-
Thu Feb 12, 2009 9:06 am EST
Shawn Marion injured during Heat practice sessions
Miami Heat forward Shawn Marion was knocked out of Wednesday's practice because of an eye injury and is questionable for Thursday's game at Chicago.
Marion was injured late in the workout, when forward Michael Beasley inadvertently hit him in the left eye during a drill. Marion was taken to a doctor for treatment and diagnosed with a bruised left eye orbit. Marion, the Heat's leading rebounder, traveled with the team Wednesday and will be evaluated Thursday.
It was the second time in a week that Marion was hit in the left eye. He caught an inadvertent elbow from Allen Iverson in the first half of a loss at Detroit on Feb. 7. Marion was taken to the locker room but returned shortly to finish the game.
The incident at practice Wednesday was the latest in a line of freak injuries Marion has sustained.
He was forced to wear a protective mask for several games after he broke his nose in a Nov. 1 game at Charlotte. He missed six games because of a strained left groin he sustained on a dunk attempt during a loss at Houston on Jan. 17, and he also has missed time because of back spasms
Source: Miami Herald
-
Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:44 am EST
Ex-partner says Wade had sex parties, smoked pot
A former business partner of Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade is telling Page2Live that he saw remnants of sex parties at a Miami Beach apartment used by the married Wade and his entourage.
What's more, says Euro blue-blood Baron Richard Von Houtman, he witnessed on two occasions Wade puffing away on marijuana cigarettes, once with a teammate.
Wade's publicist, Lisa Joseph, e-mailed this statement Monday afternoon: "It's a shame that a disgruntled former business associate is peddling these fairy tales to fit his own personal agenda."
Von Houtman's revelations come as the image of perfection that Wade has been building since his 2003 arrival into the NBA is being shattered. He remains one of the league's most popular players the world over, and he's headed to the All-Star Game in Phoenix Sunday.
But his soon-to-be-ex wife, Siohvaughn, recently claimed in a motion made in their divorce case in their native Chicago that her hubby of eight years gave her an undisclosed STD caught outside the marriage. She also said Wade, who was known as one of the most religious Heat players, abandoned her and their two sons.
Wade's attorney in the divorce, Jim Pritkin, called the claims false and said Monday that Siohvaughn withdrew the motion that included the accusations.
Von Houtman described used condoms on the floor of the bedrooms, obvious signs of sexual activities on all the beds, empty champagne and hard-liquor bottles, nearly-finished blunts and half-eaten food rotting on tables and furniture.
"They'd have these parties in there two or three times a week," Von Houtman said. "There were always dozens of people in there. Rappers, Dwyane and his entourage, women they'd pick up in clubs."
Source: Palm Beach Post
-
Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:34 am EST
Boston's Allen will try to play with sore thumb
With his right hand wrapped in black tape, Ray Allen looked more like he was getting ready for a boxing match than recovering from a basketball game. But despite missing the second half of the Boston Celtics' 89-77 win over the Hornets last night with a hyperextended right thumb, the All-Star guard hopes he will return tonight at Dallas.
Allen was injured in the first quarter when his thumb got caught in the jersey of teammate Kendrick Perkins. After scoring 1 point and not making a field goal in 19 minutes, Allen left for good with 8:01 left in the second quarter because he couldn't hold onto the ball. Allen was replaced at the start of the second half by Gabe Pruitt.
Allen said he still had soreness after the game. While coach Doc Rivers doesn't think he will play tonight, Allen plans to test his thumb in a pregame workout.
"I'm going to get out there, work out, and see how it feels," said Allen. "I've had jammed fingers before. But I think the thumb, I wouldn't say it's jammed but it's sprained. I never really had sprained fingers, but jammed fingers. Never my thumb."
Source: Boston.com
-
Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:43 am EST
Warriors' rookie Randolph a wanted man as deadline nears
Members of the New York Knicks hierarchy, Donnie Walsh and Glen Grunwald, were watching intently as Golden State's Anthony Randolph went through his pregame drills early Tuesday in Oakland. Hours later, Walsh was huddling with Bill Duffy, Randolph's soon-to-be agent, according to the New York Daily News.
What happened in between watching Randolph and talking to Duffy was both alarming and eye-opening to the Knicks president and his top lieutenant; the Knicks surrendered an NBA season-high 144 points to the Warriors and lost their fifth straight game. Randolph, the highly sought-after rookie forward finished with 12 points and seven rebounds in 14 minutes.
Walsh is committed to giving the franchise salary-cap flexibility for the free agent class of 2010. But he's also committed to trying to reach the playoffs this season while building a team that would be attractive to future free agents LeBron James, Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh.
With the trading deadline set for next Thursday, Walsh has only a few more days to upgrade the roster. Stephon Marbury's expiring contract could be an important trading chip. With David Lee and Nate Robinson both set to become restricted free agents in July, Walsh may look to trade one of his youngest players.
Randolph is on the Knicks' radar, but there is no guarantee that the Warriors will trade the first-year forward. Randolph's name has already been mentioned in trade talks with the Phoenix Suns for Amare Stoudemire and with Toronto for Bosh.
Source: New York Daily News
-
Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:48 am EST
Clippers look at future ... and like what they see
The science lab, Los Angeles Clippers style, is now open for business. With a mere 12 wins in 52 games, well, that's the way it's going to be from now through April 15, which is the final game of the season.
Glimpses of the upside have been few and far between. Take the Clippers' just-completed seven-game trip: It started with four losses and ended with another Monday. In between were two blowout victories, at Memphis and Atlanta.
Hints of promise?
"We saw what we could be, what we potentially could be," Baron Davis said Tuesday at practice. "There were some glimmers. If you think about it, toward the end of the trip we started to figure it out. Me and Z-Bo [Zach Randolph] started again and it's getting guys back into the normal positions and getting guys back and healthy."
Coach Mike Dunleavy also saw positives before the trip ended with a clunker in Charlotte."We really kind of jumped out there and did some things we wanted to do," he said. "Obviously I was disappointed with last night. I really felt we could get that third win and really give us some momentum."
Source: Los Angeles Times
-
Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:34 am EST
Bynum updates Jackson, Lakers on injury status
A little over a week after leaving the team in New York, Lakers center Andrew Bynum appeared at practice Monday and gave Los Angeles Lakers Coach Phil Jackson an update on his injury.
Bynum suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee Jan. 31 against the Memphis Grizzlies and after getting an exam in New York the next day, he was told he would be out eight to 12 weeks.
Jackson said Bynum informed him that he had flexibility in the knee and he showed off a brace he was wearing.
"He said the swelling is minimum right now that he has," Jackson said. "He's walking without aid. So he feels pretty good about what he's doing. We know that this first two weeks is going to be kind of sketchy. As he starts healing, things will start changing a little bit."
Source: Los Angeles Times
-
Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:20 am EST
Hand surgery successful for Mavs' Terry
Dallas Mavericks' Jason Terry had surgery Monday to stabilize the fourth metacarpal fracture in his left hand. The procedure, which the club called a success, was performed by Dr. Scott Oishi and Dr. T.O. Souryal at Texas Sports Medicine.
No timetable has been set for his return. Similar injuries usually keep an athlete out 3-6 weeks.
Terry, averaging 19.9 points, suffered the injury Saturday in a collision with teammate J.J. Barea.
"According to the doctors, he certainly will be back this season," owner Mark Cuban said. "Hopefully, quickly.""
Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram
-
Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:16 am EST
Cavs' coach Brown slams refs after call with .1 seconds left
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown stormed out of the locker room and launched a tirade against NBA official Joey Crawford in the wake of his team's wild 96-95 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night in Canseco Fieldhouse.
Although Brown did not call Crawford by name, he was incensed over a foul Crawford called on LeBron James with .1 of a second left that sent All-Star Danny Granger to the line for what turned out to be the game-winning free throw. It was the first time this season the Cavs lost back-to-back games.
Brown alleged that after referee Bennie Adams called Granger for a foul on James on an inbounds play with .4 of a second left that allowed James to make two free throws and tie the score at 95, Crawford responded by deliberately calling a foul on a similar play on the other end.
The coach was so upset that he misstated the time on the play twice.
"I went back and I watched the last two plays and that last call on LeBron was the worst call I've ever been a part of," a seething Brown said. "I cannot imagine another worse call than that by that official. It was an awful call and for him to take away a basketball game from a team with .4 seconds on the clock is irresponsible. That is an irresponsible call.
Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
-
Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:42 am EST
Curry says return to playing will help heal pain
Eddy Curry believes the best way to salvage his season and return some sense of normalcy to his troubled life is by playing basketball again.
To that end, Curry is planning to practice, perhaps as early as Monday, and claims that he will play again this season. Of course, a case could be made that basketball has caused some of the problems in Curry's life.
Speaking publicly Tuesday for the first time since his former girlfriend and their nine-month-old daughter were shot and killed in Chicago last month, Curry said that being back at work and around his teammates is therapeutic.
"This is the time where I really am looking forward to it," Curry said. "I wish I could take a magic pill or something and make my legs feel better and make me able to go out there and do what I need to do. Honestly, I enjoy all my time that I have around these guys and around this organization, because it's really almost like a safehouse for me."
Curry, 26, declined to address the murders or any of his recent off-the-court problems. Two years ago, Curry and his family were robbed at gunpoint at their Chicago home. Last month, Curry's former driver filed a lawsuit against the Knicks center, claiming among other things that he was the victim of sexual harassment.
Source: New York Daily News
-
Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:27 am EST
It appears Cavs will stand pat at trade deadline
There was a point in their long-term planning that the Cleveland Cavaliers thought the days leading up to next week's trading deadline would be filled with drama and haggling. It hasn't played out that way.
Due to both positive and negative factors, it appears as if this year the team will be passing on the event. Their strong first half plus a series of injuries have limited their options and desires.
Monday left the Cavs dealing with another injury as an MRI revealed starting shooting guard Sasha Pavlovic had suffered the worst of all ankle injuries, the high ankle sprain. It will keep him out 4-6 weeks. With Delonte West and Tarence Kinsey out and a roster spot being occupied by Eric Snow, the team is essentially down four guards at the moment. Another, Trey Johnson, is on a 10-day contract.
Wally Szczerbiak, once their largest trade chip with his $13 million expiring contract, has now become a vital part of the team. He will start in Pavlovic's place in Indianapolis against the Pacers on Tuesday.
Because of all this, the vibe around the rest of the NBA is the Cavs are going to follow through with their plans to stand mostly pat.
"They are going to dance with the girl they brought," one general manager said on Monday. "They believe in that roster."
Sunday, February 15, 2009
nba rumors update i will start to do them every day
Saturday, October 25, 2008
nba rumors
Getty Images
Derrick Rose, off to an impressive start with seven points and two assists, played just five minutes before succumbing to a strained right hip flexor in a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks Friday.
After Richardson Jefferson fouled Rose when the speedy guard turned Dan Gadzuric around on a fast break, Rose landed awkwardly and came up limping. He later rode a stationary bicycle near the bench but didn't return.
"It's nothing serious," Rose said. "I could've gone back in, but they kept me out as a precaution. My leg was caught behind me, and all my momentum was going forward. I should be fine."
Source: Chicago Tribune
-
Sat Oct 25, 2008 1:51 pm EDT
Grant Hill loses starting job to Barnes in Phoenix
Getty Images
There has been a chaning of the guard, may that small forward, in Phoenix. Suns coach Terry Porter named Matt Barnes the starter at small forward over Grant Hill.
The move makes sense for several reasons. Barnes brings defense, athleticism and more 3-point shooting range to help with spacing the floor for the starters. And Hill brings experience and ball-handling ability to the second unit when rookie Goran Dragic is manning the point guard spot.
"Grant brings calmness to that second unit and he can help Goran - who has made a lot of strides by is still very experienced — as another person who can handle the ball. Matt fits well with the first unit as a spacer, while Grant will allow Goran and L.B. (Leandro Barbosa) to do the same thing with that second group."
Hill has started 697 times in his 705 NBA games, but doesn't feel coming off the bench will be a problem.
"I anticipated this when we signed Matt and Coach Porter and I have talked about preserving my minutes this season," said Hill, who will likely see his minutes diminish from 31.7 last year to 25-27 this year. "You look at guys like Manu (Ginobili) and L.B. and they have a big impact on games when they come in. I'd like to think I can do something in that vein. We're trying to win a championship and we all have to make sacrifices. It will be different, but once you get on the court it is still basketball."
Barnes, who has 64 starts in his NBA career — most of them with Golden State — said he didn't care either way, but "it's an honor to start for a team with this much talent."
Source: East Valley Tribune
-
Sat Oct 25, 2008 1:20 pm EDT
Shaq may get more rest on back-to-back to nights
Getty Images
He he may called Superman but it quite clear Shaquille O'Neal is no longer the man of steel. O'Neal sat out the second of back-to-back preseason games Tuesday in Los Angeles, and Phoenix Suns coach Terry Porter said he may employ a similar regimen for the 36-year-old center during the regular season — limiting minutes or sitting him out completely when the matchups are favorable.
"We may do a little bit of both. Of all the guys who have played that position, he's probably been fouled the most and beaten on numerous times," Porter said. "We want to be proactive in giving him enough minutes to stay sharp, but looking at the big picture and giving him ample time to get rest. He might go 28-30 minutes (in the first or second game of a back-to-back) and then the second night he might be limited or not play."
The Suns won't rest O'Neal in all such situations.
The Suns open the season in San Antonio Wednesday and face New Orleans at home the next night.
Source: East Valley Tribune
-
Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:06 am EDT
Will Memphis move Crittenton to Magic?
Getty Images
It has become apparent that there will be minimal playing time for second-year guard Jararis Crittenton behind O.J. Mayo with the Memphis Grizzlies. Griz head coach Marc Iavaroni was asked if the team had any interest in trading second-year guard Javaris Crittenton to the Magic.
While the Griz haven't discussed any potential deals with any team regarding Crittenton he could still could be moved, perhaps to the Orlando Magic.
"I don't see Javaris Crittenton as a backup point guard," Iavaroni said. "We have two point guards, and Marko Jaric is capable and can play point guard."
As for possible deals, Iavaroni said: "We're always interested in improving our team. If we found a situation that would help us, we'd look at it."
Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal
-
Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:00 am EDT
Yao denies he has retired from Chinese National Team
Getty Images
Yao Ming denied reports out of Shanghai that said he'd decided to retire from the Chinese national team.
"I haven't announced that," Yao said after Wednesday's practice. "I think now there is no national team and all I want to worry about is playing 82 games and the playoffs. I don't know where the news came from.
"I'm not aware of that. Maybe he heard something from somebody I know. It was not from me."
The 28-year-old Yao was still recovering from a broken bone in his left foot when he played for Team China in August at the Beijing Olympics. It was the third time Yao has represented China in the Olympic Games.
Source: Houston Chronicle
-
Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:46 am EDT
Pacers trying to move Tinsley to keep Croshere
Getty Images
Austin knows his second stint with the Indiana Pacers could end by Monday, when NBA rosters must be trimmed to the league mandated 15 players.
The Pacers conclude their preseason tonight against Dallas. So this could be Croshere's last game in a Pacers uniform. He spent his first nine seasons with the franchise, playing a key role in the 2000 NBA Finals. Pacers president Larry Bird brought Croshere to camp with the intention of giving him every opportunity to make the roster. In order for him to stay, however, someone with a guaranteed contract must be cut.
The Pacers are continuing to pursue trade options for point guard Jamaal Tinsley, who remains away from the team. They're talking to "several teams" about Tinsley, but no deal appears imminent.
Pacers general manager David Morway said Croshere and Josh Davis have "had terrific camps, so we have some tough decisions to make."
Source: Indianapolis Star
-
Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:39 am EDT
Maggette says hamstring will not keep him out of opener
Getty Images
There is only a week to go before the Golden State Warriors open their regular season. Then why was their $50 million investment, Corey Maggette, was sitting on the floor during Wednesday's practice, an ice pack over his right leg?
Maggette has a strained hamstring. He said it will not prevent him from playing in the season-opener. But will it keep him from playing well?
"Oh, yeah," he said. "That never crossed my mind that I won't play Wednesday. I've got a lot of time."
Maggette averaged 22.1 points for the Clippers last season but missed several games with a strained right hamstring (he appeared in 70 of 82 games). He said his current injury is different because it's higher in the leg but added, "Hamstrings are probably the trickiest injuries" because a primary treatment is rest.
The forward said he "tweaked" the hamstring in Saturday's exhibition in China, but he played Tuesday's exhibition against a Lithuanian club team, collecting 17 points and five rebounds in 26 minutes. He had five turnovers, wasn't at his best defensively and said he wasn't able to drive with power.
So he's skipping two practices, though he suited up Wednesday and shot lots of free throws.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
-
Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:31 am EDT
Brand, Dalembert need to get on same page in Philly
Getty Images
The newest addtion to the Philadelphia 76ers, Elton Brand has said that he and point guard Andre Miller quickly found themselves on the same page, but that it's taking longer with center Samuel Dalembert.
Brand, the first legitimate low-post power forward during coach Maurice Cheeks' tenure, is unaccustomed to playing with a center who can dive to the rim, making remarkably athletic plays, catching lobs for dunks, but who also can step out and drain a 12-to-15 foot jump shot. Dalembert, in turn, hasn't played with a power forward who can consistently command a double-team. With that threat, the center must be consistently aware of rebounding from the weak side.
Here's the perspective of Theo Ratliff, who has played both positions during his long career:
"They have to avoid running into each other. Both are good shot-blockers, and might tend to go to the ball, and then you might leave a guy open. It's about thinking the game and they're both pretty good thinkers on the floor. "Offensively, Elton knows how to pick and choose his spots, so Sam just has to play off him. Sam's a pretty good player off the ball. He's been doing it his whole career. It's a long season. It's just going to take some time."
Source: Philly.com
-
Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:15 am EDT
Kobe says knee is fine, could play Thursday
Getty Images
You can't blame Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant for fearing the worst. When he hear a a crackling sound in his right knee after he banged it into the knee of teammate Josh Powell while chasing a rebound in Tuesday's game, who wouldn't fear the worst?
Bryant, after walking off on his own power to a locker room at the San Diego Sports Arena, was told he had a hyperextended right knee. Make that only a hyperextended right knee. In fact, he might play Thursday night in an exhibition rematch against Charlotte in Anaheim.
"If I'm good enough to go, I'm going to go. I don't see why not," he said.
Bryant said he "should be fine" for the season opener Tuesday against Portland.
Bryant reported some soreness, but he can put weight on the knee and crouch down low with it, according to the Los Angeles Times.
He did not practice Wednesday and had ice wrapped around his knee at the team's training facility as he recounted the tension he felt the previous night.
Source: Los Angeles Times
-
Wed Oct 22, 2008 11:24 am EDT
Cavs' West battling mood disorder
Getty Images
Delonte West of the Cleveland Cavaliers left the team for 2 weeks, and finally returned last week. After a few days, he finally acknowledged publicly that he had been battling a mood disorder.
"Before you can help out a team or an organization, you've got to be able to help yourself first so you can give your undivided attention to the job at hand," West, preparing for his fifth NBA season, told reporters in Cleveland. "I removed myself from the team so I could get myself together so I could not be a distraction to the team and what we're trying to accomplish here. For a while, you feel like a weaker man because you've got to raise your hand and ask for help. But I found out over the last week that made me a stronger person."
Dr. Joel Fish, a sports psychologist who has worked with the 76ers for 12 years and is a member of a league steering committee to speak about mental-health issues, explained: "There is no relationship between NBA talent and NBA personalities. Because players are big and strong physically, they're not necessarily strong emotionally."
Fish believes West will get solid support from his peers because, "Players know what it's like to be in somebody else's shoes. They understand they're not machines, they're not robots. It's not a matter of being strong or weak, soft or tough. They're flesh and blood like anyone else. Depression, with treatment, can get better."
West did not address questions about his disorder before contributing five points and seven rebounds off the bench in the Cavaliers' 91-83 preseason win over the Sixers at the Wachovia Center last night.
Source: Philly.com