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The Story Behind Isiah’s Ejection

Yao Ming had tortured the Knicks last night. In more ways than one. It wasn’t just the 36 points. It was the five dunks and four lay-ins, and the way he would linger in the paint on the offensive end. All of it was too much for Isiah Thomas to take.

The Knick coach had complained to the officials that Yao should’ve been called on a number of three-second violations, but to no avail. Danny Crawford hit him with a ‘T”, then wasted no time in tossing him.

Afterward, a much more subdued Thomas explained his stance, after getting bounced 41 seconds into the fourth quarter, with the Rockets ahead 77-74.

“In the second quarter,” recounted Thomas, “I spoke with [Crawford] and asked if they could watch Yao in the lane. I also said that, if you are not going to call [a violation], would I need to get a technical foul to bring your attention to it?

“I wasn’t trying to get ejected. But, I was trying to get a technical, because I did want to bring it to [the officials’] attention.

“I was close enough to [Crawford’s] ear that he could hear me. I didn’t bump him, or anything like that. You can look at my reaction two ways –I could have been given a tech, or be thrown out of the game. I have shown, that I am not a guy who complains a lot. I just needed to make a point, because there was no way that we could guard Yao in the lane that long.”

Thomas paused briefly.

“Even out of the lane,” he joked, “we couldn’t guard him.”

Subsequently, Yao converted the ensuing free throw, fueling the Rockets’ 78-74 advantage, and the Knicks were effectively beaten after that.

Jason Kidd Closes In On Michael Jordan

During New Jersey’s 99-88 victory against Seattle last night, Jason Kidd grabbed five rebounds, pushing his career total to 6,605. Only Oscar Robertson [7,804], Clyde Drexler [6,677] and Michael Jordan [6,672] are ahead of him.

Kidd -who has averaged no fewer than six boards per game since 1997-98, and is tied for 29th [first among guards] with 8.7 rpg this season- should be passing both MJ and ‘Clyde The Glide’ over the next nine games.

Kidd’s resume includes 14,117 points, 9,056 assists [6th, but only five dimes behind Isiah Thomas], and 1,960 steals [11th]. He is, far and away, the modern leader with 97 regular season triple-doubles [3rd overall, behind Robertson’s 181 and Magic Johnson’s 138].

The game against the Sonics was never in doubt and, thus, Kidd [who also tallied 16 points and 11 assists] was benched for the final 12 1/2 minutes. He appeared to be in line for his 11th triple-double of the season, after collecting eight points, five assists and four rebounds in the opening quarter.

Kidd entered with a string of three consecutive triple-doubles. Jordan, in 1989, was the last player to have four straight. The NBA record is nine, by Wilt Chamberlain in 1967-68.

Riley not stepping down

The AP reports: Pat Riley has no definitive plans to go anywhere, dismissing published reports that he was leaning toward vacating his coaching role with the Miami Heat after the season to focus on his front-office duties. Riley said before Miami’s game Wednesday night against Milwaukee that he was being philosophical when talking about the dual roles he holds and potentially stepping aside.

Grant Hill out 2-3 weeks

The AP reports: Phoenix Suns forward Grant Hill underwent an appendectomy on Wednesday and is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks. Hill felt ill after arriving at the US Airways Center for Wednesday morning’s shootaround. At first, the Suns assumed he had the same flu that teammate Raja Bell recently had. But after being taken to see a physician, it was determined to be more serious.

Blazers assign Josh McRoberts to D-League

The Portland Trail Blazers assigned rookie forward Josh McRoberts to the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League, it was announced Wednesday by Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard.

“We look forward to seeing Josh gain more experience through increased floor time with the Stampede,” said Pritchard. “Giving him the chance to log some minutes will help Josh with his professional development this season.”

McRoberts, 20, is averaging 1.3 points, 0.7 rebounds and 2.3 minutes in three games with the Trail Blazers this season after being selected by Portland with the 37th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.

The Duke University product becomes the 23rd NBA player assigned to the D-League this season, and the fifth in Trail Blazers history.

This is the first season the Trail Blazers are affiliated with the Boise-based Stampede.

Low attendance may allow Hornets to move

The Hornets were getting low attendance before Katrina messed the city up, and even fewer fans have been going to home games since the team returned. And it may turn out that the lack of home fan support may result in the team being allowed to leave, this time probably for good. The Boston Globe (Marc Spears) reports:

The Boston Globe has learned that the New Orleans Hornets are expected to announce today that if they don’t average close to 15,000 fans in home games starting with tonight’s contest against the Los Angeles Lakers through all home games until February of 2009, the franchise will be allowed out of their lease with the New Orleans Arena by the State of Louisiana, according to an NBA source.

I hate to say it, but if I owned the Hornets, I’d definitely want to move the team elsewhere. Ideally they’d have stayed in Oklahoma City. I feel badly for the fans in the city that are going to games and supporting the team. I wish there were more of you. But it seems like there aren’t.

Kidd third straight triple-double

The AP reports: Jason Richardson scored 25 points and the hot-shooting Charlotte Bobcats overcame Jason Kidd’s third consecutive triple-double to beat the New Jersey Nets 115-99 on Wednesday night. Gerald Wallace added 21 points and 11 rebounds and Emeka Okafor and Nazr Mohammed added 17 points apiece for the Bobcats, who shot 59 percent in their highest-scoring game of the season… The Nets had their five-game winning streak snapped despite Kidd’s 13 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists. He became the first player since Detroit’s Grant Hill 11 seasons ago to have three straight triple-doubles.

Wade’s shoulder worse than thought

SportsTicker reports: Dwyane Wade is hurting more than has been let on. Wade’s left shoulder, which was surgically repaired after being dislocated last February 21 against Houston, was damaged worse than was announced the team said in a report on the Miami Herald web site on Tuesday. Miami coach Pat Riley said that Wade’s shoulder was dislocated to an extent rarely seen by team doctors and that he also sustained serious nerve damage.

Six Raptors notes

The Raptors are looking for their first home win since December 12 when they defeated the Dallas Mavericks 92-76. Toronto has lost three straight games on their home court, the longest streak in nearly two years.

Canadian National Team member Samuel Dalembert makes a visit to Canada when the Philadelphia 76ers roll into town. Dalembert became a Canadian citizen over the summer and competed for Canada at the FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas.

Former Raptor Fred Jones will face his old team Friday when Toronto visits New York. Jones was traded by Toronto to Portland last February for Juan Dixon. Portland sent Jones to New York during the off-season as part of the Zach Randolph trade.

Juan Dixon will face his former team when the Portland Trail Blazers visit Air Canada Centre this Sunday. Dixon appeared in 76 games for the Trail Blazers and averaged 12.3 points before being dealt at the trade deadline.

Portland guard Brandon Roy will make his first appearance in Toronto during a Sunday matinee. Roy was named the 2006-07 NBA Rookie of the Year, but missed the Trail Blazers lone game in Toronto last season due to a heel injury.

When Toronto travels to New York on Friday, it will mark the second time in franchise history the team has started the January road schedule at .500. The Raptors are currently 9-9 away from Air Canada Centre. The last time the team started a new calendar year .500 on the road was in 2001-02 when the team was 9-9.

Bosh setting Raptors rebounding records

Forward Chris Bosh became the Raptors’ all-time career leader in blocked shots Dec. 21 at Seattle when he broke a tie with Vince Carter.

Earlier this month, Bosh became the franchise leader in rebounds (December 18, 2007) when he passed Antonio Davis’ mark of 2,839.

Bosh is already the team’s all-time leader in doubledoubles and defensive rebounds. Bosh is also closing in on the franchise’s all-time marks for free throws made and attempted.