NBA NOTES - NBA BUSTING LOOSE

Yao Ming - NBA photo

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker - NBA photo

Boston Celtics’ Paul Pierce - NBA photo

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant - NBA photo

Notes - NBA purchases New Orleans Hornets - Players of the week for games played Monday, Dec. 13, through Sunday, Dec. 19 - Kobe Bryant leads All-Star balloting 1st round results - Miami Heat's winning streak ends

Tuesday December 21, 2010

A BIG WEEK FOR THE LEAGUE

This past week looms large for the NBA as the league purchased the Now Orleans Hornets. As previously announced, Jac Sperling, a New Orleans native and sports executive with over 20 years of sports-industry experience, will serve as the team's chairman and representative on the league's Board of Governors.

Team President Hugh Weber will continue directing the day-to-day activities of the team.

According to ESPN Asia the league values the team at $300 million for those interested in making a purchase. That raises the question....where is all of the Middle East oil money now?

Also Yao Ming is considered out for the season due to another leg injury on the opposite foot of the injury he suffered last season costing him to be out much of the year. When pressed by the media regarding his situation Yao was in short supply of patience and snapped back at them. He later noted that he knew of a promising 20-year-old Chinese player who was a promising NBA prospect who suffered an injury and was later informed that he had knee cancer and his career was over.

After a dismal 9-8 start The Miami Heat and their Fab Three of Dwyane Wade, Le Bron James and Chris Bosh reeled off 12 consecutive victories before trying to increase their lead to 13 which proved to be unlucky as the Dallas Mavericks stopped their streak by winning a close contest 98-96 on the Heats home court.

Kobe Bryant leads in the All-Star game balloting after the 1st round of voting. Tony Parker and Paul Pierce were name the NBA Players of the Week.

The Boston Celtics’ Paul Pierce and the San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Dec. 13, through Sunday, Dec. 19.

Pierce recorded a triple-double and two double-doubles on the week, averaging 21.7 points, 8.7 assists, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals, as the Celtics’ went 3-0 to extend their winning streak to 13 games. On Dec. 15, Pierce scored 32 points and hit the game-winning shot against New York with 0.4 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Parker averaged 25.7 points on .564 shooting to go along with 8.7 assists. He was third in the conference in scoring and fourth in assists. On Dec. 18, Parker scored a season-high 37 points on .714 shooting versus Memphis. It was the most points scored by a Spur this season. He has scored 20 or more points in 11 games this year, helping the Spurs to the best record in the NBA at 23-3. Here is a recap of the week for Pierce and Parker:

Here is a recap of the week for Pierce and Parker:

Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics

Dec. 15 @ New York: Posted 32 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in a 118-116 win over the Knicks.

Dec. 16 vs. Atlanta: Scored 15 points to go along with 10 assists and five rebounds in a 102-90 win over the Hawks.

Dec. 19 vs. Indiana: Recorded 18 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds and four steals in a 99-88 win over the Pacers.

Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

Dec. 15 vs. Milwaukee: Tallied 16 points, eight assists and three rebounds in a 92-90 win over the Bucks. Dec. 16 @ Denver: Recorded 24 points, nine assists and two rebounds in a 113-112 win over the Nuggets.

Dec. 18 vs. Memphis: Poured in 37 points and added nine assists in a 112-106 victory over the Grizzlies. .

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince, Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, Miami’s LeBron James, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge and San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili.

2011 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING FIRST RETURNS ANNOUNCED

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder top the Western Conference, while Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and LeBron James of the Miami Heat lead the Eastern Conference after the first returns of 2011 NBA All-Star Balloting. Bryant, The Finals MVP last season, is the overall leader with 722,682 votes.

The 2011 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 STAPLES Center in Los Angeles – on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011.

In the Western Conference, Bryant, a three-time All-Star MVP, who garnered the honor in 2002, 2007 and 2009, is followed at guard by the New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Paul (386,649). Kevin Durant, a member of last year’s All-NBA First Team, paces forwards in the West (470,881), with the Lakers’ Pau Gasol (390,808) second. The Houston Rockets’ Yao Ming (430,984) is the leading vote-getter among Western Conference centers, with the Lakers’ Andrew Bynum (198,044) following.

Howard, the leading vote-getter in the Eastern Conference with 611,561 votes paces centers in the East, followed by the Boston Celtics’ Shaquille O’Neal (241,782). James, a two-time All-Star MVP (2006, 2008), leads all Eastern Conference forwards with 607,994 votes, followed by the Celtics’ Kevin Garnett (456,111), MVP of the 2003 All-Star Game. The Heat’s Dwyane Wade, last year’s All-Star Game MVP, paces guards in the East with 570,489 votes; the Celtics’ Rajon Rondo is second (497,141).

2011 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING EASTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: LeBron James (Mia) 607,994; Kevin Garnett (Bos) 456,111; Amar’e Stoudemire (NYK) 327,626 Paul Pierce (Bos) 235,107; Chris Bosh (Mia) 161,801; Josh Smith (Atl) 104,713; Carlos Boozer (Chi) 82,655; Andre Iguodala (Phi) 71,517; Danny Granger (Ind) 66,759; Luol Deng (Chi) 52,398.

Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 570,489; Rajon Rondo (Bos) 497,141; Derrick Rose (Chi) 424,356; Ray Allen (Bos) 235,977; John Wall (Was) 120,284; Vince Carter (Orl) 117,628; Gilbert Arenas (Was) 88,599; Brandon Jennings (Mil) 65,705; Joe Johnson (Atl) 46,811; Jamal Crawford (Atl) 31,524. .

Centers: Dwight Howard (Orl) 611,561; Shaquille O'Neal (Bos) 241,782; Joakim Noah (Chi) 97,163; Andrea Bargnani (Tor) 53,275; Al Horford (Atl) 49,098; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 48,298; Brook Lopez (NJ) 38,103; JaVale McGee (Was) 36,227; Roy Hibbert (Ind) 35,006; Ben Wallace (Det) 21,858. 2011

NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING WESTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: Kevin Durant (OKC) 470,881; Pau Gasol (LAL) 390,808; Carmelo Anthony (Den) 369,768; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 264,301; Tim Duncan (SA) 247,364; Blake Griffin (LAC) 245,167; Lamar Odom (LAL) 134,594; Luis Scola (Hou) 119,901; Caron Butler (Dal) 96,785; Kevin Love (Min) 81,865.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 722,682; Chris Paul (NO) 386,649; Manu Ginobili (SA) 230,137; Steve Nash (Pho) 190,226; Deron Williams (Utah) 184,148; Jason Kidd (Dal) 141,283; Russell Westbrook (OKC) 140,519; Eric Gordon (LAC) 113,510; Tony Parker (SA) 103,238, Derek Fisher (LAL) 81,088.

Centers: Yao Ming (Hou) 430,984; Andrew Bynum (LAL) 198,044; Brendan Haywood (Dal) 127,375; Marc Gasol (Mem) 120,811; Emeka Okafor (NOH) 115,647; Nene (Den) 105,747; Chris Kaman (LAC) 87,536; Marcus Camby (Por) 57,046; DeMarcus Cousins (Sac) 37,571; Andris Biedrins (GS) 36,655.