The Sacramento Kings have inked guard/forward Terrence Williams to a contract for the remainder of the 2011-12 season, the team announced on Saturday.
Williams was originally signed to a 10-day contract after the trade deadline but has impressed by the Kings during his initial run.
In four games with the Kings (entering Saturday's action), Williams was averaging 7.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in 16.0 minutes a game.
Williams, 24, began the season with the Houston Rockets but was released in mid-March. Williams was a lottery pick by the New Jersey Nets in 2009 NBA Draft, taken with the No. 11 selection.
3.31.2012
Jeremy Lin out for six weeks with chronic meniscus tear
The New York Knicks expect to be without point guard Jeremy Lin for at least six weeks after he was diagnosed with a chronic meniscus tear in his left knee.
The time frame effectively spells an end to Lin's fairytale season, with the Knicks regular season coming to an end on April 26. New York would have to reach the finals in order for him to make a return.
Doubts also remain as to whether Amare Stoudemire will return from the bulging disc injury in his lower back that has him out indefinitely. Knicks coach Mike Woodson said he was not sure when he would have either player back before it was known that Lin would be out extended time.
"I have no idea when these guys are going to return, if they're going to return," Woodson said on Friday.
Saturday marks the fourth game in a row Lin has missed because of the left knee injury. The Knicks have won eight of 10 since Woodson took over the team from Mike D'Antoni.
With Lin out, Baron Davis will handle the starting duties, but because of a sore hamstring, he will play limited minutes. Rookie Iman Shumpert and veteran Mike Bibby will also handle the point guard position.
In 35 games this season, Lin averaged 14.6 points and 6.1 assists.
The Knicks are also without backup forward Jared Jeffries, the team's most versatile defender.
Meanwhile, Cavaliers rookie sensation Kyrie Irving is out for Saturday's game with a sprained shoulder, according to The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.
The time frame effectively spells an end to Lin's fairytale season, with the Knicks regular season coming to an end on April 26. New York would have to reach the finals in order for him to make a return.
Doubts also remain as to whether Amare Stoudemire will return from the bulging disc injury in his lower back that has him out indefinitely. Knicks coach Mike Woodson said he was not sure when he would have either player back before it was known that Lin would be out extended time.
"I have no idea when these guys are going to return, if they're going to return," Woodson said on Friday.
Saturday marks the fourth game in a row Lin has missed because of the left knee injury. The Knicks have won eight of 10 since Woodson took over the team from Mike D'Antoni.
With Lin out, Baron Davis will handle the starting duties, but because of a sore hamstring, he will play limited minutes. Rookie Iman Shumpert and veteran Mike Bibby will also handle the point guard position.
In 35 games this season, Lin averaged 14.6 points and 6.1 assists.
The Knicks are also without backup forward Jared Jeffries, the team's most versatile defender.
Meanwhile, Cavaliers rookie sensation Kyrie Irving is out for Saturday's game with a sprained shoulder, according to The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.
Are Stan Van Gundy and the Magic headed for a divorce?
The Orlando Magic may have a new coach for 2012-13, although how exactly that plays out remains to be seen.
The team may part ways with head coach Stan Van Gundy after the season. This would be done in an effort to appease superstar center Dwight Howard, according to the report.
However, Van Gundy may beat the Magic to the punch, according to HoopsWorld. Van Gundy was ready for the team to move Howard at the trade deadline so that the team could move on, and the 52-year-old head coach is not interested in dealing with another season of the drama surrounding Howard's future, according to the report.
Former Seattle and Portland coach Nate McMillan's name has come up as a possible candidate in Orlando should Van Gundy be fired or choose not to return, according to ESPN.com. McMillan and Howard have connections from their time together with Team USA.
The team may part ways with head coach Stan Van Gundy after the season. This would be done in an effort to appease superstar center Dwight Howard, according to the report.
However, Van Gundy may beat the Magic to the punch, according to HoopsWorld. Van Gundy was ready for the team to move Howard at the trade deadline so that the team could move on, and the 52-year-old head coach is not interested in dealing with another season of the drama surrounding Howard's future, according to the report.
Former Seattle and Portland coach Nate McMillan's name has come up as a possible candidate in Orlando should Van Gundy be fired or choose not to return, according to ESPN.com. McMillan and Howard have connections from their time together with Team USA.
Jason Kidd talks about his future
Jason Kidd is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2011-12 NBA season, and although he would love to stay in Dallas, the veteran point guard is open to hearing what other teams have to say.
"We'll see what happens," Kidd told. "(I'll go to) whatever team wants me. I would love to end my career in Dallas, but we'll see what happens this offseason."
Kidd, 39, a 10-time All-Star, started his NBA career in 1994 in Dallas, where he spent two-plus seasons with the team before he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. Kidd returned to the Mavericks in 2008 as part of an eight-player trade with the New Jersey Nets. Last season, Kidd won his first NBA title with the Mavericks.
"I want to keep playing until I can't play anymore, which could be soon," Kidd told HoopsWorld. "The big thing for me is I love playing the game. I love doing whatever I can to help my team win. Until that point comes—the end—I'll keep trying to do that."
Whether that career continues in Dallas remains to be seen. The Mavericks are expected to pursue free-agent point guard Deron Williams this summer. Dallas has been busy trying to create cap space to lure a marquee free agent.
In 42 games this season, Kidd is averaging 5.9 points and 5.2 assists per game. Both marks are career lows.
"We'll see what happens," Kidd told. "(I'll go to) whatever team wants me. I would love to end my career in Dallas, but we'll see what happens this offseason."
Kidd, 39, a 10-time All-Star, started his NBA career in 1994 in Dallas, where he spent two-plus seasons with the team before he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. Kidd returned to the Mavericks in 2008 as part of an eight-player trade with the New Jersey Nets. Last season, Kidd won his first NBA title with the Mavericks.
"I want to keep playing until I can't play anymore, which could be soon," Kidd told HoopsWorld. "The big thing for me is I love playing the game. I love doing whatever I can to help my team win. Until that point comes—the end—I'll keep trying to do that."
Whether that career continues in Dallas remains to be seen. The Mavericks are expected to pursue free-agent point guard Deron Williams this summer. Dallas has been busy trying to create cap space to lure a marquee free agent.
In 42 games this season, Kidd is averaging 5.9 points and 5.2 assists per game. Both marks are career lows.
Ray Allen not ready to return, still bothered by sore right ankle
Boston Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen was expected to play for the team last night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but instead the veteran sharpshooter ended up missing his fifth straight game.
Allen has been bothered by a sore right ankle.
The 10-time All-Star went through his usual early shooting routine but the ankle simply did not respond well enough during the workout.
"He went through shootaround," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "He looked OK. I personally didn't think he looked great, but at that time he was playing. And then when I got to the arena I was informed he was not playing. We're just going to keep working at it, and eventually he'll be out there."
Allen admitted he pushed things by continuing to play on the ankle during a recent road trip.
"I still have swelling in it, and I had it the whole time--like the whole road trip--but I just played through it," Allen said.
In 41 games this season, Allen is averaging 14.6 points.
Allen has been bothered by a sore right ankle.
The 10-time All-Star went through his usual early shooting routine but the ankle simply did not respond well enough during the workout.
"He went through shootaround," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "He looked OK. I personally didn't think he looked great, but at that time he was playing. And then when I got to the arena I was informed he was not playing. We're just going to keep working at it, and eventually he'll be out there."
Allen admitted he pushed things by continuing to play on the ankle during a recent road trip.
"I still have swelling in it, and I had it the whole time--like the whole road trip--but I just played through it," Allen said.
In 41 games this season, Allen is averaging 14.6 points.
Boston Celtics hope to have Mickael Pietrus back for playoffs
Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers is hoping to have guard/forward Mickael Pietrus back in his rotation by the playoffs, but the coach doesn't expect to have Pietrus back before then.
"I can't imagine it being any sooner," Rivers said before Boston's 100-79 win on Friday night. "When I talked to him two days ago, he was talking about next week. But he has a concussion. That's the way I looked at the conversation. But I don't know. He may be right, but I doubt that. I would think with the severity of that injury, we would be very happy if he could return by the playoffs."
Pietrus can not return until he is approved through the NBA's new concussion policy, which includes getting cleared by the league's own neurologist.
Pietrus suffered the concussion on March 30 after an awkward fall in a game against the 76ers. Pietrus head never hit the floor but his neck snapped back, and he was taken off the court on a stretcher.
"I can't imagine it being any sooner," Rivers said before Boston's 100-79 win on Friday night. "When I talked to him two days ago, he was talking about next week. But he has a concussion. That's the way I looked at the conversation. But I don't know. He may be right, but I doubt that. I would think with the severity of that injury, we would be very happy if he could return by the playoffs."
Pietrus can not return until he is approved through the NBA's new concussion policy, which includes getting cleared by the league's own neurologist.
Pietrus suffered the concussion on March 30 after an awkward fall in a game against the 76ers. Pietrus head never hit the floor but his neck snapped back, and he was taken off the court on a stretcher.
Stephon Marbury leads Beijing Ducks to Chinese Basketball Association title
Stephon Marbury's 41 points led the Beijing Ducks to their first-ever Chinese Basketball Association title and a 124-121 win over the defending champion Guangdong Tigers in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series.
"This has been incredible; it has been an incredible experience, "Marbury said after the game, which marked his first major title. "This shows what this team is made up of, everyone stepped up and everyone played their role. We have been blessed as a team."
Marbury, a 13-year NBA veteran, went to China in 2009, and has become a leader for the Ducks.
Marbury was not the only NBA player in the game. Guangdong was led by Aaron Brooks and James Singleton, who scored 33 and 29 points respectively, in a losing effort.
"This has been incredible; it has been an incredible experience, "Marbury said after the game, which marked his first major title. "This shows what this team is made up of, everyone stepped up and everyone played their role. We have been blessed as a team."
Marbury, a 13-year NBA veteran, went to China in 2009, and has become a leader for the Ducks.
Marbury was not the only NBA player in the game. Guangdong was led by Aaron Brooks and James Singleton, who scored 33 and 29 points respectively, in a losing effort.
3.30.2012
Final Four's NBA draft impact? Look around the margins
With marquee programs across the board in this year’s Final Four, there is not too much that the big names on these rosters will do to boost or damage their stock in the NBA draft.
Anthony Davis will likely be the No. 1 pick whether he scores 40 per game and leads Kentucky to the title, or whether he fouls out in the first half of a semifinal loss.
His teammate, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, will be a Top 10 pick, as will Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger and Kansas’ Thomas Robinson, while fellow Wildcats like small forward Terrence Jones and point guard Marquis Teague are on the fringe of the lottery, but figure to be among the Top 20 or so picks.
But it’s not always the best-known names on these teams that have a lot at stake in these games.
MORE FROM SPORTING NEWS
Kentucky-Louisville blood feud ready to boil over
KU's Taylor a Shakespearean character
Last year, Kentucky big man Josh Harrellson was mostly an afterthought in the NBA draft world, but a solid tournament got him a spot in the second round and a place with the Knicks.
Butler’s Shelvin Mack, too, showed guts throughout the tournament and is now with the Wizards. “I don’t know if I was on the radar that much before the tournament,” Mack said. “I think as far as the draft goes, us getting to the final, that was the thing that got me noticed.”
Putting aside the obvious names, then, it is these Final Four players who have a lot at stake as far as establishing their NBA credentials:
William Buford, G/F, Ohio State. Buford probably didn’t need to use this tournament to remind scouts of the struggles he’s had with a bigger offensive role here in his senior year, but that’s been the effect that these last four tournament games have had anyway. Buford has established himself as a decent shooter, but there isn’t much to show he can do more than that at the next level. He has shot just 29.5 percent from the field, and his status as a middle second-rounder—never a safe place to be—has been all but confirmed.
Deshaun Thomas, F, Ohio State. From an NBA perspective, Thomas has been hung with that most dreaded of labels: tweener. He is a very solid scorer and though his reputation precedes him, he has gotten somewhat better as a defender. “He can shoot, but does he have the athleticism to play small forward at the NBA level? I don’t think so,” one scout said. “But he’s 6-7 and not particularly long. He’s not a standout rebounder. So he is not a power forward. I don’t know where he’d fit in.”
Jeff Withey, C, Kansas. Withey has never really lived up to his billing in college, and the fact that he is already 22 and just now getting his first real playing time is something that won’t help him at draft time. Withey has almost no offensive game, but two obvious things stand out with scouts—he is a 7-footer and he knows how to block shots, as evidenced by his 10-block effort against North Carolina State in the Sweet 16. He has averaged 5.0 blocks in the five previous games, and even with his limited skill set, he probably would have a second-round spot in the draft.
Tyshawn Taylor, PG, Kansas. Taylor has the size (6-3) and scoring ability to land a spot in the NBA, but he doesn’t have the point-guard instincts to be a starter in the league. He had shown he can be a pretty good 3-point shooter over the course of the year, but his 0-for-17 mark from the arc so far in the tournament is a disturbing trend for him. He has also been turnover-prone, averaging 3.5 this year, and has been right around that mark in the tournament. One personnel exec compares Taylor to Boston’s Keyon Dooling, who has carved out a 12-year career as a bench player who can provide some scoring punch and effective defense.
Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky. Lamb is a pure shooter who has, for two seasons now, served as a role player and been willing to cede shots to teammates who can’t shoot nearly as well as he can—he was a 48.6 percent 3-point shooter last year and “dipped” to 47.1 percent this year. Scouts have taken notice, and though Lamb might fly under the radar nationally, he will be a solid first-rounder on draft day. “When you watch him and you crunch the numbers on him, he really is one of the best players in the SEC,” one scout said. “He might go higher than you think.”
Peyton Siva, PG, Louisville. Siva has some obvious positives, starting with the fact that he would measure out as one of the fastest players in any NBA draft, and his quickness and ball-handling are unquestioned. But he is only 5-11, and he naturally has trouble converting at the rim. Had Siva added something to his game over the course of this year—a reliable perimeter shot (he was 23.9 percent on 3s, and is 1-for-6 in the tournament), a stronger ability to draw fouls or a better floater in the lane—he might have bumped up his status as an NBA prospect. As it stands, his leadership is an intangible, and the further he leads Louisville, the more attention he’ll get.
Anthony Davis will likely be the No. 1 pick whether he scores 40 per game and leads Kentucky to the title, or whether he fouls out in the first half of a semifinal loss.
His teammate, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, will be a Top 10 pick, as will Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger and Kansas’ Thomas Robinson, while fellow Wildcats like small forward Terrence Jones and point guard Marquis Teague are on the fringe of the lottery, but figure to be among the Top 20 or so picks.
But it’s not always the best-known names on these teams that have a lot at stake in these games.
MORE FROM SPORTING NEWS
Kentucky-Louisville blood feud ready to boil over
KU's Taylor a Shakespearean character
Last year, Kentucky big man Josh Harrellson was mostly an afterthought in the NBA draft world, but a solid tournament got him a spot in the second round and a place with the Knicks.
Butler’s Shelvin Mack, too, showed guts throughout the tournament and is now with the Wizards. “I don’t know if I was on the radar that much before the tournament,” Mack said. “I think as far as the draft goes, us getting to the final, that was the thing that got me noticed.”
Putting aside the obvious names, then, it is these Final Four players who have a lot at stake as far as establishing their NBA credentials:
William Buford, G/F, Ohio State. Buford probably didn’t need to use this tournament to remind scouts of the struggles he’s had with a bigger offensive role here in his senior year, but that’s been the effect that these last four tournament games have had anyway. Buford has established himself as a decent shooter, but there isn’t much to show he can do more than that at the next level. He has shot just 29.5 percent from the field, and his status as a middle second-rounder—never a safe place to be—has been all but confirmed.
Deshaun Thomas, F, Ohio State. From an NBA perspective, Thomas has been hung with that most dreaded of labels: tweener. He is a very solid scorer and though his reputation precedes him, he has gotten somewhat better as a defender. “He can shoot, but does he have the athleticism to play small forward at the NBA level? I don’t think so,” one scout said. “But he’s 6-7 and not particularly long. He’s not a standout rebounder. So he is not a power forward. I don’t know where he’d fit in.”
Jeff Withey, C, Kansas. Withey has never really lived up to his billing in college, and the fact that he is already 22 and just now getting his first real playing time is something that won’t help him at draft time. Withey has almost no offensive game, but two obvious things stand out with scouts—he is a 7-footer and he knows how to block shots, as evidenced by his 10-block effort against North Carolina State in the Sweet 16. He has averaged 5.0 blocks in the five previous games, and even with his limited skill set, he probably would have a second-round spot in the draft.
Tyshawn Taylor, PG, Kansas. Taylor has the size (6-3) and scoring ability to land a spot in the NBA, but he doesn’t have the point-guard instincts to be a starter in the league. He had shown he can be a pretty good 3-point shooter over the course of the year, but his 0-for-17 mark from the arc so far in the tournament is a disturbing trend for him. He has also been turnover-prone, averaging 3.5 this year, and has been right around that mark in the tournament. One personnel exec compares Taylor to Boston’s Keyon Dooling, who has carved out a 12-year career as a bench player who can provide some scoring punch and effective defense.
Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky. Lamb is a pure shooter who has, for two seasons now, served as a role player and been willing to cede shots to teammates who can’t shoot nearly as well as he can—he was a 48.6 percent 3-point shooter last year and “dipped” to 47.1 percent this year. Scouts have taken notice, and though Lamb might fly under the radar nationally, he will be a solid first-rounder on draft day. “When you watch him and you crunch the numbers on him, he really is one of the best players in the SEC,” one scout said. “He might go higher than you think.”
Peyton Siva, PG, Louisville. Siva has some obvious positives, starting with the fact that he would measure out as one of the fastest players in any NBA draft, and his quickness and ball-handling are unquestioned. But he is only 5-11, and he naturally has trouble converting at the rim. Had Siva added something to his game over the course of this year—a reliable perimeter shot (he was 23.9 percent on 3s, and is 1-for-6 in the tournament), a stronger ability to draw fouls or a better floater in the lane—he might have bumped up his status as an NBA prospect. As it stands, his leadership is an intangible, and the further he leads Louisville, the more attention he’ll get.
Arkansas freshman BJ Young submits name for NBA draft
Arkansas freshman guard BJ Young has submitted his name for consideration for the 2012 NBA draft, Razorbacks coach Mike Anderson announced today.
Young, who hasn't hired an agent and remains a student at Arkansas, has until April 10 to decide if he will remain in the draft or return to Arkansas for his sophomore season.
“BJ is using this time to gather information about his draft potential,” Anderson said in a release by the university. “By submitting his name for consideration for this year’s draft he will be able to find out what the scouts see in his game and make an informed decision about his future.”
Young led the Razorbacks and all Southeastern Conference freshmen this season with 15.3 points per game while shooting 50.4 percent from the floor, which ranked sixth in the league. His scoring average ranks third in Arkansas history for freshmen behind Scotty Thurman and Joe Johnson.
He was chosen second-team All-SEC and named to the SEC All-Freshman team by conference coaches.
“I love being a Razorback, and I see this as an opportunity to receive valuable feedback from the NBA advisory committee on my draft potential,” Young said in the release. “I want to make sure that I have all the information possible before I choose what is best for me and my family. Once I am able to look over all the facts, I will have a discussion with my family and coaches and decide what is best.”
Young, who hasn't hired an agent and remains a student at Arkansas, has until April 10 to decide if he will remain in the draft or return to Arkansas for his sophomore season.
“BJ is using this time to gather information about his draft potential,” Anderson said in a release by the university. “By submitting his name for consideration for this year’s draft he will be able to find out what the scouts see in his game and make an informed decision about his future.”
Young led the Razorbacks and all Southeastern Conference freshmen this season with 15.3 points per game while shooting 50.4 percent from the floor, which ranked sixth in the league. His scoring average ranks third in Arkansas history for freshmen behind Scotty Thurman and Joe Johnson.
He was chosen second-team All-SEC and named to the SEC All-Freshman team by conference coaches.
“I love being a Razorback, and I see this as an opportunity to receive valuable feedback from the NBA advisory committee on my draft potential,” Young said in the release. “I want to make sure that I have all the information possible before I choose what is best for me and my family. Once I am able to look over all the facts, I will have a discussion with my family and coaches and decide what is best.”
Knicks' Lin (sore knee) faces limited minutes
New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin will not play tonight against the Hawks in Atlanta because of a sore left knee, the team confirmed to ESPNNewYork.com.
Lin has missed two games because of the injury, which surfaced against the Pistons last weekend.
When Lin is able to return, the coaching staff will monitor his minutes because the injury is a result of overuse, according to a Newsday report on Sulia.com.
“Yeah, I got a bunch of guys that I got to watch minutes,” Knicks coach Mike Woodson said, according to the report. “But we have enough players to do that I think where we don’t have to burn guys and play 30 or 35 minutes or 40 minutes. When guys get back I have to watch that closely.”
Baron Davis is expected to start at point guard in place of Lin tonight, according to ESPNNewYork.com.
The Knicks (26-25) come home Saturday to play the Cavaliers.
Winners of eight of their past nine, the Knicks got 25 points and great defense out of Iman Shumpert in Wednesday’s victory over the Magic, and probasketballtalk.com noted that they are going to need more games like that out of role players.
Lin, 23, is averaging 14.6 points and 6.1 assists in his second in the league. His absence comes at a pivotal time: New York enters tonight’s game 2½ games ahead of the Bucks for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks also are 2½ games behind the Celtics and 76ers for first place in the Atlantic Division.
Lin has missed two games because of the injury, which surfaced against the Pistons last weekend.
When Lin is able to return, the coaching staff will monitor his minutes because the injury is a result of overuse, according to a Newsday report on Sulia.com.
“Yeah, I got a bunch of guys that I got to watch minutes,” Knicks coach Mike Woodson said, according to the report. “But we have enough players to do that I think where we don’t have to burn guys and play 30 or 35 minutes or 40 minutes. When guys get back I have to watch that closely.”
Baron Davis is expected to start at point guard in place of Lin tonight, according to ESPNNewYork.com.
The Knicks (26-25) come home Saturday to play the Cavaliers.
Winners of eight of their past nine, the Knicks got 25 points and great defense out of Iman Shumpert in Wednesday’s victory over the Magic, and probasketballtalk.com noted that they are going to need more games like that out of role players.
Lin, 23, is averaging 14.6 points and 6.1 assists in his second in the league. His absence comes at a pivotal time: New York enters tonight’s game 2½ games ahead of the Bucks for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks also are 2½ games behind the Celtics and 76ers for first place in the Atlantic Division.
Phoenix Suns forward Grant Hill needs knee surgery, out for season
Phoenix Suns forward Grant Hill could be done for the season with a torn meniscus in his right knee that will require surgery.
Hill, 39, underwent arthroscopic surgery on the knee in September. The newspaper reports that he will be sidelined until at least mid-April, if not longer.
The oldest player in the league, Hill is averaging 10.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for the Suns. Phoenix, at 25-26, is two games out of the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.
"He's our glue guy," Suns guard Jared Dudley told the Republic. "He calms us defensively. He's the best defensive player. He's the one who guarded (the Clippers’) Chris Paul at home and slowed him down. Offensively, he is efficient and gets out on the break and that makes other people guard him and open up 3-pointers. He posts up and makes the extra pass."
—Suns have responded to Gentry's rant
According to the Republic, Hill said he took a hit to the right knee two weeks ago and then again Sunday while taking a charge in Cleveland. He missed part of that game and Tuesday's and Wednesday's losses, missing consecutive games for the first time since January 2011.
Meanwhile, the Tucson Citizen reported that moving laterally was the issue with the knee.
“It was a little sore, and we weren’t going to take any chance on it,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said Wednesday, according to the Tucson newspaper. “We just don’t want to do anything that’s not very smart. I think he knows his body, and I told him we don’t want to take any risks.”
Hill has missed five games this season, but two were for rest in the middle of back-to-back-to-back sets. Hill missed three games in the previous three seasons combined.
Hill, 39, underwent arthroscopic surgery on the knee in September. The newspaper reports that he will be sidelined until at least mid-April, if not longer.
The oldest player in the league, Hill is averaging 10.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for the Suns. Phoenix, at 25-26, is two games out of the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.
"He's our glue guy," Suns guard Jared Dudley told the Republic. "He calms us defensively. He's the best defensive player. He's the one who guarded (the Clippers’) Chris Paul at home and slowed him down. Offensively, he is efficient and gets out on the break and that makes other people guard him and open up 3-pointers. He posts up and makes the extra pass."
—Suns have responded to Gentry's rant
According to the Republic, Hill said he took a hit to the right knee two weeks ago and then again Sunday while taking a charge in Cleveland. He missed part of that game and Tuesday's and Wednesday's losses, missing consecutive games for the first time since January 2011.
Meanwhile, the Tucson Citizen reported that moving laterally was the issue with the knee.
“It was a little sore, and we weren’t going to take any chance on it,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said Wednesday, according to the Tucson newspaper. “We just don’t want to do anything that’s not very smart. I think he knows his body, and I told him we don’t want to take any risks.”
Hill has missed five games this season, but two were for rest in the middle of back-to-back-to-back sets. Hill missed three games in the previous three seasons combined.
Pending free agent Terry: I could be asset to Heat
Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry, who will be a free agent this summer, says the Miami Heat intrigue him, Fox Sports Florida reported.
Speaking before Thursday’s 106-85 Heat victory over the Mavs in a rematch of the 2011 NBA Finals, Terry said: "Miami is definitely a title contender. For sure. (Heat president) Pat Riley is a great guy and what he's done with the organization is tremendous.
"No question, they need a veteran shooter, a guy who can score besides LeBron (James) and (Dwyane Wade), and they know they can count on. I'm a guy that's been in this league 13 years, (averaging) 15 points a night, easy. Off the bench or the starting lineup, it doesn't matter. So I think I'd be an asset to them."
According to Fox Sports Florida, one hurdle Terry, 34, would face before joining the Heat is that Miami will have available only the midlevel exception for luxury-tax-paying teams, which is $3 million. Terry is making $11.2 million this season.
He said, however, that he wouldn't rule out being part of a sign-and-trade deal.
Terry, a combo guard, struggled in Thursday’s Mavericks loss, going 1-for-10 from the floor for three points.
Asked by Fox Sports Florida if it would be odd to join the Heat after playing against them for the Mavericks in hotly contested Finals in 2006 and ’11, Terry responded: "Not at all. That jersey has a logo on it. It says, 'NBA.' No matter what team it is (that he is plays for next season), it doesn't matter. So I'll be excited."
Terry's preference had been to stay with the Mavericks. But he said he would shop himself this summer after Dallas elected not to re-sign him before the season in order to open salary-cap space for this summer.
He said Mavs owner Mark Cuban and others in the organization were upfront with him before the season about wanting to clear cap room to go after Magic center Dwight Howard and Nets guard Deron Williams this summer. Howard since has agreed to not opt out of his contract with Orlando, and Williams remains in play.
"My main goal was to come back and retire a Maverick," Terry said. "After no extension this past offseason, I figure it may be time for me to move on. But you never know … I would love to (continue) in a Maverick uniform, don't get me wrong. But we'll see what happens. … They said they want me back. But you can say all you want, you got to show me. Like Jerry Maguire said, 'Show me the money.'"
Speaking before Thursday’s 106-85 Heat victory over the Mavs in a rematch of the 2011 NBA Finals, Terry said: "Miami is definitely a title contender. For sure. (Heat president) Pat Riley is a great guy and what he's done with the organization is tremendous.
"No question, they need a veteran shooter, a guy who can score besides LeBron (James) and (Dwyane Wade), and they know they can count on. I'm a guy that's been in this league 13 years, (averaging) 15 points a night, easy. Off the bench or the starting lineup, it doesn't matter. So I think I'd be an asset to them."
According to Fox Sports Florida, one hurdle Terry, 34, would face before joining the Heat is that Miami will have available only the midlevel exception for luxury-tax-paying teams, which is $3 million. Terry is making $11.2 million this season.
He said, however, that he wouldn't rule out being part of a sign-and-trade deal.
Terry, a combo guard, struggled in Thursday’s Mavericks loss, going 1-for-10 from the floor for three points.
Asked by Fox Sports Florida if it would be odd to join the Heat after playing against them for the Mavericks in hotly contested Finals in 2006 and ’11, Terry responded: "Not at all. That jersey has a logo on it. It says, 'NBA.' No matter what team it is (that he is plays for next season), it doesn't matter. So I'll be excited."
Terry's preference had been to stay with the Mavericks. But he said he would shop himself this summer after Dallas elected not to re-sign him before the season in order to open salary-cap space for this summer.
He said Mavs owner Mark Cuban and others in the organization were upfront with him before the season about wanting to clear cap room to go after Magic center Dwight Howard and Nets guard Deron Williams this summer. Howard since has agreed to not opt out of his contract with Orlando, and Williams remains in play.
"My main goal was to come back and retire a Maverick," Terry said. "After no extension this past offseason, I figure it may be time for me to move on. But you never know … I would love to (continue) in a Maverick uniform, don't get me wrong. But we'll see what happens. … They said they want me back. But you can say all you want, you got to show me. Like Jerry Maguire said, 'Show me the money.'"
NBA weekend lookahead: Garnett will be key to Celtics' success
If the Celtics as we know them are making their last stand, they’ve started to make a pretty good go of it. Since the All-Star break, the Celtics have gone 13-5, and that has gotten them into an all-important tie for the lead in the Atlantic Division. As it stands, the Celtics have the No. 7 seed, which means a first-round matchup with the Heat, so it certainly behooves Boston to do all it can to move out of that spot.
The schedule, however, is imposing. The Celtics had a very hot Utah team in town Wednesday and were able to get a win, but they travel to Minnesota on Friday before getting the Heat in a matinee Sunday. Starting with that Miami game, the Celtics will play seven opponents with an average winning percentage of .633, and they follow that stretch with a back-to-back-to-back on the road.
One of the keys for the Celtics surge has been a bit of a surprise—35-year-old Kevin Garnett, who dislikes playing center but has thrived in the spot in the absence of Jermaine O’Neal. Garnett had 23 points and 10 rebounds against Utah, and since the All-Star break is averaging 17.3 points on 53.0 percent shooting, with 8.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists.
“Kevin’s been amazing,” coach Doc Rivers said. “I was joking, but it is true, if you had an All-Star vote at the center spot in the league right now, he’d be right up there, because that’s what he’s been since the break. He’s a 5 and he’s been terrific. Just don’t tell him that.”
Deveney: Doc Rivers knows son, Austin, could be available
Player to watch: Kawhi Leonard, Spurs
Over the course of the year, no team has layered on the depth quite like the Spurs, and in the last two weeks, they have added Boris Diaw, Patty Mills and Stephen Jackson, while bringing back Manu Ginobili from injury. Their veteran depth should be a big part of them finishing strong in the Western Conference—but don’t discount the play of the Spurs’ youth. “We didn’t have this kind of depth last year,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “Our young players allow us not to overplay our veterans like Timmy (Duncan) and Tony (Parker).” Performing particularly well lately has been Leonard, the rookie the Spurs acquired in a draft day trade for George Hill. Leonard had 19 points and nine rebounds in the Spurs’ win over the Kings on Wednesday, and over his last five games he has averaged 12.8 points and 8.2 rebounds, while shooting 55.1 percent from the field and 41.7 percent on 3-pointers.
Deveney: Drama continues with Lakers
Matchup to watch: Luol Deng vs. Kevin Durant, Bulls at Thunder, Sunday
For the second straight Sunday, the West-leading Thunder will host a potential Finals foe—they handled the second-seeded Heat last week, now look to do the same against the top-seeded Bulls. Kevin Durant seemed especially keyed up for his individual matchup with LeBron James last week on both ends of the floor, and he’ll get a much different small forward against Chicago in Luol Deng. In five games in his career, Deng has played well against Durant, averaging 16.8 points. Durant has averaged 25.6 points in those games but has shot just 43.5 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the 3-point line.
Deveney: Ty Corbin has Jazz fighting for playoffs
On a roll: Clippers
A week ago, it looked like coach Vinny Del Negro could be in some trouble with his slumping Clippers, who seemed to have abandoned whatever defensive progress they’d made this year and were playing far too much one-on-one offense. Since then, the Clippers have pulled together three straight wins, all at home, and seemed to have rediscovered their defense—they have allowed opponents 85, 85 and 86 points in those three wins. They will have a back-to-back at home this weekend, with Portland on Friday and Utah on Saturday.
Getting desperate: Cavaliers
The future may be bright for the Cavaliers and No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving, but the present is getting to be a grind. Irving still has a solid hold on the league’s Rookie of the Year award, but the Cavaliers have lost eight of their last nine games (they failed to crack 90 points in six of those contests) and the nonstop nature of this year’s schedule seems to be wearing on Irving. Over his last 10 games, Irving is shooting 43.4 percent from the field.
The schedule, however, is imposing. The Celtics had a very hot Utah team in town Wednesday and were able to get a win, but they travel to Minnesota on Friday before getting the Heat in a matinee Sunday. Starting with that Miami game, the Celtics will play seven opponents with an average winning percentage of .633, and they follow that stretch with a back-to-back-to-back on the road.
One of the keys for the Celtics surge has been a bit of a surprise—35-year-old Kevin Garnett, who dislikes playing center but has thrived in the spot in the absence of Jermaine O’Neal. Garnett had 23 points and 10 rebounds against Utah, and since the All-Star break is averaging 17.3 points on 53.0 percent shooting, with 8.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists.
“Kevin’s been amazing,” coach Doc Rivers said. “I was joking, but it is true, if you had an All-Star vote at the center spot in the league right now, he’d be right up there, because that’s what he’s been since the break. He’s a 5 and he’s been terrific. Just don’t tell him that.”
Deveney: Doc Rivers knows son, Austin, could be available
Player to watch: Kawhi Leonard, Spurs
Over the course of the year, no team has layered on the depth quite like the Spurs, and in the last two weeks, they have added Boris Diaw, Patty Mills and Stephen Jackson, while bringing back Manu Ginobili from injury. Their veteran depth should be a big part of them finishing strong in the Western Conference—but don’t discount the play of the Spurs’ youth. “We didn’t have this kind of depth last year,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “Our young players allow us not to overplay our veterans like Timmy (Duncan) and Tony (Parker).” Performing particularly well lately has been Leonard, the rookie the Spurs acquired in a draft day trade for George Hill. Leonard had 19 points and nine rebounds in the Spurs’ win over the Kings on Wednesday, and over his last five games he has averaged 12.8 points and 8.2 rebounds, while shooting 55.1 percent from the field and 41.7 percent on 3-pointers.
Deveney: Drama continues with Lakers
Matchup to watch: Luol Deng vs. Kevin Durant, Bulls at Thunder, Sunday
For the second straight Sunday, the West-leading Thunder will host a potential Finals foe—they handled the second-seeded Heat last week, now look to do the same against the top-seeded Bulls. Kevin Durant seemed especially keyed up for his individual matchup with LeBron James last week on both ends of the floor, and he’ll get a much different small forward against Chicago in Luol Deng. In five games in his career, Deng has played well against Durant, averaging 16.8 points. Durant has averaged 25.6 points in those games but has shot just 43.5 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the 3-point line.
Deveney: Ty Corbin has Jazz fighting for playoffs
On a roll: Clippers
A week ago, it looked like coach Vinny Del Negro could be in some trouble with his slumping Clippers, who seemed to have abandoned whatever defensive progress they’d made this year and were playing far too much one-on-one offense. Since then, the Clippers have pulled together three straight wins, all at home, and seemed to have rediscovered their defense—they have allowed opponents 85, 85 and 86 points in those three wins. They will have a back-to-back at home this weekend, with Portland on Friday and Utah on Saturday.
Getting desperate: Cavaliers
The future may be bright for the Cavaliers and No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving, but the present is getting to be a grind. Irving still has a solid hold on the league’s Rookie of the Year award, but the Cavaliers have lost eight of their last nine games (they failed to crack 90 points in six of those contests) and the nonstop nature of this year’s schedule seems to be wearing on Irving. Over his last 10 games, Irving is shooting 43.4 percent from the field.
3.29.2012
UNC's Barnes, Henson, Marshall to enter NBA Draft
North Carolina forwards Harrison Barnes and John Henson and point guard Kendall Marshall will enter the NBA Draft, the school announced Thursday.
“It’s a great day for three youngsters who are taking another step toward their ultimate goal of playing professional basketball,” UNC coach Roy Williams said in a statement. “On a very small stage, it’s a sad day for me because I won’t get to coach them again. All Tar Heel fans will miss them greatly, as well.
“I really look forward to watching Harrison, John and Kendall play in the NBA. I know theywill be very successful. They have been and will always be great Tar Heels.”
Barnes was a first-team All-ACC and second-team All-America honors (NABC) selection as a sophomore after leading Carolina in scoring for the second straight year. He averaged 16.4 points per game during his two seasons in Chapel Hill.
Henson was the ACC’s defensive player of the year the past two seasons and earned first-team all-conference honors as a junior.
Marshall won the 2012 Bob Cousy Award as the top point guard in the nation and was a first-team All-America by CBSSports.com. He set the ACC’single-season assist record this year with 351, the fourth-most in NCAA history.
“It’s a great day for three youngsters who are taking another step toward their ultimate goal of playing professional basketball,” UNC coach Roy Williams said in a statement. “On a very small stage, it’s a sad day for me because I won’t get to coach them again. All Tar Heel fans will miss them greatly, as well.
“I really look forward to watching Harrison, John and Kendall play in the NBA. I know theywill be very successful. They have been and will always be great Tar Heels.”
Barnes was a first-team All-ACC and second-team All-America honors (NABC) selection as a sophomore after leading Carolina in scoring for the second straight year. He averaged 16.4 points per game during his two seasons in Chapel Hill.
Henson was the ACC’s defensive player of the year the past two seasons and earned first-team all-conference honors as a junior.
Marshall won the 2012 Bob Cousy Award as the top point guard in the nation and was a first-team All-America by CBSSports.com. He set the ACC’single-season assist record this year with 351, the fourth-most in NCAA history.
Key additions have transformed NBADL's Texas Legends
These aren’t the same Texas Legends that started the year with two straight losses, finished their first 12 games at 2-10 and tripped out to an 11-16 stretch through early February.
As a result of the constant rush of player movement to and from the NBA Development League, head coach Del Harris’ team doesn’t bear a whole lot of resemblance to the one that labored through the first three months of the season. They are still, however, the same Texas Legends that haven’t yet had a player called up to the NBA this season, in a year that’s shattered the all-time single-season GATORADE Call-Up mark and had 14 teams lose a player to the NBA—some as many as five times.
But if the past few weeks are any indication, that should change soon.
Ever since a loss to Springfield on Feb. 11, the Legends have turned into one of the hottest teams in the NBA D-League. After rattling off eight straight wins following the loss to the Armor—including a 130-97 win over Lone Star State rival Rio Grande Valley and three consecutive wins over the powerhouse Austin Toros—Texas catapulted back into playoff position. The Legends have lost just three times since Feb. 11 and now, with just nine days left in the regular season, stand in seventh place in the NBA D-League playoff race.
On Thursday night, when they take on Top Prospect Edwin Ubiles and the Dakota Wizards at 8 p.m., you can watch live on SportingNews.com.
The turnaround started in mid-January.
First came Antonio Daniels, who’d played 13 years in the NBA—including a 30.4 minutes-per-game average as recently as 2007-08—and signed a contract on Jan. 15.
Then came Alando Tucker, who’d gone No. 2 in this year’s NBA D-League Draft before buying out of his contract in November and hopping a flight to Spain for a stint with CB Gran Canaria. On Feb. 3, the veteran of 53 NBA games re-signed with the Legends.
Chris Roberts came a week later. Longtime NBA center Dan Gadzuric signed in early March. And all of a sudden, the Legends had a cast built around star guards Dominique Johnson and Booker Woodfox, who’d dragged Texas through the first three months of the season.
Since then, the parts have clicked.
Daniels has become one of the best—if not the premier—distributors in the league, averaging 8.8 assists per game (although that total’s dragged down by his first four games, when he was playing fewer than 30 minutes a night). Since those first four, he’s put up double-digit assists in eight of 16 games, including a 14-dime night against Dakota on Wednesday.
Tucker, meanwhile, has done a little bit of everything. The former Suns and Timberwolves swingman is averaging nearly 16 points, four rebounds and two assists per game since his return, providing the Legends with some lineup flexibility they’d been missing.
Gadzuric’s averaging close to a double-double every night, with 10.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Roberts has added some size to the Legends’ perimeter defense while chipping in 13 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
On Thursday, he’ll have the challenge of guarding Ubiles, who’s back in the D-League after a trip to the Washington Wizards.
As a result of the constant rush of player movement to and from the NBA Development League, head coach Del Harris’ team doesn’t bear a whole lot of resemblance to the one that labored through the first three months of the season. They are still, however, the same Texas Legends that haven’t yet had a player called up to the NBA this season, in a year that’s shattered the all-time single-season GATORADE Call-Up mark and had 14 teams lose a player to the NBA—some as many as five times.
But if the past few weeks are any indication, that should change soon.
Ever since a loss to Springfield on Feb. 11, the Legends have turned into one of the hottest teams in the NBA D-League. After rattling off eight straight wins following the loss to the Armor—including a 130-97 win over Lone Star State rival Rio Grande Valley and three consecutive wins over the powerhouse Austin Toros—Texas catapulted back into playoff position. The Legends have lost just three times since Feb. 11 and now, with just nine days left in the regular season, stand in seventh place in the NBA D-League playoff race.
On Thursday night, when they take on Top Prospect Edwin Ubiles and the Dakota Wizards at 8 p.m., you can watch live on SportingNews.com.
The turnaround started in mid-January.
First came Antonio Daniels, who’d played 13 years in the NBA—including a 30.4 minutes-per-game average as recently as 2007-08—and signed a contract on Jan. 15.
Then came Alando Tucker, who’d gone No. 2 in this year’s NBA D-League Draft before buying out of his contract in November and hopping a flight to Spain for a stint with CB Gran Canaria. On Feb. 3, the veteran of 53 NBA games re-signed with the Legends.
Chris Roberts came a week later. Longtime NBA center Dan Gadzuric signed in early March. And all of a sudden, the Legends had a cast built around star guards Dominique Johnson and Booker Woodfox, who’d dragged Texas through the first three months of the season.
Since then, the parts have clicked.
Daniels has become one of the best—if not the premier—distributors in the league, averaging 8.8 assists per game (although that total’s dragged down by his first four games, when he was playing fewer than 30 minutes a night). Since those first four, he’s put up double-digit assists in eight of 16 games, including a 14-dime night against Dakota on Wednesday.
Tucker, meanwhile, has done a little bit of everything. The former Suns and Timberwolves swingman is averaging nearly 16 points, four rebounds and two assists per game since his return, providing the Legends with some lineup flexibility they’d been missing.
Gadzuric’s averaging close to a double-double every night, with 10.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Roberts has added some size to the Legends’ perimeter defense while chipping in 13 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
On Thursday, he’ll have the challenge of guarding Ubiles, who’s back in the D-League after a trip to the Washington Wizards.
Minutes hard to come by as Bucks chase final playoff spot
With his Milwaukee Bucks positioned one spot outside the Eastern Conference playoff field, Bucks coach Scott Skiles knows that every game—and every minute—counts in this strike-shortened season.
In Tuesday’s win against Atlanta, Skiles put just eight players on the floor.
“I thought the bench played well again,” Skiles told the Journal Sentinel. “It was a short bench; I elected not to go too deep into it.”
The Journal Sentinel noted that starters Ersan Ilyasova and Carlos Delfino were out that game because of injuries, but that as the Bucks pursue that eighth playoff spot—they trail the Knicks by 2½ games—Skiles is likely to be even more particular with the minutes he hands out.
Mike Dunleavy has been great as the team’s sixth man. He’s fourth on the team in scoring (12.6 points) and has averaged nearly 18 points in the past 11 games, the newspaper reported.
The others in the rotation off the bench include Beno Udrih (18.5 minutes per game), Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (22.2 minutes) and Ekpe Udoh (19.9 minutes). Rookies Tobias Harris and Jon Leuer, in turn, are seeing fewer minutes as Skiles shortens his rotation.
Each of the subs has had his moments in recent games. Mbah a Moute scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 25 minutes against Charlotte. Udrih scored 15 points and had four assists and four steals in a win against Portland. Udoh grabbed 10 rebounds in 20 minutes against the Celtics.
“Every one of them (games remaining) is big,” Mbah a Moute told the Journal Sentinel. “We need all of them, if possible, to get ourselves in a good position to make it.”
In Tuesday’s win against Atlanta, Skiles put just eight players on the floor.
“I thought the bench played well again,” Skiles told the Journal Sentinel. “It was a short bench; I elected not to go too deep into it.”
The Journal Sentinel noted that starters Ersan Ilyasova and Carlos Delfino were out that game because of injuries, but that as the Bucks pursue that eighth playoff spot—they trail the Knicks by 2½ games—Skiles is likely to be even more particular with the minutes he hands out.
Mike Dunleavy has been great as the team’s sixth man. He’s fourth on the team in scoring (12.6 points) and has averaged nearly 18 points in the past 11 games, the newspaper reported.
The others in the rotation off the bench include Beno Udrih (18.5 minutes per game), Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (22.2 minutes) and Ekpe Udoh (19.9 minutes). Rookies Tobias Harris and Jon Leuer, in turn, are seeing fewer minutes as Skiles shortens his rotation.
Each of the subs has had his moments in recent games. Mbah a Moute scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 25 minutes against Charlotte. Udrih scored 15 points and had four assists and four steals in a win against Portland. Udoh grabbed 10 rebounds in 20 minutes against the Celtics.
“Every one of them (games remaining) is big,” Mbah a Moute told the Journal Sentinel. “We need all of them, if possible, to get ourselves in a good position to make it.”
Suns coach says Clippers talented, where they need to be
Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry thinks the Clippers will be just fine despite rumors that coach Vinny Del Negro could be fired.
Gentry, who was 89-133 in two-plus seasons with the Clippers before being fired in 2003, told the Los Angeles Times that his former squad just needs time to “jell and come together.”
After capping off a three-game losing streak—all on the road—with a loss to the lowly New Orleans Hornets last week, the Clippers have won three in row after beating Gentry’s Suns on Wednesday, 103-86.
“It’s a process,” Gentry told the Times. “I think they are going to be really, really good. I don’t think there’s anybody out there that’s raising their hand to meet them in the playoffs, if that’s what you’re talking about.”
—Clippers owner, GM both back coach Vinny Del Negro in wake of ominous reports
The Clippers are young—four of their five starters Wednesday are 28 or younger.
In his second season with the Clippers, Del Negro has Los Angeles at 29-21 and fourth in the Western Conference standings. The Clippers have reached the playoffs once (2006) in the past 14 seasons.
“I think they are real talented,” Gentry added. “But I think everybody is jumping the gun as to where they should be. I think they are fine.”
Gentry, who was 89-133 in two-plus seasons with the Clippers before being fired in 2003, told the Los Angeles Times that his former squad just needs time to “jell and come together.”
After capping off a three-game losing streak—all on the road—with a loss to the lowly New Orleans Hornets last week, the Clippers have won three in row after beating Gentry’s Suns on Wednesday, 103-86.
“It’s a process,” Gentry told the Times. “I think they are going to be really, really good. I don’t think there’s anybody out there that’s raising their hand to meet them in the playoffs, if that’s what you’re talking about.”
—Clippers owner, GM both back coach Vinny Del Negro in wake of ominous reports
The Clippers are young—four of their five starters Wednesday are 28 or younger.
In his second season with the Clippers, Del Negro has Los Angeles at 29-21 and fourth in the Western Conference standings. The Clippers have reached the playoffs once (2006) in the past 14 seasons.
“I think they are real talented,” Gentry added. “But I think everybody is jumping the gun as to where they should be. I think they are fine.”
NBA draft to be held in Newark with MSG unavailable
The NBA Draft will be held at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., for the second straight year.
With Madison Square Garden again unavailable while undergoing offseason renovations, the draft will return to what no longer will be an NBA arena. The Nets will play their final game there in April before moving to Brooklyn.
Commissioner David Stern calls the Prudential Center a “state-of-the-art” facility.
The draft is scheduled for 7 p.m. on June 28.
With Madison Square Garden again unavailable while undergoing offseason renovations, the draft will return to what no longer will be an NBA arena. The Nets will play their final game there in April before moving to Brooklyn.
Commissioner David Stern calls the Prudential Center a “state-of-the-art” facility.
The draft is scheduled for 7 p.m. on June 28.
3.28.2012
Doc Rivers knows son could be available when Celtics make draft pick
BOSTON—Now that his son, Austin Rivers, has declared his intention to enter this year’s NBA draft, Celtics coach Doc Rivers has an idea of how Boston’s draft night will go should Austin be on the board when the Celtics pick.
“I am going to say, ‘Danny, you better draft him,’ ” Doc Rivers said, referencing Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge. “Jokingly. And he could be, that could actually happen and if it happens, it happens. We’re going to do what’s best for the team. I’m just not going to answer my phone. Because my wife will be calling.”
Austin Rivers, a guard, averaged 15.5 points per game as a freshman at Duke and is generally considered a lottery pick. Doc Rivers said reports saying Austin had decided at midseason to enter his name in the draft were no surprise—it had been the understanding of Mike Krzyzewski and Duke’s coaching staff all along that Austin would not be around past this year.
“I think he always wanted to be an NBA player, I don’t think he’s ever hid that,” Doc Rivers said. “Coach K, one of the things he said was, we recruited him as a one-and-done. Same way they recruited Kyrie (Irving, last year’s No. 1 pick). That was part of what they talked to him about a lot before he got there. But he still almost stayed, because he enjoyed it, he enjoyed Coach K. I’m happy for him, I really am. We had input in it, we let him have more input in it, honestly. I am just happy he is kind of at peace and he’s made his decision.”
There have been hits and misses among one-and-done draftees since the NBA instituted the rule that forbade players from entering the draft out of high school. Doc Rivers, though, said he is not concerned about that when it comes to his son.
“I am not thinking about it honestly,” he said. “I think he’s good enough to be a good player for a long time. Having said that, you got to get in the league and find out. I’ve always said, the one-and-dones who haven’t made it, would have been four-year players who didn’t make it. It’s the same as guys who went two years and three years and didn’t do well in the league. It just turns out whether you’re a player or not.”
“I am going to say, ‘Danny, you better draft him,’ ” Doc Rivers said, referencing Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge. “Jokingly. And he could be, that could actually happen and if it happens, it happens. We’re going to do what’s best for the team. I’m just not going to answer my phone. Because my wife will be calling.”
Austin Rivers, a guard, averaged 15.5 points per game as a freshman at Duke and is generally considered a lottery pick. Doc Rivers said reports saying Austin had decided at midseason to enter his name in the draft were no surprise—it had been the understanding of Mike Krzyzewski and Duke’s coaching staff all along that Austin would not be around past this year.
“I think he always wanted to be an NBA player, I don’t think he’s ever hid that,” Doc Rivers said. “Coach K, one of the things he said was, we recruited him as a one-and-done. Same way they recruited Kyrie (Irving, last year’s No. 1 pick). That was part of what they talked to him about a lot before he got there. But he still almost stayed, because he enjoyed it, he enjoyed Coach K. I’m happy for him, I really am. We had input in it, we let him have more input in it, honestly. I am just happy he is kind of at peace and he’s made his decision.”
There have been hits and misses among one-and-done draftees since the NBA instituted the rule that forbade players from entering the draft out of high school. Doc Rivers, though, said he is not concerned about that when it comes to his son.
“I am not thinking about it honestly,” he said. “I think he’s good enough to be a good player for a long time. Having said that, you got to get in the league and find out. I’ve always said, the one-and-dones who haven’t made it, would have been four-year players who didn’t make it. It’s the same as guys who went two years and three years and didn’t do well in the league. It just turns out whether you’re a player or not.”
Trail Blazers restart search for GM, speculation turns to Steve Kerr
The Portland Trail Blazers, who have been without a general manager since firing Rich Cho last May, have indicated that they’ve reopened their search to fill the position, The Oregonian reports. The organization halted its GM search in November, when the NBA still was embroiled in the lockout.
Steve Kerr, The Oregonian surmises, is on top of the team’s wish list. The Blazers pursued Kerr after cutting ties with Cho, but Kerr, who currently is an NBA and college basketball analyst for Turner, said he wanted to spend more time with his family.
When The Oregonian asked Blazers president Larry Miller about Kerr, he “paused, smiled, and then reiterated the franchise stance since Cho was fired: the team will not comment on candidates.”
Kerr does fit the Blazers’ preference of hiring a candidate with previous general managing experience, as he was the top basketball executive for the Phoenix Suns for three seasons, from 2007-08 through 2009-10.
The Oregonian also mentions Danny Ainge, who is from Eugene, Ore., as a possibility should he leave the Boston Celtics after the season.
Miller, when it was pointed out to him that Blazers owner Paul Allen—who also owns the Seahawks—has a history of making splashy hires, responded, "He does like that."
Steve Kerr, The Oregonian surmises, is on top of the team’s wish list. The Blazers pursued Kerr after cutting ties with Cho, but Kerr, who currently is an NBA and college basketball analyst for Turner, said he wanted to spend more time with his family.
When The Oregonian asked Blazers president Larry Miller about Kerr, he “paused, smiled, and then reiterated the franchise stance since Cho was fired: the team will not comment on candidates.”
Kerr does fit the Blazers’ preference of hiring a candidate with previous general managing experience, as he was the top basketball executive for the Phoenix Suns for three seasons, from 2007-08 through 2009-10.
The Oregonian also mentions Danny Ainge, who is from Eugene, Ore., as a possibility should he leave the Boston Celtics after the season.
Miller, when it was pointed out to him that Blazers owner Paul Allen—who also owns the Seahawks—has a history of making splashy hires, responded, "He does like that."
Orlando Magic forward Glen Davis fined $35,000 for obscene gesture
The NBA fined the Orlando Magic's Glen Davis $35,000 on Wednesday for making an obscene gesture in a game Monday at the Toronto Raptors' Air Canada Centre.
The incident occurred with 7:49 remaining in the second quarter of Orlando's 117-101 win over Toronto. Davis finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and one assist in 23 minutes.
Davis was issued a technical foul in January for pulling down his shorts while arguing a foul during a game against San Antonio.
The 26-year-old forward is averaging 7.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 21.7 minutes per game off Orlando's bench this season.
The incident occurred with 7:49 remaining in the second quarter of Orlando's 117-101 win over Toronto. Davis finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and one assist in 23 minutes.
Davis was issued a technical foul in January for pulling down his shorts while arguing a foul during a game against San Antonio.
The 26-year-old forward is averaging 7.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 21.7 minutes per game off Orlando's bench this season.
Dennis Rodman, sick and broke, finally hits rock bottom
Dennis Rodman has hit bottom again. Please raise your hand if you’re surprised.
He is “extremely sick” and extremely broke, his financial advisor told a judge Tuesday. Rodman was there for a contempt of court hearing. He owes $808,935 in child and spousal support, and he long ago ran out of wedding gowns to hock.
Meanwhile, across town in L.A., Magic Johnson was closing a $2 billion deal to buy the Dodgers. Have the after-lives of two Hall of Famers ever risen so high and sunk so low on the same day?
One has been smart, responsible and ambitious. He turned his basketball fortune into a financial empire.
Then there’s the Worm, who spent his millions on bar tabs, hair dye, tattoo artists, strippers and Carmen Electra.
“The rest, I wasted,” he would probably say.
—'Sick' Rodman faces jail time over failure to pay child support, spousal support
Like most rebels, Rodman has never had many regrets. It’s hard to feel sorry for him like we do other broken-down stars. The sad part is the more he self-immolated, the easier it’s become to forget why we ever cared about him in the first place.
Rodman was barging onstage about the time Magic was leaving. They’d both come from humble beginnings. Johnson was the son of a GM assembly-line worker in Michigan. A single mother in Texas raised Rodman.
Dennis was cut from his high-school team, and then he had a growth spurt and became a 6-foot-6 janitor. He played low-level college ball and the Pistons drafted him. Nobody had a clue what they were getting.
Rodman was one of the greatest rebounders in NBA history. He was listed at 6-8, but he really was shorter and had absolutely no business leading the league in rebounding for seven straight years.
His timing, hustle and relentlessness were unmatched. Dennis the Menace couldn’t shoot a lick, but it’s no coincidence that he played on five NBA championship teams.
He quietly played out his career, met a nice girl, settled down and they lived happily ever after.
Well, not quite.
Rodman became the most super of freaks. Some people say it was always in him. Others say it was contrived. That he realized being a rebounding king was nice, but he was more marketable as a neon-haired, authority-defying rebounding enigma.
Maybe he really did love Madonna. I won’t pretend to understand him. If he donates his brain to science, researchers will spend years trying to figure out the wiring.
What makes one man a Magic and the other a Worm?
Somewhere in that multi-colored head, there might have been an “off” switch. Rodman never found it on the court, which made for great basketball.
He also never found it off the court, which made for thousands of wild nights. There’s no telling how many tequila shots Rodman had, laughing at conformists like Magic who saw beyond the next party.
“I’m surprised to be living, to be honest with you,” he said.
—Earvin Johnson works his magic again with resurrection of Dodgers
That was in 2004, when he was 42 and contemplating a basketball comeback. Imagine his surprise to still be alive at 50.
The past few years have been a blur of excess, interrupted by occasional stints as a pro wrestler, reality-TV star and critically ridiculed actor.
According the Los Angeles Times, Rodman’s late-night parties also were interrupted 80 times by police, who were called to quell the craziness.
He had a 47-foot speedboat named Sexual Chocolate. He drove around L.A. in a Hummer that sported a painting of a nude woman.
It’s always a good time until the bill comes due.
“In all honesty, Dennis, although a very sweet person, is an alcoholic,” said his financial advisor, Peggy Williams. “His sickness impacts his ability to get work.”
Besides stiffing his wife and kids, he owes $350,000 in back taxes. Maybe he’ll finally start heading up now that he’s hit the bottom. More likely, Rodman will just find another bottom.
Being the Worm means never having to say you’re sorry. But you wonder if he didn’t gaze across town Tuesday and regret he didn’t try harder to turn out more like Magic.
He is “extremely sick” and extremely broke, his financial advisor told a judge Tuesday. Rodman was there for a contempt of court hearing. He owes $808,935 in child and spousal support, and he long ago ran out of wedding gowns to hock.
Meanwhile, across town in L.A., Magic Johnson was closing a $2 billion deal to buy the Dodgers. Have the after-lives of two Hall of Famers ever risen so high and sunk so low on the same day?
One has been smart, responsible and ambitious. He turned his basketball fortune into a financial empire.
Then there’s the Worm, who spent his millions on bar tabs, hair dye, tattoo artists, strippers and Carmen Electra.
“The rest, I wasted,” he would probably say.
—'Sick' Rodman faces jail time over failure to pay child support, spousal support
Like most rebels, Rodman has never had many regrets. It’s hard to feel sorry for him like we do other broken-down stars. The sad part is the more he self-immolated, the easier it’s become to forget why we ever cared about him in the first place.
Rodman was barging onstage about the time Magic was leaving. They’d both come from humble beginnings. Johnson was the son of a GM assembly-line worker in Michigan. A single mother in Texas raised Rodman.
Dennis was cut from his high-school team, and then he had a growth spurt and became a 6-foot-6 janitor. He played low-level college ball and the Pistons drafted him. Nobody had a clue what they were getting.
Rodman was one of the greatest rebounders in NBA history. He was listed at 6-8, but he really was shorter and had absolutely no business leading the league in rebounding for seven straight years.
His timing, hustle and relentlessness were unmatched. Dennis the Menace couldn’t shoot a lick, but it’s no coincidence that he played on five NBA championship teams.
He quietly played out his career, met a nice girl, settled down and they lived happily ever after.
Well, not quite.
Rodman became the most super of freaks. Some people say it was always in him. Others say it was contrived. That he realized being a rebounding king was nice, but he was more marketable as a neon-haired, authority-defying rebounding enigma.
Maybe he really did love Madonna. I won’t pretend to understand him. If he donates his brain to science, researchers will spend years trying to figure out the wiring.
What makes one man a Magic and the other a Worm?
Somewhere in that multi-colored head, there might have been an “off” switch. Rodman never found it on the court, which made for great basketball.
He also never found it off the court, which made for thousands of wild nights. There’s no telling how many tequila shots Rodman had, laughing at conformists like Magic who saw beyond the next party.
“I’m surprised to be living, to be honest with you,” he said.
—Earvin Johnson works his magic again with resurrection of Dodgers
That was in 2004, when he was 42 and contemplating a basketball comeback. Imagine his surprise to still be alive at 50.
The past few years have been a blur of excess, interrupted by occasional stints as a pro wrestler, reality-TV star and critically ridiculed actor.
According the Los Angeles Times, Rodman’s late-night parties also were interrupted 80 times by police, who were called to quell the craziness.
He had a 47-foot speedboat named Sexual Chocolate. He drove around L.A. in a Hummer that sported a painting of a nude woman.
It’s always a good time until the bill comes due.
“In all honesty, Dennis, although a very sweet person, is an alcoholic,” said his financial advisor, Peggy Williams. “His sickness impacts his ability to get work.”
Besides stiffing his wife and kids, he owes $350,000 in back taxes. Maybe he’ll finally start heading up now that he’s hit the bottom. More likely, Rodman will just find another bottom.
Being the Worm means never having to say you’re sorry. But you wonder if he didn’t gaze across town Tuesday and regret he didn’t try harder to turn out more like Magic.
Another Hollywood drama: Bynum benching keeps Lakers in headlines, as big game against Thunder looms
Wait a moment. What now in Lakerland? Weren’t things supposed to cool off once folks in L.A. got accustomed to Ramon Sessions over Derek Fisher at point guard? Weren’t these Lakers supposed to be drama-free once the trading deadline passed? Isn’t this the year in which Andrew Bynum was supposed to grow up?
Lakers fans must be missing the days when potential deals involving Pau Gasol were the chief off-court headlines. Their team is a solid No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, winning three of its last four and eight of its last 11. Still, it seems impossible for the Lakers to simply play well without an asterisk, without a tangential storyline you only hope does not foreshadow some cataclysm.
Next up is the return of Fisher, now a member of the Thunder.
Few would argue the benefits of replacing Fisher (3.8 points on 22.7 percent shooting with Oklahoma City) with Sessions (13.3 points, 52.8 percent shooting since being traded to L.A.). Sessions has been outstanding for this new team’s offense, but one thing for which Fisher could be counted on is a cool head in the Lakers locker room. He’s no longer there, though, and now we’ve already seen some unnecessary in-fighting bubbling up.
The brief benching of Bryant in favor of Metta World Peace in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ loss to Memphis on Sunday was an eyebrow-raiser. Bryant acknowledged he wasn’t happy about it, but was careful not to make an issue of his stay on the bench, and on Tuesday, Bryant was back on the floor for the final 6:39 of the Lakers’ win over the Warriors—and Bryant scored six critical points in the last 1:04.
While Bryant was on the floor, though, Bynum wasn’t. Brown clearly was annoyed by Bynum’s 3-point brick in the third quarter, his fourth 3-point attempt of the season and eighth of his career—but his second in the previous two games. Brown benched Bynum for the final 9:10 of the Warriors game. He has been on Bynum all season about providing consistent effort, and for a while, he seemed to have made a breakthrough, as Bynum made the All-Star team and had a stretch of double-digit rebounds in 22 of 24 games.
Deveney: Five playoff storylines to watch
But after one of the two games in which he did not reach double-figure rebounding, a loss to the lowly Wizards, Bynum confessed to “loafing.” He has looked like a loafer again over his last five games, in which he has been adequate as a scorer (18.8 points) but lacking as a rebounder (7.0 per game, well below his 12.2 rebound average). When Brown benched him against Golden State, Bynum didn’t seem pleased, remaining separate from the team during timeouts. After the game, he told reporters, “I don’t know what was bench-worthy about the shot, to be honest with you. I made one the other day, and I wanted to make another one. That’s it.”
Bryant, for one, blew off Bynum’s impetuousness, saying he did much the same thing when he was a young player. Still, it is frustrating to watch the player on whom the Lakers have bet their future, short- and long-term, show the ability to dominate, only to turn around and then loaf, chuck 3-pointers and cop a bad attitude.
There is more made of Laker strife than the standard conflicts that arise with most teams. That’s something Fisher will know about when he arrives with the conference-leading Thunder, in a game that means a lot to the Lakers in terms of establishing their credentials as West contenders. They’ve only played one game so far this season against the two teams ahead of them in the West (Oklahoma City and San Antonio), and they were drilled by the Thunder, 100-85. Bynum was bad in that loss, shooting 5-for-15, and Bryant was worse, going 7-for-24 and having six of his shots blocked. Including Thursday’s game, the Lakers play five of their final 16 against the Spurs and Thunder—winning at least three of them will help keep the Lakers in the third spot of the West standings and show they belong among the conference elite.
Even by L.A. standards, this has been a tumultuous year. With about a month remaining in the regular season, it would be a good time for Brown to maintain control of his team, a good time for Bryant to be at his best, a good time for Bynum to show some maturity and return to dominant form. The Lakers may not be a championship-caliber bunch, but they can do better than the second-round sweep they suffered in last year’s postseason.
Lakers fans must be missing the days when potential deals involving Pau Gasol were the chief off-court headlines. Their team is a solid No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, winning three of its last four and eight of its last 11. Still, it seems impossible for the Lakers to simply play well without an asterisk, without a tangential storyline you only hope does not foreshadow some cataclysm.
Next up is the return of Fisher, now a member of the Thunder.
Few would argue the benefits of replacing Fisher (3.8 points on 22.7 percent shooting with Oklahoma City) with Sessions (13.3 points, 52.8 percent shooting since being traded to L.A.). Sessions has been outstanding for this new team’s offense, but one thing for which Fisher could be counted on is a cool head in the Lakers locker room. He’s no longer there, though, and now we’ve already seen some unnecessary in-fighting bubbling up.
The brief benching of Bryant in favor of Metta World Peace in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ loss to Memphis on Sunday was an eyebrow-raiser. Bryant acknowledged he wasn’t happy about it, but was careful not to make an issue of his stay on the bench, and on Tuesday, Bryant was back on the floor for the final 6:39 of the Lakers’ win over the Warriors—and Bryant scored six critical points in the last 1:04.
While Bryant was on the floor, though, Bynum wasn’t. Brown clearly was annoyed by Bynum’s 3-point brick in the third quarter, his fourth 3-point attempt of the season and eighth of his career—but his second in the previous two games. Brown benched Bynum for the final 9:10 of the Warriors game. He has been on Bynum all season about providing consistent effort, and for a while, he seemed to have made a breakthrough, as Bynum made the All-Star team and had a stretch of double-digit rebounds in 22 of 24 games.
Deveney: Five playoff storylines to watch
But after one of the two games in which he did not reach double-figure rebounding, a loss to the lowly Wizards, Bynum confessed to “loafing.” He has looked like a loafer again over his last five games, in which he has been adequate as a scorer (18.8 points) but lacking as a rebounder (7.0 per game, well below his 12.2 rebound average). When Brown benched him against Golden State, Bynum didn’t seem pleased, remaining separate from the team during timeouts. After the game, he told reporters, “I don’t know what was bench-worthy about the shot, to be honest with you. I made one the other day, and I wanted to make another one. That’s it.”
Bryant, for one, blew off Bynum’s impetuousness, saying he did much the same thing when he was a young player. Still, it is frustrating to watch the player on whom the Lakers have bet their future, short- and long-term, show the ability to dominate, only to turn around and then loaf, chuck 3-pointers and cop a bad attitude.
There is more made of Laker strife than the standard conflicts that arise with most teams. That’s something Fisher will know about when he arrives with the conference-leading Thunder, in a game that means a lot to the Lakers in terms of establishing their credentials as West contenders. They’ve only played one game so far this season against the two teams ahead of them in the West (Oklahoma City and San Antonio), and they were drilled by the Thunder, 100-85. Bynum was bad in that loss, shooting 5-for-15, and Bryant was worse, going 7-for-24 and having six of his shots blocked. Including Thursday’s game, the Lakers play five of their final 16 against the Spurs and Thunder—winning at least three of them will help keep the Lakers in the third spot of the West standings and show they belong among the conference elite.
Even by L.A. standards, this has been a tumultuous year. With about a month remaining in the regular season, it would be a good time for Brown to maintain control of his team, a good time for Bryant to be at his best, a good time for Bynum to show some maturity and return to dominant form. The Lakers may not be a championship-caliber bunch, but they can do better than the second-round sweep they suffered in last year’s postseason.
Mississippi State’s Arnett Moultrie says he’ll enter NBA Draft
Arnett Moultrie will forgo his senior year at Mississippi State and enter the NBA Draft, the 6-11 forward told the Daily Journal. Moultrie has not yet hired an agent, but if he signs the necessary paperwork, he’ll forfeit his college eligibility since it will be the second time he’s declared for the draft, according to NCAA bylaws cited in the report.
"I, Arnett Moultrie, after careful consideration and discussions with my family and my coaches, have decided to explore my options and enter my name into the 2012 NBA Draft,” Moultrie said in a text message to the Daily Journal. “I have not signed with an agent, as of yet. However, I do anticipate doing so.”
Moultrie averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game this season, the report notes. He shot 54.9 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from 3-point range, and 78 percent from the foul line.
Moultrie, who transferred to Mississippi State after his sophomore year at UTEP.
"I, Arnett Moultrie, after careful consideration and discussions with my family and my coaches, have decided to explore my options and enter my name into the 2012 NBA Draft,” Moultrie said in a text message to the Daily Journal. “I have not signed with an agent, as of yet. However, I do anticipate doing so.”
Moultrie averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game this season, the report notes. He shot 54.9 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from 3-point range, and 78 percent from the foul line.
Moultrie, who transferred to Mississippi State after his sophomore year at UTEP.
No surgery necessary for Amare Stoudemire, who should be back in two-to-four weeks
New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire does not need surgery for the bulging disk in his back and is expected to return to the floor in two-to-four weeks, the team announced.
Stoudemire’s back stiffened up on him during the Knicks’ win in New York over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, and concerns were exacerbated with a report Tuesday that he may need season-ending back surgery.
Stoudemire visited a specialist in Miami on Tuesday, and doctors agreed to treat the injury with rehabilitation, including an epidural for pain relief.
"That's always good news," Carmelo Anthony said of Stoudemire's expected return. "I just want him to be healthy, that's the most important thing for him. For us, we just want him to be healthy."
Despite expecting their power forward to be back before the regular season ends, Stoudemire’s absence will make Knicks fans nervous. They have a tenuous two-game lead over the Milwaukee Bucks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. On the other hand, they’re just three games behind the Philadelphia 76ers for the Atlantic Division lead. So one can envision them winning their division—or missing the playoffs entirely.
New York also is dealing with injuries to Anthony (groin), Jeremy Lin (knee) and Jared Jeffries, who is out another week to 10 days with a sore right knee. Lin will not play against the Magic on Wednesday, the New York Daily News' Frank Isola reports. Anthony is reportedly ready to play.
The Knicks’ schedule won’t make things any easier. Of their final 16 games, 10 are against playoff-bound opponents.
Stoudemire’s back stiffened up on him during the Knicks’ win in New York over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, and concerns were exacerbated with a report Tuesday that he may need season-ending back surgery.
Stoudemire visited a specialist in Miami on Tuesday, and doctors agreed to treat the injury with rehabilitation, including an epidural for pain relief.
"That's always good news," Carmelo Anthony said of Stoudemire's expected return. "I just want him to be healthy, that's the most important thing for him. For us, we just want him to be healthy."
Despite expecting their power forward to be back before the regular season ends, Stoudemire’s absence will make Knicks fans nervous. They have a tenuous two-game lead over the Milwaukee Bucks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. On the other hand, they’re just three games behind the Philadelphia 76ers for the Atlantic Division lead. So one can envision them winning their division—or missing the playoffs entirely.
New York also is dealing with injuries to Anthony (groin), Jeremy Lin (knee) and Jared Jeffries, who is out another week to 10 days with a sore right knee. Lin will not play against the Magic on Wednesday, the New York Daily News' Frank Isola reports. Anthony is reportedly ready to play.
The Knicks’ schedule won’t make things any easier. Of their final 16 games, 10 are against playoff-bound opponents.
Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth to finally get his due
For Matt Kenseth, the downside to winning the rain-delayed Daytona 500 was that he didn’t get to participate in the typical postrace celebration for Daytona 500 winners.
Daytona International Speedway will remedy that on April 11 when Kenseth and Roush Fenway Racing co-owner Jack Roush return to Daytona for a special fan forum and luncheon to celebrate their victory in the 54th Daytona 500.
The Daytona 500 was rained out on Feb. 26 and postponed until Monday night, Feb. 27. The conclusion of the race was delayed by about two hours when a fire erupted with 40 laps to go after Juan Pablo Montoya’s car his a jet dryer under caution.
Kenseth finally took the checkered flag around 1 a.m. on Feb. 28.
Because of the one-day delay in running the race and because Sprint Cup teams had to travel to Phoenix for the second race of the season later that week, the Daytona 500 Champion’s Breakfast was canceled.
The Champion’s Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a fan forum at the Daytona Ticket and Tours building in front of the track. Kenseth’s winning car, as well as the Harley J. Earl Daytona 500 trophy, will be there. Guests also will get a tour of DIS.
Tickets to the originally scheduled Champion’s Breakfast will be honored for the lunch event. Tickets can also be purchased for $40 by calling 1-800-PITSHOP
Daytona International Speedway will remedy that on April 11 when Kenseth and Roush Fenway Racing co-owner Jack Roush return to Daytona for a special fan forum and luncheon to celebrate their victory in the 54th Daytona 500.
The Daytona 500 was rained out on Feb. 26 and postponed until Monday night, Feb. 27. The conclusion of the race was delayed by about two hours when a fire erupted with 40 laps to go after Juan Pablo Montoya’s car his a jet dryer under caution.
Kenseth finally took the checkered flag around 1 a.m. on Feb. 28.
Because of the one-day delay in running the race and because Sprint Cup teams had to travel to Phoenix for the second race of the season later that week, the Daytona 500 Champion’s Breakfast was canceled.
The Champion’s Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a fan forum at the Daytona Ticket and Tours building in front of the track. Kenseth’s winning car, as well as the Harley J. Earl Daytona 500 trophy, will be there. Guests also will get a tour of DIS.
Tickets to the originally scheduled Champion’s Breakfast will be honored for the lunch event. Tickets can also be purchased for $40 by calling 1-800-PITSHOP
Eventful Knicks season highlights the fickle nature of sports
NEW YORK – In one month and one day and maybe a few hours, the NBA playoffs begin, and in the Eastern Conference the Knicks will travel to Chicago to initiate the amusement.
Or will the Knicks be in Miami, sparking media overkill Armageddon?
Foolish dreams, ridiculous predictions? Well, sure, but life is stuffed with dreamers who are convinced they can win Powerball and fools who remain dead sure their teams aren’t as tragic as the evidence might suggest.
Knickerbocker fans have weathered an especially absurd trip through this abbreviated season. So humor them as they mournfully stare at their Bernard King posters and curse the fickle nature of sports.
It has been quite the hands-in the-air ride, this whirl on the Knicks roller coaster. There was the Jeremy Lin shooting comet, the firing of coach Mike D’Antoni. And then, just as the Knicks were making a push in the Atlantic Division, here comes this: Amare Stoudemire, the heart of the team’s recent renaissance, is sidelined indefinitely with a bulging disc in his lower back.
Like Monty Python’s knight who guards a small bridge, Stoudemire for weeks had been claiming it was just a flesh wound. Muscle tightness, he called it, even as it was obvious his drives to the rim were accompanied by visceral cringes. Finally on Tuesday he met in Miami with the consultant who worked on his troublesome back during the lockout, and while the Knicks cross their fingers and say Stoudemire won’t need season-ending surgery, nobody dares guess whether he’ll be back in time for the postseason.
And now Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks other All Star forward, has again tweaked his groin muscle, and if he misses the next couple of games in this key week, who will fight for the last shot? Anthony put on a gutty performance at the Garden Monday night against Milwaukee, the eight-seed challenger, but as the Knicks clawed back to .500 Melo reinjured his right groin and is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game against Orlando.
And Lin, the point guard who has slipped back into some kind of normalcy, is nursing a sore right knee. Officially he’s listed as day to day, which wouldn’t sound so grim if Baron Davis, the veteran point, weren’t dealing with a screaming hamstring and struggling to recover from a herniated disc in his back and seemingly breaking down every other second.
And Jared Jeffries, the energetic reserve forward, could pick up at least some of the slack from the absent Stoudemire, except that Jeffries is out for at least two weeks with an inflamed right knee.
And in a word, geez.
Next we’ll hear that a Knick got injured on a trampoline, playing with Joba’s kid, and those who dabble in schadenfreude will have a good laugh.
The Knicks have been rebuilding for this century and a good part of last, so revolving lineups are as common as Walt Frazier’s colorful idioms. The bar has been set so low, this team could grab the No. 8 seed, get swept by either the Bulls or the Heat, and owner James Dolan will still pull something while celebrating his success.
They traded away young talent to grab Anthony, so “wait until next year” hardly applies. But this has been a season stocked with surprises – beginning from the moment Lin burst onto the scene – and now it bears the faint hint of 1999.
That fun house began with a shortened season via a lockout, and there were the splashy trades that brought aboard Latrell Sprewell and Marcus Camby, and injuries to Patrick Ewing and Sprewell, and supposedly worrisome chemistry issues that really weren’t that worrisome. The Knicks barely squeaked into the playoffs as the eighth seed, played exceptional defense down the stretch, got spark and vigor from role players, beat Miami in the opening round, lost their big guy (Ewing) in the conference finals and still lugged that baggage all the way to Game 5 of the Finals.
Which they lost, but it was still some kind of ride.
So definitely, the playoffs can still loom.
"We can't look back," said Mike Woodson, the interim coach who took over for D’Antoni and has the Knicks playing inspired defense and grinding out victories. "We've got to continue to play and try to win games."
Remove Stoudemire from the equation, because the best-case scenario still has him out for four weeks. He was devastated by the death of his brother earlier this year, and turned to his work to block the pain. But the back muscle he pulled while trying to dunk during warmups before a playoff game last season never cooperated, and now the Knicks season adds another layer of doubt.
Throw in his history of knee problems and Stoudemire’s time in New York hasn’t exactly been a booming success.
Thus the heavy offensive load falls on Anthony, and isn’t that what he’s always craved? It was quite a happy coincidence that his energy and pop returned just as D’Antoni lost his job.
"A situation like this requires me to step my game up a little bit more, take it up a notch. I love moments like this,” Anthony had said, before he came down clutching his groin following a spin move Monday night late in the third quarter.
He had 28 points and took brutal punishment getting to the line, but jumpers are difficult to do when the groin keeps barking. It’s the same injury that caused him to miss seven games in February, but he insisted this one was less severe than his previous ailment. He also said he didn’t notice the loud cries of “Not again” from the Garden crowd as he limped down the court.
"I don't think it's too bad," Anthony said. "I just want to take it day by day, get it re-evaluated and see what happens from there." Don’t we all?
Or will the Knicks be in Miami, sparking media overkill Armageddon?
Foolish dreams, ridiculous predictions? Well, sure, but life is stuffed with dreamers who are convinced they can win Powerball and fools who remain dead sure their teams aren’t as tragic as the evidence might suggest.
Knickerbocker fans have weathered an especially absurd trip through this abbreviated season. So humor them as they mournfully stare at their Bernard King posters and curse the fickle nature of sports.
It has been quite the hands-in the-air ride, this whirl on the Knicks roller coaster. There was the Jeremy Lin shooting comet, the firing of coach Mike D’Antoni. And then, just as the Knicks were making a push in the Atlantic Division, here comes this: Amare Stoudemire, the heart of the team’s recent renaissance, is sidelined indefinitely with a bulging disc in his lower back.
Like Monty Python’s knight who guards a small bridge, Stoudemire for weeks had been claiming it was just a flesh wound. Muscle tightness, he called it, even as it was obvious his drives to the rim were accompanied by visceral cringes. Finally on Tuesday he met in Miami with the consultant who worked on his troublesome back during the lockout, and while the Knicks cross their fingers and say Stoudemire won’t need season-ending surgery, nobody dares guess whether he’ll be back in time for the postseason.
And now Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks other All Star forward, has again tweaked his groin muscle, and if he misses the next couple of games in this key week, who will fight for the last shot? Anthony put on a gutty performance at the Garden Monday night against Milwaukee, the eight-seed challenger, but as the Knicks clawed back to .500 Melo reinjured his right groin and is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game against Orlando.
And Lin, the point guard who has slipped back into some kind of normalcy, is nursing a sore right knee. Officially he’s listed as day to day, which wouldn’t sound so grim if Baron Davis, the veteran point, weren’t dealing with a screaming hamstring and struggling to recover from a herniated disc in his back and seemingly breaking down every other second.
And Jared Jeffries, the energetic reserve forward, could pick up at least some of the slack from the absent Stoudemire, except that Jeffries is out for at least two weeks with an inflamed right knee.
And in a word, geez.
Next we’ll hear that a Knick got injured on a trampoline, playing with Joba’s kid, and those who dabble in schadenfreude will have a good laugh.
The Knicks have been rebuilding for this century and a good part of last, so revolving lineups are as common as Walt Frazier’s colorful idioms. The bar has been set so low, this team could grab the No. 8 seed, get swept by either the Bulls or the Heat, and owner James Dolan will still pull something while celebrating his success.
They traded away young talent to grab Anthony, so “wait until next year” hardly applies. But this has been a season stocked with surprises – beginning from the moment Lin burst onto the scene – and now it bears the faint hint of 1999.
That fun house began with a shortened season via a lockout, and there were the splashy trades that brought aboard Latrell Sprewell and Marcus Camby, and injuries to Patrick Ewing and Sprewell, and supposedly worrisome chemistry issues that really weren’t that worrisome. The Knicks barely squeaked into the playoffs as the eighth seed, played exceptional defense down the stretch, got spark and vigor from role players, beat Miami in the opening round, lost their big guy (Ewing) in the conference finals and still lugged that baggage all the way to Game 5 of the Finals.
Which they lost, but it was still some kind of ride.
So definitely, the playoffs can still loom.
"We can't look back," said Mike Woodson, the interim coach who took over for D’Antoni and has the Knicks playing inspired defense and grinding out victories. "We've got to continue to play and try to win games."
Remove Stoudemire from the equation, because the best-case scenario still has him out for four weeks. He was devastated by the death of his brother earlier this year, and turned to his work to block the pain. But the back muscle he pulled while trying to dunk during warmups before a playoff game last season never cooperated, and now the Knicks season adds another layer of doubt.
Throw in his history of knee problems and Stoudemire’s time in New York hasn’t exactly been a booming success.
Thus the heavy offensive load falls on Anthony, and isn’t that what he’s always craved? It was quite a happy coincidence that his energy and pop returned just as D’Antoni lost his job.
"A situation like this requires me to step my game up a little bit more, take it up a notch. I love moments like this,” Anthony had said, before he came down clutching his groin following a spin move Monday night late in the third quarter.
He had 28 points and took brutal punishment getting to the line, but jumpers are difficult to do when the groin keeps barking. It’s the same injury that caused him to miss seven games in February, but he insisted this one was less severe than his previous ailment. He also said he didn’t notice the loud cries of “Not again” from the Garden crowd as he limped down the court.
"I don't think it's too bad," Anthony said. "I just want to take it day by day, get it re-evaluated and see what happens from there." Don’t we all?
Mo Williams to miss at least two weeks with toe injury
Los Angeles Clippers guard Mo Williams will be out at least two weeks—and possibly longer—after injuring his left big toe during last Thursday's game in New Orleans.
"It's going to be at least a couple of weeks and then we'll reevaluate him then," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said, per ESPNLosAngeles.com. "It's going to be at least a couple of weeks, that's what the specialist said."
Williams is averaging 13.6 points and 3.1 assists per game this season, but has seen his minutes decrease slightly since the Clippers acquired Nick Young at the trade deadline. Having Young in the fold certainly lessens the impact of losing Williams, as the Clippers try to hold onto the No. 4 seed—and home-court advantage in the first-round of the playoffs—in the Western Conference.
"It's going to be at least a couple of weeks and then we'll reevaluate him then," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said, per ESPNLosAngeles.com. "It's going to be at least a couple of weeks, that's what the specialist said."
Williams is averaging 13.6 points and 3.1 assists per game this season, but has seen his minutes decrease slightly since the Clippers acquired Nick Young at the trade deadline. Having Young in the fold certainly lessens the impact of losing Williams, as the Clippers try to hold onto the No. 4 seed—and home-court advantage in the first-round of the playoffs—in the Western Conference.
C.J. McCollum declares intention to test NBA Draft waters
Lehigh junior guard C.J. McCollum has declared himself eligible for the 2012 NBA Draft, but has not yet hired an agent, giving him the option to return for his senior year, the school announced.
McCollum may withdraw from the draft before April 11, the first day of the spring National Letter of Intent period, in which case he’d be back at Lehigh next season.
But unlike past years, when the NCAA deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft was after the NBA’s deadline, players will not be able to work out with teams before making their final decisions. The NBA’s deadline is April 29, and NBA teams are not allowed to work out underclassmen until they are given a list of draft-eligible players on May 2.
McCollum ranks fifth in the nation in scoring this season, with a 21.9 points per game average, and he dropped 30 points when Lehigh upset Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Also, his 2.6 steals per game ranks fifth in the nation.
Draft Express lists McCollum as the 46th best NBA prospect.
McCollum may withdraw from the draft before April 11, the first day of the spring National Letter of Intent period, in which case he’d be back at Lehigh next season.
But unlike past years, when the NCAA deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft was after the NBA’s deadline, players will not be able to work out with teams before making their final decisions. The NBA’s deadline is April 29, and NBA teams are not allowed to work out underclassmen until they are given a list of draft-eligible players on May 2.
McCollum ranks fifth in the nation in scoring this season, with a 21.9 points per game average, and he dropped 30 points when Lehigh upset Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Also, his 2.6 steals per game ranks fifth in the nation.
Draft Express lists McCollum as the 46th best NBA prospect.
Dennis Rodman faces jail time over failure to pay child, spousal support
NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday and may have to spend up to 20 days in jail for failing to pay spousal and child support, the L.A. Times is reporting (via Hoopshype).
As of March 1, Rodman, still owed $808,935 in support for the two children he had with his third wife, Michelle Rodman, her attorney, Jack Kayajanian, claims in court documents. Rodman also owes $51,441 in spousal support, according to the lawyer.
Dennis Rodman's attorney, Linnea Willis, said Rodman can barely afford his own living expenses and also has a $5,000 per month obligation for another child of his. Willis said she and another lawyer representing Rodman are working pro bono because he doesn’t have the money to pay them.
"Respondent Dennis Rodman is broke and cannot afford any additional fees," court documents claim. She also says Rodman is "extremely sick" and his marketability has declined since his days in the NBA.
But Kayajanian says claims of Rodman’s financial hardship are untrue and that $800,000-plus Rodman owes his client is "locked in stone."
"He does OK for a retired athlete, but whatever he's making now is nothing compared with what he was making as a professional athlete," Willis said.
As of March 1, Rodman, still owed $808,935 in support for the two children he had with his third wife, Michelle Rodman, her attorney, Jack Kayajanian, claims in court documents. Rodman also owes $51,441 in spousal support, according to the lawyer.
Dennis Rodman's attorney, Linnea Willis, said Rodman can barely afford his own living expenses and also has a $5,000 per month obligation for another child of his. Willis said she and another lawyer representing Rodman are working pro bono because he doesn’t have the money to pay them.
"Respondent Dennis Rodman is broke and cannot afford any additional fees," court documents claim. She also says Rodman is "extremely sick" and his marketability has declined since his days in the NBA.
But Kayajanian says claims of Rodman’s financial hardship are untrue and that $800,000-plus Rodman owes his client is "locked in stone."
"He does OK for a retired athlete, but whatever he's making now is nothing compared with what he was making as a professional athlete," Willis said.
NBA Report: News on season-ending surgery for Amare Stoudemire could drop Tuesday
New York Knicks fans are holding their collective breath as they wait for news on the health of All-Star forwards Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.
Stoudemire is out indefinitely after an MRI on Monday revealed a bulging disc in his back, and CBS Sports’ Ken Berger offers this ominous report: “Word on whether Stoudemire will need season-ending surgery could come as early as Tuesday, when he meets in Miami with a consultant who worked with him on his back during the lockout.”
Asked if Stoudemire would be back for the playoffs, which begin in a month, Knicks coach Mike Woodson said, "I don't know."
Anthony, meanwhile, tweaked his groin in the third quarter of Monday night’s win over the Bucks. He believes he’ll be able to play Wednesday against the Magic, but a strained groin on Feb. 6 kept him out of seven games during the Linsanity run. Anthony, however, said that the more recent injury is not as serious, and he is officially listed as questionable for Wednessay night.
"I don't think it's too bad; I just want to take it day by day," Anthony said, per ESPN.com. "(Tuesday, I'll) get re-evaluated and see what happens from there. ... It aches a little bit right now. If I had to play tomorrow, I probably would.”
Additionally, Jeremy Lin sat out of the Bucks game and is also questionable with a sore right knee.
Stoudemire is out indefinitely after an MRI on Monday revealed a bulging disc in his back, and CBS Sports’ Ken Berger offers this ominous report: “Word on whether Stoudemire will need season-ending surgery could come as early as Tuesday, when he meets in Miami with a consultant who worked with him on his back during the lockout.”
Asked if Stoudemire would be back for the playoffs, which begin in a month, Knicks coach Mike Woodson said, "I don't know."
Anthony, meanwhile, tweaked his groin in the third quarter of Monday night’s win over the Bucks. He believes he’ll be able to play Wednesday against the Magic, but a strained groin on Feb. 6 kept him out of seven games during the Linsanity run. Anthony, however, said that the more recent injury is not as serious, and he is officially listed as questionable for Wednessay night.
"I don't think it's too bad; I just want to take it day by day," Anthony said, per ESPN.com. "(Tuesday, I'll) get re-evaluated and see what happens from there. ... It aches a little bit right now. If I had to play tomorrow, I probably would.”
Additionally, Jeremy Lin sat out of the Bucks game and is also questionable with a sore right knee.
Jerome Dyson, Marcus Lewis lead Tulsa against Bakersfield in Tuesday D-League action
Nothing’s really changed.
For two years, Nate Tibbetts drilled it into his Tulsa 66ers teams: Play defense. Move your feet and stick with your guy like a sofa cushion in the summer and do it every minute of every game because when the scouts come to look at you at an NBA Development League game and you let up once—just once—they’re gonna leave thinking that you can’t defend anybody in the NBA, either.
Which is partly why the 66ers still have the league’s best defense, arguably its best perimeter defender and without question the best rebounder in the NBA D-League, even after Tibbetts got his own NBA call-up this season and slid into a spot on the Cleveland Cavaliers' bench.
On Tuesday, watch live on SportingNews.com as Jerome Dyson, the defender, and Marcus Lewis, the rebounder, lead the Western Conference’s fifth-place team against the third-place Bakersfield Jam at 8 p.m. ET in a battle for position in the ever-shrinking NBA D-League playoffs race.
Two teams have already booked spots—both of them from the Western Conference—as the first-place L.A. D-Fenders and second-place Austin Toros secured berths over the past week. Now, with six spots left in the postseason, the home stretch is turning into a sprint to just fit into the door.
And the 66ers aren’t just in a race with their Western Conference rivals. The structure of the NBA D-League postseason, where both conference regular-season winners make the playoffs, followed by the six teams with the next best records—regardless of conference—put them in direct competition with the rest of the league.
Which means, with just five games left in the regular season and a 2.5-game deficit to make up before the playoffs begin, the league’s premier defense has to clamp down even more.
Tulsa’s got the talent to make a late-season run, too. Dyson came into the NBA D-League as one of its best athletes, and he’s learning how to make decisions at the point to keep up with the speed and explosiveness that have made him a lockdown defender. Among players who’ve appeared in 20 games or more, nobody’s close to Lewis in rebounding. His closest competition—Austin Toros forward Eric Dawson, who’s now up with the San Antonio Spurs—has pulled down 10.4 boards per game, which puts him 2.3 per game shy of Lewis’ 12.7.
Meanwhile, guard Dwight Buycks and forward Larry Owens rank among the top-flight NBA prospects at their positions, with Owens already having played a stint with the New Jersey Nets earlier this year. And until they head back to the Oklahoma City Thunder, assignees Reggie Jackson and Ryan Reid should bolster a lineup in need of some scoring help.
But they’ll face one of the league’s toughest tests in Bakersfield, which features a lineup as deep as any in the NBA D-League, including three top prospects, in point guard Jeremy Wise, forward Juan Pattillo and 6-foot-11 center—and unlikely 3-point threat—Brian Butch.
For two years, Nate Tibbetts drilled it into his Tulsa 66ers teams: Play defense. Move your feet and stick with your guy like a sofa cushion in the summer and do it every minute of every game because when the scouts come to look at you at an NBA Development League game and you let up once—just once—they’re gonna leave thinking that you can’t defend anybody in the NBA, either.
Which is partly why the 66ers still have the league’s best defense, arguably its best perimeter defender and without question the best rebounder in the NBA D-League, even after Tibbetts got his own NBA call-up this season and slid into a spot on the Cleveland Cavaliers' bench.
On Tuesday, watch live on SportingNews.com as Jerome Dyson, the defender, and Marcus Lewis, the rebounder, lead the Western Conference’s fifth-place team against the third-place Bakersfield Jam at 8 p.m. ET in a battle for position in the ever-shrinking NBA D-League playoffs race.
Two teams have already booked spots—both of them from the Western Conference—as the first-place L.A. D-Fenders and second-place Austin Toros secured berths over the past week. Now, with six spots left in the postseason, the home stretch is turning into a sprint to just fit into the door.
And the 66ers aren’t just in a race with their Western Conference rivals. The structure of the NBA D-League postseason, where both conference regular-season winners make the playoffs, followed by the six teams with the next best records—regardless of conference—put them in direct competition with the rest of the league.
Which means, with just five games left in the regular season and a 2.5-game deficit to make up before the playoffs begin, the league’s premier defense has to clamp down even more.
Tulsa’s got the talent to make a late-season run, too. Dyson came into the NBA D-League as one of its best athletes, and he’s learning how to make decisions at the point to keep up with the speed and explosiveness that have made him a lockdown defender. Among players who’ve appeared in 20 games or more, nobody’s close to Lewis in rebounding. His closest competition—Austin Toros forward Eric Dawson, who’s now up with the San Antonio Spurs—has pulled down 10.4 boards per game, which puts him 2.3 per game shy of Lewis’ 12.7.
Meanwhile, guard Dwight Buycks and forward Larry Owens rank among the top-flight NBA prospects at their positions, with Owens already having played a stint with the New Jersey Nets earlier this year. And until they head back to the Oklahoma City Thunder, assignees Reggie Jackson and Ryan Reid should bolster a lineup in need of some scoring help.
But they’ll face one of the league’s toughest tests in Bakersfield, which features a lineup as deep as any in the NBA D-League, including three top prospects, in point guard Jeremy Wise, forward Juan Pattillo and 6-foot-11 center—and unlikely 3-point threat—Brian Butch.
Nets reportedly eye Kevin Garnett, Ersan Ilyasova as potential summer acquisitions
After missing out on Dwight Howard at the trade deadline, the Nets are formulating backup
plans for the offseason and targeting Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett and Ersan Ilyasova of the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency, the New York Daily News reported (via Hoopshype). The Nets will have $8 million in cap space for next season after renouncing their rights to Kris Humphries, sources told the Daily News.
The Nets are trying to put together a winning and marketable team ahead of their move into a new arena in Brooklyn. Point guard Deron Williams has sent mixed signals about whether he'll be back with the Nets next season, and conventional wisdom says the organization will have to put some marquee talent around him in order to sign him to a long-term deal.
Ryan Anderson, who is having a career year with the Orlando Magic, is also headed for free agency, but the Nets prefer a better rebounder to pair with Brook Lopez, according to the report. Garnett, 36, will be a restricted free agent this summer, but the Celtics have made it clear that they want him back next season. "Oh yeah, absolutely. We want him back," Boston coach Doc Rivers told CSN New England late last week. "I think it will come down to if he wants to play or not. "
plans for the offseason and targeting Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett and Ersan Ilyasova of the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency, the New York Daily News reported (via Hoopshype). The Nets will have $8 million in cap space for next season after renouncing their rights to Kris Humphries, sources told the Daily News.
The Nets are trying to put together a winning and marketable team ahead of their move into a new arena in Brooklyn. Point guard Deron Williams has sent mixed signals about whether he'll be back with the Nets next season, and conventional wisdom says the organization will have to put some marquee talent around him in order to sign him to a long-term deal.
Ryan Anderson, who is having a career year with the Orlando Magic, is also headed for free agency, but the Nets prefer a better rebounder to pair with Brook Lopez, according to the report. Garnett, 36, will be a restricted free agent this summer, but the Celtics have made it clear that they want him back next season. "Oh yeah, absolutely. We want him back," Boston coach Doc Rivers told CSN New England late last week. "I think it will come down to if he wants to play or not. "
Five storylines to watch with NBA playoffs a month away
Doesn’t seem that long ago that we were wringing our hands over BRI and “system issues”—in fact, it was only about four months ago that the NBA and the players association finally came to a deal on a new collective-bargaining agreement. But already, there are just 30 days left in this wacky lockout-shortened season, and in those 30 days, there is much to be determined about the league’s very cloudy playoff picture.
1. Feeling the Heat. For the second straight day, the Heat played on the road on Monday, and for the second straight day, the Heat were blown out. First it was Oklahoma City on Sunday, where the Thunder handed Miami a 16-point loss, then it was Indiana, where the Heat lost by 15. In the Heat locker room after the Pacers game, there wasn’t much by way of panic. Dwyane Wade called the loss a “speed bump,” and Chris Bosh said, “We’re fine. We’re not even going to remember this a month from now, two months from now.” The Heat are 8-6 since the All-Star break, but all six losses have come against good teams on the road (Utah, Lakers, Orlando, Chicago). Still, the Heat have been turning the ball over too much (38 in the last two games), and after shooting 39.8 percent on 3-pointers before the break, Miami has shot 33.6 percent from the arc since. Wade is probably right, and this is just a speed bump for the Heat, but it’s been a costly bump—they now trail Chicago by 3.5 games in the race for the East’s top seed.
2. Lakers landing. For a team that is clicking offensively as much as the Lakers are—they’re averaging 101.9 points per game in March—there are still plenty of question marks. That starts with a potential rift between coach Mike Brown and star guard Kobe Bryant after Brown put Bryant on the bench for about four minutes late in the fourth quarter during Sunday’s loss to Memphis. Bryant admitted he was upset, but downplayed the incident. The Lakers have been dealing with off-court chatter all year, and it sometimes seems to affect how they play. Bryant can’t allow that to happen, because the Lakers are holding the No. 3 seed and are battling the Clippers and Mavericks to remain there.
3. Frontrunners vs. old hands. Much like Miami, Oklahoma City was a first-half juggernaut that has sort of meandered through the past month. They were 5-5 between March 3 and March 20, but they seem to have found their footing starting with an easy win against the Clippers, followed by a double-overtime thriller over the Timberwolves and the blowout of the Heat. Problem is, the Spurs have steadily crept back into the picture for the No. 1 seed in the West. The Thunder probably have built up enough of a lead to be able to keep the Spurs at arm’s length, but they’ll have to continue their improved play down the stretch.
4. Atlantic tide. Starting with Utah on Wednesday, the Celtics begin a brutal two-week stretch: Jazz, at Minnesota, Heat, Spurs, at Chicago, at Indiana, Sixers, at Miami, Hawks. Eight of those nine are against playoff-bound teams, including three of the four best teams in the league. For the Knicks, who are back to .500 and within shouting distance of the Atlantic Division lead, the possibility of playing the rest of the season without power forward Amare Stoudemire looms.
If you’re a Sixers fan bummed out about the way the team has played lately, you at least have that to cling to. Still, April is no cakewalk for Philadelphia, which plays 10 of its final 14 games on the road, including a season-ending five-game road trip. The Sixers are just 10-12 on the road this year, and in the end, the winner of the Atlantic (which is guaranteed a top four seed) is likely to finish just a couple of games over .500.
5. Western scramble. There are 10 teams over .500 in the Western Conference, and that’s created the kind of mess at the bottom of the race that we’ve seen repeatedly in the last few years. After Monday’s games, Denver, Utah and Houston are all 27-23, which is the current threshold for the No. 7 and 8 seeds, with the improved Suns not far behind. Just ahead of that bunch are Memphis, Dallas and the Clippers, teams that have been erratic the last few weeks. Any of those six teams are a solid winning streak away from grabbing the No. 4 spot and first-round homecourt advantage.
1. Feeling the Heat. For the second straight day, the Heat played on the road on Monday, and for the second straight day, the Heat were blown out. First it was Oklahoma City on Sunday, where the Thunder handed Miami a 16-point loss, then it was Indiana, where the Heat lost by 15. In the Heat locker room after the Pacers game, there wasn’t much by way of panic. Dwyane Wade called the loss a “speed bump,” and Chris Bosh said, “We’re fine. We’re not even going to remember this a month from now, two months from now.” The Heat are 8-6 since the All-Star break, but all six losses have come against good teams on the road (Utah, Lakers, Orlando, Chicago). Still, the Heat have been turning the ball over too much (38 in the last two games), and after shooting 39.8 percent on 3-pointers before the break, Miami has shot 33.6 percent from the arc since. Wade is probably right, and this is just a speed bump for the Heat, but it’s been a costly bump—they now trail Chicago by 3.5 games in the race for the East’s top seed.
2. Lakers landing. For a team that is clicking offensively as much as the Lakers are—they’re averaging 101.9 points per game in March—there are still plenty of question marks. That starts with a potential rift between coach Mike Brown and star guard Kobe Bryant after Brown put Bryant on the bench for about four minutes late in the fourth quarter during Sunday’s loss to Memphis. Bryant admitted he was upset, but downplayed the incident. The Lakers have been dealing with off-court chatter all year, and it sometimes seems to affect how they play. Bryant can’t allow that to happen, because the Lakers are holding the No. 3 seed and are battling the Clippers and Mavericks to remain there.
3. Frontrunners vs. old hands. Much like Miami, Oklahoma City was a first-half juggernaut that has sort of meandered through the past month. They were 5-5 between March 3 and March 20, but they seem to have found their footing starting with an easy win against the Clippers, followed by a double-overtime thriller over the Timberwolves and the blowout of the Heat. Problem is, the Spurs have steadily crept back into the picture for the No. 1 seed in the West. The Thunder probably have built up enough of a lead to be able to keep the Spurs at arm’s length, but they’ll have to continue their improved play down the stretch.
4. Atlantic tide. Starting with Utah on Wednesday, the Celtics begin a brutal two-week stretch: Jazz, at Minnesota, Heat, Spurs, at Chicago, at Indiana, Sixers, at Miami, Hawks. Eight of those nine are against playoff-bound teams, including three of the four best teams in the league. For the Knicks, who are back to .500 and within shouting distance of the Atlantic Division lead, the possibility of playing the rest of the season without power forward Amare Stoudemire looms.
If you’re a Sixers fan bummed out about the way the team has played lately, you at least have that to cling to. Still, April is no cakewalk for Philadelphia, which plays 10 of its final 14 games on the road, including a season-ending five-game road trip. The Sixers are just 10-12 on the road this year, and in the end, the winner of the Atlantic (which is guaranteed a top four seed) is likely to finish just a couple of games over .500.
5. Western scramble. There are 10 teams over .500 in the Western Conference, and that’s created the kind of mess at the bottom of the race that we’ve seen repeatedly in the last few years. After Monday’s games, Denver, Utah and Houston are all 27-23, which is the current threshold for the No. 7 and 8 seeds, with the improved Suns not far behind. Just ahead of that bunch are Memphis, Dallas and the Clippers, teams that have been erratic the last few weeks. Any of those six teams are a solid winning streak away from grabbing the No. 4 spot and first-round homecourt advantage.
Clippers owner, GM both back coach Vinny Del Negro in wake of ominous reports
Los Angeles Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro’s job is in imminent jeopardy, ESPN’s Bill Simmons reported last week, but team owner Donald Sterling said Monday that he has not even considered making a coaching change and that there’s no reason Del Negro won’t remain in his position for the rest of the season.
Sterling’s remarks don’t necessarily conflict with Simmons’ tweets, since Simmons did stress that one factor weighing in Del Negro’s favor is that coaching changes aren’t typically made when a team is contending for the playoffs. As Sporting News’ Sean Deveney pointed out, however, that doesn’t mean Del Negro’s days as Clippers coach aren’t numbered.
But, Sterling told the L.A. Times, "I like him. I usually follow the advice of my people, and I think they care for him, like him and want him to succeed. And I think he will."
ESPN’s Chris Broussard reported late last week that Del Negro "has lost the team" and players no longer "want to play hard for him," but Sterling told The Times, "I don't know where all these stories are coming from; nobody talked to me. Everything is good."
Clippers GM Neil Olshey, too, said he isn’t buying the notion that Del Negro has lost the locker room.
"No," Olshey said, per The Times. "I don't know where that would have come from because I'm sure it didn't come out of our locker room."
The Clippers have been mediocre of late. After getting off to a 15-7 start, they have gone 13-14 since losing Chauncey Billups to a season-ending injury on Feb. 6—and 8-9 since the All-Star break.
"Would I like more wins?,” Sterling asked rhetorically. “I'd like more. I'd like the players to develop more; I'd like to play better. But then I have great expectations, and to a certain extent they've been realized. To some extent they haven't, but I'm a patient guy."
Added Olshey, "If anyone had told us when we made the trade for Chris Paul that we'd be fourth in the conference and two games behind the Lakers, we'd say, yeah. Because of that the pressure's on and now we'll see how we do.''
Sterling’s remarks don’t necessarily conflict with Simmons’ tweets, since Simmons did stress that one factor weighing in Del Negro’s favor is that coaching changes aren’t typically made when a team is contending for the playoffs. As Sporting News’ Sean Deveney pointed out, however, that doesn’t mean Del Negro’s days as Clippers coach aren’t numbered.
But, Sterling told the L.A. Times, "I like him. I usually follow the advice of my people, and I think they care for him, like him and want him to succeed. And I think he will."
ESPN’s Chris Broussard reported late last week that Del Negro "has lost the team" and players no longer "want to play hard for him," but Sterling told The Times, "I don't know where all these stories are coming from; nobody talked to me. Everything is good."
Clippers GM Neil Olshey, too, said he isn’t buying the notion that Del Negro has lost the locker room.
"No," Olshey said, per The Times. "I don't know where that would have come from because I'm sure it didn't come out of our locker room."
The Clippers have been mediocre of late. After getting off to a 15-7 start, they have gone 13-14 since losing Chauncey Billups to a season-ending injury on Feb. 6—and 8-9 since the All-Star break.
"Would I like more wins?,” Sterling asked rhetorically. “I'd like more. I'd like the players to develop more; I'd like to play better. But then I have great expectations, and to a certain extent they've been realized. To some extent they haven't, but I'm a patient guy."
Added Olshey, "If anyone had told us when we made the trade for Chris Paul that we'd be fourth in the conference and two games behind the Lakers, we'd say, yeah. Because of that the pressure's on and now we'll see how we do.''
3.27.2012
Man hit with flying debris from demolished Orlando arena
When Orlando’s Amway Arena—the building in which the Magic played before moving into the new Amway Center last season—was demolished Sunday morning, a man about two blocks away from the explosion was struck and injured by a piece of debris, TV station WKMG is reporting (via Yahoo! Sports).
Eric Eliason, 33, was taken to the hospital in an ambulance after his leg was gashed. He was alert and talking to emergency personnel, and his injuries are not life threatening, according to the report.
When Orlando’s Amway Arena—the building in which the Magic played before moving into the new Amway Center last season—was demolished Sunday morning, a man about two blocks away from the explosion was struck and injured by a piece of debris, TV station WKMG is reporting (via Yahoo! Sports).
Eric Eliason, 33, was taken to the hospital in an ambulance after his leg was gashed. He was alert and talking to emergency personnel, and his injuries are not life threatening, according to the report.
Eric Eliason, 33, was taken to the hospital in an ambulance after his leg was gashed. He was alert and talking to emergency personnel, and his injuries are not life threatening, according to the report.
When Orlando’s Amway Arena—the building in which the Magic played before moving into the new Amway Center last season—was demolished Sunday morning, a man about two blocks away from the explosion was struck and injured by a piece of debris, TV station WKMG is reporting (via Yahoo! Sports).
Eric Eliason, 33, was taken to the hospital in an ambulance after his leg was gashed. He was alert and talking to emergency personnel, and his injuries are not life threatening, according to the report.
Kobe Bryant not pleased by being benched by Lakers coach Mike Brown
Lakers coach Mike Brown elected to sit Kobe Bryant for significant fourth-quarter minutes during L.A.’s 102-96 loss at home to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, and Bryant was not happy about it.
With Brown subbing Metta World Peace in for Bryant with about 3:56 left in the game, the Grizzlies held onto their lead and went on to win, breaking a three-game losing streak.
Asked whether he was unhappy about Brown’s decision, Bryant responded, per the Orange County Register, “That’s a very astute observation.”
Said Brown, per the L.A. Times, "I felt I wanted to make a sub at the time so I did. Not one particular thing. Went with Metta for a couple minutes and then tried to go back to (Bryant). Obviously it didn't work."
Bryant, who returned to the floor with 1:51 left in the game, said he won’t hold any grudges toward Brown.
"It's his decision to make," Bryant said. "He makes the decision. He's the coach. If you guys are looking for a story, I'm not going to give you one. I can't sit here and criticize his decisions. In leading this ballclub, that's something I can't afford to do. I got to have his back. I've had his back the whole season; I can't start doing something crazy now. It wouldn't make no sense.”
Lakers center Andrew Bynum didn’t seem to understand the move. "I have no idea what was going on,” Bynum said, according to The Times. “Obviously, it was something (coaches) wanted to prove. You should ask those guys about it."
Brown said he probably will not discuss his decision with Bryant.
"I treat him the same as everybody most of the time," Brown said. "Obviously he's a superstar. And when you have superstars, you try to give them some leeway because they've been there and done that. But if I make a sub for somebody I don't feel like I always have to go explain to them why I made a sub."
With Brown subbing Metta World Peace in for Bryant with about 3:56 left in the game, the Grizzlies held onto their lead and went on to win, breaking a three-game losing streak.
Asked whether he was unhappy about Brown’s decision, Bryant responded, per the Orange County Register, “That’s a very astute observation.”
Said Brown, per the L.A. Times, "I felt I wanted to make a sub at the time so I did. Not one particular thing. Went with Metta for a couple minutes and then tried to go back to (Bryant). Obviously it didn't work."
Bryant, who returned to the floor with 1:51 left in the game, said he won’t hold any grudges toward Brown.
"It's his decision to make," Bryant said. "He makes the decision. He's the coach. If you guys are looking for a story, I'm not going to give you one. I can't sit here and criticize his decisions. In leading this ballclub, that's something I can't afford to do. I got to have his back. I've had his back the whole season; I can't start doing something crazy now. It wouldn't make no sense.”
Lakers center Andrew Bynum didn’t seem to understand the move. "I have no idea what was going on,” Bynum said, according to The Times. “Obviously, it was something (coaches) wanted to prove. You should ask those guys about it."
Brown said he probably will not discuss his decision with Bryant.
"I treat him the same as everybody most of the time," Brown said. "Obviously he's a superstar. And when you have superstars, you try to give them some leeway because they've been there and done that. But if I make a sub for somebody I don't feel like I always have to go explain to them why I made a sub."
3.25.2012
Joe Johnson's 37 help Atlanta Hawks beat Jazz in 4 OTs
Joe Johnson scored five of his game-high 37 points in the final 17 seconds of the fourth overtime as the Atlanta Hawks a 139-133 thriller in front of the home crowd Sunday.
It was the NBA's first four-overtime game since 1997.
Playing in his 56th minute of action, Johnson made a fadeaway 3-pointer with 16.9 seconds that gave the Hawks a 135-131 lead. He finished 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
Utah's Devin Harris drove in for a layup just 3 seconds later, but Jeff Teague and Johnson combined to go 4-for-4 at the line in the closing seconds to secure the win.
Atlanta is now 30-20, good for fifth in the East, while Utah is 26-23 and would be the seventh seed in the West if the playoffs started tomorrow.
It was the ninth NBA game to go four overtimes. The last time it happened was when Phoenix beat Portland 140-139 on Nov. 14, 1997.
Josh Smith fouled out in 30 minutes for Atlanta, but the 6-10 forward had 22 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Both teams had seven players score in double figures.
Utah small forward Gordon Hayward played a game-high 57 minutes and 28 seconds. He scored 19 points and had eight boards.
Al Jefferson had 28 points and 17 rebounds for the Jazz, and Paul Millsap had 25 points and 13 boards.
Both fouled out in the final OT.
Atlanta has won four straight and six of seven. The Hawks improved to 30-20 and moved one-half game ahead of Indiana for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
Johnson ended the first quarter with 18 points after going 8 of 8 in the period. He missed eight of his next nine shots, including a potential game-winning runner with 3 seconds left in regulation, before hitting a 3-pointer that forced the third overtime.
With 16.9 seconds remaining in the fourth OT, Johnson's 20-foot jumper over C.J. Miles gave the Hawks a 135-131 lead.
Teague, who had 18 points and nine assists, added a pair of free throws with 13 seconds to go to make it 137-133. Johnson's two free throws sealed the victory with 5.5 seconds remaining.
Smith fouled out with 1:57 left in the first overtime.
Zaza Pachulia, who pulled down 20 rebounds, hit a short jumper in the final seconds of the second quarter that gave the Hawks a 17-point lead, their biggest of the game.
Utah rallied with a 27-9 run, giving the Jazz their first lead since early in the opening period. Millsap's 16-footer made it 65-64 with 3:23 left in the third.
The Jazz, who have won only one road game when they trailed after three quarters, fell to 7-17 away from home. They began the day as one of six teams separated by 1 1/2 games for the final five playoff spots in the Western Conference.
Utah's biggest lead in regulation came when Hayward's two free throws made it 93-89 with 5:31 left in the fourth.
It was the NBA's first four-overtime game since 1997.
Playing in his 56th minute of action, Johnson made a fadeaway 3-pointer with 16.9 seconds that gave the Hawks a 135-131 lead. He finished 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
Utah's Devin Harris drove in for a layup just 3 seconds later, but Jeff Teague and Johnson combined to go 4-for-4 at the line in the closing seconds to secure the win.
Atlanta is now 30-20, good for fifth in the East, while Utah is 26-23 and would be the seventh seed in the West if the playoffs started tomorrow.
It was the ninth NBA game to go four overtimes. The last time it happened was when Phoenix beat Portland 140-139 on Nov. 14, 1997.
Josh Smith fouled out in 30 minutes for Atlanta, but the 6-10 forward had 22 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Both teams had seven players score in double figures.
Utah small forward Gordon Hayward played a game-high 57 minutes and 28 seconds. He scored 19 points and had eight boards.
Al Jefferson had 28 points and 17 rebounds for the Jazz, and Paul Millsap had 25 points and 13 boards.
Both fouled out in the final OT.
Atlanta has won four straight and six of seven. The Hawks improved to 30-20 and moved one-half game ahead of Indiana for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
Johnson ended the first quarter with 18 points after going 8 of 8 in the period. He missed eight of his next nine shots, including a potential game-winning runner with 3 seconds left in regulation, before hitting a 3-pointer that forced the third overtime.
With 16.9 seconds remaining in the fourth OT, Johnson's 20-foot jumper over C.J. Miles gave the Hawks a 135-131 lead.
Teague, who had 18 points and nine assists, added a pair of free throws with 13 seconds to go to make it 137-133. Johnson's two free throws sealed the victory with 5.5 seconds remaining.
Smith fouled out with 1:57 left in the first overtime.
Zaza Pachulia, who pulled down 20 rebounds, hit a short jumper in the final seconds of the second quarter that gave the Hawks a 17-point lead, their biggest of the game.
Utah rallied with a 27-9 run, giving the Jazz their first lead since early in the opening period. Millsap's 16-footer made it 65-64 with 3:23 left in the third.
The Jazz, who have won only one road game when they trailed after three quarters, fell to 7-17 away from home. They began the day as one of six teams separated by 1 1/2 games for the final five playoff spots in the Western Conference.
Utah's biggest lead in regulation came when Hayward's two free throws made it 93-89 with 5:31 left in the fourth.
Ray Allen, Mickael Pietrus remain out for Boston Celtics
Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen will miss his third straight game, Monday night in Charlotte, because of a sprained ankle. He also missed Boston’s loss on Friday night to the Philadelphia 76ers and Sunday night’s game against Washington.
Allen initially injured the ankle during a March 11 game against the Lakers in Los Angeles, but continued to play through the injury until Friday, the Boston Herald notes. The results of the MRI Allen had on Saturday, however, were not shared with Doc Rivers, which the coach interpreted as positive news.
Boston forward Mickael Pietrus, meanwhile, is out indefinitely with the concussion he suffered in a scary fall to the floor Friday in Philadelphia. Per the NBA’s concussion policy, Pietrus must be symptom-free for 24 hours before he is allowed to play.
“He has a concussion, and he’s not even ready to take a test yet,” Rivers said, per the Herald. “He sounds great. He sounds just like Mickael. I don’t even understand what he’s saying. We didn’t talk about playing, we just talked. I have no idea when he’ll be back.”
Allen initially injured the ankle during a March 11 game against the Lakers in Los Angeles, but continued to play through the injury until Friday, the Boston Herald notes. The results of the MRI Allen had on Saturday, however, were not shared with Doc Rivers, which the coach interpreted as positive news.
Boston forward Mickael Pietrus, meanwhile, is out indefinitely with the concussion he suffered in a scary fall to the floor Friday in Philadelphia. Per the NBA’s concussion policy, Pietrus must be symptom-free for 24 hours before he is allowed to play.
“He has a concussion, and he’s not even ready to take a test yet,” Rivers said, per the Herald. “He sounds great. He sounds just like Mickael. I don’t even understand what he’s saying. We didn’t talk about playing, we just talked. I have no idea when he’ll be back.”
Joakim Noah apologizes for throwing ball at referee
Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah issued an apology on Sunday to the officiating crew after he was ejected during the team's win over the Toronto Raptors Saturday night for throwing the ball in the direction of referee Derrick Collins.
“I just want to apologize to the referee,” Noah said, per ESPNChicago.com. “That was wrong. I was frustrated at the call and I overreacted."
Noah was was tagged for a foul in the second quarter and received a technical for his reaction to the call. He threw the ball toward Collins after the technical call and was immediately ejected. Noah is unsure whether he will be fined or suspended for his actions.
"I don't know what's going to happen about that," Noah said. "But I just want to apologize to the ref."
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau doesn’t believe Noah should be suspended. He did say that he and Noah have discussed the incident.
"We handle that stuff internally," Thibodeau said, according to ESPN. "It was some frustration on his part, but he'll be fine."
“I just want to apologize to the referee,” Noah said, per ESPNChicago.com. “That was wrong. I was frustrated at the call and I overreacted."
Noah was was tagged for a foul in the second quarter and received a technical for his reaction to the call. He threw the ball toward Collins after the technical call and was immediately ejected. Noah is unsure whether he will be fined or suspended for his actions.
"I don't know what's going to happen about that," Noah said. "But I just want to apologize to the ref."
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau doesn’t believe Noah should be suspended. He did say that he and Noah have discussed the incident.
"We handle that stuff internally," Thibodeau said, according to ESPN. "It was some frustration on his part, but he'll be fine."
Stephen Curry visits specialist about bad ankle; return this season seems tenuous
Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, who has not played since March 11 after once again tweaking his right ankle, flew to Los Angeles on Thursday to meet with foot and ankle specialist Dr. Richard Ferkel, the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting.
Curry has played in just 26 games this year, and one report said the Warriors were considering shutting him down for the rest of the season.
But Warriors GM Larry Riley insisted, "He would love to play. In fact, that's been one of the problems. He's wanted to be out there probably before he should have at times. He wants to play, but he also has gained an awful lot of wisdom."
Riley said the team will not let Curry back on the court until doctors consider him 100 percent healthy. As the Chronicle notes, that seems unlikely before the Warriors season ends on April 26, but Riley believes there’s some value to having him return.
"To prove to himself and to put his own mind at ease," Riley said. "It's a season that's been very frustrating for him."
Curry has played in just 26 games this year, and one report said the Warriors were considering shutting him down for the rest of the season.
But Warriors GM Larry Riley insisted, "He would love to play. In fact, that's been one of the problems. He's wanted to be out there probably before he should have at times. He wants to play, but he also has gained an awful lot of wisdom."
Riley said the team will not let Curry back on the court until doctors consider him 100 percent healthy. As the Chronicle notes, that seems unlikely before the Warriors season ends on April 26, but Riley believes there’s some value to having him return.
"To prove to himself and to put his own mind at ease," Riley said. "It's a season that's been very frustrating for him."
LeBron James vetoes Heat security, makes sure military personnel are happy
LeBron James says he doesn’t want to be the villain. And with his public display of support for Trayvon Martin, as well as a recent gesture at Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City, he may be casting himself out of that role.
James, while the team airplane was stopped to refuel on its way to Portland, insisted that military personnel be able to have their pictures taken with Miami Heat players, an airport worker told The Oklahoman.
There were about a dozen military helicopters also stopped at the airport, and some of the crew members asked Heat security if they could have their pictures taken with the players. They were told no.
That’s when LeBron stepped in and made sure their request was granted. “Hey, hey, any of these military guys can take a picture with us,” James told the Heat security people, per The Oklahoman.
He implored his teammates, “You guys get up,” and when he noticed some of them weren’t yet on their feet, he persisted, “Hey, everybody get up. Get in a circle here. Anybody that wants their picture taken with us, we'll do it.”
After the pilots and crewmen got their wish, they asked each other, “Can you believe that? Who would've ever thought?”
James, while the team airplane was stopped to refuel on its way to Portland, insisted that military personnel be able to have their pictures taken with Miami Heat players, an airport worker told The Oklahoman.
There were about a dozen military helicopters also stopped at the airport, and some of the crew members asked Heat security if they could have their pictures taken with the players. They were told no.
That’s when LeBron stepped in and made sure their request was granted. “Hey, hey, any of these military guys can take a picture with us,” James told the Heat security people, per The Oklahoman.
He implored his teammates, “You guys get up,” and when he noticed some of them weren’t yet on their feet, he persisted, “Hey, everybody get up. Get in a circle here. Anybody that wants their picture taken with us, we'll do it.”
After the pilots and crewmen got their wish, they asked each other, “Can you believe that? Who would've ever thought?”
Amare Stoudemire says stiff back nothing to worry about
Amare Stoudemire claimed in July that he was 100 percent recovered from the back injury he suffered in the New York Knicks’ playoff series against the Boston Celtics last season. But questions about his back lingered—it reportedly kept him out of Drew Gooden's charity game in Novemeber—and coach Mike Woodson admitted he is concerned about his power forward.
After the Knicks beat the Detroit Pistons, 101-79, on Saturday, Woodson, per the New York Daily News, said Stoudemire’s back “stiffened on him a little bit coming down the stretch. A lot of that has to do with the fact we’ve had seven games in 11 days. It’s been a grind and it’s not going to get better. I am concerned.”
“I am concerned about Amare,” he added, per ESPN.com. “But we’ll evaluate it, see how he feels (Sunday) and hopefully we continue to have some blowouts so guys can rest.”
Stoudemire, however, downplayed any reason for concern. “Nothing to get worried about,” he said. "There’s no reason I can’t play Monday (against the Milwaukee Bucks). We keep an eye on it, make sure it’s loose. It feels much better.”
Stoudemire’s been playing well, averaging 18.6 points and 8.6 rebound, and shooting 57.9 percent from the field over his last five games.
Jeremy Lin, meanwhile, tweaked his knee during the win against the Pistons.
“The doc said it will be gone soon,” Lin said. “Just have to stay on top of it.”
After the Knicks beat the Detroit Pistons, 101-79, on Saturday, Woodson, per the New York Daily News, said Stoudemire’s back “stiffened on him a little bit coming down the stretch. A lot of that has to do with the fact we’ve had seven games in 11 days. It’s been a grind and it’s not going to get better. I am concerned.”
“I am concerned about Amare,” he added, per ESPN.com. “But we’ll evaluate it, see how he feels (Sunday) and hopefully we continue to have some blowouts so guys can rest.”
Stoudemire, however, downplayed any reason for concern. “Nothing to get worried about,” he said. "There’s no reason I can’t play Monday (against the Milwaukee Bucks). We keep an eye on it, make sure it’s loose. It feels much better.”
Stoudemire’s been playing well, averaging 18.6 points and 8.6 rebound, and shooting 57.9 percent from the field over his last five games.
Jeremy Lin, meanwhile, tweaked his knee during the win against the Pistons.
“The doc said it will be gone soon,” Lin said. “Just have to stay on top of it.”
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade prove doubters wrong by taking stand for Trayvon Martin
Last season, when they were the biggest lightning rods in American sports, the Miami Heat spent enormous amounts of time talking about proving people wrong.
Last week, they actually did prove a lot of people wrong. They were joined by several big-name athletes inside and outside their sport, who also proved a lot of people wrong. They all did so by volunteering to be much bigger lightning rods than they were at any time before, under any circumstances.
The Heat players—led by none other than LeBron James and Dwyane Wade—took a very public, very principled, very bold stand in support of Trayvon Martin, and the cause to bring to justice to the man who gunned down the unarmed teenager on the street of a gated community in Sanford, Fla., last month.
James and Wade took to their Twitter feeds, with nearly seven million combined followers, to send these messages: “WeAreTrayvonMartin,” “Hoodies,” “Stereotyped” and “WeWantJustice.” Wade’s explanation was one that connects even the richest, most famous celebrities to the most common of motivations: “As a father, this hits home.”
The team photo that circulated Friday, however, packed an even more powerful punch: every player wore Heat hoodies and stood with their heads lowered and hands in their pockets.
Millions of others have posed the same way, individually in pictures posted all over the internet and in groups of thousands at protests all over the country.
When one of the marquee teams in one of the country’s three biggest sports leagues does it, though—with two of the most popular athletes on the planet front and center—it takes the issue to a much higher level.
It’s the platform of sports celebrity once used with such determination and courage by the likes of Muhammad Ali, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and so many icons of decades past, brought to a new decade and a new audience.
And that’s where LeBron, D-Wade, the Heat and all the athletes who have joined the cause have proven people so wrong.
In the days before they stepped to the forefront, the consensus from the public was that it was something big-name athletes should do, particularly ones from Martin’s hometown of Miami and from Orlando, 20 miles from Sanford ... and that it was something there was no chance in hell they would do.
Between the image most have of athletes being selfish, shallow and self-absorbed, and the memory of a Michael Jordan quote from nearly a quarter-century ago (“Republicans buy shoes, too”), it’s hard to blame anyone for doubting. On the other hand, no one can ignore the backlash athletes receive for doing so much as changing teams as a free agent—a certain Heat superstar can relate to that—and the demands to “just shut and play” to any player who makes the slightest attempt at engaging a controversial non-sports topic.
From one side, they’re hearing it is their obligation to be role models. From the other, they’re told that they belong in this entertainer box and had better not dare to step out of it.
It’s the very definition of a Catch-22. But it’s not one greater than what previous generations of outspoken athletes have faced—although, in defense of the current player, the Alis, Smiths and Carloses were far more isolated in their activism than the old-schoolers would like us to believe today.
So the hope many had that athletes would take a stand on Martin’s behalf was drenched in skepticism.
CNN political analyst Roland Martin took to his Twitter page last week to call out NBA players in general and James specifically— and one of the replies he got sums up the widely-accepted sentiment: “The young man was trying to get home to watch the NBA all star game. He supported them but they don’t support him.’’
Either James was moved to action by the overall conversation, or the public badly underestimated him and his mates. The last few days have been a parade of the likes of Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Steve Nash donning hoodies at games, posting themselves wearing them, or both.
And the backlash has been exactly as ugly, demeaning, hate-filled and insulting as expected. The evidence is smeared all over the individual players’ social media accounts and the comment sections of every story about their actions on Trayvon Martin’s behalf.
If only “Just shut up and play” was the harshest.
It takes true strength to stand up to that, and stand up for one’s convictions. The biggest, most visible, most vulnerable stand has been made by the Heat ... and the athlete, James, from whom it was least expected.
Well, maybe not the least expected. There’s a certain iconic golfer playing the final round of a big tournament Sunday, right down the road in Orlando ...
Last week, they actually did prove a lot of people wrong. They were joined by several big-name athletes inside and outside their sport, who also proved a lot of people wrong. They all did so by volunteering to be much bigger lightning rods than they were at any time before, under any circumstances.
The Heat players—led by none other than LeBron James and Dwyane Wade—took a very public, very principled, very bold stand in support of Trayvon Martin, and the cause to bring to justice to the man who gunned down the unarmed teenager on the street of a gated community in Sanford, Fla., last month.
James and Wade took to their Twitter feeds, with nearly seven million combined followers, to send these messages: “WeAreTrayvonMartin,” “Hoodies,” “Stereotyped” and “WeWantJustice.” Wade’s explanation was one that connects even the richest, most famous celebrities to the most common of motivations: “As a father, this hits home.”
The team photo that circulated Friday, however, packed an even more powerful punch: every player wore Heat hoodies and stood with their heads lowered and hands in their pockets.
Millions of others have posed the same way, individually in pictures posted all over the internet and in groups of thousands at protests all over the country.
When one of the marquee teams in one of the country’s three biggest sports leagues does it, though—with two of the most popular athletes on the planet front and center—it takes the issue to a much higher level.
It’s the platform of sports celebrity once used with such determination and courage by the likes of Muhammad Ali, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and so many icons of decades past, brought to a new decade and a new audience.
And that’s where LeBron, D-Wade, the Heat and all the athletes who have joined the cause have proven people so wrong.
In the days before they stepped to the forefront, the consensus from the public was that it was something big-name athletes should do, particularly ones from Martin’s hometown of Miami and from Orlando, 20 miles from Sanford ... and that it was something there was no chance in hell they would do.
Between the image most have of athletes being selfish, shallow and self-absorbed, and the memory of a Michael Jordan quote from nearly a quarter-century ago (“Republicans buy shoes, too”), it’s hard to blame anyone for doubting. On the other hand, no one can ignore the backlash athletes receive for doing so much as changing teams as a free agent—a certain Heat superstar can relate to that—and the demands to “just shut and play” to any player who makes the slightest attempt at engaging a controversial non-sports topic.
From one side, they’re hearing it is their obligation to be role models. From the other, they’re told that they belong in this entertainer box and had better not dare to step out of it.
It’s the very definition of a Catch-22. But it’s not one greater than what previous generations of outspoken athletes have faced—although, in defense of the current player, the Alis, Smiths and Carloses were far more isolated in their activism than the old-schoolers would like us to believe today.
So the hope many had that athletes would take a stand on Martin’s behalf was drenched in skepticism.
CNN political analyst Roland Martin took to his Twitter page last week to call out NBA players in general and James specifically— and one of the replies he got sums up the widely-accepted sentiment: “The young man was trying to get home to watch the NBA all star game. He supported them but they don’t support him.’’
Either James was moved to action by the overall conversation, or the public badly underestimated him and his mates. The last few days have been a parade of the likes of Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Steve Nash donning hoodies at games, posting themselves wearing them, or both.
And the backlash has been exactly as ugly, demeaning, hate-filled and insulting as expected. The evidence is smeared all over the individual players’ social media accounts and the comment sections of every story about their actions on Trayvon Martin’s behalf.
If only “Just shut up and play” was the harshest.
It takes true strength to stand up to that, and stand up for one’s convictions. The biggest, most visible, most vulnerable stand has been made by the Heat ... and the athlete, James, from whom it was least expected.
Well, maybe not the least expected. There’s a certain iconic golfer playing the final round of a big tournament Sunday, right down the road in Orlando ...
Mickael Pietrus OK after scary fall
Mickael Pietrus appeared to escape serious injury in a scary fall on Friday night, and there's optimism that he'll return to the Boston Celtics this season.
"He was a very lucky man," Pietrus' agent William McCandless told ESPNBoston.com, adding that Pietrus' first question to an assistant at McCandless' agency was who won the game.
X-ray and CT scans showed no abnormalities, but Pietrus was set for more tests and may have a concussion, McCandless said.
"He's in very good spirits," Raoul Ramdine, Pietrus' business manager, told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher. "We're taking this seriously and we don't know quite what it is yet, but he's OK."
The Celtics ended up losing 99-86 to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Pietrus, 29, has averaged 6.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 37 games with the Celtics, providing solid wing defense and a vocal, respectful locker-room presence, as the Boston Herald reported a few days before his injury.
“You have to know how to come up to your teammates,” Pietrus told the Herald. “I’m not going to curse my teammates, because they are part of my family. I’m going to tell them what I think of the team and how we can get better the next day... At the end of the day we can all go home with a ring.
“I’m speaking from my heart. It’s better to make the team better. Sometimes you have to have that locker-room talk. I didn’t do it my first couple of years in the NBA. But after 10 years in the NBA you start to see things different.”
"He was a very lucky man," Pietrus' agent William McCandless told ESPNBoston.com, adding that Pietrus' first question to an assistant at McCandless' agency was who won the game.
X-ray and CT scans showed no abnormalities, but Pietrus was set for more tests and may have a concussion, McCandless said.
"He's in very good spirits," Raoul Ramdine, Pietrus' business manager, told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher. "We're taking this seriously and we don't know quite what it is yet, but he's OK."
The Celtics ended up losing 99-86 to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Pietrus, 29, has averaged 6.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 37 games with the Celtics, providing solid wing defense and a vocal, respectful locker-room presence, as the Boston Herald reported a few days before his injury.
“You have to know how to come up to your teammates,” Pietrus told the Herald. “I’m not going to curse my teammates, because they are part of my family. I’m going to tell them what I think of the team and how we can get better the next day... At the end of the day we can all go home with a ring.
“I’m speaking from my heart. It’s better to make the team better. Sometimes you have to have that locker-room talk. I didn’t do it my first couple of years in the NBA. But after 10 years in the NBA you start to see things different.”
Doc Rivers: Celtics want Kevin Garnett back
Much was made around the NBA trade deadline over whether the Boston Celtics would blow up the aging Big Three and send one or more of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen elsewhere.
Coach Doc Rivers, though, said Friday that the team wants Garnett, a pending free agent, back in Boston next season.
"Oh yeah, absolutely. We want him back," Rivers told CSN New England on Friday. "I think it will come down to if he wants to play or not. But, you know, who knows? So many games and so many things can happen. Being around this as long as I have I know it is very emotional how the season ends. And a lot of players have made poor decisions on the end of a season, so we'll have to wait and see."
Garnett, who turns 36 in May, hasn't made his plans for the future known, but Rivers noted that the former MVP and defensive player of the year has been re-invigorated by his move from power forward to center.
"Now he's the quickest guy every night at his position, and I think that's been a big benefit to him as well," Rivers said.
Allen will also be a free agent this summer. Pierce has another season on his current contract.
Entering Saturday night's games, the Celtics were seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 25-22 record.
Coach Doc Rivers, though, said Friday that the team wants Garnett, a pending free agent, back in Boston next season.
"Oh yeah, absolutely. We want him back," Rivers told CSN New England on Friday. "I think it will come down to if he wants to play or not. But, you know, who knows? So many games and so many things can happen. Being around this as long as I have I know it is very emotional how the season ends. And a lot of players have made poor decisions on the end of a season, so we'll have to wait and see."
Garnett, who turns 36 in May, hasn't made his plans for the future known, but Rivers noted that the former MVP and defensive player of the year has been re-invigorated by his move from power forward to center.
"Now he's the quickest guy every night at his position, and I think that's been a big benefit to him as well," Rivers said.
Allen will also be a free agent this summer. Pierce has another season on his current contract.
Entering Saturday night's games, the Celtics were seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 25-22 record.
Jason Smith: Blake Griffin takedown 'something I never want to do again'
New Orleans Hornets forward Jason Smith, suspended Friday for two games by the NBA for his fast-break takedown of Clippers forward Blake Griffin, again apologized for the incident and said he agreed with the NBA's decision.
"It's something I never want to do again," Smith told The Times-Picayune on Saturday. "I think I got caught up in the heat of the moment. It was an emotional game, a very physical game, There's still no excuse for what I did. I want to make it blatant that I apologized to Blake. He's an admirable player … a well-liked player."
Griffin did not leave the game but lay on the court in pain for about a minute after the fourth-quarter collision while other players gathered in a tense moment behind the basket. Smith was called for a flagrant 2 foul and ejected from the Hornets' win.
"I didn't want to give up on the game. When you see a person in transition like that, it's hard to defend a person like that," Smith said. "I thought it was a good suspension. There's no way to determine how many games you get suspended for certain actions. I thought it was fair. You've got to take what you get and definitely have to own up to it and just learn from it."
"It's something I never want to do again," Smith told The Times-Picayune on Saturday. "I think I got caught up in the heat of the moment. It was an emotional game, a very physical game, There's still no excuse for what I did. I want to make it blatant that I apologized to Blake. He's an admirable player … a well-liked player."
Griffin did not leave the game but lay on the court in pain for about a minute after the fourth-quarter collision while other players gathered in a tense moment behind the basket. Smith was called for a flagrant 2 foul and ejected from the Hornets' win.
"I didn't want to give up on the game. When you see a person in transition like that, it's hard to defend a person like that," Smith said. "I thought it was a good suspension. There's no way to determine how many games you get suspended for certain actions. I thought it was fair. You've got to take what you get and definitely have to own up to it and just learn from it."
Lamar Odom benched: 'I've been through a lot'
Lamar Odom's forgettable first season with Dallas Mavericks reached a new low on Friday against the San Antonio Spurs: Coach Rick Carlisle didn't play the former Sixth Man of the Year at all in Dallas' 104-87 loss.
"Expect the unexpected as far as life's concerned," Odom told reporters after the game. "I've been through a lot. It's not too much I haven't seen. So I understand it. I'm a team guy. Whatever. He's the coach."
Odom is averaging 7.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game and has struggled even more since returning from a 10-day personal leave earlier this month. In the 11 games since, he has averaged 5.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, shot 30.1 percent from the field and heard increasingly louder boos from the home crowd.
Odom had a difficult offseason; a beloved cousin died, he was a passenger in a car wreck that killed a teenage cyclist, and eventually requested a trade from the Lakers after an original attempt to move him as part of a package for Chris Paul was vetoed by the NBA.
Odom has said that the boos affect him, but noted that he's been through tougher situations.
"I've buried a child," Odom said Friday, referring to the 2006 death of in his infant son Jayden. "You know what I'm saying? I've buried a baby."
Carlisle, meanwhile, sounded as if the benching wouldn't become the norm.
"It shows that Lamar's minutes are valuable to us," Carlisle said of the loss. "So, we've got to keep him in the fold."
"Going forward, we're going to keep him involved. It really helps having a ninth guy with double-figure minutes, especially this season."
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is on Odom's side when it comes to fans booing him.
"I don't like it," Cuban told the Star-Telegram before Friday's game. "Lamar's had some bad breaks.
"He's made the right passes and we just haven't been able to finish the shots, and he's been taking the ball to the basket and it just hasn't been falling. I understand the fan's perspective, but I don't like it and hopefully LO will use it for motivation."
"Expect the unexpected as far as life's concerned," Odom told reporters after the game. "I've been through a lot. It's not too much I haven't seen. So I understand it. I'm a team guy. Whatever. He's the coach."
Odom is averaging 7.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game and has struggled even more since returning from a 10-day personal leave earlier this month. In the 11 games since, he has averaged 5.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, shot 30.1 percent from the field and heard increasingly louder boos from the home crowd.
Odom had a difficult offseason; a beloved cousin died, he was a passenger in a car wreck that killed a teenage cyclist, and eventually requested a trade from the Lakers after an original attempt to move him as part of a package for Chris Paul was vetoed by the NBA.
Odom has said that the boos affect him, but noted that he's been through tougher situations.
"I've buried a child," Odom said Friday, referring to the 2006 death of in his infant son Jayden. "You know what I'm saying? I've buried a baby."
Carlisle, meanwhile, sounded as if the benching wouldn't become the norm.
"It shows that Lamar's minutes are valuable to us," Carlisle said of the loss. "So, we've got to keep him in the fold."
"Going forward, we're going to keep him involved. It really helps having a ninth guy with double-figure minutes, especially this season."
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is on Odom's side when it comes to fans booing him.
"I don't like it," Cuban told the Star-Telegram before Friday's game. "Lamar's had some bad breaks.
"He's made the right passes and we just haven't been able to finish the shots, and he's been taking the ball to the basket and it just hasn't been falling. I understand the fan's perspective, but I don't like it and hopefully LO will use it for motivation."
NBA Draft 2012: List of eligible underclassmen
A full list of the underclassmen who have reportedly decided to enter the 2012 NBA Draft, which will be held June 28 starting at 7 p.m. in Newark, N.J. Players who do not sign with an agent have until April 10 to withdraw from the draft. The 2012 NBA draft lottery is on May 30.
— Will Barton, Memphis wing
— J'Covan Brown, Texas guard
— Moe Harkless, St. John's forward
— Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky forward
— Damian Lillard, Weber State guard
— Royce White, Iowa State forward
— Maalik Wayns, Villanova guard
— Will Barton, Memphis wing
— J'Covan Brown, Texas guard
— Moe Harkless, St. John's forward
— Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky forward
— Damian Lillard, Weber State guard
— Royce White, Iowa State forward
— Maalik Wayns, Villanova guard
3.24.2012
Weber State's Damian Lillard expected to declare for the 2012 NBA Draft
Weber State guard Damian Lillard, one of the nation’s foremost scorers, has decided to bypass his senior season to enter the 2012 NBA Draft.
Lillard is expected to make a formal announcement of his decision at a later date, according to CBSSports.com. He is billed as a possible lottery pick despite being a lightly recruited high school prospect. Lillard is currently listed as the No. 13 pick by DraftExpress.com.
Lillard has been a prolific scorer for the past two seasons, reaching his peak in 2011-12 with averages of 24.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
Lillard is expected to make a formal announcement of his decision at a later date, according to CBSSports.com. He is billed as a possible lottery pick despite being a lightly recruited high school prospect. Lillard is currently listed as the No. 13 pick by DraftExpress.com.
Lillard has been a prolific scorer for the past two seasons, reaching his peak in 2011-12 with averages of 24.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
Boston guard Mickael Pietrus carried off court
Boston guard Mickael Pietrus was carried off on a stretcher after a hard fall with 5:08 left in the second quarter of the Celtics’ game at Philadelphia Friday night, according to a report on celticstown.com.
Pietrus moved his arms and legs before being taken off, according to the report.
Pietrus hit is head on the floor and immediately grabbed the back of his head.
The report said Pietrus was ‘spitting up blood.’
Pietrus was starting in place of Ray Allen, who was inactive because of a sore right ankle.
The Celtics were leading 49-43 at halftime.
Pietrus moved his arms and legs before being taken off, according to the report.
Pietrus hit is head on the floor and immediately grabbed the back of his head.
The report said Pietrus was ‘spitting up blood.’
Pietrus was starting in place of Ray Allen, who was inactive because of a sore right ankle.
The Celtics were leading 49-43 at halftime.
Indiana Pacers sign center Kyrylo Fesenko
The Indiana Pacers announced the signing of 7-1, 280-pound free agent center Kyrylo Fesenko to a contract through a press release on Friday.
Fesenko, who is from Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, played four seasons in the Ukraine and was drafted in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft by Philadelphia, then traded to Utah, where he played the last four seasons, including some time with the Utah Flash of the D-League.
With the Jazz, he played 132 games with averages of 2.3 points per game and 2.0 rebounds per game.
Fesenko, who is from Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, played four seasons in the Ukraine and was drafted in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft by Philadelphia, then traded to Utah, where he played the last four seasons, including some time with the Utah Flash of the D-League.
With the Jazz, he played 132 games with averages of 2.3 points per game and 2.0 rebounds per game.
Jason Smith suspended 2 games for Blake Griffin takedown
The NBA on Friday announced that New Orleans Hornets forward Jason Smith was suspended two games for his takedown of Blake Griffin.
Smith shouldered Griffin to the floor on a fast break with 4:06 left in the Hornets' Thursday win. Clippers point guard Chris Paul followed Smith into the concourse behind the basket and had words with him as several players jawed at each other.
"It was a terrible foul," Paul told reporters after the game. "I don't know what Jason was thinking. He probably better be ready to sit out a game or two for that one. I'm just glad Blake controlled it."
Smith was assessed a flagrant 2 foul, which carries an automatic ejection, but left the court in New Orleans to a loud ovation.
"I think it looked a lot worse than what it was, but that's still not a play that you ever want to do to another player like that," Smith said. "I apologize to Blake Griffin. I didn't want to hurt him at all. I just wanted to try and cut off his lane to the basket."
Smith, 26, is averaging 8.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He'll miss New Orleans' Saturday game against the San Antonio Spurs and Monday rematch against the Clippers.
The Hornets rallied for a 97-90 victory over the Clippers on Thursday, spoiling Paul's return to New Orleans. Smith scored 17 points to help the Hornets snap a five-game home losing streak.
Smith shouldered Griffin to the floor on a fast break with 4:06 left in the Hornets' Thursday win. Clippers point guard Chris Paul followed Smith into the concourse behind the basket and had words with him as several players jawed at each other.
"It was a terrible foul," Paul told reporters after the game. "I don't know what Jason was thinking. He probably better be ready to sit out a game or two for that one. I'm just glad Blake controlled it."
Smith was assessed a flagrant 2 foul, which carries an automatic ejection, but left the court in New Orleans to a loud ovation.
"I think it looked a lot worse than what it was, but that's still not a play that you ever want to do to another player like that," Smith said. "I apologize to Blake Griffin. I didn't want to hurt him at all. I just wanted to try and cut off his lane to the basket."
Smith, 26, is averaging 8.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He'll miss New Orleans' Saturday game against the San Antonio Spurs and Monday rematch against the Clippers.
The Hornets rallied for a 97-90 victory over the Clippers on Thursday, spoiling Paul's return to New Orleans. Smith scored 17 points to help the Hornets snap a five-game home losing streak.
Mavs sign Azubuike; Sean Williams tossed from D-League game
The Dallas Mavericks have signed free agent Kelenna Azubuike, who hasn't played since tearing a knee tendon with the Golden State Warriors two seasons ago.
The announcement Friday came a day after the Mavericks waived center Sean Williams to create a roster spot. Azubuike was assigned to the Mavericks' NBA Development League team in suburban Dallas.
Azubuike spent four seasons with the Warriors and has career averages of 10.6 points and 4.0 rebounds.
The patella tendon injury happened nine games into the 2009-10 season. He was traded to New York in July 2010 but never played for the Knicks.
Azubuike skipped his senior season at Kentucky to go to the NBA but went undrafted in 2005. He played in the D-League for a year before joining the Warriors.
Williams, meanwhile, was ejected from an NBA D-League game he was watching as a spectator a few hours after Dallas released him on Thursday.
Williams, 25, was seated opposite the Dallas Legends' bench when he was tossed with 2:43 left in the fourth quarter of their game against the Reno Big Horns.
A Legends spokesperson told ESPNDallas.com it appeared that Williams was joking with some Big Horns players about the game's officiating. Referees, apparently, didn't take kindly to that.
The announcement Friday came a day after the Mavericks waived center Sean Williams to create a roster spot. Azubuike was assigned to the Mavericks' NBA Development League team in suburban Dallas.
Azubuike spent four seasons with the Warriors and has career averages of 10.6 points and 4.0 rebounds.
The patella tendon injury happened nine games into the 2009-10 season. He was traded to New York in July 2010 but never played for the Knicks.
Azubuike skipped his senior season at Kentucky to go to the NBA but went undrafted in 2005. He played in the D-League for a year before joining the Warriors.
Williams, meanwhile, was ejected from an NBA D-League game he was watching as a spectator a few hours after Dallas released him on Thursday.
Williams, 25, was seated opposite the Dallas Legends' bench when he was tossed with 2:43 left in the fourth quarter of their game against the Reno Big Horns.
A Legends spokesperson told ESPNDallas.com it appeared that Williams was joking with some Big Horns players about the game's officiating. Referees, apparently, didn't take kindly to that.
Charles Garcia's talent never a question for Fort Wayne Mad Ants
For Charles Garcia, it’s never been a matter of having the right tools. Or frame. Or the ability to throw and twist his 6-10 body into air like a man a foot smaller.
It’s just that, as of yet, Garcia—a starting forward for the NBA Development League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants—has yet to figure out a way to make them all work for him at once. His 2012 NBA D-League All Star Game performance has gone a long way toward shaking his reputation for laziness, but he’s still plagued by concerns about a lack of focus and poor decision-making. On certain nights, though, Garcia’s looked less like an elite big man in the NBA D-League and more like a future NBA star.
On Friday night, watch him in action on SportingNews.com when the Mad Ants take on the Idaho Stampede at 9 p.m. ET.
Garcia has spent 40 games in the NBA D-League, and he’s already played for four different teams. After starring at Seattle University, he came to the league in 2010-11 and promptly spent the season on the Utah Flash and Iowa Energy benches. He went to Sioux Falls in the offseason, chased by allegations that he wasn’t willing to work hard.
By the time January’s NBA Development League Showcase rolled around, he’d mostly silenced his critics. Then, after coming through the first half of the season as one of the most promising post players in the league, he got suspended for five games for violating the league’s drug policy.He played in the All-Star Game on Feb. 25—and got waived by Sioux Falls three days later.
Fort Wayne scooped him up within two days, and since then, Garcia has fallen back into rhythm—which isn’t necessarily a great thing. In six games with the Mad Ants, he’s scored in double-figures for four games, including a high of 20 points in a loss to Canton on Wednesday. But that performance came after Garcia scored eight points, combined, in the two games before. Meanwhile, his four efforts of eight rebounds or more surround two nights where the bruiser pulled down just five boards.
But if consistency’s what he’s after, he’ll face one of his toughest tests of the season on Friday, when he clashes with the Stampede’s Mikki Moore in the paint. Moore, the former NBA player who looks to be the league’s No. 1 prospect at center, stands taller (at 7-foot) than Garcia, but he doesn’t have the bounce anymore to keep up with the Mad Ants’ big man.
It’s just that, as of yet, Garcia—a starting forward for the NBA Development League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants—has yet to figure out a way to make them all work for him at once. His 2012 NBA D-League All Star Game performance has gone a long way toward shaking his reputation for laziness, but he’s still plagued by concerns about a lack of focus and poor decision-making. On certain nights, though, Garcia’s looked less like an elite big man in the NBA D-League and more like a future NBA star.
On Friday night, watch him in action on SportingNews.com when the Mad Ants take on the Idaho Stampede at 9 p.m. ET.
Garcia has spent 40 games in the NBA D-League, and he’s already played for four different teams. After starring at Seattle University, he came to the league in 2010-11 and promptly spent the season on the Utah Flash and Iowa Energy benches. He went to Sioux Falls in the offseason, chased by allegations that he wasn’t willing to work hard.
By the time January’s NBA Development League Showcase rolled around, he’d mostly silenced his critics. Then, after coming through the first half of the season as one of the most promising post players in the league, he got suspended for five games for violating the league’s drug policy.He played in the All-Star Game on Feb. 25—and got waived by Sioux Falls three days later.
Fort Wayne scooped him up within two days, and since then, Garcia has fallen back into rhythm—which isn’t necessarily a great thing. In six games with the Mad Ants, he’s scored in double-figures for four games, including a high of 20 points in a loss to Canton on Wednesday. But that performance came after Garcia scored eight points, combined, in the two games before. Meanwhile, his four efforts of eight rebounds or more surround two nights where the bruiser pulled down just five boards.
But if consistency’s what he’s after, he’ll face one of his toughest tests of the season on Friday, when he clashes with the Stampede’s Mikki Moore in the paint. Moore, the former NBA player who looks to be the league’s No. 1 prospect at center, stands taller (at 7-foot) than Garcia, but he doesn’t have the bounce anymore to keep up with the Mad Ants’ big man.
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