Author Topic: Official NBA Thread (Read 604727 times)

RatBastich · « **Reply #2160 on:** November 07, 2008, 03:44:19 PM »

Well, dai, the Spurs have always been slow at the start of a season, but this time slower than usual.... que cera cera.

As for Manu, he should be back in December, not sure when in December, though.
Even then, Pop will bring him off the bench and work Manu back into rotation at a good pace.

RatBastich · « **Reply #2161 on:** November 07, 2008, 08:55:49 PM »

Billups returns to hometown Nuggets as established player

Denver Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups took his physical on Thursday morning, then met with his new team and practiced at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

Billups returned to the Nuggets after a Monday trade that sent Allen Iverson to Detroit. Billups will make his homecoming debut Friday night when Denver hosts Dallas (8:30 p.m., ESPN).

"I am extremely happy to be home. It's a dream," Billups said in a news conference. "It's a dream to me to be coming back home at a time of my career where I'm established."

Billups, 32, played at George Washington High in Denver before starring at Colorado. He was drafted third overall by the Boston Celtics and spent time with the Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Nuggets before landing with the Detroit Pistons.

The 6-foot-3 guard won the 2004 NBA Finals MVP in leading the Pistons to a title. Billups averaged 16.9 points and 6.3 assists in Detroit.

"The time I was here before I was still trying to find myself and my career," Billups said. "It's a little different now. I've done that. I'm a different player now. Same person, different player."

RatBastich · « **Reply #2162 on:** November 11, 2008, 10:14:51 PM »

McDyess waived by Nuggets, set to become free agent

The first step in Antonio McDyess' expected return to the Detroit Pistons became official Monday afternoon when the Denver Nuggets announced that they have waived the veteran forward.

After being traded with Chauncey Billups and Cheikh Samb to Denver for Allen Iverson last Monday and then accepting a contract buyout from the Nuggets worth an estimated $6 million, McDyess must first clear waivers before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

There is one team in the league -- Memphis -- with the salary-cap space to claim McDyess in the 48-hour waiver window, which would require the Grizzlies to assume McDyess' original contract terms and thus render his Denver buyout unnecessary. But NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Monday night that the Grizzlies, having indeed given some consideration to snagging McDyess -- most likely to trade him elsewhere -- are unlikely to put in a waiver claim.

daigong · « **Reply #2163 on:** November 12, 2008, 07:20:29 AM »

^ dang...and Tony Parker is out too. Think he's coming back by December.

Lamar and Ariza stepping it up and taking out the Mavs at the last minute ....gotta give MAD props to Trevor Ariza. I knew he was a defensive beast but shit. ...he's got that hustle the Lakers long been missing since Horry, Harper, Fox left. Appears outta nowhere to strip the ball. Check out the MAD hops!

Everyone finding ways to chip in, defensive...shit so aggressive it's great. Gasol tearing it up. Famar getting key steals. Kobe being Kobe. Hornets will be another story tho.

Wasn't as easy destroying the Rockets. McGrady what? Yao who? Billups may make Denver more defensive but -- it's still the Nuggets.

RatBastich · « **Reply #2164 on:** November 12, 2008, 10:24:57 PM »

Bobcats leading scorer Richardson out about a week following surgery

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte Bobcats scoring leader Jason Richardson will be out about a week following arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

Richardson underwent an exploratory procedure Wednesday after complaining about inflammation. A team spokesman said no structural damage was found, but Richardson will miss Friday's game against Utah and is doubtful for Sunday's contest against Orlando.

It's another headache for coach Larry Brown, who has struggled to get the Bobcats to become consistent on offense. Charlotte is averaging 87.3 points per game, second worst in the NBA.

Richardson is averaging 17.6 points and shooting 39 percent from 3-point range. He led Charlotte with 23 points in an 88-80 loss to Denver on Tuesday that dropped the Bobcats to 2-5 in Brown's first season.

Richardson's absence will likely mean more playing time for Adam Morrison, who scored 16 points off the bench against the Nuggets and has played well in his return from knee surgery.

Still, Richardson's injury further depletes a thin roster. The Bobcats failed to make an offseason move to shore up the frontline despite putting small forward Gerald Wallace on the trading block.

Wallace could still be traded as Charlotte looks for a big man to open up the offense.

Richardson's absence leaves Charlotte without its most consistent outside scoring threat, too. Richardson led the NBA with 243 3-pointers last season, and has scored 20 or more points four times this season.

Richardson was acquired from Golden State in a draft night deal in 2007 that sent Brandan Wright, the No. 8 pick in the draft, to the Warriors.

RatBastich · « **Reply #2165 on:** November 13, 2008, 12:08:57 AM »

Oden says he's ready to play full game for Blazers

MIAMI -- Greg Oden says he's ready to play.

The Portland Trail Blazers center says he'll play Wednesday night against the Miami Heat (ESPN, 8 ET), even though the team is listing him officially as a game-time decision. Oden has missed the Blazers' last six games because of a sprained right foot suffered in Portland's season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?categoryId=2459788&brand=null&videoId=3698464&n8pe6c=2

daigong · « **Reply #2166 on:** November 13, 2008, 06:27:00 AM »

^ Bout time man...dude can't even play a full game!!

MAN! Lakers better wake up and stop being so cocky. 7-0 but shit...Hornets came back hard and strong until Kobe had to step up his MVP with a 3 in Posey's FACE!!! Blew a 23 pt lead!

And how bout dem Atlanta Hawks?

Did y'all see this? New to me.

LMAO!! And Baron Davis is even spoofing Shaq's ass. ..more in a series...I gots to make a thread...

RatBastich · « **Reply #2167 on:** November 13, 2008, 07:12:16 PM »

McGrady erupts in second half and Rockets beat up Suns

PHOENIX -- Tracy McGrady shot out of a slump and Shaquille O'Neal shoved his way up the NBA career scoring list.

And there was a fracas in the waning seconds of the third quarter that resulted in two ejections and seven technical fouls.

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?categoryId=2378529&brand=null&videoId=3699642&n8pe6c=2

RatBastich · « **Reply #2168 on:** November 13, 2008, 07:15:52 PM »

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?categoryId=2378529&brand=null&videoId=3699700&n8pe6c=2

RatBastich · « **Reply #2169 on:** November 14, 2008, 06:42:08 PM »

Looking ahead: The free-agent class of 2009

This past summer, a few free agents cashed in big-time. Elton Brand walked away from the Clippers to the tune of the $80 million he's earning in Philly. Baron Davis made some big bucks in L.A. A number of restricted free agents, such as Andre Iguodala, Luol Deng, Emeka Okafor and Josh Smith, scored nice deals as well.

Also, during the summer and early fall, eight players from the 2005 NBA draft who were eligible for extensions -- Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut, Andrew Bynum, Danny Granger, Francisco Garcia, Jason Maxiell and Martell Webster -- found some love from their teams.

The rest of the summer's free-agent class?

RatBastich · « **Reply #2170 on:** November 15, 2008, 12:03:15 AM »

NBA fight fallout: Nash, Alston, Barnes suspended

NEW YORK -- The NBA has suspended Steve Nash and Matt Barnes of Phoenix and Rafer Alston of Houston for their roles in a fight.

Alston and Barnes were suspended for two games without pay and Nash for one. The league also fined Shaquille O'Neal $35,000 and Tracy McGrady $25,000 on Friday for their actions during the Rockets' 94-82 win in Phoenix on Wednesday.

Barnes knocked back Alston with his shoulder late in the third quarter, and Alston charged him. Nash ran in and was pushed back by McGrady, who was shoved down by O'Neal.

"I felt maybe a one-game suspension but I can understand them making it 2," Alston told ESPN.com's J.A. Adande via text message. "Barnes should have got more of a fine for the cheap shot."

Nash was cited for "escalating the altercation." He and Barnes will miss Friday's game at Sacramento, and Barnes will sit Sunday against Detroit. Alston will miss games Friday against San Antonio and Saturday against New Orleans.

Nash and O'Neal, when reached Friday afternoon by ESPN.com, both declined comment.

daigong · « **Reply #2171 on:** November 15, 2008, 10:33:19 AM »

LMAO @ Shaq just shoving everyone to the ground. Steve Nash is a fuckin baby anyways. Flopping.

D'oh! Lakers lost their 1st game of the year. Pistons kept on knocking their shots wtf. Good for the Lakers tho, Kobe can work on playing a full 48 minutes - none of this 4th quarter heroics. Hustle too late.

Their schedule is pretty lax too. New Jersey, Dallas, Sactown, but shit ANYTHING can happen. Like Denver ripping Boston HA!

RatBastich · « **Reply #2172 on:** November 17, 2008, 08:27:40 PM »

SEC accuses Mavs owner Cuban of insider trading

WASHINGTON -- Federal regulators have accused billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban of insider trading for allegedly using confidential information on a stock sale to avoid more than $750,000 in losses.

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil lawsuit against Cuban on Monday in federal court in Dallas. The agency said that in June 2004, Cuban was invited to get in on the coming stock offering by Mamma.com Inc. after he agreed to keep the information private.

RatBastich · « **Reply #2173 on:** November 18, 2008, 06:41:42 PM »

Celts' Garnett suspended; Bogut's foul upgraded

The Boston Celtics will take a hit for Kevin Garnett's hit.

The NBA announced on Monday that the All-Star forward will be suspended for one game for hitting Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut in the face on Saturday.

Bogut didn't get off, however, with the league also upgrading the foul he committed that started the altercation to a Flagrant 1.

The incident happened late in the fourth quarter of the Celtics' 102-97 overtime win in Milwaukee.

Garnett will sit out Tuesday's game against the New York Knicks in Boston.

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?categoryId=2378529&brand=null&videoId=3709443&n8pe6c=2

RatBastich · « **Reply #2174 on:** November 18, 2008, 09:46:21 PM »

Martin fined $20,000 for verbally abusing an official vs. Cleveland

NEW YORK -- Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin was fined $20,000 by the NBA on Saturday for his actions after being ejected from a game.

Martin was penalized for verbal abuse of an official and failure to leave the court in a timely manner following an ejection in a loss at Cleveland on Thursday.

Martin was thrown out following a flagrant foul for slamming his shoulder into Cleveland forward Anderson Varejao. Before leaving the floor, Martin, who was whistled for a technical moments earlier, screamed obscenities at referee Joey Crawford before he was grabbed by Nuggets coach George Karl and escorted off.

RatBastich · « **Reply #2175 on:** November 19, 2008, 12:26:09 AM »

Stackhouse wants more minutes, poses question of possible trade

Jerry Stackhouse believes he still has a lot of minutes in him -- he's just not getting the chance to use them in Dallas, so he is broaching the idea that maybe it's time for him and the Mavericks to part ways.

Stackhouse has made no demands or ultimatums, and he made clear after practice Monday that there were no personal conflicts between him and new coach Rick Carlisle.

What Stackhouse wants is more playing time, a larger role on the team, but he also sees the direction the Mavericks are taking. So his agent, Jeff Schwartz, has started to take inventory of potential interest from around the league.

RatBastich · « **Reply #2176 on:** November 19, 2008, 02:57:07 AM »

LeBron wants chance at title when free agency arrives

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- While his free agency is still two years away, LeBron James won't hesitate to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers if another franchise offers the superstar a better chance to win multiple NBA titles.

"I think you do what is best for you and you do what is best for your career," James said Tuesday night when asked about his sense of loyalty to the Cavaliers before they played the Nets in New Jersey.

"...I go out and I play hard and that's loyalty," James added. "It's hard because it's a business. [The] franchise is going to do what is best for the franchise, you know. When a player does what is best for the player, it always comes back on us. I am going to look bad. If a franchise decides to give up on a player, it's OK. So we have to do what is best for us."

RatBastich · « **Reply #2177 on:** November 19, 2008, 05:08:07 AM »

LeBron replaces Kobe as youngest player to 11,000 points

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James replaced Kobe Bryant on Tuesday as the youngest player in NBA history to score 11,000 points.

James (23 years, 324 days) reached the plateau with a wide-open jump shot set up by a great crossover dribble late in the first quarter of the Cavaliers' game with the New Jersey Nets. He came into the game with 10,987 points.

Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers was 25 years, 99 days when he reached 11,000 points.

daigong · « **Reply #2178 on:** November 19, 2008, 07:05:55 AM »

LAKERS 8-1 BABY!!

Great defensive effort, Gasol WAY TO STEP IT UP. Derek Rose sure played tough, Bulls kept it close. Ariza and Sasha got into a scuffle lol

RatBastich · « **Reply #2179 on:** November 19, 2008, 07:01:22 PM »

Cuban must protect reputation with allegations looming

DALLAS -- Since buying the Dallas Mavericks eight years ago, Mark Cuban has turned the team around and made himself one of the most visible owners in pro sports. Along the way, he's picked up his share of critics.

Some say he's a nuisance to the NBA, with more than $1 million in fines held up as evidence. Some Mavs fans say his constant baiting of officials merely leads to more calls against the team. Even his dancing skills have been panned, drawing an early round ousting from "Dancing With The Stars."

But now Cuban is facing a much more serious allegation: The government saying he's an inside trader.