The AP reports: Thaddeus Young’s driving layup with 2 seconds left lifted Philadelphia to a 96-94 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night, giving the 76ers a surprising 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series… Dwight Howard had 36 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, who won 59 games during the regular season. Andre Iguodala led the Sixers with 29 points, though he missed two free throws in the final minute. Andre Miller added 24 and Young had six… Courtney Lee, coming off a career-best, 24-point effort in Game 2, didn’t score until 3:25 remained in the first half. The rookie finished with six. Turkoglu, still slowed by a left ankle sprain, had 11 on 2-for-12 shooting. He struggled against Iguodala on the defensive end.
Category: NBA Teams
NBA teams blog
LeBron lifts Cavs to 3-0 series lead over Pistons
The AP reports: LeBron James scored 11 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 79-68 victory Friday night over Detroit and a 3-0 lead in the first-round series… The Pistons, whose collective heart was questioned by one of their players, played hard for three-plus quarters before being rendered helpless by James… James had 11 rebounds and nine assists. He said he learned he was just short of a triple-double after looking at the stat sheet… Joe Smith had a career playoff-high 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 13 points… Richard Hamilton had 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Rodney Stuckey contributed 12 points and five assists.
Utah Jazz broadcaster Hot Rod Hundley to retire
Legendary Utah Jazz broadcaster “Hot” Rod Hundley will call his last Jazz game at the end of the 2009 season. Until then, Hundley can be heard on 1320 KFAN and Jazz Radio Network affiliates. Hundley is currently in his fourth season as the radio voice of the Jazz after 31 years as the play-by-play voice of Jazz radio/television simulcasts.
The only member of the original New Orleans Jazz staff to remain with the team all 35 seasons, he joined the organization prior to the expansion team’s inaugural season in 1974-75 and moved with the team when it relocated to Salt Lake City in 1979-80.
“The retirement of ‘Hot’ Rod marks the end of an era for the Utah Jazz,” said team President Randy Rigby. His famous sayings, as well as his voice, are as well known in the community as the musical note logo and marquee players such as Stockton and Malone. Hots will be truly missed by so many of our loyal fans as well as our players, coaches and front office staff. We wish him only the best as he goes on to enjoy his family, friends and retirement.”
Hundley entered 2008-09 having broadcast 2,964 of a possible 2,978 Jazz regular season and playoff games over his first 34 years, and has called well over 3,000 NBA games overall. Now in his 42nd season as an NBA broadcaster, Hundley calls games with a distinctive voice and unique play-by-play style that has made him instantly recognizable to audiences nationwide.
“Retiring was a tough decision for me to make,” said Hundley. “But after 42 seasons of broadcasting, countless miles on the road, hotel rooms and airplanes, I have decided that spending quality time with my daughters and grandchildren is what I want to do. I am grateful to Larry and Gail Miller for their support over the years and have nothing but fond memories of my time with the Jazz organization. I would also like to thank all of the fans in Salt Lake City and throughout the great state of Utah for all of your support over the years. It has truly meant the world to me.”
Hundley moved to radio only prior to the 2005-06 season, marking a return to the Hall of Famer’s roots, back when he called Los Angeles Lakers games with the legendary Chick Hearn.
In 1994, he won the NBA’s Distinguished Broadcaster Award, an honor given only twice previously. “Hot Rod” called his 2,500th Jazz game on February 19, 2003, against the Lakers, and received the 14th Annual Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame during Enshrinement Weekend, on September 5, 2003, in Springfield, Mass. He is the first former player and the first broadcaster from Utah to be enshrined in the writer/broadcaster wing of the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Utah Broadcaster Hall of Fame in June of 2004 and on June 16, 2005 he was inducted into the Utah Summer Games Hall of Honor.
Prior to becoming the voice of the Jazz, Hundley worked two seasons for the L.A. Lakers alongside Hearn, and five seasons for the Phoenix Suns including a stint with Suns’ legend Al McCoy. While working for the Lakers and Suns, Hundley called the college game of the week on TVS alongside Dick Enberg. He announced five years for CBS-TV calling the NBA game of the week, including four All-Star Games, and called two All-Star Games on ABC Radio.
A native of Charleston, W.V., Hundley was a three-time All-American at West Virginia University, where he earned the nickname “Hot Rod” for his flamboyant playing style. Hundley was made the first pick in the 1957 NBA College Draft by the Cincinnati Royals and was immediately traded to the Minneapolis Lakers. He played six seasons for the Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers, earning All-Star honors in 1960 and 1961, and averaging 8.4 points, 3.4 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 431 career games before retiring following the 1962-63 season.
Boozer leads Jazz to 88-86 Game 3 win over Lakers
The AP reports: After struggling with his shot all night, Deron Williams found his touch just in time. Williams’ fadeaway jumper with 2.2 seconds left lifted Utah to an 88-86 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, getting the Jazz back in the first-round playoff series they opened with two losses. Williams took the shot instead of passing to Carlos Boozer on the Jazz’s staple pick-and-roll, hitting just his third field goal of the night and reviving Utah’s postseason hopes. “I just wanted to make up for it a little bit on that last shot,” said Williams, who finished with 13 points and nine assists. Boozer led the Jazz with 23 points and tied a franchise playoff record with 22 rebounds as Utah dominated the boards 55-40… The Jazz played again without Mehmet Okur, who has been out with a strained right hamstring, but survived without their second-leading scorer and outlasted the Lakers in a wild one.
InsideHoops.com notes: The Jazz shot 44.0%, the Lakers just 36.8%. Both teams were unimpressive from three-point range and awful from the free throw line… Utah had 55 rebounds, Los Angeles 40… For the Jazz, Carlos Boozer shot 9-of-17 for 23 points and 22 rebounds. Deron Williams was just 3-of-7 for 13 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists. Ronnie Brewer scored 12 but on 12 shots, plus 7 rebounds. Off the bench, Kyle Korver scored 11 (but on 13 shots) and Matt Harpring had 10… For the Lakers, Lamar Odom (10-of-17) had 21 points, 14 rebounds off the bench. Pau Gasol had 20 with 9 rebounds. Kobe Bryant shot a miserable 5-of-24 for 18 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.
Mavericks rock Spurs 88-67, take Game 3
The AP reports: During a timeout early in the third quarter, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and the rest of the San Antonio Spurs starters headed to the bench. They never returned. Humiliated since the opening tip, coach Gregg Popovich decided Game 3 of a first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks was a lost cause. Instead of hurting the Spurs with hard fouls—like Mavs center Erick Dampier threatened to do—Dallas slapped around San Antonio with tight defense, the return of Dirk Nowitzki’s shooting touch and the energy of their home crowd, producing an 88-67 victory Thursday night and a 2-1 lead in their first-round series… The Spurs’ backups weren’t much better, resulting in their fewest points ever in a playoff game.
InsideHoops.com notes: Dallas shot 47.2%, San Antonio just 32.1% and hit a disgustingly awful 2-of-17 three-pointers. Dallas had more rebounds, and double the assists San Antonio did… For the Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki (8-of-12) had 20 points and 7 rebounds, Josh Howard (6-of-12) had 17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks… For the Spurs, Tony Parker shot just 5-of-14 for 12 points and not much else. Francisco Oberto had 10 off the bench. No other Spurs even reached double digits. Tim Duncan shot 2-of-9 and did nothing.
Game 3: Pierce, Rondo lead Celtics over Bulls 107-86
The AP reports: Willing to defer in the first two games, Paul Pierce took the initiative and the Boston Celtics seized control. Pierce scored 24 points, Rajon Rondo added 20 and the defending champions beat the Chicago Bulls 107-86 on Thursday night to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series. The teams split two dramatic games in Boston, but this one never really was in doubt. The Celtics led by 11 after one quarter and 22 at the half on their way to an easy win behind Pierce and Rondo. Particularly Pierce… Rondo looked just fine for most of the night after spraining his right ankle in Game 2 and missing practice Tuesday. He hit eight of 15 shots, grabbed 11 rebounds, dished out six assists and collected five of Boston’s 16 steals, but afterward two teammates helped him down the hallway afterward. Even so, he insisted he’s OK… Ray Allen added 18 points after scoring 30 and hitting the tiebreaking 3-pointer to lift the Celtics to a 118-115 victory in Game 2 on Monday. Glen Davis chipped in 14 points, nine rebounds and six steals. And Boston hit 12 of 21 3-pointers—four by Pierce and three by Allen.
InsideHoops.com notes: The Bulls only shot 37.5%, while the Celtics shot 48.1% with an awesome 12-of-21 three-pointers… The Bulls dished just 14 assists for the game… Chicago had 22 turnovers, Boston just 13… The high scorer for Chicago was Ben Gordon, who had 15 on just 5-of-13 shooting. John Salmons had 14, and Kirk Hinrich had 14 off the bench… Derrick Rose shot just 4-of-14 for 9 points, just two assists and an awful seven turnovers.
Michael Redd says he still has game
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The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (Charles F. Gardner) reports: Michael Redd wants to dispel any doubts as he makes the long comeback from surgery on his left knee. The Milwaukee Bucks guard is already three weeks ahead of schedule, according to team doctors, and Redd is keeping his customary positive outlook as he enters the offseason and prepares to spend time at home in Columbus, Ohio. After all, it doesn’t do much good to dwell on the two freak incidents that limited him to 33 games during the season. “The one thing I get out of it, I land on Luke’s foot and twist my knee, and Nate Robinson jumps on my ankle,” Redd said. “My body’s not breaking down. I just had these freak accidents, man.” … Redd said he was not worried about any long-term effects when he returns for his 10th pro season, all with the Bucks, next fall.
Tony Allen received death threats in Chicago
The Boston Celtics are in Chicago tonight to play the Bulls in Game 3 of the NBA playoffs first round. The Boston Globe (Marc J. Spears) reports (via blog): There is extra NBA security in place near the Celtics bench tonight to keep an eye on guard Tony Allen, who has received death threats in his hometown, according to several sources. NBA sources said the Celtics and Bulls made sure there was extra security by their bench during Game 3 of a first round playoff series tonight to keep a protective eye on Allen. Sources also said Allen has been receiving the threats in Chicago for some time now.
Spirit the Hawk will not fly during player intros
After the real hawk used by the Atlanta Hawks got loose during player introductions the other day, the team came to a decision and issued the following statement:
“Spirit the Hawk will no longer fly during player intros, but he will be back for Wednesday’s Game 5 and be involved in our game night activities.”
Flip Saunders Wizards interview, plus Ernie Grunfeld quotes
The Washington Wizards recently named Flip Saunders their new head coach. Here’s what Saunders said to the media about the team and his new job:
Saunders on if he studied the Wizards throughout the season: “I studied them a lot, but it’s tough to judge this team without a premier player like Gilbert (Arenas). Then of course Brendan (Haywood) was hurt and he’s an anchor on defense, and (DeShawn) Stevenson was hurt. You had so many injuries so it’s tough to really judge the team, but what you can do is evaluate the talent of the young players.”
Saunders on the young players: “I think the young players have a lot of potential. I have a saying that potential is what you’re capable of doing, motivation determines what you do, and your character and attitude determines how well you do it. With our young players it’s important for the coaching staff and the veteran players to help those players understand what time of character and attitude they need to be professional and be successful in this league.”
Saunders on Gilbert Arenas: “The thing I love about him more than anything else is his competitiveness. I look forward to the opportunity to work with him. I’m sure that I’m going to learn from Gilbert and he’s going to learn from me. I know Gilbert wants to win more than anything. In the texts and conversations that we had, that’s the main thing that we’ve talked about. I think that he’s ready to take the step in order to do that and have people follow him.”
Saunders on what it takes to get a team to the conference finals: “I think the biggest thing is that when I say ‘team’ the word ‘sacrifice’ goes along with it. You have to be willing as individuals to sacrifice any individual role you have for the team to have success. I believe in teams with high assists and low turnovers. I believe in what I call the hockey assist; sometimes it’s the assist that leads to the assist that’s the most important play. Those are the things that as a coach you keep on driving into your team. As you work with them and see the success of it, it keeps on growing.”
Saunders on defense: “From a technical standpoint, you have to be able to defend. A lot is talked about the huge playbook that I have. It’s about 60 percent defense and 40 percent offense. People don’t talk much about what I do defensively, because offense is more creative at times, but when the players walk into that gym defense is going to be a priority. If you talk to the coaches that have coached against teams that I’ve had, no one has ever said that our teams didn’t defend.”
WIZARDS PRESIDENT ERNIE GRUNFELD
Grunfeld on hiring Flip Saunders to be the 22nd head coach in franchise history: “This is a very exciting day for us. This is a new beginning. Flip was our top priority in this coaching search. What we were looking for was someone with credibility, an NBA background, and experience in the regular season and in the playoffs. Flip coached in the conference finals four out of the last five years that he coached in the NBA. That’s what we want to get to and even higher than that. He’s a well respected person and I think he’s a great fit for our team right now with the type of players we have. He’s an X’s and O’s man. He pays attention to detail and I think he’s extremely underrated on the defensive end. We all know that we want to improve in that area. He plays a fun brand of basketball. He likes to get up and down the floor, which I think the players enjoy and the fans enjoy watching. We’re looking to get back to where we feel we belong, and that’s the playoffs. Once we get to the playoffs, we want to make some noise. I think this is the man to lead us there.”
Grunfeld on hiring a new head coach: “This was a very wanted job. A lot of people called who were interested. Doing our due diligence we were able to make contact sometime around the All-Star break (in February). There were a lot of people who called that had a lot of interest, but when we went through everything and did our due diligence, I felt like he was the top candidate.”
More on Saunders: “He brings the whole package to the table. He brings credibility and a lot of knowledge, and with knowledge you get respect. My biggest concern is to win basketball games. You hire a coach and you let him coach. Everybody has a little bit of a different system and everybody does things their own way, but the bottom line is to win games. He’s a veteran guy and I like the fact that he came up the hard way. He coached in college and he coached in the CBA. He was Coach of the Year in the CBA, and it takes a lot to coach in the CBA. He paid his dues and when he came to the NBA he had a lot of success. He’s had seven 50-win seasons. We were looking for someone who is a winner both in the regular season and in the playoffs, someone who understands X’s and O’s, and someone who has coached elite players before.”
Grunfeld on the focus during the offseason: “The next order of business is the draft. We have the lottery on May 19th and then we find out exactly where we pick, and then of course in June we have the draft. As Flip mentioned, we have six players on this team that are 23 years old or younger, so player development is crucial for us in the offseason. It’s a difficult offseason and I think Flip is very much in favor of helping the players. We have some very solid veteran players but we also have players that need that development, so we’re going to be focusing on that. The thing you can control is player development, so we’re going to be focusing on that. After the draft, we’ll have summer league and we’ll continue to work and grow. If the right opportunity comes along that we think will help us improve, then that’s something we’ll look at.”