The AP reports: Trevor Ariza scored nine points in his Rockets debut, helping Houston beat the San Antonio Spurs 99-85 on Tuesday night in the preseason opener for both teams. Carl Landry had 19 points to lead the Rockets, who are beginning the season without the cornerstones of their team. Yao Ming is out for the season after his broken left foot was slow healing, and Tracy McGrady is recovering from microfracture surgery on his left knee, and is not expect back until midseason… Rookie Chase Budinger had 15 points, Luis Scola 13 and Aaron Brooks 12 as the Rockets looked to the young players to step up.
Month: October 2009
Oct 6: Sixers 107, Raptors 98
The AP reports: Louis Williams scored 17 points, Andre Iguodala added 15 points and eight assists, and the Philadelphia 76ers held on for a 107-98 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night. Montreal’s Samuel Dalembert added 10 points and six rebounds for the 76ers, whose 23-point lead was cut to five in the fourth quarter. Andrea Bargnani scored 22 points for the Raptors, who played without All-Star Chris Bosh and offseason addition Hedo Turkoglu. Sonny Weems had 10 points, while rookie DeMar DeRozan, Marco Belinelli and Marcus Banks had nine apiece.
Oct 6: Cavs 92, Bobcats 87
The AP reports: NBA icons, All-Stars and A-plus-list celebrities LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal made their debut as Cleveland teammates on Tuesday night and had immediate chemistry in the Cavaliers’ 92-87 preseason-opening victory over the Charlotte Bobcats. James and O’Neal worked several pick-and-rolls, showing off a two-man game that with a little polish could be unstoppable… James, wearing a pink pair of his signature Nikes for breast cancer awareness month, scored 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting in 14 minutes. O’Neal, who said his goal is to “win a ring for the King” in Cleveland, scored six points and added three rebounds and a block in 15 minutes. Neither played in the second half.
Oct 6: Wizards 101, Grizzlies 92
The AP reports: Gilbert Arenas had 10 assists in 24 minutes, and the Washington Wizards beat the Memphis Grizzlies 101-92 on Tuesday night in the preseason opener for both teams. The anticipated matchup of Arenas and Allen Iverson didn’t happen. Iverson, the Hampton, Va., native whose presence helped sell out Virginia Commonwealth University’s Verizon Wireless Arena, sat out with a strained left hamstring… After the game, Arenas declined comment. “I don’t talk anymore—next training camp,” Arenas said. Antawn Jamison led Washington with 20 points. Caron Butler added 15. Mike Conley scored 12 for Memphis.
Oct 6: Jazz 101, Bulls 102
The AP reports: Rookie James Johnson sank a fade-away jump shot from the baseline at the buzzer Tuesday to give the Chicago Bulls a 102-101 win over the Utah Jazz in an NBA preseason game. Johnson, who finished with 18 points, got the rebound after teammate Derrick Byars missed a 3-point attempt from the top of the key… Luol Deng, who was raised in London after his family fled war-torn Sudan, impressed early and finished with 18 points at sold-out O2 Arena. He left the game in the third quarter and didn’t return. Jannero Pargo scored 16 points for the Bulls. Paul Milsap led the Jazz with 18 points, and Deron Williams and Wesley Matthews had 16 each.
Bobcats exercise option on D.J. Augustin
Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has exercised its option on D.J. Augustin for the 2010-11 season.
The ninth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Augustin appeared in 72 games (12 starts) as a rookie last season with averages of 11.8 points, 3.5 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 26.5 minutes. He was named to the T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie Second Team after leading all NBA rookies in free-throw percentage (.890) and ranking second in three-point percentage (.439), fourth in assists, eighth in scoring and ninth in minutes played.
The Charlotte Bobcats, who became the NBA’s 30th franchise when they joined the league in 2004-05, begin preseason play tonight at 7:00pm when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Bobcats open the 2009-10 regular season on Oct. 28 at the Boston Celtics.
NBA tells bench players stay seated so fans can see
Good NBA seats are expensive. Fans shelling out big money to sit near the court should expect a good view of the action.
But what about when players get off the bench and remain standing for a while? On the one hand, it’s nice to see guys cheer their teammates. On the other, these giants prevent fans from seeing what they paid to see.
The Cavs are one team with players who remained standing a lot, and now the league office has reportedly taken action.
Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:
The NBA has issued a memo to its teams directing players on the bench to remain seated during games. Game officials will be keeping a closer eye and will issue faster warnings and possible technical fouls if not followed. Players are permitted to cheer, but standing during regular-game action and blocking the fans’ views apparently isn’t going to be allowed.
That goes for Tuesday night’s first preseason game at The Q, where the Cavs will host the Charlotte Bobcats in the first of eight practice games before the season opener.
The Cavs weren’t exactly thrilled that their custom has been legislated.
“It is hard to take that out of the game,” LeBron James said. “Part of the game is emotions, your teammates are all you have. That was part of the reason we played great basketball, because we cheered each other.”
I support the league protecting the paying fan’s view.
Dwight Howard playfully mocks Vince Carter
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Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel reports (via blog): Magic center Dwight Howard has coined a new nickname for Vince Carter, who was called “Half-Man, Half-Amazing” in his high-flying, younger years. Laughed Howard, “He’s now ‘Half-Man, Half-Retired.’ “He’s not the Toronto Raptors Vince Carter who was dunking on seven-footers, but he’s still one of the league’s best players.” Carter, the eight-time all-star acquired in a trade this summer, showed flashes in his Magic debut Monday night as Orlando opened their preseason with a 110-105 victory against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Arena.
InsideHoops.com editor says: If a young Vince Carter and the current Dwight Howard both jumped as high as they could in the same direction, just as the wind gusted along with them, perhaps a typhoon would be created, sweeping the Magic arena away, delaying the NBA season. That would be pretty awful. Fortunately Carter is older now so as realistic as the scenario I just described may be, chances are it won’t happen.
Allen Iverson acting as vocal leader
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Scott Cacciola of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports: Allen Iverson made his presence felt at training camp, and he was vocal. After the team had a sloppy mid-week workout, Lionel Hollins got the group together at center court and yelled at them. Then Iverson did the same, his mini-tirade laced with expletives. “C’mon, man!” Iverson yelled. “This ain’t punishment! This is how we’re trying to play.” Was Hollins encouraged to see Iverson take such a vocal role so early? He almost bristled at the question. “You know, I don’t care,” Hollins said. “The team has to take the onus, and it’s not just one person. It’s the team. They have to encourage each other, they have to chastise each other. … They have to say the right things and mean it the right way.”
InsideHoops.com editor says: I fear w hat happens when Iverson, Zach Randolph and maybe Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo start disagreeing about who should be shooting what shot, who ignored the open man or didn’t see the cutter, etc.
Pistons coach likes Kwame Brown, for now
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Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press reports: Pistons coach John Kuester has praised Kwame Brown at nearly every opportunity since he was hired in early July. So it wasn’t a shock when Kuester announced before Monday night’s exhibition opener against the Heat that the veteran entering his ninth season will get first crack at the starting center job. “Kwame has had a great 10 practices,” Kuester said. Kuester’s praise of Brown started even before training camp last week.
InsideHoops.com editor says: I’m not saying the love for Kwame Brown won’t last, but, well, yeah, let’s see if it lasts. He may be the best option they have for the role.