Hooped Up

Not everybody knows that Iverson, actually, was a BETTER football player than he was a basketball player in High School. He was better than Mike Vick AND Aaron Brooks in High School. Had it not been for that bowling alley incident, Iverson may have ended up in the NFL. Maybe even at QB.

Can the Boston Celtics make history this season and join the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls as the only teams in NBA history to win 70 games? Phil Jackson, the resident expert on this matter, isn’t certain yet.

Jackson coached that Chicago team to a 72-10 record and the fourth of his six championships with the Bulls. The Celtics

“I don’t want to guess,” Jackson said. “It’s so difficult. They have Detroit in their conference. Teams have injuries, and they wear down. It’s just too hard to say. When we’re in March, we can talk about it.” entered Sunday on pace for a NBA-record 73 victories. Will it happen?

Daily News

While much has been made about how Jason Williams’ expiring $8.9 million deal could be attractive to teams looking to clear 2008 cap space, Ricky Davis, too, is at the end of a deal, one that pays $6.8 million this season. The thought when Davis was acquired in October was the Heat would play out the contract, consider a new deal in the offseason. Now one has to wonder if Davis is even a 2007-08 necessity, or if something should be done before the Feb. 21 trading deadline. After that, the Heat essentially loses his expiring deal as a trade chip.

South FLorida Sun-Sentinel

Houston, with Luis Scola coming on, won its first back-to-back set and had at least five players in double figures for the second straight game, both without Tracy McGrady. It’s giving the team more reason to move McGrady, who is said to have quietly let it be known he’s no longer happy in Houston. With the Rockets still in need of a point guard, you could see them working out a package that includes Hinrich and Andres Nocioni.

Chicago Tribune

They have a lot of tradition between them, and they brought back one blast from the past on Sunday that some might argue could have remained in the time capsule.

Playing against the Boston Celtics , the Los Angeles Lakers wore throwback jerseys featuring vintage 1970s short shorts. Smiles could be seen from many courtside fans as Kobe Bryant and the Lakers took the court. Laughing former Laker Rick Fox snapped a couple of pictures.

Forward Trevor Ariza even wore knee pads a la Magic Johnson.

But the Lakers did find their fashion sense at halftime, coming out of the break in regular baggy shorts.

ESPN 

Though officially listed as “day-to-day” and out tonight against the Warriors, Rockets’ guard Tracy McGrady said his time away to rehabilitate a sore left knee likely will be measured in weeks rather than days.

McGrady, 28, said Sunday he has been told he could miss three weeks because of a “deep bone bruise.” He missed games last week against the Grizzlies and Raptors and doubts he will play Wednesday against the Celtics or Friday against the Magic.

“I’m the same,” McGrady said. “They told me three weeks. I don’t have a timetable. I can’t do anything about it. It’s not tendinitis. It’s a deep bone bruise. I’m just doing therapy every day. I lost the strength in my leg. I’ll see how I feel toward the end of the week, but Boston, doubtful; Orlando, doubtful.”

Houston Chronicle

Stephon Marbury started his New Year’s Resolution a few days early as he returned to Knicks’ practice on Saturday after nine days away from the team.

It was his third return to the team since his father Don died on Dec. 2.

Marbury participated in all of the team’s drills in Greenburgh and stayed after practice to shoot jump shots and layups to try to get back in game shape.

On Thursday, Marbury told a Knicks’ public relations official that he planned to return to the team some time after the New Year.

Warriors forward Mickael Pietrus spent much of this summer waiting for a trade that would deliver him from Oakland. It didn’t happen, obviously, but beginning this week, that possibility will be once again in play. After signing Pietrus to a one-year qualifying offer worth $3.47 million, the Warriors have been prohibited from dealing him for three months — a limitation that ends Tuesday.

Contra Costa Times

On Thursday, Steve Nash was named one of the 2007 recipients of The Order of Canada – the country’s highest civilian honor. He was selected not just for his fame but also for his many humanitarian efforts through his Steve Nash Foundation and the Canadian school system.

Other recipients included Walter Gretzky, father of Phoenix Coyotes’ coach Wayne Gretzky, and United Nations human rights commissioner and former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour.

“None of my friends got it when I was growing up, so I didn’t know much about it,” Nash said with a smile. “I’m just blown away and just extremely excited. It’s the highest honor in our country, and it’s just incredible to be recognized in that way. That puts me in some incredible company.”

East Valley Tribune