Month: May 2008

Spurs open flophouse in Game 6 win

The San Antonio Spurs have opened a flophouse, and the special invited guests are David West and Chris Paul.

In game 6, with the Spurs needing a win to stay alive and force a series-deciding game 7, early in the third quarter, Tim Duncan did his best Manu Ginobili impersonation and, upon feeling contact from West, who had the basketball and was looking to score, flopped backwards and fell down. It should have been a no-call, but the refs fell for it. It’s partially West’s fault for extending his arm, but still, the ref should have let it go.

West also got robbed when he and Ginobili got tied up, and the ref decided it was West’s fault. I’m not sure but I thought Ginobili was the one holding him.

And, West got called for a reach-in on Duncan that I’m not sure was a foul.

Those three fouls occurred right near each other when the game was still close. Overall there were about five fouls on CP3 and West in the span of under two minutes, changing the game.

The Spurs then proceeded to pull away.

May 15: Spurs 99, Hornets 80

The AP reports: The defending champions beat the New Orleans Hornets, 99-80 in Game 6, staying alive and forcing a winner-take-all Game 7 on Monday in New Orleans… Manu Ginobili scored 25 points, Tim Duncan had 20 points and 15 rebounds, and Tony Parker added 15 points to tie the Western Conference semifinals… Chris Paul led the Hornets with 21 points and eight assists, and Tyson Chandler scored 14 points. David West had 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter after aggravating a back injury… Despite the closeness of the series, Game 6, like the five before it, was won by double digits. It was also won, like those before it, in the third quarter, when the Spurs outscored the Hornets 20-12… The Spurs shot 49 percent from the field (38-of-77) to the Hornets’ 41 percent (33-of-80) and outrebounded them 45-40. The Spurs had 28 assists and the Hornets had 13… With 10:11 left in the game, West left the court after aggravating a back injury.

OJ Mayo calls accusations a publicity stunt

The Los Angeles Times (Ben Bolch) reports: Calling the accusations against him “a publicity stunt,” O.J. Mayo on Wednesday emphatically denied allegations that he accepted cash and gifts in violation of NCAA rules and said his accuser might be striking back after he severed ties between them. Mayo said he would cooperate with investigations by the NCAA and Pacific 10 Conference after a report he accepted tens of thousands of dollars in prohibited extra benefits before and during the one season he played basketball for USC. “My family hasn’t accepted anything, so I’m just waiting for the NCAA to do what they have to do to prove that I haven’t done anything wrong,” Mayo said.

Kirilenko visa issue causes missed practice

The Deseret Morning News (Linda Hamilton) reports: Forward Andrei Kirilenko missed Thursday’s Utah Jazz practice at the Zions Bank Basketball Center as he was dealing with issues with his visa.

InsideHoops says: Kirilenko just should have pretended to be that actor who played Ivan Drago in the Rocky movie. No one is going to prevent Drago from doing anything. His own crowd turned against him! You have to feel for the little guy.

UPDATE: The Salt Lake Tribune says it’s just about Kirilenko’s family traveling this summer, and this isn’t going to affect Kirilenko in the playoffs in any way.

Barkley owes 400k to a Vegas casino

The AP reports: Charles Barkley acknowledged he owes a $400,000 gambling debt to a Las Vegas Strip casino and promised Thursday to repay it after a prosecutor said the retired NBA star faced criminal charges. “My mistake,” Barkley said in an interview at a pro-am golf tournament in Hoover, Ala. “I’m not broke, and I’m going to take care of it.” Barkley was responding to comments by Clark County District Attorney David Roger, who said prosecutors would file a criminal complaint if he did not pay the debt cited by the Wynn Las Vegas resort. “He’ll have an opportunity like anybody else to make restitution to the hotel,” Roger said.

Daniel Gibson out 1-2 weeks

Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson left the game in the fourth quarter last night in Boston vs. the Celtics with a left shoulder contusion. He received additional examinations today at The Cleveland Clinic, including an MRI, which revealed a first degree left AC (acromioclavicular joint) separation. He is currently listed as Out for Friday night’s game vs. the Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. He is expected to miss one to two weeks. His status will be updated as appropriate.

May 14: Lakers 111, Jazz 104

The AP reports: Kobe Bryant scored 26 points despite not attempting a field goal in the fourth quarter, and the Lakers extended the stunning home success by NBA teams in the second round of the playoffs by beating the Utah Jazz 111-104 on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals… Bryant, who also had six rebounds and seven assists, scored only three points in the final period, all from the foul line after the outcome had been decided. He shot 6-for-10 from the floor and 13-of-17 from the foul line… Lamar Odom had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Gasol added 21 points, six rebounds and eight assists, Vladimir Radmanovic scored 15 points and Derek Fisher added 14 for the Lakers, who were 17-1 during the regular season when all five starters scored in double figures… All five Utah starters also scored in double figures led by Deron Williams, who had 27 points and 10 assists. Carlos Boozer added 18 points and 12 rebounds, Ronnie Brewer scored a career playoff-high 16 points, Mehmet Okur had 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Andrei Kirilenko scored 12 for the Jazz.

May 14: Celtics 96, Cavs 89

The AP reports: Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 16 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo added 20 points and 13 assists as the Celtics beat the Cavaliers 96-89 on Wednesday night to move within a win of the Eastern Conference finals… “We know it’s a win-or-go-home situation. We’ve got to approach it that way,” said LeBron James, who scored 23 of his 35 points in the first 20 minutes and then went cold again… Paul Pierce scored 29 points and helped shut James down for much of the second half. The Cavaliers forward had 23 points with 3:50 left in the first half but made just one basket in the next 20 minutes as Boston erased a 14-point deficit and took the lead for good… Cleveland cut an 88-77 lead to 91-87 on two free throws by Delonte West with 46 seconds to play. But, after running down the shot clock, Garnett got the rebound of his own miss and Paul Pierce hit five free throws in the last 16 seconds to ice it.

Raptors exercise option on Jamario Moon

The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have exercised the team option on the contract of forward Jamario Moon for the 2008-09 season. Per team policy, financial terms were not disclosed.

“We are very proud of Jamario for what he has accomplished and for the way he handled himself this year,” said Bryan Colangelo, president and general manager of the Raptors. “Jamario’s path to the NBA and the Toronto Raptors is a great example of perseverance.”

Moon, 6-foot-8, 205 pounds, was signed to a free agent contract July 10, 2007 following stints in the NBA Development League and Continental Basketball Association. He appeared in 78 games this past season, averaging 8.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, second on the team, and a team-best 1.38 blocks. He set a club record for starts by a rookie with 75.

Moon was named to the 2007-08 T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and participated in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Sprite Slam Dunk contest during All-Star Weekend in New Orleans. He ranked first among NBA rookies in steals (1.03), second in blocks (1.38), third in rebounds (6.2), fourth in minutes (27.8) and 10th in scoring (8.5). He became the seventh player in team history to receive NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honours when he averaged 10.2 points and 5.9 rebounds in January, while shooting .516 from the field and .889 at the foul line.

Yao Ming comments on China earthquake disaster

Houston Rockets Center Yao Ming:

“It is very hard putting into words how difficult it is to see this kind of destruction in Sichuan.  I am very saddened to hear of the large loss of life that has occurred.  My thoughts are with everyone back in my home country of China during this very dark and emotional time.  Right now, the most important thing we can do is to respond quickly to help those who cannot help themselves.  I plan to do whatever I can and would like to thank Leslie Alexander and the Houston Rockets for the support they have already pledged.  I hope that many others around the world will join us.”

Houston Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander:

“On behalf of the Houston Rockets, I want to offer my deepest sympathies to all who have been affected by the earthquake in Sichuan, China on Monday.  Over the past several years, we have formed a strong bond with our friends in China and it is very difficult to see them struggling through this tragic event.  We have already begun the process of reaching out to relief aid agencies and have pledged our financial support to assisting those who have been devastated by this catastrophic event.  I know Yao Ming is fully committed to helping the people of China recover from this horrific experience and I will help him in any way I can.”