March 2012 – Page 17 – NBA Blog

Report: Melo prefers trade from Knicks

Carmelo Anthony’s discontent with the Knicks organization became so severe after Monday night’s loss to the Bulls, he told a confidant he preferred to be traded before Thursday’s NBA deadline, The Post has learned.

According to a person familiar with his thinking, Anthony’s disillusionment stems most from a belief coach Mike D’Antoni and interim GM Glen Grunwald do not trust him. He is surprised that after all the Knicks gave up to trade for him, he has not been asked for more input on personnel decisions, as Deron Williams has with the Nets.

“The organization makes believe his opinions don’t matter,’’ the source said.

However, Tuesday night, a source said Anthony and D’Antoni spoke in an attempt to reconcile their differences and made headway. On Monday night, Anthony only wanted to remain a Knick if he had assurances D’Antoni wouldn’t be back next season.

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

UPDATE: Melo’s agent has denied this report.

Derrick Rose OK after minor car accident

Bulls star Derrick Rose was involved in a minor car accident in Chicago.

Illinois State Police say Rose was headed south on the Kennedy Expressway at Ogden Avenue late Tuesday afternoon when his 2011 Bentley was struck from behind by a 2002 Saturn.

The Bulls say Rose was not injured. Police cited the driver of the Saturn, Charles Tratwein, for failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Warriors, Bucks agree to trade involving Andrew Bogut, Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson

As Thursday’s 3pm ET trade deadline approaches, a real trade has finally emerged.

UPDATE: Trade became official. Read full details here.

According to Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to trade Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson to the Golden State Warriors for Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown.

The trade, assuming it becomes official, gives the Bucks a very interesting backcourt of Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis. Both players are talented scorers who are not necessarily the best decision-makers. They are dynamic and fun to watch, but the chemistry development will be interesting to watch. The upside between the two is pretty big.

Bogut, once he’s finally healthy, will provide much-needed defense for Golden State. Jackson provides scoring, versatility and intense play.

Read NBA fan opinion and share your views in this basketball forum topic.

Why LeBron sometimes feels like Shaq

Shaquille O’Neal used to complain about foul calls, and how his defenders deserved them on every play.

O’Neal was a unique player, regarded as almost impossible to officiate, due to his unique quickness at his size, as well as his strength that allowed him to shake off rough and cheap shots.

James acknowledged Tuesday that he sees a similarity.

“A lot of people say that to me,” James said. “A lot of people say that they look at me, like I’m being officiating like Shaq (was) when he played. A lot of people tell me that. Because of the power and the strength, and they see us finish with contact so many times. They feel like sometimes, it may not be a foul. A lot of people have come up and told me that, people who are part of the game and people who have never played the game of basketball in their life.”

— Reported by Ethan J. Skolnick of the Palm Beach Post (Blog)

Lakers guard Darius Morris day-to-day with bruised wrist

Los Angeles Lakers guard Darius Morris suffered a bruised left wrist Saturday while playing for the franchise’s D-League affiliate team, the D-Fenders, against the Dakota Wizards. Morris was examined today by Dr. Steven Shin of the Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic and his status is listed as day-to-day.

Morris, a rookie out of Michigan, has appeared in 13 games for the Lakers this season, averaging 2.7 points and 1.1 assists in 10.3 minutes.

Selected by the Lakers in the second round (41st overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft, Morris appeared in 67 games (53 starts) in two seasons at the University of Michigan, averaging 9.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Morris became the 51st Wolverine to be drafted into the NBA and was an All-Big Ten Third Team selection last season. The first Wolverine to lead the Big Ten in assists since Gary Grant in 1988, Morris set a Michigan record for assists in a single season (235) last year.

Derrick Rose fined for public criticism of officiating

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose has been fined $25,000 for public criticism of officiating, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

Rose was fined for comments made to the media after the Bulls’ 104-99 win over the New York Knicks on March 12 at the United Center.

According to the AP, “Rose sounded off after a 104-99 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday, saying he’s “got to be the only superstar in the league that’s going through what I’m going through right now.”

Mavs re-assign Sean Williams to D-League

Today the Dallas Mavericks re-assigned Sean Williams to the Texas Legends, the Mavericks’ NBA Development League affiliate. The assignment marks the 50th time an NBA player has been assigned to their NBA D-League affiliate during the 2011-2012 season and the second assignment for Sean Williams this year.

Williams (6-10, 235) has played in 22 games for the Legends the season averaging 15.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks in 28.5 minutes. Currently Williams is shooting 50.6% from the field while making a career best 76.6% of his free-throw attempts as a Legend.

In seven games for the Dallas Mavericks this season, Williams averaged 4.1 points on 75.0% shooting, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in nine minutes.

The Texas Legends (21-18) are currently on an eight game winning streak and next play Wednesday against the Idaho Stampede (16-24) at Idaho Center Arena in Boise, Idaho at 8:00PM CST.

Syracuse center Fab Melo ruled ineligible for 2012 NCAA Tournament

The following is a report from Syracuse Athletics:

Syracuse University sophomore men’s basketball center Fab Melo did not travel with the team to Pittsburgh, and will not take part in the NCAA Tournament due to an eligibility issue. Given University policy and federal student privacy laws, no further details can be provided at this time.

Glen Rice Jr. kicked off Georgia Tech basketball team

The AP reports: Glen Rice Jr. has been kicked off the Georgia Tech basketball team after being charged in a shooting incident outside an Atlanta nightclub. Coach Brian Gregory made the announcement Tuesday, less than a week after Rice, a graduate student manager and another person were charged. The 6-foot-5 junior guard will remain enrolled at school and complete his academic requirements for spring semester.

And direct from Georgia Tech: “It’s an honor and a privilege to represent Georgia Tech and be a part of this basketball program,” Gregory said. “There are certain standards that have to be met both on and off the court, and there has to be accountability when those standards aren’t met. I’m disappointed that we have to take this action. “Glen has done well in school, and we want to make sure he finishes the semester strong, and then we’ll assist him in any way we can with his next steps as a student-athlete.” Rice had been suspended from the team for the final six games of the 2011-12 season, and also had served a three-game suspension at the beginning of the season. Rice averaged 13.0 points and 6.7 rebounds for the Yellow Jackets last season, and had three-year career averages of 9.9 points and 4.8 rebounds.

Stephon Marbury denies hitting a fan after game in China

Stephon Marbury

Enjoys typing “love is love” thousands of times per day on Twitter

Former NBA star Stephon Marbury has denied hitting a fan after a testy playoff loss in a Chinese Basketball Association game.

The 35-year-old Marbury and his Beijing Ducks teammates were trapped in their team van after their 102-100 road loss on Sunday to the Shanxi Brave Dragons, Marbury’s original team when he joined the league in 2010. A newspaper photograph showed fans pounding on the windows of the van.

Marbury was quoted Tuesday by the official China Daily as saying he and the fans had been separated by guards. However, he disputed reports he’d hit a fan.

“I didn’t do that,” Marbury said. “How could I do that over the security guards?”

Marbury scored 25 points in the game that was interrupted for 10 minutes as Shanxi fans threw water bottles onto the court to protest what they deemed to be a bad call.

— Reported by the Associated Press