Antoine Walker Arrested in Vegas

As Kenny Rogers famously sang, you've got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em...Former NBA star Antoine Walker didn't heed that advice and was arrested in Nevada this past Thursday. The arrest came inside Harrah's casino at Stateline, Nevada. The charges? Walker had attempted to use fake checks and obtain credit he didn't have to the tune of $800,000 from three different Vegas casinos. A deputy on foot patrol was alerted by a Harrah's employee who had seen a TV report about Walker. Walker was arrested at one of the casino bars shortly thereafter.

Originally the former Celtics, Heat and Mavs star was issued a bail of $905,050, later reduced to just over $100,000. Walker is now free on bail but is scheduled to appear in a Las Vegas court on Monday. He had made the trip to Vegas for the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at South Lake Tahoe.

Apparently, Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley aren't the only former all-stars who like to gamble. The difference is neither has trouble getting the funds. Then again maybe this will serve as a wake up call and early lesson for any other NBA ballers who want to get into the gambling scene. Keep your money under the mattress, at least until the stock market rebounds.

NBA Trade & Durant Injured

The big news, if you want to call it that, had the Timberwolves and Heat pulling the trigger on a deal yesterday, which sent Ricky Davis from the Timberowlves over to the heat, and Antoine Walker to Minnesota. Other guys were involved, but those two are the focuses. I guess the idea would be for Davis to provide some scoring relief for Wade, or even be his back up with Gary Payton not really there. In Minnesota, Al Jefferson should shine and Walker may be able to take him under his wing to help improve him even more. Walker's aged and I don't expect him to be a top scorer in Minnesota, but stranger things have happened. Most likely the Twolves will belong to Big Al or Randy Foy this year, as they struggle mightily.

Greg Oden will be sitting the sidelines this season after knee surgery. It seems now that the #2 pick in the draft is now hurt as well, but not as seriously. Kevin Durant suffered an ankle sprain this past Tuesday against Golden State, which may keep him out of the lineup for the season opener next week. Luckily this injury is not as serious as Oden's, so Durant should see time and success this season.

SeattlePI.com has a Supersonics season preview here.

Check back here for an article full of prediced NBA award winners in 2007-08 on Friday.

NBA Players' Robberies Connected

According to police the robberies which occurred in the past month of NBA players Antoine Walker and Eddie Curry are connected. From chicagotribune.com:

"Four alleged gang members in pursuit of "monetary gain" have been charged in the armed robbery of NBA star Antoine Walker, and two of them also were charged in the robbery of former Bull Eddy Curry, police said Friday.

The four are members of the Traveling Vice Lords, Chicago Police Cmdr. Thomas Byrne said at a news conference. All four were charged with home invasion, armed robbery and aggravated kidnapping.

Walker and Curry, Chicago natives, had no affiliation with the men or their gang, Byrne said, and there was no evidence of a broader plot to target other professional basketball players.

Police found the men through a fingerprint, footage from surveillance cameras, cell phone records and a woman who was discovered with Walker's jewelry."

Read the full story here.

The East is Competitive Again

Finally fans of the NBA Eastern Conference teams can rest easy. This season it will be hard to believe if any analyst calls the East a weak conference. There are a legitimate 5 NBA Conference Title and NBA championship contenders. The teams of Cleveland (last year's Finals runner-up), Detroit and Miami (the most recent East champs), Chicago and yes, now the Boston Celtics all have a good shot to win it. There are also several teams who are on the brink and looking in as spoilers for the playoffs. I'd count Orlando, Indiana, New York, New Jersey, Atlanta, Milwaukee and even Charlotte as contenders for a lower playoff spot. And as the basketball world saw last year, even the most unlikely and low of seeds can dethrone a top notch team such as the Dallas Mavericks.

The Eastern champ will be tough to predict this year. The Celtics team will definitely be wearing down opponents night in and night out. Boston has thrown the wild card into the mix by making a dominant 3 star monster in Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. You wonder who will be their scoring leader and who will defer to who? Boston has also been picking up more pieces to increase their depth. An injury to Garnett or Pierce could possibly ruin the team's chances.

The same goes for Cleveland. THey made the finals thanks mostly to Lebron James. While they have kept a solid nucleus in place, he is the man, and their success rises and falls with him. But even Superman needs a supporting cast. The main problem the Cavs had after disposing of the Pistons, was trying to match the experience and depth of San Antonio. The Cavs have now tasted the Finals and know just how hard it is. Will the inner drive of Lebron be enough bring them back?

The Bulls and Pistons were considered 2 of the biggest possible Eastern Conference title winners last year. I'd give the Bulls the edge in this debate. They seem to have far more talent and fresher legs. (although maybe the younger guys they have will hold them back). Having a balanced scoring team is exactly what the Pistons' championship teams had and the Bulls now have the defensive presence of Ben Wallace as well.

That leaves the last champions to emerge from the East, the Miami Heat. You have to face the music that Shaquille O'Neal keeps getting older. While still imposing, his health status and his being prone to injury are definite problems. They also have older veterans in Walker, Payton, Mourning and now even Anfernee Hardaway. You have to believe like the Cavs, the Heat's success will be carried on Wade's back this year, again. Will he have it in him?

Many are quick to crown the Celtics as the Eastern Conference's best team, but you'd have to believe it's goin to be a very interesting and competitive year in the East. WIth the 5 teams mentioned above that leaves just 3 playoff slots for the likes of New Jersey, New York, Orlando, Indiana, Charlotte, Atlanta and Milwaukee. While those teams don't necessarily look to be NBA title winners, they definitely might have what it takes to dethrone a top Eastern conference seed.

Walker Unharmed in Robbery

Antoine Walker was the victim of a robbery at his offseason residence this past Monday night. Luckily the Miami Heat forward was not injured. According to ESPN.com:

"Authorities have not provided specific details about the robbery. The Tribune, citing an unidentified source, said the assailants entered Walker's $4.1 million home in Chicago's River North neighborhood through the garage, ordered Walker into the house, and held a handgun to his head as his ankles and wrists were bound with duct tape. The intruders reportedly were wearing masks and shielding their eyes.

"He acted as if he knew Antoine and was talking to him about knowing the consequences of the robbery," the source told the newspaper. Walker was able to free himself from the tape after the robbery.

The source also told The Tribune that Walker, a Chicago native, has been packing his belongings.

"He's gone, baby," the source said.

Riley said he's spoken to Walker's agent, Mark Bartelstein, who told the coach that Walker is OK.

"It's what it is. It had to be a terrifying ordeal for him," Riley said Tuesday night. "Until I speak with him, I don't have any knowledge other than what I've heard from other people."

The vehicle taken in the robbery was found, abandoned, in Chicago on Tuesday morning. Police have not announced any arrests in the case.

According to The Tribune, Walker's neighborhood includes multimillion-dollar residences owned by the likes of actor Vince Vaughn and Juanita Jordan, the ex-wife of Michael Jordan. High-tech security equipment, as well as regular Chicago police patrols, protect the area, the newspaper said."

This is the second time during his NBA career that Walker has been the victim of armed robbery. The previous incident occurred back in July 2000 when Walker and NBA center Nazr Mohammed were victims were robbed while sitting in a vehicle near a Chicago restaurant.