Hornets' Gordon (knee) to miss 2-3 weeks
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Hornets guard Eric Gordon will miss two to three weeks because of a sore right knee.
The Hornets say Gordon's knee was swollen after he led New Orleans with 22 points in a 101-93 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. Team doctors have recommended rest.
Gordon leads the team with a 21-point average. He missed the previous four games after he bruised the knee during the season opener Dec. 26 in Phoenix.
Tyson Chandler (right) has made an impact on Amar'e Stoudemire and the Knicks in more ways than one.
Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images
Chandler's new presence being felt by Stoudemire, Knicks
Posted Jan 12 2012 11:24AM
As expected, Tyson Chandler is making an impact in New York.
The Knicks added Chandler before the season to improve their defense, and through the first 10 games of the 2011-12 season, they're one of the most improved defensive teams in the league.
After holding the Sixers, who came into the game with the league's No. 1 offense, to just 79 points on Wednesday, the Knicks rank seventh in defensive efficiency, having allowed their opponents to score 97.5 points per 100 possessions (96.5 when Chandler has been on the floor). It will be tough for the Knicks to sustain a top 10 defensive ranking throughout the season, but so far, so good.
Chandler also gives the Knicks a different look offensively, with his presence in the paint pushing Amar'e Stoudemire away from the basket.
Last season, before the Knicks traded for Carmelo Anthony, Stoudemire mostly played at the five, surrounded by four shooters. Only 37 percent of his minutes were played with another big man (Timofey Mozgov or Ronny Turiaf) and 42 percent of his shots came from the restricted area, while 35 percent came from outside the paint.
After the trade, however, the Knicks had fewer quality perimeter players, and 65 percent of Stoudemire's minutes were played with another big man (Turiaf, Jared Jeffries or Shelden Williams). In his final 25 games of the season, 37 percent of Stoudemire's shots came from the restricted area, and 41 percent came from outside the paint.
This season, the Knicks are obviously going to play Stoudemire and Chandler together quite a bit. And thus far, there's a clear difference between the shots Stoudemire is taking when Chandler is on the floor and those he's taking when Chandler is on the bench.
We're looking at small sample sizes here, but we can see that Stoudemire has attacked the basket more when Chandler has been sitting. With Chandler in the lineup, Stoudemire has seemingly transformed into a stretch four. And with the way he's been shooting, that is not a good thing.
Stoudemire's shots with Chandler on/off the floor
Chandler on/off RFGM RFGA RFG% R%FGA OFGM OFGA OFG% O%FGA Chandler on 19 33 57.6% 37% 10 37 27.0% 41% Chandler off 16 25 64.0% 54% 8 17 47.1% 37% Total 35 58 60.3% 43% 18 54 33.3% 40% R = From the restricted area
O = From outside the paint
%FGA = Percent of total field goal attempts
The shot selection affects Stoudemire's numbers in two ways. First, his shooting percentage is worse with Chandler on the floor (37 percent) than it is with Chandler on the bench (57 percent). Second, his free throw rate (FTA/FGA) is worse with Chandler on the floor (0.37) than it is with Chandler on the bench (0.57).
Anthony is actually shooting much better when Chandler is in the game, but overall, the Knicks have been much better offensively with Chandler is sitting.
Obviously, it's early, the Knicks are still figuring things out, and Stoudemire won't continue to shoot so poorly from the outside. Over the previous four seasons, he shot 44.7 percent from mid-range, but this year, he's shooting just 31.8 percent on shots between the paint and the arc. Further, Chandler's defensive impact is probably worth the additional jump shots that Stoudemire has been taking.
Knicks' efficiency with Chandler on/off the floor
Chandler on/off MIN OffRtg DefRtg NetRtg +/- Chandler on 338 96.9 96.5 +0.5 -5 Chandler off 142 104.9 100.1 +4.9 +21 OffRtg = Points scored per 100 possessions
DefRtg = Points allowed per 100 possessions
NetRtg = Point differential per 100 possessions
But it's clear that when Stoudemire's playing alongside another big man, he's not the same offensive force as he is when he's the man in the middle. And thus far, the Knicks' new big three hasn't played that big. The team has outscored its opponents by just two points in the 191 minutes Anthony, Stoudemire and Chandler have been on the floor together.
Cousins getting closer
On the opposite coast, DeMarcus Cousins is doing the opposite of Stoudemire, playing closer to the basket in his second season.
As a rookie, Cousins took 44 percent of his shots from the restricted area and 35 percent of his shots from outside the paint. This season, he has attempted 62 percent of his shots from the restricted area and only 25 percent of his shots from outside the paint. (And those numbers have been about the same under both Paul Westphal and Keith Smart.)
Overall, Cousins is only shooting slightly better this season (44.3 percent) than he did last year (43.0 percent), because he's not finishing near the rim as well. But his free-throw rate is up (from 40 free throw attempts per 100 shots from the field last season to 51 this season), making him a more efficient scorer.
Sixers’ Bench Brings The Offense
***
PHILADELPHIA – We knew the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls would stand atop the Eastern Conference standings this season. But did anybody have the Philadelphia 76ers right behind them?
After Monday’s win against the Indiana Pacers, the first of a back-to-back-to-back set, the Sixers are 6-2, with the best point differential in the league. They rank third in offensive efficiency and have the No. 1 defense in the league.
One reason for the Sixers’ early success is continuity. They’re in their second season under coach Doug Collins and the top eight of their rotation is exactly the same as it was last season.
But the numbers show that the biggest key to the Sixers’ hot start is their depth.
The Sixers had a lot of success with their starting lineup last season. In fact, Philly’s starters outscored Miami’s 110-64 when the two were on the floor together in their five-game playoff series.
In 2011-12, the Sixers’ starters have been excellent defensively, allowing just 86 points per 100 possessions in their 103 minutes on the floor. But Philly has the No. 3 offense in the league despite their starters, who are scoring just 92 points per 100 possessions themselves.
“We keep getting off to these awful starts,” Collins said Monday after his starters scored just six points in the first 5:53 on Monday, “and fortunately our bench has bailed us out.”
Coming off the bench, Lou Williams leads the Sixers in scoring at 16.6 points per game. But through Monday’s games, no player has had as big of an offensive impact on his team than Thaddeus Young.
The Sixers are scoring a ridiculous 119 points per 100 possessions when Young is on the floor. That on-court efficiency number is the highest in the league among players who have logged at least 100 minutes.
Highest on-court offensive efficiency, through Monday
Minimum 100 minutes
Player Team GP MIN OffRtg DefRtg NetRtg +/- Thaddeus Young PHI 8 216 118.9 92.0 26.9 110 Nick Collison OKC 10 210 116.0 101.9 14.1 54 Daequan Cook OKC 9 141 115.7 100.7 15.0 38 James Harden OKC 10 303 115.4 109.6 5.8 40 Chauncey Billups LAC 4 121 113.9 97.6 16.3 36
OffRtg = Team’s points scored per 100 possessions
DefRtg = Team’s points allowed per 100 possessions
NetRtg = Team’s point differential per 100 possessions
On Monday, after Williams, Young and rookie Nikola Vucevic entered the game, the Sixers scored on 11 of their next 16 possessions. Young shot 6-for-7 on the night and was a game-high plus-16. Vucevic was a plus-15 and Williams was a plus-13. With the Pacers playing shorthanded (Danny Granger and George Hill were out with injuries), it was clear that the Sixers’ bench was the difference.
Though the reserves have clearly made more of an offensive impact, Collins was praising Young’s defense after the game.
“People are going to have to start talking about him for All-Defensive Team,” Collins said. “He blows up every screen-and-roll. He absolutely gets out there, hedges, gets back. His speed and quickness is amazing.”
And really, the Sixers are at their best offensively when they’re first getting stops and turnovers on the other end, because few teams are more potent in the open floor.
“The games we’ve broken open,” Collins said, “we’ve done it with great energy, getting in the open court, steals, finishing.
Blogtable: Impressive In The East
Each week, we’ll ask our stable of scribes to weigh in on the three most important NBA topics of the day — and then give you a chance to step on the scale, too, in the comments below.
Which team most impresses you in the East right now: Indiana or Philadelphia?
Steve Aschburner: Philadelphia. I like the aggressiveness that the 76ers are showing in coach Doug Collins’ second season. Ditto for their defense, at or near the top in points allowed and field-goal percentages. They’re not superstar driven – it’s hard to classify Elton Brand as one anymore – and get it done with a whole-greater-than-the-sum-of-the-parts approach. And the bench guys – Evan Turner, Louis Williams, Thad Young – have been slapping other teams in the face.
Fran Blinebury: C’mon, don’t tell me you expected a Sixers team that opened the season with a five-game road trip to be sniffing the same rarified air as the Heat and Bulls even two weeks into the schedule. Doug Collins has built on last season’s foundation and has Philly playing hard and with a sense of togetherness. As John Schuhmann noted in the Hang Time blog, it’s the Sixers’ bench led by Thaddeus Young that has bumped them up to the next level. With rookie Nic Vucevic capably backing up an improved Spencer Hawes, they also have legitimate size and presence in the middle. The Sixers are a fun team worth watching. If only the fans of Philly would notice.
Scott Howard-Cooper: Although I have been on the Pacers bandwagon since the start of camp, loving the postseason moves and the way the roster has filled out, Philadelphia has been more impressive so far. The 76ers have looked good on offense and defense, and have better depth. Plus, Philly just won when the teams met.
Shaun Powell: The Sixers haven’t even maxed the talent on their roster yet and they’re winning anyway. The system used by Doug Collins is designed to spread the wealth, which makes Philly unpredictable in close games. Not sure how this will play out in the postseason (assuming the Sixers make it), where the stars ultimately win games. But so far everyone is buying into the “share” philosophy, which is rare; young teams are usually filled with players who “gotta get mine.” Even Andre Iguodala looks happy.
John Schuhmann: Since the Sixers rank No. 1 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, I have to go with Philly. They’ve proven the value of continuity when you have only two weeks for training camp, as well as the value of scoring depth when you’re playing a condensed season. I don’t think they’re going to remain in the top five offensively, but they are stronger on that end than Indiana because they do a great job of taking care of the ball (No. 2 in turnover rate) and turning stops into quick and easy buckets (No. 5 in fast-break points per possession).
Sekou Smith: Indiana is playing good basketball for a team that I expected to play well this season. But the 76ers are doing things I did not see this coming. Six straight wins, and the way they’ve collected those wins, makes it clear that the work Doug Collins started with this team last season is paying off handsomely now. I’m still not sure what the key is for this team. But I do know that it starts with a fantastic coach, the right point guard (Jrue Holiday) and a solid cast of characters that could make this team a difficult out come playoff time. That said, the level of competition cranks up for them in the coming days. But I’m buying the 76ers.
A teaming of Derrick Rose and Dwight Howard would make them the best big man-little man combo.
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Trading for Dwight should be on Bulls' to-do list
The Bulls swung through Atlanta last weekend, got punched in the gut by the Hawks and then Derrick Rose said exactly what you thought he'd say:
"We've grown a lot together. We're all on the same page. The chemistry is there. I like our team."
Really, what's not to like? Even in the aftermath of the biggest embarrassment of the season, Rose knows he's blessed with a championship contender and a terrific coach who puts a premium on defense.
And yet ... should the Bulls gamble and rent Dwight Howard anyway?
As the Howard drama drags on, with Orlando GM Otis Smith acknowledging the All-Star center still wants to be traded, the wild card is Chicago. That's because the Bulls weren't on Howard's wish list -- only the Lakers, Mavericks and Nets -- but have plenty to offer for Howard. It'd be an interesting move by the Bulls, who already own one of the best records in the league and look fairly strong without Howard. Every player knows his role and all the pieces seem to fit. An argument can be made they really don't need him to go far.
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The Bulls would be giving up a starter or two just for the sole purpose of taking a run at the title this season with a franchise big man who can become a free agent this summer. Then they'd have to deal with the repercussions later. They'd have to replace Joakim Noah and Luol Deng or Taj Gibson and another rotation player who'd likely be surrendered to Orlando. All the chemistry they worked hard to create would be gone. They'd possibly take a step backward.
So given all that, the best course of action is ... to place a call to Orlando and try to hammer out a deal. Yes, even with no guarantee of Howard re-signing with them, this is a chance the Bulls can't resist, for the simple reason it takes stars to win a championship (yes, the Mavericks and Pistons were exceptions). And last we looked, the Heat, Thunder, Spurs and even the Lakers have the Bulls outnumbered.
Yes, if Orlando is willing, you take a shot at teaming Howard with Rose and forming the most lethal big man-little man combo in basketball. You bring the three-time Defensive Player of the Year to a guy like Tom Thibodeau, who'd know what to do with Howard. You bring Howard to Chicago and watch folks start shivering in Miami. You do it for those reasons and a few others.
For starters, Rose and Howard would get along fine. Rose is the reigning MVP but doesn't act like one, doesn't carry himself like one, in terms of ego. He already signed his big contract, so money won't be an agenda, and Rose feels secure in his own skin anyway. This is important, because Howard is the opposite. Not in a selfish sense, but his personality and presence is larger than life and can overwhelm a locker room. Some stars couldn't deal with that, but Rose could.
Also, the Bulls wouldn't need to totally strip their roster to get Howard. Orlando would have no interest in Carlos Boozer's contract, which is fine, since Boozer might become a better player next to Howard. If Chicago could hold onto Deng, who also has a contract that might frighten the Magic, all the better.
Finally, Howard could discover the Bulls are worth an extended look and decide to sign long-term. He'd have the large market he wants, a passionate fan base and the chance to play next to Rose for a decade. He can't say the same for Kobe Bryant.
Even if Howard said no thanks, the Bulls would have time to rebuild around Rose, who's only 23. They could amnesty Boozer next summer if it meant attracting a free agent or clearing room for a trade. Who wouldn't want to be Rose's teammate?
You won't hear any of the Bulls clamoring for Howard. Certainly not Rose. He didn't lobby for LeBron James or Dwyane Wade two summers ago. That's not to say some of the Bulls wouldn't want Howard. As a group, though, they're happy with the status quo. Why not?
"This is a good team," Deng said. "There's no telling how far we can go."
A Howard-Rose tandem isn't up to them, anyway. This is all about the Magic and whether they think it's in their best interest to keep Howard for the season and then dare him to turn down their money, which will be more than Howard can make elsewhere.
Howard won't be traded before the All-Star Game, which is in Orlando, because the Magic would've done it already. Would the March trade deadline be cutting it too close for the Bulls -- or any team -- to develop a bond with Howard in time for the playoffs? Maybe.
But you don't get many chances to put the best big man and small man together. The Bulls saw Rose wear down from in the 2011 playoffs. You think he can take LeBron and Wade again by himself in the fourth quarter?
Hawks' Horford out several months with shoulder injury ATLANTA (AP) -- Atlanta Hawks All-Star center Al Horford will miss at least three months with a shoulder injury, a major blow to a playoff contender in the Eastern Conference. The team announced Thursday that Horford tore his left pectoral muscle in the first quarter of Wednesday night's game at Indiana. The injury will likely require surgery, stunning a team that has made the playoffs four years in a row and is off to a solid start with wins over Miami and Chicago in the early going. "I did hear something kind of pop a little bit, so I thought it was something different," said Horford, who wrenched his shoulder while battling for a rebound with Roy Hibbert. "I'm still surprised. I thought I was going to be able to rehab it for a couple of weeks and come back." Horford, a two-time All-Star, could be out as long as four months, which would take his rehab deep into the playoffs - should the Hawks make it that far. He will get a second opinion before making the final decision to undergo surgery, but even the most optimistic projection would keep him out until mid-April. The Hawks final regular-season game is April 26. "He's going to certainly be missed," coach Larry Drew said. "We were starting to mesh. We were starting to jell. I'm hoping our guys will rally around one another." Horford was injured with 6:08 remaining in the first quarter of Wednesday's game. He was averaging 12.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocks to go along with the NBA's eighth-best shooting percentage (.553). The 25-year-old is a bit undersized for the center position (6-foot-10, 245 pounds) but he quickly emerged as perhaps the most valuable Atlanta player after being picked third overall in the 2007 draft. His loss leaves the Hawks with a huge hole on the inside, plus some much-needed leadership in the locker room. Zaza Pachulia and Jason Collins are the other centers on the roster, neither of whom is likely to come close to matching Horford's production. "The talent is huge," Drew said. "But the leadership and the presence, he's the glue for us." Horford isn't the only injured player on the banged-up Hawks, just the most serious. Marvin Williams (ankle) and Tracy McGrady (back) didn't dress for Thursday night's game against Charlotte. Now, the focus is clearly on Joe Johnson and Josh Smith to carry the Hawks. "Guys are going to have to pick up the slack," Horford said. "The guys are going to have to raise their games. It starts with Josh and Joe." Johnson, who is leading the Hawks with 16.7 points a game, is ready to take on more of a load but said he can't do it himself. "We can't worry about who we have out on the court, we've just got to go out there and play," Johnson said. "Not only I have to step up, but the whole locker room. Our big guys have to step up to fill that void of losing Al." Smith said he'll miss working with Horford on the inside. "That's a big void," Smith said. "Me and him are like the bash brothers down there in the paint. It definitely, definitely, definitely was very disappointing." But no one is giving up on making the playoffs. When Smith was asked if the Hawks were capable of making another trip to the postseason without their All-Star center, he quickly replied: "Yeah. Most definitely."
Surgery to sideline Warriors' Brown (chest) three months
Posted Jan 12 2012 3:40PM - Updated Jan 12 2012 10:51PM
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Kwame Brown's season with the Golden State Warriors is all but over.
The Warriors announced Thursday that the former No. 1 overall pick is expected to miss at least three months because of a chest injury, putting the much-maligned center's season in serious jeopardy. He will have surgery in the next few days to repair a tear in his pectoralis major, the large chest muscle that attaches to his right shoulder.
Brown could return in April if the team is in playoff contention.
"It's a blow," Warriors general manager Larry Riley said. "I've struggled since I've been here to try to get us a player with some size and a physical presence in the middle. And I was quite hopeful that with Andris Biedrins and Kwame Brown's presence in the middle, that we had ourselves in a good situation and that would be productive for us. But that's all kind of water under the dam now."
Brown's injury is only the latest for a team still searching for its place under new coach Mark Jackson.
Point guard Stephen Curry is back in Charlotte, N.C., rehabbing his troubled right ankle - which he had surgery on May 25 only to sprain it at least three times already this season. He will rejoin Golden State when they play at Charlotte on Saturday, when the team hopes to have a clearer time frame for his return.
Biedrins had missed the last three games with a sprained right ankle before returning against the Orlando Magic on Thursday night. But starting small forward Dorell Wright missed the game with a bruised right knee.
"We're a no-excuse basketball team," said Jackson, echoing his season-long mantra.
Brown's injury popped up in the fourth quarter of Golden State's 111-106 overtime victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night reaching in to foul Udonis Haslem. Brown had started the past three games, averaging 9.7 points and 6.3 rebounds and was among Golden State's best interior defenders.
The Washington Wizards selected Brown with the top pick in 2001, never becoming the force inside so many had projected. He played for the Lakers, Memphis, Charlotte and Detroit before signing a $7 million, one-year deal with the Warriors in December.
"Tough loss," Jackson said. "I'll tell you, this guy has done everything we've asked him to do. He's brought a toughness and a presence to this basketball team. Tough loss for us. Even sitting out there with his shirt on (Tuesday night), still being part of the team, he was a jewel for us."
Ekpe Udoh and rookie Jeremy Tyler are expected to see an increase in minutes behind Biedrins.
Riley said the team already has explored options to pursue another big man since Brown's injury revealed itself in an MRI exam. After missing out on Tyson Chandler (New York) and DeAndre Jordan (Clippers) during free agency, it's unlikely Golden State will be able to land an impactful center without a blockbuster trade.
Coincidentally, the Warriors aren't the only team searching to replace an injured big man.
Atlanta's Al Horford went down with a similar injury and is expected to miss at least three months. The Hawks had been hopeful to contend in the Eastern Conference.
"Those are strange (injuries) in basketball. You just don't see that. Those are football and weight-lifting injuries," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said before his team faced the Warriors. "You see a lot of defensive linemen, offensive linemen and weightlifters get those injury. The time I've been in the league, I can't remember another guy with a torn peck, it's a strange injury for our league."
Former Blazers guard Mills hopes to return to NBA
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Former Trail Blazers guard Patty Mills says he'd like to return to the NBA when the Chinese league that holds his rights releases him.
Mills, who is from Australia, was cut by the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association earlier this month because of a hamstring injury. The dismissal was controversial because the Tigers alleged he was faking the injury.
The 6-foot point guard known for his speed says his hamstring is on the mend. But before he can entertain offers from the NBA, the Chinese league must also grant him a "letter of clearance."
"It would be good to get released, obviously that's what I'm hoping for. We just don't know," Mills said Wednesday night after attending the Blazers' game against the Orlando Magic.
If he is let go, it's unlikely that Mills would return to Portland in the near future because the Blazers' roster is full, including point guards Raymond Felton, Nolan Smith and Armon Johnson. Portland would have to cut someone to bring him back.
"I'd love to be back here. I don't know the chances, but obviously I feel like I'm very close to the guys on the team here and obviously to the community," Mills said. "To come back to a place like this, it definitely feels like home to me."
Mills played at St. Mary's in California and grabbed international attention when he scored 20 points for Australia in the 2008 Olympics against the gold medal-winning U.S. team. He was the youngest basketball player in Beijing at 19.
He was drafted by the Blazers in 2009 and quickly became a fan favorite. He formed a close bond with the other foreign players on Portland's roster, Nicolas Batum and Rudy Fernandez.
In 74 career games, Mills averaged 5.1 points and 1.5 assists in 11.1 minutes, providing a spark off the bench.
He was popular for his cheerleading and towel-waving for the Blazers on the sidelines, and for flashing the "Three Goggles" gesture with his hands whenever he or a teammate made a 3-pointer.
Mills waved a towel again on Wednesday night when the Blazers rallied but ultimately fell to the Magic 107-104.
Portland center Marcus Camby shouted "Miss you!" to Mills across the locker room after the game.
A free agent, Mills said he plans to get healthy and obtain his clearance before entertaining offers from NBA teams.
He'll play in the London Olympics this summer with the Boomers, the nickname of Australia's national team.
Wolves' Beasley, Barea to sit out next two road games
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves don't seem to be getting any healthier as the grind of a shortened NBA season ramps up, and its limiting coach Rick Adelman's options to tinker with his starting lineup.
Forward Michael Beasley and guard J.J. Barea won't travel with the team to New Orleans and Atlanta this weekend because of injuries that could cause them to miss several more games.
Beasley has not played since Jan. 6 because of a sprained right foot. Barea missed four games this season with a strained left hamstring and now is out with a sprained left ankle suffered against Chicago on Tuesday night.
After taking Wednesday off following three games in three nights, the Wolves had only nine healthy players in practice on Thursday. Kevin Love missed the session for personal reasons but is expected to be with the team against the Hornets on Friday.
"We just have to adjust as we go," Adelman said. "That's just the way it is at this point."
Adjustment has been the theme so far this season. The lockout prevented the new coaching staff from working with and evaluating the roster most of the offseason, and there has been precious little practice time since the beginning of the break-neck regular season.
Center Brad Miller (knee), swingman Martell Webster (back) and rookie guard Malcolm Lee (knee) all had surgeries before the season and have not been available. Miller did some light work in practice on Thursday, but all three are at least a few weeks away from being able to play.
Beasley, the Wolves' best option to create his own shot late in games, injured his foot against the Cavs and has missed the past three games already. Barea, the team's prize free agent signing, has been hobbled since the second game of the season.
Love and rookie Ricky Rubio have played well, but Adelman is still searching for the right combinations in the starting lineup and off the bench to give his team the best chance to win. The starters - Love, Darko Milicic, Wes Johnson, Wayne Ellington and Luke Ridnour - have come out of the gates slowly in each of the last three games, digging a 24-point hole against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday.
After the game, Adelman said he was considering a change to the starting lineup to get more energy at the beginning of games, but injuries are handcuffing him.
"We'll just have to see," Adelman said. "I'm considering everything right now."
Starting faster is no doubt the priority for the Wolves (3-7).
"We are starting like, waiting for it," Rubio said. "We have to punch first. I mean, in this league, if they punch first, like Chicago did, you are in trouble. You are 24 down and then you start playing, like we did. But in the end, you are in trouble if you are not controlling the game. And if you are 24 down, it's so hard to control the game."
Dwight Howard leads all players with 754,737 votes while Kobe Bryant leads the West with 690,613 votes.
NBAE via Getty Images
Howard leads all players in first All-Star Ballot returns
NEW YORK -- Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and LeBron James of the Miami Heat top the Eastern Conference, while Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder lead the Western Conference after the first returns of 2012 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by Sprint. Howard, the Kia Defensive Player of the Year each of the past three seasons, is the overall leader with 754,737 votes.
The 2012 NBA All-Star Game, which will air live at 8 p.m. ET on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages, will be played at Amway Center in Orlando -- on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012.
Howard paces centers in the East, followed by the Chicago Bulls' Joakim Noah (75,038). James leads Eastern Conference forwards with 640,789 votes, followed by Carmelo Anthony (496,351) of the New York Knicks. Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls leads Eastern Conference guards with 640,476 votes, followed by Miami's Dwyane Wade (637,912).
Bryant's 690,613 votes leads Western Conference guards, with the Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Paul placing second (540,173). Durant's 633,538 votes lead forwards in the West, with Blake Griffin of the Clippers next in line with 394,264 votes. The Lakers' Andrew Bynum paces Western Conference centers with 496,597 votes, followed by the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan (134,961).
2012 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by Sprint gives fans around the world the opportunity to vote daily for their favorite players as starters for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game. There are several ways fans can cast their votes as part of this season's all-digital program, including in 16 languages on NBA.com or by visiting m.NBA.com on any wireless carrier. Fans also can vote through mobile phones by texting the player's last name to 6-9-6-2-2 ("MYNBA") in the U.S. and to 3-8-6-5-7 ("DUNKS") in Canada. Sprint customers in the U.S. can also access the ballot and vote through the new "Sprint NBA Mobile" application, the most comprehensive app in the marketplace for NBA fans.
2012 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by Sprint also includes expanded SMS voting. Fans can now vote for 10 different players per day, per phone number, via SMS voting by sending 10 separate SMS messages, each one with a different player's last name. Fans can vote for All-Stars via SMS at any time by texting from their mobile phones. Message and data rates may apply. Previously, fans could cast one SMS vote for one player per day.
Fans can vote directly on NBA.com or use their Facebook profile information to help create an NBA.com All-Access account, which enables them to complete a ballot. After submitting their All-Star selections, fans will have the ability to share them with their friends on Facebook and followers on Twitter, and encourage others to cast their ballots.
Updated results for the Eastern and Western Conferences will be issued on Thursday, Jan. 19. Wireless and SMS balloting, as well as voting on NBA.com, will conclude on Jan. 31. Starters will be announced live on TNT on Feb. 2, during a special one-hour pregame show at 7 p.m. ET featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith. The special will air prior to TNT's exclusive doubleheader featuring the Chicago Bulls at the New York Knicks (8 p.m. ET) and the Denver Nuggets at the Los Angeles Clippers (10:30 p.m. ET). There will also be a special one-hour pregrame show on TNT on Feb. 9 to announce the All-Star reserves.
The NBA All-Star ballot lists 120 players -- 60 each from the Eastern and Western conferences -- with 24 guards, 24 forwards, and 12 centers from each conference comprising the list. Voters select two guards, two forwards and one center from each conference. The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media who regularly cover the NBA: Bill Simmons (Grantland), Sekou Smith (NBA.com), Doug Smith (Toronto Star/PBWA), and Ian Thomsen (Sports Illustrated).
NBA All-Star 2012 in Orlando will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league's history for a global celebration of the game. TNT will televise the All-Star Game for a 10th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports' 28th year of All-Star coverage. NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm will feature the Haier Shooting Stars, Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Foot Locker Three-Point Contest, and Sprite Slam Dunk. Other events at NBA All-Star 2012 will include the NBA Rising Stars Challenge, Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, and NBA All-Star Jam Session. Orlando also hosted NBA All-Star in 1992.
The leaders of both the Eastern and Western Conference players for the first returns of 2012 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by Sprint are below:
All-Star Balloting Presented By Sprint | Eastern Conference
Forwards: LeBron James (Mia) 640,789; Carmelo Anthony (NYK) 496,351; Amar'e Stoudemire (NYK) 178,797; Kevin Garnett (Bos) 173,161; Chris Bosh (Mia) 140,601; Paul Pierce (Bos) 94,071; Luol Deng (Chi) 85,086; Andrea Bargnani (Tor) 54,739; Carlos Boozer (Chi) 53,477; Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) 43,154.
Guards: Derrick Rose (Chi) 640,476; Dwyane Wade (Mia) 637,912; Rajon Rondo (Bos) 253,969; Ray Allen (Bos) 174,934; Deron Williams (NJN) 89,128; Jose Calderon (Tor) 42,929; John Wall (Was) 38,025; Richard Hamilton (Chi) 36,418; Kyrie Irving (Cle) 27,713; Joe Johnson (Atl) 23,384.
Centers: Dwight Howard (Orl) 754,737; Joakim Noah (Chi) 75,038; Tyson Chandler (NYK) 61,774; Joel Anthony (Mia) 41,832; JaVale McGee (Was) 24,713; Al Horford (Atl) 23,546.
All-Star Balloting Presented By Sprint | Western Conference
Forwards: Kevin Durant (OKC) 633,538; Blake Griffin (LAC) 394,264; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 231,832; Pau Gasol (LAL) 185,428; Kevin Love (Min) 143,814; LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 118,268; Tim Duncan (SA) 81,783; Lamar Odom (Dal) 59,686; Metta World Peace (LAL) 39,006; Danilo Gallinari (Den) 34,438.
Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 690,613; Chris Paul (LAC) 540,173; Ricky Rubio (Min) 133,520; Steve Nash (Pho) 118,922; Russell Westbrook (OKC) 107,197; Kyle Lowry (Hou) 90,725; Monta Ellis (GS) 63,696; Manu Ginobili (SA) 50,765; Jason Kidd (Dal) 49,596; Chauncey Billups (LAC) 42,657.
Centers: Andrew Bynum (LAL) 496,597; DeAndre Jordan (LAC) 134,961; Marc Gasol (Mem) 102,116; Nenê (Den) 94,167; Marcin Gortat (Pho) 62,631; Kendrick Perkins (OKC) 41,579.
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