Bill Simmons of espn.com is a Los Angeles Clippers season ticket-holder. It's only the preseason but he's seen enough of former Oklahoma standout Blake Griffin to mention him alongside the game's greats.
"Call me a sucker, call me a fool. I don't care," Simmons wrote. "Griffin cannot be hyped enough. He's already one of the best five power forwards in the league. (I have him behind Dirk, Bosh and Gasol and tied with an aging Duncan.) He would have been the third-best player on Team USA in August had the Americans included him. He's already (A) the best finisher of any big guy in the league, (B) the second-best rebounder in the league behind Dwight Howard, and (C) someone who flies around so recklessly that you constantly worry he might break his leg, his back, his neck... there's just nobody else like him right now. You can't keep your eyes off him."
ONE-ON-ONE CHALLENGE: KOBE VS. LEBRON
While making an appearance to help launch the London School of Basketball earlier this month, Los Angeles Lakers star guard Kobe Bryant was asked who would win a game of one on one between him and Miami's LeBron James.
"I'd win, I'd win," Bryant said without hesitation, drawing laughter. "That's what I do. One on one ... that's easy for me, you know. Playing one on one is how I grew up playing. It's like, my thing. LeBron is more like a Magic Johnson. He's a great passer and plays an all-around game. At the core of me, I'm a one-on-one player. I'd do that in my sleep."
More than one person has suggested Bryant and James have a one-on-one match during this season's All-Star Weekend at Staples Center. The Lakers host the Heat on Christmas Day and play at Miami on March 10.
ORLANDO 'MAGICAL' IN PRESEASON
Sure, NBA exhibition games don't count, but it's impossible to ignore what the Orlando Magic has done the last three preseasons. With Saturday night's 105-67 pasting of Chicago, the Magic has now won 19 straight preseason games with its last loss coming Oct. 6, 2008, against Atlanta. Under coach Stan Van Gundy, the Magic is 25-2 (.926) in the preseason.
It's gotten to the point where Van Gundy is apologizing to fans after a victory.
Following Thursday night's 86-73 victory over Charlotte, Van Gundy apologized for starting reserves Ryan Anderson, Chris Duhon, Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus and J.J. Redick and sitting regular starters Dwight Howard, Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis the entire game.
"I want to say I'm sorry and I was wrong," Van Gundy the Orlando Sentinel. "I thought I reasoned it through, but I can't justify it. If it was the first game that somebody came out to see, you bring your kids... I'd be upset, too." Van Gundy said he sat his normal starters because he wanted to see how his bench played together.
ARENAS BLAMES MEDIA FOR $50,000 FINE
Washington guard Gilbert Arenas was fined $50,000 by the Wizards for faking an injury to allow teammate Nick Young to start last Tuesday against Atlanta. Arenas did what he often does and blamed media for publicizing the story.
"If I wouldn't (have) made any comments, you guys wouldn't have known, right? Right," said Arenas, who last year was fined $25,000 for not talking to the media during the preseason. "So, let's just say I blew it again. You guys want somebody honest, but you don't want somebody honest. I messed up again. I'll never do it again. At the end of the day, you guys got to do your job. Even though it's not right that you guys are nitpicking everything I do, you've got a job to do and I've got a job to do."
Wizards coach Flip Saunders has stood up for Arenas this preseason, but wasn't happy about the incident.
"I said to him that I'm most disappointed personally, because I believe in him," Saunders said. "There's been a trust factor. I told him, 'You're going to have to be honest with me.' It's just like dealing with your kids. Your kids make mistakes and you deal with them. It doesn't mean you love them any less."
By the way, Young scored a team-high 24 and shot 10 of 14 from the field in the Wizards' victory.
MELO STILL WANTS OUT BEFORE HE GETS ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH
A source close to Denver's Carmelo Anthony told the Denver Post the All-Star forward still wants to be dealt, preferably to New York or New Jersey. Anthony also would agree to a trade with Chicago, but the Nuggets won't make the trade unless it involves Joakim Noah, which is highly unlikely. Anthony likely would not agree to be traded to Philadelphia or the Clippers.
Nets rookie Derrick Favors, whom the Nuggets reportedly desire in a trade, is shooting 34.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the free-throw line in the preseason while averaging 6.0 points and 5.8 rebounds.
Denver coach George Karl revealed what he said during a private conversation with Anthony earlier this month: "I told Melo, 'I'm excited about coaching you maybe a little harder than I did before, because I don't think we're getting you to the top of the mountain, and that's where I think you belong. You're close. You're at the last stage of Mount Everest. But you have strengths and talents that can be improved.' We talked about defense and being a leader."
