'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol: 27

[nasty daddy]

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Steven in Belgium: Hey Travis! What do you think is the Raps biggest need for the rest of the season? Should they go after a Oakley/K Willis/A Davis kind of rugged rebounder/vet? What about Dennis Rodman?

Travis Heath: I don't think the Raps will bring in any kind of veteran presence. Instead, if they make a move, I would expect it to be a D-Leaguer who could develop in the future sort of like Jamario Moon did. As for Dennis Rodman, I think he's signed on to be a part of a special version of "The Apprentice" with Donald Trump. Go figure.

[nasty daddy]

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Ty in Tallapoosa: Should Dice regret not going to denver?

Travis Heath: I have a hard time telling someone else how they "should" feel. When I talked to Dice he told me he didn't want to move again so late in his career and that's why he didn't want to come to Denver. He never mentioned winning as a major part of his thinking process. As such, I'm not sure he does regret it. That said, there has to be a part of him that looks at the success Denver is having and can't help but wonder what could have been. Antonio is just the kind of crafty and veteran big the Nuggets need to push them to the next level.

[nasty daddy]

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Bynum Feels No Pain, Losing Swelling
The Lakers might not seem as if they miss Andrew Bynum, losing only one game since his knee injury, but they'll obviously welcome him back whenever he returns.

He continues to lift weights to maintain his upper-body strength but has not yet started running.

All indications are that he will return between March 30 and April 27, within the original eight-to-12 week forecast released by the team after Bynum suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee. "It feels fine, very little pain," Bynum said Thursday. "The swelling's all the way down. I'm optimistic. I just hope it keeps going the way it's going now."

[nasty daddy]

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Najera Critical of Self for Not Being Healthy
Eduardo Najera turned himself last season into a shooter. This season he’s become a sitter.

“I never stole money in my career,’’ said Najera, a forward who signed a four-year, $13 million deal with New Jersey last summer after leaving the Nuggets as a free agent. “I guess there's a first time for everything.’’

The problem is Najera can’t stay healthy, having played in just 27 of the Nets’ 58 games. The latest problem is an abdominal injury, which could result in surgery that would end Najera’s season.

[nasty daddy]

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Steven Hunter's Career is in Jeopardy
As the Nuggets figure out how they are going to navigate the stretch run of the season, center Steven Hunter is figuring out how he’s going to resume his career. It is in jeopardy.

In November, doctors told Hunter it might be in his best interest to end his career, prior to an arthroscopic surgical procedure on his right knee – his second in two seasons. But Hunter is set on playing again and is forging forward to do so at risk to his future health. It has become a classic struggle of head vs. heart. “(The doctor) told me that it would be very hard for me to come back and play at a certain level,” Hunter said. “It was all about how hard I dedicate myself to getting my knee stronger, and actually waiting and letting it heal. But he was like, ‘You don’t have the best knee. And with the years remaining on your contract I wouldn’t risk playing to further damage it.’ But, you know, I love playing the game; I’m a young man at 27, and I believe my knee is strong enough now.”

Hunter was originally scheduled to miss 12 weeks after the surgery, done on Nov. 14. The 12th week was the first week of February. Hunter is now on week 15, and, though he told me in a December interview that he was targeting a return in March, nothing is certain anymore.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/TheWireStory.asp?id=17097

The Portland Trail Blazers are sliding and Greg Oden can't help stop the bleeding.

The Trail Blazers will likely be without Oden once again on Friday when they wrap up a three-game road trip against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

All five contests have come without Oden, who chipped his left kneecap when he collided with Warriors forward Corey Maggette during a 105-98 loss at Golden State on February 12.The top pick in the 2007 draft out of Ohio State, Oden missed all of last season following microfracture surgery on his right knee and this seems to be another setback. "I get a daily update and we thought, everybody thought, that he would be moving by now, if not playing," Portland coach Nate McMillan told The Oregonian. "But things just keep getting pushed back." "I just thought I would get some ice and get it over with," Oden said Tuesday. "It turned out to be something bigger."