Marc J. Spears of The Boston Globe: “Bill Russell, the cornerstone of a Boston Celtics team that won 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons, including a record eight straight titles, will be permanently honored by having The Finals Most Valuable Player Trophy named for him, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced today. ‘Who better to name this prestigious award for than one of the greatest players of all time and the ultimate champion,’ said Stern. ‘Bill inspired a generation not just of basketball fans but Americans everywhere. He is respected by colleagues, coaches, fans, and his legacy clearly has withstood the test of time.’ The Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award will be presented at the conclusion of The Finals. Select writers and broadcasters who cover the series will determine the MVP. ‘I accept this for my team and my team included my coach Red Auerbach and all my teammates over the years,’ Russell said at a press conference. ‘This is quite flattering.’”
Chris Ballard of CNNSI.com: “Only at All-Star weekend can someone like Nate Robinson prove more recognizable than Dr. J. And that, to a certain extent, is how the league wants it. More so than the other major U.S. sports, the NBA markets to the young and impressionable. Ideally, basketball stars are seen as superheroes (Dwight Howard) or cartoon characters (Space Jam) or big, goofy giants (Shaquille O’Neal). And once a player’s superhuman qualities fade, so does his popularity. Take Vince Carter. He’s having a nice little season for the Nets, but now that he’s shooting jump shots instead of cramming his elbow halfway into the rim, he’s fallen out of favor with the teenagers of America. Once the leading All-Star vote-getter, Carter finished 14th this year (for perspective, players who received more votes include Ron Artest, Tracy McGrady and Manu Ginobili, all of whom have been hurt and/or crazy this season). Whereas Howard, he of the resplendent dunks and goofball persona — he’s like Shaq, but with hops! — became the first NBA player to surpass three million votes.”
Frank Dell’Apa of The Boston Globe: “Pierce was making like a tourist, hanging around the periphery, his way of unwinding after having helped the Celtics to a 44-11 record, best in the Eastern Conference. This is not much of a break, though, since the Celtics return to practice Tuesday in Salt Lake City, then play the Jazz Thursday, followed by visits to Phoenix, Denver, and the Los Angeles Clippers. But Pierce is accustomed to going all out, all the time. If taking a vacation means fraternizing with foes, he is going to do so wholeheartedly and with more than just mental pictures. ‘To experience All-Star weekend is a privilege every time. So, you can’t take it for granted. That’s what I never do,’ Pierce said. ‘That’s why I walked around and had fun with the guys. There’s going to be a day when I won’t make an All-Star team. Then what? You are going to think about the memories and go back and look at this and show your kids.’”
John Reid of The Times-Picayune: “Besides coaches, West draws respect from his peers, especially players participating in All-Star Weekend events. ‘He absolutely deserves to be here, ‘ Duncan said. ‘He has been consistent over the last couple of years and has improved his game. He’s shown that he is a staple of his team that has been playing very well.’ Former Hornets guard J.R. Smith, who will participate in tonight’s dunk contest in place of injured Rudy Gay, said West does a lot of things well. ‘He rebounds, shoots and plays defense, ‘ Smith said. ‘When I played for the Hornets, he was hurt a lot. But he has worked on his game.’ Hornets Coach Byron Scott said West stays low key even around his teammates. ‘Most of the time, he’s with his wife and daughter, ‘ Scott said. ‘But I think it’s great that coaches in the Western Conference knows what he means and how good he is. He just doesn’t seek the limelight.’”
Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel: “Howard defends his title tonight in the all-star dunk contest, an event that introduced his fun-loving, sneakered Superman alter ego to the sports world. Wearing a Superman cape and suit, he displayed a boundless joy and freakish athleticism, winning over more fans — and more marketing executives. As approachable and accommodating as any superstar today, Howard is able to attract a crowd and — at the same time — blend into one. His engaging personality is as genuine as it is giant. ‘Is there anybody in Orlando who doesn’t have Dwight’s autograph?’ Smith asked with a laugh. ‘His biggest problem is he can’t say no.’”
Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer: “Before the ball goes up at the 2009 NBA All-Star Game Sunday evening, there will be hugs and fist bumps all around. There’s a certain heady camaraderie among these athletes who are the best in their business. LeBron James, in particular, will make sure he warmly greets all the players on the floor. But when he gets to New Orleans’ Chris Paul, the hug will be more heartfelt. Though often linked to Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade, it is Paul who is his best friend in the league. ‘Me and him, we’re like brothers,’ Paul said. They talk and text daily. When James hosts his bikeathon in Akron, Paul pedals along, and when Paul sponsors his annual charity bowling tournament in North Carolina, James hefts a ball. That is how they roll.”
Detroit Bad Boys: Iverson talks free agency
Dave D’Alessandro of The Star-Ledger: “In this scenario, which was reported last Friday on NJ.com, sharp-shooter Roger Mason and rookie point guard George Hill would come to New Jersey, along with center Fabricio Oberto and Bruce Bowen. The Nets would have three players over the maximum allowed, however, so they would probably waive Bowen and Oberto and a third player, while plugging Mason and Hill into their backcourt. The primary benefit to the deal is financial: The Nets would rid themselves of Carter’s $16.1 million salary next year, profoundly shortening their payroll: Mason ($3.8 million) and Hill ($1.1 million) would remain with the team, but Bowen and Oberto — despite having a year left on their contracts — have minimal salary protection if they are cut before July 1 and Aug. 1, respectively. That would reduce the Nets’ payroll to roughly $50 million at the end of the current season — or an estimated $10 million under the salary cap — which would make the Nets major players in the 2009 free-agent market.”
Hoops Addict: “Colangelo insisted on numerous occasions that in no way is Marion considered a rental for the next 27 games. While many initially viewed his addition as a way for the team to clear cap space this summer it’s clear the team is interested in re-signing him this summer if he pans out like the team envisions. ‘Obviously the net effect of this deal is future (salary cap) flexibility much sooner than with Jermaine (O’Neal),’ Colangelo told the media. ‘But I want to be very clear that this is not a move that is a predetermination that sets up future flexibility for free agency. This is a move to acquire the player of Shawn’s caliber that can come in and compliment Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon and Anthony Parker in the starting line-up. He’ll develop as we continue to complete this season that we’re in.’ While many viewed Marion as a rental, it’s clear the Raptors front office may have bigger plans.”
Andrew Bagnato of The Associated Press: “Team USA chief Jerry Colangelo plans to meet with members of the Beijing Olympic team on Saturday to talk about the next Olympic cycle. Instead of seeking a three-year commitment, as he did for the Beijing Olympics, Colangelo said he’ll ask players to be part of the 2010 world championship team in Turkey and the 2012 Olympic squad in London. If the U.S. wins the world championship, it would skip regional qualifying in 2011. ‘I really want only a two-year commitment, not a three,’ Colangelo said on Friday. ‘But I’m picking the years — 2010, 2012.’ Colangelo said he doesn’t need commitments for another year. But with U.S. stars such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in town for the NBA All-Star game, Colangelo figured it would be a good time to meet.”
Mary Schmitt Boyer and Brian Windhorst of The Plain Dealer: “Once Brown arrives at the arena, nearly every moment follows the routine, right down to his lotion he puts on his hands when he leaves his office and rubs in on the way to the floor, with his arrival timed to be just in time for the national anthem. Which brings up the poem on the wall. It has been discussed and written about numerous times before, mostly during the 2007 NBA Finals when he matched up with mentor Gregg Popovich, who instilled in him the value of Jacob Riis’ work. It centers around the stonecutter who pounds on the rock ‘perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet, at the hundred and first blow it would split in two, and I knew it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.’ That poem, in every language the players on the team speak, hangs in the locker in San Antonio. The premise is to continue to work hard on the basics and eventually you will be rewarded. The system isn’t as overbearing with the Cavs, but it is deeply meaningful to Brown, not just in a basketball sense but a life sense.”
Johnny Ludden of Yahoo! Sports: “For all of Stoudemire’s stunning talent, he had proven flighty, erratic, impulsive. Yet as he sat in a downtown hotel ballroom Friday afternoon, his career on trial, Stoudemire had a moment of clarity. After all, he wondered, weren’t his employers looking equally rudderless? ‘I’m trying to figure out what the focus is,’ Stoudemire said. ‘I thought I was the future of the franchise, we were trying to win a championship here. It doesn’t seem that way anymore. ‘… I’m not sure if the ultimate goal is to win a championship or just to save money.’ Flighty? Erratic? Impulsive? For the Suns, that starts at the top. Suns owner Robert Sarver has put away his foam finger these days, which saves the locals from kindly suggesting another location for him to stick it. On a weekend that should have been used to celebrate the long, proud tradition of one of the NBA’s great franchises, Sarver instead has sent his team embarrassingly careening toward mediocrity.”
Mark Heisler of the Los Angeles Times: “In Friday’s media session, O’Neal, croaking like Don Corleone after waking up with a cold but determined to keep going, noted that he and Kobe are ‘still talked about to this day, and I haven’t played with him for four or five years, so my marketing worked.’ The two are now good friends, who stay in touch, text messaging back and forth. ‘We talk a lot,’ said O’Neal. ‘All the time . . . ‘Good game. How you doing? How’s the kids?’ Simple stuff.’ Or not. Bryant looked surprised to hear they talk all the time. ‘Um yeah,’ Kobe said, tentatively, ‘we talked over the summer.’ And texting back and forth? ‘Yeah, we’ve texted before. I’m evasive on that subject. I don’t want to get into it. We have a good relationship, though.’ Several Shaq questions later, Bryant shut it down. ‘It wasn’t a fun time for me,’ he said, ‘so I’m not about to revisit it.’”
