Hooped Up

Golden State Warriors rout Sacramento Kings as C.J. Watson scores career-high 40 points
The win, just No. 15 on the season, was comfortably in hand. Yet just before the Warriors’ 130-98 win over the Sacramento Kings was complete, every player on the bench — including all of the injured players, even guard Raja Bell — was on his feet intensely watching.

And when guard C.J. Watson’s circus left-hand layup rolled in, giving him a career-high 40 points, they went bananas. It was a moment that encapsulated why these players are happy the team is unlikely to make a trade by today’s noon deadline.

“Things are feeling good,” said rookie guard Stephen Curry. “You can tell. Everybody’s smiling, having fun. … Hopefully this whole unit’s going to be back next year.”
Contra Costa Times

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Golden State Warriors guard Raja Bell underwent surgery Thursday to repair ligament damage in his left wrist, the team announced.

The surgery, performed by Dr. Paul Perlik at Presbyterian Orthopedic Hospital in Charlotte, N.C., involved the placement of pins in the player’s wrist.

Bell will have his wrist immobilized for six weeks, at which point he will begin rehabilitation. The team said he is expected to be sidelined a minimum of three months, which mean he’ll likely miss the rest of the season.

San Francisco Chronicle

Serenity Now! After months of Stephen Jackson feeling ship wrecked on the S.S. Nellie. The Golden State Warriors have pulled the trigger on a deal to send Jax to Charlotte in a four-player deal.

In exchange,  the Bobcats ship Raja Bell and Vladimir Radmanovic to the Warriors for Jackson and guard Acie Law. The Bobcats were not on Jackson’s list of teams he wanted to be traded to, so that’s why the Warriors made him walk the plank to Charlotte. Read More »

Another van glorious season of NBA basketball is about to begin and Hooped Up does a quick and dirty preview of all 30 clubs.

Head coach Larry Brown is known for making a non contender a playoff bound team, and that’s exactly what he’ll try to do again in his second year in Charlotte. The Bobcats made a big move this summer trading Emeka Okafor for the more athletic Tyson Chandler, but will that be enough for the Bobcats to finally make it into the playoffs for the first time? Probably not. Read More »

If the Knicks decide to trade David “General” Lee, to Charlotte it’ll be a huge mistake! But with similar colors to the Knicks at least I can still call him General Lee. But still…big mistake.

“Charlotte was pushing to get the deal finalized quickly because after 60 days – and right before the February trading deadline – they would have the option of combining Diaw and Bell in a trade, with the Knicks believed to be their final destination. The contracts of Diaw and Bell match those of Eddy Curry and Lee, a restricted free agent this coming summer.”

Daily News

Steve Nash considers Raja Bell his best friend and wasn’t happy with the trading of his buddy and Boris Diaw a few days ago to the Bobcats. When asked about the trade Nash said that their departures left him ”emotionally drained.” This can’t be a good sign for the Suns, and this might be the last straw for Nash when free agency rolls around in 2010.

“All I can say is that he’s my best buddy and my best friend,” Nash said after the short-handed Suns lost to the Lakers. “The guys loved him, and Boris, too. It’s hard you know. I have a hard time committing to this as a business. I take this personally.” 

Nash already was having a tough time dealing with the changes brought on by the departure of coach Mike D’Antoni and the arrival of Terry Porter and his more deliberate style of play.

“I take my career home with me and I care about my teammates,” Nash said. “When you lose two of your best friends on the team, it’s hard. We’re not only recreating chemistry, we’re changing our style. But we’ve got lots of time to build.”

Nash is a free agent in 2010, lives in NYC in the off season, loves Mike D’Antoni, and the Suns are only getting older, slower and defense-ier these days. So don’t be surprised is Nash ends up in New York along with LeBron James as a free agent in 2010. Just remember I called it.

Press Release

Who saw this one coming? Not even Miss Cleo saw this happening and she’s the all knowing! Given the new direction Steve Kerr has been building towards emphasizing defence, this move is a bit of a surprise. Yesterday, Raja Bell along with forward Boris Diaw and guard Sean Singletary were dealt to the Charlotte Bobcats for Jason Richardson and forward Jared Dudley. This trade automatically works for the Suns offensively with Richardson giving them an added scoring punch, in the form of a legit shooting guard. However, Richardson is still allergic to defence and Bell will be missed against the likes of Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

Straight up, this trade doesn’t work for the Bobcats because Diaw will be joining an already crowded front court and lets just face it. Nothing ever works out for them anyway. Their I said it!

Nash has been money for bloggers in a a slow off season, dude has been everywhere. As a Lee Majors and Six Million Dollar Man fan, this Steve Nash Sixty Million Dollar Man ad was straight money! I get giddy just hearing the music!

Not only did Nash star in this Nike spot for his environmentally friendly  Trash Talk shoes but, he also produced and directed too.

Somebody please make a non-cheese movie version of The Six Million Dollar Man!

Here are some highlights from the Steve Nash Showdown @ Chinatown Soccer Match in New York City yesterday.  The event was for charity and it looks like everybody had fun at this positive event.  I wish I could have made it.  Below are a list of Steve Nash’s friends that showed up.  What a list!

Steve Nash
Thierry Henry
Jason Kidd
Baron Davis
Leandro Barbosa
Juan Pablo Angel
Claudio Reyna
Jozy Altidore
Robbie Fowler
Steve McManaman
Raja Bell

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