It’s about time to “Auld Lang Syne” the “aughts” and begin the 2010s, which means it’s time for New Year’s resolutions and goals and whatever else you want to call going to the gym for half of January. And so, here are our third annual NBA New Year’s resolutions:
“To piggyback off the success of my TV show, ‘Shaq Vs.,’ to create a ‘Welcome Back, Kotter’ spinoff called ‘Horshaq.’ ” — Shaquille O’Neal, Cavaliers center
“To win back-to-back titles.” — Phil Jackson, Lakers coach
“To win back-to-back games.” — Kurt Rambis, Timberwolves coach
“To use my platform as an athlete and influence parents to put together improbable consonants in baby names.” — Jrue Holiday, 76ers guard
“To have people stop telling me I look like Ashton Kutcher. Except Demi Moore — that was a ‘whoops!’ for the ages.” Kyle Korver, Jazz forward
“To fully realize that bats are mammals too, and that they don’t deserve to be harmed by humans and . . . really, do I still have to be politically correct about this? There was a bat flying around the court, so I swatted it, and now I’m getting 17 vaccine injections a day and PETA is comparing me to Michael Vick and Beelzebub. I apologize for nothing. Eat guana!” — Manu Ginobili, bat-swatting Spurs guard
“To be the best Nenad I can be.” — Nenad Krstic, Thunder center
“To kick it old school and grow my hair like Kid from Kid ‘n Play.” — J.R. Smith, Nuggets guard
“To kick it old school and grow my hair like Kid from Kid ‘n Play.” — Tyler Hansbrough, Pacers forward
“To become so insanely popular that I come up first when you type my first name into Google.” — Jonas Jerebko, Pistons forward
“To be the best ‘D.J.’ in the NBA.” — D.J. Augustin, Bobcats guard
“I spit on D.J. Augustin.” — D.J. Mbenga, Lakers center
“I want to be more of a team player and come off the bench, look to pass more and play hard-nosed tenacious defense in order to make up for my lack of size. . . . Oh, snap, I thought this was for Hochman’s April Fools’ column!” — Allen Iverson, 76ers guard
Keep it in mind.
Yes, the Nuggets are investigating the possible addition of a big man (Denver has two trade exceptions — $3.2 million expiring Jan. 7 and $3.6 million expiring Aug. 7). But if the Nuggets nab a big guy who can play 15 to 20 minutes a night, remember that he would be playing a current player’s minutes, possibly Chris Andersen’s (that’s only if, of course, coach George Karl decides to play this acquired big man ahead of Birdman). And so, if Denver gets another player, he might serve only as an insurance policy in case Andersen or starters Kenyon Martin or Nene get injured. And for a team over the luxury tax, this type of investment might not be the most enticing possibility.
Courting attention.
Three weeks ago, it appeared Anthony Carter’s biggest contributions would come in practice. But after a surprise cameo in Denver’s win over Phoenix and some effective play last week with Chauncey Billups injured, Carter has made a case for playing time, especially because rookie Ty Lawson has been inconsistent.
Karl was asked if Carter’s encouraging play will get the guard playing time, even with Billups back. “I don’t have that answer,” Karl said. “That’s a good question and a question we’ve discussed as a coaching staff. The one thing Anthony has given us on a daily, game- to-game basis is he makes everybody kind of play with a higher intensity, and asking a rookie to do that doesn’t always happen.”
Howard helping Mavs.
The Nuggets steamrolled through the Mavericks last postseason, but many folks forget that forward Josh Howard battled ankle pain for much of the series — including Game 2, when he played just six minutes. The former all-star is playing a reserve role for the Mavericks, who have one of the better benches in the NBA.
“He’s a guy who can get 15 points in a quarter,” Karl said. “He seems like he’s healthier and has more of a bounce.”
Howard is averaging 13.1 points this season, his fewest since 2004-05. But with the addition of forward Shawn Marion, he’s now a complementary piece. Howard and the Mavs play the Nuggets tonight.
Spotlight on …
Dirk Nowitzki, Mavs forward
Three nights after Nowitzki shot 10-for-13 (ho-hum) against the Trail Blazers, Portland coach Nate McMillan was asked about defending Dirk. “I think Nowitzki is the toughest matchup in the league,” the coach said. “Carmelo (Anthony) is the same, but a big guy like Nowitzki can score, flat-out score, and he’s a big guy with where they place him on the free- throw line. The double- teams are hard to get him there.”
The Nuggets play Nowitzki and the Mavs tonight at the Pepsi Center, their first matchup since the second round of the 2009 playoffs. One might recall the Nuggets’ strategy to seldom double-team Nowitzki. Indeed, the power forward got his points against Denver (34.4 per game) but the Nuggets benefited overall, as the Mavericks won just one game in the series.
This season Nowitzki ranks sixth in the NBA in scoring at 26.1 points per game and the Mavericks are one of the surprise teams of the Western Conference. Nowitzki has been a model of consistency. Since 2001-02 he has finished in the top 10 in scoring every season except 2006-07 when, funny enough, he won the NBA MVP award, averaging 24.6 points and 8.9 rebounds (before losing in the first round to the No. 8-seeded Warriors).
Nowitzki is averaging 27.6 points this season at home and 24.7 points on the road.
Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post
