'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol: 58

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... coach--too

Ex-NBA star promising to repay Vegas casino debt
Former NBA all-star Antoine Walker has agreed to pay more than $900,000 to settle bad check charges with three Las Vegas casinos and avoid trial on felony criminal charges, a defense lawyer and prosecutor said.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... coach--too

Personnel dept.
The Thunder say G Kevin Ollie underwent successful "minor" surgery to relieve pain in the patellar tendon in his right knee and is expected to be out up to four more weeks.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... coach--too

Bulls G Kirk Hinrich will be out one to two weeks (sprained thumb).

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20091201/S ... se-surgery

THE NEW LINEUP: Coach John Kuester was noncommittal when asked whether guard Chucky Atkins and forward Jason Maxiell would remain in the starting lineup. But after they helped stop the losing streak, Kuester said he will give it thought.

"We will take a look at our matchups and recognize what will be in the best interest of the team," Kuester said. "You gotta love the one you're with."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20091201/S ... se-surgery

NOTEBOOK: Center Ben Wallace had 11 offensive rebounds Sunday. Former Piston Rasheed Wallace, whom Ben has replaced in the starting lineup, has 14 offensive rebounds all season for the Celtics. Ben Wallace leads the league in offensive rebounds per game at 4.4. ...

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20091201/S ... se-surgery

Villanueva iffy for next game after nose surgery
Pistons forward broke his nose in win over Hawks. After a surgical procedure Monday to repair a nasal fracture, Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva is listed as questionable for Wednesday night's game at Chicago.Villanueva updated the world Sunday with a Twitter posting: "Surgery tomorrow, wish me luck, I will send a tweet during surgery, lol, the mask is on its way, lets go."

Villanueva suffered the broken nose during the Pistons' 94-88 victory over the visiting Hawks on Sunday, a win that snapped a seven-game losing steak. It happened when he was fouled by Atlanta's Zaza Pachulia on a drive to the basket with 9:30 left. As he was falling, Villanueva's face appeared to hit near the hip of teammate Ben Wallace.Villanueva's nose started bleeding profusely. Trainers slowed the bleeding just enough so Villanueva could make the two free throws. He then went to the locker room and didn't return.

The procedure, which included realigning the septum, was performed by Dr. Gene Rontal at DMC Berry Surgery Center in Farmington Hills. Pistons guard Ben Gordon (left ankle sprain) also is questionable for the Chicago game. He didn't practice Monday but did some shooting and said afterward that he wants to practice today and play against his former team. "If it continues to progress the way it has been, hopefully, I'll be able to play Wednesday," Gordon said. "If not, then I'll continue to work at it and get ready for the game after that."Guard Rip Hamilton (right ankle sprain) and forward Tayshaun Prince (ruptured disk in his back) are out against the Bulls.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20091201/S ... se-surgery

Kuester spent extra time after practice working with forward Jonas Jerebko on the rookie's post game.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20091201/S ... se-surgery

Prince took some shots after practice.

[nasty daddy]

http://blog.mlive.com/fullcourtpress/20 ... lanue.html

Pistons Links: Charlie Villanueva Tweets after surgery and video of Jonas Jerebko's great defensive play
Motown String Music: Charlie V, Twittering from his hospital bed after surgery. He's a gamer.

[nasty daddy]

http://blog.mlive.com/fullcourtpress/20 ... lanue.html

SLAM: Speaking of Charlie V on Twitter, he told Eric Woodyard about getting made fun of by Charlie Bell:

SLAM: I’m following you on Twitter and I see that you and my fellow Flintstone Charlie Bell are always going at it. Has he been getting on you since y’all have been losing? [Laughs]

CV: Charlie Bell, that’s my partner. He’s cool. A cool guy and he’s a character, a good guy and we’re just clowning on each other but it’s all fun and games, though.

[nasty daddy]

http://blog.mlive.com/fullcourtpress/20 ... lanue.html

Ball Don't Lie: Former Piston Carlos Delfino gets one of the best blocks of the season so far. That's how you keep it in play.

[nasty daddy]

http://blog.mlive.com/fullcourtpress/20 ... lanue.html

Hardwood Paroxysm: NBA bloggers are worried about Will Bynum once the Pistons get healthy:

In closing, the fact that Will Bynum is not starting is abject lunacy. And what the hell are they going to do when Hamilton and Gordon both get back? Just bury Bynum, who has been their MVP so far?

Ben Wallace has been the MVP, but you're right, Bynum's been good, with the exception of a couple poor shooting games.

[nasty daddy]

http://blog.mlive.com/fullcourtpress/20 ... lanue.html

Blog Maverick: Mark Cuban says it's time for international basketball to go to an under-21 format.

[nasty daddy]

http://blog.mlive.com/fullcourtpress/20 ... lanue.html

Need4Sheed: Natalie comes through with the video of Jonas Jerebko's great defensive play late against the Hawks.

Video in the link above^.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/s ... ef:nbahpt1

Some early returns on offseason moves
7. Ben Gordon to Detroit
He had a nice start with Rip Hamilton out and averaged 20 points in a starting role, then his shot turned inconsistent. In any event, the Pistons paid good money for two players who may eventually be backups, Charlie Villanueva included.

[nasty daddy]

http://blog.mlive.com/fullcourtpress/20 ... _to_g.html

Darko Milicic cannot wait to get out of the NBA
When former Piston Darko Milicic was dealt to the Knicks, it was thought that if New York coach Mike D'Antoni could not bring the athleticism out of Darko that he showed on grainy video as a teenager in Europe, then no one could.

Well, he's only played in eight games for New York and is having statistically his worst season since leaving Detroit. Now, after making about $30 million on two NBA contracts, he's about ready to head back to Europe: “Looking forward, the stuff that I’m looking for is for me to play and for to me enjoy playing. I think right now the only spot for me is Europe. Because growing up and playing basketball, I needed the ball in my hands. I used to create for myself and I used to create for others. I used to play a lot. That’s the kind of stuff I’m looking for. And for me to get that in the NBA right now, I don’t think so. And I’ve got to be real.”’

Yes, I would have to agree that Darko is not going to find a NBA team willing to let him initiate their offense. I'm glad he's being real. Milicic was just a guy who was in no way mature enough, physically or mentally, to handle the NBA. What it resulted in was spectacular failure, perhaps the worst draft pick in NBA history other than Sam Bowie over Jordan. But at least we have the memories -- everyone has a favorite Darko story, whether it was the time Rasheed Wallace nicknamed him the "human victory cigar," the constant experimentation with blond highlights or him ripping the jersey Hulk Hogan-style in Memphis. My personal favorites are a toss-up between him getting pulled over for having too much window tint, Larry Brown saying something like he thinks Darko was more excited to get his driver's license than to be a NBA player and this unfortunate picture with Carlos Delfino. Hopefully Darko finds some peace post-NBA.

[nasty daddy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4704198

Redd won't join Bucks road trip
Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd is not traveling with the team on a two-game trip because his left knee continues to bother him.

Redd strained a ligament in his surgically repaired knee in Milwaukee's win over Detroit on Oct. 31. Redd missed nine games, returned for three and has missed the previous two after soreness returned following a loss at Oklahoma City on Nov. 27. The Bucks have been hit hard by injuries despite a 9-7 start.

Andrew Bogut (left leg strain) missed six games before playing in Monday night's win over Chicago and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (left foot sprain) has missed eight straight games. Luke Ridnour also hurt his left hamstring late in Monday night's win. He's day-to-day on the trip to Washington and Detroit.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20091201/S ... en-Iverson

76ers reportedly offer deal to Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers are close to a reunion. A person with knowledge of the contract talks says the Sixers offered a one-year, non-guaranteed contract to the former Piston today. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract talks had not been made public.

Iverson, his agent and business manager met with team president Ed Stefanski, coach Eddie Jordan and two other members of the organization Monday during the first formal meeting between the Sixers and their former MVP. Iverson announced his retirement last week after an ill-fated stint with the Memphis Grizzlies. The 10-time All-Star was NBA MVP in 2001, when he led the Sixers to the NBA Finals. Iverson announced his intention to retire last week after no other team expressed an interest is signing the four-time scoring champion. The 6-foot Iverson played three games this season with Memphis before taking a leave of absence to attend to personal matters. He was waived after the two sides agreed to part ways.

He’s on the brink of getting a second chance with the Sixers. The Sixers (5-13) have lost seven straight games and need Iverson to spark sagging ticket sales and their playoff chances.This reconciliation was once thought foolish after their acrimonious split three years ago. Iverson’s last game with Philadelphia was Dec. 6, 2006 in Chicago. He refused to play the fourth quarter and was banished from the team two days later. He was eventually traded to Denver as part of the Andre Miller deal, and bounced to Detroit then Memphis. If Iverson accepts the offer, his likely debut would come Monday night at home against Denver. In a double-dose of intriguing timing, the Sixers play at home Dec. 9 against the Pistons.

[nasty daddy]

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop

•Ken Sugiura of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "The vinegar was still lingering from Sunday's loss in Detroit at the Hawks' practice Monday. With a full roster, the Hawks lost 94-88 to a Pistons team that was without guards Richard Hamilton and Ben Gordon and forward Tayshaun Prince, a trio who last year averaged a combined 53.2 points. Detroit then lost starting forward Charlie Villanueva in the fourth quarter. The Hawks were still out-rebounded 53-27 and 24-6 on the offensive glass, allowing the Pistons to break a seven-game losing streak. 'It gets me frustrated because we have a talented group of guys,' forward Josh Smith said. 'We're coming to a situation like that, where pretty much all their core scorers are gone. It's kind of disheartening to lose a game like that because when you're going into the postseason and you're fighting for position, you look back at these games as games you should have won.' The tenor of the practice reflected a team working out its frustration. 'We felt like we got outplayed and outworked yesterday, so we really came in here and really had a good practice,' center Al Horford said."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20091201/S ... ailability

Still no word on availability of Pistons' Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva
Detroit Pistons guard Ben Gordon (left ankle sprain) and forward Charlie Villanueva (broken nose) are still listed as questionable for Wednesday night's game at Chicago. Pistons coach John Kuester said after today's practice that he will know more about their status and the starting lineup after Wednesday morning's shootaround at the United Center.

Gordon didn't practice but took part in shooting drills with strength-and-conditioning coach Arnie Kander afterward. He didn't appear to have his customary lift on his jumper, and he wasn't doing any cutting, so he appears iffy to play against his former team.

Villanueva was being fitted for a mask, and it appears the only remaining question is his comfort level with the mask and his nose. Guard Rip Hamilton (severe right ankle sprain) and forward Tayshaun Prince (back) will be out against the Bulls.