Six-division format on the horizon
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford Thursday, October 16
Updated: October 16
11:51 AM ET
Next season the West is going to get considerably tougher, and the East will add yet another patsy to its 98-pound weakling line-up.
That was the word out of the NBA Board of Governors meeting in New York on Wednesday. The governors are expected to approve the league's new six-division alignment. The move is being made in response to the addition of the Charlotte Bobcats to the Eastern Conference next season. To balance the conferences at 15 apiece, the New Orleans Hornets will move to the Western Conference.
That can't sit well with teams like the Grizzlies and T-Wolves, who have been lobbying for years to get the hell out of the West. Instead, the West is receiving one of the few teams in the East that could actually compete for a playoff spot. The Hornets are one of the only teams in the East with great size, a requisite for success in the West. How do the Hornets feel about it?
"It will sure make things more challenging," Hornets coach Tim Floyd told Insider. "I think it helps you realize what a great window of opportunity we have this season. In the East, the field is a little bit more open. There's a lot of congestion at the top in the West."
According to a source familiar with the new realignment proposal, a final breakdown of the divisions hasn't been made. The divisions also have not received names just yet. However, the most likely breakdown is thought to look something like this.
Eastern Conference
Northeast: Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors
Southeast: Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Washington Wizards
Central: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks
Western Conference
Northwest: Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trailblazers, Seattle Supersonics, Utah Jazz
Southwest: Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets, San Antonio Spurs
Pacific: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings
The most sprawling division, geographically, is the Northwest, but the league was going to have problems there no matter what it did. There was a thought that the league would clump all of the teams physically on the West Coast together and move the Suns and Kings into a Midwest division along with the Wolves, Nuggets and Jazz, but that's less likely to happen, according to sources.
From a strategic standpoint, the Southeast division will clearly be the easiest draw. Only the Magic are currently projected as a playoff team in that division. Adding the expansion Bobcats to the mix will give everyone a few easy wins.
The toughest division? Probably the Southwest. The Mavs, Spurs and Hornets are all playoff teams for sure. The Rockets are on the verge of making the push, and even the Grizzlies have some promise.
Around the League
Have the Magic struck out on yet another first-round pick? Those are the whispers in Orlando after a disappointing summer and preseason for Reece Gaines. According to sources with the team, coach Doc Rivers has become increasingly convinced that Gaines doesn't have the court vision or leadership skills necessary to be the team's point guard -- at least not this year anyway. Of course, Gaines has the size to play two guard, but his value is diminished if that becomes his only position.
GainesRivers, like other coaches who are former point guards, always gives his point guards a rough time. But this one will be tough to swallow. The team needs some size at the point. Right now, its other two point guards are Tyronn Lue (6-0) and Shammond Williams (6-1). Neither is starting quality.
If the early read on Gaines is correct (remember that it sometimes takes point guards a little longer), it will be the fourth straight first-round pick for the Magic to go belly up. The Magic have struggled with the draft since taking Mike Miller No. 5 in 2000. Their 2001 selections -- Steven Hunter and Jeryl Sasser -- have both been disappointing. In fact, Sasser (who was taken ahead of Jamaal Tinsley and Tony Parker) is on the verge of being cut by the team, despite a guaranteed contract this year. Last year's first-rounder, Ryan Humphrey, has also been disappointing and was traded to Memphis just before the trade deadline.
Now for the good news. The Magic scored a home run in the second round this year. The team loves Georgian center Zaur Pachulia and believes he may be the steal of the draft. The Magic are also high on Kentucky two guard Keith Bogans, who is likely to replace Sasser on the 15-man roster this year.
Carmelo Anthony had another impressive performance Wednesday night versus the Pacers. Anthony got his first real NBA challenge when Ron Artest (arguably the best perimeter defender in the league) was called upon to guard the rookie. Artest lit up Carmelo on the offensive end, but Carmelo held his own in the scoring department. The move that turned everyone's head. Anthony caught the ball on the baseline just outside the key. He turned, lowered his shoulder into Artest's chest and drove the burly forward into the basket before scoring an easy bucket.
Said Artest after the game: "He's not bad."
Injuries are piling up as the preseason goes into week three, but it's doubtful anyone is having as much tough luck as the Pacers. On Wednesday night the team had six rotation players -- Kenny Anderson (pulled left hamstring), Jonathan Bender (left knee surgery), Austin Croshere (pulled left hamstring), Anthony Johnson (fractured left finger), Al Harrington (sore right shin) and Jermaine O'Neal (sore lower back) -- out with various injuries.
"It's made it tough for us to get everything in that we need to," coach Rick Carlisle said.
That's great news for free agents like Omar Cook and Carl English, who have received extended auditions just so the team can field 12 players in the exhibition. Unfortunately, guys like Cook are struggling to keep the coach interested. Cook went 0-for-8 from the field on Wednesday with just one assist and three turnovers in 21 minutes.
Camby
Marcus Camby has now played three straight games without an injury. That's thanks in part to Jeff Bzdelik's decision to only play him in the first half of games. Why isn't Camby rejoining the starters in the second half? He's healthy and looks like he's in great shape. The answer according to one Denver source? "We don't want to tempt the gods. If he can give us 20 minutes a night for 82 games, we'll be happy."
----------------------------------------------
Peep Show
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Thursday, October 16
Updated: October 16
11:51 AM ET
Van HornNew York Knicks: New Knick Keith Van Horn didn't exactly call his teammates lazy, but he might as well have after New York fell to 0-5 in the preseason."We need to get more precise when we practice -- with cutting, passing," Van Horn said in the New York Post. "We're not running through our offense at the speed we should be. In the game, we try to go at that speed, there's turnovers and bad plays. We need to step it up in focus, concentration and precision when we run through our offense." Van Horn was quick not to blame coach Don Chaney but rather the players themselves. "I think there's a difference between the speed of the game and speed we're running the plays at practice," Van Horn said. "Until we show that precision running the plays in practice, we can't expect to go into the game where it's 25 percent faster and be able to run things the way we want. Each individual has to take it upon themselves to cut harder, move quicker, be more precise with our passes [in practice]."
New Jersey Nets: Will all the Nets starters please step forward. Not so fast, Alonzo. "I don't care how (Byron Scott) uses me. I don't care what the rotation is. If I have to come off the bench, fine," Mourning said in the New York Daily News. "I just got to get used to that. It shouldn't be that difficult for me. I feel the window of opportunity closing. This chance may not come again for me to do this. I am going to do what I can to try and make it happen." Head coach Byron Scott might instead choose to use Jason Collins or Aaron Williams as the starting center knowing that Mourning will be able to play only about 25 minutes a game.
Denver Nuggets: Jon Barry can run and jump and do most of the things expected of a professional basketball player. He just can't use his right arm right now."It's tough," Barry said in the Denver Post. "I am able to run and do everything, but my right arm is dead. It's very difficult to shoot or even pass the ball. Everything felt normal when I played, but it's not now. (There was pain) during the first couple days of training camp, but it was tolerable. But the last two days, I've just had a pain shooting down my right arm." An MRI has already been performed and will help determine the length of absence from play.
Houston Rockets: It's going to cost forward Eddie Griffin about $51,394 for missing the Rockets last preseason game without checking in first. "I just had some problems I had to take care of," Griffin said in the Houston Chronicle. "Things are fine now. I'm going to be back with the team. I'm going to be out for two games, but I understand, because that's the best for the team because I didn't show up. I had some stuff to take care of. I'm fine with it. I should have let him (Van Gundy) know. I didn't let him know. That's what you've got to do."
Philadelphia 76ers: Strained groin or not, Derrick Coleman is going to get into shape if it kills him. "I feel pretty good," Coleman said in the Philadelphia Inquirer. "The main thing right now is just conditioning more than anything. So I tried not to come out of practice at all, tried to play the whole practice." Coleman, famous for his lack of concern for health and fitness, is making a good impression on his new coach. "It's great," Randy Ayers said. "We're doing a lot more up and down [the court] for him to get him going. Then we'll probably back it off after games and do a lot of half-court stuff. But right now, we're trying to get Derrick up and down the court. He's been great. He's running a lot better than he did at this point last year."
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford Thursday, October 16
Updated: October 16
11:51 AM ET
Next season the West is going to get considerably tougher, and the East will add yet another patsy to its 98-pound weakling line-up.
That was the word out of the NBA Board of Governors meeting in New York on Wednesday. The governors are expected to approve the league's new six-division alignment. The move is being made in response to the addition of the Charlotte Bobcats to the Eastern Conference next season. To balance the conferences at 15 apiece, the New Orleans Hornets will move to the Western Conference.
That can't sit well with teams like the Grizzlies and T-Wolves, who have been lobbying for years to get the hell out of the West. Instead, the West is receiving one of the few teams in the East that could actually compete for a playoff spot. The Hornets are one of the only teams in the East with great size, a requisite for success in the West. How do the Hornets feel about it?
"It will sure make things more challenging," Hornets coach Tim Floyd told Insider. "I think it helps you realize what a great window of opportunity we have this season. In the East, the field is a little bit more open. There's a lot of congestion at the top in the West."
According to a source familiar with the new realignment proposal, a final breakdown of the divisions hasn't been made. The divisions also have not received names just yet. However, the most likely breakdown is thought to look something like this.
Eastern Conference
Northeast: Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors
Southeast: Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Washington Wizards
Central: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks
Western Conference
Northwest: Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trailblazers, Seattle Supersonics, Utah Jazz
Southwest: Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets, San Antonio Spurs
Pacific: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings
The most sprawling division, geographically, is the Northwest, but the league was going to have problems there no matter what it did. There was a thought that the league would clump all of the teams physically on the West Coast together and move the Suns and Kings into a Midwest division along with the Wolves, Nuggets and Jazz, but that's less likely to happen, according to sources.
From a strategic standpoint, the Southeast division will clearly be the easiest draw. Only the Magic are currently projected as a playoff team in that division. Adding the expansion Bobcats to the mix will give everyone a few easy wins.
The toughest division? Probably the Southwest. The Mavs, Spurs and Hornets are all playoff teams for sure. The Rockets are on the verge of making the push, and even the Grizzlies have some promise.
Around the League
Have the Magic struck out on yet another first-round pick? Those are the whispers in Orlando after a disappointing summer and preseason for Reece Gaines. According to sources with the team, coach Doc Rivers has become increasingly convinced that Gaines doesn't have the court vision or leadership skills necessary to be the team's point guard -- at least not this year anyway. Of course, Gaines has the size to play two guard, but his value is diminished if that becomes his only position.
GainesRivers, like other coaches who are former point guards, always gives his point guards a rough time. But this one will be tough to swallow. The team needs some size at the point. Right now, its other two point guards are Tyronn Lue (6-0) and Shammond Williams (6-1). Neither is starting quality.
If the early read on Gaines is correct (remember that it sometimes takes point guards a little longer), it will be the fourth straight first-round pick for the Magic to go belly up. The Magic have struggled with the draft since taking Mike Miller No. 5 in 2000. Their 2001 selections -- Steven Hunter and Jeryl Sasser -- have both been disappointing. In fact, Sasser (who was taken ahead of Jamaal Tinsley and Tony Parker) is on the verge of being cut by the team, despite a guaranteed contract this year. Last year's first-rounder, Ryan Humphrey, has also been disappointing and was traded to Memphis just before the trade deadline.
Now for the good news. The Magic scored a home run in the second round this year. The team loves Georgian center Zaur Pachulia and believes he may be the steal of the draft. The Magic are also high on Kentucky two guard Keith Bogans, who is likely to replace Sasser on the 15-man roster this year.
Carmelo Anthony had another impressive performance Wednesday night versus the Pacers. Anthony got his first real NBA challenge when Ron Artest (arguably the best perimeter defender in the league) was called upon to guard the rookie. Artest lit up Carmelo on the offensive end, but Carmelo held his own in the scoring department. The move that turned everyone's head. Anthony caught the ball on the baseline just outside the key. He turned, lowered his shoulder into Artest's chest and drove the burly forward into the basket before scoring an easy bucket.
Said Artest after the game: "He's not bad."
Injuries are piling up as the preseason goes into week three, but it's doubtful anyone is having as much tough luck as the Pacers. On Wednesday night the team had six rotation players -- Kenny Anderson (pulled left hamstring), Jonathan Bender (left knee surgery), Austin Croshere (pulled left hamstring), Anthony Johnson (fractured left finger), Al Harrington (sore right shin) and Jermaine O'Neal (sore lower back) -- out with various injuries.
"It's made it tough for us to get everything in that we need to," coach Rick Carlisle said.
That's great news for free agents like Omar Cook and Carl English, who have received extended auditions just so the team can field 12 players in the exhibition. Unfortunately, guys like Cook are struggling to keep the coach interested. Cook went 0-for-8 from the field on Wednesday with just one assist and three turnovers in 21 minutes.
Camby
Marcus Camby has now played three straight games without an injury. That's thanks in part to Jeff Bzdelik's decision to only play him in the first half of games. Why isn't Camby rejoining the starters in the second half? He's healthy and looks like he's in great shape. The answer according to one Denver source? "We don't want to tempt the gods. If he can give us 20 minutes a night for 82 games, we'll be happy."
----------------------------------------------
Peep Show
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Thursday, October 16
Updated: October 16
11:51 AM ET
Van HornNew York Knicks: New Knick Keith Van Horn didn't exactly call his teammates lazy, but he might as well have after New York fell to 0-5 in the preseason."We need to get more precise when we practice -- with cutting, passing," Van Horn said in the New York Post. "We're not running through our offense at the speed we should be. In the game, we try to go at that speed, there's turnovers and bad plays. We need to step it up in focus, concentration and precision when we run through our offense." Van Horn was quick not to blame coach Don Chaney but rather the players themselves. "I think there's a difference between the speed of the game and speed we're running the plays at practice," Van Horn said. "Until we show that precision running the plays in practice, we can't expect to go into the game where it's 25 percent faster and be able to run things the way we want. Each individual has to take it upon themselves to cut harder, move quicker, be more precise with our passes [in practice]."
New Jersey Nets: Will all the Nets starters please step forward. Not so fast, Alonzo. "I don't care how (Byron Scott) uses me. I don't care what the rotation is. If I have to come off the bench, fine," Mourning said in the New York Daily News. "I just got to get used to that. It shouldn't be that difficult for me. I feel the window of opportunity closing. This chance may not come again for me to do this. I am going to do what I can to try and make it happen." Head coach Byron Scott might instead choose to use Jason Collins or Aaron Williams as the starting center knowing that Mourning will be able to play only about 25 minutes a game.
Denver Nuggets: Jon Barry can run and jump and do most of the things expected of a professional basketball player. He just can't use his right arm right now."It's tough," Barry said in the Denver Post. "I am able to run and do everything, but my right arm is dead. It's very difficult to shoot or even pass the ball. Everything felt normal when I played, but it's not now. (There was pain) during the first couple days of training camp, but it was tolerable. But the last two days, I've just had a pain shooting down my right arm." An MRI has already been performed and will help determine the length of absence from play.
Houston Rockets: It's going to cost forward Eddie Griffin about $51,394 for missing the Rockets last preseason game without checking in first. "I just had some problems I had to take care of," Griffin said in the Houston Chronicle. "Things are fine now. I'm going to be back with the team. I'm going to be out for two games, but I understand, because that's the best for the team because I didn't show up. I had some stuff to take care of. I'm fine with it. I should have let him (Van Gundy) know. I didn't let him know. That's what you've got to do."
Philadelphia 76ers: Strained groin or not, Derrick Coleman is going to get into shape if it kills him. "I feel pretty good," Coleman said in the Philadelphia Inquirer. "The main thing right now is just conditioning more than anything. So I tried not to come out of practice at all, tried to play the whole practice." Coleman, famous for his lack of concern for health and fitness, is making a good impression on his new coach. "It's great," Randy Ayers said. "We're doing a lot more up and down [the court] for him to get him going. Then we'll probably back it off after games and do a lot of half-court stuff. But right now, we're trying to get Derrick up and down the court. He's been great. He's running a lot better than he did at this point last year."
