The Perpetual NBA Thread

[empy]

hala....wag naman sana masayang ang career ni Amare. he's one of my favorite players. baka maging parang Chris Webber siya

[Eismann]

nag aalala na ang GM nia sa Fantasy league ..ehehehe

Di naman bro....this is the other knee and not the recently operated knee...baka lang dala ng long absence from grueling practices....he-he-he.

[tsupermario]

Di naman bro....this is the other knee and not the recently operated knee...baka lang dala ng long absence from grueling practices....he-he-he.

pakainin ng balot, pampalakas ng tuhod

[tsupermario]

injury report:

RANDOLPH DEALING WITH BELLS PALSY
Did you notice that Zach Randolph's face looked a little droopy during shots of him on media day? According to Blazers officials, it's because Randolph is currently suffering from Bells Palsy, which is partial facial paralysis that can last from several weeks to several years. In most cases the effects recede after three months, according to the Bells Palsy Organization.

[ssaloon]

1 more month to goooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

[mrhunk_pogi]

26 days na lang.....

[tsupermario]

sticky sticky :D

Despite Shaq's complaints, NBA says new ball is better
By BRIAN MAHONEY, AP Basketball Writer
October 4, 2006

NEW YORK (AP) -- Some of the NBA's biggest stars say the new game ball is too sticky when dry, too slippery when wet, and too -- well, not the old one.

The league is convinced it's better, no matter what the likes of Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade or Steve Nash have to say about it.

"Sure, you hear some comments that aren't as positive as the overwhelming majority of people that we tested the ball with," Stu Jackson, executive vice president of basketball operations, said Tuesday. "That's going to happen. Everyone that handles the ball loves the grip and the feel of the ball."

Not Shaq, who said the ball "feels like one of those cheap balls that you buy at the toy store, indoor-outdoor balls."

The NBA's old leather balls are being replaced this season by a microfiber composite model, the league's first change in 35 years. O'Neal blasted the ball Monday, criticizing not only the product, but whoever was involved in the decision to use it.

Both O'Neal and Wade griped about the ball's slick grip when wet, and two-time reigning MVP Steve Nash said the ball has a tacky feel that makes shooting and certain types of passes tricky.

"I certainly won't have to lick my fingers. The ball sticks to your hand. It's a big transition. It's extremely sticky," Nash said Tuesday in a conference call from the Phoenix Suns' training camp in Italy.

The ball looks noticeably different, too: Manufactured by Spalding, it features only two interlocking panels -- sort of like a pair of hands with the fingers laced together -- rather than the eight panels found on traditional basketballs.

Nash said it will be a difficult transition, but sounded as though he expected players to figure out how to use it.

"We do have a month to get it going," he said. "Right now I would say that the basketball sticks to the floor, it sticks to the backboard. It is different."

Jackson said no matter what the players say, the new ball's grip is an improvement, even when wet.

"If you moisturize a leather ball, it also feels very slick," he said. "But this new ball has a better grip when it's wet than a leather ball."

Players have already had plenty of exposure to the new ball, which was sent to all teams after the All-Star break and to players during the summer.

Most players were probably exposed to it even before that. The ball was used in events at the last two All-Star games, which O'Neal played in, and was tested in summer league and D-League play. It is also used at the amateur levels, so most players grow up using it.

"It's a better ball," Jackson said. "But as a product matter, composite balls are used in every league throughout the world. And they've been used in every level of play over the last 10 years domestically in the NCAA and also in high school."

Jackson said O'Neal would not be fined for his outburst, in which he said that the person who decided to change the ball "needs his college degree revoked." But he did say that the change would not have been made if there were many similar complaints when the ball was tested.

"We would have pulled the ball," Jackson said.

Of seven Heat players interviewed about the new ball at the team's media day Monday and after practice Tuesday, not one preferred it to the old leather model. Certainly not Shaq, who took a spinning jump hook in the lane during practice, about six feet from the basket. But the ball slipped in his hand and went straight up in the air -- without moving toward the hoop at all.

It was one of three times Shaq lost the handle in a span of about 15 minutes.

"I'm right with him," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "I think it's horrible. ... It really does feel like an indoor-outdoor ball. We'll see how it works. Maybe they'll learn to love it, I don't know."

[empy]

hey guys, what do you think about this news? any comments?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2614550

"BARCELONA, Spain -- An all-Europe division of the NBA -- with teams in cities such as Madrid, London, Moscow, Berlin and Cologne -- has been a fantasy for basketball fans on this side of the Atlantic for a number of years.

That fantasy may have taken the first step toward reality in Barcelona this week when NBA Commissioner David Stern received an informal proposal from a delegation of mighty Spanish sporting club Real Madrid that could lead to five NBA expansion franchises one day being placed in Europe."

[baiskee]

check out andrew bynum...

from this


to this


macho fafa na.

[empy]

^at first glance (kung hindi mo napansin yung camera) parang may ginagawa na hindi maganda yung photographer ah :bwahaha:

[baiskee]

^at first glance (kung hindi mo napansin yung camera) parang may ginagawa na hindi maganda yung photographer ah :bwahaha:

mismo! hahaha...naisip ko rin yan. iba talaga tabo ng utak ng menyek. :lol:

[theveed]

hehe hayup

[ssaloon]

parang emeka okafor yan. gained 20lbs of muscle before last season. di pa sanay sa katawan niya

[BlueBimmer]

hahaha expert si empy pagdating sa ganyan!!

[theveed]

medyo old na...

Hauling In and Calling Out the NBA's Trash
It's obvious that USA Basketball didn't send its best 12 to the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, but thank God they didn't send the worst! The 25 names listed below (not all American -- that should put some pride back in our system) may elicit a wide range of emotions ... shock, disgust, outright loathing, etc... To guide you through the pain, we've attached our patented snide commentary to help you verbalize some of your feelings. And now the very worst of what the NBA has to offer:
(Disclaimer: All Bobcats were protected from this list and big, goofy white guys are all spoken for under Eschmeyer)

1. Evan Eschmeyer, C, Dallas -- The standard bearer for today's legion of big white stiffs in the NBA

2. Michael Stewart, C, Boston -- 'Yogi' is only slightly more threatening on the court than the cartoon bear

3. Wang ZhiZhi, C, Miami -- Even the Chinese government has disowned him

4. Dan Dickau, PG, Dallas -- Testament that some teams do all their scouting at the NCAA Tournament

5. Jerome Moiso, PF, Toronto -- Carrying on the proud French NBA tradition started by Frederic Weis and No. 6 on our list...

6. Tariq Abdul-Wahad, SG, Dallas -- We liked him better as Olivier St. Jean

7. Jerome James, C, Seattle -- Fulfilling the wasted on-court comedic promise of Chris Washburn

8. Steven Hunter, C, Phoenix -- A harsh reminder to any GM who mistakingly falls in love with an unknown player at the NBA pre-Draft camps

9. Ryan Humphrey, SF, Memphis -- More myth than baller, Humphrey has never actually been seen playing in a real game

10. Tom Gugliotta, PF, Boston -- Former All-Star scored in double figures once last season ... and that was in the preseason!

11. Kedrick Brown, SG, Philadelphia -- Interesting how many guys on this list either play for or were drafted by the Celtics

12. Reece Gaines, PG, Houston -- On a team crying out for point guard help, the No. 1 pick Gaines got into only 38 games

13. Marcus Haislip, PF, Milwaukee -- And speaking of first-round bombs, Haislip notched a team-low 8.5 minutes per game

14. DeSagana Diop, C, Cleveland -- We've taken to calling him 'Saggy' and a more fitting nickname in the League we don't know of

15. DeShawn Stevenson, SG, Orlando -- Don't shooting guards have to be able to shoot? 78 starts last season and only 19 3-Pointers made?

16. Kareem Rush, SG, Lakers -- Averaged 0.8 assists and 1.3 rebounds ... you gotta score more than 6.4 points to get away with that

17. Ira Newble, SF, Cleveland -- The patron saint of crap players getting big contracts after big years with crap teams

18. Ron Mercer, SG, New Jersey -- No team would even waste a chance on the former No. 6 pick after he got dumped by San Antonio mid-season

19. Samaki Walker, PF, Washington -- Entering the twilight years of a pitiful career -- with a name like that, how could he have failed?

20. Dajuan Wagner, SG, Cleveland -- Too bad a shooter to play SG, too bad a passer to play PG and too small to play in the NBA -- sounds like a winner!

21. Tyronn Lue, PG, Houston -- Milked his 15 minutes of fame in the 2001 NBA Finals for a big contract

22. Morris Peterson, SF, Toronto -- To think New Orleans took this clown off Toronto's hands and the Raptors matched the contract offer!

23. Dikembe Mutombo, C, Chicago -- Rigor Mortis has set in for Deke, can't wait for him to completely calcify under the basket on some February night

24. Jacque Vaughn, PG, New Jersey -- Hopefully it happens on the same night that the Nets trot out a starting backcourt of Vaughn and Mercer in front of 11 comotose fans in the Swamp

25. Juwan Howard, PF, Houston -- The burden of carrying his garish contract sucked the life out of Howard's game long ago

Next Five Bringing Up the Rear:
Michael Olowokandi, C, Minnesota
Jake Tsakalidis, C, Memphis
Eddie Robinson, SF, Chicago
Shandon Anderson, SG, New York
Vladimir Radmanovic, SF, Seattle

Five for the Future:
Kendrick Perkins, PF, Boston
Ndudi Ebi, SF, Minnesota
Travis Outlaw, SF, Portland
Pavel Podkolzine, C, Dallas
Brian Cook, PF, Lakers

----

Wonder what this guy has to say about Mo Pete nowadays, even to Diop, Perkins and Cook... hehe

[theveed]

Stoudemire shut down again
Big man feeling knee pain, misses practice

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 5 2006
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Amaré Stoudemire’s comeback continued to hit roadblocks here today. Stoudemire did not practice because of lingering knee trouble, this time involving both knees.

He said there was again stiffness in his right knee that now has begun to affect his left knee, which was surgically repaired through a microfracture procedure almost a year ago.

Stoudemire feels he is overcompensating for the tenderness in the right knee and thus putting more strain on the left knee.

“I’m feeling a little pain and it starts from the point of the (right) kneecap,” Stoudemire said, “and it’s still stiff. And it’s carrying over to the left.”

The Suns have an exhibition game on Friday against an Italian pro team.

[BoEinG_747]

pakainin ng balot, pampalakas ng tuhod

at isoli muna si misis sa Biyenan

[ssaloon]

nako delicates ata si amare talaga...

[mazdamazda]

napaaway ang bata ko...

Pacers' Jackson fires shots in fight outside strip club
By CLIFF BRUNT, Associated Press Writer
October 6, 2006

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, center, looks on during practice in Indianapolis, Friday, Oct. 6, 2006. Four Indiana Pacers players were involved in an altercation at Club Rio, an Indianapolis strip club, early Friday.
AP - Oct 6, 5:02 pm EDT


INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Indiana Pacers guard Stephen Jackson fired shots in the air in apparent self-defense after he was hit by a car outside a strip club early Friday -- the latest blow to a team struggling to rebuild its image.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Jackson and teammates Jamaal Tinsley, Marquis Daniels and Jimmie Hunter committed an "error in judgment" by staying out late during training camp. No one was seriously injured.

"Stephen is very lucky," Carlisle said. "It was a potential life-threatening situation that was averted. And right now, the biggest emotion I feel is relief that he's going to be OK."

Police said the disturbance began with an argument inside Club Rio involving patrons and players. The players said they left the club, but the patrons followed them. Then things turned physical.

Sgt. Matthew Mount, a police spokesman, said Jackson fired five shots from a 9mm pistol outside the Indianapolis club after he was slugged in the mouth and struck by a car that sent him tumbling onto the hood. Officers were searching for the vehicle and three men wanted for questioning.

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Carlisle said Jackson needed stitches in his lip and face but had no broken bones or other damage. His status for Wednesday's preseason opener against New Jersey was unclear.

"He's got some scrapes and bruises, but this guy is going to bounce back," Carlisle said.

Police said a small amount of marijuana was found in the passenger-side door of the car belonging to Tinsley. Carlisle declined to comment on that, saying he didn't have enough information. Mount said no arrests were made because police could not determine who had the marijuana. Three others were in the car with Tinsley, police said.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank said the league was monitoring the situation. The NBA's drug policy says players who test positive for marijuana face rehabilitation, fines and suspensions, depending on whether it is a first offense. Testing is done randomly throughout the season and for reasonable cause.

Tinsley and Daniels also had guns in their cars, and all three armed players had weapons permits, Mount said.

Mount said police were reviewing a security tape and 911 calls from the club. The grainy image shows a car striking Jackson and at least one shot being fired into the air, police said.

The Pacers are still trying to shake the damage from the fight between Pacers and Detroit Pistons fans at Auburn Hills, Mich., two seasons ago.

Indiana was a title contender the last two seasons but those hopes were dashed by fallout from the brawl and suspensions and injuries. Fans often booed the team and crowds fell to their lowest level in nearly decade in last year's 41-41 season.

This year, the team has taken out ads and billboards featuring players and the slogan "It's up to us." The Pacers held parties for season-ticket holders in an effort to renew interest.

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle looks on as the team practices in Indianapolis, Friday, Oct. 6, 2006. Four Indiana Pacers players were involved in an altercation at Club Rio, an Indianapolis strip club, early Friday.
AP - Oct 6, 4:59 pm EDT
More Photos
They also brought in 12 new players, including former Pacer Al Harrington. Even Jackson, who was suspended 30 games for his role in the brawl and often was at odds with Carlisle last season, talked about spending a summer "soul-searching" and returning with a positive attitude.

But instead of being asked about the positive moves, a new up-tempo offense and the exhibition opener Wednesday against New Jersey, team officials again were answering uncomfortable questions.

Jackson, a 28-year-old guard, joined the Pacers in 2004 and averaged 16 points during the 2005-06 season.

He pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault charges related to the Auburn Hills mayhem and was sentenced in September 2005 to a year's probation and community service. He was named in a lawsuit filed by a Detroit fan in connection with the brawl.

During a recent news conference, Jackson hugged Carlisle and sat by his side to answer questions -- a gesture the Pacers hoped would symbolize improved team chemistry.

"As a franchise, we have to take responsibility for what goes on," Carlisle said. "Our players realize that being out that late during training camp is not the right thing. It's an error in judgment, and it's going to have to change."

Associated Press Writer Deanna Martin in Indianapolis contributed to this report.

[ssaloon]

ghetto child talaga si SJackson...