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'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#521 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:48 am

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStori ... 925&lc=NBA

Hornets starting center Tyson Chandler has been working out at the New Orleans Arena for the past week, but when training camp opens on Saturday he won't be at 100 percent.

Chandler said he is still experiencing some minor soreness in his big toe that kept him from participating as an alternate on the U.S. Olympic basketball team this summer. "I'm not at 100 percent, but obviously I feel better because I've been able to take a little time off,'' Chandler said. "But I have continued to work on my skills, but with not as much movement.''

Regardless, Chandler's sore toe is not expected to keep him from participating in the majority of drills set for camp. Chandler moved without limitations during Wednesday's volunteer workout at the New Orleans Arena. He quickly took jump hook shots and bank shots from each side of the lane. Chandler initially injured his toe during the regular-season finale against the Dallas Mavericks this past April. He aggravated it during the Hornets' second-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs. In July, Chandler could not practice with the U.S. Olympic Basketball team because his big toe remained inflamed.

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#522 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:51 am

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStori ... 925&lc=NBA

Nuggets fans will notice a slim, trim Kenyon Martin this season. The athletic forward has dropped 12 pounds, playing at 228 this time around, he said, from 240 last season. The reason? He pointed at his knees. "Take pressure off of these."

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#523 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:55 am

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStori ... 925&lc=NBA

As reported previously in this blog, the Lakers’ glut at the forward position is what made swingman Ira Newble expendable and is the reason why - despite his arduous work ethic, multiple skills and great locker room presence - that he was not re-signed.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Wednesday that he did not expect the 33-year old Newble to cross the waters and play overseas this season. “I haven’t talked to his agent since early this summer but I think (Newble) still wants to play over here,” Kupchak said. “And he can still play.”

If Newble is signed by another NBA team, it almost surely would be for the veteran’s minimum. But as a veteran of eight NBA seasons, Newble would be eligible to be paid approximately $1.2 million. “I don’t know if that same opportunity exists over in Europe for him,” Kupchak said.

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#524 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:57 am

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStori ... 925&lc=NBA

During Wednesday's media day at the Rose Garden, Trail Blazers General Manager Kevin Pritchard said the team will not sign Shaun Livingston. Former 76er Shavlik Randolph will sign a non-guaranteed contract, with the opportunity to battle for the remaining roster spot (along with Steven Hill, Luke Jackson and Jamaal Tatum).

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#525 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:59 am

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStori ... 925&lc=NBA

Iverson during the summer was willing to opt out of the final season of his contract and sign a multiyear deal with the Nuggets. His camp even presented the option of Iverson playing for less money this season, but the Nuggets never came back with an offer. "I was kind of bothered by it," Iverson said. "Being the fact that, from the time that I got here (in December 2006), I gave them everything I had. Obviously, I did some good things. . . . I thought they would at least make an offer for me to turn down. I thought they'd at least offer me a dollar or something. "But there aren't no hard feelings. I feel like there are good people around here. They have their reasons for why they didn't do anything, just like they got their reasons for what they did with Marcus."

Iverson said he's "set for life" and "obviously . . . would consider" taking a pay cut next season.

"It's a good feeling because this will be the first time that I'll be a free agent," the 33-year-old, 12-year veteran said. "It's something different in my career. . . . Next summer, it's going to be a fun time for me because I get to weigh my options and go wherever I want to go."

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#526 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:01 am

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStori ... 925&lc=NBA

Since the Nuggets went into a cost-cutting mode during the summer and traded Marcus Camby to the Clippers for next to nothing, many have wondered: Could Allen Iverson be the next big-dollar player to go? Including Iverson. "It's a possibility," Iverson said in an interview Wednesday with the Rocky after working out Wednesday with teammates at the Pepsi Center. "We'll just see what happens. I wouldn't be upset either way because it's a business. . . . The one thing about a trade is when somebody trades for you, they want you. That's what you want as an athlete."

With Iverson, the Nuggets' highest-paid player at $20.84 million, entering the final year of his contract, many believe he could be dealt by the February trading deadline because the Nuggets wouldn't want to risk losing him for nothing when he becomes a free agent in July. He could be very attractive to a team seeking salary-cap room in 2009. While Iverson said his "first choice" remains to stay with the Nuggets and "sign back" with them in the summer, he said "that situation" with Camby has made him believe he could be dealt. He also has talked with his representatives. "My agent (Leon Rose) and my manager (Gary Moore), they let me know (being traded is) a possibility," Iverson said. "But that's not something that I concern myself with. I go out and play as hard as I can and whatever happens, happens."

Nuggets executive Mark Warkentien declined comment. Nuggets coach George Karl was asked about the possibility of Iverson being dealt by the trading deadline. "I don't think that's on the table, but you never know what the league will deliver you," Karl said. "You never know what packages will come your way." As for Iverson being back with Denver in 2009-10, Karl quipped, "I don't think any of us might be here (if the Nuggets don't have playoff success after five straight first-round exits)."

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#527 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:03 am

http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... 60311/1127

Allan Houston signed with the Knicks on Thursday and will attempt another comeback with his former team. Houston, a former Piston, is fourth on the Knicks' career scoring list, trailing only Hall of Famers Patrick Ewing , Walt Frazier and Willis Reed . He will be in training camp next week with the franchise he led to the 1999 NBA finals.

Forced to retire in October 2005 because of knee pain, Houston, 37, briefly tried a comeback last year with the Knicks. He didn't join the team until 10 days after practices began following the birth of a child, then played in only one exhibition game before ending his bid to make the team.

Houston wore No. 20 in his nine seasons with the Knicks but will now wear No. 14 in honor of his father, Wade , one of the first African-American basketball players at the University of Louisville. "My father has been a great model of a man, and hopefully I can continue to carry what he taught me back to the court with the Knicks," Houston said in a statement.

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#528 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:04 am

http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... 60311/1127

Rockets match offer sheet: The Rockets matched the Bobcats' three-year, $9 million offer sheet for restricted free agent Carl Landry , keeping the 6-foot-9 forward in Houston.

Landry averaged 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in 42 games.

"We obviously thought it was a good opportunity to get the guy," Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins said. "But it's part of the business."

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#529 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:06 am

http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... 50462/1127

Allan Houston has signed with the New York Knicks and will attempt another comeback with his former team.

Houston, who played for the Pistons for three seasons starting in 1993-94, is fourth on the Knicks' career scoring list. He signed a free-agent contract Thursday and will be in training camp next week with the team he led to the 1999 NBA Finals.

Forced to retire in 2005 because of knee pain, Houston briefly tried a comeback last year with the Knicks.

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#530 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:20 am

http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... SPORTS0102

FSN Detroit will broadcast 50 Red Wings games and 50 Pistons games in high definition during the teams' upcoming seasons. FSN Detroit will carry 144 games total for the two teams, including the Pistons' regular-season opener Oct. 29 against Indiana. Here are the complete broadcast schedules: PISTONS PRESEASON
October
Wed. 8, MILWAUKEE, 7:30, FSN
Tue. 14, San Antonio (Grand Rapids), 7:00, FSN
Thu. 23, ATLANTA, 7:30, FSN

REGULAR SEASON
Wed. 29, INDIANA, 8:00, FSN (HD)
November
Sat. 1, WASHINGTON, 7:30, FSN (HD)
Mon. 3, at Charlotte, 7:00, FSN (HD)
Wed. 5, at Toronto, 7:00, FSN
Fri. 7, at New Jersey, 7:30, FSN (HD)
Sun. 9, BOSTON, 6:00, FSN (HD)
Tue. 11, at Sacramento, 10:00, FSN
Thu. 13, at Golden State, 10:30, FSN
Fri. 14, at L.A. Lakers, 10:30, FSN (HD)
Sun. 16, at Phoenix, 8:00, FSN
Wed. 19, CLEVELAND, 7:30, FSN (HD)
Thu. 20, at Boston, 8:00, TNT
Sun. 23, MINNESOTA, 6:00, FSN (HD)
Wed. 26, NEW YORK, 8:00, FSN PLUS
Fri. 28, MILWAUKEE, 8:00, FSN (HD)
Sun. 30, PORTLAND, 3:00, FSN (HD)
December
Tue. 2, at San Antonio, 8:30, FSN (HD)
Fri. 5, PHILADELPHIA, 8:00, FSN (HD)
Sun. 7, at New York, 12:00, FSN (HD)
Tue. 9, at Washington, 7:00, FSN (HD)
Fri. 12, INDIANA, 8:00, FSN PLUS
Sat. 13, at Charlotte, 7:00, FSN (HD)
Wed. 17, WASHINGTON, 7:30, FSN (HD)
Fri. 19, UTAH, 8:00, FSN (HD)
Sun. 21, at Atlanta, 2:00, FSN (HD)
Tue. 23, CHICAGO, 8:00, FSN (HD)
Fri. 26, OKLAHOMA CITY, 8:00, FSN PLUS
Sat. 27, at Milwaukee, 8:30, FSN (HD)
Mon. 29, ORLANDO, 7:30, FSN (HD)
Wed. 31, NEW JERSEY, 3:00, FSN (HD)
January
Fri. 2, SACRAMENTO, 8:00, FSN (HD)
Sun. 4, at L.A. Clippers, 3:30, FSN (HD)
Wed. 7, at Portland, 10:00, FSN
Fri. 9, at Denver, 9:00, FSN (HD)
Sat. 10, at Utah, 9:00, FSN PLUS
Tue. 13, CHARLOTTE, 7:30, FSN (HD)
Wed. 14, at Indiana, 7:00, FSN
Fri. 16, at Oklahoma City, 8:00, FSN
Sat. 17, NEW ORLEANS, 7:30, FSN (HD)
Mon. 19, at Memphis, 5:30, TNT
Wed. 21, TORONTO, 7:30, FSN (HD)
Fri. 23, DALLAS, 7:00, ESPN
Sun. 25, HOUSTON, 6:30, ESPN
Wed. 28, at Minnesota, 8:00, FSN (HD)
Fri. 30, BOSTON, 7:00, FSN (HD)

February
Sun. 1, CLEVELAND, 2:30, ABC
Wed. 4, MIAMI, 7:30, FSN (HD)
Sat. 7, at Milwaukee, 8:30, FSN (HD)
Sun. 8, PHOENIX, 8:00, ESPN
Tue. 10, at Chicago, 8:30, FSN
Wed. 11, ATLANTA, 7:30, FSN (HD)
Tue. 17, MILWAUKEE, 7:30, FSN (HD)
Thu. 19, SAN ANTONIO, 8:00, TNT
Sun. 22, at Cleveland, 8:00, FSN (HD)
Tue 24, at Miami, 7:30, FSN (HD)
Wed. 25, at New Orleans, 8:00, FSN PLUS
Fri. 27, at Orlando, 7:00, FSN (HD)
March
Sun. 1, at Boston, 1:00, ABC
Tue. 3, DENVER, 7:30, FSN PLUS
Fri. 6, GOLDEN STATE, 8:00, FSN (HD)
Sat. 7, at Atlanta, 7:00, FSN PLUS
Mon. 9, ORLANDO, 7:30, FSN (HD)
Wed. 11, NEW YORK, 7:30, FSN (HD)
Fri. 13, at Toronto, 7:00, FSN (HD)
Sun. 15, MEMPHIS, 1:00, FSN (HD)
Tue. 17, at Dallas, 8:30, FSN (HD)
Wed. 18, at Houston, 9:30, ESPN
Fri. 20, L.A. CLIPPERS, 8:00, FSN PLUS
Sun. 22, MIAMI, 1:00, ABC
Tue. 24, at Chicago, 8:00, TNT
Thu. 26, L.A. LAKERS, 7:30, FSN (HD)
Sat. 28, at Washington, 7:00, FSN (HD)
Sun. 29, PHILADELPHIA, 6:00, FSN (HD)
Tue. 31, at Cleveland, 7:00, FSN (HD)
April
Wed. 1, at New Jersey, 7:30, FSN
Sat. 4, at Philadelphia, 3:00, ESPN
Sun. 5, CHARLOTTE, 6:00, FSN PLUS
Wed. 8, at New York, 7:30, FSN
Fri. 10, NEW JERSEY, 8:00, FSN (HD)
Sat. 11, at Indiana, 7:00, FSN
Mon. 13, CHICAGO, 7:30, FSN (HD)
Wed. 15, at Miami, 8:00, FSN (HD)

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#531 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:35 am

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/ ... TE=DEFAULT

Chris Mullin hopes Monta Ellis learned something about maturity when a misadventure with a moped left the Golden State guard with a severely sprained ankle. The Warriors still haven't decided whether Ellis will feel that lesson in his wallet as well. Mullin, the Warriors' top basketball executive, and coach Don Nelson tried Thursday to stay out of the debate about whether the Warriors will fine Ellis for participating in an offseason activity prohibited in the guard's new six-year, $66 million contract. Ellis will miss training camp and at least several weeks of the regular season after injuring his left ankle last month in his native Mississippi.Mullin essentially confirmed a recent report in the San Francisco Chronicle that Ellis' injury occurred in a low-speed moped crash. Ellis initially told the team he was injured while playing hoops, only to change his story days later. "I don't think anyone felt like it was the best-case scenario," Mullin said of Ellis' shifting story. "There were some things that should have been done differently. I think he understands that. With all that said, now is the time for him to have our support. He did do something wrong and needs to be accountable for it, but I do think all the energy and effort goes into getting him healthy."

Ellis underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his ankle, but the team still isn't certain how long its top returning scorer must spend in rehabilitation. The Warriors can't even be sure Ellis will still have the speed and skill that helped him to average 20.2 points last season. Ellis is likely to miss a significant amount of the regular season, and Golden State must decide whether it's financially worthwhile to fine Ellis for his shenanigans at the risk of alienating the player expected to be the centerpiece of Nelson's offense this fall. Nelson claimed he wasn't aware of Ellis' shifting story during his summer relaxation in Maui, and Ellis hasn't responded to requests for comment. Warriors president Robert Rowell, who hasn't given interviews about Ellis' accident, released a noncommittal statement Thursday. "We have scheduled a meeting with Monta's representatives to take place within the next 7-10 days, and upon conclusion we will have a public announcement regarding our decision," Rowell said. Ellis' troubles have taken the camp spotlight off Mullin and Nelson, who both will head into the season in the final year of their contracts. Both men claim they have no worries about their futures at Golden State, and Nelson hasn't decided whether he even wants to coach after this season. Both also seem eager to forgive Ellis so they can get to work preparing the remaining Warriors for life after Baron Davis, who defected to the Los Angeles Clippers after Golden State won 48 games but didn't make the playoffs last season. "Sometimes people learn more from experience than they do from questions and accusations and lectures," Mullin said. "Is it the best way to do it? No, I'm not saying that. It could have a long-term effect. Sometimes, it could be very bad ... but sometimes, how you handle things is as important as what happened."

Ellis averaged career bests in points, rebounds (5.0) and assists (3.4) last season while emerging as a dependable shooter for the league's highest-scoring club. Ellis was expected to take over from Davis as Golden State's starting point guard, but his absence means newcomer Marcus Williams is likely to play the position at first. Ellis will return to the Bay Area from Mississippi when his doctor clears him to travel, likely in the next few days. He will do rehabilitation in Oakland while his teammates make a preseason trip to China and get started on a season that's exponentially tougher in his absence. Although Ellis delivered a blow to the Warriors' hopes of making a playoff run with their reconfigured roster, Mullin can even see a silver lining in that cloud hanging over the club's season. "I think he'll learn a lot about himself," he said. "He'll be able to draw back to it. I told him myself, if this could trigger him to really committing to an offseason program, then all of a sudden we've got a guy 24, 25, that's really got it together. We might be able to look back and be OK."

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#532 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:41 am

http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/ ... rting.html

Amir Johnson, a late second-round pick in 2005, was drafted by the Detroit Pistons primarily because of his potential. No longer a project, Johnson appears ready to play a significant role this season. For the first time as a Piston, Johnson comes into camp -- which begins next week -- with a legitimate shot at becoming a starter. Pistons coach Michael Curry is considering moving power forward Antonio McDyess back to the bench, which would free up a spot in the starting lineup. In addition to Johnson, Curry also is looking closely at Jason Maxiell and Kwame Brown. Of the trio, the 21-year-old Johnson is easily the least experienced. In three NBA seasons, he has played 73 games with zero starts. "It would be nice to be a starter," Johnson said this summer in Las Vegas, which is where Detroit's summer league team played. "But for me, the big thing is just getting out there and playing. Coming off the bench, starting, it really don't matter to me. I just want to play, that's all."

Johnson's hustle at both ends of the floor is something that would benefit Detroit. But his propensity for picking up fouls might limit his effectiveness. While appearing in a career-high 62 games last season, Johnson averaged 8.9 fouls per 48 minutes played. Only Atlanta rookie Mario West (10.9) averaged more fouls per 48 minutes among NBA players who appeared in as many games as Johnson. "A lot of it is game experience," Curry said when asked about Johnson's persistent foul trouble. "Amir came straight from high school. He didn't get a lot of time the first couple years. The only (playing time) he got was in the Developmental League. He really doesn't have a lot of game experience."

That may be true, but he does have three seasons of playing behind Rasheed Wallace, who has been a mentor to Johnson. One of the many lessons Wallace talked to Johnson about, was the need to develop more of an all-around game and not rely so heavily on his athleticism. Johnson has put Wallace's message into practice. "I'm looking to be the garbage man out there," Johnson said. "Getting rebounds, blocking shots, getting loose balls, stuff like that." Said Curry: "He's tried to be an energy guy, a hustle guy and try to earn his way on to the court by playing extremely hard. He's done a real good job of that." As far as Johnson's knack for picking up fouls, Curry said he will improve in that area with a more steady role. "What we've been telling him and what he's worked on, is playing hard but also playing smart," Curry said. "We think as he gets confidence and the fact that he has a consistent role with the team, he won't make some of those same mistakes. And as he relaxes and realizes that sometimes you have to give up on a play if you're beat ... there's no need to give up a foul and a basket. He'll learn those things."

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#533 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:00 am

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/ ... TE=DEFAULT

The Rockets matched the Bobcats' three-year, $9 million offer sheet for restricted free agent Carl Landry on Thursday, keeping the forward in Houston. The Rockets took less than 24 hours to make the move, leaving Charlotte still searching for frontcourt depth before the start of training camp next week. "We obviously thought it was a good opportunity to get the guy," Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins said. "But it's part of the business." The 6-foot-9 Landry had been unable to reach terms with Houston since free agency began this summer. His agent threatened that Landry could sign with an overseas team as the two sides haggled over money. The Bobcats stepped in with an offer Wednesday. But even with decent depth up front, Houston decided to keep Landry, who can play power forward and center. Houston acquired the second-round pick in a draft-night trade with Seattle last year. Landry averaged 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in 42 games. "We're really excited to have him back," Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. "We're going to have a great set of players in for training camp."

Landry's playing time increased late in his rookie season after Rockets center Yao Ming was lost to injury. He scored 22 points in a game at Indiana and was voted to the all-rookie second team. Landry missed time late last season because of a bruised right knee, and Morey said the former Purdue star will undergo a physical. Morey said the Rockets are willing to take a chance with Landry's health. "We've got a good sense of the state of the knee," Morey said. "We feel like we're in a season where we've got to take risks and we've got to bring in all the best players possible. We feel like this has a chance to be a special season and we're excited Carl will be a part of it."

Landry declared himself 100 percent healthy and said he feels better than he was before the injury. "I would say getting drafted was the best day ever in my life and signing this contract will have to be second," Landry told Houston TV station KRIV. "I am happy to be back in Houston." Landry's potential intrigued the Bobcats, who are looking to get help for last season's starters at power forward and center, Emeka Okafor and Nazr Mohammed. "We'll continue to look for ways to improve, that never changes," Higgins said. Some help could come from injury-riddled forward Sean May. Higgins said May should be close to full strength when new coach Larry Brown opens training camp. May missed all of last season after undergoing microfracture knee surgery. "Sean is working out and is starting to look comfortable out there," Higgins said. "He'll be ready to start on Tuesday."

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#534 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:12 am

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/ ... TE=DEFAULT

Allan Houston signed with the New York Knicks on Thursday and will attempt another comeback with his former team. Houston is fourth on the Knicks' career scoring list, trailing only Hall of Famers Patrick Ewing, Walt Frazier and Willis Reed. He will be in training camp next week with the franchise he led to the 1999 NBA finals. Forced to retire in October 2005 because of knee pain, Houston briefly tried a comeback last year with the Knicks. He didn't join the team until 10 days after practices began following the birth of a child, then played in only one exhibition game before ending his long-shot bid to make the team.

He'll be there from the start this time, but making the roster would still be difficult. Now 37, Houston hasn't played in an NBA game since 2005 and would have to show that his knees can handle the running involved in new coach Mike D'Antoni's uptempo system. Houston joined the Knicks in 1996 and made one of the most famous shots in franchise history, a running jumper in the closing seconds of the deciding Game 5 that gave New York an upset victory over top-seeded Miami in the first round off the 1999 playoffs. The Knicks went on to reach the finals, where they lost to San Antonio.

A two-time All-Star and one of the league's best outside shooters, Houston signed a much-criticized $100 million, six-year contract extension in 2001 and averaged a career-best 22.5 points in 2002-03. But chronic knee soreness then limited him. He averaged only 11.9 points in 20 games his final season, his lowest total since he was a rookie. Houston wore No. 20 in his nine seasons with the Knicks but will now wear No. 14 in honor of his father, Wade, one of the first African-American basketball players at the University of Louisville. "My father has been a great model of a man, and hopefully I can continue to carry what he taught me back to the court with the Knicks," Houston said in a statement. "Off the court, this is also symbolic to encourage men to be committed fathers as their role remains one of the most important factors in the lives of our youth."

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#535 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:15 am

http://www.detroitbadboys.com/archives/ ... -for-2001/

With the 9th pick of the 2001 draft, the Pistons should have selected … Zach Randolph? That’s my guess, at least.

Matt Moore of Ridiculous Upside is conducting a “re-draft” with bloggers from around the league covering their respective team. Gilbert Arenas was taken first, followed by Pau Gasol, Joe Johnson, Tony Parker, Jason Richardson, Shane Battier and Tyson Chandler. I rolled the dice on Randolph, explaining myself here: In 2001, the Pistons had just witnessed Ben Wallace’s breakout season at center. With the Joe Smith experiment soon to be over, though, they had a glaring hole opening up at power forward. For all of Zach Randolph’s faults (and he has many), it’s hard to pass on a guy capable of averaging 20 and 10 in his prime, especially when the guy anchoring the middle is an offensive black hole. And who knows? Maybe coming up through Detroit’s stable organization, playing next to Big Ben and living a stone’s throw from his disciplinarian college coach Tom Izzo would have helped Randolph keep his head screwed on straight. (Either that, or it would have sabotaged Detroit’s run of Eastern Conference Finals appearances that began in 2003. But it’s definitely one or the other.)

I was this close to taking Mehmet Okur (Detroit’s real-life pick in the second round that year) or Gerald Wallace. Do you like the pick? Hate it? Tell me in the comments. Either way, at least we can agree he would have been a better selection than the actual No. 9 pick, Rodney White, who’s currently Carlos Arroyo’s teammate with Maccabi Tel Aviv these days.

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#536 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 8:46 am

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStori ... 926&lc=NBA

The Rockets matched the Bobcats' three-year, $9 million offer sheet for restricted free agent Carl Landry on Thursday, keeping the forward in Houston.

The Rockets took less than 24 hours to make the move, leaving Charlotte still searching for frontcourt depth before the start of training camp next week.

"We obviously thought it was a good opportunity to get the guy," Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins said. "But it's part of the business."

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nasty daddy
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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#537 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 9:15 am

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStori ... 926&lc=NBA

Marbury is expected to be traded or released, and there is a possibility that the Knicks may attempt to negotiate a buyout with James. Even if both scenarios unfold, that would still leave the Knicks with 15players. If Donnie Walsh wanted to keep Houston he would have to make another move.

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#538 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 9:18 am

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStori ... 926&lc=NBA

Forward Udonis Haslem has been limited by sprained left foot, likely leaving him sidelined for the start of camp.

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#539 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 9:26 am

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStori ... 926&lc=NBA

Forward Dorell Wright could wind up limited throughout training camp, as he rehabilitates from the meniscal tear of his left knee that sidelined him for the final 24 games last season.

The team revealed that the surgery was more complicated than initially disclosed, putting his availability in question for the Oct. 29 season opener in New York.

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Re: 'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12 

Post#540 » by nasty daddy » Fri Sep 26, 2008 9:29 am

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStori ... 926&lc=NBA

“I thought Tony was important last year,” Rivers said. “It wasn’t his fault. He had to get over a knee injury, and then he wasn’t getting regular time. He’s a player who needs the minutes to produce.

“But he’s playing without the (knee) brace, and he looks great. He’s working out hard. Our guys know what they have to do. You don’t have to tell them.”

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