Pacers coach Vogel racking up techs

Here’s the Indianapolis Star reporting on the Pacers, whose head coach is making sure his voice gets heard, at least when the refs are around:

Pacers coach Vogel racking up techs

The Indiana Pacers are in a fight for one of the last playoff spots, and coach Frank Vogel is in a race that he’d rather not win.

Vogel recently moved ahead of his peers to become the No. 1 leader in technical fouls. On Monday, Vogel got ticked off then was T’d up – his ninth technical foul happening in a tightly contested fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs. All technical fouls award the opposing team a free throw, which San Antonio’s Danny Green made. The Pacers eventually lost 95-93.

By Wednesday afternoon, before his team faced the New Orleans Pelicans, Vogel hesitantly addressed his rising total of techs. The nine Ts have also come with a hefty price tag of $22,000 in fines this season.

Charles Oakley no fan of James Dolan

Charles Oakley no fan of James Dolan

Beloved former New York Knick Charles Oakley, who took no prisoners on the court and is off the court is always ready to get fired up and speak his mind, doesn’t seem to be a big fan of Knicks owner James Dolan. Here’s the New York Daily News reporting:

For all the blood, sweat and tears Charles Oakley sacrificed while wearing a Knicks uniform, the former enforcer has no lost love for owner James Dolan.

“I’m tired of talking about Dolan,” Oakley said at the Knickerbocker Hotel in Times Square Wednesday, when asked about the Garden chairman’s latest gaffe, where Dolan got into an email war with a longtime fan. “He’s that type of dude.”

But when asked about his relationship with Dolan, Oakley ripped into the Knicks owner, and is incredulous as to why Dolan has given one of the franchise’s most popular players the Seventh Avenue Freeze-Out.

“Everybody in New York liked me except this one guy. Why is this?” said Oakley. “Everywhere I talk to people – ‘Why aren’t you working with the Knicks?’ I said I try to. They said, ‘What, is it Dolan?’ I talked to maybe a million people. He’s a bad guy.”

Former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian has died

Former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian has died

Legendary basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, who took the Runnin’ Rebels to four Final Fours and brought home the national championship in 1990, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, in Las Vegas. He was 84.

A campus memorial event is being planned. Details will be announced soon.

“The UNLV community mourns the passing of Coach Jerry Tarkanian, and our condolences are with Jerry’s wife, Lois, and the Tarkanian family,” said UNLV President Len Jessup.

“Coach Tarkanian’s contribution to UNLV and Southern Nevada stretches far beyond the game of basketball. Many in Southern Nevada and around the nation were introduced to UNLV through Coach Tarkanian and the Runnin’ Rebels. He made Runnin’ Rebel basketball a brand name during his 19 years on campus, inspiring our community and creating a legacy that endures to this day. He will be deeply missed though fondly remembered as a college basketball icon and as one of the greats in our university’s history.”

Current UNLV men’s basketball head coach Dave Rice was both a player and coach under Tarkanian. He said, “The qualities that make UNLV a great university – opportunity, self-determination and equality – are the same qualities that coach Tarkanian ingrained in his teams. The impact of coach’s contributions to our university, our community, his players and all of college basketball, is immeasurable.”

Rice added, “He instilled in me a confidence and commitment to doing what I believe is right for all people I am around. He saw something in me and gave me my first opportunity in coaching and I will be forever grateful. He will always be a part of UNLV, and our university is a better institution because of that. We are all saddened by this loss, our deepest condolences to the Tarkanian family.”

— Via UNLV Basketball

Bucks to retire Bob Dandridge jersey

It’s always interesting to see which players get their jerseys retired by the main team they played for. If someone absolutely dominates, like Michael Jordan on the Bulls, it’s a no-brainer. But what about “regular” stars who played very well, and were a part of something special, but didn’t necessarily change the game? Those are the interesting debates. Anyway, here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on the Bucks:

Bucks to retire Bob Dandridge jersey

Bob Dandridge, a star forward on the Milwaukee Bucks’ NBA championship team in 1971, will have his jersey No. 10 retired at a ceremony March 7 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, a source confirmed Wednesday.

Dandridge was a key member of the franchise’s early teams under coach Larry Costello and was selected in the fourth round of the 1969 draft, the same draft that brought the Bucks center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) with the No. 1 overall pick.

Known as “the Greyhound,” Dandridge averaged 18.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in nine seasons with Milwaukee. He played his first eight seasons with the Bucks and went on to more success in four seasons with the Washington Bullets before returning to Milwaukee for his final season in 1981-’82.

Wizards guard Bradley Beal remains out

Wizards guard Bradley Beal remains out

Bradley Beal remains out for Wizards

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal will miss tonight’s game at Toronto. Beal missed the last two games with a sore right big toe and subsequent examinations revealed a mild stress reaction in his lower right fibula. He will be re-evaluated following the All-Star break.

Beal has averaged 15.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting .436 from three-point range in 42 games for the Wizards this season.

Mavs sign Bernard James to 10-day contract

Mavs sign Bernard James to 10-day contract

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed center Bernard James to a 10-day contract.

James (6-10, 235) was originally drafted by the Mavericks with the 33rd overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. He averaged 2.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.6 blocks and 7.9 minutes in 76 career games (11 starts) with Dallas.

The Savannah, Ga., native spent training camp with the Mavericks this preseason when he averaged 2.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in 5 games. He most recently played in China for the Shanghai Sharks.

James will wear number 55.

Anthony Tolliver playing well for Pistons

Here’s Michigan Live reporting on the Pistons and Anthony Tolliver, who is making a difference:

Anthony Tolliver playing well for Pistons

When Anthony Tolliver first arrived with the Detroit Pistons, and they suddenly couldn’t lose a game with him playing little or none, he joked about his “mojo” and “The Tolliver Effect.”

A month after that initial seven-game winning streak, the Pistons still are on course for a playoff berth based on their upward arc since Tolliver was acquired in a Dec. 24 trade, but his contributions no longer are trivialized and his effect has been tangible.

Tolliver had 16 points and four rebounds off the bench in Tuesday’s 106-78 win over the Charlotte Hornets.

It was his eighth double-figure scoring game with the Pistons, including his seventh in the last 13 games, during which he has a 10.0-point average.

Kyle Korver replaces Dwyane Wade (injured) on 2015 NBA All-Star team

Kyle Korver replaces Dwyane Wade (injured) on 2015 NBA All-Star team

Kyle Korver replaces Dwyane Wade (injured) on 2015 East NBA All-Star team

Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Eastern Conference All-Star reserve Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The addition of Korver, the NBA leader in multiple shooting categories, gives the Hawks a record-tying four All-Stars in a season.

Korver is on pace to post the best single-season shooting performance in NBA history at 51.6% from the field, 52.8% from 3-point territory and 92.0% from the free throw line – aiming to become the first qualifying player ever to shoot at least 50 percent from the field, 50 percent from behind the arc and 90 percent on free throws. The 12-year veteran is averaging 12.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists for the 43-10 Hawks.

At 33 years and 11 months, Korver is the fourth-oldest first-time All-Star in NBA history, behind the New York Knicks’ Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton (34 years, 3 months in 1957), Minnesota Timberwolves’ Sam Cassell (34 years, 2 months in 2004) and Anthony Mason of the Miami Heat (34 years, 2 months in 2001).

Hawks trade Adreian Payne to Timberwolves

Hawks trade Adreian Payne to Timberwolves

Hawks trade Adreian Payne to Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has acquired forward/center Adreian Payne from Atlanta for a protected future first round draft pick.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Adreian to Minnesota,” said Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders. “Adreian fits the mold of a young, athletic and talented player who we believe will fit in well with our young and talented core. We’ve liked him for a while and look forward to seeing him grow with us in a Wolves uniform.”

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, “the move opens up a roster spot for the Hawks, who were at the maximum of 15. The Hawks have spoken to representatives of free agent Ray Allen, who is expected to make a decision soon on whether and where he will play this season.”

Payne, 23, was selected by Atlanta with the 15th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He’s appeared in three games with the Hawks this season, averaging 1.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in 6.3 minutes per game. Payne has appeared in 17 games between the Fort Worth Mad Ants and Austin Spurs in the NBA D-League, averaging 12.9 points, on 48.3% shooting, 8.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 27.2 minutes per game.

Drafted out of Michigan State, Payne averaged 16.4 points on 50.3% shooting (42.3% from three-point range) and 7.3 rebounds per game as senior in 2013-14 with the Spartans. His play earned him Second-Team All-Big Ten and Honorable Mention Associated Press All-American. Payne finished his collegiate career as one of just nine players in MSU history with 1,200+ points and 700+ rebounds, as well as wrapping up his career as the school’s all-time leader in blocked shots.

Meet Franklin, the new Philadelphia 76ers mascot

Meet Franklin, the new Philadelphia 76ers mascot

The Philadelphia 76ers today introduced their new team mascot, Franklin, at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, where more than 300 area children welcomed “Sixers fan’s best friend.” Franklin, a blue dog with perky ears and wagging tail, wears a Sixers uniform with his signature paw in place of a jersey number.

“Franklin’s debut has been long-awaited by Sixers fans, and we could not be more pleased with his reception from the children in attendance at today’s unveiling,” said Sixers Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer Tim McDermott. “Bringing to life our franchise’s new mascot has been a collaborative, kid-focused process from the start that involved more than 1,000 children, Sixers Season Ticket Members and 40-plus designs. We’re looking forward to showing him off to the city over the next 10 days as we lead up to his in-game debut on Friday, February 20.”

Franklin’s official backstory from the Sixers

When the Philadelphia 76ers decided they needed a new mascot, they knew it had to be ‘FOR KIDS, BY KIDS.’ And so they created a kids-only Chief Design Team to lead the way and find their new mascot.

The Chief Designers worked night and day to find a mascot that was Philadelphia through and through, who loved the game of basketball, and who could be their biggest friend and fan at every Sixers game.

As they dug through piles of books, watched movies and spoke with Philadelphians far and wide, along with more than 1,000 kids, they found a common thread…a special creature…whose ancestors had been a part of the city’s history from the start.

When George Washington crossed the Delaware, a blue tail was wagging in the boat.

When our nation’s forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence, a blue paw was found on the scroll.

A blue mouth dragged Ben Franklin to safety after he was struck by lightning and discovered electricity.

A furry blue flash ran alongside Rocky Balboa, and put two paws in the air when he reached the top of the Art Museum steps.

But what made this creature even more interesting to the Chief Designers was that his ancestors loved basketball just as much as the city.

There were tiny teeth marks in the paper Wilt Chamberlain held for the cameras after his historic 100-point game.

Blue paws were seen pacing behind the Sixers bench in the days of Dr. J.

Perky blue ears were in the stands when Allen Iverson made Sixers fans roar.

The designers were convinced that this creature, if they could find it today, might be the mascot they’d been looking for all this time.

They took a break from their research to play some basketball at the arena…and found tiny blue scratch marks on the court….then bits of blue fur…and then, peeking around the corner of the Sixers’ locker room, the Chief Designers saw eyes looking up at them from a blue furry creature.

They’d found it! The descendant of these great blue creatures had come to live at the Center!

The Chief Designers showed the creature to the team, and everyone loved it. The Sixers decided to adopt it as their new mascot, and gave it a special jersey to wear with its new name: FRANKLIN.

And today, it’s time to introduce all of you to your new Sixers mascot, whose family has been a part of Philadelphia and Sixers history for generations, who loves the game of basketball and is so excited to meet its new best friends, little Sixers fans!