Month: December 2010

LeBron James throws party in NYC at 1OAK

LeBron James didn’t sign with the New York Knicks, but like everyone else on the planet he knows that when you visit NYC, a party is in order.

On Thursday, December 16th, the Miami Heat superstar hosted a “One of a Kind” evening at Chelsea hot-spot 1Oak joined by fellow teammate Dwayne Wade with gal pal Gabrielle Union, New York Knicks superstar Amar’e Stoudemire with model Amber Rose, Jersey Shore’s Ronnie Magro, New York Jets’ Braylon Edwards, record executive Steve Stoute, DJ Clue, and 1Oak owners Richie Akiva and Scott Sartiano.

Guests were treated to DOBEL Tequila, and the music was run by DJ’s Jus Ske and SussONE.

Tonight Madison Square Garden will be filled as New York basketball fanatics cheer on the hometown New York Knicks against the Heat.

LEBRON NYC 1Oak PARTY PHOTOS

LeBron James, Richie Akiva and Maverick Carter

lebron james nyc party photo

Amber Rose

lebron james party new york

Ronnie Magro

lebron james partying new york 1oak

Have an opinion? Fans are discussing their take in this forum topic.

Brandon Roy shut down, will miss at least three games

March 12, 2010: Portland guard Brandon Roy in action during the NBA basketball game between the Sacramento Kings and the Portland Trail blazers at the Arco Arena in Sacramento CA. Portland defeated the Kings 110-94. Damon Tarver/CSM.

Joe Freeman of The Oregonian reports:

The Trail Blazers have decided to shut Brandon Roy down for at least three games — again — as the All-Star guard continues to endure pain in his balky left knee.

Roy, who has failed to reach double figures in scoring in four of the last five games, has rarely resembled the All-Star player that Blazers fans have grown accustomed to and he looked like a shell of his former self during the Blazers’ 103-98 loss to the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday night.

As much as at any time this season, Roy lacked explosiveness and athleticism and finished with just four points. In a down-to-the-wire fourth quarter, Roy played just 4:42. So when the Blazers returned to Portland, Roy met with coach Nate McMillan, the Blazers’ training staff and general manager Rich Cho, and the group decided sitting out the Blazers’ upcoming three-game home stand was the best course of action for Roy.

InsideHoops.com editor says: This is really a damn shame, seeing what’s happening with Roy and his health. It’s rare when you hear that nothing can be done medically about a situation like this. I wonder if long-term rest if the answer.

Yao Ming has stress fracture in left ankle

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (11) holds on to the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles on October 26, 2010. The Lakers won 112 to 110. UPI/Lori Shepler Photo via Newscom

An MRI performed today on Rockets center Yao Ming revealed a stress fracture of the Medial Malleolus in his left ankle. The fracture, which is related to his previous injury of the Tarsal Navicular bone, presented itself during the course of his current rehabilitation program. There is no timetable for his return at this time.

The team will have no additional comment at this time. Information regarding his treatment program will be made available at a later date.

Yao has played just five games this season, and is averaging 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in 18.2 minutes per game.

The Rockets have a 10-15 record, which currently places them 11th out of 15 Western conference teams.

First returns for 2011 All-Star voting are here

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder top the Western Conference, while Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and LeBron James of the Miami Heat lead the Eastern Conference after the first returns of 2011 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile. Bryant, The Finals MVP last season, is the overall leader with 722,682 votes.

The 2011 NBA All-Star Game, which will air live at 8 p.m. ET on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages, will be played at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles – on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011.

See full NBA All-Star voting results.

Joakim Noah needs right thumb surgery

Chicago Bulls Joakim Noah (13) plays against the Washington Wizards during the second quarter quarter at the Verizon Center in Washington on April 2, 2010. UPI/Alexis C. Glenn Photo via Newscom

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah will have surgery to repair a torn ulna collateral ligament in his right thumb.  The surgery will be performed tomorrow morning by Dr. Mark Cohen and Dr. John Fernandez of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush University Medical Center.

Noah was first injured in the Nov. 27 game at Sacramento, and he has played the last two weeks with ongoing discomfort and slight functional impairment.   Additionally, Noah has had significant sprains of his right index and middle fingers, which will not require surgery.

“Joakim’s injury presentation was unusual in that he was able to function at a high level with the injury.  More often, athletes are unable to play at all due to pain and instability of the thumb,” said Chicago Bulls Head Team Physician Brian Cole.

“As the days proceeded from the original injury, it became clear for all that surgery was best for Joakim,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman.  “We have always valued Joakim’s toughness and willingness to put the team above himself, but in this case his health took precedence.”

Noah has started every Bulls game this year, and entering tonight’s game at Toronto, he had averaged 14.2 ppg, 11.7 rpg (fifth in the NBA), 2.8 apg, 1.61 bpg (16th), 1.22 spg, 37.2 mpg (18th).  He also had shot .511 (28th) from the field and .724 from the free throw line.

Noah also ranked in the top 10 in the NBA in offensive rebounds (third), offensive rebounds per game (fourth), defensive rebounds per game (sixth), total rebounds (sixth), double-doubles (sixth) and defensive rebounds (ninth).

Rockets trade Jermaine Taylor to Kings

Rockets trade Jermaine Taylor to Kings

The Sacramento Kings today acquired Jermaine Taylor and cash considerations from the Houston Rockets in exchange for a heavily-protected, second-round pick, according to Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.

A 6-5 guard out of Central Florida, Taylor saw the court eight times this season for the Rockets, averaging 4.9 ppg (.500 FG% .400 3pt, .833 FT%) and 1.1 rpg. Originally selected with the 32nd overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards and later traded to Houston, Taylor appeared in 31 games (four starts) for the Rockets in 2009-10 and averaged 4.1 ppg and 1.5 rpg. He also made eight appearances for the Rio Grande Vipers of the NBA D-League, posting 19.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg.

Taylor was most recently named to the 2010 NBA Summer League All-Tournament Team after leading Houston in scoring, averaging 18.4 ppg (.471 FG%), 4.8 rpg and 2.0 apg in five games.

Nets trade Terrence Williams to Rockets; Nets get Sasha Vujacic, Lakers get Joe Smith

April 07, 2010 Milwaukee, WI. Bradley Center..New Jersey Nets Terrence Williams brings the ball up the court, Williams had 6 points coming off the Nets bench..Milwaukee Bucks won over the New Jersey Nets 108-89. Mike McGinnis/CSM.

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired forward Joe Smith from the New Jersey Nets in a three-team trade, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. New Jersey will also send the Lakers Golden State’s second round draft choice in 2011 and Chicago’s second round draft choice in 2012.  The Lakers will also receive the draft rights to Sergei Lishouk from Houston, as well as a trade exception.  In return, New Jersey will receive guard Sasha Vujacic and a protected 2011 first round draft pick from the Lakers.  New Jersey will receive a protected 2012 first round draft pick from Houston, while the Rockets will receive guard Terrence Williams from New Jersey.

Smith, currently in his 16th NBA season, was selected first overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1995 NBA Draft, after averaging 20.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in two seasons with the University of Maryland.

After garnering multiple National Collegiate Player of the Year awards, being named First Team All-America by the AP, and being selected ACC Player of the Year after his sophomore season with Maryland, Smith finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and was named All-Rookie First Team after averaging 15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds in his first NBA season with Golden State.

In 1,018 career games (619 starts), Smith is averaging 11.0 points and 6.4 rebounds in 26.5 minutes.  Signed by New Jersey as a free agent prior to the 2010-11 season, Smith has played in four games this season (three starts), averaging 0.5 points and 0.8 rebounds in 6.3 minutes.

Lishouk, a 6-11 forward from Ukraine, was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft, was traded to Houston in 2008 and currently plays for Valencia in Spain (ACB).

Vujacic, currently in his seventh season, was originally selected by the Lakers in the first round (27th overall) of the 2004 NBA draft after playing three seasons for Snaidero Udine of Italy’s top professional league.  In 420 career games (12 starts), Vujacic is averaging 4.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 14.3 minutes.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Andrew Bynum makes season debut

Los Angeles Lakers' Andrew Bynum poses for photos during the basketball team's media day at Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California on Sept. 25, 2010. The Lakers will try to three-peat this season after winning back-to-back NBA championship titles. UPI/Jim Ruymen Photo via Newscom

Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum played his first game of the 2010-11 regular season Tuesday night in a 103-89 road win in Washington against the Wizards. Coming off the bench, Bynum played over 17 minutes, shooting just 1-of-5 for seven points, four rebounds, an assist and two blocks.

“I thought his first few minutes were good and then he tired after that…noticeable difference,” said Lakers coach Phil Jackson after the game. ” He gave us something that we needed at the time. We had both Lamar and Pau with two fouls.”

Jackson does not plan on forcing Bynum into unnecessary action. “I’ll try to work him out somewhat similar to what we did tonight, short minutes, relief minutes and see how he goes in the game.  I was ready to put him back in if we needed to tonight but that was a game in which we didn’t have to push it down the end.”

Have an opinion? Share it on the Los Angeles Lakers forum.

2011 Knicks Legends Night is February 23

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

The Knicks will hold their annual Legends Night Feb. 23 vs. Milwaukee and unveil the player of the past decade, with fans eligible to vote. Two years ago, Legends Night featured winners of the past five decades but left open the 2000’s — an atrocious period in Knick history.

On the ballot for this past decade is current assistant general manager Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell, Marcus Camby, David Lee and Kurt Thomas. Houston is a strong favorite to win, but Sprewell could take the fan vote. The Knicks are assembling a panel to vote and the online fan vote counts as one panel member.

Fans can also select a second player of the decade from the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s and they, too will be honored. In 2009, the inaugural class of decade winners were: Carl Braun (1940’s), Richie Guerin (1950’s), Willis Reed (1960’s), Walt Frazier (1970’s), Bernard King (1980’s) and Patrick Ewing (1990’s).

Sixers shorten bench, play better

Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News reports:

The Sixers have won five of their past seven games and aren’t even comparable to the team that started the season 3-13. The reasons have been many – better defense, Jodie Meeks, a slew of home games – but the biggest might be that coach Doug Collins has shortened his bench.

Benefiting from Collins’ decision are Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams. Suffering from it are Andres Nocioni, Evan Turner and Marreese Speights.

The reasoning is pretty plain and simple. Young and Williams have been terrific off the bench, both playing as well as anyone could have expected. Still, the coach agonizes over keeping his players happy.

“I’m as sensitive as anybody,” Collins said after yesterday’s practice at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. “After the game is over, I always tell [assistant coaches] to make sure everyone is OK. I know what it’s all about. I try to stay on top of it as much as I can.”