Kevin Love will return to the lineup after missing time due to the loss of his grandmother: “Love left for Oregon shortly after the Wolves returned to Minnesota, where he remained until returning to the team this week. But, he said, real closure hasn’t happened yet. Craig grew up next door to Love and helped raise him. “She was there the day I was born,” Love said. “She lived right next to me my whole life. It was a little weird going home and not seeing her.” Craig, who was 83, had planned on traveling to Minnesota over Thanksgiving to watch Love play, but had to stay home because of health issues. “We’re all getting together, as a family, after the Clippers game,” Love said of the Wolves game in Los Angeles Dec. 22, just before Christmas. “Because my whole family is from Southern California, except for my immediate family. So I’ll see everyone then.’’ –On a brighter note, tonight’s game will revive a long-standing but good-natured rivalry for Love when he plays against Kyle Singler for the first time. The two, both standout basketball players in Oregon, first met Singler in elementary school.”
Pete D’Alessandro on Rudy Gay trade and new mindset of Sacramento Kings: ““We need players here in Sacramento,” D’Alessandro said before Monday night’s drubbing of the Dallas Mavericks. “That’s just the bottom line. We’ve had a lot of really good backups for a long time and now we’re starting to acquire starters. That’s the first step.” The fight to rebuild the Kings roster is in full swing. D’Alessandro has already added Rudy Gay, Derrick Williams, Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy via two in-season trades. Those players join summer additions Carl Landry, Ben McLemore, Ray McCallum and Hamady Ndiaye in an ever-changing locker room. “I think we have a lot of nice pieces,” D’Alessandro said. “I don’t necessarily know that we have a team yet though. And that’s just being really honest. I feel like we have a lot of really nice individual pieces now. And you know what? That’s a really good start.””
Brian Shaw believes something has to change with the approach in Denver: “It was a fair question, because Shaw is trying to make a major change in the Nuggets’ approach. Denver has long been a high-scoring, fast-breaking team, a style of play that works well given the city’s altitude. That has, historically, led to some gaudy numbers—the ’81-’82 Nuggets hold the record for scoring, at 126.5 points per game, and the Nuggets played a 186-184 game in 1983. But the number that most concerned Shaw was zero. That’s the number of NBA championships the Nuggets have won. Here’s Shaw’s explanation: “I have been fortunate enough to be affiliated with teams that have had success and made deep playoff runs. And one thing that is consistent, you have to be a good halfcourt team. Offensively, you have to establish an inside presence, whether it’s big men or getting in the paint, and you have to be good at halfcourt execution.”
Metta World Peace is on the verge of making his first start as a Knick: “After missing Sunday’s game with a sore left ankle, center Kenyon Martin is listed as a game-time decision for Tuesday night as the Knicks look for redemption. On Sunday, Woodson made the odd choice of going with rookie Tim Hardaway Jr. to replace Martin in a small lineup. It backfired as the Celtics roared to 12-0 and 18-1 leads en route to a 41-point rout. The Knicks couldn’t shoot or defend. Tuesday night’s frontline is expected to look more rugged with Andrea Bargnani, World Peace and Carmelo Anthony. Woodson has continually passed on starting World Peace this season, and just last week World Peace was out of the rotation for two straight games. But World Peace and Amar’e Stoudemire were the only guys who had any energy Sunday. World Peace also played well in the Knicks’ 38-point win against the Magic on Friday, getting him back in Woodson’s good graces.”
Rajon Rondo talks rehab and Doc Rivers’ return to Boston: ““I’ve been anxious ever since I hurt myself,” Rondo said after the Celtics’ morning shootaround at Baruch College before the team faces the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night. “It’s a long process. Some days are better than others, but I’m patient and I’m not going to rush.” He hasn’t done much to test his right knee lately beyond running and some agility drills. “I’m confident, but like I said, I haven’t practiced or anything so it’s hard to say,” Rondo said. “One-on-one is different from actually going through picks and hitting the floor, playing 5-on-5, getting back in transition, making the quick moves without thinking about it. I haven’t done any of that.””
Lamar Odom pleads no contest in DUI case: “Former NBA player Lamar Odom pleaded no contest Monday to a drunken driving charge and accepted a sentence of three years’ probation and three months of alcohol abuse treatment. In a deal with prosecutors, Odom entered the plea to one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence and was also ordered to pay $1,814 in fines and penalties, Los Angeles city attorney’s spokesman Frank Mateljan said. Odom had faced a maximum sentence of six months in jail. The status of his suspended driver’s license will be determined at a separate hearing in front of the Department of Motor Vehicles.”
