Report: Carmelo Anthony Not On Trading Block

ESPN.com’s Marc Stein is reporting that Nugget’s superstar Carmelo Anthony is not on the trading block. At the moment.

According to Stein, several “sources tied to potential Anthony suitors” are reporting that the Nuggets are shutting down any inquiries about Melo right away.

According to our sources, this is the case for a handful of teams, but the Nuggets continue to entertain offers from a select few franchises, with Chicago being the front-runner. The handwriting is on the wall for new VP of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri, who will meet with Anthony in the next week, either in Denver or Los Angeles.

Nuggets brass seem to think that Ujiri can”re-connect” with Anthony on some kind of level, since they both came into the league at the same time and had a cordial acquaintance. That assertion is silly, as big-time NBA career decisions aren’t typically influenced because your homie is the new GM.

Ujiri was never in Anthony’s inner circle, so it’s baffling that the Nuggets have so much confidence in his ability to influence Anthony to stay…….

Read the rest of this entry »

Guess Who’s Bizzack: The Answer’s Debut With Sixers

If this doesn’t make your heart flutter at least a little bit then you have issues, and more than likely you have grissues (grill issues) as well.

Even though the Sixers didn’t get the win against the Nuggets Monday, one thing is for certain, Allen Iverson is good for business. In the midst of a 10-game losing streak with attendance among the nastier in the League, The Answer was able to pack the Wachovia Center, helping the Sixers get their first sellout of the season. He also gained the respect and admiration by kissing the floor after hearing being introduced in the starting lineups. Definitely a great move on his part and hopefully a good sign for things to come.

Iverson played decent considering it was his first game action in over a month, filling up the stat sheet with 11 points, 5 boards and 6 assists but most impressively only committing one turnover in nearly 38 minutes of action. The Sixers played solid as well, paced by Andre Iguodala, and led for most of the game before tricking it off in the 4th quarter. Overall it was one of their better showings this season.

Iverson and the Sixers will get a pass for the loss, but it won’t get any easier for the squad as they get set to face another one of AI’s former teams, the Pistons, on Wednesday. They do have 4 more games left in this home stand, with the Rockets, Warriors and King James coming to town throughout the course of the next week. If the Sixers can go 2-2 over this span, or at least look respectable, you can start to call this reunion somewhat successful. I can guarantee that they well sell at least one of these games out as well, but just because LeBron’s coming to town.

Iverson’s arrival at the Wachovia Center and first bucket in his 2nd stint with the Sixers after the jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

In The Face: Bosh Gets Kneed In Nuts And Shat On

Dunk Score: 9.9

It looked like Pierce went out of his way to try and knee Chris Bosh to shield himself from a potential beat-up. Unfortunately the knee landed right in Bosh’s nether region and may have done some damage. There has been some criticism for Pierce taunting Bosh following the dunk.

But the bottom line is that any time that you dunk on an Olympian, you have the right to react accordingly. Obviously Pierce was so excited by his bang-out that he did not realize that Bosh may have actually been hurt. Either way, what’s done is done. The dunk was not better than D-Wade on Varejao and thus can not get a perfect 10

T-Wolves’ Ryan Hollins shart all over the life of Nene after the jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

Holler Back: Allen Iverson Announces Retirement

TO ALL OF MY FANS:

I would like to announce my plans to retire from the National Basketball Association. I always thought that when I left the game, it would be because I couldn’t help my team the way that I was accustomed to. However, that is not the case.

I still have tremendous love for the game, the desire to play, and a whole lot left in my tank. I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level.

Stepping away from the game will allow me to spend quality time with my wife and kids. This is a reward that far exceeds anything that I’ve ever achieved on the basketball court. I have prayed for this day and I see it as my greatest gift.

I want to thank the people of Reebok International Ltd., for always allowing me to be me and for supporting me my whole career through all the ups and downs. I have enjoyed 13 wonderful seasons in the NBA, and I am grateful.

I want to first acknowledge my fans everywhere, who have been with me throughout my entire career. Without you, there would be no me. You should all know that I appreciate your support from the bottom of my heart. Thank you!

To Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Charles Barkley and Larry Bird, you guys gave me the vision to play the game that will be forever in my heart.

To my Mom, who encouraged and inspired me to play every day, and to all of my family and friends who stood by me from the beginning. Thank you!

To my high school coach, Michael Bailey, Coach John Thompson at Georgetown University, Coach Larry Brown and to all of my other coaches, teammates, administrators, owners and staff who’ve been a part of my career, Thank you as well!

I’d like to give a special thanks to the people of Memphis. I never played a home game for your beloved Grizzlies, but I want you to know how much I appreciate the opportunity given me by a great owner in Michael Heisley, and the support of the city. I wish the Memphis Grizzlies’ organization all of the success that the game has to offer.

And finally, to the city of Philadelphia: I have wonderful memories of my days in a Sixers’ uniform. To Philly fans, thank you. Your voice will always be music to my ears.

God Bless all of you,

ALLEN IVERSON

Via Stephena.com

It’s a shame what they did to The Answer. Check out some of Iverson’s most legendary moments after the jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

In The Face: Lawson Bangs On Mbenga And Powell

“Are you kidding me? This should be against the law…son. My Goodness.” Well said Mark Jackson, well said.

Dunk Score: 9.8

We would have given this dunk a higher score but everybody already knows that D.J. Mbenga is dunkbait, so we had to subtract a couple tenths of a point on principle. Also this wasn’t better than D-Wade’s posterizing of Anderson Varejao a few night’s ago so it couldn’t get the crown. Kudos to rookie Ty Lawson for going hard in the paint like Carmelo and catching Mbenga with something nastier than 2 girls 1 cup. Unfortunately for Josh Powell, he was in the area as well and is guilty by association. Bet you he wishes he wouldn’t have tried to help out.

Arron Afflalo = The New Kobe Stopper

It seems like every time that Kobe heads out to the Denver area, some shenanigans ensue. Friday night the Legend got locked up, like he almost did in 2003, as the Nuggets gave the Lakers their 2nd loss of the season in demoralizing fashion with their 105-79 win. Kobe was held to his lowest scoring total this season largely due to the efforts of former UCLA All-American and 1st year Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo.

Bryant scored 19 points on 7-17 shooting, but did not score in the 2nd half which is truly a rare feat. Afflalo personally held Kobe to 2-10 during the possession that he was responsible for guarding him. The Nuggets completely embarrassed The Show for the the world to see and made them look like some weenies.

Afflalo was the Pistons’ 1st-round pick back in 2007, but got shipped to Denver this offseason. A reserve guard in Detroit, Afflalo has been an off-an-on starter for George Karl, largely due to his ability to get in his opponent’s ass like a wedgie on the defensive side of the ball. You can best believe that Kobe will try to give Afflalo a 50-piece with some biscuits when the Nuggets head out to Staples on February 5. But if Afflalo can lock up Bryant again in this meeting, then he can take the crown as the new Kobe Stopper.

In The Face: Carmelo Anthony Posterizes Paul Millsap

Dunk Score: 9.2

Gotdamn! Carmelo Anthony goes hard in the paint like….Carmelo. Anthony wanted to let the world know he is back like Pimpin’ Snooky, delivering a demoralizing facial to Jazz forward Paul Millsap in the Nuggets season-opening win. It was double trouble for Millsap, who actually threw an errant pass that Carmelo stole and then proceeded to have his life shat all over like a German Shiza movie. You can bet the team will get a good chuckle if they have to watch this play in a film session. Somebody needs to wipe Millsap’s face!

Chaser NBA Preview: Denver Nuggets

Last year’s record: 54-28

This year’s projection: 50-32

New Booty’s: Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo, James White, Joey Graham, Malik Allen

Holler Back: Linas Kleiza, Dahntay Jones, Sonny Weems

After trading for Colorado native Chauncey Billups last winter, the Denver Nuggets reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1985. The addition of Billups marked the end of the Carmelo Anthony/Allen Iverson experiement, and Anthony may have benefitted the most by Billups arrival. This season the Nuggets are favored to win their division, and the continued development of J.R.Smith has coach George Karl optimistic about a return trip to the West Finals.

By acquiring Billups, the Nuggets added an All-Star clutch performer to a team that frankly needed some leadership. Carmelo Anthony has gone through bad incidents of negative publicity, and was suspended a couple of years ago for punching Mardy Collins. Though Anthony’s scoring average dipped last season, he showed major development on the defensive end, removed the blinders and started making plays for someone other than Carmelo Anthony. His maturity and evolution can be credited to Billups, but I would like to think Young Melo is growing up.

J.R. Smith is a prodigious talent, but has had major off-court issues while in Denver. Smith spent 3 weeks in jail this summer as the result of a 2007 reckless driving charge, in which his best friend was killed. Smith spent the other part of his summer in Las Vegas, working out and being mentored by Billups, and seems to have turned the page on a once troubled career. Like most NBA players of my era, Billups is getting old and understands the importance of taking care of his body and schooling the young bucks on how to be a pro. Read the rest of this entry »