AGRI Biz

The Houston Rockets roared past the Los Angeles Lakers 101-91 Sunday night at Staples Center. á In light of this stupendous upset, you have a few questions. á Such as: á How did the Rockets lose in Sacramento to the team that finished with last seasonÆs worst record before out-classing the defending champions on the road? á How did the Rockets win the rebounding battle 60-38 against the Lakers but lose it 57-36 against the Kings? á Why did center ...

Byron Scottáis no less a victim than Sam Mitchell in Torontoáor Eddie Jordan in Washington. He is a victim of the most disturbing, anger-inducing trend in sports. The quick fix. The scapegoat game. The easy way out. The predictable public relations response. Mark my wordsùScott's dismissal as coach of the Hornets will not make New Orleans a better franchise now or next year. Raise your hand if you think GM Jeff Bower has any ...

When the San Antonio Spurs completed a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks in Juneáto acquire swingman Richard Jefferson for Kurt Thomas, Fabricio Oberto and Bruce Bowen, three words came to mind. Los Angeles Lakers. With the move, the Spurs announced their intention to compete punch-for-punch with the mega-talented defending champions. Tim Duncan wanted to carry thatástatus at least once more, and the front office and ownership group needed to spend big to give ...

The Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic have taken flight. The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers are still humming. á Someone will have to beat the Lake Show to retake the NBA throne, and Kobe Bryant's 41-pointánightáin Houston, which he managed while battling the flu,áreminded everyone how tough that task will be. á While the Celtics stole the Cleveland CavaliersÆ home opener and the Lakers won back-to-back overtime games in Oklahoma City and Houston without ...

The Memphis Grizzlies dropped a 113-100 decision to the Los Angeles Clippers Saturday night at Staples Center. They blew a halftime lead the night before in the same building against the defending champion Lakers. á Another season means another chance for mortally ill Memphis to lose 50 to 60 games. á ItÆs hard to know whatÆs worse, that the Grizzlies brass considered adding Allen Iverson to this chaos, or that GM Chris Wallace and ...

Writer's note: Every Monday and Friday, I will publish an edition of "Kleeman's Jump Hook ." Since my work concentrates on the teams in the Texas triangle, this column affords me the opportunity to examine the happenings in the rest of the NBA. In this space, expect these regular features: an opinion piece on a topic of league-wide interest, 'performance of the week,' 'give this a thumbs up,' 'malcontent of the ...

My favorite Gregg Popovich storyùtold repeatedly to meábyáa friendùunfoldedáat San Antonio-basedáTrinity University several years ago. The Spurs coach wanted to watch Trinity square off againstáPomona-Pitzer, the small liberal arts college where he served asáhead coach for seven years. Just after tipoff, Bob Hillùthe nomadic head coach whose children played basketball at Trinityùentered the William H. Bell Athletic Centeráand scowled when he saw the man who had fired him sitting in a prime ...

When it came to the Houston Rockets winning prospects in Salt Lake City Monday night, I was notáamongst the massive crowd of non-believers. I was at the gravesite shoveling the dirt over Aaron Brooks, Chuck Hayes, Luis Scola, and Rick Adelman. When several friends asked if the Rockets had any chance at Energy Solutions Arena, I said "no" as emphatically as Charles Barkley says "yes" to Krispy Kremes. Barkley, in case you missed ...

The Dallas Mavericks waxed the Los Angeles Lakers Friday night 94-80 and then encored the next evening with a gritty 93-84 victory over the LA Clippers. Their back-to-back Staples Center romps were as out of character as they were important. á Those Mavs, the ones who blew a 2-0 Finals lead and then lost in consecutive first rounds, arenÆt supposed to win these kinds of games. á History suggestedùno, it promisedùthe team would return ...

His absence during the Los Angeles Lakers ring ceremony Tuesday night was conspicuous to the few who recognize his extraordinary hand in Phil JacksonÆs peerless success. á Most TNT viewers would not have cared had long-time Lakers PA announcer Lawrence Tanter called his name with the rest of the assistant coaches. á Casual fans rarely appreciate reclusive or terminally ill consultants. á They want Kobe Bryant and a glimpse of the legendary Jackson. á They want to see ...