Andrew Bynum may have degenerative knees, according to Michael Kaskey-Blomain of The Inquirer: “On Wednesday’s episode of ESPN’s debate-style show, First Take, there was a segment dedicated to the struggling 76ers, in which anchors Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless discussed the state of the franchise going forward after Tuesday’s embarrassing loss to Orlando that prompted head coach Doug Collins to question his team’s effort. At one point during the discussion, Bayless said that a source inside the Sixers organization told him that the most recent MRI on Andrew Bynum’s knees showed “degeneration,” meaning in effect that they will never return to full strength. Bynum was also ano-show in the locker room prior to Tuesday’s game, when he was scheduled to give an update on his condition. Bayless continued by explaining that Andrew may show some flashes of the dominance he displayed last season, when he averaged 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game for the Lakers, but he will be unable to sustain it, as the knees will never be able to fully recover.”
-
Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban was sarcastic about Derek Fisher’s decision to return to the NBA as a Thunder, according to Brad Townsend of Dallas Morning News: “Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, tongue planted firmly in cheek, did his best to keep a straight face this evening when asked about Derek Fisher’s signing Monday with Oklahoma City. Fisher, as Mavericks fans know, was with the Mavericks from Nov. 29 to Dec. 22. After he suffered a strained knee, he asked the Mavericks to release him from his contract, saying that family matters necessitated his return to Los Angeles. So what’s changed, two months later? “Look, I understand completely,” Cuban said. “From the time Derek was here to his signing with OKC, his kids are older, they can deal with things better. So I understand him having more comfort in being away from them.”…“His kids are older now,” he added. “It’s easier to fly in and out of Oklahoma City than it is Dallas. I understand that. It’s just a decision a parent has to make. Every parent has difficult decisions to make.” Is Cuban mad at Fisher? Again, the Mavericks owner stifled a smirk. “No, I understand completely,” he said. “Kids get older. They understand the dad’s job a little better. You just never know when it’s going to click.”
- Kobe Bryant was not pleased with Fisher’s decision to join the Thunder again, from Mark Medina of Daily News:
LeBron James has been throwing down spectacular dunks during pregame warmups, but the fun may soon end, according to SI: “James threw down another spectacular dunk before Tuesday’s game against Sacramento in Miami. Starting near the left baseline, James tossed the ball high in the air, grabbed it off the bounce with his left hand while beginning his jump, transferred it between his legs to his right hand and finished with power. This one came two days after his between-the-legs, off-the-backboard pregame jam lit up the Internet. LeBron, however, says the pregame routine — which hints at the type of stuff he could do if he ever entered the NBA Slam Dunk Contest — might not last. “Maybe I should stop because it’s making a lot of people mad about what I do,” James said after Tuesday’s game, according to ESPN.com. “They’re like, ‘Well, if you can do it in warmups, why don’t you [want to] be in the dunk contest?’ Stop it.’”
Mitch Kupchak said the team was impatient to begin the season due to Jerry Buss’ health issues, from Royce Young of CBSSports: “”The one thing that was a big factor is our lack of patience,” Kupchak said. “When we made the changes we made in the offseason, we really did it with a two- or maybe even a three-year window, probably a two-year window to do our best and win a championship. And clearly we knew Dr. Buss was not in great health, and we were hoping for the next year or two we could put something on the court that would result in being in the hunt at the end of the year for a championship.”And when we didn’t feel we could get there after a preseason and a small number of games, we didn’t feel we had the patience to wait and see if it was going to work out,” he continued. “And that’s really why we made the change we made so early.”
Ray Allen is interested in becoming an actor once his career is over, according to Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida: “You never know,’’ the Miami Heat guard said about whether he ever could win an Oscar. “Crazier things have happened.’’ Allen, 37, still has a few years left in the NBA. But whenever he retires he plans to become an actor. “Oh, yes,” Allen said when asked if wants to act. “It’s just something that’s going to keep me busy and something that can challenge you and keep you focused on a daily basis.’’ Allen has Hollywood experience. He gained acclaim for playing a major role alongside Denzel Washington in Spike Lee’s “He Got Game.’’
- Before his epic game against the New York Knicks, and before getting tossed to the ground in a fracas, Stephen Curry was breaking ankles in Indiana:
-Doug Collins rant sounds hilarious if you read it in Jim Mora’s voice.
-Out in L.A., they knew what they lucked out of when they let go of Bynum. I feel bad for the guy because we’ll probably never see what he was fully capable of and you never want to see someone go out due to an injury. I’m happy with Howard but on the other hand I appreciate Bynum’s game more. Bynum skillset with Howard’s body would be a beast.