OFFICIAL 2010-2011 NBA PLAYOFFS THREAD : VOL. MOST. ANTICIPATED. PLAYOFFS. EVER?

Originally Posted by FullMetal

What is going on with Antawn Jamison? Dude was a 20/10 guy on the wizards and now he's a bum coming off the bench for the Lebronless Cavs. What happened to dude?
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[Kobe stan] But he's just as good as Pau Gasol though... [/Kobe stan]
  
 
Originally Posted by FullMetal

What is going on with Antawn Jamison? Dude was a 20/10 guy on the wizards and now he's a bum coming off the bench for the Lebronless Cavs. What happened to dude?
Click to expand...

[Kobe stan] But he's just as good as Pau Gasol though... [/Kobe stan]
  
 
http://www.youtube.com/kd35sneighbor

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Interested to see how many minutes Duhon gets tonight coming off the bench and looking forward to seeing how the rook does tonight.
 
Interested to see how many minutes Duhon gets tonight coming off the bench and looking forward to seeing how the rook does tonight.
 
If the Nuggets were an East Coast team, I wouldn't be surprised if the lucky $#% Lakers landed him. 
 
If the Nuggets were an East Coast team, I wouldn't be surprised if the lucky $#% Lakers landed him. 
 
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[h3]More on Howard's return[/h3]
3:47PM ET

[h5]Josh Howard | Wizards [/h5]


We wrote October 7 about Josh Howard's possibly accelerated return from the ACL injury he suffered last February. The latest update on Howard also has him potentially returning earlier than expected.

Frank Hanrahan of CSNWashington.com writes that Howard, who was initially pegged for an early December return, could be back sooner than that. Howard is expected to compete with Al Thornton for minutes at the 3 when he returns to the Washington Wizards, although coach Flip Saunders might also go with a three-guard lineup, which would keep both Thornton and Howard on the bench.

However, with several unknowns on the wing (How effective can Thornton be? Will Gilbert Arenas stay healthy? Will Nick Young step up his game?), there could be considerable opportunity for Howard to earn playing time once he returns.

- Jeff Dooley

http://[h3]Triano's future[/h3]
3:10PM ET

[h5]Jay Triano | Raptors [/h5]


Toronto Raptors coach Jay Triano is entering the final year of his contract, has a career losing record, and is being charged with the task of getting the most out of a roster that is seriously lacking in the talent department.

In short, Triano's chances of being a head coach in the NBA this time next season aren't great. However, Michael Grange of the Globe and Mail writes that the only criteria on which Triano can fairly be judged is how hard his players play for him.

"Last night's 98-93 loss to the New York Knicks wasn't an ideal start, but Triano's team scrapped, and when you're coaching a bad team, moral victories count," Grange writes. "After all, there are only two sure ways to prove that you're making an impact in a job with as many dependent variables as coaching in the NBA: Make like Phil Jackson or Gregg Popovich and win championships with established stars, or take a team with weak talent and elevate them. Since the first scenario is clearly not happening, Triano can count himself lucky to have little choice than immersing himself in the time-honoured tradition of coaching them up."

- Jeff Dooley

http://[h3]Trouble for Love[/h3]
2:57PM ET

[h5]Kevin Love | Timberwolves [/h5]


When the Minnesota Timberwolves shipped Al Jefferson to the Utah Jazz this offseason, the belief was that the move was made to make power forward Kevin Love -- who didn't fit well alongside the similarly-skilled Jefferson -- a focal point of the team in 2010-11.

Well, that didn't last long. Love was benched for the final eight and a half minutes of the T-Wolves' one-point loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. Love finished with only 24 minutes, while reserve Anthony Tolliver played 28. Coach Kurt Rambis said the move had to do with Tolliver's stellar defensive play, and not anything that Love -- widely considered to be his team's best player -- was doing wrong.

However, Tom Ziller of FanHouse.com notes that the Love-less defense gave up 18 points on 16 possessions down the stretch with the power forward out of the game. Ziller adds that with the move making little practical sense, it appears as though Rambis is trying to somehow distance himself from Love. "I'm sitting here wondering how long it will be until K-Love is run out of town the way Al Jefferson was," Ziller writes.

Love didn't talk to reporters after the game, but it's safe to say that the forward is unhappy with being banished to the bench during the game's most critical portion. If this situation doesn't get fixed quickly, it wouldn't be shocking to see Love start to clamor for a trade.

- Jeff Dooley

http://[h3]Cousins in crunch time[/h3]
2:35PM ET

[h5]DeMarcus Cousins | Kings [/h5]


Sacramento Kings rookie big man DeMarcus Cousins was key down the stretch during the team's one-point win Wednesday over the Minnesota Timberwolves, scoring nine points and grabbing four boards in the second half and helping to seal the victory with several critical plays. His ability to produce when it matters most caught the eye of his coach.

"DeMarcus has fantastic poise," Kings coach Paul Westphal said. "The tougher it gets, the more faith I have in him. His mind wanders a little bit early in the game or when he's not challenged. But he really makes plays when you need him the most."

The fact that Cousins has a wandering mind during certain points of the game isn't a good thing, but his abilities as a post scorer were on display Wednesday, and the fact that he can step his game up in crunch time will certainly come in handy for the Kings. Once Tyreke Evans has returned from his suspension, we'll get a better idea of how these two young stars can co-exist.

- Jeff Dooley

http://[h3]James as point guard[/h3]
1:59PM ET

[h5]LeBron James | Heat [/h5]


Ever since "The Decision," there has been a lot written about how the Miami Heat don't really need a true point guard, with Dwyane Wade capable of bringing the ball up and LeBron James possibly in store for a Magic Johnson-type role as the team's primary distributor.

Doug Collins, whose Philadelphia 76ers squad lost to the Heat on Wednesday, kept up the Johnson comparisons. "Man, he's Magic, isn't he? That's who he reminds me of," Collins said, via the Sun-Sentinel. "He's [6-foot-8], and he looks over the defense and sees who should get the ball just like Magic did. The only thing holding him back a little now is not having played with his teammates that much."

It's clear that James still has a ways to go in the point guard department, having committed 17 turnovers through two games, and the fact that the team is still figuring itself out could be a big part of the reason why. But the potential was on display Wednesday, with James (16 points, seven assists) taking a backseat to Wade (30 points) in the scoring department during Wednesday's win.

- Jeff Dooley

http://[h3]The Mavs' Kidd plan[/h3]
1:34PM ET

[h5]Jason Kidd | Mavericks [/h5]


ESPNDallas.com's Tim McMahon wrote following Dallas Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd's opening night, 12-point, 18-assist performance that, "When he has fresh legs, the old man is still a premier point guard."

It is with this in mind that the Mavericks are trying to limit Kidd's minutes this season, so that he can be effective when he is on the floor and also be available for the season's latter stages. Kidd played an efficient 31 minutes in Wednesday night's win over the Charlotte Bobcats, down from his average of 36 minutes per game last year.

However, McMahon notes that the success of this plan also depends upon the play of backup point guard J.J. Barea. The early returns on that aren't good -- the Mavs were plus-30 Wednesday with Kidd on the floor, and minus-19 when Barea ran the point.

- Jeff Dooley

http://[h3]O'Brien bemoans Rush's suspension[/h3]
1:26PM ET

[h5]Brandon Rush | Pacers [/h5]


Brandon Rush is serving a five-game suspension for failing three drug tests will lose about $115,000. Pacers head coach Jim O'Brien understands the rule and backed the NBA's decision, but he doesn't know why the team needs to be punished, too and all the secrecy.

"I understand them suspending the player and withholding his wages for five games," O'Brien told The Indianapolis Star. "The nature of the situation is that we're not informed a player has failed the drug test the first or second time, and we're not told he has a problem. Then they turn around and penalize a franchise.

"I don't understand where that comes from, frankly. If we were the ones drug testing and we were the ones that knew and were responsible to get him back on track after the first one, I understand that, but I can't follow this."

The Pacers are being punished, according to O'Brien, because the team is only allowed to have 11 active players during Rush's suspension.

http://[h3]Good signs for Turner[/h3]
12:38PM ET

[h5]Evan Turner | 76ers [/h5]


The buzz coming out of Philadelphia 76ers camp this offseason was not good with regard to rookie Evan Turner. Rumor had it that the No. 2 overall pick was at risk of becoming a major bust, and that his transition from primary ball-handler in college to off-the-ball player in the NBA was not going well. Three of four experts in ESPN The Magazine's NBA preview pegged him as the rookie most likely to be a bust.

However, as John Smallwood of the Philadelphia Daily News writes, Turner eased a lot of those fears during the Sixers' loss to the Miami Heat Wednesday night, pouring in an impressive all-around performance that featured 16 points, seven boards and four assists.

Coach Doug Collins said that his scouting report on Turner was that he might take a while to get comfortable, but that after he settled in he could blow up and take over the game. If the rookie has a few more performances like the one he had on Wednesday, and Collins might have to plug Turner into his starting lineup.

- Jeff Dooley

http://[h3]Extension 50-50 for Conley[/h3]
12:29PM ET

[h5]Mike Conley | Grizzlies [/h5]


Mike Conley can sign an extension with Memphis, but the chances of that happening by Monday are "50-50", according to his agent and father, Mike Conley Sr., who also represents Greg Oden.

"The team has to decide if he's the point guard they want for the future," Conley Sr. told The Indianapolis Star. "If they make that commitment that he's their guy, he'll sign. But Mike's not interested in signing an extension just to sign an extension.

"He had a great preseason. He led the team in scoring, had some big games in limited minutes. He's shown what he can do if left alone to do it."

Most pundits believe Conley will join Oden and most of the 2007 first round picks in not signing extensions, which will result in them becoming restricted free agents in July.

http://[h3]Oden will be a free agent[/h3]
12:01PM ET

[h5]Greg Oden | Trail Blazers [/h5]


UPDATE No. 2: Oden's other agent, Mike Conley Sr., agrees that Oden won't be signing an extension by Monday's deadline.

"Obviously on the team side, they have a lot of question marks on his health. On his side of it, as far as him negotiating for the most money possible, he's not in the best bargaining position," Conley told The Indianapolis Star on Wednesday. "It's not the best opportunity for him at this point. If they want to give him the money we think he's worth, he'll sign."

----

UPDATE: Oden's agent, Bill Duffy, confirmed to FanHouse that his client indeed won't be signing a contract extension by Monday's deadline.

"There's too much that he needs to do," Duffy said of Oden. " ... It's really a foregone conclusion. To evaluate what he's done so far, it's incomplete."

----

Greg Oden is entering an important season.

Due to myriad injuries, he's only played 82 games the last three seasons. And considering he's yet to play in a preseason game due to his knee, his health concerns are again slowing him down heading into the start of the regular season next week.

As such, ESPN's Marc Stein is reported Friday that Oden realizes an extension before Nov. 1's 2007 rookie-scale deadline isn't in the cards, and he'll have to prove himself this season to get a solid deal next summer.

"A source with knowledge of Oden's thinking told ESPN.com that 2007's No. 1 overall pick is resigned to the idea that an extension from the Blazers is not forthcoming," wrote Stein. "I'm told Oden isn't even pressing for it, after appearing in just 82 games over his first three seasons, because he knows he's better off trying to put together one strong season and proceed to restricted free agency -- provided restricted free agency still exists in the next CBA -- than negotiate now against his lengthy injury history."

So as has been the story of pretty much Oden's entire NBA career, he'll need to prove he can get over his health issues and put together a near-complete season -- 65 games has been cited as a benchmark -- to have the Blazers or another team seeing him as an asset, instead of a liability, heading into restricted free agency next summer.

-- Ryan Corazza

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[h5]John Hollinger[/h5]
Can Oden stay on the floor?
"For Oden, the entire issue is whether he can stay on the court. First and most obvious are the health questions, but even when he suits up, he doesn't necessarily stick around for long. It's unclear whether Oden can avoid fouling long enough to keep himself on the court for 35 minutes a game. He averaged just over a foul every six minutes last season, making it virtually impossible for him to play more than 25 minutes a game or so. Otherwise, he's an overpowering physical force. Oden ranked third among centers in blocks per minute, third in rebound rate, and second in TS%. He draws fouls and commands so much attention that he opens up the rest of the floor for his teammates. His main drawbacks, in the rare moments he's actually playing, are that he's prone to turnovers and needs to learn how to read double-teams."
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http://[h3]Chandler's role[/h3]
11:03AM ET

[h5]Wilson Chandler | Knicks [/h5]


Chris Sheridan writes for ESPNNewYork.com writes that New York Knicks forward Anthony Randolph is expected to miss one-to-two weeks with a sprained ankle he sustained during Tuesday's practice.

It will be interesting to see how Randolph's return affects the way coach Mike D'Antoni handles his rotation. D'Antoni went with Wilson Chandler as his sixth man against the Toronto Raptors Wednesday, and Chandler responded by pouring in a team-high 22 points in the Knicks' win.

Part of the reasoning behind bringing Chandler off the bench was his ability to provide depth at both the 3 and the 4, with Randolph not available at the PF position. Chandler's ability to provide scoring punch off the bench was another factor.

"The reason we want [Chandler] off the bench is not because he's not good, it's because we need the firepower," D'Antoni said.

D'Antoni might choose to keep Chandler as the team's sixth man, but Randolph's return should at least give him the option of plugging Chandler back into the starting lineup, where he would form a nice scoring tandem with Amar'e Stoudemire (19 points, 10 rebounds against the Raptors).

- Jeff Dooley

http://[h3]Mutombo a Hall-of-Famer?[/h3]
9:43AM ET

[h5]Dikembe Mutombo [/h5]


Dikembe Mutombo is eligible for the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015 and says he should be enshrined when the time comes to receive votes.

"Are you kidding, man?" Mutombo said to FanHouse. "I believed when I played that one day I would see my name being called in Springfield, Mass. ... I think so (that he will get in)."

"I think I played with a great respect," Mutombo added. "I accomplished almost everything that any player can accomplish. I broke every record (that) was there, from single record, from playoff record to rebounding record, blocked shots record."

Mutombo played eight years in the NBA and was named Defensive Player of the Year four times and led the league in blocked shots three times and rebounding twice.

http://[h3]K-Mart's timeline still uncertain[/h3]
9:30AM ET

[h5]Kenyon Martin | Nuggets [/h5]


Nuggets head coach George Karl thinks Kenyon Martin could return by Jan. 1, but Martin says Karl should keep his day job.

"George is not my doctor," Martin told FanHouse. "George is not my doctor ... The only person who knows when I'm coming back is Dr. (Richard) Steadman."

Martin plans to meet with Dr. Steadman just after Thanksgiving and won't have an idea when he may play until that visit.

"Not at all until I see him," Martin said. "That's up to (Steadman), man. I don't have a brain when it comes to it. I use his brain."

http://[h3]Will the Cavs retire LeBron's jersey?[/h3]
9:16AM ET

[h5]LeBron James | Heat [/h5]


Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert spoke to the media prior to Wednesday's game against the Celtics and said once again that he did not regret the way he criticized http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1966LeBron James for the way he handled his departure from Cleveland to Miami.

When asked, Gilbert said he wasn't sure if the franchise will retire James' No. 23.

"I would assume that it's something you would do when a player retires," Gilbert told the Akron Beacon-Journal. "I'm sure it will come up. A 25-year-old player, I don't know if any franchise or anybody can make that kind of judgment on somebody that young or until their career is over."

The team has retired the following numbers: No. 7 (Bingo Smith), No. 22 (Larry Nance), No. 25 (Mark Price), No. 34 (Austin Carr), No. 42 (Nate Thurmond) and No. 43 (Brad Daugherty).

http://[h3]Draft heading to New Jersey[/h3]
8:50AM ET

[h5]2011 NBA Draft [/h5]
 

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The NBA announced Wednesday that the 2011 NBA draft will conducted at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J on June 23.

"We are delighted to bring one of the NBA's premier events to Newark," said NBA commissioner David Stern. "The Prudential Center is a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose arena that will be a great host for another exciting NBA Draft."

The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City normally hosts the NBA draft, but it won't be available in 2011 because it is being renovated.

http://[h3]Wolves won't fold[/h3]
8:10AM ET

[h5]Minnesota Timberwolves [/h5]


NBA commissioner David Stern mentioned last week that it is possible contraction could be discussed with the NBPA as they try to hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement. Minnesota owner Glen Taylor said that will never happen to the Timberwolves.

"I can say that Minnesota is not one of the teams that would be contracted, nor do we expect that in the future," Taylor told the Star Tribune.

Taylor also said most of his fellow owners can't see the league eliminating some of the teams.

"You'd have to find an owner who would want to do it and I know, just because I'm chairman of the board, most teams would not want to do that," Taylor said. "They feel like I do: They're involved in their community, their state and that's very, very important to them.

"I can tell you we don't have somebody lined up like baseball did that year, when they talked about the Twins. We' re not in that situation nor do we hope that would happen."

http://[h3]Wolves want pick from Blazers?[/h3]
7:58AM ET

[h5]Martell Webster | Timberwolves [/h5]


Martell Webster underwent surgery Monday to repair a herniated disc in his back and he's expected to miss four to six weeks.

Webster was acquired from Portland for the No. 16 selection, Luke Babbitt, in the 2010 draft and the Star Tribune is reporting that the Timberwolves have asked the NBA to investigate whether the Blazers knew that Webster had a balky back, but did not disclose the injury.

According to the newspaper, the Timberwolves may ask for a draft pick as compensation.

http://[h3]Why Chandler started[/h3]
6:53AM ET

[h5]Tyson Chandler | Mavericks [/h5]


Brendan Haywood may be in the first year of a six-year, $54 million contract, but that doesn't mean he's guaranteed to start, and in fact he didn't in the Mavericks opener on Wednesday. Head coach Rick Carlisle went with http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=984Tyson Chandler and that may continue for the foreseeable future.

"They're both top-10 centers in the league," Carlisle told ESPNDallas.com. "I don't think there's any question about that, so you can flip a coin. But I like Tyson's dynamic athleticism with our starting group. I thought it was a better situation having him next to http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=609Dirk Nowitzki to start games and having Haywood next to http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=510Shawn Marion off the bench. Those two things kind of balance out. But look, we're not married to this."

Chandler had eight points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 23 minutes, while Haywood scored two points, grabbed three rebounds and blocked one shot in 20 minutes.

http://[h3]Splitter may debut next week[/h3]
6:01AM ET

[h5]Tiago Splitter | Spurs [/h5]


Tiago Splitter has been sidelined the last month with a strained right calf muscle and head coach Gregg Popvich thinks his rookie center may debut next week.

"I think after New Orleans he's got a good shot to be ready," Popovich told the San Antonio Express-News. "He's been playing three-on-three now, and he's been in contact in competitive situations. If we can get another practice or two in, five-on-five and get up and down and see how he comes out of that, I think he'll probably be ready.

"I wouldn't expect him for Saturday, but after that I think he'll be beating my door down."

Splitter was one of the best players in Europe last season and should play a prominent role for the Spurs in his first year in the NBA.

http://[h3]Bonner to miss a few games[/h3]
5:53AM ET

[h5]Matt Bonner | Spurs [/h5]


Spurs reserve forward Matt Bonner sprained his right ankle Wednesday night and he'll miss the next few games.

"He'll be out for a while," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich told the San Antonio Express-News. "Not a long while, but I think he'll miss some games."

Bonner used his cell phone to snap a picture of his ankle and then sent a text to his friends.

"Pretty ugly, don't you think?" he said. "I came down on somebody's foot. That's what I get for jumping."

http://[h3]Cavs cautious with Mo[/h3]
5:21AM ET

[h5]Mo Williams | Cavaliers [/h5]


Mo Williams did not dress for Cleveland's first game of the regular season on Wednesday and the team plans to be cautious with their point guard as he recovers from a groin strain.

"He's day-to-day," head coach Byron Scott told The News-Herald. "He's got to get some more court work. That's the biggest thing. We don't want to put Mo out there and risk an injury. It's precautionary on our part. We'll see how he feels after practice (today)."

Williams will start once he's fit to play and that may come Friday against Toronto.

http://[h3]Chalmers' role uncertain[/h3]
4:52AM ET

[h5]Mario Chalmers | Heat [/h5]


Mario Chalmers was the favorite entering training camp to be the teams starting point guard, but he was beaten out by Carlos Arroyo. Chalmers, who was sidelined for two months this summer due to a high ankle sprain, did not play for the second consecutive game against the 76ers Wednesday night and head coach Erik Spoelstra isn't sure when he'll play and what type of role he's going to have for the club.

"It'll change, hopefully, sooner than later. When we all feel like he's absolutely 100-percent ready to play, he'll step into a role," Spoelstra told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "How much that will be? I don't know. It will depend on the game, the pace of the game, the speed of the game."

"It's going to be a process," Spoelstra added, "as he gets healthy, to play, sometimes not play, but always stay ready, mentally."

The Heat don't need a traditional point guard because LeBron James and Dwyane Wade handle the ball so much and it's possible Chalmers may not get back into the rotation for the near future.

 
As it turns out, Dan Gilbert is a prophet.

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Boston Celtics, right after the Celtics beat LeBron James and the Miami Heat, so the only logical conclusion is that Gilbert's Cavs are indeed likely to win a championship long before James does.

[h4]Heat Index[/h4]
nba_heat_logo_110.jpg
We've taken our talents to South Beach. Check out our brand-new Heat Index.
• Heat Index | Preview | Predictions

No, not really.

But that pseudo-analysis offers a cautionary tale about leaping to conclusions based on the small shreds of data that the opening days of the season offer us.

Similarly, I hesitate to jump to too strong a conclusion in any direction about the Miami Heat. We can safely say on the one hand that they won't go 82-0, and on the other that they won't collapse under the weight of their own egos. Pretty much every outcome in between is still on the table.

Nonetheless, watching Miami split its first two road games offers some insight into what type of team this star trio might be, and where their strengths and weaknesses may lie. After two games, three conclusions stand out:
[h3]1. These guys will guard[/h3]
If you've been watching how the LeBron-Wade-Bosh trio interacts on offense the past two days, you were looking at the wrong end. Eventually they're going to find ways to score; that goes without saying.

nba_g_pierce_sy_200.jpg

Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesMiami's offense needs work, but the defense is already super.

Of far more interest to me was to what extent the trio of stars would commit to being a dominant defensive team. That's one of the biggest obstacles to them becoming a champion, and on that score they passed their first two tests with flying colors.

The defeat to Boston came almost entirely because the Heat couldn't score; defensively, they gave up only 88 points in 90 Boston possessions in a road game against an elite team.

Against Philadelphia on Wednesday, in a road back-to-back, they did even better: 87 points on 94 possessions.

While it's common for defense to have the upper hand early in the season, Miami's defensive efficiency mark of 92.7 is spectacular and would almost certainly lead the league if they were to keep it up for a full season.

Notably, Miami's lack of interior size hasn't prevented it from completely controlling the defensive boards. Miami grabbed 60 defensive boards to 18 offensive boards for the opposition, a very solid 76.9 percent defensive rebound rate.
[h3]2. They need more space[/h3]
OK, about the offense. No, it hasn't looked great, especially early in games. The Heat have just 27 points to show for their two first quarters, which is doubly odd because that's when they should have their most overwhelming lineup on the floor.

Turnovers, in particular, have been a major and befuddling problem. The Heat have 33 in their first two games, including an eye-popping 17 from LeBron James. While their opponents were two of the league's best at forcing miscues in 2009-10, several of Miami's miscues have been absolutely baffling. My personal fave was the play in Philadelphia last night in which Udonis Haslem leaped for a pass as it was going through his legs, but one could produce a short film clip with several moments of levity.

Those plays are only part of the story, however. There will be unforced bobbles and stumbles in any game, but the other reason for the high turnover counts is that Miami players keep driving into crowds.

A lot of the reason for that, in turn, is because the Heat don't have a lot of shooting to put on the court. Miami got a reprieve last night when James Jones rose from the dead to nail six 3-pointers, but the starting lineup in particular appears devoid of the kind of shooting help that could provide more creases for James and Wade.

Thus, the slow starts. Obviously, the absence of sharpshooter Mike Miller and the less-discussed one of Mario Chalmers in the first two games has been a factor, and it's not something a slasher like Jerry Stackhouse can cure. Particularly when center Joel Anthony is on the floor, it's very easy for opponents to leave bodies in the paint to collapse around the drives of James and Wade. In a related story, the team leader in plus-minus thus far is the modestly talented floor-spacing big man Zydrunas Ilgauskas, at plus-23. Anthony, despite playing nearly all his minutes with three of the best players in the world, is at minus-4.

It's also very easy for opponents to hide bad defenders against Miami's starters. Last night the Sixers started human sieve Jason Kapono and put him on Carlos Arroyo to start the game. Short of having all the Sixers point at Arroyo and laugh before the opening tip, it would be hard to more openly disrespect an opposing point guard. Nonetheless, the Heat limped out to another turnover-plagued opening stanza before Jones opened the spigots in the second.

Ultimately, one wonders if Miami will make a shift to its starting five to get more shooting on the floor. I don't expect it to happen tomorrow or even this month, but at some point the Heat are likely to add more shooting to the starting lineup and put one of the two non-shooters, Arroyo or Anthony, on the bench.
[h3]3. They need to get Bosh more involved[/h3]
In the first game, we saw LeBron James thrive while a rusty Dwyane Wade struggled. In the second game, Wade blew up while James took something of a back seat.

In neither game, however, did we see much of anything from Chris Bosh, and if that continues, the Heat will be wasting one of their most potent assets. Bosh has just 23 points and 15 rebounds through the first two contests, a far cry from his output in Toronto in previous seasons.

http:///sports.espn.go.com/espn/gallery/enlargePhoto?id=5736561&story=5736540">http://sports.espn.go.com...736561&...idth=440,height=750,scrollbars=no,noresize'); return false;" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=PERDiem-101028#">[+] Enlarge
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AP Photo/Winslow TownsonChris Bosh averaged 24.0 ppg with Toronto last season but has just 23 total points through two games.

Mainly, I think the reason is a lack of opportunities. When Miami has run the offense through him, it's been the old "let's run a really stagnant play to involve our big guy" stand-by of lobbing it into the post and letting him work one-on-one while the other guys stand around. Bosh can score a bit from the block, especially on size mismatches, but his specialty is the left elbow -- and he's not getting the ball there.

What I can't tell, yet, is whether that's a function of play calling, playmaking, or, as I strongly suspect, both. The Heat have used Bosh in some pick-and-pop plays, but not nearly enough to let him get in a rhythm attacking opposing big men. Moreover, he doesn't get the ball on most of them: Miami's primary ball handler, James, doesn't tend to make a quick decision to hit the roll man for an open J when he's running the offense.

Playing in Cleveland the past several years, that was probably an appropriate decision. Playing with Bosh, however, he has to move the ball and stop pounding it so much. Bosh can destroy most NBA big men from that spot but his chances to do so have been few and far between in the first two games.

If James can move the ball more quickly, it may solve some other problems as well. Maybe he makes fewer turnovers plowing through crowds, and maybe the lack of shooters is less problematic if there's more motion and more of Bosh pulling big men away from the rim.

That's how it looks now, anyway. Remember, it's two games -- the view at this point can be more distorted than a fun house mirror. Just ask one of the Cavs fans who are hurriedly clipping the standings out of the paper this morning. We know what the Heat were like during their first two games. What we don't know, by and large, is how they'll meld over the final 80.

 
Injuries are the NBA planner's worst nightmare. Organizations spend years building toward a future that may never arrive, and a random injury is often to blame. Sometimes it's an innocent gym bag that was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Other times it's a teammate's toe that interrupts a player's scheduled meeting between foot and floor. Random or not, each injury alters the NBA landscape.

As the regular season begins, we're again reminded that a franchise's future is as fragile as its players, but some teams will hurt more than others. Here are nine key injured players from around the league as the season tips off, grouped by how much their absence will affect their squads.
[h3]COULD BE WORSE[/h3]
3225.jpg

Oden​

Greg Oden, C, Portland Trail Blazers
Target return date: Mid-December
Injury: Knee

It didn't take long for Oden to establish himself early last season as one of the league's best rebounders and most efficient post players. Before going down with a fractured patella in December 2009, Oden rebounded an estimated 21.9 percent of available boards while he was on the floor, a rate bested only by Dwight Howard and Marcus Camby, who would become Oden's teammate later in the '09-10 season. Portland wisely took out an insurance policy on Oden by acquiring Camby in a February deal and signing him to a contract extension. The Blazers will understandably take their sweet time with Oden, but they would vie for the top seed in the West if the brittle big man were healthy all season.
2748.jpg

Bynum​

Andrew Bynum, C, Los Angeles Lakers
Target return date: Late November
Injury: Knee

According to 82games.com, the Lakers performed 2.9 points per 100 possessions better with Bynum on the court last season. But without him, the Lakers still boast one of the league's toughest and most dynamic front lines with Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. The problem may lie in a lack of depth. Suddenly, L.A. has one of the league's thinnest frontcourts, with relic Theo Ratliff and rookie Derrick Caracter playing backup for the defending champs.
3963.jpg

Beaubois​

Rodrigue Beaubois, G, Dallas Mavericks
Target return date: Early November
Injury: Left foot

Jason Kidd and Caron Butler have their starting spots secured -- for now. Beaubois is the NBA's best-kept secret, but his fractured left foot will put the start of his breakout season on hold. The French bottle rocket averaged 24 points and 3.6 assists per 36 minutes after the All-Star break last season, primarily playing from the 2-guard position. He is undersized as a typical shooting guard, but as a 40.7 percent shooter from downtown, the 22-year-old certainly fits the label. He won't have that breathtaking zip right away but he should be up to speed by midseason. With Jason Terry, Dominique Jones and Jose Juan Barea flooding the backcourt, don't be surprised if the Mavericks trade a piece or two to give Roddy more shine.
[h3]TOUGH TO REPLACE[/h3]
1703.jpg

Boozer​

Carlos Boozer, F, Chicago Bulls
Target return date: Early December
Injury: Broken hand

The Bulls had nearly two max contracts worth of cap space over the summer, yet journeyman Keith Bogans will end up as Chicago's big addition to the opening-night starting five. The long-awaited arrival of freshly inked Carlos Boozer may not come until Christmastime because the scoring big man suffered a broken hand off the court. Subbing in the $80 million man's place will be Taj Gibson, who valiantly started 70 games last season for the Bulls but has little in the way of scoring punch. He posted a 52.1 true shooting percentage last season, which was far below the norm for forwards, according to Hoopdata.com. The Bulls, owners of the league's third-worst offensive efficiency last season, will continue to struggle to put up points as long as Boozer nurses his hand on the sidelines. Brian Scalabrine will make sure of it.
558.jpg

Miller​

Mike Miller, G, Miami Heat
Target return date: January
Injury: Thumb surgery

It's never easy replacing a 48 percent 3-point shooter, but the Heat are poised to give James Jones an increased role in Miller's absence. James can stroke it from downtown, but unlike Miller, Jones has no other offensive weapons to speak of. His one-dimensional game largely explains why the Heat were 4.7 points per 100 possessions better offensively with Jones on the bench last season. To amp up their versatility, the Heat also signed veteran scorer Jerry Stackhouse off the free-agent scrap heap, giving the Heat a more dynamic spark on the wing. If only Jones and Stackhouse could merge their offensive repertoire into one.
3206.jpg

Gasol​

Marc Gasol, C, Memphis Grizzlies
Target return date: Day-to-day
Injury: High-ankle sprain

And just like that, the NBA's most invincible lineup last season is no more. The Grizzlies' five of Mike Conley, O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph and Gasol manned the court together for an NBA-high 1,475 minutes last season, according to basketballvalue.com, but Gasol's high-ankle sprain suffered in Sunday's practice may shelve him until November. Even if the Spaniard does return earlier, his stellar rebounding and foul-drawing abilities won't resurface until he has full confidence in his gimpy ankle. The prospect of Hasheem Thabeet and Hamed Haddadi receiving big minutes should have opposing centers putting in extra time at the free throw line.
[h3]UNDER THE RADAR[/h3]
2821.jpg

Azubuike​

Kelenna Azubuike, G, New York Knicks
Target return date: January
Injury: Knee

At one point this summer, the Knicks were hopeful Azubuike could be ready for the season opener, but that's no longer the case. New York announced it will open the season with the former Kentucky Wildcat stashed on the inactive list along with Eddy Curry and Shawne Williams. If healthy, Azubuike would give the Knicks another legit 3-point shooting threat (40.9 percent career shooter) who can actually defend opposing shooting guards. The Knicks currently have a glut of half-decent options at the 2, but Azubuike's 55.7 career TS percentage would fit perfectly in coach Mike D'Antoni's high-powered offense.
3998.jpg

Jerebko​

Jonas Jerebko, F, Detroit Pistons
Target return date: Mid-February
Injury: Ruptured Achilles

Mining Jerebko from the second round of last year's draft may have kept a pink slip from landing on Joe Dumars' desk -- the Swedish forward was that impressive last season. Jerebko was a box score stat stuffer, leading all qualified rookies with a net differential of plus-7.7 points per 100 possessions, meaning the Pistons were nearly eight points better with Jerebko on the court last season. This season, the Pistons could have dealt Tayshaun Prince and his $11 million expiring contract without missing a beat, but Jerebko's extended absence will make such a deal less likely. As such, his possible season-ending injury will hurt the Pistons in more ways than one.
1135.jpg

Andersen​

Chris Andersen, F, Denver Nuggets
Target return date: Early December
Injury: Knee

Few bench players mean more to their teams than Andersen. Once again, Birdman stood among the league's most prolific shot-blockers, ranking seventh in total blocks last season despite spending more than half of every game sitting on the bench. His high-energy game may not have translated much in the box score, but it did on the scoreboard. His plus-10.9 points per 100 possessions placed him seventh in the NBA, according to basketballvalue.com. And with Kenyon Martin also out, the Nuggets' frontcourt depth is virtually nonexistent.
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http://[h3]
[h3]More on Howard's return[/h3]
3:47PM ET

[h5]Josh Howard | Wizards [/h5]


We wrote October 7 about Josh Howard's possibly accelerated return from the ACL injury he suffered last February. The latest update on Howard also has him potentially returning earlier than expected.

Frank Hanrahan of CSNWashington.com writes that Howard, who was initially pegged for an early December return, could be back sooner than that. Howard is expected to compete with Al Thornton for minutes at the 3 when he returns to the Washington Wizards, although coach Flip Saunders might also go with a three-guard lineup, which would keep both Thornton and Howard on the bench.

However, with several unknowns on the wing (How effective can Thornton be? Will Gilbert Arenas stay healthy? Will Nick Young step up his game?), there could be considerable opportunity for Howard to earn playing time once he returns.

- Jeff Dooley

http://[h3]Triano's future[/h3]
3:10PM ET

[h5]Jay Triano | Raptors [/h5]


Toronto Raptors coach Jay Triano is entering the final year of his contract, has a career losing record, and is being charged with the task of getting the most out of a roster that is seriously lacking in the talent department.

In short, Triano's chances of being a head coach in the NBA this time next season aren't great. However, Michael Grange of the Globe and Mail writes that the only criteria on which Triano can fairly be judged is how hard his players play for him.

"Last night's 98-93 loss to the New York Knicks wasn't an ideal start, but Triano's team scrapped, and when you're coaching a bad team, moral victories count," Grange writes. "After all, there are only two sure ways to prove that you're making an impact in a job with as many dependent variables as coaching in the NBA: Make like Phil Jackson or Gregg Popovich and win championships with established stars, or take a team with weak talent and elevate them. Since the first scenario is clearly not happening, Triano can count himself lucky to have little choice than immersing himself in the time-honoured tradition of coaching them up."

- Jeff Dooley

http://[h3]Trouble for Love[/h3]
2:57PM ET

[h5]Kevin Love | Timberwolves [/h5]


When the Minnesota Timberwolves shipped Al Jefferson to the Utah Jazz this offseason, the belief was that the move was made to make power forward Kevin Love -- who didn't fit well alongside the similarly-skilled Jefferson -- a focal point of the team in 2010-11.

Well, that didn't last long. Love was benched for the final eight and a half minutes of the T-Wolves' one-point loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. Love finished with only 24 minutes, while reserve Anthony Tolliver played 28. Coach Kurt Rambis said the move had to do with Tolliver's stellar defensive play, and not anything that Love -- widely considered to be his team's best player -- was doing wrong.

However, Tom Ziller of FanHouse.com notes that the Love-less defense gave up 18 points on 16 possessions down the stretch with the power forward out of the game. Ziller adds that with the move making little practical sense, it appears as though Rambis is trying to somehow distance himself from Love. "I'm sitting here wondering how long it will be until K-Love is run out of town the way Al Jefferson was," Ziller writes.

Love didn't talk to reporters after the game, but it's safe to say that the forward is unhappy with being banished to the bench during the game's most critical portion. If this situation doesn't get fixed quickly, it wouldn't be shocking to see Love start to clamor for a trade.

- Jeff Dooley

http://[h3]Cousins in crunch time[/h3]
2:35PM ET

[h5]DeMarcus Cousins | Kings [/h5]


Sacramento Kings rookie big man DeMarcus Cousins was key down the stretch during the team's one-point win Wednesday over the Minnesota Timberwolves, scoring nine points and grabbing four boards in the second half and helping to seal the victory with several critical plays. His ability to produce when it matters most caught the eye of his coach.

"DeMarcus has fantastic poise," Kings coach Paul Westphal said. "The tougher it gets, the more faith I have in him. His mind wanders a little bit early in the game or when he's not challenged. But he really makes plays when you need him the most."

The fact that Cousins has a wandering mind during certain points of the game isn't a good thing, but his abilities as a post scorer were on display Wednesday, and the fact that he can step his game up in crunch time will certainly come in handy for the Kings. Once Tyreke Evans has returned from his suspension, we'll get a better idea of how these two young stars can co-exist.

- Jeff Dooley

http://[h3]James as point guard[/h3]
1:59PM ET

[h5]LeBron James | Heat [/h5]


Ever since "The Decision," there has been a lot written about how the Miami Heat don't really need a true point guard, with Dwyane Wade capable of bringing the ball up and LeBron James possibly in store for a Magic Johnson-type role as the team's primary distributor.

Doug Collins, whose Philadelphia 76ers squad lost to the Heat on Wednesday, kept up the Johnson comparisons. "Man, he's Magic, isn't he? That's who he reminds me of," Collins said, via the Sun-Sentinel. "He's [6-foot-8], and he looks over the defense and sees who should get the ball just like Magic did. The only thing holding him back a little now is not having played with his teammates that much."

It's clear that James still has a ways to go in the point guard department, having committed 17 turnovers through two games, and the fact that the team is still figuring itself out could be a big part of the reason why. But the potential was on display Wednesday, with James (16 points, seven assists) taking a backseat to Wade (30 points) in the scoring department during Wednesday's win.

- Jeff Dooley

http://[h3]The Mavs' Kidd plan[/h3]
1:34PM ET

[h5]Jason Kidd | Mavericks [/h5]


ESPNDallas.com's Tim McMahon wrote following Dallas Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd's opening night, 12-point, 18-assist performance that, "When he has fresh legs, the old man is still a premier point guard."

It is with this in mind that the Mavericks are trying to limit Kidd's minutes this season, so that he can be effective when he is on the floor and also be available for the season's latter stages. Kidd played an efficient 31 minutes in Wednesday night's win over the Charlotte Bobcats, down from his average of 36 minutes per game last year.

However, McMahon notes that the success of this plan also depends upon the play of backup point guard J.J. Barea. The early returns on that aren't good -- the Mavs were plus-30 Wednesday with Kidd on the floor, and minus-19 when Barea ran the point.

- Jeff Dooley

http://[h3]O'Brien bemoans Rush's suspension[/h3]
1:26PM ET

[h5]Brandon Rush | Pacers [/h5]


Brandon Rush is serving a five-game suspension for failing three drug tests will lose about $115,000. Pacers head coach Jim O'Brien understands the rule and backed the NBA's decision, but he doesn't know why the team needs to be punished, too and all the secrecy.

"I understand them suspending the player and withholding his wages for five games," O'Brien told The Indianapolis Star. "The nature of the situation is that we're not informed a player has failed the drug test the first or second time, and we're not told he has a problem. Then they turn around and penalize a franchise.

"I don't understand where that comes from, frankly. If we were the ones drug testing and we were the ones that knew and were responsible to get him back on track after the first one, I understand that, but I can't follow this."

The Pacers are being punished, according to O'Brien, because the team is only allowed to have 11 active players during Rush's suspension.

http://[h3]Good signs for Turner[/h3]
12:38PM ET

[h5]Evan Turner | 76ers [/h5]


The buzz coming out of Philadelphia 76ers camp this offseason was not good with regard to rookie Evan Turner. Rumor had it that the No. 2 overall pick was at risk of becoming a major bust, and that his transition from primary ball-handler in college to off-the-ball player in the NBA was not going well. Three of four experts in ESPN The Magazine's NBA preview pegged him as the rookie most likely to be a bust.

However, as John Smallwood of the Philadelphia Daily News writes, Turner eased a lot of those fears during the Sixers' loss to the Miami Heat Wednesday night, pouring in an impressive all-around performance that featured 16 points, seven boards and four assists.

Coach Doug Collins said that his scouting report on Turner was that he might take a while to get comfortable, but that after he settled in he could blow up and take over the game. If the rookie has a few more performances like the one he had on Wednesday, and Collins might have to plug Turner into his starting lineup.

- Jeff Dooley

http://[h3]Extension 50-50 for Conley[/h3]
12:29PM ET

[h5]Mike Conley | Grizzlies [/h5]


Mike Conley can sign an extension with Memphis, but the chances of that happening by Monday are "50-50", according to his agent and father, Mike Conley Sr., who also represents Greg Oden.

"The team has to decide if he's the point guard they want for the future," Conley Sr. told The Indianapolis Star. "If they make that commitment that he's their guy, he'll sign. But Mike's not interested in signing an extension just to sign an extension.

"He had a great preseason. He led the team in scoring, had some big games in limited minutes. He's shown what he can do if left alone to do it."

Most pundits believe Conley will join Oden and most of the 2007 first round picks in not signing extensions, which will result in them becoming restricted free agents in July.

http://[h3]Oden will be a free agent[/h3]
12:01PM ET

[h5]Greg Oden | Trail Blazers [/h5]


UPDATE No. 2: Oden's other agent, Mike Conley Sr., agrees that Oden won't be signing an extension by Monday's deadline.

"Obviously on the team side, they have a lot of question marks on his health. On his side of it, as far as him negotiating for the most money possible, he's not in the best bargaining position," Conley told The Indianapolis Star on Wednesday. "It's not the best opportunity for him at this point. If they want to give him the money we think he's worth, he'll sign."

----

UPDATE: Oden's agent, Bill Duffy, confirmed to FanHouse that his client indeed won't be signing a contract extension by Monday's deadline.

"There's too much that he needs to do," Duffy said of Oden. " ... It's really a foregone conclusion. To evaluate what he's done so far, it's incomplete."

----

Greg Oden is entering an important season.

Due to myriad injuries, he's only played 82 games the last three seasons. And considering he's yet to play in a preseason game due to his knee, his health concerns are again slowing him down heading into the start of the regular season next week.

As such, ESPN's Marc Stein is reported Friday that Oden realizes an extension before Nov. 1's 2007 rookie-scale deadline isn't in the cards, and he'll have to prove himself this season to get a solid deal next summer.

"A source with knowledge of Oden's thinking told ESPN.com that 2007's No. 1 overall pick is resigned to the idea that an extension from the Blazers is not forthcoming," wrote Stein. "I'm told Oden isn't even pressing for it, after appearing in just 82 games over his first three seasons, because he knows he's better off trying to put together one strong season and proceed to restricted free agency -- provided restricted free agency still exists in the next CBA -- than negotiate now against his lengthy injury history."

So as has been the story of pretty much Oden's entire NBA career, he'll need to prove he can get over his health issues and put together a near-complete season -- 65 games has been cited as a benchmark -- to have the Blazers or another team seeing him as an asset, instead of a liability, heading into restricted free agency next summer.

-- Ryan Corazza

hollinger_john_30.jpg
[h5]John Hollinger[/h5]
Can Oden stay on the floor?
"For Oden, the entire issue is whether he can stay on the court. First and most obvious are the health questions, but even when he suits up, he doesn't necessarily stick around for long. It's unclear whether Oden can avoid fouling long enough to keep himself on the court for 35 minutes a game. He averaged just over a foul every six minutes last season, making it virtually impossible for him to play more than 25 minutes a game or so. Otherwise, he's an overpowering physical force. Oden ranked third among centers in blocks per minute, third in rebound rate, and second in TS%. He draws fouls and commands so much attention that he opens up the rest of the floor for his teammates. His main drawbacks, in the rare moments he's actually playing, are that he's prone to turnovers and needs to learn how to read double-teams."
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[/h3]

http://[h3]Chandler's role[/h3]
11:03AM ET

[h5]Wilson Chandler | Knicks [/h5]


Chris Sheridan writes for ESPNNewYork.com writes that New York Knicks forward Anthony Randolph is expected to miss one-to-two weeks with a sprained ankle he sustained during Tuesday's practice.

It will be interesting to see how Randolph's return affects the way coach Mike D'Antoni handles his rotation. D'Antoni went with Wilson Chandler as his sixth man against the Toronto Raptors Wednesday, and Chandler responded by pouring in a team-high 22 points in the Knicks' win.

Part of the reasoning behind bringing Chandler off the bench was his ability to provide depth at both the 3 and the 4, with Randolph not available at the PF position. Chandler's ability to provide scoring punch off the bench was another factor.

"The reason we want [Chandler] off the bench is not because he's not good, it's because we need the firepower," D'Antoni said.

D'Antoni might choose to keep Chandler as the team's sixth man, but Randolph's return should at least give him the option of plugging Chandler back into the starting lineup, where he would form a nice scoring tandem with Amar'e Stoudemire (19 points, 10 rebounds against the Raptors).

- Jeff Dooley

http://[h3]Mutombo a Hall-of-Famer?[/h3]
9:43AM ET

[h5]Dikembe Mutombo [/h5]


Dikembe Mutombo is eligible for the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015 and says he should be enshrined when the time comes to receive votes.

"Are you kidding, man?" Mutombo said to FanHouse. "I believed when I played that one day I would see my name being called in Springfield, Mass. ... I think so (that he will get in)."

"I think I played with a great respect," Mutombo added. "I accomplished almost everything that any player can accomplish. I broke every record (that) was there, from single record, from playoff record to rebounding record, blocked shots record."

Mutombo played eight years in the NBA and was named Defensive Player of the Year four times and led the league in blocked shots three times and rebounding twice.

http://[h3]K-Mart's timeline still uncertain[/h3]
9:30AM ET

[h5]Kenyon Martin | Nuggets [/h5]


Nuggets head coach George Karl thinks Kenyon Martin could return by Jan. 1, but Martin says Karl should keep his day job.

"George is not my doctor," Martin told FanHouse. "George is not my doctor ... The only person who knows when I'm coming back is Dr. (Richard) Steadman."

Martin plans to meet with Dr. Steadman just after Thanksgiving and won't have an idea when he may play until that visit.

"Not at all until I see him," Martin said. "That's up to (Steadman), man. I don't have a brain when it comes to it. I use his brain."

http://[h3]Will the Cavs retire LeBron's jersey?[/h3]
9:16AM ET

[h5]LeBron James | Heat [/h5]


Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert spoke to the media prior to Wednesday's game against the Celtics and said once again that he did not regret the way he criticized http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1966LeBron James for the way he handled his departure from Cleveland to Miami.

When asked, Gilbert said he wasn't sure if the franchise will retire James' No. 23.

"I would assume that it's something you would do when a player retires," Gilbert told the Akron Beacon-Journal. "I'm sure it will come up. A 25-year-old player, I don't know if any franchise or anybody can make that kind of judgment on somebody that young or until their career is over."

The team has retired the following numbers: No. 7 (Bingo Smith), No. 22 (Larry Nance), No. 25 (Mark Price), No. 34 (Austin Carr), No. 42 (Nate Thurmond) and No. 43 (Brad Daugherty).

http://[h3]Draft heading to New Jersey[/h3]
8:50AM ET

[h5]2011 NBA Draft [/h5]
 

[img]http://a.espncdn.com/i/nba/draft2010/nba_draft_134.jpg[/img]
The NBA announced Wednesday that the 2011 NBA draft will conducted at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J on June 23.

"We are delighted to bring one of the NBA's premier events to Newark," said NBA commissioner David Stern. "The Prudential Center is a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose arena that will be a great host for another exciting NBA Draft."

The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City normally hosts the NBA draft, but it won't be available in 2011 because it is being renovated.

http://[h3]Wolves won't fold[/h3]
8:10AM ET

[h5]Minnesota Timberwolves [/h5]


NBA commissioner David Stern mentioned last week that it is possible contraction could be discussed with the NBPA as they try to hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement. Minnesota owner Glen Taylor said that will never happen to the Timberwolves.

"I can say that Minnesota is not one of the teams that would be contracted, nor do we expect that in the future," Taylor told the Star Tribune.

Taylor also said most of his fellow owners can't see the league eliminating some of the teams.

"You'd have to find an owner who would want to do it and I know, just because I'm chairman of the board, most teams would not want to do that," Taylor said. "They feel like I do: They're involved in their community, their state and that's very, very important to them.

"I can tell you we don't have somebody lined up like baseball did that year, when they talked about the Twins. We' re not in that situation nor do we hope that would happen."

http://[h3]Wolves want pick from Blazers?[/h3]
7:58AM ET

[h5]Martell Webster | Timberwolves [/h5]


Martell Webster underwent surgery Monday to repair a herniated disc in his back and he's expected to miss four to six weeks.

Webster was acquired from Portland for the No. 16 selection, Luke Babbitt, in the 2010 draft and the Star Tribune is reporting that the Timberwolves have asked the NBA to investigate whether the Blazers knew that Webster had a balky back, but did not disclose the injury.

According to the newspaper, the Timberwolves may ask for a draft pick as compensation.

http://[h3]Why Chandler started[/h3]
6:53AM ET

[h5]Tyson Chandler | Mavericks [/h5]


Brendan Haywood may be in the first year of a six-year, $54 million contract, but that doesn't mean he's guaranteed to start, and in fact he didn't in the Mavericks opener on Wednesday. Head coach Rick Carlisle went with http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=984Tyson Chandler and that may continue for the foreseeable future.

"They're both top-10 centers in the league," Carlisle told ESPNDallas.com. "I don't think there's any question about that, so you can flip a coin. But I like Tyson's dynamic athleticism with our starting group. I thought it was a better situation having him next to http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=609Dirk Nowitzki to start games and having Haywood next to http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=510Shawn Marion off the bench. Those two things kind of balance out. But look, we're not married to this."

Chandler had eight points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 23 minutes, while Haywood scored two points, grabbed three rebounds and blocked one shot in 20 minutes.

http://[h3]Splitter may debut next week[/h3]
6:01AM ET

[h5]Tiago Splitter | Spurs [/h5]


Tiago Splitter has been sidelined the last month with a strained right calf muscle and head coach Gregg Popvich thinks his rookie center may debut next week.

"I think after New Orleans he's got a good shot to be ready," Popovich told the San Antonio Express-News. "He's been playing three-on-three now, and he's been in contact in competitive situations. If we can get another practice or two in, five-on-five and get up and down and see how he comes out of that, I think he'll probably be ready.

"I wouldn't expect him for Saturday, but after that I think he'll be beating my door down."

Splitter was one of the best players in Europe last season and should play a prominent role for the Spurs in his first year in the NBA.

http://[h3]Bonner to miss a few games[/h3]
5:53AM ET

[h5]Matt Bonner | Spurs [/h5]


Spurs reserve forward Matt Bonner sprained his right ankle Wednesday night and he'll miss the next few games.

"He'll be out for a while," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich told the San Antonio Express-News. "Not a long while, but I think he'll miss some games."

Bonner used his cell phone to snap a picture of his ankle and then sent a text to his friends.

"Pretty ugly, don't you think?" he said. "I came down on somebody's foot. That's what I get for jumping."

http://[h3]Cavs cautious with Mo[/h3]
5:21AM ET

[h5]Mo Williams | Cavaliers [/h5]


Mo Williams did not dress for Cleveland's first game of the regular season on Wednesday and the team plans to be cautious with their point guard as he recovers from a groin strain.

"He's day-to-day," head coach Byron Scott told The News-Herald. "He's got to get some more court work. That's the biggest thing. We don't want to put Mo out there and risk an injury. It's precautionary on our part. We'll see how he feels after practice (today)."

Williams will start once he's fit to play and that may come Friday against Toronto.

http://[h3]Chalmers' role uncertain[/h3]
4:52AM ET

[h5]Mario Chalmers | Heat [/h5]


Mario Chalmers was the favorite entering training camp to be the teams starting point guard, but he was beaten out by Carlos Arroyo. Chalmers, who was sidelined for two months this summer due to a high ankle sprain, did not play for the second consecutive game against the 76ers Wednesday night and head coach Erik Spoelstra isn't sure when he'll play and what type of role he's going to have for the club.

"It'll change, hopefully, sooner than later. When we all feel like he's absolutely 100-percent ready to play, he'll step into a role," Spoelstra told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "How much that will be? I don't know. It will depend on the game, the pace of the game, the speed of the game."

"It's going to be a process," Spoelstra added, "as he gets healthy, to play, sometimes not play, but always stay ready, mentally."

The Heat don't need a traditional point guard because LeBron James and Dwyane Wade handle the ball so much and it's possible Chalmers may not get back into the rotation for the near future.

 
As it turns out, Dan Gilbert is a prophet.

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Boston Celtics, right after the Celtics beat LeBron James and the Miami Heat, so the only logical conclusion is that Gilbert's Cavs are indeed likely to win a championship long before James does.

[h4]Heat Index[/h4]
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We've taken our talents to South Beach. Check out our brand-new Heat Index.
• Heat Index | Preview | Predictions

No, not really.

But that pseudo-analysis offers a cautionary tale about leaping to conclusions based on the small shreds of data that the opening days of the season offer us.

Similarly, I hesitate to jump to too strong a conclusion in any direction about the Miami Heat. We can safely say on the one hand that they won't go 82-0, and on the other that they won't collapse under the weight of their own egos. Pretty much every outcome in between is still on the table.

Nonetheless, watching Miami split its first two road games offers some insight into what type of team this star trio might be, and where their strengths and weaknesses may lie. After two games, three conclusions stand out:
[h3]1. These guys will guard[/h3]
If you've been watching how the LeBron-Wade-Bosh trio interacts on offense the past two days, you were looking at the wrong end. Eventually they're going to find ways to score; that goes without saying.

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Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesMiami's offense needs work, but the defense is already super.

Of far more interest to me was to what extent the trio of stars would commit to being a dominant defensive team. That's one of the biggest obstacles to them becoming a champion, and on that score they passed their first two tests with flying colors.

The defeat to Boston came almost entirely because the Heat couldn't score; defensively, they gave up only 88 points in 90 Boston possessions in a road game against an elite team.

Against Philadelphia on Wednesday, in a road back-to-back, they did even better: 87 points on 94 possessions.

While it's common for defense to have the upper hand early in the season, Miami's defensive efficiency mark of 92.7 is spectacular and would almost certainly lead the league if they were to keep it up for a full season.

Notably, Miami's lack of interior size hasn't prevented it from completely controlling the defensive boards. Miami grabbed 60 defensive boards to 18 offensive boards for the opposition, a very solid 76.9 percent defensive rebound rate.
[h3]2. They need more space[/h3]
OK, about the offense. No, it hasn't looked great, especially early in games. The Heat have just 27 points to show for their two first quarters, which is doubly odd because that's when they should have their most overwhelming lineup on the floor.

Turnovers, in particular, have been a major and befuddling problem. The Heat have 33 in their first two games, including an eye-popping 17 from LeBron James. While their opponents were two of the league's best at forcing miscues in 2009-10, several of Miami's miscues have been absolutely baffling. My personal fave was the play in Philadelphia last night in which Udonis Haslem leaped for a pass as it was going through his legs, but one could produce a short film clip with several moments of levity.

Those plays are only part of the story, however. There will be unforced bobbles and stumbles in any game, but the other reason for the high turnover counts is that Miami players keep driving into crowds.

A lot of the reason for that, in turn, is because the Heat don't have a lot of shooting to put on the court. Miami got a reprieve last night when James Jones rose from the dead to nail six 3-pointers, but the starting lineup in particular appears devoid of the kind of shooting help that could provide more creases for James and Wade.

Thus, the slow starts. Obviously, the absence of sharpshooter Mike Miller and the less-discussed one of Mario Chalmers in the first two games has been a factor, and it's not something a slasher like Jerry Stackhouse can cure. Particularly when center Joel Anthony is on the floor, it's very easy for opponents to leave bodies in the paint to collapse around the drives of James and Wade. In a related story, the team leader in plus-minus thus far is the modestly talented floor-spacing big man Zydrunas Ilgauskas, at plus-23. Anthony, despite playing nearly all his minutes with three of the best players in the world, is at minus-4.

It's also very easy for opponents to hide bad defenders against Miami's starters. Last night the Sixers started human sieve Jason Kapono and put him on Carlos Arroyo to start the game. Short of having all the Sixers point at Arroyo and laugh before the opening tip, it would be hard to more openly disrespect an opposing point guard. Nonetheless, the Heat limped out to another turnover-plagued opening stanza before Jones opened the spigots in the second.

Ultimately, one wonders if Miami will make a shift to its starting five to get more shooting on the floor. I don't expect it to happen tomorrow or even this month, but at some point the Heat are likely to add more shooting to the starting lineup and put one of the two non-shooters, Arroyo or Anthony, on the bench.
[h3]3. They need to get Bosh more involved[/h3]
In the first game, we saw LeBron James thrive while a rusty Dwyane Wade struggled. In the second game, Wade blew up while James took something of a back seat.

In neither game, however, did we see much of anything from Chris Bosh, and if that continues, the Heat will be wasting one of their most potent assets. Bosh has just 23 points and 15 rebounds through the first two contests, a far cry from his output in Toronto in previous seasons.

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AP Photo/Winslow TownsonChris Bosh averaged 24.0 ppg with Toronto last season but has just 23 total points through two games.

Mainly, I think the reason is a lack of opportunities. When Miami has run the offense through him, it's been the old "let's run a really stagnant play to involve our big guy" stand-by of lobbing it into the post and letting him work one-on-one while the other guys stand around. Bosh can score a bit from the block, especially on size mismatches, but his specialty is the left elbow -- and he's not getting the ball there.

What I can't tell, yet, is whether that's a function of play calling, playmaking, or, as I strongly suspect, both. The Heat have used Bosh in some pick-and-pop plays, but not nearly enough to let him get in a rhythm attacking opposing big men. Moreover, he doesn't get the ball on most of them: Miami's primary ball handler, James, doesn't tend to make a quick decision to hit the roll man for an open J when he's running the offense.

Playing in Cleveland the past several years, that was probably an appropriate decision. Playing with Bosh, however, he has to move the ball and stop pounding it so much. Bosh can destroy most NBA big men from that spot but his chances to do so have been few and far between in the first two games.

If James can move the ball more quickly, it may solve some other problems as well. Maybe he makes fewer turnovers plowing through crowds, and maybe the lack of shooters is less problematic if there's more motion and more of Bosh pulling big men away from the rim.

That's how it looks now, anyway. Remember, it's two games -- the view at this point can be more distorted than a fun house mirror. Just ask one of the Cavs fans who are hurriedly clipping the standings out of the paper this morning. We know what the Heat were like during their first two games. What we don't know, by and large, is how they'll meld over the final 80.

 
Injuries are the NBA planner's worst nightmare. Organizations spend years building toward a future that may never arrive, and a random injury is often to blame. Sometimes it's an innocent gym bag that was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Other times it's a teammate's toe that interrupts a player's scheduled meeting between foot and floor. Random or not, each injury alters the NBA landscape.

As the regular season begins, we're again reminded that a franchise's future is as fragile as its players, but some teams will hurt more than others. Here are nine key injured players from around the league as the season tips off, grouped by how much their absence will affect their squads.
[h3]COULD BE WORSE[/h3]
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Oden​

Greg Oden, C, Portland Trail Blazers
Target return date: Mid-December
Injury: Knee

It didn't take long for Oden to establish himself early last season as one of the league's best rebounders and most efficient post players. Before going down with a fractured patella in December 2009, Oden rebounded an estimated 21.9 percent of available boards while he was on the floor, a rate bested only by Dwight Howard and Marcus Camby, who would become Oden's teammate later in the '09-10 season. Portland wisely took out an insurance policy on Oden by acquiring Camby in a February deal and signing him to a contract extension. The Blazers will understandably take their sweet time with Oden, but they would vie for the top seed in the West if the brittle big man were healthy all season.
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Bynum​

Andrew Bynum, C, Los Angeles Lakers
Target return date: Late November
Injury: Knee

According to 82games.com, the Lakers performed 2.9 points per 100 possessions better with Bynum on the court last season. But without him, the Lakers still boast one of the league's toughest and most dynamic front lines with Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. The problem may lie in a lack of depth. Suddenly, L.A. has one of the league's thinnest frontcourts, with relic Theo Ratliff and rookie Derrick Caracter playing backup for the defending champs.
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Beaubois​

Rodrigue Beaubois, G, Dallas Mavericks
Target return date: Early November
Injury: Left foot

Jason Kidd and Caron Butler have their starting spots secured -- for now. Beaubois is the NBA's best-kept secret, but his fractured left foot will put the start of his breakout season on hold. The French bottle rocket averaged 24 points and 3.6 assists per 36 minutes after the All-Star break last season, primarily playing from the 2-guard position. He is undersized as a typical shooting guard, but as a 40.7 percent shooter from downtown, the 22-year-old certainly fits the label. He won't have that breathtaking zip right away but he should be up to speed by midseason. With Jason Terry, Dominique Jones and Jose Juan Barea flooding the backcourt, don't be surprised if the Mavericks trade a piece or two to give Roddy more shine.
[h3]TOUGH TO REPLACE[/h3]
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Boozer​

Carlos Boozer, F, Chicago Bulls
Target return date: Early December
Injury: Broken hand

The Bulls had nearly two max contracts worth of cap space over the summer, yet journeyman Keith Bogans will end up as Chicago's big addition to the opening-night starting five. The long-awaited arrival of freshly inked Carlos Boozer may not come until Christmastime because the scoring big man suffered a broken hand off the court. Subbing in the $80 million man's place will be Taj Gibson, who valiantly started 70 games last season for the Bulls but has little in the way of scoring punch. He posted a 52.1 true shooting percentage last season, which was far below the norm for forwards, according to Hoopdata.com. The Bulls, owners of the league's third-worst offensive efficiency last season, will continue to struggle to put up points as long as Boozer nurses his hand on the sidelines. Brian Scalabrine will make sure of it.
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Miller​

Mike Miller, G, Miami Heat
Target return date: January
Injury: Thumb surgery

It's never easy replacing a 48 percent 3-point shooter, but the Heat are poised to give James Jones an increased role in Miller's absence. James can stroke it from downtown, but unlike Miller, Jones has no other offensive weapons to speak of. His one-dimensional game largely explains why the Heat were 4.7 points per 100 possessions better offensively with Jones on the bench last season. To amp up their versatility, the Heat also signed veteran scorer Jerry Stackhouse off the free-agent scrap heap, giving the Heat a more dynamic spark on the wing. If only Jones and Stackhouse could merge their offensive repertoire into one.
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Gasol​

Marc Gasol, C, Memphis Grizzlies
Target return date: Day-to-day
Injury: High-ankle sprain

And just like that, the NBA's most invincible lineup last season is no more. The Grizzlies' five of Mike Conley, O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph and Gasol manned the court together for an NBA-high 1,475 minutes last season, according to basketballvalue.com, but Gasol's high-ankle sprain suffered in Sunday's practice may shelve him until November. Even if the Spaniard does return earlier, his stellar rebounding and foul-drawing abilities won't resurface until he has full confidence in his gimpy ankle. The prospect of Hasheem Thabeet and Hamed Haddadi receiving big minutes should have opposing centers putting in extra time at the free throw line.
[h3]UNDER THE RADAR[/h3]
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Azubuike​

Kelenna Azubuike, G, New York Knicks
Target return date: January
Injury: Knee

At one point this summer, the Knicks were hopeful Azubuike could be ready for the season opener, but that's no longer the case. New York announced it will open the season with the former Kentucky Wildcat stashed on the inactive list along with Eddy Curry and Shawne Williams. If healthy, Azubuike would give the Knicks another legit 3-point shooting threat (40.9 percent career shooter) who can actually defend opposing shooting guards. The Knicks currently have a glut of half-decent options at the 2, but Azubuike's 55.7 career TS percentage would fit perfectly in coach Mike D'Antoni's high-powered offense.
3998.jpg

Jerebko​

Jonas Jerebko, F, Detroit Pistons
Target return date: Mid-February
Injury: Ruptured Achilles

Mining Jerebko from the second round of last year's draft may have kept a pink slip from landing on Joe Dumars' desk -- the Swedish forward was that impressive last season. Jerebko was a box score stat stuffer, leading all qualified rookies with a net differential of plus-7.7 points per 100 possessions, meaning the Pistons were nearly eight points better with Jerebko on the court last season. This season, the Pistons could have dealt Tayshaun Prince and his $11 million expiring contract without missing a beat, but Jerebko's extended absence will make such a deal less likely. As such, his possible season-ending injury will hurt the Pistons in more ways than one.
1135.jpg

Andersen​

Chris Andersen, F, Denver Nuggets
Target return date: Early December
Injury: Knee

Few bench players mean more to their teams than Andersen. Once again, Birdman stood among the league's most prolific shot-blockers, ranking seventh in total blocks last season despite spending more than half of every game sitting on the bench. His high-energy game may not have translated much in the box score, but it did on the scoreboard. His plus-10.9 points per 100 possessions placed him seventh in the NBA, according to basketballvalue.com. And with Kenyon Martin also out, the Nuggets' frontcourt depth is virtually nonexistent.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Kurt Rambis is a joke.

People talking about Blake Griffin being a top five power forward by the end of the season... I think DeMarcus Cousins has a much better chance at being a top five center by then.
Few bench players mean more to their teams than Andersen.
So accurate.
Click to expand...
 
Kurt Rambis is a joke.

People talking about Blake Griffin being a top five power forward by the end of the season... I think DeMarcus Cousins has a much better chance at being a top five center by then.
Few bench players mean more to their teams than Andersen.
So accurate.
Click to expand...
 
If people wana argue about Yao being a Hall of Famer, Deke absolutely is one as well.
 
If people wana argue about Yao being a Hall of Famer, Deke absolutely is one as well.
 
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