Here is our daily look around the NBA — links to stories worth reading and notes to check out (stuff that did not get its own post here at PBT).
Kobe Bryant on passing Shaq on the all-time scoring list (he’s just 69 points back): “It was inevitable.” Sorry, but that feud was more than just Phil Jackson.
A big part of the problem in Orlando — Stan Van Gundy doesn’t have a lot of good players to coach.
DeShawn Stevenson will be out at least a couple weeks for the Nets due to knee issues.
The New York Times did a fascinating in-depth look at the NBA and China. The league is losing its grip a little.
The 76ers need some depth along the front line, but they are not going after Chris Kaman.
Steve Nash just became the Suns all-time assists leader Wednesday. My first thought: He wasn’t already?
Monta Ellis for Joakim Noah? This rumor is out there in the Bay Area, but there is no chance — zero, nada — that the Bulls would do it. Dr. Who couldn’t find a world where that trade happens.
Paul Pierce tells Kevin Garnett he should shoot more threes.
The Magic have waived Larry Hughes. He’s free to sign with anybody… if they want him.
Thinking, Fast and Slow, about the NBA. (Really interesting read about how we view players.)
Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving and the Minnesota’s Ricky Rubio are your Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month for January (and December, they threw those five days in). The Bulls’ Tom Thibodeau and the Thunder’s Scott Brooks were named the Coaches of the Month.
Wizards coach Randy Wittman complains that his young team does not get a fair shake from the referees. He’s right to a degree, the Wizards are a young team and so tend not to get calls. More importantly, that’s not really the problem in Washington.
Tickets are on sale for the Broadway production of Magic/Bird.”
Casey Jacobsen writes for SLAM about his best and worst teammates in the NBA (and more). Chris Andersen comes off well, Darko and J.R. Smith not so much.
Speaking of the gunner. J.R. Smith hit 14 threes and dropped 60 points in a game in China. And no, his family did not get into any fights in the stands.
The Cavaliers recalled Luke Harangody from the D-League.
The Magic are about to call up Ish Smith from the D-League to provide some help in the back court.
RIP well known D1 college coach Charlie Spoonhour.
