The Washington Post (Michael Lee) reports on 2009 NBA All-Star weekend: An inability to assemble private sponsors has led to the cancellation of some of the more popular parties, such as Zo & Magic’s Eight Ball Challenge, a celebrity-infused pool tournament that usually kicks off the weekend, and an ESPN bowling event. The Jordan Brand shoe company, which held a red-carpet party last year in New Orleans, elected to have a private dinner instead. And the NBA Players Association All-Star Gala, a lavish, invitation-only event considered the premier party of the weekend, plans to rely more on music from a disc jockey after having live performances by comedian Cedric the Entertainer, rappers T.I. and Snoop Dogg, and R&B singer Mary J. Blige in recent years. “I think the people that are coming to Phoenix are going to enjoy All-Star Weekend a great deal,” said Los Angeles Lakers guard Derek Fisher, president of the players’ union. “At the same time, a lot of our sponsors, a lot of our players and the league overall are very aware of what the people in our country are going through. I think you’ll see a little bit of a subdued feel with over-the-top parties, and guys doing a lot of different things individually.”
Category: General NBA insight
General NBA insight
Zach Randolph says he’s unguardable
The New York Post (Marc Berman) reports: Zach Randolph said he knows the Knicks miss him. “I’m a pretty good player,” Randolph said before his Clippers scored a 128-124 overtime victory over the Knicks. “Ain’t nobody in the league can guard me. I thought we were rolling, playing good, had the best start in a long time. We had a good team. I’m not going to start anything. It’s what they wanted to do. I don’t know why, but I guess they have plans. They say they have plans.”
Jordan Farmar is back
The Press Enterprise (Jeff Eisenberg) reports: The emphatic one-handed dunk Jordan Farmar attempted Tuesday against Oklahoma City served at least one purpose, even though the play resulted in a charging foul. It proved to Farmar that his surgically repaired left knee is fully healthy again. “Just the fact that I didn’t think about it, I got an open lane, went and jumped off my knee with no second thought about it, that’s good,” Farmar said. “It tells me that I’m back to 100 percent.” In the 10 games since he returned, Farmar has averaged 6.6 points and 2.6 assists in 18 minutes per game, very similar numbers to those he put up prior to getting hurt in late December.
Stephen Jackson on a roll
The Bay Area News Group (Marcus Thompson II) reports: Stephen Jackson has considered himself a premier player, and now he is playing like one. His numbers have been flat-out ridiculous recently, more like those of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. In February, Jackson is averaging 28.4 points, 9.0 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game. During that five-game span, he has tallied at least 30 points and 10 assists three times — against San Antonio, Phoenix and New York. The last NBA player to get 30 and 10 three times over a five-game stretch was James in 2007. The last Warrior? Tim Hardaway in 1992. “Honestly, he’s playing as well as any small forward in the league,” Warriors guard Jamal Crawford said.
Pistons slumping at home
The Detroit News (Ted Kulfan) reports: The Pistons lost for the sixth time in seven games at home Wednesday to the Atlanta Hawks 99-95… The Pistons (27-24) head into the All-Star break with a three-game losing streak and are 5-12 in their last 17 games. “Definitely you don’t get to enjoy your break,” said coach Michael Curry, who believes the long weekend away from basketball could help his team. “Guys look physically tired and mentally drained. Hopefully this can re-energize them.” … “It’s not a good feeling,” Allen Iverson said of the Pistons’ recent slide. “In life you have to deal with adversity. It’s something we have to deal with right now. The whole thing is to stay positive and stick with each other.”
Deron Williams: Still not an All-Star
The Deseret News (Brad Rock) reports: The Jazz enter another All-Star break, today, happy to rest their aching bones. For guard Deron Williams, among others, it’s a much-needed respite from the grappling and shouldering that occurs on an everyday basis. Not that he’s glad about being sidelined. Actually, he’s ticked. At least he played that way in Wednesday night’s 113-109 win over the Lakers. Now in his fourth season, things haven’t gone according to plan. He’s still not an All-Star. First year, he rode the bench in the early season. No chance there. But the second, third and fourth years he didn’t get selected, either… In the last five games he scored 35, 34, 34, 31 and 31 points. So he didn’t leave quietly. The All-Star voters can just wonder what they’ve done while checking out Wednesday night’s box score.
Pacers notes
Positive-leaning Indiana Pacers team notes:
A leading candidate for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award, Danny Granger is on course to become the first player in NBA history to improve his scoring average by at least five points a game in three consecutive seasons. Granger is fifth in the NBA this season with an average of 25.5 ppg, which is nearly six points per game more than his average (19.7) of a season ago.
Including 4-5 on his way to a team-high 18 points vs. Cleveland, Feb. 10, Troy Murphy has shot 24-45 (.533) from 3-pt range in his last nine games. Murphy has made a career-best 99 3-pt field goals this season.
With an average of 11.5 rpg, Murphy is fifth in the NBA, and he is the only player ranked in the top 20 in both rebounds and 3-pt field goal accuracy. Murphy’s 43.0 percent from long range is 13th best in the NBA.
With their win over Cleveland on Tuesday, Feb. 10, the Pacers became the first team in the NBA this season to post a win against each of the four teams (Boston, Cleveland, the Lakers and Orlando) with the best winning percentages in the NBA.
The only Indiana player with more steals than turnovers, Travis Diener has accumulated 14 steals and committed just 10 turnovers in his 33 appearances this season. Diener leads the team in assists-to-turnover ratio with 77 assists and 10 miscues (7.70:1).
This weekend Danny Granger will not only make his first appearance in the NBA All-Star game on Sunday, but he will also participate in the 2009 Foot Locker 3-pt Shootout during All-Star Saturday in Phoenix, Feb. 14. Granger joins the NBA’s all-time 3-pt field goals king, Reggie Miller, as the only Pacers’ players to participate in the 3-pt Shootout. Miller took part in the long distance shooting competition five times, finishing second in 1990 and 1995.
InsideHoops talks to Q-Rich
With the arrival of Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni in New York, people all around the organization knew positive changes were coming. Nobody welcomed those changes more then Quentin Richardson. After playing a season under D’Antoni’s fast-paced offense in Phoenix, Quentin found himself being traded to New York and making the best of a tough situation. Randy Zellea of InsideHoops.com recently caught up with Q and talked to him about the move to New York from Phoenix, the direction of the Knicks, the atmosphere of world famous Madison Square Garden, and his free-time activities.
Read the Quentin Richardson interview.
Rockets-Kings team connections
Rockets Head Coach Rick Adelman stands as the winningest coach in Kings history, recording a 395-229 (.633) mark in eight seasons (1998-2006) as head coach of Sacramento.
Elston Turner also spent six seasons as an assistant coach on Adelman’s staff in Sacramento.
T.R. Dunn joined the Rockets coaching staff after three campaigns as an assistant coach for the Kings.
Rockets Assistant Coach R.J. Adelman served five years as a scout for Sacramento, including the final three seasons as assistant video coordinator.
Houston forward Chuck Hayes, who was born in San Leandro, California, attended Modesto Christian High School.
The Rockets acquired forward/guard Ron Artest from Sacramento in a trade that included guard Bobby Jackson and forward Donté Greene on Aug. 14, 2008.
Kings President John Thomas is a former Senior Executive Vice President with the Rockets.
Sacramento forward Kenny Thomas was drafted by Houston in the first round (22nd overall) of the 1999 NBA Draft, playing the next three-and-a-half seasons with the Rockets.
Timberwolves adjusting to life without Al Jefferson
The St. Paul Pioneer Press (Brian Murphy) reports: With star center Al Jefferson sidelined indefinitely because of a knee injury, the Timberwolves improvised an offensive scheme Tuesday that will be sketched in pencil the rest of the season. Rebounding savant Kevin Love absorbed more responsibilities as the 20-year-old rookie replaced Jefferson against the Toronto Raptors at Target Center. Sliding into Love’s power forward position was Ryan Gomes. That reopened a spot in the rotation for sharpshooter Mike Miller, who was plagued by a sprained ankle and shooting slump that forced him to come off the bench the previous 19 games… “We’re not dead. We’re not out. Everybody just needs to step up,” Love said. “We’ve all stepped up our game a little bit, but it’s going to have to be more. Different productivity from different players, including myself.”