Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker is confident the Utah Jazz will win the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Houston Rockets. He’s so confident that he’s engaged in a friendly wager with Houston Mayor Bill White
The Mayors have each offered the other a treat from their city if the opposing team loses the series. If the Jazz win the series, Mayor White will send Mayor Becker pecan pies made by Good Company Barbecue in Houston – one pie for every game the Jazz win over the Rockets.
If the Rockets win the series, Mayor Becker will send Mayor White two Ski Salt Lake Super Passes. The passes entitle the Houston Mayor to two all-day passes at any of Salt Lake City’s four ski resorts; Alta, Brighton, Snowbird, or Solitude, as well as round-trip travel on UTA city buses, ski buses, and TRAX light-rail during his trip to Salt Lake City. Mayor Becker has also offered to ski with Mayor White during his visit.
“Salt Lakers skied on Memorial Day last year and enjoyed watching the Jazz play past that weekend, well after the Rockets ended their season. I think the Jazz are going to take this series again. I’m looking forward to enjoying those pecan pies from Mayor White when they do,” remarked Becker.
Mayor White had this to say, “My wager, Mayor Becker, we’re coming back at you again this year, Last year was a close series. They scraped by. But I’m gonna bet, I’m gonna place a wager on this game. My wager is gonna be if I lose you are going to get some pecan pie from Good Company Barbecue. It’s good Texas food.”
To which Mayor Becker replied, “It’s going to be a great series, The Rockets had a run that was unbelievable in the middle of the season and we’re glad they got that out of their system. We feel like Utah has proven itself. It’s time for Houston to step to the plate.”
Category: NBA Teams
NBA teams blog
NBA approves Sonics move to Oklahoma City pending resolution of litigation
The NBA Board of Governors today endorsed the recommendation of the NBA Relocation Committee and approved the move of the SuperSonics from Seattle to Oklahoma City for the 2008-09 season, subject to a resolution of the pending litigation between the Sonics and the city of Seattle that removes any requirement for the team to play at KeyArena for the next two seasons.
“The support for the NBA demonstrated by the fans, government leaders and business community of Oklahoma City over the last three years has been extraordinary,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern. “The Board of Governors is confident that that level of local support will result in success for the Sonics franchise in Oklahoma.”
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports: After NBA owners voted 28-2 on Friday to approve the Sonics’ relocation to Oklahoma City, team chairman Clay Bennett said he’d done everything possible to make things work in Seattle and remains hopeful of a negotiated lease buyout. The city of Seattle could delay the team’s departure for two years by winning the pending federal court battle over the lease’s enforcement, but Bennett and his Oklahoma-based ownership group now have a green light from the league to move as soon as that situation is settled… Stern said the vote was 28-2, with the two owners against being Dallas’ Mark Cuban and Portland’s Paul Allen.
Bucks name Jeff Weltman assistant GM
The Milwaukee Bucks have named Jeff Weltman to the position of Assistant General Manager, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Weltman comes to the Bucks after spending the 2007-08 season with the Detroit Pistons where he worked along side Hammond as the director of basketball administration.
“Jeff is a hard-working and respected NBA front office executive,” said Hammond. “He has a keen eye for talent, a tireless work ethic and a strong knowledge of the league’s salary cap structure. I value his input and look forward to continuing our relationship in Milwaukee.”
Weltman spent one season in Detroit and was responsible for coordinating the team’s draft preparation, scouting efforts, scouting schedules, and free agent visits. He joined the Pistons after spending five seasons as the assistant general manager with the Denver Nuggets where he helped develop the Nuggets into a team that ended an eight-year play-off drought in 2003-04 and won 49 games in 2004-05.
“I’m excited to join the Milwaukee Bucks organization and grateful to Senator Kohl and John Hammond for the opportunity,” said Weltman.
The 43-year-old began his NBA career in 1988 as a video coordinator with the Los Angeles Clippers. He quickly rose through the organization’s ranks and served as the club’s Director of Player Personnel from 1994-2001. He worked closely with Hammond during the 1990-93 and 2000-01 seasons when the Bucks General Manager was an assistant coach for the Clippers (under Larry Brown from ’90-93 and under Alvin Gentry from ’00-01). In all, the New York native owns 19 years of NBA experience.
Weltman graduated from Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio in 1987.
Pistons finish first in attendance
The Detroit Free Press reports: The Pistons went 34-7 this season at home, but went 41-0 in sellouts. For the fifth time in six seasons, the Pistons are the attendance champs in the NBA. With 41 straight sell-outs and an average of 22,076 per game, the Pistons hosted 905,116 fans during the 2007-08 regular season.
Okur not getting suspended
The Houston Chronicle reports: Jazz center Mehmet Okur was charged with a flagrant-1 foul of San Antonio Spurs center Fabricio Oberto on Wednesday. The play could have been subject to league review and, if upgraded to a flagrant-2, would have netted a one-game suspension. The NBA quickly ruled, however, that the foul will remain a flagrant-1 penalty, NBA spokesman Tim Frank said.
Blazers re-assign Josh McRoberts to D-League
The Portland Trail Blazers today re-assigned rookie forward Josh McRoberts to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Idaho Stampede, it was announced by Trail Blazers General Manager Kevin Pritchard. McRoberts was previously on assignment with Idaho from Jan. 9-Feb. 3 and from March 17-April 7.
During his first two stints in Idaho, McRoberts averaged 7.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 26.8 minutes in 15 games with the Stampede. This season in the NBA, McRoberts is averaging 1.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 3.5 minutes in five games with the Trail Blazers.
Originally selected in the second round (37th overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft, McRoberts played two seasons at Duke, where he averaged 10.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 69 games.
McRoberts is scheduled to re-join the Stampede on Friday, April 18, when the hosts the Los Angeles D-Fenders in the second round of the 2008 D-League playoffs. Tip off is set for 9:30 p.m. ET.
Bulls relieve coach Jim Boylan
Chicago Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson issued the following statement regarding the team’s decision to relieve Interim Head Coach Jim Boylan today:
“Letting a coach go is never easy. Jim was put in a difficult position on Dec. 27, without the luxury of having a training camp and with some of the issues that arose during his time as head coach. I think during the time he coached this year, Jim showed he is very capable in that role and I hope he gets that opportunity again in the future. He certainly has the tools it takes to succeed at this level. I want to thank Jim for accepting the challenge during a difficult year and I wish him all the best.”
Boylan, 52, took over the head coaching duties on an interim basis on Dec. 27, 2007, and directed the Bulls to a 24-32 (.429) record in his 56 games at the helm. He spent four seasons with the franchise after being hired as an Assistant Coach on May 19, 2004. The 2007-08 season was Boylan’s 15th in the NBA as a coach, having also spent time on the sidelines in Cleveland under Mike Fratello (1993-97), Vancouver under Brian Hill (1997-2000), Phoenix under Scott Skiles (2000-01) and Atlanta under Terry Stotts (2003-04). He began his coaching career in the NBA in 1992 as Video Coordinator and Advance Scout for Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens’ Cavaliers. He also coached in the Continental Basketball Association and in college, including stops at Michigan State as an assistant under Jud Heathcote (1986-89) and as head coach at New Hampshire (1989-92).
As a player, Boylan helped lead the Marquette Warriors to the 1977 NCAA Championship and was later drafted by the Buffalo Braves in the fourth round (68th overall) of the 1979 NBA Draft.
Bucks fire coach Larry Krystkowiak
The Milwaukee Bucks today relieved Larry Krystkowiak of his head coaching duties, General Manager John Hammond announced. The decision was made after Hammond met with Krystkowiak Thursday morning at the Bucks Training Center in St. Francis, WI. The search for the Bucks new head coach begins immediately.
“Larry Krystkowiak is a good man who worked very hard for the Milwaukee Bucks,” said Hammond. “Sometimes despite even the best efforts, the results don’t end up how we want them. At this time, I feel it is in the best interest of our franchise to make a change at the head coaching position. I want to thank Larry for his hard work and dedication to our team, and our entire organization wishes him and his family well.”
In less than two seasons as head coach of the Bucks, Krystkowiak compiled a 31-69 record (.310). He was named head coach on March 14, 2007, replacing Terry Stotts.
Krystkowiak was originally hired by the Bucks on June 22, 2006, as an assistant coach to Stotts. He came to Milwaukee following two seasons as the head coach at his alma mater, the University of Montana. He led the Grizzlies to a 42-20 record during those two campaigns and won back-to-back Big Sky Conference Tournaments. He also guided his Montana squad to two straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a first-round upset over Nevada in the 2006 NCAA Tournament.
Krystkowiak’s coaching resume also includes a one-year stint as head coach of the Idaho Stampede (CBA), where he guided his team to a franchise-best 37-16 record during the 2003-04 season.
He has also spent time as an assistant coach at Norfolk Collegiate High School in Virginia (2002-03), at Old Dominion (2001-02), and at Montana (1998-2000).
Drafted by Chicago in 1986, Krystkowiak played in nine NBA seasons, including four with the Milwaukee Bucks (he spent five seasons in Milwaukee from 1987-92, but was injured during the 1990-91 season). He averaged 9.8 points and 6.0 rebounds in 225 career games with Milwaukee. He also played for San Antonio, Utah, Orlando, Chicago and the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 8.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 420 career NBA games.
He remains Montana’s all-time leader in points (2,017) and rebounds (1,105) after playing four years for the Grizzlies from 1982-86. In 1989, he became the only player in men’s basketball history at Montana to have his number (42) retired.
Saer Sene has right knee surgery
Seattle SuperSonics General Manager Sam Presti announced today, second-year center Mouhamed Sene had surgery this past Monday (April 14) to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee. During the surgery, doctors discovered a chondral defect which required microfracture surgery.
Sene will be on crutches for six weeks and will be continually evaluated.
The injury was originally suffered during an Idaho Stampede game at Bakersfield of the NBA Development League on April 4.
Sene appeared in 13 games for the Sonics this season, averaging 2.3 points and 1.2 rebounds in 4.8 minutes per contest. Sene also appeared in 27 games for the Idaho Stampede this season, averaging 12.1 points and 8.9 rebounds in 27.5 minutes per game.
The 10th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, Sene has appeared in 41 regular season games in his two seasons with the Sonics and holds career averages of 2.0 points and 1.2 rebounds.
LeBron is first Cav to win league scoring title
The Akron Beacon Journal (Brian Windhorst) reports: It became official Wednesday. LeBron James became the first player in franchise history to win the NBA scoring title by averaging exactly 30.0 points. It was not a surprise. He grabbed the scoring lead in November and held it the rest of the way. It was not the highest scoring average of his career, though. He averaged 31.4 points per game in 2005-06. By combining it with averages of 7.9 rebounds, which was a career high, and 7.2 assists, which tied a career high, James became just the third player in NBA history to average 30 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in league history. The other two were Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan.