Inside Hoops – Page 1746 – NBA Blog

Lakers want Brendan Haywood foul on Pau Gasol reviewed

Pau Gasol

Finesse big-man

The Lakers would like the NBA to take a closer look at Brendan Haywood’s hard foul against Pau Gasol late in Thursday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks. Haywood knocked Gasol to the court with a double forearm shiver to the head.

Brown said he believed it should have been ruled a flagrant foul, with Haywood perhaps drawing an ejection for thumping Gasol.

The officiating crew, led by veteran Mike Callahan, whistled Haywood for a shooting foul, however.

“After reviewing it on tape, I think the refs missed that,” Brown said. “I don’t know how anybody could think he was going for the ball. I don’t think it was intentional, but that’s not the definition of a flagrant foul.”

Brown said he expected a league review.

“That was definitely not a normal foul,” he said.

— Reported by Elliot Teaford of the LA Daily News

Jeremy Lin rookie card sells for $21,580

CSN Bay Area reports:

In case you had any doubts about the Jeremy Lin phenomenon reaching new heights of “Linsanity,” (sorry, but at least one pun is obligatory) there’s new evidence it has yet to reach its peak.

Consider that Lin’s rookie player card, featuring him as a member of the Golden State Warriors and autographed by the former Palo Alto High star, sold for $21,580 on eBay Thursday.

The auction had 36 bids.The seller, Yair Rozmaryn of New York, reportedly purchased the card for $1,000. He made the buy after two starts by Lin.

Mavs listening but not looking for deals

Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas reports:

Mark Cuban likes this Mavericks roster a lot. He’s said he’s not actively looking to make any changes before the March 15 trade deadline.

However, Cuban and Mavs president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson will still take calls.

Cuban always says the Mavs will be “opportunistic” in the trade market. But unlike a couple of years ago, when he acknowledged that the Mavs wanted to make a major move weeks before shipping Josh Howard to Washington in a blockbuster deal, the Mavs’ front office isn’t planning to be aggressive over the next few weeks.

“We’re not looking to change unless someone makes us an offer we can’t refuse,” Cuban said. “We’re not looking to shake anything up. We think we’ve got a good team that hasn’t played its best basketball yet.”

Stephen Curry to miss 2012 Skills Challenge

Stephen Curry

Terrific player when feet and ankles don’t hurt

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry suffered a right foot injury against the Suns during last night’s game and will not be attending All-Star Weekend festivities here, per his agent Lance Young.

Young, via email, said the injury was to a tendon in Curry’s foot, and “nothing with his ankle.” But he said that it would prevent Curry making the trip here, where he was scheduled to defend his title in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge.

Rather than making the trip, Young said Curry would rest and rehab his injury this weekend. He’s already missed nine games this season with an ankle injury.

Curry missed a layup with 2:29 remaining in the first quarter and landed awkwardly. He went to the locker room and tried to come back just before halftime, but was unable to return to the game.

— Reported by Sekou Smith of NBA.com (Blog)

Derrick Rose says back pain is gone

Derrick Rose

Quicker than light

Derrick Rose spoke to reporters for the first time since his five-game absence prior to tipoff of Wednesday’s 110-91 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

It was his second straight game since returning to the lineup, having scored 23 points and handing out six assists in nearly 35 minutes in Monday night’s win over the Atlanta Hawks.

“I felt good. If anything, I was just trying to test myself, trying to make sure that I still have it,” said Rose. “I hit a couple of shots, some of them I usually hit, I missed. I just tried to play my game, that’s aggressive and it started off pretty good.”

He followed that up with 16 points and seven assists in 30 minutes against Milwaukee and said his back is no longer a concern.

“I’m not worried about it anymore,” said Rose. “I don’t feel any pain anymore.”

— Reported by Christopher Cason of CSN Chicago

Kevin Martin says he’s happy on Rockets

Kevin Martin

Likes to shoot

On Tuesday, Kevin Martin spoke about his happiness with the Rockets.

“I’m still in a great situation,” he said. “I’m still on a good team. I’m still helping the team win.”

On Wednesday, he read an Internet report that it is an open secret he is not happy.

“I think it’s an inappropriate article,” Martin said. “A writer must be starving for attention. He’s not going to bring a distraction around our team. I’m the team’s leading scorer, and we’re in the playoff hunt. I don’t understand how I could not be happy about that. Basically, he’s just making it up.

“Individually and team-wise, we’re doing pretty well.”

— Reported by Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle (Blog)

Javaris Crittenton arrested near Atlanta

Javaris Crittenton

Some money, mo problems

Former NBA [player] Javaris Crittenton was arrested outside Atlanta this morning — after he allegedly shattered the speed limit in his black Porsche … then refused to cooperate with police.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Javaris was pulled over for going over 60 in a 45 — and when the cop wrote up the ticket … Javaris refused to sign it, something you have to do to acknowledge receipt of the citation.

As a result, we’re told the officer asked Javaris to step out of the vehicle — and Javaris refused again.

— Reported by TMZ

Michael Jordan sues company for unauthorized use of his name

Michael Jordan

Shot-caller

Former NBA star and current Bobcats owner Michael Jordan filed suit in a Chinese court against Qiaodan Sports Company Limited, a sportswear and footwear manufacturer, for unauthorized use of his name.

In a statement released through his spokeswoman, Jordan says he’s worked hard to establish his name and calls the issue “deeply disappointing to see a company build a business off my Chinese name without my permission, use the number 23 and even attempt to use the names of my children.”

— Reported by the Associated Press

Rondo added to East All-Stars, Durant added to 3-point contest

Rajon Rondo

A quick little character.

Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo has been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured East All-Star guard Joe Johnson (injured left knee) of the Atlanta Hawks in the 2012 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando. This is Rondo’s third All-Star Game selection.

Replacing Johnson in the Three-Point Contest is Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, a 2012 NBA All-Star.

A lot of people thought Hawks forward Josh Smith would be named a replacement. Not just because he’s Johnson’s teammate. Smith is this season is averaging 16.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.13 blocks per game. Many people thought he was more worthy an All-Star than Johnson in the first place.

As for Rondo, for the season he’s putting up 14.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 1.64 steals per game, while shooting a terrific 48.5% from the field. Fantastic stats. Rondo has missed games due to both injury and suspension. But he is playing on an All-Star level.

Durant is a great addition to the three-point shootout. It’s a more interesting contest when stars are involved.

The 2012 NBA All-Star Game, which will air live at 7 p.m. ET on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages, will be played at Amway Center in Orlando on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012.

Kobe Bryant sarcastically praises Shawn Marion’s defense

Kobe Bryant

Not lacking in confidence

Shawn Marion is a good defender, but Kobe Bryant wasn’t about to give the Mavericks’ defensive anchor any credit.

After the Lakers’ shootaround, Bryant held court – pulling about 20 media members away from coach Mike Brown just as Brown was getting going with his interview scrum – and his best line came when he was asked about Marion and the Mavericks’ touting Marion as a defensive player of the year candidate.

“Oh, man, I agree,” Bryant said, sporting a grin. “I think tonight they should not double me at all or zone me. Just play one on one because he’s such a terrific defender, he doesn’t need any help.”

The sarcasm was dripping.

— Reported by Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News