Terry Porter will be the new head coach … in Phoenix
ESPN says it’s already happened: Multiple sources told ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith that Terry Porter is the new coach of the Phoenix Suns. Suns general manager Steve Kerr called Porter on Saturday morning to offer him the job, and Porter accepted. A. Sherrod Blakely says it hasn’t…
June 07, 2008, 6:15 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Lamar Odom’s 6/7 interview
Q. I was noticing that you weren’t active. What was going on out there? LAMAR ODOM: Teacher’s pet today, so I got to just watch just a little bit. I’ve got a couple parts of my body that just need to heal up a little bit, that’s…
June 07, 2008, 6:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Phil Jackson’s 6/7 interview
Q. If Kevin Garnett is playing off Lamar, is that similar to what he was doing for Minnesota when you guys played with him in the West Finals in ‘04? And what is the answer? COACH PHIL JACKSON: Well, somewhat, but you know, Karl Malone had made that resurgence…
June 07, 2008, 6:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Luke Walton’s 6/7 interview
Q. Have you learned anything more about your offense during the playoffs? LUKE WALTON: No, we do the same things every day from day one in training camp. We haven’t put anything new in. Q. None of the little playoff bag of tricks? LUKE…
June 07, 2008, 6:00 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Jordan Farmar’s 6/7 interview
Q. Do you feel you have to play Game 2 with more of a sense of urgency? JORDAN FARMAR: It shouldn’t change the way we play. It may step up our sense of urgency a little bit, but for the most part we should just continue to do what we’ve been doing, execute and…
June 07, 2008, 6:00 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Pau Gasol’s 6/7 interview
Q. How do you think that you complement Kobe as a teammate? How does your game complement his? PAU GASOL: Very well. I think very well. I think he and I know how to play the game, and I try to give him good reads. I try to keep my defender with me so it takes a little pressure off…
June 07, 2008, 6:00 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Kobe Bryant’s 6/7 interview
Q. Sort of slow news day, so I want to ask you about your teammates who wear your sneakers. Any thoughts on Vladdie, Turiaf, Pau, Lamar, D.J. wearing the Kobes? KOBE BRYANT: Well, they all have an interest in jumping over cars. It intrigues them, so they wear the…
June 07, 2008, 6:00 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Shaw shanks befuddled trio
Another Lakers practice was winding down Saturday afternoon and it time for yet another skills-game. Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw challenged players Trevor Ariza, Ira Newble and Coby Karl to a game of around-the-world, beyond the 3-point arc. The final shot to make was a corner shot, taken…
June 07, 2008, 5:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Fisher’s fashion statement
Unlike the current generation of players that wear their game shorts and practice shorts pulled below their waist in a disgusting sagging manner, Lakers guard Derek Fisher is all old-school, wearing his short the proper way, with the waist band of his shorts on his waist. Fisher laughed when the…
June 07, 2008, 5:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Turiaf’s tribute
Lakers forward Ronny Turiaf’s game jersey is No. 21, which was once worn by perennial all-defensive team member and 3-point specialist Michael Cooper, who was a key contributor on the Lakers’ five NBA championship teams in the 1980s. But Turiaf does not wear a practice jersey adorned…
June 07, 2008, 5:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Derek Fisher’s 6/7 interview
Q. What was it like in your first NBA Finals? DEREK FISHER: I mean, it’s an exciting feeling. I mean, you work your entire life to be here in terms of becoming a professional basketball player, and to get to this point and be a part of a team that has this kind of…
June 07, 2008, 5:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Odom: These guys are no Giants
BOSTON — Everyone knows the Celtics’ defense is good. All the proof necessary is in the numbers, which say they permitted opponents a 41.9-percent field goal accuracy rate during the regular season, best in the NBA. Boston also allowed just 90.2 points per game, second only to Detroit,…
June 07, 2008, 5:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Lakers-Celtics, Game 1: Listen to them sweat!
BOSTON — Being a sportswriter means having a good perspective. Well, being this sportswriter means having perhaps the greatest perspective of all for Game 1. To understand how good The Register’s seats at TD Banknorth Garden are for this series, consider that Thursday I heard Sam…
June 07, 2008, 5:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Lamar Odom’s 6/7 interview
Q. I was noticing that you weren’t active. What was going on out there? LAMAR ODOM: Teacher’s pet today, so I got to just watch just a little bit. I’ve got a couple parts of my body that just need to heal up a little bit, that’s…
June 07, 2008, 5:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Phil Jackson’s 6/7 interview
Q. If Kevin Garnett is playing off Lamar, is that similar to what he was doing for Minnesota when you guys played with him in the West Finals in ‘04? And what is the answer? COACH PHIL JACKSON: Well, somewhat, but you know, Karl Malone had made that resurgence…
June 07, 2008, 5:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
All-time Lakers: Best coach?
So who’s going to coach this All-Time Lakers team we’ve been compiling? I’m guessing Phil Jackson lost some votes by losing Game 1 of the Finals. Then again, if Kobe & Co. rally to win it, Jackson would tie Pat Riley with four Lakers championships. But that still trails…
June 07, 2008, 5:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Sasha Vujacic’s 6/6 interview
Q. How important is it to get those easy baskets? SASHA VUJACIC: It’s important. You know, as much as it’s important to play together on offense, move the ball from one side to the other. Q. It seemed like the bench struggled and you guys didn’t seem to…
June 07, 2008, 5:00 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Vladimir Radmanovic’s 6/6 interview
Q. Kobe was 9 for 26 last night. Do you think he needs to do anything different or just play his game? VLADIMIR RADMANOVIC: I personally believe we have to move the ball better this game. They’re really good defenders when it comes to one‑on‑one defense. They always have two guys,…
June 07, 2008, 5:00 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Pau Gasol’s 6/7 interview
Q. How do you think that you complement Kobe as a teammate? How does your game complement his? PAU GASOL: Very well. I think very well. I think he and I know how to play the game, and I try to give him good reads. I try to keep my defender with me so it takes a little pressure off…
June 07, 2008, 4:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Kobe Bryant’s 6/7 interview
Q. Sort of slow news day, so I want to ask you about your teammates who wear your sneakers. Any thoughts on Vladdie, Turiaf, Pau, Lamar, D.J. wearing the Kobes? KOBE BRYANT: Well, they all have an interest in jumping over cars. It intrigues them, so they wear the…
June 07, 2008, 4:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Hornets Offseason: I'd like this one . . . and this one . . . and that one . . .
The Hornets spent $66,079,546 in player payroll last season, and it looks like the Hornets will have some leeway to spend this year - assuming they are willing to spend the same amount they spent this year as they did last year. The dead contracts of Arvydas Macijauskas, Bernard…
June 07, 2008, 05:00 AM ET from Hornets247.com Blog
Hornets Off-Season: The Draft
I've poured over the various sites that give Draft information and put together the players I'd like to see the Hornets bring in for workouts and possibly snag in the Draft if they don't trade the pick. In accordance with the off-season priority I put up yesterday, I focused…
June 07, 2008, 04:45 AM ET from Hornets247.com Blog
Hornets Off-Season: What do the Hornets need?
The Hornets got the first thing they needed yesterday, when Byron Scott had his contract extended. Scott has caught more than his fair share of criticism over the last couple years for things as wide-ranging as his comments about liking Oklahoma City to his substitution patterns to…
June 07, 2008, 04:30 AM ET from Hornets247.com Blog
Hornets Wallpaper: There is no I in team
Just checking in quick to help you freshen up your desktop. Dariusz Ejkiewicz (aka Fartman), has delivered another fine wallpaper, this time inspired by the NBA's "there can only be one" campaign that's been everywhere throughout the playoffs. You'll find the download links…
June 07, 2008, 04:15 AM ET from Hornets247.com Blog
More about the Hornets and Drafting
Following up on my previous draft post, I wanted to address how the Hornets, as an organization, have done with the draft, and what we can hope from our pick. This year, we only hold the 27th selection of the draft, since our second round pick will be going to Seattle.In general, the Hornets have…
June 07, 2008, 04:00 AM ET from Hornets247.com Blog
Memoirs of a New Orleans Hornets Fan: the Battle for Legitimacy
If you made it to a game at the Arena this past season, you're probably familiar with Mikey. He was the guy busting a lung from the front row of 303. I first met him while waiting for the streetcar to take me to the Hornets-Sonics game back on December 10th. He turned out to be somewhat of a…
June 07, 2008, 03:45 AM ET from Hornets247.com Blog
Hornets Postseason: Determining the Value of a Draft Pick
First off, if you haven't read it, go read Ron's last post about his Memories of the season. If you don't, this post will explode. Seriously. Be afraid. Now, on to the post-season:The first step of any off-season is the Draft. As a long-time…
June 07, 2008, 03:30 AM ET from Hornets247.com Blog
Memories from a Magical Season
For me, it started on Wednesday, December 5th. That night at the Arena, we got blown out by the Pistons with only 10,312 people in the stands, most of them not at all convinced that this NBA thing was going to last in Louisiana. The atmosphere was pretty good despite the loss. Cheap tickets, Dance…
June 07, 2008, 03:15 AM ET from Hornets247.com Blog
Game 7 Aftermath: The Final News Wrap
So the Spurs came up big and got the Game 7 win over our Hornets here in New Orleans last night. Four losses in five games to end your season is tough to swallow, but it was a great ride nonetheless. For the last time this season, here's your news wrap...We'll open it up with John DeShazier…
June 07, 2008, 03:00 AM ET from Hornets247.com Blog
Hornets Off-Season: Let's make a Deal
Now that I’ve talked about what the Hornets need, who I’d like to see them go for if they keep the 27th pick of the draft, and what sort of Free Agents I would like to see the Hornets go after, I’ve finally reached the last part of my off-season preview – making…
June 07, 2008, 02:45 AM ET from Hornets247.com Blog
Lakers-Celtics buries Spurs-Cavaliers
How much sexier is Lakers-Celtics than Spurs-Cavaliers? Approximately 45 percent. That was the massive ratings jump ABC enjoyed for Game 1 of the NBA Finals compared to a year ago. Thursday night’s game averaged 13,384,000 viewers vs. 9,206,000 for Game 1 of Spurs-Cavs. The broadcast averaged…
June 07, 2008, 00:45 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Pau Gasol’s 6/6 interview
Q. There’s been a lot of talk in the last 12 hours or so about the difference in physicality between the teams. Can that be changed in just a span of a couple days leading up to Game 2? PAU GASOL: Like I said, we talked about it after the game, I don’t think they’re more…
June 07, 2008, 00:30 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Lamar Odom’s 6/6 interview
Q. What did the Celtics do differently in the fourth quarter? LAMAR ODOM: I think they just out‑scrapped us, lots of loose balls, rebounds, et cetera. They played with a sense of urgency. We have to meet that. Q. Why wasn’t there a sense of urgency for the Lakers? LAMAR ODOM: Not to…
June 07, 2008, 00:15 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Lakers-Celtics, Game 1: Listen to them sweat!
BOSTON — Being a sportswriter means having a good perspective. Well, being this sportswriter means having perhaps the greatest perspective of all for Game 1. To understand how good The Register’s seats at TD Banknorth Garden are for this series, consider that Thursday I heard Sam…
June 07, 2008, 00:00 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
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