One down...two to go: Jason Kidd is now 3rd All-Time in Assists

I just woke up.

Went through my usual routine--checking the box scores and saw that the Mavs-Suns game was done.

My first thought.

Jose Juan Barea is going to start. He lives for these Suns games.

And he did.

But what I didn't expect was for Jason Kidd to get a career milestone as well as a number of assist records in their 140-116 rout of the Phoenix Suns.

Kidd (currently with 10,148 assists) passed Los Angeles Lakers legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson (10,141) with a pass to Josh Howard with about a minute left before the half.

By the time second quarter ended, J-Kidd had also set a Dallas Mavericks record as well as a league record for first-half assists with 16.

Josh Howard has got to be loving this right now. His name is "unofficially" in the record books as well having been the recipient of the Kidd assists to pass Oscar "The Big O" Robertson and Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

J-Kidd now needs 187 assists to pass NBA analyst Mark Jackson for 2nd place on the career list. Baring any injuries (or retirement), Jason Kidd should chalk that down early next season.

Utah Jazz point guard John Stockton is the all-time leader with 15,806 assists.

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Farewell to the Pope of College Basketball

The game of basketball lost a good man with the passing of Peter Francis "Pete" Newell yesterday morning.

Much has been said with Coach Newell’s advance age and failing health in recent years but sometimes—though not always—there are a few people that you wish could live forever because the world is a better place with them in it.

Coach Newell is one of them.

Big Man’s Camp

Since 1976 until the time of his death, Pete Newell has had a hand in developing the fundamental footwork and shooting of collegiate and professional forwards and centers without receiving any compensation in return. Newell shared, "I owe it to the game. I can never repay what the game has given me."

Newell’s Big Man Camp started with one player—Kermit Washington of the Los Angeles Lakers. In the book “The Punch: one night, two lives, and the fight that changed basketball forever,” author John Feinstein recounts that Newell’s work with Washington was so effective that his quickness, ball-handling, and jump shot improved to the point where his “inside game” became more efficient. Since then, annual Big Man’s Camps (since renamed to Pete Newell’s Big Man’s Camp) have been conducted in Honolulu, Hawaii and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Newell changed the way the game is played

Though I have not had the privilege of meeting Coach Pete, I have been fortunate enough to attend his son, Coach Tom’s camp here in Manila, Philippines during the summer of 2000.

It changed my life. My entire perspective of the game of basketball.

Coach Tom said that after our camp experience, we (the camp participants) would never see a basketball game for what it is—just a game.

And we never did.

Our eyes were opened, as there was a lot more analysis involved now. Putting the ball through the hoop was no longer as important as being fundamentally sound. Basic moves were scrutinized. Countermoves were put into practice. Reverse pivots became secondary. And so on…

All thanks to the teachings of Coach Tom Newell and in turn to his father Pete whose legacy was very much felt in that coaching program.

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El Segundo woman stalks Lakers' Luke Walton

Been really busy with work so I haven’t really had a chance to post anything over the course of almost two months (has it really been that long…)

Anyway, the 2008-2009 NBA season is upon us and despite not blogging, I’ve kept abreast with recent player and team developments—a necessity for annual NBA Yahoo! Fantasy players such as myself. (Speaking about that, any of you guys interested in forming a head-to-head league?)

One news report that caught my eye other than the ones watching everything and anything that Gilbert Arenas, Jr. does or the latest on the Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr. divorce and having Bad Boys II star Gabrielle Union ever present at Heat games or if Steven John Nash turning 35 will make him even less of awesome player that he is, etc.

News of Los Angeles Lakers forward Luke Walton brings me out of my hiatus—well at least for the next fifteen minutes, before I have to get ready for work.

Here is the story, ocregister.com’s Kevin Ding writes in his Lakers Blog about a chat he had recently with Walton about an El Segundo woman (identified later as 34 year-old Stacy Beshear) following him around wherever he goes. From real amateur tailing techniques to irrationally throwing unsigned basketballs to very real shooting gun hand gestures, Luke has every reason to be worried.

Ding quotes Walton below:

* “She seemed nice enough (when she first began appearing regularly outside the Lakers’ El Segundo practice facility for autographs), and there are a lot of people who are out there all the time. I would sign stuff for them most of the time, but every once in a while you’re in a rush trying to get somwhere after practice. So one time I waved and said I had to be somewhere. And I saw her reach her pen out, and I didn’t think anything of it, and when I got to my house, I saw I had a big blue mark all down the side of my car from her Sharpie pen. So then I was like, ‘That’s messed up. I sign stuff for her all the time. Now she does that; I’m not going to sign anything for her anymore.’ That’s before I knew she was stalking me.”

* “A couple of days later, I was signing stuff, and she came up. And I just rolled up my window and drove off. And as I was driving off, she threw her basketball at my car. It didn’t hit the car, but I saw it was bouncing down Nash Street. And I was kind of laughing like, ‘She’s kind of lost it.’ But at the same time, it was like, she’s really starting to pick up what she’s doing.”

* “Once I moved out of the gated community, that’s when I started noticing. I’d come home, and the same car with tinted windows would be parked across the street all the time. One time, I was like, ‘I swear I see someone there.’ So I walked up and saw her, and she had a hat on, and I said, ‘I can’t believe this is the same chick from the practice site.’ And then for a while, everywhere I went, I’d see her park like a street down. As soon as I took off, she’d start following me.”

* “I’ll be going somewhere, and she’ll be following me everywhere I go. I’ll start really driving nuts, and she’s right behind me, staying with me. It sucks, because you figure you just go out and play basketball and you have your personal life, but then you have to start worrying about stuff like, ‘I don’t want to drive to my teammates’ houses if she’s following me, because I don’t want her to know where my teammates live.’”

* “It was more an annoyance than anything else until recently when she did that gun thing (gesturing at him with her hand as if shooting at him). And then I was like, ‘All right. Now she’s crossed the line.’ ”

* “I’m hoping she’s done. I hope the police finally scared her enough so that she’ll leave me alone.”


In a world where people simple just have an obscene amount of time to talk about other people’s lives or simply make it point to focus on what their obsession is doing...rather than focusing on themselves.

This is serious!

But sadly, they may not be thinking rationally at this point.

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Gasol for Gasol: Lakers to move up in the standings with Grizzlies trade

Paul Gasol for Marc Gasol.

Marc, the younger of the Gasol brothers was the 48th overall pick in the 2007 draft. And though he is not yet playing in the NBA (Marc is playing for Akasvayu Girona in Spain.) The younger Gasol is four years younger and an inch taller (at 7-1, 280 lbs.) than his more famous All-Star sibling.

Even Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson found this aspect of the Pau Gasol trade amusing when he said, "that's something you haven't seen before."

But seriously.

The acquisition of 2002 NBA Rookie of the Year Pau Gasol (career averages of 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 476 career games with Vancouver and Memphis) by the Los Angeles Lakers tonight clearly gives their front line a shot in the arm upon the return of 20-year-old center Andrew Bynum (who injured his left knee last January 13 against...guess who? The Memphis Grizzlies).

This would give the Lakers a starting five of Fisher/Farmar at point, Kobe at the two, Odom at shooting forward, Gasol at power forward, and Bynum manning the middle.

Wow.

It's like a big "thank you" prize by the Grizzlies.

"I'm sorry we injured your center. Here is our All-Star."

But I exaggerate.

The Grizzlies, amidst another losing season currently pegged at 13-33, wanted to clear cap space. Move their disgruntled forward. And it just so happened that the Lakers had the largest expiring contract currently in the league by the name of Kwame Brown.

Throw in fillers like rookie Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, the rights to Marc Gasol, cash considerations, and two first-round draft picks (in 2008 and 2010) and Voia! You get Pau Gasol and a 2010 second-round selection.

Kobe Bryant is sure to love L.A. now more than ever after this deal.

"I have to take my hat off to (owner Jerry) Buss and Mitch for going forward with this," Bryant said. "Now it's up to us to go out there and work hard."

Bryant added.

"Now it's time to walk the walk."

Walk the walk. Much like the Boston Celtics this season, the Lakers have no excuse to lose.

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Phil Jackson: "If I've offended any horses...cowboys...I apologize."

In Houston yesterday, one of the NBA's most decorated coaches admitted he had made a mistake and apologized for his "brokeback" San Antonio comments. It was an apology not devoid of yet another shot at Texans and cowboys (just to name a few), but an apology nonetheless.

I was, however, amused by his insight on the difference between an NBA coach making inappropriate and derogatory statements to that of television personalities such as the Tonight Show's Jay Leno and the Late Show with David Letterman who provide that kind of comedy.

AP Sports Writer Chris Duncan wrote:

"Coach Phil Jackson said he deserved the reprimand he got from the NBA on Wednesday for making a sexual reference in a comment following the Los Angeles Lakers' loss in San Antonio.

The Spurs made 13 3-pointers in their 107-92 victory on Tuesday night, and Jackson was asked if too much penetration was leading to open outside shooters.

"We call this a 'Brokeback Mountain' game, because there's so much penetration and kickouts," Jackson said. "It was one of those games."

The 2005 film, which won three Oscars, depicts two cowboys who conceal their homosexual affair.

"But in retrospect, it wasn't really funny," Jackson said before the Lakers played Houston on Wednesday night. "When you take it out of context, it wasn't funny. It was a poor attempt at humor and I deserved to be reprimanded by the NBA."

Still, Jackson couldn't resist making another joke as he apologized.

"If I've offended any horses, Texans, cowboys or gays, I apologize," Jackson said.

Jackson thanked beat writers and other journalists who covered Tuesday's game for dismissing the comment as an innocent joke. He said several of them laughed when he said it.

The NBA did not.

NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre said: "The remarks are in poor taste, and the Lakers have assured us such remarks will not occur in the future."

Jackson admitted he should've known better -- that coaches can't get away with the jokes that Jay Leno and David Letterman do for a living on their late-night talk shows.

"It's societal right now," he said. "Some people can do it. Some people can't. That's something that's appropriate for certain categories."

Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) president Neil G. Giuliano issued a statement saying: "Phil Jackson's been coaching long enough that he should be able to talk about the Lakers' performance without resorting to cheap gay jokes."

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NBA upset about Lakers' Coach Phil Jackson's "Brokeback" comments

The Associated Press reported:

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NBA has spoken with the Los Angeles Lakers about a sexual reference coach Phil Jackson made in a comment following Tuesday night's game in San Antonio.

The Spurs made 13 3-pointers in their 107-92 victory, and Jackson was asked if too much penetration was leading to open outside shooters.

"We call this a 'Brokeback Mountain' game, because there's so much penetration and kickouts," Jackson said. "It was one of those games."

The 2005 film, which won three Oscars, depicts two cowboys who conceal their homosexual affair.

"The remarks are in poor taste, and the Lakers have assured us such remarks will not occur in the future," league spokesman Brian McIntyre said.

I wonder if they will be fining Coach Jackson...

Probably not...but since the NBA made such a big deal out of it.

The damage has already been done?

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Coach Tex Winter shares his thoughts on Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum

Not long after the Los Angeles Lakers captured their first championship (1999-2000) since the 1988 season, Fred "Tex" Winter, the father of the triple-post offense (better known as the "triangle offense"), visited Manila, Philippines for a series of lectures and business seminars. It was the first time I had the opportunity to meet Coach Winter, the architect of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers fabled Triangle Offense.

At 78, Winter executed "jump stops" as he would go about the intricacies of his offense. His insight was refreshing and it will always be an experience that I will cherish.

Now seven years later, at the age of 85, Coach Winter is still going strong despite his recurring bouts with shingles. Winter (who is Michael Jordan's longest tenured coach -- 13 years) is scheduled to take his place at the Los Angles Lakers bench, where he has served as an assistant coach since 1999-2000.

Recently, author Roland Lazenby interviewed Coach Winter and the latter had this to say about Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant and the young Andrew Bynum.

Lazenby wrote:

"It’s time for Bryant to realize that being a Los Angeles Laker is the best possible situation for him, time for him to stop pushing for a trade, offered Winter, who over the years has been a mentor to both Lakers coach Phil Jackson and to Bryant himself.

“He should just play basketball where he is,” Winter said. “Los Angeles is a good spot for Kobe.”

Winter has expressed admiration for the Chicago Bulls and their talented young roster, but he never saw Bryant as a good fit there.

“Frankly, I’m not sure how much he’d be able to help that club,” Winter said.


Bryant is simply the best triangle player, born for it, with his mix of physical ability, smarts and work ethic.

“And he knows it,” Winter said. “I wish he would concentrate on playing the game and making his teammates better and not worry about all this other stuff.”

In quiet, low-key ways, Bryant has perhaps moved into the mode that Winter hopes he’ll take. He had effusive praise this week for the work ethic of Andrew Bynum, the young Lakers center who just months ago Bryant had targeted as trade bait. And Bryant has certainly played within the offense and in tune with his teammates in the early going this season.

“He’s trying to do what’s right,” Winter said of Bryant. “He’s certainly working at it. Defensively he’s improved. He’s trying to get better at off-the-ball defense. He’s always been very good as an on-ball defender.”

And Bryant certainly retains his titanium grade confidence, Winter said with a chuckle.

“He hasn’t shot the ball well yet, but that’s not a concern with Kobe. He’s not concerned about anything as far as his play is concerned. He thinks he’s fine, thinks he’s the greatest. Phil has made that remark to him, trying to point out things about his game. But Kobe doesn’t worry. He’s something. He’s got tremendous confidence. That confidence is a key part of who he is.”

So, what is the key for Bryant and this young Lakers team in terms of becoming one of those great triangle teams? As always, it’s execution.

And execution also follows the familiar path: Fundamentals, and more fundamentals. That’s why Jordan and Pippen were so dedicated to working on all the little things in each Bulls practice, passing, cutting, running through the numerous drills that Winter has devised over the years for making players into effective triangle components.

It also means the Lakers need to take on more of a retro Bulls look.

“Remember all the third cutter looks we used to get with Horace Grant?” Winter asked. “Or what about the baseline cuts we used to get with Pippen and Jordan?”

The recent Lakers teams have gotten those passes every once in a while, but the key is their big men, Winter said.

“Their game is not passing; it’s trying to score.”

Whereas the Bulls’ centers were great at finding a Jordan or a Pippen along the baseline, the Lakers centers haven’t shown great effectiveness there. The one center who has potential as a passer is the young Bynum, Winter said.

“He does the best job of the three at seeing the cutter. The centers have to recognize that if the cutter’s not open, someone else will be. They need to get the ball back out and keep the offense moving.”

Tex Winter is certainly one of the best at what he does.

I wish him well and hopes that he stays involved in the game of basketball for many more years to come!

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Adam Morrison Tears ACL

It was learned today that Charlotte Bobcats Guard/Forward Adam Morrison is tentatively scheduled to undergo knee surgery on Nov. 10, 2007. Fondly called "The Great Mustachio" by a number of fans, Morrison is out for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee in a pre-season game against the Los Angeles Lakers last October 21, 2007.

Earlier statements seemed to point to Morrison possibly returning sometime this season as the gravity of his injury was not immediately disclosed. Unfortunately, with the his impending ACL surgery and subsequent rehabilitation, we most likely have seen the last of Morrison until next year.

Here is to your speedy recovery!

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Gilbertology: Arenas talks about trade rumors and fantasy basketball

A prolific talker and scorer for the Washington Wizards, Gilbert Arenas, Jr. never fails to come up with new material that makes me smile. In his latest post, Arenas talks about the possibility of being traded West to Tinsel Town.


Arenas wrote:

"Nothing against getting traded, but that would be a dumb thing on the part of the team who is accepting me because, don’t they know I’m a free agent? What that means is, if you lose somebody who you really want and you come get me back and I leave too … TA-DAH! That means you have nothing.

So take my name out of it because whoever gets me, there ain’t a guarantee that I’m staying.

Y’all go ahead and take my name out. To all of my friends back home who want me to become a Laker: If you have NBA LIVE 08 you can fantasy draft me, because otherwise I don’t think that’s happening any time soon."

"TA-DAH! That means you have nothing."

These words sum up "unrestricted free agency."

Does it shock you that Gil put it that way?

Maybe not.

After all, would you expect any less from Mr. Arenas...

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How trading for Kobe Bryant would hit your pocket

Columnist for the Detroit News, Rob Parker shared recently that he believes that if the Los Angeles Lakers are going to get "maximum value" for NBA All-Star Kobe Bryant, there is no time better than the present. Parker adds that a deal involving the Los Angeles Lakers superstar could be in the works "by Wednesday" (the 31st of October).

Kobe Bryant as a Maverick? A Piston? A Bull? Anything is possible in the NBA, as long as all parties are willing to make the financial numbers work. The centerpiece of this arrangement is of course Bryant, who holds "all the cards," due to the "no trade clause" provision in his contract.

But how about the financial complications?

New York Post columnist, Peter Vecsey sheds some light on the subject:

Attracted suitors have enormous economic decisions to ponder. Bryant is owed $19.5 million, $21.3M, $23M and $24.8M (I'm simplifying the numbers) and owns an out after next season.

Kevin Garnett's agent squeezed the Celtics for $16.4M, $18.8M, $21.2M in return for the surrender of his escape clause. Bryant's demands figure to dwarf that. Should the suitor not capitulate, there can't be a deal. It's doubtful any team would give up quality, if not its franchise player, with no assurance Bryant will stay beyond the next two seasons.

Oh, yeah, and then there's Bryant's trade kicker. Should he waive his early out, that means he's on the books for four seasons and that entitles him to an extra $11M in one lump sum.

Is Kobe Bryant then worth the future of whatever franchise would acquire his services?

The Pistons and Mavericks don't think so. The Bulls would consider it as long as it doesn't include rising forward Luol Deng.

Maybe another "brave" or "foolish" team would be willing to step up to the plate.

Welcome to the 07'-08' season folks! Enjoy the ride!

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The reason why Shaq didn't wear #34 in Miami

Saw this little tidbit of information in the April 23, 2007 issue of Sports Illustrated

NBA Back Stories

The Numbers Game

Shaquille O'Neal
Heat Center

"In college (LSU) I wore 33 for Patrick Ewing," says O'Neal. "I wanted it in Orlando, but Terry Catledge wanted to sell it for $50,000. I was not paying that. So I went with 32. With the Lakers, I couldn't have 32 because of Magic, or 33 (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). I took 34. Here (Heat), I wanted 33, but Zo" -- center Alonzo Mourning, who also wears 33 for Ewing -- "was coming back. SO I took 32." Why not stay with his Lakers digits? Shaq, bitter at being dealt by L.A., says, "I didn't go with 34 because 34 was stabbed in the back in Los Angeles."

Yet another classic Shaq story.

Who would have ever thought that both he and Mourning idolized fellow alum Patrick Ewing.

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In the Triple-Post Offense..."Point guards are like trophy wives."

This is an excerpt from an article I read in 2004. It talks about how Los Angeles Lakers free agents Gary Payton and Karl Malone have adjusted to the triple-post offense (triangle offense).

"After spending his entire career with the ball in his hands, once Karl Malone was hurt and the Lakers stopped running, GP was reduced to being the fourth option on a team that didn't need him. The way the triangle offense works, point guards are like trophy wives -- just stand there, look good, and occasionally, we'll let you launch an open 3-pointer."

My team has the Brain Power of Slugs or Earthworms

At McDonald’s outlet sometime ago, I came across an article entitled, "My team has the brain power of slugs or earthworms." I said to myself, "Man! Who said that?"

It turned out to be Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson. Jackson, irate with his team’s “lack of energy” and seemingly insurmountable 3-1 deficit against the Phoenix Suns in their first round seven-game series, told his team in his “moment of irritation” that they had "the brain power of slugs or earthworms."

Wow! If I was one of Jackson’s players, I’d really be motivated. Lakers’ superstar guard Kobe Bryant seemed to think so when he commented on Jackson’s “slugs and earthworms” comment.

"As irritated as I've ever seen him," Kobe Bryant said after the Lakers practiced in California on Tuesday (May 1, 2007). "He was really upset - frustrated. That was his way of saying, 'You'd better get your butts in the game."'

Couldn’t Jackson have just used the word, “hustle?” The Phoenix Suns were in a similar predicament during their first-round match up last year against these same Lakers. The Suns trailed the Lakers 3-1 then found it in themselves to win three straight to advance.

I didn’t hear any “slugs and earthworms” comments back then by Suns’ coach Mike D'Antoni last year. But then again, www.foxsports.com got it right when they wrote that “these Lakers aren't last year's Suns and that Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson has tried a bit of everything to make his team competitive.” (http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6764980)