Inside Hoops – Page 1364 – NBA Blog

Warriors center Bogut reminds Nuggets coach Karl of himself

The guard from Pennsylvania sees some of his game in the center from Australia.

Actually, Nuggets coach George Karl didn’t sound that fond of Warriors center Andrew Bogut, explaining, “Bogut does a little of the little things, he sets the illegal screens, pushes guys around, tries to taunt and flaunt — a little bit like how I used to play, though I wasn’t 7-1.”

Karl was a pesky guard for the Spurs back in the 1970s. He was asked before Sunday’s game about Bogut, who had taunted Nuggets center JaVale McGee in Game 3 to punch him in the face.

“I was once sent into the game to instigate a guy to punch me in the face,” Karl said. “Brian Taylor, he punched me, I punched him, and it was a 16-minute fight. Well, Brian Taylor hit me first, I hit him from behind and then it was going on all over the place. I was sent into the game to hold, grab and wrestle — things that Bogut does really well.”

— Reported by Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post

P.J. Carlesimo defends Joe Johnson from critics

Brooklyn Nets interim coach P.J. Carlesimo thinks Joe Johnson’s critics have no idea what they’re talking about.

Responding to a question during a Sunday conference call about how critics think Johnson is too reliant on isolation plays, settles for too many jumpers and isn’t worthy of his max contract, Carlesimo replied, “It’s hard to be polite and answer the question. ‘Critic’ is such an ambiguous term. I would call them uniformed or basketball unintelligent. Everybody’s entitled to their opinion. It would be hard for me to think that there was an intelligent basketball person making a statement like that about Joe Johnson.”

— Reported by Mike Mazzeo of ESPN New York

Pacers continue to lose games on road in Atlanta

The Pacers, these Pacers, are not the stay-out-all-night, party-hearty, go-hard-or-go-home types.

So why can’t the Indiana Pacers, losers of 12 straight games in Atlanta, beat this ordinary Hawks team on the road? Why can’t they come into Philips Arena, which is usually three-quarters filled with fans who’d rather be watching football, and take down a team that will be dismantled at season’s end?

It’s understandable to lose 11 straight in San Antonio, as the Pacers have. It’s not understandable to lose 12 consecutive times in Atlanta, where the Hawks have been beacons of mediocrity over the years.

“I have no theory why,” Paul George said after the Pacers practiced in advance of Monday night’s Game 4. “Sometimes we’ve played well down here and lost. Sometimes, like (Saturday night), we’ve played poorly and lost. I couldn’t give you a reason.”

— Reported by Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star

Lakers eliminated from NBA playoffs, swept by Spurs

For four straight games, the San Antonio Spurs showed off all the teamwork and tenacity that the Los Angeles Lakers lacked all season long.

And when the Lakers’ tumultuous season finally collapsed Sunday night, the smooth Spurs rolled right past them to the second round.

Tony Parker scored 23 points, and San Antonio completed its first-round sweep of the injury-plagued Lakers with a 103-82 victory in Game 4.

Tim Duncan had 11 points and six rebounds for the second-seeded Spurs, who will face the winner of Denver’s series with Golden State in the second round. They’ll get plenty of rest after flattening the Lakers, who staggered through back-to-back blowout losses at home without three regular starters in their first opening-round exit since 2007.

”Obviously, it wasn’t a fair fight,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. ”When you’re a competitor, you want to compete on an even basis, and the Lakers weren’t able to do that. … Even though it wasn’t a fair fight, we still want to win the series, and I’m glad we did. Our focus was great.”

San Antonio never trailed in the clincher, leading by 25 points in one more businesslike effort against the seventh-seeded Lakers, who provided their usual drama right down to their last gasp.

In his final game before unrestricted free agency, Dwight Howard scored seven points before getting ejected early in the third quarter for arguing. Pau Gasol had 16 points for the Lakers, who were swept from the postseason for the second time in three years despite a late courtside appearance by Kobe Bryant on crutches.

— Reported by Greg Beacham of the Associated Press

NBA center Jason Collins says he is gay

The following is by Jason Collins, to Sports Illustrated

I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.

I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn’t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, “I’m different.” If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.

My journey of self-discovery and self-acknowledgement began in my hometown of Los Angeles and has taken me through two state high school championships, the NCAA Final Four and the Elite Eight, and nine playoffs in 12 NBA seasons.

I’ve played for six pro teams and have appeared in two NBA Finals. Ever heard of a parlor game called Three Degrees of Jason Collins? If you’re in the league, and I haven’t been your teammate, I surely have been one of your teammates’ teammates. Or one of your teammates’ teammates’ teammates.

Now I’m a free agent, literally and figuratively. I’ve reached that enviable state in life in which I can do pretty much what I want. And what I want is to continue to play basketball. I still love the game, and I still have something to offer. My coaches and teammates recognize that. At the same time, I want to be genuine and authentic and truthful.

— Reported by Jason Collins with Franz Lidz via Sports Illustrated

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

UPDATE: NBA Commissioner David Stern issued the following statement this morning regarding Washington Wizards center Jason Collins announcement today: “As Adam Silver and I said to Jason, we have known the Collins family since Jason and Jarron joined the NBA in 2001 and they have been exemplary members of the NBA family. Jason has been a widely respected player and teammate throughout his career and we are proud he has assumed the leadership mantle on this very important issue.”

ANOTHER UPDATE: The following statements are from Atlanta Hawks Managing Partner/NBA Governor Bruce Levenson and President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry on behalf of the team: “We have great respect for Jason and his message today. Creating an environment where we support, respect, and accept our players’ individual rights is very important to us,” said Hawks Managing Partner and NBA Governor Bruce Levenson. “Jason represented everything that we look for as a member of the Atlanta Hawks and we are proud he wore our jersey.” “Our focus will always be on bringing in players that can contribute to the greater good of the Atlanta Hawks and ensuring that we create the most accepting, respectful, and productive environment for players to succeed,” said Hawks President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Danny Ferry.

Bucks eliminated from playoffs, swept by Heat

LeBron James can cross another item off his to-do list.

James scored 30 points, Ray Allen had another big game against his old team and the Miami Heat got their first playoff sweep in the Big Three era, advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals with an 88-77 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.

”It was our next big step as far as our growth,” James said. ”It’s so hard to win on the road in the playoffs, in someone’s building – especially when someone is playing for their last life. It’s a big step for us.”

And now the Heat have some much-needed time to rest. Dwyane Wade sat out Sunday’s game, only the second postseason game he’s missed in his career, because of his aching right knee. But with Miami not playing until next Saturday, at the earliest, he’ll have plenty of time to treat the three bone bruises that caused him to miss six games near the end of the regular season.

Miami plays the winner of the Brooklyn-Chicago series. The Bulls lead that series 3-1, with Game 5 on Monday night in New York…

Monta Ellis led the Bucks with 21 points, and Larry Sanders had 11 rebounds to go with seven points.

But Milwaukee got almost nothing again from Brandon Jennings, who didn’t even play in the fourth quarter. Jennings, who had guaranteed the Bucks would win the series in six games, finished with three points on 1-of-7 shooting.

After scoring 26 points in Game 1, Jennings had 27 total in the final three.

— Reported by Nancy Armour of the Associated Press

Pau Gasol wants his skills to be fully utilized

It’s up for debate who finally asked Gasol to start playing again like the guy who won those championships. Bryant said he told Gasol to “go to the block and not move.” Eventually, D’Antoni accepted it, either out of necessity because so many players were injured for L.A. or not.

“He’s arguably, we could talk best center in the league,” D’Antoni said of Gasol after Game 4. “Skill wise, for sure.”

And Gasol is sure that he doesn’t want to see those skills go to waste next season, whether he’s in L.A. or not.

“I’d like to [be featured again], I really do,” Gasol said. “Because it’s frustrating for me for most of the year to be in a position where I can’t provide everything that I can as a player. So, you try to do what it takes and then do what you’re asked for, but it’s just difficult.” “It was difficult for me, so, it’s something that I’m also aware I’m getting older and at some point my role will have to adjust,” he said. “But if I’m healthy, I know I can do so much and hopefully it will be here. But, who knows?

“I definitely want to be in a situation where I can maximize my abilities and help the team the most that I can, and devote completely to it.”

— Reported by Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles

Hawks center Johan Petro with wife for birth of child

Atlanta Hawks center Johan Petro has missed practice to be with his wife for the birth of their child.

Petro returned to his home in Miami to with his wife, who is scheduled to deliver the child on Sunday. The team is hopeful the 7-footer will return to Atlanta in time for Game 4 of the playoff series against the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.

Petro made his first start of the playoffs in Game 3, part of a new, bigger lineup that carried the Hawks to a 90-69 victory.

— Reported by Paul Newberry of the Associated Press

Nets may not recover from crushing Game 4 loss to Bulls

Deron Williams sat in a quiet Nets locker room with his feet in an ice bucket, staring out at nothing. It was as if he were replaying in his mind the nightmare he had just witnessed.

Coming to grips with how the Nets managed to turn what seemed a certain victory into a demoralizing defeat won’t be easy. Their horror show at the United Center yesterday will play like a scary movie with the same ending, a 142-134 triple-overtime loss to the Bulls and a 3-1 deficit in their best-of-seven series.

Interim coach P.J. Carlesimo called it “a killer.” Joe Johnson used the word “heart-breaker.” Williams said it simply was “frustrating.”

Truth is it shouldn’t have been that surprising. The Nets have been a streaky team throughout these playoffs and for much of the regular season. They can go from hot to cold within one quarter, much less within a game.

— Reported by George Willis of the New York Post

Celtics angered by showboating from Knicks

While they were being blown out at home Friday, the Celtics felt the Knicks were showboating, rubbing Boston’s collective nose into the same floor they wiped with the Celtics team.

“Yeah, we did. We all did. That’s what made us so mad, so angry,” guard Avery Bradley said before the Celtics’ film session yesterday. “We just got to go out there and play the right way. We’ve got to not let that happen again. After the game, that was definitely something [discussed]. Somebody said it right after we got in the locker room: ‘Oh, they’re showboating on us, they’re dunking.’

“And everybody kind of looked like, ‘Yeah you’re right,’ ” Bradley added. “But all we can do is go out there and play the right way and play hard and don’t give them a chance to showboat.”

Easier said than done. Entering Game 4 at TD Garden today, the Celtics have been an offensive mess. They have averaged 75.0 points in the series, not once reaching 80. They’ve shot 39.5 percent and averaged 17.0 turnovers to negate the good of their defense.

— Reported by Fred Kerber of the New York Post