LeBron James Doubtful for the 2008 Olympics?

HoopsHype released their list of who is interested in playing for the US basketball team in the 2008 Olympics.

According to HoopsHype, LeBron James is listed as doubtful along with Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Joe Johnson, Jason Kidd, Tracy McGready, and Jermaine O’Neal to join the US basketball team in the 2008 Olympics

After becoming frustrated with playing time and coach Larry Brown during the 2004 Athens Olympics, James was lukewarm at best when considering rejoining USA Basketball.

LeBron James said recently that he has talked with Jerry Colangelo, the managing director of USA Basketball, about joining the team for the world championships next summer and the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

”I feel pretty good about it,” James said. ”I think if I decide to be a part of that team, I think it will be a much better experience than two summers ago.”

Boozer Feeling Better?

The Utah Jazz and forward Carlos Boozer are being cautious with their optimism, but it looks as if Boozer may come back sooner than expected. Boozer returned to practice Christmas Day and said the left hamstring he strained Oct. 6 is almost completely healed. Is it a coincidence he’s feeling better after Utah made its one appearance in Cleveland on Dec. 20? Boozer is best remembered in Cleveland for allegedly reneging on a promise to re-sign with the Cavaliers after the 2003-04 season.

Cavs Stop Pistons

LeBron James had 30 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers cooled off the red-hot Detroit Pistons, downing them 97-84 in National Basketball Association play on Saturday in Cleveland. James celebrated his 21st birthday on Friday and followed it up with a strong performance Saturday, also blocking four shots as Cleveland ended Detroit’s nine-game winning streak.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 18 points for the Cavaliers, who handed the Pistons just their fourth loss of the season as Detroit fell to 24-4.Larry Hughes chipped in with 16 points for the Cavaliers, who are 13-3 at home and have beaten the Pistons at their last three meetings, and at four of the last five, as they try to keep them within sight in the Central Division standings.

The Pistons shot a season-low 36 percent and trailed by 19 points in the first half and by as many as 20 in the third quarter before a late rally made the score a little more respectable. Cleveland improved to 18-10 with the win, leaving the Cavs six games behind the Pistons in the Central as Detroit continues one of the best starts to a season in NBA history. For a complete game recap CLICK HERE.

Comparing The Three Big Scorers

David DuPree of USA Today had a nice article comparing Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James and how they could be on their way to becoming the first trio in 24 years to average at least 30 points a game.

The Bryant-Iverson-James trio also has the three highest-scoring individual games this season: Bryant 62, Iverson 53 and James 52. Of those games, the only one that resulted in a win, however, was Bryant’s effort. Bryant also consistently carries his team to more wins when he scores a lot than Iverson and James have been able to do.
Bryant has scored 30 or more points in 15 games this season, and the Lakers are 9-6 in those contests. The Cavaliers are 8-7 in the 15 games James has scored at least 30, and the 76ers are 8-11 when Iverson has scored 30 or more.
all three say it is about winning games, not about scoring titles or outdueling each other.

Tale of the threesome tape:

  • Iverson, listed at 6-1, is the shortest. Bryant is 6-6 and James 6-8.
  • Iverson has led the league in scoring four times. Bryant and James have not won a scoring title.
  • Bryant has played on three NBA championship teams. Iverson has only made it to the NBA Finals once (and lost), and James hasn’t been to the playoffs yet.
  • Iverson has played shooting guard but is primarily a point guard. Bryant and James play a hybrid point guard-shooting guard-small forward position, which allows them to set up with or without the ball anywhere on the floor they choose.
  • Head-to-head

  • Iverson vs. Bryant: They have met once this season; 76ers won 85-81 on Nov. 11. Iverson had 34 points; Bryant, 17. Next meeting: Jan. 6 at Los Angeles
  • Iverson vs. James: They have met once this season; Cavliers won 123-120 on Nov. 19. James had a triple-double with 36 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists; Iverson had 37 points, two rebounds, 12 assists.
  • James vs. Bryant: They have yet to face each other this season. First meeting: Jan. 12 at Los Angeles.
  • Comparing Allen Iverson
    , Kobe Bryant and LeBron James , the NBA’s three 30-point a game scorers,
    in 12 statistical categories:
    Iverson Bryant James
    Points per game 34.3 32.3 30.3
    Field goal attempts per game 26.2 25.9 20.9
    Field goal percentage 45.7 44.4 49.5
    Free throw attempts per game 11.9 10.1 10.2
    Free throw percentage 77.9 80.9 77.7
    Three-point field goals made per game 1.1 1.1 1.6
    Three-point field goal percentage 33.0 27.1 37.4
    percentage of team’s points 33.3 33.4 29.7
    Rebounds per game 3.6 5.4 6.0
    Assists per game 7.3 4.5 5.5
    Points per shot 1.31 1.24 1.45
    Winning percentage .519 .556 .640

    In the NBA, the players suit up

    Tanika White of the BaltimoreSun.Com reminds us that on the basketball court, NBA players dazzle. They’re quick. They’re flashy. They look good doing what they do. And nowadays, two months after an imposed leaguewide dress code, early fashion reviews are in: These pro ballplayers are looking equally as good off the court.

    The Cleveland Cavaliers’ hip young star LeBron James has a penchant for preppy cable-knit sweaters under his suit jackets. Allen Iverson throws a phat leather jacket over his cashmere walking suits. Shaquille O’Neal likes three-piece suits, with three, four or even eight buttons. Our own Juan Dixon favors Gucci deck shoes and argyle cardigans. For the complete story CLICK HERE.

    Cavaliers seek to start new winning streak

    The SportsNetwork writes, “The Cleveland Cavaliers play four out of their next five games at home and hope to cut into the Detroit Piston’s huge 6 1/2 game lead in the Central Division. But on Tuesday, Richard Jefferson scored 28 points to lead New Jersey past Cleveland, 96-91, at Continental Airlines Arena and end the Cavaliers’ six- game winning streak. LeBron James poured in a game-high 31 points, grabbed 10 boards and handed out eight assists for the Cavaliers. Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 21 points while Larry Hughes chipped in 16 points and seven assists in the loss.

    Cleveland has lost five straight overall to the Nets and eight straight in the Garden State. The Cavaliers have a New Year’s eve afternoon date with the league-leading Pistons (23-3) to finish out the work week. The two teams have yet to play this season but have split eight games over the past two seasons. Despite being a division rival, the two clubs won’t see each other again until the end of February.

    Then its off to Milwaukee (15-11) before returning to the friendly confines of the Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavaliers are a stunning 12-3 at home this season. They are seventh in the league in average home attendance (18,718). The Detroit Pistons lead the league (22,076). Cleveland remains relatively injury-free with only Anderson Varejao (shoulder) and Sasha Pavlovic (ankle) on the injury report.”

    O’Neal and LeBron James top voting for NBA All-Stars

    Yao Ming and Kobe Bryant led the Western Conference while Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James topped the Eastern Conference on Thursday after two rounds of voting for the 2006 NBA All-Star Game. Yao paced all players with 1,319,868 votes for the game in Houston on Feb. 19. Houston teammate Tracy McGrady topped the West forwards with 1,066,013 votes.
    O’Neal, the Miami Heat center, was first in the East with 1,188,830 votes. LeBron James (1,150,920) and Jermaine O’Neal of Indiana (689,526) drew the most votes at forward in the conference. The front-running guards were Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson (1,144,250) and Miami’s Dwyane Wade (827,913).

    Over 1000 people Attended LeBron’s 21st Birthday

    A few days before he officially turns 21, LeBron James was thrown a glamorous birthday party at downtown’s House of Blues.

    The Cavaliers’ All-Star forward celebrated Wednesday with family, friends, fans, teammates and VIPs
    Wearing a white suit, James arrived about 8:30 p.m. in his black Rolls Royce before going inside to host a private dinner for 65 people in the club’s exclusive Foundation Room. Then, it was downstairs to party with 1,000 people.

    Tickets for the party ranged from $50 to $300 with parts of the proceeds going to charity.
    After practice Wednesday, James said he hoped partygoers wouldn’t try to pass off Christmas gifts as his birthday present.

    “I hope I get gifts,” he said with a smile. “I hope a lot of people bring me nice gifts for my birthday.”
    Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, who attended the party, said his wife was at a loss for what to buy for the NBA superstar who presumably has everything.

    “She said, `What do you get LeBron?”‘ Brown said. “I said, ‘I don’t know, babe. You can figure it out.’ ”
    James’ actual birthday is Dec. 30.