NBA.com Features & News

Week of February 9, 1998

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NBA.com SPECIAL DELIVERY
~ Week of February 9, 1998 ~
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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1. All-Star Weekend: A Look Back
2. Yogi Featured in Rookie Report
3. What's in the Cards for Kobe?
4. Ellis Offers Shooting Tips
5. e-Mailman Returns To NBA.com
6. This Week in NBA History

The NBA season returns from its midseason hiatus today, when 24 teams return to action, including the Seattle SuperSonics, who will try to add to their league-best 17 road wins. The Sonics (37-10) will perform a nationally televised Texas two-step - today at Houston on TNT, and Wednesday at San Antonio on TBS. Eastern Conference leading Indiana (33-13) begins its second half hosting the Orlando Magic.

Both the Sonics and Pacers were well represented at Sunday's NBA All-Star Game, which was won by Coach Larry Bird's Eastern Conference team, 135-114. Bird employed the "give Michael the ball and get out of the way" strategy, and Jordan responded, scoring 23 points and earning his third All-Star MVP award.

This week on NBA.com, you can look ahead to the second half, or recapture your favorite memories of All-Star Weekend. Look for the following highlights, and more, on NBA.com.

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1. ALL-STAR WEEKEND: A LOOK BACK
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Kobe dazzled, Michael battled and the All-Star Game lived up to the hype that surrounded Jordan, Bryant and 22 other All-Stars, putting an emphatic ending on New York's All-Star Weekend. If you missed it, or you would like to revisit your favorite All-Star moments, visit our All-Star section and look for the following highlights...

VIDEO AND AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS

You missed Kobe's 360 degree spin jam, or the behind-the-back wizardry of 7-4 Rik Smits on the fast break? Or you simply want to see Michael being Michael? You can download several of the best All-Star Game video and audio highlights from Sunday's game and relive them on your computer. Visit: http://www.nba.com/allstar98/theater/00571164.html?sd

PHOTO GALLERIES

Several All-Star Weekend moments are captured in a series of All-Star photo galleries. Visit the All-Star Game gallery or take look back at galleries capturing the action from each of
Saturday night's events: http://www.nba.com/allstar98/theater/index.html?sd

GAME RECAP, NOTES, QUOTES, BOX SCORE

Recap - http://www.nba.com/allstar98/asgame/00563796.html?sd

Box Score - http://www.nba.com/allstar98/asgame/00563856.html?sd

Quotes (East) - http://www.nba.com/allstar98/asgame/00563842.html?sd

Quotes (West) - http://www.nba.com/allstar98/asgame/00571220.html?sd

All-Star Notes - http://www.nba.com/allstar98/asgame/00572121.html?sd

ALL-STAR SATURDAY

Visit the All-Star Weekend home page, and select the event index page for in-depth coverage of Nestle Crunch All-Star 2ball, the AT&T Shootout or the Schick Rookie Game: http://www.nba.com/allstar98/index.html?sd

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2. YOGI FEATURED IN ROOKIE REPORT
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The Sacramento Kings' Michael Stewart showed many viewers of the Schick Rookie Game what Kings fans have known all along - the kid can play. 'Yogi,' an undrafted free agent, has had a big impact on the Kings this year. He talked about his breakthrough season in this week's Rookie Report.

"It goes back to work ethic. Even if you work hard and don't have success, it's only a matter of time. If you keep working and working, you might fail 100 times, but on the 101st time you might succeed and that's how I try to live."

For more, visit: http://www.nba.com/Interactive/rookie/00564121.html?sd

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3. WHAT'S IN THE CARDS FOR KOBE?
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You may not ever get your picture on a basketball card like Kobe Bryant, but you can now choose which picture of Kobe will go on his card. NBA.com introduces the Topps "Pick a Player's Picture" poll, which allows you to select among three images to determine your favorite. Topps will use the most popular photo on a card in their 1998-99 basketball set. This week, select your favorite photo of Bryant, Keith Van Horn and Dikembe Mutombo: http://www.nba.com/ad/topps/intro.html?sd

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4. ELLIS OFFERS SHOOTING TIPS
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In this week's Mailbox of the Week, Dale Ellis adds 'beef' to your offense with his shooting tips. In response to one fan's question, Ellis explains how an acronym helps him shoot straight.

"The "B" is for balance -- feet are shoulder-width apart and knees are flexed. The second letter, "E", is for eye to target which is natural; you want to see where you're shooting the basketball. The second "E" is elbow pointed to the rim. If the elbow is pointed to the rim, all you have to worry about is the last thing, "F", which is follow through."

For more from Ellis, the NBA's most accurate three-point shooter this season, visit:

http://www.nba.com/interactive/mailbox/00563387.html?sd

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5. e-MAILMAN RETURNS TO NBA.COM
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In the current installment of the e-Mailman's Question of the Week, Karl Malone revealed his New Year's resolution and shared some of his favorite answers that were sent in: http://www.nba.com/interactive/00554284.html?sd

This week, the e-Mailman asks: What's your favorite snack? Chew on that for awhile and send your response to Karl at: http://www.nba.com/interactive/00423243.html?sd

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6. THIS DATE IN NBA HISTORY
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February 9, 1991

Craig Hodges of the Chicago Bulls set an All-Star Saturday record in Charlotte by hitting 19 straight shots in the AT&T Shootout. That streak, which helped Hodges capture his second straight shootout title, broke Larry Bird's consecutive shot streak of 11 set in 1986.

February 10, 1952

The Baltimore Bullets played a full 48-minute game without making a single substitution, beating the Fort Wayne Pistons 82-77.

February 11, 1982

Houston Rockets center Moses Malone grabbed an NBA-record 21 offensive rebounds in a 117-100 victory over Seattle.

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