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The Boston Celtics announced today that they have requested waivers on forward Marcus Landry.
Landry, a 6’7 forward, was acquired by the Celtics along with guard Nate Robinson on February 18. Landry appeared in one game for the Celtics after he was acquired from New York and played three minutes. In 18 combined games for New York and Boston this season Landry averaged 2.4 points and 1.1 rebounds in 6.2 minutes per game.
The AP reports:
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Don Nelson emerged from the Golden State Warriors locker room all disheveled from a wild celebration after finally overtaking Lenny Wilkens as the NBA’s winningest coach.
His gray hair was soaked to the scalp not with Dom Perignon, but a concoction of fizzy soft drinks after a 116-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night gave Nelson win No. 1,333 for his career…
In 31 seasons on the bench, Nelson is 1,333-1,061 in a career that has made stops in Milwaukee, Golden State (twice), New York and Dallas. He won five titles as a player, has been named coach of the year three times, but has never made an NBA Finals as a coach.
Tuesday night in New York, the Boston Celtics visited the Knicks in Madison Square Garden and left with a loss. The highlights of the evening were the scoring of Danilo Gallinari, the fantastic play of Earl Barron, and the amazing, electric atmosphere in MSG.
Although the Knicks leading scorer was Gallinari, who shot 10-of-15, and hit 10-of-11 free throws for 31 points and five rebounds, the real surprise of the evening came from Barron, a random free agent center the Knicks recently picked up to help them close out the season.
Starting alongside David Lee, Barron was fantastic, shooting 8-of-13 for 17 points and 18 rebounds in over 44 minutes of play. There was no reason to consider taking Barron out. He constantly set screens, moved without the ball, created passing lanes, and helped the team virtually every minute he was on the floor.
Barron is auditioning for a real NBA contract, but yesterday’s play showed he belongs on a roster. He showed a high basketball IQ in almost everything he did.
The Knicks can also be proud of their fans and home arena. The Garden was simply electric. And in the 4th quarter, as it became apparent the Knicks really might win, fans were going bonkers. Fans gave up home long ago that the team would make the playoffs. Yet they continue to pack MSG and provide very loud support.
For the Celtics, no one really stepped up. They were led by Ray Allen’s 17 points (6-of-9), but the shooting guard had no rebounds and just one assist. Kendrick Perkins (6-of-8) had 14 points and eight rebounds. Kevin Garnett was disappointing with 14 points on 12 shots, just four rebounds and four assists. Paul Pierce was underwhelming as well, with 13 points on 10 shots, six rebounds and more turnovers than assists. Rajon Rondo had just six points and six assists.
The bright spots for the Celtics were 54.8% shooting, and the fact that they almost won despite almost everyone on the roster having an off night.
To keep perspective, Boston is mainly focused on staying healthy for the playoffs, while New York will miss the post-season and has a roster is filled with players who will be free agent this summer.
But fans in Madison Square Garden last night enjoyed a real thrill.
Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reports:
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Doc Rivers said Nate Robinson, who will return to New York tonight for the first time since being traded by the Knicks, and Marquis Daniels, are out of the playing rotation. Neither played Sunday against Cleveland.
Robinson has shot fewer than 39 percent as a Celtic and hasn’t scored in double figures since March 12. The club expected scoring punch off the bench and solid point guard play but Robinson has been tentative offensively. Rivers said he was upset that Robinson attempted a 3-point shot with 19.9 seconds left in the first quarter Friday against Houston with 19 seconds remaining on the shot clock.
Daniels has struggled since returning to the lineup in February after recovering from a torn left thumb ligament. He was signed to spell Rajon Rondo and provide solid defense, but he has gradually lost Rivers’s confidence. He averaged 9.4 points in nine games after returning from injury, but has averaged 3.7 in 18 games since.
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The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that guard Cuttino Mobley has been waived.
(Yes, this really did just happen today — on April 5, 2010.)
Mobley, 6-4, 215-pounds, was acquired from the L.A. Clippers in a four-player trade on Nov. 21, 2008. On Dec. 11, 2008, he announced his retirement.
ESPN reports:
Sources told ESPN.com that the Knicks were notified last week that their request for Mobley’s $9.5 million salary to be erased from their 2009-10 tax bill has been approved… Once Mobley clears waivers later this week, New York will see its luxury-tax bill for July drop from nearly $15 million to $5.1 million. That will also reduce the rebate that teams get for staying underneath the league’s $69.9 million luxury-tax threshhold from just over $4 million to $3.7 million.
The Knicks roster stands at 14 players.
Marc Berman on the New York Post blog reports:
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In another disgraceful Knick loss at the tail end of another disgraceful season, David Lee did something no NBA player has done since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1976.
Lee posted his first career triple-double in racking up 37 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists, though the defense-less Knicks were pummeled by Golden State, 128-117, tonight at Oracle Arena.
Lee registered the first 30-point, 20-rebound, 10-assist game since Jabbar went for 35-20-12 – also against Golden State, 34 years ago.
And yet the Knicks were barely in contention, falling behind by 20 points in the first half. Lee played 45:47, obviously kept in the game late to post his triple-double. It was emptier than an Easter Egg basket on Monday.
Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports:
This is why stats are sometimes overrated. David Lee notched his first career triple-double as the Knicks lost, 128-117, to the hapless and undermanned Golden State Warriors Friday night. Lee finished with a career-high 37 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in 46 minutes as the Knicks fell to 26-49. Danilo Gallinari added 29 points, while Anthony Morrow, who was the best player on the floor, scored 35 off the bench for Golden State.
The Warriors’ starting lineup consisted of Reggie Williams, Corey Maggette, Ronny Turiaf, C.J. Watson and Stephen Curry, who had 15 points and 10 assists. The Warriors (22-53) shot 57%.
Josh Dubow of the Canadian Press reports:
“It’s about getting wins, even at this juncture of the season when we know we’re not making the playoffs,” Lee said. “It’s disappointing we couldn’t get one. That’s two high-powered offensive teams tonight that aren’t the two best defensive teams in the league by any stretch of the imagination, so it’s a difficult loss for us. We need to find a way to win one in L.A. to salvage this road trip.”
The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that free agent center Earl Barron has been signed to a 10-day contract. As per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Barron, a member of the Iowa Energy, became the 33rd call-up of the 2009-10 NBA Development League season.
Barron, 7-0, 250-pounds, averaged 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds over 31.7 minutes in 47 games with Iowa this season. He spent the last two seasons in the D-League after appearing in 82 games with the Miami Heat from 2005-08. He averaged 4.9 points and three rebounds in 82 games (15 starts) with Miami. In 2007-08, he averaged 7.1 points and 4.3 rebounds over 19.3 minutes over 46 games (15 starts). He signed with Miami on Aug. 8, 2005, after going undrafted out of the University of Memphis.
The Knicks roster stands at 15 players.
Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:
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The nightmare Eddy Curry saga took an even darker turn when the Knicks’ maligned center revealed he has something torn in his calf that will take six to eight weeks to rehabilitate.
Curry is lost for the season as his comeback from knee surgery never materialized. He’s played 10 games in two seasons and is under contract for next season.
Curry was slated to return in San Antonio two weeks ago before he sustained calf tightness that turned into a sharp pain.
A Knicks official said Friday the MRI exam revealed the calf injury showed only a strain. But the team announced today that Curry has a torn myofascial band in his right calf.
Steve Adamek on the Bergen Record blog reports:
Donnie Walsh practically growls when the subject of a contract buyout is brought up, but that now seems like a foregone conclusion (unless the Knicks believe someone will trade for his expiring contract next season) if Eddy and his people are willing to accept about 90 cents on the dollar so he can walk this summer.
That should give the Knicks enough extra salary-cap room this summer to guarantee enough space for two max contracts (if they want to spend it all, of course). And it means the next team that signs Curry (and he’s just 27 and almost 7 feet tall, so no doubt someone will) will probably make up that difference and more, figuring the investment if he fails will be minimal.
InsideHoops.com note: Curry played in just seven games this season, averaging 3.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per outing.
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It’s nice when NBA players are totally honest about stuff that pisses them off. Amar’e Stoudemire is the current example of that, revealing that he’s not a Tracy McGrady fan. The NBA needs more personal grudges. Ideally between players who guard each other. Let’s all root for Amar’e to develop a grudge against, say, David West, or a guy he goes up against. I support such things. Grudges are good. They make the games more fun.
The main thing Chucky Atkins can offer teams at this point isn’t his basketball ability. It’s his name. It’s just fun to say “Chucky.” Seriously, try it. Yell “Chucky!” at a friend, even if that’s not his name. Chucky!!!
Don’t be surprised by any Phil Jackson Lakers stories that come out, unless they claim that he actually won’t be back. When in doubt, assume he’ll return.
The constant talk about where LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, etc. may go always gets big attention. But in reality, LeBron will probably stay with the Cavs, Wade with the Heat, but Bosh I’m not sure about. He could jet. But there’s a good chance he has no idea where he’ll go. Any stories that name actual favorites are probably just semi-educated speculation at this early point.
Andres Nocioni could contribute more to the Sacramento Kings than he currently is, but it’s just sort of pointless for them to really focus on using him. They’re a bad team, with plenty of young talent for the future, and Nocioni simply probably won’t be a part of it. Ideally, they can trade him this summer to a competitve team that needs a good backup forward.
The Timberwolves ‘may’ offer Darko Milicic a multi-year contract. That’s not particularly huge news. It’ll probably be something close to the minimum, and less than Darko can earn in Europe. He probably has no idea where he’ll be next year, but it does sound like Europe is still the favorite.
I think I could score 30 on the current Pistons frontcourt.
Will 76ers guard Jrue Holiday be better than Lou Williams by next season? Is he better right now?
The next Nets owner, Mr. Russian billionaire, will be on 60 Minutes Sunday. I’ll be watching for sure. Hope he says something interesting and doesn’t just stick with boring, politically correct statements. Also, watch and see if he buys the show, or the entire TV network, after the interview, just so he has a new toy to play with.
The NCAA tournament is flying by. Watch every game! By Sunday night we’ll be down to the Final Four already.
Go INSIDE HOOPS every day.
Talk to you Sunday.
This feature is an editorialized take on the day’s hot NBA rumors stories.
Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports:
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According to Amar’e Stoudemire, his beef with Tracy McGrady dates back to the fall of 2001, when Stoudemire was a high school All-America in Florida and McGrady was entering his fifth NBA season. At the time, McGrady was attending his brother’s football game when Stoudemire approached and asked for advice about making the jump from high school to the pros.
“He pretty much didn’t say anything,” Stoudemire remembered. “So I look at myself as being successful in the NBA and if a kid from my hometown came up to me and said, ‘Amar’e, I’m thinking about going to (the NBA),’ I would say, ‘It’s a tough process, college is very important. Education is very important,’ so forth and so on. But I didn’t get any of that.”
“He doesn’t remember,” Stoudemire said. “I’m not surprised he doesn’t remember.”
McGrady disputed Stoudemire’s recollection, saying he and Stoudemire had a phone conversation about him turning pro. McGrady added that the two were together in New York as recently as last September following a Jay-Z concert.