Friday November 13, 2009
LeBron James has announced plans to give up uniform number 23 as a means of honoring Michael Jordan. "I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized some way soon," James told reporters.
James wants the league's twelve other twenty-threes to follow suit. One of them -- Jason Richardson of the Phoenix Suns -- already declared he's on board via his Twitter feed, saying "the NBA should of retired 23 years ago."
The league-wide retirement of a number would be a first for the NBA, but other sports have gone that route to honor all-time greats. Major League Baseball retired Jackie Robinson's 42 in 1997 -- the 50th anniversary of Robinson's debut in the big leagues. And the NHL has officially retired 99 for Wayne Gretzky -- and un-officially retired 66 for Mario Lemieux.
Friday November 13, 2009
Byron Scott became the first NBA coach to lose his job this season when the Hornets dropped the axe this week. Scott's departure wasn't unexpected -- his contract expires after this season, and his high salary and middling job performance made him an obvious target for the perpetually cost-cutting Shinn family. When the Hornets stumbled out of the gate to a 3-6 record -- including a loss to the lowly Knicks -- Scott's fate was sealed.
Stealing a page from the Minnesota Timberwolves' "You made this mess, you clean it up" Playbook, the team has given general manager Jeff Bower the coaching job for the remainder of the season. The T-Wolves did the same last year with general manager Kevin McHale -- who, you'll note, is no longer employed by the team. Bower's short-term prospects seem similarly bleak.
Bower will be assisted by Tim Floyd -- the ex-USC head coach who quit earlier this year amidst allegations he made payments to representatives of Trojan guard O.J. Mayo.
In other words, he was probably willing to work cheap.
This situation is going to get worse before it gets better. Already there are reports that franchise player Chris Paul is not pleased with the development and the fact that he wasn't consulted beforehand. Meanwhile, the Hornets are painfully thin on the perimeter, where big-money free agents Peja Stojakovic and James Posey have been major disappointments -- and management is desperate to shed another $3 million in salary to avoid the dreaded luxury tax... so don't expect reinforcements.
Best guess? The 2010-11 season will be Chris Paul's last in a Hornets uniform... and quite possibly, the team's last in New Orleans.
Friday November 13, 2009
Here's an observation that should terrify Memphis fans:
He leads by example.
- Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, on Zach Randolph
Uh, Mr. Tillery? That's the problem.
Thursday November 12, 2009
Phil Jackson gave Laker fans -- and fantasy basketball players -- a scare yesterday when he suggested forward/center Pau Gasol might not be back until Christmas.
Gasol is recovering from a hamstring injury and has yet to play this season. He has been listed as "day-to-day," which usually means "he won't play today or tomorrow, but he could go this weekend."
Not, "you won't see him on the floor for another five weeks."
Jackson later back-tracked, telling ESPN the Christmas comment was a joke, and that Gasol is still day-to-day. It's not surprising that he's frustrated with Gasol's progress -- what was initially diagnosed as a minor injury has already sidelined Gasol for a month.
