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Paul Pierce is saving money at All-Star game

The AP reports:

Paul Pierce is saving money at All-Star game

Paul Pierce is glad to be back home for the All-Star game, even though the Boston Celtics star is hearing some boos.

“To come back here for a second time and play in an All-Star game really means a lot—just to save money on plane tickets and hotels for my mom and my aunts,” he said, laughing.

Pierce is from nearby Inglewood, where he used to sneak into the Forum growing up to see the Lakers play.

The boos Pierce has heard are reminiscent of Kobe Bryant getting booed when the All-Star game was played in Philadelphia, where he was a high school star.

“When you play for L.A.’s biggest rival, it’s tough getting booed by the fans. But I’m sure if Kobe Bryant was from Boston, he’d get booed, too, if he went back there,” Pierce said.

Broadway plans play on Magic Johnson, Larry Bird

Mark Kennedy, an AP Drama writer, reports:

The playwright behind the Broadway play “Lombardi” is moving from the gridiron to the hard court.

Eric Simonson is working on “Magic/Bird,” a new play that will chronicle the lives of basketball Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Earvin “Magic” Johnson…

The story will trace the two basketball stars’ rivalry and friendship from their days as rookies in the NBA to their appearance on the Olympic Dream Team in 1992. Johnson and Bird were key parts in the storied struggle between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1980s.

“Here are these two, amazing at their craft, inspiring to watch, and yet they couldn’t be more different people,” said Kirmser. “There was a fierce competitiveness between them and yet such a great love and respect.”

The six-character play is scheduled to debut on Broadway in 2012.

Celtics F Paul Pierce will undergo MRI Monday

Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce struggled badly in a Sunday loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and didn’t look like himself. Now we may know why. Chris Forsberg of ESPN reports:

Celtics F Paul Pierce will undergo MRI Monday

After being held without a field goal over nearly 40 minutes in Sunday’s win over the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics captain Paul Pierce revealed that he is battling pain in his right hand and left ankle, the latter of which will require an MRI on Monday.

“I sprained my hand in practice [Saturday] and I hit it today,” said Pierce. “I just got to get my foot checked out [Monday], I’m going to get an MRI on it and go from there.”

Pierce missed all 10 shots he attempted Sunday, only the fourth time in his career he’s been held without a bucket and the first time since Dec. 13, 2000, when he went 0-for-7 with nine points over 31 minutes during a visit from Chicago. The only comparable shooting night of his career came on March 2, 1999, when Pierce was 0-for-11 with two points over 25 minutes in Cleveland.

Pierce definitely needs some rest, regardless of what the MRI reveals.

Thunderbirds of D-League sign J.R. Giddens

The New Mexico Thunderbirds have announced today they have signed former Lobo guard J.R. Giddens (6-5, 215, New Mexico) and he will be active for their game tonight against the Erie Bayhawks at 5:30 MT.

Giddens played for the University of New Mexico during his junior and senior years of college.  During the 2007-08 season, he averaged 16.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.  He was named the Mountain West Conference Co-Player of the Year and was also an Honorable Mention All-American.

The Boston Celtics selected J.R. Giddens with the 30th pick in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft.  Giddens averaged 1.9 points and 1.4 rebounds per game while shooting 47.6% in 38 career NBA games for the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks over two seasons.

Giddens has also seen time in the NBA Development League during the past two seasons.  Last year, he played in four games for the Maine Red Claws and averaged 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 64.4% from the field.  During the 2008-09 season, he played in 28 games for the Utah Flash and averaged 17.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.1 steals while shooting 57.8% from the floor.

Giddens began this season with Asseco Prokom Gdynia in Poland and averaged 9.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Kendrick Perkins rejects initial Celtics offer

A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE reports:

Kendrick Perkins rejects initial Celtics offer

Kendrick Perkins is still focused on remaining a Boston Celtic after he becomes a free agent this summer.

Just as important, he wants to get a contract that he deems fair market value.

And the preliminary offer made by the Celtics, according to Perkins, won’t cut it.

Perkins told CSNNE.com prior to Boston’s 94-89 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats that the offer made to him was for four years around $22 million.

An earlier report by the Boston Herald cited two unnamed sources that indicated Perkins turned down a contract extension that was for four years and worth slightly less than $30 million.

“That wasn’t it. They offered me four years, but it was closer to like $22 million,” Perkins said. “You talking four years, $30 million! Shoot, that’s different. That’s a big difference.”

Celtics recall Avery Bradley from D-League

Celtics recall Avery Bradley from D-League

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have recalled guard Avery Bradley from the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League.

Bradley, a 6’2” guard, averaged 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.0 steals in nine games with the Red Claws.  Bradley tied a D-League record with nine steals against Tulsa on January 30. While on assignment, he recorded 20 or more points in four games with a high of 25 against the Dakota Wizards on February 4.

NBA fines Doc Rivers

Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers has been fined $15,000 for failing to leave the court in a timely manner following an ejection, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 4:33 remaining in the second period of the Celtics’ 88-71 loss to the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Arena in Phoenix on January 28.

Chicago man gets 13 years for robbing Antoine Walker

The AP reports:

A Chicago man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to robbing former NBA star Antoine Walker at gunpoint at his home in 2007.
Demorris Hill was tried late last year for the robbery, but the jury wasn’t able to reach a unanimous verdict…

Two other men also have been convicted in the robbery, and a third is awaiting trial.

Hill is also charged in a similar robbery at the suburban Chicago home of New York Knicks Center Eddy Curry.

Celtics assign Avery Bradley to D-League

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have assigned guard Avery Bradley to the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League.  Bradley is the team’s first assignment to the Development League this season.

Bradley, a 6’2” guard, has appeared in 14 games for the Celtics this season averaging 1.1 points in 4.7 minutes per game.  The 19th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft recorded a season-high four points and a steal against the Sacramento Kings on January 12.