Gilbert Arenas covers Dime #44, Baron Davis better watch out, and Lamar Odom thinks Phil is crazy
Baron Davis (photo. Tim Tadder)Just as NBA training camps are getting underway, we’ve dropped the newest issue of Dime, with none other than Gilbert Arenas on the cover. Fortunately for us, Gil has been all over the headlines lately; unfortunately, it’s been for the wrong reasons — namely the knee surgery that’s going to put him out for at least the first month of the season. In fact, between Gilbert and Monta Ellis, we really had the cover-curse thing working overtime this month. So just to forewarn all you Clippers fans, be afraid for your man Baron Davis, who gets a call-out on the Issue #44 cover as well. Not like Baron needs extra help getting hurt, either … Back to Arenas. When we sat down to plan this issue (which, despite the timing, isn’t our official NBA preview; that’s coming right around Opening Night), Gilbert emerged as the best cover candidate in part ’cause we all know he’s always got something interesting to say. And given the events of the last few months, from the heated Cavs/Wizards series to the $111 million contract, there was plenty of ground to cover. We hooked up with Gilbert out in L.A. for the photo shoot, and Associate Editor Austin Burton penned the cover story, where Gil talks about those aforementioned topics plus a whole lot more. You can pick up Dime #44 on newsstands and at retailers nationwide … According to Kobe, the whole thing about him and LeBron considering going to Europe for $50 million a year was just a joke. “I said, ‘Well, if a team throws us $50 million, then we’ll all go,’” Kobe said yesterday. “Who the hell has $50 million? It’s just something that was a joke for us, and people took it and ran with it.” At least that’s one less reason for Cavs’ owner Dan Gilbert to feel insulted. Euroleague aside, everyone has talked about where LeBron might play for in 2010, but has anyone considered the possibility of Kobe making a move in 2009? He could opt out of his current deal then — and he probably will — but we can’t see Kobe doing anything but re-signing with the Lakers, especially if they stay near a championship level … Speaking of the Lakers, remember a couple weeks ago when there were whispers of Lamar Odom possibly coming off the bench this year? Phil Jackson confirmed it was something he’d been kicking around, but apparently L.O. ain’t buying it. “He must have woke up and bumped his head,” Odom told the L.A. Times. “He probably hit his head on something. To start off like that, you’ve got to be out of your mind.” Nevermind that playing the sixth man role might be better for Lamar’s game (more opportunity for him to play PF, where he excels) but you know how dudes get about the status symbol of being a starter. For those of you have have played ball competitively, does it matter to you if you start or come off the bench? What if you knew you would be in at the end of the game either way, a la Manu Ginobili or Ben Gordon? … It seems everyone is coming out with new uniforms. Yesterday the Kings dropped their new joints, the Thunder dropped their debut joints, and the Raptors dropped some new alternate-color black unis. Nothing inspiring from the Kings, kinda wack in OKC, but the Raps’ black joints are hot … Sorry, this is just hilarious. What’s the dunks-to-getting-dunked-on ratio here, about 1-to-25? … Do you remember when NBA TV covered Nuggets training camp last year and George Karl seemed like he’d rather be anywhere else in the world but on that practice court? He’ll be that much perkier now that the team is bringing Ruben Patterson and Smush Parker to camp … We wondered how Damon Jones would take to being in Milwaukee (and far away from any national TV cameras), but it turns out we’ll never know. DJ and the Bucks “mutually agreed” to part ways (very possible the team just didn’t want him) so now he’s back on the market. Jones will try to sign with a high-profile squad, and he’ll say it’s because he wants to win, but we all know it’s because he wants to be in a party town and get that mainstream exposure and continue to inexplicably stay relevant. With the Clippers having just lost Jason Williams, would Damon try to get on with L.A.? … The Clippers don’t seem to have any interest in bringing back Shaun Livingston, and according to Kevin McHale, Livingston is about to sign with the Heat anyway. McHale and the Wolves had brought Livingston in to audition, but instead signed 52-year-old Kevin Ollie … Since the apology never gets as much pub as the initial mistake, we’ll give Josh Howard the floor: “I’d like to say that I’m truly and really am sorry for everything that’s happened in the last five months,” Howard told reporters at Mavs camp. “This is not the way I carry myself, not how I want to be portrayed. I’m sorry to everybody I’ve offended. I’m upset with myself and the way I’ve acted. It was me joking around. Guys were out there making fun and I decided to get along in it. I wasn’t using my head. I guess the valuable lesson I did learn is that words really do hurt. You’re held accountable for what you say. That’s not me. I went to military school. I have friends that served in the military. I know how it is to wake up and salute the flag. The national anthem every game, I have my hand over my heart.” … The Celtics brought Sam Cassell back into the fold on a one-year deal. A few buckets here, some gorilla balls dances there, and a seamless move into an assistant coaching gig; we’ve got no problem with this one … All last week we told you about the Sprite Slam Dunk Showcase, which was held in Atlanta over the weekend. What can we say? The dunkers lived up to the hype, especially winner T-Dub, who won the whole thing with an unreal performance. Check out T-Dub’s work here, and we’ll have more on the dunk contest later on during the week … We’re out like Damon …
September 30th, 2008 at 5:34 am
jay says:
odom should accept that role!
September 30th, 2008 at 6:10 am
Trouble Man says:
I don’t care about starting, I care about finishing. If there’s one time in the game I want the most minutes it’s in the 4th quarter, when the game is on the line.
I also believe in the strategy of mixing up weapons between the 1st & 2nd team. For example, I might bring my second best scorer off the bench (ala Vinnie Johnson or Manu) and let him be guarded by my opponents 2nd string SG.
Odom needs to play his role, trust his coach, & fall in line. It’s a TEAM game. Who gives a f*ck about starter status?
September 30th, 2008 at 6:25 am
Coop says:
Yeah I agree. Also, I couldnt care less about starting, I just want to play as many minutes as possible.
Oh, and lol@ Patterson in Denver. Locker-room presence ftw!
September 30th, 2008 at 6:27 am
YOUNGFED says:
Letter to Gilbert Arenas:
“Dude after the 30th knee injury it might be time to call it a day. Let it go bro, let it go.”
Letter to DIME:
“Yall are some MuthaFukin Baron haters. Dude played the entire season last year and yall still complainin’ bout him being injury prone. Let it go bro, let it go.”
Letter to Josh Howard:
“Man up cuzin’, stand buy your words. It’s the NBA, they GOTTA cut the check anyway pimpin’. Just walk buy and say High Haters.”
Letter to Austin Burtin:
“OKC Thunder Baby!!!!” (lmao) Jab, Jab….K.OOOOOOO.!!! Naw but really, ‘the sun’ll come out tommorrow, tommorrow’.
September 30th, 2008 at 6:39 am
YOUNGFED says:
BANGER OF THE DAY: Termanology (Sorry I Lie To You)
Real HipHop at its finest. Holla!!1
http://www.sixshot.com/media.asp?id=12705
September 30th, 2008 at 6:44 am
lee says:
Yeah, finnishing the game is what’s important .. Lamar will probably be getting better stats too instead of being the 4th option as a starter.
The T-Dub dunk was good, but it was a 360 reverse, not a 540 .. still impressive though.
September 30th, 2008 at 6:47 am
lee says:
Oh yeah ..COOP, know anywhere to ball in London ??
September 30th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Ashlov says:
That Grizzlies pic was funny, but Danilo looking like he just got off the short bus to attend the photo shoot is funnier:
http://www.nba.com/gallery/20080926/20080926_18.html
September 30th, 2008 at 6:54 am
schoops says:
FED…Baron playing one season of playing all your games (in a contract yr) doesn’t mean you get to do away with the “injury prone” label. Just ask marcus camby.
September 30th, 2008 at 7:04 am
YOUNGFED says:
Schoops, It being a contract year has absolutely nothing to do Baron getting injured. Money doesn’t control being injured just ask Agent Zero.
September 30th, 2008 at 7:17 am
rodnets says:
“I have friends who are chinese”, “I have friends who are in the army” Why they keep thinking that the “I have friends who…” its a valid excuse to say the dam thing they want
September 30th, 2008 at 7:19 am
Coop says:
Fed, you’re being pretty dense here dude. Contracts can motivate you to take better care of your body, less risks, better diet etc. Not hard to grasp. Baron ‘fat boy’ Davis is fat and always will be. Hence he plays about 65 games per year.
September 30th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Coop says:
Lee,
Which part of London are you going to be in mate? There are loads of places but I’m only familiar with part of London.
September 30th, 2008 at 7:55 am
ya boy says:
If you nice,you nice. And you don’t need to tell anyone about it.I play at the y al weekend.Don’t give a flyinn fluck how the party begins coz I know I still get burn.So i feel Ginobili and i wonder what Odom was thinking saying that after truly showing up for exactly one playoff game.Interesting.
And I know..JHo don’t mean that shyt.I guess the bigger the lie the more believable it is.was he dressed in full combat gear?with a DARE sticker on the front?Damn..,I believe him .
And you know Kob wasn’t joking.If I gotta explain this..
I’m out like any good news following Arenas
September 30th, 2008 at 7:59 am
sirak says:
What’s with pre-season knee injury covers Dime?? Last year Oden this year Arenas!? So if this was the 90s would Penny and H20 be getting covers, or Manning if it was the 80s!??
September 30th, 2008 at 8:09 am
solomon says:
lol @ cover curse… dime got something started right there, and it’s freakin’ rollin’!!!
lamar might be the one who always bumps his head waking up - on days he doesn’t bump, he plays all world, on bump day, he plays, uhm, weak…
we’re out like the memphis poster boys
September 30th, 2008 at 8:10 am
YOUNGFED says:
Coop
You do realize in just 3 sentences you contradicted your self 3 times.
Coop says, “Contracts can motivate you to 1.) take better care of your body, 2.) less risks, 3.) better diet etc.
Then you say Baron is a Fat Boy and always will be. Theorictically you only proved my point even more.
BTW couldn’t have said it better Sirak.
September 30th, 2008 at 8:16 am
M Intellect says:
Yo Coop, Lee,
I never knew there was anyone else from LDN on here!
If your from North or East go to the Hackney run. If your from South go to Palace or Chessington and if your from West try Moberly.
Not sure the times anymore but they are the indoor-hotspots because ballin’ in the rain isn’t a good look.
Hope it helps.
September 30th, 2008 at 8:17 am
solomon says:
and yeah… since when did having friends in this and that and there became excuses… pretty lame…
and with that, we’re out like friends being excuses
September 30th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Coop says:
Fed,
Baron’s last year of health was a contract year. Does that tell you nothing? Coincidence?
He’s been injury prone since day dot.
Got it now?
September 30th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Tha Boddy says:
Damon Jones just wants to hang off some Superstars nuts and be sustained by their juices maybe he can go to Denver but MD native’s Melo and AI prolly won’t have that shit
September 30th, 2008 at 8:32 am
YOUNGFED says:
@coop
Whats does that tell me he was still fat, just played a couple more years. Arenas was hurt for most his contract so whats does that tell me. It tells me that these guys are Beast and know the getting max money regardless. Neither player did anything amazing in there contract yr. They ain’t working harder cause it’s a contract yr.
You sir are trippin’
September 30th, 2008 at 8:56 am
BALLZ says:
As a shooter, I always played better as a starter because I found it hard to come off the bench cold and out of the flow of the game and start knocking down shots, plus there is a certain pride factor involved. LO would be a matchup nightmare though as a 6th man.
September 30th, 2008 at 9:00 am
justice says:
Lamar Odom is phucking delusional has he watched the tape from the finals yet? if i were him i would shut the hell up grow a pair, and be happy to be on a team with a chance…It’s a damn shame when people like sahsa vujacic(however u spell it) show more heart and grit than u and he’s a euro for god sakes..U from queeens playboy,stop being a victim and do some victimizing!!
September 30th, 2008 at 9:06 am
John says:
To everybody :
Who is the favorite to win a dunk contest ???
James White
T-Dub
The Air up there
September 30th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Coop says:
Fed,
I can’t really understand your points to be honest. Allow me to clarify mine:
People play harder in contract years. I’m sure you won’t deny the existence of this culture.
Baron Davis rarely gets through a season without injury.
In his contract year, he was remarkably healthy.
Arenas got a serious injury prior to signing and his conditioning has never been questioned. Whether it was a bad choice given the severity of the injury is irrelevant.
Baron has a history of being out of shape.
The end.
September 30th, 2008 at 9:19 am
GEE...That's ballin?!?! LOL ...well alright, guess men lie, women lie..but numbers don't says:
I will start, come off the bench or whatever long as I got a chance to get in the game and make something happen.
Lamar should be takin the same way. He should get his 6th man on and come in with some fire. As a starter people gonna be way more critical.
George Karl and the Kobe Stopper…ooookaayy, gonna be an even longer season in Denver.
Free A.I!
Glad Shaun hopefully getting on and glad Sam is on.
DIME you should do an ill cover that is just a shadow of someone who is about to reck the L. Or either make it where just the eyes show or something. Don’t even tell who it is till the inside of the mag, just have the shadow and a smooth title like “He’s Here”. That is just ill even thinking about it. You know cats gonna be trying to open it up and see who it is. Gotta be someone really good though so you won’t have let down factor.
So we got all the off-season trades I wonder what the major trade in-season will be. What?!?!
September 30th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Coop says:
It’ll be Joe D doing something, if Detroit start slowly.
September 30th, 2008 at 9:56 am
shake&bake says:
@ John, I’ll take Flight White in a dunk contest against anybody. The shit he does from the free throw line is ridiculous.
I hate coming off the bench, give me a starting spot. But it’s ok, I have friends who come off the bench.
September 30th, 2008 at 10:05 am
that's whats up says:
hey, for that Picture of The Grizzlies, is that Pau, Darko and Sacha Baren Cohen???
September 30th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Tom S. says:
What a surprise that today’s Smack didn’t include this quote from LeBron:
”Go on the Internet and look at every time I have been asked am I happy in Cleveland and see my response,” James said to the large media gathering.
”I’ve never given any indication that I was leaving or didn’t like being here. Every time I am asked the question — I love being here, I love playing in front of these fans, my family is here, I grew up 30 miles away — I never gave any indication that I did not like playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.”
September 30th, 2008 at 10:45 am
John says:
@shake&bake
I do think that James White would win ,,,, But that 360 with between the legs and the 720 of The Air Up There is crazy too ,,,
September 30th, 2008 at 10:48 am
P_Dizzle says:
I didn’t start my Freshmen year of ball. It does play some psychological stuff with you. I had to learn to shut up and just be happy with the fact that I was getting some burn.
So I understand where Odom is coming from but at the same time, winning cures a lot of problems like that.
You really have to tip your hat to cats like Ginobli who will come off the bench like that. That is a big ego check, especially when he should have been the Finals MVP in ‘05 and he knows it. A select few will do what Ginobli is doing and do it that well all the while keeping his mouth shut about it. But I bet you that if the Spurs weren’t winning then we would hear from Ginobli.
September 30th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Celts Fan says:
someone should print out that quote from Lamar in huge print, tape it over a TV and replay his highlight reel from the Finals. What highlights? EXACTLY.
@PDizzle - exactly, BUT the Spurs are winning BECAUSE of it (it gives them a great boost when Manu comes in w/ the second unit, the same way it would if LO would do the same) and so would LA if Lamar can keep his shit in check. The checks are still the same, the PT should be pretty close, just keep your mouth shut. You had the chance to show why you should start and puked all over yourself in the Finals. Hit the bench and shut up.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:26 am
English Off The Glass says:
@ Thats whats up
Dude what rock were you under last season?? Pau plays for the lakers son, how could he possibly be in the grizzlies line up? If you avert your gaze about three inches to the right of the picture, you can clearly see the words Marc Gasol, Darko and Hamed Haddidi
And at any ballers from the LDN if your ever heading Midlands way hit me up on one of these forums we got some good open runs up here.
and 3rdly, I love playing the 6th. If you Stink, nobody on the team resents you for takin there spot and if you come off the bench and kill it everyone thinks your some straight up secret weapon. I drift from the starting line up to the bench depending on the size of the team we are playing, i came off the Bench Monday night and absoloutely killed it. Good times. #
Were out like like Lamar and Phils relationship.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
Yeah–
I gotta say that starting does have a certain pride about it, but in the long run it really doesn’t matter. Sometimes I play better starting and other times I play better after getting to watch for a min, see how the defense is playing, how the dude is going to guard me. As long as I’m contributing and we are playing like a team and winning then it don’t matter
September 30th, 2008 at 11:33 am
BxBaller says:
Anybody else here that Ginobili is out till mid December.
September 30th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
JC says:
“Playing 31.4 minutes per game off the bench, Kevin McHale averaged 18.4 ppg and 7.4 rpg, shot .556 from the floor and won the NBA Sixth Man Award. He also made the first of his seven All-Star appearances. Boston won the Atlantic Division with a 62-20 record, then took the NBA Championship after a grueling seven-game battle with the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals.”
Odom take notes… it works
September 30th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Meica says:
Being the sixth man can actually be a good thing. I’m not a Spurs fan, but I have respect for Ginoboli for accepting his role as sixth man, and literally becoming a star for it. As a Bulls fan, I just wish Ben Gordon would be willing to accept the same fate. Sure, he definitely wouldn’t get that $70 mil, but he probably won’t get that anyway. In either case, he would be much more popular.
As for Odom, well….
September 30th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
peter says:
I’m not siding with Odom, not at all, but the NBA is a business (Odom’s in his last year with regard to his contract)… as a player, when it comes down to negotiating your new contract, you’re in less of a bargaing position if you’re say a 6th man vs. a starter (generally speaking of course, there are some exceptions)… assuming production and minutes is the same for both the starter and the 6th man. and assuming odom doesn’t go out and win 6th man of the year. and assuming that odom doesn’t live up to his potential. and assuming that odom doesn’t win a ring. and assuming… anyway, im just saying this is a point for argument in the NBA vs. competitive ball at an amateur level.
That being said, I would have to agree with Dime, whether you get start or sub-on, if you’re getting at least 20mins a game and contributing to the end result (what’s there to complain about?)
September 30th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
dukesman2000 says:
Odom is straight garbage. Maybe if he rode the pine a little more some Turiaf’s heart will grow on him.
September 30th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Coop says:
you obviously watch a lot of basketball, Duke. What an astute observation.
twat.
September 30th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Quest??? says:
honestly i dont care if i start, i know im going to finish.
September 30th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Desrat says:
I know I will finsih too, finish the bag of doritios.