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by FOXSports.com
Skills Kobe Bryant learned from NBA great Hakeem Olajuwon paying off
Each time he backed down Houston's Shane Battier in the post and then deftly spun around him for a layup Wednesday night, Kobe Bryant jogged up court staring into the same pocket of fans seated courtside across from the scorer's table. The man who met his gaze knew exactly the message Bryant was trying to convey. "He looked at me to confirm, 'I'm using what you taught me,' " Hakeem Olajuwon said. "That was the greatest gift for me. It was wonderful." Hoping to improve his footwork on the low block and add a few new moves to his repertoire, Bryant e-mailed Olajuwon this summer and asked if the legendary former Houston center would work with him on his post game. Just a week before training camp began in September, the master of the "Dream Shake" enthusiastically obliged. -- Riverside Press-Enterprise .....Ben's Take: I'm pretty sure the Rockets and Raptors front offices aren't thrilled with Olaujwon. Remember him in Toronto at the end of his career?
Kings' Martin may be out 6-8 weeks
Kevin Martin leaned against the wall in the Kings' practice facility Thursday afternoon, still very much in shock, his damaged left wrist dangling at his side. Hours earlier, an MRI revealed that the league's third-leading scorer - and the Kings' best player - sustained a hairline fracture Monday night in a collision with the Memphis Grizzlies' Allen Iverson. Martin was presented with three options, all of them terrible: He can wear a soft cast and attempt to play, risking further injury and possibly a complete break. He can undergo surgery and have a screw inserted to stabilize the bone, with recovery projected at six to eight weeks. Or he can have the arm casted and hope that the wrist heals itself during a comparable six- to eight-week rehabilitation period. -- Sac Bee .....Ben's Take: Extra lottery balls!
Magic's Van Gundy: Rashard Lewis will start immediately after suspension
Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said on Thursday --- an off-day for his team --- that he will start suspended forward Rashard Lewis the very game he becomes eligible. There'll be no easing Lewis into the lineup. Lewis, suspended by the league for the first 10 games of the season for taking a banned supplement, can play on Nov. 16 against the Charlotte Bobcats at home. "I'm starting him the first game --- for who, I don't know," Van Gundy said. "It's like when we got Rafer (Alston) at midseason last year. When you know a guy is going to be there long term, you don't mess around." -- Orlando Sentinel .....Ben's Take: This tells you what Van Gundy thinks about the guys filling in for Rashard Lewis.
Source: Cavs owner thinks LeBron is gone without trip to NBA Finals
Apparently there's no need to wish that much bad luck on the Cavaliers. A source close to Dan Gilbert claims the Cavs chairman is terrified anything less than a second trip to The Finals will result in LeBron's exiting stage east to New York. -- NY Post .....Ben's Take: LeBron is the new attention whore of the NBA. Who does he think he is, Brett Favre?
Hornets' Byron Scott gives harsh criticism to his players
Whenever New Orleans Hornets Coach Byron Scott sees his team sputtering, he goes into his bag of motivational tactics to try to break the slide. Unlike some NBA coaches, instead of extending the length of practices or overhauling his playbook, Scott gets his point across with harsh criticism that can either make a player feel shattered or motivated. "What you see is what you get with me," Scott said. "I am honest with my guys, and if I don't like something, I'm going to let them know about it. I kind of go by the seat of my paints with my feelings, and the last thing I want to do is hold it in." -- New Orleans Times-Picayune .....Ben's Take: Scott better win games or he can forget about replacing Phil Jackson someday with the Lakers.
NBA quietly switched rims, helps shooters
If the new, more collapsible rims introduced before the start of the season are really creating more so-called "shooter's rolls," the Spurs haven't noticed. Quietly, the NBA switched manufacturers to bring about the most significant change in that piece of equipment since the advent of breakaway rims in 1981. The new basket system, made by Spalding and called the "Arena Pro 180 Goal," collapse from both the front and sides. In the past, breakaway rims have collapsed only from the front. Some shooters report the change has made the rims more forgiving for shooters, deadening shots that used to bounce out. And scoring is up early across the league. -- San Antonio Express-News .....Ben's Take: Somehow this is the first story I've seen about the NBA changing its rims.
Donnie Walsh thought Reggie Miller would land with Knicks
In his 23 years as an NBA executive, Donnie Walsh said he'd never seen anything like the focus on next summer's free-agent class. In fact, he spent most of his career in Indiana, where superstar Reggie Miller played his entire career. Walsh was constantly afraid he'd lose Miller. "I always thought New York was going to try to get him," he said with a smile. -- Cleveland Plain Dealer
Spurs Manu Ginobili gets second set of rabies shots
Manu Ginobili received his second set of rabies shots Thursday, part of a preventative vaccination regimen stemming from last week's bat incident. He said the first set of injections, received Monday, gave him a mild fever for the first 24 hours. Ginobili reported no ill effects before Thursday's game. Though he still is due three more sets of shots, Ginobili was looking still looking on the bright side of the ordeal. Apprised that rabies shots used to be administered in the stomach, and not the arm and hip, Ginobili said, "See? Good timing." -- San Antonio Express-News
Wolves owner thinks team will land superstar free agent
Regarding the salary cap, Glen Taylor, the Wolves owner said, "we've got ourselves in a situation next year where we're low enough so that we could go out and try to bring in a free agent, and in this particular case I'm talking about maybe a free agent that has some star quality and experience." The Wolves will be $10 to $12 million under the cap next year, and Taylor said some of the superstars will consider coming here if they believe that the Wolves are building a winning team. -- Star Tribune
Raptors' Jose Calderon off to slow start
Raptors coach Jay Triano is loathe to suggest that Jose Calderon is off to a slow start, despite the fact that his numbers are down. Last season, the Spanish national team star averaged 12.8 points and 8.9 assists. This season, it's 9.8 points and 5.3 assists. There have been suggestions that Calderon, 28, is rusty after taking the summer off. But Triano doesn't really see it that way. He thinks having more ball-handlers in the starting lineup means that, inevitably, Calderon's numbers will go down. "We're playing Jose with two other guys that can handle (the ball) and make plays," Triano said. "And that makes it tough for teams to guard us, and I think that's one of the reasons we have so many more points. Yes, Jose's assists are down, but it's not because he's not playing well." -- Toronto Sun
Bucks catch break in rising star Jennings
When was the last time the Milwaukee Bucks had a player with this much natural ability and personality in one package? Probably Ray Allen, and you saw what he did for the organization. If there was ever a right player at the right time for a franchise starving for success and attention, Brandon Jennings just might be it. -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
NBA coach nicknames player a 'parasite'
Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis has a name for the kind of player Oleksiy Pecherov is, or is on his way toward becoming. "The term I use is a parasite," Rambis said. Let Rambis explain before you get this mental image of some creature that populates gastro-intestinal tracts. "A lot of guys in the league are parasites," he said. "They survive off the creative ability of other players. Other players collapse defenses and kick the ball out to them, or it's our offense that creates the shot for them. It's not a matter of putting the ball in their hands and they create a shot for us. He's not at that stage." -- Star Tribune
Grizzlies star Rudy Gay a defensive liability
The Griz don't have a defensive stopper on the wing because small forward Rudy Gay is a defensive liability most nights. That puts the onus on Mike Conley, O.J. Mayo and Allen Iverson -- each of whom is struggling to keep his man in front of him. Iverson gambles too much. Mayo and Conley aren't showing enough discipline. Breakdowns on the perimeter put added pressure on a not-so-intimidating frontline given Zach Randolph's known defensive deficiencies and Marc Gasol's lack of shot-blocking. -- Memphis Commercial Appeal
Cavs LeBron James: I've thought about playing for every team in NBA
With the Cavs playing in New York tonight, LeBron James was asked if he was ready for the barrage of questions from the New York media concerning his future plans. His contract is up after this season, and James can become an unrestricted free agent. The Knicks have cleared a ton of room under the salary cap to make a run at him. All James will say about his future is he's leaving his options open. With the Bulls in town, someone asked him if he ever thought about playing for them. "I've thought about playing everywhere,'' he said. "Every team in the NBA, I've thought about playing for at one time in my life.'' -- Chicago Sun-Times
Rockets might stink but they have cool alternative jerseys
It remains to be seen whether the Rockets' sizzling start will translate into a playoff appearance this season, but tonight they'll look every bit the part of an NBA champion. Trevor Ariza, Luis Scola, Aaron Brooks and the rest of the new-generation Rockets will pay homage to the franchise's storied past when they play their first regular-season game in their new alternate jerseys. Look out, Oklahoma City Thunder: The ketchup and mustard is back. "The feedback has been great, and fans are very fired up," said Chris Dacy, the Rockets' chief strategy officer. "They're happy to see the traditional look from the championship days." -- Houston Chronicle
NBA star works with J-Lo and Kim Kardashian's fitness guru
Carmelo Anthony again spent time this past summer with Beverly Hills-based Gunnar Peterson, fitness guru to such personalities as Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian and Hugh Jackman. His six-week program there, in addition to work with the Nuggets' training staff, led to a drop in body fat from 8.6 to seven percent and a drop in weight from 240 pounds to 228. It has gotten to the point where former Heat guard Anthony Carter, now a Nuggets reserve, has taken to calling Anthony "Slim." -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Grizzlies could add forward Chris Richard
Although no signing is imminent, Chris Richard, a 6-9 journeyman out of Florida, is a person of interest for the Grizzlies. Richard last played for Minnesota during the 2007-08 season. -- Memphis Commercial Appeal
Rambis: Kevin Love key to Wolves players blossoming
No doubt Wolves coach Kurt Rambis is looking forward to getting No. 1 draft choice Kevin Love back after he recovers from his hand injury. "When we get Kevin back, we will see some guys starting to blossom on our team," said Rambis. "We are pleased with the guys right now. It is tremendous, with their growth, to understand how hard you have to play against quality teams and how tough it is to win games. I like the fact that they are frustrated, angry. I like that -- they should be mad. It will keep encouraging them to work harder and do the right thing." -- Star Tribune
Lakers' D.J. Mbenga might start at center
Lakers center Andrew Bynum was their latest 7-footer to undergo an MRI exam, the results showing a strained right elbow that left him listed as doubtful for tonight's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Pau Gasol did some work on the practice court Thursday but declared himself out for tonight's game, unless his strained right hamstring suddenly felt much, much better today. In other words, DJ Mbenga might start at center. Or if the Lakers go with a small lineup, Lamar Odom might get the call in the middle, with Josh Powell moving into the starting lineup at forward. "Whatever it takes," Odom said. -- LA Times
Former NBA star Kevin Johnson engaged to ex-D.C. schools chief
To say that Michelle Rhee and Kevin Johnson rolled out their relationship carefully is an understatement. Last winter, the D.C. schools chief declined to say whether she and the mayor of Sacramento -- a longtime friend and close political ally -- were dating. Not even after we saw them holding hands during the inauguration! ("I don't comment on my personal life," she said at the time.) But seems as though they're officially a couple now. In fact, she confirmed for us, they're engaged. Rhee, 39, spoke Wednesday night at a Democrats for Education Reform/DC School Reform Now event downtown, and a pretty sparkly thing on her left hand caught the eye of more than one audience member. Seems fitting, since this is a relationship we've largely followed via sightings of the two at various policy-wonk confabs. -- Washington Post
Celtics have one of NBA's best starting fives in past 30 years
As the undefeated Boston Celtics continue to blast opponents by 18.3 points per game, many elated Boston fans probably believe they're witnessing the greatest starting lineup in the history of the NBA. They are wrong--but by less than you think. According to one statistician, the Celtics sport the ninth-best starting unit since 1981-82, easily edging last year's NBA title-winning Los Angeles Lakers. Dave Berri, an associate professor of economics at Southern Utah University, who invented a metric that measures a player's value, says this year's Boston starters produce 1.07 wins per 48 minutes. That's about 6% better than the Cleveland Cavaliers--the second best team so far this season--and 72% better than the New Jersey Nets, who are probably more concerned about luring LeBron James this summer than they are about wonky mathematics. -- Wall Street Journal
Saunders: Wizards have to get into the flow as a team
The Wizards realized that it would be difficult to establish chemistry early in the season, with the team abandoning the familiar Princeton offense for a more point-guard dominant system. They were incorporating three new players and three others who spent most of last season out with injuries, including Arenas, the mercurial point guard who is responsible for both running the show and playing basketball regularly on a surgically repaired left knee for the first time after a prolonged hiatus. "We have to get into the flow as a team," Flip Saunders said. That process has been further complicated by the Wizards' annual injury woes, which have resulted in Antawn Jamison not yet making his season debut because of a dislocated right shoulder, Butler missing one game with a bruised left knee, and starting shooting guard Mike Miller now expected to miss a week to 10 days after spraining his left shoulder against Miami. -- Washington Post
Sixers' Jordan still looking for bench guard
Eddie Jordan's substitution pattern is like the rest of the 76ers: not quite there yet. After yesterday's practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Sixers coach said he still was looking for his first guard off the bench, still waiting for one guy to emerge and become No. 8 in the rotation. Tonight at the Wachovia Center, the 2-2 Sixers will play the 0-5 New Jersey Nets, and Jordan still will be watching, waiting, and evaluating. Yesterday, Jordan said one of the players who are in a tight pack at the bottom of the Sixers' stat sheet must "distinguish" himself. Those players are Willie Green, Royal Ivey, Rodney Carney, and Jrue Holiday. -- Philadelphia Inquirer
Skiles says flexibility key to matching Bucks foes
It's pretty safe to say that the Bucks' rotation is still a work in progress. Part of that is due to Michael Redd's injury, but it's also because Skiles continues to seek out combinations of players that will be productive. A team's starting lineup and a coach's substitution patterns often come under close scrutiny, but Skiles is of the opinion that far too much is made out of a team's rotation. "I think one of the most overrated things to discuss is a rotation," he said. "Most of the coaches now (feel that) you'd like to have your same top 10 guys or whatever, but during the course of the game you're going small, you're going big. . . . There's just so many ways you can go to change a game. I just think it's kind of an overrated thing." -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Did You Know?
Memphis ranks no better than 28th out 30 NBA teams in five key defensive categories. The Griz are dead last in two areas: points allowed (115.2) and opponents' field goal percentage (.505). -- Memphis Commercial Appeal
Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom practicing for family
Newlyweds Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom are already practicing for their future family, thanks to the help of friends with little ones of their own. RadarOnline.com caught up with actress & former MTV host La La Vasquez on the set of CSI: NY, where she's filming a guest spot alongside Khloe's sister Kim and fellow MTV hottie Vanessa Minnillo. "We have a joke, " La La said of close friend Khloe, "that she's got to take [La La's son] Kiyan for a few days to practice. They'll be begging me to give him back!" While she said the couple do jokingly discuss having their own brood, right now their enjoying wedded bliss. -- Radar Online
Who Knew?
The Sixers' inability to defend the three-point shot isn't particularly one of them, even though opponents have hit 51 treys to the Sixers' 17. That's a scoring disparity of 153-51, including Boston's 42-3 advantage Tuesday night. -- Philadelphia Daily News
Darrick Martin lands job with Wolves
The Wolves named former NBA point guard Darrick Martin the team's new assistant director of player development Thursday, an on-court teaching position intended to help young players improve their skills any time of day or night. Martin played 13 NBA seasons, including parts of three seasons with the Wolves. He played 16 of 18 playoffs games during the Wolves' run to the 2004 Western Conference finals and started the final three games of the conference finals series against the Los Angeles Lakers after starter Sam Cassell was injured. -- Star Tribune
Conseco Fieldhouse an Indiana shrine by design
Ten years after Conseco Fieldhouse opened its doors, this shrine to Indiana basketball -- part museum, part arena -- remains one of the most revered basketball venues in the nation and has altered the idea of what an NBA arena should be. The retro-styled home of the Indiana Pacers -- a modern venue soaked in history -- has influenced other teams to rethink nondescript multipurpose buildings and embrace designs tied to basketball's past. Charlotte, Dallas, Memphis and San Antonio are among franchises that modeled specific elements of their new arenas after what they saw at Conseco. New Jersey, which has a new arena in the works, also is aiming in that direction. "We looked at probably 20 buildings, and Conseco stood out by far, mainly due to the whole fieldhouse theme," said Rick Pych, president of business operations for Spurs Sports and Entertainment. -- Indy Star
Former NBA star Gheorghe Muresan enjoys coffee and coke
Gheorghe Muresan, the former Bullets star and still big Wizards booster, having both a coffee and a Coke on the patio of the Occidental on Thursday. -- Washington Post
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