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What's The 411 Episode 67: Jay Z, Kim Fields, Justin Beiber, Khloe Kardashian, AKON, and more

Plus Ms. Katrina Walker survives domestic abuse and is providing a blueprint to help people to live their best life

In this episode of What's The 411, the panel of Kizzy Cox, Onika McLean, and Courtney Rashon, is talking about a wide range of celebrity news including entertainment mogul Jay-Z gets the naming rights for Tidal Theater at the Barclays Center; pop star Justin Beiber exits stage left at concert in Oslo, Norway; Khloe Kardashian goes to Houston to watch James Harden's Houston Rockets play the Denver Nuggets; R&B superstar AKON launches an app for his music; actress Leah Remini leaves the Church of Scientology; rapper/actor Common gets a production deal at HBO; Raven Symone sets off a firestorm on Twitter; actress Lark Voorhies files for divorce; and more.

Additionally, Entrepreneur, Motivational Speaker, and Philanthropist, Ms. Katrina Walker; tells her story about her rise from being a domestic abuse victim to multi-millionaire.

What's the 411's Reality TV Recap is focused on The Real Housewives of Atlanta: actress, filmmaker, wife, and mother, Kim Fields joins the cast; "Who's gonna check me boo" Sheree Whitfield returns to the show; and the rumor that Ms. Nene Leakes just might make an appearance to the RHOA.

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Khloe Kardashian Standing by James Harden

Khloe Kardashian and basketball star James Harden are still a couple, despite calling off her divorce from Lamar Odom

We know that Khloe Kardashian has been by the side of her estranged husband, Lamar Odom since he was hospitalized after a wild weekend of partying at a Las Vegas brothel that almost took his life. Well, it also turns out that Khloe and James Harden are still a couple. In fact, Khloe went to Houston to watch James Harden's team the Houston Rockets play the Denver Nuggets in the NBA season opener.

As for how James Harden is taking all of this, Khloe told People magazine, "He's been great with me, and I'm just allowing everything to unfold. If it's ever too overwhelming, then I understand that as well."

Who Should Be 2015 NBA All-Star Western Conference Reserves

Houston Rockets James Harden Should Start in 2015 NBA All-Star Game Replacing Kobe Bryant

Unfortunately, Kobe Bryant is gone for the rest of this season (torn rotator cuff) after injuring his right shoulder in last Wednesday night's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. The good news, Kobe underwent a successful surgery to repair his shoulder and will be shelved for the next nine months, according to Bleacherreport.com.

Kobe was voted in as a 2015 NBA All-Star by the fans in this year's contest as a starter, even though he did not deserve it. There is an open spot, and James Harden of the Houston Rockets should fill it. Harden's exploits this year has the bearded-one as the premier candidate in MVP consideration, not named Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors).

Harden is leading the Rockets (32-14, 5th in the Western Conference standings) in the ultra-competitive Western Conference all while doing it his way; he is averaging 27.6 points, 6.8 assists and 5.6 rebounds. With 27.6 a game, Harden is leading the league in scoring, which includes four-40+ point games, 17-30+ point games and 16-20+ point games. Add two steals per game, for someone known as a poor defender. Combined that with a play-maker from the two-guard spot, capable of making his teammates better, while cleaning the glass and having the offense run through him and I think that qualifies as an All-Star Starter. The beard doesn't hurt either.

Now, my picks for the 2015 NBA All-Star Western Conference Reserves

1. Klay Thompson SG, Golden State Warriors

Before this season began, I claimed that this was Klay Thompson's year to make the All-Star team. He was primed for take-off, returning from the FIBA tournament (averaged the second most points on the team-12.7, Harden-14.2) gaining a much needed experience among a team filled with stars. His confidence rose and so did his game. And as NBA fans, we are reaping the benefits every-time he touches the hardwood.

Last Friday, in a win against the Sacramento Kings (126-101), Thompson exploded for 37 points in the third quarter (alone) en route to a 52 point performance. Yes, that's a good way to already boost his 23.0 points per game average, in addition to 3.0 assists and 3.6 rebounds. The other half of the "Splash Brothers" (Stephen Curry & Thompson) is also a willing defender. That's why I'm excited about Thompson. He can score and lock-up his opponents, having the ability to guard 1 through 3 at 6' 7". Yup, 6' 7". It's the size combined with the overall game Thompson displays which in my mind, makes him the best SG in the league. The 7th ranked scorer in the association will be an All-Star. Book it.

2. Monta Ellis G, Dallas Mavericks

What else does the man have to do? Monta Ellis of the Dallas Mavericks has been deserving of an All-Star berth for a couple years now and this has to be his year. He's earned it. One of the few players in the league today via High School (Lanier High School), Ellis has been the human-human torch his entire career.

Outside of his rookie season, Ellis has averaged no less than 16.5 points per game. After his first seven seasons in Golden State (19.1 points per game), Ellis moved on to the Milwaukee Bucks and the results have not changed (2 years, 18.4 points per game average). And now in Dallas, Ellis is averaging 20.3 points, 4.4 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals.

In his first playoff experience with the Mavericks, Ellis contributed 20.4 points. It doesn't matter the climate, Ellis can score anywhere. Give him one of the guard spots in this years All-Star game, as a western conference reserve because he's earned it, entering his 10th NBA season. He's long overdue for this honor. Convert this yearly nominee into a winner.

*Monta Ellis has played more games (47) to Russell Westbrook's (32), and I will not be surprised if he is voted in, instead.

3. Damian Lillard G, Portland Trailblazers.

With only two-full years of NBA experience, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trailblazers has already made his mark in the NBA. How many more Adidas and Foot Locker commercials do you have to see to realize that Lillard's game is worth promoting through product? His resume at this point in his career has the trend of a player whose on the verge of accomplishing greatness. He's already an All-star, selected for the first time in his career during his sophomore season. He's a former rookie of the year (2012-13), All-NBA Rookie First-Team member and an All-NBA Third Team member (2014). If you love All-Star weekend, he's also a two-time NBA Skills Champion over the past two seasons.

Lillard is averaging a career best in all the categories that matter, in terms of points (21.8), assists (6.2), rebounds (4.6) and a field goal percentage 43%. He has led the Trailblazers to the 3rd seed in the west, if the season ended today at 32-14. In his All-Star season, last year, Lillard led the Blazers to the post-season and won his first career playoff series against the Rockets, 4-2. Lillard, who hit the game-winner to clinch the series against the Rockets, averaged 25.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists, in the series.

Although the Blazers lost to the eventual champions in the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semi-finals, Lillard gave you the feeling that this team would return the following year to make amends for their failures. So far, so good. Lillard is living proof of how much better the league would be today, if the game's best prospects elected to stay in school through their four years of eligibility.

4. Lamarcus Aldridge F, Portland Trailblazers

Lillard's partner in Oregon gets the nod here. Aldridge is one of the best stretch-4's in the league today and his numbers warrant that honor. At 6'11, Aldridge has found a game that works for him, operating, primarily away from the basket with a developed jump-shot that seems almost automatic at times. This year, Aldridge is blessing the Blazers with a double-double, 23.6 points and 10.2 rebounds a game. I think it's working for him. And when Aldridge finds his rhythm offensively, there is no stopping the former longhorn. In last year's first round playoff series against the Houston Rockets, Aldridge posted a double-double in 29.8 points and 11.2 rebounds, against arguably one of, if not the best defensive center in the NBA, Dwight Howard. He carved Howard on the boards and had his way offensively for the duration of the series. Aldridge is a load to deal with, and there's no reason why he shouldn't be a 4-time All-star by tonight.

5. DeMarcus Cousins C, Sacramento Kings

Like Nikola Vucevic, DeMarcus Cousins is a great player on a struggling team. The Kings are 16-28 through 1/29/15, occupying the 12 seed in the Western Conference standings. They probably won't make the playoffs with teams such as New Orleans and Oklahoma City slotted above them, but it hasn't stopped Cousins from "boogieing" down low. Despite the inconsistent progression of the Kings this season, Cousins has been the lone bright spot, averaging a double-double in 23.8 points and 12.3 rebounds. At 6'11, weighing 270 pounds-combined with a variety of post-moves and the ability to knock down shots, Cousins is well on his way to becoming offensively unstoppable on the post. Maybe he's already there. Cousins has tied Aldridge in 30+-point games (6-each) and has recorded 17, 20+-point games this season, all while missing 12 games (10 due to viral meningitis). With a 2014 FIBA gold-medal already attached to his resume at the age of 24, its time for Cousins to add more hardware. It starts this year at MSG.

6. Tyson Chandler C, Dallas Mavericks

You can easily swap Tyson Chandler for his teammate Dirk Nowitzki in filling one of the last two front-court slots on the Western Conference All-Stars reserves bench. But you can go either way. That's how much Chandler means to this team. One of the integral pieces to the Dallas Mavericks 2011 championship season, Chandlers return to the Mavs has them believing they are primed for another championship run. Acquiring Rajon Rondo in the middle of the season obviously helps the cause. Chandler provides the intangibles that Dallas can rely on in their front-court that starts with defense. There's only so much Dirk can do and the Mavs need him to carry them offensively. That's where Chandler comes in. Chandler isn't blowing away the opposition statistically, but 12.0 rebounds a game helps. Anything you can get offensively from Chandler is a plus, averaging 10.5 points per game this season. Add one or two blocks a game and having something no-one can teach: 7'0. The Mavs are 30-17 so far this season, occupying the 7th seed but with the acquisition of Rondo and the re-acquisition of Chandler, it doesn't matter where they are positioned on the WesternConference standings. The Mavericks first round opponent will have their hands full.

 

 

Harden Steals The Show and Leads The Rockets Over the Nets, 113-99

Harden Overshadows Mason Plumlee's Career-High 24 Points

Houston Rockets guard James Harden is becoming one of the must-see main attractions of the NBA.

Harden has the third most votes in the All-Star ballot for the 2015 NBA All-Star game among Western Conference guards (690,843), following Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (958,014) and Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (862,568), but All-Star votes do not do Harden justice.

It's his un-guardable crossover dribble, stutter step-back move and ability to finish at the rim which allows him to embarrass and exploit any and every defender in the league.

It's like Santa Claus, you have to see Harden's game to believe it, and once you do, you will believe in the beard too.

The Rockets are (26-11) as they progress towards the much awaited All-Star Weekend, which will be held in New York City this year. Dwight Howard and a cast of formidable and respected role players aside, Harden is the primary reason for the Rockets success.

Harden, a candidate for league MVP honors, is averaging 26.8 points per game, along with 6.6 assists and 5.8 rebounds, his best career overall numbers yet, and tonight, the Nets experienced all of it.

And, I mean all of it.

After dismantling the Knicks last Thursday night, Harden led the Rockets into the Barclays center and enjoyed a similar result, defeating the Nets in a rout, 113-99.

The Rockets improved to (27-11) on the season while the Nets dropped their sixth-straight game, now (16-22).

Harden had his way all night long, toying with each defender the Nets presented him with, scoring a fairly easy and exciting 30 points and 6 assists, featuring 15 points in the 1st quarter alone.

An altercation between Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard in the first quarter, which ultimately led to KG's ejection couldn't fuel or inspire his teammates this evening.

"It looked like they got into a little bit of a scrum, and I really didn't think too much of it," said Rockets Head Coach Kevin McHale post-game.

To be honest, the writing was already on the wall before the Nets, losers of five-straight (including losses to Philadelphia, Boston and Detroit), tipped-off against the Rockets tonight. This game was a clear-case of just having no answer for one of the best two-guards in the league.

At the half, Harden led all scorers (both Rockets & Nets) with 20 points and 4 assists, yes, one of those nights.

There's only a few players in the league that can generate cheers on the road and create a level of excitement and anticipation every time he touches the ball.

Kobe Bryant when healthy and LeBron James are other examples.

Harden is becoming that kind of player and his performance was well received by the fans of Brooklyn tonight.

The state of the Brooklyn Nets didn't matter.

Injured guard Deron Williams and his health were an after-thought.

We all just wanted to see what Harden would do next.

To make matters even worse, Harden's early damage in this game throughout the first three quarters, paved the way for the rest of the Rockets to pad their stats, while he received a well-deserved rest for the duration of the final 12 minutes.

Jason Terry scored all of his nine points in the 4th quarter, which included 3 three-point shots.

Donatas Motiejunas contributed a double-double in 18-11 and Josh Smith scrapped up 13 points.

For the Nets, their inability to stop Harden overshadowed Mason Plumlee's production, scoring a career high 24 points while posting his ninth double-double of the season with 10 rebounds, which leads the team.

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Mason Plumlee, Brooklyn Nets center; talking with the media

In this defeat, we can point to numerous reasons why the Nets failed to overcome one of the best from the west.

You can argue the fact that the Nets struggled to defend the three-point shot as the Rockets shot 40% from three, (16-40). The Nets were just unable to match the marksmanship from behind the arc, shooting 23.8% (5-21).

"It came down to us shooting 24% from three, 5-for-21, and the other side was 16-for-40," said Nets Head Coach Lionel Hollins in his post-game press conference.

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Lionel Hollins, Brooklyn Nets, Head Coach; addressing the media in a postgame press conference

"That was the difference in the game-if you looked at the score, it was 14 points."

You can even challenge the Nets inability to take care of the orange, committing 16 turnovers which amounted to 19 points for the Rockets.

In the end, Harden took control of this game early and the Nets were unequipped to answer.

"Yeah, especially on the road, you got to make sure you put teams away," said Harden in the visitor's locker-room following the game.

"You give any team the confidence, especially at home, anything can happen. We are feeling really good about ourselves right now."

Harden's game simply defined exactly what drives the Rockets.

Their entire philosophy on offense stems through the bearded one.

Harden's exceptional ball-handling gives him the opportunity to break-down defenses and make plays for himself and a supporting cast filled with three-point threats.

When those threats are comfortable from outside, it makes the Rockets impossible to guard and coral.

"When you have a player like James Harden and he's attacking and doing what he does, there's going to be opportunities for the three-point shooters," Hollins said post-game.

And it worked; I mean do we have to reiterate the fact that the Rockets hit 16 three's tonight?

This game displayed why every team covets the "star" player.

It explained why teams tank.

It exhibited how much one player can affect the outcome of a game individually.

It also highlighted and reminded us all what Brooklyn misses in Williams.

The Nets are a confused bunch at this point in the season, which brings up the most logical question regarding their immediate future, which is: Where are they going?

Josh Smith, Waived by Detroit, and Headed to Houston

A Josh Smith - Dwight Howard Reunion is on Tap

Forward Josh Smith, cleared waivers today after being waived by the Detroit Pistons on Monday. Smith is reported to be headed to the state of Texas to join James Harden and the Houston Rockets organization.

The Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies were all suitors for the services of the forward, reported by ESPN.com, and in the end, Smith chose to re-join his AAU buddy, Dwight Howard.

With this acquisition, it seems like Houston may not have a problem after all.

The 2014-15 season was the second year of the 4-year, $54 million dollar deal Smith signed in the summer of 2013, now an after-thought as his days in the motor-city have shifted to the lone-star state.

In Detroit, Smith was expected to form a formidable front-court along with Bigs Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe, but the overcrowding of the post-area shifted Smith out-of-position thoroughly exposing him at the three.

It's no secret that Smith cannot shoot with consistency to say the least.

If CP3, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers formulate the members of Lob-City out west, Smith is, and was the lone-member of Brick-City, Mid-West.

Yes, he is that bad from outside.

According to Basketball-Reference.com, from 3-10 feet from the basket, Smith is shooting a career 35% from the basket.

From 10-16 feet, Smith is shooting 26%, and from 16 to the three-point shot, 34% and 27% respectively.

Reading those statistics can ruin your day and at this particular juncture in time, your holiday season, but Smith isn't all that bad.

He is a two-way player.

His sanctuary is underneath the basket.

Like Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks, Smith excels in Bully-ball.

In 2-point field goals and from 0-3 feet from the basket, Smith is shooting 48% and 67% respectively, which includes what he does best: finishing at the rim and dunking.

Smith can also handle the ball like a point-forward and is a willing passer, averaging 4.7 assists this season.

Alongside Howard, who isn't the most offensively polished big-man in the middle, Smith will have many chances to clean the glass and convert easy baskets.

A career average of 7.8 rebounds says so.

Not to mention the easy highlights that are almost a given when Harden and Smith run the break, which should make Smith an instant fan favorite in H-Town.

On a team among the upper-echelon of the Western Conference, the Rockets grant Smith the opportunity to do something that he hasn't been able to do for a while: compete.

Let's be honest, the Eastern Conference is weak compared to the West outside of Chicago, Washington, Cleveland and Toronto (Not sold on Atlanta yet, despite its 21-7 record), and honestly, Detroit did Smith a service.

The motor-city is in the midst of a rebuilding process. Piston's ownership is rewarding Stan Van Gundy, this off-season, with full basketball autonomy, as he is the Head Coach and the President of Basketball Operations.

Stan is concentrated on grooming the young talent in Detroit which means winning, for now, is not a priority.

Translation: It is not the right place for a capable hot-head like Josh Smith.

In Houston, Smith can make a difference.

Imagine Howard and Smith in the lane combining their career averages in block shots of 2.2 and 2.0 respectively, while Patrick Beverley terrorizes guards on the perimeter.

Imagine a world where Smith will be encouraged to face-up and play closer to the basket which will benefit his game and pad his stats all-together.

Imagine Smith learning from one of the best big-men in the history of the NBA in Head Coach Kevin McHale, who has just signed a three-year extension, worth over $13-million per-season to remain in Texas.

Imagine the new big-three in the West: Harden, Howard and Smith.

It all sounds nice doesn't it?

Factor in the fact that Houston will be paying Howard for one season, via the pro-rated portion of the bi-annual exception of $2.077 million, reported by Bleacherreport.com and you have what is called, a steal.

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