PHILOSOPHICAL QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.”
-Truman Capote
================================
NBA:
NBA trade chatter heats up during lengthy All-Star break
Staying put?
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-am-guys-who-wont-be-traded/
Biggest deadline deals in NBA history
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-pm-biggest-deadline-deals-in-nba-history/
The ’16 advanced stats NBA All-Star team
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2615585-the-2016-advanced-stats-nba-all-star-team
The cruel, unrelenting, back breaking, knee busting anti-logic of the NBA schedule
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14757066/nba-schedule-breaking-players
Donyell Marshall, a holder of the 3-point record, waits for it to fall
Odom makes first public appearance since coma at Kanye event
http://www.si.com/nba/2016/02/11/lamar-odom-kanye-west-yeezy-season-3-life-pablo-appeaarance
ALL-STAR WEEKEND:
Toronto rolls out red carpet for NBA All-Star festivities
NBA All-Star weekend schedule
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/2/11/10937028/2016-nba-all-star-game-weekend-schedule-events-time
Slam dunk preview: Is Zach Lavine on path to repeat?
http://www.si.com/nba/2016/02/11/2016-slam-dunk-contest-preview-zach-lavine-andre-drummond-all-star
Top 10 slam dunk contest dunks since 2000
Drake changed the game for celebrity NBA fans
http://thelab.bleacherreport.com/nothing-was-the-same/
76ERS:
Sixers selling sizzle, no substance
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/pattisonave/SIxers-selling-sizzle-with-no-substance.html
Okafor to learn from the stars this weekend
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20160212_Okafor_to_learn_from_the_stars_this_weekend.html
Sixers’ Okafor must ‘tune in’
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20160212_Sielski__Sixers__Okafor_must__tune_in_.html
Grading the Sixers at the break
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20160212_Grading_the_Sixers_at_the_break.html
Noel out of Rising Stars game
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/sixers/Noel-out-of-Rising-Stars-Challenge.html
BUCKS:
Khris Middleton takes over to lead Bucks past Wizards
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/bucks/bucks-vs-wizards-b99668550z1-368551041.html
Struggling Bucks don’t plan any major deals, coach Jason Kidd says
BULLS:
Hoiberg challenges fading Bulls to ‘find ourselves’ during break
http://www.csnchicago.com/bulls/hoiberg-challenges-fading-bulls-find-ourselves-during-break
Time for Bulls to face facts about current roster’s championship hopes
The Bulls were one of three teams Kobe would have approved a trade to in 2007
http://chicago.suntimes.com/basketball/7/71/1320552/bulls-one-3-teams-kobe-bryant-approved-trade
It is time for another infamous Reinsdorf statement, but how about this one is an apology
Jimmy Butler appears in Mountain Dew ad, his first national TV spot
CAVALIERS:
LeBron sends Akron teenagers to drop 23 sets of Nike uniforms to Toronto school teams
LeBron and Obama seem to share a burden to speak out on social issues
Star turn: Kyrie Irving shines brightest
Cavs’ Love says shoulder injury ‘just a stinger’
Without Kobe, loyal LeBron could skip Rio
Cavs among teams interested in McLemore
CELTICS:
Celtics are in a very good place right now
No one is untouchable, Ainge would trade first born
http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/felger-no-one-untouchable-ainge-would-trade-first-born
Adding Horford wouldn’t hurt Celtics chemistry
http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/maxwell-adding-horford-wouldnt-hurt-celtics-chemistry
Should Celtics consider using Bradley in a deal?
http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/tanguay-should-celtics-consider-using-bradley-deal
Ainge: MRI shows only shoulder bruise for Olynyk
All-Star honor a first step for Thomas
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/all-star-honor-a-first-step-for-isaiah-thomas-172619449.html
CLIPPERS:
A glimpse inside Sotto Sotto Ristorante, the scene of the Blake Griffin fight
Chris Paul is feeling lonely as he heads to All-Star weekend
http://www.latimes.com/sports/nba/la-sp-nba-all-stars-paul-20160212-story.html
GRIZZLIES:
Joerger to spend break crafting Gasol-less identity
Mike Conley open to playing for Knicks, Nets?
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/source-says-mike-conley-open-to-playing-for-knicks-nets/
HAWKS:
As trade rumors swirl, Teague has remained steady
http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/basketball/as-trade-rumors-swirl-teague-has-remained-steady/nqNfZ/
HEAT:
Whiteside suspended one game for elbowing Boban Marjanovic
http://www.si.com/nba/2016/02/11/hassan-whiteside-suspended-one-game-elbowing-boban-marjanovic-video
Heat’s Stoudemire ready to take next step as Whiteside questions persist
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-amare-stoudemire-s021116-story.html
Heat midseason grades: Team isn’t half bad but tough schedule awaits
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article59921911.html
Bosh: ‘I was just trying to make it through’
HORNETS:
Kidd-Gilchrist diagnosed with another torn labrum
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/article59819081.html
JAZZ:
Optimism abounds as team heads into All-Star break
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3524538-155/utah-jazz-optimism-abounds-as-team
Jazz fortunate ‘Rising Star’ Rodney Hood fell on draft night
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3524551-155/utah-jazz-fortunate-rising-star-rodney
Jazz trio excited for fun opportunity at Rising Stars challenge
KINGS:
All-Star break comes at good time for Kings
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-blog/article59942636.html
Acy, Collison step up with Kings dead in the water
http://www.csnbayarea.com/kings/rewind-acy-collison-step-kings-dead-water
KNICKS:
Porzingis is star of All-Star weekend – and he’s not even an All-Star
http://nypost.com/2016/02/12/porzingis-is-star-of-all-star-weekend-and-hes-not-even-all-star/
Rambis proves the anti-Fisher in speaking Jose Calderon reality
http://nypost.com/2016/02/11/rambis-proves-the-anti-fisher-in-speaking-jose-calderon-reality/
Knicks won’t let Phil Jackson leave this summer for Lakers
http://nypost.com/2016/02/11/is-phil-jacksons-focus-on-the-knicks-or-a-future-with-lakers/
Why Knicks’ Luke Walton interest may not be mutual
http://nypost.com/2016/02/11/knicks-face-these-challenges-if-they-want-to-hire-luke-walton/
The next step for the Knicks? Trading Carmelo
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14756024/trade-carmelo-anthony-now
Porzingis’ family gets big assist for his success
LAKERS:
What will Kobe do in his final NBA All-Star game?
http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-kobe-bryant-plaschke-20160212-column.html
Kobe relieved for ASG break amid myriad aches
Kobe wants to relish in his final NBA All-Star game
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20160211/kobe-bryant-wants-to-relish-his-final-nba-all-star-game
Bryant hates that the Lakers ‘suck’ during his farewell tour
http://www.si.com/2016/02/11/kobe-bryant-los-angeles-lakers-suck-comment-farewell-tour
Byron invents new ways to criticize Russell
Reggie Miller on Kobe: ‘I love him, I hate him’
MAGIC:
Elfrid Payton and Mario Hezonja take their friendship to All-Star weekend
Hezonja has big goals for future NBA All-Star weekends
http://www.nba.com/magic/news/mario-hezonja-has-big-goals-future-nba-all-star-weekends-20160211
MAVERICKS:
Pachulia to list of top journeymen players in NBA this season
Why post All-Star break setup is perfect for Mavs
Still the Mavs’ focal point nearly two decades later, Nowitzki should have been an All-Star
Mavs’ Parsons ready to turn friendship with Howard into recruiting talks
Dwight Powell, Wiggins representing Canada’s growing number of NBA exports in Toronto
Villanueva spreading word about alopecia
http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nba/dallas-mavericks/
NETS:
Johnson’s FG streak ends at 937 games
Prokhorov: Nets readying short list for GM vacancy
NUGGETS:
Mudiay selected to compete in Taco Bells Skills Challenge
Best NBA rookie you’ve never heard of
PACERS:
Ellis leads Pacers in closed-door meeting following blowout loss
Pacers’ effort – nowhere to be seen
PELICANS:
Ryan Anderson unable to regain focus, shooting rhythm in Pelicans’ 121-95 loss
http://www.nola.com/pelicans/index.ssf/2016/02/pelicans_10.html#incart_river_index
Pelicans players still overcome with emotion about ex-Pelicans coach Williams’ wife’s death
How quickly Anthony Davis has gone from next great star to afterthought
PISTONS:
Drummond faces long odds in dunk contest
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2016/02/11/andre-drummond-nba-dunk-contest/80257918/
Weary Pistons (except Drummond) are ready for break
RAPTORS:
Raptors too good for bad losses now
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/02/11/raptors-too-good-for-bad-losses-now
Has hell frozen over? NBA finally giving Toronto its due
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/02/11/has-hell-frozen-over-nba-finally-giving-toronto-its-due
DeRozan on future free agency: Toronto is ‘home’
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14760444/demar-derozan-no-plans-leave-toronto-raptors-free-agency
Raptors’ Lowry embraces the Adidas creative process
http://www.si.com/nba/2016/02/05/kyle-lowry-adidas-raptors-villanova-toronto-all-star-weekend
ROCKETS:
Sources: Rockets contacting teams about trading Dwight Howard
Report: Dwight Howard has not asked for a trade
Bickerstaff: ‘We’re broken’
Beverley injures ankle, won’t defend Skills title
It’s time for Daryl Morey to fix the Rockets
http://espn.go.com/blog/houston-rockets/post/_/id/1986/its-time-for-daryl-morey-to-fix-the-rockets
SPURS:
Aldridge, Leonard content sharing Spurs’ All-Star spotlight
http://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/Aldridge-Leonard-content-sharing-Spurs-6824029.php
Duncan suffers no setbacks in return against Magic
http://espn.go.com/blog/san-antonio-spurs/post/_/id/469/tim-duncan-returns-suffers-no-setbacks
Kawhi, Spurs’ new stars shining by necessity
Why Becky Hammon almost missed the All-Star game
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/02/becky-hammon-all-star
SUNS:
Markieff Morris is Valley’s top sports villain
Booker replaces Noel in Rising Stars challenge
Suns’ Morris explains why he shoved teammate
Markieff Morris’ value
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-vertical-analysis–markieff-morris–value-151517857.html
Why haven’t the Suns traded Markieff Morris?
THUNDER:
‘Eloquent matriarch’ Ingrid Williams will be missed by all that knew her
http://www.nola.com/pelicans/index.ssf/2016/02/eloquent_matriarch_ingrid_will.html
Without Monty Williams, Thunder finds brief joy in 121-95 blowout of Pelicans
Outpouring of support exemplifies Monty and Ingrid Williams’ wide-ranging impact
Ryan Anderson discusses the impact Monty and Ingrid had on his life
TIMBERWOLVES:
Wolves trio of Rising Stars hope someday to rise to very top
http://www.startribune.com/wolves-trio-of-rising-stars-hope-someday-to-rise-to-very-top/368569411/
Taylor should keep Wolves staff intact
http://www.startribune.com/taylor-should-keep-wolves-staff-intact/368417811/
Report: T-Wolves, Thibodeau in contact over possible coaching job
http://www.thescore.com/nba/news/957658?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Report: Blazers, Celtics and Suns eyeing Muhammad
http://www.sportando.com/en/usa/nba/190694/blazers-celtics-and-suns-eyeing-shabazz-muhammad.html
TRAIL BLAZERS:
As Trail Blazers prep for NBA trade deadline, players lobby to keep status quo
How will CJ do in Skills Challenge?
http://www.csnnw.com/blazers/cj-says-he-intends-win-skills-challenge-how-will-he-stack
How Oakland inspired Lillard’s new Adidas shoe
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/how-oakland-inspired-damian-lillard-s-new-adidas-shoe-002322752.html
WARRIORS:
Millennials, like everyone else, love Steph Curry
http://www.sfchronicle.com/warriors/article/Millennials-like-everyone-else-love-Stephen-6824940.php
WIZARDS:
Bucks hand Wiz loss before All-Star break
5 takeaways: Bucks dominate the boards
Wall unsure if he’ll play in All-Star game after injuring right knee in loss to Bucks
Peter Newmann is an analyst and writer who spent 10 years at ESPN, 8 as the NBA senior researcher working 24/7 on the league. He wrote game notes for crews, articles for ESPN.com, analysis for studio shows, and regularly assisted reporters and writers. Follow him on Twitter, and check out his daily NBA content service at www.allball365.com.