John DeShazier of The Times-Picayune: "All due respect to Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, those 'MVP!' chants for Paul beginning to reverberate throughout the New Orleans Arena every time his face is shown, or every time he swishes a clutch shot, aren't premature or hollow. The Hornets are the best team in the best conference, and Paul clearly is the one Hornet that New Orleans can't do without, a player who has given MVP-caliber performances night in and night out against all comers. 'We've got 30 more games left,' said Paul, dismissing MVP talk as if blowing by a defender after a lethal crossover. 'It's going to be interesting.'"
Dan Bickley of The Arizona Republic: "There was the unveiling of Shaquille O'Neal, which worked a lot better than anyone could've anticipated. There was a new chapter in the NBA's best rivalry, and a game that made you salivate for the postseason. Catch your breath yet? Good, because after a 130-124 loss to the Lakers, there also was a frightening realization: This tweaked, improved team from Los Angeles is pretty awesome. And just like Shaq, the Lakers are going to get better, too. 'This is going to be fun, one way or the other,' Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said."
Scott Bordow of the East Valley Tribune: "Phoenix didn't acquire O'Neal to win games in February. They brought him in to win games in April. And May. And most, of all, June. So to judge the Shawn Marion-for-O'Neal trade on 29 minutes of work -- particularly when the Suns are just getting used to Shaq and vice versa -- would be foolish. The Suns are a work in progress. Shaq is a work in progress. Check back come the postseason, and we'll know if Phoenix's gamble turned out to be a rousing success or a spectacular failure. But after one game, we can say this: Shaq may not be the old man we thought he was. O'Neal had 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots in the Suns' loss, but the numbers weren't as important as the way he played."
Paul Oberjuerge of the Los Angeles Daily News: "For one night, at least, The Big Load wasn't the old, sore, broken-down lug we saw playing out the string (and that $100 million contract) while the Miami Heat melted down. This Shaquille O'Neal bore a strong resemblance to the guy who led the Lakers to three NBA championships and the Heat to another. Actually, he was better than the Shaq who Lakers fans remember. This Phoenix Suns version played harder. With the burning intensity of a man with something to prove. Without worrying about style points or being cool."
Jeff Miller of the Orange County Register: "Some on the Lakers' bench were up pumping fists and then Sasha Vujacic and Jordan Farmar were hitting consecutive three-pointers and then Derek Fisher was growling at one of the officials. Finally, there was Coach Phil Jackson, on his feet, whistling at his players, moving toward the court and barking something bitter at Ronny Turiaf. Honest, Jackson, often as animated as a urinal cake, was visibly and undeniably coaching. All this, and it was only the second quarter. Of an NBA game. In February. ... Realize, this generally is the time when most TV viewers would opt to watch the finish of that Magic Bullet infomercial. There is nothing in sports more superfluously necessary than the NBA second quarter. But, on Wednesday, it was prime-time, must-see."
Eric Gilmore of the Contra Costa Times: "Three years ago Chris Mullin landed point guard Baron Davis from the New Orleans Hornets for Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis. The price wasn't high, but the risk was. Davis had a big contract, some nagging injuries and a reputation for being a problem player. Then last year, Mullin worked a midseason blockbuster, landing Jackson and Al Harrington from Indiana as part of a deal for Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy and Ike Diogu. Mullin took a chance on Jackson, a man who had been involved in the infamous brawl at the Palace and in a strange gun-firing incident outside an Indianapolis strip club. That bold trade helped end the Warriors' 12-year playoff drought. It's time for another Mullin move. The clock is ticking."
Tim Kawakami of The Mercury News: "... today would be a horrible day for the Warriors to re-mortgage themselves right back into another bungling era. Jermaine O'Neal? Chris Wilcox? Somebody else just as expensive or damaged or both? Wrong, wrong and wrong. Unless they can pry loose somebody as fascinating as Elton Brand -- and I'll bet they can't -- it's all wrong."
Jan Hubbard of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "The most important effect Kidd will have on the Mavericks, however, came a little more than three minutes into the game when he started a fast break in the backcourt by passing a few feet ahead to Dirk Nowitzki. Devean George broke for the basket on the other side and Dirk found him with a pass that appeared to lead to an easy basket. Instead, George made the extra pass back to Dirk for an even easier layup. Earlier in the day, Kidd had said: 'I think the fun part is as much as I can pass, I think it becomes contagious where everybody is passing, too.' And that's why trading for Kidd was an absolutely brilliant move by Mark Cuban. Dallas entered Wednesday's game ranked 25th in the NBA in assists. With Kidd, it will go from a lousy passing team to an excellent one."
Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "Explain this logic to me: The Mavericks trading for Jason Kidd will be a total failure, probably resulting in the firing of Avery Johnson, if it doesn't produce an NBA championship right now. Many local voices have joined in chorus with that opinion over the last week, and it became a glee club Tuesday, when the deal finally went down. Those who disagree with the trade use this 'championship or else' reasoning as their kicker point. But why? The only way this logic makes sense is if you think the Mavs were going to win a title right now with Devin Harris as the point guard, or win one at some distant date. But that kind of an opinion would be based on exactly what?"
Phil Sheridan of The Philadelphia Inquirer: "Ed Stefanski checked a few items off his to-do list by signing 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks to a one-year contract extension yesterday. One thing he did not do, however, was commit to Cheeks as his guy. If anything, the short term of the extension reinforced the point that Stefanski inherited Cheeks from Billy King and would continue to evaluate the coach accordingly."
John Smallwood of the Philadelphia Daily News: Much of this extension can be viewed as Stefanski's believing Cheeks hasn't before been put in position to succeed. He wants to see what the coach does in better circumstances. 'I think that part of the equation is that [Cheeks] needs more players,' Stefanski said. 'I think that's one of the reasons to give the extension, to see how it goes with the additional players we hope we can get through the free agency or trade situation in the summertime and our draft pick. 'I felt we needed to do this now, because it's basically a season and a half more for Mo and his staff. I like what I'm seeing with what they are doing with the players we have right now.' If Stefanski has the same feeling this time next season, we might be talking about a longer extension for Cheeks. If not, he files for an annulment."
Buck Harvey of the San Antonio Express-News" "Kurt Thomas will fit. He will fit somewhere under the armpits of Yao Ming. He will also fit among other like-minded veterans in the locker room, and he will fit when the Spurs swing the ball in May, with the crowd howling, and they need someone with poise to knock down a 15-foot jumper. But Thomas also fits into the budget, which is where the Spurs and the other Western Conference powers are so different. While everyone else has spent money this month the way Latrell Sprewell has, the Spurs have found a way to save Peter Holt some. Will this ever catch up to the Spurs? The Spurs have won in the past while proving dollars don't produce titles."
Gary Washburn of Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "The booing of Robert Swift after having his shot blocked by Memphis' Darko Milicic wasn't lost on coach P.J. Carlesimo, who expressed disappointment in Sonics fans for their treatment of the oft-injured center. Swift scored two points in just under eight minutes Tuesday. In one sequence, he gathered the ball in the post and when he tried to bully Milicic, his shot was blocked soundly, drawing a chorus of boos from fans who appear to be losing patience with Swift after four years of injuries and uneven play. 'I'm disappointed. Obviously our fans are entitled to do what they want, but they need to be more understanding of the rehab process that he's going through,' Carlesimo said. 'And they need to be more supportive.'"
Dave Waldstein of The Star-Ledger: "They tore down the giant vertical banners of Jason Kidd that adorned the outside corners of the Izod Center yesterday afternoon, leaving only the likenesses of Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter to hold up the roof of the Nets shaky house. From here on, the Nets will look for new pillars of leadership in those left behind in the wake of Kidd's departure, hoping that either Carter or Jefferson, or both, can assume the void the ex-captain left behind. And if last night is any indication, both men not only seem up to the task, but eager to embrace it. Playing with a purpose and determination that seemed to scream out, 'We're going to be okay,' Carter and Jefferson helped lead the Nets to a gritty 110-102 overtime victory over the Bulls last night."
Sekou Smith of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "If former Hawks forward Shelden Williams was looking for a mentor, he found one in rugged Sacramento forward Ron Artest. One of the NBA's most physical and intimidating performers, Artest said he's going to take Williams under his wing and help bring out the former No. 5 overall pick's physical side. 'I like him,' Artest said before Wednesday's game at Arco Arena. 'He knows how to play. Now I'm going to teach him a few tricks and turn him loose on some people. Because he's got the size, strength and the skills he needs to be effective. He just needs somebody to help him with the little things.'"
Marc J. Spears of The Boston Globe: "After being reminded in 1950 that [Chuck] Cooper was black, Celtics owner Walter Brown reportedly said: 'I don't care if he's striped, plaid, or polka dot!' The former Duquesne star played four seasons for the Celtics, and later suited up for the Milwaukee and St. Louis Hawks and Fort Wayne Pistons. The Pittsburgh native averaged 6.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 409 NBA games. While Lloyd is in the Basketball Hall of Fame, Cooper and Clifton have not been enshrined. Cooper died Feb. 5, 1984, at age 57. Rookie Glen Davis was proud to hear that he wears the same uniform number (11) with the Celtics that Cooper did. 'He's the first black guy drafted in the NBA and I'm wearing his number,' Davis said. 'I shouldn't be wearing it. It should be retired. You really don't know what you are representing when you pick a number. You never know the history of the number or who wore it. I'll wear it even more proudly.'"
Steve Buffery of the Toronto Sun: "It has been three years since New Jersey general manager Rod Thorn stuck it to then-Raptors GM Rob Babcock and stole Vince Carter for a has-been schmuck, two stiffs and two draft picks. But guess what? The Nets no longer are feeling particularly smug about the Carter trade. Though he hasn't asked to be traded officially or launched a whine campaign like he did during his final few months in Toronto, it seems that Carter's act has worn thin in New Jersey and he looks to be on the way out, if not prior to this afternoon's NBA trade deadline, than almost certainly this summer."
Comments that include profanity, or personal attacks, or antisocial behavior such as "spamming" or "trolling," or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of use. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
