Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Sports => Trinbago, NBA & World Basketball => Topic started by: capodetutticapi on February 05, 2008, 06:53:58 PM
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Report: Heat, Suns talking Shaq-Marion tradeFOXSports.com
Updated: February 5, 2008, 7:06 PM EST 31 comments RSS digg blog email print With the Heat's season an utter disaster, a drastic move was certainly in order. Miami may be doing just that.
The Heat have told Shaquille O'Neal's representation that they are looking into trading him, the Miami Herald reported on its Web site Tuesday.
The report, citing two officials close to the situation, said the Phoenix Suns have discussed sending Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Heat in exchange for O'Neal.
One of O'Neal's representatives confirmed that O'Neal had been made aware of the discussions, the report said, but the deal was not definite.
Dallas has also been rumored as a possible destination, but the Heat did not inform O'Neal of that possibility, the report said.
O'Neal helped lead the Heat to the 2005-06 NBA title, but it has been all downhill since. After a first-round playoff exit last season, the Heat are off to a league-worst 9-37 record this year.
Marion, a four-time All-Star, is averaging 15.8 points and 9.9 rebounds for the Suns this season.
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good move for the heat, bad move for the suns unless the sight of Kobe will inspire Shaq to play superhero one more time.
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He dey in Phoenix right now doing his medical, ah following dat and de T&T game right now. It is a beautiful day in Florida ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
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Dat miami dream team era unravel quick oui
Payton fire de wukk, shaq done, zo bun..and wade lose that explosive step
look how much man stock sink when dey lorse dat step from injury..larry johnson, webber, mc dyess,penny etc etc...is only grant hill somehow manage to hold on
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Deal done....Shaq is a SUN....he come back to harrass my Lakers again but too bad he FINISH!
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Deal done....Shaq is a SUN....he come back to harrass my Lakers again but too bad he FINISH!
:D...when shaq see Kobe regularly it go re-light he fires....he will ignore the pain of injury and divorce
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ah want shaq to be ah thorn in kobe ass.
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PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns today acquired four-time NBA Champion Shaquille O’Neal from the Miami Heat in exchange for forward Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks, pending completion of physical examinations by both teams.
“We’re thrilled to add a player and person of Shaquille’s quality to our roster,” President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr said. “We believe this addition strengthens our team. We thank Shawn and Marcus for their contributions to our team. Shawn in particular has been a tremendous player for this organization the past eight-and-a-half years and his impact both on and off the court in Phoenix will not be forgotten.”
In the 7-1, 325-pound O’Neal, Phoenix acquires one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players and one of the most prolific scorers in league history. O’Neal owns a career scoring average of 25.6 points, the ninth-highest in league history, and ranks 11th all-time in scoring (25,908) in 1,013 career games. The 16-year veteran is a career 58.0 percent shooter, third-highest in NBA history, and has led the league in field goal accuracy nine times, matching Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time record. O’Neal has averaged 11.5 rebounds (21st-NBA history) and grabbed 11,630 (21st) boards as a member of the Orlando Magic (1992-97), Los Angeles Lakers (1997-2004) and Miami Heat (2005-2008). The three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team honoree (2000, 2001, 2003) ranks 8th all-time in blocks (2,485).
O’Neal, 35, won three NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers (2000, 2001, 2002) and one with the Miami Heat (2006). A three-time NBA Finals MVP (2000, 2001, 2002), O’Neal owns career playoff averages of 25.5 points (10th), 12.1 rebounds and 2.19 blocks and is a career 56.6 percent (6th) shooter from the field in the postseason. Shaq has pulled down the third-most rebounds in NBA playoff history (2,401) and blocked the third-most shots (433).
The Louisiana State product, who won a gold medal as a member of the 1996 USA Men’s Senior National Team, was named the 1999-2000 NBA MVP after averaging 29.7 points and 13.6 rebounds for the NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. O’Neal is a 13-time All-NBA First Team selection, a 14-time All-Star and the 1992-93 Rookie of the Year.
Originally selected with the first overall pick of the 1992 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, Shaq signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers on July 18, 1996, before being acquired by the Heat on July 14, 2004, in exchange for Caron Butler, Brian Grant, Lamar Odom and a future first-round pick.
Marion has played all nine of his professional seasons with the Suns after being selected by Phoenix with the ninth overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft. The UNLV product owns career averages of 18.4 points and 10.0 rebounds in 660 games (647 starts). The four-time All-Star is second in minutes played in franchise history (24,948), fourth in points (12,134), second in rebounds (6,616), second in steals (1,245) and third in blocked shots (894). Amaré Stoudemire, in his sixth season with Phoenix, is now the longest-tenured Sun.
Banks signed with the Suns on July 20, 2006 and in just over one season has averaged 5.0 points, 0.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 11.8 minutes in 69 games (two starts) for Phoenix.
The three-time defending Pacific Division Champion Phoenix Suns own the best record in the Western Conference (34-14) and tonight host the New Orleans Hornets (32-15, 1.5 games back) at 7 p.m. at US Airways Center. All the action can be seen on FSN Arizona and heard on Sports 620 KTAR.
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Surprise trades could pit Shaq against Kobe
by Michael Rosenberg
Detroit Free Press columnist Michael Rosenberg is a contributor to FOXSports.com. An archive of his Free Press columns can be found here.
Updated: February 7, 2008, 12:39 PM EST 6 comments RSS digg blog email print I have a dream. It is an awesome dream. It is also a totally inconsequential dream, in the big scheme of things. But anyway, here is my dream:
Western Conference finals.
Shaquille O'Neal on one side.
Kobe Bryant on the other.
At first, you might think, "Cool." And then you might think, "aw, hell, Shaq and Kobe, that will get hyped so much that the fun will get sucked right out of it, and besides, I got sick of Shaq and Kobe three years ago."
But think this through. Shaq vs. Kobe is one of the great Shakespearean sports dramas of this generation — maybe the greatest. They were two of the top five players in the world. They won three straight titles, then made the NBA Finals again, but they still couldn't stand to be around each other, so Shaq got traded.
It would be like if the Patriots had LaDainian Tomlinson all these years, then shipped him out because he didn't get along with Tom Brady.
Shaq-Kobe in this year's conference finals could be the grand conclusion. It would be the ultimate tiebreaker in their feud. If Kobe and the Lakers won, he could finally win his coveted Shaq-free title, convince the last skeptics he has become a team player and establish himself as one of the 10 best players ever. Plus, he would get the supreme satisfaction of knowing he ruined Shaq's last chance at a title.
But if Shaq and his new Phoenix Suns teammates won ... well, one could then make the argument that Shaq was the ultimate difference-maker in NBA history. He would have taken four franchises to the Finals. He would be four wins away from his fifth championship. And he would send a message that he, not Kobe, was most responsible for those three Lakers championships.
Just a week ago, the prospect of either man winning a championship this year seemed remote. But then the Lakers stole Pau Gasol from Memphis for a ridiculous package including Gasol's own brother, Marc. (A lot of people have asked: What was Memphis thinking? I'll tell you exactly what Memphis was thinking: "We're the Grizzlies, nobody's paying attention anyway, we'll just tell people it's the same Gasol and they won't know the difference.")
Then Miami shipped Shaq to Phoenix. It says a lot about Shaq's free fall that he was traded for a gifted but overpaid malcontent, and people think the team that got Shaq is stupid.
The critics could be right. Shaq is not remotely the same force that he was even two years ago — he needs a note from his doctor before he attempts to jump, his shots look horrible and he can't move laterally to avoid a fire. Now Shaq is joining the run-and-gun Suns. He is supposed to make his debut as soon as he is healthy, but I don't see how, since it will take him three months to catch up with the rest of his team.
But then again ... maybe Shaq still has one run left. It's not inconceivable.
Look at the NBA standings. Does anybody strike you as a dominant team? Dallas is still a major postseason question mark. New Orleans is a wonderful story, but totally untested in the playoffs. Utah is up and down. San Antonio is probably the Western Conference favorite, just on principle, but are the Spurs invincible?
In this league, the Bryant-Gasol-Andrew Bynum Lakers have as good a chance as anybody of winning the title. I'm not so sure about the Shaq Suns — this is a bizarre chemistry experiment, and nobody knows how it will turn out.
But if it somehow works, everybody better watch out. Including Shaq's old teammate and nemesis.
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Crazy deal for the Suns IMO.
Watch Shaq for years at the Lakers and teams will run pick and roll like it going out of style.
Very simple, have Shaq guard a more mobile player, try to draw him away from the basket, kill him from the outside or use the space he vacates under the basket.
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marion get screwed big time,from de best team in de west(record wise) to de worst team in de whole league.
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Shaq unlikely to make debut WednesdayAssociated Press
Updated: February 12, 2008, 7:01 PM EST 68 comments RSS digg blog email print PHOENIX (AP) - Shaquille O'Neal doesn't want to slow the Phoenix Suns.
That's why he may make them wait a few more days before playing his eagerly awaited first game in purple and orange.
O'Neal, who is learning a new offense and working his way into shape after a hip injury, is unlikely to play when the Suns visit Golden State on Wednesday night. After returning from the Bay Area, the team will decide whether O'Neal will play against Dallas on Thursday night in Phoenix.
"I want to be a little more in tune before I step out on the court, because as you watch this team without me, they're like a great flowing machine," O'Neal said after practice Tuesday at US Airways Center. "I don't want to be the kink in the machinery."
If O'Neal doesn't play this week, his debut could come on Feb. 20 against his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers. Phoenix plays host to its Pacific Division rival in the first game after the All-Star break.
O'Neal, who has been out since Jan. 21 with a hip injury, went through his second Suns practice on Tuesday morning, participating in a full-court workout before the team left for California in the afternoon.
"I haven't done anything in a month and a half," O'Neal said. "I'm in great human shape. I'm in OK basketball shape. I've just got to get into basketball shape."
Coach Mike D'Antoni said the team would make a decision on O'Neal's availability for the game against the Warriors after an individual workout before the game, but it appears doubtful that O'Neal will play.
"He's not quite ready," D'Antoni said. "He wants to be comfortable with the offense. He knows it's going to be a big splash when he goes out the first time."
D'Antoni said it's "possible" O'Neal could play against the Mavericks on Thursday night.
O'Neal injured his hip diving for a loose ball against Utah on Dec. 22. He returned Jan. 16 but was sidelined again five days later. An MRI showed inflammation in the left hip, shutting him down from all basketball activity.
Diesel out of gas? Shaquille O'Neal's numbers have been on the decline since his days in Orlando. A look at the newest Sun's career stats, team-by-team:
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Years Team Games PPG RPG MPG
'92-'96 ORL 295 27.2 12.5 37.8
'96-'04 LAL 514 27.0 11.8 37.6
'04-'08 MIA 204 19.6 9.1 31.1
'08 PHX ? ? ? ?
Totals 1013 25.6 11.5 36.4
Phoenix is 2-1 since the trade last Wednesday that brought O'Neal from the Miami Heat for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. The Suns have the conference's best record at 36-15, but a pack of pursuers isn't far behind.
The Suns say they aren't worried about playing short-handed until O'Neal is ready to join them.
"The big fella will play when he's ready to play," point guard Steve Nash said. "There's no rush. We've got a couple of months here to figure it out."
O'Neal's teammates are stressing patience. But they can't help looking ahead to life with one of the greatest centers in NBA history.
"I've never played with a post player before," Nash said. "So it's going to be interesting. But what a great player to play with. It's going to be a lot of fun to try to figure it out.
"There'll probably be some indecision and some uncertainty at times," Nash said. "But we've got a couple of months, so it'll all come together."
That process has already begun, if only in the privacy of the Suns' practice court. During Tuesday's full-court drill, Nash chased down a loose ball in the corner and flipped the ball toward the rim, knowing that O'Neal would be the only player who could reach it.
O'Neal said he's looking forward to playing with Nash, a two-time MVP who is adept at finding teammates for wide-open shots in the Suns' free-flowing attack.
"I've never had a point guard like him," O'Neal said. "As I was telling Steve, I haven't got an easy bucket in six years."
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O'Neal set to make Suns debut WednesdayAssociated Press
Updated: February 19, 2008, 11:33 PM EST 91 comments RSS digg blog email print PHOENIX (AP) - Shaquille O'Neal says he is ready to run with the Phoenix Suns. Really.
"I'm going to be looking to get out like Randy Moss and Terrell Owens," he said Tuesday after going through his final workout before making his debut with the Suns on Wednesday night against his old team, the Los Angeles Lakers.
The prospect of the 7-foot-1, 325-pound O'Neal, at age 35, fitting in with the high-octane Suns has been ridiculed across much of the NBA.
The Lakers' Phil Jackson, O'Neal's former coach, said Shaq's role would be "taking the ball out of bounds and waiting for the other team to get back."
"He's a jokester, and that's funny, very funny," Shaq said without smiling. "Ha-ha. Very funny."
Suns coach Mike D'Antoni says people will be surprised about how well a motivated O'Neal can move, and playmaker Steve Nash was elated with the trade that brought O'Neal from Miami for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.
"We're going to have to adjust slightly to his strengths," Nash said, "but you know where he's strong we've been weak, and that's having a big presence in the paint, taking up space and guarding the rim."
O'Neal says he has no desire to be a star with his new team. Those roles belong to Nash and Amare Stoudemire, he said.
"I'm more like a senior adviser so I don't like to come in here and try to take over," O'Neal said. ... "Just like your basic karate movie where the young guys come to the old guys with beards who have them do weird stuff to get to the other side. That's who I am, the old guy with a long beard."
Long pause.
"You like that analogy?" he said, obviously pleased with himself. "That was pretty good?"
Nash was a willing sidekick.
"I think this is his 73rd Asian martial arts film," he said. "We're excited to learn from the great master."
Shaq's charisma and humor have energized the Suns franchise since last week's trade, with the anticipation building toward Wednesday night's showdown with Jackson, Kobe Bryant, newcomer Pau Gasol and the rest of the Lakers. O'Neal insisted there is nothing special about the opponent being the Lakers, other than the fact that it's a tough Pacific Division foe.
"We had more great times than bad times together, but they've moved on, I've moved on," O'Neal said. "I have a new team now and I have a new focus."
Still, Jackson's comments have not been brushed aside.
"I don't take anything personal," O'Neal said. "I just have a certain file in my head, so Earthlings must be careful with what they say."
O'Neal is part of a recent migration of talent to the already-tough Western Conference, with Gasol going to the Lakers from Memphis and, in a trade finalized on Tuesday, Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks from New Jersey.
There will be no time for O'Neal to ease into his new role. After the Lakers, the Suns are home to Boston on Friday night and Detroit on Sunday.
"We don't have three cupcakes to start, but that's all right," Nash said. "We're going to learn a lot about ourselves and where we're going, and maybe that will give us a steeper learning curve to play against terrific teams."
O'Neal has played in four games since injuring his left hip while diving for a loose ball Dec. 22 against Utah. He returned Jan. 16, but was sidelined again after a Jan. 24 game against Cleveland.
He said his hip feels good but will play only about 20 minutes against the Lakers, D'Antoni said. O'Neal will be in the starting lineup.
"We know that's our team," D'Antoni said. "Let's get there as quickly as we can. Also, it's a 48-minute game, to spread 20 minutes out of 48 you don't want him to warm up and then sit down and get cold."
O'Neal said he hasn't played with a passer as good as Nash since his days with Bryant and, before that in Orlando, Scott Skiles.
"I can remember playing with Scott Skiles if you were open an inch, that would be there and it would be there perfect every time," O'Neal said. "When you've got a guy that's going to look for you, you run. A lot of people think I can't run, but my thing was I wasn't going to be running if you're not going to throw it. I know Nash will throw it."
O'Neal said he's learned a lot watching the Suns play from the bench, enough to make him believe that this team can win an NBA title, something the franchise hasn't achieved in its 40-year history.
"Their unselfishness, the way they play and their poise factor," he said. "When you never panic, that's a great sign."
He said he needs that fifth title, and maybe a sixth, to cement the legacy he covets.
"Every time that I've won a championship I've looked at my guys around me and looked at their work ethic and said 'You know what, I'm going to win it this year,"' O'Neal said. "I feel that way now."
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Bill Walton vs. Shaq (verbal) regarding the trade to Phoenix (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcHQexCFJWM)
the big man ordinance code.
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Watch Shaq for years at the Lakers and teams will run pick and roll like it going out of style.
Saw this from an analysis (http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7821978) of last night's game
Well, let's dilute a bit of this enthusiasm by reminding everyone that L.A.'s 130 points were not exactly the product of a blistering pace. With O'Neal contributing as a minor liability in pick-and-roll situations, the Suns' hospitable defense permitted the Lakers to snipe at a 57-percent success rate.
that being said Shaq looked much better than recently at Miami.
He committed to getting in shape and this could work out for Phoenix. The West Playoffs will be something else this year.
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after watchin de game last nite de man play with real intensity,he and nash hook up ah couple times with de lob and dunk.suns will be ah team to b reckon with.
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after watchin de game last nite de man play with real intensity,he and nash hook up ah couple times with de lob and dunk.suns will be ah team to b reckon with.
Dat is alright, de man came and left us wid ah championship ;). So he cud run from Arizona tuh Sando ;D, get fit and help Suns win ah title, me eh business. He is ah very good bredda, so best of luck tuh him :beermug:. HIGHLY BLESSED.
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Like ah said before people, Supa following de coolege ball 2 and ah start doing meh scouting already. If all yuh think Supa is ah joker, well read de sports section in de USA Today fuh yesterday (Monday). Look at de date on meh post when ah selected Beasley (spelt his name wrong in dat post) and Rose as meh front runners tuh help de heat. Well dey large up Beasely so much yesterday, dat it look like dey think he will be another Kobe, James or Wade. Ah have 2 more names tuh buss, dat ah think will be in de first five in de draft and might be under de radar fuh Riley also. Watch de ride, de Heat will rise again ;). HIGHLY BLESSED.
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Like ah said before people, Supa following de coolege ball 2 and ah start doing meh scouting already. If all yuh think Supa is ah joker, well read de sports section in de USA today fuh yesterday (Monday). Look at de date on meh post when ah selected Beasley (spelt his name wrong in dat post) and Rose as meh front runners tuh help de heat. Well dey large up Beasely so much yesterday, dat it look like dey think he will be another Kobe, James or Wade. Ah have 2 more names tuh buss, dat ah think will be in de first five in de draft and might be under de radar fuh Riley also. Watch de ride, de Heat will rise again ;). HIGHLY BLESSED.
once flash could get ah supportin cast,i eh doubt it.ah plus will be havin riley too.i always say he is one ah de best coaches of all time.
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Report: Yao done for the season
by FOXSports.com
Updated: February 26, 2008, 1:40 PM EST 9 comments
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The Houston Rockets just can't catch a break.
Winners of 12 straight and just three games behind the West-leading Lakers, Houston will have to play the rest of its season without All-Star center Yao Ming, who has a stress fracture in his left foot, the Houston Chronicle reported on its Web site.
Yao will miss both the regular season and the postseason, should the Rockets make it that far, the report said.
The team will announce the diagnosis later Tuesday, the newspaper reported.
After missing just two games in his first three years in the league, Yao has been injury prone of late, playing in 57 games in the 2005-06 season, and 48 games last year. In 55 games this season, Yao was averaging 22 points and just under 11 rebounds per game.
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BOSTON (AP) - LeBron James hit a milestone. The Boston Celtics hit their shots.
James returned from a first-half ankle injury to score 26 and become the youngest player in NBA history to reach the 10,000 points, but Boston got 22 points from Ray Allen to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 92-87 on Wednesday night.
"When you have an off-shooting night like this, it's tough to pull a game out," said James, whose 7-for-24 shooting sank the Cavs to 38 percent from the floor. "Especially against the best team in the league."
Kevin Garnett scored 18 points with 11 rebounds to help Boston win its third straight and improve to 2-2 for the season against the defending Eastern Conference champions. The Cavaliers were playing their third game with four new players, including Ben Wallace, acquired in an 11-player, three-team deal at the trading deadline.
"They're so new, we really didn't see them," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "They're going to be so much better because of that trade."
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown was ejected with 42 seconds left in the third quarter after he had to be restrained by his assistants while arguing a foul call against James. His star took a shorter break: He sprained his ankle and missed the last 4:24 of the first half, but X-rays were negative and he was back for the start of the second.
"I know my ankle, and tomorrow it's going to be a lot worse," James said, expressing the hope he would be ready for Friday's game against Minnesota.
"I've had my share of ankle injuries. The first thing I thought was, 'Not again. Not another one to go down for our team.' We have been hit with the injury bug, the cold bug, guys have been walking around here sick and injured. I didn't want to go down."
James reached the 10,000-point milestone at 23 years and 59 days, more than a year younger than Kobe Bryant was when he hit the milestone in 2003 (24 years, 193 days). It took James 368 games to do it - the ninth-fastest in league history.
"It doesn't make me happy to do it in a losing effort," James said. "To be in the record books is a tribute to my teammates, myself and my family."
James hit the mark on a dunk that made it 63-54 with 4:54 left in the third quarter. But Boston, which shot 52 percent, quickly extended its lead back to double-digits; after hitting the first two baskets of the fourth quarter to make it 75-66, the Cavs never got closer than 10 points until the final minute.
Delonte West's meaningless 3-pointer for Cleveland at the buzzer counted because of goaltending, making it appear closer than it was.
"We had our hands full (with James), but I thought we did a pretty good job," Allen said. "I think we gutted it out."
James was hurt after driving for a layup when he came down on Paul Pierce's foot. He hobbled off toward the Cavaliers bench and then dropped onto the court in front of the scorer's table with 4:24 left in the first half.
When the whistle blew, Brown and the training staff rushed over to attend to James, while the crowd hushed and the players on both benches looked over to see what was happening. After being looked at on the floor for a few minutes, he limped off to the locker room, favoring his right leg, getting a cheer from the Boston fans.
Boston led 25-16 after one quarter, with 12-5 rebounding edge, then took a 33-18 lead early in the second.
Notes: Celtics guard Tony Allen sat out with a strained right calf. ... Garnett missed the matchup with James on Feb. 5, and James missed the game against Boston on Dec. 2. When both played on Nov. 27, the Cavaliers beat the Celtics in Cleveland 109-104 in overtime. ... The Cavs fell to 15-16 on the road this season, with three wins in their last seven games. ... Rajon Rondo had eight points and eight assists for Boston, which won its sixth straight home game.
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instead ah opening ah whole new thread i just posting stuff that need mentioning.
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instead ah opening ah whole new thread i just posting stuff that need mentioning.
handle yuh stories breds...I doh buy sports illustrated no more
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instead ah opening ah whole new thread i just posting stuff that need mentioning.
handle yuh stories breds...I doh buy sports illustrated no more
seein we have de babes thread who need sports illustrated.
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Isiah tells Marbury to stay away from Knicksby Marc Berman, New York Post
Updated: February 29, 2008, 2:32 PM EST 189 comments RSS digg blog email print NEW YORK - Stephon Marbury has been instructed by Isiah Thomas not to attend Knicks home games — another indication of the continuing feud between the former pals, The New York Post has learned.
The Knicks still have not confirmed that Stephon Marbury will not return this season. (Chris McGrath / Getty Images)
According to a Marbury confidant, the embattled point guard is under a gag order by Knicks management, forbidding him from speaking to the media. Marbury has not commented since his Jan. 22 ankle surgery. "They've got a muzzle on him," the confidant said.
Marbury began rehab 11 days ago at the club's Westchester practice facility, and he has wanted to join the club on the home bench at the Garden since the All-Star break, according to the friend. Marbury is one of three captains, along with Jamal Crawford and Malik Rose.
Thomas disrespected Marbury on Wednesday night when he talked about next season's backcourt and did not mention Marbury. Thomas said the Knicks need to add a point guard to next season's club, saying Nate Robinson, Jamal Crawford and Fred Jones need help with ballhandling.
Thomas was given two chances to correct himself, but declined to add Marbury to next season's point-guard mix. Marbury still has one year left and $21 million on his pact — a valuable commodity for a team looking to get under the salary cap after the 2008-09 season.
Marbury has not attended a Knicks game since they faced the Nets at the Meadowlands Jan. 16 as he awaited word on his MRI. When surgery became more involved than anticipated — seven bone fragments were removed in a two-hour procedure — Marbury was not fit to attend games in the two weeks following the operation as he was on heavy pain medication.
But now, the friend said, he's ready to cheer on the club from the bench. The Post has reported Marbury is out for the season, though the Knicks won't acknowledge it.
That Marbury has been instructed not to travel with the club makes sense because it could interfere with rehab. But Marbury, the friend said, doesn't understand why he can't go to home games.
Insiders believe Thomas feels Marbury cost the Knicks the season by rebelling so strongly in November when the coach looked to remove Marbury from the starting lineup after five games. Marbury's bolting of Phoenix fractured the locker room. Thomas also resents Marbury for having surgery instead of trying to postpone it. "It was very bad timing for the team," the friend said, "but it had to be done."
Thomas said Wednesday if Marbury had the season he did in 2006-07, the Knicks "would've won five, six more games and we'd be right in the thick of things."i eh tink so.
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Report: Cassell likely to sign with Bostonby FOXSports.com
Updated: March 3, 2008, 4:08 PM EST 53 comments RSS digg blog email print The strong keep getting stronger in the Eastern Conference.
Sam Cassell, waived last week by the Clippers, plans to sign with the Boston Celtics once he clears waivers, his agent, David Falk, told the Boston Globe. The deadline for a team to claim Cassell is Monday at 6 p.m. ET.
"We've talked to all the teams that expressed an interest in Sam and nothing is going to change," Falk told the newspaper. "He's still going to sign with the Celtics. The only unknown is if some team claims him off waivers. But I consider that to be highly unlikely."
For a team to claim Cassell, it must have room under the salary cap to assume the remaining portion of his $6.15 million salary. It is unlikely that any of those teams would want Cassell.
Cassell would be the third household name to join Boston this year, along with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.
"I've told Danny that it was amazing how quickly those guys [Allen, Garnett, Paul Pierce] all jelled," Falk said, according to the newspaper. "I mean, this isn't fantasy basketball. And when you saw what needs they might have going forward, the only thing really left to do is to bring in a guy like Sam.
"If you look at this thing like a low-risk stock, Boston is a better fit. The West is much more difficult, while the East looks like a two-horse race."
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Boss, ah thought dis was ah Heat and Suns thread, wey yuh bring NY Knicks and Cassell on dis thread for? Take that info tuh de Raptors thread nah, ah already frustrated wid de Heat, den yuh do dis tuh meh man, :devil: ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
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Boss, ah thought dis was ah Heat and Suns thread, wey yuh bring NY Knicks and Cassell on dis thread for? Take that info tuh de Raptors thread nah, ah already frustrated wid de Heat, den yuh do dis tuh meh man, :devil: ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
boy wuh ah could tell drink ah cold beer fuh de heat.lol.
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Boss, ah thought dis was ah Heat and Suns thread, wey yuh bring NY Knicks and Cassell on dis thread for? Take that info tuh de Raptors thread nah, ah already frustrated wid de Heat, den yuh do dis tuh meh man, :devil: ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
well boss...de thread have to diversify...ah mean how much time he could type.."well the heat lorse las night again" :devil:
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Celtics Clinch Playoff Berth With Win Over PistonsBy JIMMY GOLEN, AP Sports Writer
Celtics 90, Pacers 78 (F)
Kevin Garnett scored a season-high 31 to lead Boston to a bruising win over Detroit Wednesday to help the Celtics become the first team to clinch a playoff berth. Boston 90, Detroit 78
BOSTON, March 5 (AP) -- Kevin Garnett scored a season-high 31 points to lead Boston to a bruising 90-78 victory over Detroit on Wednesday night as the Celtics became the first team in the NBA to clinch a playoff berth and also earned the homecourt tie-breaker over their closest competitor.
Boston won its sixth consecutive game and took a four-game lead over Detroit in the Eastern Conference standings. Should the Pistons catch the Celtics in the standings and meet them in the playoffs, Boston would have the home-court advantage by virtue of a 2-1 edge in the season series.
Kendrick Perkins had a career-high 20 rebounds to go with his 10 points for the Celtics.
Chauncey Billups scored 23 points, making 14-of-15 foul shots in the game, and Rasheed Wallace also scored 23 for Detroit.
The Pistons never led, falling behind 17-3 off the opening tip and working their way back to a 69-69 tie on Tayshaun Prince's putback for the first basket of the fourth quarter. But Garnett scored the next five points and, after Detroit cut it to 78-77, the Celtics scored 12 of the last 13 points.
It was an anticlimactic ending to a hard-fought game, with three technical fouls handed out along with hard fouls that sent players to the floor. Ray Allen drew the first T with a clearing elbow to Richard Hamilton's sternum in the first quarter; in the third, Jason Maxiell clobbered Rajon Rondo to the parquet after a breakaway layup.
Tony Allen's layup gave Boston a 78-74 lead with 6:01 left in the game, but he was called for a technical foul - apparently for celebrating - that cut a point off the lead and Hamilton calmly sank a 23-footer from the top of the key to make it a one-point game.
But Paul Pierce, who scored 15, hit a 3 to make it 81-77. Rondo drew a charging foul on Billups, and the Pistons guard was called for a technical that gave the Celtics an 82-77 lead.
After a Pistons miss, Rondo got the loose ball and threw it upcourt, where Pierce grabbed it and put it in for an 85-77 lead.
It was over.
The Celtics took a 23-13 lead after the first quarter, shooting 59 percent to 26 percent for the Pistons. But Wallace scored 14 in second quarter - Garnett had 12 - and the Pistons scored eight straight points to make it 25-23.
Juan Dixon had a chance to give Detroit the lead, but he missed a 3-pointer. The Celtics scored 11 consecutive points - 10 in a row from Garnett - to make it 38-25.
The Pistons finally pulled even early in the fourth after Billups and Prince scored the last seven points of the third, then Prince tied it with 10:50 left in the game.
Notes: The Pistons won 87-85 in the first meeting this season. Boston won 92-85 in the second. ... Billups made all 11 of his free throws and scored 18 in the third quarter. ... Garnett needs 23 points to reach 20,000 in his career.
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Boss, ah thought dis was ah Heat and Suns thread, wey yuh bring NY Knicks and Cassell on dis thread for? Take that info tuh de Raptors thread nah, ah already frustrated wid de Heat, den yuh do dis tuh meh man, :devil: ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
is funny yuh mention toronto and heat in de same sentence.toronto beat miami today. :rotfl:.pressure all over boy supa.
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well celtics already have playoff berth.
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Boss, ah thought dis was ah Heat and Suns thread, wey yuh bring NY Knicks and Cassell on dis thread for? Take that info tuh de Raptors thread nah, ah already frustrated wid de Heat, den yuh do dis tuh meh man, :devil: ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
is funny yuh mention toronto and heat in de same sentence.toronto beat miami today. :rotfl:.pressure all over boy supa.
Yuh forget to mention is bad bad licks dey get too ;D
under all de ole talk...I kinda vex that the Knicks and Heat have been left to freefall so hard...not only because de east just weak...but dem was too HARDCORE battlin teams when playoffs reach...well at least in the late 90's
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Boss, ah thought dis was ah Heat and Suns thread, wey yuh bring NY Knicks and Cassell on dis thread for? Take that info tuh de Raptors thread nah, ah already frustrated wid de Heat, den yuh do dis tuh meh man, :devil: ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
is funny yuh mention toronto and heat in de same sentence.toronto beat miami today. :rotfl:.pressure all over boy supa.
Yuh forget to mention is bad bad licks dey get too ;D
under all de ole talk...I kinda vex that the Knicks and Heat have been left to freefall so hard...not only because de east just weak...but dem was too HARDCORE battlin teams when playoffs reach...well at least in the late 90's
back in de 90's knicks coulda beat any team on any given day.even in playoffs.
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anybody followin rockets,they on ah 17 game winnin streak.they manhandled mavs tonite.
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Boss, ah thought dis was ah Heat and Suns thread, wey yuh bring NY Knicks and Cassell on dis thread for? Take that info tuh de Raptors thread nah, ah already frustrated wid de Heat, den yuh do dis tuh meh man, :devil: ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
boy wuh ah could tell drink ah cold beer fuh de heat.lol.
;D. Take ah guess why ah put dat smiley dey? Well yuh probable will guest right for one ah de reason, de other one, nobody here cud figure meh second reason fuh ah big smile. Yes yuh reply deserve ah smile, but guess what people, Riley leaving in de next few days tuh scout de college bois. Hah, hah, hah, sorry, ah just trying tuh exercise meh jaw, so it wouldn't hurt 2 much next season (2008-2009), when we start tuh whoop some azz round here, and ah just wouldn't be able to contain my self ;). Beasley all of south Florida have dey eyes on yuh baby, we got dis, we got dis. KG, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce steupsssss.
How about dis Wade, Marion and Beasley 8) 8) 8). Talk tuh meh, wey all yuh think. I'm not just any regular supporter fuh de Heat, I'm really ah real deep in to dis Heat team, ah not bragging, is just reality. De USA Today wrote a large article on Beasley ah few days ago, south Florida local papers now start tuh rate him a few days ago. Well check de date on meh post, when ah started scouting Beasley and Rose. Ah rate dem yutes long time, it have about 3 more outstanding players, but dem 2, dey look like ah Kobe, Wade and James in de making, member meh told yuh.
However, wid dat said, Riley know his job. So I must admit, I'm not sure if he will keep Beasley, cuz he cud use him as bait, pick and trade him fuh a young, well known and already established big name player. I doubt it very much doh, we (Heat) have changed to a more running game and a much more younger and athletic team. That part I will wait and see what he finally do with the draft pick, whether Riley keep him or trade. HIGHLY BLESSED.
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anybody followin rockets,they on ah 17 game winnin streak.they manhandled mavs tonite.
Anybody following Heat, dey are de worst team in de NBA. Sad tuh say, but it is de truth, for the first time in all meh Heat years as ah supporter, ah happy tuh loose some games and probably loose some more, yes I just said it. The people dat know de game, dey will know why ah want us tuh continue tuh loose more games.
De league have six more weeks, before de play offs start. Let Wade play about one or two more weeks fuh de most, put him tuh rest early, so he will be fresh and ready fuh de kill next season. Give some ah de yutes on de bench ah run, so Riley cud see who ready, who not ready, but have de tools and need some more time and de rest ah dem, ah go help pack dey bags and get dem out ah dis town. Sorry tuh sound so heartless towards de yutes, but dis is ah business, so we does leave love at home, we doh bring dat tuh de Arena ;) ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
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Boss, ah thought dis was ah Heat and Suns thread, wey yuh bring NY Knicks and Cassell on dis thread for? Take that info tuh de Raptors thread nah, ah already frustrated wid de Heat, den yuh do dis tuh meh man, :devil: ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
is funny yuh mention toronto and heat in de same sentence.toronto beat miami today. :rotfl:.pressure all over boy supa.
:rotfl:. HIGHLY BLESSED.
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Boss, ah thought dis was ah Heat and Suns thread, wey yuh bring NY Knicks and Cassell on dis thread for? Take that info tuh de Raptors thread nah, ah already frustrated wid de Heat, den yuh do dis tuh meh man, :devil: ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
is funny yuh mention toronto and heat in de same sentence.toronto beat miami today. :rotfl:.pressure all over boy supa.
:rotfl:. HIGHLY BLESSED.
i eh know if yuh followin shaq in de desert but suns startin to shit dong theyself.
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Boss, ah thought dis was ah Heat and Suns thread, wey yuh bring NY Knicks and Cassell on dis thread for? Take that info tuh de Raptors thread nah, ah already frustrated wid de Heat, den yuh do dis tuh meh man, :devil: ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
is funny yuh mention toronto and heat in de same sentence.toronto beat miami today. :rotfl:.pressure all over boy supa.
:rotfl:. HIGHLY BLESSED.
i eh know if yuh followin shaq in de desert but suns startin to shit dong theyself.
Yeah man, ah still love and respect meh Shaq. De big boi only picking up ah bunch ah rebounds and scoring 7,8,9 and 10 points. However, we have to be carefull wid what we say about him, cuz dat bredda have loads of experience and once dey make de play offs, he cud turn it on den. Let's just wait and see :beermug:. HIGHLY BLESSED.
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Boss, ah thought dis was ah Heat and Suns thread, wey yuh bring NY Knicks and Cassell on dis thread for? Take that info tuh de Raptors thread nah, ah already frustrated wid de Heat, den yuh do dis tuh meh man, :devil: ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
is funny yuh mention toronto and heat in de same sentence.toronto beat miami today. :rotfl:.pressure all over boy supa.
:rotfl:. HIGHLY BLESSED.
i eh know if yuh followin shaq in de desert but suns startin to shit dong theyself.
Yeah man, ah still love and respect meh Shaq. De big boi only picking up ah bunch ah rebounds and scoring 7,8,9 and 10 points. However, we have to be carefull wid what we say about him, cuz dat bredda have loads of experience and once dey make de play offs, he cud turn it on den. Let's just wait and see :beermug:. HIGHLY BLESSED.
true and i always say playoff basketball is ah different calibre.
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KG became de 32nd man to reach 20,000 points.
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Nets 73 at Rockets 91
Recap | Game Trax | Box Score | Play by Play | Depth Chart | Head-to-Head
HOUSTON (AP) - Houston coach Rick Adelman has started reminding his team what's at stake beyond preserving one of the NBA's all-time winning streaks.
That seems to be the only pep talk the Rockets need.
Tracy McGrady scored 19 points in less than three quarters and Houston routed cold-shooting New Jersey 91-73 on Monday night for its 19th consecutive victory, matching the third-longest winning streak in league history.
The Rockets won their 10th straight game by double digits, tying an NBA record last set by the Nets in 2004. They also won their 13th in a row at the Toyota Center, the franchise's longest home-court streak since the 1985-86 team won 20 consecutive games at The Summit.
Most importantly, the Rockets closed within one game of the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs for the top seed in the Western Conference. And that's the number Adelman keeps emphasizing.
"I told them (Monday) they have a double whammy going," Adelman said. "Not only do you have a chance to do something remarkable and get this streak going and keep it going, but also, every time you win, you keep shortening the season and you keep that lead that you have over other people and you're moving up the standings."
The Lakers play in Houston on Sunday, but the hype for that showdown can wait.
Houston can match the second-longest victory streak in NBA history with a win in Atlanta on Wednesday night. The Milwaukee Bucks won 20 in a row during the 1970-71 season."It's impressive, and we keep adding on games," point guard Rafer Alston said. "It's fantastic to have your name mentioned and your team mentioned with some of the best teams, some of the best players to ever play the game. It says a lot about our ballclub."
The Rockets held the Nets to 30 percent shooting (24-of-79) to match the league's longest run of consecutive wins since the 1999-2000 Lakers won 19 in a row on their way to the first of three straight championships with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.
Houston shot 46 percent (34-of-74) and pulled away by smothering the Nets on defense and outrebounding them 41-29. McGrady went only 6-for-14 from the floor.
"In this league, one thing you're going to have is off nights on the offensive end," McGrady said. "One thing you can control is how you play defense, and that's every night. As a team, we really understand that."
Vince Carter scored 13 and Richard Jefferson had 12 for the Nets, who've lost six in a row and nine of their last 12. The Nets shot 9-for-43 (21 percent) in the first half.
"It's always frustrating when we try to get to the hole and don't make our shots," Carter said.
Houston has beaten only eight teams with winning records during its streak, but Adelman bristled at the notion that the Rockets' roll is bogus because of all the bad teams they've faced.
"You know what?" he said. "Everybody in this league plays the same schedule. If it's that easy, why hasn't somebody else done it? I don't see the problem saying, 'You know? That's pretty remarkable what they've done."'
McGrady's only 3-pointer came in the final minute of the third quarter put Houston up 70-45. He sat out the entire fourth quarter, joking and cheering with Dikembe Mutombo.
Alston and Luis Scola had 12 points apiece for the Rockets, who've won 23 of their last 24 games and 28 of their last 31. Houston also improved to 7-0 since Yao Ming's season-ending foot injury.
But Shane Battier said the Rockets have stayed aware that they're one losing streak away from plunging out of postseason contention in the tightly packed West.
"At this point, we're fighting for the playoffs," he said. "That's all we care about right now."
This one got them a step closer.
New Jersey missed 11 of its first 13 shots and the Rockets built an early seven-point lead. Smothered by Jefferson early, McGrady missed his first three shots.
Sharpshooting Steve Novak came off the bench and hit a 3-pointer and McGrady sank two free throws to give Houston a 22-15 lead after one quarter. Novak finished with 11.
McGrady continued to struggle early in the second quarter. He couldn't handle an alley-oop pass from Bobby Jackson, then bounced a dribble off his foot after a steal, ruining a chance for a breakaway dunk.
After McGrady went to the bench three minutes into the second quarter, Novak swished another 3-pointer and Jackson hit a tough fadeaway to start a 19-5 run that Houston made without its seven-time All-Star.
McGrady hit a jumper and Battier swished another 3-pointer in the first minute of the third quarter as the lead swelled over 20.
The Nets shot better in the third quarter and made a mild rally, cutting the deficit to 14. McGrady hit a running jumper and his only 3-pointer in the final two minutes of the third quarter before calling it a night.
Notes
The Rockets failed to reach 100 points for just the second time in 10 games. ... New Jersey's 28 first-half points and 47 points after three quarters were season lows. The Nets' 28 first-half points were also a season low for a Rockets opponent. ... Rockets rookie F Carl Landry sat out for the second straight game with a bruised right knee.
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Warriors exercise Nelson's 2007-08 optionAssociated Press
Updated: March 11, 2008, 5:02 PM EST 22 comments add this RSS blog email print OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The Golden State Warriors exercised the option Tuesday to keep coach Don Nelson under contract for the 2008-09 season.
The two sides reworked Nelson's deal last September, giving the coach a raise in exchange for turning the third year of his contract into a team option.
The Warriors (39-23) put together one of their best season on years, and the team decided to guarantee Nelson a reported $5.1 million for next season. Golden State began the day in eighth place in the difficult Western Conference, 2 1/2 games ahead of Denver for the final playoff spot.
"We're extremely pleased with the job that Don has done this season," team president Robert Rowell said. "He's done a terrific job of building on last year's success and certainly has our team in position to challenge for another exciting postseason journey."
The 67-year-old Nelson is the second-winningest coach in NBA history with 1,271 wins, trailing only Lenny Wilkens (1,332) on the all-time list.
During his second stint with Golden State, he has guided the Warriors to a combined 81-63 regular season record. He helped the team end a 12-season playoff drought last year when the Warriors became the first No. 8 seed to beat a No. 1 seed in a best-of-seven series.
After the upset against Dallas, Golden State lost a five-game series in the second round to Utah.de man is worth every cent.
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this rocket team goin dong in history as de team to have the 2nd longest winnin streak in NBA history.21 and counting.they face lakers tomorrow.
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Boss what team yuh really backing sah or what team is really in yuh heart ? Yuh have meh kind ah confused meh family ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
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Boss what team yuh really backing sah or what team is ireally in yuh heart ? Yuh have meh kind ah confused meh family ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
my obvious choice will be de knicks,but seein they doin so friggin wonderful this year,i eh know who to back,i believe in the players not really teams,if garnett could win with boston ah happy,if T MAC could win with houston ah happy,and meh favorite fella AI,if he and mello could get ah ring ah happy.once KOBE eh win i happy.
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big game on TNT right now de east best vs de west best.
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houston streak ends at 22.
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ah definitly see no reason why celtics cyar win de championship this year,they roll tru texas like ah tornado.they beat de champs,they end rockets streak and ah mavs 5 game winnin streak too.
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ah definitly see no reason why celtics cyar win de championship this year,they roll tru texas like ah tornado.they beat de champs,they end rockets streak and ah mavs 5 game winnin streak too.
They really not f**king easy nah ::) ,can t see why they can t win it all .At least we beat 1 outta 3 .
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Boss what team yuh really backing sah or what team is ireally in yuh heart ? Yuh have meh kind ah confused meh family ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
my obvious choice will be de knicks,but seein they doin so friggin wonderful this year,i eh know who to back,i believe in the players not really teams,if garnett could win with boston ah happy,if T MAC could win with houston ah happy,and meh favorite fella AI,if he and mello could get ah ring ah happy.once KOBE eh win i happy.
:rotfl: Why yuh hate de bredda so? Yuh know what, it have plenty people like you, dat doh like Kobe, but we cud like him or not, de man have real game, nobody cah stop him, dey cud contain him, but not stop him. Yuh know Supa is ah Wade fan, ah doh see any other player, but just Wade. However, ah have tuh rate Kobe, he is an unbelievable player.
Yuh laughing at me and meh Heat, but Knicks is yuh team. Lawd, pot telling kettle, he bottom black :rotfl:. HIGHLY BLESSED.
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Boss what team yuh really backing sah or what team is ireally in yuh heart ? Yuh have meh kind ah confused meh family ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
my obvious choice will be de knicks,but seein they doin so friggin wonderful this year,i eh know who to back,i believe in the players not really teams,if garnett could win with boston ah happy,if T MAC could win with houston ah happy,and meh favorite fella AI,if he and mello could get ah ring ah happy.once KOBE eh win i happy.
:rotfl: Why yuh hate de bredda so? Yuh know what, it have plenty people like you, dat doh like Kobe, but we cud like him or not, de man have real game, nobody cah stop him, dey cud contain him, but not stop him. Yuh know Supa is ah Wade fan, ah doh see any other player, but just Wade. However, ah have tuh rate Kobe, he is an unbelievable player.
Yuh laughing at me and meh Heat, but Knicks is yuh team. Lawd, pot telling kettle, he bottom black :rotfl:. HIGHLY BLESSED.
:rotfl:no doubt,i agree kobe damn good,but ah still eh like him.no damn championship,EVER.
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Injured Webber to announce retirement WednesdayAssociated Press
Updated: March 25, 2008, 8:02 PM EST add this RSS blog email print Chris Webber is ending his comeback attempt with the Golden State Warriors and will retire after 15 seasons in the NBA.
Warriors spokesman Raymond Ridder said Webber will make the announcement at a news conference Wednesday.
Webber played only nine games with the Warriors before being sidelined by a bum left knee that's hampered him in recent years.
Webber was the most prominent member of the Fab Five at Michigan and played for Golden State, Washington, Sacramento, Philadelphia and Detroit in his NBA career.
Webber and the Warriors hoped that a return to the spot he started his NBA career would help both parties. But he ended up having little impact on the Warriors after signing with the team Jan. 29.
Slowed by the knee injuries, Webber struggled to keep up with the fast-pace Warriors and averaged only 3.9 points per game in his brief stint with the team. He had not played since March 2 because of the injured left knee and had not been around the team as of late. The news was first reported Tuesday by ESPN.com.
The Warriors are in eighth-place in the Western Conference, a half-game ahead of Denver for the final playoff spot. Even if Webber had been healthy enough to return, it would have been unlikely there would have been enough time for him to work his way back into the rotation.
Webber's second stint with the Warriors came to a much quieter ending than his first, which ended with a feud with coach Don Nelson, a public trade demand and finally a deal to Washington.
Webber was acquired by the Warriors in a draft day trade with Orlando in 1993 after becoming just the second sophomore ever to be the top pick in the NBA draft. He won the Rookie of the Year award and made the playoffs in his only season in Golden State.
But he clashed with Nelson and demanded a trade before his second season, and was eventually dealt to Washington in November 1994 for Tom Gugliotta and three first-round picks.
"I probably should have explained myself better, but I'm happy with the way my career turned out," Webber said when he re-signed with the team. "I never would have got to play with Sacramento or Washington on great teams. I never would have got to play for Coach again. I forgave a long time ago. Hopefully I've been forgiven a long time ago, and it's time to move on."
Webber had his greatest success in Sacramento, where he helped revive the Kings and turn them into one of the league's best teams. But they were unable to make it to the NBA Finals, losing in a seven-game series in the conference finals to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2002.
Webber's career began a downward slide after he underwent microfracture surgery on his knee the following year. He was dealt to Philadelphia in 2005 and spent the second half of last season in Detroit with his hometown Pistons.
Webber was a five-time All-Star, who ended his career averaging 20.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists a game.
Webber broke onto the scene as a part of Michigan's heralded recruiting class that arrived on campus in 1991. Teaming with Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson, Webber helped the Wolverines make it to the NCAA championship his only two years in college.
But Michigan lost both times, to Duke in 1992 and North Carolina the following year. Webber was most remembered for calling a timeout when Michigan had none remaining in the final minute of the 1993 loss to the Tar Heels.
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Riley: Shaq's comments on Heat players 'sad'Associated Press
Updated: March 26, 2008, 7:11 PM EST add this RSS blog email print NEW YORK (AP) - Pat Riley can't understand why Shaquille O'Neal keeps talking about the Miami Heat.
Riley responded to O'Neal's criticisms Wednesday with some of his own, saying his former center was wrong to disparage some of his old teammates and trainers in a Boston Globe story.
"It's sad that he says those things. We shared so much here, together, for three years, good and bad, 3 1/2 years," Riley said, referring specifically to the Heat's 2006 NBA title. "I just think it's sad that he's got to do that."
Riley dealt O'Neal to Phoenix before the trade deadline, allowing the 36-year-old center the chance to compete for another title instead of sticking around Miami for a last-place finish. O'Neal made it clear how much he prefers his new teammates.
"I love playing for this coach and I love playing with these guys," O'Neal told the Globe. "We have professionals who know what to do. No one is asking me to play with Chris Quinn or Ricky Davis. I'm actually on a team again."
Riley said he doesn't have "anything but good feelings for Shaq" and wasn't bothered by any criticism leveled at him. But he said O'Neal has no reason to blame anyone else in the organization for his unhappiness.
"When you're 9-40, we're all frustrated. I mean everybody's at fault, we all were. Everybody was feeling bad and nobody wants that," Riley said.
"He didn't want to be there, he didn't want to play for that kind of situation, 35 years old. He wanted to go to a contender and we sent him there. We sent him to Utopia and we're left here with the carnage and I don't know why he's not happy."
Riley also defended the work of veteran trainer Ron Culp and the team's medical staff, saying O'Neal was out of line to speak poorly of them.
"It's really a shame that he would insult those people like that because they gave him care. They cared," Riley said. "They didn't kiss his butt. They cared about him.
"He can do whatever he wants to do to me. That's OK, I don't care. But those men, they tried. ... That upsets me more than anything."
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Knicks to announce hiring of Walsh on WednesdayAssociated Press
Updated: April 1, 2008, 11:23 PM EST 1 comment add this RSS blog email print NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Knicks will turn their basketball operations over to Donnie Walsh on Wednesday.
A person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press that the Knicks will announce the hiring of Walsh as their new president at a news conference. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move has not been made official yet. Walsh will replace Isiah Thomas as president. Thomas is also the Knicks' coach..............is about time they fire this goat.
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Knicks to announce hiring of Walsh on WednesdayAssociated Press
Updated: April 1, 2008, 11:23 PM EST 1 comment add this RSS blog email print NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Knicks will turn their basketball operations over to Donnie Walsh on Wednesday.
A person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press that the Knicks will announce the hiring of Walsh as their new president at a news conference. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move has not been made official yet. Walsh will replace Isiah Thomas as president. Thomas is also the Knicks' coach..............is about time they fire this goat.
When ah see Walsh, ah thought Courtney Walsh was involved in basketball 2 ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
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Knicks to announce hiring of Walsh on WednesdayAssociated Press
Updated: April 1, 2008, 11:23 PM EST 1 comment add this RSS blog email print NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Knicks will turn their basketball operations over to Donnie Walsh on Wednesday.
A person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press that the Knicks will announce the hiring of Walsh as their new president at a news conference. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move has not been made official yet. Walsh will replace Isiah Thomas as president. Thomas is also the Knicks' coach..............is about time they fire this goat.
When ah see Walsh, ah thought Courtney Walsh was involved in basketball 2 ;D. HIGHLY BLESSED.
well de man have de height,i know ambrose use to play
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de way boston playin ball nothin else but ah championship will do.first team to win sixty,from start to finish they lead de league (no. 1 spot),the big 3 is ah team by itself,they roll in texas 2 weeks ago and blow out dallas,houston and spurs (mavs and rockets were on 7 and 22 games winnin streaks respectively).the only team i see havin ah chance of beating celtics in 7 is san antonio.they have playoff experience(most important)and spurs have de depth and squad to do it.it will be ah hell of ah battle.i'll take celtics in 7 games.this will go dong to de wire.
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with just about 2 more weeks fuh regular season and no team in de west get seeded or guaranteed ah spot in de playoffs.tings real tight over they.only about 7 games separate de no.1 and no.8 placed teams.and about 3 teams have identical records.
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MSG releases plans for $500 million renovationAssociated Press
Updated: April 3, 2008, 8:15 PM EST 7 comments add this RSS blog email print NEW YORK (AP) - Madison Square Garden will widen hallways, raise ceilings and build bigger luxury boxes and more restaurants and bathrooms in a $500 million renovation of the nation's best-known sports arena.
The renovations announced Thursday won't change the exterior of the drum-shaped arena built above Penn Station, although knocking down some walls on the inside would give patrons street views from concourses twice as large as before.
Also planned are a 25-foot-high glass ceiling in the lobby, luxury suites closer to floor level and bars at the cheapest seat level, the blue seats, which are returning after having been replaced by teal in a 1991 renovation.
The arena's owner, Cablevision Systems Corp., released years-old drawings of its plans for renovations after announcing last week it was backing out of a government plan to move into a landmark Manhattan post office a block away.
State officials and a developer envisioned a $14 billion transformation of the Far West Side neighborhood that would have demolished the 40-year-old arena to build an office tower and help bring natural light into a $2 billion-plus renovation of Penn Station, the nation's busiest train station.
Cablevision supports the Moynihan Station project "as that project was originally conceived," said Hank Ratner, a vice chairman for the telecommunications and entertainment company. But "we are going to renovate the arena here, and we are not going to be moving."
The plans by Canadian architectural firm Brisbin Brook Beynon, which built GM Place in Vancouver and Rogers Place in Toronto, also may not require as many state and city permits, since they wouldn't expand upon the Garden's current footprint. Cablevision would need city buildings permits for the renovations, which would begin next year and be finished by late 2011, Ratner said.
The Garden would close during the summers for the renovations, but the New York Knicks and New York Rangers' seasons would not be affected, he said. The Garden, built in 1968, hasn't been renovated since the early 1990s.
The arena's seating — 18,000 to 19,000 for sporting events — would stay the same, but the concourses ringing the arena would more than double to 101,000 square feet, architect Murray Beynon said. A 25-foot-high skylight would be built over an airy lobby that would also be twice the size, he said.
The arena would add two restaurants, including one for any ticket holder with midlevel views of sports events. It would have three fewer luxury boxes, 86, but make all of them bigger and have several at mid- or floor level. A VIP club would let customers shout out to athletes as they walk into the arena and back to their locker rooms. The renovated arena has 50 percent more space for bathrooms.
Ratner said no decisions had been made about ticket prices or how much more the larger luxury boxes would cost.
"A lot of factors go in to how we price the products," he said.
State officials and the developer of the Moynihan Station project, named after the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, declined comment Thursday
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, who last week proposed that another government agency take over building the station, released a statement: "We're taking a close look at this and will remain in close discussion with all parties with a goal of building the best Moynihan Station possible and developing the West Side."
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this is de 3rd NY sports team fixin up its stadium.both mets and yankees buildin new arenas.
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hornets became de first west team to advance to de next round.CP3 fuh MVP.
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Celtics 101 at Bobcats 78
Game Trax | Box Score | Play by Play | Depth Chart | Head-to-Head
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Even without the Big Three, the Boston Celtics had enough firepower to make history.Leon Powe had 22 points and nine rebounds, leading a makeshift lineup of Celtics who were never threatened in a 101-78 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday that not only clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, but set the NBA record for biggest single-season turnaround.Boston's trio of stars, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, didn't play. Pierce was not with the team after his daughter was born Friday night. Allen and Garnett were being rested by coach Doc Rivers with the start of the playoffs two weeks away.
It didn't matter. Powe dominated the inside and James Posey added a season-high 19 points for the Celtics, who improved to 61-15. That's 37 more wins that last season's 24-58 disaster that led the Celtics to acquire Garnett and Allen.
The previous best turnaround was San Antonio going from 20-62 to 56-26 in 1997-98, the year they got Tim Duncan with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
The Celtics' sixth straight win guaranteed that someone will have to win on Boston's famed parquet to prevent the Celtics from winning their first NBA title in 22 years, when the old Big Three of Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale reigned.
For a night, at least, the Celtics showed remarkable depth.
Eddie House scored 16 points off the bench for the Celtics, who had 10 players log at least 18 minutes against a team that they had uncharacteristic trouble against earlier this season.
Emeka Okafor had 17 points and eight rebounds for the Bobcats, who had won in Boston and lost at home to the Celtics on Allen's buzzer-beater. But playing without starting forward Gerald Wallace (groin), Charlotte couldn't build off Friday's win in Toronto and was officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Only point guard Rajon Rondo and center Kendrick Perkins took their normal positions around the center circle for Boston to start the game. Posey, Powe and Tony Allen joined them, then quickly took it to Charlotte.
Posey hit three 3-pointers in the first six minutes as the Celtics built a 14-point lead.
Earl Boykins, who added 15 points for Charlotte, got the Bobcats within six midway through the second quarter. But then Perkins and Powe had putbacks, two of Boston's 15 offensive rebounds, and Boston got its double-digit lead back.
Charlotte never made a charge in the second half, eliminating any second-guessing of Rivers' decision to rest his stars ahead of clinching home-court advantage.
Rivers with two days off before this game and two more days off before Tuesday's visit to Milwaukee, now was the time for extended breaks. Rivers said two of the Big Three could also sit against the Bucks, but that they would play in the remaining five games.
Notes: Pierce's fiancee, Julie Landrum, gave birth to Prianna Lee late Friday afternoon. ... Ray Allen wasn't complaining about getting rest. "We've earned this position that we're in right now," he said. "It's like the quiet before the storm for us." ... Bobcats rookie Jermareo Davidson made his second straight start ahead of Nazr Mohammed. ... Matt Carroll started for Wallace, who aggravated an existing injury Friday. ... The Bobcats had their fifth sellout in 39 home games.
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MIAMI (AP)—The Detroit Pistons locked up the No. 2 seed. The Miami Heat moved closer to locking up 250 chances at the No. 1 pick.
Rodney Stuckey scored 19 points, Tayshaun Prince added 14 on 6-for-7 shooting and the Pistons secured the second spot on the Eastern Conference playoff bracket with a 91-75 win Sunday over the Heat.
Jarvis Hayes, Jason Maxiell, Juan Dixon and Arron Afflalo each scored 10 points for the Pistons (55-21), who won their fifth straight. The top three spots in the East—Boston, Detroit and Orlando, in that order—are now set, although it’s been a foregone conclusion they would wind up that way for weeks.
“We’re comfortable with our position right now and we just want to keep doing what’s made us successful,” Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups said. “You can’t do any more than that.”
Earl Barron scored 20 points for Miami, which lost its seventh straight.
“We just couldn’t make anything,” said Heat coach Pat Riley, whose team shot 35 percent.
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Chris Quinn finished with 14 points and seven rebounds for the Heat, which got 11 points and nine rebounds from Ricky Davis and 10 points from Mark Blount.
The Heat (13-64) closed in on sealing the NBA’s worst record. Of the 1,000 possible NBA draft lottery combinations, the team with the worst record gets 250 chances of winning the No. 1 pick.
“Obviously, it’s not the best situation, not the situation we thought we’d be in at the beginning of the year,” Quinn said. “The only thing with five or six games remaining to do is go out there and play with pride, play as hard as we can and show what we can do out there.”
The Pistons were without Antonio McDyess and leading scorer Richard Hamilton, who sat out for the sixth time in the last seven games with a sore hip.
Detroit didn’t need them, nor much from its starters, either.
None of the Pistons’ opening five Sunday played more than 28 minutes, and they got long stretches of rest during the game, too. The fivesome combined to play a total of 3 minutes, 28 seconds in the second quarter, which actually was a period where Detroit outscored Miami 20-11 to take a 39-27 lead into the intermission.
“We decided when we came down that we were going to go with the younger guys,” Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. “They did a nice job, found a way to finish and it was very encouraging.”
Prince went 5-for-5 in the third quarter, a period that ended with Billups missing a layup badly—but being credited for an alley-oop assist to Maxiell, who laid the errant shot in for a 68-54 lead entering the fourth.
Davis made a 30-foot 3-pointer as the shot clock expired with 8 1/2 minutes left, drawing Miami within 70-61, but the Pistons put it away with a quick 10-0 run, with Stuckey—who nearly tripled his season scoring average Sunday— getting six of those points.
“The bench has definitely been playing a big role,” McDyess said.
One Miami highlight: The Heat honored center Alonzo Mourning with a halftime ceremony.
Mourning, who entered the year insisting it would be his final season, saw the year cut short by a devastating knee injury in December, which figured to end his career. But in recent weeks, he’s been speaking like someone who hasn’t totally ruled out yet another comeback attempt.
Miami Heat forward Stephane Lasme (45) goes up for a shot defended by Detroit Pistons center Theo Ratiff (42) in the fourth period of an NBA basketball game in Miami, Sunday, April 6, 2008. The Pistons defeated the Heat 91-75.
Miami Heat forward Stephane La…
AP - Apr 6, 8:41 pm EDT
“Time will dictate my basketball future,” Mourning told the crowd.
Another rare Heat highlight from this dismal season could come Monday, when Riley—a seven-time NBA champion and the third-winningest coach in league history—is expected to be announced as part of the 2008 class entering the Basketball Hall of Fame.
This year’s group of enshrinees will be announced in San Antonio, a few hours before the Kansas-Memphis NCAA title game.
“I’ve never been big on individual awards,” Riley said. “But this is different.”
Notes
Detroit was 4-0 against Miami this season. … Hamilton could be back in Detroit’s lineup in time for Wednesday’s trip to Philadelphia. … Barron took nine of Miami’s first 13 shots. He started 5-for-7 in the first 5:25, then missed his next eight and didn’t record another field goal until 4:15 remained in the game. … The Heat fell to 2-31 when scoring under 90 points.
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Boss, come on nah man, yuh is man sound like yuh know yuh basketball. Yuh know how Alonzo real cocky and proud, yuh think dat bredda want tuh retire under a season like dis one? Especially when it look like we will grab Beasley or Rose, yuh know he coming back tuh get some ah dat juice next season. Ah love de energy Alonzo does bring on de court doh, ah would love to spend my money to see him again. HIGHLY BLESSED.
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Ginobili Wins 2007-08 Sixth Man of the Year Award Presented by Kia Motors
Posted Apr 21 2008 12:50PM
NEW YORK, April 21, 2008 – Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs is the winner of the NBA Sixth Man Award presented by Kia Motors as the league’s best player in a reserve role for the 2007-08 season, the NBA announced today.
Ginobili received 615 out of a possible 620 points, including 123 of a possible 124 first-place votes, from a panel of 124 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Leandro Barbosa of the Phoenix Suns finished second with 283 points and Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks finished third with 44 points.
In order to be eligible for this award, players had to have come off the bench in more games than they started. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.
As part of its support of the Sixth Man Award, Kia Motors will donate a brand-new 2009 Kia Borrego seven-passenger SUV on behalf of Ginobili to Roy Maas’ Youth Alternatives of San Antonio which is committed to caring for children in crisis. Each winner of the four year-end awards presented by Kia Motors will receive a Borrego on behalf of the player’s charity of choice.
A sixth man in 51-of-74 games played this season, Ginobili led the Spurs in scoring with a career-high average of 19.5 points to go along with 4.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.47 steals. He increased his scoring nearly 6.0 points over his career average entering this season (13.7 ppg). He is also the only player in the NBA to average at least 17 points in under 32.0 minutes per game.
Ginobili is the only player in the NBA ranked in the top 31 for points per game (31st), steals (16th), assists (28th), three-point field goals made (156, 16th), three-point field goal percentage (.401, 28th), free throws made (380, 16th) and free throw percentage (.860, 16th).
The 2007-08 NBA Sixth Man Award presented by Kia Motors is part of a series of on-court performance awards called “The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia Motors.” The awards, which are part of a multi-year marketing partnership that makes Kia Motors America the official automotive partner of the NBA, also include the Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Improved Player Award. The series also includes the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Kia Motors. For more information on the “The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia Motors” visit www.NBA.com/performanceawards
2007-08 NBA SIXTH MAN AWARD PRESENTED BY KIA MOTORS VOTING
Player, Team 1st 2nd 3rd Pts
Manu Ginobili, San Antonio 123 -- -- 615
Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix 1 84 26 283
Jason Terry, Dallas -- 9 17 44
Kyle Korver, Utah -- 7 13 34
Ben Gordon, Chicago -- 6 9 27
Josh Childress, Atlanta -- 5 8 23
J.R. Smith, Denver -- 4 10 22
James Posey, Boston -- 3 10 19
Jason Maxiell, Detroit -- 1 8 11
Travis Outlaw, Portland -- -- 11 11
Linas Kleiza, Denver -- 1 2 5
Jordan Farmar, L.A. Lakers -- 1 2 5
Jerry Stackhouse, Dallas -- -- 4 4
Rashad McCants, Minnesota -- 1 -- 3
Louis Williams, Philadelphia -- 1 -- 3
Jarrett Jack, Portland -- 1 -- 3
David Lee, New York -- -- 3 3
Andres Nocioni, Chicago -- -- 1 1
ALL-TIME NBA SIXTH MAN AWARD PRESENTED BY KIA MOTORS WINNERS
1982-83 Bobby Jones, Philadelphia 76ers
1983-84 Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics
1984-85 Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics
1985-86 Bill Walton, Boston Celtics
1986-87 Ricky Pierce, Milwaukee Bucks
1987-88 Roy Tarpley, Dallas Mavericks
1988-89 Eddie Johnson, Phoenix Suns
1989-90 Ricky Pierce, Milwaukee Bucks
1990-91 Detlef Schrempf, Indiana Pacers
1991-92 Detlef Schrempf, Indiana Pacers
1992-93 Clifford Robinson, Portland Trail Blazers
1993-94 Dell Curry, Charlotte Hornets
1994-95 Anthony Mason, New York Knicks
1995-96 Toni Kukoc, Chicago Bulls
1996-97 John Starks, New York Knicks
1997-98 Danny Manning, Phoenix Suns
1998-99 Darrell Armstrong, Orlando Magic
1999-00 Rodney Rogers, Phoenix Suns
2000-01 Aaron McKie, Philadelphia 76ers
2001-02 Corliss Williamson, Detroit Pistons
2002-03 Bobby Jackson, Sacramento Kings
2003-04 Antawn Jamison, Dallas Mavericks
2004-05 Ben Gordon, Chicago Bulls
2005-06 Mike Miller, Memphis Grizzlies
2006-07 Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix Suns
2007-08 Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs
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MIAMI, April 28 – Miami HEAT President and Head Coach Pat Riley announced this afternoon that he has decided to step down as Head Coach of the Miami HEAT, but will continue to serve as team President. HEAT Managing General Partner Micky Arison and Riley jointly announced that former Assistant Coach/Director of Scouting Erik Spoelstra has been elevated to head coach. Spoelstra becomes the sixth head coach in franchise history.
“The game of basketball is a game about talent,” said Riley. “While we are always looking for NBA talent to perform on the court, the most important talent that you may find has to perform on the bench, in the locker room, on the practice court, late at night, watching film, motivating and executing all the responsibilities of a head coach. I believe Erik Spoelstra is one of the most talented young coaches to come around in a long time. This game is now about younger coaches who are technologically skilled, innovative and bring fresh new ideas. That’s what we feel we are getting with Erik Spoelstra. He’s a man that was born to coach.”
Spoelstra just completed his 13th season as a member of the HEAT staff and his seventh in the role of Assistant Coach/Director of Scouting where he had the primary role of developing game plans for upcoming opponents. Spoelstra was responsible for coordinating the video staff and advance scouts while also overseeing the development of scouting reports and videos. He has been in charge of the HEAT’s Individual Player Development Program and has served as the head coach of the HEAT’s summer league squad each of the past three summers.
The 37-year old Portland native originally joined the HEAT as the team’s video coordinator in 1995. He spent two years in that role where he was responsible for preparing scouting tapes and heading up the team’s information technology for the coaching staff. He served as Assistant Coach/Video Coordinator the following two seasons (1997-99). He was then promoted to Assistant Coach/Advance Scout and served in that role for two seasons (1999-01) before being elevated to Assistant Coach/Director of Scouting the role he has served in the past seven years. Spoelstra has become the NBA’s youngest current head coach, born on Nov. 1, 1970 in Evanston, IL. He is 69 days younger than the second youngest head coach, Lawrence Frank of the New Jersey Nets.
A 1992 graduate from the University of Portland, Spoelstra was the starting point guard for four years for the Pilots and was named the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year. After college he spent two years as a player/coach for Tus Herten, a team in the professional sports league of Germany.
Spoesltra is the son of Jon Spoelstra, a long-time NBA executive who has guided the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets. Riley joined the HEAT as President and Head Coach on Sept. 2, 1995. In his two stints as head coach (1995-2003 and 2005-08) he guided the HEAT to a 454-395 (.535) record with one NBA title, one conference championship, six division championships and eight playoff berths in his 11 seasons on the bench. In addition to ranking as Miami’s all-time victory leader, Riley ranks third on the NBA’s all-time regular season list, compiling a 1,210-694 (.636) career mark in 24 seasons as an NBA head coach with the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Miami HEAT. He also ranks second on the all-time postseason victory list amassing a 171-111 (.606) mark. Riley, who was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this month, has led his teams to five NBA championships as a head coach, nine conference championships and a league-record 18 division championships. He is the only coach in league history to capture the NBA Coach of the Year Award with three different teams and his string of 19 consecutive playoff appearances as a head coach from 1982-2001 is a league record for consecutive postseason appearances. His 21 total postseason appearances are also the most by a head coach in NBA history. He has been named NBA Coach of the Month an NBA-record 11 times and has more 50-win (17) and 60-win (7) seasons than any coach in NBA history. Additionally, when he registered his 1,000th regular season victory on Nov. 1, 2000, he became the fastest coach or manager to reach 1,000 wins in the history of the four professional sports in North America, bettering the previous mark held by Fred Clarke of the Pittsburgh Pirates by 144 games. Riley recorded his 1,000th win in just his 1,434th game. On Feb. 29, 2008 he became the only coach in NBA history to record at least 450 wins with two franchises as he guided the HEAT to a 103-93 win in Seattle. Riley currently stands as the all-time leader in both regular season and postseason victories for both the Lakers and the HEAT and owns the highest winning percentage in Knicks history.
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accomplishments galore.
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Jordan hires Brown to coach BobcatsAssociated Press
Updated: April 29, 2008, 1:04 PM EST 17 comments add this RSS blog email print CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Larry Brown wanted to resurrect his vagabond, Hall of Fame coaching career. Michael Jordan needed a veteran teacher and a big hire to rescue his sinking reputation as an NBA executive.
Franchise in a funk The Bobcats' short history has not been illustrious. Larry Brown will be the third coach in the four-year run of a team that has finished in fourth in the Southeast Division every season. Year W-L Coach
2004-05 18-64 Bernie Bickerstaff
2005-06 26-56 Bernie Bickerstaff
2006-07 33-49 Bernie Bickerstaff
2007-08 32-50 Sam Vincent
The two former North Carolina players teamed up Tuesday when Jordan introduced Brown as coach of the Charlotte Bobcats — his ninth NBA coaching job. Brown agreed to a four-year contract, returning to the state where his nomadic coaching journey began.
"How are you going to say no to Michael?" Brown said. "I've known him a long time. The things he stands for have made our game better. There's no way I could say no to him. It was a pretty easy decision once my wife said yes."
The 67-year-old Brown replaces Sam Vincent, whom Jordan hired last year despite no NBA head coaching experience. Vincent, who was fired Saturday, struggled to find consistent rotations and clashed with players in a 32-50 season.
Brown's nine NBA teams are three more than any other coach — Kevin Loughery and Lenny Wilkens each coached six.
"I think I've coached almost everybody in the NBA, but I'm going to challenge everybody to do their best," Brown said. "That's what Michael is about and that's what I'm about."
The Bobcats are in their fourth year, and Brown gives the struggling franchise instant credibility. He's one of only five NBA coaches with more than 1,000 wins and the only coach to lead teams to NBA and NCAA titles.
But Brown hasn't lasted anywhere long, and has had some ugly divorces. His last coaching job was the disastrous 2005-06 season in New York, when the Knicks went 23-59 and Brown clashed with management.
His dismissal was followed by a long dispute over how much money he was owed for the rest of his contract. A deal eventually was struck and Brown became an executive vice president with the Philadelphia 76ers. Brown quit that job two days before Vincent was fired, and was immediately linked to the Charlotte opening.
"I don't want to put too much pressure on Larry," Jordan said. "But I think this is the atmosphere he enjoys."
Brown was a point guard at North Carolina under Dean Smith, decades before Jordan led the school to a national title under the same coach. Brown's coaching career took root in this state. He was hired to coach Davidson, only to resign a month later without a coaching a game. He then went on to coach the ABA's Carolina Cougars.
While Brown took UCLA to the Final Four and won an NCAA title with Kansas, most of his experience has been in the NBA. Brown improved teams in Denver, San Antonio, Indiana and Philadelphia and won an NBA title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.
Brown, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002, will now try to get the Jason Richardson-led Bobcats into the playoffs and help Jordan taste success for the first time in two stints running NBA teams.
While Jordan won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls, he's made several questionable moves in the front office.
Vincent's ouster marked the second time a coach Jordan hired lasted only one season. Leonard Hamilton resigned after going 19-63 with the Washington Wizards in 2000-01.
Jordan was fired by the Wizards. He bought a minority stake in the Bobcats in 2006 and took over the decision-making from Bernie Bickerstaff. When Bickerstaff moved to the front office after three seasons on the bench, Jordan replaced him with Vincent.
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Shaq, de man above doh sleep big man.Yuh talk all dat shyth about de Heat and was very ungrateful for de respect dat Riley gave to you, by sending you to a title contender. Well your azz going fishing very early, yuh cud blame someone now at Suns and ask for ah trade steupssssssssssssssss. Shaq is a great player and probable still is, but the things dat came out of his mouth, made him loose a lot of fans, especially in south Florida. Last night ah was listening tuh de sport talk radio (790- de ticket) and real people called in and was happy dat Suns lost, just because of dat Shaq. HIGHLY BLESSED.