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

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http://twitter.com/detroit_pistons

MLive: Shaquille O'Neal to sit out tonight's game against the Pistons: AUBURN HILLS -- Shaquille O'Neal will not pl... http://bit.ly/8BgsLd

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http://twitter.com/detroit_pistons

DetNews: Shaquille O'Neal won't play tonight against Pistons: O'Neal received treatment on the shoulder during th... http://twurl.nl/ji1kbc

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DetNews: Report: Allen Iverson set to retire: Commentator Stephen A. Smith published a statement on his Web site ... http://twurl.nl/38x1ay

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MLive: Report: Allen Iverson set to retire: AP File PhotoAllen Iverson is set to retire from the NBA, according to ... http://bit.ly/70Wk7S

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DetNews: King James crowns Pistons: It was James, to no one's surprise, who ignited Cleveland in its 98-88 victor... http://twurl.nl/ou14t3

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DetNews: Terry Foster: Cavs coach wants total effort from his team: Although the Cavaliers appear to be on a roll... http://twurl.nl/rbu4bp

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DetNews: Big Ben bounces back in his return: Imagine where the Pistons would be right now if they didn't have Ben... http://twurl.nl/uufe0r

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DetNews: Jason Kidd moves into second all-time in NBA assists: Jason Kidd is resigned to the reality he'll never ... http://twurl.nl/5qv0i1

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http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... BA-assists

Jason Kidd moves into second all-time in NBA assists
Jason Kidd is resigned to the reality he'll never catch John Stockton's all-time assists record.

Kidd passed Mark Jackson for second place in career assists, Jason Terry scored 27 points and the Dallas Mavericks shot 65.5 percent in a 130-99 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.

Kidd delivered seven assists to reach 10,337 in his career. He came in needing five to pass Jackson's career total (10,334), and now trails only Stockton (15,806).

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http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... his-return

Big Ben bounces back in his return
They've only had Richard Hamilton for one game this season and Tayshaun Prince for three games before each was hurt. And the Pistons entered Wednesday's game against the Cavaliers with a 5-9 record. Imagine where the Pistons would be right now if they didn't have Ben Wallace? "Thank God for Ben," coach John Kuester said. At 35, Wallace is averaging 8.9 rebounds (led the team in eight of 14 games), 1.36 blocks, 1.2 steals and 1.6 assists in just less than 30 minutes of playing time.

At 35, Wallace is averaging 8.9 rebounds (led the team in eight of 14 games), 1.36 blocks, 1.2 steals and 1.6 assists in just less than 30 minutes of playing time. He had eight points and nine rebounds in 31 minutes Wednesday in a 98-88 loss to the Cavaliers at The Palace. Defensively, he's been nearly as good as the four-time defensive player of the year he has been.Most thought Wallace would be the extra man in the frontcourt rotation, getting scraps of minutes.Instead, he has been the starting center from Day One of the exhibition season. "He's been a real bright spot," said Kuester, who thought Wallace was going to have a fine season even before the start of training camp.

But never to this extent. "I knew he would have an impact on our team in talking to our players, but I didn't expect the impact he'd have playing," Kuester said. "That's been a pleasant surprise." Kuester was an assistant under Larry Brown on the Pistons' 2004 championship team and saw Wallace at his best. Wallace was hampered by injuries with Chicago and Cleveland (where Kuester and Wallace were reunited last season) and appeared to lose some of the passion that's so vital in his tenacious defensive game. Returning to the Pistons has appeared to rejuvenate Wallace. "The way he competes, and wants his teammates to compete, he's trying to build the culture we had here in 2004," Kuester said.

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http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... his-return

O'Neal hurting
Cleveland center Shaquille O'Neal missed his fifth consecutive game with a shoulder strain.

When O'Neal does return, TNT analyst Chris Webber (Michigan) said it's going to take time for the Cavaliers to adjust to O'Neal. "They are a really good team. Right now, LeBron (James ) is finding his way, finding out how to play with Shaq because you don't want to get in Shaq's way, and still continue to be a leader," Webber said.

"They are going to be OK, they have great players. It is going to take some time to mesh. "I feel that by Shaq being out they are getting the rhythm."

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http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... his-return

Slam dunks
Kuester was essentially Cleveland's offensive coordinator last season, but that wasn't a benefit scouting the current Cavaliers.

"They're running new stuff, you can tell," Kuester said. "Mike (head coach Mike Brown ) and Mike (assistant Mike Malone ) are doing a great job with them."

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http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... his-return

There's nothing new on Hamilton (severely sprained right ankle) and Prince (small ruptured disc), said Kuester, and no timetable on a return.

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http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... his-return

Kuester likes the way the team has persevered without the two starters.

"I'm really proud the way we've competed," he said.

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http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... m-his-team

Cavs coach wants total effort from his team
Two of the biggest names in sports were just a few feet away from Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown. LeBron James was firing 3-pointers, cursing some of his misses and drawing praise for his makes. And Shaquille O'Neal, a man who owns four championship rings, was receiving treatment for a bum shoulder in the visitors' training room at The Palace. But Brown said it is the small things that will win a title for the Cavaliers. There is obviously something that bothers Brown about his team. Although the Cavaliers appear to be on a roll at times, they get outhustled by the elite teams. This team needs to show more hunger and the coach knows it. "It is a 48-minute game and sometimes we don't play every possession like it is our last and that is always a tough thing to play 48 minutes the right way," Brown said. "But it is something we must strive for professionally."

Cleveland joins Orlando and Boston on that short list of teams capable of challenging the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA title. The problem is this team is soft at times. Can they stand up to the big boys? We know they can stand up to the Pistons and 76ers. That was probably why O'Neal sat out his sixth straight game on Wednesday night. The Cavaliers are already playing the "Save a Shaq" game because he is needed more for the playoffs and for big games against the East elite. "He wanted to play," Brown said. "It was my decision."

Even though the Cavaliers are not the best team in the East, they can win it because the other contenders have flaws. The Celtics look tired and bored. The Magic rely too much on the 3-point shot and can't stay healthy. And do you really believe the Hawks are ready to contend once the playoff glare is turned on? Brown has already thought about the playoffs. He knows games could come down to an extra possession. That is why he encourages his team to get down and dirty. "If you think it is OK to have a breakdown and you have five or six guys feeling that way, then you are going to have them," Brown said. "Dive on the floor. Take pride in the little things that can end up big for you because every possession, you don't want to give away possessions during a seven-game series."

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http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... m-his-team

Chasing futility
The Nets are three losses from tying the NBA record for worst start to a season heading into Wednesday night's game at Portland. Their next two games are at Sacramento and at the Lakers. The team has been decimated by injuries, including one to point guard Devin Harris. Brook Lopez twisted his ankle Monday before the team left on a four-game trip but played against the Nuggets.

Coach Lawrence Frank is on the hot seat but to his credit refuses to blame injuries.

"I know I've got to produce and I take full responsibility," he told the New York Daily News. "I'm not hiding anywhere. Put it on me. I'm not absolving myself from anything. Right now that record is indicative of where we're at and how I'm coaching. So we need to do better."

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http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... m-his-team

By the numbers
45 Years Abe Pollen owned the Washington franchise
0 number of playoff series Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady has won.
5 Years since the Palace brawl

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http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... m-his-team

Biggest of the big
NBA.com asked, which young center in the East will become an All Star first?
Al Horford ... 36 percent
Andrea Bargnani (Toronto Raptors) ... 26 percent
Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls) ... 21 percent
Brook Lopez (New Jersey Nets) ... 17 percent

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http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... m-his-team

The best pickpockets
Here are the NBA's top five in steals so far this season.
Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics) ... 2.57 steals per game
Monta Ellis (Golden State Warriors) ... 2.33
Trevor Ariza (Houston Rockets) ... 2.14
Corey Brewer (Minnesota Timberwolves) ... 2.14
Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) ... 2.08

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http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... m-his-team

Terry's top five
• 1. L.A. Lakers (6): They are getting all of their pieces back from the injured list and are dominating opponents.
• 2. Phoenix (1): Former Piston Grant Hill is starting and averaging 12.3 points and 7.5 rebounds as he finds himself again at age 37.
• 3. Atlanta (2): The only bad news is point guard Mike Bibby sprained his left ankle but will be replaced by super sub Jamal Crawford.
• 4. Orlando (7): Center Dwight Howard took a leadership role by telling his coach Stan Van Gundy to take a chill pill after losses.
• 5. Boston (3): Sometimes the Celtics look old and tired. Sometimes they blow teams out. Can the legs be getting heavy already?