Around The League News And Rumors (Non-Hawks)

Ruhiel · Post #261 » by **Ruhiel** » Sat Dec 24, 2011 6:36 pm

from AJC comments:

Just read that Al Horford is getting married this afternnoon, 12/24/11 to the lovely Amelia Vega, an ex Miss Universe. Civil ceremony at the home of Juan Luis Guerra, in the Dominican Republic. Weird date though...

Congrats to Al.

Post #262 » by **HMFFL** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 3:36 am

No Penalty For Kevin Garnett After Postgame Incident

The NBA will not penalize Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett for his postgame incident yesterday with New York Knicks guard Bill Walker, according to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein.

After Garnett missed a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer, he put his hand around Walker’s throat; the two had to be separated by players and coaches. Walker contested Garnett’s shot and appeared to say something to the Celtics forward.

“Heat of the moment,” Walker said on Monday. “I just went and contested the shot. We got wrapped up, tangled up and, you know, the rest happened.”

Walker said that he approached Garnett after the game and that he has no hard feelings.

“We shook hands, I talked to him … I chopped it up with him. I still respect those guys,” said Walker. http://tracking.si.com/2011/12/26/repor ... &eref=sihp

Here is the clip: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXSfZnoXBx8[/youtube]

Ruhiel · Post #263 » by **Ruhiel** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:10 pm

The Hawks have always weighed the merits of keeping, or moving, Smith and Horford. Both are tweeners. Horford is undersized at center but doesn't have a face-the-basket game for power forward. Smith has crazy athleticism and skills for someone 6-foot-10 but too often falls in love with 20-foot jumpers. Both are in their primes, so holding onto them much longer would hurt their trade value.

-Shaun Powell, nba.com

Rookie forward Jon Leuer scored 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting with eight rebounds, one assist, two steals, and two blocks in 20 minutes off the bench on Tuesday.
Leuer has had nothing but positive reports since being drafted No. 40 overall this summer, and it looks like the Bucks may have found a diamond in the rough. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (knee) expects to return in the Bucks' next game on Friday, so Leuer will likely go back to fantasy irrelevance. Just remember the name -- we're guessing you'll hear it again.

Rotoworld via Google

Post #264 » by **HMFFL** » Thu Jan 5, 2012 9:10 pm

Warriors pursue Howard, but will Magic listen?

As the Orlando Magic consider deals for Dwight Howard, the Golden State Warriors have emerged as aggressive suitors for the NBA’s best center, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Golden State management is willing to take Howard as a one-season “rental,” with the hope of selling him on signing a long-term deal before he enters free agency this summer. Like most teams, Golden State has inquired with Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith, but the Magic have yet to commit to aggressively pursuing a trade of Howard.

For the Magic to become intrigued with package, two things would likely have to appeal to them: rebuilding around young point guard Stephen Curry; and the Warriors’ salary-cap space to absorb the three years and $34 million left on Hedo Turkoglu’s contract. The possibility of the pursuit could be complicated by questions about the sturdiness of Curry’s surgically repaired right ankle. The Warriors are willing to part with either of their two guards – Curry or Monta Ellis – but teams clearly will watch how Curry recovers from his recurring ankle sprains. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=A ... ors_010512

Post #265 » by **HMFFL** » Sun Jan 8, 2012 10:25 pm

Need a good laugh?

Kwame Brown Takes Credit For Lakers Center Andrew Bynum's Success

"That was my young fella," Brown bragged of Bynum. "I taught him everything he knows. ... I'm one of the better defenders in the league and we played against each other every day in practice. I told him if you can score against me, you can score on anyone." http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/dish/20 ... rs-success

Ruhiel · Post #266 » by **Ruhiel** » Mon Jan 9, 2012 2:45 am

HMFFL wrote:Need a good laugh?

Kwame Brown Takes Credit For Lakers Center Andrew Bynum's Success

"That was my young fella," Brown bragged of Bynum. "I taught him everything he knows. ... I'm one of the better defenders in the league and we played against each other every day in practice. I told him if you can score against me, you can score on anyone." http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/dish/20 ... rs-success

Not so hard to believe that Kwame brought Physicality to Bynum in practice.

Ruhiel · Post #267 » by **Ruhiel** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:41 pm

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/1/11/2 ... vin-durant

10. Josh Smith Hawks 15.6 points on .505 TS%, 8.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.8 blocks --
The Pacers, Hawks and 76ers all deserve a spot on this list, but balanced attacks and strong team defenses tend to deflate the stocks of all. So we'll give the last spot to Josh Smith, who has been a good Atlanta team's best player to date. He's No. 2 on the team in scoring, No. 1 in rebounding, No. 3 in assists, No. 2 in steals and No. 1 in blocks. Basically, he's being very Josh Smith right now. If only he could improve his shooting percentages ...
-------

wow. I know I'm jinxing Hawks vs Pacers right now but I had to post this. :gossip:

Post #268 » by **HMFFL** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:29 pm

Hawks owners want to know what you think of them (sort of)

It seems the Atlanta Spirit’s past of running the Thrashers into the ground, selling them to a group that moved them to Winnipeg and possibly various decisions during their tenure with the Hawks have led them to wonder if that’s one reason fans aren’t going to basketball games.

Thanks to reader and former Thrashers season ticket holder Everett Duke for tipping me off to this: An Atlanta-based marketing research group, Alexander Babbage, sent out a survey via the Philips Arena account on Twitter Thursday morning, reading, “We need your help! Please take a moment to answer a few questions about the Atlanta Hawks.”

The Tweet includes this link to a survey, which is intended to gauge fans’ interest and feelings about the Hawks, the NBA and the ownership group. The survey is about 20 questions. (It goes to “No. 29,” but it’s actually mis-numbered and the last few questions seek personal information.) The survey is titled, “Hawks 2011-2012 Fan Pulse Study.”

The Hawks’ ownership group, led by my close friends (sarcasm) Michael Gearon Jr. and Bruce Levenson, has been trying to distance itself from the Atlanta Spirit brand and the Thrashers. Email addresses were changed from @AtlantaSpirit.com to @Hawks.com and news releases no longer reference Atlanta Spirit.

But there’s apparently enough concern about perceptions of the owners that the survey included the following:

Hawks 2011-2012 Fan Pulse Study

Superiorblogman · Post #269 » by **Superiorblogman** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 5:07 pm

Good post

baseline33 · Post #270 » by **baseline33** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:35 pm

get Dwight (even with no extension) and everything will be okay in Atlanta and the ownership group

juneeci · Post #271 » by **juneeci** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:54 am

This season, the Knicks' image is changing fast. Last night, they played better defense than the league's best defensive club in a 85-79 statement win over the red-hot, Atlantic Division-leading Sixers at the Garden. It was the Knicks' fourth straight victory.

Ruhiel · Post #272 » by **Ruhiel** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 2:57 am

Last time I saw Tyson Chandler is having a HoF streak right now. Offense rtg was thru the roof and he's Shooting like 70% expected field goal %. crazy.

parson · Post #273 » by **parson** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 5:03 am

Cut ticket prices until Phillips is filled every game -- make the place rock with noise. Players want to go to a team that is well-supported by way of noise and sellouts.

evildallas · Post #274 » by **evildallas** » Sat Jan 14, 2012 5:46 pm

Anyone else getting tired of Dwight Howard confirming that he doesn't want to play for certain teams? I understand the use of media to try to dictate where he lands without sacrificing money, but the constant headlines are making him seem like a punk.

Post #275 » by **HMFFL** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 1:59 am

evildallas wrote:Anyone else getting tired of Dwight Howard confirming that he doesn't want to play for certain teams? I understand the use of media to try to dictate where he lands without sacrificing money, but the constant headlines are making him seem like a punk.

I respect Howard's honesty. I do get sick of the headline since he already stated the three destinations that interest him. The problem that I see with those destinations is that LA is the only one out of the three that right now has value to offer.

servaisyema · Post #276 » by **servaisyema** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 1:17 pm

Wiz fan here and Gil will miss the first 2 games, which means he will be out against you guys also as he is in a boot spam

MaceCase · Post #277 » by **MaceCase** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 4:08 pm

HMFFL wrote:
evildallas wrote:Anyone else getting tired of Dwight Howard confirming that he doesn't want to play for certain teams? I understand the use of media to try to dictate where he lands without sacrificing money, but the constant headlines are making him seem like a punk.

I respect Howard's honesty. I do get sick of the headline since he already stated the three destinations that interest him. The problem that I see with those destinations is that LA is the only one out of the three that right now has value to offer.

Yea, I don't blame him either, I blame all of the fans, bloggers and reporters that continuously want to come up with scenarios where he comes to their favorite team that he said he doesn't want to go to. He's sold on three destinations, 2 can sign him in the summer (NJ, DAl) and 1 could trade for him (LA) leave it at that unless some other team comes out says we want to dump salary and don't mind him leaving us at all.

Post #278 » by **HMFFL** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 4:27 pm

From Dwight Howard's perspective it must be annoying to have to answer the questions after every game.

Kobe has already told the meida that he wishes they would stop asking him about his wrist and other injuries. He told them if he can score 40 points in 3 straight games (make that 4 now) that they should not worry about it.

Post #279 » by **HMFFL** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 4:40 pm

What do you think about these two proposals by the Nets?

Grizzlies talking to Nets about O.J. Mayo trade

Nets have offered fourth-year guard Anthony Morrow for Mayo.

The Nets have also offered point guard Jordan Farmar, a draft pick and cash in a separate package for Mayo.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/20 ... artner=RSS

Ruhiel · Post #280 » by **Ruhiel** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 11:21 pm

For clarification big Al Horford's surgery is scheduled for this Tuesday and when asked if he will hurry back if we make playoffs he says he feels the team is special and will "most definitely" come back.

This is all from a sideline interview from the Early 3rd qtr during the home game vs Minnesota.