Month: February 2008

Rasheed Wallace named All-Star replacement for KG

Detroit Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace has been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured East All-Star Kevin Garnett (abdominal muscle strain) of the Boston Celtics for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 17 in New Orleans.

Wallace will be making his fourth NBA All-Star appearance. East All-Star head coach Doc Rivers will determine which player on his roster will replace Garnett in the starting line-up.

The NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 17, will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio beginning at 8 p.m. EST.

Mavericks re-assign Maurice Ager to D-League

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have re-assigned guard Maurice Ager to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

Ager (6-5, 202) has seen action in 12 games this season, starting three. He averages of 1.3 points and 0.3 rebounds in 6.5 minutes per game. His best game came vs. San Antonio (11/5), when he finished with a season-high 5 points, 2 rebounds and a career-high 3 assists.

Previously, Ager, who was drafted by Dallas with the 28th pick of the 2006 draft, was assigned to the D-League on Dec. 17. In eight games with the 66ers, he averaged 17.4 points and 2.3 assists in 33.4 minutes per game before being recalled on Jan. 6.

The 66ers host Los Angeles on Feb. 14 before breaking for All-Star Weekend.

‘That’s What Manu Does’ – Gregg Popovich

The San Antonio Spurs were trailing the New York Knicks in the final seconds of regulation when Manu Ginobili began his pursuit of the basket. From a defensive point of view, the conventional thinking would be one of two things.

Foul him. Or, let him score. So long as the passing lane was contained, and any Spur beyond the three point line was covered.

Fred Jones and Zach Randolph converged, but were late in arriving. Tim Duncan screened Renaldo Balkman, who dropped off his man -Michael Finley, alone in the right corner- to defend Ginobili. Less than two seconds remained, and the guard was still in control of the ball.

As Ginobili’s momentum pushed him past the end line, he released a pass to Finley, who promptly sent the game into OT.

“It was designed for Manu to do what he did,” said Gregg Popovich, the Spurs coach, startled that someone would dare ask him about such a risky play, albeit one that the champs have executed to perfection in the past. “That’s what Manu does.”

The fact this was a set play -the Spurs call it ‘Hammer’- is believable. The fact that it still worked despite Isiah Thomas’ warning, following a timeout, is unbelievable.

Well, maybe not that unbelievable.

“Yes, we talked about that,” Thomas said, after the Knicks lost their eighth straight game. “It didn’t happen but that’s okay. We will learn [from this], and move on.”

Mavs notes after beating Grizzlies

Dallas Mavericks notes after beating the Memphis Grizzlies Friday night.

Jerry Stackhouse returned to action tonight after missing the last 8 games with a strained right hamstring. He finished the game with 7 points, 3 assists, 1 steal, 11 minutes off the bench.

Erick Dampier was unavailable tonight due to a sprained right ankle. Gana Diop started in his place and contributed 8 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks, 26 minutes.

Diop’s 12 rebounds were the most since he came down with 11 vs. DEN (1/27).

Dallas improved to 2-1 when at least 3 reserves score 10+ points. Tonight, Devean George (14), Brandon Bass (13), Jason Terry (11) had at least 10 off the bench.

George’s 13 points (6-8 FGs, 1-2 3FGs) marked a season-high. (previous high was 12 at UTA, 12/26).

Memphis’ Rudy Gay recorded his 7th double-double of the season (team-highs 18 points, 12 rebounds).

The Mavericks have won their last 3 games by an average of 10.3 points per game.

Dallas has now won 10 straight games over Memphis – 14 games when including the 1st round sweep of the Grizzlies in the 2006 NBA Playoffs.

The Mavs have won 9 consecutive home games. They lost, 81-88, vs. CLE (12/27) at AAC.

Tonight’s attendance was 20,315 fans (19,200 capacity). The Mavs have sold out 259 consecutive regular season games at AAC and 297 games including the postseason. Dallas currently owns the longest running sellout streak in the NBA. The Sacramento Kings previously held the streak but failed to sellout their home opener this season. The Mavs are now ranked #10 on the all-time NBA sellout streak list.

Wizards notes for upcoming game in Phoenix

This game marks the second and final of two meetings between Washington and Phoenix this season.  Phoenix was victorious in the first meeting this season, 122-107, at Verizon Center on December 7.  The Wizards and Suns split their season-series in five straight seasons, and in six of the last seven campaigns.  Washington swept the Suns in 2001-02, but needs a win tonight to avoid being swept by Phoenix for the first time since the 1999-00 season.

The Wizards won their lone game in Phoenix in both of the two previous seasons.  Washington last lost in Arizona on December 18, 2004.

Washington will look to snap a season-high six-game losing streak.  With a win against the Suns, the Wizards will avoid their first seven-game losing streak since March 5-16, 2004.

Wizards forward Andray Blatche finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks as a starter in Washington’s last game.  In six starts this season, Blatche has averaged 15.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game.  With the Clippers’ Chris Kaman, Orlando’s Dwight Howard and Houston’s Yao Ming, Blatche is one of only four players in the NBA averaging at least 15 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks per game as a starter this season.

In Washington’s last game (L, 111-100 at DEN, 2/8)…Antawn Jamison had a team-high 21 points in defeat…Andray Blatche grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds and scored 14 points to record his fifth double-double of the season…Nick Young connected on 7-of-13 field goal attempts and 5-of-6 free throws en route to scoring a career-high 19 points…Darius Songaila finished with a season-high 15 points…DeShawn Stevenson’s 15 points gave Washington five players in double figures in scoring…Already with Caron Butler, Gilbert Arenas and Etan Thomas sidelined due to injury, Antonio Daniels was limited to less than seven minutes of action with right knee tendinitis.

Last time vs. Phoenix…(L, 107-122 vs. PHX, 12/7)…Seven Wizards scored in double figures; the only time this season in which seven different Wizards scored 10+ points apiece in a game…Andray Blatche scored a team-high 19 points, and with his 10 rebounds recorded a double-double…Roger Mason contributed 15 points…Nick Young finished 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting…Antonio Daniels led the Wizards with seven assists…Phoenix’s Steve Nash established a new Verizon Center-record with 19 assists.

Last season vs. Phoenix…The Wizards and Suns each won a game on the other’s home court…Caron Butler averaged 29.0 points in two games vs. Phoenix…Phoenix’s Steve Nash accounted for 34.5 points and 13.0 assists per game against Washington…The Wizards’ win came via a 144-139 overtime decision in Arizona on December 22; a game in which Washington’s Gilbert Arenas set a new US Airways Center scoring record with 54 points.

Wizards-Suns connections…Caron Butler and Phoenix’s Shaquille O’Neal were part of the Lakers-Heat trade that sent Shaq to Miami and made Butler a Laker…DeShawn Stevenson and Phoenix’s Grant Hill are former Orlando Magic teammates…Antawn Jamison and Steve Nash played together in Dallas…Jamison and Suns Head Coach Mike D’Antoni represented the United States in FIBA World Championship play in 2006…Suns’ rookie DJ Strawberry played collegiately at the University of Maryland.

Turkoglu rocking

Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu is having a great season and received consideration for the All-Star reserves. But not making the team seems to have made Turk play even better.

The AP reports: Hedo Turkoglu has put together perhaps the best stretch of his career over his past nine games, averaging 23.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists. Turkoglu had his first career triple-double – 13 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists – in Orlando’s loss to Dallas.

Brandon Roy out tonight and Saturday

Brandon Roy did not travel with the Trail Blazers to Detroit and will miss tonight’s game against the Pistons due to a death in the family. Because of the timing of the memorial service, Roy will also miss Saturday’s game with the Indiana Pacers. The Trail Blazers guard is expected to rejoin the team for Monday’s game versus the Houston Rockets.

Roy for the season is averaging 19.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game, on 46.1% shooting from the field. The only thing he needs to improve upon offensively is his three-point shooting.

Sam Cassell suspended 1 game

Los Angeles Clippers guard Sam Cassell has been suspended one game without pay for committing a Flagrant Foul Penalty Two by swinging and making contact with the head of Boston’s Rajon Rondo, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 2:54 remaining in the second quarter of the Clippers 111-100 loss to the Celtics on Wednesday night at TD Banknorth Garden. Cassell will serve his suspension tonight when the Clippers visit the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre.

Andrei Kirilenko wins FIBA Europe Player of Year

A gold medal and MVP honours at EuroBasket 2007 and another strong showing for club side the Utah Jazz all add up the FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award for Andrei Kirilenko of Russia. The 2.09m forward takes home the prize after winning a vote of both fans and a panel of basketball experts, media and coaches from 25 different countries.

Last year’s winner, Dirk Nowitzki finished second while Jose Calderon of EuroBasket silver medallists Spain came in third.

Kirilenko led the surprise Russian side at EuroBasket 2007; averaging 18 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.2 steals to go with nearly two blocks per game. He had 29 points and eight rebounds in a crucial semi-final win over Lithuania and 17 points in the final against Spain.

On club level Kirilenko helped lead the Utah Jazz to the NBA’s Western Conference Finals where they fell to eventual champions the San Antonio Spurs. Kirilenko is currently averaging 11.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.8 blocks per game for the Jazz.

Bobcats recall Jermareo Davidson from D-League

The Charlotte Bobcats have recalled rookie forward Jermareo Davidson from their NBA Development League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.  Davidson is expected to rejoin the team tonight at 7 p.m., when the Bobcats host New Jersey at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

The 6-10, 230-pound forward appeared in six Skyforce games with averages of 18.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in 31.5 minutes. He also connected on .478 from the field and .733 from the free throw line.

Over his last four games in which he led the Skyforce to a 3-1 record, Davidson averaged 21 points and 11.3 rebounds, including three 20-plus points scoring outings and two double-doubles – 22 points, 13 rebounds against Fort Wayne on Feb. 1 and 23 points, 15 rebounds at Iowa on Feb. 7.