Juwan Howard joins Bobcats

As previously reported was going to happen, NBA veteran big-man Juwan Howard has signed with the Charlotte Bobcats.

Click that link for the full story.

The Bobcats are weak in the big-man department, so any help they get is much-needed. At this point in his career it’s not likely Juwan will play many minutes. Though the only Bobcats who is sure to get lots of court time is Emeka Okafor, who is scoring just 12.9 points per game despite being their go-to option down low. He barely misses, shooting 59.5% this season, and grabs an impressive 10.8 rebounds per game, but has no other big guys around him who can even pretend to play basketball.

So, Howard can help a bit.

Discuss your reaction with other fans in this forum thread.

Dec 11: Jazz 97, Blazers 88

The AP reports: It didn’t matter much where Mehmet Okur was lining up for his shots in the first half. From 3-point range or under the basket, everything was falling for Okur in Utah’s 97-88 victory over Portland on Thursday night. Okur scored 21 of his 27 points in the first half and pulled down 10 rebounds. He was 9-for-14 from the floor and made two of the Jazz’s three 3-pointers… Paul Millsap had his 10th straight double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Deron Williams added 14 points and 11 assists to help the Jazz improve to 2-0 against Portland this season… Brandon Roy had 33 points, and LaMarcus Aldridge added 22 for Portland, tied with Utah for second place in the Northwest Division. Rudy Fernandez was the only other Blazer to score in double figures, finishing with 10 points…The Jazz also had 23 assists to Portland’s 13.

Dec 11: Mavs 95, Bobcats 90

THe AP reports: Dallas coach Rick Carlisle warned his team that the trade-depleted Charlotte Bobcats were still dangerous. The Mavericks got the message just in time. Dirk Nowitzki hit a key 3-pointer with less than 30 seconds to play and finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds and five assists to help the Mavericks hold off the pesky Bobcats 95-90 on Thursday night… Jason Terry had 26 points, 11 in the fourth quarter, to help the Mavericks improve to 10-0 against the Bobcats… Emeka Okafor had a season-high 27 points and 17 rebounds, and Raymond Felton added 16 points for Charlotte. The Bobcats have lost five straight… Charlotte rookie point guard D.J. Augustin went 3-for-16 from the field, finishing with nine points and 10 assists.

Dec 11: Celtics 122, Wizards 88

The AP reports: At 21-2, the Boston Celtics of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are off to the best start in the franchise’s storied history. Even Bill Russell, Larry Bird and Bob Cousy never were this good this early. Allen and Pierce scored 22 points apiece, Garnett nearly had a triple-double, and the Celtics beat the Washington Wizards 122-88 on Thursday night for the NBA champions’ 13th consecutive victory… Garnett finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in three quarters. Boston’s winning streak is its longest since a 14-game run in 1985-86. Caron Butler scored 19 points for the last-place Wizards, who matched their franchise’s slowest start, dropping to 4-16 for the first time since the 1966-67 Baltimore Bullets.

Thunder recall Steven Hill from D-League

Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has recalled center Steven Hill from the Tulsa 66ers of the National Basketball Development League.

Hill, who was assigned to Tulsa on November 21st, averaged 9.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in 25.6 minutes per contest. Hill appeared in five games, including three starts, for the 66ers.

Hill will practice with the Thunder tomorrow.

New Lakers radio deal

The Los Angeles Lakers today announced a new, multi-year radio broadcasting agreement with 710 ESPN beginning in the 2009-10 season.

As the flagship station for the Lakers’ radio coverage, 710 ESPN will carry all 82 regular season and any playoff games, as well as pre- and post-game coverage and preseason games.

“This is an exciting but somewhat bittersweet announcement for the Lakers organization,” said Jeanie Buss, Executive Vice President of Business Operations.  “KLAC has been a wonderful partner for more than three decades and we greatly respect and appreciate everything they have done.  At the same time, we feel strongly that the time is right for this move to 710 ESPN.”

Buss said the decision was influenced by strength of the ESPN brand and the substantial investment the company has made in the L.A. market.  710 ESPN, for example, plans to broadcast pre- and post-game coverage from the new state-of-the-art ESPN studios at L.A. Live across the street from STAPLES Center.

“It’s hard to imagine two groups better suited to working together than the Lakers and ESPN,” said Jim Pastor, SVP, ESPN Radio Station Group.  “The move to L.A. Live and the vast resources of both organizations provide an incredible opportunity to serve Lakers fans for years to come.  We couldn’t be prouder to call 710 ESPN their new home.”

The Lakers radio broadcasting team of play-by-play announcer Spero Dedes and color commentator Mychal Thompson will move with the team to the new station.

In addition to game coverage, 710 ESPN will broadcast additional Lakers-themed programming, including hourly team news reports, regular remote broadcasts from Lakers community events and a new weekly Lakers “insider” program.  Details of these and other initiatives will be released prior to the commencement of 710 ESPN’s broadcasts next season.

The Lakers’ commitment with the current rights holder, AM 570 KLAC, expires at the end of the 2008-09 season.

Ilgauskas sprains ankle

Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas suffered a left ankle sprain with 9:39 remaining in the fourth quarter in last night’s game in Philadelphia. He did not return to the game. He was examined by Dr. Richard Parker at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health today.  X-rays were negative and a moderate left ankle sprain is confirmed. He is listed as OUT for tomorrow’s game versus Philadelphia and his status will be updated as appropriate.

Chris Wilcox out 10-14 days

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chris Wilcox left last night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at 5:35 of the first quarter with a dislocated ring finger on his left hand.

He was taken to McBride Hospital where team physicians were able to reset the dislocation.

Wilcox is expected to miss the next 10-14 days.

This season he’s playing 22.5 minutes per game and averaging 9.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and little else on 47.7% shooting.

Sixers are struggling

The Philadelphia 76ers were somewhat of a surprise last season, winning 40 of their 82 games, which although unspectacular was better than expected.

In the offseason they made a huge signing, adding free agent power forward Elton Brand, a respected star who was coming off injury but has proven to be a force at his position.

The move seemed even better when considering the fact that Philly had a wide open hole at the four-spot.

Now, a month and a half into the 2008-09 season, the Sixers are still struggling to find their way. And their fans are starting to vocalize their frustration. The Philly Burbs (Tom Moore) reports:

The natives are growing a little restless. By the time Elton Brand missed a short jumper two-thirds of the way through the third quarter to make him 2-for-9 with the 76ers behind the Cavaliers by 18 points, the Wachovia Center fans’ boos and catcalls became louder. “Brand, you stink,” called out one. “Brand, do something,” said another. “Do something, (Maurice) Cheeks,” chimed in a third. The fans certainly didn’t think the Sixers, who were projected to win 45 to 50 games after signing Brand to an $82 million contract, would be 9-13 with five straight home losses. “Of course, they deserve to be restless,” Brand said. “They pay their hard-earned money and they expected a lot of us. We just need to step it up.”

Brand has played pretty well, averaging 16.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, though he’s shooting just 44.2%. The team’s struggles aren’t his fault, even if isn’t performing quite on the high level expected of him just yet. Samuel Dalembert, Elton’s partner in the starting big-man department, is scoring just 5.8 ppg, grabbing a somewhat respectable 7.9 rebounds, but not doing a whole lot else.

Andre Iguodala also started the season in pretty quiet fashion.

Philly also can’t make three-pointers. This has been a known problem, and it’s going to continue.

I expect them to improve, simply because on paper they should. Watch them over the next few weeks. If things still look disappointing, trades could be on the way.

–InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner

Dec 11: Lakers 115, Suns 110

The AP reports: Pau Gasol scored 28 points, Bryant had seven of his 18 in the last 6 1/2 minutes, and the Western Conference-leading Lakers struggled to a 115-110 victory Wednesday night. Andrew Bynum added 17 points and 11 rebounds, Sasha Vujacic scored a season-high 15 points and Derek Fisher had 13 for the Lakers (18-3), who were coming off a lethargic 113-101 loss at Sacramento on Tuesday night and didn’t clinch this victory until the final minute. The Suns (13-10) played without Raja Bell, Boris Diaw and rookie Sean Singletary, traded to Charlotte earlier Wednesday for Jason Richardson, Jared Dudley and a 2010 second-round pick. Phoenix also was without former Lakers star Shaquille O’Neal, whose 92-year-old great-grandmother died this week… Matt Barnes had season-high totals of 25 points and 10 rebounds to lead Phoenix. Grant Hill scored 23 points, Amare Stoudemire had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Leandro Barbosa added 18 points for the Suns. Steve Nash shot 2-of-12 and was held to seven points and nine assists.