Moderators: Cowology, theBigLip, Snakebites, dVs33
Tonight: Cavaliers
Matchup: Pistons 27-26; Cleveland 42-11.
Tip-off: 8, Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland.
Injuries: Pistons -- none; Cavs -- G Sasha Pavlovic (sprained right ankle), G Delonte West (fractured right wrist), G Eric Snow (left knee) out.
Line: Cavaliers by 10.
TV/radio: FSN, ESPN; WDFN-AM (1130).
Overview: The teams have split their first two games this season, but the Cavaliers have a depleted backcourt with Pavlovic and West out.
Warriors' Nelson wins 1,300th career game
The Golden State Warriors' 133-120 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night wasn't just another tally in the win column - it was No. 1,300 for head coach Don Nelson.
Nelson joined Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens as the only coaches ever to reach the milestone, and he moved within 32 wins of matching Wilkens for the most coaching wins of all-time."I'm in good company," Nelson said. "It's good to be the second guy, I'm proud to be there with him."
Nelson's career record now stands at 1,300-986 in 30 career seasons with four franchises.
Iverson: Long trip may be good thing
Great teams, hostile crowds and unfamiliar beds might not sound like the most appealing circumstances to most NBA teams. But the friendly Palace crowds and the comforts of home haven't worked well for the Pistons as they take their five-game losing streak on a trip featuring games against some of the top teams in the league, starting tonight at Cleveland. And by the time the team returns to Detroit after the March 1 game at Boston, the Pistons will have played five games in eight days. With their current 27-26 record and games against the Heat, the Hornets and the Magic on the trip, the Pistons face the prospect of falling below .500 this late in the season for the first time since the 2000-01 season. That team finished 32-50. But with a 14-15 home record, maybe the road will prove more beneficial for a team that has lost seven of its past eight home games. But the friendly Palace crowds and the comforts of home haven't worked well for the Pistons as they take their five-game losing streak on a trip featuring games against some of the top teams in the league, starting tonight at Cleveland.
And by the time the team returns to Detroit after the March 1 game at Boston, the Pistons will have played five games in eight days. With their current 27-26 record and games against the Heat, the Hornets and the Magic on the trip, the Pistons face the prospect of falling below .500 this late in the season for the first time since the 2000-01 season. That team finished 32-50. But with a 14-15 home record, maybe the road will prove more beneficial for a team that has lost seven of its past eight home games. Allen Iverson warns against looking at the trip in its entirety. He said he thinks the team must take it one game at a time. "Obviously it's crucial because we're not winning," he said after Thursday night's loss to San Antonio. "But all we need to concentrate on is one game at time. We got to get the first one." He wasn't necessarily talking about tonight, when the Pistons face LeBron James and the Cavs, who are fighting with the Celtics for the top record in the Eastern Conference. But the tentative, lackluster play could disappear on the road.
Some of the team's bigger victories (San Antonio, L.A. Lakers and Denver) have come on the road. "I think the most important thing is on the road you concentrate a lot more," Iverson said. "A lot of times guys feel like the game's going to be won by the fans. "But on the road you are playing against their team plus 20,000 other people, and the level of concentration is there and the distractions are not there. It might be a good thing."Antonio McDyess is ready for a win. He doesn't care if it's on the road, at home or on the moon. "It's just time to win a ballgame," McDyess said. "I don't know how we do it; I don't care how we do it."Home or away, we got to win a ballgame. Going on the road is not going to be easy. It's going to be a tough stretch for us, tougher than we've been playing at home." Coach Michael Curry remains publicly confident, saying the team will play well. "It's disappointing that we have a better road record than home, but that also shows we're capable of pulling together and being focused and playing in tough territory," Curry said. "It's a big road trip for us, and I feel confident we're going to play well on this trip and come away with some good victories."
Nearing .500
The Pistons are 27-26 entering today's game at Cleveland. They haven't been under .500 after 53 games since the 2000-01 season:
Season W-L Final
2008-09 27-26 ?
2007-08 39-14 59-23
2006-07 34-19 53-29
2005-06 44-9 64-18
2004-05 34-19 54-28
2003-04 33-20 54-28
2002-03 37-16 50-32
2001-02 31-22 50-32
2000-01 20-33 32-50
The Celtics, with Kevin Garnett’s knee injury shelving him for 2-3 weeks, and the Cavaliers, with their very public inability to pull off a deal for a big man by the trade deadline, are now locked in an arms escalation that shows just how much these two contenders have each other in mind.
Mike D'Antoni wouldn't guarantee his newcomers would take the court this afternoon against the Raptors, but the coach admitted Hughes and Wilcox would likely see time."Me saying right now, yeah, but don't hold me to it. But I think so," D'Antoni said when asked about working both players in today. "We'll see 'em in the first half probably, and the second half will depend on what's going on."
It's a good bet Hughes, at least, won't be complaining about how much playing time he gets. Hughes didn't play a minute for the Bulls after Jan. 12.
His acquisition became official yesterday during Knicks practice - he was dealt for Tim Thomas, Jerome James and Anthony Roberson - and Hughes is pumped to begin playing again. "I'm ready to play," Hughes said. "I'm ready to go get this thing going in the right direction as far as me being off the court so long. I'm really anxious."
D'Antoni's preference is to use an eight- or nine-man rotation, even though in Phoenix he occasionally played just seven. Of the four players the Knicks traded on Thursday - Tim Thomas, Jerome James, Anthony Roberson and Malik Rose - only Thomas was in the rotation. Hughes is expected to eventually be elevated to starting shooting guard, although his promotion into the starting lineup probably won't take place today when the Knicks face the Raptors in Toronto.
Stern said league revenues were roughly flat this season, which was received as good news given the current climate. Later, after some league meetings with the players union, union head Billy Hunter was projecting a drop in next year's salary cap and luxury tax line of about $1 million. It would be the first drop in the cap since the rules were re-written in 1999.
But now the other shoe.
Stern told the media, which was followed by a warning memo to each team, that the league-wide revenues that determine the salary cap are expected to drop sharply in the 2009-10 season. This is because this year's season tickets and suites were renewed and sponsorship agreements were signed before the economy had turned. So teams were not as exposed this season but could really feel it in 2009-10.
The Cleveland Cavaliers didn't get LeBron James any additional help at the trade deadline. If his performance in their latest game is any indication, he doesn't need any. James will look to deliver an encore to his 55-point effort Sunday night when the Cavaliers host the sputtering Detroit Pistons, who are trying to avoid their first six-game losing streak in more than five years. General manager Danny Ferry decided to stand pat at Thursday's trade deadline, figuring Cleveland (42-11) would be in good shape to earn the Eastern Conference's top seed with its current roster.The Cavaliers played their first game after the All-Star break without power forward Ben Wallace, who had a lacerated arm, and Delonte West, who had been out since Jan. 15 with a fractured wrist.Wallace returned Friday and West is due back soon - though he'll likely miss Sunday's game - but all Cleveland mostly needed in Milwaukee was James. The NBA's leading scorer had a season-high 55, hitting 8 of 11 3-pointers and adding nine assists, as the Cavaliers beat the Bucks 111-103. "Just got in the zone, man,'' James said after finishing a point shy of his career high. "I saw a few go down, so I just kept going at it, man. Every shot that I made tonight, every shot that we all made tonight, we needed."
He nearly outscored Milwaukee by himself in the third quarter, pouring in 24 points - 16 in one 2:50 stretch - as Cleveland turned a six-point halftime deficit into a lead with a 35-25 edge."LeBron's performance was unbelievable," coach Mike Brown said. "I'm really speechless with what he did out there in the third quarter." James' biggest help offensively all season has been point guard Mo Williams, and Williams has been an excellent second option during the Cavaliers' current three-game winning streak. Williams has averaged 28.0 points on 61.1 percent shooting. Williams had 25 points in Cleveland's first meeting with the Pistons, a 96-89 loss in Detroit on Nov. 19.It looked like the Pistons (28-27) would get the best of the Cavaliers at The Palace again on Feb. 1 as they led by eight after three quarters. But with James on the bench to start the fourth, Williams sparked a 15-2 run and Cleveland eventually cruised to a 90-80 win. James had 33 and Williams 22. "It makes it easier for (James) because you can't leave Mo," Pistons guard Allen Iverson said.
Detroit won consecutive games after that loss, but has lost its last five. Iverson's 31 points couldn't help it top San Antonio in an 83-79 loss on Thursday. The Pistons dropped to 2-10 at home since Jan. 13, and face a road trip that includes games at Boston, New Orleans and Orlando after Sunday's visit to Cleveland. "We lost again," guard Rodney Stuckey said. "I don't know. I really can't explain anything anymore. We just keep losing, and now we've got some great teams to play.'' Detroit hasn't lost six straight since Feb. 3-17, 2004. Coach Michael Curry has moved Richard Hamilton to the bench while Stuckey starts, and the second-year guard's play has hampered Detroit during its losing streak. Stuckey has averaged 8.2 points during the five-game skid, and has totaled five points in his last two games. Hamilton, meanwhile, had averaged 26.2 points in his last five games before scoring four points on 2-of-10 shooting against San Antonio. The Cavaliers, who own the NBA's best home record at 24-1, have lost four of five to Detroit at Quicken Loans Arena.
Hunter update: Nuggets reserve center Steven Hunter, rehabilitating from knee surgery, said he could return to practice in "the next couple weeks. I'm running around, shooting, lifting, just trying to get in shape."
On Saturday, forward Carmelo Anthony said he's a game-time decision because of a bruised left knee. And fellow forward Kenyon Martin is questionable with a bad back.
"The more I did, the more I ran and jumped, it tightened up on me," Martin said of Friday's game at Chicago, which he left before halftime.
As for Anthony: "You can't really tell how I am unless I'm going out there running," he said Saturday. "I feel the same way now as I did before the game (Friday). Of course I want to play. I'm going to play it by ear." The Nuggets' starters didn't practice Saturday, instead going through a film session with coach George Karl at the hotel. The coach said he likely will start Renaldo Balkman for Martin, instead of Chris Andersen, because "I'd like to keep the minutes between Nene and 'Birdman' separate."
NBA deadline deals based on money
Detroit was believed to be a potential trade partner for the Grizzlies. But there is apparently no reason to look at Pistons general manager Joe Dumars' phone bill.
Dumars fielded a few calls in the 72 hours leading up to the deadline but didn't come close to making a deal. Part of the reason for that was because of the parameters Dumars established with fellow GMs.
The Pistons didn't want to add any salary that would take them above the luxury tax threshold given they are about $450,000 under. Dumars also made it clear he didn't want to do any deals that might impact the team's salary cap space for this summer, which could be more than $20 million. "You can see a lot of the deals were where people were just getting off money," Dumars said, adding that he isn't waiting for the 2010 free agent class. "You can't wait," Dumars said. "You can't sit here and two years down the road hope we get somebody. You have no idea what could happen. We're not going to shut down. We're going to keep going."
Chandler plans to return Monday at Kings
Hornets center Tyson Chandler, back with the team for the first time since his trade to Oklahoma City was voided Wednesday night, has targeted Monday night's game at Sacramento as his possible return date. Chandler attempted to practice fully Monday, but left midway through the workout when his sprained left ankle began hurting. "I wasn't ready in that practice," Chandler said before Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers which he missed, the 15th in a row since he twisted the ankle against the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 19. "That was just me wanting to be back, tired of sitting on the sidelines. Physically, I wasn't ready to come back. I wasn't exactly healed yet. "I feel like potentially I can go in Sacramento. That's my goal."
Chandler's trade to the Thunder, for Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith and the rights to DeVon Hardin, was rescinded due to concerns by Oklahoma City's medical staff about his surgically repaired left big toe, an injury that was diagnosed and treated by the Oklahoma City doctor who performed the physical Chandler failed this week.
The toe, Chandler said, has not bothered him since this summer when it forced him off the USA Basketball team that participated in the Beijing Olympics. It also limited Chandler early in the Hornets' training camp in October. "And that was because I did nothing to keep it loose or any rehab," Chandler said. "That's the funny thing about it. I haven't missed a game (because of the toe) since my surgery."
PETERSON CLOSER TO RETURN: Having missed his 10th consecutive game Friday night while trying to rehabilitate a sprained left foot, reserve shooting guard Morris Peterson also is looking at a potential return to the active roster Monday or Wednesday at home against the Detroit Pistons.
"I don't want to jinx myself, but the way I feel now, and have felt for the last few days, I can push off it more -- and I've been doing some drills," Peterson said. "I don't want to get ahead of myself."
Peterson's return has been slowed somewhat by the fact that the Hornets haven't had many off days to practice recently. "It would be hard to go out there and just try to play in a game without any practices," he said, adding there's no swelling with the injury, just lingering pain he's trying to deal with. "It wouldn't be a smart thing to do."
Trade not finalized Saturday, Williams and Brown out tonight
New Timberwolves Shelden Williams and Bobby Brown didn’t practice with the Wolves Saturday because the Sacramento Kings hadn’t yet examined Rashad McCants and Calvin Booth, so Kevin McHale said neither would be ready for action tonight against the Lakers at Target Center.
McHale said he still expected the trade to go through. The Kings being on the road delayed the physical exams required to complete the deal.
The Celtics received a shock to the system when Kevin Garnett hopped off the court in Salt Lake City Thursday night. Garnett traveled with the team to Phoenix later that night and hoped to be playing today against the Suns. Instead, he was persuaded to return to Boston, where he was diagnosed with a posterior muscle strain in his right knee.
But Garnett's teammates were not surprised that he will be out for at least two weeks. "He's been laboring over the last couple days and it came to a head in Utah," guard Ray Allen said yesterday. "The best thing is to make sure to get some rest. Your body tells you - it lets you know when you need to get some rest."
Said captain Paul Pierce: "He probably needs a little rest, anyway. This has been going on for the last couple weeks. Maybe this will be good for him down the stretch - we want a 100 percent Kevin Garnett, especially going into the playoffs."
Garnett's Injury Could Determine Homecourt
Last season Kevin Garnett missed a couple of weeks with a strained muscle in his abdomen. The Celtics overcame this injury and went on to win a title. As such, it's not like Kevin Garnett's strained right knee that will cause him to miss the next two or three weeks of action is reason to panic. The key for the Celtics is to make sure Garnett is 100 percent come playoff time.
That said, the Cleveland Cavaliers have to look at this injury as an opportunity to swoop in and lay claim to the best record in the Eastern Conference. And before you dismiss homecourt advantage as no big deal, recall just how important it was last season in the playoffs. One could make a pretty compelling argument that Boston would not have won a championship without it. Heck, one could make an argument the Celtics wouldn't have made it out of the first round without it.
For Boston, this is a chance to once again show their championship toughness and swagger by persevering and winning games without the heart and soul of their team. For Cleveland, this is an opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the Celtics in the standings.Nothing less than a trip to The Finals very well could hang in the balance over these next couple of weeks. Remind me again who says NBA regular season games don't mean anything?
Amaré's eye could need more work
Valley retinal surgeon Dr. Pravin Dugel first saw Suns star Amaré Stoudemire on Thursday night on a referral from team ophthalmologist Jay Schwartz, who examined Stoudemire's right eye that afternoon.
Dugel, with Retinal Consultants of Arizona, said Stoudemire's vision was disturbed as badly as 20/50 and he had blood in his eye. It was clear he had a "very large" retinal detachment on the nasal side. The ragged tears indicated they were caused by trauma. Stoudemire was struck near his eye Wednesday while fouling Al Thornton but that was not a sole cause. "I think it was an accumulation," said Dugel, who performed a similar surgery on the Coyotes' Landon Wilson in 2002 when a puck struck his eye. "Some tears looked like they had been there for a while and some looked fresh."
The largest detachments were at the top of his eye and would have worsened in days, Dugel said. The eye must heal itself and could require more surgery and vision correction. The eight-week prognosis for a return to physical activity is loose, considering his job. "People have to understand this is something very serious," Dugel said. "For him, activity isn't hitting a tennis ball or jogging. That's what makes this thing a lot more tenuous."
Economy Affecting 2009 Free Agency, or Something Else?
Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer wrote an interesting piece Sunday morning discussing how the economy is going to affect this summer's crop of free agents, but the reality is that conservative spending this offseason may be the result of something else.
It will be easy for teams to cry poor this summer and keep themselves from signing huge free agents not only because they'd like to save the money—which admittedly is an issue after seeing the flurry of financially-motivated trades this deadline—but because that space could be better used in the summer of 2010, when LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, and Amar'e Stoudemire all hit the market.
We can talk about how nobody has any money right now, and how that will keep teams from signing players to huge contracts this July, but when 2010 rolls around, no matter what the economy's like, do you think anybody will be trying to save money on the four guys listed above?
Detroit (27-26) at Cleveland (42-11), 8:00 p.m. EST
LeBron James is coming off of one the best games of his career. The Detroit Pistons know all too well that he is capable of pulling another one off against them. James and the Cleveland Cavaliers host the struggling Pistons on Sunday.
The "King" scored a season-high 55 points, making a career-best eight 3-pointers in Cleveland's 111-103 victory at Milwaukee on Friday. James scored 24 of his points in the third quarter en route to the seventh 50-point game of his career. After the contest James said his performance fell short of a memorable playoff win over Detroit in Game Five of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals. James scored his team's final 25 points in a 109-107 overtime victory.
The Pistons are hoping he can't duplicate the performance as they come in desperate for a victory. Detroit has matched a season high with five straight losses, which includes Thursday's 93-89 setback to San Antonio. Allen Iverson scored 31 points in the loss for the Pistons, who are opening a five-game road trip in Cleveland.