Klub Basket Satria Ngunut

LeBron James cracked open the possibility for the first time Saturday of signing an extension with Cleveland after this season.

The forgone conclusion has been James finishing his deal with the Cavaliers in 2010 and going into that summer as the Alpha Dog in a bumper crop of free agents. That's likely still the course, though James is eligible to sign an extension in July, 2009.

"After this season, I think I will consider it," James said before the Cavs left Denver for Oklahoma City.

"We need to play out the season, of course, and like I've said, I live for the moment, but the direction we're headed in is everything that I expected and more. I'm definitely going to keep an open mind about the situation."

James should be pleased, as the season couldn't be going much better for the Cavaliers. Cleveland owns the second-best record in the NBA (behind defending champion Boston) and is considered the best bet to unseat the Celtics in the Eastern Conference.

The Cavaliers' 22-4 start is the best in franchise history and the Central Division leaders are coming off Saturday's 105-88 dismantling of Northwest-leading Denver on the road. The Nuggets are another in a long line of blowout victims this season, as Cleveland sports the league's largest point differential.

However, the Cavs' playoff run will likely go a long way in determining whether or not James signs after the season. Just reaching the NBA Finals might not be enough. James willed Cleveland there with a transcendent playoff run in 2007, but the Cavs were denied the Larry O'Brien trophy by San Antonio.

Since then, general manager Danny Ferry and coach Mike Brown have worked to improve the cast around James, adding Mo Williams, Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West through trades.

Brown has praised the cohesiveness of the current group.

"Our guys understand that we're a defensive team," he said. "That's our identity, but the biggest thing is just the chemistry that the group has amongst one another. They like each other a ton and they want to play for one another, which makes it fun."

James is having as much fun as anyone, even if his numbers are down across the board. He's playing less and the Cavs are winning more, a formula James gladly subscribes to. And when he needs to take over a game, he does just that.

James has been stung by criticism that he's too preoccupied with 2010, most notably by TNT analyst Charles Barkley. James isn't worried about that perception. It would be foolish, he said, not to think about what lies ahead.

"Years go by so fast that it's hard not to think about the future," he said. "You live for the moment, of course, but you've also got to prepare for the future. That's life. That's everybody. Being in the situation you're in now, you definitely think about it, but you do live for the moment."

As for what the future holds after this season, James remains open.

"I'm definitely going to weigh all my options," he said.

Jason Kidd turned a loser into a winner, then knew it was time to move on when he realized he couldn't take the New Jersey Nets any further.

And as he returns to New Jersey for the first time since he was traded, Kidd prefers to focus on the good times he and the team had before things went sour last season.

"The things that we accomplished while I was there, nobody can take that away," Kidd said Thursday. "We took something that was almost nothing and we had a great ride. Got to the finals twice, made it to the playoffs every year and we brought a lot of respect to New Jersey basketball."

Kidd will get a look at what is left now when his Dallas Mavericks visit Friday night. He tried to downplay the importance of the game after practice, but it's meaningful in New Jersey, which never had much sustained NBA success before Kidd arrived in 2001.

"It's important," said Nets guard Devin Harris, the key player New Jersey acquired from Dallas last February. "Obviously he's a good part of this organization. It is going to be a lot of emotions in that game obviously on both sides with the big trade that happened last year. It should be a fun game, obviously seeing those guys again and getting out there, mixing it up a little bit. I'm really looking forward to it."

Jason Kidd will be making his first trip to New Jersey since being traded to Dallas to face Devin Harris and the Nets.
Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images

The Nets were coming off two straight 50-loss seasons when they acquired Kidd from Phoenix in July 2001. They went 52-30 the next season and made the first of two straight trips to the NBA Finals, then remained an elite team in the Eastern Conference over the next five years.

But Kidd recognized the Nets were on the way down when they became no better than a second-round team, and when the team wasn't interested in extending his contract that runs out after this season, it became apparent it was time to go.

He sat out a December game with a migraine, which was reported as his form of protest, and the Nets decided there was little other choice than to move the player who is their career leader in assists, triple-doubles and three other categories.

Nets president Rod Thorn struck a deal with Dallas to acquire the promising Harris, who could be an All-Star this season, later saying of Kidd that it was "evident that his heart wasn't in it."

"I did everything I could," Kidd said. "Played every night, I made my teammates better. There wasn't anything else I could have done. If I was still here, I would still be playing hard."

The Mavericks lost in the first round of the playoffs, where Kidd was badly outplayed by Chris Paul. With Harris averaging 23.8 points this season -- for far less money than Kidd -- many believe that New Jersey got the better end of the trade.

But as well as Harris is playing individually, it will take much more to match the impact Kidd had in New Jersey.

"Devin's playing great and you're measured by wins and losses in this league," Kidd said. "At the end of the day, that's what you're counted on to do as an employee is to try to win every game. At the end of the day, we'll see what happens."

New Orleans' Chris Paul set an NBA record with a steal in his 106th straight regular-season game Wednesday night.

Paul broke Alvin Robertson's mark set between November 1985 and December 1986. Robertson was playing for San Antonio when he set the previous mark of 105, which Paul tied Tuesday night in Memphis.

Paul broke the record when he stole the ball from San Antonio's Tony Parker with 3:43 left in the second quarter. The crowd immediately recognized the record and stood in applause.

"It's just something that he does. He has great anticipation and the biggest thing is he's always around that ball somewhere, a lot like Alvin when he played," said Hornets coach Byron Scott, who was playing for the Los Angeles Lakers when Robertson set the previous record. "Chris is the same way. Guys think they got layups and then all of a sudden, here he comes. So, that's an amazing record."

Michael Jordan had the third-longest streak in that category, swiping the ball in 77 consecutive regular-season games from March of 1988 to March of 1989.

Paul's streak began on April 13, 2007, when the Hornets, still displaced by Hurricane Katrina, hosted the Denver Nuggets in Oklahoma City. It nearly came to an end last Jan. 23, when he didn't make his first steal in a game against Portland until 3:12 remained in the fourth quarter.

"He's been such a good player, offensively, and when that happens, I think most fans and people recognize that about players," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said before the game. "They look at what people score, but very few players get credit for what they do at the other end of the floor also, especially if they're good offensively. So [the streak] brings attention to what he does at the other end of the floor and I think that's great because he deserves credit for it."

The first set of balloting is for the 2009 NBA All-Star game and surprisingly, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard is the overall top vote getter thus far. It's surprising not because Howard isn't a great player, he is. But, when you're in the same professional sports league with the likes of super popular players, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant - let's admit it, this event is a popularity contest - it's amazing to see Howard at the top of the charts. But, then again, how do you deny Superman and his stardom from taking off? You apparently don't.

So, how does the balloting work? One hundred twenty players – 60 each from the Eastern and Western conferences – are listed on the NBA All-Star ballot. Voters select two guards, two forwards and one center from each conference. The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media experts who regularly cover the NBA. This year’s panel included Paul Coro (Arizona Republic), Ernie Johnson (TNT), Jack McCallum (Sports Illustrated), David Moore (Dallas Morning News), Marc Spears (Boston Globe) and Marc Stein (ESPN.com).

2009 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING - First Returns - EASTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: LeBron James (Clev) 643,786; Kevin Garnett (Bos) 495,514; Yi Jianlian (NJ) 356,556; Chris Bosh (Tor) 274,195; Paul Pierce (Bos) 153,512; Shawn Marion (Mia) 144,066; Josh Smith (Atl) 59,574; Tayshaun Prince (Det) 56,846; Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) 56,006; Danny Granger (Ind) 49,752; Michael Beasley (Mia) 48,999.

Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 623,311; Allen Iverson (Det) 492,093; Vince Carter (NJ) 236,634; Ray Allen (Bos) 174,155; Jose Calderon (Tor) 124,705; Luke Ridnour (Mil) 123,104; Jameer Nelson (Orl) 116,228; Derrick Rose (Chi) 102,263; Joe Johnson (Atl) 94,847; Devin Harris (NJ) 94, 294; Gilbert Arenas (Wash) 64,450.

Centers: Dwight Howard (Orl) 775;933; Samuel Dalembert (Phi) 116,708; Rasheed Wallace (Det) 88,885; Jermaine O’Neal (Tor) 75,324; Al Horford (Atl) 45,284; Ben Wallace (Clev) 40,799; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 36,479; Zyrdrunas Ilgauskas (Clev) 28,022; Kendrick Perkins (Bos) 24,777; Emeka Okafor (Char) 15,323.

2009 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING - First Returns - WESTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: Tim Duncan (SA) 442,203; Amar’e Stoudemire (Pho) 370,470; Carmelo Anthony (Den) 327,233; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 261,952; Pau Gasol (LAL) 260,374; Ron Artest (Hou) 214,063; Bruce Bowen (SA) 121,739; Shane Battier (Hou) 115,981; Josh Howard (Dal) 113,456; Luis Scola (Hou) 82,344; Lamar Odom (LAL) 78,422.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 719,252; Chris Paul (NO) 406,220; Tracy McGrady (332,222); Manu Ginobili (SA) 166,981; Jason Kidd (Dal) 162,286; Tony Parker (SA) 161,638; Steve Nash (Pho) 142,410; Jason Terry (Dal) 105,345; Chauncey Billups (Den) 87,172; Brandon Roy (Por) 78,071; Rafer Alston (Hou) 73,613.

Centers: Yao Ming (Hou) 529,290; Shaquille O’Neal (Pho) 227,273; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 162,139; Andrew Bynum (LAL) 155,689; Greg Oden (Por) 71,366; Andris Biedrins (GS) 65,496; Al Jefferson (Minn) 46,242; Tyson Chandler (NO) 39,467; Marcus Camby (LAC) 25,824; Chris Kaman (LAC) 9,104; Brad Miller (Sac) 6,892.
The 58th NBA All-Star Game will be played in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 15. The game will air live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

Sitting in front of a Philadelphia 76ers banner and behind a 76ers microphone, fired head coach Maurice Cheeks took the blame. Three days after the team replaced him, Cheeks met with reporters on Tuesday to thank the fans and take responsibility for the poor start of a team with playoff aspirations.

Sometimes, Cheeks said, it can be the coach's fault a team does not perform as expected.

"In my case, it was the coach," he said.

Team president Ed Stefanski fired Cheeks on Saturday after the Sixers stumbled to a 9-14 start.

Last season, Cheeks and Stefanski orchestrated a remarkable midseason turnaround that helped the 76ers recover from an 18-30 start to make the playoffs. In the offseason, they acquired star power forward Elton Brand and appeared ready to contend in the Eastern Conference.

But the team struggled early and had lost eight of 10 before Stefanski fired Cheeks and replaced him with assistant general manager Tony DiLeo.

"Things don't always work out the way you expect them to," Cheeks said. "I take solace in the fact I did the best I could."

Cheeks said his affection for the fans and the franchise -- where he played 11 seasons -- prompted him to agree to a news conference at the 76ers home arena.

"I think it would have been selfish for me to just pick up and leave and go and not show my appreciation to the people that have supported me," he said. "I pretty much grew up in this town."

Cheeks carefully rearranged the tape recorders in front of him as he spoke and joked with reporters, telling them he wanted to thank a lot of people without having to run up his cell phone bill.

He refused to place blame for the team's poor performance on anyone but himself.

"Sometimes being fired is one of the things that entails being a head coach," he said.

Cheeks said he would be open to another position with the team, where he was a star point guard on the Sixers' last championship team in 1983, although he has not been approached about a job.

"I've been a part of this town a long time and I don't plan on going anywhere," he said. "If the opportunity is there for me to be in the organization, I'm more than happy to do that."

A four-time All-Star, Cheeks spent 15 seasons in the NBA before retiring in 1993. The 76ers retired his jersey in 1995.

Cheeks was a member of the coaching staff when the 76ers went to the finals in 2001 and, after a head coaching stint in Portland, was named the 76ers head coach in 2005. He finished with a 122-152 record in Philadelphia.

The 76ers beat Washington 104-89 on Saturday in their first game under DiLeo. Philadelphia hosts Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Harrington led the Eastern Conference in scoring with 33.3 ppg on .565 shooting, to go along with 8.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.6 steals, as the Knicks went 2-1. On Dec. 10, Harrington recorded season highs in both points (39) and rebounds (13), leading the Knicks to a 121-109 win at New Jersey.

Duncan averaged a double-double with 22.0 points and 12.5 rebounds to lead the Spurs to a 4-0 record. The 11-year veteran tallied 32 points, 14 rebounds and two steals in the Spurs 133-126 double-overtime victory at Dallas on Dec. 9. Since beginning the season at 1-4, the Spurs have posted a record of 14-4 and are currently on six-game winning steak.

Here is a closer look at the week for Harrington and Duncan:

Al Harrington, New York Knicks
Dec. 9 @ Chicago: Tallied 28 points, six rebounds and two steals in a 105-100 loss to the Bulls.
Dec. 10 @ New Jersey: Recorded a season-high 39 points and 13 rebounds to go along with two steals in a 121-109 win over the Nets.
Dec. 6 @ Sacramento: Scored 33 points and added six rebounds and four assists in a 114-90 win over the Kings.

Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Dec. 9 @ Dallas: Recorded 32 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and two steals in a 133-126 double-overtime win over the Mavericks.
Dec. 10 vs. Atlanta: Scored 19 points to go along with 11 rebounds in a 95-89 win over the Hawks.
Dec. 12 @ Minnesota: Tallied 17 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks in a 98-86 win over the Timberwolves.
Dec. 14 vs. Oklahoma City: Scored 20 points, and added 12 rebounds and five assists in a 109-104 win over the Thunder.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Cleveland's LeBron James and Mo Williams, Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, Denver's Carmelo Anthony, Detroit's Richard Hamilton, the Los Angeles Clippers' Zach Randolph, Memphis' Rudy Gay, and Orlando's Rashard Lewis.