A cursory glance at the NBA

NBA training camp is finally in full swing, so it’s the perfect time to update you on the finer aspects of each team.

The Atlantic Division

Boston Celtics

"Anything is possible" (see Garnett, Kevin) with the reigning champions. Since lifting the Larry O'Brien trophy in June, the Celtics have experienced some changes in personnel. Gone are the veteran figures of James Posey and PJ Brown, but the Cs should be able to count on the improvement of Kendrick Perkins, Rajon Rondo and Leon Powe to bridge the gap in talent. Rookies JR Giddens and Bill Walker should also be able to work their way into the rotation this season.

Anyway, any team with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen playing within a team concept should be able to sweep the East easily for another two seasons.

New Jersey Nets

Does anyone still remember a guy named Vince Carter, the guy who's formally known as "half-man, half amazing"?

It's time to dust off those Nike Shox in the closet if you're a Nets fan ‘cause he's the only star you've got on the team next season, with Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson gone to the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks respectively.

For people slightly more curious about the team rapper Jay-Z co-owns, remember the name Sean Williams. The forward is fast improving under the tutelage of coach Lawrence Frank, and we should see some flashes of brilliance from the forward, when he gets easy dunks in the new Dribble Drive Motion offence the Nets plan to unleash on the League in October.

Side note: Yi Jian Lian is on this team, go Team China!

New York Knicks

The big joke in the Big Apple continues, at least for another season.

Troubled guard Stephon Marbury appeared on Media Day blabbering about his legacy and offering to pray for reporters. Eddy Curry appeared for training camp in possibly the worst shape of his life, and is sitting out practice due to a "bacterial virus", meaning it'll be some time before the center gets a chance to get back in playing shape and assimilating himself into Coach Mike D'Antoni's famed "seven seconds or less" offence.

The only bright side of the media circus known as the Knicks is the addition of Donnie Walsh (Isaiah Thomas' replacement as the President of basketball operations) and D'Antoni, and maybe the US$21.9 million expiring contract of Marbury.

Expect to see the Knicks in the lottery come Draft day.

Philadelphia 76ers

Ed Stefanski is a genius, at least on paper.

The GM of the Sixers managed to entice Elton Brand to head east to Philadelphia, immediately elevating the team into the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference.

The Duke product will provide the inside scoring punch that the Sixers sorely missed last season, freeing guards Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala to freelance further on the perimeter. Brand's rebounding and post defence will improve the already potent Philadelphia transition offence, and give center Sam Dalembert license to bomb forward on the break.

The All-Star forward may not be able to make the Sixers shoot better from the outside, but his ability on the block should free shooters to get better shots this season, a basic platform for the team to attract free agent sharpshooters to sign before the Playoffs.

Toronto Raptors

The guys up north are this season's dark horses of the East, especially after trading for oft-injured center-forward Jermaine O'Neal.

The former Indiana and Portland player will provide interior strength, defence and savvy to bolster Toronto's rail-thin frontline (yes, I'm talking about you Chris Bosh!), provided he stays healthy this season.

O'Neal powered a star-studded Pacers team to an Eastern Conference Final back in 2004, can he do the same in 2008?

Time will tell.

By Vincent Lai

Tags: sports, nba, news, Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, New York, Philadelphia, Toronto Raptors

Yao admits fitness struggle

Houston center Yao Ming has admitted he was less than 100% when he played for China at the Beijing Olympics.

Yao returned to training camp with the Houston Rockets on Tuesday ahead of the new NBA season and has declared himself fit to go, while admitting that he had played through the pain in Beijing.

"I feel good," he told the Houston Chronicle. "I can't say it's like brand new, but it's like my foot."

The Rockets had been nervous about allowing Yao to play in Beijing so soon after he suffered the injury in February, but accepted they would not be able to persuade the face of Chinese basketball to sit out an Olympic Games on home soil.

Having played, Yao said he felt the Games had helped his recovery.

"That was not 100%, I know that," he said of his fitness in Beijing. "I was about 70 or 80% in the Olympics. I tried my best. Because of my injury, I could not give them 100%.

"But in a way, the Olympics were a very good tryout for me to prepare for the Rockets' season. If you throw this out there, probably some of the Chinese fans will not be happy, but that's just being honest."

by espnstar.com/us-sports/nba/news

Tags: sport, nba, news, Yao Ming, China, Houston Rockets

Consortium confirm Keegan talks

South African businessman Jonathan Cleland is confident he can persuade Kevin Keegan to return as Newcastle manager if his consortium is successful in buying the club.

The 46-year-old Scotland-based tycoon today confirmed he held talks with Keegan in Manchester on Monday evening, and was hugely impressed with him.

Cleland revealed he is "80% confident" of being able to push through a deal, but admitted he is not yet in a position to make any promises.

He told the city's evening newspaper, the Evening Chronicle: "My meeting with Kevin went very well. I am hugely impressed with him and I got the sense there was good chemistry between us and there is a strong mutual interest in working together.

"He is our preferred option, but we cannot make any concrete decisions on the managerial position until negotiations on our planned takeover are further advanced.

"I think he understands and supports our concept of developing the club organically."

Cleland's public statement confirms speculation over the last week or so that Keegan could make a sensational return to St James' Park following his resignation last month.

However, there is still a long way to go until the South African consortium - or indeed any other potential buyer - can appoint a manager.

Cleland and his partners claim to have lodged a bid for the club with investment bankers Seymour Pierce, who have been appointed by owner Mike Ashley to sell it.

They and other interested parties have been asked to sign a confidentiality clause, although it is understood their offer is in the region of £300million.

The South Africans and a Nigerian consortium have emerged as the front-runners, in public at least, over the last week or so, and Cleland is hopeful of making a breakthrough.

He said: "I would say we are at least 80% confident of this working. We are cautiously optimistic, but we are not arrogant.

"I am a businessman who happens to be a supporter, and the club and the fans deserve better and we are hoping to achieve that.

"What we have to do is get the fans to come out and support the club in the coming games in their numbers and, in particular, to support the interim manager, who has such a challenge ahead of him."

That interim manager is Joe Kinnear, who hit the headlines today after rounding on his critics.

Kinnear was appointed by Ashley last Friday until the end of October, by which time the billionaire hopes the sale will have gone through.

Cleland confirmed his consortium would install Brazilian soccer schools pioneer Simon Clifford as technical director.

But interestingly, he declined to comment on the fate members of the current regime - Keegan resigned amid a disagreement over the roles of executive director (football) Dennis Wise and vice-president (Player recruitment) Tony Jimenez - could face.

He said: "We would make it very clear that there is a clear hierarchy in place and everybody would fully understand who is calling the shots and who isn't.

"We would not necessarily throw the baby out with the bath water, but in any professional organisation, you have to carry out a detailed review of the human capital to establish exactly who has the capabilities you want and who doesn't.

"It would be inappropriate to discuss which individuals would stay and which wouldn't, and even at a later stage, it would be disrespectful to the brand to pass comment on people."

The members of Cleland's consortium remain anonymous, although a series of South African businessmen linked with Newcastle have denied any interest.

Brian Joffe, founder of investment holding firm Bidvest, today joined billionaire Johann Rupert, the man behind Swiss-owned luxury goods company Richemont, in dismissing the rumours.

And Vivian Imerman, a former owner of Del Monte who has since bought into Scottish Whisky producer Whyte and Mackay, issued a statement after earlier denials went unheeded.

A spokesman said: "Vivian Imerman can re-confirm that he has no involvement whatsoever with any proposed purchase of Newcastle United nor any other football club.

"Neither Vivian Imerman nor Vasari, the investment company Vivian heads, has any interest in investing in football clubs."

by espnstar.com/football/premier-league/news

Tags: football, premier league, news, Kevin Keegan, Newcastle, manager

BPL Saturday Team News

espnstar.com brings you all the latest team news for Saturday's four exciting matches in the Barclays Premier League.

Blackburn Rovers vs Manchester United

(Watch this match LIVE on STAR Sports from 0030 HKT)

Wayne Rooney will be fit for England next week, even though he is still a doubt for Manchester United's Barclays Premier League clash with Blackburn at Ewood Park on Saturday.

Rooney has only just returned to ball work in training after injuring his ankle in Aalborg on Tuesday, but Sir Alex Ferguson has "no issues" with the 22-year-old joining up with Fabio Capello's squad for the World Cup double-header with Kazakhstan and Belarus next week.

Skipper Gary Neville is also a doubt with a slight thigh injury, while Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick join Paul Scholes (knee) on the sidelines.

Blackburn boss Paul Ince is close to having goalkeeper Paul Robinson and summer signing Vince Grella fit for action, but Saturday's clash could be too early for both players.

Former Gillingham keeper Jason Brown made his first Blackburn start at Newcastle last time out and looks likely to face the reigning champions at Ewood Park as Robinson struggles to shake off the calf injury he sustained against Everton in the Carling Cup.

Australia international Grella could be named among the substitutes for the match but is more likely to make his Rovers return after the international break.

Steven Reid is out with a knee problem, while Benni McCarthy is back in training but is unlikely to be sharp enough for the starting XI.

Teams:

Blackburn (from): Brown, Robinson, Bunn, Nelsen, Samba, Ooijer, Warnock, Emerton, Olsson, Tugay, Derbyshire, Santa Cruz, Villanueva, Fowler, Andrews, Fowler, Grella, Treacy, Pedersen .

Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Amos, Neville, Brown, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, O'Shea, Fletcher, Anderson, Giggs, Nani, Tevez, Berbatov, Rooney, Welbeck.


Sunderland vs Arsenal

(Watch this match LIVE on ESPN from 2200 HKT)

Arsenal expect to have midfielder Alex Song available for Saturday's league match at Sunderland following a hip problem.

The Gunners have no fresh injury worries following the midweek European win over Porto as they look to bounce back from the shock Barclays Premier League home defeat by Hull.

Abou Diaby (thigh) is a couple of weeks away from a return, but Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Amaury Bischoff (groin) and striker Eduardo (leg) all remain in recovery.

Sunderland midfielder Liam Miller is struggling to make the clash against the Gunners.

Miller could join Teemu Tainio (shoulder), Phil Bardsley (ankle) and Grant Leadbitter (broken nose) on the sidelines after suffering a groin injury in training.

Striker Kenwyne Jones (knee) is back in training, but is still some way away from a return.

Teams:

Sunderland (from): Gordon, Fulop, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Diouf, Whitehead, Miller, Reid, Richardson, Malbranque, Henderson, Cisse, Murphy, Healy, Stokes, Chopra.

Arsenal (from): Almunia, Clichy, Toure, Gallas, Sagna, Nasri, Fabregas, Denilson, Walcott, Adebayor, Van Persie, Fabianski, Song, Djourou, Vela, Bendtner, Ramsey, Eboue, Silvestre.


Wigan Athletic vs Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate could be without three key players for the Barclays Premier League trip to Wigan on Saturday.

Full-back Andrew Taylor is a doubt with a hip flexor problem, while central defender Robert Huth has an ankle injury, so Jonathan Grounds has been recalled from his loan spell at Norwich.

In addition, Gary O'Neil is ill and will be assessed after training.

Skipper Emanuel Pogatetz serves the second game of a three-match suspension, while Tuncay Sanli (knee) is a long-term absentee and Julio Arca (ankle) has returned to Argentina to see a specialist.

Lee Cattermole is the only injury doubt for Wigan manager Steve Bruce.

The young midfielder is determined to face Boro after leaving his hometown club this summer and is battling to overcome the hamstring injury which forced him off during last week's defeat of Manchester City.

Michael Brown is on stand-by after replacing Cattermole early in the second half, Olivier Kapo is hoping to keep his place on the left of midfield, while full-back Erik Edman is nearing a return from a long-term knee injury.

Teams:

Wigan (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Valencia, Cattermole, Palacios, Kapo, Heskey, Zaki, Brown, Camara, De Ridder, Kilbane, Koumas, Kupisz, Scharner, Taylor, Pollitt, Kingson.

Middlesbrough (from): Turnbull, Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, Huth, Riggott, Taylor, Grounds, Digard, O'Neil, Aliadiere, Downing, Johnson, Shawky, Alves, Mido, Walker, Emnes, Craddock.


West Bromwich Albion vs Fulham

(Watch this match LIVE on STAR Sports from 2200 HKT)

West Brom will be forced into one change from the side which won at Middlesbrough with midfielder Kim Do-Heon ruled out of the Fulham match with medial ligament damage.

Former Manchester City striker Ishmael Miller - still searching for his first goal of the campaign is in contention to replace Do-Heon in the starting line-up for Saturday's visit of the Cottagers in the Barclays Premier League.

Filipe Teixeira will not return, despite making a reserve team comeback after six months out with a knee problem in midweek. The Portuguese player is likely to be in contention when Albion are next in action, on October 18 at Manchester United.

Chris Brunt, Abdoulaye Meite and Neil Clement are all out.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson will wait to ensure that striker Bobby Zamora has recovered from the cold which prevented him from training on Thursday.

With striker Andy Johnson suspended after being sent off in the 2-1 home defeat by West Ham last week, Hodgson will choose between South Korean international Seol Ki-Hyeon, who played at the start of the season while the ex-Everton man was recovering from a thigh injury, United States midfielder Clint Dempsey and Norwegian striker Erik Nevland.

Hodgson has added Swedish right-back Fredrik Stoor and midfielder Julian Gray, who is on a one-year loan from Coventry, to the squad - minus Johnson - on duty against West Ham.

Teams:

West Brom (from): Carson, Kiely, Zuiverloon, Hoefkens, Barnett, Donk, Olsson, Robinson, Morrison, Greening, Koren, Cech, Beattie, Moore, Miller, Valero, Bednar, MacDonald, Pele.

Fulham (from): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky; Davies, Bullard, Murphy, Gera; Zamora, Seol, Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Dempsey, Andreasen, Kallio, Baird, Stoor, Gray.

by espnstar.com/football/premier-league/news

Tags: football, premier league, news, Blackburn, Manchester United, LIVE, STAR Sports, World Cup, Arsenal