1. Shaq Sprains Ankle; Pacers Take Advantage
In the SUN-SENTINEL, Ira Winderman writes that "one team is regrouping.
The other is still finding its way. Thursday night, that proved to be
the difference for the Heat's perfect strangers in a 105-102 loss to the
Indiana Pacers at AmericanAirlines Arena. It was a loss that ended with
center Shaquille O'Neal in the Heat locker room for the final 6
minutes, 35 seconds with a sprained right ankle that has him listed as day to
day."
2. Warriors' Davis Unsure He'll Play Tonight
In the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, Janny Hu writes that Baron Davis "may
have created as many questions as he answered following Thursday's
Warriors practice. The point guard is officially listed as a game-time
decision for tonight's meeting with the Jazz, but he looked downright
listless as he recounted his latest injury. Davis, who hasn't played a full
season in three years, re-aggravated his left hamstring with about 6:30
left in the third quarter of Wednesday's season opener."
3. Knicks' Brown Set For Garden Debut
In the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, Frank Isola writes that "Donald Trump,
Chris Rock and Howard Stern are all coming over tonight, but Larry Brown's
only concern is over which Knicks team will show up. On the eve of his
New York opening, that against the Washington Wizards, Brown talked
little about Holzman and sounded a lot like a recent former Knicks head
coach. You know, the little guy who allowed the losses to eat away at him
and was constantly preaching defense, rebounding and execution."
4. Bucks, Redd Off To Sizzling Start
In the NEW YORK POST, Peter Vecsey writes that "the Bucks, 7-34 on the
road a year ago, began with nervy victories down and up the New Jersey
Turnpike, averaging 113.5 points against the 76ers and Nets." Milwaukee
has "ascended into the Eastern Conference's tippy top tier alongside
the Pistons, Pacers and Heat. Two straight successes and Deadly Redd,
perplexingly uninvited to be Larry Bronze's lone zone buster in Greece, is
expected to be named to the '08 Olympic team any moment now."
5. Wolves Coach Casey Back In Seattle Tonight
In the SEATTLE TIMES, Percy Allen writes that "if home is where the
heart is, then Dwane Casey, a Kentucky native and new coach of the
Minnesota Timberwolves, will always belong to Seattle. Eleven years will do
that. Had the timing been a little different, Casey and not Bob Weiss
would likely have been the Sonics' choice to replace Nate McMillan, who
left for Portland. Casey nearly got the job in 2000 after Paul Westphal
was released but insisted the team hire McMillan."
6. Bulls' Hinrich May Play Saturday In Jersey
In the CHICAGO TRIBUNE, Marlen Garcia reports that Kirk Hinrich's
sprained left ankle isn't as bad as it looked Wednesday." Hinrich "was able
to bear weight on the ankle Thursday but didn't practice. Bulls trainer
Fred Tedeschi said Thursday that Hinrich is day-to-day and "it's not
out of the question" for Hinrich to play Saturday night at New Jersey."
7. 'San Antonio North' Visits The Real Thing
In the PLAIN DEALER, Mary Schmitt Boyer writes that "the Cavaliers'
connections to the San Antonio Spurs are so numerous and so deep that NBA
Commissioner David Stern referred to Cleveland as 'San Antonio North'
in a television interview during the team's home opener on Wednesday
night. Cavaliers GM Danny Ferry, coach Mike Brown, assistant general
manager Lance Blanks, assistant coach Hank Egan and guard Mike Wilks all won
titles with the Spurs."
JT
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NBA News for Friday 
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