NBA News Blog – Page 1418 – NBA Blog

Game 3: Dragic 23 in 4th Q, Suns beat Spurs

The AP reports:

Phoenix is one win away from ending years of playoff misery against San Antonio, taking a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals with a 110-96 victory Friday night, putting the Spurs in a historically irreparable hole…

[Suns backup point guard Goran Dragic] scored 23 of his 26 points in a brilliant fourth quarter, rendering Steve Nash unneeded until the final 3 minutes. Amare Stoudemire? He never even took off his warmups in the fourth quarter.

Dragic hit nine of 11 shots in the fourth, including all four 3-point attempts…

Manu Ginobili led the Spurs with 27 points while welcoming Tony Parker back to the starting lineup, but it was a move that didn’t work out as the Spurs planned…

Parker averaged 23 as a reserve in Games 1 and 2 but didn’t provide the same jolt while reclaiming his starting job. He scored 10 points on 5-of-17 shooting…

Jason Richardson had 21 points and Hill added 18 for the Suns.

Game 3: Cavaliers destroy Celtics in Boston

The AP reports:

LeBron James scored 21 of his 38 points in the first quarter to help the Cleveland Cavaliers beat Boston 124-95 on Friday night, handing the Celtics their worst home playoff loss ever and taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals.

Showing no ill-effects of an elbow problem that was the talk of Cleveland during the long layoff, James finished with eight rebounds and seven assists. The 21 points in a quarter was a franchise postseason record.

Antawn Jamison had 20 points and 12 rebounds for Cleveland, while Shaquille O’Neal added 12 points and nine rebounds.

Rajon Rondo, who had 19 assists in Boston’s Game 2 victory on Monday, had 18 points and eight assists.

The Celtics missed 10 of their first 13 shots, hitting just 27 percent in the first quarter to spot Cleveland a 21-point lead.

They were never able to recover as the Cavaliers shot 59 percent from the field for the game.

Fan discussion of the game was in this forum topic.

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert fights the Goliath of ticket sales

Tom Walsh of the Detroit Free Press reports:

Dan Gilbert’s innovative digital ticketing company, Veritix, has already set records for paperless tickets to a sporting event and concert — a Cleveland-Boston NBA game last week and a 2009 Billy Joel-Elton John show in Houston.

But can Gilbert, the Detroit-based owner of Quicken Loans and the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team, really make a big success of Veritix in an industry dominated by the behemoth combination of Ticketmaster and Live Nation?

Yes, insists Sam Gerace, CEO of Veritix, a business born 3 1/2 years ago with the introduction of Flash Seats digital ticketing at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, home of Gilbert’s Cavs and the Lake Erie Monsters hockey club…

Ticketmaster retains a stranglehold on most U.S. ticketing for concerts and sporting events, because of longstanding relationships with the venues. More ominously, its clout grew in January with its marriage to Live Nation, the world’s largest concert promoter, which staged 2,100 concerts and sold 140 million tickets last year.

Gilbert Arenas finishes halfway house time

The AP reports:

Gilbert Arenas pleaded guilty to felony gun possession in the District of Columbia in January and was sentenced in March to a month in the halfway house. His sentence also includes two years of probation, a $5,000 fine and 400 hours of community service that can’t be performed at basketball clinics.

His sentence started April 9 with two days in jail before he was moved to the halfway house in the Maryland suburbs of Washington. He was allowed to leave the facility during the day. A fan tweeted about seeing him at a local grocery store and posted a picture of him posing near the bottled tea.

Arenas’ sentence called for 30 days at the facility, but he was released slightly early because the Federal Bureau of Prisons doesn’t release offenders from halfway houses on weekends.

The 28-year-old point guard is now free to resume his basketball career. His NBA suspension expired at the end of the season, and he has four years remaining on a six-year, $111 million contract he signed with the Wizards in the summer of 2008.

Game 2: Howard dominates, Magic beat Hawks 112-98

The AP reports:

Dwight Howard came back from a bloody nose to finish with 29 points and 17 rebounds, and the Magic beat the Atlanta Hawks 112-98 on Thursday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Vince Carter had 24 points with some big shots late and Rashard Lewis finished with 20 points, leading Orlando’s 19-2 run in the fourth quarter. The perennially poor free-throw shooting Howard also was 13 for 18 from the line…

Howard made a layup as he was slapped in the face inadvertently by Horford to start the third quarter, the blood pouring from the Magic center’s nose. Howard shot the free throw—and missed—with plugs in his nostrils, holding back laughter, and then left for about 2 minutes so trainers could stop the bleeding.

InsideHoops.com notes:

The Magic scored just 17 points in the second quarter. The Hawks only scored 15 in the fourth.

Orlando shot 55.9 percent, Atlanta 41.3 percent.

Orlando hit 9-of-23 three-pointers, Atlanta 6-of-11.

Orlando only hit 69.2 percent of their 39 free throws. Atlanta hit an amazing 30-for-31.

The Magic has four players score 20 or more points: Dwight Howard had 29 and 17 rebounds (no assists). Vince Carter had 24 and seven rebounds. Rashard Lewis had 20 with six assists. Jameer Nelon scored 20 with six assists. Mickael Pietrus scored 13 off the bench.

For the Hawks, Al Horford (9-of-13) had 24 points and 10 rebounds. Jamal Crawford had 23 (on 18 shots) off the bench. Joe Johnson shot just 5-of-16 for 19 points and five assists. Josh Smith (6-of-15) had 18 points and nine rebounds, but five turnovers.

Fan discussion of the game as it happened was here.

2009-10 All-NBA Teams

LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 2009-10 Most Valuable Player, and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, the 2009-10 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, were unanimous selections to the 2009-10 All-NBA First Team, the NBA announced today. Joining James and Howard on the First Team are Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat.

The All-NBA Second Team consists of Phoenix’s Steve Nash and Utah’s Deron Williams at guard, Denver’s Carmelo Anthony and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki at forward, and Phoenix’s Amar’e Stoudemire at center.

The All-NBA Third Team includes Atlanta’s Joe Johnson and Portland’s Brandon Roy at guard, San Antonio’s Tim Duncan and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Paul Gasol at forward, and Milwaukee’s Andrew Bogut at center.

The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a panel of 122 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis.

2009-10 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM

Position        Player, Team (1st Team Votes)        Points
Forward        LeBron James, Cleveland (122)        610
Forward        Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City (107)        579
Center        Dwight Howard, Orlando (122)        610
Guard        Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers (119)        604
Guard        Dwyane Wade, Miami (81)        520

2009-10 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM

Position        Player, Team (1st Team Votes)        Points
Forward        Carmelo Anthony, Denver (9)        321
Forward        Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas (10)        356
Center        Amar’e Stoudemire, Phoenix (2)        239
Guard        Steve Nash, Phoenix (24)        366
Guard        Deron Williams, Utah (14)        343

2009-10 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM

Position        Player, Team (1st Team Votes)        Points
Forward        Tim Duncan, San Antonio        125
Forward        Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers        94
Center        Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee         149
Guard        Joe Johnson, Atlanta        118
Guard        Brandon Roy, Portland        87

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first team votes in parentheses): Chris Bosh, Toronto, 80; Rajon Rondo, Boston, 47; David Lee, New York, 43; Carlos Boozer, Utah, 33; Chauncey Billups, Denver, 24; Zach Randolph, Memphis, 20; Al Horford, Atlanta, 19; Jason Kidd, Dallas, 18; Derrick Rose, Chicago, 15; Chris Paul, New Orleans, 14; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 13; Chris Kaman, LA Clippers, 9; Brook Lopez, New Jersey, 6; Josh Smith, Atlanta, 6; Paul Pierce, Boston, 6; Gerald Wallace, Charlotte, 5; Marcus Camby, Portland, 3; Andrew Bynum, LA Lakers, 2; Danny Granger, Indiana, 2; David West, New Orleans, 1; Kevin Garnett, Boston, 1; Mo Williams; Cleveland, 1; Tony Parker San Antonio, 1.

NBA fines Danny Ainge for conduct during Celtics-Cavaliers game

Boston Celtics Executive Director of Basketball Operations and General Manager Danny Ainge has been fined $25,000 for creating an unauthorized distraction and for conduct detrimental to the game, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 1:53 remaining in the third quarter of the Celtics’ 104-86 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinal on Monday, May 3, at Quicken Loans Arena.

The fine is due to Ainge throwing a towel around to distract J.J. Hickson of the Cleveland Cavaliers during free throw attempts.

Paul Flannery of WEEI reports:

The NBA fined Danny Ainge $25,000 for “creating an unauthorized distraction” during Game 2 on the Celtics-Cavs series. In other words, he threw a towel up in the air while J.J. Hickson was shooting free throws.

The Celtics have been amused by this episode and Doc Rivers got in a few more one-liners at his boss’ expense Thursday.

“I was surprised, actually, at the fine,” Rivers said. “I know a lot of people were not. I was because he’s just an employee. What’s the difference between that and the mascots do it all the time. I was just wondering if Danny had worn Lucky’s outfit he would have gotten away with it.”

Antoine Walker seeks NBA comeback

The AP reports:

Former NBA All-Star Antoine Walker is eyeing an NBA comeback.

Louisville Coach Rick Pitino says Walker will work out with several Cardinals over the next few weeks. Walker hasn’t played in the NBA since 2008 and has suffered legal and financial woes since stepping away from the game.

Walker agreed to pay three Las Vegas casinos over $900,000 to settle three bad check charges last fall.

InsideHoops.com says:

It’s highly unlikely any team gives Walker a shot. At best, if over time he proves to be in shape and serious about helping a team, some squad might offer him a non-guaranteed contract so he can prove himself. Still others may offer him a job as an arena hot dog vender. Because, when the game ends, there’s free hot dogs to eat.

Ryan Bowen joins U of Iowa basketball staff

KCRG.com reports:

University of Iowa Head Basketball Coach Fran McCaffery announced Wednesday that he has added former Hawkeye and NBA player Ryan Bowen to his basketball staff. Bowen will serve as the team’s video coordinator and administrative assistant.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be joining the Iowa basketball staff,” said Bowen. “I’m extremely thankful to Coach McCaffery for giving me this opportunity and I’m eager to get started. I had a great time as a student-athlete at Iowa, and look forward to once again being a part of the Hawkeye family.”

“I’m very excited to have Ryan Bowen be part of our staff,” McCaffery said. “I remember watching Ryan play in high school, and followed his career at Iowa and the NBA. There isn’t a harder working basketball player that understands the game than Ryan Bowen. I talked to Jeff Van Gundy, Jeff Bower and John MacLeod and each one raved about his character, work ethic and knowledge of the game. He’s going to make a great impact here at Iowa, just like he did when he was a player.”

Mark Jackson will not be next 76ers coach

Kate Fagan of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

Mark Jackson, who seemed to be in the final stages of scheduling an interview with the 76ers for their coaching vacancy, has removed his name from consideration, according to his agent, Steve Kauffman.

Kauffman said Jackson “doesn’t feel it’s the right opportunity for him at this time.”

In the last week, Sixers president and general manager Ed Stefanski met with two candidates, Doug Collins and Avery Johnson, but has yet to formally meet with a third.

Before stepping out of the race, Jackson seemed poised to become Stefanski’s next official interview. According to an NBA source, Stefanski will formally meet with Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Monty Williams on Monday.