NBA - Sports Rumors

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By the time practice finally ended and the Los Angeles Lakers trudged off the court Friday, they were fewer in number than when the session began, and those who remained were more than slightly fatigued. The morning after the Lakers were pummeled by the Clippers, they were hit by an inability to finish off a drill that led to extra running — a lot of it.

If there's such a thing as the dog days of the exhibition season, the Lakers might be feeling it.

"We had a little challenge for them today, and it took a while for them to meet the challenge," said Coach Phil Jackson, alluding to a drill in which players needed to score a certain number of baskets in two minutes.

The Lakers are 0-2 in exhibitions after a 107-80 loss Thursday to the Clippers, and they're still figuring out a few details. Can Lamar Odom be a primary ballhandler? Is there room in the frontcourt for both Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum?

Jackson on Odom: "He really needs to be a positive influence on the floor. He's really capable of doing that. It doesn't mean he needs to score. It means he rebounds and gets assists and just fills gaps that we have to have."

Kobe Bryant on Gasol and Bynum playing together: "I don't really see a problem with it. . . . It's a lot of work to do before we get to that point [of success], but it's exciting to think of the potential."

Meanwhile, Derek Fisher sat out practice Friday because of a sore right knee, Jordan Farmar sat out because of a sore right foot and DJ Mbenga missed the second half of practice because of a sore right heel. Sasha Vujacic did not practice after an MRI exam confirmed a sprained left ankle. Their status for Sunday's game against Sacramento was unclear.

Source: Los Angeles Times

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We can't have people out here making false statements and putting out bad information, because this battle is too big when it comes to HIV and AIDS," Johnson told the Associated Press in a telephone interview, later declining to do further interviews.

"I poured my life into it and a lot of other people have poured their life into it, into getting out the right information so people can protect themselves and know what HIV and AIDS is all about."

Johnson called the remarks "stupid," but when asked if he thought the KTLK-FM hosts, Chris Baker and Langdon Perry, should be fired, Johnson said, "I would rather they educate their audience."

Johnson is not cured although doctors have said the HIV virus is now in a dormant state in his bloodstream

xpressions of outrage and regret were issued Friday after a pair of Minneapolis talk-show hosts said that Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson "faked AIDS." Johnson revealed in 1991 that he had contracted the HIV virus, but it has never turned into AIDS.

Source: Los Angeles Times

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Magic Johnson says he's outraged that a pair of Minneapolis talk radio hosts accused him of faking AIDS. KTLK's Chris Baker and Langdon Perry made the remarks during Baker's conservative talk show on Wednesday. The context for the remarks wasn't clear.

According to a partial transcript and audio clip posted on a media watchdog site, mediamatters.org, the remarks came after a caller complained about demands on workers. Perry responded by asking about treatable diseases that a person can live with for a long time "if you just get some basic drugs."

Baker responded, "Like Magic Johnson?"

Perry replied, "Like Magic with his faked AIDS. Magic faked AIDS."

Baker said, "You think Magic faked AIDS for sympathy?"

Perry replied, "I'm convinced that Magic faked AIDS."

"Me too," Baker said.

Johnson issued a statement Thursday saying he was "outraged that Chris Baker and Langdon Perry would minimize such a serious and deadly issue."

"Millions are dying from HIV/AIDS, and the fact that they would make jokes about my status is unbelievable," Johnson said. "Chris, Langdon and KTLK should use their power in a more positive light by encouraging people to get tested for this disease instead of making up such ridiculous lies."

Johnson was diagnosed with HIV in 1991 and retired from the NBA at 32.

Source: Associated Press

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The NBA's newest, greatest point guard made his debut Thursday night, and Jason Kidd can relate. He also has some advice for Derrick Rose, the No. 1 overall draft pick who started for Chicago in the Bulls' preseason opener against the Mavericks.

Kidd remembers coming into the league as a young hotshot with loads of enthusiasm but plenty to learn. He sees much the same thing in Rose, who came to the NBA after one season at Memphis.

"The point guard position is hard, no matter what age you are," Kidd said. "You have to produce. Everybody's counting on you to run the offense and get the ball to the right guy. And everybody wants the ball. So you will make friends and you will make enemies. That's just part of the territory. He's got to learn that, because as much as everybody's your buddy, everybody wants the ball. So he's got to figure out that he has to get thick skin, because it's hard to keep everybody happy."

Kidd, incidentally, made his first preseason start in the NBA against the Bulls in 1994, when he was the second overall pick behind Glenn Robinson. The Mavericks played the preseason opener in '94 against the Bulls at Lexington, Ky.

Thursday was a meeting of old and new. In this instance, old won. Kidd had six assists in the first quarter, twice as many Rose. Rose had his moments later, and he will be a top-flight point guard in the NBA before he's done. But it won't happen overnight.

Source: Dallas Morning News

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The Los Angeles Lakers were thumped by the Clippers, 107-80, a more noteworthy event if the game actually counted, though there were still concerns on the Lakers' side after their second exhibition. Mainly, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum weren't effective together in the front court Thursday at Save Mart Center.

The Lakers were outplayed by the undermanned Clippers during the nine awkward minutes Gasol and Bynum were in the lineup at the same time. Gasol had four points and Bynum one point during that stretch, though it wasn't from lack of trying. On one play, Gasol tried to pass to Bynum for an alley-oop dunk, but the ball bounced off the front of the rim.

It all came with Clippers power forward Marcus Camby sidelined because of recent flu-like symptoms. Bynum and Gasol went up primarily against Chris Kaman and Tim Thomas.

"We have to figure out how we're going to do [this] together," Gasol said. "We have to bring more intensity out there and bring more intimidation -- dominate more in rebounds and stuff. We lose speed, but we should gain in strength and size."

Bynum finished with six points and nine rebounds in 21 minutes.

Gasol had 12 points and one rebound in 16 minutes.

Source: Los Angeles Times

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His first appearance in a Los Angeles Clippers uniform in a game situation — albeit an exhibition game — featured the play-making Baron Davis that you've come to expect, with 12 points, seven assists and a heavy dose of vocal leadership.

"It's good to play against someone besides yourselves," he said after the Clippers' 107-80 win against the Lakers on Thursday night. "We've been going at each other for the last two weeks. We know we've got a long ways ahead. This is no indication."

Source: Los Angeles Times

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In theory, there's a position battle for the starting shooting guard spot in Cavaliers training camp. But it's hardly a fight in the classic sense, which makes the competition and the decision all the more complex. As does handicapping the contenders.

Coach Mike Brown isn't sure yet who will be announced in that position on opening night in Boston in three weeks, only that he's got plenty of candidates. That includes Sasha Pavlovic, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West.

With a straight face, Brown even mentions Tarence Kinsey, who finished last season playing in Turkey, as being in the mix. The current plan is to keep Daniel Gibson coming off the bench at either guard spot, a role he has grown comfortable in over the last two seasons.

Pavlovic started in Tuesday's preseason opener, but Szczerbiak will likely start in Friday's game against the Celtics. West may get a chance in one of the three games next week.

Source: Plain Dealer

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No one is asking Chris Duhon to become Steve Nash, the maestro of Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo offense in Phoenix. But the Knicks also can't have him throwing the ball away and missing open shots as he did Wednesday night.

Duhon was a starter who played like a backup in his preseason debut. The free agent signee shot 1-for-7 with seven turnovers, six assists and 10 rebounds in a 113-111 loss to the Raptors.

"I take full responsibility for my turnovers," Duhon said. "I'm thinking way too much. It's a new system and new guys. I'm still learning the strengths and weaknesses of the guys. That's going to come with time. When the season starts I'll be more comfortable with it."

Duhon is expected to be the Knicks' opening night point guard, but Stephon Marbury and Nate Robinson looked more confident and were more effective on the court. Marbury, playing for the first time in nine months, came off the bench and had 10points, five turnovers and three assists. Robinson scored 16 points, including a second-half dunk.

Source: New York Daily News

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Amid a bustling Chinatown in Flushing, Queens, Ken Niu is among the many only-when-it-is-convenient basketball fans. He catches a game when he can, but is not necessarily disappointed when he cannot. Niu is a target for the Nets, the type of observer who just may be lured to East Rutherford, N.J., for the first time by the presence of Yi Jianlian, a 7-foot forward from Guangdong Province in southern China entering his second NBA season.

"It's like having another neighbor," Niu, 26, said through an interpreter, between bites of spicy beef tripe. "There's one Yao Ming. Now there's a Yi."

Yi's name recognition runs high, and people in Chinatown said they would go watch him, if time and funds allow it, but would not necessarily go out of their way to cross the Hudson River.

"In China, along with Yao, he is very famous," Lei Li Henan, 43, said through an interpreter. "If I'm visiting New Jersey and have the opportunity to see him, I would because we are both Chinese."

The Nets are hopeful that Yi connects with the nearly 650,000 Chinese-Americans in the New York area and beyond, reeling in a coveted new fan base. And like Yao, the Houston Rockets center, Yi carries global appeal in hailing from the world's most populous nation. Of course, Yao entered the league with a refined game, already a bankable star and a top overall draft pick. Yi, a 20-year-old lanky forward who was acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks, has not played a single game as a Net.

"He has to build a relationship with the community," said Sunny Moy, president of the Asian American Youth Center. "Right now, everybody is more into Yao because Yi is still nearly a rookie. Yi is a good player, I've seen him play, but he has to donate tickets, connect with the kids in order to have an effect."

Source: New York Times