NBA Noise

NBA Noise has moved!

2008-12-06T13:05:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Just wanted to give you a big NBA Noise update. You may have already noticed if you have typed NBAnoise.com in your browser in the past week that things looked very different. That is because I'm packing up my bags and moving over to MVN (Most Valuable Network). Please, if you have this page bookmarked to the blogspot address, change it to just NBAnoise.com

NBA Noise will be bringing you the same content on its own personal page, but now you will have easy access to articles from MVN writers that cover the league broadly. I hope you take a moment to register with MVN for quick commenting access on our future posts, but of course, you can continue to post anonymously if you are the sneaky type.

Thank you for all of your support in the past and for making NBA Noise a success.

Studs and Duds: 11/29/08

2008-11-29T23:30:00.000-08:00

Studs: New York Knicks (138-125 victory over Golden State)

Despite the fact that the Knicks were playing against one of the few teams equally disinterested in playing defense as they are, they had a few players put up some ridiculous numbers. Chris Duhon set a franchise record in assists with 22, David Lee chipped in 37 points and 21 rebounds, and the new-Knick Al Harrington contributed 36 points and 12 boards. If only I had just one of these guys on my fantasy team...

Duds:

Mike Miller, Minnesota Timberwolves

Aside from a few assists, Mike Miller didn't do much to help his team tonight, as he shot an ice cold 2-10 from the field and scored only four points (in 3o minutes of play). The T'Wolves fell to the Denver Nuggets 106-97. [boxscore]

Raymond Felton, Charlotte Bobcats

While Raymond Felton was active in several facets of the game (7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals), he was ice-cold from the field as he only connected on two of 15 attempts. Felton finished with only four points a night after he poured in a career-high 31. The Bobcats fell to the Celtics 89-84. [boxscore]

Studs and Duds: 11/28/08

2008-11-28T23:59:00.000-08:00

Studs:

Dwyane Wade, Miami HEAT

Dwyane Wade was spectacular in the HEAT's first meeting against the Phoenix Suns since the Shaquille O'Neal for Shawn Marion trade. The HEAT got the better end of the matchup this time around, as Wade poured in a season high 43 points (on 15-24 shooting) along with six assists. [boxscore]

Emeka Okafor, Charlotte Bobcats

Emeka Okafor logged 43 minutes in the Bobcats' 115-108 overtime win against the Indiana Pacers. In that time, he contributed 14 points on an efficient 6-9 shooting, and amassed an impressive 20 rebounds. [boxscore]

Duds:

Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics

Paul Pierce was a virtual non-factor in the Celtics' 102-78 romp over Philadelphia, as he was limited to six points on 1-6 shooting from the field. [boxscore]

David West, New Orleans Hornets

David West was largely ineffective against the Trail Blazers tonight, as he scored only 10 points on 5 of 15 shooting. The Hornets lost to the Blazers 101-86 [boxscore]

Backcourt insubordination

2008-11-27T19:56:00.000-08:00

Allen Iverson apparently decided that practicing on Thanksgiving day was too much to ask, as he was the only Detroit Pistons player absent from a mandatory practice today. Pistons coach Michael Curry said that Iverson will be issued a "hefty" fine and hasn't decided if A.I. will play in Friday's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. I can't wait to hear Iverson's reasoning on why he missed practice, but I'm sure the Pistons brass are finding this press-conference to be much less funny at this point.

Stephon Marbury's boycott to play for the Knicks continues as he declined to play for the team last night against the Pistons. This leaves the Knicks in a very difficult situation as they are down to two healthy guards (Chris Duhon and Anthony Roberson). Marbury is slated to make $20.8 million this season, and it looks like he has no intention of doing anything to earn this money. I know this is a deep and complicated situation that we will likely not get to the bottom of anytime soon, but Marbury isn't doing himself any favors by not playing. His boycott further portrays himself as a headcase, and as a player whose attitude and actions outweigh his on-court talent. According to the New York Daily News, Marbury's actions will lead either to his release from the team or to be ordered to stay home indefinitely.

Maui Invitational: Texas tandem

2008-11-27T17:02:00.000-08:00

The University of Texas has produced some of the best NBA prospects in the NBA over the last several years. Among them are D.J. Augustin, Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, Daniel Gibson and T.J. Ford. The past several days I was able to get an up-close look at Texas in the Maui Invitational, and two players stuck out in my mind as serious NBA prospects.

Damion James - Texas, Jr.

It's clear when you see Damion James step onto the court that he has a body that was made to play in the NBA. Standing at 6'7, much of Texas' high hopes for the season rest on his broad shoulders. James has a good feel for the game and has the ability to created good looks for himself. Having played in the post for his first two seasons at Texas, he seems most comfortable when slashing in the paint and is a solid finisher around the hoop. James has the potential to be a lottery pick in upcoming drafts, but he will have to diversify his game and play at a consistent level for this to happen. Increasing his accuracy from the perimeter will be crucial to his draft stock this year. If he is able to develop that consistencey, I can see James eventually developing into a Corey Maggette type of player.

A.J. Abrams - Texas, Sr.

Although undersized, A.J. Abrams is great at moving without the ball and creating great looks for himself. He is a solid shooter and is effective at both spotting up and coming off of screens. His range demands respect from opposing defenses. Texas uses an NBA-distance three-point line during their pick-up games, and in Abrams case - it shows. In the NBA, I can see Abrams playing the role of a scoring point/combo guard, in a similar role such as Juan Dixon or Eddie House. To improve, Abrams should look to expand his distribution skills and use the attention he receives from defenses to get his teammates involved.

What I'm thankful for - NBA edition

2008-11-27T13:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you from NBA Noise! I'm spending Thanksgiving in Maui, since I'm still over here after the EA Sports Maui Invitational, but I have family here with me so life is good! There's lots that I am thankful for in this current NBA season:

Shaquille O'Neal is on Twitter. Nothing is better than getting short updates from Shaq himself. You never know what's going to come out of his crazy mouth. Imagine if Twitter was around during the Wilt Chamberlain era - that would be interesting to say the least.
An exciting crop of rookies. What's not to love about this group of newcomers? Derrick Rose is exceeding all expectations. O.J. Mayo is showing some serious firepower. Michael Beasley is showing his offensive versatility. The Blazers have an exciting rookie combo in Rudy Fernandez and Greg Oden. Gotta love it.
NBA League Pass Broadband - Now I can stay glued to a digital screen and stay on top of all of the NBA games I can stand, no matter where I am, even when I should be socializing.
The dominance of the Celtics (14-2) and Lakers (12-1) - Having these two teams excel like they are this year is a fantastic thing for the NBA. Major markets, major players, major marketability. It would seem as though these two teams could be poised to have a Finals rematch this year, and with Andrew Bynum back in the Lakers' lineup the Celtics vs. Lakers rivalry is even more intriguing.
And as always, thank you Stephon Marbury. You always give me something to look forward to writing about.

What are you thankful for thus far in this young NBA season?

Maui Invitational: Bigs with potential

2008-11-27T10:27:00.000-08:00

This year's Maui Invitational tournament had its fair share of NBA-prospects, but here are a few post players who I think may eventually develop into solid pros.

Luke Harandody - Notre Dame, Jr.

At 6'8" and 250 lbs., Notre Dame junior Luke Harangody is a force to be reckoned with in the paint. He has more than adequate size and strength to be a solid power forward at the next level. Although it looks a bit awkward, he has a decent mid-range jump shot for a big man (18-20 feet), which allows him to impact the game in a variety of ways. Harangody also has the ability to improvise in mid-air to evade opposing defenses. He has a good knack for coming up with loose balls and rebounds and finds a way to get involved on the court wherever the action is. One thing I specifically noted with Harangody was his ability to establish position on offense, which is crucial in helping his perimeter players feed him the ball. I think that Harangody will develop into an offensively superior Jason Maxiell-type of player.

Michael Dunigan - Oregon, Fr.

Michael Dunigan was a McDonald's All-American last year and is now Oregon's prized recruit. He might be the most heralded big man that Oregon has ever landed. Dunigan isn't ready to make the leap to the pros just yet, and maybe won't even be after next season - but when he does, he will surely be an impact player. Dunigan has a soft touch around the hoop and has a well-developed drop-step and baby-hook in his arsenal. While he has tried to incorporate a baseline fade and mid-range jumpshot, he still has a lot of room for improvement. I get the feeling from watching him that he isn't in top condition right now, which is somewhat encouraging to what he could be with the right kind of training. Already, he is a double-double threat, and a noticeable presence on the defensive end. As this Oregon team learns how to incorporate Dunigan more within their offense, I think we will start to see his production (and future draft stock) increase.

Ahmad Nivins - St. Joseph's, Sr.

Ahmad Nivins has a great NBA body and has a non-stop motor on the court. He puts in a strong effort on the glass and is active in the paint. Although he is not a natural scorer, his athleticism creates quality looks for him around the basket. Nivins also has a respectable mid-range shot from 10 to 15 feet out. Because of the Hawks' emphasis on perimeter play, Nivins often draws double teams when he receives the ball in the post. On defense, on several occasions I noticed Nivins changing or blocking shots while playing help defense, which speaks well for his defensive awareness. While he is a power-forward by NBA-size standards, Nivins plays more like a center. His size and effort could make him a serviceable big at the next level.

Tom Pritchard - Indiana, Fr.

While he is by no means NBA-ready at this point, I think that Hoosier freshman Tom Pritchard has the potential to develop into one of the better post players in the country with the proper progression. While he didn't impress me much by the numbers he was putting up, I was impressed with his size, coordination and (most importantly) his composure. In their first game of the tournament, Pritchard was matched up against Harangody, and while he didn't win the battle he played confidently and made some solid plays. Indiana is one of the youngest teams in the country, so Pritchard will likely be a focal point for them for years to come.

Maui Invitational: UNC is full of NBA talent

2008-11-26T23:05:00.000-08:00

In the following day, I will take a look at the numerous NBA prospects that we saw in action throughout the tournament. But as the University of North Carolina was crowned tournament champions after a convincing win against Notre Dame, I think it is only fitting that we start with the immense amount of potential NBA talent that is on the Tarheel's roster.

Ty Lawson - 5'11", 195 lbs, Jr.

Lawson came away with the tournament's MVP award, and rightfully so. Throughout the tournament, Lawson had 22 assists and only two turnovers (that's an 11/1 A/TO ratio for those non-math whizzes) Lawson is a rare mix of speed, handles and scoring ability that makes him a serious NBA prospect. I was particularly impressed with his smooth stroke from outside, and his ability to finish in traffic. Lawson is highly effective in the open court, and has shown that he has solid playmaking abilities. His height is a bit of a concern, but his skills will help to make up for that deficiency. I see Lawson as being a smaller-version of Baron Davis. He's like Baron Light, or shall I say Diet Diddy. Either way, Lawson will be a factor at the next level, and I would expect him to enter his name into next year's draft pool.

Tyler Hansbrough - 6'9", 250 lbs, Sr.

Psycho T was selected to the Maui Invitational's All-Tournament Team in only two games of action. While he has been knicked up with shin and ankle injuries, he seemed as good as ever in the championship game against the Irish. Hansbrough dropped in an impressive 34 points, that came from a variety of methods and distances (including a three-pointer). He has clearly extended his range in the offseason, and he should only become more effective as his conditioning improves. Hansbrough realistically could have been drafted in each of the last four years (including after his senior year in high school) had he made himself eligible. Hansbrough plays with an intensity on the court that is rivaled by none. He plays his heart out every night, and is an impact player on both ends of the floor. I'm always impressed with his soft touch around the hoop, and his ability to make difficult shots. If he continues to hone his jumpshot, his draft stock will continue to rise - and if you think he is the second-coming of Mark Madsen, you are out of your mind. This is the consensus 2007 National Player of the Year we are talking about, here.

Danny Green - 6'6", 210 lbs, Sr.

Danny Green was the third Tarheel to be named to the Maui Invitational All-Tournament team, after several stellar performances. He had declared himself eligible for last year's NBA Draft, however he pulled his name out before the deadline. Green has good NBA size and athletic ability, and he will be a solid shooting guard at the next level. He has adapted well to his starting-role with UNC and hit his offensive groove in the first two games of the tournament (career high 26 points vs. Chaminade; career-high 5 three-pointers vs. Oregon). Green has an effective stroke from outside and he is a fundamentally sound defender, which will make him very appealing to NBA teams in need of some perimiter help next season.

Wayne Ellington - 6'4", 200 lbs, Jr.

Ellington is a pure scorer, and one of the focal points of this high-octane UNC offense. He has a quick-release shot and is serious threat on the outside. Ellington also runs the floor well and is a capable ball-handler, allowing him to run the point if need be. He will likely need to hone his playmaking skills to boost his draft stock, as he is a bit undersized for a traditional two-guard in the NBA. However, Ellington's all-around talent and athletic ability will make it difficult for many NBA teams to pass him up.

Also keep an eye on:

Deon Thompson - at 6'8" Thompson has great NBA size, and he plays very naturally in the post. He has a nice mid-range touch, and is beginning to prove himself as a force on the boards. Thompson is usually overshadowed by Hansbrough, but he was a key contributor in their win against Notre Dame. If he decides to stay at UNC another year, I wouldn't be surprised if he emerged as one of the best bigs in the country when he doesn't have to share time and stats with Psycho T.

Ed Davis - While only a freshman, Davis is a silky smooth lefty that could be a big deal for the Tarheels in the following years. He has already shown solid rebounding and post-scoring ability, and he will only improve. If he can put some muscle on his lanky frame, he could become a household name amongst college hoops fans.

Studs and Duds: 11/25/08

2008-11-25T22:29:00.000-08:00

Stud: Andray Blatche, Washington Wizards

Apparently having interim head coach Ed Tapscott at the helm lit a fire under (the enigma otherwise known as) Andray Blatche. In 29 minutes off the bench, Blatche contributed 25 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, five blocks and two steals. For a guy who was averaging under seven points per game thus far, this is a monster performance. [boxscore]

Dud: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Thank goodness for great teammates, because Kobe Bryant's play tonight certainly wasn't a main factor in the Lakers' 120-93 thumping. Bryant shot 5 of 17 from the field (including a 1-for-9 first-half performance) and only scored 12 points for the game. To be fair, he only logged 28 minutes, and would likely take the win over good numbers any day. [boxscore]

Manu Ginobili returns to the Spurs

2008-11-25T15:40:00.000-08:00

Manu Ginobili made his season debut yesterday, chipping in 12 points off the bench to help the San Antonio Spurs defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 94-81. This will be a huge boost to the Spurs who have been without point guard Tony Parker since the first week of the month after an ankle sprain.

"It's a tremendous boost," said Spurs center Tim Duncan. "He played well. I think psychologically more than anything, having him on the floor and seeing him move around is going to be great for the team. I know it's great for me personally because it is good to start seeing our team getting back to full strength."

In the long run, Parker and Ginobili's injuries might only strengthen this team, as reserve players have had to play important roles in their absences. Rookie George Hill has scored 20 points or more in the last three games, getting solid amounts of run as the team's floor leader. Roger Mason is also having a career year, as he is averaging 15 points and 4 rebounds per contest, and has started eight games for the Spurs. While the team hasn't exactly "excelled", their 7-6 record is certainly commendable for their depleted roster.

NBA Noise on MVN Live radio show

2008-11-25T01:54:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to let you know that I will be making an appearance on the MVN Live radio show today. The main focus of the show is the Maui Invitational, where hosts Sam Panayotovich and Jon Burkett (and guests such as myself) will analyze the teams in this year's field, break down the intriguing matchups and examine the superstar talents that you'll just have to see for yourself.

Other interviewees include Addicted to Quack's Paul Thompson as well as writers covering North Carolina, Notre Dame and Texas.

The show will begin at 5 p.m. EST, and I will be joining the program shortly after 6 p.m. EST. You can listen in by heading over to mvn.com/live. Hope you can join us!

Wizards fire coach Eddie Jordan

2008-11-24T16:37:00.000-08:00

It's a cold, cold world in the NBA - which is leading this year's bottom-feeders to go scrounging for their winter jackets. Eddie Jordan is the most recent coaching casualty, as he was fired after leading the Washington Wizards to an abysmal 1-10 start. While such a record would typically warrant such a firing, some might consider Jordan's firing to be preemptive.

The Wizards have been without regular starters Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood for all games thus far. While Arenas' absence has come to be more of the norm for the Wiz, Haywood's absence has left Washington thin up front and having to rely more heavily on Etan Thomas and sporadic rookie JaVale McGee. On the flip side, Jordan still has his two all-stars (Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler) to lean on, and has not produced the necessary results. Ed Tapscott, the Wizards' director of player development, will replace Jordan on an interim basis.

Do you think that Jordan needed to be fired at this point in the season?

NBA Noise Giveaway: Maui Invitational T-Shirt

2008-11-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

**UPDATE**

The winner, which was drawn out of a hat by a neutral party, is sid. Congrats! Email me at sholdren@gmail.com with your name and mailing address and I will ship you the shirt when I'm back in the mainland.

In the next few days, I will be fully engulfed in some of the best college basketball action that any hoops junkie could ask. Since you can't be here with me in person in Maui, I wanted to pass on some of the spoils to you in the form of this Maui Invitational T-Shirt (size XL). Winning the T-shirt is easy, here's how:

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post telling us which college basketball player(s) or team you are looking forward to watching this season.
You may leave one comment per calendar day pacific time. Posters of multiple comments per day will be disqualified. We'll accept entries until Wednesday, November 26th at 11:59PM pacific time. This giveaway is open only to residents of the U.S.
On Thursday morning, we'll pick a winner via a random drawing, and update THIS post with the name of the winner.

Easy enough, right? Comment away!

Studs and Duds: 11/23/08

2008-11-23T22:52:00.000-08:00

Speaking of the Pistons and Nuggets, their respective games tonight seem to sum up the studs and the duds of the evening.

Studs: The Denver Nuggets (114-101 win over Chicago)

The trio of Carmelo Anthony, Nene, and Kenyon Martin combined for 68 points (on 23-34 shooting), 27 rebounds, 12 assists, six blocks and four steals. Additionally, Chauncey Billups chipped in 21 points and eight assists.

Duds: The Detroit Pistons (106-80 loss to the Timberwolves)

If getting absolutely trounced by the Timberwolves wasn't means enough to win tonight's dud award, some of their personal performances certainly are. The trio of Rasheed Wallace, Richard Hamilton and Allen Iverson combined for 23 points on 8-32 shooting, spearheading the Pistons' abysmal shooting night (37% as a team).

Antonio McDyess to return to the Pistons

2008-11-23T22:14:00.000-08:00

After being shipped to Denver alongside Chauncey Billups in the Allen Iverson trade, Antonio McDyess was eventually bought out by the Nuggets. McDyess has been weighing his options regarding who he would like to sign with, and had received interest from several teams including the Charlotte Bobcats and Boston Celtics. In the end, though, McDyess' heart has always been with the Pistons, and those feelings will prevail as he is expected to re-sign with his old team on December 3.

"It was a very difficult decision for him. He was weighing good offers financially, along with other variables he thought were important," agent Andy Miller told ESPN.com. "But going into the year he had a team goal set, and to not finish up with it, he didn't want to do that. He wants to finish the year, finish what he started in Detroit, then reevaluate after the season is over."

This is great news for the Pistons, as McDyess provides added stability in their frontcourt. A team can never have too many talented bigs. By re-joining the Pistons, especially in considering the amount of money he could have landed by going elsewhere, McDyess really showed his confidence in (and commitment to) Detroit's squad. I can't help but wonder how things might have played out had he stayed with Denver, though. The Nuggets are 8-2 since acquiring Billups, and McDyess would certainly play a larger role in Denver's frontcourt-thin team. That being said, he has a much greater chance of winning a championship in Detroit.

Source: ESPN

Xbox 360 Players' Party: NCAA Basketball 09

2008-11-23T01:22:00.000-08:00

I spent the evening bumping elbows with the players who will be participating in the 2008 Maui Invitational. The event featured an Xbox 360 tournament of EA Sports' NCAA Basketball 09 (which has a cover featuring Kevin Love of the T'Wolves I might add). Each team nominated their two best gamers to represent their team within the bracket. Both North Carolina gamers (Ty Lawson and Mike Copeland) made it to the finals, guaranteeing the championship to be won by a Tarheel. It won't be long before some of these players are able to play as themselves in an NBA videogame. Check out the video above for a picture slideshow of the event.

Tonight: Greg Oden and Shaquille O'Neal go head-to-head for the first time

2008-11-22T12:24:00.000-08:00

Tonight, the Portland Trail Blazers (8-5) head to Phoenix to take on the Suns (8-5). While the Blazers are hot right now, having won their last two games in blowout fashion, they have lost their last eight games in Phoenix. The Suns on the other hand, have lost their last two games and are looking to get back on track.

These storylines aside, everyone's eyes will be glued squarely on the first matchup between the perennial powerhouse - Shaquille O'Neal and the burgeoning rookie behemoth - Greg Oden. O'Neal appears to be rejuvinated this year, averaging a solid 15 ppg and 8 rpg in about 27 minutes of play. After a start slowed by a foot injury, Oden is quickly playing himself into an integral role for the Blazers. He has been impressive lately, averaging around 11 ppg, 8 rpg and 2 bpg throughout November in only around 22 minutes per game.

These are two players at opposite points of their careers. One who has accomplished everything you can hope to do, and one who hopes to have a similar impact by the end of his career. I can't wait to see these guys battle it out tonight. But please, Shaq, don't hurt him!

For those of you that have been hiding under multiple layers of rocks. O'Neal is now on Twitter and taking to it like a natural. I want to point out one of his recent tweets:

Stuart scott from espn said greg oden looks 42 , lol dats funny

I cant wait to see O'Neal's Twitter aftermath from his encounter with Oden.

*UPDATE*:
O'Neal certainly outperformed Oden in their first matchup, and led his team to victory.

Oden: 5 points, 1 rebound, 5 fouls
O'Neal: 19 points, 17 rebounds, 1 assist

P.J. Carlesimo fired

2008-11-22T09:16:00.000-08:00

Even for a team with relatively low expectations, a 1-12 start isn't acceptable by anyone's standards in the NBA. After an 80-105 blowout loss to the New Orleans Hornets at home, the Oklahoma City Thunder fired their head coach P.J. Carlesimo (according to sources).

Assistant Scott Brooks will take over as the interim coach starting with tonight’s game against the Hornets in New Orleans - probably not the easiest way to start your head coaching career.

This is bad news all around for the Thunder, who more than anything need a stabilizing influence from the top. It's like the old adage, before it gets better it's going to get worse. That's certainly the case with the Thunder with this recent development. But they will get better as they build through the draft and players like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook mature and progress. In the meantime, this could be a very long season for Oklahoma City.

Stephon Marbury declines to play for short-handed Knicks

2008-11-21T22:36:00.001-08:00

In wake of the trades made by the New York Knicks today, they were left with only seven players on their active roster. Stephon Marbury, who has remained out of action as he and the Knicks have been unable to come to terms on a buyout, was finally given a chance to contribute to the team.

He declined. The reason why he declined is still seemingly vague.

"The only thing I'm at liberty to say is that I was told that they were moving forward, and I'm not the person who chooses who plays or doesn't," Marbury said.

Marbury, reportedly, was told this both at the beginning of the season and today. Still, that doesn't seem to line up Marbury's reasoning of sitting out this game, as D'Antoni did request his participation - so it was certainly Marbury's decision to not play. I understand Marbury likely doesn't feel his talents are appreciated in New York, and it is clear that he isn't in their long-term plans. However, it seems like if your employer (who is paying you $21-plus million per-year to play) asks you to play - you play. No? What am I missing here?

Aloha, from Maui!

2008-11-21T22:15:00.000-08:00

I've finally touched down in Maui and settled into my hotel room! I'm here to attend the 25th annual Maui Invitational college basketball tournament, which is featuring some of the top college teams this year. This year's lineup includes North Carolina (1), Notre Dame (8), Alabama, St. Joseph's, Oregon, Texas (7), Indiana and tournament host Chaminade . This will be an up-close look at some of tomorrow's NBA studs. Through the course of the tournament, I will be sharing my perspective of some of these NBA-bound players and their potential impact on the league.

Just to give you an idea of the caliber of players the Maui Invitational has seen, the Maui Invitational has been graced by stellar NBA talents such as:

Glen Rice
Anfernee Hardaway
Kerry Kittles
Dell Curry
Raef LaFrentz
Mike Dunleavy
Jay Williams
Drew Gooden
Jason Kapono
Ronny Turiaf
Keith Bogans
Raymond Felton
Rashad McCants
Adam Morrison
Darren Collison

Coverage of the tournament begins this Monday (the 24th) at 10 a.m. with a matchup between Texas and St. Joseph's. The full bracket from the tourney can be found here. Tune into ESPN2 to follow the games, and check back here for more exclusive Maui Invitational coverage.

Knicks trade Randolph and Crawford, create cap flexibility

2008-11-21T19:35:00.000-08:00

The New York Knicks made some major moves today that have changed the integral makeup of several teams, including their own. More importantly, the Knicks' moves will save them around $28 million in cap space for the 2010 free-agent fiasco where big names such as Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will be available. That is the real story amongst all of the players swapping uniforms today. But lets take a look at what went down from the perspective of what it means to these teams today.

Their first trade of the day had the Knicks sending their star shooting-guard Jamal Crawford to the Golden State Warriors for their disgruntled forward, Al Harrington. The Knicks' second deal of the day sent Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley.

How I see it:

For the Knicks
These trades make perfect sense for the Knicks. While I don't think they came out ahead from a pure talent standpoint, they certainly achieved their goal of staying competitive while creating some serious future cap-flexibility. Not that Randolph was performing poorly at all, but having Harrington and Thomas man the four would seem to make more sense in Mike D'Antoni's uptempo offense. Harrington seems like a perfect D'Antoni player in that he is versatile, long, athletic, and can shoot the ball. The same can be said for Tim Thomas, who performed well in D'Antoni's system during his brief stint in Phoenix. Mobley will have a good chance of taking over the starting shooting guard role for the Knicks, who will rely on his toughness and ability to knock down shots. In all likelihood, the Knicks were (and are) a long shot to make the playoffs, so enduring another season or two of mediocrity before the 2010 payday is well worth the price.

For the Warriors
This is an interesting deal for the Warriors. Harrington recently found himself on the injured reserves list with a phantom injury, which could have easily have been diagnosed as a case of an inability to see eye to eye with Warriors coach Don Nelson. Essentially they are adding a great player in exchange for a player who they have had no real intentions of playing. Crawford is a bonafide scorer, giving the Warriors another dangerous weapon to their free-wheeling arsenal - which they desperately need in the absence of Monta Ellis. Once Ellis returns to full strength, this team could give opponents some fits. Still, this is a team that is built to win games on sheer scoring power, and this trade doesn't really address some of their defensive deficiencies. Sadly, this trade will likely put an end to rookie Anthony Morrow's short-lived bid for rookie of the year!

For the Clippers
This trade fills the major need of the Clippers for an inside scoring presence. Randolph is certainly all-that and more, and should be a great frontcourt partner to either Marcus Camby or Chris Kaman. Randolph is one of the best in the league at finding a way to score in the paint, as he has a great feel for how to get shots off and has a soft touch around the basket. He has proven himself to be a legitimate 20-10 threat everytime he steps on the floor. After a 2-10 start for the Clippers, it was crystal clear that a change was needed. I do think that they will miss Mobley's presence on the floor, so Ricky Davis and rookie Eric Gordon will certainly be looked to to step up and fill the backcourt void. This trade likely wont put them into playoff contention either, but it certainly helps to balance out their roster and address their glaring weakness of post-scoring.

Who is Anthony Morrow?

2008-11-18T20:23:00.001-08:00

I was dumbfounded after Golden State Warriors rookie Anthony Morrow dropped 37 points and snagged 11 boards in his first NBA start. I shook it off though as a fluke, beginners luck, one of those freak occurrences when a player inexplicably gets in the zone. But, Morrow continued his solid game in his second NBA start as the Warriors took on the Portland Trail Blazers. Morrow scored 25 points on a highly efficient 8-12 from the field, including four of five from downtown. With his buttery-smooth J, he really seems to fit in nicely with Don Nelson's free-wheeling, small-ball offense.

A little about Morrow. Morrow played for four years at Georgia Tech and had a career scoring average of 11.4 ppg (with his best season coming in at 16 ppg). The Georgia Tech Web site describes Morrow as "an excellent shooter from both mid- and long range ... Long, wiry player with good athletic ability and a quick release..." Morrow was not only an undrafted rookie, but he wasn't even in the draft day media guide profiling all of the potential draftees. Before being added to the Warriors summer league roster, he was poised to head to Ukraine to pursue a basketball career. Fortunately for Morrow, he impressed the Warriors enough in summer league (averaging over 14 ppg) to be added to the Warriors' opening-day roster. He still doesn't have a car, an apartment or a guaranteed contract with the Warriors, but if he keeps playing like this, it's hard to imagine that he won't get all that and more in the near future.

Houston Rockets show glimpses of productivity, instability

2008-11-18T19:14:00.000-08:00

By most accounts, this year is one that brings extremely high expectations for the Houston Rockets. Bringing in Ron Artest to the already lethal duo of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady and a talented group of role players has Houston striving for nothing less than an NBA championship. We've seen glimpses of what this team is capable of, beating good teams like New Orleans and Phoenix decisively. However, when faced against each of last year's conference champions (Lakers and Celtics), the Rockets have come up short both times, including a 29-point drubbing by the Lakers. They are currently sitting on top of the surprisingly mediocre Southwest division with a ho-hum 7-4 record.

Yao has been productive, but he hasn't had this low of a scoring average (16.9 ppg) since his rookie season. He also left yesterday's Oklahoma City game with a foot injury, which wasn't deemed to be serious. Yao wasn't the only casualty that game, as both McGrady (knee) and Artest (ankle) left the game with their own injuries. While these injuries might not keep this trio out of much action, this fragility is just more of the same for Houston's stars, who have developed a bad reputation for being injury prone. Staying healthy will be the key for this team to have any hope in the postseason this year. Surely, they are still developing their chemistry, and we know they have the potential to let loose on a win-streak at any given moment (see last year's 22-straight), so it will be interesting to watch how this team progresses.

What does your crystal ball hold for the Rockets this year?

NBA Noise Hair Watch: Chris Andersen goes punk

2008-11-06T20:02:00.000-08:00

Chris "The Birdman" Andersen of the Denver Nuggets has gone through a variety of hairstyles throughout his career. There is the pimpish long locks, there is the relatively normal-guy cut, and then there is this atrocity. Andersen is at it again, expressing himself through the art of hair, with this punk-style long-haired fauxhawk. What's your favorite look for the Birdman?

Trail Blazers partner with Banfield to feed Pets in need

2008-11-05T22:02:00.000-08:00

As some of you may know, my day job is with a PR firm (Edelman) and one of our clients is doing a great program with the Portland Trail Blazers for a cause that I really believe in. Our client, Banfield, The Pet Hospital and the Blazers are partnering up to help hungry Pets in the Portland-metro area. This Saturday, November 8 at the Blazers home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Banfield will be gathering unopened Pet food as part of their Seasons of Suppers campaign, which is a Pet food drive for Pets in need. If people don't have any Pet food to spare, they can also provide a monetary donation to help support the campaign. This is very important, particularly for homebound seniors who need help supporting their Pet - who in many cases is one of their main companions.

As a Blazers fan, it's always great to see the team getting involved in great causes within the community. They have really been committed to making a positive impact within the community through countless outreach efforts over the past several years. Most recently, they have coined their Community Relations program with a term that makes perfect sense, and that they are certainly backing up with their work - "Make It Better."

If you are attending the Blazers game this weekend, please remember to bring your unopened Pet food for this great cause!