Offical 2009-10 NBA Season Thread

[18key]

Originally Posted by Kiddin Like Jason

Collison - 16 points (7-1, 4 rebounds, 14 assists and 4 turnovers

Picked him up for my fantasy league last night. Between him and Nash, I'm running the table on the assist category from here on out. (I hope)

 

[kiddin like jason]

Eric Snow and Brent Barry are phenomenal on NBATV.

 

[halfwaycrook]

Originally Posted by Kiddin Like Jason

Eric Snow and Brent Barry are phenomenal on NBATV.

Sarcasm?

I don't have it

 

[arstyle27]

If Wade rather play in Miami that's fine. I'm sure the hundreds of fans that go to Heat games will be very happy.

 

[hood17]

Brent Barry is

on nbatv. I have no clue what he's talking about most of the time usually. He stays on topic the boom he has comes up with a joke out of no where. Eric snow was

that kobe didn't shoot that.
And the Celtics couldn't find anytime for Hudson. Hopefully he can help out that bench.
Kaman should replace Cp3.

 

[kidoopz]

Okay its official.. The Jazz need to let Boozer go. Millsap, welcome to being the go to guy in the paint. This needs to happen soon..

 

[im not you]

Originally Posted by HOOD17

Kaman  Billups should replace Cp3.

 

[executive76]

Originally Posted by Im Not You

Originally Posted by HOOD17

Kaman  Billups should replace Cp3.

 

[CP1708]

Originally Posted by Kiddin Like Jason

Eric Snow and Brent Barry are phenomenal on NBATV.

I was wondering if anyone saw the glare that Snow gave Barry......dude was HEATED for some reason. 

  

 

[importking]

tracy to wiz.. say it aint so.. i was hoping he go to spurs for rj

 

[proshares]

^ Source?

 

[importking]

Originally Posted by Proshares

^ Source?

rumors of course

http://www.locksmithsportspicks.com/tracy-mcgrady-could-be-traded-to-wizards-2110/

 

[i nasmatic i]

Originally Posted by I NaSmatic I

Random fake trade:

Sacramento gets: Ray Allen's expiring contract
Boston gets: Kevin Martin and Andres Nocioni/Beno Udrih

Who says no?

This Trade Has To Happen: Ray Allen For Kevin Martin & Andres Nocioni

I’m sorry Celtics fans, but the Big Three as we know it could soon be coming to an end. Sure it will be incredibly hard – if not downright impossible – to replace the Hall of Fame trio of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, but a new day in Boston is upon us. And finding a new player to complete a trio that includes Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins has to be priority No. 1. In order to make this happen, the following trade has to go down: Ray Allen for Kevin Martin and Andres Nocioni.

According to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics have told other teams that that they are willing to trade Allen.

    The Celtics have initiated trade proposals on Allen, multiple league sources say, and Boston is searching for a younger, less expensive guard and an expiring contract. This way they can find a replacement for the 34-year-old Allen without losing him and his $20 million expiring contract for nothing in free agency this summer. Only, there isn’t a shooting guard available who’s Allen’s peer. This threatens a perilous choice between transitioning for the future and refusing to compromise a chance to win a title now.

While it’s true that there isn’t a shooting guard available who’s Allen’s peer, Martin would be the best possible option. He just turned 27 yesterday, and since coming back from his injury, has finally started to get his groove back. At 6-7, the six-year pro would fit in well between Rondo and Pierce in the backcourt, and also could be just as potent a scoring threat as Allen.

But if I’m Danny Ainge, the real reason I make this deal is Nocioni. This fall, there were rumors that Nocioni could land in Boston as part of a three-team deal, although many people thought that Ainge would be reluctant to take on the remaining two years and $13.5 million of his contract. But with injuries depleting their bench, his offensive and defensive production would be welcomed with open arms in Beantown. At the same time, if Ainge is looking to acquire an expiring contract so the Celtics have some flexibility this summer, they could also do the deal for Martin and Kenny Thomas‘ expiring $8.8 million contract. (Both deals work in the NBA Trade Machine.) Either trade would keep the Celtics in the title hunt this season, and put them in the position to remain a threat for years to come.

According to Wojnarowski, while Allen wants to remain a Celtic, he’s believed to be intrigued with the possibility of joining either the Heat or staying close to his home in Connecticut and signing with the Knicks. Neither of these teams really have the pieces that the Celtics would want in return. If they’re just taking back expiring contracts, they might as well play out the season with Allen, and let his almost $19 million deal come off the books.

As for the Kings, they would jump at the chance to make this deal. Even if Allen doesn’t re-sign in the offseason, ridding themselves of the three years and $36+ million remaining on Martin’s deal – so they can build around Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi, Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes – would be huge. With all that money off the books, the Kings could be huge players in this summer’s free agent bonanza.

What do you think? If you’re the Celtics and/or Kings, do you make this deal?
http://dimemag.com/2010/02/this-trade-has-to-happen-ray-allen-for-kevin-martin-andres-nocioni/

 

[JD617]

For what it's worth...

Pau Gasol Unhappy With Kobe’s Shooting Spree
While the rest of the world was busy feting Kobe Bryant for surpassing the great Jerry West on the all-time scoring list last night in Memphis, his teammate Pau Gasol stewed over the lack of touches he received in the loss (only ten shot attempts compared to KB’s 2, indicating a growing frustration with his role within the Laker offense.

So, is this Kobe vs. Shaq, the remix? Probably not — Gasol isn’t nearly as combative or willing to fight Bryant for top dog status as O’Neal was — but it’s certainly something worth keeping an eye on.

The OC Register tried to capture Pau’s sullen mood last night:

Gasol has on several occasions offered passive-aggressive comments about not getting the ball enough after Lakers losses in the past. This time, the comments leaned a little harder toward aggressive, particularly when it came to Bryant.

Gasol was asked about Bryant’s new record and offered politically correct – and believably authentic – commentary (“I’m proud of him; I congratulate him

 

[blazers21ntnp]

Originally Posted by I NaSmatic I

Originally Posted by I NaSmatic I

Random fake trade:

Sacramento gets: Ray Allen's expiring contract
Boston gets: Kevin Martin and Andres Nocioni/Beno Udrih

Who says no?

http://dimemag.com/2010/02/this-trade-has-to-happen-ray-allen-for-kevin-martin-andres-nocioni/

Looks like we know who reads NT. That's dirty.

 

[i nasmatic i]

It's been brewing the last few months. Can't say I blame Pau (even if he's been soft lately).

 

[im not you]

Originally Posted by JD617

 record and offered politically correct – and believably authentic – commentary (“I’m proud of him; I congratulate him

 

[CP1708]

That's the thing with me too, Pau has been solid from minute one since he's been a Laker, but since his deal go renewed, he has been bum sauce.  Fumbling passes away, not going up and dunking when he's there, missing shots, getting pushed around, sitting out 17 games this year while Kobe plays game after game banged up.  I'm not sure Pau has a leg to stand on just yet.  Play hard very minute of every game, and I'll listen to you Pau, not until then. 

 

[proshares]

that's pretty funny Nas.

 

[bhzmafia14]

Originally Posted by CP1708

That's the thing with me too, Pau has been solid from minute one since he's been a Laker, but since his deal go renewed, he has been bum sauce.  Fumbling passes away, not going up and dunking when he's there, missing shots, getting pushed around, sitting out 17 games this year while Kobe plays game after game banged up.  I'm not sure Pau has a leg to stand on just yet.  Play hard very minute of every game, and I'll listen to you Pau, not until then. 

Welcome tothe world of the real Pau Gasol.

 

[proshares]

http://[h3]

[h3]Will Knicks keep Lee?[/h3]
12:11PM ET

[h5]David Lee | Knicks [/h5]


David Lee is pumping in 19.6 points per game and grabbing 11.5 boards a game this year, and many thought his play this season for the Knicks warranted an All-Star appearance. Yet, Lee was instead snubbed.

But beyond this season's accolades, there's a real possibility the Knicks will have a difficult time retaining Lee's services, as they only signed him to a one-year deal in the offseason, and he'll be an unrestricted free agent come this summer.

According to ESPN's Chris Sheridan, if the Knicks are able to swing a trade for Jared Jeffries, it's more likely they'll have the cash to keep Lee beyond this season.

[h5]Chris Sheridan[/h5]
Jeffries trade key for Knicks

"It's all about trading Jared Jeffries at this point, Roy, otherwise the Knicks are more or less doomed to losing David Lee next summer (either through a siogn-and-trade, or outright with nothing in return on the unrestricted free agent market) if they land LeBron James. If they move Jeffries for expiring money, they'll have enough room to go after James and then choose between Lee and Bosh, if Bosh is interested. I'd also postulate that if it took the inclusion of Nate Robinson to get Jeffries off their cap, they'd probably do it if they had to. (The problem, though, is that Nate has a trade veto, and he wouldn't want to go anywhere except Boston, or to a team that'll have enough room under the cap next summer to hook him up for 3 years. Plus, Nate is a base-year compensation player, which complicates what's doable under the NBA's restrictive trade rules.)"

[/h3]

http://[h3]Is Allen on the block?[/h3]
11:57AM ET

[h5]Ray Allen | Celtics [/h5]


[h5]The Allen watch[/h5]

• Chicago. The Bulls have two guards in Kirk Hinrich and John Salmons available to trade, but their talent level might not be what Boston is looking for. The Bulls could include Tyrus Thomas and Jerome James in a deal with Hinrich, so salaries match and the C's get help on the offensive boards with Thomas.
• Miami. If Allen stays with the team past the deadline, Wojnarowski reports he's intrigued by signing with Miami in the offseason. If the Heat are able to land Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire in free agency, Allen could sign for a smaller contract and try one last go at at title. Where he fits in with Dwyane Wade remains to be seen, however.
• New York. If Boston decides not to re-sign Allen, Wojnarowksi writes he could potentially sign with the Knicks after the season to stay close to his Connecticut home.

UPDATE: The Boston Herald reported today that Danny Ainge "laughed at" and "seemed genuinely perplexed" when asked about Allen trade rumors.
--
With Ray Allen's contract expiring after the season, he's publicly stated he'd love to come back to the team next season and re-sign for less money.

But might his expiring contract be better served on the trade market before Feb. 18's deadline? According to Adrian Wojnarowksi of Yahoo! Sports, that appears to be the case.

"The Celtics have initiated trade proposals on Allen, multiple league sources say, and Boston is searching for a younger, less expensive guard and an expiring contract," he writes. "This way they can find a replacement for the 34-year-old Allen without losing him and his $20 million expiring contract for nothing in free agency this summer. Only, there isn't a shooting guard available who's Allen's peer. This threatens a perilous choice between transitioning for the future and refusing to compromise a chance to win a title now."

After watching the Celtics-Lakers game on Sunday, ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan wonders if Allen will still be in Boston after the trade deadline, and proposed a purely speculative deal with the Bulls.

[h5]Chris Sheridan[/h5]
Bulls and C's have what what each other need

"Would both teams be happy with a trade (and we're merely speculating here) that sent Allen and a minor player to Chicago for Kirk Hinrich, Tyrus Thomas and Jerome James (a 3-for-2 would work, because Boston has left a roster spot open since Lester Hudson was claimed off waivers by Memphis)? Or for Hinrich and Brad Miller? Either of those deals would clear $9 million off the Bulls' cap for next summer, when they?ll be going after a max free agent, and would allow Chicago to remain a viable playoff contender with a shooter who can provide what Hinrich and John Salmons haven't. The Celtics would get another guard who can't quite shoot as well (Hinrich is making only 38 percent of his shots while Allen is at 45 percent) but would gain a far more capable ballhandler and defender. Moreover, if the Celtics could get a shot-blocker and rebounder like Thomas, it could go a long way toward getting them out of the NBA cellar in offensive boards (where they rank 30th) and restore some of their customary defensive prowess."

[h5]John Hollinger[/h5]
Allen's shooting is struggling, yet C's should upgrade supporting cast first

"He's shooting only 34.1 percent on 3-pointers, well off his career mark of 39.8 percent entering the season. The probability of this happening by random chance is only 4.6 percent, so we have to consider the possibility that there's been a loss of ability here for the 34-year-old guard. Even if his 3-point shooting numbers bounce back, his overall body of work is worrisome. Allen's other numbers are slightly worse across the board, too, and his splits are those of a tired vet -- instead of ramping up his numbers when Garnett went out earlier this month, for instance, he averaged fewer points and assists per minute in January than in the first two months and shot 31.9 percent on 3s ... Because of Boston's struggles, a lot of fans are wondering whether the team will consider a major trade, with Allen -- who has an expiring contract worth nearly $20 million -- drawing particular attention. But it seems to me a team that has gone all in as far as Boston would seek to upgrade the supporting cast first. With $10 million in expiring contracts not including Allen's, it would be fairly easy for the Celtics to concoct a deal that shipped out secondary assets (Brian Scalabrine, J.R. Giddens, Eddie House, etc.) for a quality role player with a longer contract, like Chicago's Kirk Hinrich. "

http://[h3]Amare: Staying or going? [/h3]
11:28AM ET

[h5]Amare Stoudemire | Suns | Interested: Wizards?, Spurs?, Nets?, Heat?, Bulls? [/h5]


[h5]Possible Stoudemire destinations[/h5]

• New Jersey. They'll be in Brooklyn in a few years, and can offer young talent and draft picks.
• Miami. Stoudemire has a place in the area, and has the opportunity to play with Dwyane Wade. The Heat could send back Michael Beasley or Jermaine O'Neal.
• Chicago. The Bulls are looking for a power forward who can score. They play in a big market and have cap space to re-sign Stoudemire. Local media says the Bulls have reservations about signing him, but a package of Tyrus Thomas and possibly Brad Miller or Kirk Hinrich is in the mix.
• San Antonio. Seems unlikely, but reports say they are mulling it over. The Spurs could send Manu Ginobili's expiring contract in return.
• New York. It's a big market and Mike D'Antoni is familiar with Stoudemire, but Donnie Walsh doesn't see it happening.
• Washington. With the Wizards being in sell mode, the Suns could receive Antawn Jamison in return, a stretch 4 who would work well in their system.

There are concerns in Phoenix that Amare Stoudemire will opt out of the last year of his contract. The team has been struggling of late. So Stoudemire's name is hot in trade rumors.

And there have been other signs beyond the Suns' internal concerns about Amare's future with the team.

The Arizona Republic noted last week: "his energy on the court has made him look as though he's halfway packed and ready to leave. It has reached the point that the Suns are more inclined to trade him before the Feb. 18 deadline if a palatable deal arises."

ESPN's J.A. Adande indicated that GM Steve Kerr not shooting down trade rumors is telling that Stoudemire's days are numbered.

Stoudemire says he wants a bigger market.

But ESPN's John Hollinger thinks Stoudemire might be better served not opting out of the last year of his deal next season, because he's unlikely to get that $16 million on the open market. ESPN's Chris Sheridan adds in that with the cap shrinking and a potential lockout looming, teams might not want to sign Stoudemire to a max deal.

And as ESPN's Chad Ford notes, he's not exactly an easy guy to trade.

[h5]John Hollinger[/h5]
Stoudemire might be better served not opting out

"Amare makes $16 million next year if he doesn't opt out. I greatly doubt he's a $16 million player this summer, even if teams whiff on LeBron James and get desperate. So the Suns have to consider the possibility that he doesn't opt out."

[h5]Chris Sheridan[/h5]
Teams leery of signing Stoudemire to max deal

"The biggest complicating factor is that Amare wants a max extension, and with the cap expected to shrink next summer, and a potential lockout looming for 2011, there aren't a lot of teams anxious to tie up what could amount to 30-40 percent of their salary cap for a half-decade on a guy with his injury history."

[h5]Chad Ford[/h5]
Teams want Stoudemire to re-sign

"Stoudemire won't be easy to trade. He can become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and any team that trades for him is going to want some sort of guarantee that he'll sign an extension or a new contract this summer. If Stoudemire's willing to give it, and a team is willing to give up a substantial asset for him, the Suns may very well pull the trigger."

http://[h3]Pacers asking too much for Murphy?[/h3]
10:45AM ET

[h5]Troy Murphy | Pacers [/h5]


[h5]Cavs top targets[/h5]

• Antawn Jamison. With the Wizards' season in the tank, they are rumored to be in sell mode. He's a stretch-4 the Cavs crave. There are reservations about whether the Wiz will help out the Cavs, though, as the teams are rivals.
• Troy Murphy. He's another stretch-4 on their radar. But reports are the Pacers are asking too much for him.
• Andre Iguodala. He doesn't seem like an ideal fit, but reports are the Cavs and Sixers are still talking about a deal.

The Cavaliers would like to acquire Troy Murphy from the Pacers, but the asking price is too high.

The Indianapolis Star reports the Pacers wanted the Cavaliers to give up J.J. Hickson, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and a couple draft picks for Murphy.

The Cavaliers, as expected, turned down that offer.

If Murphy's price tag is too high, the Cavs may instead get another stretch-4 in Antawn Jamison. Andre Iguodala is also still in play for the team as the trade deadline approaches.

[h5]Chad Ford[/h5]
Cavs likely to deal before deadline

"The Cavs are sporting the best record in the league and have swept the Western Conference favorites, the Lakers, 2-0. But after last year's playoff collapse, you can be sure GM Danny Ferry will take every precaution. And Cleveland has another big reason to make a deal: LeBron James can be a free agent this summer, and the Cavs want to do everything in their power to persuade him to stay long term. The Cavs have some good assets, including Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Shaquille O'Neal, whose contracts are expiring, and the semi-retired Wally Szczerbiak, a sign-and-trade candidate. They also have a young player, J.J. Hickson, in whom some teams have shown interest. Plus, the Cavs would be willing to give up this year's first-round pick. But those assets are of value primarily to teams trying to clear cap room. Hickson and a late first-round pick alone won't net a star. As trade targets, the Cavs have been concentrating mostly on 4s who can spread the floor. The Wizards' Antawn Jamison and the Pacers' Troy Murphy are reportedly at the top of their list. While both the Wizards and Pacers have some financial reasons to make a deal with Cleveland, both teams are seeing whether they can get something more from another team."

http://[h3]Hinrich hopes he stays with Bulls[/h3]
10:23AM ET

[h5]Kirk Hinrich | Bulls [/h5]


The Bulls consider http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1981Kirk Hinrich their "glue guy." He was inserted into the starting lineup in late December and the team has gone 13-4.

Hinrich knows there is a chance he could be traded since the Bulls want to have as much room under the cap as possible this summer. Hinrich says his desire is to remain in Chicago.

"I would prefer to stay here," he told the Chicago Tribune. "It's a good situation. We have good guys. We're playing well. It's fun right now."

Most of the speculation surrounding Hinrich has him being traded to the http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=lalLos Angeles Lakers or Boston Celtics.

http://[h3]Parker's return uncertain[/h3]
10:19AM ET

[h5]Tony Parker | Spurs [/h5]


Spurs point guard Tony Parker has missed the last two games with a sprained left ankle. The San Antonio Express-News reports Parker will travel with the team, as they begin their rodeo road trip on Wednesday; however, his return is still unknown.

http://[h3]No deals for C's this season?[/h3]
10:06AM ET

[h5]Boston Celtics [/h5]


Danny Ainge laughed at all the Celtics trade rumors Monday while talking with Boston Herald.

"Let me just put it this way: We're doing everything we can to win a championship now," Ainge said. "We're not going to do anything that might hurt our chances of winning. There's no question we need to play better, but we're not going to panic."

"I'm pretty sure they're going to be looking at a lot of things in the summer, but for now Danny doesn't want to do anything that doesn't make them better right away," a general manager told the newspaper.

http://[h3]Hughes' frustration very high[/h3]
10:01AM ET

[h5]Larry Hughes | Knicks [/h5]


The more Larry Hughes sits, the more frustrated he becomes. The Knicks don't see Hughes in their future, so head coach Mike D'Antonio sees no reason to play him.

"(My frustration) is as high as it's going to get," Hughes told the New York Daily News. "I can't get any more frustrated than I already am."

"We'll figure this thing out," Hughes added. "Hopefully sooner than later."

Once the trade deadline passes, a buyout for Hughes and Darko Milicic is expected, if neither is moved to another team.

http://[h3]Nuggets not trading Smith?[/h3]
10:00AM ET

[h5]J.R. Smith | Nuggets [/h5]


Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post doesn't think the Nuggets will trade J.R. Smith because of his reasonable contract and production off the bench.

Hochman writes: "In the past couple weeks, my e-mail box has been stuffed with fan letters about J.R. Smith. While many fans love J.R., many are becoming more and more frustrated. But the fact is, it doesn't sound like Denver is going to trade Smith. J.R. is such a valuable weapon off the bench. His 3-point shooting and dribble-penetrate passing can change the course of a game. The Nuggets have invested ample time and money into his development. And the guy scores around 15 points a game -- it's tough to find a guy who makes J.R. money but has J.R. production."

http://[h3]Foster seeks second opinion[/h3]
9:58AM ET

[h5]Jeff Foster | Pacers [/h5]


ESPN.com's John Hollinger broke the news Sunday that Jeff Foster, who was the target of several clubs, is expected to miss the rest of the season due to his bad back. His trade value is extremely low now.

The Indianapolis Star reports Foster is expected to fly to Los Angeles later this week to get another opinion on his back.

Foster's contract expires after the 2010-11 season.

http://[h3]Big give back not expected[/h3]
9:47AM ET

[h5]Derek Fisher | Lakers [/h5]


There have been two reports recently that the NBA in the next collective bargaining agreement wants to dramatically lower the amount of basketball-related income that must be given to the players.

Lakers guard, Derek Fisher, who is the president of the NBPA's Executive Committee, doesn't think the players will accept such a huge decrease from the NBA.

"I don't foresee any situation where we agree to a deal that flips the percentage in that manner, but there are a lot of ways to get to a destination or a goal," Fisher told ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan.

"It's a negotiation, so I don't think we'd be surprised if there's an overreach," Fisher added. "So we'll see when we receive it how it looks, but I don't know if we should box ourselves in to just sending back our response to what they sent."

http://[h3]Stojakovic's uncertain future[/h3]
9:34AM ET

[h5]Peja Stojakovic | Hornets [/h5]


Peja Stojakovic will be 34 when his contract expires after the 2010-11 season. Stojakovic, at this time, doesn't know if he'll try to continue playing or retire. Stojakovic has had to deal with a balky back for the last couple of years.

"I am going to be 34 after this contract," Stojakovic tells AOL FanHouse. "I want to make sure I play out (the current contract) on my own terms as far as being healthy and not being forced to stop playing because of injury. I love to play. I still enjoy playing. But also sometimes it's (tough) to be out there if you're in pain and just to take the pain medicine to get on the court."

Stojakovic will earn $14.25 million next season and knows he could be traded starting in July due to his 2010-11 expiring contract.

"Exactly," said Stojakovic. "I've been reading about other guys so I figure I'll be answering the same questions (after this season). That's part of the business ... It's up to the front office ... But I have no problem (staying in New Orleans). I really like the guys on the team. I'm having a good time. My family loves living in New Orleans."

http://[h3]Gallinari to join Frye?[/h3]
9:11AM ET

[h5]Danilo Gallinari | Knicks [/h5]


Yesterday news leaked out that Channing Frye will be named as a participant in the Three-Point Shootout during All-Star Weekend.

Today's New York Post reports Knicks forward Danilo Gallinari, who leads the league in three-pointers made, is expected to be named as a contestant in the shootout.

http://[h3]Milestone for Ben Wallace[/h3]
7:56AM ET

[h5]Ben Wallace | Pistons [/h5]


Ben Wallace is listed at 6-feet-9. When he gets his next block, Wallace will become the shortest player in NBA history to reject 2,000 shots.

"I've been around for a while," Wallace tells Detroit Free Press. "I've been lucky -- lucky to have been around for a while. Nobody has gotten tired of me and sent me home yet. ... Shot blocking isn't always about the big guys going in there. It is timing and footwork and being in the right place at the right time, and being on a solid defensive team."

Other under 7-foot players to reach that amount are Alonzo Mourning (2,356), Tim Duncan (2,196), Marcus Camby (2,083), George Johnson (2,082) and Larry Nance (2,027).

http://[h3]Elson out six weeks [/h3]
7:20AM ET

[h5]Francisco Elson | Bucks [/h5]


The Bucks announced Monday that center Francisco Elson had successful hernia surgery on Friday. He is expected to be out for six weeks.

Elson has only played in 11 games this season.

http://[h3]Brown likes close wins[/h3]
7:05AM ET

[h5]Mike Brown | Cavaliers [/h5]


The Cavaliers have won eight games in a row. The first five were decided by an average of three points, while the last three were blowouts.

Head coach Mike Brown says he actually prefers close games.

"The more close games you win, the tougher you can become, because when you have close games down the stretch, it puts mental and physical stress on you that you have to try to deal with," Brown told the Akron Beacon-Journal.

http://[h3]Hawks keep West[/h3]
6:43AM ET

[h5]Mario West | Hawks [/h5]


The Hawks signed Mario West to a rest-of-season contract on Monday. His second 10-day contract was up and the team decided to keep West, instead of bringing in another player.

http://[h3]Nets to play in Newark[/h3]
4:40AM ET

[h5]New Jersey Nets [/h5]


A source tells the New York Daily News that the Nets and Devils have reached an agreement which will allow a move by the NBA club to the Prudential Center in Newark for two years.

"It's going to happen," said a source familiar with the negotiations.

The Nets are expected to move into their new arena in Brooklyn sometime in 2012.

 

2009-10 Power Rankings: Week 14
	RK (LW)	TEAM	REC	COMMENT
	1 (1)	Cavaliers	38-11	With so much momentum and such a helpful schedule -- Cleveland has just 14 road games left -- methinks we can safely say Mo Williams got hurt at the right time. Only Denver matched the Cavs' 12-3 record in January.
	2 (2)	Lakers	37-11	Kobe shot 41.3 percent from the floor in January with that mangled index finger, but I suspect we'll recall his final shot on Jan. 31 in Boston, if anything, from the first month of the new decade.
	3 (3)	Nuggets	32-15	Q: Who has the league's best record against teams at .500 or better? A: Denver, at 21-8. Easier one: Who should fill CP3's All-Star spot? Answer: Denver is 6-3 when Melo is out, which only strengthens Chauncey's case.
	4 (5)	Magic	32-16	Boston's health and Orlando's spell over Atlanta suggest the Magic will reach the All-Star break as the closest thing to a co-favorite with Cleveland to win the East. Even with fresh injuries for Jameer and Pietrus.
	5 (	Jazz	28-18	So many good things cooking. With the game in his home state, D-Will is finally an All-Star. Utah just posted the NBA's fourth-best January record at 10-4. And it all seemed to start when Sundiata Gaines showed up.
	6 (4)	Hawks	30-16	What tells you more? The Hawks' three wins in January over the Celtics to clinch a 4-0 season sweep? Or the follow-up loss in Orlando that dropped Atlanta to 0-3 against the Magic by a combined 67 points?
	7 (12)	Raptors	26-22	For a group frequently tagged as soft, this is momentous: Toronto just became the first team since November '02 to trail by at least 10 points in four straight games and win all four. Foes: Knicks, Heat, Lakers and Bucks.
	8 (7)	Mavericks	30-17	The Mavs know what's wrong. They're just not sure how to fix it, because they've been talking about the same problems -- insufficient focus at home and a slip from the top five to 11th in defensive efficiency -- for weeks.
	9 (13)	Bobcats	24-22	I repeat: G-Wallace is an undeniable All-Star, but why is nobody is talking about S-Jax? His partnership with Wallace just sparked the Bobs to 12 wins in January alone. Previous team record for one month? Nine.
	10 (6)	Celtics	29-16	The schedule, with consecutive games against the Magic, Hawks and Lakers, wasn't exactly soft. But alarm bells are going to ring loudly when the Celts, no matter what injury alibis they have, go 6-11 after a 23-5 start.
	11 (10)	Trail Blazers	28-21	Not that we'd ever suggest Andre Miller's 52-point eruption Saturday night in Dallas -- with B-Roy sidelined -- was unexpected, but you do know Dre scored a whopping two points Friday night in Houston. Right?
	12 (11)	Grizzlies	25-21	Conversation that I never expected to have in January of the 2009-10 season: Prominent NBA player stops me in my tracks Saturday night to ask if I can believe that the Griz just lost at home to the CP3-less Hornets.
	13 (1	Bulls	23-22	The Bulls have taken flak for their Circus Road Trip ineptitude since MJ retired, but they just got some historic revenge by becoming the first team ever to win five straight roadies against teams with winning records.
	14 (9)	Spurs	27-19	The Rodeo Road Trip can't turn the Spurs around like usual if the Tony Parker ankle injury that sucked so much joy out of those much-needed wins over Atlanta and Memphis forces him to miss most of it.
	15 (15)	Suns	28-21	Even after pulling out big wins in close games against Dallas and Houston (two quality teams), Phoenix is probably right where it should be in the West with this small, thin roster -- scuffling for a playoff spot.
	16 (14)	Thunder	26-21	January was Durant's best month as a pro. He averaged 32.1 points for the month and signed off with his fourth 40-point game of the season, placing him fourth in the league behind Kobe (7), Melo (5) and LeBron (5).
	17 (17)	Hornets	26-21	The Hornets had won 11 straight overtime games at home, dating all the way to March 2005 when they were playing in OKC, before Friday's disastrous OT loss to Chicago, during which they lost the streak and CP3.
	18 (19)	Rockets	25-22	More evidence that relying so much on scrappiness is gradually taking its toll: Houston is 1-4 on this six-game homestand to fall to 14-9 at the Toyota Center. Last season? The Rockets lost eight home games total.
	19 (16)	Heat	24-23	Good news: Miami still hasn't spent a single day this season below .500. Bad news: There are suddenly eight teams with winning records in everyone's favorite punching-bag conference. And the D-Wades are No. 8.
	20 (22)	Bucks	20-25	A 3-10 record in games decided by three points or less is tough to take in any circumstance ... but it really leaves the East's No. 9 team with a sense of regret now that Toronto, Charlotte and Chicago have all gotten so hot.
	21 (20)	Clippers	20-27	The Clips have two stops left on an eight-game road trip and are 1-5 on the junket after losses at (gulp) New Jersey and Minnesota. So you tell me: Are we down to 11 teams playing for eight playoff berths in the West?
	22 (21)	76ers	16-31	When he has every right to be distracted by the tragic events back home, Dalembert continues to be shopped and keeps trying his hardest to make himself tradeable. That's 11 double-digit rebound games in a row.
	23 (23)	Knicks	18-29	Maybe the coaches who snubbed David Lee knew what was coming. Losing both ends of a back-to-back in Washington and Sota since the ASG snub makes it way harder to claim that Lee's Knicks are in the East playoff mix.
	24 (2	Wizards	16-30	Arenas' sentencing isn't until March 26, but rest assured we'll be talking about these guys plenty through Feb. 18. Caron, Jamison, Haywood ... all prime names in circulation with the trade deadline looming.
	25 (24)	Pacers	16-32	Elias Sports Bureau to the comment rescue when Indy is playing its kids, shopping its vets and leaving us numb: Granger was held below double figures twice in January after going 56-for-56 in the 2009 calendar year.
	26 (27)	Kings	16-30	The way things have unraveled -- 3-16 since a 13-14 start -- it looks like it'll be a l-o-n-g string for the Kings to play out after the highlight of the season: Tyreke and our man Casspi teaming up in the Rookie Game.
	27 (26)	Warriors	13-33	Even when there's some upbeat news, there's a caveat: Steph Curry looks like he's making a surge into the ROY race ... but that's bound to get folks whispering anew about the Dubs moving Monta for Curry's benefit.
	28 (25)	Pistons	15-31	It's likely time to stop asking whether these Pistons can still sneak into the playoffs for a ninth straight season. After closing a six-game homestand with five straight L's, they're bound for the John Wall Sweepstakes.
	29 (29)	Timberwolves	11-38	The Wolves don't play again until Friday, which either rubs out their first bit of momentum for ages or gives them almost a week to savor just their second win streak of the season. (We agree: It's probably the latter.)
	30 (30)	Nets	4-42	The post-victory celebration after win No. 4 didn't last long. Home losses to the Wiz and Sixers by a combined six points, in what looks like the Nets' most favorable stretch of schedule remaining, will have that effect.

 

[westcoastsfinest]

^^ whatever he played his butt off in memphis for you guys

thats what pau should demand that ball!...get mad!

pau is soft...thats his game hes a finesse player not a power player...thats like asking a cat to bark...cant do it

we'll be fine

 

[eneyekayee]

Larry Hughes is such a bum.

And Mike, the same potential trades you called me out for are still being reported...

 

[bhzmafia14]

Originally Posted by westcoastsfinest

^^ whatever he played his butt off in memphis for you guys

thats what pau should demand that ball!...get mad!

pau is soft...thats his game hes a finesse player not a power player...thats like asking a cat to bark...cant do it

we'll be fine

He did in spurts, but he was non-existent down the stretch because he cried about every call and never got back on defense. I do appreciate the things he did for the franchise, but he didn't fit this city. I still consider him the best player this team ever had, but if we end up winning a few playoff games and/or a series I'm putting Zach ahead of him. Some players just don't fit on certain teams.

 

[mytoasterspeak]

So lets here yall call Hollinger a stupid Cleveland homer for saying Allen is starting to lose a step and his play has slipped and he needs to be traded.