Is The Westbrook Hate Done Now?

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Leon Powe – The former Boston Celtics (and NBA champion) Leon Powe played just over 11 minutes and scored a single point with the Chicago Bulls in their 66-57 loss to the Golden State Warriors.  Powe missed all three of his shots and collected just one rebound.  Leon has been trying to work his way back into the NBA after a devastating knee injury.

There won’t be too many people picking the Dallas Mavericks as favorites to come out of the NBA’s Western Conference this season, let alone to win the championship. Still, Carlisle has a nice collection of solid veterans, a group of young players with good potential, and a perennial MVP candidate in Dirk Nowitzki.

So it’s obvious that the organization made the move Saturday to bench James for the night’s exhibition game versus the San Antonio Spurs, as the 27-year-old appears to be suffering from some “general soreness,” according to ESPN’s Michael Wallace.

Redemption seems to be the prevailing mantra in Phoenix heading into the 2012-13 NBA season. While a playoff berth isn’t likely in the cards this year in the brutal Western Conference, there’s little doubt that the young, fast-paced and high-scoring Suns will be one of the more interesting teams to watch in 2013.

“It was out of my control,” he said. “When this contract situation came down, everybody in my circle — mom, family, brother, sister, friends from college, people who watched me since I was in high school and since I was in college — nobody wanted me to re-sign in that situation because they thought, ‘There [is] so much left in you, and this team isn’t taking care of you or treating you right.’ That’s the way I felt, and it was like, if you are going to come and not put out a good contract on the table then, hey, we gotta think about going somewhere else.”

NBA coaches often look for one or two NBA-ready skills that their rookies can build around and use to justify playing time early in their careers, but Beal’s game cannot be pigeon-holed by just one thing he does well. He has already shown a more well-rounded skill set.

Nowitzki, 34, has played in just one of Dallas’ four preseason games, sitting out with what the Mavericks called a “right knee effusion.”

After not scoring more than 13 points in his first three preseason games, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 22 points on Friday as Oklahoma City knocked off Phoenix 107-97. Other results on Friday included the Magic knocking off the Pacers 112-96, the 76ers beating Brooklyn 106-96 and the Chicago Bulls picking up a 92-81 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“I think we have some talented guys,” Suns head coach Alvin Gentry said. “Obviously, you look at some of the guys we’re talking about: Michael Beasley was the second pick in the draft, Wesley Johnson was the fourth. We have to try and get those guys to that level of where they were drafted. They’ve had their moments, but I think consistency has been the problem they run into.”

While struggling to find his shot in Minnesota, it was apparent that Johnson was beginning to lose confidence in himself with the Timberwolves. Now, with a fresh start with the Suns, Johnson says his resolve is at an all-time high.

“I hate when people just start talking for no reason,” Williams said afterwards. “That’s pretty much what he did. Maybe he had some boys in the crowd he wanted to impress while he can with the little minutes he’s going to have this year.

The Rockets have been looking for a way to move Martin, one of the last remnants of the Rick Adelman era in Houston, and the Thunder were looking to avoid the maximum contract discussion that Harden’s camp was trying to have. This deal accomplishes both things, and also gives the Thunder depth and draft picks in the deal.y4653456353

“I’m still in Texas, so that’s cool,” Curry told HOOPSWORLD. “It’s a great organization and I’m extremely appreciative for this opportunity that Coach [Rick] Carlisle gave me, that Mark Cuban gave me, Donnie [Nelson] and everybody from top to bottom. It’s a great opportunity for me and I’m just extremely appreciative.”u4r6456

In order for Curry to stick in Dallas, the Mavericks would have to complete a buyout or waive West, then make the decision that Curry is the right player to keep moving forward. Like Curry told HOOPSWORLD, the ultimate decision will be with the Mavericks as to whether or not the 10-year vet gets a shot at redemption in Dallas.;luo789