Garnett Stars As NBA Returns to Old Ball

Tuesday, January 2nd 2007, 6:25 am

By: News On 6

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) _ Just before tipoff at every Charlotte home game, Bobcats officials let a kid run out onto the court and hand the game ball to the official. Kevin Garnett liked what he saw in the boy's hands: Good ol' leather.

Monday's Minnesota-Charlotte game marked the return of the leather ball _ an unprecedented midseason equipment change to appease players and coaches.

``Hallelujah for the new ball,'' Garnett said. ``There is a God.''

Garnett, one of the most vocal critics of the synthetic ball introduced at the start of the season, had the biggest night Monday in the return to leather, scoring 32 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in the Timberwolves' come-from-behind 102-96 win over the Bobcats.

In Monday's only other game, Boston beat Portland 89-81.

Garnett, who had shot 9-for-29 in the previous two game with the synthetic ball, hit 12 of 18 shots and 8 of 10 free throws for Minnesota, which trailed by 20 points in the second quarter and 12 at the beginning of the fourth.

``This is what everybody wanted,'' Timberwolves guard Mike James said. ``People felt more comfortable with the leather ball.''

The Bobcats won the opening tip and rookie Adam Morrison hit the first shot of the game, a runner in the lane that officially ended an embarrassing period for the league.

The griping over the new ball, made of microfiber, began in the preseason. Miami's Shaquille O'Neal called it a toy ball. Other players said it had too much grip when dry and then would get too slippery when it got soaked in sweat. Still more complained of getting cuts on their fingertips. Coaches said the ball would die around the rim and others complained that the ball didn't always bounce true.

``There are a lot of balls that don't come up,'' Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff said. ``When you are just dribbling along, sometimes the ball doesn't come up.''

The players union went as far as to file an unfair labor practice charge against the league, prompting commissioner David Stern to decide to switch back to the old ball for games starting on Jan. 1.

``I like it a lot better. I think it sits on the rim a lot better. It bounces off the glass a lot better,'' said Morrison, who scored 18 points on 8-of-17 shooting. ``It's just a real basketball. It's not a toy store ball with no seams. It's a real basketball.''

But that move also brought complaints, as players will have to adjust to new ball in midseason.

``I'd rather just finish it out this year and go back to the old ball next year, especially since they are sending us brand new, old (leather) balls,'' Bobcats forward Sean May said despite showing deep cuts on his fingertips. ``They still have to be broken in.''

The only other game on New Year's Day was a late game in Portland, where the Celtics became the only team to play on back-to-back nights with two different balls. Boston lost in Seattle on New Year's Eve.

But the league did start sending out leather balls two weeks ago, and Bickerstaff said they had been mixing and matching synthetic and leather balls in practices and shootarounds.

``We never brought it up,'' Bickerstaff said. ``Some of the players wanted to talk about it, but we didn't listen.''

Stern is not giving up on using a synthetic ball, saying last month that the NBA hopes to work with Spalding to find a ball that players like.

Until then, most players are happy to get the old ball back. Ricky Davis scored 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting for the Timberwolves Monday.

``I love it. I'm ready to go at it,'' Davis said.

Celtics 89, Trail Blazers 81

At Porland, Ore., Tony Allen had 22 points and eight rebounds and the Celtics ended their six-game slide with a win over the Trail Blazers.

Rookie Brandon Roy had 18 points to lead the Blazers, who let the Celtics build a big lead during a cold fourth quarter.

Neither team shot well, perhaps because of the return of the leather ball.

Ryan Gomes had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who concluded a five-game road trip.

Ime Udoka and Martell Webster had 11 points apiece for the Blazers. Zach Randolph finished with nine points and 10 rebounds.