The start of the new year typically brings optimism for the future. But that’s not the case in the NBA this year.
View full sizeAs much as Anthony Parker (dribbling against the Knicks' Danilo Gallinari) would like to focus on the court, the Cavaliers' guard and player representative knows his league is also facing off-season labor difficulties.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The start of the new year typically brings optimism for the future. But that's not the case in the NBA this year.
With the collective bargaining agreement set to expire this summer, veteran players expect to be locked out. Cavaliers player representative Anthony Parker said he was hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.
"I was involved in the one in '98," he said. "It seems like there's a little more distance between the parties in this one. But you never know what happens. I'm hopeful something will get resolved, but we'll see."
That Parker has been selected as the Cavs' union representative shows the players are taking the threat of a lockout seriously. Last season, rookie Danny Green was the player rep. This year, clearly players were looking for a more experienced voice.
Antawn Jamison, a former player rep in Washington, thought Parker was a logical choice.
"For me, he's been here the longest and guys know him, understand him, know he has their best interests at heart," Jamison said. "Even though I'm a vet, I look up to him as far as on the court or off the court, if there's information we need to get he will do that. If there's information we need to tell them, he will do that as well.
"He's like that responsible brother who you know is not going to let you down."
Like Parker, Jamison expects there to be a lockout.
"I pretty much for sure know there's going to be one," he said. "I don't think we can let it affect the season. There are some things they want to change. There are some things we felt should stay the same. That's why it's called a negotiation."
He hopes players aren't caught unprepared.
"You have a lot of players who need to watch and really police their money," Jamison said. "It can affect a lot of people. I'm fortunate enough to have saved in the past. I'm not going to say it won't affect me at all. The most important thing is that guys prepare themselves for the worst."
Jamison also is worried about the fan reaction.
"My first year was the first lockout," he said. "I recall the reaction of the fans and how we lost them. Now to have the fans back in our corner and to have that fan support that we worked so hard to get. ... I think the players and the owners can ill afford to allow that happen.
"It's part of the business we have to deal with. Sometimes it can get ugly. I just hope we don't have the same effect we had the first time. For two or three years after that we were trying to restore the [league's] image. I pray it doesn't get to that point."
Rookie watch
While rookie Blake Griffin gets most of the attention -- and rightfully so -- the Los Angeles Clippers have two other rookies making major contributions -- guard Eric Bledsoe and forward Al-Farouq Aminu, both of whom have started this season.
When all three started earlier this season, it was the youngest starting lineup in franchise history with Griffin (21), Aminu (20), Bledsoe (20), DeAndre Jordan (22) and Eric Gordon (21) for an average age of 21.4 years.
Heading into the weekend, Griffin led all rookies in scoring (21.5), while Bledsoe, the 18th pick in the draft who was traded to the Clippers from Oklahoma City, was seventh (7.3) and Aminu, the eighth pick, was ninth (6.9) and led all rookies in 3-point shooting at 46 percent (32 of 69).
Aminu came off the bench to score a career-high 20 points Nov. 9 in New Orleans, the most points by any rookie in a game that he did not start so far this season. Bledsoe had 12 points and 13 assists on Nov. 5 in Denver, becoming just the 30th player under 21 to register a points/assists double-double with 13 or more assists since 1986-87.
Coach Vinny Del Negro is coping with having four rookies. Second-round pick Willie Warren hasn't played much.
"I give those guys a lot of credit," Del Negro told Los Angeles reporters earlier this season. "They are working. They're trying. They're preparing. It's just that you can't speed the process. It just takes time. Some guys, it happens quicker. They're getting valuable experience right now."
Coast to coast
Before the season started, everybody had the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers duking it out for the NBA title.
Too bad nobody told the San Antonio Spurs, who entered the weekend, with the league's best record at 27-4.
Coach Gregg Popovich has done a masterful job of blending veterans Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker with younger players, along with recent arrivals such as Richard Jefferson.
"They are the most efficient team in the NBA," TNT's Kevin McHale said during a recent broadcast. "Their offense has changed and you have to give Popovich credit. Their older guys are still the core of this team. They are a very good offensive team."
McHale recalled seeing Ginobili when he was 20 and playing in Europe, calling him "the wildest player I had ever seen in my life. Dribbling left and throwing it in the 30th row of the stands every third play, playing completely wild, couldn't make a jump shot and he had a slow shot.
"I thought, 'man that guy is entertaining,' I would pay to go watch him play, but I never thought he'd be a great NBA player. I thought he was a chaos maker, he made things happen. I'll tell you what, he would let you go behind him, he would cut back and deflect the ball, he was all over. He was fun to watch, but I never thought he would end up being what he is. He is such a great player."
Getting defensive: The Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic made a lot of roster changes with their recent trade, but Charles Barkley thinks the Suns have to make one more major change.
"If they're going to play defense the same way, the trade becomes irrelevant," Barkley said during a recent broadcast. Barkley's comments were echoed by Marcin Gortat, recently traded from Orlando to Phoenix.
"It's just a little bit frustrating when you come in the locker room and people are talking about the offense," Gortat told Fanhouse.com. "That's not the way you're going to win NBA games.
"I just think we have to be at the gym every day for three hours. Learn the rotations, learn everything from the beginning. I mean, there are so many things we're doing bad, I just can't find an explanation. ... It's just frustrating, frustrating as hell. I'm not going to lie."
Holiday traditions: Miami coach Erik Spoelstra, seemingly taking a page out of Phil Jackson's playbook, gave each of his players a boxed DVD set of the "Band of Brothers" mini-series and the original book by Stephen E. Ambrose. Meanwhile, Lakers center Pau Gasol ate 12 grapes as the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve because the Spanish think it brings good luck.
Face time: How memorable does Amar'e Stoudemire think his dunk on LeBron James during the Knicks' recent loss in Miami was?
"I'm pretty sure the fans that always stand outside for autographs will have that poster soon for me to sign," Stoudemire told New York reporters.
Yao fan: James hopes Yao Ming's career is not over because of his most recent foot injury.
"I would hate to think that way," James told the Houston Chronicle. "I think everybody in Houston would hate to think that way. You can stay positive in that. I had a teammate who had multiple foot surgeries, Zydrunas [Ilgauskas], so he was able to come back later in his career and be very, very productive, a lot better than people thought."
Either way, James thinks Yao's legacy is safe.
"I think his legacy would be huge, not only what he did for the NBA, but what he did for China, the culture, getting people excited about basketball, being the face of basketball over there," he said.