The Philadelphia Inquirer (Kate Fagan) reports: Through two games, Samuel Dalembert has looked slightly … off. He has rebounded very well (12.5 average), scored decently (8.5 average), but struggled with some close-range shots. Remember, Sam missed a decent amount of the preseason with a knee sprain. Said Dalembert: “I’m not quite back. The [knee] is uncomfortable still. I’m not quite myself. I’ve been missing a lot of stuff I usually don’t miss. I’m catching the ball and just something is off, not quite on balance. It’s all part of it, and as games go by and I keep playing more, it will get better. I’m one little bit away from a big game.”
Sean May is out of shape
The AP reports: Bobcats forward Sean May was on the inactive list for Saturday’s game against Miami, two days after coach Larry Brown criticized his fitness following a sluggish performance in the season opener. May started in Charlotte’s 96-79 loss to Cleveland on Thursday night, but was 0-for-6 from the field and played only three minutes in the second half.
InsideHoops.com editor (Jeff) says: I hope he didn’t try to eat the bench while sitting on it. Because then the bench would disappear. And everyone sitting on it would fall down. Someone could get hurt.
Rockets-Thunder team connections
Rockets Assistant Coach Jack Sikma joined Houston after spending four seasons on the coaching staff in Seattle … Sikma, who was selected by the Sonics with the eighth overall pick of the 1977 NBA Draft, had his jersey #43 retired by Seattle-Oklahoma City franchise on Nov. 21, 1992 … Houston Assistant Coach R.J. Adelman worked as an NBA advance scout for the former Sonics before coming to Houston … Gerald Madkins, Houston’s as Director of Scouting, joined the Rockets after serving as the Director of West Coast College Scouting for Seattle in 2007-08 … Brent Barry still ranks fifth all-time in Seattle-Oklahoma City franchise history with 669 3-pointers made … originally chosen by Seattle in the second round (31st overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft, Houston obtained the draft rights to forward Carl Landry on June 28, 2007 … Scott Brooks, an assistant coach with the Thunder, played three seasons with the Rockets (1992-95) … Oklahoma City Assistant Coach Mark Bryant also played one season with Houston (1995-96) … Thunder guard John Lucas III played two season with the Rockets (2005-07).
Meet agent for coaches Warren LeGarie
The New York Post (Marc Berman) reports: Warren LeGarie is one of the most important movers and shakers of the NBA you’ve never heard of. Best known for founding the wildly successful NBA Las Vegas Summer League five years ago that has knocked out all competitors, LeGarie is also coach Mike D’Antoni’s agent and a key reason he wound up in New York and not Chicago… LeGarie is the agent for five other NBA head coaches – Rick Carlisle, George Karl, Mike Dunleavy, Mike Iavarone and Mike Brown, plus Nets GM Kiki Vandeweghe.
Oct 31: Nuggets 113, Clippers 103 OT
The AP reports: Allen Iverson scored nine of his 25 points in the final 3:35 of overtime and the Denver Nuggets overcame an 18-point halftime deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 113-103 on Friday night. Nene added 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets before fouling out for the second time in two games. Kenyon Martin missed nine of his first 10 shots and finished with 13 points. But he also grabbed 13 rebounds, made a key defensive stop to send the game into OT and made a 3-pointer in the final minute of the game to secure the victory. Al Thornton had 30 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers. Tim Thomas added 20 points and Chris Kaman had 15 points and 15 rebounds.
Oct 31: Blazers 100, Spurs 99
The AP reports: Michael Finley’s shot at the buzzer for San Antonio rimmed out and the Blazers edged the Spurs 100-99 Friday night… Brandon Roy had 26 points and seven assists for the Blazers, who were without 7-foot center Greg Oden, who sprained his right foot in the season opener against the Lakers. Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Parker had 24 points and 11 assists… Channing Frye hit a jumper to give the Blazers their biggest lead at 82-72, then followed with a dunk. But Ime Udoka and Mason each answered with a 3-pointer, and Duncan made a layup to narrow it to 84-80 for the Spurs.
Oct 31: Celtics 96, Bulls 80
The AP reports: Kevin Garnett played much better in the 1,000th game of his career than in his first of this season. Boston’s intense leader had 18 points and 10 rebounds three days after a mediocre season opener and became the youngest player in NBA history to play in 1,000 regular-season games when the Celtics beat the Chicago Bulls 96-80 Friday night… Rookie point guard Derrick Rose, the top pick in the NBA draft, led the Bulls with 18 points and made six of their 25 field goals. He also learned a lesson from the champs… Tyrus Thomas, on 2-for-17 shooting, and Ben Gordon, who went 3-for-10, scored 11 each. Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo scored 14 each for Boston.
Oct 31: Grizzlies 86, Magic 84
The AP reports: Rudy Gay, the third-year pro, hit an 18-foot jumper right of the basket as time expired to give the Memphis Grizzlies an 86-84 win over the Orlando Magic… It gave Gay 29 points to lead the Grizzlies to their first win in a home opener since moving to Memphis in the 2001-02 season. Gay scored 14 of Memphis’ 25 points in the fourth-quarter rally. Rookie O.J. Mayo scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds for Memphis, while Gasol scored 10 points and guarded the Magic’s Dwight Howard… Rashard Lewis led the Magic with 23 points, while Hedo Turkoglu finished with 18, nine rebounds and seven assists. Howard had 14 points and 14 rebounds, but managed only nine shots. Jameer Nelson had 11 points.
Oct 31: Heat 103, Kings 77
The AP reports: Dwyane Wade had 20 points and eight assists, Michael Beasley finished with 17 and the Heat scored a whopping 41 points off turnovers to easily beat the Sacramento Kings 103-77 in their home opener Friday night… Udonis Haslem scored 14 points for the Heat. Marion finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and like Wade, they both sat out the entire fourth quarter. Daequan Cook scored 13 points and Mark Blount added 10. John Salmons and Quincy Douby each scored 14 for the Kings (0-2)… Heat PG Chris Quinn was inactive. Quinn, who was believed to be the preseason favorite to start, dressed but didn’t play in Wednesday’s loss at New York.
Oct 31: Sixers 116, Knicks 87
The AP reports: Elton Brand had 24 points and 14 rebounds, Andre Miller added 20 points and eight assists and Willie Green had 18 points on 8-for-9 shooting for Philadelphia (1-1), which shot 59.1 percent (52-for-88) from the field and led all the way. The Sixers held the Knicks to 32.7 percent shooting (32-for-98) and just 15 fourth-quarter points… Jamal Crawford led five Knicks in double figures with 14 points. David Lee added 13 points and 11 rebounds for New York (1-1), which trailed by 30 points in the fourth quarter and never got closer than seven in the second half when it was 64-57 with 8:41 left in the third quarter.