Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your chicken noodle soup.

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald: "In a statement released Wednesday, the league finally admitted the officiating crew of Mike Callahan, Rodney Mott and Zach Zarba erred in its handling of a controversial play during the Celtics 91-86 loss in Portland on Tuesday. A basket by Blazers forward Travis Outlaw was allowed to stand despite Portland having six men on the floor. However, an admission of guilt isn't enough for Doc Rivers, who remained bothered by the inflexibility of the officiating crew. Callahan later said that though Portland was assessed a technical foul, the violation was discovered too late to disallow the basket." (Photo via Marca.com)

David Waldstein, NJ Star-Ledger: "Vince Carter promptly went into a rage and was heard to say as he was being restrained that Derrick Stafford had called the soon-to-be 32-year-old Carter 'boy.' The NBA is expected to look into the matter, and there is a slight possibility Carter could be suspended or fined if the league determines he made contact with Stafford during the argument. That could theoretically mean Carter would not, in fact, play against Atlanta Friday, but Stafford issued a statement to a Pistons official after Wednesday's game that Carter had not head-butted him, as was initially reported, so any further penalty is improbable. 'It is being reviewed,' NBA spokesman Tim Frank said Thursday in an e-mail message."

Lisa Dillman, LA Times: "Fred Jones came to Los Angeles with very little baggage. Literally. The free-agent guard came to the Clippers for a quick viewing and workout before signing a non-guaranteed contract and then played in his first game with his new team on Sunday. He said he didn't bring much in the way of clothes because he didn't know if he would be staying long, not having any idea how the tryout might unfold. The staff was joking about getting him more Clippers gear. Life in a sweatsuit can get rather old, though. Finally, more clothes arrived from his home in Portland, Ore. 'I got a shipment in the mail,' he reported on Wednesday. 'My wife took care of me.'"

Darnell Mayberry, The Oklahoman: "Nenad Krstic has been praised for his high basketball IQ throughout his career, and the recently-signed 7-foot center is showing off his savvy in his first few practices. Krstic still cannot play with the team while waiting on paperwork to be processed on his work visa, but the learning curve isn’t expected to be much of a challenge when he takes the court. 'He picks up things very quick,' [coach Scott] Brooks said. 'He’s in pretty good shape, but the conditioning will improve. We want him to be ready to play and everybody to be on the same page. Right now, he’s learning the playbook.'"

Mary Schmitt Boyer, Cleveland Plain Dealer: "LeBron James patiently and politely explains what an honor it was, how much he enjoyed it, how it helped him grow as a player. Then he heads off to the court to get ready for the game. That might be the most important thing to come out of his Olympic experience for the Cavaliers — no injuries or lasting fatigue. Oh, there was concern early when James sprained an ankle in one of the first Olympic practices. He missed an exhibition game against Canada, but he quickly returned to full strength for the rest of the summer and, so far, the season. With a couple of notable exceptions, that has been the case since NBA players began taking part in the Olympics in 1992. Of the 49 players who have occupied the 60 roster spots on the past five U.S. Olympic teams, only 11 have played fewer than 70 games in the next NBA regular season."

Mike Bresnahan, LA Times: "The Lakers practiced Thursday, the better to prepare for an upcoming stretch of 14 games in 26 days. In other words, break time's over. Tonight's game against Utah will be only their second in eight days, a quirk in the schedule that allowed them to savor their Christmas Day victory over the Boston Celtics, among other things. But they'll have tests against some of the NBA's best over the next few weeks, including home games against New Orleans, Cleveland and Orlando, plus a mid-month trip to Houston and San Antonio."

Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News: "Spurs center Matt Bonner didn't have any specific plans for celebrating New Year's Day. He says he likes only the holidays that involve food. 'I'm more of a Thanksgiving and Christmas guy,' Bonner said. 'I don't think New Year's is known for feasting.' Growing up in New Hampshire, Bonner's family did sustain one food-related New Year's tradition. Every Jan. 1, they ate Chinese food. 'New Hampshire is known for its Chinese food,' Bonner said. 'You didn't know that?'"

Tim Buckley, Deseret News: "Speaking publicly for the first time since the Jazz announced his damaged left knee needed arthroscopic repair, NBA All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer expressed hope for successful surgery. 'Pretty much they have to go in there and clean it out,' Boozer said prior to the team's practice in Utah on Thursday morning, 'and hopefully I'll feel much better after that.' On the same day the Jazz learned they might get replacement starter Paul Millsap back tonight from a left-knee injury of his own, Boozer said he won't be sure until surgery is performed exactly what it is that's irritating the joint he hurt more than six weeks ago in a Nov. 19 game against Milwaukee. 'They won't know until they put the camera in there,' said Boozer, who will miss a 22nd straight game when the Jazz visit the Los Angeles Lakers this evening. 'But there's something in there. They'll clean it up, then I'll be back when I'm ready.'"

Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News: "Thunder point guard Earl Watson sounds like an NBA analyst when discussing the chances of a certain player soon being traded. That player would be him. 'It's very high,' said Watson, who played for Denver in 2005-06. 'At the same time, I'm trying to make the best of the situation here. But I think the writing is pretty much on the wall.' Watson lost his starting job a month ago to rookie Russell Westbrook. With Westbrook in the team's future, Watson, making $6.2 million this season and $6.6 million next season to conclude his contract, knows he's on the block."

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