'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol: 31

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStori ... TORY_17304

Leandro Barbosa's Return Delayed?
Guard Leandro Barbosa has been on the Suns' practice court the past two days, but his shooting layups while sitting in a chair and gingerly climbing stairs with his hands on both rails does not bode well for an imminent return.

Barbosa hyperextended his left knee Wednesday, and the resulting bone bruise to the top of his tibia put the Suns' sixth man out one to three weeks. That made a three-game road trip, which starts Thursday in Portland, the earliest he can return, but Barbosa said it could take longer.

"I don't think so," Barbosa said of playing on the trip that has weekend stops at Utah and Sacramento. "If I feel that I'm OK, I need to practice first and make sure I'm OK. If I have the time to practice and go on the road trip feeling good, OK, no problem. But, if not, I'm going to take care of that. Because I remember the first time I hurt my knee, I came back too early, and I hurt myself again. I don't want it to come back."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStori ... TORY_17304

Is Stephen Jackson Done for Season?
Nelson is due $12 million over the next two seasons once this one is done. If history is an indicator, he won’t be walking away from that money. That means the Warriors will have to fire him. From what I’ve been told, owner Chris Cohan is fed up with paying more than one coach at a time. So it would take an act of Congress (or maybe if he’s convinced he’ll lose more than $12 million if things continue the way they are). The smart money is on Nellie sticking around. But, if it were up to you, would he stay or go?

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/03/25/buck ... index.html

Bucks' Ridnour misses game at Toronto
Milwaukee Bucks guard Luke Ridnour missed Wednesday night's game at Toronto due to a sore back.

Ridnour, who is averaging 10.1 points and 5.3 assists, developed the injury during Monday's practice and did not accompany the team to Toronto. Bucks coach Scott Skiles said he hoped Ridnour would be able to return within "a couple of days." The Bucks next play Friday at Orlando.Milwaukee, which began the day 21/2 games behind Chicago for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, was already without guard and leading-scorer Michael Redd and center Andrew Bogut. Redd tore knee ligaments on Jan. 24 and is out for the season. Bogut, who has not played since Jan. 31 because of a sore back, will be reevaluated next week.

The Raptors were without center Pops Mensah-Bonsu due to a sore right knee, but Andrea Bargnani was back after a one-game absence. Bargnani sat out Sunday's 100-76 win over the Los Angeles Clippers with a sore left heel.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/03/25/pace ... index.html

Pacers F Murphy out with knee sprain
Indiana Pacers forward Troy Murphy missed Wednesday night's game against Miami because of a sprained ligament in his left knee.

Coach Jim O'Brien says Murphy injured his MCL during a shootaround earlier in the day and that he is in a lot of pain. He says Murphy will undergo an MRI on Thursday,

The 6-foot-11 Murphy is averaging 14.1 points and is third in the NBA at 11.8 rebounds.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/03/25/dunc ... index.html

Spurs' Duncan held out against Hawks
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich held out forward Tim Duncan as guard Manu Ginobili returned for Wednesday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks.

Popovich provided no explanation for Duncan's absence, but the move was not a surprise. The Spurs are coming off a home win over Golden State on Tuesday night, and Duncan already sat out back-to-back games earlier this month to rest his knees.

Duncan missed three games in late February with what was called a right quad injury.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/03/25/nugg ... index.html

Nuggets' Nene suspended for incident against Suns
Denver Nuggets Center-Forward Nenê has been suspended two games without pay for head-butting the Phoenix Suns' Louis Amundson and physically confronting and making contact with a game official after his ejection, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident, in which Nenê was assessed a Flagrant Foul Penalty Two and was also ejected, occurred with 7:25 remaining in the fourth period of Denver's 118-115 loss to the Suns at US Airways Center on March 23.

Nenê will begin serving his suspension tonight when the Nuggets visit the New Orleans Hornets at New Orleans Arena.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/03/25/aren ... index.html

He has missed all of this season so far after having his third knee operation in 18 months. But Arenas started practicing with his teammates last month and has targeted Saturday's game against the visiting Detroit Pistons for his return.

"The plan is still holding," Wizards interim coach Ed Tapscott said Wednesday. "T-minus-48 or something. So we're still on schedule for launch, I guess."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/03/25/horn ... index.html

Hornets still missing Chandler, Stojakovic
Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic were unable to return to New Orleans' lineup when the Hornets faced the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.

Hornets coach Byron Scott said following Sunday night's victory over Golden State that he hoped both players would be ready by the time the Hornets took the court in a game that could affect the playoff seedings for both New Orleans and Denver.

Shortly before tip-off, however, Scott said Stojakovic would miss his 11th straight game with back soreness and Chandler his fourth straight game with left ankle soreness.

[nasty daddy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4015908

Nene supended for head-butt incident
The Denver Nuggets' Nene has been suspended two games without pay by the NBA after head-butting an opposing player and making contact with an official.

NBA executive vice president of operations Stu Jackson announced the discipline on Monday. Nene was ejected with 7:25 left in the fourth quarter of Denver's 118-115 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Monday night, after head-butting the Suns' Louis Amundson. After the ejection, Nene made contact with a game official, Jackson said.

Nene, who is averaging 14.6 points and 7.8 rebounds, will begin serving his suspension Wednesday night against New Orleans. He would be eligible to return March 28 against Golden State.

[nasty daddy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4016088

Duncan held out of starting lineup
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich held out forward Tim Duncan as guard Manu Ginobili returned for Wednesday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks.

Ginobili, who has missed 19 games since last playing on Feb. 11, has been out with a right ankle injury.

Popovich provided no explanation for Duncan's absence, but the move was not a surprise. The Spurs are coming off a home win over Golden State on Tuesday night, and Duncan already sat out back-to-back games earlier this month to rest his knees.

[nasty daddy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4016318

Hornets missing Chandler, Stojakovic
Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic were unable to return to New Orleans' lineup when the Hornets faced the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.

Shortly before tip-off, however, Scott said Stojakovic would miss his 11th straight game with back soreness and Chandler his fourth straight game with left ankle soreness. Both players' injuries have been nagging them since long before their current stretches of games missed. They don't have much more time to heal before the playoffs. The Hornets had 12 more games left in the regular season after Wednesday night. "I'm concerned, but I also feel pretty comfortable that they will be back. One will be back pretty soon if not both," Scott said. "Right now, I'm going to just keep doing what we've been doing, keep plugging guys in and keep asking them to step up."

Scott said Stojakovic, who had back surgery two seasons ago but came back strong last season, has been feeling better lately and did more work than usual in shootaround Wednesday morning. "We'll see how he feels tonight and tomorrow, because that gives us an indication if we can do a little bit more with him to get him going," Scott said.

[nasty daddy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4016424

Maggette sits after injuring head
Golden State Warriors forward Corey Maggette missed Wednesday night's game against the Dallas Mavericks due to a head contusion sustained the night before against San Antonio.

Maggette bumped his head in a collision with one of the Spurs players. Coach Don Nelson said Maggette probably also would miss Saturday night's game at Denver. Nelson said Maggette was with the team and would be checked out by the Mavericks' doctors.

Warriors guard Stephen Jackson started against Dallas, but was expected to have his ailing left big toe examined by Houston Rockets' medical personnel on Friday. Jackson has been bothered by turf toe for the last year.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStori ... TORY_17304

Is Stephen Jackson Done for Season?
Jackson will head to Houston to get his left big toe, which has been bothering him for almost two years, checked out by the Rockets team doctor.

"I wanted to wait until the end of the season," Jackson told the paper. "But everybody is noticing it's getting worse. It's time I take a good look at it. We're not going to be in this (lowly) position next season. "We're going to need everybody healthy, and I don't want to go into next year not worrying about my toe."

So this might be it for Jackson this season, which might make MFFLs a little nervous. Jackson has been a Mavs killer since his days in San Antonio, so it'd be fitting for him to go out with a big game in Dallas.

[nasty daddy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4016230

Gilbert Arenas apparently is ready to return to the court. He swears he is done, however, with his computer.

Yes, one of the best-known and most-quoted examples of a star professional athlete conveying his thoughts to the world via his blog is hanging up his keyboard. The Washington Wizards point guard said so himself Wednesday when asked whether he plans to resume writing now that he's ready to get back to balling.

He has missed all of this season so far after having his third knee operation in 18 months. But Arenas started practicing with his teammates last month and has targeted Saturday's game against the visiting Detroit Pistons for his return. "The plan is still holding," Wizards interim coach Ed Tapscott said Wednesday. "T-minus-48 or something. So we're still on schedule for launch, I guess."

[nasty daddy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4016076

Murphy sprains knee, to have MRI
Indiana Pacers forward Troy Murphy missed Wednesday night's game against Miami because of a sprained ligament in his left knee.

Coach Jim O'Brien said Murphy injured his MCL at the end of a shootaround earlier in the day. "We think it's a mild sprain, but it's not my knee," O'Brien said. "It's very painful and he can't cut. He tried to go, he tried to warm up, but he couldn't do it."

The 6-foot-11 Murphy, who is averaging 14.1 points and is third in the NBA at 11.8 rebounds, will have an MRI on the knee Thursday.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitbadboys.com/archives/ ... -his-hair/

Appreciating Amir (or at least his hair)
From Austin Burton at Dime: “Watching Amir Johnson in his 10 minutes off the bench last night, two things occurred to me: (1) Instead of barely cracking the Pistons’ rotation, the 21-year-old could have been a senior at Louisville this year, and (2) Amir has the tightest waves in the NBA.”

[nasty daddy]

http://dimemag.com/2009/03/amir-johnsons-nba-ceiling/

Huge Potential Endorsement Deal for Amir Johnson
Watching Amir Johnson in his 10 minutes off the bench last night, two things occurred to me: (1) Instead of barely cracking the Pistons’ rotation, the 21-year-old could have been a senior at Louisville this year, and (2) Amir has the tightest waves in the NBA.

(When you watch sports every day, you notice these things. CGF and I have a running list of the worst hairlines in sports, which Pat Ewing demolished the other night with his “polygraph” look, challenging Jay Harris for the worst line on the market right now.)

Since dropping the cornrows a while back, Amir has quickly vaulted D-Wade, Daniel Gibson and Joe Johnson as the League’s best potential Murray’s Pomade spokesman. One of these days he needs to have a long conversation with Rasheed Wallace.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStori ... TORY_17304

Linas Kleiza Fined $25K
Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for verbal abuse of officials after Friday's game against Washington. Kleiza would not comment, other than to say, "I am appealing the fine, no question."

The NBA did not disclose what Kleiza said to officials. The Nuggets won the game, 116-105.

Also, Nuggets center Nene was ejected from Monday's game against Phoenix and the NBA is reviewing the incident to determine if it will hand out any punishment.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStori ... TORY_17304

Hornets Struggling to Stay Healthy
Center Tyson Chandler, who again will be a game-time decision with an ankle sprain, has not played against Denver this season because of injury, personal reasons (birth of his son)and a one-game, league-mandated suspension for a flagrant foul.

Backup center Hilton Armstrong has stitches in his right ring finger, forward Peja Stojakovic still is recovering from back spasms, and backup forward Ryan Bowen sustained a separated left shoulder Sunday night against the visiting Golden State Warriors. Armstrong, Stojakovic and Bowen will be game-time decisions against the Nuggets, who also might be without center Nene, who was ejected Monday night for a flagrant 2 foul, then bumped a referee as he left the court. That could warrant a suspension.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitbadboys.com/archives/ ... -eat-kids/

They eat kids
Published by Matt Watson on March 25, 2009 in Alley-Oops.
Pistons fans should be cheering for the Maryland women’s team in the NCAA tourney. Just because.