they can use the Pippen/Jordan relationship as a starting point.

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Tonight, Scottie Pippen will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. While generally noted as one of the best players of his era and a ridiculously versatile swingman, Pippen in many ways remains underrated. That’s not surprising given that he won six championships next to the greatest player in league history, but it’s still a shame.

Alongside Michael Jordan,United States, Pippen was one of the most versatile players in league history. He was one of the NBA’s best defenders, a terrific scorer who averaged 20 ppg four times during a career that spanned one of the league’s most defensive-minded eras, and helped make the point forward position something more than a fun novelty.

Plus, while his 1 1/2 seasons without Jordan have been unfairly summed up by his refusal to act as a decoy during Toni Kukoc’s buzzer-beater in the 1994 playoffs, he was one of the league’s best players and arguably should have been the MVP that season in carrying the undermanned Bulls to 55 wins. If you want a full explanation of what made Pippen so great, read this excellent post from The Painted Area.

Put simply, he did everything well and thrived next to one of the best scorers in the league. If you can’t read headlines, then please note that LeBron James(notes) finds himself in the same role next season. And he could become a league-wide wrecking ball if he follows Pippen’s lead, just in a different way than LBJ performed in Cleveland.

When LeBron entered the league in 2003, he was compared to Magic Johnson for his height and sublime vision and passing. But at this point in his career, Pippen is the better comparison, both because James is firmly established as a wing and because of his partnership with Wade.

To be clear, they are not exactly similar players. James blocks a lot of shots, but he hasn’t been a lockdown defender on Pippen’s level to this point in his career. Plus, while Pippen was fantastic with the ball, he didn’t have James all-encompassing skillset.

But those differences only make it clear just how much talent LeBron has. His defensive deficiencies have been less a function of ability and more about his considerable offensive responsibilities with the Cavs. He simply hasn’t been able to be a lockdown defender due to the strictures of stamina, but he can now achieve that status in Florida with Wade next to him.

Those Bulls teams are the clearest model for the Heat. I’ve discussed this issue with Q McCall and Bethlehem Shoals, and both have argued that the Heat would ideally run a similar triangle system with Wade and James a dual points of attack. But even if the Heat don’t embrace that system (which seems unlikely, after all), they can use the Pippen/Jordan relationship as a starting point.

It’s odd to think of James as a secondary player next to Wade. But to call Pippen "secondary" neglects his immense importance to the Bulls and his own unique stardom. With his considerable skills and athleticism, James can exceed Pippen’s accomplishments. If he does so, he might even help illuminate just what made Pippen so special and finally rid him of that "underrated" tag.
More from Sporting News: A Farewell to The Baseline

Venezuela announced a freeze on relations with Colombia

People's Network Caracas, July 22 (Xinhua Zhang Weizhong) today announced that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Venezuela broke off diplomatic relations with Colombia.

 

Chavez announced the decision in that Regrettably, it is entirely a result of Colombia Alvaro Uribe has repeatedly offended the government of Venezuela. Day, Caracas, Chavez is doing in meeting with a private visit to Diego Maradona of Argentina national soccer team coach when the media announced. Chavez had threatened that if the Colombian government to continue fabricating facts, slander Venezuela,ve been in the game, Venezuela will have to sever diplomatic relations with Colombia, and bilateral trade to zero.

22, Colombia, the OAS meeting in Colombia once again claimed the rebels leaders have been hiding in Venezuela. Committee of the Government hit back quickly and make the decision to sever diplomatic ties to. Chavez also announced the commissioning of Colombia in the border areas the highest alert. Venezuela and Colombia, 2120 km long border. On July 28 last year, Venezuela announced a freeze on relations with Colombia, because Colombia and the United States signed a loss of national security interests of the committee on military cooperation agreement.

 

Reported that during the Cold War

BEIJING, July 26 Xinhua Singapore, "David Keys," 26 reported that the Japanese end of this year will be revised "National Defense Program Outline," modify the SDF sea arms.

Japan's conservative newspaper, "Sankei Shimbun" on the 25th the first to step to the headlines revealed that the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force submarine intended to increase the number of its maritime defense shifted to the southwest area. Reported that the move is intended to facilitate "against" the growing Chinese navy.

Reported that the expansion of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force's submarine program is the original 18 to 20. It is published in Japan since 1976, "National Defense Program Outline," the first time since making the decision to expand the number of submarines. In addition to purchase the submarines and extending the service age,Brown said in a statement., the unit also find ways to enhance its surveillance capability.

Reported that during the Cold War, Japan's maritime defense force to monitor the object is located north of the Soviet Union, when the defense is based on Soya, Tsugaru and the waters near the island's three main. Now, Japan believes that, based on the Chinese Navy in the East China Sea and the increased activity around the Pacific, Japan, into the sea southwest of defensive focus.

The paper also stressed that: "Japan to expand its submarine size, will help to assist the U.S. intelligence gathering." It also pointed out that in February this year, the United States published 4 years of defense plans to cope with China's military capabilities as a key, there is the Ti to the United States and its allies need to strengthen the military alert state.

At the same time, South Korea, "Tian ship" event is also considered to further tighten Japan's defense nerve, causing the authorities to speed up the pace on strengthening coastal defense.

 

s best player can’

GREENBURGH,Howard right now and that’, N.Y. (AP)—Kevin Durant(notes) is too unselfish.

That’s the one criticism U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski has of the Oklahoma City
Thunder forward so far in the Americans’ preparations for the world
championships. He’s watched Durant pass up too many shots.

A team’s best player can’t do that. Krzyzewski freely bestows that
distinction on the 21-year-old Durant and is confident the other players on this
young squad agree. It’s hard to argue, considering Durant last season became the
youngest to win the NBA scoring crown.

“They look to him all the time,” Krzyzewski said after Friday’s practice
at the Knicks’ training facility. “They’re OK with Kevin shooting. If he
misses, they want him to shoot again. They know. They’ve seen it.”

He needs to keep shooting even in games like Thursday’s intrasquad scrimmage
at Radio City Music Hall, when Durant was 4 of 12 and missed all five 3-point
attempts.

“He’s our guy,” elder statesman Chauncey Billups(notes) said. “He’s the go-to
guy. He’s the guy who for us is going to be the scorer and do all the things
that Kobe, LeBron did on the Olympic team.”

Durant sounded a bit conflicted upon being told his coach wanted him to be
less unselfish.

“I thought I was doing a better job of finding the open man, but I guess he
wants me to be more aggressive,” he said.

“I don’t want to be a guy that comes out here and tries to take all the
shots,” Durant added. “We have a lot of scorers here, so I just want to be a
complement on the floor.”

But he’s noticed his point guards, Billups and Rajon Rondo(notes), reminding him
when he’s not assertive enough.

“Certain situations during the game, I’m just letting him know we have to
go through him down the stretch,” Rondo said. “There’s going to be some games
where he has to take us home and not be so passive and be aggressive. The
coaches obviously are drawing up plays to put him in situations to score the
ball.”

Durant averaged 30.1 points in his third NBA season to earn All-NBA first
team honors. He led the Thunder to the playoffs, where they pushed the eventual
champion Lakers to six games in the opening round.

“Be yourself,” Lakers veteran Lamar Odom(notes) said of his advice for Durant.
“He led the league in scoring. If he could lead this league in scoring, too,
that would help.”

No pressure.

But that’s the prominent position Durant finds himself in even though this
is his first stint on the national team. The U.S. heads into the world
championships in Turkey later this month looking to win to clinch a berth at the
2012 Olympics.

“Everyone says Kevin Durant’s the leader. He may be our best player; that
doesn’t mean you’re the leader,” Krzyzewski said. “Let him just be the best
player. Let Chauncey and Lamar, those guys be the leaders.”

The Americans play an exhibition Sunday against France at Madison Square
Garden, the next chance for Durant to show he’s not passing up on the shots a
team’s best player needs to take. His performances these coming weeks will
determine not only whether the U.S. automatically qualifies for the Olympics,
but perhaps how quickly he can carry his young Thunder team to even greater
heights.

“Kevin wants to be an outstanding player,” Krzyzewski said. “He wants to
be the best. So being in this environment with this caliber of player, how he
asserts himself here in a different environment will help him even more when he
goes back to his current environment.”

it is willing to come up with 20 million U.S. dollars for relief.

BEIJING, Aug. 13 Xinhua, according to Singapore's "Lianhe Zaobao," 13, quoted foreign reports, the United Nations called upon the international community to contribute 400 million 60 million U.S. dollars (nearly 600 million 27 million Singapore dollars) in emergency assistance for battered by floods wreak havoc Pakistan relief.

The organization also warned that if disaster relief is not available quickly, the second wave of deaths surge in sick and hungry victims of the outbreak group. Pakistan's 80 years of this most serious floods, has been claimed over 1,600 lives.

For Humanitarian Affairs, United Nations Under-Secretary-General Holmes Wednesday in New York issued a call to the donor, said the donation for the victims of Pakistan to provide food, clean water, tents and medical supplies and other materials.

Humanitarian relief organizations complaint, since the outbreak of floods in Pakistan two weeks ago, the international community's contribution to the country, there are still less active.

United Nations Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs spokesman Zhu Li Anuo said: "If we do not respond in time to meet victims needs no helping hand Lai Jinkuai rescue may get the disease outbreaks and food shortfall in the second wave of Si Wang tide. "

Subjected to flooding of the affected areas now the biggest problem is that victims may be drinking contaminated water and suffer from infectious diseases.

Sindh Governor Arisa said: "What we need is a lot of foreign support, not to peanuts, the promised assistance has only peanuts, hardly enough to meet the great challenges before us."

The United States has promised to provide more assistance for the victims of Pakistan. Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced the dispatch of a helicopter can carry 19 aircraft carrier to participate in disaster relief coastal waters of Karachi. U.S. worried that Taliban forces would be stepped in, using the disaster to expand its influence. The United States has recently decided to flood the country to Pakistan increased 20 million U.S. dollars assistance to 55 million U.S. dollars. Washington also announced Wednesday, 16.2 million U.S. dollars donation to the UNHCR and the International Red Cross to help disaster relief. British government earlier pledged to contribute 24 million U.S. dollars to Pakistan.

However, the Taliban called for the Government of Pakistan not to accept foreign aid, it is willing to come up with 20 million U.S. dollars for relief.

Government of Pakistan estimates that as many as 1,400 people were directly or indirectly, floods affected the number of affected 8% of the total population, of which an estimated 200 people homeless.

While some disaster areas for flood water level has receded, but there is still a large number of victims in the hot weather, poor facilities in the refugee camp in tents, waiting for relief.

In addition, Zhu Li Enuo told Reuters yesterday, Pakistanis living out of agriculture, disaster is expected to take tens of billions of dollars to recover, including settled farmers and rebuilding infrastructure.

Pakistan accused of disaster weakness, opposition parties and the victims have denounced President Asif Ali Zardari during the disaster, to stay in Europe to buy regardless of the victims live or die.

Has ended his visit yesterday, Zardari returned to Sukur to disaster areas quickly inspect, and distribute relief supplies to the victims, trying to calm public anger.

This is the first person hit Zardari. According to local state-run television showed footage of Zardari, comfort a woman in the disaster area, after he went to observe the flow volume of the dam Sukkur.

A local official told AFP, Zardari went to university in a refugee camp to distribute relief supplies to victims to ensure that government has made every effort to help them.

The official quoted Zardari as saying: "Do not feel alone,According to reports, we'll do our best to help you settle down as soon as possible."

Zardari, Wednesday in the "Wall Street Journal" The author in his own defense, saying his visit in London and Paris, fight for local people to provide assistance to the victims.

(BEIJING)

 

Amount total of 85 billion U.S. dollars

BEIJING, Aug. 17 Kyodo Xinhua reported for job creation, environmental protection, President Obama has proposed economic stimulus, high-speed railway network construction plan, set up the 2010 fiscal year (2009 October ~ September 2010) subsidy framework. Minister of Transport,and a larger size, 16, Lahoud said, from 25 states to consider building high-speed rail has 77 applications for benefits received.

Amount total of 85 billion U.S. dollars, approximately the amount of subsidies 2.345 billion U.S. dollars of 3.6 times,MBT Kimondo sale, the high iron high degree of concern is evident. Department of Transportation will build the project profitability and environmental impact review, decided to allocate the object in the autumn.

in Japan, European countries and China are interested in participating are expected to be carried out throughout the United States high-speed rail construction projects. Japan held in Washington and Chicago, \

about 28

BEIJING, Aug. 6

electricity, according to Taiwan's \Monkey is a moderate, petite body, personality and restless and alert, the maximum body length is only 20 centimeters.

tamarin from South America, Amazon River Forest, western Brazil, southern Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, east of the eastern rain forest, the scientific name \primates, the shortest length is only 12 cm, weight about 140 g male and female body weight is only 120 grams.

Only in Johor and Malaysia's Taiping Zoo to see their little marmoset, and this is the first pet store may have kept a small pet marmoset monkeys. Fuze people Huangxing Xiang pointed out that, in fact, this species of monkeys are protected animals, so pet owners must apply for a breeding license, can legally keep, plus the cost of expensive,Manolo Blahnik more like an aristocrat, high risks, the host need to spend a long time to Xiguan feeding and care, Therefore, pet shops will not introduce this species of monkey for sale.

now introduced this small shop tamarin,MBT Sapatu, price is about NT 130 thousand yuan (about 28,000 yuan). Huang Xingxiang said that he was two years ago, bought from abroad which male and female small marmoset monkey, baby monkeys were also part of their ears are black, white becomes an adult. Huangxing Xiang also said that tropical forest monkey species of animals, so do not worry they can not adapt to the climate here, or difficult feeding problems.

Huang Xingxiang further pointed out that they are very clean and loved, so their own homes Dounong very clean, and put them out of the sun outside, it will clean up their own body. In addition, many people think monkeys favorite food is bananas, but the small marmoset is a very easy to breed omnivorous animals, the tongue is very long, is to be used to prey insects, so they are not a favorite for its fruit insects, especially wheat insects is their favorite, newborn pups are very popular in that they like.

Pakistan eight years

BEIJING, Aug. 15 Xinhua According to Hong Kong, \cholera cases, is currently working on the treatment of patients with acute watery diarrhea. Cholera cases are northwest of Siwa SAR (Swat) the main town Mingolla (Mingora).

In addition, there are at least 36,000 people reportedly infected with acute watery diarrhea, but could not confirm whether this more than 30 000 cholera patients.

Pakistan eight years, the most recent severe flooding, with up to 1,MBT Kisumu,600 people were killed and 2,000 people were affected,m not saying it’, Pakistan called on the international community to help solve the problem.

(This article Source: China News Network)

was once forced to close pest control. Even the Brooklyn District Attorney Office

BEIJING, Aug. 17 Xinhua According to Hong Kong, \After the invasion, the U.S. Cable News Network (CNN), Warner Brothers and the \

Time Warner issued a statement saying,MBT Kisumu Sandals cheap, after a routine cleaning and pest control, was surprised to find New York's Central Park, located next to the office, some places have already been bed lice invasion. Time Warner employees have been issued earlier internal memo, warning bed lice infestation.

addition to Time Warner, Soho clothing brand Hollister flagship store, first discovered last month on the bed lice. Manhattan's Abercrombie and Fitch fashion, underwear Shoppes Victoria's Secret, was once forced to close pest control. Even the Brooklyn District Attorney Office, hospital emergency rooms and also Jingxian bed lice.

City Council previously announced the allocation of 500 thousand U.S. dollars fund the establishment of off lice,buy mbt panda online, and force the owners to offer units to the tenants bed lice data. But the pest control experts that are bed lice everywhere, difficult to eradicate. City hotline received over the past five years, complaints surge bed lice 20 times, last July to June of this year,s The Rising Nepal, received more than 30,000 complaints.

(This article Source: China News Network)

against Lecce.

DENVER Aug. 17 news, AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta had a minor surgery today to treat his injured right hand bones.

Nesta is Tim Cup competition, teammate Amelia was injured in a fighting in the, Nesta half against Juventus after the return to the locker room were on dressing, on the Inter Milan's half did not return.

AC Milan side that Nesta will be out for a week,MBT Kisumu Sandals cheap,no casualties were reported., he will miss this weekend's Berlusconi Cup with Juventus, but the club also added that this is only a minor operation, he would participate in the team's first Serie A season,cheap mbt shoes uk, they will be Aug. 29 (Beijing time on August 30) against Lecce.

in Nesta's absence, his place will be two new aid 帕帕斯塔索 one of ProLogis and Yepes replacement, and the Brazilian striker Tiago - Silva partner Zhongwei.

(Willman)