FanHouse http://www.fanhouse.com FanHouse http://www.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif FanHouse http://www.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ J.J. Redick Finally Carving His Niche http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/07/j-j-redick-finally-carving-his-niche/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/07/j-j-redick-finally-carving-his-niche/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/07/j-j-redick-finally-carving-his-niche/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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ORLANDO -- After three seasons of banging his head against a wall, J.J. Redick finally has proven he belongs in the NBA.

He never thought it would take this long.

Redick may have come into the league as one of the most celebrated college basketball players in recent history, but it has taken a complete remaking of his game and his attitude to finally carve his niche.

"I've been thinking about it recently, and maybe I wasn't ready to do this last year, or my second year, and certainly not as a rookie,'' Redick said Friday night after helping the Orlando Magic hold off the Detroit Pistons 110-103. "I could not have stepped in and played well like this, but I've learned how to be a pro. And that wasn't easy.''

 

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]]> Courtney LeeCourtneyLeeJ.J. RedickJ.j.RedickStan Van GundyStanVanGundyVince CarterVinceCarter Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-11-07T01:30:00 00:00 Vaccaro: adidas Wrong With MJ's Son http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/06/vaccaro-adidas-wrong-with-mjs-son/ http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/06/vaccaro-adidas-wrong-with-mjs-son/ http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/06/vaccaro-adidas-wrong-with-mjs-son/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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Take it from the pioneer who started this idea of cozy, contractual relationships between the shoe giants and the NCAA schools: adidas has screwed up this time.

Sonny Vaccaro speaks from experience.

"What a PR nightmare for adidas. This should have been a no-brainer,'' Vaccaro said. "It's nothing but a personal thing against Michael Jordan.''

At issue is the recent decision by adidas to severe its relationship with the University of Central Florida, which has a contract that requires all of its athletes and coaches to wear adidas products.

 

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]]> Marcus JordanMarcusJordanMichael JordanMichaelJordanSonny VaccaroSonnyVaccaro Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-11-06T18:15:00 00:00 Ben Wallace Turns Back the Clock http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/06/ben-wallace-turns-back-the-clock/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/06/ben-wallace-turns-back-the-clock/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/06/ben-wallace-turns-back-the-clock/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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Ben WallaceORLANDO -- Pistons general manager Joe Dumars signed broken-down Ben Wallace this summer to be a figure-head, to serve as a low-budget example for his young, talented guys to see where hard work could take them.

Dumars never expected this kind of start.

Wallace, 35, is one of the biggest and most pleasant surprises of this young season. In the first five games, he has averaged 10 rebounds in 31 minutes while also playing the kind of hard-nosed interior defense that once helped him anchor Detroit's NBA championship team in 2004.

"I just thought he'd be great for the young guys to be around, an undrafted guy who worked his way up without any shortcuts. Just for the young guys to see him every day. That's why I got him,'' Dumars said Friday before the Pistons played in Orlando. "But he's been better than I ever imagined. It's like an added bonus.''

 

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]]> Ben WallaceBenWallaceJoe DumarsJoeDumars Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-11-06T17:05:00 00:00 Suns' Frye Suddenly a Three-Point Threat http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/05/suns-frye-suddenly-a-three-point-threat/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/05/suns-frye-suddenly-a-three-point-threat/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/05/suns-frye-suddenly-a-three-point-threat/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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Channing FryeSuns general manager Steve Kerr -- one of the league's all-time best long-distance shooters -- would love to take credit for the sudden three-point-shooting prowess of newly-acquired center Channing Frye.

But he won't. And he can't.

"Yes, I worked with him for a couple days after he signed, and boom, he started hitting three-pointers,'' Kerr joked before a game in Orlando earlier this week. "We knew he could shoot -- it's why we signed him -- but not quite like this.''

Frye, a low-budget signing this summer, has had a stunning start, factoring heavily into the Suns' (4-1) early-season success.

 

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]]> Channing FryeChanningFrye Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-11-05T13:45:00 00:00 Van Gundy: NBA Rules Penalize Howard http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/van-gundy-nba-rules-penalize-howard/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/van-gundy-nba-rules-penalize-howard/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/van-gundy-nba-rules-penalize-howard/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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Dwight HowardORLANDO -- Coming to the defense of his All-Star center, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy didn't criticize the officials Wednesday night -- he didn't want another fine -- but he was clearly critical of the way Dwight Howard is being officiated this season.

Howard, the biggest, strongest, best center in the NBA, is being unfairly penalized, according to Van Gundy.

"He gets penalized for being so strong. We give guys an advantage in this league for being quick, but we penalize them for being strong like Dwight,'' Van Gundy said after Howard finished with 11 fouls in the last two games combined. "If you hit a perimeter guy on a drive the way they are allowed to hit Dwight all the time around the basket, it would be a flagrant foul.''

 

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]]> Dwight HowardDwightHowardStan Van GundyStanVanGundy Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-11-04T23:35:00 00:00 Sam Jones, Celtics Great and 10-Time Champion, Speaks His Mind http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/03/sam-jones-celtics-great-and-ten-time-champion-speaks-his-mind/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/03/sam-jones-celtics-great-and-ten-time-champion-speaks-his-mind/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/11/03/sam-jones-celtics-great-and-ten-time-champion-speaks-his-mind/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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Sam JonesSam Jones won 10 NBA championships, more than anyone in history except for Bill Russell. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984. He was named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1996. He scored more than 15,000 points in his 12 seasons with the Boston Celtics (1957-69), carving a reputation as one of the greatest clutch shooters -- and winners -- that the league has ever seen.

Yet despite his legendary career, he can walk through a shopping mall or a downtown hotel lobby today without being recognized, arguably the most under-exposed great in basketball history.

Jones, 76, sat down with FanHouse earlier this week to discuss a variety of topics, ranging from his strange disconnect with the franchise he represented so well, to the racism that drove him out of coaching in the early '70s, to his sometimes unflattering view of today's NBA stars.

His opinions might surprise you.

 

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]]> Bill RussellRedAuerbachSam Jones Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-11-03T01:00:00 00:00 Vince Carter Sprains Left Ankle in His Return to New Jersey http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/vince-carter-sprains-left-ankle-in-his-return-to-new-jersey/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/vince-carter-sprains-left-ankle-in-his-return-to-new-jersey/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/vince-carter-sprains-left-ankle-in-his-return-to-new-jersey/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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Vince Carter
Vince Carter was about to deliver one of those "don't-you-wish-I-was-still-here" games Friday night in New Jersey, when he fell to the floor clutching his left ankle midway in the second quarter.

Carter, traded by the Nets to the Orlando Magic this summer, had 16 points in his first 15 minutes before he left with a sprained ankle. X-rays were negative and he told reporters that "hopefully,'' he could play Sunday in Toronto.

His mother, who was there, described it to the Orlando Sentinel as a "mild sprain.'' It happened on a drive to the basket when he stepped awkwardly on the foot of New Jersey guard Devin Harris.

 

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]]> Courtney LeeCourtneyLeeDevon HarrisDwight HowardDwightHowardStan Van GundyStanVanGundyVince CarterVinceCarter Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-10-30T23:12:00 00:00 Could Las Vegas Be the Next NBA City? http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/could-las-vegas-be-the-next-nba-city/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/could-las-vegas-be-the-next-nba-city/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/could-las-vegas-be-the-next-nba-city/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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Las VegasYou have to give Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman an "A" for persistence. Neither the bad economy, nor the bad publicity from the All-Star Game in 2007 -- or even the stepped-up anti-gambling push after the snake-like Tim Donaghy raised his head -- has deterred Goodman from continuing his push for an NBA franchise.

He does make a lot of sense. Las Vegas really would be NBA heaven.

Goodman at his weekly press conference Thursday brought up the issue again of moving forward with plans for a new downtown arena in hopes of luring an NBA franchise to his city.

 

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]]> David SternDavidSternOscar GoodmanOscarGoodmanTim DonaghyTimDonaghy Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-10-30T15:15:00 00:00 Elton Brand No Longer Fits in Philly http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/elton-brand-no-longer-fits-in-philly/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/elton-brand-no-longer-fits-in-philly/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/elton-brand-no-longer-fits-in-philly/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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Elton BrandORLANDO -- Elton Brand sure seems like a nice enough guy -- respectful, courteous, thoughtful, engaging. He works hard, too.

Yet he also is beginning to look like an albatross hanging around the neck of the Philadelphia 76ers, the guy with the contract that will prevent them from building a serious contender in the coming years.

Brand, 30, is starting his 10th season in the league, but just the second year of that five-year, $80 million contract he signed as a free agent two summers ago. Although the Sixers were convinced that signing him was wise back then, they are having serious reservations now about the move.

It's one painful decision they would like to have back.

 

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]]> Andre IguodalaEddie JordanElton Brand Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-10-29T15:40:00 00:00 This Twitter Fan Got Howard's Attention http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/this-twitter-fan-got-howards-attention/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/this-twitter-fan-got-howards-attention/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/this-twitter-fan-got-howards-attention/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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Dwight HowardORLANDO -- Stephanie Fisher thought it was just another internet scam when she signed up to follow Dwight Howard on Twitter (@DwightHoward) two months ago, and up popped a message saying she was a lucky prize winner.

Yeah, right, she thought.

The message said she was Howard's one millionth follower, which meant she had won a trip for two to Orlando to meet the Magic star and watch the opening game Wednesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.

"I didn't believe it at all,'' she said after the game. "So I just ignored it at first.''

 

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]]> Dwight HowardDwightHoward Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-10-29T01:45:00 00:00 Williams Proves Worth in Magic Win http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/williams-proves-worth-in-magic-win/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/williams-proves-worth-in-magic-win/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/williams-proves-worth-in-magic-win/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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Jason WilliamsORLANDO -- When the Orlando Magic signed out-of-work Jason Williams this summer to a one-year, minimum wage contract, they made it sound like he was coming merely to be an insurance policy, giving them a past-his-prime, third point guard in case the bottom fell out on the other two.

He's obviously going to be more, a lot more for a real good team.

Williams, 33, is no longer the flashy, wrap-around-passing entertainer he was earlier in his career in Sacramento, but he looks refreshed and ready to play at a high level once again, adding another strong weapon to the defending Eastern Conference champs.

A year off certainly did him well.

 

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]]> dwight howardDwightHowardj.j. redickjameer nelsonjason williamsmatt barnesrashard lewisstan van gundyvince carter Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-10-28T23:28:00 00:00 Holiday First NBA Player Born in the '90s http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/holiday-first-nba-player-born-in-the-90s/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/holiday-first-nba-player-born-in-the-90s/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/holiday-first-nba-player-born-in-the-90s/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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Jrue HolidayORLANDO -- To many who follow the NBA, it doesn't seem that long ago that Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer led the Detroit Pistons -- the famed Bad Boys -- to their second consecutive NBA title in 1990, cementing their place among the great teams in league history.

It was two days after Jrue Holiday was born.

Holiday, a rookie guard for the Philadelphia 76ers, isn't just the youngest player in the NBA this season. He also earned the distinction of being the first person born in the 1990's to be on an NBA roster.

That makes a lot of us feel old.

 

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]]> Jrue HolidayJrueHolidayKobe BryantKobeBryantShaquille ONealShaquilleOneal Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-10-28T20:40:00 00:00 Suspended Rashard Lewis Starts Magic Season at Home http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/27/suspended-rashard-lewis-starts-magic-season-at-home/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/27/suspended-rashard-lewis-starts-magic-season-at-home/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/27/suspended-rashard-lewis-starts-magic-season-at-home/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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Rashard LewisORLANDO -- The Orlando Magic will raise their Eastern Conference title banner Wednesday night at Amway Arena, then begin the most anticipated season in franchise history. And Rashard Lewis will be at home watching on television, riding a stationary bicycle.

Just the thought makes him cringe.

"I knew this day was coming but I'm still upset every time I think about it,'' Lewis said Tuesday after a Magic practice. "I was part of winning that banner, and I won't be there to see it go up. But you do the crime, you pay the fine.''

 

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]]> Rashard LewisRyan AndersonStan Van Gundy Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-10-27T17:00:00 00:00 Dwight Howard Advises Marcus Jordan on Shoe Controversy http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/27/dwight-howard-advises-marcus-jordan-on-shoe-controversy/ http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/27/dwight-howard-advises-marcus-jordan-on-shoe-controversy/ http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/27/dwight-howard-advises-marcus-jordan-on-shoe-controversy/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim PovtakMarcus JordanOrlando Magic center Dwight Howard didn't exactly toe the Adidas party line, but he did offer a bit of advice Tuesday for young Marcus Jordan -- son of Michael Jordan -- when it comes to his dilemma over which brand of shoe to wear for his freshman season at the nearby University of Central Florida.

Jordan has been caught in the middle of the Nike/Adidas shoe battle that is being waged over his feet.

Because of his father's long-time business tie-in with Nike, Jordan had planned on wearing nothing but Nikes during his college career, much like he has since he started walking.

The University athletic department, though, has a contract worth close to $3 million annually that gives them exclusive rights to provide the shoes and apparel for all intercollegiate athletes and coaches on campus.

 

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]]> Dwight HowardDwightHowardmarcus jordan Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-10-27T14:59:00 00:00 Blake Griffin's a Casualty of Too Many NBA Exhibition Games http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/26/blake-griffins-a-casualty-of-too-many-nba-exhibition-games/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/26/blake-griffins-a-casualty-of-too-many-nba-exhibition-games/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/26/blake-griffins-a-casualty-of-too-many-nba-exhibition-games/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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Blake GriffinShame on the NBA owners for being greedy, trying to milk their teams for an unbelievable eight exhibition games on top of an already marathon regular season and a taxing playoff march.

Eight is too many. Just ask Los Angeles Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy, who now may be without his star rookie prize Blake Griffin in Tuesday's much-anticipated opener against the cross-arena Lakers.

Griffin hurt his left knee Friday night in exhibition No. 8, a game that never should have been played if the league had listened to players, coaches, trainers and even nonsensical sports writers who have said for years that there is no need for so many meaningless games.

 

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]]> Al HorfordAlHorfordBlake GriffinBlakeGriffin Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-10-26T16:25:00 00:00 Joe Johnson Questions Hawks' Direction http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/24/joe-johnson-questions-hawks-direction/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/24/joe-johnson-questions-hawks-direction/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/24/joe-johnson-questions-hawks-direction/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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Joe Johnson wants to believe that his Atlanta Hawks are on the verge of being contenders in the Eastern Conference. They should be getting close.

But going into the start of the NBA's regular season next week, Johnson isn't so sure anymore.

"Sometimes, I can't tell if we really want it,'' Johnson told FanHouse after his Hawks were embarrassed by a 37-point loss Friday night in their final exhibition game by the Orlando Magic. "It's discouraging. Sometimes, you never know what you're going to get from this team. And that won't work.''

 

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]]> Jamal CrawfordJamal CrawfordJamalCrawfordJoe JohnsonJoe SmithJoeJohnsonJoeSmith Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-10-24T11:15:00 00:00 Vince Carter Loving the Game Alongside Dwight Howard http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/carter-loving-the-game-alongside-dwight-howard/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/carter-loving-the-game-alongside-dwight-howard/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/carter-loving-the-game-alongside-dwight-howard/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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ORLANDO -- After 10 consecutive seasons of averaging at least 20 points a game, Vince Carter is likely to see his scoring drop significantly this season.

And he'll be happy about it.

It didn't take Carter long during the preseason to realize that playing with a dominant center like Dwight Howard -- a luxury he never has had before -- will change the way he plays the game.

"This is going to be great situation for me. It's one I've never been in before,'' he said before Friday night's lopsided 123-86 exhibition victory over the Atlanta Hawks. "It's a luxury that will be pretty easy to get used to.''

 

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]]> Dwight HowardDwightHowardRashard LewisRashardLewisVince CarterVinceCarter Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-10-23T23:06:00 00:00 FanHouse Preview: Orlando Magic http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/fanhouse-preview-orlando-magic/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/fanhouse-preview-orlando-magic/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/fanhouse-preview-orlando-magic/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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FanHouse previews all 30 NBA teams in advance of the 2009-10 season.

ORLANDO - It wasn't Stan Van Gundy, or any of his assistants, who stopped Orlando Magic practice Friday morning to make a coaching point, correcting newly-acquired power forward Brandon Bass and making sure he understood clearly his defensive assignment on a particular play.

It was center Dwight Howard. Coach Stan Van Gundy just stood back and nodded his approval. He liked what was happening.

"Our returning guys are taking more of a leadership role, trying to make sure everyone is on the same page, and that's our biggest challenge right now,'' Van Gundy said. "We're putting a lot of new pieces together.''

 

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]]> Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-10-23T17:45:00 00:00 Tip-Off Timer: Derek Fisher's Lucky No. 4 http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/tip-off-timer-derek-fishers-lucky-no-4/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/tip-off-timer-derek-fishers-lucky-no-4/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/tip-off-timer-derek-fishers-lucky-no-4/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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Derek Fisher
Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Friday, there are 4 days remaining.

Point guard Derek Fisher doesn't wear No. 4 for the Los Angeles Lakers, but he probably should. It's the number that has defined him.

Four has meant good fortune for Fisher.

His catch-and-shoot basket with .4 remaining in Game 5 was the defining moment for the upset of the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference final of 2004.

 

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]]> Derek FisherTip-Off Timer Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-10-23T12:25:00 00:00 Tip-Off Timer: Five Titles Should Put Rodman in Hall of Fame http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/22/tip-off-timer-five-titles-should-put-rodman-in-hall-of-fame/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/22/tip-off-timer-five-titles-should-put-rodman-in-hall-of-fame/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/22/tip-off-timer-five-titles-should-put-rodman-in-hall-of-fame/#comments Tim Povtakby Tim Povtak

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Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Thursday, there are 5 days remaining.

It takes five years of retirement for a player to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Make it 10 for Dennis Rodman, who always did things differently. He did win five NBA titles.

If you think that Michael Jordan caused a commotion with an unconventional acceptance speech last month when he headlined the Class of 2009, just wait until Rodman shows up in 2010 wearing a dress and lipstick.

 

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]]> Charles OakleyCharlesOakleyDennis RodmanDennisRodmanKarl MaloneKarlMaloneMark JacksonMarkJacksonMichael JordanMichaelJordanScottie PippenScottiePippenTip-Off TimerTip-offTimer Tim Povtak tim-povtak 2009-10-22T12:00:00 00:00