ESPN.com's Intelligence Report: Feb. 9
Editor's note: ESPN.com is waking up early in the morning and aggregating news from papers around the country to bring you the latest NBA talk.
Previous Reports:
[FONT=Arial,Hevetica,sans-serif]EASTERN CONFERENCE[/FONT]
Atlanta Hawks
Delk's Long Idleness Ends
When Tyronn Lue sprained his right knee at practice Monday it forced the veteran point guard onto the inactive list for at least a month. It also forced the Hawks to make a decision about Tony Delk, a 10-year veteran in the final year of his contract, squeezed out of the mix by an overload of perimeter players and an emphasis on the development of the franchise's young talent. But after a meeting with Hawks coach Mike Woodson after practice Wednesday, both Delk and Woodson spoke in glowing terms about his return to action -- even though there's a good chance Delk could still be dealt to another team by the Feb. 23 trade deadline. "All that animosity I had before is in the past," said Delk. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Boston Celtics
Dislocated Shoulder Sidelines Perkins, Jones Recalled
The latest Celtics' casualty is center Kendrick Perkins, who suffered a dislocated left shoulder during practice yesterday at The Sports Authority Training Center. He is listed as day to day, though it's likely he will not return until after the All-Star break. ... Executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge hopes to have an update on Perkins's status today after the team medical staff reviews results from an MRI. ... The Celtics recalled 6-foot-11-inch Dwayne Jones from the Florida Flame and expect him at practice in Waltham today. -- Boston Globe
Wally Working To Improve
Wally Szczerbiak is still bothered by some swelling in his left knee, but he wasn't about to miss any practice time as he tries to improve his efficiency with a new team. "These three days are going to be nice just to sit down, relax and catch my breath," he said. "I've said it all along. I love playing here. I'm just not playing as well as I'm capable of. And I'll get there. I'm just a little off on a few things. There's no question that I'm pressing a little bit. It's a new situation. I've never been in a different situation. But it's coming, and it's coming quick." -- Boston Herald
Gaston Gazette
-->
Chicago Bulls
Nocioni Not 'Sexy' Enough For Three-Point Event
Andres Nocioni is one of the league's most accurate three-point shooters, but apparently he lacks the star power to get picked for the three-point shooting contest on All-Star weekend. Or, to borrow from coach Scott Skiles, Nocioni just isn't "sexy" enough for the part. ... "Twenty-five balls in one minute?" Nocioni said. "It's impossible for me." Skiles believes the most accurate shooters deserve invitations, but he rationalized the omission. -- Chicago Tribune
Cleveland Cavaliers
James Sets Davis Record Straight
Cleveland Cavaliers all-star LeBron James on Wednesday shot down the notion that there might have been issues with Ricky Davis when the pair played together in Cleveland. ... "We never got to a point where we didn't see eye to eye," James said of Davis. "We went out and competed every night when we played with each other. It was unfortunate that the media and the people around thought that there was a difference between two players." -- St. Paul Pioneer Press
Hughes Dismayed By Report
Normally, being on schedule to return from a serious injury is considered good news. But getting that report dampened Larry Hughes' spirits this week. Hughes got a full-scale workout on his healing right middle finger Tuesday from team physician Richard Parker and surgeon Jeffrey Lawton, who put three pins in Hughes' knuckle last month. He was hoping the tests would show the finger had healed quicker than expected so he could play Friday, when the Cavaliers oppose his former team, the Washington Wizards. That was not the case. The finger is looking good but isn't ready. Hughes will get it examined again today in Maryland by Dr. Richard Barth, a specialist he's seen before. -- Akron Beacon-Journal
Detroit Pistons
Four Pistons Named To All-Star Team
The Nets' Vince Carter and four Pistons are among the seven Eastern All-Star reserves to be officially announced today, The Post has learned. But in a huge surprise, the Wizards' Gilbert Arenas, the fifth-leading scorer in the league, was left off the reserve squad in voting by Eastern coaches. -- New York Post
Indiana Pacers
Tinsley's Wait Continues
Point guard Jamaal Tinsley, out with a nagging elbow injury, took part in drills before Wednesday's game after being away from the team for several days to tend to a personal matter. "We have to still deal with his elbow problem, then he's got to be in condition to play," Carlisle said. "I don't know what the exact timetable is going to be, but it will be beyond this week." Tinsley has missed 23 games this season because of an assortment of injuries and illnesses. -- Indianapolis Star
Miami Heat
'Dirk,' 'Rasheed' Dirty Words To Haslem
Tonight, when the Heat (30-19) visits Dallas (38-10), and Sunday, when the Heat hosts Detroit, Udonis Haslem's job calls for extra labor. The 6-foot-8 Haslem defends 7-foot Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki, and then 6-11 Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace, both of whom likely will be named to their respective All-Star teams when the reserves are announced tonight. Haslem will be a defensive target for Dallas and Detroit all night, and when it gets late in the game he'll be wearing a bull's-eye, especially against the Pistons. -- Palm Beach Post
Riley: Phil's One Of The Great Complainers
Heat coach Pat Riley tweaked Lakers coach Phil Jackson for his criticism of the officiating after Los Angeles lost 102-87 at Dallas on Tuesday night. Jackson suggested officials are intimidated by Mavericks owner Mark Cuban's practice of closely analyzing officials' calls and sending in his results to the league. "Phil has always been one of the great complainers of all time," Riley said. "I think he does it from a coaching standpoint. He definitely wants to get a mindset out there [if] in fact he ever plays [the Mavericks] in the playoffs." -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Wade's Stamp Of Approval
Dwyane Wade was surprised when shown his image on a 75-cent NBA Official Sanctioned Mint Topical Postage Stamps of Sports on Stamps. Several Heat players are featured on stamps with different currencies. Alonzo Mourning and Antoine Walker are on 90-cent stamps, but Wade was more concerned with Udonis Haslem. ''Udonis is 35 cent so it's cool I'm worth more,'' Wade joked. ``I'm now internationally known and well accepted. As long as I'm over Udonis, I'm cool.'' -- Miami Herald
Milwaukee Bucks
No Need To Panic
Terry Stotts called the team's flight home from Cleveland on Monday night an "unusual occurrence" but added that it was definitely not a panic situation. "It wasn't like there was crash positions or last rites or anything," said Stotts. The Bucks flew home after Monday's game but because of a mechanical problem along the way, the team plane landed in Grand Rapids, Mich. The team changed planes and arrived in Milwaukee at about 2:30 a.m. -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
New Jersey Nets
Kidd Not Fazed By All-Star Snub
Jason Kidd, usually a fixture on the All-Star Game roster, will not be going to Houston in 10 days. "I don't think I'm heartbroken,"said Kidd, a fixture from 2000-04 then off it last year after missing the first month plus following knee surgery. "But it's a reward that shows you are doing something right, playing at a high level." The reserves officially will be announced tonight, but it was confirmed yesterday that Kidd is not among the bench guys selected by the coaches. -- New York Post
New York Knicks
Isiah's Taking Larry's Order
Isiah Thomas upgraded the roster and added a Hall of Fame coach to the bench, and somehow the Knicks are getting worse by the day. And since Larry Brown isn't going anywhere and doesn't like the team he inherited, Thomas is committed to changing the players and, according to Brown, Thomas is asking for his input. Brown revealed that Thomas, the Knicks president, told him yesterday to come up with a shopping list of players he wants. -- New York Daily News
Coach, Players Not On Same Page
A person familiar with the situation said the Knicks players are confused by Larry Brown's changing rotations and his critiques to the media. Consequently, the person said, the players haven't bonded off the court and there's no on-court chemistry either. -- New York Post
Thorny Times For Other Rose
His last name has been uttered more than that of any other Knick the past few days. But the fact is, he's one of the least talked about members of the team. Malik Rose has become a forgotten man. While most of the attention the past two games has been on Jalen Rose, Malik Rose has spent much of his time in mop-up duty. In Jalen Rose's first game with the Knicks, a 93-89 loss Sunday to the Rockets, he had 16 points, 11 assists and five rebounds in 41 minutes. Malik Rose never got off the bench. -- Newark Star-Ledger
Orlando Magic
Hill May Return This Weekend
Orlando Magic forward Grant Hill, who has missed the past 12 games, could play this weekend, according to Assistant General Manager Otis Smith. Hill said he was "close, real close." The Magic face the Detroit Pistons on Friday night in Orlando and the Celtics in Boston on Sunday. Hill is in his second rehab stint since undergoing sports hernia surgery Oct. 31. Smith said Hill, in all likelihood, would come off the bench when he returns, easing his body back into action. -- Orlando Sentinel
Philadelphia 76ers
Hunter Returning To Sixers
The Steven Hunter deal, a hanging chad of sorts since Feb. 1, is off. The 76ers can't say why, the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets can't say why, because of a confidentiality clause in the collective bargaining agreement. ... "It's disappointing because of the fact Steven has not missed any practices or games for what they deemed the problem," King said. How could it be a problem for one team and not the other? "Ask New Orleans," King said. -- Philadelphia Daily News
76ers Should Consider Thoughts Of Webber
The list goes on and on, but will the Sixers ever be able to do anything? If the answer is yes, patience becomes a virtue. Since it appears to be no, Webber's concerns must be listened to. No one wants to endure his complaints or that sad look on his face. But everyone appreciates the truth. This team is struggling to stay average, and Webber is not happy about it. If he has an alternative, listen to him - even if it means taking a time-out from conventional thinking to do it. -- Philadelphia Inquirer
Toronto Raptors
Crowd Greets Davis With Mixed Reaction
For the newest (and oldest) Raptor, Antonio Davis it was a mixed reception and a mixed re-entry in his first game back with the team, from 26 months away. He logged more minutes than anyone had anticipated, starting the game and playing most of the fourth quarter and the OT, even tipping in the tying basket with 21-seconds remaining. -- Toronto Star
Washington Wizards
Arenas Not Tapped For All-Star Game
Gilbert Arenas was not selected as an all-star reserve by the Eastern Conference coaches, a league source confirmed yesterday. Arenas is averaging 27.9 points per game and ranks fourth in the NBA in scoring behind Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and LeBron James. Those three were all voted to the Feb. 19 game in Houston as starters. Coach Eddie Jordan had said there shouldn't be any argument about Arenas's all-star credentials. "It would be ludicrous if he wasn't" on the team, Jordan said. -- Washington Post
* * * * *
[FONT=Arial,Hevetica,sans-serif]WESTERN CONFERENCE[/FONT]
Dallas Mavericks
Howard Is Mavs' Lottery Ticket
If Josh Howard had played the last two months the way he's played the last two weeks, he'd be looking at an All-Star invitation tonight alongside Dirk Nowitzki. Kind of makes you wonder how Howard was the last pick of the first round in the 2003 draft. If everybody in the NBA knew then what they know now, Howard would be on the cusp of stardom for the Clippers or Bulls or somebody else. He never would have slipped to the Mavericks. -- Dallas Morning News
Cuban Jabs NBA While Mavs Roll On
Let's just say Mark Cuban can easily afford whatever fines the NBA hands down for any antic he pulls on the sidelines or criticism he levels at referees or anyone else. "He has invested a tremendous amount of money," Pat Riley joked. Riley, though, actually appreciates Cuban as a "very positive influence" in the league who "has helped us all" by virtue of an "ongoing public stance on accountability of referees." So, too, does Shaquille O'Neal enjoy in-game exchanges with Cuban. "All the time," O'Neal said when asked if he mixes it up with Cuban. "But not like he gets (to) where I'm going to beat him up after the game." -- Palm Beach Post
Mavs No Longer Outsiders
Kobe just left town, and now Shaq shows up tonight. Not long ago, when they were together, it was an LA duo that represented everything the Mavericks didn't have, couldn't have and would never have. The local Big Three was good, and fun, but not good enough to deal with Shaq-Kobe. If only, the dreamers dreamed, the Mavs had something like a Shaq or a Kobe ... Two seasons later, however, and that's yesterday's news. Kobe, Shaq, the Lakers, the Big Three. All of it cat-box liner. -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Denver Nuggets
No All-Star Game For Nuggets
Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony and center Marcus Camby were not selected as reserves, another NBA source said. The reserves will be named today for the Feb. 19 game in Houston. After Wednesday's loss, Anthony had not yet heard he would not be an All-Star, but said: "I'd be disappointed just knowing how much work I put in. The season moves on. That's all I can say. ... I would (be disappointed), but my position is tough. There are a lot of people at my position." -- Denver Post
Karl On Martin: We're Fine
Kenyon Martin was asked about media in the New York area reporting a possible rift between him and Karl. "Next question," said Martin, whose name has surfaced in trade rumors, with the New York Knicks called a possible destination. The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., reported Martin is not a favorite of Karl's. "It's a collection of innuendo and people who want to start and cause problems," Karl said. "We're fine." -- Rocky Mountain News
Camby Mum On Benching
Denver center Marcus Camby would not directly address his disappointment at not playing in the fourth quarter of his team's loss at Golden State on Monday. "Today's a new day," Camby said. "We've got the Chicago Bulls. That's all I'm worried about." He said he had not talked with George Karl about the decision and ended the interview when asked if he hopes to meet with Karl. -- Denver Post
Golden State Warriors
CSPAN To Feature Foyle
Center Adonal Foyle will be featured in an upcoming Sunday "Q&A" profile on CSPAN. Foyle taped the hour-long segment with host Brian Lamb on Tuesday night, with topics ranging from his Caribbean upbringing to his political views. There was only one glitch: Foyle conducted the interview in sweats after his bags arrived too late at the team's Washington hotel. -- San Francisco Chronicle
Warriors Not Expected To Receive All-Star Invites
Warriors point guard Baron Davis will be in Houston during NBA All-Star Weekend, but he isn't expected to be playing. Neither is guard Jason Richardson. "I'll be watching TNT like everybody else," Richardson said. Neither was expecting to hear their name called when the seven reserves for each conference are announced today. They figured their chances waltzed out the door while the Warriors were putting together three losing streaks of four games or more to go from an NBA darling to mediocre. -- Contra Costa Times
Houston Rockets
Van Gundy Longs For Elusive Spark
Once Jeff Van Gundy started to talk, the words poured out. Words of anger, words of frustration and words of resignation. There were things he'd said before and things he'd wanted to say for a while. There were things the coach hopes his Rockets players hear and things he wants the world to know. ''It turns my stomach," he said. ''Frustration is not the right word. It's much stronger than that." And? ''It's really hard to watch and be part of this. It was just passionless. It's the personality of our team." -- Houston Chronicle
Los Angeles Clippers
Rebraca Experiencing A Bad Case Of DéjÀ Vu
Former Piston Zeljko Rebraca is experiencing a bad case of déjÀ vu. Just like when he was a Piston, Rebraca has been sidelined with an irregular heartbeat. "Exactly the same as before," he said. "This time I knew what it was right away, so I knew what to do." Rebraca expects to return after the All-Star break. "In life sometimes things go bad," he said. "I want to help the team, you know. We are playing very, very well." -- Detroit News
Los Angeles Lakers
Cuban-Jackson Feud Taken To Next Level
So, wait, who owns Phil Jackson? Dallas Maverick owner Mark Cuban answered Jackson's assertion that he intimidated referees by turning on his computer and hammering out an eight-paragraph entry on his blog titled "I Own Phil Jackson." Cuban scoffed at his longtime adversary and said the Laker coach "must now be considered my bucket boy." ... Jackson responded to Cuban's blog by saying "he's so easy to tweak" and promised to "copyright myself" so Cuban could actually own him. -- Los Angeles Times
Kobe Introduces Young Friend To Teammates
Kobe Bryant invited Rayshawn Bright, 7, the kid he befriended when he played in the game in September to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims, to the locker room, introduced him to his teammates and gave him a pair of his basketball shoes. "We had a good time when he was out here when we came here for the summer," Bryant said. "We had a chance to kind of sit on the bench and just kind of watch the game and look at players that he's seen play on TV. It was a good experience for him." -- Riverside Press-Enterprise
Memphis Commercial-Appeal
-->
Minnesota Timberwolves
Jaric Tries To Be Positive
Timberwolves guard Marko Jaric, for the moment, is saying the right things. "Definitely, I don't see it as a compliment," said Jaric, who started the first 46 games for the Wolves at point guard, then dropped out of both the lineup and the rotation Monday night. ... Jaric's facial expressions and body language, however, suggest that he is not handling the move well. -- Minneapolis Star Tribune
Casey Sees Plenty Of Worth In Banks
Even though Marcus Banks and the three other players who came to the Wolves in the Wally Szczerbiak trade didn't win in Boston, Casey is convinced they are talented guys who will help the Wolves win. Casey said to expect to hear a lot of rumors about Banks being traded before the Feb. 23 trade deadline. "I'm sure his name will come up," Casey said. "He has great value around the league. I like him. I tell you what, I don't know if I know of a quicker guard in the league. -- Minneapolis Star Tribune
New Orleans Hornets
Hornets Rescind Hunter Trade
Hornets general manager Jeff Bower said team doctors conducted extensive evaluations and concluded that Steven Hunter failed a physical examination administered by the team Friday. "I can't get into any specifics, but we were hoping to reach the level that we could move forward, and it did not come together," Bower said. "After compiling a wealth of medical information, we determined that it would be in our best interest to void the trade." Bower declined to say if Hunter's past knee problem was a factor in their decision. -- New Orleans Times-Picayune
Paul's Choice: Hero Now Or In Playoffs
They want to be in the playoffs, and they don't have a prayer without Chris Paul. He has to decide if he wants to try to be a hero now or if he wants to be a contributor in March and April when it really counts. And if he keeps playing with this kind of reckless abandon, he won't be available for the stretch run. "It's a long season. It's a marathon," P.J. Brown said. "It's important now, but it's going to be even more important when we get into late April and hopefully into early May." -- The Oklahoman
Phoenix Suns
Not Time For Jackson
The most popular question among Suns fans still seems to be: "Why isn't Jim Jackson playing?" Entering Wednesday, Jackson had not played since Jan. 4 for a string of 17 straight "DNP - coach's decision" on his box score lines. Jackson had struggled to stay in the rotation before that, shooting 29.5 percent from the field in 27 appearances. "I just don't feel like I can't play Leandro (Barbosa), James or Eddie (House)," D'Antoni said. "There are only so many minutes. It's a tough decision but one that had to be made." D'Antoni said he would not play Jackson in garbage time of blowouts out of respect for his veteran status. -- Arizona Republic
Portland Trail Blazers
Bad Knee May Give Pryzbilla A Break
Joel Przybilla was as frustrated after the game as he has been all season with his right knee. He said the knee has been bothering him for the past two weeks, but on Wednesday he said he felt like he was "playing on one leg." Przybilla's availability for Friday's game at Boston will be determined today when trainer Jay Jensen rejoins the team after attending an arbitration hearing in New York. Nate McMillan appeared to be leaning toward resting Przybilla, saying he has been trying to limit Przybilla's minutes in the past week to give the knee a break. -- The Oregonian
Sacramento Kings
Kings Like What They See In 'New' Artest
So far, Ron Artest has been true to his word. He has been all about basketball and instantly has become the on-court leader of a new-look Kings team. In six games with Sacramento, Artest is averaging 17.5 points and 5.7 rebounds. More importantly, he has gotten the Kings to focus on the defensive end of the court and about doing whatever it takes to win. He's also taken a few of the team's young players, including rookie Francisco Garcia, under his wing and stressed to them the importance of playing defense. -- Chicago Sun-Times
San Antonio Spurs
Scola Has NBA Talent
Toronto rookie point guard Jose Calderon played with Spurs draft pick Luis Scola the previous two seasons in Spain. And he thinks Scola shouldn't have too much trouble transitioning to the NBA. "He is one of the best players in Europe," Calderon said. "I think he's ready to play in the NBA for sure." The Spurs also think he's ready. Their only problem: Scola has a $14.5 million NBA buyout in his Tau contract, which lasts another two seasons. -- San Antonio Express-News
Seattle SuperSonics
Collison To Remain A Starter?
After posting 12 points and 11 rebounds, his fourth doubledouble of the season and first since Dec. 26, Nick Collison might be a fixture in the starting lineup. Sonics coach Bob Hill has been dissatisfied with Vladimir Radmanovic as the starting power forward and opted for Collison because of Radmanovic's strained right quadriceps. -- Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Could OKC Be Ready For Sonics?
The Sonics may be looking for a new home. And Clay Bennett said Oklahoma could step up. In an interview before Wednesday's game with Fox Sports Northwest that aired in Seattle, Bennett, an Oklahoma City businessman who is part of the investment group that helped bring the Hornets to Oklahoma City, said he would be surprised if Seattle couldn't retain the team. But Oklahoma City is ready, he said. -- The Oklahoman
Utah Jazz
Boozer, The Long-Awaited Return
Carlos Boozer played basketball, real basketball, for the first time since October on Wednesday, and though it was only four minutes of a full-court scrimmage with his teammates, it represents the first real step forward in his condition since he first felt pain in his left hamstring. In other words: no tweaks. "My leg feels really good. It's felt the best to me since I pulled it," Boozer said after a one-hour practice full of conditioning drills and running, playbook refreshers, some halfcourt run-throughs, and finally, his first competition since he strained the hamstring Oct. 8. -- Salt Lake Tribune
[FONT=Arial,Hevetica,sans-serif]Miscellaneous[/FONT]
Vince To Host All-Star Coverage
Former Texas quarterback Vince Young has been tapped by TNT to be the week-long host of TNT OverTime All-Star '06 -- programming shown on a broadband channel at NBA.com beginning Monday. The NBA All-Star Game is Sunday, Feb. 19, in Houston. According to the network, "Young will use his Texas-sized personality to take viewers behind the scenes of TNT's NBA All-Star coverage and provide a unique on-line glimpse into the star-studded All-Star festivities." -- Dallas Morning News
Editor's note: ESPN.com is waking up early in the morning and aggregating news from papers around the country to bring you the latest NBA talk.
Previous Reports:
[FONT=Arial,Hevetica,sans-serif]EASTERN CONFERENCE[/FONT]
Atlanta Hawks
Delk's Long Idleness Ends
When Tyronn Lue sprained his right knee at practice Monday it forced the veteran point guard onto the inactive list for at least a month. It also forced the Hawks to make a decision about Tony Delk, a 10-year veteran in the final year of his contract, squeezed out of the mix by an overload of perimeter players and an emphasis on the development of the franchise's young talent. But after a meeting with Hawks coach Mike Woodson after practice Wednesday, both Delk and Woodson spoke in glowing terms about his return to action -- even though there's a good chance Delk could still be dealt to another team by the Feb. 23 trade deadline. "All that animosity I had before is in the past," said Delk. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Boston Celtics
Dislocated Shoulder Sidelines Perkins, Jones Recalled
The latest Celtics' casualty is center Kendrick Perkins, who suffered a dislocated left shoulder during practice yesterday at The Sports Authority Training Center. He is listed as day to day, though it's likely he will not return until after the All-Star break. ... Executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge hopes to have an update on Perkins's status today after the team medical staff reviews results from an MRI. ... The Celtics recalled 6-foot-11-inch Dwayne Jones from the Florida Flame and expect him at practice in Waltham today. -- Boston Globe
Wally Working To Improve
Wally Szczerbiak is still bothered by some swelling in his left knee, but he wasn't about to miss any practice time as he tries to improve his efficiency with a new team. "These three days are going to be nice just to sit down, relax and catch my breath," he said. "I've said it all along. I love playing here. I'm just not playing as well as I'm capable of. And I'll get there. I'm just a little off on a few things. There's no question that I'm pressing a little bit. It's a new situation. I've never been in a different situation. But it's coming, and it's coming quick." -- Boston Herald
Gaston Gazette
-->
Chicago Bulls
Nocioni Not 'Sexy' Enough For Three-Point Event
Andres Nocioni is one of the league's most accurate three-point shooters, but apparently he lacks the star power to get picked for the three-point shooting contest on All-Star weekend. Or, to borrow from coach Scott Skiles, Nocioni just isn't "sexy" enough for the part. ... "Twenty-five balls in one minute?" Nocioni said. "It's impossible for me." Skiles believes the most accurate shooters deserve invitations, but he rationalized the omission. -- Chicago Tribune
Cleveland Cavaliers
James Sets Davis Record Straight
Cleveland Cavaliers all-star LeBron James on Wednesday shot down the notion that there might have been issues with Ricky Davis when the pair played together in Cleveland. ... "We never got to a point where we didn't see eye to eye," James said of Davis. "We went out and competed every night when we played with each other. It was unfortunate that the media and the people around thought that there was a difference between two players." -- St. Paul Pioneer Press
Hughes Dismayed By Report
Normally, being on schedule to return from a serious injury is considered good news. But getting that report dampened Larry Hughes' spirits this week. Hughes got a full-scale workout on his healing right middle finger Tuesday from team physician Richard Parker and surgeon Jeffrey Lawton, who put three pins in Hughes' knuckle last month. He was hoping the tests would show the finger had healed quicker than expected so he could play Friday, when the Cavaliers oppose his former team, the Washington Wizards. That was not the case. The finger is looking good but isn't ready. Hughes will get it examined again today in Maryland by Dr. Richard Barth, a specialist he's seen before. -- Akron Beacon-Journal
Detroit Pistons
Four Pistons Named To All-Star Team
The Nets' Vince Carter and four Pistons are among the seven Eastern All-Star reserves to be officially announced today, The Post has learned. But in a huge surprise, the Wizards' Gilbert Arenas, the fifth-leading scorer in the league, was left off the reserve squad in voting by Eastern coaches. -- New York Post
Indiana Pacers
Tinsley's Wait Continues
Point guard Jamaal Tinsley, out with a nagging elbow injury, took part in drills before Wednesday's game after being away from the team for several days to tend to a personal matter. "We have to still deal with his elbow problem, then he's got to be in condition to play," Carlisle said. "I don't know what the exact timetable is going to be, but it will be beyond this week." Tinsley has missed 23 games this season because of an assortment of injuries and illnesses. -- Indianapolis Star
Miami Heat
'Dirk,' 'Rasheed' Dirty Words To Haslem
Tonight, when the Heat (30-19) visits Dallas (38-10), and Sunday, when the Heat hosts Detroit, Udonis Haslem's job calls for extra labor. The 6-foot-8 Haslem defends 7-foot Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki, and then 6-11 Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace, both of whom likely will be named to their respective All-Star teams when the reserves are announced tonight. Haslem will be a defensive target for Dallas and Detroit all night, and when it gets late in the game he'll be wearing a bull's-eye, especially against the Pistons. -- Palm Beach Post
Riley: Phil's One Of The Great Complainers
Heat coach Pat Riley tweaked Lakers coach Phil Jackson for his criticism of the officiating after Los Angeles lost 102-87 at Dallas on Tuesday night. Jackson suggested officials are intimidated by Mavericks owner Mark Cuban's practice of closely analyzing officials' calls and sending in his results to the league. "Phil has always been one of the great complainers of all time," Riley said. "I think he does it from a coaching standpoint. He definitely wants to get a mindset out there [if] in fact he ever plays [the Mavericks] in the playoffs." -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Wade's Stamp Of Approval
Dwyane Wade was surprised when shown his image on a 75-cent NBA Official Sanctioned Mint Topical Postage Stamps of Sports on Stamps. Several Heat players are featured on stamps with different currencies. Alonzo Mourning and Antoine Walker are on 90-cent stamps, but Wade was more concerned with Udonis Haslem. ''Udonis is 35 cent so it's cool I'm worth more,'' Wade joked. ``I'm now internationally known and well accepted. As long as I'm over Udonis, I'm cool.'' -- Miami Herald
Milwaukee Bucks
No Need To Panic
Terry Stotts called the team's flight home from Cleveland on Monday night an "unusual occurrence" but added that it was definitely not a panic situation. "It wasn't like there was crash positions or last rites or anything," said Stotts. The Bucks flew home after Monday's game but because of a mechanical problem along the way, the team plane landed in Grand Rapids, Mich. The team changed planes and arrived in Milwaukee at about 2:30 a.m. -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
New Jersey Nets
Kidd Not Fazed By All-Star Snub
Jason Kidd, usually a fixture on the All-Star Game roster, will not be going to Houston in 10 days. "I don't think I'm heartbroken,"said Kidd, a fixture from 2000-04 then off it last year after missing the first month plus following knee surgery. "But it's a reward that shows you are doing something right, playing at a high level." The reserves officially will be announced tonight, but it was confirmed yesterday that Kidd is not among the bench guys selected by the coaches. -- New York Post
New York Knicks
Isiah's Taking Larry's Order
Isiah Thomas upgraded the roster and added a Hall of Fame coach to the bench, and somehow the Knicks are getting worse by the day. And since Larry Brown isn't going anywhere and doesn't like the team he inherited, Thomas is committed to changing the players and, according to Brown, Thomas is asking for his input. Brown revealed that Thomas, the Knicks president, told him yesterday to come up with a shopping list of players he wants. -- New York Daily News
Coach, Players Not On Same Page
A person familiar with the situation said the Knicks players are confused by Larry Brown's changing rotations and his critiques to the media. Consequently, the person said, the players haven't bonded off the court and there's no on-court chemistry either. -- New York Post
Thorny Times For Other Rose
His last name has been uttered more than that of any other Knick the past few days. But the fact is, he's one of the least talked about members of the team. Malik Rose has become a forgotten man. While most of the attention the past two games has been on Jalen Rose, Malik Rose has spent much of his time in mop-up duty. In Jalen Rose's first game with the Knicks, a 93-89 loss Sunday to the Rockets, he had 16 points, 11 assists and five rebounds in 41 minutes. Malik Rose never got off the bench. -- Newark Star-Ledger
Orlando Magic
Hill May Return This Weekend
Orlando Magic forward Grant Hill, who has missed the past 12 games, could play this weekend, according to Assistant General Manager Otis Smith. Hill said he was "close, real close." The Magic face the Detroit Pistons on Friday night in Orlando and the Celtics in Boston on Sunday. Hill is in his second rehab stint since undergoing sports hernia surgery Oct. 31. Smith said Hill, in all likelihood, would come off the bench when he returns, easing his body back into action. -- Orlando Sentinel
Philadelphia 76ers
Hunter Returning To Sixers
The Steven Hunter deal, a hanging chad of sorts since Feb. 1, is off. The 76ers can't say why, the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets can't say why, because of a confidentiality clause in the collective bargaining agreement. ... "It's disappointing because of the fact Steven has not missed any practices or games for what they deemed the problem," King said. How could it be a problem for one team and not the other? "Ask New Orleans," King said. -- Philadelphia Daily News
76ers Should Consider Thoughts Of Webber
The list goes on and on, but will the Sixers ever be able to do anything? If the answer is yes, patience becomes a virtue. Since it appears to be no, Webber's concerns must be listened to. No one wants to endure his complaints or that sad look on his face. But everyone appreciates the truth. This team is struggling to stay average, and Webber is not happy about it. If he has an alternative, listen to him - even if it means taking a time-out from conventional thinking to do it. -- Philadelphia Inquirer
Toronto Raptors
Crowd Greets Davis With Mixed Reaction
For the newest (and oldest) Raptor, Antonio Davis it was a mixed reception and a mixed re-entry in his first game back with the team, from 26 months away. He logged more minutes than anyone had anticipated, starting the game and playing most of the fourth quarter and the OT, even tipping in the tying basket with 21-seconds remaining. -- Toronto Star
Washington Wizards
Arenas Not Tapped For All-Star Game
Gilbert Arenas was not selected as an all-star reserve by the Eastern Conference coaches, a league source confirmed yesterday. Arenas is averaging 27.9 points per game and ranks fourth in the NBA in scoring behind Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and LeBron James. Those three were all voted to the Feb. 19 game in Houston as starters. Coach Eddie Jordan had said there shouldn't be any argument about Arenas's all-star credentials. "It would be ludicrous if he wasn't" on the team, Jordan said. -- Washington Post
* * * * *
[FONT=Arial,Hevetica,sans-serif]WESTERN CONFERENCE[/FONT]
Dallas Mavericks
Howard Is Mavs' Lottery Ticket
If Josh Howard had played the last two months the way he's played the last two weeks, he'd be looking at an All-Star invitation tonight alongside Dirk Nowitzki. Kind of makes you wonder how Howard was the last pick of the first round in the 2003 draft. If everybody in the NBA knew then what they know now, Howard would be on the cusp of stardom for the Clippers or Bulls or somebody else. He never would have slipped to the Mavericks. -- Dallas Morning News
Cuban Jabs NBA While Mavs Roll On
Let's just say Mark Cuban can easily afford whatever fines the NBA hands down for any antic he pulls on the sidelines or criticism he levels at referees or anyone else. "He has invested a tremendous amount of money," Pat Riley joked. Riley, though, actually appreciates Cuban as a "very positive influence" in the league who "has helped us all" by virtue of an "ongoing public stance on accountability of referees." So, too, does Shaquille O'Neal enjoy in-game exchanges with Cuban. "All the time," O'Neal said when asked if he mixes it up with Cuban. "But not like he gets (to) where I'm going to beat him up after the game." -- Palm Beach Post
Mavs No Longer Outsiders
Kobe just left town, and now Shaq shows up tonight. Not long ago, when they were together, it was an LA duo that represented everything the Mavericks didn't have, couldn't have and would never have. The local Big Three was good, and fun, but not good enough to deal with Shaq-Kobe. If only, the dreamers dreamed, the Mavs had something like a Shaq or a Kobe ... Two seasons later, however, and that's yesterday's news. Kobe, Shaq, the Lakers, the Big Three. All of it cat-box liner. -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Denver Nuggets
No All-Star Game For Nuggets
Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony and center Marcus Camby were not selected as reserves, another NBA source said. The reserves will be named today for the Feb. 19 game in Houston. After Wednesday's loss, Anthony had not yet heard he would not be an All-Star, but said: "I'd be disappointed just knowing how much work I put in. The season moves on. That's all I can say. ... I would (be disappointed), but my position is tough. There are a lot of people at my position." -- Denver Post
Karl On Martin: We're Fine
Kenyon Martin was asked about media in the New York area reporting a possible rift between him and Karl. "Next question," said Martin, whose name has surfaced in trade rumors, with the New York Knicks called a possible destination. The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., reported Martin is not a favorite of Karl's. "It's a collection of innuendo and people who want to start and cause problems," Karl said. "We're fine." -- Rocky Mountain News
Camby Mum On Benching
Denver center Marcus Camby would not directly address his disappointment at not playing in the fourth quarter of his team's loss at Golden State on Monday. "Today's a new day," Camby said. "We've got the Chicago Bulls. That's all I'm worried about." He said he had not talked with George Karl about the decision and ended the interview when asked if he hopes to meet with Karl. -- Denver Post
Golden State Warriors
CSPAN To Feature Foyle
Center Adonal Foyle will be featured in an upcoming Sunday "Q&A" profile on CSPAN. Foyle taped the hour-long segment with host Brian Lamb on Tuesday night, with topics ranging from his Caribbean upbringing to his political views. There was only one glitch: Foyle conducted the interview in sweats after his bags arrived too late at the team's Washington hotel. -- San Francisco Chronicle
Warriors Not Expected To Receive All-Star Invites
Warriors point guard Baron Davis will be in Houston during NBA All-Star Weekend, but he isn't expected to be playing. Neither is guard Jason Richardson. "I'll be watching TNT like everybody else," Richardson said. Neither was expecting to hear their name called when the seven reserves for each conference are announced today. They figured their chances waltzed out the door while the Warriors were putting together three losing streaks of four games or more to go from an NBA darling to mediocre. -- Contra Costa Times
Houston Rockets
Van Gundy Longs For Elusive Spark
Once Jeff Van Gundy started to talk, the words poured out. Words of anger, words of frustration and words of resignation. There were things he'd said before and things he'd wanted to say for a while. There were things the coach hopes his Rockets players hear and things he wants the world to know. ''It turns my stomach," he said. ''Frustration is not the right word. It's much stronger than that." And? ''It's really hard to watch and be part of this. It was just passionless. It's the personality of our team." -- Houston Chronicle
Los Angeles Clippers
Rebraca Experiencing A Bad Case Of DéjÀ Vu
Former Piston Zeljko Rebraca is experiencing a bad case of déjÀ vu. Just like when he was a Piston, Rebraca has been sidelined with an irregular heartbeat. "Exactly the same as before," he said. "This time I knew what it was right away, so I knew what to do." Rebraca expects to return after the All-Star break. "In life sometimes things go bad," he said. "I want to help the team, you know. We are playing very, very well." -- Detroit News
Los Angeles Lakers
Cuban-Jackson Feud Taken To Next Level
So, wait, who owns Phil Jackson? Dallas Maverick owner Mark Cuban answered Jackson's assertion that he intimidated referees by turning on his computer and hammering out an eight-paragraph entry on his blog titled "I Own Phil Jackson." Cuban scoffed at his longtime adversary and said the Laker coach "must now be considered my bucket boy." ... Jackson responded to Cuban's blog by saying "he's so easy to tweak" and promised to "copyright myself" so Cuban could actually own him. -- Los Angeles Times
Kobe Introduces Young Friend To Teammates
Kobe Bryant invited Rayshawn Bright, 7, the kid he befriended when he played in the game in September to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims, to the locker room, introduced him to his teammates and gave him a pair of his basketball shoes. "We had a good time when he was out here when we came here for the summer," Bryant said. "We had a chance to kind of sit on the bench and just kind of watch the game and look at players that he's seen play on TV. It was a good experience for him." -- Riverside Press-Enterprise
Memphis Commercial-Appeal
-->
You must be registered for see images
Minnesota Timberwolves
Jaric Tries To Be Positive
Timberwolves guard Marko Jaric, for the moment, is saying the right things. "Definitely, I don't see it as a compliment," said Jaric, who started the first 46 games for the Wolves at point guard, then dropped out of both the lineup and the rotation Monday night. ... Jaric's facial expressions and body language, however, suggest that he is not handling the move well. -- Minneapolis Star Tribune
Casey Sees Plenty Of Worth In Banks
Even though Marcus Banks and the three other players who came to the Wolves in the Wally Szczerbiak trade didn't win in Boston, Casey is convinced they are talented guys who will help the Wolves win. Casey said to expect to hear a lot of rumors about Banks being traded before the Feb. 23 trade deadline. "I'm sure his name will come up," Casey said. "He has great value around the league. I like him. I tell you what, I don't know if I know of a quicker guard in the league. -- Minneapolis Star Tribune
You must be registered for see images
New Orleans Hornets
Hornets Rescind Hunter Trade
Hornets general manager Jeff Bower said team doctors conducted extensive evaluations and concluded that Steven Hunter failed a physical examination administered by the team Friday. "I can't get into any specifics, but we were hoping to reach the level that we could move forward, and it did not come together," Bower said. "After compiling a wealth of medical information, we determined that it would be in our best interest to void the trade." Bower declined to say if Hunter's past knee problem was a factor in their decision. -- New Orleans Times-Picayune
Paul's Choice: Hero Now Or In Playoffs
They want to be in the playoffs, and they don't have a prayer without Chris Paul. He has to decide if he wants to try to be a hero now or if he wants to be a contributor in March and April when it really counts. And if he keeps playing with this kind of reckless abandon, he won't be available for the stretch run. "It's a long season. It's a marathon," P.J. Brown said. "It's important now, but it's going to be even more important when we get into late April and hopefully into early May." -- The Oklahoman
You must be registered for see images
Phoenix Suns
Not Time For Jackson
The most popular question among Suns fans still seems to be: "Why isn't Jim Jackson playing?" Entering Wednesday, Jackson had not played since Jan. 4 for a string of 17 straight "DNP - coach's decision" on his box score lines. Jackson had struggled to stay in the rotation before that, shooting 29.5 percent from the field in 27 appearances. "I just don't feel like I can't play Leandro (Barbosa), James or Eddie (House)," D'Antoni said. "There are only so many minutes. It's a tough decision but one that had to be made." D'Antoni said he would not play Jackson in garbage time of blowouts out of respect for his veteran status. -- Arizona Republic
You must be registered for see images
Portland Trail Blazers
Bad Knee May Give Pryzbilla A Break
Joel Przybilla was as frustrated after the game as he has been all season with his right knee. He said the knee has been bothering him for the past two weeks, but on Wednesday he said he felt like he was "playing on one leg." Przybilla's availability for Friday's game at Boston will be determined today when trainer Jay Jensen rejoins the team after attending an arbitration hearing in New York. Nate McMillan appeared to be leaning toward resting Przybilla, saying he has been trying to limit Przybilla's minutes in the past week to give the knee a break. -- The Oregonian
You must be registered for see images
Sacramento Kings
Kings Like What They See In 'New' Artest
So far, Ron Artest has been true to his word. He has been all about basketball and instantly has become the on-court leader of a new-look Kings team. In six games with Sacramento, Artest is averaging 17.5 points and 5.7 rebounds. More importantly, he has gotten the Kings to focus on the defensive end of the court and about doing whatever it takes to win. He's also taken a few of the team's young players, including rookie Francisco Garcia, under his wing and stressed to them the importance of playing defense. -- Chicago Sun-Times
You must be registered for see images
San Antonio Spurs
Scola Has NBA Talent
Toronto rookie point guard Jose Calderon played with Spurs draft pick Luis Scola the previous two seasons in Spain. And he thinks Scola shouldn't have too much trouble transitioning to the NBA. "He is one of the best players in Europe," Calderon said. "I think he's ready to play in the NBA for sure." The Spurs also think he's ready. Their only problem: Scola has a $14.5 million NBA buyout in his Tau contract, which lasts another two seasons. -- San Antonio Express-News
You must be registered for see images
Seattle SuperSonics
Collison To Remain A Starter?
After posting 12 points and 11 rebounds, his fourth doubledouble of the season and first since Dec. 26, Nick Collison might be a fixture in the starting lineup. Sonics coach Bob Hill has been dissatisfied with Vladimir Radmanovic as the starting power forward and opted for Collison because of Radmanovic's strained right quadriceps. -- Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Could OKC Be Ready For Sonics?
The Sonics may be looking for a new home. And Clay Bennett said Oklahoma could step up. In an interview before Wednesday's game with Fox Sports Northwest that aired in Seattle, Bennett, an Oklahoma City businessman who is part of the investment group that helped bring the Hornets to Oklahoma City, said he would be surprised if Seattle couldn't retain the team. But Oklahoma City is ready, he said. -- The Oklahoman
You must be registered for see images
Utah Jazz
Boozer, The Long-Awaited Return
Carlos Boozer played basketball, real basketball, for the first time since October on Wednesday, and though it was only four minutes of a full-court scrimmage with his teammates, it represents the first real step forward in his condition since he first felt pain in his left hamstring. In other words: no tweaks. "My leg feels really good. It's felt the best to me since I pulled it," Boozer said after a one-hour practice full of conditioning drills and running, playbook refreshers, some halfcourt run-throughs, and finally, his first competition since he strained the hamstring Oct. 8. -- Salt Lake Tribune
[FONT=Arial,Hevetica,sans-serif]Miscellaneous[/FONT]
Vince To Host All-Star Coverage
Former Texas quarterback Vince Young has been tapped by TNT to be the week-long host of TNT OverTime All-Star '06 -- programming shown on a broadband channel at NBA.com beginning Monday. The NBA All-Star Game is Sunday, Feb. 19, in Houston. According to the network, "Young will use his Texas-sized personality to take viewers behind the scenes of TNT's NBA All-Star coverage and provide a unique on-line glimpse into the star-studded All-Star festivities." -- Dallas Morning News
