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Posey (elbow sprain) out 3 games
Hornets forward James Posey will miss at least the next three games with a sprained left elbow.
The injury occurred during Friday night's game in New York. Posey will be re-evaluated on Saturday once the Hornets return from a three-game road trip that begins Tuesday at Sacramento. He will travel with the team on the trip.
Posey was hit on his elbow during the Knicks game and it swelled. He underwent an MRI exam on Saturday.
WERE BAAAAAAACK!!!!! ALL WE NEED IS SHEED
I know my last blog was depressing, it was after the Chicago game last Tuesday, before the big wins over Agent's Zero Wizards and The Philly Cheesecakes, We get two outta three All-Stars back (RIP and A.I) over tha weekend, and most importantly we got the Wins. Next up Cleveland and RaSheed. It would suite us no better than to get Sheed back and kick Cleveland you know what!@#$%%3! Especially after all the showboating LaBron and Co. has been doing lately with the intro's. Its time The Pistons brush off our shoulders, and Claim the Eastern Conference Title again! What a way to let the league no were back by giving Cleveland the business, and setting fear thew the rest of the league.
One more thing, I know I been a little hard on Tayshaun Prince for getting tired last week, and in that Houston Loss, but last night he played verrrry verrry great. He'd held this team together and man the ship while everyone was out. Big Ups to Tayshaun, and Mcdysse for holding down the fort!
Streak Busters (it can be done)
When Lebron first came into the league we were awed and like wow he's a freak of nature really good, humble, hard worker and the league hadn't seen that in awhile from a superstar.
Fast forward what 4or 5 years later and the NBA has created a damn monster, I'm starting to not like him, I used to enjoy his games (when he wasn't playing us) but in his mind he has the title won already so piston faithfuls out there it is time for us to get back to our streak busting days, nothing would give me greater pleasure then to see us not only hand them their 2nd loss at home but to bust that 12 game winning streak! you know bring the cleveland bunch down a notch!
MetroPCS Pistons Weekly Plays of the Week (3/22)
Plays of the week for March 22, 2009.
Postgame: Richard Hamilton (3/29)
Richard Hamilton talks about the Pistons' 101-97 win over the 76ers on Sunday at The Palace.
Kwame Brown on Gilbert and D.C. Fans
It was quite an occasion for former D.C. stars Saturday night at Verizon. Richard Hamilton. Rasheed Wallace. Allen Iverson. Kwame Brown. Gilbert Arenas.
Ha, just kidding Gil! Anyhow, Awvee Storey was also there, having played the past season in China and now back in New Jersey. I asked him whether he wrestled any of his teammates in China, and he said no, but he did confirm that he and Gilbert had locker room battles. "Oh man, me and that dude used to go at each other," Storey said. (Storey also had his adorable five-month old daughter with him, asleep in his arms: "Awwww," Gilbert said, when he saw the pair. "She's sleeping now, she'll be up all night. I love 'em and hate 'em at that age.")
Blog questions and answers as well in the link above^.As for Kwame, as usual, he was booed by the D.C. fans during intros. And later, he and Gilbert wound up co-starring in the game's crucial play, with the Pistons' big man providing the defense on Gilbert's final, off-target, potential game-winning shot. Before all that happened, though, I chatted with Kwame for a few minutes about his ex-teammate, his ex-team and his ex-city. He's the first person, in my life, I've heard describe D.C. as a "tough, hard-nosed city."
While some scouts said they think of former Celtics player Dave Cowens when thinking of Hansbrough, names like Amare Stoudemire tickle the mind when talking about Griffin. Kellogg and Carlesimo both allude to the ferocity with which he attacks the basket, and his thunderous finishes. Griffin's quickness around the basket and his creativity in traffic, along with his physique, make me think of Len Bias, the former University of Maryland star who died from a cocaine overdose in 1986.
Los Angeles Acquires Othella Harrington and Mickael Gelabale
The Los Angeles D-Fenders have acquired NBA veteran forwards Othella Harrington and Mickael Gelabale, it was announced today. The team also announced that forward Duane Erwin has been waived due to injury.
Harrington, a 6-9, 235-pound forward, is a twelve-year NBA vet who has played with the Charlotte Bobcats, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Vancouver Grizzlies and Houston Rockets. Last season he appeared in 22 games with the Bobcats and averaged 2.1 points, 1.9 rebounds in 7.5 minutes and shot .429 from the field. He has played in 709 games (263 starts) over his NBA career averaging 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and shot .505 from the field.
Gelabale, 6-7, 215 lbs., was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round (48th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft. In two seasons for the Sonics, the forward from France played in 109 games (14 starts) where he averaged 4.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.3 steals in 15.6 minutes. During the 2007-08 season, Gelabale was assigned to the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League where he played in six games putting up 17.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals in 32.2 minutes.
Snow update: A couple weeks ago, Eric Snow saw a league-appointed doctor to examine his knee. The paperwork has all been filed and the Cavs are waiting on word from the league in their disability claim. According to a league source, there could be an decision rendered this week.
If the Cavs get approval, then Snow -- who is retired and now working for NBA-TV -- will be removed from the roster and the salary cap. With insurance and luxury-tax savings, the disability claim is worth $11 million to the team.
Upcoming opponents are getting healthy for the Cavs. The Pistons could have Allen Iverson, Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace back for Tuesday's game at The Q.
Wizards rest Arenas vs. Pacers
As expected, Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas was held out of Sunday night's 124-115 loss against Indiana to allow his surgically repaired left knee more time to rest.
Arenas had 15 points against Detroit on Saturday night in his first game in 11 months, but coach Ed Tapscott says Arenas will not play back-to-back games and his playing time will be limited to about 28 minutes when he does appear.
Tapscott says Arenas was "feeling fine" after playing against the Pistons. "No knee soreness at all, just the muscle soreness that comes with playing your first high-level game in a while."
Pistons-Cavaliers Preview
The Detroit Pistons' reserves saw plenty of action in a blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers last month. Given the way the Cavaliers are playing now, newly designated backup Allen Iverson could get some extra time in the series' latest matchup. Iverson and the Pistons look to snap Cleveland's 12-game winning streak Tuesday and hand the Cavaliers just their second home loss of the season. Cleveland (60-13) has taken control of the top spot in the Eastern Conference, grabbing a comfortable lead over Orlando and Boston with nine games remaining. The Cavaliers are two games head of the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA's best overall record, are 35-1 at home this season and have won a franchise-record 12 straight. Their current four-game homestand ends Tuesday against their Central Division rival, and the most recent meeting - also in Cleveland - wasn't close. The Cavs cruised to a 99-78 win over the Pistons (36-37) on Feb. 22 as LeBron James played 31 minutes - seven below his season average - while all of Detroit's starters played fewer than 30.
One of them was Iverson, who had 14 points in 26 minutes, but now he's adjusting to a new role for the Pistons. After missing 16 games with back problems, he returned to the court in Detroit's 101-97 win over Philadelphia on Sunday, scoring eight points in 21 minutes off the bench.
It was only the seventh time in 884 career games Iverson has not been a starter. He admitted it will take time to adjust to the role change. "With all the things I've done in my career, I knew it was going to be tough for me mentally to do this," he said. "But the more I looked at the big picture - the idea of helping my teammates win games - the more the idea appealed to me." The Pistons split the 16 games Iverson was out. They are in seventh place in the East - one game ahead of eighth-place Chicago and 1 1/2 behind sixth-place Philadelphia. On Sunday, Tayshaun Prince scored 21 points against the 76ers while Rodney Stuckey added 16. Before winning the last two, the Pistons had lost six of eight. "This was a big win for us to get, especially playing a tough team on a back-to-back," coach Michael Curry said.
Beating Cleveland figures to be much more difficult than posting wins over Washington and Philadelphia. The Cavaliers are coming off a 102-74 win over Dallas on Sunday in which they rallied from 15 points down to dominate the second half as they outscored Dallas 55-25, including 30-11 in the third quarter. James had 24 points and 12 assists while Joe Smith added 12 points and 13 rebounds off the bench. Cleveland has won its last two by an average of 25.0 points. "At this level, that's a tough feat," Smith said of the team's winning streak. "That's something (that is) tough to do whether you are at home or on the road in this league. We have played some tough teams and have had some tough games and we have been able to pull them out. That just shows how good this team is and what we are capable of doing." The Cavs have held their last four opponents to an average of 83.5 points and 39.8 percent shooting. The Pistons are averaging only 84.7 points against Cleveland this season - their lowest average against any team from the East. This is the final meeting of the regular season between these foes, with the Cavs having won two of the first three. They now look to win the season series for the first time since 1997-98.
Injury Update: Leon Powe
On Sunday Leon Powe made his first appearance at a Boston Celtics game since spraining his knee against the Chicago Bulls on March 17. Powe was scheduled to undergo further testing by team doctors, but spoke to the media beforehand.“It’s sore every once and a while but it feels good,” he said. “It’s feeling better than it did when I hurt it. I was able to run straight it that game but then when it got stiffened up, it stiffened up on me in the back and I couldn’t even move it.”
Powe suffered the injury when he banged knees with Ben Gordon. A sprain is nothing compared to the extensive knee injuries he has endured in the past. He hopes to return a few games before or during the playoffs. “I’ve been through a lot of knee problems a whole lot worse,” he said. “Just a few weeks, three-and-a-half weeks, that isn’t anything to me. But I would like to get back into action a little bit before the playoffs. But however I feel, that’s where I’m going to go from there.”
As for Sunday’s game, Powe will watch the Celtics take on the Oklahoma City Thunder from the locker room. “I’m not going to be on the bench,” he said. “I didn’t wear a sports coat today. I don’t want to get fined, especially when I’m sitting out.”
BREAKING NEWS: Lakers Andrew Bynum Close to Return!
This is great news. Big Bynum is almost back. While the Los Angeles Lakers battle through their longest road trip of the season, back in Los Angeles injured center Andrew Bynum nears a return.
According to his website AndrewBynum.com, Bynum has progressed to the point where he is “playing 2 on 2 and 3 on 3, while waiting on the team to return.”
The Lakers are scheduled to play the Charlotte Bobcats and Milwaukee Bucks on back-to-back nights on Tuesday and Wednesday. Coach Phil Jackson wouldn’t be likely to hold a full practice on Thursday. The team’s next home game is on Friday against the Houston Rockets, likely without Bynum. If, however, he can get in a full practice on Saturday, April 4th… perhaps the Lakers will be able to get him on the court against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. That assumes that Bynum’s knee responds well to the increase in activity. A delay might take him to April 9th against the Denver Nuggets Or even as late as the Memphis Grizzlies on the 12th.
Scal growing stir craz
Brian Scalabrine is getting stir crazy. The Boston Celtics forward has been out of commission with post concussion syndrome since February 19. In an attempt to speed up his recovery, he pushed himself too far. Scalabrine is still suffering from lingering headaches in the morning and evening. However his doctors discourage him from taking Tylenol because the medication could mask his symptoms. “I was going too hard. I was doing too many things,” he said prior to the Celtics game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. “I was trying to get back and you’re limited in what you can do. You can ride a bike, you can lift weights, but I was lifting weights really hard, riding the bike really hard. We’re not going to tone that down because they (headaches) could just go away and your body could get used to it. But more so April 1 will be the time that we’ll know from the doctors.”
In the meantime, he is itching to get back on the court. In addition to supporting his teammates, attending Celtics home games is a much needed escape. “For me it’s about getting out of the house,” Scalabrine, a hunting enthusiast, laughed. “A man can only be home so long before he needs to go hunt and gather … I’ve got to do a lot more than the dishes if I stay home. We’re just not built that way … Men are not built to stay home and do stuff at home … We’re not good like that.”
Scalabrine keeps a journal three times a day to record his progress. He will meet with doctors on April 1.
New Orleans Hornets' James Posey sits out game against San Antonio Spurs after being suspended
His injured left elbow might have kept the Hornets' James Posey out of Sunday night's game against the San Antonio Spurs at the New Orleans Arena, but NBA executive vice president/basketball operations Stu Jackson eliminated the uncertainty.
Jackson suspended Posey, without pay, for Posey's actions Friday night in which he fired a ball at the feet of referee Gary Zielinski after Zielinski called a loose ball foul on Posey with 5:46 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Hornets' 103-93 loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Earlier in the game, Posey sustained the elbow injury, which necessitated an MRI exam Saturday that revealed no structural damage, just a strain with inflammation inside the joint.
STOJAKOVIC STILL OUT: There's still no timetable on when New Orleans' Peja Stojakovic might return to the lineup.
Scott said he continues to report that his back is feeling better, but it's uncertain when he'll return. Sunday night's game was the 13th in a row he has missed with his latest round of back spasms. That meant San Antonio defensive ace Bruce Bowen didn't leave the bench.
Warren '98.9 percent' sure he's returning to OU
Willie Warren would be Oklahoma's go-to scorer in 2009-10 if he opts to return to school. Oklahoma freshman Willie Warren, who had been projected as a Lottery Pick in June's NBA Draft, said on Saturday that he's coming back to Oklahoma for another season -- or at least that he's "98.9 percent sure" he's coming back.
"I want to play a year without Blake [Griffin] to see how good I am," Warren said. "I didn't come into college basketball to be a one-and-done player."
But Warren also said there's a very slight possibility -- a 1.1 percent chance -- he'd reconsider his decision to return. "I'd have to have a pretty amazing rest of the tournament for me to do something like that," he told SI.com. "I'd have to average 30 the rest of the way. And I don't see that happening."
Cuban gets tagged for $25,000
Mark Cuban has been fined $25,000 for his Twitter comments regarding officiating after Friday's game against Denver, the owner said after Sunday's loss to Cleveland.
Cuban had questioned why a technical foul wasn't called for J.R. Smith for taunting when he got in the face of Antoine Wright near the end of the game. Cuban also pointed out the problems Smith and Wright had in an earlier game in Denver this season, when Smith threw an elbow that barely missed Wright's head.
Cuban said he was fine with the fine, and declined to comment beyond that.
Foye, Smith questionable for Mavs game
Guard Randy Foye and forward Craig Smith did not practice today after sitting out Sunday’s 108-99 win over New Jersey.
Coach Kevin McHale said both are questionable for Tuesday night’s game against Dallas at Target Center.
Foye bruised his hip on March 4 in a practice collision with rookie forward Kevin Love and McHale said, “He never, ever kind of has gotten over it.” Smith strained his calf in the first half of Friday night’s game at Cleveland. “He’s a tough kid,” McHale said. “If you don’t sit him down, he won’t sit himself down. I asked him if it was still bothering him and he said yeah and I said he’s just going to get worse; he’s not going to get better. Same thing with Randy.”