Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune: "Since he last played at Target Center, Kevin Garnett, of course, in one dizzying season with the reborn Celtics won an NBA championship that eluded him during 12 seasons in Minnesota. Since then, his former team swapped out everything but perhaps the arena bathroom fixtures and Kevin McHale, a process so complete that even the rookie who just survived the first eight-game losing streak of his life has taken inventory. 'From the new players to the new court, the new uniforms, the new logo, we've pretty much changed everything around just trying to give us a new face,' Wolves forward Kevin Love said. 'He's a perennial All Star, a Hall of Famer guy, the face of the franchise. When people look back and say 'Minnesota Timberwolves,' they say Kevin Garnett. For us, 1-8, 2-8 doesn't really give you a new face. We need to go out there and show it on the court before we make a new name for ourselves.' It says something about a franchise celebrating its 20th season that Garnett won two playoff series -- the same spring, no less -- in his 12 seasons and is considered the Michael Jordan of Minnesota basketball."
Marc J. Spears of The Boston Globe: "'Kevin Garnett jerseys sell more than what the Timberwolves have,' said Mike Bruce, manager of NBA City Restaurant. 'The Al Jefferson and Kevin Love [jersey sales] are doing very well. But Garnett is still the big sell. I don't think we have any of his old Timberwolves jerseys for sale. We sold out of those. 'We actually had to reorder [Garnett Celtics jerseys] for this season. The only thing that we are sold out of now is the Garnett T-shirts.' When told his Celtics jersey was still a hot seller in Minneapolis, Garnett chuckled before saying, 'I can't even comment on that. I guess it's a compliment.'"
Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "As a matter of perspective, No. 1 overall pick Derrick Rose has not played fewer than 28 minutes, and that was in a blowout loss to the Celtics. No. 3 pick O.J. Mayo has not played fewer than 27 minutes, and that was in a blowout victory over Sacramento. Even Nos. 4 and 5 picks Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love, who each have been utilized as reserves, have never been limited to as few as 12 minutes. Credit Spoelstra for making Beasley earn his minutes. Credit the first-year coach for opening Beasley's eyes to the realities of the NBA. But this is still the No. 2 overall draft choice. Kevin Durant, last season's No. 2, never went through such a limited two-game run in his rookie season. Beasley's minutes have declined in each of the past three games. It certainly is a curious approach."
Mike Wells of The Indianapolis Star: "Rasho Nesterovic doesn't have a strong inside game. He isn't an intimidating shot blocker. He isn't overly athletic and doesn't fly above the rim for alley-oop dunks. Ask his Indiana Pacers teammates, though, and they'll say Nesterovic is one of the keys to their offense. He's an exceptional passer. He consistently makes the midrange jump shot. He has a high basketball IQ. Most important, he wins. He has never been the focal point, but he made the playoffs each of his 10 seasons. 'He's what you call a good pro,' said point guard T.J. Ford, who is in his third season as Nesterovic's teammate. 'He's been in the league for a long time. He carries himself the way a professional should. He's a hard worker. He's just a smart player. He doesn't have a big name. He never has. But if you ask around the NBA, they know he's a solid player.'"
Sekou Smith of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Hawks coach Mike Woodson spoke repeatedly about his team's sagging 'trust factor' during their week of disarray before Wednesday's win over Washington. He explained what he meant after practice Thursday. 'We can't be a team that when we lose a game or two we hang our heads and not play with high energy,' Woodson said. 'I don't want to see that. When you get down and adversity smacks you in the face a little bit, you can't run from it. I want guys to do something about it, like they did [Wednesday night]. They willed themselves to win that game.' Woodson knows his team has matured from a year ago, when it would have struggled mightily to pull out a win like Wednesday's. Against the Wizards, the Hawks battled back from a four-point deficit in the final 65 seconds."
Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald: "Vinny Del Negro has demonstrated one constant, sometimes maddening, behavior so far this season. The first-year Bulls coach absolutely refuses to criticize his players in the media. This is quite a change from Scott Skiles, who was brutally honest when describing the state of the team. One often-repeated story is Skiles' response when asked what Eddy Curry could do to improve his rebounding numbers. 'Jump,' was the reply. Of course, some of Skiles' comments helped escalate the turmoil last season when the Bulls went in the tank. He probably figured he was on the way out when he offered the 'Tyrus Thomas has never run the floor once' rant during last year's circus road trip."
Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee: "Spencer Hawes isn't a finesse, 7-footer with a feathery jump shot, flotilla of post moves and little else. He isn't that. He defends. He rebounds. He runs. He blocks shots. He has an outsized, boundless personality that complements his endless legs and limbs, and an inner confidence that lets you know he thinks he's a pretty big deal. 'Spencer's on a very good career path,' Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie said, 'and he has a lot of the qualities that you need to become a special player. He really is a threat to do something almost anywhere on the court.' So how did this happen? Why were Mike Conley, Jeff Green, Yi Jianlian, Corey Brewer, Brandan Wright and Joakim Noah all drafted ahead of Hawes, leaving the Kings to swipe the Seattle native in the 2007 offseason at No. 10? Just another NBA draft. Remember, there is no such thing as an expert."
Lenny Megliola of the MetroWest Daily News: "Would the Celtics be interested in the mercurial Marbury if, like the Red Sox did with Manny, the Knicks picked up most or all of Marbury's weighted contract? Would Danny Ainge go for this? There is a bit of riverboat gambler in Ainge, so don't blow the idea out of the water yet. No doubt he likes his point guard, the young, improving (and sometimes exasperating) Rajon Rondo. Chances are good that Ainge will make a deal to strengthen the defending NBA champs. The sense is he'll be looking for depth in the front court. But who knows?"
Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune: "The Oklahoma City team has struggled far worse than the Hornets (5-5). The Thunder is 1-11, blowing a 15-point lead at home Wednesday night against the equally dreadful Los Angeles Clippers in a 108-88 loss, its ninth in a row. At one point in the third quarter, those in attendance booed the home team, something that never happened when the Hornets played there. 'It'll probably be good,' said Hornets forward David West of the reaction he expects upon returning tonight. 'We know the people there really enjoyed the time we were there. I think some of the guys, like CP, he played his first two years there. They were fans of ours, put it like that. They'll be excited to see us.' West won't go so far as to say Thunder fans, thirsting to witness a playoff-caliber team, might cross sides. 'I don't know if they're that kind of fans,' West said. 'They're good fans. They'll be rooting for their team, as they should, seeing that Oklahoma City is their team.' Brown, however, believes otherwise. 'Honestly,' he said, 'it's going to feel like a home game for us.'"
Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel: "Jamaal Tinsley is waiting to be traded or bought out of his contract, perceived as the last bad actor in Sheriff Larry Bird's efforts to clean up the franchise. 'Conduct counts in everything every time you put together a team,' Magic General Manager Otis Smith said. 'I think now players are starting to figure that out. It's more than just X's and O's. It's also what else surrounds that player. Is it going to fit with your group?' ... Some players with sullied reputations are not necessarily bad guys, says Stan Van Gundy, who adds, 'Sometimes people just get caught up in things -- wrong place, wrong time. I've been around guys who have been labeled as trouble. Lamar Odom comes to mind. We got him in Miami. He was supposed to be a problem, with off-the-court issues. But he's one of the finest people I've been around.'"
Brian Hendrickson of The Columbian: "Kevin Pritchard understands that players get frustrated over playing time, or confused about roles. Sometimes they just want to be heard, express their displeasure or clarify a situation. And in those moments, offering an outlet to vent that frustration can relieve the building pressure. Just look at Sergio Rodriguez to see the value in that philosophy. Rodriguez didn't step through that door two weeks ago. He was shoved through it by an agent in Spain who took Rodriguez's desire for an increased role public before the third-year point guard had a chance to discuss it with Pritchard or Blazers coach Nate McMillan. But in the end, some good seems to have come out of it. Rodriguez has looked like a player reborn since those discussions. His minutes are up significantly, and his play has at times been spectacular. But most importantly, Rodriguez feels comfortable. And that, he says, has made all the difference."
Kevin Tatum of The Philadelphia Inquirer: "Billy Hunter, executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, gathered the Sixers for a business talk after practice yesterday. The 76ers were the third team Hunter had visited. Hunter annually visits every NBA club. 'We'll talk about the fact that we have a six-year labor agreement, and we're four years into it,' he said. 'It expires at the end of the 2010-11 season. And the question becomes one of our ability to get a deal in place between now and then. If not, there's a strong possibility that the owners will want to seek a lockout, particularly if there is no change in the economy. The economy is impacting the whole world. Are professional sports immune from a recession? The reality is that they are not. We want to give them some ideas of where we're going and the issues that we have to address within the next two years. Also, we want to see how the players are doing, hear any complaints they've got, and talk about things like their pensions and 401(k) plans.'"
Brian Windhorst of The Plain Dealer: "The economy is hitting the NBA' s attendance figures, but television ratings have been booming, especially in Cleveland. In Nielsen ratings released Thursday, the Cavs rank second in the NBA with a 6.2 local rating. It represents a 109 percent jump from the same period last season. ESPN and TNT have also recently announced bouncing national ratings. Wednesday' s game against the Pistons received an 8.8 rating locally, the most-watched regular season Cavs game on Fox Sports Ohio since 2004."
Chris Tomasson of the Rocky Mountain News: "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has written a letter to owner Stan Kroenke asking the Nuggets to enact a policy prohibiting the use or display of live animals at home games. PETA cited the Nov. 7 game at the Pepsi Center against Dallas, when team mascot Rocky ran onto the court and held two baby tigers over his head and when the mascot handed out kittens from a box to those in the crowd wanting one. Upset fans were said to have contacted PETA, which called the atmosphere of a big crowd inappropriate for the baby tigers and that it was imprudent to give away kittens in that setting."
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