Hooped Up

Another van glorious season of NBA basketball is about to begin and Hooped Up does a quick and dirty preview of all 30 clubs — so lets go!

This year the New Jersey Nets have 99 problems and staying out of the draft lottery will not be one.

Last season, the Nets stumbled to a 34-48 record in the Atlantic and after trading away Vince Carter for maybe too little in return. That record will be continuing south in ’09-10 like the mercury in Newark on a cold winters day. BRRR!

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Orlando and New Jersey have agreed in principle in a deal that will bring Vince Carter to the Magic and send Tony Battie, Rafer Alston and Courtney Lee to the New Jersey, according to a league source.

The Magic have yet to confirm the deal, but the addition of a scorer in Carter, the trade would seem to end the Magic’s quest to bring back forward Hedo Turkoglu for a long term deal.

The deal also could include Nets’ forward Ryan Anderson. But there might still need to be some maneuvering done because the salaries are way off. Read More »

Courtney Lee only had 4 points in game 3 and 2 of them were thunderous! Derek Fisher you have been tremendously served my veteran friend.

Tonight’s Magic vs. Celtics game should be a dooze, and streaky Courtney Lee will likely get the start.

Looking for more backcourt production, the Magic are expected to return rookie shooting guard Courtney Lee to his starting role for Game 5 in Boston tonight. Lee became the starter in the second half of the season, and stayed one until he suffered a fractured sinus cavity in Game 5 of Orlando’s first-round series against Philadelphia. After missing three games, Lee was used in a reserve role in Games 3 and 4 against the Celtics.

Just watch out for those D12 elbows young man!

Via Boston Globe

Dwight Howard must have been listening to some Luducris before last night Magic versus 76ers game because my man was straight droppin’ bows on everybody in game 5. Both Sam Dalembert and teammate Courtney Lee caught bows from D12 in the first quarter and both actions could have consequences. The blow Lee caught might have him out for Game 6 injured and the one that Dalembert caught might cost Howard a game or a fine after the play is reviewed by the league today.

Next time, maybe Howard should listen to some Eddy Grant before the game. Nobody has ever through an elbow after listening to Electric Avenue in the history of the world and it’s a wicked tune!

Orlando guard Courtney Lee left Game 5 against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night after taking a blow to the head. He was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Lee took an elbow to his head from teammate Dwight Howard early in the first period. Howard soared to block a shot by Willie Green on the play and came down on his teammate. Lee was on the floor for a few minutes before going to the locker room with a towel to his head.

Orlando won Game 5 91-78. The Magic said the starting shooting guard’s status for Game 6 is questionable.

Lee, a rookie from Western Kentucky, averaged 15.7 points through the first four games.

Press Release