NBA commissioner David Stern canceled more games through Nov. 30 after talks with the NBPA broke down Friday./AP Photo.

Yo D? What’s up guy? Haven’t seen you in a minute. What’s good?

Ah man. Nothing much. Staying busy. What’s good with you?

You know me, kid. I’m out just trying to do the right thing. So it looks like you’ve slimmed down some. Getting your run on?

Yeah man. Trying.

I hear you. I saw you one time darn near get trucked by a car over there by the hospital. I was like, ‘Yo, that looks like D right there.’ Got to wear brighter colors bruh. You know moms taught you to look both ways before crossing the street.

You right. You right.

Anyway, what’s up with this lockout man? The NBA has one of its greatest seasons in recent memory then just shut it down. What you think the problem is?

Dollars. It’s all about the dollar.

Got millionaires fighting over billions. I just heard they canceled games through the end of next month and there won’t be an 82-game season.

Yep. Well, NBA commissioner David Stern never says never, but he even admitted it’s not “practical” to have a full season. Shouldn’t have even tried to do that after canceling games earlier. Never understood trying to cram an 82-game season in.

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Jamison was all smiles during Thursday's press conference after being traded from Washington to Cleveland in a three-team deal.

“HONK HONK! Yo D! What’s up, my man?”

Hey. What’s good with you? It’s been a minute. Like that new ride you got there.

“Yeah. You know how I do. Listen, I know you been busy checking out those NBA trades that went down before Thursday’s deadline. What you think about the Cavaliers getting Antawn Jamison and only giving up Zydrunas Ilgauskas and a first-round draft pick?”

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As a head out for a week of vacation, I leave you with some holiday cheer courtesy of the Nike MVPs.

This is crazy.

In their latest commercial, the Kobe Bryant and LeBron James puppets are joined by Santa as they play a pick-up game against the reindeer Blitzen and his crew.

Now what I love about it is Santa’s voice is no other than the legendary KRS-1. Blitzen is rapper Lupe Fiasco. So you got old school/new school Hip Hop fusing with Nike and the two best players in the world in Kobe and LeBron.

“The game is over. The game is over.” is a spin off the KRS-1 classic, “The Bridge is Over.”

See for yourself. I love it. And yes, I’m like everyone else. Can’t wait to wake up Christmas Day to watch Kobe and LeBron go at it in Los Angeles. It’s on.

Instead of NYC, columnist Sam Smith believes LeBron may join Kobe Bryant in L.A.

With the Cleveland Cavaliers playing at the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden tonight on ESPN (8 p.m.), it gives reason to discuss the possibility of LeBron James playing for the Knicks or the New Jersey Nets after this season.

James will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. Just for argument sake, check out Sam Smith’s column on the idea that James may head to Los Angeles to join Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

Now, the question isn’t will or will he not go. It’s more of should he go.

My take?

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If Springfield is able to keep Marcus Campbell, it will have a true enforcer in the paint.

The D-League had its expansion draft for Springfield and Maine today.

Springfield used the first pick to tab 7-footer Marcus Campbell while Maine took athletic swing man James White, who finished the 2008-09 season in the NBA with the Houston Rockets.

Unlike a year ago when Erie and Reno picked unprotected players from the remaining D-League teams, Springfield and Maine picked guys from 2009 D-League champion Colorado and Anaheim, two teams that are now defunct.

Hmmm.

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Here’s a look at Malloy “Future” Nesmith, Corey “Homicide” Williams and Randy “White Chocolate” Gill, three players set to play on the street ball celebrity team against a collection of local talent in a celebrity game Aug. 1 at the Hammermill Center.

Malloy “Future” Nesmith

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Here’s a look at Patrick “Pat Da Rock” Robinson and Shannod “JFK” Burton, two more celebrity street ball players scheduled to play against local talent Aug. 1 at the Hammermill Center.

Patrick “Pat Da Rock” Robinson

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“The thing that Maureece has to understand and realize is that this is a process.” – Erie BayHawks coach John Treloar discussing Maureece Rice.

Combo guard Maureece Rice found it much harder to score in the NBA Summer League this year than he did in the D-League this past season for the Erie BayHawks.

Process.

It’s how John Treloar describes the process of making into the NBA when you’re not a first-round draft choice.

He just hopes Maureece Rice doesn’t lose focus of that in his pursuit of playing at the highest level.

Rice saw limited action for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas this week.

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Feeling refreshed folks.

Taking a few vacation days was a good thing for me. Recharge the batteries so to speak.

I want to thank those who have been following the blog. You all have been very supportive and I appreciate it.

However, I want to know how I can make it better for you all out there. What would you like to see different, more of or less of. What could you do without and what could you see more of.

Thanks again for your support.

“I felt like I had something to prove and that I should have been on the floor when I was here. I wasn’t playing. I just wanted to show that I could play. I had a little grudge on my shoulder.” – Taj McCullough after playing against Erie on Jan 9.

After averaging just 6.5 points in eight games with the Erie BayHawks, rookie forward Taj McCullough (with black headband) has averaged 17.7 points in 34 games with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Today, Taj McCullough says he’s not bitter.

He just chalks it up as a business decision the Erie BayHawks made when they released him Dec. 22 of last year, but when he faced Erie for the first time after that Jan. 9, McCullough went for 26 points against his former team.

The Mad Ants lost, but the 6-foot 7-inch rookie left Tullio Arena with some self gratification.

Months later, McCullough will face his former team again tonight at Fort Wayne and Saturday at Erie. The BayHawks just need to split their last two games to make the playoffs, but if the Mad Ants beat Erie twice and Sioux Falls wins its last two games, the BayHawks will miss the playoffs.

Wondering how McCullough is approaching all this? Let’s find out.

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