For Sale: One Phone Booth

CHN — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:56:25 -0400

I knew money was tight in the NBA, but damn: “Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard took it to the next level in this year’s Sprite Slam Dunk competition by changing in a phone booth to become Superman. Now you have a chance to own that phone booth and an autographed Dwight Howard jersey. Beginning Monday, March 16 at 4 p.m. ET the auction for the actual phone booth from the 2009 Sprite Slam Dunk competition will begin online at auctions.nba.com. The phone booth stands 94″ high and weighs 170 pounds. Included in this package is a pro-cut 2009 NBA All-Star Eastern Conference jersey signed by the Dwight Howard at the 2009 NBA All-Star Game.”

NBA: Who Should be the All-Star Reserves?

Hoopsworld — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:19:34 -0500

By: HOOPSWORLD Staff

With the NBA's head coaches set to name the All-Reserves tomorrow, we thought it would be interesting to ask some of our top NBA reporters who they would select for the seven open roster spots for each conference. Here is how our guys voted:

EAST

Travis Heath
Paul Pierce – Celtics
Chris Bosh – Raptors
Joe Johnson – Hawks
Danny Granger – Pacers
Rashard Lewis – Magic
Mo Williams – Cavaliers
Ray Allen – Celtics

Eric Pincus
Joe Johnson - Hawks
Jameer Nelson - Magic
Danny Granger - Pacers
Chris Bosh - Raptors
Paul Pierce - Celtics
Rashard Lewis* - Magic
Devin Harris - Nets

Joel Brigham
Joe Johnson – Hawks
Devin Harris – Nets
Danny Granger – Pacers
Paul Pierce – Celtics
Chris Bosh – Raptors
Rashard Lewis – Magic
Mo Williams – Cavaliers

The name most folks will find curious on my list is Ray Allen. However, he has been great for the C's this season shooting over 50 percent from the field and 42 percent from beyond the arc. It was tough to leave Rajon Rondo off, but I think Allen has quietly been just as important - and perhaps even more important - than Rondo. It was also tough to leave off Devin Harris, a player who has had a great season. That said, I just think Mo Williams is having a better year than both Harris and Rondo so far. Some may question me including Danny Granger given his team's struggles, but this guy has been a beast on both ends of the floor. Everyone has seen his offensive numbers, but he gets the nod from me because of how hard he's played defensively this season. He has truly become a very complete player. I generally reward winning, but every year there seems to be one exception to the rule. Granger is my exception this season. - Travis Heath

The East is trickier with very few big men to choose from and too many point guards. Left out are two well qualified players on two top notch teams - Rajon Rondo and Mo Williams but Devin Harris has been the heart and soul of the rejuvenated New Jersey Nets. Jameer Nelson has had a slightly bigger role in making the Magic what they are as compared to Rondo and Williams. Danny Granger's team is still trying to get back into contention but his high-level consistency deserves reward. – Eric Pincus

I've seen Jameer Nelson penciled in as a starter all over the internet in the course of the last week, but he somehow got left off of my list. Even though the Nets haven't been as good as Orlando, Devin Harris has stepped into an All-Star role this year, and with Rashard Lewis the Magic still get two All-Stars. I also think Mo Williams deserves a nod for everything he's done for the Cavaliers this year. – Joel Brigham

WEST

Travis Heath
Chauncey Billups – Nuggets
Pau Gasol – Lakers
Brandon Roy – Trail Blazers
Carmelo Anthony – Nuggets
David West – Hornets
Dirk Nowitzki – Mavericks
Tony Parker – Spurs

Eric Pincus
Chauncey Billups - Nuggets
Brandon Roy - Trail Blazers
Pau Gasol - Lakers
Dirk Nowitzki - Mavericks
Shaquille O'Neal - Suns
Carmelo Anthony - Nuggets
Tony Parker - Spurs

Joel Brigham
Chauncey Billups – Nuggets
Brandon Roy – Trail Blazers
Pau Gasol – Lakers
Dirk Nowitzki – Mavericks
Al Jefferson – Timberwolves
Tony Parker – Spurs
Carmelo Anthony – Nuggets

Shaquille O'Neal drew some consideration, but it's hard to put a guy who doesn't play every night on the team. It was also hard to leave Al Jefferson off, especially given the Wolves' improved play of late. That said, the Wolves were so awful for the first six weeks that I just couldn't bring myself to put Big Al on the roster even though his numbers are outstanding. Deron Williams is another worthy name, but he really hasn't been himself this season after suffering a severe high ankle sprain early in the season. - Travis Heath

The West is relatively straight forward. Shaquille O'Neal has been playing his best basketball in years. Pau Gasol has helped the Lakers become a powerhouse. Dirk Nowitzki is still one of the most difficult covers among big men. David West is on the wrong side of the bubble but the Hornets don't appear to be quite as good as they were last year . . . not yet anyway. Deron Williams misses out to Chauncey Billups, Brandon Roy and Tony Parker. - Eric Pincus

In the West the only spot I had to think long and hard about was the backup center spot, but ultimately I chose Jefferson over All-Star legend Shaquille O'Neal because he's become one of the best post players in the league. Sure, Shaq has had a nice stretch, but Al-Jeff has been an overall player all season, especially as the Wolves surge under Kevin McHale. All the choices I made were in the interest of fairness, rewarding a combination of teams with good records and standout players too good to leave out. - Joel Brigham

The coaches have already locked in their votes, and the NBA will announce the All-Star reserves tomorrow, but if our group is any indication of how the coaches see things who is going to get snubbed? Put your comments in below.

All-Star 2009

For Sale: One Phone Booth

NBA: Who Should be the All-Star Reserves?