Month: April 2011

Knicks/Celtics Update

By Scott Spangler

New York has been dominant on the glass, generating a ton more shots, but could only muster 32 percent from the floor. This left the Celtics trailing by only one point heading into the locker room, 45-44.

Word coming down now, Amare Stoudemire may be out for the rest of the night with back spasms. With PG Chauncey Billups already sidelined, this puts just about the entire load on Carmelo Anthony’s shoulders.

Early in the second half now, and Anthony is beginning to heat up, now with 24 pts on 9 of 20 shooting – he has also managed to haul in 13 boards.

The problem for New York now would be slowing down Celtic PG Rajon Rondo. He seems more than willing to take up Mike D’Antoni’s invite for some “shooting practice.” So far, 22 points, 9 of 14 from the field.

With just under 3 minutes left in the third, we have a six-point Boston advantage.

Lamar Odom wins 2010-11 Sixth Man of Year award

Lamar Odom wins 2010-11 Sixth Man of Year award

Lamar Odom of the Los Angeles Lakers is the recipient of the 2010-11 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, the NBA announced today.  The honor, voted on by a panel of 120 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada, is the first for Odom as well as the first for a Lakers player since the award’s inception prior to the 1982-83 season.

Odom, a two-time NBA Champion and member of the gold medal winning 2010 USA Basketball Men’s World Championship team, appeared in all 82 games for the Lakers this season, averaging 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 32.2 minutes.  Ranked 15th among league leaders in rebounds and 11th (.530) in field goal percentage, Odom recorded 28 double-doubles on the season while scoring 20-plus points 14 times.  Earlier this season, he became the 23rd player in NBA history to reach 12,000 career points, 7,000 career rebounds and 3,000 career assists as well as the 9th fastest ever to do so in terms of games (821).

“Lamar could realistically start for any team in this league but his team-first attitude has allowed us to utilize him in a sixth man role,” said Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak.  “He could have won this award in any of the last several seasons and I’m happy that his unselfishness and talent have finally been recognized.”

Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry finished second in the voting. Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young was third, Boston Celtics forward Glen Davis was fourth, and Atlanta Hawks guard Jamal Crawford finished fifth.

Rose scores 36, Bulls top Pacers 96-90 in Game 2

The AP reports:

Rose scores 36 as Bulls top Pacers 96-90 in Game 2

Two playoff games, two dramatic victories for the favored Chicago Bulls, and all is right in Carlos Boozer’s eyes.

Derrick Rose scored 36 points, Boozer added 17 points and 16 rebounds, and top-seeded Chicago escaped with another comeback victory over Indiana, beating the Pacers 96-90 on Monday night in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series…

Rose went wild again, scoring eight points over the final 4 minutes. Kyle Korver, who made a tiebreaking 3-pointer in Chicago’s opening 104-99 victory Saturday, connected from long range to make it 90-85 with just over a minute left.

The Pacers still wouldn’t go away.

A.J. Price drew a foul on Rose and hit three free throws to get Indiana within two with 23.4 seconds remaining. But Luol Deng made two free throws, Mike Dunleavy missed a 3-point attempt at the other end and Ronnie Brewer hit two foul shots to help the Bulls hold on…

The Pacers were right there even though they lost Darren Collison to a sprained left ankle late in the first half. Collison said X-rays were negative but he isn’t sure if he will be available for Thursday night’s Game 3 at Conseco Fieldhouse…

Granger led Indiana with 19 points, but Tyler Hansbrough struggled, finishing with just six points on 2-of-12 shooting after scoring 22 points in the opener.

Shaq remains out, will not play in Celtics-Knicks Game 2

Gary Dzen of the Boston Globe reports:

The Celtics officially ruled center Shaquille O’Neal out for Tuesday’s game against the New York Knicks after Celtics team doctor Brian McKeon told the team not to bring O’Neal out onto the floor for today’s practice.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers last night had left open the possibility that O’Neal might practice and play in Tuesday’s game. Today he sang a different tune.

Magic center Dwight Howard wins 2010-11 Defensive Player of Year

Dwight Howard wins 2010-11 Defensive Player of Year

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic is the recipient of the 2010-11 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, the NBA announced today. Howard becomes the first player to earn the honor three straight seasons; only Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace, with four each, have won the award more times.

The 6-11 center led the league with 66 double-doubles, including six 20-point/20-rebound efforts, while ranking second in rebounds (14.1 rpg) and fourth in blocks (2.38 bpg). With Howard manning the middle, the Magic allowed 93.5 ppg, ranking fourth in that category.

Second in the voting was Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett. Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler was third, Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen was fourth, and Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo was fifth.

Curtis Stinson wins 2010-11 D-League MVP

Curtis Stinson of the Iowa Energy today was named the NBA Development League’s Most Valuable Player, as voted on by the NBA D-League’s 16 head coaches.

Stinson, a 6-3, 215-pound guard out of Iowa State, started in 48 of Iowa’s regular season games, averaging 19.3 points, 9.8 assists and 5.7 rebounds in 42.9 minutes. Stinson led the NBA D-League this season in assists, minutes, triple-doubles (five) and double-doubles (28), leading Iowa to the Eastern Conference title with a 37-13 regular season record, the best in the NBA D-League.

“It’s a real honor to be named MVP of the D-League,” Stinson said. “There are a lot of great players in this league, and to receive this award is one of the highlights of my career. I am truly thankful to have great teammates and coaches, and I appreciate all they have done to help me earn this recognition.”

Stinson was named to the All-NBA Development League First Team last week, becoming just the third player in league history to earn back-to-back All-NBA D-League First Team selections. Stinson was named the NBA D-League’s Player of the Month in March, Co-Player of the Month for February and Performer of the Week on Jan. 24. He carried the Energy to the No. 1 seed in the NBA D-League Playoffs and a berth in the semifinals despite having teammates Othyus Jeffers and Marqus Blakely earn Call-Ups to the Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets, respectively. In Iowa’s four postseason games thus far, Stinson has averaged 32.3 points, 9.9 assists and 7.7 rebounds.

“Curtis has been the backbone of the Iowa Energy now for three seasons,” said Iowa head coach Nick Nurse. “He has a tremendous will to win games and lead the team. He has a very high level of understanding of the game of basketball, and his ability to execute that under pressure is what makes him the player he is. It has been a great pleasure to watch him evolve, mature and continue to improve as a player. I hope one day he gets to put on an NBA jersey.”

Stinson achieved several milestones this season, becoming the NBA D-League’s all-time leader in assists (1,668), steals (334), field goals made (1,226) and minutes (7,827), and moved into third place on the all-time scoring list (3,038).

“The season Curtis put together for Iowa was the culmination of his talent with years of hard work, dedication and commitment,” said Chris Alpert, Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League.  “Curtis showed remarkable durability this season as Iowa’s leader on the floor every night, and also displayed a versatile set of skills that few players possess. As Curtis emerged as this season’s MVP, he also solidified his position as one of the top players in NBA Development League history. I congratulate Curtis on his recognition, which is very well deserved.”

Stinson joins Mike Harris (Rio Grande Valley, 2010), Courtney Sims (Iowa, 2009), Kasib Powell (Sioux Falls, 2008), Randy Livingston (Idaho, 2007) Marcus Fizer (Austin, 2006), Charlotte Bobcats guard Matt Carroll (Roanoke, 2005), Tierre Brown (Charleston, 2004), Devin Brown (Fayetteville, 2003) and Ansu Sesay (Greenville, 2002) as winners of the MVP award.

Rick Adelman won’t return as Rockets coach

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports:

Rick Adelman won't return as Rockets coach

After four days of talks, some that were close to bringing Rick Adelman back as Rockets coach, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey called Adelman a “Hall of Fame coach.” He also showed Adelman the door. Adelman was happy to take it.

Adelman, who led the Rockets to their only playoff series win in the past 14 years and a franchise record 22-game winning streak, agreed to step down on Monday, a decision described as mutual.

“After numerous discussions and careful consideration with Coach Adelman, we have mutually agreed to part ways,” Morey said in a statement. “It has been a privilege and an honor to work with and learn from Rick during these past four years. He is a Hall of Fame coach who earned the respect and admiration of our entire organization during his time here.”

In four seasons with the Rockets, Adelman had a 193-135 record, the best winning percentage (.588) of any coach in franchise history. He moved to eighth in NBA history in career coaching wins with 945.

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

Heat roll to 2-0 lead over 76ers, 94-73

The AP reports:

Heat roll to 2-0 lead over 76ers, 94-73

LeBron James scored 29 points, Chris Bosh had his second straight double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Miami took a 2-0 series lead with a 94-73 victory over the abysmally shooting 76ers on Monday night.

Showing no signs of the migraine that he battled Sunday, Dwyane Wade scored 14 points for Miami, now 17-3 in its last 20 games and halfway to winning its first playoff series since the 2006 conference finals…

Thaddeus Young scored 18 points and Evan Turner added 15 for the 76ers, whose starters were outscored 76-29 by the Heat’s first-string. Philadelphia shot 34 percent for the game, and after getting 42 points in the paint in Game 1, were held to 24 in that department Monday…

Philadelphia shot only 26 percent in the first half, a record for a Heat playoff opponent. The 76ers’ starters were outscored 41-9 in the opening 24 minutes, and unlike their last two meetings, never put a scare into Miami. Philadelphia had a 16-point lead in the teams’ final regular-season matchup, a 14-point lead in Game 1, but simply couldn’t get rolling Monday.

Looking ahead to Mavs-Blazers Game 2

By Scott Spangler

A thing of beauty, it was not. The Dallas Mavericks suffered through an 11-minute second-half drought only to emerge an eight-point winner over the Portland Trail Blazers. For a stretch there, we could have been watching Butler hurl tire irons in the National Championship Game.

Then came the Maverick parade to the foul line, and a couple timely yet unlikely Jason Kidd jumpers – off the dribble. This is not to suggest Kidd cannot knock down an open look, but usually those are of the set-shot variety.

There was some mention today out of the Portland camp that the wide-open opportunities by Kidd must be eliminated.

Yeah, okay.

Believe what you like, but Blazers guard Andre Miller will not be playing the Maverick PG straight up. No one does. Nate McMillan will do what Gregg Popovich did last year against Dallas. Cut Kidd lose and live with the consequences.

Portland will look for Wesley Matthews and Gerald Wallace to get on track. Wallace logged 39 minutes and was little more than a warm body on the floor. Matthews took only three shots, made one, and never looked comfortable.

Andre Miller did enjoy a solid shooting night, but Dallas was all too happy to watch him launch 20-footers against the shot clock late Saturday.

All that said, the Trail Blazers plan to force the issue in Game Two. Nate McMillan talked Monday about Dallas packing the paint and daring his club to take perimeter shots.

Portland wants to make Dallas pay for playing straight up. To do that, Matthews has to bring more to the party than 1 for 3 shooting.