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Bucks to honor Oscar Robertson March 28

On Friday, March 28, during halftime of the Bucks/Magic game at the Bradley Center, the Milwaukee Bucks will continue their season-long, 40th anniversary celebration of the franchise’s greatest players when they honor Oscar Robertson and re-dedicate his #1 retired jersey banner. The Robertson recognition will be part of the Bucks 40th Anniversary celebration honoring the Bucks 40th Anniversary Team as selected by the fans in online balloting.

Robertson came to the Bucks prior to the 1970-71 season and helped the Bucks to the 1971 NBA Championship. Milwaukee won the title just three seasons after the franchise’s birth, the fastest any expansion team has won a championship. In 14 postseason games, Robertson averaged 18.3 points, 8.9 assists and 5.0 rebounds.

“The Big O” was acquired from the Cincinnati Royals in exchange for Flynn Robinson and Charlie Paulk. A 10-year veteran and 10-time All-Star with the Royals, Robertson played four seasons and appeared in 288 games with the Bucks. He averaged 16.3 points, 7.5 assists and 4.9 rebounds in those games and earned two All-Star appearances. Robertson’s 668 assists in 1970-71 are second in franchise history and stood as the record until the 1999-00 season. He ranks among the franchise leaders in points (4,701, 19th), assists (2,156, 6th) and free throw percentage (.842, 9th).

Though his regular season numbers are impressive, Robertson also led the Bucks to the postseason in each of his four years as the team won the championship, reached the conference finals, the conference semifinals and the NBA finals in his four years, respectively. The Bucks were 31-16 in the playoffs during his tenure with Robertson averaging 16.0 points, 8.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds in those 47 games.

In terms of playoff leaders, Robertson is 8th in points (751), 10th in scoring average (16.0), 6th in minutes played (1,845), 7th in field goals made (297), 8th in free throws made (157), 5th in free throw percentage (.822) and T-1st in assists (401).

The only player in franchise history to wear #1, Robertson was the first Milwaukee Buck to have his number retired on October 18, 1974. Robertson’s ceremony is the sixth out of seven on the season: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Nov 21), Sidney Moncrief (Jan 19), Junior Bridgeman (Feb 9), Bob Lanier (Feb 20), Brian Winters (Mar 18) with the Jon McGlocklin ceremony to be held on April 4 when the Bucks play the Pacers.

Bosh rocks but Nuggets handle Raptors

The AP reports: Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony kept Denver’s offense in high gear, but it was Kenyon Martin’s defense that had coach George Karl talking. Iverson had 36 points, Anthony added 33 and Martin shut down Toronto all-star Chris Bosh late as Denver rallied to beat the Toronto Raptors 109-100 on Sunday afternoon… J.R. Smith scored 14 points and Marcus Camby had 15 rebounds as Denver rallied from a 17-point first-quarter deficit to win for the fifth time in seven games… While he faded in the fourth, Chris Bosh shone through the first three quarters, finishing one assist shy of a triple-double. Bosh had 17 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high nine assists, but Toronto still lost for the seventh time in eight games.

Nowitzki hurt as Spurs beat Mavs

The AP reports: Dirk Nowitzki was injured on an ugly looking fall in the third quarter of Dallas’ 88-81 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, but left the arena without knowing how bad it is. The team termed it a “lower left leg injury” and said more details would come Monday. “I fell awkwardly and my left leg got caught underneath of me,” Nowitzki said in a statement. “I am going to get re-evaluated in the morning and I hope to have more information then.” Nowitzki went down after running and jumping to block a shot late in the third quarter. With Nowitzki writhing on the court, Tim Duncan grabbed the loose ball and scored, putting San Antonio ahead for the first time in the second half. It came during a 19-0 run that took the Spurs from 12 points down to in control the rest of the way.

Dirk Nowitzki hurts left leg and ankle

The Spurs and Mavericks are playing in Dallas on national ABC television and just as I flipped it on, Ime Udoka (not Tony Parker) went up for a layup from the right side, Dirk Nowitzki jumped trying to block it, landed strangely and appeared to be in serious pain while lying on the floor, clutching the lower part of his left leg, either the ankle or possibly just above it.

And now he’s being helped off the court into the locker room area by two teammates.

Update: ABC says it’s a ‘leg and ankle’ injury, and an X-Ray has been taken but the results aren’t in yet.

4:26 p.m. ET update from the Mavericks: In today’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, Dirk Nowitzki suffered an injury to his lower left leg at the 3:19 mark in the third period. The injury occurred when Nowitzki got tangled up with the Spurs’ Ime Udoka after blocking his shot. He did not return to the game. Nowitzki will be reevaluated on Monday, March 24.   “I fell awkwardly and my left leg got caught underneath of me,” Nowitzki said. “I am going to get reevaluated in the morning and I hope to have more information then.”

Ben Wallace back spasms continue

Cavaliers forward/center Ben Wallace suffered back spasms during the second quarter of the Cavaliers game last night versus Toronto and did not return to the game. He did not travel with the team for tonight’s game at Milwaukee and was re-examined today at The Cleveland Clinic. He received a precautionary MRI, the results of which were negative. He will continue to be treated for his back spasms and his status will be listed as day-to-day.

Celtics to be a playoff favorite

The New Orleans Times Picayune (John Reid) writes: “With 14 games remaining on their schedule, all signs appear the Celtics will be the odds-on favorite once the playoffs begin next month. The Celtics (55-13) play the Hornets tonight at the New Orleans Arena having won 14 of 15 games. It had been eight years since a team went to Texas and came away with victories against Southwest Division foes San Antonio, Houston and Dallas. The Celtics became the first since the Sacramento Kings achieved it in 2001. Boston came back from a 22-point deficit to defeat the Spurs and snap their seven-game home winning streak earlier this week. They ended the Rockets’ 22-game consecutive winning streak, the second longest in league history, after holding them to a season-low 34 points in the second half. On Thursday night, Ray Allen’s 3-pointer with 31.7 seconds remaining sealed Boston’s 94-90 victory against the Mavericks. The Celtics is 6-0 against Southwest Division opponents, playing the Hornets for the first time tonight.”

Wizards-Pistons team connections

Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace was selected 4th overall by Washington Bullets in the 1995 NBA Draft, and averaged 10.1 points per game for the Wizards in 65 games during the 1995-96 season.

Wallace and Antonio Daniels were teammates during the 2002-2003 season with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Pistons guard Richard Hamilton was selected 7th overall by the Wizards in the 1999 NBA Draft, and averaged 15.6 points per game in 212 games for the Wizards from 1999-02.

Pistons guard Juan Dixon was drafted with the 17th overall pick by Washington in the 2002 NBA Draft, and averaged 8.2 points per game in 176 games as a Wizard from 2002-05.

Pistons swingman Jarvis Hayes was selected 10th overall by the Wizards in the 2003 NBA Draft, and averaged 8.9 points per game in 226 games for Washington from 2003-07…Pistons rookie guard Rodney Stuckey was drafted by Detroit with the 15th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, one spot before Washington picked Nick Young with the 16th overall selection.

Wizards center Brendan Haywood had a career-high 23 points vs. Detroit on November 29, 2003.

The Jazz future of Paul Millsap

The Salt Lake Tribune (Steve Luhm) reports: The Jazz own an option on Paul Millsap’s contract for next season, when he is scheduled to make $797,000. I’m guessing the club will exercise that bargain-basement option, try to convince Millsap he fits into their long-term plans and attempt to get his signature on a long-term contract after the 2008-09 season.  Every team needs a player like Millsap. He is tough, loves to rebound and is creative around the basket on offense. He must improve his jump shot, which has already gotten better, and he is occasionally overmatched physically when asked to guard opposing power forwards and centers.

Heat sign Blake Ahearn to 10-day contract

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed guard Blake Ahearn to a 10-day contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
 
Ahearn, a 6’2”, 190-pound guard, has appeared in 41 games (15 starts) with the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Development League averaging 19.0 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 48.6 percent from the field, 43.9 percent from three-point range and 96.0 percent from the free throw line in 29.5 minutes of action. He leads the team in three-point field goals made (108), is second in points (778), field goals made (239), free throws made (192), assists (142) and is third in minutes played (1,208) and steals (30).
 
Since entering Dakota’s starting line-up 15 games ago, Ahearn has averaged 29.1 points, 5.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.07 steals in 43.3 minutes of action while shooting 53.7 percent from the field, 50 percent from three-point range and 97.1 percent from the line. Additionally, Ahearn hit 78 consecutive free throws finishing 102-of-105 over that span.
 
Ahearn was undrafted out of Missouri State where he played four seasons appearing in 128 career games and averaged 13.1 points and 1.8 assists while shooting 42.3 percent from the field, 40.8 percent from three-point range and 94.6 percent from the line. He finished his collegiate career as the all-time leading free throw shooter in NCAA Division I history while finishing as Missouri State’s seventh all-time leading scorer with 1,677 points. 
 
After being granted two special roster exemptions by the NBA, the HEAT roster currently stands at 17.
 
Ahearn will wear number 6.