Month: November 2007

The Nets love your children, want world greener and cleaner.

The Nets do not want your great grandchildren to have to walk around wearing gas masks. Here’s what the team said today:

The Nets are committing to a comprehensive “greening” program for the franchise and have tipped-off a broad environmental assessment of their operations with the goal of adopting sustainable practices in the operations they control.  The Nets are targeting to become the first NBA team to become carbon neutral.

Initiatives will include improving energy efficiency, recycling rates, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and establishing green procurement policies the Nets use on a regular basis, such as paper and cleaning supplies.

The Nets have retained two firms, e4, inc. and The CarbonNeutral Company to assist in evaluating and executing their greening goals.

Geoff Petrie and Justin Williams speak on Williams investigation ending

Geoff Petrie: “We are all gratified  with the outcome of the investigation involving Justin Williams. It has been a  long month for everyone. He will be welcomed back as he rejoins the team for  tomorrow’s practice here in Sacramento. We want to thank our local law enforcement  officials for their thoroughness and  professionalism.”

Justin Williams: “Thank god that it’s  over with and I am looking forward to getting back with the team. I thank my  fans, family, friends, teammates and the Kings organization for sticking with me  through the whole ordeal.”

Eddie Jordan speaks on early season Wizards issues

The Washington Wizards have started the 2007-08 season with one win and five losses. Here’s head coach Eddie Jordan:

On the Wizards’ offense: “As much as people say we can score, we’ve got to execute.  We want to score with efficiency.  We don’t want to take a lot of bad shots that lead to fast breaks, or take bad shots that are not in harmony with the team concept.  You have to play as a team and share the ball.”

On the recent players-only meeting: “What I liked about our team meeting was that it was short.  The short ones are pretty concise and to the point, then let’s go to practice.  There are some that last too long, and it’s just a whole lot of talk.  I felt good when the team said they were going to have a meeting and they came back out in less than 15 minutes.  That was a good sign.”

On leadership: “Coaches appreciate leaders who are consistent every day.  When something needs to be said in the locker room, bus, plane, but certainly in practice and in games, coaches want captains that lead by example and through professional communication.  That’s what we want to see.”

On the play of Gilbert Arenas: “He’s quarterbacking the team and he’s talking.  He’s defending better.  I think it’s because of the emphasis we put on individual and team defense.  He’s getting over screens, he’s helping, he’s in good position, and he’s always in a defensive stance, which is a lot of strain on the legs.”

On the team’s community service event at Andrews Air Force Base: “Our guys have always been out in the community and I think we’ve got terrific character guys.  It’s nothing new and nothing different for us.  It’s not just something they have to do; they do it on their own.”

Al Jefferson starting season extremely strong

Through five games, Al Jefferson is leading the Wolves with averages of 19.6 points (49.4% FG%) and 12.4 rebounds per game. He has registered point/rebound double-doubles in all five contests. Rashad McCants’ 15.0 ppg ranks second on the Wolves in scoring. The third-year pro is shooting the ball at a 51.1% clip from the field, including 50% (8-for-16) from the three-point line. Center Theo Ratliff is averaging a team-best 3.5 blocks per game. The veteran from the University of Wyoming swatted a season-high six blocks against Sacramento on Saturday night. Sebastian Telfair is leading the Wolves with 4.6 assists per game.

Through the first five games, Minnesota center Theo Ratliff leads the league in blocks per game, averaging 3.5 per game.  Wolves Forward Al Jefferson ranks eighth in the league in rebounds per game (12.4).  Third-year guard Rashad McCants ranks amongst the league leaders in three-point shooting, connecting from long range 50% (8-16) of the time.  Wolves 2006-07 second-round draft pick Craig Smith ranks 17th in the NBA in field-goal shooting percentage at 55%.

Early season Pacers notes

The Pacers scored 46 points in the first quarter of the game vs. Denver, Nov. 10, and that was the most the team had ever scored in the first period of an NBA game.

In the game against the Nuggets, the Pacers had three players register double-doubles for the first time this season. In his first start of the season, Troy Murphy led the Pacers with 18 points and added 10 rebounds. Jermaine O’Neal scored 15 points while hauling in a team-best 12 boards and Jamaal Tinsley had 11 points and a season-high tying 10 assists.

In games at Charlotte, Nov. 9, and vs. Denver, Nov. 10, Shawne Williams collected a total of five steals. Those two games were the first of his career with more than one steal.

After starting the season 3-8 from the floor (.375) vs. Washington, Oct. 31, Jeff Foster has shot 13-22 (.591) in the last five games.

Mike Dunleavy has shot 27-50 from the field in the last four games, after shooting 7-17 in each of the season’s first two games.

The Pacers have forced their opponents into an average of 19.83 turnovers per game, which is the highest rate in the league.

Shawne Williams ended the week with double-digit points in consecutive games with 14 at Charlotte, Nov. 9, and a bench-high 12 vs. Denver, Nov. 10. That was the first time this season, and the third time in his career, that he has had 10+ points in two straight games.

Is acting in Dwyane Wade’s future?

D-Wade may get into entertainment, specifically acting and/or producing, in the future. Here’s Sports Business Journal reporting:

The William Morris Agency has signed NBA star Dwyane Wade for marketing work — including representing him in international endorsements surrounding the Beijing Olympics — and for entertainment work, including possibly acting and producing.

“It is a really big deal for us,” said WMA President Dave Wirtschafter, who will head up the team of agents representing Wade at the Hollywood talent agency. “In addition to being a superstar on the court, Dwyane radiates a charisma and accessibility that resonates with audiences across all areas of entertainment.”

Henry Thomas, Wade’s on-the-court agent and head of basketball at sports management and marketing firm CSMG, will continue to represent Wade, and CSMG will work in a partnership with WMA on marketing deals for Wade.

Wade has bigger issues to worry about first, however, Like getting healthy, helping the awful Heat win some games, and getting into Charles Barkley’s Five.

What can you get for Stephon Marbury in Fantasyland?

Upon seeing the story in the Daily News hinting at Marbury’s possible departure from the Knicks, I decided to try to see what I could get for him by using the ESPN Trade Machine

Here are the successful results and the reality:

1 – Marbury to Washington for Antawn Jamison. Marbury gets to play with Gilbert Arenas for two years and that pushes DeShawn Stevenson to the bench while making Andray Blatche the starting power forward. On the Knicks side of the equation, a Marbury departure will make Nate Robinson the starting point guard or push Jamal Crawford there and Quentin Richardson to the starting shooting guard. If they put Jamison into the starting five, it makes him the small forward.

2 – Marbury to Sacramento for Ron Artest and Mike Bibby. Marbury becomes the point guard in Sacramento and Bibby becomes the point guard for the Knicks. As for Artest’s role he becomes the starting small forward and Quentin Richardson becomes the sixth man. Back in Sacramento, Francisco Garcia becomes the starting small forward.

3 – Marbury to Portland for Raef LaFrentz and Darius Miles – That’s a total unrealistic deal for both sides at least I think it. LaFrentz barely plays and Miles is coming back from major knee surgery and a lot of money.

4 – Marbury to Phoenix for Shawn Marion – Another unrealistic trade but if Phoenix ever offered this, I’d do this quickly. Marbury probably in this instance supplants Raja Bell as the shooting guard while Alando Tucker maybe moves to replace Marion. Marion slides over to small forward in New York, Crawford the point and Richardson the two-guard.

5 – Marbury to New Orleans for Peja Stojakovic and Bobby Jackson. Another unlikely one but Marbury gets to be the two-guard alongside Chris Paul. Bobby Jackson becomes the starting point guard, Richardson goes to the bench and Stojakovic starts at small forward

(Note this thing also said I could trade him for Jason Kidd, obviously that’s not happening)

6 – Marbury for Michael Redd and Dan Gadzuric. In theory not a terrible trade but both players have four years remaining. Gadzuric becomes Eddy Curry’s backup while Redd becomes the starting shooting guard and Crawford moves to the point. Marbury becomes Milwaukee’s starting shooting guard.

7 – Marbury for Kobe Bryant. Both players have similar salaries but Bryant has a no-trade clause. Should this happen, both would simply be the starting two-guards.

8 – Marbury for Cuttino Mobley and Corey Maggette – Marbury plays with Sam Cassell while Mobley becomes the starting two-guard and Maggette the three, pushing Crawford to the point and Richardson to the bench.

9 – Marbury for Jermaine O’Neal – The money is similar and so are the years remaining. The Knicks essentially would play with two power forwards alongside Curry while the Pacers use Marbury as the point or in reserve role.

10 – Marbury for Baron Davis – Money is similar and so are the years. Both players become the point guard. Another doubtful trade.

11 – It also says you can get Allen Iverson straight up for Marbury but that is as likely as George Karl and Isiah Thomas having a meal together.

Celtics assign Brandon Wallace to D-League

Boston Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge announced today that the team assigned rookie forward Brandon Wallace to its NBA Development League affiliate, the Utah Flash.

The 6-9 South Carolina native signed with the Celtics as a free agent on July 10 following a stint with the team during the 2007 NBA Summer League, where he averaged 4.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 22.4 minutes per game.  Wallace also saw action in three preseason games for the Celtics, averaging 1.2 rebounds in 4.7 minutes per game.

During his final season at the University of South Carolina, Wallace averaged 9.9 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in 36.5 minutes per game and was an Associated Press All-SEC Honorable Mention.

Wallace, 22, is the fourth NBA player assigned to the D-League this season, and the second assigned to the Flash, along with Kyrylo Fesenko who is on assignment from the Utah Jazz.  He will join the team in Orem, Utah on Tuesday.