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July 24 2009
When it comes to the NBA, I'm pleased to tweet you
By Sam Amico
Pro Basketball News

In this age of tweeting and texting and every thought needing to be expressed in 140 characters or less, I give you some really random NBA stuff that's crossed my mind within the past week:

* What's the big deal? We already knew a guy named Jordan in his prime would be able to dunk on LeBron James.

* Bottom line: LeBron was playing against a bunch of teenagers in a meaningless game. I'm sure he wasn't even trying.

* My 5-year old dunked on me on a Nerf hoop the other day. Thankfully, no one got it on video.

* I look forward to the release of James' book in September. It shows a sensitive, very human side of the King.

* Allen Iverson playing for the Clippers. In the same backcourt with Baron Davis and Ricky Davis. Please, basketball gods, let it happen.

* Let's break for a tweet from Shaquille O'Neal: "Dear david beckham, I kno u heard about my shaq vs show, anyway u will never score a goal on me, I challenge you lil man."

* Shaq's in Cleveland. I'm in Cleveland. Cannot wait to meet him.

* Walked behind Shaq in the hallway at Quicken Loans Arena last season. He was goofing off and high-fiving everyone around him. He really is an awesome dude.

* Shaq's kidding himself, though. I could score a goal on him within three or four kicks. Beckham could do it with his eyes closed on the first try.

* So are the Nets moving to Brooklyn or not? And where has Jay-Z been during these times of financial distress in New Jersey?

* Did I read that correctly? Is Miami really considering Jason Williams a possibility at point guard? The same erratic Williams who "retired" before the start of last season?

* Word is the Heaters are also taking a long look at Jamaal Tinsley (waived by Indiana earlier this week). I'll take Mario Chalmers and an up-and coming D-Leaguer over Williams or Tinsley.

* Up-and-coming D-Leaguer suggestion at point guard: Walker Russell of the wonderfully nicknamed Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

* I had a lot of Friendly Aunts. But none were from Fort Wayne, so that explains it.

* My All-Summer League Team: C - JaVale McGee, Washington; PF - Anthony Randolph, Golden State; SG - James Harden, Oklahoma City; PG - Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City.

* I didn't list a small forward because it's a tie between DaJuan Summers (Detroit) and Chase Budinger (Houston) -- both second-round picks, no less.

* Marcus Thornton (New Orleans) also excelled at shooting guard and was right up there with Harden. Thornton was a second-rounder, too.

* Yes, top overall pick Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers) was very good. But he was no Randolph, the MVP of summer play in my book.

* Others who merit high honorable mention: Brandon Jennings, PG, Milwaukee; Tyler Hansbrough, PF, Indiana; Roy Hibbert, C, Indiana; Nick Young, SF/SG, Washington; Adam Morrison, SF, L.A. Lakers; Tyreke Evans, G, Sacramento; Eric Maynor, PG, Utah; and Ryan Anderson, SF, Orlando.

* Stephen Curry (Warriors) wasn't awful, but as I predicted in a column back in March, he's got a long way to go.

* Another tweet-from-Shaq break: "happy birthday, harry potter main charachter dude."

* Man, they're really gonna love this guy in Cleveland. No Cavalier has been this much fun since World B. Free.

* If you enjoy reading former NBA coach Eric Musselman's columns on PBN, you'll probably want to check out his Twitter account.

* Musselman's father, former coach Bill Musselman, once uttered my favorite quote of all-time: "Defeat is worse than death, because you have to live with defeat."

* My other favorite quote comes from Brian Ross, the publisher of Minor League News (for which I often write -- wink, wink, nudge, nudge): "Celebrating television is like bronzing your trash."

* Meanwhile, Musselman's sister, Nicole, wrote my favorite chapter in Pat Williams' excellent compilation of stories, "Chicken Soup for the Basketball Lover's Soul," on her late father.

* Williams just sent me a copy of his latest, "Extreme Dreams Depend on Teams." Looks like another winner. The man just continues to amaze.

* Five people who make me feel like lacing up a pair of high tops and shooting a thousand jumpers every time I hear them speak (in random order): Eric Musselman, Avery Johnson, Pat Williams, Fox Sports NBA columnist Charley Rosen, and former NBA guard Robert Reid.

* I interviewed Reid several years ago for a story I wrote for the NBA retired players association, and our first conversation lasted more than an hour. Ever since, we call just to talk hoops.

* Reid was an underrated defender, and at 6-foot-8, could play everything from point guard to small forward. As a kid I watched in awe as he gave Larry Bird all he could handle in the 1986 Finals between Bird's Celtics and Reid's Houston Rockets (also featuring Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson).

* Would Lamar Odom just sign with the Lakers already? We all know that's where he‘ll end up.

* I'm typing this next to my son as he sleeps. He's 5. He shouldn't be snoring like a 67-year old man who smokes two packs a day. Yet he is.

* One sure sign that the Apocalypse is near: NBA referee Joey Crawford has a Twitter account.

* Where oh where will A.I. end up? If I'm Charlotte, I'm taking a flyer on him. I mean, I like Raja Bell and all, but is he really a starting shooting guard on a playoff team? Especially a team like the Bobcats, who have no real stars.

* In conclusion, one final tweet from Shaq: "does tok a roo ko by ashi eat all dat dam food geeeez."

* I have no idea what that means. I love it anyway.

Sam Amico is the editor of Pro Basketball News. He can be reached at amico@probasketballnews.com.

COMMENTS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ2ngaopQyE
By: Elzie Bibbs 07/29/09 07:00am
The best quote I have ever heard was... "working weekends is like getting hit in the nuts, It happens every so often and it sucks!" from a co-worker
By: Joe 07/27/09 03:01am
Amico this your best column yet! I miss the days of World B Free, John Bagley and Roy Hinson on the Cavs. They played with so much more inspiration than the guys today. That team never would've lost to Orlando. :)
By: Dale 07/24/09 05:48am
Good stuff. Get your son those breahe right strips, LOL!!! I forget about Robert Reid, he was an amazing defender and a terrific ballplayer. Charley Rosen is a great writer and an astute basketballm he is a great read. Odom needs to sign with LA soon, or Kobe may never except him back.
By: Jed 07/24/09 05:01am
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