Kim Jong Il likes the Bulls Options

[Balta1701-B]

So, someone seriously has to post this article if they have ESPN Insider access.

[TeaLeafReaderII]

ESPN insider is pretty much worthless... just a consolidation of local news from around the league...

for instance the nugget you are referring to probably came from this sam smith article:


Knicks' Thomas on the spot
One of at least 12 coaches whose job security seems to be extremely tenuous

E-mail this story
Printer-friendly format
Search archives


October 30, 2006

The NBA season opens Tuesday with at least a dozen coaches on the hot seat, though perhaps none more so than New York's Isiah Thomas, who replaced Larry Brown with a mandate to improve or leave.

"Every coach will tell you he is on the hot seat," says Thomas, "but I guarantee you mine gets the most attention."

Click here to find out more!
Never—again—will so much be written about a team with so little chance to win a championship. The Knicks do appear to be at least a legitimate threat to make the playoffs because Thomas is doing what Brown refused to do and is coaching to his players' strengths. If that doesn't work, it will mean Thomas got the wrong players as GM, which is possible. But scouts who have seen the Knicks say Thomas is using Eddy Curry much more effectively by facing him toward the basket, which Brown didn't do, and giving Steve Francis and Stephon Marbury freedom to drive.

The Knicks have a tough opening road schedule, and Thomas says the priority is for the team to weather it and not give in to the hysteria if the team starts below .500 early. "We have to stay mentally healthy," Thomas says.

"I'm not looking for fights," Thomas says with a laugh. "I don't try to get in these situations, but it seems I always end up in these tough spots. I don't go looking for it. I was supposed to be just getting off vacation and coming in to ask Larry how everything was going."

Here are some of Thomas' peers who could have a short season:

Mike Woodson, Atlanta: How many seasons can they be this bad? New ownership looms, which would clear out everyone.

Doc Rivers, Boston: An expiring contract and likely non-playoff team could send him back to TV work.

Bernie Bickerstaff, Charlotte: He's not Michael Jordan's coach and the community won't put up with many more 20-some win seasons.

Flip Saunders, Detroit: This is just his second season, but if he can't handle Rasheed Wallace the whole thing could collapse.

Jeff Van Gundy, Houston: Working for a new general manager, Van Gundy has a healthy team that better contend—or else.

Mike Fratello, Memphis: New ownership is likely, and with injuries the Grizzlies could be at the bottom of the West.

Terry Stotts, Milwaukee: The Bucks collapsed at the end of last season, and they've had injuries already this season.

Dwane Casey, Minnesota: If Kevin Garnett misses the playoffs for a third straight season, someone has to take the fall.

Maurice Cheeks, Philadelphia: The owners already ran out the hockey staff after a poor start, and the 76ers don't look organized.

Bob Hill, Seattle: Team President Wally Walker already is gone with new owners coming in. Plus this team isn't picked to make the playoffs.

Sam Mitchell, Toronto: A new general manager and higher expectations are a bad combination.

Stern can't win

This may be the ultimate proof that nothing the NBA does will ever be right to some. On his annual preseason conference call with media last week, Commissioner David Stern opined that players roaming the streets with guns—for example, Indiana's Stephen Jackson—isn't a good thing. It's not like Stern advocated banning guns for hunting or in players' homes for their protection. Yet a Los Angeles Times sports columnist argued Stern was getting too involved in players' lives.

Meantime, Jackson suggested he won't stop carrying his licensed handgun despite his involvement in a shooting incident outside an Indianapolis strip club. No word yet on whether Jackson is planning to form a militia as the Founding Fathers apparently hoped he would some day.

<< Previous page

Sowing seeds of trouble

The NBA fixed its playoff seeding so the teams with the two best records won't meet before the conference finals. (That happened when the Mavericks and Spurs played in the second round last season.) The league didn't fix this issue: a division winner could have the ninth-best record in the conference but still make the playoffs and get one of the top four seeds. Said league Vice President Stu Jackson: "I would say the chances are very rare for it to happen, but we may look at changing that."

Click here to find out more!
Hoiberg's second career

Fred Hoiberg, who had to retire because of a heart ailment that required a pacemaker, said he'll probably need surgery again in the next three years to repair a heart valve. But he adds that his health is good and he is enjoying working the other side of the business as Minnesota's new assistant general manager. Hoiberg's story serves as a good example of how quickly the game can be taken away and he has talked with the players about that. Hoiberg said the addition of Mike James has given the Timberwolves a Sam Cassell-like player to relieve pressure on Garnett. Second-round pick Craig Smith thus far has been drawing the local headlines over highly touted Randy Foye.

Wasted days and picks

The Clippers have declined to pick up the fourth-year option on lottery selection Yaroslav Korolev. … Also in the department of wasted draft picks, Orlando's J.J. Redick, considered by most a stretch at No. 11, is headed for the injured list and far down the roster when he returns. It was last year that the Magic used another No. 11 pick for Fran Vazquez, who hasn't come to the NBA. That said, Dwight Howard is looking like an awfully good call at No. 1 over the struggling Emeka Okafor. … Smartest college backcourt ever? Sam Vincent, who ran shotgun for Scott Skiles' frenzied attack at Michigan State, is now an assistant with the Mavs. … The Nets brought in Yankees closer Mariano Rivera for a motivational talk. What, no A-Rod? … Less than a year after moving his wife and four children to Australia to take a coaching job, former Cavs star Mark Price was fired after his team started 0-5. … In Charlotte camp, Bickerstaff has saved the most praise for Othella Harrington. Uh-oh. … Interesting dance playing out in Phoenix, where Amare Stoudemire said he doubted the team's faith in him and then met with owner Robert Sarver, who said of his $100 million player: "He complements us, but the team isn't depending on him for success." Stoudemire, saying he still has knee pain, now is saying he looks forward to coming off the bench. Watch that space for more.

Double dribbles

It appears J.R. Smith, whom the Bulls dispatched quickly to Denver after getting him in the Tyson Chandler deal, may start at shooting guard. Smith said he needs to work on getting to practice earlier. "I'm not really a morning person," he said. The Nuggets are high on a pair of international prospects, Yakhouba Diawara from France via Pepperdine and Linas Kleiza of Lithuania. … Another player tough on the announcers who seems to have wrapped up a Trail Blazers roster spot is 29-year-old Ime Udoka, a Portland native. … A humbled Michael Olowokandi, who made the Celtics, said: "I see my role to help out the team when guys are down and, during practice, to battle guys and to help prepare them." The Clippers' former No. 1 overall pick in the draft washed out after years of demanding to shoot and underachieving on defense and at rebounding. … Tough break for Atlanta's Marvin Williams, last year's No. 2 overall pick, who was looking good in preseason. He broke a finger and could be out two months. … There are those who maintain that owners constantly berating referees is a bigger embarrassment to the NBA than some troublesome players, and a movement is afoot to finally limit their behavior. … In their home opener Friday, the Bulls get Ron Artest in his first game against Ben Wallace since the infamous brawl in Auburn Hills. The Kings are beat up with Mike Bibby likely still out with a thumb injury and Brad Miller slowed with injuries.

Last shots

The NBA is using a new plus-minus stat this season, one that showed Miami's best lineup in the Finals was when Alonzo Mourning played instead of Shaquille O'Neal. … A day after being named starting center, Seattle center Robert Swift went out for the season with a knee injury. Rookie Mouhamed Sene may start. Even though the team president resigned, it appears Sonics general manager Rick Sund, one of the best in the business, will remain. … Jalen Rose appears to be heading the Tim Thomas route with a buyout in his final season in New York. … The Clippers' Elton Brand denied team requests that he take time off in the exhibition season after playing for USA Basketball last summer. Said Brand: "We could be really good, we could be great, but it all starts with what you do now. You can't expect to be one of the best teams unless you're going to put in the work." Meanwhile, an unusually large number of top players have sat out exhibition games despite not being injured. Stu Jackson says the league is monitoring the issue. … Kevin Ollie, whose 10-year journeyman odyssey included a stop in Chicago, may open at point guard for the 76ers with Allen Iverson at shooting guard again. "It would have been gratifying to be the 12th man coming off the bench because I'm still in the NBA doing something I love to do," Ollie said. … Jamal Magloire, angling for a big contract after the season, has been miserable with Portland. Former Blazers guard Damon Stoudamire is telling friends that the steal of the year was the Bulls' pickup of Viktor Khryapa as a draft deal throw-in. He apparently thought Khryapa was lost in the undisciplined environment. … The Spurs' Gregg Popovich applauds the league's crackdown on on-court behavior: "It isn't like you invented the light bulb just because you dunked over somebody."

Final word

Though it's not part of the NBA's advertising campaign, it's widely known around the league office that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is an avid NBA fan with a preference for the Bulls. His sons have been spotted wearing Bulls jerseys on their regulation courts at the presidential palace.

SAM'S FIVE STARS WHO CHANGE ADDRESSES DURING THIS SEASON

1. Ray Allen, Seattle
He says he wants to stay, but he's 31. If the Sonics falter, new ownership could blow things up and start again, especially if it can't get a new arena.

2. Allen Iverson, Philadelphia
He says Philadelphia is all he knows, but the 76ers tried to trade him last spring.Who knows what happens if general manager Billy King is ousted because of a bad start?

3. Kevin Garnett, Minnesota
Coach Dwane Casey says, "The window has not closed for Kevin."But Garnett has clocked more than 32,000 minutes. If the Timberwolves don't go somewhere soon, he could.

4. Paul Pierce, Boston
The Celtics want to run and he's best in the half-court game. It could be time to cash in for some youth.

5. Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana
This is another team with low projections that needs to start well or consider whether it's time to rebuild by offering its most valuable piece.

sasmith@tribune.com

[HoofHearted]

Best part of the Smith article..........

Former Blazers guard Damon Stoudamire is telling friends that the steal of the year was the Bulls' pickup of Viktor Khryapa as a draft deal throw-in. He apparently thought Khryapa was lost in the undisciplined environment.

[AbeFroman]

The Bulls have always been big in the fascist-dictator crowd.... I hear the Ayatollah was real high on Tyrus Thomas in the draft and is often seen in his vintage Jud Buechler jersey at the more exclusive mosques in Tehran.

[Chisoxfn]

Best part of the Smith article..........

Ya, he's kicked some serious butt during the preseason and I'm excited to see him play for the very first time.

[CryptViLL]

lol @ kim jong il liking the bulls
nice.

[Guest_TOMSPY77_*]

Does this mean we can barter for our next trade with a threat of further nuke testing?

...I'll get my coat!