Pistons are less physical, but more slick
The Bad Boys are long gone. These Pistons have their own personality with Allen Iverson — and it ain’t bad, Charley Rosen says.NBA/~4/459184172″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Repeat dilemma: Celtics wearing bull’s-eye (Yahoo! Sports)
Celtics again leading the Eastern Conference, despite concerns about their play.

NBA Capsules (AP)
The Allen Iverson-led Detroit Pistons have cooled off two of the NBA’s best teams in less than a week. Iverson had 23 points and Rasheed Wallace added 21, leading a fourth-quarter surge that gave the Pistons a 96-89 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. LeBron James had led Cleveland to an eight-game winning streak — the longest in the NBA — but he made just eight of 21 shots…

Has East turned the tables on West?
Last year the West feasted on the East. So far this season it’s been the opposite. Randy Hill examines this conference power shift.NBA/~4/458593894″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Lakers in desert to meet the Suns

Together again for the first time. The Lakers get their first look this season at their old friends and rivals, the Phoenix Suns, tonight in the desert.

Nets no match in LeBron derby, either
Nets fans who watched LeBron James torch their team Tuesday shouldn’t count on landing him in 2010, Jay Greenberg says.NBA/~4/458944353″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Wade’s 40-11-5 night wasted as Raptors win
NBA/~4/459197933″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Lakers coach Jackson responds to O’Neal chatter

Kobe Bryant went the Tiger Woods route Monday afternoon. “You’re not getting anything out of me but plain vanilla,” Bryant said after the Lakers practiced at their training facility.

MyFox NBA Roundup: Mavs Bounce Bobcats

Dirk Nowitzki scored 32 points, Josh Howard added 21 and the Dallas Mavericks never trailed in a 100-83 rout of the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday night, delighting owner Mark Cuban a day after he was charged …

Suicide lines: Shaq’s fines, capable Stack, disgruntled Hornets … (Yahoo! Sports)
Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your bananas.

Nets no match in LeBron derby, either
Nets fans who watched LeBron James torch their team Tuesday shouldn’t count on landing him in 2010, Jay Greenberg says.NBA/~4/458944353″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

LeBron James: NBA’s youngest to 11,000 points (AP)
Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James replaced Kobe Bryant on Tuesday as the youngest player in NBA history to score 11,000 points. James (23 years, 323 days) reached the plateau with a wide-open jump shot set up by a great crossover dribble late in the first quarter of the Cavaliers‘ game with the New Jersey Nets.

Gasol scores 34 to lead Lakers past Bulls (AP)

The Los Angeles Lakers went to their inside game against the smaller Chicago Bulls. The strategy worked to perfection. Pau Gasol scored 24 of his season-high 34 points in the first half, Andrew Bynum added 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots, and the Lakers rebounded from their first loss of the season with a 116-109 victory over the Bulls on Tuesday night.

NBA Power Poll: Ranking teams, sizing up rookies (SportingNews.com)
After Anthony Morrow put up 37 points in his first start for the Warriors, it only seemed right to take a closer look at the rookies in this week’s Power Poll.

Thursday, Nov. 20 (AP)

What happened to Luke Walton?
Once a valuable reserve, Luke Walton can now be found at the end of the Lakers‘ bench. Charley Rosen looks at how he got there.NBA/~4/458926651″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Yao out with sore foot
Houston Rockets center Yao Ming will sit out Wednesday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks with a sore left foot. The team said Yao is being held out “for precautionary reasons” after leaving Monday’s game at Oklahoma City with an apparent left ankle injury. Yao underwent tests on Tuesday that revealed no structural damage. Yao broke his left foot last February and missed the final 26 games of the regular season. He had surgery and said he was fully recovered when training camp began.NBA/~4/458956736″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Owners’ boorish behavior tarnishes NBA (Yahoo! Sports)
Whether Mark Cuban is guilty of insider trading or not, league can no longer gloss over its owners’ mistakes.

Celtics, others may be interested in Marbury
NBA Player’s Association attorney Hal Biagas is expected to resume Stephon Marbury buyout talks with Knicks president Donnie Walsh Wednesday or Thursday, with a possibility of a formal proposal coming by week’s end, according to a person familiar with the situation.NBA/~4/457716707″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Different stars have greatness in common
With Kobe Bryant passing Larry Bird on the NBA scoring list, Charley Rosen takes the opportunity to compare superstars.NBA/~4/457785297″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

NBA Power Poll: Ranking teams, sizing up rookies (SportingNews.com)
After Anthony Morrow put up 37 points in his first start for the Warriors, it only seemed right to take a closer look at the rookies in this week’s Power Poll.

Suicide lines: Shaq’s fines, capable Stack, disgruntled Hornets … (Yahoo! Sports)
Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your bananas.

It’s been a rough stretch for Mark Cuban
The Mavs stink. MLB is blackballing him. And the SEC is on his case. Kevin Hench is almost sorry for billionaire Mark Cuban. Almost.NBA/~4/456564579″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Magic’s balanced attack overcomes 40 by Bosh
NBA/~4/457897889″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

BDL NBA Power Rankings: Shattered dreams, broken promises (Yahoo! Sports)
The BDL NBA Power Rankings combine two parts Chivas Regal with one part flippant observation to create the most…

T-Mac practices day after re-injuring knee
Houston Rockets forward Shane Battier practiced with the team for the first time on Tuesday, but Ron Artest and Yao Ming skipped the workout after leaving Monday’s win over Oklahoma City with sprained ankles. Tracy McGrady also practiced Tuesday after re-aggravating his sore left knee in Monday’s game. McGrady was going to have an MRI on the knee, but decided with team officials that the test was unnecessary and practiced instead.NBA/~4/457757518″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Cavs make it 8 straight; LeBron reaches 11,000
NBA/~4/457937191″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

MVP watch: Kahn’s Top 10 so far
Is Paul Pierce the best player in the world? No. But he just might be the MVP. Mike Kahn lists his Top 10 early candidates.NBA/~4/456267550″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Grizzlies ragged now but they have a future
O.J. Mayo and the Grizzlies are frustrating to watch at times, but more experience will solve many problems, Charley Rosen says.NBA/~4/454023694″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Suns hammer Pistons without Shaq
NBA/~4/455533688″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Wade outguns Bosh but Raptors get last laugh
NBA/~4/455478534″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Bryant takes something from Lakers’ loss

Upon further review, Kobe Bryant didn’t seem concerned about the Lakers‘ first loss of the season, a 106-95 defeat Friday to the Detroit Pistons.

NBA Today (AP)

Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups star for new teams (AP)
Allen Iverson and Chauncey Billups had big games for their new teams in two of the most difficult places to win in the NBA. Iverson, acquired from Denver for Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb, helped Detroit improve to 3-2 since the trade, scoring 25 points in the Pistons‘ 106-95 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Lakers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

As deep as the Lakers are in talent this season, they still look to Kobe Bryant when things get rough.

Bryant was able to come through in the fourth quarter in Dallas on Tuesday night in a Lakers victory. He struggled but hit a clutch three-point shot with a minute left in New Orleans on Wednesday night in another victory.

But Bryant struggled to get his shot on track Friday night, shooting 7-of-22 from the field while Detroit built a 91-71 lead at Staples Center. Bryant got hot briefly thereafter, but it was far too little and too late.

The Lakers want to establish a team flow on offense, more often using big men Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol inside as the building blocks.

Even without Garnett, Celtics pull through in OT
NBA/~4/454598508″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

LeBron plays Jazz for 38; Cavs win 7th straight
NBA/~4/454553982″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Pedregon, Beckman need to come from behind at Fairplex

Talk of clutch in drag racing usually refers to the disk engagement, not a 20-point, fourth-quarter performance by the Lakers‘ Kobe Bryant in a one-point win.

NBA Today (AP)

Report: Knicks, Marbury discuss breakup details
Exiled Stephon Marbury was summoned Thursday morning to a 45-minute meeting with Knicks president Donnie Walsh at the team’s Westchester headquarters, and the sides held preliminary discussions about a buyout, two sources told The New York Post.NBA/~4/453014220″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Kobe, Lakers suffer first loss
NBA/~4/453720959″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

For McGrady, hope and health go hand in hand (Yahoo! Sports)
The Rockets have surrounded Tracy McGrady with a talented supporting cast. Danger, however, remains just an injury away.

Power Poll: Point guard play makes big difference (SportingNews.com)
Mo Williams has upgraded the Cavaliers‘ offense and moved the team into the top 5 of this week’s poll.

NBA Capsules (AP)
Rasheed Wallace had 25 points and 13 rebounds, Allen Iverson added 25 points and the Detroit Pistons handed the Los Angeles Lakers their first loss of the season, 106-95 Friday night. Kobe Bryant scored 29 points for the Lakers, but went 12-of-30 from the floor. The Lakers, who won their first seven and were outscoring opponents by an average of 18 points, had been the only team in the NBA without…

Quietly dominant, Howard will make noise
Dwight Howard might be mild-mannered, but the young Magic center is poised to break into superstardom, Mike Kahn says.NBA/~4/453175231″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

James has Manilow on iPod
Get this: LeBron listens to Barry Manilow. Or Brian Manilow. A big fan of all styles of music, Cleveland’s superstar always gets ready for games by listening to hip hop. On Thursday before facing the Denver Nuggets, James walked into the Cavaliers‘ locker room wearing headphones and bouncing as a track by rap star, Jay-Z, one of his good friends, blared in his ears.NBA/~4/452617726″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Cavs clamp down on defense, win 6th straight
NBA/~4/452560104″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Lakers 7-0, Pierce keeps Hawks from joining them

The Associated Press Originally published 03:55 a.m., November 13, 2008, updated 03:07 a.m., November 13, 2008 The Los Angeles Lakers had a surprisingly easy time staying undefeated.

NBA Today (AP)

Oden makes quiet return as Blazers beat Heat
NBA/~4/451390526″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Fisher, Bryant lead Lakers past Hornets (AP)

The Los Angeles Lakers improved to 7-0 with a 93-86 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night.

Pierce, Celtics hand Hawks first loss
The Hawks were undefeated and on the verge of staying that way until Paul Pierce hit this game-winning shot Wednesday in Boston.NBA/~4/451381409″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Hawks lose game, gain more confidence (Yahoo! Sports)
Atlanta has returned from last season’s first-round loss to Celtics with bigger aspirations.

Lakers’ Jackson won’t commit to more than this season (Yahoo! Sports)
Jerry Buss wants Phil Jackson to coach the Los Angeles Lakers for years to come, but there’s one small problem:…

Lakers and surprising Hawks remain unbeaten (AP)
It’s no surprise Kobe Bryant has the Los Angeles Lakers off to a fast start. But few would have expected the Atlanta Hawks to still be unbeaten two weeks into the season. Bryant scored 27 points and the Lakers improved to 6-0 — their best start since opening 7-0 in 2001-02 — with a 106-99 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.

Hawks improve to 6-0
NBA/~4/450275271″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Lakers-Mavs preview

21, ESPN-FM 103.3, KFLX-AM 06:54 PM CST on Monday, November 10, 2008 By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News esefko@dallasnews.com Scouting the Lakers Not only have they not lost yet , they haven’t even come …

PG Williams returns for Jazz in win over Sixers
NBA/~4/450207673″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Kobe, Lakers surge to 6-0 start
NBA/~4/450275269″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Lakers face tough road test

The Lakers feel good about themselves, and with good reason after their 5-0 start.

Lakers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Lakers blew through the test that was supposed to be the Houston Rockets—the Lakers won by 29 points on Sunday night—and now get more of a challenge. They hit the road for back-to-back games in Dallas on Tuesday and New Orleans on Wednesday.

The Mavericks have been at the championship level in the past, and the Hornets are predicted by many to get there soon. If the Lakers emerge still unbeaten, it would be impressive.

“It’s exciting,” Kobe Bryant said. “It’s going to be a fun trip.”

The Mavericks will surely be motivated—they lost to the previously winless Clippers on Sunday and are 0-2 at home. The Lakers also have trouble guarding Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki, who usually matches up with Lamar Odom but this time will go head-to-head more with…

Court Awareness: Monday’s action
Paul Pierce ended his shooting slump in a big way. He was one of many stars catching fire Monday night, Thomas Halzack says.NBA/~4/449961766″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Hill: Mayo among standout NBA rookies
Nobody doubted O.J. Mayo’s ability to score. But Randy Hill says there’s much more to the Memphis rookie than meets the eye.NBA/~4/449696786″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>