Dwight Howard playfully mocks Vince Carter

vince carter

Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel reports (via blog): Magic center Dwight Howard has coined a new nickname for Vince Carter, who was called “Half-Man, Half-Amazing” in his high-flying, younger years. Laughed Howard, “He’s now ‘Half-Man, Half-Retired.’ “He’s not the Toronto Raptors Vince Carter who was dunking on seven-footers, but he’s still one of the league’s best players.” Carter, the eight-time all-star acquired in a trade this summer, showed flashes in his Magic debut Monday night as Orlando opened their preseason with a 110-105 victory against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Arena.

InsideHoops.com editor says: If a young Vince Carter and the current Dwight Howard both jumped as high as they could in the same direction, just as the wind gusted along with them, perhaps a typhoon would be created, sweeping the Magic arena away, delaying the NBA season. That would be pretty awful. Fortunately Carter is older now so as realistic as the scenario I just described may be, chances are it won’t happen.

Allen Iverson acting as vocal leader

allen iverson

Scott Cacciola of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports:  Allen Iverson made his presence felt at training camp, and he was vocal. After the team had a sloppy mid-week workout, Lionel Hollins got the group together at center court and yelled at them. Then Iverson did the same, his mini-tirade laced with expletives. “C’mon, man!” Iverson yelled. “This ain’t punishment! This is how we’re trying to play.” Was Hollins encouraged to see Iverson take such a vocal role so early? He almost bristled at the question. “You know, I don’t care,” Hollins said. “The team has to take the onus, and it’s not just one person. It’s the team. They have to encourage each other, they have to chastise each other. … They have to say the right things and mean it the right way.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: I fear w hat happens when Iverson, Zach Randolph and maybe Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo start disagreeing about who should be shooting what shot, who ignored the open man or didn’t see the cutter, etc.

Pistons coach likes Kwame Brown, for now

kwame brown

Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press reports: Pistons coach John Kuester has praised Kwame Brown at nearly every opportunity since he was hired in early July. So it wasn’t a shock when Kuester announced before Monday night’s exhibition opener against the Heat that the veteran entering his ninth season will get first crack at the starting center job. “Kwame has had a great 10 practices,” Kuester said. Kuester’s praise of Brown started even before training camp last week.

InsideHoops.com editor says: I’m not saying the love for Kwame Brown won’t last, but, well, yeah, let’s see if it lasts.  He may be the best option they have for the role.

Oct 5: Magic 110, Mavs 105

The AP reports: Vince Carter scored 21 points in his Orlando debut and Brandon Bass added seven of his 13 points in the final two minutes to lift the Magic to a 110-105 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the preseason opener for both teams on Monday night… Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points, including going 17-for-19 from the free-throw line. Drew Gooden, an offseason free-agent pickup by the Mavericks, added 18 points. Orlando’s Dwight Howard had 17 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out with 4:31 left in the third quarter. Rashard Lewis added 18 points for the Magic.

Oct 5: Pistons 87, Heat 83

The AP reports: Austin Daye’s physique has always drawn comparisons to Tayshaun Prince. It only took the Detroit Pistons rookie two quarters to bring Prince’s most famous moment to mind. In the second quarter of Detroit’s 87-83 preseason victory over Miami, Daye ran down Dwyane Wade to block what appeared to be an uncontested layup—a play very similar to Prince’s game-winning block of Indiana’s Reggie Miller in the 2004 playoffs… Dwyane Wade led Miami with 18 points in 26 minutes, but wasn’t happy with Miami’s defense, which allowed the Pistons to shoot 47.6 percent from the floor.

Robin Lopez out 6-8 weeks

Phoenix Suns center Robin Lopez will undergo surgery to repair a broken fifth metatarsal in his left foot, the club announced today.  Lopez suffered the injury in the second half of the team’s intrasquad scrimmage Saturday in San Diego.

The procedure to insert a screw will be performed tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 6, by Dr. Gus Armendariz at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix.  Lopez is expected to miss between six and eight weeks.

As a rookie in 2008-09, the Stanford product averaged 3.2 points and 2.0 rebounds while appearing in 60 games.

The Suns open exhibition play tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 6, hosting Euroleague club Partizan Belgrade at US Airways Center at 7 p.m.

C.J. Miles ruptures left thumb ligament

Utah Jazz guard/forward C.J. Miles suffered a ruptured left thumb ligament during practice today at London’s O2 Arena and will require surgery to repair the ligament, Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today.  Miles was examined by team orthopedist Dr. Lyle Mason and is expected to return to Salt Lake City to have the procedure performed.

A report on the surgery and an estimated timeline for recovery will be provided following the procedure.

Selected by the Jazz in the second round (34th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft, Miles (6-6, 220, Skyline H.S.) has appeared in 192 games (98 starts) with Utah, owning career averages of 5.9 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 15.0 minutes per game. Starting in all 72 games played last season, the Dallas native enjoyed a career year in 2008-09, averaging 9.1 points, 1.5 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per game.

Oct 4: Warriors 108, Clippers 101

The AP reports: Anthony Morrow scored 15 of his 21 points in the first half and the Golden State Warriors beat the Los Angeles Clippers 108-101 on Sunday night in the preseason opener for both teams. Kelenna Azubuike added 19 points and 10 rebounds and Corey Maggette had 18 for the Warriors. Stephen Jackson scored 11 and Anthony Rudolph added 10. DeAndre Jordan recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers. He made all eight of his shots. Eric Gordon added 19 points and Chris Kaman had 13.

Oct 4: Wolves 117, Bucks 103

The AP reports: Kevin Love had 17 points and Minnesota made a whopping 50 of 56 free throws to beat Milwaukee 117-103 on Sunday night, making a winner out of coach Kurt Rambis in his preseason debut… The game was played with replacement officials, who called 73 fouls that resulted in 94 free throws total. The Bucks were 26 of 38… Love had six points and four rebounds in the first three minutes as the Timberwolves, who never trailed, jumped ahead 12-2. He finished with 13 rebounds in 21 minutes… Hakim Warrick led Milwaukee with 24 points, and rookie Brandon Jennings added 14 points.

Oct 4: Knicks 115, Nets 107

The AP reports: Al Harrington scored 23 points and Wilson Chandler had 21 to help the New York Knicks beat the New Jersey Nets 115-107 on Sunday in the preseason opener for both teams. David Lee added 20 points and nine rebounds, and New York made 13 of 31 3-pointers. Chris Douglas-Roberts led the Nets with 21 points, and Brook Lopez had 19, and Bobby Simmons added 16… Newcomer Darko Milicic was 1 of 4 from the field in limited action for the Knicks. Danilo Gallinari had nine points in 26 minutes after playing only 28 games last season in an injury-plagued rookie year.