'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol: 38

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

Terrence Williams works out for Joe Dumars
Terrence Williams, of the Louisville Cardinals, was one of the possible Detroit Piston draft picks to work out for Piston GM Joe Dumars on Tuesday. Matt Watson of DetroitBadBoys.com scored an interview with Williams while he was at the airport about to catch a flight out of town.

Matt Watson: How did the work out go? What did they make you do?
Terrence Williams: You do a lot of shooting - do a couple of shooting drills and then you're ready to play. It's not really long - just a short, quick, good workout, do a couple of shooting drills and play against the players, 3-on-3, 2-on-2, 1-on-1...
Matt Watson: Being in the Big East and everything, you've obviously faced a lot of really tough competition. Who would you say would be the toughest player that you faced last year?
Terrence Williams: I don't have a toughest player that I faced - Connecticut was probably the toughest team, but as far as players, I did my share well in the Big East, so I don't really feel like there was a tougher opponent in the Big East. I had tough teams that I played against, but not opponents.

It's an interesting read, so head over to DBB and take a look. Williams has a Twitter page that he uses to communicate with fans and give updates on his daily thoughts and actions. Williams posted a couple entries about his workout for Joe Dumars. Me an the man of the hour Joe Dumars Maybe I will be playing on his team (wink) they have the 15th pick

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

The questions Piston fans might be asking are, is Williams a good pick at #15, will he be there when the Pistons select, and what kind of player is he? Let's go through the information we have on Terrence Williams. ESPN Insider(Subscription) describes Williams as an enigma. A player with all the skills and abilities to be a lottery pick, but one that has not blossomed as predicted in his four years in college. Chad Ford has him falling to #21, with the Hornets picking him up.

Analysis: Williams is the biggest enigma of the draft. He has lottery-pick size, athleticism and skills but was very inconsistent in putting it all together in four seasons at Louisville. At this point, he would be a risk worth taking and would fill a need for the Hornets in their backcourt. Ford has the Pistons selecting Gonzaga small forward Austin Daye, who has the body frame of Tayshaun Prince. Although Daye hasn't hired an agent and may head back to school next season.NBADraft.net has Terrence Williams dropping all the way down to pick #28, with the Timberwolves selecting him. They compare Williams to a JR Rider/Corey Maggette type player.
Strengths: Freakish athlete with a good build and a great feel for the game ... Really showed that he has matured from his freshman year, by leading Louisville to the overall number 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and an Elite Eight appearance ... He is a triple-double waiting to happen, averaged over 12 points per game, 8 rebounds per game, and over 5 assists per game ... He also led the team in steals with over 2 per game ... He is a defensive stopper who is able to guard multiple positions on the floor which should help him at the next level ... His vision and ability to pass are standout for a wing player ... Showed throughout the season that he has good ball handling skills and court sense ... Will be a 2-3 at the next level ... Has a great knack for knowing where the ball is, giving him an edge on the boards ... Put in the right situation, with the right expectations, he can really excel at the next level ...
Weaknesses: Although he has improved his 3-point shooting over his collegiate career from 31% to 38% his senior year, he will really need to continue his development at the NBA level. His offensive game remains his biggest weakness as he struggles to put points on the board consistently ... If his shot isn't dropping and an athletic defender is keeping him from getting to the rim, his offensive game goes into the tank ... Also needs to improve his ability to drive in the lane with his off-hand as well as continuing to develop his ball-handling ... These will be particularly important if he wants to play the 2 at the next level ... Sometimes likes to go for the "highlight" reel play instead of just making the easy play, and seems too relaxed when he's out on the court ... Can fade in and out of games. Needs to develop a killer instinct at all times ...

It's the same hectic evaluation as ESPN seems to indicate, a player who seems to have all the skills but for whatever reason hasn't been consistent in showing them. Draft Express unpdated their mock draft after Tuesday's lottery drawing was finished and has the Pistons selecting Williams. Of all the mock drafts, Draft Express seems to have the most people(scouts) working on both sides of the equation(players and teams). Vince Ellis rightly warns against taking mock drafts too seriously, but there is a difference between a mock draft by one blogger and oringizations like Draft Express or NBADraft.net. Williams is described as a "Poor Man's Andre Iguodala" there and again much the same erratic performance is described. Just as erratic has been the predicted place that Draft Express believes that Williams will be selected in the draft. The Pistons bringing him in for a workout will answer many of those questions, since they will be holding a different type of workout for the players.

[nasty daddy]

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

When prospects arrive at the Palace this week for predraft workouts and interviews, they will have to do a little bit more than the usual basketball drills..."If you have questions about player's ballhandling ability, you can put them up against a good defender," David said. "It helps answer questions for you."...Instead of just having a player jump, Kander will have him run around obstacles and then jump -- kind of simulating an actual game situation when going for a rebound. "A lot of guys in the NBA can jump out the gym, but can't get a rebound," Kander said.

So Joe Dumars may already have an idea on some of the players that will be considered with the 15th pick, and as the draft gets closer the choices will be narrowed further. Stay tuned.

My take on Williams is that he is a good guy and a player with a lot of talent. Joe Dumars will have to decide if he wants to draft a player who has the potential to be one of the better players in the NBA but has yet to show it, or a safe pick. How he performs in workouts and the upcoming camps will determine where he is selected in the NBA draft.

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http://my.nba.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5700037254

J.R. and K-Mart plan to play
J.R. Smith suffered a sprained right calf going for a rebound on his intentional missed free throw at the end of Game 1. Though he felt a little stiff today, the explosive sixth man promises to be ready for Game 2. He is officially listed as probable. “I’m definitely going to play,” he said. “I don’t think anything can keep me out of this game.”

Martin is also probable with a left ring finger fracture.

Little-used reserve Renaldo Balkman suffered a sprained right ankle in pregame workouts and is doubtful for Game 2. He was wearing a boot today.

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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/ ... id=4188189

WWE moves event out of Denver
World Wrestling Entertainment says it is moving its Monday night event to Los Angeles because of a conflict with the Pepsi Center in Denver. The Nuggets are scheduled to host the Lakers on Monday in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, but WWE had previously booked the arena for an episode of Monday Night Raw. WWE chairman Vince McMahon said Staples Center called and offered use of its building and that his organization will return to Denver for an event at the Coliseum on Aug. 7.

McMahon had been critical of Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke. "Quite frankly, it's my view that Stan Kroenke should be arrested, should be arrested for impersonating a good businessman, because he's not a good businessman," McMahon said on ESPN on Monday. Paul Andrews, executive vice president of Kroenke Sports Enterprises, told ESPN on Wednesday night that the move came out of the blue. "We believed we had reached an agreement in principal on Tuesday evening with Vince McMahon and his group, so were a little bit shocked when we turned the TV on and learned by a TV news report that the WWE had moved to Staples Center, when we thought we'd negotiated a deal to keep it at Pepsi Center, but on Sunday, May 24," Andrews said. "We believed we had a deal. And Vince himself asked if he could, as part of deal, get five tickets to the Nuggets game on Monday night so he could come and apologize to Mr. Kroenke personally. So we are a little shocked. But I guess we are not surprised, because the sensationalism employed by WWE and Vince is standard practice for him. The amount of publicity and coverage by their group over the last few days has become their new business goal."

Despite McMahon bolting Denver for Los Angeles, the Pepsi Center is still open to WWE. "We won't penalize the fans for the actions of a group of individuals in the negotiations," Andrews said. "Fans of Denver, who are WWE fans can be sure, if the WWE wants to come back to Denver, we will negotiate the deal."

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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4182302

Report: Garnett having surgery
The Boston Celtics were hoping to stick around in the playoffs long enough for Kevin Garnett to get healthy enough to play. Now that they're out, he'll have surgery on his knee, the Boston Globe reported on Tuesday. "Clearly, that's why we didn't do surgery. I think that was not a secret," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said after the Magic eliminated the defending champions with a 101-82 victory on Sunday night. "At one point, he was going to do surgery. And then we decided, 'Well, why?' Just fate, hope -- you never know. So we were hoping. But I didn't think it was going to happen."

Celtics president Danny Ainge told the newspaper that the 12-time All-Star will undergo surgery sometime next week. Garnett missed 24 games with a sprained right knee, but he will have a procedure for a bone spur in the joint.

Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck said he expects the forward to be at full strength next season, according to the newspaper.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... tml?sub=AR

Wizards' Luck Is Lousy in Lottery
A worst-case scenario season yielded a worse-case scenario result for the Washington Wizards at the NBA draft lottery, as the team that could choose no lower than fifth landed the No. 5 pick in the June draft. Hoping for a potential franchise building block to add to a team that already boasts three all-stars, the Wizards were jumped by three teams despite having the second-best odds to win the top overall pick.

The Wizards were hoping to add a quality player to a roster that already includes Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood, the latter two combining to miss 156 games last season because of injury. Now the Wizards are in a position similar to the last time they were in the lottery five years ago, when President Ernie Grunfeld packaged the fifth overall selection, Devin Harris, with Jerry Stackhouse and Christian Laettner to get Jamison from Dallas. Jamison helped lead the Wizards to four consecutive trips to the playoffs. Grunfeld did not attend the draft lottery, but said he believes the Wizards can still find a quality player with the fifth pick. "There are a lot of great players in this draft. We're in a good spot to get a good player or to possibly use that player in a trade," Grunfeld said in a telephone interview. "We feel comfortable with the fifth pick, but we are going to explore our options to see what can make us the best possible team next year. But we feel, if we have all of our pieces out there, it would be hard for any young player to come in and break into the lineup -- even if it was the first pick."

The Clippers have won the No. 1 pick on two occasions, drafting Danny Manning in 1988 and Michael Olowokandi in 1998. Griffin, the national college player of the year, is the favorite to go No. 1 in what is considered a weak draft. Ricky Rubio, the promising point guard from Spain, is expected to go second. Other players considered top-five selections are Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet, Arizona State shooting guard James Harden and Arizona forward Jordan Hill. "We feel good about who is going to be at number five for us and the ability to get a very good player with a lot of potential at that spot," Grunfeld said, "We didn't assume that we were going to have the number one pick. We're doing our due diligence and we're going to continue to do that. I've always wanted to go with the best available player for us. And we're going to do the same thing again, regardless of position."

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http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4187124

Friends, fans pay final respects
Karen Morrison drove to the Friendship Baptist Church two hours early but swore to herself she wasn't going inside. She didn't want her memories shattered. "I want to remember that smile," she said, sobbing. "That smile."

Morrison was among dozens of mourners who waited outside the small north Tulsa church on Wednesday to pay their last respects to Tisdale, a three-time All-American at Oklahoma who played 12 seasons in the NBA for the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns.

Tisdale will be buried Thursday, after a public memorial service at the downtown BOK Center, a venue that holds about 18,000. He died Friday at 44.

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http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/new ... id=4187292

Olympians could return for worlds
LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and the core of the Olympic basketball champions could be back in USA uniforms next summer for the world championships.

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo met with half of the team during the NBA All-Star break and said it's a "distinct possibility" that some of the gold medalists will play in Turkey in 2010.

During the meeting, which also included Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Chris Bosh, Colangelo said he wanted only a two-year commitment this time, with those years being 2010 and 2012. If the Americans win the world championships, they would automatically qualify for the London Games and not have to play in '11. "They said they bought into that, let's do that," Colangelo said. "Now I think it's important, as far as I'm concerned, that's what they indicated then. I think that's really where they are. A lot of things could happen between now and '10, and we just have to play it by ear. I think right now we have the buy-in."

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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009 ... id=4187772

Blake Griffin: Future Clipper?
The Los Angeles Clippers didn't need time after the draft lottery to decide who to take with the No. 1 pick.

They settled on Blake Griffin long ago. "I'd say we made the decision June 2008," assistant general manager Neil Olshey said Wednesday at the team's practice facility in Playa Vista. "When he decided to go back to Oklahoma, that if we got the No. 1 pick in '09, he'd be the guy."

The Clippers earned the right to select the All-American forward in the June 25 draft Tuesday when they won the lottery, moving up from the third-best chance.

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http://www.nba.com/2009/playoffs2009/05 ... index.html

WWE moving Monday show from Denver to Los Angeles
Vince McMahon claims he's being thrown out. His opponent insists McMahon is the double-crosser.

World Wrestling Entertainment is moving its Monday night show to Los Angeles because of a conflict with the Pepsi Center in Denver, which had booked two events for the same night.

The WWE chairman criticized Kroenke Sports, which owns the Nuggets and Pepsi Center, for not being more helpful when the conflict arose over the weekend. "They bumped us right out of the building, hardly an apology," McMahon said Wednesday. "They didn't do anything for us at all, and the media was talking about someone has to write a check. They didn't want to write anything and they wanted to give us a Sunday night. And the name of the show is Monday Night Raw."

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http://www.nba.com/2009/news/05/20/gran ... index.html

Former NBA forward Brian Grant battles Parkinson's
Brian Grant is afraid. Just 37 and three seasons removed from his NBA career, Grant has Parkinson's disease.

Fear is unfamiliar for the dreadlocked 6-foot-9 forward who played 12 seasons in the league and built a reputation for hard-nosed play after a ferocious battle against Karl Malone in the 1999 Playoffs. "I'd be lying if I said, 'Nah, I'm not scared. I'm going to face this thing head on,' " Grant said, his voice cracking and the weight of the diagnosis showing in his eyes. "I am going to face it head on, but I still have fear. There are times when I'm scared of just losing control of me, you know? Not being able to control myself, and having to have someone take care of me."

Grant didn't take much notice about a year and half ago when his left hand would occasionally twitch. Settling into retirement, he figured his body was adjusting from the grind of the NBA.

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http://sportsradiointerviews.com/2009/0 ... appy-team/

Obviously, we’ve got our own guys, Ron and Von, to address. I think the trade front might be active this year with the economy. I think the trade front might be more active than the free agent front, especially early.

When we can expect McGrady back: “I think the earliest is the start of the season. I do think that’s a bit of a long shot but the doctors haven’t ruled that out. The latest would be, I have to be frank, you really don’t know based on what they’re telling us. These injuries are very hard to predict on the back end. But on the front end, optimistically, he could be ready for the start of the year.”

On re-signing Ron Artest: “You don’t know. We’re hoping it doesn’t turn difficult but I think some of the dynamics of free agency this year are going to make it hard for every team. Again, it’s hard to know…”

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http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports ... d-yet.html

Cavs scoff at the notion that they haven't been tested yet
While an 8-0 record in two rounds of the postseason usually affords a team at least some level of respect, not everyone is giving it to the Cleveland Cavaliers entering Game 1 Wednesday.

Some television and other NBA analysts have openly wondered if their dance through the first two rounds was indicative of a team that hadn’t been tested yet. It’s a notion that the Cavs’ players dismiss, though. “We’ve been in the postseason before,” forward LeBron James said. “We’ve been tested in the playoffs before. Anytime you get into the playoffs, for somebody to say you’re not tested – it’s the playoffs. Every team makes the playoffs for a reason. So if they want us to lose, I guess, then they say we haven’t been tested.”

PG Mo Williams also shakes his head at the idea. “I don’t think so,” he said. “Our first test was Detroit and our second test was Atlanta. We don’t take anything away from those teams. Detroit has been in this position for what, the last six or seven years? Atlanta is the same team that took Boston to seven games [last year] and had the confidence to beat Miami the first round. So you can’t take anything away from them.”

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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/spo ... 31646.html

Rockets' Artest will weigh offseason options
Ron Artest was on his best behavior for the Houston Rockets this season. He was also a key contributor to their surprising run to the second round of the playoffs.

Both Artest and the team say they want to extend their relationship for another season, but the fiery forward also said he’ll weigh other options as a free agent. “You take everything into consideration,” Artest said Tuesday, two days after the Rockets were eliminated from the playoffs by the Los Angeles Lakers. “It’s hard to get into that right now, on what I’m thinking, as far as somebody making an offer I can’t refuse. “It’s going on 48 hours (since the loss), so I really haven’t had time to think about it. I’m just trying to stay in the gym and just improving my game for next year.”

The Rockets have about $40 million locked up in McGrady and Yao Ming alone for next season, but general manager Daryl Morey said negotiating with Artest was a high priority this offseason. “It’s an important issue for him and us,” Morey said. “He brought a lot to this team this year. My job isn’t Ron Artest, my job isn’t who to trade, it’s how do I make the roster, as a whole, better? He can be a big part of that. We’ll see if we can work it out.”

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http://blogs.pe.com/prosports/2009/05/k ... ves-h.html

Kobe's fifth technical leaves him two shy of a suspension
Kobe Bryant received his fifth technical foul of the playoffs late in the third quarter when he slammed the ball down off his foot in frustration over a call against Derek Fisher.

A player called for seven technicals in the playoffs receives an automatic one-game suspension, but Bryant said it's not a concern.

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http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... ton.com+-- +Boston+Celtics+news

Brian Scalabrine, who recovered from a concussion to perform in the playoffs, plans to continue his recuperation by not playing until September

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http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Pos ... ions-3220/

#5- Washington Wizards
Will Consider: Jordan Hill, James Harden
The Wizards were screwed out of this lottery just as much as the Kings were, and their plans of trading this pick for a veteran stud that will help lead them to a deep playoff run alongside their existing core just took a pretty good hit.

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http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Pos ... ions-3220/

4- Sacramento Kings
Will Consider Brandon Jennings, James Harden, Jordan Hill
Will this nightmare year ever end for Sacramento? The Kings fall three spots to 4th overall, and will now have a much less attractive crop of players to choose from. The Kings will likely look heavily at trading this pick, possibly to move down to select one of the point guards they like, while simultaneously unloading a bad contract.

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http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/ ... 158956.cfm

Henderson signs with agent, skips final Duke season
Duke junior Gerald Henderson made the it official Monday, signing with an agent to completely close the door on any lingering hope that Duke fans held for Henderson returning to school for his senior season.