The Orlando Sentinel (Brian Schmitz) reports: His Orlando Magic teammates already are calling him by his legendary streetball name of “Skip.” Dwight Howard, 23, remembers being in middle school and watching Rafer Alston on the And 1 Mix video-tapes, marveling at his Harlem Globetrotter-esque style and jaw-dropping moves. “I wanted to be like ‘Skip To My Lou,'” Howard laughed. “Now we’re on the same team.” Alston, who arrived in a trade last Thursday from the Houston Rockets, just shakes his head about the old days. “Yeah, Dwight told me that. That he watched the And 1 stuff,” Alston said. “It makes me feel old.” … Alston realizes his playground celebrity follows him, but he says he couldn’t have lasted this long in the NBA if he hadn’t holstered his showboating style.
Category: General NBA insight
General NBA insight
Jazz to wear patch honoring Larry Miller
The Utah Jazz announced today that the team will honor the memory of late owner Larry H. Miller by wearing a memorial “LHM” patch on its jerseys for the remainder of the season. The patch will debut in tonight as the Jazz hosts the New Orleans Hornets in the first Jazz game since Miller’s passing on February 20.
The purple patch with green and gold trim is in the shape of the Jazz music note logo (a “J” in the shape of an eighth note) and inscribed with Miller’s initials, “LHM,” in white block letters. The music note logo is representative of the team’s logo, colors and jerseys which were worn at the time Miller originally purchased a 50% stake in the team on April 11, 1985, and the remaining 50% on June 24, 1986. The Jazz wore the music note jerseys until the 1996-97 season.
Prior to tonight’s game at EnergySolutions Arena, there will also be a moment of silence held, followed by a two-minute tribute video to Miller which will conclude with a spotlight focused on the empty courtside seat that Miller commonly occupied during Jazz games.
InsideHoops rumors page updating nonstop today
We’ve updated the InsideHoops.com NBA rumors page literally 20+ times today and it’s still going.
I was going to blog like crazy, but most of it would have been about deals that were discussed but didn’t actually materialize.
So, reload our rumors page constantly today. Literally every 15 minutes.
And notice the advertisments! They pay the bills. Go sponsors go!
Satire: Nate Robinson now addicted to jumping over Dwight Howard
The Onion (satire) reports: Since leaping over Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard to claim his second NBA dunk title Saturday, 5-foot-9 New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson has apparently dedicated himself to the sole task of jumping over Howard as the 7-footer goes about his daily life. According to Howard, Robinson bounded over him roughly two dozen times on Tuesday alone, most notably while the All-Star center was putting gas in his car, as he was standing in the checkout line at the grocery store, immediately after he woke up in the morning, two minutes later when he was taking a shower, and right afterward as he began to shave. “I can’t do anything without that guy jumping over me,” said Howard, who glanced over his shoulder every few seconds during his press conference Wednesday. “He’s everywhere. When I took my mom to her doctor’s appointment last Monday, at church communion, and every time I get off my couch to put in a new DVD. And I watch a lot of DVDs.”
Pacers wonder if Mike Dunleavy is out for season
The Indianapolis Star (Mike Wells) reports: The Indiana Pacers have gone from being optimistic that swingman Mike Dunleavy will soon return to the lineup from his right knee problems to wondering if he’ll play again this season. “I don’t know,” coach Jim O’Brien said when asked about Dunleavy’s status. “I know when they say he’s out indefinitely, there is a chance he can come back. When that is, this year? I’m not sure. I don’t feel like we have all the (medical) information available to make that determination yet.” … O’Brien continues to team Jarrett Jack in the backcourt with T.J. Ford in Dunleavy’s place.
Larry Brown learns to chill
The Charlotte Observer (Rick Bonnell) reports: A kinder, gentler Larry Brown? Charlotte Bobcats guard Raja Bell sure thinks so. This is Bell’s second stint playing for Brown. Bell started his career with Brown and the Philadelphia 76ers from 2000 through 2002. “More mellow,” Bell said recently. “From the first couple of days (after Bell’s trade from Phoenix to Charlotte), I could see a different guy. When he needs to yell, he will. But in day-to-day demeanor, he’s a different guy.” Bell says Brown is no less an authority figure. But he’s more collaborative, less strident, less prone to overreact and wear out players with constant criticism.
Rodney Stuckey has fallen off
The Detroit Free Press (Vince Ellis) reports: Troubles continue for point guard Rodney Stuckey after his three-point, one-assist effort against the Bucks. He also fouled out. After averaging 14.3 points at one point, his scoring average has fallen to 13.4. Stuckey is a source of concern for coach Michael Curry. “We got to find a way to get Stuckey on track,” Curry said after Wednesday’s practice. “He kind of ignites everybody else. I think he spends a lot of time trying to make sure everybody else is OK on the court, but his natural instinct is to be aggressive, and we just want him to be himself.”
Suns likely to keep Amare Stoudemire
A source familar with Phoenix Suns discussions involving Amare Stoudemire tells InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner that there’s a very good chance the star power forward won’t be going anywhere this season.
There have been rumors involving Stoudemire and multiple teams around the league for much of the last month, and especially over the last two weeks.
And, talks have taken place. But the source tells InsideHoops.com that the Suns feel that the coaching change is probably enough for now.
Of course, it only takes one team to make an offer that the Suns, or anyone else, cannot refuse. But as of now, odds are Stoudemire stays in Phoenix for the time being.
–InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner
Superstar needed to win title, says Andre Miller
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Kate Fagan) reports: Andre Miller conceded that a team without a superstar probably cannot win a championship in the NBA. “Realistically, probably not,” Miller said. “That’s how the league has been for a long time.” Miller said that while the Sixers do not appear to have any superstars, Elton Brand was brought in to change that and Andre Iguodala is on the verge. “Iguodala is getting to that level,” Miller said. “But he doesn’t get the respect like the other guys.”