Moderators: Cowology, theBigLip, Snakebites, dVs33
Nuggets' Kleiza fined $25,000
Denver Nuggets Linas Kleiza has been fined $25,000 for verbal abuse of officials following the game, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.
Kleiza was fined for his comments following the Nuggets 116-105 victory over the Washington Wizards on March 20 at Pepsi Center.
Appeals court upholds verdict against Allen Iverson
NBA star Allen Iverson must pay $260,000 for standing idly by and watching his bodyguard beat up another man in a 2005 bar fight, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected the Detroit Pistons guard's attempt to throw out the verdict decided by a jury in 2007.
Bar patron Marlin Godfrey accused Iverson's bodyguard, Jason Kane, of punching, kicking and hitting him with a bottle because he refused to vacate the VIP section at Washington club Eyebar to make way for the basketball star and his entourage. Godfrey suffered a concussion, a ruptured eardrum, a burst blood vessel in his eye, a torn rotator cuff, cuts and bruises, and emotional injuries. A three-judge appeals court panel wrote that Iverson stayed out of the fray in the back corner of the VIP area, standing on a couch or bench and observing. "The evidence in this case supported the jury's finding that Kane attacked Godfrey in a fight that lasted several minutes, and that Iverson stood and watched without attempting to do anything to stop the beating," the decision said.
Godfrey and another patron, David Anthony Kittrell, sued Iverson for $20 million, but the jury decided not to award punitive damages and only compensate Godfrey $10,000 for his medical bills and $250,000 for pain and suffering. The jury did not find either of the men liable for assaulting Kittrell.
Detroit @ Chicago, 8 p.m. ET
Detroit Pistons: 34-35 (16-17 on the road), Seventh in Eastern Conference
Pace: 85.5 possessions/48 min. (30th)
Offense: 108.8 points scored per 100 possessions (18th)
Defense: 109.2 points allowed per 100 possessions (15th)
Quotable: "Just a matter of getting our best guys all healthy and getting everybody to contribute. If we play defense like we can and share the ball on the offensive end and rebound the basketball like we can, we should be all right." -- Pistons coach Michael Curry on dealing with injuries.
Chicago Bulls: 33-38 (21-12 at home), Eighth in Eastern Conference
Pace: 92.1 possessions/48 min. (9th)
Offense: 108.6 points scored per 100 possessions (19th)
Defense: 109.8 points allowed per 100 possessions (17th)
Quotable: "We're more concerned right now about trying to stay in it and, obviously, trying to improve as we go. But obviously, we know we have teams that are close on our heels." -- Ben Gordon on gaining ground on the Pistons in the standings.
Previous Meeting:
Dec. 23 (in Detroit) -- Pistons 104, Bulls 98
Feb. 20 (in Chicago) -- Bulls 107, Pistons 102
A Quick Synopsis: These Central Division rivals are about as evenly matched as you can get, both in the middle of the pack when it comes to offensive and defensive efficiency. The Bulls have won four of their last five games to take over the eighth spot in the East, which is now theirs to lose. They've been a good team at home, having won seven straight at the United Center before the Lakers came back to beat them there on Saturday. The Pistons have lost four of their last five and have slipped down to seventh in the East. They've been dealing with injuries and will definitely be without Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace, and maybe without Richard Hamilton once again.
Three Numbers to Consider:
1. Only 16.2 percent of Detroit's field goal attempts are from 3-point range. That ranks 29th in the league, behind only Oklahoma City (14.3 percent).
2. The Pistons are 5-20 when their opponent scores 98 points or more and 29-15 when they hold their opponent to 97 or less.
3. Tyrus Thomas is averaging 19.0 points and 11.0 rebounds against the Pistons this season.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
If the Pistons played in the Western Conference, as the Red Wings do, they'd already be planning for a lottery selection. Being a game under .500 in the NBA's Eastern Conference, where the Pistons are at heading into Tuesday's TNT game against Chicago, is more than good enough for a playoff berth. Only a complete collapse will prevent them from getting in.
Chicago is the current eighth seed at 33-38. The team with the next-best record is Charlotte at 31-39. The Pistons are 3 1/2 games ahead of the Bobcats with 13 games left. I figure if the Pistons win six more times, they're safe. They still have a good chance of catching Philadelphia at No. 6 if they can go 8-5. They have two more games left with the Sixers, including Sunday night.Cleveland has a stranglehold on the top conference seed, with Boston and Orlando battling for the No. 2 spot. Obviously, the Pistons would prefer to draw the Magic, a team they have defeated three times this year and beaten in the playoffs the last two seasons.
Beyond the Lakers with the top seed, the West remains wide open. The other division races are extremely close, with three teams within 1 1/2 games of each other in the Southwest and Northwest divisions. A team can go from the No. 2 seed to the No. 7 spot with just a couple of losses and vice versa.
Banks opts for surgery after bone spur
Toronto Raptors guard Marcus Banks had season-ending surgery on his right foot Tuesday, and the Raptors signed guard Quincy Douby to a 10-day contract for the final 12 games.
Banks and forward Shawn Marion were acquired from Miami in a Feb. 13 trade that sent center Jermaine O'Neal and forward Jamario Moon to the Heat. Banks appeared in six games for Toronto before being sidelined by a bone spur in his big toe. He has not played since March 11.A six-year veteran, Banks is averaging 2.5 points and 1.3 assists.
Douby played in 20 games for Sacramento this season, averaging 4.2 points and 1.2 rebounds. He was released Jan. 21 and joined the D-League's Erie BayHawks. A three-year veteran, Douby will be available when the Raptors host Milwaukee on Wednesday night.
Iverson ordered to pay for bar beating
What a great human being the Pistons have on their roster. This is even more reason to tell this clown to go home. Fine representative for a class organization.
BULLS/PISTONS, HOW SAY U?
Still a big game to me, we need it for a number of reason's and the Bulls ain't given anyone time to rest, they fighting for a spot also.
16. Detroit Pistons — Allen Iverson is going to have to pay a man $260,000 for injuries he suffered that were the result of a bar fight in ... wait for it ... 2005. Good. Glad we got that cleared up.
Iverson ordered to pay
Pistons star Allen Iverson must pay $260,000 for standing idly by and watching his bodyguard beat up another man in a 2005 bar fight, a federal appeals court ruled today.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected the guard’s attempt to throw out the verdict decided by a jury in 2007. Bar patron Marlin Godfrey accused Iverson’s bodyguard, Jason Kane, of punching, kicking and hitting him with a bottle because he refused to vacate the VIP section at Washington club Eyebar to make way for the basketball star and his entourage. Godfrey suffered a concussion, a ruptured eardrum, a burst blood vessel in his eye, a torn rotator cuff, cuts and bruises, and emotional injuries. A three-judge appeals court panel wrote that Iverson stayed out of the fray in the back corner of the VIP area, standing on a couch or bench and observing. “The evidence in this case supported the jury’s finding that Kane attacked Godfrey in a fight that lasted several minutes, and that Iverson stood and watched without attempting to do anything to stop the beating,” the decision said.
Godfrey and another patron, David Anthony Kittrell, sued Iverson for $20 million, but the jury decided not to aware punitive damages and only compensate Godfrey $10,000 for his medical bills and $250,000 for pain and suffering. The jury did not find either of the men liable for assaulting Kittrell.
Should he Pay?
I think Iverson should have payed money for the bar beating, but 260K is not exactly what was in mind. I would have choosen around the 150 170K mark because he didn't beat the dude up, but he could have stopped the fight. What do you say, should he have, or not.
Pistons vs. Bulls
The Pistons take on the 33-38 Bulls tonight in Chicago. The Bulls have won seven of eight at home to jump into playoff position in the East. Iverson and Wallace are out for tonight’s game, and Richard Hamilton is doubtful. All three spent time Monday working with Pistons strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander,
While it looks like Hamilton and Wallace will be ready to return soon, Allen Iverson is a big question mark. “Whenever I am ready and I can help the way I know I can help, and I don’t have to deal with this problem and know that it’s not going to bother me for the rest of my life, then I’ll be ready to go,” Iverson said.
Tip off is at 8:00 PM and will be broadcast Nationally on TNT. If you can’t catch the broadcast, listen locally on WDFN 1130 AM or trough your computer at NBA.com
Is NBA Drooling Over Curry, Mills?
During the NIT Tournament, we NBA heads hardly ever pay attention. But when Stephen Curry and Patrick Mills hook up, we're watching. Inspired by our daily Doing Lines feature, Drooling Lines offers a summary of what the box scores tell us. Before we get into the pro prospecting, it needs to be said that St. Mary's College has a killer fan base. That building's bandbox before you add the thousands of maniacal kids screaming full throttle for the benefit of the TV crowd? Well done, Gaels.Of course, the fans had plenty to cheer for thanks to St. Mary's 80-68 second-round victory Monday. The duel between Davidson's Stephen Curry (26 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists) and St. Mary's own Patrick Mills (23 points, 10 assists) lived up to expectations.
Curry did what you always expect him to do -- on drives, on pull-up jumpers, on deep threes. That Curry has NBA range is no question: he's the type of shooter that could win a 3-point shootout any given year. His stroke remains impeccable, a necessarily useful device considering his other limitations. About those limitations ... while Curry finished as one of college basketball's most efficient scorers (despite soaking up a greater share of his team's offensive possessions than any other player in the nation), he is 6-foot-3. That's the knock against him: he's just too small to be a two-guard. As a rebuttal, I submit to you the case of ... Eric Gordon. The Hoosier taken No. 7 last season is proving to be a top-five rookie easily, in spite of the malaise that surrounds him in L.A. and Mike Dunleavy's slow-it-down style. Gordon's an inch taller and a slice more athletic. But Curry is a far better shooter, more versatile and (I'd argue) a better decision-maker. Curry will be fine. Maybe better than fine.
Mills is said to be on the bubble about entering the draft (Chad Ford has him on his 50/50 list; DraftExpress has him in as of now). The midseason injury that sidelined Mills for months (and sunk the season for St. Mary's) probably edged Patty closer to 2010 than any performance did. It's a point-guard heavy draft, but Mills may get more attention than a bunch of them. As we saw in Monday's St. Mary's win (and in Australia's decent showing in Beijing), Mills is a natural born leader. Curry (like Mike Bibby and Jameer Nelson) will always be a two-guard in PG's clothing. Mills is a point guard. Is there value in that? Maybe not. But the guy's court vision is immaculate, even if his jumper (he shot 1-of-10 from long-range Monday) needs plenty of work. In this blogger's opinion, Curry will be a great NBA scorer and Mills will be a good NBA point guard. I can't wait to see their pro careers develop.
Pistons-Bulls Game Thread
Coverage Begins at 8:00 pm ET
Chicago: 33-38 (21-12 home)
Margin: -1.1 ppg (+0.9 last 25%)
Last 10:6-4
Pistons: 34-35 (16-17 road)
Margin: -0.4 (-0.3 last 25%)
Last 10:4-6
Oppo research: So John Salmons was the missing piece? The Bulls are substantially improved with Salmons in the lineup, and he is averaging 22 ppg over the last 11.Chicago has won four out of its last five, including a six point win over the Celtics.This game has potential seeding implications, though it probably means more to Chicago, which is trying to fend off Charlotte, Milwaukee and New Jersey for the final playoff spot. Then again, if Detroit loses tonight, they won’t be much better off. I think we’ve seen enough of Chicago to know what they do, but let me ask this. Has any team featuring such young talent been so boring to watch? Part of the problem is the Bulls’ utter averageness. They really don’t stand out it any particular area. Part of it is that, on any given night, three players fail to mentally show up. Tyrus Thomas is usually one of them.
The Drama: Something tells me Salmons is going to give us fits, though I don’t know if it will be all that dramatic.
Keys for Detroit
Get Stuckey going: It’s not like they have much choice. It’s that or hope for a big night from Jason Maxiell.
Stay in front on ‘D’: With Salmons on board, the Bulls have a real dribble penetration threat (with apologies to Derrick Rose). This will become a free throw parade if Detroit isn’t careful.
Show up in the 4th quarter: Remember the last time we faced this team? Yeah, that sucked. We didn’t bebound or show sensurgency or anything.
Question of the Game: Can we catch a break? Detroit is now 3-13 in it’s last 16 games decided by 5 points or fewer. That is some pretty bad luck. If we were, say, 7-6, we’d be sitting in the 5 seed right now.
Hamilton still out for Pistons, but Rose iffy for Bulls
The injury-riddled Pistons might catch a break tonight when they try to move back to .500.
Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, a leading candidate for rookie-of-the-year honors, is a game-time decision with a right wrist contusion. He is at the top or near the top in several rookie stats, including second in scoring (16.5) and first in assists (6.2).
Pistons coach Michael Curry would probably consider Rose's ailment as an evening of the playing field considering Detroit's Rip Hamilton (sore left groin), Rasheed Wallace (sore left calf) and Allen Iverson (sore back) will be out as well.
It's like a MASH unit
Same three down for the Pistons. Allen Iverson (back), Rasheed Wallace (calf) and Rip Hamilton (groin) won't play tonight and only Hamilton has even a slight chance of playing Thursday against the Lakers.
The Bulls have some issues, too. Rookie of the year candidate Derrick Rose is out with a sprained right wrist, and Luol Deng is still out with a shin injury. Tim Thomas is going to try to play, but he tweaked his back Monday in Washington.
Once again, Arron Afflalo and Kwame Brown will start alongside Rodney Stuckey, Tayshaun Prince and Antonio McDyess. Kirk Hinrich starts in place of Rose.
Kwame Brown, Arron Afflalo and Will Bynum continue to get major minutes
For those NBA fantasy league owners who have invested in Kwame Brown, Arron Afflalo and Will Bynum, you might want to hold on to them a little bit longer. All three have increased playing time due to injuries to Rasheed Wallace (left calf), Richard Hamilton (left groin) and Allen Iverson (sore back).
Pistons coach Michael Curry isn't sure when any of the three will be back to action, although Hamilton appears the most likely to return soon. "They did a lot of work yesterday with Arnie (Kander, Detroit's strength and conditioning coach), but nothing on the court," Curry said. The Pistons want all three to get some practice in before resuming action. But with the team's schedule, those opportunities will be few and far between.
No one is saying that all three won't be back during the regular season, but as they continue to rack up the DNP-CDs, their likely return becomes, well, less likely. And that's bad news for a Detroit team that wants to finish the regular season strong. But for fantasy league owners of Brown, Afflalo or Bynum, that's music to their ears.
Pistons battling rival Bulls
Two Central Division rivals clinging to the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference get together tonight, as the Chicago Bulls take on the Pistons at the United Center.
The Bulls are eighth in the East, just 1 1/2 games ahead of Charlotte, and are opening a three-game home stand. Chicago is 21-12 in the Windy City this season and has won four of five overall, including Monday's 101-99 victory at Washington. Meanwhile, Detroit has dropped four of its last five games and suffered a 101-96 defeat at the hands of Miami on Sunday at the Palace. The banged-up Pistons are again without guard Richard Hamilton (groin), center Rasheed Wallace (calf) and guard Allen Iverson (back).
Detroit will try to even its 16-17 road record and take a 2-1 series lead over the Bulls. Both teams have won on their home floor this season. Chicago is 6-2 in the past eight meetings.The Pistons have lost five in a row at the United Center after winning their previous 12 trips there.
Bulls' Rose out after bruising wrist
Rookie of the Year candidate Derrick Rose sat out the Chicago Bulls' game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night because of a bruised right wrist.
Rose missed his first game after being injured on a dunk attempt in the first half of Monday's 101-99 victory at Washington. He played 39 minutes Monday, but the Bulls decided to hold him out after the wrist swelled overnight. X-rays and an MRI revealed no structural damage to Rose's wrist. The top pick in the NBA draft, Rose ranks second among rookies at 16.5 points per game and first in assists at 6.2.
The Pistons were also short-handed again, missing Allen Iverson (sore back), Rasheed Wallace (strained left calf) and Richard Hamilton (strained left groin).
Kleiza fined for verbal abuse
Linas Kleiza of the Denver Nuggets has been fined $25,000 for verbal abuse of officials after a game in Denver on Friday.
The NBA announced the fine Tuesday but didn't disclose what Kleiza said to the officials.
The Nuggets beat the Washington Wizards 116-105 in that game.