Pierce was the face of the franchise in Boston. He may not have always been the general Celtics fans clamored for in the vein of a McHale, Bird or Parish, but he was undoubtedly their heart and soul. When Kevin Garnett arrived in ’07, many expected him to become the new leader of the green army, but he firmly stated in the beginning that this was Truth’s team. As Boston has flourished these past few seasons, it’s become even more clear how important Pierce is to their success, as he is one of the best captains in the League. Odom has never been given a fair shake on a good team to be the outright leader—you could say he had a good opportunity to with the Clips, but he and that team were too young at the time. We’re not saying Odom doesn’t lead by example, but with Phil Jax and Kobe on your side, you don’t always have to be the rah-rah, in your face type. Odom was a huge key in the Lakers reclaiming the title last season, but when they retire #34 into the rafters of the TD Garden, one of the words that will be in everyone’s speeches that night will be “leader.”

Winner: pierce

The Verdict

While both players look dissimilar on paper, they are alike in many ways. The way they have adapted to each of their team’s philosophies has been critical for each guy copping one ring the last two years, as each brings a little bit of everything to the table. We loved the way Odom stepped it up in last season’s playoffs, but Pierce is the more consistent contributor in Boston’s blueprint. In a split decision, it’s Pierce 3-2.

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KEVIN LOVE 42 - Forward-Center - Minnesota Timberwolves

andrew d. bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images

BONUS POINTS 1 Love became the first player in Oregon high school basketball history to be named player of the year three straight times.

2 It read: “Today is a sad day … Kevin McHale will NOT be back as head coach next season.”

3 11.1 ppg and 9.1 rpg 4 Kurt Rambis and David Kahn, respectively

first five

By John Nemo #16

Ever since high school,1 Kevin Love has been a step ahead of the competition. But when he let loose with the Tweet2 heard ’round the NBA world, he had no idea he’d scoop the entire country.

Earlier this summer, Love accidentally broke the news via Twitter that Minnesota wasn’t bringing back Kevin McHale as its coach. And while he doesn’t plan to make a habit of one-upping reporters in ’09-10, Love won’t shy away from Twitter—or the low post.

“It’s all about being able to relate to your fans and be in close contact with them and be available to them,” Love says of his Twitter use. “I actually haven’t tweeted in the past few months as much since I got a little heat over that McHale tweet, but as the season gets going I’ll start Twittering again.”

Love got going right from the start during his rookie campaign, almost averaging a double-double3 last year while learning at the feet of Timberwolves big man Al Jefferson.

“Al was really instrumental to me improving my game during my rookie season,” Love says. “I’m definitely excited to see what Al and I can do together playing the high and low post when we’re both 100 percent.”

With a brand new coach and general manager,4 along with a dramatically revamped roster, the young Timberwolves are excited, but also staying realistic about what they can accomplish this season.

“We’re not expecting an NBA championship this year, but we just want to get as close to the playoffs as we can and learn what we’ll need to improve on,” Love says. “We’re not blowing this year off or anything. We’re going to come out and grind and get as many wins as we can. We’ll come out to compete every night.”

And no matter what happens, you can bet Love will be tweeting all about it.

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first five

By brett mauser #25

0 - Guard - Houston Rockets

Aaron Brooks Don’t get the wrong impression about Aaron Brooks. After a monstrous postseason, he enjoyed his summer. He hosted a hoops camp at his high school,1 traveled to China,2 got married,3 honeymooned in the Bahamas—you know, good old RnR. He needed it; Brooks had a great season and it was a pleasant surprise, but this season the Rockets are depending on him to provide even more .

Yao’s out. Tracy McGrady’s down, too. Ron Artest is in L.A. Suddenly Brooks looks around and the team is all his. “This year is a little bit different,” says Brooks, the Rockets’ 2007 first round pick. “The expectations as far as [the media] aren’t that high, but we’re going to go out there, play basketball, compete and turn heads.”

After his rookie year, Brooks took four days off and went back to the “laundry list” of areas to improve— conditioning, creating space for his shots, his marksmanship overall. The work paid off as Brooks bumped up his numbers across the board,4 including in the playoffs when he averaged nearly 17 a night.5 Along with Luis Scola, Chuck Hayes and Carl Landry, Brooks recognizes that doing it night in and night out without an army of all-stars alongside him will be both a sizable challenge and the next step in his growth.

“I know I have to step up my game,” Brooks says.

“We all do. We have big shoes to fill. Me, Luis, Chuck, Carl, we have to be ready. I’m trying to get conditioned to be ready. I admire the Chris Pauls and Kobe Bryants who are able to go 82 games and go at that level. I hope to be able to do that.”

BONUS POINTS 1. The Aaron Brooks Drills and Skills Basketball Camp at Franklin HS in Seattle.

2. Brooks and Rajon Rondo took part in the Nike “All-Asia” Basketball Camp 3. To longtime girlfriend Shavonne back in Seattle.

At the wedding, Brooks tipped his cap to the dance moves of teammates Chuck Hayes and Carl Landry.

Stealing the show though? “My dad. I didn’t know my dad could dance.”

4. Brooks was anointed the starting PG in Houston when the much-maligned Rafer Alston was dealt to Orlando for Brian Cook and Noah Lowry, a personal fave of GM Daryl Morey, in February.

5. The contrast in Brooks’ numbers in wins versus losses during the Rockets’ seven-game series loss to the Lakers was stark—26.3 ppg in three wins; 12.8 ppg in four losses.

bill baptist/NBAE/Getty Images

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7. Danilo wears #8 because of his birthdate: 8/8/88.

6. After Gallinari voiced his displeasure about the type of music played after he hit a basket, MSG now plays “The Rooster” by Alice in Chains.

5. Gallinari’s nickname is Il Gallo, “The Rooster.”

4. Gallinari’s father Vittorio and D’Antoni played pro ball together for eight years in Italy.

3. On 3/3/08 vs. the Hawks, Gallinari went 4-for-5 from three-point range and had a season-high 17 points.

2. His season ended when he had back surgery on 4/7/08.

1. Selected at No. 6 overall, Gallinari was the Knicks’ highest draft pick since they picked Kenny Walker at No. 5 in 1986.

BONUS POINTS

You could sum up Danilo Gallinari’s rookie season in New York in one word: frustrating. Knicks fans welcomed him with a Bronx cheer when his name was announced on Draft night in 20081 and Gallinari didn’t get much of a chance during the season to prove those initial detractors wrong. Because of a nagging back injury, Gallinari played only 28 games.2 Yet in his abbreviated debut, the 6-10 small forward showed he could stroke it, shooting 44.4 percent from three-point range3 and 26-of-27 from the freethrow line. It’s this tantalizing combination of size and skill that has Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni4 eagerly anticipating Gallinari’s return.

“Danilo is a great shooter, a better defender than people think and he has leadership qualities,” D’Antoni says. “He needs to continue to get comfortable in the NBA system, and good things will happen for him.”

Gallinari,5 however, can’t find a comfort zone if he doesn’t play. But D’Antoni thinks Il Gallo,6 who made his professional debut at age 16,7 should have reason to crow this season.

“Danilo has been working very hard, on and off the court, this offseason,” D’Antoni says. “He has started to look really good.”

Danilo Gallinari

8 - Forward - New York Knicks

nathaniel s. butler/NBAE/Getty Images

By Rob Peterson #9

HOOP

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4 - Forward - Golden State Warriors

By Dave McMenamin #35

Some players go their whole career waiting for the chance to throw down a dunk on one of the game’s true keepers of the lane—a Shaq, a Dwight, a Yao. Golden State’s Anthony Randolph1 checked that off his to-do list in his first ever meeting with Houston’s 7-6 center. And he checked it twice.

In the second quarter of a game in H-town last December, the then-rookie forward caught a pass along the baseline, elevated and switched the ball from his right to his left hand to put one down over Yao’s outstretched arms. Then in the third he followed up an errant shot by a teammate with a tip dunk and used Yao as a landing pad.

Randolph, who came into the League2 as a 19-yearold, standing 6-10 and weighing 210 pounds, now measures in at 7-0, 222 pounds for his sophomore season. The hybrid forward can play all five positions3 on the court and says his mental understanding of the game has grown just as much as his body—if not more—in his short time in the NBA. “I think I’ve improved a lot, not necessarily just from a physical standpoint but from a mental standpoint and learning how to play the game,” Randolph says.4 While the extra couple of inches added to his frame should help up his 1.2 blocks per game average, which was second among all rookies last year, he doesn’t want to grow too big and become a dunk target for another eager rookie in the future.

“I think I’m still growing,5 I hope I’m not though,” Randolph says with a laugh. “I just think I’m tall enough right now already.”

first five

Anthony Randolph

BONUS POINTS 1. Randolph tied a Las Vegas Summer League record with 42 points in July, but the record was short lived as teammate Anthony Morrow scored 47 points two days later to set the mark outright.

2. In order to bolster his national profile prior to the 2008 draft, Randolph posted videos of him working out against Brook and Robin Lopez on his personal website, AnthonyRandolph.net.

Fame potential” after the two played in February.

4. Don’t expect to see Randolph on Twitter anytime soon. “I think that’s all pointless,” he says. “Constantly telling people what you’re doing like everybody cares? No thanks.”

5. At just 20 years of age, Randolph was the youngest player invited to USA Basketball’s mini camp held over the summer in Las Vegas.

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rocky widner/NBAE/Getty Images

3. Lakers forward Lamar Odom was so impressed with the fellow lefty that he said the rookie had “Hall of

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By Melody #34

32 - Guard - Memphis Grizzlies

O.J. MAYO

When asked what he worked on during the offseason, Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo runs off a long list, one you might expect from a second-year player looking to make a name for himself, not a top rookie1 in the League last year.

He says when you play in one of the toughest divisions in the League,2 you are always aware of what your weaknesses are.

“It definitely let me know what I needed to work on, what can get better and what works,” the USC alum says of earning his stripes in the Southwest Division. “I had plenty of playing time last year to get out my mistakes and I have the opportunity this year to take charge with our young team.”3 Mayo, who has built a reputation as a solid defender, finished the season with impressive numbers,4 averaging 18.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 38 minutes a game. He also started all 82 games.

However, as a floor leader, the versatile shooter wants to be more aggressive in the paint and improve his shooting percentage.5 “I think it has a lot to do with strength and sometimes I settle for the jumpshots so much because it happened to be open. This year I have to read the defense for the opportunity to drive and create for others and create for myself and ultimately get to the free throw line more.

I trained really hard this summer to be one of the best complete guards in the NBA and help our team be successful.”

BONUS POINTS

david sherman/NBAE/Getty Images

1. Mayo finished second to Chicago’s Derrick Rose in Rookie of the Year voting last season.

2. In the Southwest division, every other club made the playoffs last season: San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and New Orleans.

3. Both Mayo and teammate Rudy Gay played in the USA Basketball Mini-Camp in July. Memphis also added veterans Allen Iverson and Zach Randolph to the Grizzlies’ talented young core of players.

4. Mayo averaged 3.2 assists per game, 1.1 steals and scored in double figures the first 25 games of the season.

5. Shooting 44 percent from the field, Mayo ranked 32nd in the League. His 3.4 free throw attempts per game ranked 79th overall and seventh among rookies.

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24 seconds

with Commissioner David Stern HOOP: Happy belated birthday!1 How did you celebrate?

STERN: I went to a meeting of the planning committee with the board of governors to discuss enhanced revenue sharing.

jeff golden/Getty Image sports

HOOP: Exciting. Did they have a cake for you at least?

STERN: I’m embarrassed to say that a cake was presented and we immediately terminated the two employees that presented it [laughs].

HOOP: Do players, coaches or owners send you birthday cards?

STERN: I get e-mails from around the country from different people in the NBA family and my response is always “bah humbug.”

HOOP: Did you receive an e-mail from President Obama?

STERN: Hmm...I don’t remember [laughs].

No, I did not.

HOOP: Did the hoop ever get installed in the White House?

STERN: Yes, the outdoor court was redone with a new backboard configuration.

From what I understand they’re looking to enclose it for cold weather.

HOOP: How would you evaluate his game?

STERN: He has a pretty decent shot. The fact that he’s a lefty would keep him from getting completely shut down in the NBA [laughs].

HOOP: How neat is it to have the President of the United States be a basketball fan?

STERN: To hear that the President and his aides have stepped away from the arduous work of meeting with world leaders at the U.N. to shoot some hoops is pretty good.

It sends a message about the benefits of basketball for exercise, fitness and relaxation.

HOOP: When presidents get away for some relaxation they often go to Camp David.2 Where is Camp David Stern?

STERN: For me, that’s our home. That gives me the opportunity to unwind and recharge.

But we also ski in Colorado, go hiking in Switzerland and I play a lot of tennis.

By Jeramie McPeek #4 HOOP: Do you have any basketball memorabilia in your home, or do you leave that at the office, so you can get away?

STERN: There are a few photos hanging on the basement wall. I have two that I can think of right now. One is the cover of Business Week after the first lottery3 with Patrick Ewing and me. The other one is a picture of me with Michael and Magic after the Dream Team won gold in the ’92 Olympics.

HOOP: Do you ever take the subway or go on walks in New York, or is that too difficult?

STERN: Occasionally, like hopping down to the Garden, you can get on the subway quickly from the NBA office. But it’s not difficult to go for a walk in New York. I often choose to walk.

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HOOP: Do you wear a disguise?

We’ve got to imagine you’re stopped

by NBA fans everywhere you go.

STERN: A lot of people do, but usually they want to complain about one team or one referee [laughs].

HOOP: Maybe you should grow your beard again.

STERN: I’m thinking about one of those big noses with the dark glasses. But our fans are enormously good natured and loyal fans.

HOOP: We see you shake hands a lot at different events. Do you keep a bottle of hand sanitizer4 in your pocket?

STERN: I don’t and I have thus far avoided H1N1 and any other plagues, so I don’t plan to alter my activities.

HOOP: Do you find it difficult at all to not root during games?

STERN: It’s awful. I have to root for no injuries, no fights, and no calls that incorrectly determine the outcome of a game... Of course, behind closed doors and in front of a TV set, I am allowed to make a lot of noise when applauding good plays.

HOOP: Do you remember the first NBA game you ever attended?

STERN: Oh, wow. It was something approaching 60 years ago at Madison Square Garden in New York. On Thursday nights, occasionally, my dad and I would walk up from 23rd Street or thereabouts to see a game. To a youngster, the Garden was an awe-inspiring place.

HOOP: Who was your inspiration or role model?

STERN: My dad was someone I was always trying to please in the store. He and my mom really ran the business and were my inspiration there. In college, it was extraordinary to see the excitement that John F. Kennedy generated for ideas and progress.

HOOP: Who’s had a bigger impact6 on the game, you or Michael Jordan?

STERN: Oh, Michael Jordan. That’s easy.

The world wanted to be like Mike. No one was interested in being like David.

HOOP: Michael brought sponsorships and endorsements to a whole new level. Why doesn’t the Commissioner have any commercials?

STERN: Because he says “no” [laughs]. The emphasis is on the players.

HOOP: We won’t ask for a brand, but what type of product would you be a good pitchman for?

STERN: Something very boring like a blue suit, a pair of black shoes and a white shirt.

Nothing that anyone is really interested in.

HOOP: How many ties does the commissioner have?

STERN: I haven’t counted, but they’re all different shades of red, purple and blue.

Very un-imaginative.

HOOP: Do you ever feel short standing next to these guys?

STERN: Always.

HOOP: Who were your favorite Knicks?

STERN: For a while I was trying to be Carl Braun with my over-the-head set-shot, Jimmy Baechtold with my jumpshot… the Knicks had Ray Felix, Walter Dukes, [Paul] Hogue, Harry Gallatin, a succession of centers that were not Bill Russell [laughs].

Life as a Knicks fan was difficult, but it was fun.

HOOP: When was the last time you took a shot?

STERN: I sneak a couple here or there when I walk around at a shootaround, but only if no one is looking. But the last serious one was when both of my boys beat me in the backyard and that was probably 20 years ago. I hung it up.

046

just days after the Commissioner’s 67th birthday.

2. The military camp in the mountains of Frederick County, MD, has been used as a presidential retreat since 1942.

3. The NBA Draft Lottery was introduced in 1985.

The New York Knicks won the first-ever lottery and selected Patrick Ewing out of Georgetown.

4. The NBA did distribute bottles of Purell to employees in the New York office.

5. Stern worked at his father’s deli until graduating from Columbia Law School in 1966.

6. Originally joining the NBA as general counsel in 1978, Stern played a role in the introduction of free-agency, the salary cap and revenue sharing to the NBA, as well as pro sports’ first anti-drug agreement.

During his tenure, the League also welcomed seven new franchises, launched the WNBA, D-League, NBA Entertainment and countless community initiatives around the world.

jesse d. garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images

HOOP: What lessons did you learn at Stern’s Deli5 that you carry through to today?

STERN: We opened at nine o’clock in the morning and closed at one in the morning and we did the same thing every day.

Attention to detail and repetition can’t be emphasized too much. If you’ve got something going right, do it again and again, and keep your eyes open for how you can improve.

Bonus Points 1. This interview took place in late September,

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Season Preview 2009-10 Predictions are like...well, you know. Everybody has one. Some may say you could put post-it notes of all 30 NBA teams on a wall and throw darts at them and have as good a chance picking a champion, but we like to think we have this thing down to a science (hey, we did get it right last year).

There are more question marks surrounding each squad than on the Riddler’s tights and you could fill the pages of War and Peace detailing every little tidbit about the upcoming season. That’s why we concisely fit everything you need to know about the teams, players and storylines that will shape the upcoming season over the next dozen and a half pages—and the keys for the contenders to walk away with a ring.

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Season Preview 09-10

Atlantic Division

2. Toronto Raptors

3. Philadelphia 76ers

4. New York Knicks

One year removed from being on the top of the NBA pedestal, the Celtics enter ’09-10 as just one of the 29 teams looking to climb the mountain to dethrone the champs. The return of a healthy Kevin Garnett will be vital for a trip back to the Finals. Rasheed Wallace will help counter opposing forces in the post in the now center-heavy Eastern Conference and another season of improvement for point guard Rajon Rondo will make the C’s into a formidable contender. With Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in tow, they clearly are the cream of the crop in the division and just may be of the whole conference.

Last season everyone thought the Raptors would break out, but instead they sputtered towards the lottery. Chris Bosh enters a contract year and should put up superstar numbers. The addition of Hedo Turkoglu should make Toronto even more dangerous from deep, but the team needs to address their lack of interior presence and rebounding in order to make the move into playoff contention. If they don’t gel early on, we could see a relapse of their ’08-09 failures.

The Sixers were another team many predicted would see an upswing in victories but the loss of Elton Brand severely damaged any hopes of contending. They still managed to snag a playoff spot and gave eventual Eastern Conference champs Orlando a run for their money, but face a huge hole with Andre Miller departing for Portland. Jrue Holliday and Louis Williams will try to make up some ground at the point and Brand’s health is still a question mark. We see a possible All-Star berth in the cards for Andre Iguodala and for Thaddeus Young to continue to blossom, but the first round of the playoffs might be a best-case scenario for Philly.

There are four numbers every New York basketball fan has on their minds: 2-0-1-0. But before we can look ahead to the future, we must assess the present.

So what does this 2-0-0-9 version of the Knickerbockers bring to the table? Al Harrington should take over as veteran leader, but there are many question marks surrounding names like Eddy Curry, Danilo Gallinari and rookies Jordan Hill and Toney Douglas. The Knicks will be sure to fill the bucket, but playoff basketball in the Mecca may be a stretch.

all photos/NBAE/Getty Images

1. Boston Celtics

by the numbers League Average

100 Percentage

82.4

80

76.5

77.9

78.4

74.5

FT% 77.1 League average

60 40

39.7

44.8

44.5

37.6

36.0

45.9

PPG

Celtics 100.9 Nets 98.1

Knicks 48.6

100

105.2

45.8

37.2 31.8

fg% 45.9 League average 3pt% 36.7 League average

Sixers

97.4

Raptors

99.0

20 Celtics 050

Nets

Knicks Sixers Raptors

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FIVE CRITICAL GUYS DeMar DeRozan, F, Raptors DeRozan was a guy some people had pegged as a top five pick in the draft, so the Raptors may have gotten a steal at No. 9. The Raptors’ supporting cast will have to show a lot to CB4 to convince him to stay north of the border after the season and an immediate impact by DeRozan could ease that decision.

Danilo Gallinari, F, Knicks We liked what little we saw of the Italian Stallion last season, but he must show he can log at least 60-plus games or else people will begin to label him a “bust.”

Could be a key piece to a Knicks playoff run if he fulfills his potential.

Kevin Garnett, F, Celtics We know about the double-doubles Kevin Garnett will put up once back in the Celtics’ lineup, that’s a given. What you can’t measure in box scores on PER’s though is the intangibles he brings to Beantown. The ’08-09 Celtics lacked an intensity and hunger without KG and a healthy and rejuvenated #5 could catapult them back on top. He must feel like a champion stripped of his title due to circumstances beyond his control. Expect him to be hungrier than ever to regain what was once his.

he must prove he can do it on a regular basis before Philadelphia begins to explore trade options or hands the reigns over to rookie Jrue Holiday.

Yi Jianlian, F, Nets So maybe those predictions of Yi becoming the next Dirk were a bit premature. Still, this will only be his third season in the League and from all reports he looks bigger and more focused from summer workouts. The Nets need at least double-digit points from him and more rebounding if they are to muster any kind of push to the playoffs.

Louis Williams, G, Sixers Williams will take on the tough assignment of being asked to fill the shoes of Andre Miller. Though he has shown to be effective in bunches before,

5. New Jersey Nets For the first time since 2000, the Nets will enter the season without one of their former big three (Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson, Vince Carter) on the roster. Many maligned Jersey for trading arguably their best player in Carter, but it was in the best interest of the future of the franchise–we think. Brook Lopez, Courtney Lee and Devin Harris are good pieces to build around, and if Yi Jianlian, Chris Douglas-Roberts or Terrence Williams can provide double-digits it would be a huge victory. Things may start off sluggish for the Nets and there’s a better chance of Bon Jovi being banned from Jersey Shore clubs than them making the postseason, but they should begin to mesh later on in the season and maybe prove to those enticing 2010 free agents that west of the Hudson isn’t so bad after all.

Opponents’ PPG

Five key additions Jordan Hill, F, Knicks Hill is a freakish athlete who could end up being one of the best players from the 2009 draft. With Mike D’Antoni’s uptempo style, he should fit in nicely on offense and could go a long way in quieting the vocal Knicks fans still longing for Ricky Rubio or Stephen Curry.

Jason Kapono, G-F, Sixers In one of the more under the radar moves of the offseason, Kapono was traded from Toronto to Philly for Reggie Evans. The Sixers have been missing that downtown threat off the bench ever since they traded Kyle Korver to Utah and Kapono is one of the best in the League at bombing home treys. He could become a go-to guy in crunch time.

League Average Celtics Nets

93.4

100.5

Knicks

107.8

Sixers

97.3

Raptors

100

Courtney Lee, G-F, Nets He showed glimpses of something special in the playoffs but couldn’t have been too pleased to be moved from a contender to a rebuilder. Must mesh well early with Devin Harris in the backcourt, as both are primarily score-first players.

Hedo Turkoglu, F, Raptors He took a big risk by leaving a heavy favorite in the Eastern Conference. With many players with similar skill sets on the roster, Turkoglu must establish himself as a leader and clutch player early on like he did in Orlando or he could get lost in the shuffle.

Superlatives Fastest PG Devin Harris Best Uniform Boston Celtics Best Arena Atmosphere Madison Square Garden

Rasheed Wallace, F-C, Celtics The cagey vet must show he has some left in the tank after most of the Detroit team basically put up a white flag after Game 3 of last year’s first round series against Cleveland. Could be the spark that reignites Boston’s flame that was obviously missing when KG went down last season.

Best Celebrity Fan Spike Lee

First Time All-Star in ’10 Andre Iguodala

Most Viral Team Toronto Raptors

Most International Flavor Toronto Raptors

Best Shooter Ray Allen

Wish We’d See More Of...

Chris Douglas-Roberts

Most Fun to Watch New York Knicks

101.9

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season preview 09-10

Central Division

1. CLeveLand CavaLiers

2. ChiCago BuLLs

3. detroit pistons

4. indiana paCers

After getting overwhelmed by Orlando’s offense in the Eastern Conference Finals, Cavs’ GM Danny Ferry went out and bought some active countermeasures (Jamario Moon, Anthony Parker) to help guard more athletic 3s and 4s. Oh, and he also brought in a guy you might have heard of by the name of Shaq. These moves might have muddled a lesser team’s identity, but with LeBron driving the bus, the Cavs are automatic favorites to win this division and a good argument could be made for the Eastern Conference as well.

The Chicago Bulls have been in the midst of a youth movement for what seems like an eternity, but they seem to have finally settled on an identity: the ’09-10 Bulls are going to be defined by length (Taj Gibson, Joakim Noah), athleticism (Tyrus Thomas, Luol Deng), and a deep, multi-talented backcourt (Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, Jannero Pargo) that might be the best in the East. They may not be the most consistent team this season, but they will be a tough out every night.

Dynasties never end gracefully and last year’s ugly first round sweep at the hands of the Cavs represented the brutal end of Detroit’s Eastern Conference supremacy.

Joe Dumars decided to rebuild quickly by replacing Michael Curry with John Kuester, adding arguably the two of the best free agents available in Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva and letting go of Rasheed Wallace and Allen Iverson. Credit Dumars for assembling a competitive group so quickly, but cobbling these new pieces together, along with mainstays Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton, into a team will take time.

Despite finishing under .500 for the third consecutive year, the Pacers played it cool this offseason, signing only a couple of bench players (Dahntay Jones, Earl Watson) and basically staying put. That inaction might make Pacers fans anxious, but team president Larry Bird has reason to be patient; despite being bitten pretty hard by the injury bug, the Pacers finished fifth in the League in points per game last season, with six players averaging doubledigits in scoring. If everybody stays healthy, and if Danny Granger continues to rise, the Pacers just might be able to claw their way back to the postseason. all photos/NBaE/GEtty ImaGEs

By the numBers League average

perCentage

100 80

78.0

75.7

75.1

Ft% 77.1 League average

60 46.8 44.5

45.7

40 36.3

38.1

39.3

45.5

ppg

BuLLs 102.2 BuCKs 99.3

80.7

79.6

100

paCers

105.1

pistons

94.2

45.4 Fg% 45.9 League average 3pt% 36.7 League average

37.8 34.9

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Cavs

pacers

pistons

Cavs

100.3

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Five CritiCaL guys Andrew Bogut, C, BuCKS The Bucks Reconstruction Project begins this season and Andrew Bogut is its foundation. The 24 year-old Aussie was rounding into a nightly double-double when injuries cut his season short in ’08-09. This season he’ll be an offensive cornerstone in every game and hopefully the former No. 1 overall pick can capitalize on that opportunity.

Mike Dunleavy, F, PACERS Dunleavy won’t be fully recovered from hip surgery until about mid-December, but when he is, it’ll make a world of difference to the Pacers. Everybody forgets this now, but in ’07-08, the last complete season he played, Dunleavy was the team’s secondbest scorer, third-highest assist man, and

fifth-best rebounder. His return to form could mean a playoff spot.

Derrick Rose, G, BuLLS Even though three of his top-scoring teammates are gone, Derrick Rose starts this season with even greater expectations. The reigning Rookie of the Year will be expected to carry the Bulls deeper into the playoffs. But if Rose can improve even slightly on his magnificent debut season, those expectations just might get met.

can marshal his teammates and give the Pistons an offensive identity in his first full season as a starter, Joe D will go back to looking like a genius.

Mo Williams, G, CAVALIERS During the ’08-09 regular season, as the Cavs were joking and laughing their way to 66 wins, Mo Williams became LeBron James’s sidekick. In the playoffs, however, Williams seemed overwhelmed and that cannot happen again if Cleveland is going to get back to the Finals.

Rodney Stuckey, G, PISTONS Joe Dumars is staking a lot of chips on his third-year point guard. Stuckey averaged 13 points and five assists a game last season, playing on a veteran team that lost 18 of its final 26 games. But if Stuckey

5. miLwauKee BuCKs Every team’s fan base starts an NBA season excited about something. For the Bucks faithful this season that may require some creativity. They could get excited about summer league standout Jodie Meeks, who averaged 19 points per game (and on 55.7 percent shooting, no less). Or maybe they’ll be looking forward to seeing Brandon Jennings in his first NBA action and the returns of Andrew Bogut and Michael Redd, the team’s two best players, will be cause for celebration.

Just don’t pay too much attention to how many wins the team gets.

opponents’ ppg

Five Key additions Dahntay Jones, G, PACERS A badly needed defensive specialist, Dahntay Jones will be the wing enforcer that Jim O’Brien likes to have on his teams.

Jones won’t be expected to fill up the stat sheet, but his coach will have him muscling up on the opponent’s best perimeter player every night. Expect the well-traveled Jones, who’s playing for his fifth team in seven seasons, to relish the challenge.

Shaquille O’Neal, C, CAVALIERS The Big Whatever-He’s-Calling-Himself-Now gives LeBron a badly needed post option.

Though his days as a dominant force are well behind him, Shaq has enough experience and bulk left to potentially push Cleveland into the Finals again, provided he can stay healthy and doesn’t carp about his minutes.

League average Cavs

superLatives

102.5

Most International Team Milwaukee Bucks

paCers

106.2

Best Dressed Coach Mike Brown

pistons BuCKs

94.7

100.4

Charlie Villanueva, F, PISTONS Ben Gordon’s offensive numbers are sure to get plenty of attention throughout the season, but Charlie Villanueva’s a younger, more complete player. Villanueva averaged a very healthy 16 and seven last season coming off the bench, and with only the rail-thin Austin Daye and the offensivelychallenged Jason Maxiell standing in his way, the starting job is his to lose.

Kurt Thomas, F-C, BuCKS For a team that’s desperately hurting for scoring options, Thomas was a smart, economical signing. The former all-time leader in points scored in NCAA history, Thomas will give the Bucks’ second unit a steady post presence that will keep the team in games.

Most Annoying Arena Announcer John Mason

91.4

BuLLs

100

Jannero Pargo, G, BuLLS Replacing Ben Gordon as Chicago’s bench spark plug, Jannero Pargo upgrades Chicago’s backcourt depth from enviable to one of the Association’s best. Pargo, who turned down longer, richer deals overseas to play for his hometown Bulls, will keep an offense running effectively, even with the second unit on the court.

Best Arena Atmosphere Quicken Loans Arena

LeBron’s Best Handshake Partner Daniel Gibson

Most Three Pointers Attempted Indiana Pacers

Most Candid Rookie Brandon Jennings

Comeback Player of the Year Michael Redd

Best Backcourt Chicago Bulls Most Athletically Gifted Tyrus Thomas

Best Hair Joakim Noah and Anderson Varejao (tie)

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10/13/09 5:53 PM

On the rise

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054

kevin durant

coaching mainStayS

affordable ShoeS

nba Player documentarieS

offSeaSon community Work

nba tv creW (chriS Webber, gary Payton and co.)

6-10 and uP ShooterS

Stan van gundy

loW-cut SneakerS

SPaniSh nba talent

netS’ PromotionS team

marvin WilliamS’ defenSive abilitieS

american/college drafted PlayerS

under jerSey garmentS

cuStomized team/Player introS

StatiStical analySiS revolution (Per)

three-guard/underSized lineuPS

Season Preview 09-10

Upside/Downside

Our graphical look at what trends are hot and what’s not in the NBA

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On the decline

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headbandS

$150-PluS ShoeS

ricky rubio hyPe

dWight hoWard’S SuPerman PerSona

nate robinSon in the dunk conteSt

andre iguodala’S glaSSeS

don nelSon’S unorthodox coaching

Pregame halfcourt ShotS

lebron’S chalk toSS

ai’S all-Star Streak

tattooS

high SockS

houSton and Phoenix in the PlayoffS

nba PlayerS in cheeSy hollyWood filmS

uSefulneSS of PointS Per game Stat

nba PlayerS tWittering

PraiSe of ron arteSt’S defenSe

nba PlayerS in viral videoS

season Preview 09-10

Southeast Division

2. atLanta Hawks

3. wasHington wizards

4. MiaMi Heat

The attention in the East may be centered on Cleveland and Boston but that’s perfectly fine with the Magic. Just look at last year: no one thought Dwight Howard was the guy to carry a team to the Finals or that Rashard, Jameer and Hedo were the kind of complementary pieces that could beat Cleveland. But they did it. And they come back possibly even stronger this season, ready to sneak up from behind and catch everyone off guard again. Vince Carter was the big get this offseason, but don’t count out the great additions of Ryan Anderson, Brandon Bass and Matt Barnes. The biggest question mark will be the backup PG slot—last season when Jameer went down, Rafer Alston filled in amicably, but can the backfrom-retirement Jason Williams fill such a role if called upon?

For some reason there are always rumors swirling around Mike Woodson—like the way dirt circles Pig-pen—about his status as head coach of the Hawks. Just like how we think the kid can’t smell that bad, we can’t understand why writers, fans and critics are so uneasy with M-Dub at the helm. Ever since he took over in 2004, the Hawks have improved each season, including two straight playoff appearances and home court advantage in the first round last year. With a solid young core of Al Horford, Josh Smith, Marvin Williams and Joe Johnson, there is no reason why Atlanta can’t challenge for a four seed or better again this season. If Jamal Crawford can fit into the system, it could be a great season in the ATL.

Is this a big jump for a team who finished with the worst record in the East last season? Not really considering they are scheduled to have their big three fully intact [Ed note: On a side note, can we retire that term relating to basketball this season?]. A healthy lineup with Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison gives Washington a fighting chance every night, but the odds improve even better when DeShawn Stevenson and the newly acquired Mike Miller are reigning treys.

If youngn’s like Randy Foye, JaVale McGee, Nick Young and Javaris Crittenton can develop into consistent performers, the Wiz could contend for the playoffs after a one-year absence.

Granted, it wasn’t the same atmosphere as in 2006, but the Heat brought enough excitement to South Beach last season that people got off the beach and made some noise inside the AAA (thanks to the MVP-caliber play of Dwyane Wade, natch). But Miami will need another out of this world performance from Flash to stay relevant this season. With the uncertainty of what you’ll get from bigs Michael Beasley and Jermaine O’Neal, the Heat didn’t do enough to their roster to make anyone believe they can best last year’s fifth seed. Throw in those 2010 Wade rumors and this could be a season to forget in South Florida. all photos/NBaE/GEtty ImaGEs

1. orLando Magic

By tHe nuMBers League average

Percentage

80 70

73.7

74.0

76.7

75.4

Ft% 77.1 League average

71.5

100

Hawks BoBcats

98.1

Heat

98.3

PPg

93.6

60 50 45.8

45.5

45.7

45.7

45.0

Fg% 45.9 League average

36.6

3Pt% 36.7 League average

40 38.1

36.6

30 Hawks 056

35.7

Magic

101.0

33.0

Bobcats

Heat

Magic

wizards

wizards

96.1

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Five criticaL guys Gilbert Arenas, G, WIzARDS Back when Gilbert was blogging and ribbing on DeShawn at a rate more frequent than Shaq tweets, the Wizards were a force to be reckoned with in the East. But a ’08-09 campaign predominately sans Agent zero led to only 19 wins. Therefore, it is imperative that Arenas returns back to All-Star form, or else Washington could see a major facelift in the summer.

DJ Augustin, G, BOBCATS While Derrick Rose snagged up all of the rookie point guard hype last season, DJ Augustin quietly had a good first season in the pros. He averaged nearly 12 points a night and shot almost 44 percent from downtown. He’ll have to bump up

his assists (3.8 per game last season) if Charlotte is to make any noise in the division.

Vince Carter, G, MAGIC Fair or not, whether Orlando makes a repeat run to the Finals will hinge largely on the performance of Vince Carter.

When Hedo Turkoglu left for Canada, Orlando needed someone to pick up the slack—and counter Cleveland’s trade for Shaq—so they didn’t hesitate in dealing young Courtney Lee for the soon-to-be 33-year-old VC. If he can continue to resurrect his career in his hometown, it will be a huge boost; if not than the Magic may rue the day they gave up on Lee. Jermaine O’Neal, F-C, HEAT Since ’03-04, Jermaine O’Neal hasn’t

played 70 games a season. The Heat need him not only to be healthy, but to be a double-double beast similar to his performances during Indiana’s heyday if Miami is to contend for a playoff spot.

Udonis Haslem can be counted on for 10-and-8, but with Michael Beasley’s cloudy future, O’Neal needs to be the stud in the post.

Marvin Williams, F, HAWkS One of the most scrutinized—thanks to his place in the 2005 draft—and unheralded players in the League—dude is a great defender and solid 14-and-7 player—if M-Will can take his game up another notch this season, Atlanta could challenge for first place. He definitely has all the tools to be great. Now it’d be nice to see him max them out.

5. cHarLotte BoBcats With the way they finished last season, many predicted this would be the year the Bobcats really challenged for the postseason. We like the way they’ve played under head coach Larry Brown and Gerald Wallace is one of the most underrated cats around, but the Southeast has become quite a tough little division, as several teams got better (and healthier) in the offseason. The addition of Tyson Chandler should make them better on defense, but we don’t know if swapping him for Emeka Okafor will make them better overall. Expect at least one more year or dormancy in Charlotte.

oPPonents’ PPg

Five key additions Brandon Bass, F/G, MAGIC He’s only started five games during his NBA career, but Bass may have been the best under the radar move this offseason.

The past two seasons in Dallas he averaged 15 points and eight rebounds per 36 minutes. Though he only played about 20 minutes a night in the Big D, his time should increase in O-Town as the Magic look stacked up front.

leader they’ve been searching for.

Jamal Crawford, G, HAWkS Everyone knows that Jamal Crawford can get buckets with the best of them, but he’s yet to prove to be able to do much else in the League. On his fourth team, it’s time he makes like Chauncey Billups and turns his game around, not only for the better of his career but for the team. Atlanta is young and rising and to have a clutch veteran like Crawford alongside Joe Johnson would make them dangerous. If he loses favor quickly though—like he did in Chicago, New York and Golden State—it could be an unwanted distraction in the ATL.

Tyson Chandler, C, BOBCATS Chandler’s numbers took a dip last season and one has to wonder whether he is about to take an early Ben Wallace-like downward spiral towards the end of his career. Luckily for Charlotte, he’s only 27 and we think he has many solid years left ahead of him. If he can set a tone on defense for Charlotte, he may be the

Mike Miller, F, WIzARDS M&M could be Washington’s secret weapon. Imagine Gilbert double-teamed in

League average

suPerLatives

Hawks

96.5

BoBcats

Heat

94.9

94.4

wizards

Most Magnetic Personality Gilbert Arenas Best Uniform Atlanta Hawks Best Arena Atmosphere Amway Arena

98.0

Magic

100

Best Celebrity Fan Jimmy Buffett

the final seconds with defenders draped over ’Tawn and Caron. Coming off a screen is a wide-open Mike Miller, he of the career 40 percent line from the land of treys, who nails a three for the win. Ok, it may not happen that way exactly often, but we do see Miller getting plenty of open looks to help Washington’s offense come alive this season.

Quentin Richardson, G-F, HEAT Thankfully Q-Rich has finally found a home (we think) in Miami. His style should fit in well with Miami, but he needs to show a commitment to defense to really help out. It should be hit or miss with the Heat, either scoring at 15 ppg clip like he did in L.A. and Phoenix, or topping out at around eight a game, as he did for two of his seasons with the knicks.

Most Viral Team Orlando Magic

Most Athletic Vince Carter

Best Shooter Rashard Lewis

Wish We’d See More Of...

Nick Young

Most Fun to Watch Washington Wizards

Most Underrated Duo Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler

First Time All-Star in ’10 Josh Smith

Worst Karaoke Singer Dwyane Wade

103.5

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10/15/09 2:32 PM

season Preview 09-10

Northwest Division

1. PortLaNd traiL bLazers

3. utah Jazz

It should be a nice neck-and-neck race for the division title between Denver and Portland, but we wouldn’t be surprised if the Nuggets slipped just a hair this season. Chauncey Billups still has a few good years left and Carmelo Anthony is back to All-Star form, but will teams be as stifled by their newly found commitment to defense as they were last year?

The Lakers exposed some flaws in the playoffs and even though Kenyon Martin thinks they’re the team to beat, there are a lot of questions marks the Nuggets need to answer before it’s all said and done (namely, will J.R. Smith mature into the dynamic two-guard he is capable of? Can Nenê repeat his success from ’09-10? Will Billups have the same effect on this year’s team or will they revert back to their freewheeling days of years past?).

Do the Jazz have what it takes to be a playoff team? Yes. Will they actually make it? We’re not so sure. Normally we’d consider Deron Williams and crew a lock for the postseason, but there might be more drama than usual in SLC this season.

If Carlos Boozer gets traded, that will hurt the Jazz even with the emergence of Paul Millsap. Andrei Kirilenko has also reportedly been on the block for a while.

While it might allow guys like Millsap, CJ Miles and others more playing time, we don’t know if that makes them a better team, at least this season.

4. okLahoma City thuNder The people of the Sooner State had some tough luck when Sam Bradford went down in week 1 of the college football season, but things should be getting brighter with the arrival of the hoop season in the midwest. No, seriously. Kevin Durant is already showing he is a special player (can you say future All-Star, Olympian and maybe even MVP in the future?), Jeff Green has the makings of being a “glue guy” in the mode of Tayshaun Prince capabilities and Russell Westbrook is the point guard of the future in OKC. Can the Thunder make the postseason? It might be a stretch, but if James Harden is as good as advertised, this team could be the surprise of the League.

PHOTO CREDIT/NBAE/GETTy ImAGEs

For the past few years we’ve been saying “this is the year Portland makes that jump,” and we’re 99.9 percent sure this is the year. It’s not just because they have perennial All-Star Brandon Roy back, should-be All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge, as well as a healthy Greg Oden and a cast of dazzling young studs. The main reason we’re so sure this year? Andre Miller.

While all of the hubbub was about Shaq to Cleveland and VC to Orlando, Portland snagged a gem in Dre, he of the 6,000 career assists and 21.2 ppg in the playoffs in ’08-09. Now, with a battle-tested floor general in charge—no offense to Steve Blake—the Blazers are equipped to make the Northwest theirs.

2. deNver Nuggets

by the Numbers League average

80 PerCeNtage

77.1

78.6 76.0

76.9

76.5

Ft% 77.1 League average

70 60 50

47.5

40

47.0 44.1

34.6

35.3

103.6

Nuggets

104.3

97.0

timberwoLves

97.8

traiL bLazers

99.4

PPg

Fg% 45.9 League average 38.3

37.1 34.9

Jazz

thuNder

46.5 44.7

100

3Pt% 36.7 League average

30 Jazz

058

Nuggets

thunder

timberwolves

trail blazers

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Five CritiCaL guys Al Jefferson, G, TIMBERWOLVES After missing 32 games last season, the young T-wolves need their rock in the middle to be healthy, not only to stay competitive, but to be a leader and the foundation which will lead them back to relevance post-KG. Greg Oden, C, TRAIL BLAzERS A year after missing the entire ’07-08 season to injury, Greg Oden’s official rookie campaign had its ups and downs.

At times he showed flashes that verified Portland’s thinking in taking him over Kevin Durant, but averages of under nine points a night and just seven boards are the kind of numbers you expect out of a quality backup, not your franchise center. He also missed over 20 games

5. miNNesota timberwoLves After Al Jefferson succumbed to injury last season, the Timberwolves were put in a hole they couldn’t dig out of. Kevin Love showed he has the tools to be a great player down the road and the two will be a matchup nightmare for opposing bigs trying to win battles on the boards. The absence of Ricky Rubio will be a blow, but Jonny Flynn has the skill to more than makeup for the dearth of talent Minny had in the backcourt last season. Expect Ramon Sessions to help even more at the guard spot, but this team needs at least another season or two to be considered dangerous.

oPPoNeNts’ PPg

last season. His health and continued improvement will be necessary for the Blazers to overtake the Nuggets.

J.R. Smith, G, NuGGETS There are few players in the League who can score as many ways as J.R. Smith can—evident by his 15.2 ppg in only 27.7 minutes a night last season—but if he can mold into more than a sparkplug on offense and into a complete player, he could be one of the best in the game.

Russell Westbrook, G, THuNDER RW had a pretty impressive first year tally—15.3 ppg, 5.3 apg, 4.9 rpg and 1.3 spg—which should mean OKC doesn’t have to worry about the PG spot for years.

If he can cut down on his turnovers—over 3.3 a game last season—and get a few

Five key additioNs Arron Afflalo, G, NuGGETS The former uCLA Bruin has a nice touch and did see improvement across the board in terms of shooting percentages, so if he gets the minutes, he could be another talent to benefit from Denver’s offense. Plus he’s ran with Chauncey before and we could see him contributing similarly to the way Dahntay Jones did with Denver in ’08-09.

James Harden, G, THuNDER The former Pac-10 Player of the Year could be called upon early to play big minutes for the Thunder and the shooting guard spot should be his for the taking as the season progresses. He turned a dormant Arizona State program into a postseason regular and has the tools with the rock in his hands and to pay big dividends early.

League average Jazz

100

thuNder

suPerLatives

Most Ink Denver Nuggets

100.9

Best Arena Atmosphere EnergySolutions Arena

103.1

timberwoLves

Andre Miller, G, TRAIL BLAzERS Steve Blake did an amicable job as starting point guard for Portland last season, but now they have one of savviest

Best Uniform Utah Jazz

100.9

Nuggets

Eric Maynor, G, JAzz Minus Deron Williams, the Jazz don’t always necessarily go for the big name prospects coming out of college with the storied college pedigree. But they do have a penchant for drafting solid contributors year in and year out and Maynor could be another under the radar guy to play himself into an important role in Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan’s rotation.

Remember his tourney performance against Duke a few years ago? Dude is clutch and über smart with the ball, key attributes for any backup to Deron Williams.

102.7

traiL bLazers

Best Young Core Oklahoma City Thunder

more assists, there could be a nice All-Star tandem in the midwest between Durant and Westbrook for years to come. We all know KD is the face of the ’chise, but as the point guard it’s up to Westbrook become just as much a leader as #35.

Deron Williams, G, JAzz We’re not saying that D-Dub has to improve a lot in his game for the Jazz to be better; it’s just that the Jazz are entering a situation unusual in utah and Williams will have to carry the burden to make sure things go right this season.

He’s got a weird combination of talented youngsters and All-Star talented vets— who just may not be around by season’s end—and must keep everyone happy before things go too awry in Salt Lake.

1s in the League in their backcourt. He should get plenty of opportunities to hand out dimes surrounded by a talented Blazers lineup. He could be the X-factor in changing this franchise from pretenders to contenders.

Ramon Sessions, G, TIMBERWOLVES Fantasy basketball nerds will recognize Sessions as a guy who was a waiver wire gem last season, but he is more than just a stat stuffer. Gone mostly unnoticed during a two-year stint in Milwaukee, Sessions showed he can be a scorefirst point guard as well as one who can average 7.5 assists a night (as he did during his rookie season). The T-Wolves have been searching for a steady hand at the spot for years and may finally have their man in the 23-year-old Nevada product.

Best Young Frontcourt Tandem Kevin Love and Al Jefferson Most Fun to Watch Denver Nuggets Most Inappropriate Team Nickname Utah Jazz

Player We’d Most Like to See Succeed Shaun Livingston First Time All-Star in ’10 Kevin Durant Wish We’d See More Of Jerryd Bayless Most Untouchable Jerry Sloan

94.1

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10/13/09 6:04 PM

Season Preview 09-10

Show and Prove

A new season brings pressure on everyone, but for these folks, they’ll be under the microscope and on everyone’s radar

1. cleveland

3. boSton celticS

Yes, that’s all of Cleveland. No one is immune from the hot seat. That goes for the newly acquired Shaq. Head coach Mike Brown to show that he’s more than just a regular-season winning coach, and one who can guide a team to win the big playoff games. The entire roster knows that after last season’s 66-wins and Conference Finals, nothing less than a Finals appearance is acceptable. Every Clevelander that will be holding their collective breath on whether the giant black and white billboard outside the Quicken Loans Arena stays or goes. But more than anyone else, it’s the subject of that billboard that has the entire city pinning their hopes on him that will bear the brunt of the pressure.

Kevin Garnett’s season-ending knee ailment proved just how fragile a team relying on veteran stars can be. It’s not so much that veterans break down easier or recover slower than younger cats, it’s that losing a year is that much more painful to a team that has a limited opportunity to win it all. The C’s will be dependant on 30-somethings Ray Allen (34), Garnett (33), Paul Pierce (32) and Rasheed Wallace (35) to play pivotal roles. Without the security of a long-term championship window, the pressure will be on to win now.

2. greg oden

060

5. carloS boozer

There’s no doubt that CB4’s six-year 20 and 10 average qualifies him for star status, but does he warrant being lumped in with LeBron and Wade in this summer’s free agency bonanza? Bigs like Bosh are rare to come by, certainly, but having just led the team to one winning record and never having gotten out of the first round, we think it’s high time for Bosh to show us more beyond his ability to play different characters on YouTube vids.

Like Bosh, Boozer is the rare routine 20-10 guy that GMs crave. Along with the reputation for being a dependable interior scorer and rebounder, Boozer has also garnered a reputation for being a me-first player who can be a distraction to his team with his contract status. He walked away from a budding Cavs team and threatened to leave the Jazz as they make their rise. It’s high time for Boozer to prove he’s worth his contract demands.

6. Phoenix Pressure is on in the desert. A few seasons ago the Suns replaced the wildly entertaining and successful brand of basketball employed by Mike D’Antoni in June ’07 and they have only served up a steady decline in wins. In two seasons there have been two head coaches, as well as the trades of a core piece(Shawn Marion) and unsuccessful tenure of Shaq.

The promise of a dedication to defense has yet to bear the intended results; the Suns have regressed from a defensive rating of 108.1 during the final D’Antoni run-and gun days to a 111.6 last year. It’s time for Phoenix to step up and deliver in the waning years of the Nash era.

all photos/NBaE/GEtty ImaGEs

However unfair it may be (by all accounts, he is an affable guy, one who we’re rooting for), as the first overall pick that preceded rising star Kevin Durant, Oden’s third year in the League will be a make or break one. We sympathize with Oden’s derailed rookie season due to microfracture surgery, but with the Trail Blazers poised to make a leap into Western Conference finalist status, Portland will need Oden to assert himself beyond being a very good role player.

4. chriS boSh

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10. the wizardS big three

7. new orleanS hornetS Since Chris Paul’s arrival in 2005, the Hornets have flirted with greatness.

They’ve been plagued by inconsistency despite a roster brimming with talent— elite point guard (Paul), low-post banger (David West), lights-out shooter (Peja Stojakovic), quality pivot (formerly Tyson Chandler, now Emeka Okafor) and Finals-tested head coach (Byron Scott).

Ownership has started showing signs of blowing up the roster, so ’09-10 is a last stand for this current troop of Hornets.

It’s going to be the fifth season together for one of the League’s highest scoring trios of all time. The last two were sans an injured Gilbert Arenas, so this season will be crucial to see if they’ll go down as just an entertaining threesome that will flirt with a combined 70 ppg or a triple threat that can win more than 43 games a season.

11. don nelSon The HOF-bound coach has earned his stars being one of the most innovative strategists to ever pace the sidelines, but since leading that wacky and charismatic bunch in ’06-07 to a huge upset of Dallas in the playoffs, Nellie has lost his mojo and never returned to the postseason (to be fair, the ’07-08 won 48 games and got shafted in a deep Western Conference field). Even for a coach with as impressive a résumé as Nelson, it’s show-me time.

8. detroit

12. mike conley

The Pistons may not win another chip anytime soon, but for a team with many solid pieces and not too far removed from their glory days, that may not be enough for a hungry fan base. Trading Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson was not the best of moves and by bringing in Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, the pressure is on to rebuild what once was a Finals threat into a contender again.

It’s the third year for the point guard on a team that’s in desperate need for a playmaker. The role has been all but handed to Conley but he’s still yet to make much of an impact. The skills are all there—speed, quickness and deft ballhandling ability—and it’s time for Conley to take the reins or be prepared to be demoted to backup status.

9. raymond felton It was 2005, the year of the point guard in the draft where picks three through five were 1s and each were destined to draw comparisons to the Magic/Isiah/Stockton troika from the ’80s. Except it turned into just two studs, Chris Paul and Deron Williams. What about Felton? He hasn’t been a bust, but he also hasn’t lived up to the hype either, falling way behind his PG draftmates and continuing the trend of disappointing point guards from Carolina.

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10/13/09 5:59 PM

season Preview 09-10

Pacific Division

2. PhoeNix suNs

We’d feel better about penciling in the Lakers as repeat champs if not for the addition of Ron Artest. It’s not that we have no love for Artest (talent-wise, he’s an upgrade over his replacement, Trevor Ariza) and it has nothing to do with his potentially combustible personality.

We just think chemistry plays such an important role in a championship squad and swapping out such an integral piece will cost the Lakers some time in reformulating this precise mix. But if Artest can thrive in the triangle offense, continue Ariza’s defensive role (Artest’s style of D is based more on aggression compared to Ariza’s version of quickness and grace) and not rock the boat, captained by Kobe Bryant, the Lakers will be the team to beat again.

The Suns have set in Phoenix. The championship aspirations are gone, as are the freewheeling days of 120 points a night. That said, the Suns still have plenty of firepower to earn a playoff spot, perhaps even homecourt in the first round. Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire have become as close to Stockton/Malone as any other combo since the legendary duo. Jason Richardson can bring 15-20 points a night. Ditto for Leandro Barbosa.

Grant Hill is the perfect sixth man—able to do a bit of everything for the second unit.

The problem with Phoenix is the lack of frontcourt brute; all of their bigs are either undersized or finesse players. Still, this team can fill it up and should place second in a relatively weak division.

3. Los aNgeLes CLiPPers

4. saCrameNto KiNgs

After last season’s 19-win season, we doubt things can get any worse for the Clippers. The Clips have the makings of a big improvement team as they have all the necessary pieces—center depth (Marcus Camby and Chris Kaman), wing scorers (Al Thornton and Eric Gordon), low-post threat (No. 1 overall pick Blake Griffin will provide some instant oomph in the frontcourt; he might not match Zach Randolph’s 20-10 presence from the get-go, but he’ll grow into the role without dominating the ball) and stud point guard (Baron Davis looks primed for a monster comeback season if his training camp shape is any indicator). Their only drawback is depth. Expect at least a 15-20-game improvement and a flirtation with the last playoff spot.

The worst team in the League last year will take some baby steps, but will continue to struggle for another season. Other than Kevin Martin and maybe Spencer Hawes, the roster is filled with good character guys and role players. Not a knock on them, but a lineup that is filled with mediocrity will only make it easier for defenses to shut down their one viable scorer (Martin). Tyreke Evans is a good coup for the team; he’s a solidly built big guard in the mode of Mark Aguirre, but unless he can convert to the 1 or 3 spot, he’ll be in a logjam with Martin. We envision more than 17 wins, but not too many more. all photos/NBaE/GEtty ImaGEs

1. Los aNgeLes LaKers

by the Numbers League average

PerCeNtage

100 80

79.8 73.6

74.4 77.0

79.1

47.4

50.4

44.7

36.8

108.6

suNs

109.4

100.6

45.8 Fg% 45.9 League average 3Pt% 36.7 League average

40 35.4

Warriors KiNgs

PPg

Ft% 77.1 League average

60 44.1

100

36.1

38.3 37.3

CLiPPers

95.1

20 Clippers 062

Kings

Lakers

suns

Warriors

LaKers

106.9

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Five CritiCaL guys Ron Artest, F, LAKERS We looked long and hard for someone other than Artest, but there’s no denying he holds the key to the Lakers’ success this season. He’ll either make them even greater or tailspin them. With Artest it’s always about extremes.

Baron Davis, G, CLIPPERS The Clippers are stockpiled with talent in every position, they just need someone to commandeer it. Davis, when motivated and happy, is one of the top PGs that can take the red-and-blue far.

5. goLdeN state Warriors It wasn’t too long ago that the Warriors were the underdog darlings of the L. The motley crew that disassembled the top-seeded Mavs of ’07 are long gone; Stephen Jackson is the only remaining captain and he doesn’t even want to be here. The problems are many for this challenged roster. The frontcourt lacks a scoring punch (unless you count double-double man Andris Biedrins, who lives off putbacks). The backcourt, while potentially explosive in Monta Ellis and first-rounder Stephen Curry, will be tiny.

Head coach Don Nelson is a master of the unorthodox and has a way of turning weaknesses into strengths, but this roster might be too much a challenge for even him.

oPPoNeNts’ PPg

Five Key additioNs Ron Artest, F, LAKERS Ron Ron is so crucial to the Lakers destiny this season that we had to list him again.

That and because he’s the team’s only real change from last season.

Stephen Curry, G, WARRIORS The Warriors plucked the precocious Davidson product and son of former NBA gunslinger Dell Curry because they believe he can morph into a point guard. It will be interesting if Curry can develop into a 1, belying his natural shooting instincts.

League average LaKers KiNgs

99.3

CLiPPers 107.5

Amar’e Stoudemire, F, SuNS The question remains about Stoudemire’s recovery from eye surgery. If he suffers no lingering effects, we can (intentional pun warning) see the Suns in contention in the West. If not, things become (another one) blurry for Phoenix.

Stephen Jackson, G, WARRIORS Captain Jack unwisely questioned his desire to stay with the team. As the team’s captain, it’s his job to rally his mates, not alienate himself from them. If he can stabilize the young roster, the Warriors’ season might not have to implode.

Channing Frye, F, SuNS The Suns brought the hometown Frye to Phoenix because they could use a big man who can stretch defenses. As a 6-11 forward with a decent stroke from outside, Frye will force defenders to extend themselves, opening things up for the Suns’ slashers.

Craig Smith, F, CLIPPERS Smith is certainly not the splashiest signing of the offseason, but the low-key forward will add boards, a bit of scoring around the basket and some needed frontcourt depth and spunk to the Clippers bench.

Sean May, F, KINGS May’s addition to the Kings might be more crucial to his NBA career than it is for the Kings’ success this season. The former lottery pick is looking to prove to the League that he’s over injuries and weight problems.

suPerLatives Best pick ’n roll Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire

Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin

Surprise Team Los Angeles Clippers

All Eyes on Him Ron Artest

Best Center Duo Marcus Camby and Chris Kaman

All-Star Snub Kevin Martin

Comeback Player Baron Davis

Most Appearances on TMZ Lamar Odom

Most Likely to be Traded Stephen Jackson

Best Sense of Humor Steve Nash

109.3

Warriors

suNs

100

Tyreke Evans, G-F, KINGS The Kings wanted Blake Griffin. They got Tyreke Evans. Griffin would’ve been the ideal fit, but if Evans can somehow grow into either a small forward or point guard role, he could very well turn into a better pro than Griffin.

112.3

103.9

Most Overlooked Star Pau Gasol Surprise Player Sergio Rodriguez

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season preview 09-10

Southwest Division

2. DaLLas Mavericks

3. new orLeans Hornets

4. Houston rockets

Every year, the press writes articles about how the Spurs are too old, how their dynasty is over and how their fall from the top is inevitable. Yet, after winning the division last season without Manu Ginobili, the Spurs reloaded their offense with a potent, hungry wingman (Richard Jefferson) and a wise, talented veteran (Antonio McDyess) and even beefed up their interior with a feisty junkyard dog of a rookie (DeJuan Blair). The Spurs might not be the new kids on the block in this division, but after the offseason, they still own the neighborhood.

This season, the Mavericks have inherited the narrative of their archrivals, the Spurs: does this veteran team have enough left in the tank to win? With six major players who each have more than 10 years experience, “veteran group” might be an understatement. But if you look past the storylines, you’ll find a solid team. They’re still an offensive force—Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard and Jason Terry form a triumvirate any team would love to call their own—and Rick Carlisle improved their defense more than anyone will admit. Throw in added frontcourt depth and perimeter flexibility (Shawn Marion) and they’re a playoff lock. But how deep can they go?

After injuries killed their ’08-09 season, the Hornets didn’t make any splashy offseason moves. They just made the right ones: Darius Songaila adds oomph to what had been a pretty anemic Hornets bench, and Emeka Okafor, one of the League’s most underrated big men, replaces the flashy, but fragile Tyson Chandler. The Hornets were probably overrated after their ’07-08 surprise, but this team could make a playoff run if they stay healthy.

And even if they don’t, Chris Paul might will them in anyway.

With Yao Ming likely out for the season, Houston begins ’09-10 sans their franchise player—and the best center in the League. Tracy McGrady returns from injury, but no one knows how long he will last with his creaky back. We’d love to see the T-Mac of old surface, but the odds are against this squad making much noise. But Rick Adelman’s watched the supporting cast blossom into a hard-nosed team and with Trevor Ariza replacing Ron Artest, they’ll give San Antonio a run for their money as best defensive team in the division. Don’t expect these Rockets’ red glare to flame out quickly. all photos/NBaE/GEtty ImaGEs

1. san antonio spurs

by tHe nuMbers League average

100 percentage

80.7

80

81.9

80.5

100

grizzLies

93.9

Hornets

95.8

ppg

76.1

75.6

Ft% 77.1 League average

60 45.4

45.7

46.2

45.3

Mavericks

46.6

101.7

Fg% 45.9 League average

40 36.0

36.4

35.0

37.5

38.6

3pt% 36.7 League average

rockets

98.4

spurs

97.0

20 grizzLies Hornets Mavericks rockets

064

spurs

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Five criticaL guys Aaron Brooks, G, ROCkETS He might be the smallest guy on this team, but Aaron Brooks is going to have to carry the Rockets on his shoulders.

Outside of T-Mac, Houston lacks creative offensive players who can get their own shots and their offensive success will depend on Brooks’ knifing through the perimeter and creating shots for his bigs, or for the shooters behind the arc.

Manu Ginobili, F, SpuRS We all know what Manu’s like when he’s healthy: an offensive catalyst and a competitor who lives for big moments. unfortunately, an ankle injury ruined his ’08-09 season (he played in just 44 games) and his teammates struggled without him in the playoffs. If he returns

to his 2007 form, San Antonio’s a title contender.

Jason Kidd, G, MAvERICkS The floor general has done a fine job transitioning from a fast break marshal into a halfcourt facilitator. kidd quietly posted the second-highest field goal percentage of his career last season and his on-court chemistry with Dirk Nowitzki seemed to get better every month.

And with more new faces added in the offseason, kidd is the key to them gelling and Dallas’ success.

talent around him this season, but he will have to work hard to develop as a leader with AI and Zach Randolph around.

Peja Stojakovic, G-F, HORNETS When peja Stojakovic is hot, the Hornets are tough to beat. How tough? When he scores at least 20 points, Nola’s gone 32-9 over the last two seasons. Last season, Stojakovic managed that just once after the All-Star break and his three-point shooting percentage was the third-worst of his career. If peja wants to keep Julian Wright on the bench, he will have to stay hot.

O.J. Mayo, G, GRIZZLIES Allen Iverson might be the sizzle of this Grizzlies season, but Mayo’s going to be the team’s steak for a long time. Last season’s runner-up for ROY will have more

5. MeMpHis grizzLies If your commemorative Memphis Grizzlies cup is half-full, the Grizzlies have a tremendously potent backcourt with O.J. Mayo and Allen Iverson. They have a bench full of bruising bigs in Marc Gasol, Darrell Arthur and DeMarre Carroll, not to mention one of the game’s rising stars in Rudy Gay. On the other hand, if said cup is half-empty, you’re probably worried about Zach Randolph, Allen Iverson and O.J. Mayo all trying to share the ball at the same time. Give this team one more year to figure themselves out, shed the unwanted veterans and the glass will be more than half-full in 2010.

opponents’ ppg

Five key aDDitions Trevor Ariza, F, ROCkETS Ariza’s addition to Houston should make the Rockets an elite defensive team.

The former uCLA Bruin has turned into a versatile, suffocating perimeter defender and his once nonexistent offensive game gets more diverse every year. Expect him and Shane Battier to torment their opponents every night.

Allen Iverson, G, GRIZZLIES Come on, who else could we put here?

As the Grizzlies continue to stockpile young talent, Iverson immediately becomes the face of this franchise.

Whether Coach Lionel Hollins decides to pair Iverson with O.J. Mayo in the starting lineup or not, AI should work wonders for what was one of the Association’s worst offenses last season.

League average grizzLies Hornets

94.3

Mavericks

rockets spurs

99.3

99.8

94.4

100

Richard Jefferson, F, SpuRS In what was arguably the smartest move of the offseason, the Spurs rescued RJ from what’s likely to be a long, cold season in Milwaukee. In return, he might keep them playing through June. When he’s healthy, Jefferson is a guaranteed 20 points a game, an underrated perimeter defender and a fantastic teammate.

Emeka Okafor, F-C, HORNETS With Tyson Chandler’s long-term health a concern, the Hornets needed interior scoring and rebounding—badly. Enter Okafor, a career double-double who will welcome the opportunity to play for a good team for the first time in his NBA career. If he can stay healthy, look out.

Shawn Marion, F, MAvERICkS At the age of 30, Shawn Marion’s days as the Matrix are behind him. His offensive production has steadily declined the last few seasons and his superhuman athleticism has begun to evaporate. But Marion’s game is multi-faceted and if he can rededicate himself to rebounding and defense, the Mavs might have gotten themselves a steal.

superLatives Rookie to Watch Out For DeJuan Blair Sophomore Stud Marc Gasol Win-or-Dismantle Team Dallas Mavericks 20 ppg scorer on Rockets None

Most Overlooked David West

First Time All-Star in 2010 Rudy Gay

Team With Least Assists Memphis Grizzlies

Fastest PG Tony Parker...or Chris Paul...or Aaron Brooks

Best MVP Candidate Chris Paul Sub-90 ppg Team Houston Rockets

Comeback Player of the Year Allen Iverson

93.3

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10/13/09 5:09 PM

Season Preview 09-10

Couch Potato Picks The expansion of NBA broadcasts provides viewers with a range of options wider than the buffet at Sizzler’s. The steak and shrimp—those Lakers and Celtics matchups—are always appetizing, but we break down the top 10 delectable treats on this season’s NBA schedule for everyone, even those who may not dig on surf ’n turf. Get your appetites and NBA League Pass subscription ready.

ThurSday, OcTOber 27, Nba TV, 10:30 Pm L.a. cLiPPerS aT L.a. LakerS The Lakers open the season by raising a banner against their Staples Center rivals. Will the ceremony light a fire under the upstart Clippers? It will also be Ron Artest’s first game in purple and gold and it should be fun to watch a rejuvenated Baron Davis team up with rookie Blake Griffin.

Friday, NOVember 6, eSPN, 8 Pm cLeVeLaNd aT New yOrk The scheduling gods weren’t as kind to us this year—last season they scheduled Kobe and LeBron in back-to-back games at the Garden; this year they arrive almost three weeks apart. But that shouldn’t mean LeBron won’t be putting on a show in front of all his Big Apple friends in the stands.

ThurSday, NOVember 26, Nba TV, 8 Pm OrLaNdO aT aTLaNTa Two teams on the cusp of greatness face off on Turkey Day in Hotlanta. The Magic

were the surprise of the East last season, but that title may be the Hawks’ this year. A well-deserved national showcase for some of the most overlooked players in the game, including Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Jameer Nelson.

Friday, NOVember 27, eSPN, 7 Pm waShiNgTON aT miami As you rise out of your turkey-induced coma, flip on to the Worldwide Leader for Flash vs. Agent Zero. The Wizards are back and are looking to grab one of the playoff spots the Heat held last season.

Will Caron, Gilbert and ’Tawn outshine Wade, O’Neal and Beasley?

SaTurday, december 12, Nba TV, 8 Pm bOSTON aT chicagO Don’t think for one second that the Bulls don’t have revenge on their mind after their heartbreaking loss in seven to the Celtics during the 2009 playoffs. If we get a game even close to the caliber of one of those epic duels, it will be quite the early Christmas present. Keep a close eye on the Rajon Rondo/Derrick Rose matchup as well.

Friday, december 25, abc, 5 Pm cLeVeLaNd aT L.a. LakerS After you’re done unwrapping your new Xbox games, checks from grandma and devoured as many sugar cookies as one possibly can, huddle by the fire and finish the day off with a dose of Kobe and LeBron. Everyone’s eyes will be on the box score to see how much each superstar puts up, but Artest’s D on the MVP could be a huge difference maker. Oh, and there’s also the little subplot of a guy named Shaq thrown into this rivalry, too.

mONday, JaNuary 18, Nba TV, 5:30 Pm PhOeNix aT memPhiS The Suns have built a reputation for their offensive firepower, but can AI, OJ and Rudy outgun Phoenix? We’re not sure yet if we can pencil in the Grizzlies for 120 a night, but it should be fun to watch on a day full of NBA action, as the League remembers the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

For those of you based on the Atlantic seaboard, think about calling in sick the next day and stay up and watch two of 066

wedNeSday, February 10, Nba TV, 8 Pm bOSTON aT New OrLeaNS KG and crew head down to the Big Easy to lock horns with Chris Paul and the Hornets. It will be interesting to see how Emeka Okafor fares against an imposing trio of Rasheed, Perk and Garnett, or if Peja and Ray Allen get into their own personal three-point contest. Plus, Rajon Rondo again fights for top point guard respect against the best in the biz.

wedNeSday, march 17, eSPN, 8 Pm SaN aNTONiO aT OrLaNdO We’re not sure if either team has any Irish players, but some luck will be needed for both teams to come out of this battle with a W. Two of the best bigs around in Dwight Howard and Tim Duncan square off, as do former New Jersey teammates Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter. We wouldn’t be surprised if this game is a warmup to another battle down the road in June.

all photos/NBaE/GEtty ImaGEs

wedNeSday, JaNuary 27, Nba TV, 10 Pm uTah aT POrTLaNd

the best talents in the game today. Deron Williams and the Jazz head to the great northwest to take on Brandon Roy and the Blazers. And the Carlos Boozer/Paul Millsap vs. LaMarcus Aldridge/Greg Oden battle in the post is just gravy.

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Season Predictions Jon Cooper #10

kenG Shao #31

Joe Johnson will be an All-Star, rank among leaders in points and minutes and not get one MVP vote.

Not only should Shaq and LeBron have the best pregame celebrations, Cleveland should be taking home the trophy.

loiS elfman #40 The Lakers will take it all unless some team’s fire is fueled by insane jealousy of Kobe’s superhuman dominance.

Shane Battier #31 LeBron will break the the NBA record for number of times he is asked the same question, “Are you going to leave Cleveland in free agency?” It will break the record set by Yao Ming’s “How tall are you?”

Brett mauSer #25 Kevin Durant makes the jump: 30 and 10, All-NBA, playoffs, first-round stunner.

Durantula’s that good, y’all. Book it.

earl k. Sneed #23 Phil Jackson will help Ron Artest find his “Moment of Zen,” as theLakers repeat.

CandiCe WiGGinS #11 BoBBito GarCia

Brett Favre will think about joining the Twins, the Wild and then subsequently trade in his cleats for sneakers and sign a 10-day contract with the Timberwolves.

Brandon Jennings, aka “The Takeover,” is gonna do work. He’s gonna be on ESPN highlights a lot. People are gonna be shocked at how good he is.

Jeramie mCpeek #4 Shaquille O’Neal will legally have his name changed to @The_Real_Shaq, in order to promote his Twitter profile on the back of his Cavs jersey.

Seth Berkman #91 After it’s all said and done, we will have a first-time champion at the end of the season: Orlando vs. Dallas in the Finals.

roB peterSon #9 matt Candela #52 DJ Shaney B (Shane Battier) will prove he is not only the most tech savvy player in the League, but also the best defender as he finally wins DPOY.

andy JaSner #27 LeBron James will carry the Cavaliers to the Finals for a second time, but they won’t be able to dethrone the Lakers. Get ready, Los Angeles... it will soon be time to celebrate with another parade.

LeBron James’ full-court, last-second shot in the All-Star Game at the new Cowboys Stadium hits the massive scoreboard. He is given a do-over.

minG WonG #2 During Lebron’s press conference to accept his second consecutive MVP, Kanye will snatch his mic and say, “Yo Bron, I’m really happy for you and I’ma let you finish, but Kobe had one of the best seasons of all time!”

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10/13/09 5:16 PM

ROOKIE REVELATIONS

Gerald Henderson Charlotte Bobcats 6-4, 225 Duke What’ s yo ur av erag e g o l f sco re?

It’s been a little inco nsistent, but I sho o t aro und 7 2 .

Getting to know the ’09 newbs

DID YOU SPEND

MUCH TIME IN YOUR NEW CITY

AFTER BEING DRAFTED? I’ve been to Portland once. It’s a good switch of extremes of the weather.—J. Pendergraph

I went to go find a place to live. DaJuan [Summer s] is a good guy and it’s good to have someone in a similar situation.

I got a couple of calls and had dinner with Tay shaun [Prince].—A. Daye

I t alked to C P a couple of times, he’s been teaching me a few things.—D. Collison

Yeah, we just had a minicamp that I enjoyed a lot. And I spoke to Al Horford after I was drafted. —J. Teague

Yeah, I got a spot there. I have been t alking with Roy Hibbert and Jeff Foster a bit.—T. Hansbrough

I’ve been in Chicago for three weeks, got to know the guys. It’s good living on my own. Things are looking up.

—J. Johnson 068

DaJuan Summers Detroit Pistons 6-8, 240 Georgetown Ho w has i t been co mi ng i nto the Leag ue wi th a fel l o w ro o k l i ke A usti n Daye?

Go o d. W e were ro o mmates in the summer and spent a lo t o f time to g ether.

Jrue Holiday Philadelphia 76ers 6-3, 180 UCLA Hav e yo u trav el ed mo re thi s summer than ev er befo re?

Basically I’ve been flying and working out. It’s been pretty hectic. I went to Vegas, Philly and Orlando.

all photos: jesse d. garrabrant/nbae/getty Images

Yeah, I have a place in Edgewater [NJ]. I’m not a city type of person.—T. Williams

Darren Collison New Orleans Hornets 6-0, 160 UCLA Can yo u tal k a bi t abo ut pl ayi ng at a l eg endary scho o l l i ke UCLA ?

Just being at UC LA was g reat and yo u g et to play [ in the summer] with g uys who are in the Leag ue to day. I was blessed to play in the same city f o r 15 , 16 years.

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Terrence Williams New Jersey Nets 6-6, 220 Louisville W h a t o ther spo rts d o y o u enj o y playing?

P i n g p o ng , bo wling and football.

HOW HAVE YOU SPENT

YOUR FREE TIME

T HI S S UMMER? Call of Duty—J. Pendergraph

Tyler Hansbrough Indiana Pacers 6-9, 250 North Carolina W h a t was i t l i ke w h e n yo u fi rst met P a c e r s’ presi dent L a r r y Bi rd?

I t wa s co o l. H e’s Larry L e g e n d . It’s amaz ing when y o u g e t to talk to him.

I went back home, s aw the family as much as I could.

I went to the beach and relaxed as much as I could.

—C. Budinger Sleep, golf, hanging out with my family.—G. Henderson I got my Xbox hooked up right now with N CAA Football 1 0 and Tiger Woods P GA Tour 1 0. And I s aw my family a bit.—A. Daye Playing videogames like N BA Live and N BA 2K. —D. Collison

all photos/nbae/getty Images

Earl Clark Phoenix Suns 6-9, 225 Louisville H o w d o es i t feel t o s e e [ fo rmer L o u i s vi l l e teammate] T e r r e nce Wi l l i ams again?

I t ’s b e e n co o l. W e wo n a l o t o f g ames to g ether.

Toney Douglas New York Knicks 6-1, 200 Florida State T a l ki n g abo ut the d r a f t pro cess: It’s been a long process… it’s been kind of stressful because I just wanted to know where I’d end up being at. Now that I’m in New York I’m more calm and ready to start.

I won an N BA Live tourney and I have a younger brother I play with.—J. Teague I just relax, visit family and friends. I just st arted watching tennis. And ever since I s aw Charles B arkley make a fool of himself, I’ve gotten into golf.—E. Clark Playing golf, ping pong, going fishing. I once caught a 27-pound catfish when I was about 17 years old.

—T. Hansbrough

I’m a simple guy, I spend a lot of time with my son. He was born the day before the draft. He helps me keep my head on straight. It will be good for me.

I will spend all my off-time with him.

—D. Summer s This summer has been so hectic. I try to play videogames, crack jokes and just reminisce with friends.—J. Flynn I’ve been hanging out with teammates a lot, working out a lot. It’s good we can t alk to each other. I bowl, watch movies. I’m a big shopper, True Religion, Nieman Marcus.—D. Carroll HOOP

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DeMarre Carroll Memphis Grizzlies 6-8, 212 Missouri What’s your bowling average?

I u s e d t o be aro und 16 0 1 70, b ut I’m aro und 13 0 n o w.

Drake’s “Successful.”—J. Pendergraph

Lil Wayne.—A. Daye

Jay-Z and Lil Wayne—I heard he comes to games sometimes.—D. Collison

Austin Daye Detroit Pistons 6-11, 200 Gonzaga W h o do yo u pl ay w i t h i n NCA A F o o t b al l ?

I p l a y with O reg o n, yo u g o t t a s t i ck with the Pac1 0. I h a ve a dynasty with Or e g o n and I’m the Q B.

Young Jeezy’s The Recession.—J. Teague

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN

LISTENING TO

THIS SUMMER? Jonny Flynn Minnesota Timberwolves 6-0, 185 Syracuse W h a t di d yo u t a ke away fro m S y r a cuse?

S y r a c u se stressed wo rking h a r d . All the co aches to ld u s t h a t if yo u wanted to g e t s o mething yo u had to go hard.

Biggie is always one of my favorite rappers, D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill.—D. Summers

Kirk Franklin. I get my gospel on a little bit.—J. Johnson

Jadakiss, Jay-Z, Drake. I went to Jay-Z’s concert in Vegas. That was crazy.—J. Flynn

James Johnson Chicago Bulls 6-9, 245 Wake Forest D o y ou g et to see a d i f f e r e nt si de o f the o t h e r ro o ki es thi s w e e kend?

Some of them you already know, others you see coming out of their shell. We all share a love for the game.

070

Gucci Mane, R&B like Trey Songz. Before a game I listen mostly to gospel just to realize that you’re blessed to be here.

—D. Carroll

Game, 5 0 Cent, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane.

—T. Gibson

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WHAT MOVIES

HAVE YOU

SEEN LATELY?

Sam Young Memphis Grizzlies 6-6, 220 Pittsburgh When di d yo u start wri ti ng po etry?

I started writing poetry when I was in middle school, around 12 years old.

I took my nieces to see G-Force in 3-D and Ice Age in 3-D.—J. Pendergraph I s aw G.I. Joe and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.—G. Henderson

The Fast and the Furious and The Hangover.—J. Teague

Transformers, that was pretty good.—E. Clark I s aw Orphan, but I always like Love and B asketball, Friday and A Thin Line B et ween Love and Hate.—T. Williams

Ty Lawson Denver Nuggets 5-11, 195 North Carolina Where hav e yo u spent yo ur free ti me thi s summer?

Just been chillin’, wo rking o ut. Just really hang ing o ut with the f am in C linto n, M aryland, C - T o wn, bef o re I g o to D enver.

The Hangover. I need to see G.I. Joe. Transformers was good. I gott a see Final D estination too. But I always love all the Friday movies.—D. Summers

Public Enemies was a great movie.—J. Johnson

The Hangover.—D. Carroll

The Orphan.—S. Young

The Hangover, Transformers—I loved that one. I’m buying that on DVD, 100 percent. I also want to see G.I. Joe.—T. Gibson

all photos/nbae/getty Images

I s aw The Hangover.—T. Evans

Eric Maynor Utah Jazz 6-3, 175 VCU Can yo u tal k abo ut breaki ng o ut o n a nati o nal stag e when yo u beat Duke i n the NCA A T o urnament?

It f elt g reat. O ne o f the best f eeling s ever. T hat g ame rig ht there was o ne o f the best o f my career.

Funny People. It was good, it was pretty funny.

—C. Budinger HOOP

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WHAT ARE YOUR VACATION PLANS

THIS SUMMER? I wish. I haven’t had a vacation in a while. But that comes with the job.—D. DeRozan I might go on a cruise, probably to the B ahamas. I might go to the Dominican Republic too. I gott a go on vacation before I put this hard work in.—T. Lawson I don’t know if I’ll have time. I might try to shoot home for a couple of days, but that’s about it.—B. Griffin

I’m going back to Tanzania after this. That’s gonna be the only vacation I have.—H. Thabeet

I’m hoping Brazil, somewhere exotic like that.—J. Harden

[My family], we went on a beach trip to Myrtle Beach that we do every year.—S. Curry

DeMar DeRozan Toronto Raptors 6-7, 220 USC What do sum mer pr act ices and scr imma ges pro v i de?

Ev ery time I go t ou t there I lea rned a lo t a nd I f elt that I had g r owt h. That ’ s so mething I wa nt t o ta ke i nto the s eas on. I wa nt t o im pro ve o n ever ything.

Blake Griffin Los Angeles Clippers 6-10, 251 Oklahoma T alk ing about the schedule o f a No . 1 p ick: It’ s b een g ood . I’ ve been rea lly b usy but you g et to do di ffer ent s tuff , tr avel aro und and d o event s l ik e this.

Wayne Ellington Minnesota Timberwolves 6-4, 200 North Carolina On p laying o n a team at s ummer leag ue wi th so m any dr af t pi cks: It was cool, I got to be with my new teammate Jonny Flynn, and we played well together. We developed some chemistry to get used to the NBA game.

I spent time with my family back home. I have a little girl and I spend time with her. She turned one yesterday. So I am going to be spending time with her all I can before I start training camp.—T. Douglas

gordon: robert laberge; hIll: chrIs lavatta; hIckson: jesse d. garrabrant/nbae/getty Images

072

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Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors 6-3, 185 Davidson W i l l h e mi s s h o m e?

I’ve been at home in Charlotte, North Carolina working out, taking a break. I’m trying to be at home as much as possible before going to Golden State.

Hasheem Thabeet Memphis Grizzlies 7-3, 263 Connecticut Hi s i mpressi o n o f seei ng V eg as duri ng summer l eag ue: I do n’t kno w ho w to play blackjack so I co uldn’t do that.

BJ Mullens Oklahoma City Thunder 7-0, 275 Ohio State What is it like get t ing t oget her w it h all t hese fellow rookies for a w eekend?

It ’ s cool. I lik e t he E A Sp or t s vid eo ga me thing t hey ha ve s et up . I’ ve b een wit h J a mes [Ha r d en] mos t of t he s ummer .

WHAT DID YOU TAkE

OUT OF SUMMER LEAGUE? It was fun to get out there and play after doing just months of training.—B. Griffin I did O K. For me it was a learning experience—the rules, the fast pace of the game. Everyone’s bigger and stronger.—H. Thabeet It was great, we went 4-1. I was trying to go 5-0, but we played well. You can’t go wrong with that.—B. Jennings I learned a lot on the defensive end. —J. Harden

all photos/nbae/getty Images

I learned there’s a different style in the N BA, it’s way different than college.

Ever ybody’s good and the spacing of the basketball cour t, there’s way more spacing.—T. Douglas Adjusting to the N BA rules, the spacing of the floor and some of the rules that they didn’t have in college.

—C. Budinger Playing against a lot of guards I s aw I have a lot of ability to get to the basket because of my size.—T. Evans HOOP

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HOW WOULD YOU ENVISION SCORE YOUR FIRST BASkET? Dunking on somebody, maybe off a tip.

I have to dunk on somebody!

—J. Pendergraph A dunk. Probably an alley-oop. —G. Henderson

A wide-open layup. I’m gonna have to forget it really quick because someone will try and score on the next play.—A. Daye

Tyreke Evans Sacramento Kings 6-6, 220 Memphis How i m p ort a n t i s f a m i l y t i m e ?

I’ m ha nging out wi t h t he fa m i l y a s m uch a s I ca n b efor e I go t o S a cr a m ent o.

THE P ER FECT W A Y TO

With the easiest bucket in basketball: a layup with an assist from Steve Nash.—E. Clark

A backdoor lob.—T. Williams

Get a dunk on somebody!—T. Gibson

I hope it’s an easy basket so I can get those first two points out of the way. I just need to score that first bucket and I’ll be good.—D. DeRozan

I’m trying to dunk and let them know I’m here.

—J. Johnson 074

all photos: robert laberge/nbae/getty Images

In summer league I didn’t score the first two games until I got a dunk the third game. So hopefully I get a dunk, something crazy like on Shaq. I’m trying to do something like that. [Wayne Ellington: You gonna dunk on Shaq?] Shaq, somebody…LeBron, some big time st ar I’m going after [Ellington: You better watch what you s ay on camera…] [Lawson looks directly into the camera] Ty Law Tell ’em, ak a “Showstopper.” [laughs] Sike, what’s this going in though?—T. Lawson

Chase Budinger Houston Rockets 6-7, 218 Arizona Do you have any hobbies?

I’ m a h uge mo vi e g uy. I g ot a huge mo vie co llect ion, I g ot li ke 500 DVD’ s at home . Gladiator [is my f avo rit e]. I t hou gh t it wa s a we ll p ut t oge th er mo vi e, I li ke th e f igh t sc ene s.

[James Johnson walks by] Dunking on James Johnson. [laughs] Johnson: That’s messed up!

—J. Teague

Jeff Teague Atlanta Hawks 6-2, 180 Wake Forest Have yo u spo ken to [ fo rmer Wake Fo rest t eam m at e] James Jo hnso n a l o t thi s summer?

I ha ven’ t s po ken to James since pre- draf t activities and the camp s, but it’s a g reat time to see him ag ain no w.

A fast break dunk.—D. Carroll

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Brandon Jennings Milwaukee Bucks 6-1, 169 Italy How h e s p e n d s h i s t i m e b a c k in the states: Not hing, chilling out . J us t s p end i ng t i m e wit h m y fa m ily. I wa s a wa y for a whol e yea r , s o I’ m s p end i ng t i m e wi t h t hem .

I just want the ball to go in the hoop. It could be a dunk, a jumper, a layup…any way, that’ll be a moment for me.—J. Flynn

Jeff Pendergraph Portland Trail Blazers 6-9, 240 Arizona State Do y ou hav e any pet s?

I ha v e t wo Amer ica n t er r ier s and o ne mutt fr om t he p ound .

It will probably be a three-pointer with an assist from Jonny [Flynn].—W. Ellington

An offensive putback.—D. Collison

Probably a jumper. My first college point was a free throw.—B. Mullens

I hope it’s like a halfcourt shot, a dunk or something cool. But I’ll t ake whatever I can get.—B. Griffin

It’s gonna be tough. In the summer league I was trying to shoot, I’d get the ball and I didn’t know what to do.—H. Thabeet

I think it will be a three-pointer. It will be my first shot.

—J. Holiday

James Harden Oklahoma City Thunder 6-5, 220 Arizona State W here do yo u mo stly t rain?

I’ve just been going back to L.A. to work out.

love:photos/nbae/getty all molly meehan; jordan: Images fernando medIna/nbae/getty Images

Taj Gibson Chicago Bulls 6-9, 225 USC Hav e yo u ev er pl ayed aga inst any o f the o ther ro o ki es w hen you w ere yo ung er?

I actually remember playing with Stephen [Curry] in high school camps.

Probably a loose ball dunk or something like that.

—B. Jennings

My way would be probably to get an alley-oop.—C. Budinger

Hopefully I get a dunk off a fastbreak or something, get the chills out of the way. Then I’ll be ready to go.

—T. Evans

I see myself getting the tip off the jumpball and coming down and shooting right away. Hopefully that’s how it works.—S. Curry

Probably on the defensive end, off a steal, laying it up in transition.—T. Douglas

A free throw. I hope it’s a free throw so I can get the ner ves out of the way.

I hope it’s not an airball.—J. Harden HOOP

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Phoenix On Fire

For the second time in three years, the Phoenix Mercury burned the comp

Opening tip for Game 1 of the WNBA Finals between the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever inside a packed US Airways Center.

Michael Stevens/NBAE/Getty Images

DPOY Tamika Catchings pulled out nearly everything in her bag of tricks to try and pull the Fever ahead of the Mercury.

Bill Baptist/NBAE/Getty Images

League MVP Diana Taurasi was still able to get to the hoop more times than not during the Finals, but the Fever did an excellent job holding her to playoff lows, including shooting nearly 15 percentage points below her season average.

Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images

Two of the best in the league went all out to try and carry their teams to victory, as Katie Douglas (right) and Cappie Pondexter left everything on the ďŹ&#x201A;oor, setting the tone for what would be a hotly contested series.

Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images

Aussie native Tully Bevilaqua has scored over 1,500 points during her WNBA career and was a key spark for Indiana throughout the playoffs.

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Jessica Moore, the Conseco Fieldhouse fans and the rest of the Fever celebrate after clinching Game 3, 86-85.

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Tangela Smith attempts a last second shot for the Mercury, trailing by one in the waning seconds of Game 3, The shot missed—it could be argued that Smith was fouled—and Indiana walked away with a crucial 2-1 series advantage.

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In their first WNBA Finals appearance, Ebony Hoffman and the Fever learned that nothing comes easy, as Nicole Ohlde and DeWanna Bonner made sure to let her know throughout the series with stifling defense.

Ron Hoskins/NBAE/Getty Images

Diana Taurasi—who was named Finals MVP—celebrates with teammates after the Mercury came back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Fever. The 94-86 victory on October 9 gave Phoenix their second title in three seasons.

Bill Baptist/NBAE/Getty Images

Surrounded by family and members of the Mercury organization, Phoenix celebrates their 2009 WNBA championship in front of the home crowd at US Airways Center.

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Many past Hall of Fame luminaries were on hand to celebrate the historic class of Michael Jordan, Jerry Sloan, John Stockton, David Robinson and Rutgers women’s head coach C. Vivian Stringer. andRew d. BeRnstein/nBae/getty images

call out

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The Utah Jazz were well represented at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction weekend, as longtime coach (Sloan) and arguably the game’s purest point guard (Stockton) were inducted together. andRew d. BeRnstein/nBae/getty images

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The star of the weekend was Michael Jordan. The stoic guard showed a more emotional side as he was enshrined, thanking everyone from family members to former coaches and teammates.

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David Robinson was inducted by Spurs’ legend George Gervin and former coach Larry Brown. The Admiral can now add Hall of Famer to his résumé, which cements him as one of the best centers to ever play the game.

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Like Right Said Fred, Nets’ rookie Terrence Williams does his little turn on the catwalk at the Joseph Abboud & NBA Block Party in New York City last August. daVid dow/nBae/getty images

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Celtics’ captain Paul Pierce was joined by former President Bill Clinton and Usher to announce The Truth on Health Campaign to encourage youth to lead active and healthier lifestyles at the Clinton Global Initiative last September. photo couRtesy of: pauL moRse

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Drop and give me 20! This summer, Raptors’ big man Chris Bosh went back home to the Lonestar State to participate in the Jr. NBA/ Jr. WNBA Pledge to Be a S.T.A.R. Summer Camp at Greenhill School in Addison, Texas.

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Thanking one of the most devout fan bases in the WNBA, the Seattle Storm raised a banner in honor of their crowd during halftime of a game against the San Antonio Silver Stars at Key Arena last August. teRRence VaccaRo/nBae/getty images

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check iT

duty calls

there’s only three types of people that would want to cop Microsoft’s latest Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2-themed hardware: the guy with the Ps3 who’s tired of playing games by himself because all his friends are on Xbox live; the hard–core enthusiast waiting for the release of the highly-anticipated (it’s definitely on the mind of our vidgame ed, Nate Robinson) follow-up to COD Modern Warfare; and the guy whose Xbox recently suffered the dreaded RROd (red ring of death). Either way, the limited-edition MW2-tricked out Xbox 360 Elite package boasts a copy of Modern Warfare 2, HdMI, 250GB hard drive and twin black controllers and headset for $399. Peep our other choice selctions for the coming holiday season on page 94.

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CHeCK iT

by Seth berkman #91

spin moves

brook Lopez New Jersey Nets One of the nba’s most intriguing and eccentric characters, brook Lopez made quite the impression on the hardwood with his grown man’s game, as well as with local media in the new york metropolitan area thanks to his unorthodox (in the nba world, anyway) interests. From his aspirations of creating his own comic book to his love for broadway shows, Lopez is always an interesting cat to chat with, a welcome breath of fresh air compared to your normal answers full of Lil Waynes and Love &basketballs (no offense, we like both). before he kicked off his sophomore season, we caught up with new Jersey’s man in the middle to see how he spent his summer.

Brook’s Comics So many, Jim Lee and X-Men, Batman and Robin. Steve Ellis’s work with Iron Man, Green Lantern, basically all DC Comics. I love the original Superman and Batman is my favorite comic book character.

Brook’s Movies I recently saw four movies in five nights: The Taking of Pelham 123, that was pretty good. The Proposal, I saw that twice—with two different groups, that’s my excuse—that was really good. Transformers 2…not a huge fan. It was way too long. At the end of the movie I expected “Oh, here comes everyone booing,” but everyone stands up and claps. I was like, “What’s up with that?” It wasn’t very good at all.

Brook’s Music A lot of Taylor Swift. [smiles] My buddy and I really like Taylor.

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IllustratIon: matt candela; Photo: sam forencIch/nbae/getty Images

Brook’s Videogames Growing up I played Sonic The Hedgehog 2. I played Sonic religiously. That was my game, I loved it. I also play Kingdom Hearts a lot. I love the franchise.

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triple double

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

Whitney Houston I Look to You

Phish Joy

THaddeus yOung

Reviewing this CD will be easy because everything Jay-Z puts out is on point. This is his 11th studio album and like always, he did not disappoint. Since Jay-Z’s first official single off the album, “Death of Autotune,” debuted in June, The Blueprint 3 has been on the minds of rap-fanatics like me. It did seem weird that every lyric has Jay-Z trying to prove himself as the “king of rap,” but 10 No. 1 albums (this being his 11th) should have already done that!

“Empire State of Mind” is by far the hottest song because of Alicia Keys’ hook and of course Jay-Z’s delivery. However, a joint to get me amped during a workout is “On to the Next One.” Swizz Beatz’ production is always unbelievable. This will be a CD that I bump on repeat for months.

After all of the tabloids and bad press surrounder her name, it is great to hear Whitney’s voice again on a record. While most of her top songs were recorded before I was born, or soon thereafter, they were so popular that I always heard them growing up. This CD is nothing compared to her earlier hits, but I do think the album had some soul to it and proved that she still has something left. Most of the songs are anthems about her struggles and show her strength as a person. “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” is a beautiful song that shows a lot of emotion in the lyrics. This is not my flavor in R&B, but for the right listener, it may be perfect. Overall though, it is definitely not the Whitney of old.

This was a tough one to get through for me. I had to do some research to learn more about this band and found out that they took a four-year break and this is their first album since their hiatus. Phish is definitely not my style of rock ’n roll because of the long solos and trippy feel to most of the songs. But everyone can enjoy a catchy hook and decent bass line, right? “Sugar Shack” has a cool sound with a funky drumbeat behind Trey Anastasio’s guitar. But songs like “Light” are too far out there for my taste. I would not buy this album for myself, but jam band listeners may be into it.

Carl landry

Jay-Z has pretty much solidified his spot on top of the music industry. I do not know anyone who does not own at least one of his albums. The Blueprint was a classic and Blueprint 2 was a great follow-up album.

I was very interested in hearing this album and was not disappointed. The Rhapsody commercial they put together before the album dropped was brilliant, one of the best advertisements I’ve ever seen for an album.

You have to appreciate Jay-Z’s hustle. My favorite tracks off BP3 were “Empire State of Mind,” “A Star is Born,” “Already Home” and “Run this Town.” The production throughout the album is very clean and has a grown up feel. If you are a fan of Jay-Z then you must grab this one!

It’s been a long time since we heard music from Whitney! I think she did very well on this comeback album. Whitney still has a very powerful voice and showed she still has IT. This album had a wide range of songs with various tempos (slow and soulful songs such as “I Look to You” and uptempo tracks like “A Song For You.”) “Salute You” was another track that stood out, but “Worth It” was my favorite track of the album. It is good to see Whitney back on her feet.

This is my first time listening to a Phish album. I can remember seeing their logo on some dorm room doors back at Purdue and wondering what they were all about. I didn’t know what to expect when I listened to Joy on the team plane after our first game, but I can say that I was surprised. The album starts off with a very strong first track with a heavy “hippie” sound. The album is very smooth! They change up from mellow to uptempo on certain tracks, but I liked the feel. The music did not overpower their lyrics, which is always a plus for me. Phish is not something that I would have ever taken the time to listen to, but all in all, I liked what I heard. Several songs stuck out that I needed to rewind and listen to again and “Sugar Shack” had a funky sound and “Ocelet” had a cool sound too. Good album.

thaddeus: Jesse d. garrabrant; carl: bill baptist/nbae/getty images

Jay-Z The Blueprint 3

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Game Rec Game

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nate: nathaniel s. butler/nbae/getty images

Videogame editor Nate Robinson gives this seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball offerings a run

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nBa 2k10 2k Sports I grew up playing Jordan vs. Bird, Double Dribble, NBA Jam and NBA Live for Sega and Super Nintendo.

For the last eight or nine years, I’ve been a 2K guy. But I do play Live at other guys’ houses. Some guys are just 2K guys, some are Live guys.

Me? I’m a 2K guy.

2K is really revolutionary. The jerseys, how players run, sweat, it looks so real. They have the sneaker details and the tattoos, signature free throws, how they run back after they make a shot, it’s crazy. I love it.

The 5-on-5 mode in 2K10 is awesome. You can get with your friends and create your own team and design jerseys and play a whole

season. Live 10 has something similar (adidas Live Run) but I haven’t tried that yet.

I’ve noticed how in Madden you can bump into the referees and they play a significant role, and I’d like to see them a bit more involved in the gameplay of the basketball games.

Technicals could be a bit more prevalent. They should also go back to being able to dribble the ball with both analog sticks, but they’re doing a great job.

I also like how in 2K10 you can shoot off the glass if you have a good angle, kinda like how Tim Duncan and Gilbert Arenas do. Floaters are getting realistic, the lobs, alley-

oops—I would just like to see more tip dunks.

Live has stepped it up a bit, the improved defense and ballhandling is nice. And they finally added the Dynamic Season mode which really just follows the DNA of how the real NBA season plays out, with more up-to-date information, but I’m a 2K guy all the way.

I will say this to both games: I better have at least an 80-83 rating next year. I got better every year, I had a decent year last season, I went off at the end of the year and I’m proving in coach D’Antoni’s system.

Hopefully they’ll see that.

off-ball players while handling the ball instead of relying on the wonky AI to set them in pace for a pass. The AI’s defense has also been beefed up. A warning to those who relied on a dribble move to get to the basket or kickouts to shooters: the AI will be ready to thief the ball or passes.

We were a bit annoyed by some game-controlled players being out of bounds to accept passes. We were also a bit bored at some of the recycled commentary after a few hours.

We didn’t get a chance to test the Dynamic Season mode (like last year’s version, it follows the actual NBA season, making for your own version of the ’09-10 NBA season) since the season hadn’t started during this review. The key

game mode addition is the adidas Live Run. Allowing you to form your own squads of five to take on the gaming community in a virtual pickup playground. Sadly, our review was done so early in the game’s lifespan that we couldn’t get a five going, but it certainly looks promising for the Live player who’s mastered the AI (not an easy task). The very satisfying Dynasty mode is also present for those who enjoy micromanaging and building a team from the ground up.

While we’ll put it just a bit below 2K10, Live 10 is a nice comeback season. Like the Clippers and Thunder of the NBA, we’re predicting that it has shown enough improvement to warrant a look this year. mIng Wong #2

nBa live 10 ea Sports The Live series has been taking a backseat to the 2K franchise for a few seasons now, but there’s a revival in the works from EA Sports in NBA Live 10.

The biggest improvement is in the gameplay and presentation.

Gone are the stiff robotic player movements of years past; this year’s version sports much smoother movement. When Rip Hamilton runs through screens he no longer looks like Bowser mowing through Mario and Luigi. OK, we exaggerate, but the visuals resemble the players’ actual actions more. Player models are still a bit artificial looking, but it does not affect the enjoyment of the game. Aspiring point guards will appreciate Live’s emphasis on playmaking, as you can now control

nBa 10: the Inside Sony For the hoopaholic on the go, PSP has you covered with NBA 10: The Inside. The go-to basketball game for portable video game units the past few years, this season’s version doesn’t offer so much in terms of improved gameplay, but there are

some nice trinkets that will divert your attention enough during your commute to work so you can ignore the guy snoring next to you on the train. Lacking some of the extended dynasty modes of the games for the big boy systems, you can still

get a decent run in on The Inside.

Even if you get bored with the actual basketball playing, there are a load of fun mini games like H.O.R.S.E.and Skee-Ball. The Inside is an absolute steal and fun respite from the average bball game. Seth Berkman #91 HOOP

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the goods

Apple MacBook Pro

CheCK It

Sub-$500 netbooks may be all the rage, but if you want a powerful laptop with beautiful industrial design, the MacBook Pro is still the one to get.

Unlike stripped down specs of netbooks, Apple still packs a hearty 2.53 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4 GB of RAM and a 250 GB hard drive under the hood. LED-backlit, the 13-inch widescreen is crisp and sharp, boasting 1280x800 resolution. An integrated webcam, an 8x DVD burner, 802.11n wireless, Bluetooth and a nifty ambient light sensor (to gauge whether or not to dim the screen or engage the backlit keyboard) are all standard features out of the box. Even though the case is unibodied aluminum construction, it’s just a scant under a inch thick and weighs just 4.5 pounds.

$1199

Nikon D5000 If you’re thinking about upgrading to a DSLR (Digital SingleLens Reflex) camera, the D5000 is a good beginner’s model. Besides the flexibility to swap out a variety of lenses and high-speed shooting, the 12.3 megapixel SLR offers up a slew of preset shooting settings, face detection and Live View (LCD shooting like a traditional digital point-and-shoot) on the 2.7-inch LCD screen that can swing and rotate out. The unit can even shoot HD (720p) video and allows for simple photo-editing on the camera.

D5000 Kit (includes 18-55mm VR lens): $849.95

Pick of the Litter

Logitech Squeezebox Radio Remember AM and FM? Neither do we. Today it’s all about Pandora and Last.fm and the Squeezebox Radio supports the two most popular formats of personalized Internet radio. In addition, it can also stream your own music—including your non-DRM tracks on iTunes—off your wireless network. We dig the easy setup, simple controls, compact size and the often-neglected alarm clock.

We did wish the 2.4-inch color screen was bigger, but the display was sharp and the clear total package.

$199

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Oxygenics Evolution If you have an ancient showerhead that is hemorrhaging water down the drain, or a weaksauce one that trickles out water like a squirt gun, it’s time to upgrade the shower experience. The Evolution is a handheld shower (hose not shown) that injects air into the stream and increases the velocity of the water, making for a high-pressured cleansing that conserves water at the same time (using only 2.5 gallon per minute).

Installation? It took us five minutes before we were enjoying the four spray options, all changeable with a push of a button.

$64.95

Dyson D31 The little messes in your life—the stray Fruit Loops that fall out of the bowl, the mass of fingernail cuttings, the potato chip crumbs—need not require the vacuum or, gasp, dragging out the broom and dustpan. Sure, mom would break out the venerable DustBuster, but you’re more sophisticated and savvy. You pull out the DC31 from Dyson with its Root cyclone technology, lightweight and laser blaster-like design and hassle-free bagless canister that empties out with a flip of a switch, to keep things tidy so mom doesn’t have to clean on her next visit.

$219.99

T-Mobile MyTouch 3G You’ve seen the spots with Phil Jackson, so you know the MyTouch 3G is zen. The 3.2-inch, 480x320 touchscreen display is the center of the Android-based smartphone with the clean design. Our opinion is that the phone could’ve done away with the trackball and extraneous buttons for a cleaner look, but after using it, we found the buttons to blend in and indispensable for easy navigation. The 3.2-megapixel camera on the phone is passable by cameraphone standards. As a multimedia device the MyTouch gets it right—web browser, IM, e-mail, music, games and video is all handled with aplomb. The smartphone is also designed to be personalized with a variety of wallpapers, icons and exterior skins.

$149.99 (with 2-year T-Mobile contract)

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Waring Pro Deep Fryer Like dunks, length-of-the-court bounce passes and bacon, anything fried is a crowd-pleaser.

Deep-fry anything to your heart’s content with this stainless-steel portable unit. The 1,500-watt unit heats up two quarts of oil in no time and the basket can accommodate 1.3 pounds of frying goodness. We tried out some wings, oreos and of course, some bacon.

$59.95

CheCK It

Casio EX-F1 If you have a weird hitch in your shot or want to see if you’re keeping your shooting elbow square on your jumper, it’s hard to diagnose it with regular video. With the EX-F1, you can easily pinpoint exactly what is going wrong since it shoots video at 1,200 frames per second (imagine the super slow-mo replays on sports).

Outfitted with a 12x optical zoom and a 2.8-inch LCD screen, the EX-F1 can also capture 6 megapixel stills, shoot 60 still frames per second and capture 1080i HD video.

$999

Netgear Dual-Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router The latest wireless standard (Wireless-N) has been officially ratified and even though 802.11n products have been available for years, Netgear’s WNDR3700 makes sure the new wireless protocol doesn’t suffer from any bottlenecks. With a peppy-for-a-router 680 Mhz 32-bit processor, the router can handle all the traffic that you put your home network through. It also includes four wired Gigabit ports and a USB storage access port so any user on the network can share an external hard drive.

$189.99

Samsung Blu-ray Soundbar Soundbars are nothing new; we’ve been big advocates of the one-piece virtual surround sound speakers to free yourself from the clutter of cables and multiple speakers.

Samsung ups the ante with an integrated Blu-ray player for true 1080p goodness to go along with virtual 5.1 sound in the HT-BD8200. The included wireless subwoofer handles bass duties. You can even route your Netflix movies and Pandora tunes through the built-in 802.11 b/g/n WiFi. The entire unit is wall-mountable with its low-profile (2.6-inch deep) design.

$799

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tech ed Tech ediTor and gadgeT junkie Shane BaTTier TeST-driveS The laTeST in Tech goodS. in ThiS iSSue, he TakeS on The epSon powerliTe home cinema 8100.

Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 8100 $1599 Between my Duke pedigree and penchant for using multisyllabic words in my interviews, most people peg me as a bookworm. Now don’t get me wrong, there are very few things better than settling up to the fire and diving into the classics. There are times, however, when I just get done chasing Kobe around for 40 minutes and I am physically and emotionally spent. Times like these call, not for a meaty novel, but mindless, shallow reality television or maybe a viewing of Caddyshack for the 267th time.

I need my TV. Has there been an invention that has changed your life as much as watching the NBA Finals or the U.S. Open in High Definition? Once you go HD, it’s difficult to go back. I mean “going to the dentist” difficult.

That’s why I was really fired up to review the brand spanking new PowerLite Home Cinema 8100 from Epson. The Home Cinema 8100 is the newest in HD projectors from the Epson family.

For my 110-inch screen that I have set up in my television room, I want—I need—clarity and I need a picture that “pops.” The Home Cinema 8100 delivers. It features the D7 technology for brilliant color and detail and higher contrast. The Home Cinema 8100 reaches a 36,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (darker blacks) and can broadcast in 1080p. Fancy specs aside, the picture is fantastic.

The old projector that I used (we’ll keep it confidential here), had a nice picture mainly when the lights were very dim or off. When I wanted to watch a movie, it was OK, but it is nice to be able to actually see what I eat with the lights on from time to time. The 8100 delivers a crystal-clear and bright picture even with the lights on.

The connection panel for Home Cinema 8100 is simple, featuring dual HDMI ports—the only connection that really matters for any HD enthusiast. But it’s also got a VGA, component, composite, and an S-video port. At $1,599, it’s not the highest priced HD projector offered by Epson (Epson is also releasing a $3,000 projector), but I really would be hard pressed to see how much better the more expensive projector would be compared to the 8100.

I look forward to many nights on my couch watching The Big Lebowski, or playing NCAA Football on my PS3. I used to think that my 110-inch screen was pretty sweet by itself. Now I realize that with the PowerLite Home Cinema 8100, I may have as well been watching television on an analog feed. This thing is sweet. For the money (and I know we are still getting out of this recession), it’s a pretty good value. I have not seen a picture this vibrant for this price. If you are in the market for a new television, I would advise you to take a hard look that this one.

proS: + Crystal clear 1080p HD resolution, 36,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio reached.

Don’t know what it is, but is sounds sweet.

Simple setup, with multiple HDMI ports, you need not to deal with the wires of old. + For $1599, a set like this even one year ago would have cost you twice as much.

conS: – The relatively high price.We still are in an economic downturn. (Hey, we are sensitive to your needs at HOOP).

– You will feel less likely to pick up a good book. That’s never good.

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

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CHeCK IT

Jordan

Melo M6 $120 Weight (size 12): 17 oz.

melo the basketball player, we like. melo the shoe, not so much. this year’s incarnation is just disappointing. Being a Jordan athlete, we expect his signature shoe to at least push the design envelope. Whether it’s a hit or miss, we want some kind of statement, much like runway fashion. the first glance of the melo m6 was met with “that’s it?” puzzlement.

Far from an ugly shoe, it just doesn’t elicit any excitement. the most eye-catching thing is the nylon overlay that the Jumpman and melo logo resides on. other than that, the melo m6 is as exciting as driving through the farmlands of Nebraska. the saving grace of the melo m6 is the shoe’s fit. Upon slipping foot in and tightening laces, you’ll notice the wide winged tongue envelop your upper foot. the interior padded ankle inserts mold to the crevices of the joint, making for a custom-like fit. the m6 relies on Zoom air to provide low-profile cushioning. Feeling hard at first, we thought it might not be enough, but after a few hours of pounding there were no complaints to report. the outsole had flexibility issues, as did the toebox, but they were minor.

We’re still amazed that Jordan would release such a tepid looking shoe that befits one of their premier athletes. While a good performing shoe, we find it hard to recommend it at the $120 admission price.

Construction: Comfort: Playability: Value: Style: Innovation:

the Cut Creator will be seen on adidas’ fleet of guards this season, most notably reigning Rookie of the year Derrick Rose and tracy mcGrady (pictured). the first thing that jumps out to any onlooker of the shoe is the eggshaped plastic piece that houses adidas’ ubiquitous three stripes. Besides serving as the focal point of the design, it also serves as ventilation. It did keep the ankle area cool, but did little to provide relief for the hot spots of the feet bottoms and toes. We initially started off hating the looks, but after a while the feeling subsided. It never materialized into love, just acceptance.

Unlike its big brother, the Cut Creator wasn’t quite as plush. the midfoot and top of the shoe reported some pinching when the shoe was cinched. the pain did lessen as the break-in time increased, but it’s just an annoyance that a modern basketball shoe requires some break-in time. For a guard shoe, the ride isn’t very low and impact resistance (adipRENE) could’ve been bumped up a notch. shortcomings aside, the CC does provide a very responsive ride. the Formotion in the midsole helped the shoe react during lateral movements—change of directions, pivots and stopping.

In the end, it comes back to the CC’s design. you’ll either hate it or find it oK. We found no one that loved the look. Functionally, it’s a commendable shoe, especially if given a proper break-in period.

adidas

TS Cut Creator $100 Weight (size 9): 16.2 oz.

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Construction: Comfort: Playability: Value: Style:

For 360° views, visit hoopmaG.Com

10/13/09 3:49 PM

Jordan

Hallowed Ground $115 Weight (size 9): 15.75 oz.

you’re probably tired of hearing this again, but Jordan Brand, no matter how badly the shoe may perform or look, always delivers on construction and quality of materials. take the hallowed Ground for example. We didn’t particularly find it to be a standout on the court, nor did we love its looks, but we certainly couldn’t question the build. Even the new shoe smell—and really, how can one hate that scent?—effuses with extra vigor.

While we appreciated the fine details of the shoe’s construction—double stitching, supple leathers and meticulous gluework on the outsole— hallowed Ground underperforms on the court. hG started off a little stiff, the upper had little give and the outsole’s shallow flex grooves fights your foot’s natural movement. We did appreciate the low profile of the hG, but the aforementioned outsole issue curtailed the benefit. Zoom cushioning is present in the midsole and we are happy to report that it was ample. a shoe’s aesthetic is always arbitrary. While the hG is a bit dull in its design, we do like the look. the gradient paint splatter look on the midsole irked some folks and the argyle pattern in the rear (also on the insole) were turn-offs to some, but we weren’t put off by it. the $115 price tag is high, but it’s a premium shoe in our eyes worthy of it.

Construction: Comfort: Playability: Value: Style: Innovation:

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as much hoopla and revolutionary praise that Kobe Bryant got for introducing a low cut shoe [Ed note: technically, it’s not a true low cut, but more of a mid cut], it’s been old hat for Gilbert arenas. We happen to be big believers in low cuts for basketball, too, so Gil’s releases bring some giddy anticipation to our offices every year.

Unlike last year’s version, which differentiated itself from the high version, this year’s low iteration is exactly the same, just minus the top, thus reducing the weight by half an ounce.

For all intents and purposes, we thought it would be the same shoe and approached it with the same expectations. We were pleasantly surprised that the initial comfort issues that we noted on the high versions don’t plague the CC low. otherwise everything else was the same (see review of the Cut Creator).

Because it’s a low, we found the already high lateral movement of the CC to be enhanced due to the increased freedom of the ankle. as we’ve long theorized, there were no differences in terms of ankle protection that many ballplayers think they get when they sign up for a high top. the striped egg is again the emphasis of the CC low’s design. although the lopping off of the high top turns the egg into a warped pac-man shape, it’s still very present. Being a low cut makes it a bit more palatable off court, but we still can’t get past the gaudiness.

adidas

Cut Creator Low $100 Weight (size 9): 15.75 oz.

Construction: Comfort: Playability: Value: Style: Innovation:

For 360° views, visit hoopmaG.Com

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gear

Converse

EB2 $65 Weight (size 10): 15.5 oz

CHeCK IT

Elton Brand didn’t do much balling in his debut signature shoe by Converse, the EB1, last season, so let’s hope the second go-around will be much better for one of the game’s most consistent big men of the past decade. those familiar with the EB1 will recall the prominent midstrap and the EB2 brings back the strap in a two-point version. like last year’s, the EB is a JCpenney (where Elton’s mom shopped when he was growing up) exclusive for an affordable $65. staying true to Converse’s design roots and Brand’s no-frills (but effective) game, the EB2 maintains a staid aesthetic. the strap is the most engaging element on the shoe, but functionally, it doesn’t do much to cinch the shoe to the foot any more than the laces would otherwise. there’s a rear pull tab that’s always appreciated (no need to slip a finger in the back to slip shoes on). the chevron-star logo on the lateral side is inlayed by some vinyl, but that’s about it for flash.

What the shoe lacks in pizzazz, it makes up for in play. Built for the big man, the shoe caters to wider feet and is quite reinforced with padding on the ankle collar. the EB2 held its own during the court time. It didn’t impress, nor did it disappoint. the one curious note was its lack of cushioning in the rear of the foot compared to the forefoot. It wasn’t that it wasn’t ample; our users just noticed more cushioning in the back.

For the low admission price, there is little complaint to the EB2. other than its lack of wow (it will likely score well with Dad), the EB2 is a solid sophomore effort. For the dude looking for a pair of no-nonsense basketball shoes that won’t break the bank, the EB2 is for you.

Construction: Comfort: Playability: Value: Style: Innovation:

let’s just get it out there: the ol’ school III was the best shoe this issue. let’s sing its praises: good looks (it has a feel of the classic timberland hiker look to it), attention to detail (hidden speed lacers, extra padding on the inside to conform to ankle) and performance (lightweight construction, excellent traction and shock absorption).

If you’re a fanboy of the timberland hiker, you’ll like the multiple overlays of suede and leather that the osIII employs. the contrast stitching pops on the pictured black/varsity red-white colorway is the best variation. Wrapped around the ankle collar is another overlay (behind the Jumpman logo and on the blank medial side) that can also serve as a stash pocket. Intentional or not, it’s kind of cool (like KangaRoos of yore). We would just advise against stashing something of value in there as it can fall out. the osIII is surprisingly light, coming in as the lightest shoe we reviewed this issue. the m-patterned treads found on many Jordan releases (which we favor) is present on the osIII, making for a very strong grip on the court. the forefoot rests low on ground, while the heel gets a healthy dose of air for cushioning (a clear outsole exposes the air sole unit). our only complaint is the shoe’s lack of ventilation. long sessions leave the foot a swampy mess.

We dig us the ol’ school III. It goes from a solidly performing shoe on the court to under some jeans seamlessly. the $115 sticker price might cause some shock, but even in tough times, it’s not a bad buy, all things considered.

Jordan

Ol’ School III $115 Weight (size 9): 15.5 oz.

Construction: Comfort: Playability: Value: Style: Innovation:

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For 360° views, visit hoopmaG.Com

10/13/09 3:50 PM

KICKIn’ IT

with Carmelo Anthony

The Denver Nuggets have emerged as a premier team in the talent laden Western Conference, and while it was a midseason trade that reunited the Mile-High city with Chauncey Billups, it has been the play and poise of Carmelo Anthony that has kept the team on an even keel. For the past six seasons he has taken the good with the bad, making the best out of every situation and nothing spells success like the Jordan Brand.

The future is bright for Anthony, as his success on the court has translated into an abundance of victories off, from the community endeavors in his hometown of Baltimore, MD, to the mass appeal of his footwear and apparel.

Carmelo took some time out to answer some questions about his new shoe the M6.

Talk about the comfort of the M6, as I know that is one of the more important factors in your signature line.

Yeah, that’s always the number one thing! At the end of the day I still have to play in them on a high level, so I always make sure that my shoe has the best in comfort.

Jordan Brand recently signed Dwyane Wade; Is there a rivalry between Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and yourself in the Jordan Family?

It’s no competition, they all have their lane. There is the D-Wade lane, the Chris Paul lane and then my lane. And its not in any specific order, we’re all there working together under the Jordan umbrella.

What has it been like carrying the torch of the brand since Michael Jordan retired?

When he retired it was the first year I came in the League, his last year was my first year, and while we have some similarities, he has given me a lot of guidance and tools so I can stand on my own two and represent not only him, but myself as well

all photos/NBaE/GEtty ImaGEs

For the third straight season, adidas has rolled out a signature line to be shared by their big men, rather than individual shoes (the Commander for the big dudes—Dwight howard, Kevin Garnett, tim Duncan—and the previously reviewed Cut Creator for the lil’ guards and Cut Creator low for Gilbert arenas).

Upon foot entry, the raves of the Commander’s comfort were evident. the shoe is very padded along the ankle and although it lacks Bounce or other visible cushioning technology, the shoe has a pillowy feel to the bottom. adidas has one of the best insoles in the game and much of the comfort lies in it. the outsole is a bit stiff but the wave-pattern on the bottom gives it good traction. Being a shoe geared for the low-post player, the lumbering chassis didn’t pose much problem. our quibble with the Commander is the rear plastic pull tab. While it serves a practical function of helping you slip the shoe on, it occasionally rises up, causing chafing when wearing low or no-show socks. Not a huge drawback, just something to be mindful of. the design was a bit unimaginative, taking some elements of older adidas shoes—embossed panels on the upper, big stripes and perforations. the Commander lt is ultimately a good shoe, just a bit underwhelming for adidas’ premier product line.

By AnTHOny GILBErT #1

How have you grown since coming into the Jordan Brand fold?

When I first got there I didn’t really know what to expect, it was my first year, but as you get older things start to make more sense, you start to get wiser and I have more creativity and I’ve broadened my horizons. Things have aligned and happened for me and now I’m on top of the shoe game!

adidas

TS Commander LT $100 Weight (size 11): 17 oz

Construction: Comfort: Playability: Value: Style: Innovation: HOOP

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CHeCK IT

wear (Clockwise from top left) Nike Sportswear Storm Fit Jacket (TBA); K-Swiss Slub Light Jacket $80; adidas TS Creator Jacket $90; adidas Creator Pant $75; Jordan Novelty Messenger $60

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(Clockwise from top left) Southpole Sherpa-lined Plaid Hoodie $27.99; We are the Process Nokahoma $30; New Era Trapper $55.99; Jordan Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Style One $135; Nike Sportswear Parra Rivalry Hoodie (TBA)

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wear (Clockwise from below) Converse Evo Rap Pack $80 each; Nike Sportswear AW77 Reversible Jacket $200; Timberland Mountain Athletics Route Racer with Gore-Tex $115; Sneaktip All-Star Baseball Jacket $100; We are the Process Omega $30

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(Clockwise from top left) K-Swiss Melton Jacket $300; Nike Air Tailwind â&#x20AC;&#x2122;92 $95; Sneaktip Reversible Triple Proof Goose Vest $100; Nike Cortez $60; Jordan Black Cat Hooded Bubble Jacket $200; Nike Zoom Hustle $85

CHeCK IT

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CHeCK IT

wear (Clockwise from top left) New Era Hat Mahogany $39.99; WhiteTag Military Jacket with Jersey Hood $59.99; Southpole Premium Denim $29.99; Southpole Bomber Jacket $34.99; Timberland Earthkeepers $140

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(Clockwise from top left) Jordan M6 Melo Hoody $185; Southpole Plaid Buttondown Shirt $19.99; New Era Windsor $39.99; Nike Hyperize $125; Jordan M6 Melo Pant $70;

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wear (Clockwise from top left) Southpole Argyle Vest $19.99; Southpole Flannel Shirt $19.99; WhiteTag Loose Straight Fit Denim $29.99; adidas TS Creator Jacket $90; adidas TS Creator Pant $75

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CHeCK IT

(Clockwise from top left) Sneaktip Original Sneaktip Hoody $85; adidas TS Commander LT Jacket $90; adidas TS Commander LT Pant $70; Timberland Mountain Athletics All Mountain Inferno Low with Gore-Tex $125; Southpole Premium Denim $29.99

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STEP BACK Events for the 1988 Winter Olympics also took place at the Saddledome. The arena is located in Stampede Park, home of the Calgary Stampede Rodeo.

The 15th pick in the 1992 Draft, Anthony Peeler’s long, steady NBA career lasted 13 seasons.

October 27, 1996 tOrOntO raptOrs vs. vancOuvEr GrIzzlIEs pengrowth saddledome, calgary cn

Located in Calgary, the Pengrowth Saddledome is home to the NHL’s Calgary Flames.

The Saddledome periodically hosted other sporting events, and this exhibition game, played right before the start of the 1996-97 season, helped drum up interest in Canada’s second year of NBA action.

The Raptors’ second first round draft pick, Marcus Camby was drafted second overall in the 1996 NBA Draft, after Allen Iverson. Camby would eventually be named to the All-Rookie first team at the end of the season.

Camby was never known for his offensive prowess, but is recognized as one the greatest defensive players of his generation. He’s led the League in blocks four times, and he still holds a Raptors team record for most blocks per game.

Later on in his career, he would be named ’06-07 Defensive Player of the Year.

Picked right after Marcus Camby in the 1996 NBA Draft, Shareef Abdur-Rahim was arguably the greatest player during the Grizzlies stay in Vancouver. Abdur-Rahim holds almost every significant offensive team record for its time in Vancouver.

This was the beginning of Peeler’s only season in Vancouver and it was something of an anomaly; it was one of only three seasons in Peeler’s 13 when his team failed to make the playoffs.

Though Abdur-Rahim had his share of individual successes, including a gold medal he won with the U.S. Olympic team in 2000, he played for a lot of bad teams. Prior to making the playoffs in 2006, in the twilight of his career, Abdur-Rahim held the dubious distinction of having played more games without a playoff appearance than anybody in NBA history.

Originally drafted by his hometown Seattle SuperSonics, Doug Christie played 15 seasons for seven NBA teams. By the time he landed in Toronto, four years into his pro career, he’d been traded three times.

Christie’s stint in Toronto, however, began a long and successful run in his career. Over the course of the next decade, he would be named to the All-Defensive Team four times, and rank in the top five in steals for seven straight seasons.

A former first round pick, Pete “Chili Bean” Chilcutt was in his first season with the Grizzlies, playing mostly as a back-up for Bryant Reeves.

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The former North Carolina Tarheel spent most of his career backing up famous big men; prior to landing in Vancouver, he had won a championship as a backup to Hakeem Olajuwon in Houston.

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Does Blake Griffin make the GraDe?

final exam

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KitchenAid- Celebrating 90 Years of Mixing Excellence.

The year 1919 was truly a time of change. The gray days of war were giving way to the gaiety of the Roaring ’20s, and an era of prosperity and progress was upon us. Like other war munitions plants across the country, the Troy Metal Products Company (a subsidiary of Hobart), revived its peacetime efforts, and set to work on the Model H-5 stand mixer— the first electric “food preparer” for the home. Wives of Troy executives were commissioned to test the initial prototypes. After a successful trial run, one famously reported, “I don’t care what you call it, but I know it’s the best kitchen aid I have ever had!” A brand name was born, and the first KitchenAid stand mixer was unveiled to the American consumer in 1919. Now, in the year 2009 we celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the KitchenAid Stand Mixer. Visit Amazon.com to see the full line up of exciting models, colors and attachments.

Available at

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