Boston Celtics Blog – Page 92 – NBA Blog

Shaq reportedly in middle of kidnapping, robbery, sex tape case

TMZ reports:

Shaquille O’Neal is embroiled in a criminal case in which 7 gang members allegedly kidnapped, beat up and robbed a man who claimed to have a tape showing Shaq having sex with other women while he was married to Shaunie.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ … Ladell Rowles — a member of the Main Street Mafia Crip Gang in L.A. who is friends with Shaq — along with 6 other members went on a search and destroy mission in L.A. on February 11, 2008. They believed a man named Robert Ross had the sex tape and they tried getting it back with the help of a gun or two.

According to the police report, the 7 gang members met up with Ross at a convenience store — Pink Dot — on the Sunset Strip. The men allegedly surrounded Ross’ Rolls Royce Phantom with guns drawn, jumped into Ross’ car and ordered him to drive to Rowles’ house in South Central L.A.

Once there, Rowles allegedly pistol whipped Ross and demanded that he turn over the sex tape. Ross said he would get the tape and bring it back to them. The 7 men then allegedly took Ross’ Rolex, diamond chain and earrings, along with $15,000 in cash — then let Ross go.

The 7 men have been arrested and charged with robbery, kidnapping and other crimes.

InsideHoops.com says: Well, this all sounds like anyone’s typical morning. But seriously, of course being a fan of Shaq like everyone else, I certainly hope the report isn’t accurate.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

NBA heads to 2011 offseason of uncertainty

The AP reports:

“It’s an odd position, when the game is the best it’s ever been, when the ratings are the highest they’ve ever been, when the excitement is the greatest it’s ever (been),” Players Association attorney Jeffrey Kessler said last week. “It’s sort of odd to see the owners say we’re going to destroy this game unless you change this whole system. Players just want to play.”

Nobody can predict when they’ll get that chance again. When the Dallas Mavericks finished off the Miami Heat on Sunday night in Game 6, it sent the NBA into a most uncertain offseason.

Owners and players are nowhere close on a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that expires June 30. Without a new deal, players say they have been told by the owners they will be locked out.

The NBA was reduced to a 50-game season by a work stoppage in 1998-99, and the loss of games is a threat now. Citing leaguewide losses of about $300 million this season, the league hasn’t budged on its desire for significant changes to the financial structure, ranging from reductions in the length of contracts and the amount of guarantees, to an overhaul of the salary cap system that would prevent teams from being able to exceed it, as they can now under certain exceptions.

And Stern said the record TV ratings and all the other positive attention the league has received doesn’t make him any more motivated to get this settled, since he’d want to do it anyway.

“I don’t need any external prod to want to be able to make a deal,” he said…

The sides are scheduled to meet twice this week and say they hope for frequent discussions before the end of the month. Should those fail, the NBA could follow the NFL’s labor situation right into the court system, which both sides say they want to avoid. So although a work stoppage in July wouldn’t seem to have much effect since games aren’t going on, Stern insists “we very much feel the weight of the deadline.”

NBA Finals Game 6 earns its best TV rating in 11 years

The AP reports:

The Dallas Mavericks’ clinching victory in the NBA finals earned the highest preliminary television rating for a Game 6 in 11 years.

The Mavericks’ 105-95 win over the Miami Heat on Sunday on ABC drew a 15.0 overnight rating. That’s the best for a Game 6 since 2000, when the Lakers clinched a title over the Pacers. There had been five series since that went at least six games.

The rating was up 35 percent from Game 6 of the 2006 finals between the same teams, when the Heat clinched a championship. It was up 22 percent from last year’s Game 6, when the Lakers routed the Celtics to force Game 7.

Nate Robinson charged with public urination

Richard Liebson of Lohud.com reports:

NBA point guard Nate Robinson made quite a splash on Main Street early Friday when police said he was spotted urinating on the sidewalk outside the City Center.

The 5-foot-9 member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who has also played for the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, was arrested shortly before 2 a.m. after cops said he was seen doing his business outside the Barnes & Noble store at 230 Main St.

He was taken Police Headquarters where he was issued a ticket charging him with a public urination violation.

InsideHoops.com editor says: At least he wasn’t jumping 28 feet in the air and trying to dunk while doing it. Because then bystanders might have gotten an unwanted souvenir from the experience.

Celtics center Nenad Krstic signs in Russia to play for CSKA Moscow

Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston reports:

Celtics center Nenad Krstic has agreed to a two-year, euro6 million euro ($8.8 million) deal with CSKA Moscow, according to a report by the Russian International News Agency.

Requests to confirm the potential deal, which likely cannot be completed until Krstic’s NBA deal officially expires later this month, were not immediately returned by Krstic’s European management firm, Invictus Sports Group. Krstic joined Invictus late last month to manage his overseas opportunities.

Since the Celtics were bounced from the playoffs by the Miami Heat last month, there have been numerous reports of overseas interest in Krstic, who will be an unrestricted free agent. The Serbia native is no stranger to international ball and it should come as no surprise that he’d be interested in potentially playing there during an NBA work stoppage.

Celtics guard Ray Allen exercises option for 2011-12 season

The Boston Celtics announced today that guard Ray Allen has exercised his option to stay with the team for the 2011-12 season. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. He should make around $10 million for the season.

Allen, a 6’5” guard, shot a career-high 44.4% from the three-point line during the 2010-11 season and averaged 16.5 points, 3.4 rebound, 2.7 assists and 0.96 steals per game. Allen made his 10th All-Star team for his work during the season and was named to his third All-Star appearance in four years with the Celtics. The former UConn Husky became the NBA’s all-time three-point field goals made leader when he passed Reggie Miller against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 10, 2011. Allen is currently ranked as the 24th highest scorer in NBA history with 22,286 career points.

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Shaq announces retirement

The AP reports:

Shaquille O’Neal, who struggled to get on the court for the Boston Celtics because of leg injuries, said on Twitter on Wednesday that he is going to retire after a 19-year career in which he won four NBA titles and the 2000 league Most Valuable Player award.

O’Neal sent a tweet shortly before 2:45 p.m. saying, “im retiring.” It included a link to a 16-second video in which he says, “We did it; 19 years, baby. Thank you very much. That’s why I’m telling you first: I’m about to retire. Love you. Talk to you soon.”

An inveterate prankster who gave himself a new nickname — or several — in each of his six NBA cities, the 15-time all-star did not notify his latest team of his plans. He played just 37 games this year, the first of a two-year deal at the veteran’s minimum salary, making just three brief appearances after Feb. 1.

“To my knowledge, he has not informed any of us that he’s retiring,” Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss said.

If he goes, O’Neal retires fifth all-time with 28,596 points, 12th with 13,099 rebounds and second only to Artis Gilmore among players with more than 2,000 baskets with a .582 field goal percentage.

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Rockets hire Kevin McHale as new head coach

Houston Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander today named NBA Hall of Famer Kevin McHale as the 12th head coach in team history. A seven-time NBA All-Star, McHale helped lead Boston to three NBA championships during a 13-year playing career with the Celtics. Following his playing career, McHale spent 16 seasons as an executive with the Minnesota Timberwolves, including two stints as the team’s head coach during the 2004-05 and 2008-09 seasons. Most recently, McHale served as an in-studio analyst for TNT and NBA TV.

“Kevin McHale is a proven NBA champion who has the leadership skills and basketball knowledge necessary to guide our team into the future,” said Alexander. “Kevin’s hard-nosed work ethic and tenacity on the court led him to a Hall of Fame career and a legacy as one of the NBA’s greatest low-post players of all time. I’m looking forward to seeing Kevin share his unique basketball knowledge and experience as he leads our talented group of players into the next era of Rockets basketball.”

Upon his retirement as an NBA player, McHale joined the Timberwolves as a television analyst and special assistant. On Aug. 18, 1994, new Timberwolves Owner Glen Taylor promoted him to Assistant General Manager. He continued to broadcast Minnesota games and work as an executive until May 11, 1995, when he succeeded Jack McCloskey as Vice President of Basketball Operations. In this role, McHale was credited with the hiring of Flip Saunders – the franchise’s most successful head coach – in 1995, the drafting of high school phenom Kevin Garnett with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NBA Draft, and assembling the core talent that resulted in seven playoff runs from 1997-2004 and highlighted by a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2004.

“I’d like to thank Mr. Alexander and the entire Rockets organization for offering me this exciting opportunity to return to coaching with a first-class organization like the Rockets,” said McHale. “As we explored the opportunity to come to Houston, it felt like the right situation for me. I enjoy the competitive nature of our game and I am looking forward to getting to work with the very talented roster of players that are already in place here in Houston.

McHale logged his first coaching stint after taking over for Saunders on Feb. 12, 2005, and leading the Timberwolves to a record of 19-12 to finish out the 2004-05 season. After hiring Randy Wittman as head coach prior to the 2005-06 season, McHale returned to his post as Vice President of Basketball Operations until he stepped down on Dec. 8, 2008 and transitioned into his second stint as head coach of the Timberwolves by taking over for Wittman. Beginning with a victory at New York (12/26/08), McHale helped the Timberwolves rebound with a 12-4 mark over their next 16 outings, which included a five-game winning streak (1/2/09-1/10/09). McHale was also named Western Conference Coach of the Month for Jan. 2009 after guiding the Timberwolves to a 10-4 mark during that month. Minnesota’s ascent under McHale was derailed that season when leading scorer Al Jefferson sustained a season-ending knee injury at New Orleans (2/8/09).

Prior to his NBA front office career, McHale distinguished himself as one of the game’s most successful players at all levels of his playing career. In 1992, he was elected to the Minnesota State High School League Hall of Fame. To coincide with the University of Minnesota’s 100th Anniversary, he was selected as the top player in the history of Minnesota men’s basketball on Feb. 18, 1995. During the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, he was honored as one of the NBA’s Top-50 Players for the league’s first half-century. On Oct. 1, 1999, McHale was recognized for his achievements on the court with induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. On July 8, 2000, he was inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame.

InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner has praised McHale as owner of the finest low-post moves in the history of the NBA.

During his storied 13-year career with the Celtics, McHale was a seven-time NBA All-Star (1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991) and helped lead Boston to three NBA championships (1981, 1984 and 1986), five Eastern Conference titles and eight Atlantic Division crowns. He was voted the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year twice (1984 and 1985) and was selected to the All-NBA First Team in 1987. He was also named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team three times (1986, 1987 and 1988) and the Second Team on another three occasions (1983, 1989 and 1990). Overall, the 6-10 forward/center averaged 17.9 points and 7.3 rebounds in 971 career regular season games. In 169 playoff contests, he increased his averages to 18.8 points and 7.4 rebounds. A first-round selection (third overall) by the Celtics in the 1980 NBA Draft, McHale went on to earn NBA All-Rookie First-Team accolades in 1981.

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Larry Bird is a Dirk Nowitzki fan

While I am not a fan of comparisons between Dirk Nowitzki and Larry Bird (I’m cool with discussing their scoring and shooting ability, but I give Bird a huge advantage when it comes to passing and various other stuff), it’s certainly fun to hear Larry Legend share his thoughts on the big German.

Marc Stein of ESPN reports:

“He’s had a great run (in the playoffs), but I’ve always been very impressed with him,” Larry Bird said [about Dirk Nowitzki]. “His work ethic, his loyalty to his country. It’s really an honor for me to have people compare us.

“He rebounds. He plays at his own pace. He sort of controls the tempo on offense. It’d be nice to be 7 foot and when they run plays and switch (defenders) on him, it doesn’t bother him at all. He can see over everybody.

“He’s got the step-backs. He gets to the rim. The difficulty of some of the shots that he makes … one thing about him is that he’s always got great balance. His shot looks like he’s falling away, but he’s got a lot of balance when the shot goes up.

“I understand (the comparisons). I’ve always felt it’s an honor when they compare anyone to me, because I haven’t played ball for 20 years.”

Asked how much he would have enjoyed the opportunity to take Nowitzki on in one of his legendary post-practice shooting games, Bird said: “I would have loved to compete against all these young guys: LeBron (James), (Kevin) Durant, Dirk. When you play this game, you want to go up against the very best. But I can’t even beat Magic (Johnson) in a H-O-R-S-E game any more. That’s how far I’ve fallen.”

One more comment on passing ability: Bird is my favorite passing forward of all time, but it has to be said that he had teammates who cut to the basket far more often than Dirk’s stand-in-three-point-range teammates do. Still, Bird passed the rock as well as almost anyone who ever played the game. I can’t come close to saying anything like that about Dirk.

Celtics sign coach Doc Rivers to extension

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have extended the contract of Head Coach Glenn “Doc” Rivers. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Multiple reports over the last week said the deal was for five years and around $35 million.

“We are extremely happy to have Doc at the helm of the franchise for the foreseeable future and we firmly believe that he is the best coach in the NBA,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations.

Rivers is currently ranked third in Celtics history among coaching wins trailing on Red Auerbach and Tommy Heinsohn. Rivers has amassed a record of 336-238 (.585) in his seven years with the club and accomplished his 500th career coaching win earlier this season against the New Orleans Hornets (March 19, 2011). In his time with the Celtics, Rivers has been honored by coaching the Eastern Conference All-Stars twice (2008, 2011), has been named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month six times and guided the Celtics to their 17th NBA Championship. He also was named the NBA’s Coach of the Year when he was in Orlando for his work during the 1999-2000 season.

“This is where I want to be,” said Celtics Head Coach, Doc Rivers. “This is where I should be. I have a great partnership with Danny and the ownership group. We are all dedicated to win.”

“Doc is a true Celtic and is one of the finest people I’ve had the privilege to work with,” said Wyc Grousbeck, Celtics Managing Partner and Co-Owner.