Monday Morning Donuts: Oprah At The State Fair!

Mike Fisher -- DB.com

   DONUT 1: My game story last night focused on the play of Kris Humphries and my recent conversation with him regarding him feeling insulted by so frequently being termed a “throw-in’’ and the like.

   I bet Rick Carlisle knows this.

   I bet Rick Carlisle is stoking the kid’s fire.

   Said the coach after Sunday’s 114-107 win over Memphis in which Humphries was good for 16/9: “He’s been very consistent. He’s got an all-around game. He’s physical and moves well on the court. He’s been playing well since we got him in the trade. That goes back to early workouts and that camp in early August that he went to in Las Vegas. He’s a good player … he’s making a strong case that he deserves consideration for some playing time. I like everything I’ve seen to this point.

    “Mark and Donnie knew him. I give him the credit for getting him in that trade. He was considered a throw-in by Toronto. …

   Keep saying that, Rick. In a way that lets Humphries know that YOU never thought that … but others still do.

   DONUT 2: Jason Terry is “making strides’’ as a defender? Now? Sounds great! But honestly, this is the sort of thing we all write in October … only to have it all forgotten by, say, November.

   DONUT 3: In fact, the timing of such talk seems odd coming from a team that just gave up 35 first-quarter points to a Memphis team that was definitely in experimentation mode.

    Said Terry: "I called the guys together right after the first quarter and brought everyone together before coach got in the huddle and said that’s embarrassing. We’ve got to be more focused and locked in and we did a much better job in the second quarter.  Our second unit guys did a good job and we just have to do a better job of locking it up early, but we’re still a little ways away.”

   Jet is the perfect person to “call the guys together.’’ But beyond that?

 DONUT 4: Kevin Durant is angry at fair-weather fans and doesn’t believe in “plus/minus. … whatever that is.’’ 

   DONUT 5: Misty Mav over in the DB.com Store is about ready to announce a way for you to win a FOUR-PACK of tickets to Saturday’s Cavs-at-Mavs game … stay tuned!

   DONUT 6: The Warriors are going to “talk to Stephen Jackson on Tuesday.’’ Which sort of tells you that the inmate is running the asylum, right? His latest Warriors blowup occurred on Saturday. … and it appears that Capt. Jack is seeing if it can fit his bosses into his schedule on Tuesday. Nice.

   DONUT 7: The Spurs might have themselves a second-round monster in DeJuan Blair. Dammit.

   DONUT 8: The Mavs get the Pistons on Thursday. Will they also get a rejuventated Big Ben?

    DONUT 9: Here’s on ex-Mav raving about another ex-Mav: Devin Harris gives Marquis Daniels the big build-up in Boston.

    DONUT 11: Dallas is trying different candidates for the PA announcer job during games, and all I’m saying is all I’ve ever said: You are in charge of a one-man stage show that lasts three hours. You are a performer who needs about three more hours a day to prep. You’d better be a professional voice guy. You’d better know basketball. And while it sounds like a lark – “Hey, I get to go to the games and yell!’’ – it’s waaay tougher than it looks.

   That’s all I’m saying.

    DONUT 12: Oprah is at the State Fair!

    DONUT 13: In what I’m sure is unrelated news, all the Fried Snickers concession stands are out of supplies.