The AP reports: The New Jersey Nets avoided what could’ve been a humiliating sweep, and managed to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff race for one more day. Vince Carter scored 27 points, Richard Jefferson added 26 and the Nets moved within one game of the final playoff spot in the conference with a 106-91 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday night. The Nets also defeated their cross-Hudson rivals for the first time this season after three losses… Jamal Crawford led the Knicks with 26 points, while Zach Randolph had 17 in his return to New York’s starting lineup. Lee finished with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while Wilson Chandler added 12 points for the Knicks.
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Nets love our planet and go ‘CarbonNeutral’
Here’s a press release from the Nets:
With their ongoing commitment to “greening” the franchise through a company-wide environmental strategy, the Nets have become the first major professional sports team to be accredited as CarbonNeutral®.
To achieve this position, the Nets plan to lower their carbon footprint by focusing on improving energy efficiency, recycling rates, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and establishing green procurement policies for the materials the Nets use on a regular basis. To get to net zero CO2 as these changes begin, the Nets are purchasing guaranteed and verified carbon credits that support renewable energy projects around the world.
In January, the Nets launched ‘Netsgogreen.com’ as an educational resource for Nets fans to learn about energy conservation, global warming, sustainability, recycling, air quality, forestation, renewable energy, greener cleaning products, policy and legislation, key green terms, and water conservation.
“Being carbon neutral is an important step as we change our own behaviors and lead the way in environmental and sustainable initiatives in the sports industry,” said Nets CEO Brett Yormark. “We have a social responsibility to do our part to combat climate change, but it also makes business sense as well. Achieving CarbonNeutral accreditation is a milestone in our environmental strategy and we will continue to set an example in sustainable development when we move to our new home in Brooklyn, the Barclays Center.”
Mark Armitage, President US, The CarbonNeutral Company said: “We are delighted that the Nets have made this crucial step in committing to becoming greener. The CarbonNeutral Company is fully supporting them through the CarbonNeutral program by offering them expert advice on how to reduce their carbon footprint through internal changes and through carbon offsetting, and supporting them on how to effectively communicate this good work to their staff, suppliers, players and fan base.”
Rockets notes after beating Nets 91-73
Tonight’s attendance of 18,271 marks Houston’s 20th sellout at Toyota Center this season.
Houston won 91-73 to capture its 19th victory in a row (1/29/08-3/10/08), which matches the third longest winning streak in NBA history: 33 by the L.A. Lakers (11/5/71-1/7/1972), 20 by the Milwaukee Bucks (2/6/71-3/8/71) and 19 by the L.A. Lakers (2/4/00-3/13/00).
The Rockets have actually won their last 10 consecutive games by a double-digit margin (2/21/08-3/10/08), which equals the all-time record of 10 by the Washington Capitols in Dec. 1946 and 10 by the New Jersey Nets in Jan.-Feb. 2004.
The Nets scored the opening basket of the game, which marked the first time since the 2005-06 campaign that the Nets have held any kind of lead over the Rockets. New Jersey took a 90-77 win at Houston (3/13/06) in the second meeting that season. Houston then scored the opening points in the next three outings and never trailed in any of those games with New Jersey (12/27/06, 3/9/07 and 12/7/07).
Houston kept New Jersey to just 24-of-79 (.304) from the floor to set the 2007-08 opponent lows for field goals made and field goal percentage. The previous lows were 25 field goals (done twice: last 1/25/08 at Portland) and .313 shooting by the Wizards at Houston (2/26/08). The Rockets also held the Nets to 28 points on .209 (9-43 FG) shooting in the first half to set Houston’s opponent low in field goal percentage for a half, eclipsing the .213 (10-47 FG) mark set by the Wizards in the first half at Houston (2/26/08). Houston also limited New Jersey to an opponent quarter-low .158 (3-19 FG) from the floor in the second stanza, surpassing a .167 mark set by the Hornets in the second quarter at New Orleans (2/22/08).
Tonight was the third time this season that Houston has held an opponent to fewer than 30 points in a half. The Rockets gave up just 29 second-half points to the Trail Blazers at Portland (1/25/08) and limited the Wizards to a franchise-low 23 points in the first half vs. Washington (2/26/08).
New Jersey went 0-for-6 from downtown to become Houston’s third opponent this season to go scoreless from beyond the arc. Minnesota was held 0-for-6 from downtown at Houston (1/11/08) and Atlanta was 0-for-5 from 3-point range at Houston (2/9/08).
Tracy McGrady finished with game-high 19 points and four assists, including a 13-point third quarter.
Rafer Alston had 12 points and three assists, snapping his string of consecutive 20-point outings at three games.
Steve Novak registered a career-high 11 points (4-6 FG, 3-4 3FG), surpassing his 10-point (4-4 FG, 2-2 3FG) outing vs. Utah (1/27/08).
Dikembe Mutombo posted six rebounds and a season-high five blocks. Mutombo has now upped his total to 17 blocked shots (2.43 bpg) over his seven starts for Yao Ming.
With a game-high 10 rebounds tonight, Chuck Hayes picked up his 25th career double-digit rebounding performances and his seventh of this season.
Vince Carter finished with a team-high 13 points and three assists. Carter, who topped the Nets with 32 points at New Jersey (12/7/07), had almost the same number of points in that game as the top three New Jersey scorers from tonight’s outing (35 combined points: Carter-13, Jefferson-12 and Harris-10).
Mavericks sign Jamaal Magloire
The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed center Jamaal Magloire. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. InsideHoops.com hears it may be a one-year contract for the league minimum. But that isn’t confirmed.
Magloire (6-11, 265) played 24 games for New Jersey this season and averaged 1.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in 10.8 minutes. The eight-year pro has career averages of 8.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.0 block while shooting 47.9% from the field in 530 total games with four different franchises (Charlotte/New Orleans, Milwaukee, Portland and New Jersey).
In 2004 with New Orleans, Magloire was selected as a reserve for the Eastern Conference All-Star Team. He finished with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal in 21 minutes for the East. During that season, he ranked fifth in the NBA in offensive rebounds, tied for seventh in overall rebounds and tied for 27th in field goal percentage. Additionally, he was one of only four players in the Eastern Conference and 11 players in the entire NBA to average a double-double.
Magloire was the 19th overall selection in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets after playing four years for the University of Kentucky. He was a member of the Wildcats 1998 National Championship team.
Nets waive Jamaal Magloire
The New Jersey Nets have requested waivers on center Jamaal Magloire, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.
Magloire, who signed with the Nets on July 17, 2007, played in 24 games this season, averaging 1.8 points and 3.4 rebounds. The eight-year pro holds career averages of 8.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in 530 NBA games.
Devin Harris out 1-2 more weeks
The AP reports: The New Jersey Nets will probably have to wait at least two weeks before they can begin to gauge how well they made out in Tuesday’s eight-player deal with Dallas. Point guard Devin Harris, who will take Jason Kidd’s place in the Nets’ lineup, said Wednesday the ankle injury that has kept him out for the last three weeks will sideline him for up to two weeks more.
Mavericks waive Nick Fazekas
The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have waived forward Nick Fazekas.
Fazekas (6-11, 235) was selected by Dallas with the 34th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. He saw action in four games with the Mavericks this season averaging 1.0 point in 2.3 minutes. He spent 28 games (24 starts) with the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA D-League and averaged 19.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 30.5 minutes per game. He was selected as a D-League All-Star but did not play in the game.
Nets officially trade Jason Kidd to Mavericks
The New Jersey Nets have acquired guards Devin Harris, Trenton Hassell, Maurice Ager, center DeSagana Diop and forward Keith Van Horn along with Dallas’ first round draft picks in 2008 and 2010, and cash considerations from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for guard Jason Kidd and forwards Antoine Wright and Malik Allen, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.
“This trade provides us with immediate help, most notably with the acquisition of Devin Harris, who we consider one of the rising young point guards in the NBA,” said Thorn. “Harris’s numbers have improved each of his four years in the league, and we feel that he has a significant upside. This trade also will give us two future first round draft picks and will give us flexibility to improve our roster.”
More info here.
Deron Williams wins Skills Challenge
It’s 2008 NBA All-Star Weekend and the Saturday Night events are on. Now up is the Skills Challenge competition.
Deron Williams went first, missing a straight-in pass and one of the top-of-the-key shots, finishing in 31.2 seconds.
Jason Kidd went second and was flawless until shooting the top of the key shot, which he missed five times (after five misses a player can stop shooting and continue with the course), finishing in 39.7 seconds.
Chris Paul was up net, missing a bounce pass, but otherwise running the whole course perfectly, flying in at 29.0 seconds.
Last up was Dwyane Wade, who fumbled the ball during the obstacle-dribble in the beginning and had to go chase it, then missed three from the top of the key and quickly fired the next two up just to get through it, blew some passes, and slowly dribbled to the end, but then missed the layup, and missed the follow, for a disgustingly awful performance of 53.9 seconds.
CP3 and D-Will advance to the second and final round.
In the final round, D-Will went first. He dunked the first shot, ran the dribbling, hit the straight-in pass, and the bounce pass, swished the top-of-the-key jumper, hit the next straight-on pass, and ended it with a dunk, finishing with in terrific 25.5 seconds time, setting the all-time record best time for this event.
Paul is up and has to be virtually perfect for a shot at winning. He hit the first layup, dribbled the obstacles, missed the first straight-on pass, hit the bounce pass, missed once from the top of the key, hit the last straight-on pass, and hit the layup, getting 31.2 seconds — a respectable time but D-Will wins it with a brilliant performance.
Rumor: If dealt, Stackhouse can’t return to Mavs
ESPN (Chris Broussard) reports: The chances of Jason Kidd wearing a Dallas Mavericks uniform this season are shrinking by the day. First, Devean George refused to consent to the trade to New Jersey. Now, according to a league source, the league will not allow the Mavericks to bring back Jerry Stackhouse if he is traded and subsequently waived by the New Jersey Nets. According to one league source, the NBA has already made one of the teams aware of its position. “The league has taken Stackhouse out of the deal,” the source said. “They said, ‘He can be in the trade, but he can’t go back to Dallas after that.’ “