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Shaquille O’Neal of the Boston Celtics has been fined $35,000 for public comments about the officiating, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred following the Celtics’ 86-78 loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.
More details shortly.
The Boston Celtics announced today that guard Delonte West underwent successful surgery to repair a displaced right wrist fracture this morning at the New England Baptist Hospital. The surgery was performed by Dr. Drew Terrono and Dr. Hervey Kimball and assisted by Celtics Team Physician Dr. Brian McKeon. No timetable has been set for his return.
West had appeared in five games for the Celtics this season and was averaging 6.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals at the time of the injury. He made his season debut for the Celtics against Washington on November 17 and netted 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.
InsideHoops.com editor says: Reports a week or so said that West may miss multiple months; perhaps three.
The AP reports:
Boston guard Delonte West left the Celtics’ game against the New Jersey Nets after breaking his right wrist.
West crashed to the ground after a layup with 2:48 left in the second quarter. He stayed there, grimacing in pain, until the medical staff came to help him. A few minutes later, he walked off, holding his right arm in his left, still in obvious pain.
Ian Thompson of SI.com reports:
It’s a big loss for the defending Eastern Conference champs, who were counting on West to help lead a second unit to relieve the burden on the starting five. Though West shoots left-handed and could eventually play with a cast, the injury left coach Doc Rivers to express hope that West could return in time for the playoffs. “It’s a compound fracture, most likely,” said Rivers. “It’s going to be a long time, let’s put it that way.”
West, a 6-foot-3 combo guard, was expected to provide backup minutes to starting point guard Rajon Rondo. Boston will hope to replace his defense and three-point shooting with 6-2 rookie Avery Bradley, the Celtics’ first-round pick who made his debut Monday in Atlanta after undergoing ankle surgery last summer.
Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.
Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed guard/forward Alonzo Gee. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.
Gee (6-6, 220 lbs.), who appeared in five games this season for the San Antonio Spurs, returns to Washington following an 11-game stint with the Wizards last season. Gee averaged 7.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 16.5 minutes during those 11 games, including a career-high 19-point effort at Charlotte on March 26.
Gee was initially signed to a ten-day contract by the Wizards last season on March 7 and was inked to a second ten-day contract on March 18 before signing with San Antonio for the remainder of the season. Gee was waived by the Spurs on November 16.
Hudson appeared in six games for Washington this season, totaling two points, six assists and one rebound in 26 minutes of play. Hudson was initially signed on September 24.
The Springfield Armor, the New Jersey Nets, and the NBA Development League announced today that the Nets and Armor have entered into a single affiliation partnership beginning during the 2011-12 season, giving the Nets full control over the basketball operations of and making them the sole affiliate for the Armor. The Nets are the second NBA team to enter into a single affiliation with an NBA D-League team, joining the Houston Rockets and the 2009-10 NBA D-League Champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
In a structure similar to other minor leagues, this partnership model, also referred to as the “hybrid affiliation,” allows for NBA teams to secure control over and cover the expenses related to the basketball operations of an NBA D-League team, while partnering with existing local ownership, which maintains responsibility for the team’s off-the-court business operations.
“The New Jersey Nets’ decision to enter into a single affiliation partnership with the Springfield Armor is yet another example of NBA teams understanding how integral the NBA D-League can be to their success, and an important step in our continued evolution as a true minor league for the NBA,” said NBA D-League President Dan Reed. “With twenty percent of NBA players having used the NBA D-League as a springboard, it’s no surprise that the Nets join a growing number of NBA teams that have acquired the benefits of a one-to-one relationship with their NBA D-League affiliate.”
“The Nets organization is very pleased to enter into this agreement with the Springfield Armor,” said Nets General Manger Billy King. “We feel that the ‘hybrid’ arrangement will allow our basketball team to maximize its affiliation with the NBA D-League and allow Springfield to serve as a fertile training ground for our players, coaches and front office personnel, only strengthening our basketball product.”
“The Springfield Armor organization is thrilled to be entering into this single affiliation partnership with the New Jersey Nets,” said Armor Managing Partner Michael Savit. “This is the wave of the future in the NBA D-League, and we’re pleased to be getting in on the ground floor as a partner with one of the NBA’s most exciting teams. It reflects very positively on the NBA D-League, our organization and the City of Springfield.”
During the 2010-11 season, the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers, along with the Nets, will serve as affiliates for the Armor.
Kevin Garnett is known for trash-talking, and every now and then he rubs someone the wrong way, in a big way. Such is the case now.
Chris Iott of Michigan Live reports:
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The Detroit Pistons’ Charlie Villanueva and Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett were whistled for technical fouls at the same point in the third quarter of Tuesday night’s game.
Villanueva Twitter quotes from after midnight Tuesday night
First: “KG talks a lot of crap, he’s prob never been in a fight, I would love to get in a ring with him, I will expose him.”
Then: “KG called me a cancer patient. I’m pissed because, u know how many people died from cancer, and he’s tossing it like it’s a joke.”
And then: “I wouldn’t even trip about that, but a cancer patient, I know way 2 many people who passed away from it, and I have a special place 4 those.”
InsideHoops.com editor says: Assuming KG really did say what’s quoted above, of course I gotta support Villanueva in this one, who is angry for the right reasons. Though as for KG, I’ll say that the purpose of trash-talking is to piss the other guy off and in this case it appears to have worked. Of course, there are ways to trash-talk that don’t involve mentioning diseases, death, etc. — and that’s what Villanueva is quite rightly annoyed about.
Frank Dell’Apa of the Boston Globe reports:
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Celtics guard Delonte West said after practice yesterday that his conflict with teammate Von Wafer has been resolved. West and Wafer scuffled during a workout before Friday night’s game.
“It’s not that serious,’’ West said. “We’ve moved past that, you know. We’re competitive guys being competitive. I’m competitive, he’s competitive. Hopefully, it’s for the betterment of the team. There’s nothing wrong with healthy competition and pushing each other to get better. Things went a little too far but, at the same time, we’re able to move past that. We’re professionals and we’re on to something different, we’ve forgotten all about it. We actually laughed about it [yesterday].
“I read the reports and a lot of things were taken out of [context], and facts were made up that were not true, how things played out. Guys get into scuffles, or whatever you want to call it, but at the end of the day we’re brothers in here and we had a big laugh about it. We’re trying to win, we’re competitive, we have fiery guys in here and, you know, you’ve got to get to the next thing, next game, next challenge.’’
InsideHoops.com editor says: The rumor that Delonte showed up to practice next day dressed up like Rambo is false.
The Boston Celtics announced today that they have waived forwards Stephane Lasme, Keith “Tiny” Gallon, and guard Mario West. The Celtics roster now stands at 15.
Lasme, a 6’8” 215 lbs forward, averaged 4.1 points and 2.6 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per game during the 2010 preseason for the Celtics. He scored a preseason high of 12 points against Philadelphia on October 6.
West, a 6’5” 210 lbs guard, appeared in all eight preseason games for the Celtics averaging 0.7 points and 0.7 rebounds in 7.3 minutes per game.
Gallon, a 6’9” 290 lbs forward, was signed by the Celtics on October 19 and dressed for the game against New Jersey on October 20.
The Boston Herald reports:
Doc Rivers missed today’s practice after having a procedure Sunday to relieve pressure on his vocal cords.
The outpatient procedure was performed at Mass. General, and Rivers is reportedly able to speak normally.
The Boston Globe blog reports:
“Right now the doctor doesn’t want him using his voice,” Frank said of Rivers. “Everything looks good and he’s looking forward to getting back. They just want him to rest his voice box. Obviously, he’ll be using it quite a bunch, so he’ll have plenty of time.”
Chris Forsberg of ESPN reports:
Doc Rivers said after the game that Avery Bradley’s surgically repaired left ankle is still not responding well to rehab and the team is pondering whether to shut him down indefinitely to allow a greater recovery.
For Bradley, it’s the latest setback in a frustrating four-month span as he recovers from arthroscopic surgery that was performed on July 2, the same day he inked his rookie deal with the Celtics.
“I’m more upset for him because this is not the way you want to break into the NBA,” said Rivers.