Lyde Hits Game Winner in D-League Game.

Kevin Lyde, who was cut from the Utah Jazz the day before the 2007-2008 regular season began, has had a great start to the young NBDL season.

Through the first four games Lyde is averaging a double double with 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds to go along with 2.25 blocks. Lyde has had some huge games already. He scored 14 points and grabbed 18 rebounds on Nov. 23, had 23 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks on Nov. 24. Then on Nov. 27 Lyde found the game in his hands with the clock running out of time. With the game tied at 97, and 1.6 seconds on the clock, Lyde hit a 12-foot jump shot to seal the victory. The victory was the Dakota Wizards' first of the season.

Want information about some of Kevin Lyde's former teammates? Check out the side bar to the right for information about David Hawkins, Lynn Greer and Pepe Sanchez who are all playing in the EuroLeague this season.

Eddie Jones To Return To Practice

The Dallas Morning News reported today that Eddie Jones will report back to practice on Tuesday. Jones, as well as Dallas guard Devean George will be on the court together for the first time as the Mavericks practice in San Antonio. George returned to practice last week but it will be Jones' first practice in nearly three weeks due to a lower right leg injury.

Mardy Collins Not Seeing Any Court Time

Mardy Collins who has averaged close to 14 minutes in games that he has played, hasn't seen any action since a Nov. 21st loss to Detroit, where he only played one minute. There have been four games since then, three victories and one blow out loss, but no action for Collins.

Collins acted as Isaiah Thomas' muse during his brief benching of Stephon Marbury earlier this season but with Marbuy back in a starting role, Collins has not seen any action.

Women In The Professional Ranks As Well.

Two Temple women's basketball players having been establishing themselves in the WNBA during the past two seasons. Candace Dupree (Chicago Sky- 2 years) and Kamesha Harriston (Connecticut Sun- 1 year) are two recent Temple players who have moved on to the WNBA.

Two-year pro Dupree came into the league and played at a high level right away. She averaged 13.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and .07 blocks per game during her rookie campaign for the Chicago Sky. Stepping up her game in nearly every category Dupree followed up her strong first year with an even more impressive second year. Averaging 16.5 points, 7.7 rebounds 1.4 assists and 1.2 blocks per game helped her earn a second trip to the WNBA all-star game.

Dupree is in the top tier of many statistical categories to see her complete player profile click here ==> DUPREE PLAYER PAGE

Kamesha Hariston, a rookie for the Connecticut Sun, has seen less action then her former teammate in her young professional career. Hariston saw action in 17 games this past season averaging close to 9 mintues per contest. She did have one of her best games, when she faced Dupree's Sky team on 5/31, scoring career highs in points (9), field goals made (3), field goals attempted (7), defensive rebounds (5), total rebounds (7) and minutes (29.) Hariston must continue to improve to earn minutes on an experienced team who has been a perennial playoff contender during the past few years.

To read more about Kamesha Hariston visit her complete player profile by clicking here ==> HARISTON PLAYER PAGE

Collins Caught up in Knicks Drama Again.

For the second time in two years Mardy Collins has been stuck in the middle of a mess on the New York Knicks. Last year it was Collins' hard foul that ignited the brawl at MSG when the Knicks hosted the Denver Nuggets. This year Collins has been caught in the middle of a dispute between president/coach Isaiah Thomas and point guard Stephon Marbury. On a team flight out to Phoenix Marbury learned that Thomas was planning on removing him from the starting lineup and replacing him with Collins. The shake up was apparently supposed to get more defense on the floor as Marbury is not known for his defense. Marbury took a one game hiatus from the team while Mardy Collins started versus Phoenix on Nov. 13th but he was not in the game long. Collins went down with an injury six minutes into the contest and he missed the team's next game at the LA Clippers.

Collins came back to start on Nov. 16th at the Kings and played 19 minutes. He had four points, two assists and one rebound. Then on Nov. 17th at Denver he started again scoring 10 points to go along with three assists, two rebounds and one steal again in 19 minutes.

Collins is now averaging 4 points, 1.5 rebounds and just under 2 assists per game in just over 16 minutes per contest.

Jones to miss up to two weeks with ankle injury.

After starting all five games he has played in it was reported on Nov. 14th by the Dallas Morning News that Eddie Jones would miss as much as two weeks do to a lingering ankle injury. Jones had averaged over 22 minutes through the first four games of the regular season, then missed two games, played five minutes on Nov. 13th and hasn't seen action since.

Jones had been averaging just over 2.5 points and just under 2 rebounds in almost 20 minutes per game. He was also averaging close to 1.5 assists per game. Hopefully Eddie can rejoin the team soon and continue to raise his numbers closer to his career averages.

Knicks Exercise Option on Collins, NBA Season Starting Soon.

The New York Knicks exercised their option on second year pro Mardy Collins. The Knicks picked up the third year that was agreeed upon in Collins' rookie contract. The 2008-2009 season will be his third year in the NBA, he will be paid close to $1 million.

Also the NBA season is here. The preseason has come and gone and now the real games begin. The Dallas Mavericks begin their season on Wednesday Oct. 31st at Cleveland. The Knicks first game is also at Cleveland on Friday Nov. 2nd.

Kevin Lyde has stuck around long enough with the Utah Jazz that he remains on their current roster. The Jazz being their season on Tuesday Oct. 30th at Golden State.