Author: Inside Hoops

InsideHoops.com has been a world leader in NBA basketball coverage for over 20 years. Read our blog, but also be sure to read our main website on www.insidehoops.com

Have not seen Semi-Pro, but I lack optimism

Hi. I’m Jeff. I run InsideHoops.com. Everyone who works in basketball or sports publicity who has heard of the internet knows about this website. We’re one of the world’s leading sports websites. And if we yell about something, word spreads, and directly or indirectly everyone who follows basketball closely quickly hears about it. Either by reading InsideHoops.com, or hearing from a friend who does, or reading a newspaper or another big website who heard about it because we said it, etc. etc. etc.

And now, my point. And yes, there is one, aside from reminding everyone that InsideHoops has a massive and extremely influential readership: No one promoting Semi-Pro got in touch with us to see a media screening of the movie before it came out.

I’ve seen literally every single basketball movie or documentary weeks in advance, for years now. All of them. Except Semi-Pro. Why is this?

Heck, just a few days ago I saw a screening of a basketball film I’m not allowed to even talk about it. Almost no sports media members have seen it yet, other than a select few. It’s terrific and you’ll hear about it in the near future.

Well, I just went to RottenTomatoes, and checked out the Semi-Pro reviews. And they’re awful. That site counted 109 reviews (none of which seem to be from anyone who works in basketball — it’s as if only “regular” movie reviewers got to see the film in advance) and it got a ranking of 25 percent. That’s out of 100. That’s very bad.

So, do PR people know the movie stinks? And therefore did they avoid inviting people like me in advance, because they didn’t want me to tell you it sucked?

And, I went to some basketball magazine websites, and a few of the big TV network-owned sites, and I don’t see any reviews of the movie. Just promotional stuff.

Anyway, I’m not saying a single bad word about the movie. Maybe it’ll be fun. Just saying, if InsideHoops isn’t seeing an advance screening of a basketball movie, then it’s quite likely that either the movie stinks, or the company needs to hire new PR people.

Ilgauskas has strained back

Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas was examined today at The Cleveland Clinic by head team physician Dr. Richard Parker. He was diagnosed with a strained back and is listed as Out for tomorrow’s game versus the Chicago Bulls at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. He will be re-examined tomorrow and his status will be updated after that.

Clippers sign Andre Barrett to 10-day contract

The Los Angeles Clippers today signed free agent guard Andre Barrett to a 10-day contract. Barrett comes to the Clippers from the NBA Development League’s Austin Toros, becoming the league’s 16th Gatorade Call-up and the 13th D-League player to be called to an NBA roster this season.

Barrett played 30 games this season for the Bakersfield Jam of the Development League, averaging 18.9 points, 8.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds in 38.2 minutes before being traded to Austin on Feb. 25.

A former stand-out at Seton Hall University, the Clippers will be Barrett’s sixth NBA team. He has averaged 3.4 points, 2.0 assist and 1.1 rebounds in 63 career NBA games over the course of three seasons.

Barrett started his NBA career with Houston in 2004-05, appearing in 27 games for the Rockets and averaging 2.1 points before finishing the season with Orlando.

Barrett played in two games for Phoenix in 2005-06 and then made 17 appearances for the Toronto Raptors that season, averaging a career-best 4.6 points in 15.4 minutes.

The Bronx, New York product played in six games for Chicago last season, averaging 1.3 points.

Yao Ming having season-ending surgery Monday

Rockets All-Star center Yao Ming will undergo season-ending surgery on Monday, March 3rd  in order to repair a stress fracture in the tarsal navicular bone in his left foot.  The surgery will be performed at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center by Rockets Team Physician Tom Clanton, who is regarded as one of the nation’s top orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons.

Injuries have really messed Yao and the Rockets up for years now. It’s tough to say how Yao can ever stop getting hurt, considering how huge he is. Hopefully he can somehow stay healthy eventually.

Wizards-Hornets team connections

Wizards forward Antawn Jamison was born in Shreveport, LA.

Washington’s Antonio Daniels and New Orleans’ Bonzi Wells were teammates in Portland in 2002-03.

Washington’s Caron Butler and New Orleans’ Rasual Butler were teammates in Miami from 2002-04.

Butler and Hornets’ guard Mike James were teammates in Miami in 2002-03.

Washington’s Darius Songaila and New Orleans’ Peja Stojakovic were teammates in Sacramento from 2003-05.

Songaila and Tyson Chandler were teammates in Chicago in 2005-06.

Wizards Head Coach Eddie Jordan and Hornets Head Coach Byron Scott coached together on the New Jersey Nets teams that went to back-to-back NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.

Hornets Assistant Coach Darrell Walker played for Washington from 1987-1991; was Washington’s Head Coach for a 38-game stint in 1999-00; and served in the team’s scouting department from 2000-04.

Pacers sign Flip Murray

The Indiana Pacers announced Saturday they have signed free agent guard Ronald “Flip” Murray to a contract for the remainder of the season. Per club policy, no terms of the contract were released.

Murray, 6-4, 200-pound guard, played with the Detroit Pistons this season before being waived Feb. 22. He played in 19 games with Detroit, averaging 7.5 points, 3.4 assists and 1.9 rebounds. In five seasons prior, Murray played with Milwaukee, Seattle, Cleveland and the Pistons.

“This late in the season, we’re fortunate to be able to pick up someone who can contribute to our run for a playoff spot,” said Pacers Coach Jim O’Brien. “He’s a welcome addition to the Indiana Pacers.”

Murray will wear number 22. He practiced with the Pacers Saturday and will be available when the Pacers host Milwaukee, Sunday, March 2.

Sonics sign Mike Wilks to 10-day contract

Sonics General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has signed Mike Wilks to a 10-day contract.
 
The 5-10 guard appeared in eight games with the Denver Nuggets and four games with the Washington Wizards earlier this season.
 
Last season, Wilks appeared in 47 games with Seattle and averaged 3.6 points and 1.7 assists per game. In 2005-06, he averaged 4.4 ppg and 1.4 apg in 10 games with the Sonics.

Kings waive Tyronn Lue

The Sacramento Kings today requested waivers on guard Tyronn Lue, according to Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.
 
Since coming over in the February 16th trade with guard Anthony Johnson, centers Sheldon Williams and Lorenzen Wright, and a 2008 second-round draft choice from Atlanta, Lue has not played for the Kings, missing six games with a left calf strain. Lue averaged 6.8 ppg (.439 FG%, .435 3pt%, .857 FT%), 1.2 rpg, 1.8 apg, and 17.1 mpg in 33 games (started 3) for the Hawks this season.
 
The Kings’ updated roster now stands at 14 players.

Bobcats waive Jeff McInnis

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has waived guard Jeff McInnis.  Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
 
McInnis played in 92 games for the Bobcats over parts of the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons, averaging 4.4 points and 3.1 assists.  The Charlotte native was acquired from New Jersey on January 3, 2007, in exchange for Bernard Robinson.
 
This season, McInnis averaged 4.5 points and 4.1 assists in 54 games, including 26 starts.
 
The Bobcats return to action tonight when they visit the Boston Celtics in a 7:30pm ET game that can be seen on WMYT-MyTV12 and heard on WOLS Oldies 106.1.