March 2010 – Page 14 – NBA Blog

Heat suspend Rafer Alston

The Miami Heat announced tonight that Rafer Alston, while having made contact with the team via text message, has made himself otherwise unavailable to the team. As a result he has been suspended indefinitely.

It’s quite possible the Heat will part ways with Alston in the coming days.

Alston, who is in his 11th NBA season, was signed as a free agent by the Heat on January 7, 2010. He has appeared in 52 games this season (38 starts) with the Heat and New Jersey Nets and has averaged 8.2 points, 3.4 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 0.96 steals and 27.3 minutes. He started all 25 games in which he appeared for Miami this season and averaged 6.6 points, 2.9 assists, 2.2 rebounds, 0.92 steals and 26.2 minutes.

The Heat played at home Saturday night, beating the Atlanta Hawks 100-94. Alston was not at the game.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

Alston failed to report for practice Friday, which the team did not initially disclose, and then did not appear at Saturday’s victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

His abrupt departure from the team came a day after he was demoted from his starting role in Thursday’s overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Alston, who was signed Jan. 7 to add punch to a shaky rotation at point guard, was benched for the final three quarters of Tuesday’s victory over the Golden State Warriors and then replaced in the starting lineup Thursday by Carlos Arroyo, not seeing any action in that game.

Tony Parker out 6 weeks with broken right hand

Late in the first half of tonight’s San Antonio Spurs vs Memphis Grizzlies game, Spurs point guard Tony Parker suffered a fracture of the fourth metacarpal in his right hand. No additional details are available at this time.

We’ll update this page later tonight as more info is known.

The Spurs are already considered a lower-tier playoff team, and not true championship contenders this season. Without Parker, hope for a title would definitely be lost.

MARCH 8 UPDATE:

Earlier today in San Antonio, Tony Parker was examined by Dr. David Green. The exam confirmed that Parker has an undisplaced, stable fracture of his right fourth metacarpal. Parker will be out for approximately six weeks (surgery will not be required).

Celtics sign Mike Finley

The Boston Celtics announced today that the club has signed free agent guard/forward Michael Finley to a contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Finley, a 6’7”, 225 lbs guard/forward, has posted career averages of 15.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists and was a member of the 2007 NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs. The former Wisconsin Badger is a two-time All-Star and has netted over 17,000 career points. A member of the 1996 All-Rookie First Team, Finley has appeared in 111 career playoff games gaining averages of 13.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and a three-point field goal percentage of 39.1 percent. In postseason play among all active NBA players, Finley ranks third in career three-point field goals made (197) and sixth in playoff free throw percentage (.865).

Celtics assign Marcus Landry to D-League

The Boston Celtics announced today that forward Marcus Landry has been assigned to the Maine Red Claws. Landry is the team’s fourth assignment to the NBA Development League this season.

Landry, a 6’7” forward, has appeared in one game for the Celtics since his acquisition from the New York Knicks on February 18 logging two minutes against Cleveland on February 25. The former Wisconsin Badger has posted averages of 2.4 points and 1.1 rebounds in 18 games played this season between Boston and New York.

Renardo Sidney suspended, must repay $11.8K

ESPN reports:

The NCAA has ruled Mississippi State forward Renardo Sidney will have to repay $11,800 in improper benefits and sit out the remainder of this season and nine games next season if he wants to play for the Bulldogs.

Sidney said he does.

“I am glad the process is over with,” Sidney said in a statement. “I can go to sleep knowing I can play next year. I just want everybody to know I’m coming back next year. God does everything for a reason, and this is no different. I thank my mom, coaches, teammates, Mississippi State and all the fans. They’ve helped me get through all of this, and it will make next year very special.”

Sidney, a highly regarded recruit who grew up in Jackson, Miss., and played at a Los Angeles high school, received preferential treatment and improper benefits because of his talent, an NCAA statement Friday. The statement also said he violated ethics rules by providing false or misleading statements.

Cleveland sets Snuggie world record

A sold-out crowd of more than 20,000 Cleveland Cavaliers fans set the Guinness World Record for the “largest gathering of people wearing fleece blankets” at the Cavs Snuggie™ Night presented by KeyBank at Quicken Loans Arena. The crowd donned custom-made Cavaliers Snuggie™ blankets for the first five cozy minutes of the March 5th game versus rivals the Detroit Pistons to set the World Record.

Guinness World Records® Adjudicator Danny Girton was on hand to officially certify the new record in front of fans during the game. Girton then presented the Cavaliers, KeyBank and Allstar Products Group, the maker of the Snuggie™ blanket, with a certificate recognizing the new record was set at 20,562. All fans in attendance received a commemorative magnet certifying their participation at the record-breaking event.

“We would like to thank our fans and congratulate them for their enthusiastic participation to land their place in the Guinness Book of World Records,” said Cavaliers President Len Komoroski. “Partnering with KeyBank and Snuggie™ blankets to create an event where our fans were an integral part of the success to give Cleveland the bragging rights of a Guinness World Record made it a community team effort that was all the more fun.”

“After months of planning, it was exciting to see over 20,000 Cavs fans in their Snuggie™ blankets at The Q,” said Lisa Oliver, KeyBank Cleveland District President. “KeyBank was excited to partner up with Cavs and the fans to break this Guinness World Record and be part of something so positive and fun for the city of Cleveland.”

Scott Boilen, president and chief executive officer of Allstar Products Group said, “Cleveland fans are great. It was amazing to see so many participants enjoying the game wearing their Cavs Snuggie™ blankets.”

The AP reports:

All fans in attendance had a Snuggie placed on their seats prior to the game. During a timeout in the first quarter, fans were asked to wear the wine-colored blankets with arms for five minutes as a clock on the scoreboard counted down. Most everyone complied — except for one fan wearing a Celtics jersey and another who thought ahead and brought a Pistons Snuggie. The rest of the sellout crowd of more than 20,000 turned the Q into a sea of red blankets, counting down the final seconds and cheering as the world record clock expired.

Rodney Stuckey collapses while on bench in game

The Akron Beacon Journal reports:

Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey reportedly suffered a seizure after he walked off the court for a timeout with 2:30 remaining in the third quarter of Friday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena.

Stuckey, 23, was taken from the bench on a stretcher and transported to the Cleveland Clinic, according to ESPN. The network reported that Stuckey’s eyes were closed and he was receiving oxygen as he left the court.

The AP reports:

Stuckey walked off the floor for a timeout showing no signs of illness. After a few moments in a chair, though, Stuckey slumped over.

Medical personnel rushed over to the Pistons’ bench with a stretcher. Play was halted for 12 minutes as the medical staff worked on Stuckey, placed an oxygen mask on his face and wheeled him into an ambulance.

UPDATE:

Stuckey is reportedly conscious and breathing on his own in a nearby health clinic.

Bill Walker has chance to shine with Knicks

New York Knicks swingman Bill Walker is getting a chance to show his stuff, something he was rarely given an opportunity to do on the extremely talented Boston Celtics squad he used to be on.

Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun reports:

“It was just more mentally challenging,” Walker said of his time in Boston, a huge chunk of which he spent in the Development League. “Physically I was able to play every day and do things like that. Dealing with not being able to get on the floor. That was the hardest part. Keeping your mind positive.”

Walker’s get-out-of-jail-free card arrived in the form of a Eddie House for Nate Robinson trade deadline deal in which he followed House to New York.

Walker’s opportunity arrived in a 124-93 blowout loss in Cleveland to the Cavs. Cleveland had built a 26-point lead by the half and extended it to 49.

Walker wound up playing 35 minutes and hitting 9-of-14 from the field for a Knicks high and personal career high 21 points.

Jason Terry out 7-10 days after surgery on face

Mavericks guard Jason Terry underwent surgery today to repair facial injuries sustained during Wednesday night’s game vs. Minnesota. The surgery was performed by Dr. Neil Williams in Dallas. He is expected to make a full recovery and return to basketball activities in 10-14 days.

Terry will not travel with the team to Chicago (3/6) or Minnesota (3/8).

Todd Archer of the Dallas Morning News reports (via blog):

Whenever Jason Terry returns from his facial surgery, look for him to wear a shield as added protection, like Detroit’s Richard Hamilton.

“It’d be hard to believe that he wouldn’t wear something,” coach Rick Carlisle said, “but I didn’t do the surgery, so I’m not really the right guy to ask.”

Chris Bosh misses game due to stomach cramps

Eric Koreen of the National Post reports:

Chris Bosh will not make his return to the floor Friday night. When the forward will be able to play is up in the air.

The Toronto Raptors star will miss his seventh straight game on Friday against the Knicks. He missed the first six because of a sprained left ankle, but is missing this game because of severe stomach cramps.