Carmelo Anthony is ready to call his Knicks back to practice. In October
Posted on | Wednesday, August 31, 2011 | No Comments
He's only played half a season and one playoff series as a member of the New York Knicks, but All-Star scoring forward Carmelo Anthony has already jutted to the top of the heap when it comes to team leadership. At least on record, assuming he follows through. Giddy after a strong showing at an exhibition game in his hometown of Baltimore on Tuesday night, Anthony told ESPN New York that he would attempt to wrangle in his Knick teammates for unofficial workouts, should the NBA's lockout cost its teams an orthodox, team-run training camp.
"Most likely I think as the month goes on, probably early October, well start getting guys together," Anthony said. "I'll make it my duty to get guys together whether it's in LA, New York or a neutral place."
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"I'm trying to find Amare man," Anthony said with a laugh. "If anybody's seen Amare just tell him [I'm looking for him]. I don't know where he's at man. I heard he's in China, I heard he's back. Maybe I'll see him in New York next week for Fashion Week."
Somehow I don't think Willis Reed knew which week Fashion Week was. And I really don't think Willis Reed knew that Fashion Week was his best chance to locate Dave DeBusschere, following a long offseason.
That's the modern NBA athlete, though. Events like Fashion Week are why Carmelo and Amar'e Stoudemire wanted to become Knicks, and we heartily applaud Anthony attempting to get his team together, especially with all the roster upheaval the Knicks have undergone over the last few years. With the team capped out (no matter what sort of salary structure the new collective bargaining agreement dictates) and no first-round picks coming down the pike due to the Anthony trade, New York's best chance at improving has to come from internal development.
This is where Anthony, and his unofficial team workouts, come in. Of course, the best remedy is just to enjoy a training camp unfettered by labor vs. ownership disagreements, but we might be past that point as September rolls around.
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Yao Ming: Hall of Fame nomination should wait
Posted by Ben Golliver.
Only one person is standing between Yao Ming and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2012. That person is Yao Ming himself.Shortly after Yao retired from the NBA due to ongoing injury issues earlier this summer, word surfaced that representatives of the Chinese Basketball Association wanted to fast-track his nomination to the Hall of Fame, nominating him as a contributor to the game rather than as a player and thereby allowing him to bypass the standard five-year waiting period. If successful, Yao would have been inducted next summer.MyFoxHouston.com reports that Yao believes that plan is "inappropriate" and would rather let some time pass.
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Due to traffic ticket warrants, Ron Artest cannot become Metta World Peace yet
Instead of throwing a barbecue to celebrate his name change to Metta World Peace, Lakers forward Ron Artest plans to navigate the legal system.
With outstanding traffic warrants preventing Artest from legally changing his name, the Lakers forward wants copies of the citations and will pay them if “it’s found they are unpaid,” according to a [...]
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Melo says to let the players play through talks
By Matt Moore
Carmelo Anthony's a constructive guy. In-between appearing at Team Melo exhibitions against Kevin Durant (and his 59-point-dropping ways), Melo has been coming up with solutions for the lockout since he wants to play so badly. And by that, I mean, he already got his max extension so he pretty much just wants everything to stay the same as it is right now. But he says he really does want to play, and so he's got an overly simplified approach to how to end the lockout, even if it doesn't solve the CBA talks. From ESPN: "Just let us play and continue to negotiate. That's what we say," Anthony said on Tuesday after playing an exhibition game in Baltimore. "I want a deal done, we all want a deal done. We just want it to be fair for both parties," added Anthony, who shared the court with LeBron James, Chris Paul and Kevin Durant in the exhibition at Morgan State University. "We want to play basketball at the end of the day. We don't care about none of that other stuff. They could settle that; just let us play and continue to negotiate." via New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony offers up solution to settle NBA lockout - ESPN New York. 
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Sixers players work out in Los Angeles
It’s perfectly logical for NBA players during the lockout to meet up with friends or teammates and, well, play basketball. And work out. And do other stuff, too.
The latest to do this are most of the Philadelphia 76ers players.
Dei Lynam of CSN Philly reports:
For those of you familiar with destination weddings, consider the Sixers’ weekend [...]
Karl Malone Moses Malone Pete Maravich Kevin McHale George Mikan
Sources: NBA, union reps to meet Wednesday
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Police: Crittenton was robbed of $55K in jewelry
Posted by Ben Golliver.
What drives a man to murder?It's impossible to truly know, but motives come in all shapes and sizes. For Javaris Crittenton, a former NBA player charged with murdering a mother of four in Atlanta, one possible motive, according to police, is revenge for a robbery at gunpoint. The Associated Press reports new details of an April robbery that Crittenton had previously reported to police. 
Kevin McHale George Mikan Earl Monroe Shaquille O Neal Hakeem Olajuwon
EuroBasket preview: Spain and then everybody else
Posted on | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 | No Comments
Posted by Royce Young
Actual competitive basketball being played in an actual arena with actual NBA players! No, this isn't another Drew League versus Goodman League showdown -- it's better. It's Eurobasket 2011 and if you're completely starved for some quality hoops, then welcome your all-you-can-eat buffet of basketball.You're probably sick of people trying to convince you how quality the European game has become, and while no, it's not the NBA, it is about as good of basketball as you're going to get. And with the labor negotiations going about as well as Charles Barkley in a marathon, this might be one of your last chances to get competitive basketball. The EuroBasket tournament features 24 countries all with the opportunity to put away an automatic bid to the 2012 Olympics in London. The top two finishers get an automatic bid while four bids to the Pre-Olympic qualifying tournament (for third through sixth) are at stake as well. But it's not only about the Olympic bids. It's about taking home a title for your country against the top competition in Europe. It's a big deal. 
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Chandler might not be going to Italy after all
Posted by Royce Young
Last week, it appeared that Nuggets restricted free agent Wilson Chandler was on the verge of an interesting deal to play in Italy during the lockout.But according to Chandler's agent, via SI.com, that deal appears to be off. And instead of Italy, it might be China. Which of course is intriguing because of that whole no NBA opt-out thing China has. Quite a risk from Chandler, if indeed true. He'd be better big on the NBA season not happening because no matter what China was willing to offer, it wouldn't be near the deal he'd be likely to get from an NBA team. Already even if Chandler doesn't get an offer, the Nuggets would owe him $3.1 million and it's unlikely he'd get a contract in China touching anywhere near that. 
Michael Jordan Jerry Lucas Karl Malone Moses Malone Pete Maravich
Michael Jordan?s Steak House Chicago opens Tuesday
MJ is coming to the Magnificent Mile.
Michael Jordan’s Steak House Chicago will make its debut Tuesday in the InterContinental Chicago hotel (505 N. Michigan Ave. 312-321-8823), taking over that property’s sprawling, architecturally fascinating second-floor dining space (which accommodates 160, plus a couple of 20-seat private spaces). The restaurant also is taking over the hotel’s lobby-level [...]
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Knicks may hire Mike Woodson as assistant
The Knicks are moving closer to hiring former Hawks head coach Mike Woodson as an assistant coach, which will fuel speculation that Woodson may one day succeed Mike D’Antoni as the team’s head coach.
Although Woodson’s last Atlanta team was criticized for its failure to make defensive adjustments when getting bombed by Orlando in the 2010 [...]
Paul Arizin Charles Barkley Rick Barry Elgin Baylor Dave Bing
The 10-man rotation, starring Arvydas Sabonis
With the lockout in full lockdown mode and news and NBA notes hard to come by, we often don't have enough fodder to fill out a daily or even weekly 10-man rotation, as most blips on the NBA radar end up deserving their own post. Today we're presenting a litany of links that you may have missed the first time, that weren't commented upon with a singular post. Enjoy.
C: The Painted Area. Haubs breaks down the perhaps too-legendary tale of Arvydas Sabonis dominating David Robinson in the 1988 Olympics. Also, Grantland's Jonathan Abrams discusses Sabas' legendary career, while the Oregonian welcomes him back to Portland.
PF: The Hoop Doctors. Seven memorable Dennis Rodman skirmishes.
SF: Basketball-Reference Blog. The '88 and '98 Cleveland Cavaliers were full of rookies.
SG: Mixmakers.net. Highlights from each of the Chicago Bulls' 1995-96 wins.
PG: NBA.com/Magic. Very cool pictorial evolution of each NBA logo.
6th: JasonKidd.com. Kidd recalls his heady "Mike Woodson play."
7th: NBA.com. Steve Aschburner makes the case for more assistant coaches in the Hall of Fame.
8th: NBA.com. Kevin McHale in the post. Take notes.
9th: Truthdig. Mark Heisler's all-over-the-place goodbye to the Los Angeles Times. Interesting read.
10th: NBAtradetracker.net. These are must-watches: "How Cazzie Russell Sparked the Steal of the Century."
Got a link or tip for Ball Don't Lie? Holler at me at KD_BDL_ED (at) yahoo.com, or follow me on Twitter.
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Video: Betty White spurns Shaquille O?Neal?s marriage proposal
You remember Betty White, right? For several decades, she served as a hilarious player in classic series like "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Golden Girls." Then a bunch of youngsters saw her in the Sandra Bullock vehicle "The Proposal" and decided she was the perfect subject for semi-ironic Internet love. A Facebook group popped up to get her to host "Saturday Night Live," and Lorne Michaels assented. Two years later, she still exists on the periphery of popular culture, co-starring on TV Land's "Hot in Cleveland" and popping up in other bits of ephemera. It's a career resurgence, I guess, except that few willing to acknowledge that her age is being exploited at the expense of legitimate approval of a comedic legend.
Anyway, enough with the cultural commentary. Betty White is hanging out with Shaquille O'Neal, for some reason, and the Big Geriatric decided to propose marriage to her. She declined, sadly, because he's too old for her. Oh Betty, you so crazy!
It makes perfect sense that Shaq would be attracted to White, though. As we know, he is very attracted to women that are 1/16th his size.
(Video via TBJ)
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Lockout videos: Cook a vegan pizza with John Salley
We learn new things about our world with each passing day, and many of them involve the sources of our food. The more we can eat responsibly, whether in terms of nutrition or seeking out food that's been created in a sustainable way, the better off we'll be. It's a tough way to eat, but a worthwhile one for many people.
Former NBA journeyman and current media personality John Salley is one of them. For several years, he has been a vegan. And, in keeping with that lifestyle, he wants to promote it as an option for other people around the world. He's even done a few promotional videos for PETA.
He also likes to make pizza, even if he can't use real cheese. Over the course of the 18-minute video above, you too can learn how to make a vegan pizza with all your favorite vegetables. You'll also learn about the evils of processed food. I never knew that education could be so delicious!
Hal Greer John Havlicek Elvin Hayes Magic Johnson Sam Jones
Police claim Zach Randolph invited a drug dealer to his party gone wrong
Here's the good news. Portland area police say they believe that Memphis Grizzlies forward (and sometimes Portland resident) Zach Randolph did not beat a suspected drug dealer over the head with a pool cue over the weekend.
Beyond that? It's not looking too good for Z-Bo, who had apparently cleaned his off-court life around in the two years since he was traded to Memphis.
Police suspect that Randolph invited a gentleman by the name of James Ruben Beasley to a party at his West Linn, Ore., mansion early on Sunday morning, with the expectation that Beasley would be selling marijuana to his party guests. Randolph and his friends were celebrating into wee hours following a chartered cruise on the Willamette River.
The Oregonian has been all over this investigation, and it can ably take it from here:
"Mr. Beasley said four to seven people jumped him and beat him bloody with pool cues," said Sgt. James Rhodes, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office spokesman.
But Beasley didn't call 9-1-1. Instead, he left and went to a local hospital, where he was treated for head wounds and released.
At 2 p.m. Saturday, he called police. Clackamas County sheriff's detectives met Beasley in Portland and interviewed him. Based on what he told them, the detectives obtained a search warrant for Randolph's home to seek evidence of an assault and drug activities.
"He said he knew Zach Randolph and that he was not involved (in the beating)," Rhodes said. "Therefore, he was not a suspect."
Though there wasn't a struggle to search Randolph's home later on Sunday, one officer described Randolph's party-goers as being "less than welcoming" even after the police showed up with a signed warrant. And once they did get inside, while drugs weren't found on the premises, police allegedly did find broken pool cues and blood evidence in which to work with.
Randolph's time in Portland wasn't much to be proud of, off the court. He was charged with a physical assault, named in a sexual assault case, was cited for DUI and famously punched teammate Ruben Patterson in the face during practice. And though he's changed quite a bit after playing on four teams in two years between Portland, New York, Los Angeles (Clippers) and Memphis, Randolph was named as a kingpin of sorts regarding an Indianapolis-based marijuana trade in 2010.
This flies in the face of the Randolph who personally paid for the electric and heating bills of hundreds of Memphis-area families last winter, just the tip of the iceberg regarding Zach's charitable contributions. After a good stint staying away from this sort of nonsense, though, it looks possible that Randolph has dived right back in. Perhaps he just took a break from getting caught.
Whatever the timeline, it's an unfortunate step back.
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Barkley: Rose overseas would be a mistake
Posted on | Monday, August 29, 2011 | No Comments
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Minnesota interviews yet another coaching candidate, no offers yet
And there's even less point to tossing a head coach out to the wolves, no pun intended, at a press conference introducing The New Guy that's unable to even hint at the idea that, someday, he might coach players again.
So it should come as a surprise that well-respected veteran coach Rick Adelman strolled in and out of an interview with the Timberwolves without so much of an offer being sent his way.
His family apparently wants him to take at least a season off, if not outright retire. More than one NBA league executive or coach initially believed the Wolves' job was too big of a rebuilding project at this stage of his life to attract Adelman, who had differences with a Rockets management team that wanted him to play younger players more last season.
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He's expected to command a contract of at least three years and $4 million to $5 million annually -- if not more -- should the Wolves reach an agreement with him.
Adelman follows former Coach of the Year winners Don Nelson, Larry Brown and Sam Mitchell in having discussions with Timberwolves brass that didn't lead to a job offer. The Wolves have done a fantastic job of keeping their name in the papers and keeping their fair-weather fans besotted with the idea of a big-name coach running the team after years of less-heralded (though in the case of Flip Saunders and Dwane Casey, quite good) head coaches running the team.
But until they've actually made an offer, why are we aiding them in their public relations battle? Minnesota publications, I understand. They're doing their job. But we're stepping back.
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Five NBA players who should take their acts overseas
There's a good chance the NBA will not play a single game in the 2011-12 season. There's a more than solid chance�the current lockout that 30 NBA teams enforced in July could last deep into fall of 2012. There's also a better chance that this lockout could worm its way into the snowier winter months of the impending winter, and that the players and the owners could come to an agreement in January, as was the case during the 1998 stalemate that came to a close during the first week of January in 1999.
Until then, as was the case 13 years ago, NBA players are attempting to field and/or sign deals with international teams in hopes of both earning income during this lockout and staying in game-ready shape. There aren't that many spots open, much less teams open to signing NBA players, despite the advantage that NBA-level players would have against international counterparts. And myriad complications would get in the way of both NBA-types agreeing to an overseas deal and international teams taking on NBA-types for either a full or truncated contract.
[Related: Chinese team willing to pay Kobe just to warm up with team]
With that in place, there are five NBA veterans who we think would be expertly suited for a stint overseas. And by "expertly suited," we mean "in bad, bad need" -- whether this current lockout costs the NBA one or 82 games.
This list follows the jump.
Jamal Crawford, free agent
He's worked with enough teams, so the sample size is large enough. Ask any beat writer, in any format: Jamal Crawford is the nicest guy you'll ever meet. Which pains us to point out that his deserved free-agent payday -- which should have seen some middling team massively overpay him during some Wednesday last month -- has likely been shot to hell by the current lockout.
Jamal is 31, now, and every team thinks they need a scoring hybrid guard who can't dribble to come off the bench and drop 12 in a quarter that they'll notice without realizing that he shot 1 for 12 in the four fourth quarters that preceded that quarter. I say this again, as someone who likes Jamal Crawford a lot. He's the streakiest guy in the NBA, and more than deserving of an average contract. He probably won't get one, though, when the new collective bargaining agreement reveals itself.
[Related: Only free agents eligible to play in China]
He also shot 43 percent from the field and 34 percent (the league average is a tick below 36 percent) from long range last season. His career mark from the 3-point line is 35 percent, but it hardly matters. Have you ever seen Jamal Crawford shoot a free throw? Seriously? Ask your younger brother. Ask your former roommate who used to live in New York. Name one guy that can emulate Jamal Crawford's stroke from the free-throw line. I dare thee. Name one point in your life that you can recall seeing Jamal Crawford set up for a free throw. This isn't a good thing, mind you.
Again, we love Jamal. Which is why we think that he's best served working overseas. Not because his isolation-heavy ways will in any way fit in with any sort of international league. No, it's because he's the sort of "we have $7 million open this summer, let's give it all to him and toss him 120 percent raises over the course of a five-year deal" signee that has gotten teams in trouble for over a decade.
Nothing against Jamal; he's more or less worked the same routine since 2000. He just happened to end his run at the worst possible time. The NBA's old financial landscape died a death on July 1, and while it won't affect the league's stars or its minimum players, potentially overpaid average blokes like Jamal will feel the biggest hit.
So go east, (NBA-level) middle-aged man. Or west. Go west to go east. Either way, the Wizards aren't calling anytime soon.
Perhaps Greece?
Andris Biedrins needs saving. You know this.
If you're reading an NBA blog in August of an offseason, lockout or otherwise, you're probably the sort who watched Biedrins destroy teams on your satellite hookup during inconsequential early spring games over the last few years. His massive hops and 6-foot-11ish frame made it so the Warriors were more than happy with signing the lefty to a six-year, $54 million contract during the summer of 2008.
Of course, this 2008 deal was heavily dependent on a then-22-year-old acting as if he was into basketball, into improving upon his basketball craft and into the idea of his coach actually utilizing a defensive-minded big man who could move his feet, block shots, rebound on the defensive end and help to eliminate the endless mistakes made by a tiny and offensive-minded lineup. Also, Don Nelson was coaching. If you made it past this paragraph without wheezing, you're aware that there are many caveats with this cat.
Biedrins actually enjoyed a career year in 2008-09 following his contract extension, averaging about 12 points and 11 boards with two assists (!) and a block and a half in 30 minutes per game. Confidence, minutes, free-throw percentage and production have fallen off significantly in the two seasons since. No matter whose fault it is, this is clearly a talented player in need of a re-start.
So, with four years and $36 million left on his deal, it would seem that Andris would keep the re-starts in-house, as he gets frustrated with Bowser and re-starts his Nintendo before striking it up again. After all, Super Mario Brothers isn't going to finish itself. Still, why can't he try another kind of re-start away from Golden State?
Rumors abound that the 25-year-old Biedrins could work for a Latvian team during the lockout, and that can't be anything but good news for this guy. He has to get away from the NBA grind, the Don Nelson-inspired millstone of roster mates and develop some sort of confidence away from this mess of a league that we might not see until November 2012.
Biedrins, of the major hops and middling basketball skill, has long been regarded as the perfect sort of international center to try and ply his trade at the NBA level. He isn't a shooter, he likes banging, and he can't be pushed around. Andrea Bargnani, Biedrins ain't. Still, for whatever reasons, it hasn't worked for Andris at the NBA level.
Though insurance issues might get in the way ($36 million, even if the U.S. doesn't exist in four years, is nothing to sneeze at), this is a prime example of someone who should make the jump. This is especially the sort of player who needs a new outlook.
Confidence, reps, minutes played, actual defensive rotations and competent teammates? These are things that have been in short supply during Biedrins' time with three different coaches in Golden State. Andris has been at fault for slipping in terms of his development and effort, but an actual role and inherent responsibility might be the best thing for him at this point.
Patterson's NBA resume isn't much to warm yourself with. He started six games in his rookie year last season, but he played a total of only 868 minutes.
Worse, the 6-9 (yeah, right) big forward fits squarely in an NBA world that hasn't existed for two decades. The Kentucky product can spin and square away and either hook or fall into point after point after point in the low post, but what's the point in a 2011-era NBA that won't allow any sort of post play that doesn't involve 12 double-teams and 13 NFL-level defensive sets meant to turn the next Elvin Hayes into the next Brad Sellers?
This is where Patterson can learn.
International hoops? It's even tougher in the low block. There really isn't a low block, if we're honest, which is what would serve Patterson so well. Even in limited minutes, the big forward with touch managed a 16.7 PER, but a spell (if only, hopefully, for a week or so) spent in a quick-moving international league could do wonders for his anticipation, his hands, his footwork and his aptitude down "low." Even if there isn't much "low" down low in international hoops.
For scoring big men, international hoops can feel like an incessant game of Whack-a-Mole worked with two hands tied behind their back, with four fouls already on the scoreboard.
Seems perfect enough for Patterson, who seems more than willing and able to make this happen. It isn't as if he'd be a big man working amongst the giants. He'd actually be according to scale. But they aren't obsessed with block and charge calls over there, Patrick. Seek it out, my man.
As is the case with Biedrins, insurance issues may get in the way of an NBA player who makes around eight figures a year plying his trade away from the league that pays his significant rent. We cannot blame cats like these for deciding to keep things local, while staying in shape and saving himself from a potentially career-altering knee injury. Even if, in the case of Biedrins and Gordon, "local" is a fluid term. After all, both Biedrins and Ben were born outside the United States.
Ben Gordon needs a re-start, though.
Ben Gordon was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 2004, and spent the next five years playing in some of the worst offenses we've ever seen. The defense was sound, through no fault of Ben's (read: ZING), but at times B.G. was the crux of those teams' offenses. The spacing was poor, the big men offered no relief, and Gordon was left time and time again to bail his teammates out with a miserable long-range attempt. Usually with a hand in his face. Disproportionate blame and iffy shooting percentages resulted.
Even with those mitigating factors, Gordon somewhat thrived. He shot over 40 percent from behind the arc in each of his five seasons with Chicago. Taking to the Pistons as the cap-conscious Bulls declined to re-sign him in 2009, Gordon fell off significantly. He managed just 32 percent from long range in 2009-10, and while he rebounded to above 40 percent in 2010-11, my League Pass-heavy and first-hand accounts left him looking as dispassionate in Detroit as he did potent in Chicago. Ben, in front of those 10,000 fans (announced, at least) at night, just didn't seem to care.
With that Pistons roster, we couldn't blame him.
Which is why a bit of international burn could do him good. As is the case with Crawford, Ben's screen-roll and/or isolation game could be a disservice in international play, but a new jersey and shooting guards his size (Gordon is a relatively diminutive 6-3) could do wonders for our man's wonderfully arching jump shot.
Mike Conley Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
Nothing is going wrong with Mike Conley at this point. His jump shot may have deserted him during his team's inspiring playoff run last spring, but beyond that, the Grizzlies' point guard more than overwhelmed the jerks among us (including I, King Jerk) that assumed him unworthy of his massive contract extension that set to paper nine months ago.
He's still not worth it; a smaller-market team like the Grizzlies should have waited until the summer (or whenever the "offseason" starts) to see what contract it had to match for his services -- and it's dubious to assume that his on-court improvements came only because Conley felt like he had to live up to his unexpected deal.
The guy still played his tail off in 2010-11. And this is the sort of guy you want to see keep improving. After all, sound and smart point guards are rare in the NBA realm and relative overseas. Ball-dominating lead guards don't work in international play, and Conley has no incentive to try and ape his NBA act with any other team during the lockout because of his big contract extension, but he'd be a mensch if he tried.
Of course, the NBA and its players would be complete and total menschs if they attempted to settle this stalemate like sound-thinking compatriots.
Instead, they're acting like ? well, something that rhymes with the latter half of the word "compatriots."
Other popular stories on Yahoo! Sports:
? Video: Compilation of Michael Jordan's best dunks
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? Baseball contenders' playoff chances tied to health
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Scalabrine headed to Italy for five-week tryout?
Posted by Royce Young
Earlier, I was excited to bring you news that Wilson Chandler, who is not some middle-ground NBA also-ran, was headed overseas to play in Italy. Other than Deron Williams, almost everyone taking their talents across the pond seems to be in the lower tier of NBA players. So here's another and he happens to be the marginalist of all marginal NBAers: Brian Scalabrine. And here's the best part: He doesn't have a contract -- he's trying out. How I love thee, Scal. According to the Chicago Tribune, Scalabrine will spend the next five weeks training with Benetton Treviso in Italy. After that, he'll decide what he wants to do. 
Shaquille O Neal Hakeem Olajuwon Robert Parish Bob Pettit Scottie Pippen