Why Jamal Crawford for Ben Gordon Works

Atlanta Hawks guard Jamal Crawford will request a trade from the Hawks if he’s not signed to an extension, according to an ESPN report by Chris Broussard.

Crawford, who won last year's Sixth Man of the Year award, was traded to the Hawks by the Golden State Warriors and has also played with the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks.

Even though they added him last summer the Hawks were swept in the second round for a second time in a row.

If the Hawks aren’t willing to sign the 30-year-old scorer to an extension, maybe they’ll be interested in trading for Detroit Pistons guard Ben Gordon, who has three years left on his contract.

I'm Back! New Name, Better Game

It's been a long time since I used this blog for Yardbarker, and a lot of things have changed since then, including Yardbarker and my writing skills.

In the past 15 months I joined Sacramento Press to write for the Sacramento Kings' Tyreke Evans Rookie of the Year (RekeROY) campaign, where I met and got to know some of the best basketball writers in Sacramento and from around the country.

Evans won the ROY Award.

After the campaign ended I continued to write for Sacramento Press, mainly about the Kings while earning my Associate's Degree in Journalism at Sacramento City College.

Now I'm rebooting my basketball blog as I prepare to leave for Azusa Pacific University in January. Pre-season doesn't start for over a month but there's always a story in the NBA, no matter how quiet and boring it may seem.

Carmelo Anthony reportedly heading out of Denver, Team USA and the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Turkey, Jamal Crawford wanting to be traded if he doesn't get an extension (more on him later), there's always something, which is why you should check back here often.

There's plenty of ways to follow me and my work in basketball and other sports as well. You can follow me on Twitter and like my fan page on Facebook to keep up with all of the latest updates of when and where I post my stories.

You can also subscribe to this site where it says "Subscribe to Rob on Hoops" in the top-right corner of the page to get my stories via e-mail or use Google Friend Connect on the lower-right side of the page.

My resume blog on Wordpress, The Archives, holds all of my journalistic work from high school up until now. You can find my writing on Sacramento Press, Sactown Royalty and Sac Midtown.

I also post videos on YouTube and pictures on Flickr. Many of the pictures you see on The Archives are on my Flickr account.

Feel free to comment and share my stories if you like it. All I hope is that you'll enjoy your time here, starting on my next post explaining why a Jamal Crawford-Ben Gordon swap would benefit both the Atlanta Hawks and the Detroit Pistons.

Players Getting Paid More

It's players like LeBron James, Allen Iverson, Kevin Garnett and, of course, Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant that has Luke Walton and every player in the NBA thanking them for getting an extra $25K from their licensing check in the mail. James, Iverson, Garnett and Bryant were the top four in jersey sales worldwide.

"Thanks, Kobe Bryant. Thanks, LeBron James," Luke Walton said, laughing. "You open the mail and have a check you don't even count on, that's beautiful."

President of the NBA Player's Association, and also Lakers teammate, Derek Fisher is thankful to those guys and is also to thank for getting this done, reported by the L.A. Times. Fisher helped

"The good part about it I think -- at least for most guys -- is that it's evenly distributed," Fisher said. "We recognize that our star players, they carry the load, in terms of the face of our game and the jersey sales that go on. So we're appreciative of the fact that they're in it too."

Thanks to Fisher and the top four jersey sellers in the world, everyone playing in the league will get the same amount, whether it'd be a superstar in Dwyane Wade, a bench player in Kyle Korver, a rookie in Anthony Morrow or Antoine Walker, who hasn't even played a minute. Way to spread the wealth.

Stackhouse Wants Out of Dallas

Less than a year ago, Jerry Stackhouse tried to find a way to come back to the Dallas Mavericks after almost being traded to the New Jersey Nets for Jason Kidd. Now he's trying to get out and he's unhappy with new coach Rick Carlisle. Out of the Star-Telegram, Carlisle's offense doesn't mesh well with Stackhouse's style. His agent, Jeff Schwartz, is seeking a buyout or trade. Schwartz is also the agent of teammates Josh Howard and Jason Kidd.

Stackhouse, 34, is averaging career lows of 5.3 PPG, 1.1 RPG 1.3 APG in 17.6 MPG through eight games with the 3-7 Mavs and didn't play in the OT win against the New York Knicks. He was disappointed that he didn't play in the game because he played Wilson Chandler, Quentin Richardson and Jamal Crawford over the summer and that they were "scared" to guard him.

Stackhouse on his options of leaving the team:

"I’m exploring options. The team is always going to protect itself. I can’t force their hand to do anything. I don’t really know all the options right now. I think it’s to the point now where it’s time to start researching some things and seeing if there’s other possibilities that make more sense for me right now."

President Donnie Nelson explains the problem and what he plans to do:

"Our first choice would be for what Jerry brings to the team, with his experience and playoff skins, toughness and intensity. Those things are valuable. It’s just that during this period of time, we’ve got to be able to bring some of our younger players along as well. Therein lies the conflict. With our relationship and openly and honestly communicating, we’ll be able to come up with a game plan and hopefully that game plan will be one that includes Jerry in a Maverick uniform. If it’s just not a comfortable situation, if it’s a situation where the minutes are just not there, then we’ll work together with his agent and see if there’s some win-win together for both of us."

There's no bad blood between him and Carlisle, but Stackhouse has made it clear that he's ready to move on:

"The key part is there’s really no conflict with us. It’s understood that it’s his job to coach the team, but it’s my job to protect my future. I’ve got to have some say-so and dictate with the role that I’m kind of in now, that I’m ready to accept that. I don’t think I’m ready to fully accept that at this point."

It's not like he knew that he wanted to get out when Carlisle came, but Stackhouse had at least a couple of opportunities to get out of Dallas before. The first being the Jason Kidd trade, where he said he would come back after getting traded. The NBA then stepped in and said that any trade the Mavs make for Jason Kidd must not include Stackhouse. If he was, he couldn't go back. The second was over the summer where the Sacramento Kings were shopping Ron Artest and the Mavs offered Stackhouse and Brandon Bass. The Kings wanted Josh Howard and the talks fell through.

He isn't demanding a trade, but he hopes to return to the franchise with a coaching or front office position. In an e-mail to the Star-Telegram, owner Mark Cuban, who's going through legal troubles unrelated to the team, said that Stackhouse could be valuable to the team "on and off the court." The article also says that the Mavs hope for Stackhouse to mentor Antoine Wright and Gerald Green.

Stackhouse, a 14-year veteran, is no stranger to new teams. In his career he's played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards. If he does move, he'll try to go to a contender, such as the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers or maybe his old team the Pistons, with recently acquired Allen Iverson.

The Celtics lost James Posey, but Tony Allen has stepped up. What if Stackhouse went there? What if the Lakers got another good player in addition to Kobe and Co.? What if the Cavs fit him into their second unit with Wally Szczerbiak, Anderson Varejao and Daniel Gibson? What if Stackhouse went back to the city that embraced him the most and teamed up with Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and A.I.?

All four of those teams could go after Stackhouse. The Cavs made a move for Mo Williams over the summer and are rumored to go after Vince Carter again. The Pistons traded Chauncey Billups for A.I. this year. Every team except the Pistons made moves before the trade deadline last year. Stackhouse could be the difference maker on any of those teams if he's done in Dallas. If he is done, expect him to look for a ring.

2009 NBA All-Star Ballots Open (My Selections)

The 2009 NBA All-Star ballot has just been released and the voting is under way, so I'm picking up what I did last year by picking who I vote for and why. Two teams. Two guards, two forwards and a center each, and a write-in. It's not about the top talents like Chris Paul LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. They're already getting in. It's about getting other all-star talents recognized.

You can vote online everyday until January 19. You can vote on nba.com, or you can do it right here, using the NBA All-Star 2009 widget on the top-right side of my blog. T-Mobile will be helping out the Phoenix community by donating $1 for every ballot you cast in a T-Zone or T-Mobile's wireless web portal. So if you can, do it.

Enough talk, let's get it on.

WEST

FORWARD: ANDREI KIRILENKO Utah Jazz. He's coming off the bench now as one of the best sixth men in the league. He's getting 14 PPG on 55% shooting, 6.8 RPG, 2.9 APG 1.1 SPG and 1.4 BPG. He's an all-around player, efficient on both sides of the ball helping his team to a 6-1 record, which includes winning five straight. If he keeps this up, he'll make his first all-star team.

FORWARD: LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE Portland Trail Blazers. Aldridge, in only his third year, will be a dominant force in the NBA with his ability shoot. His numbers are 18.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG and 1.4 BPG. He has the ability to have a 20-10 game and he's had a 24 point, 13 rebound outing this year already. In the future when he's working with Greg Oden, the Blazers frontcourt will be a force to be reckoned with.

GUARD: KEVIN MARTIN Sacramento Kings. K-Mart looks like he's back with a vengence. He's come out as more agressive and has made his case on a 4-game homestand after starting 0-4 on the road. He's averaged 28.7 PPG on 53% shooting, 3 RPG, 3.7 APG and 1.6 SPG, leading the Kings on a 3-game win streak at home. Unfortunately, he re-sprained his ankle against the Warriors, but he should be back in a week. Otherwise, with some all-star moves early on in the season he's sure to make his case to get on the team again this season.

GUARD: STEPHEN JACKSON Golden State Warriors. Since Baron Davis left for the Clippers and Monta Ellis was injured and out until January and now Corey Maggette injured, Captain Jack has taken charge of the team with the best numbers of his career so far. He's averaged 23.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 5.6 APG and 1.4 SPG. Even though the team has struggled with a 2-5 record, he's doing everything he can to get his team through some tough times.

CENTER: ANDRIS BIEDRINS Golden State Warriors. Biedrins has been very good early on. Averaging 16.8 PPG on 53% shooting, 14.3 RPG 1 SPG and 1.8 BPG, Biedrins is an unstoppable force on both ends on the floor. He fights for every board, which is why he averages nearly five offensive RPG. There's no other way to put it, he's the best center in the West on the ballot.

EAST

FORWARD: ZACH RANDOLPH New York Knicks. So far, he's stayed out of trouble. Maybe Mike D'Antoni straightened him out. He's averaging 19 PPG, 11.5 RPG and 1.5 SPG as the Knicks' new center at 6'9. He's also helped lead the team to a 4-3 record. As long as he stays out of trouble and puts up some good numbers, I'll vote him. If he's really changed, there's a spot on the team for him.

FORWARD: TAYSHAUN PRINCE Detroit Pistons. In 2005, Ben and Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups were all-stars. Prince was the only one of the starting five who wasn't chosen. I think it's time he became one. He's averaging 18.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.6 APG and 0.9 BPG. He's really coming into his own. Don't worried about him being injury prone, he's an iron man. He's started in all 82 games for four straight seasons. He's played in all 82 games for five straight seasons. Even with Allen Iverson coming in, it's still Prince's time to shine.

GUARD: JOSE CALDERON Toronto Raptors. The Spanish Sensation up north, Calderon is starring beside Chris Bosh and Jermaine O'Neal. He's averaging 13.5 PPG and 9 APG and has over a 5:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He was a big part of the Spanish National Team in the Olympics before he was injured, missing the gold medal game. Calderon came out of nowhere last year when T.J. Ford was injured. Now with the starting role he continues to shine.

GUARD: JOE JOHNSON Atlanta Hawks. JJ has led this team to 6-game winning streak to start the season, and he was questioned by Paul Pierce last year on why he made the team last year over Ray Allen initially. He's averaging 24.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 4.9 APG and 1.6 SPG in an effort to make sure the Hawks finish better than an eight seed. He and the Hawks are making sure that the whole NBA knows and Johnson is the perfect canidate for the Hawks.

CENTER: ANDREW BOGUT Milwaukee Bucks. He's probably one of the most balanced centers in the East right now when it comes to stats, but he's done better in the past. Averaging 10.1 PPG, 10 RPG, 1.2 SPG and 1.1 BPG, he's ready to prove that he earned his extension. He's playing with two very good scorers in Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson, but if he gets rolling like he did at the end of last season, the Bucks can start see some wins coming their way.

WRITE-IN: NENE Denver Nuggets. Filling the void Marcus Camby left at center when he was traded, he's bounced back from testicular cancer to play one of the best seasons of his career so far. He's avveraging 15.6 PPG on 67.2% shooting, 8.9 RPG, 1.4 SPG and 2 BPG in a bounce back season when it looked like his career may have been over. Now it's about staying healthy for his team because he's a key piece. Without him, even with Chauncey Billups they can't think about the playoffs. Nené is that important.

LAST THOUGHTS: There's a few newcomers on the ballot. Yi Jianlian, after getting a lot of votes as a write-in last year, is on the ballot this year. Rookies Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, O.J. Mayo and Greg Oden have made the ballot as well. If you haven't noticed, there're five international players that I've picked. Kirilenko (Russia), Biedrins (Latvia), Calderon (Spain), Bogut (Australia) and Nené (Brazil). It's amazing how many good players there are from overseas. Rudy Fernandez and Ricky Rubio could be next.

I'm done now, so go vote. There's 67 days left to do it, and you can do it every day. Be on the lookout for Part 2 in a couple of weeks.

Iverson's New Look

Allen Iverson will wear Chauncey Billups' old #1 uniform, since Rodney Stuckey is wearing #3. I can imagine the Chauncey will wear #3 when he gets to Denver, since J.R. Smith wears #1. Underneath are some of the many uniforms AI's seen since 1996 up until now.

Rookie AI 1996

2001 NBA Finals


Alternate Blue Uniform

Retro Syracuse Nationals

Europe Live 2006 (Spain)

Denver Nuggets Home Uniform

Nuggets Road Uniform

Nuggets Alternate Road Uniform

Analysis on the Iverson-Billups Trade, Hamilton Extended

According to ESPN, the Denver Nuggets' guard Allen Iverson has been traded to the Detroit Pistons for point guard Chauncey Billups and power forward Antonio McDyess.

Now that's a sign of rebuilding, for both Nuggets and Pistons. The Pistons are going to see $20 million that they wouldn't have had since Billups is signed for 3 more years and an option for the 4th. Now, it seems like that'll be the Nuggets problem, or not. With Billups from a perennial championship contender, two time Eastern Conference finalist and 2004 MVP, he can bring the Nuggets very valuable veteran experience. He's signed through 2011 with a team option for 2012. Although it doesn't fill the void Marcus Camby left when he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, he's a good defensive guard from a team who was known for defensive.

Denver Nuggets

Ever since getting booted out of the first round of the playoffs last year by the Los Angeles Lakers, Charles Barkley branded the high scoring team the "Enver Nuggets" for their lack of D. With Billups and Antonio McDeyss, defense, at least at the point, could be coming their way. Billups is a stronger guard than AI, though not as fast. Him and Melo are especially good in late game situations. They don't call him Mr. Big Shot for nothing. One man can't slow down a whole team by himself. The Nuggets are going to have to defend to even think about getting out of the first round, even with Billups.

Ever since Melo was drafted in 2003 the Nuggets have been kicked out of the first round ever since. The trade for AI in 2006 didn't change that either. With Camby gone the Nuggets, who finished in 8th place last year, are the favorites to miss the playoffs. If the Nuggets can do more than try to outscore their opponents and defend, with Billups on their side they can get out of the first round. He hasn't gotten out of the first round since 2001 and 2002, when he and Kevin Garnett were teammates.

Here's a side story. For McDyess, who's contract expires next year, it'll be a homecoming for him, again. This will be his third stint with Denver. After his first 2 years as a Nugget and spending 4 more being trade to Phoenix, he was on pace to be a solid star in the NBA, averaging 20.8 PPG and 12.1 RPG in the 2000-01 season. After a horrible season ending knee injury the next season, he never got his career back on track. He got on board with the Pistons too late and now he's a Nugget again.

If the high scoring continues, Billups' assist numbers will go up, but can he keep up with the running game. He's from a team that controlled the tempo, usually at a low pace. If he can't keep up, scoring goes down, the only thing that keeps them winning. They'll be rebuilding starting next year. Extension talks with their back-up forward Linas Kleiza fell through and he and his agent will be looking at other teams and Europe. With only 7 gauranteed players next year, they'll be seeing some new faces very soon. They could a good free agent this summer.

Projected Line-Up: PG- Chauncey Billups, SG- J.R. Smith, SF- Carmelo Anthony, PF- Kenyon Martin, C- Nené

Detroit Pistons

Low scoring isn't a problem when the team they play scores lower than them. With AI heading back east, this team could be able to compete with the Boston Celtics in the conference finals again if there scoring increases. Despite his age AI never seems to slow down his speed and scoring, even with a high scorer on his side like Melo. He led the team last year with 26.4 PPG. If he can score and the they can play D, this team can be very good throughout the season.

This might be their last chance for a championship though. Next year, Rasheed Wallace and AI will be free agents. With young guys like Rodney Stuckey, Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell on board and Rip Hamilton agreeing to a 3-year, $34 million contract (more details on bottom), the youth movement could be underway next season. They'll also have a lot more cap space and they can go for a big free agent in 2009 or 2010.

Projected Line-Up: PG- Allen Iverson, SG- Rip Hamilton, SF- Tayshaun Prince, PF- Amir Johnson, C- Rasheed Wallace

In the end, the trade will work right now and in the near future for the Pistons. For the Nuggets, it might be a project. It should be fun to see how this trade turns out. Watch out for January 9 when AI reurns to the Mile High City as a Piston, March 3 when Chauncey returns to Motown. AI will play the Sixers for the first time this year on December 5 and will play his only game at Philly on April 4.

Late Breaking News: Rip Hamilton and the Pistons agreed to a 3-year, $34 million extension, according to ESPN through team sources. The third year is also partially guaranteed, but it looks like he'll be part of their future. He could also be a trade piece if things don't work out. It's possible with an contract making over $11 million a year.

Kings-Blazers in OT Grab Vegas Spotlight Day 5

Kings (2-0) v. Blazers(1-1)

The Kings and the Blazers battled it out in OT, and in the end, Jason Thompson drive to the basket to make the game-winning 3 point play to win the game 75-74, the second game winner in summer league in 5 days of play. Thompson came off the bench for 17 points, 9 rebounds and a block, while Quincy Douby added 24 points and 6 steals. Shelden Williams posted 9 points, 11 boards and 2 blocks and Spencer Hawes had 10 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Jerryd Bayless had 26 points (13-16 FTs) including the tough jumper that sent the game to OT. Bayless also had 6 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal. Petteri Koponen continued to shine with 18 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists and while Josh Davis had 6 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and a block. Nicolas Batum had 6 points, 4 rebounds and a block.

I couldn't watch the game, but it was exciting to watch the boxscore update to the end.

Warriors (3-0) v. Bobcats (1-2)

Even with Anthony Randolph taking the day off, the Warriors are the hottest team in Vegas after winning 99-93 and getting a 3-0 record. Marco Belinelli went off for 30 points with 2 rebounds and a steal. C.J. Watson had 23 points, with the help of sinking 13 free throws, while Brandan Wright had 11 points 5 boards and 2 steals for the day. Georgia Tech's Anthony Morrow had 11 points and 3 rebounds off the bench and Louis Amundson had 6 points, 4 rebounds and the team's only 2 blocks.

D.J. Augustin knows how to score it up, but hasn't shown the ability to distribute as a point guard. He scored 30 points and a steal but had no assists and 5 TOs. The bench play wasn't bad for the Bobcats. In fact, they did more work than the other 4 starters alongside Augustin as Kyle Hines finished with 14 points, 4 rebounds and a steal, Marcus Slaughter had 10 points and 3 rebounds in less than 12 minutes and James Mays put up 12 points, 4 rebounds. Orien Greene had 9 points, 2 boards and 2 steals.

Sixers (1-2) v. Lakers (1-2)

Thanks to triple 16s, the Sixers got their first summer league win, 81-73. Rookie Marreese Speights led the team with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks. Jason Smith also finished with 16 points, along with 4 rebounds and 2 blocks, while Thaddeus Young had 16 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Junior Harrington came off the bench for 15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals while Jamont Gordon finished with 8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

Coby Karl led the Lakers with 18 points, 2 assists and a steal, and got some help from Joe Crawford with 16 points 3 rebounds and a steal. Bryant Dunston had 10 points, 8 rebounds (4 off.) and 2 blocks while Cedric Bozeman finished with 4 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists.

Bucks (1-1) v. Pistons (2-1)

The Bucks ran away with a win, outscoring the Pistons 23-9 in the 4th quarter, winning 73-59. Ramon Sessions continues to lead his team with 21 points, 6 points and 4 rebounds. Unknown Olumide Oyedeji finished with 10 points, 8 rebounds (4 off.) and a steal while second round pick Luc Mbah a Moute had 7 points, 6 boards, 2 assists and a steal. "Average" Joe Alexander had a better than his average game with 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a block. He hasn't lived up to the expectations around him, but he still has a few more games.

Arron Affalo continues to take charge with the Pistons with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and Will Bynum filled in with 9 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists. Deron Washington had 7 points and 4 rebounds off the bench while Walter Sharpe had 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Rodney Stuckey did not play.

Hornets (2-1) v. Spurs (2-1)

Bobby Brown continues to impress playing for the Hornets, leading them to a 76-68 win over the Spurs. Brown had 15 points and 8 assists, while sophomore Julian Wright added 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Hilton Armstrong had 11 points, 4 rebounds and a block and Brandon Bowman had 12 points, 3 rebounds, a steal and a block. Derrick Byars had 8 points, 2 rebounds and a steal off the bench.

The Spurs' James Gist came out with a double double off the bench with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 2 steals in the loss. Ian Mahinmi has no signs of slowing his play, finishing with 10 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals and a block, and Anthony Tolliver finished with 14 points and 2 rebounds that night. George Hill couldn't score but 3 points, but grabbed 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

Brown, Affalo, Belinelli Highlight Vegas Day 3

Hornets (1-1) v. Bobcats (1-1)

The Hornets' Bobby Brown continues to impress in the summer league. He had 20 points, including the go-ahead with 30 seconds left to edge the Bobcats 77-75. Brown also had 5 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal. Julian Wright had an all-around game with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals and 2 blocks, while Hilton Armstrong posted 14 points and 5 rebounds. He also had an dunked on an alley-oop to tie the game at 75.

Bobcats' point guard D.J. Augustin has shown the ability to score, but hasn't distributed much his first 2 games. He finished with 15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 turnovers. Jamereo Davidson played well again putting up 12 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and a block and Orien Greene had 10 points off the bench.

Pistons (2-0) v. Cippers (1-2)

Arron Affalo starred in the Pistons 75-66 win against the Clippers, hitting 8-10 field goals and all nine free throws for 25 points to go with 4 rebounds. Will Bynum came off the bench for 10 points and center Cheikh Samb had 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. Rodney Stuckey, who was a major role in their first win, posted 8 points, 4 rebounds and a steal. Amir Johnson had 9 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Although they were outrebounded 33-31, 6 Pistions grabbed 4+ rebounds.

The Clippers lost Eric Gordon to a hamstring strain for the rest of summer league and did not play against the Pistons. With him out of the way, DeAndre Jordan took control with 15 points, 10 rebounds and a block. Al Thornton had 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal and Mike Taylor had 13 points, 6 rebounds, a block and 7 turnovers. Fatigue could be a factor working against the Clippers because they played back-to-back-to-back days, playing for 3 straight days.

Warriors (2-0) v. Mavericks (0-2)

This time Marco Belinelli was the star, leading his team with 25 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal en route to a 95-86 win over the Mavs. Anthony Randolph, who scored 30 points in his debut, only had 11 points to go along with 5 boards, 2 assists, a block and a steal. Brandan Wright had 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal while C.J. Watson picked up 14 points, 3 rebounds and 4 steals.

James Singleton starred for the Mavs' in their losing effort, putting up 17 points and 8 rebounds. Teammate Charles Rhodes had 12 points on 4-5 shooting, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and a block off the bench and highflyer Gerald Green had 15 points, 3 rebounds and a steal.

Lakers (1-1) v. Grizzlies (2-1)

Coby Karl, out of all people, outdueled O.J. Mayo to give the Lakers a 85-76 win. Karl had a game high 16 points to go with 4 boards, 3 assists, a steal and a block. Sharrod Ford had 11 points and 4 rebounds and a block while Cedric Bozeman had 12 points and 4 rebounds. Nik Caner-Medley had 7 points and a game high 8 rebounds, along with a technical foul. Every Laker on the team who played scored.

Ebi Ere had the best game of any of the Grizzlies with 14 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists off the bench. Mayo had 15 points and 2 rebounds but struggled with 6 turnovers while Mike Conley had 11 points and 3 rebounds. Javaris Crittenton had 9 points 4 rebounds and 3 assists and Steve Burtt Jr. scored 8 points in 8 minutes. Every Grizzlies' player on the team who played also scored.

Some players, including Danillo Gallinari, Robin Lopez and Nicolas Batum will make their debut on day 4, stay tuned.

Summer League Recap: Day 1

The big game, Warriors v. Sixers. Warriors' rookie Anthony Randolph went off for 30 points and 8 rebounds in his summer league debut against the Sixers, winning 96-89. Sixers' sophomore forward Thaddeus Young had 27 points and 6 rebounds while rookie teammate Marreese Speights finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds (7 offensive).

Blowout of the night goes to the Clippers ousting the Mavericks 86-69. Clippers' sophomore Al Thornton had 20 points to go with 7 rebounds, while their rookie, Eric Gordon had 21 points on 5-13 shooting. I guess hitting 10-11 free throws would help and 5 of his 7 rebounds were offensive. James Singleton, former Clipper playing for the Mavs, had team highs of 13 points and 7 rebounds. Undrafted Charles Rhodes went for 10 points and 6 rebounds while Gerald Green added 12 points.

O.J. Mayo and Darrell Arthur made their Grizzlies debut in an 88-75 victory over the Hornets. The real star of the game, however, was their teammate P.J. Tucker with 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals. Arthur had 18 points on 9-12 shooting and 2 steals, while O.J. Mayo had 15 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 8 turnovers. Let's not forget Mike Conley with 14 points and 6 assists. Hornets' center Hilton Armstrong had 13 points and 9 rebounds while Julian Wright 12 points, 5 boards and 11 turnovers. Bobby Brown out of Oregon also did well with 11 points and 5 assists.

Finally, Rodney Stuckey led the Pistons over the Lakers 84-73. Stuckey, who starred in the playoffs, had 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, while Cheikh Samb had a near double double with 9 points and 9 rebounds. The Lakers' Coby Karl had 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists while Sharrod Ford out of Clemson had 10 points and 5 rebounds.

Pretty good day for day 1 in Vegas. More debuts to happen today.

Look Ahead for the Eastern Conference

When the Celtics acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen the East was considered to be a powerhouse once again. Then the only teams that really separated themselves from the pack were the Celtics, Pistons and Magic. Now a team doesn't have a .500 record to be in the playoffs, but like the West, many teams are still in the playoff hunt. Other than the Celtics, there might be a new playoff team.

1. Boston Celtics (41-9) Getting Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen made Paul Pierce very happy. The one weak spot that they were thought to have was a good point guard. Look at Rajon Rondo now. Center Kendrick Perkins has been a great starter too. That 72-10 record is out of reach now, but they're a top 2 playoff team at the least. They've lost KG for 9 games and played well for the most part. It could be tough for them later on because the Pistons are trailing them.


2. Detroit Pistons (39-13) The Pistons are still one of the elite teams of the East. They haven't done anything different than last year except move Rasheed Wallace to center. A big part of their success is the rise of Jason Maxiell in the starting line-up. They didn't re-sign Chris Webber and traded Nazr Mohammed, but things have worked out for the better. Unless the Magic or Cavs have something to say, the East is gearing up for the Celtics-Pistons Eastern Conference Finals match-up. It's been a while since that happened.


3. Orlando Magic (33-21) The Magic have had a great season this far. After a red hot 16-4 start under Dwight Howard's MVP play, the Magic have slowed down, but no question they're playoff bound. What was even more surprising is that after acquiring Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu outperformed him throughout the season. They have a powerful All-Star caliber frontcourt. They've struggled against elite teams like Detroit, Phoenix, and San Antonio, but they're also one of the few teams to beat the Celtics. They're set to go as far as the 2nd round of the playoffs at least, but the conference finals doesn't seem that distant for them.
   
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (29-23) The Cavs are back where they're supposed to be, with the East's elite. The East seemed to be off to such great start that the Cavs seemed to get left in the dust and out of the playoff picture. The reigning conference champions passed those teams and reminded everyone who they are. Even though they're in the picture, the organization failed to get a point guard that LeBron James really wanted, since Jason Kidd is heading to Dallas and Mike Bibby is now a Hawk. Bibby was the ideal player for him to take off the scoring load for him, but James wanted Kidd. Either way he's not getting either of them, but Larry Hughes might be making a comeback after dropping a few high scoring games this year. Paired with sharpshooter Daniel Gibson, the Cavs might not have to look far to take the load off of James.


5. Toronto Raptors (28-23) The Raps are right back where they were last year, only they haven't played with T.J. Ford most of the year. Enter breakout point guard Jose Calderon and they're still on track for last year. He's been phenomenal in terms of playmaking, and has even been compared to John Stockton. Along with Chris Bosh and highflying rookie Jamario Moon, Toronto still plays well and show no signs of stopping. They're one of 5 teams that are over .500 in the East so if they stay over, it's automaticd that they'rein the playoffs.


6. Washington Wizards (25-27) No Gilbert Areans, no problem. They were supposed to be one of the worst teams in the league with their superstar done for the at least most of the season, but All-Stars Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison were still on the team. Add the solid play of rookie Nick Young, DeShawn Stevenson and Brendan Haywood, and this is a team determined to make the playoffs. No need to find out if Young will lose his starting job because Arenas said that he would come off of the bench, maybe not to disrupt the team's chemistry. Arenas is still planning to opt out, but it's a toss up wheather he'll stay or go.


7. New Jersey Nets (23-30) The Nets are in danger of not making the playoffs this year. Despite Richard Jefferson's great year, Vince Carter averaging 20 PPG and having Jason Kidd, one of the best point guards in the NBA, for some reason they couldn't get it done. They're on of the many teams that have talented players but can't seem to get the job done. Now they're losing Kidd and there are 6 other teams behind them that can make the playoffs as well. By getting rid of Kidd and getting Devin Harris, they're starting the rebuilding process right now, but they have to trade Carter, someone who wants out too, as well to free up some more cap space and truly start rebuilding. Sean Williams has been one of the best defensive rookies of the year, and Josh Boone is starting to show his potential. If they play their cards right, the process might not take as long.


8. Philadelphia 76ers (23-30) The Sixers have been in the playoff hunt all year long. Andre Iguodala has been the best performer on the team so far. Samuel Dalembert has been an athletic center for the team too catching alley-oops from Andre Miller. It seems now that he's staying in Philly instead of being traded. If the team keeps up their chemistry, they can make a playoff push for the first time since Allen Iverson and Chris Webber were on the team.


9. Atlanta Hawks (21-28) Now that the Hawks recieved point guard Mike Bibby from the Kings, the Hawks now seem playoff bound for the first time since 1999. They were considered a darkhorse this year after a good start and are in a virtual tie for 7th place. Bibby has been seen as the answer to take the scoring load off of Joe Johnson and could be the point guard Atlanta has needed for a long time. Bibby can also throw good lob passes to Josh Smith. With a impressive young froncourt in Smith, Marvin Williams and rookie of the year canidate Al Horford, the Hawks could bring the playoffs back to Atlanta, maybe at a 6 seed.


10. Chicago Bulls (21-31) After counting the Bulls out of the playoff race. Coach Scott Skiles was doing a horrible job and was fired. After going 9-16 with Skiles, they're 12-15 with Jim Boylan. It's no surpise that Ben Gordon would continue his scoring ways, but it was a surprise that they asked him to go back to the bench for the 6th man role, an idea that some teams are benefiting from. Andres Nocioni has become a better 3 point shooter ever since the coaching change. New addition Joe Smith has been gettting better as time goes on. If Ben Wallace can improve this team might be back in the playoffs.
    
11. Indiana Pacers (21-32) The Pacers seem to have lost their playoff hopes. Once a 19-22 team, they lost 7 straight games resulting in a 2-9 record since then. Jermaine O'Neal is likely out for the season and the Pacers don't look like they're trying to do what the Wizards are doing without Gilbert Arenas. Jamaal Tinsley has been performing well at the point with back-up Travis Diener developing himself. Mike Dunleavy has come out this year as a good scorer for the team, and Kareem Rush may be another player the Pacers want to keep. With the way they're playing, they might not make the playoffs and O'Neal might not be around next year. It might be a rebuilding year for the rest of the team, but if he does come back, this team will look to the playoffs next year.


12. Milwaukee Bucks (19-34) The Bucks have a talented team in Andrew Bogut, Michael Redd, Mo Williams Charlie Villanueva and Yi Jianlian, but they can't seem to take off. Redd has been scoring 20+ PPG, Yi has been one of the great rookies of the year and Bogut has stepped up his game, but they just can't seem to take off. Hopefully, if they can't make it to the playoffs this season, they might be able to get another high draft pick, maybe the one to help this team get more competitive.


13. Charlotte Bobcats (19-34) Jordan's team hasn't been doing good as of late. The combo of Json Richardson and Gerald Wallace hasn't paid off as much as they hoped. Before going on a 7 game losing streak, they were seen as playoff bound. Now they have to make a big run in order to keep thier hopes alive. For next season, they might not have Emeka Okafor next season after not being able to reach an agreement on an extension.


14. New York Knicks (15-37) Getting Zach Randolph was supposed to be the last piece needed to help the Knicks make the playoffs in the East. It was supposed to be Eddy Curry, Randolph, Quentin Richardson, Jamal Crawford and Stephon Marbury reviving the team. No, what they got was a soap opera with fans chanting "Fire Isiah!" Randolph, Curry and Marbury were on the trading block, and Marbury ended his season with ankle surgery. The Knicks are lottery bound again and might break up their team again.


15. Miami Heat (9-42) From NBA Champions in 2006 to the NBA's worst. Why? Key players from the championship team were lost. Dwyane Wade came in the season coming off of 2 surgeries and he couldn't carry his team. They just lost Shaq and Shawn Marion couldn't replace him. They're in danger of getting the top lottery pick and Wade might not be there if he feels like it, and Marion could be out as early as after this season. Now the Heat find themselves rebuilding again. It will be another few years until they can be in the playoffs again, but with Marion, they might not finish as the worst team in the NBA this year.

The East might have a wild finish for the 7 and 8 seed, but it should be interesting to see who comes out.