"I probably couldn't have handled playing with someone like LeBron earlier in my career, but I'm older now. You're talking about two big egos and meshing them. That'd take a lot of sacrifice on LeBron's part and it'd take a lot of sacrifice on my part to succeed. But we would succeed because we know winning takes care of everything." - New York Post
Representing Team USA twice previously to 2008, Wade also found out he couldn't play with stars. "Our personalities grated," Wade said. "That's why I say LeBron and I can play together. Our personalities work. Being on the court with him makes me unselfish." "The options, that's what excites me about this. I like that you think it can't be this team [the Bulls] or that team [the Nets], yet another team [the Knicks] makes sense to you." New York Post
"I understand the business side. I would've wanted us to make moves for someone who'll help us now and be here for the future, too. But I understand the plan. I'm willing to take a wait-and-see approach. I'm not the kind of guy who's going to cry to the media. It's Mickey's and Pat's job to figure it out. My job is play ball." - New York Post
With Don Nelson back on the Golden State bench after a bout with pneumonia, word is that Monta Ellis will let the New Year come and go before re-evaluating his future. Nelson and Ellis were seriously at odds early in the season, at one point engaging in a heated exchange after a practice in New York. Things settled down just in time for Nelson to go on a five-game sick leave, with assistant Keith Smart taking over on an interim basis. - CBS Sports
The Rockets would love to get Jermaine O’Neal from the Heat, who might not be the same player he was in Indiana, but he still has some game, he can play center and has practically the same contract in terms of salary and expiration date as McGrady. That makes him far more appealing for Houston. - Delco Times
One Western Conference executive said the market for Robinson is virtually non-existent, and that even teams with a need for bench scoring are concerned about Robinson's downside -- i.e., he shoots too much, dribbles too much, and hasn't learned to take the game seriously. “The value of Nate Robinson is that his contract expires,” the executive said. “It’s not that teams are saying we need to pick him up.” - CBS Sports
Don’t be surprised if some teams lacking the cap space to sign a max free agent next summer decide on a pre-emptive strike before the trade deadline, essentially making their big acquisition now as opposed to waiting. One such team could be Sacramento, which entered Monday night’s game in Chicago with a surprising 12-14 record. - CBS Sports
Having agreed in principle to a three-year contract extension, Gasol said he still needs to take a physical to get the deal completed. "Once it's done and signed and finalized, I'll be extremely happy and thankful once again," he said. "I'm definitely in a good place and I'm excited about it." - Los Angeles Times
Wade certainly has taken his share of shots. And he's responded by continuing to deliver his own. He's motivated to prove critics wrong. He wants fans to know that he'd love to score 40 points a night. Or, maybe not, actually. He's even cleverly tip-toed around this latest conditioning issue with Riley saying publicly that Wade "has a long way to go" to get back to being the "lean, mean, scoring machine" he was last season. "I would love to live up to expectations every night, but I'm not looking to live up to other peoples' expectations," Wade said. "It's not my job to go out there and say I need to score 40 every night. - Miami Herald
Nelson has been waiting for Randolph to grow and get ready for what he has in store for Randolph. He said his stint at center has helped make him a better PF. And now that Biedrins and Turiaf are on their way back, he’s ready to open up a can of genius on Randolph – if Randolph can handle it. - Contra Costa Times
Trailing the Chicago Bulls by 35 points in the third quarter, the visiting Kings made the totally unexpected comeback, forcing a tie with less than two minutes left and eventually pulling out a stunning 102-98 victory. The comeback was is the largest in the NBA since the Utah Jazz overcame a 36-point deficit against the Denver Nuggets in a game in 1996, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. - NBA.com
The Bulls revealed before Monday night's game with the Sacramento Kings that forward Luol Deng has been playing with a fractured thumb on his left hand for about a week. "He hurt it in practice I think right before the Lakers game [on Dec. 15]," Del Negro said. - Chicago Sun-Times
Stan Van Gundy has coached some excellent interior defenders, including P.J. Brown and Alonzo Mourning. But Van Gundy says Dwight Howard, the NBA's reigning defensive player of the year, is on a different level. "He's a better pick-and-roll defender, probably, than Alonzo was and a better shot-blocker than P.J. was," Van Gundy said of Howard. "There's just not much he can't do defensively." - Orlando Sentinel
However, there is something that had telling with O'Neal and is fair to compare to last season. That's his shooting percentage, which has taken a noticeable dip. A career 58 percent shooter who hit nearly 61 percent of his shots in 2008-09, O'Neal is shooting a career-low 50 percent so far with the Cavs. - Cleveland Plain Dealer
And Cavs' head coach Mike Brown had nothing but positive things to say about O'Neal's contributions to his new team, despite the fact that, to this point, they might be a little more minor than expected. "[Shaq's] given us an inside presence on both ends of the floor," Brown said. "I don't know if we're number one, but we're one of the top 5 teams in paint points allowed, which is good. A lot of that has to do with the big fella down there." - FanHouse
Stevenson said he understands the move. "It's part of basketball. You just got to be a pro and be positive," Stevenson said. "It's tough, but we got a new coach, I ain't played in a year. I got to stay positive and not get down on myself. Just work through it. I can get through it. I've been through worst situations." - Washington Post
“I try not to let that get to me,” Evans said of the hype. “I hear a lot of people talk about it or mention it to me, but I just want to focus on what happens on the court. I let my game speak for itself and I don’t want to get caught up looking at stats. It’s good that I’m in that category right now, but I’m just trying to stay focused.” - Bulls.com
Now that his Celtics life has reached an epic stage - 12 seasons with the same team is an NBA oddity - Paul Pierce [stats] needs a metaphor to illustrate how far he has come. He had to adjust to Doc Rivers’ system, for instance. He also had to adjust to Doc Rivers himself. - Boston Herald
And Jordan agrees. "I hate to sit a guy like Lou Williams who [prior to injury], the last six games or five games, was averaging over 25 points a game," Jordan said. (His actual numbers were 23.6 points in five games before being sidelined.) "He didn't lose his job because of not performing. He wanted to come back. That's a good thing." - Philadelphia Daily News
Davis has hired a personal chef to cook nutritional meals this season. He is not limited to a daily caloric intake and keeps the pounds off by following a dedicated workout routine during his rehab. Davis explained to WEEI.com how he has adapted his diet to stay thin without being on the court. (And yes, he can sneak a cookie too.) - WEEI
The Kings could have used Kevin Martin on Friday. Before his teammates would go 4 of 27 from beyond the arc at Minnesota, the shooting guard who continues to recover from his Nov. 9 surgery to repair a hairline fracture in his left wrist buried a flurry of three-pointers on the Target Center floor. Yet while Martin isn't quite ready for action, he said his Dec. 30 CT scan could be quickly followed by his return in early January if all goes well. - Sacramento Bee
I've seen a lot of coaches in a lot of sports tip-toeing around before getting fired. When I was in Chicago last week, I noticed how Del Negro was using injuries as an excuse and lamely praising his players' effort -- as if they'd respect the fake kudos. On Monday night, Del Negro took the next step in the "Coach About to be Fired Handbook:" He went after the players. "This one stings, but players win games," Del Negro said. - CBS Sports
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy shakes his head in amazement, then stands back in awe of Sloan's accomplishment. Sloan is in the midst of his 22nd season as coach of the Utah Jazz, easily the longest tenured coach in league history, and the longest tenured coach still active in any of the major professional sports leagues. - FanHouse
For the second year in a row, the league has put together an ambitious schedule for Christmas, with five nationally televised games staggered one after another. On Friday, basketball fans can watch Dwyane Wade, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Carmelo Anthony play. - Orlando Sentinel
Memphis is expected to officially announce the addition of Wafer as soon as today. Wafer, a 6-5 Florida State alum, recently agreed to a buyout with a Greek team, Olympiakos. Wafer last played in the NBA with the Rockets during the 2008-09 season, when he averaged 9.7 points on 44.7-percent shooting. - Memphis Commercial Appeal
While dealing Dalembert last summer wasn’t doable, as April 2011 gets closer and closer, the beleaguered center become more and more feasible to deal. Lo and behold, the Rockets could use a center. - Delco Times
As the Timberwolves' losses add up this season, vice president of basketball operations David Kahn shares in the disappointment with his coaching staff. But he's not ready to activate a quick-fix plan. Kahn is holding firm on his preseason objective to avoid major trades to generate immediate improvement. - St. Paul Pioneer Press
Allen Iverson is 34 years old. While he doesn't think that's too old to still be a factor, he admits he really felt his age when an MRI last week showed that he has arthritis in his left knee. The injury forced him to miss the 7-20 Sixers' last two games, including Friday's victory in Boston, and will keep him out tonight in Washington and Saturday in Utah. He's expected to return next Monday in Portland. - Philly Burbs
Representing Team USA twice previously to 2008, Wade also found out he couldn't play with stars. "Our personalities grated," Wade said. "That's why I say LeBron and I can play together. Our personalities work. Being on the court with him makes me unselfish." "The options, that's what excites me about this. I like that you think it can't be this team [the Bulls] or that team [the Nets], yet another team [the Knicks] makes sense to you." New York Post
"I understand the business side. I would've wanted us to make moves for someone who'll help us now and be here for the future, too. But I understand the plan. I'm willing to take a wait-and-see approach. I'm not the kind of guy who's going to cry to the media. It's Mickey's and Pat's job to figure it out. My job is play ball." - New York Post
With Don Nelson back on the Golden State bench after a bout with pneumonia, word is that Monta Ellis will let the New Year come and go before re-evaluating his future. Nelson and Ellis were seriously at odds early in the season, at one point engaging in a heated exchange after a practice in New York. Things settled down just in time for Nelson to go on a five-game sick leave, with assistant Keith Smart taking over on an interim basis. - CBS Sports
The Rockets would love to get Jermaine O’Neal from the Heat, who might not be the same player he was in Indiana, but he still has some game, he can play center and has practically the same contract in terms of salary and expiration date as McGrady. That makes him far more appealing for Houston. - Delco Times
One Western Conference executive said the market for Robinson is virtually non-existent, and that even teams with a need for bench scoring are concerned about Robinson's downside -- i.e., he shoots too much, dribbles too much, and hasn't learned to take the game seriously. “The value of Nate Robinson is that his contract expires,” the executive said. “It’s not that teams are saying we need to pick him up.” - CBS Sports
Don’t be surprised if some teams lacking the cap space to sign a max free agent next summer decide on a pre-emptive strike before the trade deadline, essentially making their big acquisition now as opposed to waiting. One such team could be Sacramento, which entered Monday night’s game in Chicago with a surprising 12-14 record. - CBS Sports
Having agreed in principle to a three-year contract extension, Gasol said he still needs to take a physical to get the deal completed. "Once it's done and signed and finalized, I'll be extremely happy and thankful once again," he said. "I'm definitely in a good place and I'm excited about it." - Los Angeles Times
Wade certainly has taken his share of shots. And he's responded by continuing to deliver his own. He's motivated to prove critics wrong. He wants fans to know that he'd love to score 40 points a night. Or, maybe not, actually. He's even cleverly tip-toed around this latest conditioning issue with Riley saying publicly that Wade "has a long way to go" to get back to being the "lean, mean, scoring machine" he was last season. "I would love to live up to expectations every night, but I'm not looking to live up to other peoples' expectations," Wade said. "It's not my job to go out there and say I need to score 40 every night. - Miami Herald
Nelson has been waiting for Randolph to grow and get ready for what he has in store for Randolph. He said his stint at center has helped make him a better PF. And now that Biedrins and Turiaf are on their way back, he’s ready to open up a can of genius on Randolph – if Randolph can handle it. - Contra Costa Times
Trailing the Chicago Bulls by 35 points in the third quarter, the visiting Kings made the totally unexpected comeback, forcing a tie with less than two minutes left and eventually pulling out a stunning 102-98 victory. The comeback was is the largest in the NBA since the Utah Jazz overcame a 36-point deficit against the Denver Nuggets in a game in 1996, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. - NBA.com
The Bulls revealed before Monday night's game with the Sacramento Kings that forward Luol Deng has been playing with a fractured thumb on his left hand for about a week. "He hurt it in practice I think right before the Lakers game [on Dec. 15]," Del Negro said. - Chicago Sun-Times
Stan Van Gundy has coached some excellent interior defenders, including P.J. Brown and Alonzo Mourning. But Van Gundy says Dwight Howard, the NBA's reigning defensive player of the year, is on a different level. "He's a better pick-and-roll defender, probably, than Alonzo was and a better shot-blocker than P.J. was," Van Gundy said of Howard. "There's just not much he can't do defensively." - Orlando Sentinel
However, there is something that had telling with O'Neal and is fair to compare to last season. That's his shooting percentage, which has taken a noticeable dip. A career 58 percent shooter who hit nearly 61 percent of his shots in 2008-09, O'Neal is shooting a career-low 50 percent so far with the Cavs. - Cleveland Plain Dealer
And Cavs' head coach Mike Brown had nothing but positive things to say about O'Neal's contributions to his new team, despite the fact that, to this point, they might be a little more minor than expected. "[Shaq's] given us an inside presence on both ends of the floor," Brown said. "I don't know if we're number one, but we're one of the top 5 teams in paint points allowed, which is good. A lot of that has to do with the big fella down there." - FanHouse
Stevenson said he understands the move. "It's part of basketball. You just got to be a pro and be positive," Stevenson said. "It's tough, but we got a new coach, I ain't played in a year. I got to stay positive and not get down on myself. Just work through it. I can get through it. I've been through worst situations." - Washington Post
“I try not to let that get to me,” Evans said of the hype. “I hear a lot of people talk about it or mention it to me, but I just want to focus on what happens on the court. I let my game speak for itself and I don’t want to get caught up looking at stats. It’s good that I’m in that category right now, but I’m just trying to stay focused.” - Bulls.com
Now that his Celtics life has reached an epic stage - 12 seasons with the same team is an NBA oddity - Paul Pierce [stats] needs a metaphor to illustrate how far he has come. He had to adjust to Doc Rivers’ system, for instance. He also had to adjust to Doc Rivers himself. - Boston Herald
And Jordan agrees. "I hate to sit a guy like Lou Williams who [prior to injury], the last six games or five games, was averaging over 25 points a game," Jordan said. (His actual numbers were 23.6 points in five games before being sidelined.) "He didn't lose his job because of not performing. He wanted to come back. That's a good thing." - Philadelphia Daily News
Davis has hired a personal chef to cook nutritional meals this season. He is not limited to a daily caloric intake and keeps the pounds off by following a dedicated workout routine during his rehab. Davis explained to WEEI.com how he has adapted his diet to stay thin without being on the court. (And yes, he can sneak a cookie too.) - WEEI
The Kings could have used Kevin Martin on Friday. Before his teammates would go 4 of 27 from beyond the arc at Minnesota, the shooting guard who continues to recover from his Nov. 9 surgery to repair a hairline fracture in his left wrist buried a flurry of three-pointers on the Target Center floor. Yet while Martin isn't quite ready for action, he said his Dec. 30 CT scan could be quickly followed by his return in early January if all goes well. - Sacramento Bee
I've seen a lot of coaches in a lot of sports tip-toeing around before getting fired. When I was in Chicago last week, I noticed how Del Negro was using injuries as an excuse and lamely praising his players' effort -- as if they'd respect the fake kudos. On Monday night, Del Negro took the next step in the "Coach About to be Fired Handbook:" He went after the players. "This one stings, but players win games," Del Negro said. - CBS Sports
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy shakes his head in amazement, then stands back in awe of Sloan's accomplishment. Sloan is in the midst of his 22nd season as coach of the Utah Jazz, easily the longest tenured coach in league history, and the longest tenured coach still active in any of the major professional sports leagues. - FanHouse
For the second year in a row, the league has put together an ambitious schedule for Christmas, with five nationally televised games staggered one after another. On Friday, basketball fans can watch Dwyane Wade, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Carmelo Anthony play. - Orlando Sentinel
Memphis is expected to officially announce the addition of Wafer as soon as today. Wafer, a 6-5 Florida State alum, recently agreed to a buyout with a Greek team, Olympiakos. Wafer last played in the NBA with the Rockets during the 2008-09 season, when he averaged 9.7 points on 44.7-percent shooting. - Memphis Commercial Appeal
While dealing Dalembert last summer wasn’t doable, as April 2011 gets closer and closer, the beleaguered center become more and more feasible to deal. Lo and behold, the Rockets could use a center. - Delco Times
As the Timberwolves' losses add up this season, vice president of basketball operations David Kahn shares in the disappointment with his coaching staff. But he's not ready to activate a quick-fix plan. Kahn is holding firm on his preseason objective to avoid major trades to generate immediate improvement. - St. Paul Pioneer Press
Allen Iverson is 34 years old. While he doesn't think that's too old to still be a factor, he admits he really felt his age when an MRI last week showed that he has arthritis in his left knee. The injury forced him to miss the 7-20 Sixers' last two games, including Friday's victory in Boston, and will keep him out tonight in Washington and Saturday in Utah. He's expected to return next Monday in Portland. - Philly Burbs
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