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Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson is fun sometimes. Here’s an example. The Los Angeles Daily News (Elliot Teaford) reports:
Asked about the difference between having Kobe Bryant guard Boston’s Ray Allen and having him check Cleveland’s LeBron James, Jackson said.”Chasing Ray Allen off multiple picks, especially ones that move as often as Boston’s do, it’s just not feasible to wear him out and get run into by (Kendrick) Perkins and (Kevin) Garnett.”
That’s gold.
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Mo Williams is having an excellent season for his 39-win, 9-loss team, but wasn’t picked by coaches as a reserve for the East All-Star team. Then, Jameer Nelson, who was selected, suffered an injury, though Mo Williams again wasn’t named, with the spot instead going to Boston Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen.
The AP reports:
The Cavs found the second rejection of Williams so absurd that they’re making up words to describe their feelings. “Ben Wallace was right when he called Mo originally being passed over for the all-star game a shamockery,” Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert said in a tongue-in-cheek e-mail to the Associated Press on Friday. “But not naming him as the natural and obvious replacement for the unfortunately injured Jameer Nelson is stupidiculous, idillogical and preposterageous.” Cleveland will be represented by James, who was selected in fan voting, and by coach Mike Brown and his assistants, who will coach the East squad.
If passing on Mo Williams instead of selecting him means the Cavs are going to continue making up fun words, then I’m all in favor of it.
The AP reports: “I wish we would have come here last year with this kind of attitude,” said Pau Gasol, who scored 24 points with 14 rebounds Thursday night to lead the Lakers to a 110-109 overtime victory over Boston… Kobe Bryant scored 26 points with 10 rebounds to help the Lakers take a five-game winning streak into Sunday’s game against Cleveland. L.A. also snapped Boston’s 19-game winning streak on Christmas Day and sent the Celtics into a 2-7 skid that is the worst stretch of the New Big Three era… Paul Pierce scored 21, and Allen had 22, but they both missed off-balance shots in the final seconds. Allen was knocked to the court at the buzzer while Boston fans clamored for a foul call, but none came. Rajon Rondo scored 16 with 12 assists.
The Boston Globe reports: Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine, who will miss his fifth straight game tonight while recovering from a concussion, talked with reporters before Thursday’s game against the Lakers and noted he’d be out until at least after the All-Star break. “I’m improving,” said Scalabrine. “I am getting better.”
Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen has been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured East All-Star guard Jameer Nelson (torn labrum, right shoulder) of the Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix. Allen will be making his ninth All-Star appearance.
The NBA All-Star Game will air live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in 215 countries and territories, and in 44 languages worldwide at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 15.
Read basketball fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.
The 2008 World Champion Boston Celtics announced today that they will not increase season ticket holder loge and balcony ticket prices for the 2009-10 season. The Celtics have experienced enormous success over the last two seasons capturing the 2008 World Championship title, along with selling out 85 consecutive home games and doubling their season ticket holder account base.
“We are extremely lucky to have such a loyal and passionate season ticket holder base and we want them to know how much we truly appreciate their support. While we have continued to invest in a championship caliber team, we recognize the economic climate has changed and we want to make it easier for our fans to continue to cheer for the Celtics at the Garden next season,” Boston Celtics Team President Rich Gotham said.
Along with keeping prices flat, the team will introduce a first of its kind 12 month interest-free payment plan option, allowing season ticket holders to spread both their 2009 Playoffs and 2009-10 season ticket payments over the next year. The Celtics will also continue to provide league leading benefits for their ticket holders and introduce a new tenure based rewards system, giving special event and gift access to season ticket holders that have been with the team for numerous years.
“We have made the decision to allow season ticket holders to spread out their entire playoff and season ticket invoice over 12 months, interest free, to ease the burden of heavier upfront payments this spring. We know flexible payment options are a necessity right now for our clients and we’re happy to deliver just that,” Boston Celtics CMO Shawn Sullivan said.
Boston Celtics guard J.R. Giddens was re-assigned to the Utah Flash, the Celtics’ NBA Development League affiliate, it was announced today. The assignment is the 20th this season, and Giddens’ second. Giddens, who was originally assigned to the Flash on Nov. 15, 2008 and was recalled to Boston on Jan. 8, has yet to appear in a regular season game for Boston this season.
In 13 games, all starts, for the Flash Giddens averaged 17.3 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 54 percent (86-of-158) from the field. Giddens’ best game for the Flash came on Dec. 1 when he scored 34 points against the Bakersfield Jam at the McKay Events Center in Orem, Utah.
Giddens, a 6-5 guard, was selected in the first round, 30th overall, by the Celtics in the 2008 NBA draft from the University of New Mexico. During his two-year career as a Lobo, Giddens averaged 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds. As a senior, Giddens started all 33 of New Mexico’s games, and averaged career highs of 16.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Giddens shared Mountain West Conference Co-Player of the Year and earned First Team All-Conference honors during his senior year.
Giddens, the season’s fourth player to be assigned to an NBA D-League affiliate, is expected to join the Flash in Orem, Utah today and will be available for tomorrow night’s Flash game against the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
The AP reports: Ray Allen took a perfect pass from Paul Pierce and buried a baseline 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds left to give the Celtics their 12th straight victory, 100-99 over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night… Pierce scored 29 points, Allen had 23 and Glen Davis had 12 points and 11 rebounds… Andre Iguodala scored 22 points and Andre Miller had 21 for the Sixers.
The Boston Globe (Marc Spears) reports: Celtics center Kendrick Perkins said he was fined $10,000 by the NBA for a hard foul on Pistons forward Jason Maxiell last Friday. Perkins was ejected with a flagrant 2 penalty. “I thought I was going to get more,” Perkins said. “So the $10,000 was pretty cool. I watched [the replay] a few times. It was a hard foul, but I wasn’t trying to hurt him. “He got real low. I wasn’t trying to go for his head. I just ended up hitting him. Like I said, it was nothing personal. I wasn’t trying to hit him in the head. It was just a play in the NBA.”
The Boston Globe (Marc Spears) reports: Just before the Celtics ran onto the floor to warm up for their 49th game of the season, rookie guard J.R. Giddens stopped his teammates to ask an important question. “I didn’t know how to go out when we were warming up,” said Giddens, after the Celtics’ 109-101 win over Minnesota yesterday at TD Banknorth Garden. “Some of the guys were making fun of me. I said, ‘Hey I’m usually taking a shower right now [after working out].’ So it was fun and I actually got to see the warmups. “Today it was like, ‘A uniform. Is that for me?’ They hadn’t taken it out since like preseason so they had stains on it . . . It was all right. I had a lot of fun out there.”