Kenyon Martin played for the New Jersey Nets six years ago and was around Bruce Ratner briefly but that doesn’t mean K-Mart can’t take shots at the Nets Owner. Kenyon says if you need somebody to blame for New Jersey’s overall decline, including the 0-14 start, point your fingers at Ratner.

Julian Garcia of the NY Daily News spoke to Martin before the Nuggets 101-87 victory over New Jersey:

“When you let people who have never played the game of basketball make decisions, that’s what you get.”

“Bruce Ratner came in and made decisions and it affected everything from that point on. The blame for that has to go somewhere. It can’t always be on the players.”

Kenyon went on to say it’s not coach Lawrence Frank’s fault because he cares so much and tries so hard. Which might be true but there’s enough blame for everybody in New Jersey. Bad owner, injuries, coaching, players, wherever you want to lay blame works until the Nets get their franchise turned around.

Former New Jersey Net Kenyon Martin rips old boss Bruce Ratner, blames him for team’s decline [NY Daily News]

When Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov bought the New Jersey Nets he probably bragged to his Russian billionaire homies about owning a franchise in America’s prestigious NBA. He told them how he was gonna hang out with Jay-Z, build a new stadium in Brooklyn, and land LeBron James in next summer’s free agent race. His enthusiasm has been curbed by his team’s 0-13 start. The NBA record for worst start to a season is 0-17. The mark is well within reach for Prokhorov’s Nets.

Now all of the boasting Mikhail did in September is coming back to bite him in the ass. If his homies are true homies they’re sending him text messages similar to these:

Buying Nets is like hooking up with Miss America contestant from Alabama. You in race but with dog.

If you want bunch of losers why not you buy all of New Jersey?

So many black people in world yet you buy only ones that can’t run, jump, or shoot.

Bernard King no walk through door. Derrick Coleman no walk through door. Jason Kidd no walk through door.

Don’t ask me why Mikhail Prokhorov and his boys text in broken English.. It’s just what they do. And the text are gonna get worse after New Jersey finishes their upcoming four-game road trip.

11-24 @Denver
11-25 @Portland
11-27 @Sacramento
11-29 @Los Angeles Lakers
12-2 Vs. Dallas (Record)

Looking at the schedule you’d think Sacramento is the best shot for a win but the Kings are 4-5 and Arco is a can be a loud and tough place to play. Having Dallas waiting for them after the roady almost assures an 18th loss if the Nets don’t pick up a win on the road. Which seems unlikely since NJ couldn’t beat the Knicks at home… Even with Nate Robinson shooting at the wrong basket:

The Miami Heat played the New Jersey Nets in London and gave the audience what they came to see. A lot of dunks, highlighted by Dwyane Wade throwing down over Yi Jianlian.

That’s the D-Wade I’m used to. If he can stay healthy he’ll be an MVP candidate at the end of the season. I’ll forgive the traveling during the spin move and the double-dribble on breakaways as long as he’s playing hungry.

Highlights from Heat-Nets in London:

Former NBA player Vincent Askew is locked up as the result of a May sexual encounter with a 16-year-old girl. The menace to virginity claimed to be a high school recruiter to lure the young lady to his hotel.

CBS4.com has the details of Askew’s arrest:

He is now sitting in the county jail charged with three counts of sexual battery on a 16-year-old. The consensual sex allegedly took place in May at a Ramada hotel down the street from Dadeland Mall.

He allegedly told the victim that he was recruiting for Gulliver Prep girls’ basketball team. She did not attend the school.

CBS4′s David Sutta spoke with Gulliver staff, and they told him he supervised the pool at the middle school for a month. They were considering hiring him as a coach.

The fact that it was consensual sex doesn’t and shouldn’t matter. Askew’s 42 years old. Vince wasn’t much of a player, but he should be able to pull legal aged women that he doesn’t have to entice with hopes of a spot on the high school basketball team. I guess it’s not all Askew’s fault. There’s obviously something in the Florida water that makes athletes chase under aged girls.

Vincent Askew, NBA, arrest

I replayed this Stromile Swift dunk at least 10 times when I saw it on the highlights. No disrespect to Tyrus Thomas but gyaaawt dayuuumm son.. You shoulda just left it at falling for the pump fake but no. You wanna go hard, hustle, try to recover and make a play.. Look what that got you. Dookey’d on.

Tags: Stromile Swift, New Jersey Nets, Tyrus Thomas, Chicago Bulls, NBA, video, youtube, dunk of the year

It’s been a year since Jason Kidd’s ugly divorce from Joumana, and JK celebrated in style… By announcing that new girlfriend Hope Dworaczyk is pregnant. Hope’s a model, and all around hottie, and she’s generous. From Hope’s Myspace page:

So she likes to party with the homeless… Ok she didn’t exactly say that, but that’s what I took from her statement. If you’re scoring at home, that’s 3 kids with Jumana, and one with Hope. 2 more babies with Hope and Jason Kidd is truly a triple double machine.

Kidd On The Way. Courtesy of The New York Post

Tags: Jason Kidd, Hope Dworaczyk, Pictures, NBA

While the Eastern Conference has Detroit rolling Chicago and the who cares fest of New Jersey and Cleveland, the Western Conference is getting busy. The Suns/Spurs series is being billed as the NBA championship, and Golden State v. Utah got off to an electrifying start.

The Warriors began game 1 in Utah like they ended game 6 in Oakland… Ripping and running, shooting 3s, and getting their And1 on. The Jazz were able to weather the storm even though they trailed by 3, 66-63, at the half. The point guards in this series, Baron Davis and Deron Williams, are giving me flashbacks of Tim Hardaway and John Stockton. Carlos Boozer was a beast down low for Utah (17pts, 20rbds), and Stephen Jackson, well, he’s being Stephen Jackson(16pts, 4ast, 3stls, 12 scowls).

The tempo of the game was up to say the least. Even though both teams were dedicated to pushing the rock there was a little defense played. Kirilenko had 7 blocks and 0 cries while Andris Biedrins had 2 blocks and 3 steals. The most amazing part of the game was Al Harrington’s re-emergence as a member of the Warriors. Harrington carried the Warriors in the 1st quarter with 3 3pt shots, and I was surprised he didn’t get a little more time on the floor.

If the Western Conference can give us 12 more games like the first two of the semis, it’ll more than make up for the Leastern side. While I’m dissing the East, would any of you be surprised if the Pistons won it all? I wouldn’t.

If you missed the Jazz/Warriors game, and you didn’t get a chance to see the highlights, watch the video below for a recap. Utah’s the one in all black.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYxB4iQWOJ8&mode=related&search=]

The actual game was just like that. The two teams went toe to toe and traded blows right down to the end.

This next scrap didn’t work out so well for Jazz fans.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfqHZsz270Q]

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 **EDITOR’S NOTE** I started working on this post well before Midnight. I got a call from an out of town friend and missed my “daily” Rockets post. I hope this doesn’t have serious repercussions for the Houston Rockets. **END EDITOR’S NOTE**

Let me make one thing clear: I AM A PHILADELPHIA 76ERS FAN. I am only supporting the Houston Rockets in the playoffs because of this post. When the Rockets win the championship or are eliminated from the playoffs, I will revert back to my normal self. There’s no need to email me and call me a traitor or a phony. I ride with my teams do or die and nothing can change that. On to the playoffs….

The Houston Rockets lead the Utah Jazz 3-2: The Rockets don’t take the court again until Thursday night and I can’t wait. I’m feeling Houston closing this series on the road in Utah. I don’t know what would make me feel that way since the H-Town O has been MIA in SLC. I believe that Tracy McGrady is gonna do everything in his power to advance to the second round… as soon as possible. My perfect Thursday scenario: Gabrielle Union comes over to watch the game with me and brings a bottle of JWB (Johnny Walker Black). The Rockets beat Utah and Dallas beats the Warriors giving Houston a little rest before the next series. I know this scenario is highly unlikely… Dallas probably won’t win in Oakland. Positivity time: THE HOUSTON ROCKETS WIN THE SERIES IN 6 GAMES.

The Detroit Pistons over the Orlando Magic 4-0: I was wrong with my prediction for this series. Get used to hearing that. I picked Detroit in 5 for some unknown reason. Orlando was in a tailspin for the last half of the season and they finally crashed in the playoffs. Nothing much to say about this series. It was like watching a varsity-junior varsity scrimmage. The Pistons get the feisty Bulls in the next round. It’s like the 80s all over again. How long til Rasheed says “if Hinrich were black, he’d be just another player” or something to that affect?

The Chicago Bulls over the Miami Heat 4-0: I was wrong with my prediction for this series (I’m not done yet). Don’t laugh too much, I was only off by 3 games with my Miami in 7 pick. The adolescent Bulls dominated this series in the regular and post-season. I know Wade wasn’t 100% but it wasn’t gonna matter. Luol Deng and Ben Gordon provided the offensive punch, Ben Wallace supplied the “D”, and the team as a whole out fought the old and tired Miami Heat. The Bulls’ sweep of the Heat marks the 6th time a Shaquille O’Neal playoff team has been swept to elimination.

The Cleveland Cavaliers over the Washington Wizards 4-0: Guess what? That’s right, my prediction for this series was wrong too. I had Cleveland in 5 even with Arenas and Butler sidelined for the Wiz. I didn’t think the Cavaliers were mentally tough enough to close out any team in 4 games. I was wrong. Even though I watched this series I didn’t learn a whole helluva lot. The Cavs coasted through the series and should make it to the Eastern Conference finals having lost no more than 2 games. Cleveland’s sweep of Washington completed the Central division’s dominance over the Southeast division… A perfect 12-0 record.

The Phoenix Suns lead The Los Angeles Lakers 3-1: I’m right on pace in this series. I picked the Suns in 5 and I’m sticking to it. I knew Kobe would be good for one win and one win only. I’m sure the Lakers’ Mitch Kupchak is trying to figure out a way to trade Andrew Bynum for Jason Kidd before Wednesday’s game. I doubt that would help since the Suns have the most talented top six in the league. Nash, Bell, Marion, Diaw, Stoudamire, and Barbosa are the murderers row of hoops. You could combine a couple of teams and still not have that much talent on your roster. The Pistons have the second best six with Billups, Hamilton, Prince, Wallace, Webber, and McDyess. In comparing the two, which match-up would you say favors Detroit? Sheed over Boris is the only one I see. Another positive for Phoenix: No team that has gotten rid of Shaq has won a playoff series since his departure. Orlando 0-6 and the Lakers soon to be 0-2.

The San Antonio Spurs lead the Denver Nuggets 3-1: I picked San Antonio in 6 so I’m still alive which is more than I can say for Denver. The Nuggets game one victory got everybody pumped.. Unfortunately for the Nuggs everybody included the Spurs. SA doesn’t win pretty.. They don’t get the hype that some of the other teams get.. They’re like the sheep dog in the old school cartoons. They come to work, punch the clock, whoop your ass, and punch out. San Antonio has managed to win 3 games and stay on the good side of the referees.. Kinda.. Denver has been whistled for 71 fouls, San Antonio for 73, but I’ve seen Duncan fouled at least 10 times with no call. Timmy looked so distraught over the lack of calls in game 4 that I thought he might actually brush his hair.

The New Jersey Nets lead the Toronto Raptors 3-2: I’m looking good here. I got New Jerz in 6 even though they shoulda closed this series out in 5. Vince Carter is the male exotic dancer and his fiance to the Raptors fan’s Payton, Cassell, and Caffey. If you don’t follow, the Toronto fans have been abusing Vince. Jason Kidd has been doing his thing, and it’s good to see RJ back in action. I like the Raps team and the direction they’re headed in. GM Bryan Colangelo is as bright as they come. Look at the moves he made with the Phoenix Suns, Tim Thomas and Eddie House, as compared to the moves the Suns made this year, Marcus Banks and Jalen Rose. Bryan’s number one priority is to sign or replace coach Sam Mitchell. If and when the Nets advance I can’t see them getting past Cleveland. Of course, as you can see, I don’t know what the hell I’m talking about.

The Golden State Warriors lead the Dallas Mavericks 3-2: I picked Dallas in 6 games and at this point the Mavs would be lucky to see game 7. The most exciting series in the playoffs has also been a coming out party for Baron Davis and the Warriors fans. BD has averaged 26 points, 5 boards, 5 assist, and 2 steals while the Warriors fans have produced Jessica Alba. The rest of the fans have been outstanding but who cares, Jessica Alba is there…

The Mavericks started the series on a bad note when head coach Avery Johnson decided to start his small lineup to match-up with Golden State. Why is the 1 seed adjusting to the 8? I’m seriously asking you because I can’t figure it out. Nellie and crew need to be given a ton of credit for the defensive scheme they’ve used against Dallas. Putting a smaller, quicker player on Dirk, and then rushing him with double and triple teams from a variety of spots has worked well to this point. So well that people are calling for Dirk to return the MVP trophy that he hasn’t won yet. This really bothers me.

Dirk Nowitzki or Steve Nash are/were the only MVP candidates this year. The MVP is a regular season award. What do Dirk’s playoff successes and failures have to do with the regular season? Nothing. Does anybody hold the fact that Nash is only the second (Kareem 75-76 & 76-77) back to back MVP to not appear in the NBA finals in either year that he won the award? Nope. Nowitzki led his team to 67 wins and now everybody wants to run him out of the league because of a sub-par series against his former coach. What if Steve Nash was going up against a team coached by Mike D’Antoni? I’d have to guess that Mike and his staff would have a good idea of how to create problems for Steve.

I don’t care who wins the MVP trophy, but it seems to me that people are grinding some sort of personal axe against Dirk. People knock him for his style of play and at the same time celebrate Mehmet Okur or the rookie Bargnani for basically playing the same way. I don’t know if it’s because Nowitzki sings Hasslehoff at the free throw line or our country’s past problems with Germany, but this guy takes a lot of flack. If Dirk and the Mavs can find a way to win the series against G. State how many people will give the MVP trophy back to Dirk? I’ll bet zero.

This is why I’m rolling with the Rockets. Courtesy of yours truly

You can take a look at my brackets here. Courtesy of Ball Hype

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