Latest NBA News from October 29, 2012: Harden was devastated and stunned after trade, Stoudemire to miss at least six weeks

“Deron Williams thinks the Knicks upgraded at point guard this offseason. Though Williams praised Jeremy Lin for the way he played in his brief, but spectacular, run as the Knicks starting point guard, he thinks the Knicks have more of a sure thing moving forward in Raymond Felton. “I would say Raymond Felton is a better point guard than Jeremy Lin, in my opinion,” Williams said. “Well, he’s just proven. I can’t go out and say that … [Lin] had a heck of a run. “The numbers he was putting up were All-Star type numbers, when he was starting. We’ll see how he does this year. But going off of track record? I’m going to go with Raymond Felton. “And Ray probably had his best year [with the Knicks] … that half year he was there, he was averaging like 17 and nine. He definitely likes the bright lights, and they’re a good team with him.”

Ray Allen said the guys on the Celtics are his friends, from Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida: “I asked Ray Allen if he’ll greet Celtics before game or wait until they make the first move. “I don’t pre-determine what it, how it may be, how it may feel or how it may go down,” Allen said. “But these guys are my friends. I think you guys think that I have some kind of animosity toward them or bad blood. I don’t. I’ve said it time and time again. We’ve shared in my opinion, and a lot of people will tell you, probably the most special thing that you can do in sports is going on to the top. That’s always going to be No. 1 closest to my heart. So when I see Paul (Pierce) I’m not going to be like angry at him or anybody else. I’m happy. I’m excited. I look forward to it, seeing all these guys,’’

Brian Scalabrine thinks Rajon Rondo will win the MVP this season. See why in his discussion with Bill Simmons:

Chuck Person is assisting Dwight Howard with his free throw shooting form, but will it matter? Mike Bresnahan of Los Angeles Times has details: “To avoid too many coaches dispensing too much advice, Coach Mike Brown designated Person as the lone Lakers voice to help Howard solve his free-throw woes. Person has already changed two things. Howard used to set up at the line with the ball at his waist. Now he starts a bit below his chin. Person also worked to change Howard’s unorthodox release. “He would start low and come up and stop the ball in front of his eyes. He only had one eye on the ball so he would move his head to the left, which would make his right elbow come out,” Person said. “He was basically shooting sideways. He would put his thumb on the ball so his rotation was improper every time.” Sounds like a problem. “We lifted the ball straight up, his elbow just below his eye level, so now he clearly has both eyes on the rim,” Person said. “It relaxes his upper body.”
Howard is asking for patience before seeing a successful product on the floor, from Janis Carr of The Orange County Register: “The new Lakers center said fans need to be patient in the early going as the team’s chemistry comes together. “I know everybody wants it right now, right now,” Howard said Sunday. “But we want to win in June, that’s what counts.” Some of the anxiety stems from the Lakers’ 0-8 exhibition record combined with the high number of turnovers that have marked each game. Another worrisome factor is that the starting five have played one exhibition game together; a foot injury to Kobe Bryant and Howard’s recovery from spinal surgery slowing the process. “We don’t expect to win every game and be 82-0,” Howard said. “But we do expect, say by midseason, that everybody will have the offense down pat and we’ll be flowing.” Howard admitted to still being “a step slow.” “I know what guys are trying to do,” he said. “I’m just trying to get my timing down.”
With Chris Kaman still not fully ready to return to action, Eddy Curry will look to start for the Mavericks on opening night, according to Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News: “Eddy Curry figures to embark to Los Angeles on Monday with his new Mavericks teammates as the team’s starting center. Considering he’s had a grand total of 25 minutes of playing time going into the season opener Tuesday, it’s not the ideal situation. But it’s all the Mavericks have at the moment. Chris Kaman still wasn’t able to scrimmage Sunday and it looks unlikely that he’ll be able to play against the Lakers. “There was a sighting. It was brief,’’ said coach Rick Carlisle of what Kaman could do in practice. “He got through some of the shooting and 5-on-0 work. But he’s not there yet.’’ Carlisle said Kaman was likely to travel with the team for the opening two-game trip but couldn’t add a definite to that statement.”

Lamar Odom looks to be ready for the season opener, according to Arash Markazi of ESPN Los Angeles: “Los Angeles Clippers forward Lamar Odom practiced for the first time in two weeks and plans on playing in the Clippers’ season opener Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies. “I feel good, I still know how to play,” Odom said. “For the record, I think I’ll be the Lamar of 2010. People keep saying, ‘What Lamar are you going to get?’ Let’s see, 2000 I was on the All-Rookie Team, I was Sixth Man of the Year, my year in Miami was pretty good. When I look at my resume, I see some really solid stuff. … Hopefully I’ll be the Lamar of 2010, not Dallas Lamar, the old Lamar.”

Blake Griffin went back in time to 1995 to tell his younger self about his terrible free throw shooting:

Mark Jackson says Harrison Barnes will be the starting small forward over Brandon Rush, according to Matt Steinmetz of CSN Bay Area: “Harrison Barnes will be my starting small forward,” Jackson said after Monday’s practice. “It’s well-deserved. I could have gone either way. Brandon Rush had a very good preseason. I just think it’s a better role for Rush coming off the bench – either coming in for (shooting guard) Klay (Thompson) or Harrison. “And I think Harrison earned it. He played very well, and I thought his last game was his best performance. With that group, we’ll be able to utilize some of his strengths – athletic ability, slashing ability. He’s a guy that has shown I can trust him defensively. He competes. It’s a great accomplishment for him, but we’re not done individually or collectively.”

Will Patrick Patterson start at the four for the Rockets? He certainly hopes so, according to Bill Ingram of Hoopsworld: “Yeah, you always want to play alongside the best people that you can as a team,” Patterson said. “We’ve got a lot of competition at the four, we’ve got a lot of fours. We have a lot of people who can pretty much play on the court, a lot of guys who can use their skills to help this team out in anyway possible. For me, personally, I want to be the starting four, so I’m going to do whatever it takes in order for that to happen. So I’ve got to work hard everyday in practice, be the first one here and the last one to leave, and just show the coaches that I deserve it.”

JaVale McGee may be well paid by the team, but Kosta Koufos will start over him nonetheless, from Adrian Dater of The Denver Post: “JaVale McGee will enter the Nuggets’ season opener as their second highest-paid player. But he will not be one of the five starters on the court when Denver plays the 76ers in Philadelphia on Wednesday. Kosta Koufos, whose salary is $3 million this season, is expected to start at center ahead of McGee, whose paychecks will total $10 million in 2012-13… “I’m not happy, and I’m not disappointed,” Karl said. “With my big guys in training camp, I’ve been waiting for separation — you know, who’s going to take the responsibility. The guy, in my opinion, who has separated is Kosta. JaVale is our most talented big and Kosta is our most fundamental big.”