March 2010 – Page 12 – NBA Blog

Gilbert Arenas files for change to jersey number 6

The NBA career of Gilbert Arenas hasn’t gone well in recent seasons. He played just 13 games in 2007-08, only two in 2008-09, and while this season he was averaging 22.6 points (41.1% FG) and 7.2 assists in 32 games, the Washington Wizards were doing nothing but losing, and then came along the season-long suspension due to toying with firearms in the locker room.

So, Arenas is reportedly going to make a change. Perhaps merely symbolic. But the way things have gone lately, any change is probably a good thing.

According to Michael Lee of the Washington Post, Arenas has submitted paperwork to the league to change from jersey #0 and become #6.

This likely means the end of his nickname, Agent Zero. Perhaps a new nickname will come with future success.

The Washington Post reports: “The No. 6 is significant because Arenas’s birthday is Jan. 6 – which is also the day that the NBA gave Arenas an indefinite suspension for his behavior after it was revealed that he brought guns to the locker room at Verizon Center in a dispute with teammate Javaris Crittenton.”

Jeff Green wants contract extension

Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman reports:

Jeff Green on Thursday expressed his desire to sign a contract extension this summer and continue his career with the Thunder.

“I’d love to,” Green told The Oklahoman. “It’s a great thing going here.”

The Thunder can re-sign Green to an extension of up to five years. Under NBA rules, teams can begin negotiations with free agents on July 1. Green, however, has become lost in the shadows of Kevin Durant, the team’s other third-year forward who also is eligible for an extension and recently voiced his feelings for wanting to remain in Oklahoma City.

Pistons could someday move back downtown

The Detroit Free Press reports:

Mayor Dave Bing this morning expressed optimism that the Detroit Pistons could move back downtown.

“I think we can get the Pistons downtown,” Bing said during a meeting with media executives.

Karen Dumas, Bing’s director of communications, said the mayor is hopeful that the dynamics – the potential sale of the Pistons and the Red Wings needing a new home – could bring a new arena to the city’s business district.

Monta Ellis back pain began in high school

Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle reports:

Guard Monta Ellis revealed Wednesday that he was born with a small hole at the base of his spine, a condition that he says started causing back pain in high school and still is a problem periodically.

The Warriors said the condition is called spondylolysis, a defect that occurs in up to 6 percent of the population and one that doesn’t cause future concerns for the team.

Ellis was immobilized for the better part of the past 12 days but is “leaning” toward playing tonight. “Sometimes it bothers me, but not to the point where I can’t move.”

Ryan Hollins suspended for hitting DeShawn Stevenson and Dirk Nowitzki

Ryan Hollins of the Minnesota Timberwolves has been suspended without pay for two games for punching DeShawn Stevenson and striking Dirk Nowitzki, both of the Dallas Mavericks, on Monday, March 8. The suspension was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident between Hollins and Stevenson occurred with 9:15 remaining in the second period, and the incident between Hollins and Nowitzki occurred with 3:38 remaining in the fourth period of Dallas’ 125-112 victory over Minnesota at Target Center.

Hollins’ suspension will begin tonight when the Timberwolves host the Denver Nuggets.

Read NBA fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Hot Bucks beat Celtics to win 10 of last 11 games

Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:

It took some grit, guile and old-fashioned defense for the Milwaukee Bucks to continue their winning ways Tuesday night at the Bradley Center.

The Bucks survived a last-second, game-tying attempt by Celtics forward Paul Pierce to grab an 86-84 victory in a game that carried the tension of a playoff thriller. Milwaukee (34-29) won its fourth straight and its 10th game in the last 11 to continue its run as one of the National Basketball Association’s hottest teams.

Plenty of heroes showed up for the Bucks, led by center Andrew Bogut with 25 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots.

Carlos Delfino, who took intravenous fluids before the game to battle a case of the flu, played anyway and added 19 points and eight rebounds.

John Salmons scored 16 points and sank a critical three-pointer to give the Bucks the lead for good at 81-79 with 4:01 remaining.

And 6-foot-1, 169-pound rookie Brandon Jennings stood up to the Celtics’ 6-9, 295-pound forward Glen Davis after a hard foul on a breakaway layup attempt in the fourth quarter.

Tulsa Shock (WNBA) sign former Olympian Marion Jones

The WNBA’s Tulsa Shock announced at a news conference Wednesday that it had signed former Olympian Marion Jones as a free agent. Jones, who announced last fall she was training for a comeback in the WNBA, attended the University of North Carolina on a basketball scholarship and helped lead the team to a 1994 NCAA Championship.

The 34-year-old Jones, a 5’10 guard, went through an individual workout with the Tulsa Shock Saturday in Tulsa, and accepted an offer to join the team in the days following.

“I’m extremely excited to join the team and the WNBA,” Jones said. “After a lot of thought, I realized this is a great fit for me because of Coach Richardson’s uptempo style of play. I can’t wait to start training camp and learn more about the city and team I’ll be representing.”

Spurs sign Cedric Jackson to 10-day contract

The San Antonio Spurs today announced they have signed guard Cedric Jackson from the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League to a 10-day contract. Jackson is the 22nd call-up of the 2009-10 D-League season.

Jackson, a 6-3 guard, had a brief stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this year. He appeared in five games with the Cavs from Jan. 23 to Feb. 12, scoring one point and handing out two assists in nine total minutes. In 30 games with the BayHawks, Jackson averaged 15.8 points, 7.4 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 32.7 minutes. He posted season-highs of 34 points and 13 assists on Jan. 19 at Austin.

As a senior at Cleveland State in 2009, Jackson was named 2009 Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-Horizon League Second Team for the second consecutive season. In two seasons with the Vikings, he had career averages of 12.3 points on .405 shooting, 5.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.8 steals in 32.2 minutes per game.

Jackson will wear No. 11 for the Silver and Black and will be available for tonight’s game vs. New York.

Jerry Sloan is forever

Mike McGraw of the Arlington Heights Daily Herald reports:

Jerry Sloan was asked how he’s lasted 22 years with the Jazz when most other NBA coaches seem to lose touch with their players within a few seasons.

“I tell our players, ‘I’m going to be here and you may not,’ ” he said. “I’ve been real fortunate that our owner gave me the opportunity to say that when he first started out. Coaches are going to be here and players are expendable. – If you don’t have support, you don’t have a fighting chance.”

Someone asked Sloan what he thought about his 1970s-era photo on a mural honoring Bulls legends that went up outside the locker room this year. He hadn’t seen it.

“I don’t think it affects me in any way,” Sloan said. “Like my friend said, ‘I’ll still eat hamburgers.’ “

Tyreke Evans apologizes for criticizing Andres Nocioni

Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee reports:

Tyreke Evans apologizes for criticism of teammate Andres Nocioni

Tyreke Evans, who made comments critical of teammate Andres Nocioni to The Bee after Sunday’s loss to Oklahoma City, apologized in a Tuesday afternoon radio interview with KHTK’s Grant Napear and Mike Lamb and reiterated his stance at the Rose Garden later.

The players had exchanged words during the fourth quarter, with the rookie frustrated at the veteran’s shot selection in the most crucial of times.

Afterward, Evans told The Bee, “We were in the game, and you come down and take bad shots?” That’s not team basketball. Coach (Paul Westphal) didn’t say nothing, so I thought I had to step up (and say something).”

“I apologize,” Evans said in the visitors’ locker room before facing the Blazers. “It was me being frustrated and wanting to win. But me as a rookie, I should have pulled him over on the side and said, ‘You know, that wasn’t a good shot,’ instead of putting him on blast in front of a crowd like that.”