ESPN NBA

Posted by Kevin Arnovitz

• In Shoals' interview of Brook Lopez, we learn that the Nets' second-year center is the rare athlete that prefers long-form non-fiction to 140 character burps: "I'm busy writing actual books and stuff like that rather than Twittering."
• Rob Mahoney of The Two Man Game sets the bar for an intriguing Mavs team. The lede: "A simple question with varied, complicated answers: what needs to happen for the Mavs' 2009-2010 season to be considered a success?  Given the roster assembled, is winning the championship the only way to declare the campaign a successful one?  Or, in light of relative expectations, is it enough to merely challenge the natural order?"
• Allen Iverson needs a job; The Sixers need some depth in the backcourt. Michael Kaskey-Blomain of Philadunkia wonders aloud if a second act for Iverson in Philly could work. 
• Finally some semblance of a resolution to the Hawks' ownership fracas. As Bret LaGree of Hoopinion writes, the ownership group in Atlanta have gradually evolved into a relatively functional bunch. Peachtree Hoops also tackles the issue in stellar form. 
• Speaking of the business of the Atlanta Hawks, Micah Hart informs us that Zaza Pachilia is diving into The A's lively restaurant scene. Also of note, "Pachulia, if you recall, participated in last summer's business seminar for NBA players at Northwestern's prestigious Kellogg School of Management."
• Basketbawful continues its "Worsties" series. Among December's lowlights: the elevator in Chris Bosh's apartment building. 
• 21 Reasons to order up NBA League Pass. I'll rank #7 as the most persuasive argument -- local ads.
  
• Not that it hasn't been shouted from the roof tops over the past couple of years, but Leon Powe remains the most rootable player in the Association. 
• Nike's footprint is all over the Michael Jordan exhibit at the Basketball Hall of Fame that the Jordan Brand -- a division of the shoe giant -- paid for. As the article rightly points out, corporate sponsorship of museum exhibitions is de rigueur these days. Furthermore, it's hard not to highlight Jordan's impact on the game without including his pivotal role in the personal branding of athletes.  Still ... "Walking around the exhibit, you never feel free of Nike's vise."
• The results of NBA.com's rookie survey are out. Jonny Flynn gets much love from his classmates.
• What can Randy Foye do for the Wizards? 
• Re: Quentin Richardson's twitter feed, I suppose a summer like Q's is enough to drive a person to astrology: "You may surprise someone with how you express your independence... More for Aries."