Anderson’s Shots Long, Cheap

Orlando sharpshooter Nick Anderson has been yukking it up of late, directing verbal barbs at the New Jersey Nets and Miami Heat.

Nets players had said they’d win the East after an exhibition victory over Orlando, comments that irked Anderson. So there was considerable talking when the Magic beat the Nets last week - Anderson even said Nets point guard Kenny Anderson probably faked his injury when he left the game with the Nets losing.

That prompted a tirade from Kenny Anderson.

Then, after the Heat repaid Orlando with a win in Miami last week, Nick Anderson said about the celebrating Heat: “They’ve got nothing else to be excited about. Tell crybaby Kevin Willis not to cry too much now that Alonzo Mourning is in town taking all his fame and glory.”

Bradley doesn’t measure up

After a sprained finger kept Shawn Bradley on the bench for key stretches during the Sixers’ recent loss to Houston, a TV reporter asked Philadelphia coach John Lucas about the injury. Lucas looked into the camera, wadded the final stats into a ball and walked out of the room.

The word out of Philly is that Sixers owner Harold Katz would part with Bradley in a second if the right deal comes along.

Barkley the analyst

Phoenix forward Charles Barkley has a reasonable explanation for the Suns’ slow start.

“We can’t score, and we can’t stop anyone else from scoring,” Barkley said. “Those are the two little things stopping us from being the best team in the league.”

When asked about the difficulty he encounters in the second of back-to-back games, Barkley said, “70 percent of me is better than 98 percent of other guys in the league.”

Webber to risk injury

Washington forward Chris Webber hopes to return to practice Monday, even though therapists have told him his injured shoulder could pop out again over the course of the season.

“It’s something I can’t control,” said Webber, who believes he’ll be able to play in the next two weeks. “I have to have faith in God that he’ll let me finish this season. The odds are against that happening, but I’m going to try it.”

Webber is leaning toward having surgery on the shoulder in the off-season.

Quotable

“They should be the highest-paid referees in sports. They work harder than anybody else. Baseball umpires look like they get paid by the pound.” - Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos on locked-out NBA officials.

“What did you think, we were going to go 79-3?” - Clippers center Brian Williams after a loss to the Lakers ended a five-game win streak.

“The play is a lot faster. No time to rest in games.” - Portland center Arvydas Sabonis, formerly of Lithuania.

Where are they now? Who cares?

In Chicago, the CBA season opens tonight with former Indiana star Damon Bailey leading Ft. Wayne against Dave Corzine’s Chicago Rockers, who also boast Juwann Oldham - the player the Bulls traded for the draft choice that got them Scottie Pippen. Plenty of good seats remain.

Around the league

Denver reportedly has inquired about New York’s Charles Oakley, whom the Knicks would like to move because of his upcoming $10 million balloon-salary payment. The Knicks are said to be interested in Bryant Stith. … Suns doctor Richard Emerson says “it’s realistic” to expect Danny Manning back by Christmas. … Vernon Maxwell, who walked out on the Rockets after they traded for Clyde Drexler, blasted his 76ers teammates for having no heart and lack of effort. Said Maxwell: “They aren’t hungry enough. I expect to see them out working on their own, but I’m looking at guys walking out of the gym like they’ve won five in a row.” Of course, Maxwell isn’t working out either, because of an ankle injury. … Houston’s Sam Cassell on what Kevin Garnett brings the Timberwolves: “Maturity.”