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

[nasty daddy]

http://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo

GS coach Don Nelson has been diagnosed with pneumonia and will miss games at DAL and SA this week.

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http://twitter.com/detroit_pistons

FullCourtPress: About Last Night: Detroit Pistons were never really in it against Phoenix Suns: The only good news ... http://bit.ly/6IVwll

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http://twitter.com/detroit_pistons

FullCourtPress: Was William Wesley the MVP of the Pacers-Pistons fans brawl?: Worldwide Wes played a key role durin... http://bit.ly/4swfUJ

[nasty daddy]

http://blogs.indystar.com/pacersinsider ... ack_o.html

Now onto Dunleavy

You likely won't be seeing him in the lineup against the Los Angeles Clippers at Conseco Fieldhouse on Wednesday.

O'Brien said Dunleavy has been cleared to play, but the swingman wants to get in better shape before he plays in a game. "He has not practiced enough full court that we're comfortable just throwing him out there," O'Brien said. "When he feels like he's in NBA shape, then he'll be back."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/story/1347113.html

Miami Heat's Quentin Richardson sidelined by lower back strain
Starting small forward Quentin Richardson missed his second consecutive game Sunday because of a lower back strain, and the team has not set a timetable for his return.

Recovery has been steady but slow for Richardson, who sustained the injury in the third quarter of Wednesday's loss at Atlanta. He landed awkwardly on his feet after a rebound, reached for his back and immediately left.

Richardson had back problems earlier in his career. But he said this is the first flare-up since his season-ending surgery while with the New York Knicks on March 30, 2007. ``This time, I was kind of freaked out,'' said Richardson, who underwent the procedure two years ago at Jackson Memorial Hospital. ``Whatever I did when I landed kind of made it go into a spasm. We've been treating it . . . around the clock.''

[nasty daddy]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ba ... 6784.story

Tyrus Thomas is at least two weeks from returning from his fractured radius in his left forearm.

"Tyrus brings us more depth, more versatility, more athleticism," Del Negro said. "It's a big loss for us, no question."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baske ... curry.html

New York Knicks' Eddy Curry awaits call on flagrant foul against Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo
Even thriller win is a pain to CeltsCDR burns to halt Net losing skidMiracle on the Hudson pilot is hero in bedroom, says wifeWinless Nets could lose LopezEddy Curry faces a possible fine and/or suspension for shoving Rajon Rondo to the floor in the fourth quarter of the Knicks' 107-105 overtime loss Sunday.

"Nothing against Rondo," Curry said. "He was there. It was stupid." Curry, appearing in his first game at the Garden since March 2008, was frustrated by Kendrick Perkins' defense and felt he was fouled as he spun to the basket. When no foul was called, Curry shoved Rondo in the back and was given a Flagrant 1 foul.

"I let my emotions get the best of me," Curry said. "I know I didn't punch him. I just fouled. I hope not to get suspended."

[nasty daddy]

http://blogs.charlotte.com/inside_the_n ... -mend.html

Chandler says he's on the mend
Charlotte Bobcats center Tyson Chandler did some light shooting at practice Monday and said he anticipates being able to play Wednesday versus the Toronto Raptors.

Chandler has missed the last two games and the second half of the road game in Philadelphia after suffering back spasms. He tried to get loose in pre-game warmups Sunday, but about five minutes into that process he was too stiff and sore to continue.

The plan was for Chandler to go light today to avoid aggravating the injury, then push some in practice Tuesday to test whether he's ready to play. The Raptors have a particularly mobile front line, between athletic power forward Chris Bosh and long-range shooting center Andrea Bargnani, so there will be a premium on moving well enough to guard big men outside the lane.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=5065

Michael Redd returns tonight
Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:

Michael Redd is ready to return in Monday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. Redd fared well in his first contact practice with some 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 work at Trinity University on Sunday, and he worked out again in the Bucks’ shootaround Monday morning at the AT&T Center.Bucks coach Scott Skiles said he will bring Redd off the bench against San Antonio after the shooting guard missed nine games with a left patella tendon strain. “He got through it well,” Skiles said of the contact work on Sunday. “We’ll bring him off the bench tonight and probably not play a lot of minutes or anything. Just get his feet back under him in a game and see how it goes.”

The Bucks have had great chemistry without Redd. Is it possible that his return will actually throw things off? It’s always hard to suggest such things about good players, but keep an eye on it.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/teams/Rankings.asp

1: Atlanta Hawks
2: Orlando Magic
3: Dallas Mavericks
4: Los Angeles Lakers
5: Cleveland Cavaliers
6: Denver Nuggets
7: Phoenix Suns
8: Portland Trailblazers
9: Boston Celtics
10: Milwaukee Bucks
21: Detroit Pistons

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/teams/Rankings.asp

21 (20) Detroit Pistons 5 - 9: The Pistons have some good kids in the backcourt, will improve when Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince return - but Charlie Villanueva is their only big guy who can score.

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=14446

Kobe and LeBron Players of the Week: Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James were named the NBA's Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively. The press release:

The Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 16, through Sunday, Nov. 22. James averaged a league-best 34.3 points on .583 shooting from the field, 5.8 rebounds and a team-high 9.3 assists, leading the Cavaliers to a 3-1 week. James was the only Eastern Conference player to score 30 or more points in each of his games and recorded his first 40-point game of the season in a 105-95 win over Indiana on Nov. 20. Bryant led the Lakers to a 3-0 week, averaging 29.8 points (second in the Western Conference), 6.7 rebounds and a team-high 6.7 assists. With his free throw at the 6:07 mark of the third quarter Nov. 19, Bryant moved past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24,176) for second on the Lakers' all-time franchise scoring list; Bryant trails only Jerry West (25,192). On Nov. 17, Bryant recorded his fourth 40-point game of season in a 106-93 win over Detroit.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Charlotte's Stephen Jackson, Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, Denver's Carmelo Anthony, Houston's Luis Scola, Memphis' Rudy Gay, New Orleans' Marcus Thornton, New York's Al Harrington, Orlando's Vince Carter and Phoenix's Amar'e Stoudemire.

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=14441

Who's Hot? Who's Not?
Who's Cold
East Team – Detroit Pistons: Detroit lost all five of the team's games this week, including a 26-point drubbing at the hands of the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. Sure, all five teams the Pistons played have winning records at the moment, and four of the five games were on the road, but if this squad expects to be a playoff team, it will have to find a way to win games against quality competition.

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Eric Gordon Scrimmaging; May Return Wed
And, on Sunday, shooting guard Eric Gordon was finally able to scrimmage with his teammates, taking part in almost all of the practice.

Gordon, the team's second-leading scorer, has been out for seven straight games with a strained left groin, getting injured Nov. 7 against Memphis.

He ruled out returning today against Minnesota but he left open the possibility of coming back against Indiana on Wednesday, which, incidentally, would be in his hometown of Indianapolis. "It was good progress today," Gordon said. "Finally getting up and down there a little bit. I wouldn't say I feel exactly 100% but just made great progress the last couple of days. I'm starting to run a little bit more. The treatment has been helping a lot."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Bibby Day-to-Day with Sprained Ankle
Hawks guard Mike Bibby's sprained left ankle is very sore, but he is "day to day," team spokesman Arthur Triche said Sunday.

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Lee, Battie to Return During Road Trip?
Indeed, the return of Harris from his groin injury gives this 0-13 team hope, but it likely starts the clock on Lawrence Frank’s tenure as head coach. The Nets remain the NBA’s only winless club — four losses shy of tying the record for most consecutive defeats to start a season — and (Devin) Harris’ return removes some of the convenient excuses and mitigating circumstances.

As will the returns of Courtney Lee and Tony Battie, who get their uniforms back sometime during the four-game road trip that begins Tuesday in Denver.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Wallace: Family Persuaded Me Not to Retire
When the Suns traded Shaquille O'Neal, the idea of Ben Wallace going away was a big part of the $18.5 million in savings they would reap.

Wallace seemed to be close to retiring when trade talks began, but he wound up back with the Detroit Pistons, who visited Phoenix on Sunday night. "I wasn't going to play," Wallace said. "I was retired. I was about to sign the papers."

His family's prodding prompted a comeback. He accepted a $10 million buyout from Phoenix for a $14 million salary, a move that will save the Suns $8 million when factoring in the luxury tax. Wallace declined to say if he wanted to play for Phoenix but said he could fit the Suns' system."When I'm healthy, I can play any system," Wallace said. "What I do is not about Xs and Os."

[nasty daddy]

http://need4sheed.com/2009/11/team-need ... -woes.html

Team Need4Sheed Podcast – West Coast Woes
Our good friends Bennie and Jeff talk about what went wrong out West. Is it panic time or can Detroit dig themselves out of the whole with or without Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton.

Venting and more…

Don’t forget please leave Bennie and Jeff your thoughts in the comments. They are waiting to hear what Team Need4Sheed has to say.

Audio in the link above^.

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http://www.motownstringmusic.com/2009/1 ... ut-pistons

Goodbye West Coast, But Pistons Schedule is Not Getting Any Easier
With a blow out loss to the Suns last night, the Pistons fell to 5-9 on the young season and ended their first of two extended west coast trips this season. The next not coming until February and against an onslaught of teams a lot less imposing than what the Pistons faced this past week (Sacramento, LA Clippers, Denver, and Golden State). Even though the Pistons are no longer in the west coast's death grip, and are returning home for a three game home stand, the schedule doesn't get much easier over the next eight games:
vs. Cleveland (10-4)
vs. LA Clippers (5-9)
vs. Atlanta (11-3)
@ Chicago (6-6)
vs. Milwaukee (8-3)
vs. Washington (3-9)
@ Philadelphia (5-8)
vs. Denver (9-4)

That's a combined record of 57-46 they'll be facing from Wednesday until December 10th (and thank Washington for making it seem less intimidating). Five of those teams are playoff teams and half of them are in the top half of their respective conferences. At 5-9, Detroit can't afford to drop more than half of those games. On the bright side, Detroit plays six of the eight at home. One of the road games is against Chicago and that will be Ben Gordon's triumphant return to the Windy City where he will show the Bulls organization what they are missing out on, hopefully. The other is in Philadelphia, who the Pistons have already beat this season at home. The other positive about this stretch is that the Pistons don't play another back-to-back until December 9th and 10th. Through the first fourteen games of the season, Detroit played five back-to-back games, and they lost the second game of all of those. In fact, the last six games have all been apart of back-to-backs.

If all goes well, and Detroit can knock off a couple superior opponents at home, they could walk out of this next stretch with a 6-2 record. That would be ideal. However, it's probably not realistic to expect more than four wins, especially if Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince aren't back yet. Without those two, it might not be realistic to expect even four wins.November has been brutal, for sure, but the Pistons are looking more like a team that is not going to have many 'gimme' games on their schedule, no matter how it's all lined up. They either play hard for 48 minutes, without the single quarter lapses, or they'll get beat. It's as simple as that. The Pistons can do themselves a huge solid by defending their home court the rest of the way. And it starts on Wednesday against Cleveland, who embarrassed the Pistons at the Palace twice during last year's playoffs.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.pistonpowered.com/2009/11/da ... ill-bynum/

Daily Dime blurb on Will Bynum
I wrote a little something on Will Bynum for today’s Daily Dime (No. 8 item). An excerpt:

With his ability to drive to the basket, he’s often Detroit’s go-to player down the stretch. If the NBA’s stars pass on the dunk contest again, Bynum should be considered for the event. And he’s doing all of this after going undrafted, playing in the NBDL and spending two seasons with Maccabi Tel Aviv. Perhaps, most remarkable has been his improvement in Detroit. It seems like he’s shooting more efficiently and passing, rebounding and defending better each day. Unfortunately for Detroit, the 26-year-old is a free agent this summer, and it’s tough to see the Pistons resigning him.

Check out today’s Daily Dime (No. 8 item) for the entire story