2007 NBA News and Notes
With the preseason quickly coming to an end, teams are finalizing rosters and players are getting hurt or coming back from injury. Some of these injuries I know aren’t serious enough to force a player to miss an actual while others are. The season begins on Tuesday and I’m very excited. You never know, some of this news may effect your fantasy draft or team.
Kobe Bryant injured his wrist against the Jazz and isn’t going to be 100% going into the season. He injured it against the Jazz in their last preseason game. They had an additional game scheduled in San Diego but that has been cancelled due to the fires that are tormenting California as I write this. The Lakers are going to be without Lamar Odom to start the season because he is still recovering from off season shoulder surgery.
Allan Houston is gone and Penny is staying. Allan Houston left the Knicks after it was apparent he wouldn’t be making the team. His knee felt fine but the Knicks had 15 players under contract already and he had missed 10 days of camp. Penny Hardaway played 35 minutes the other night for the Heat and scored 10 points. Penny may actually make the squad even though the recent trade for Ricky Davis will cut into his time and chances.
Kevin Durant hurt his ankle and was on crutches after his best preseason performance. Durant scored 21 points and had 6 boards before leaving the game. It hasn’t been announced how long he’ll be out or even if the crutches were precautionary.
Josh Howard hurt his wrist recently but with his suspension for the first two games of the season he’ll have plenty of time to get that better. Howard was suspended for going after Brad Miller of the Kings during a preseason game.
Amare is back!! Amare has come back from his latest knee surgery and was excellent in his first preseason start for the Suns. I look for him to have a monster season in Phoenix and put up some serious numbers. Usually players coming off that second year from microfracture start to show some of their old selves. The reports were great showing his trademark dunks and quickness around the hoop.
In case you didn’t hear: The Miami Heat traded Antoine Walker, Mike Doleac, Wayne Simien and a conditional first round pick to the Twolves for Ricky Davis and Mark Blount. The Heat are clearly worried that Dwyane Wade won’t be healthy for a bit and wanted more of a scoring presence than Walker. Walker was never on Pat Riley’s fan list and was constantly mocked for being overweight there. Walker can score but does he fit in Minnesota who are on a youth movement? I don’t see it but I know they mainly wanted the pick here so we’ll see. As for Blount, well Shaq is bound to get hurt and Alonzo Mourning is a miracle walking around everyday let alone playing. I think he’s a very solid backup because of his ability to play the 4 or 5.
