Moderators: Cowology, theBigLip, Snakebites, dVs33
ALL-STAR SATURDAY NIGHT
When: 8 tonight.
Shooting stars: Detroit -- Arron Afflalo, Bill Laimbeer, Katie Smith; L.A. -- Derek Fisher, Michael Cooper, Lisa Leslie; Phoenix -- Leandro Barbosa, Dan Majerle (CMU), Tangela Smith; San Antonio -- Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Becky Hammon.
Skills challenge: New Jersey G Devin Harris, San Antonio G Tony Parker, Chicago G Derrick Rose, Cleveland G Mo Williams.
G-E-I-C-O (H-O-R-S-E): Atlanta G Joe Johnson, Memphis G O.J. Mayo, Okla. City F Kevin Durant.
Three-point shoot-out: Atlanta G Mike Bibby, Miami G Daequan Cook, San Antonio G Roger Mason, Indiana F Danny Granger, Toronto F Jason Kapono, Orlando F Rashard Lewis.
Slam-dunk contest: Portland G Rudy Fernandez, New York G Nate Robinson, Denver G J.R. Smith, Orlando C Dwight Howard.
58TH ALL-STAR GAME
When: 8 p.m. Sunday.
East starters: Pistons G Allen Iverson, Miami G Dwyane Wade, Boston F Kevin Garnett, Cleveland F LeBron James, Orlando C Dwight Howard. East reserves: Boston G Ray Allen, New Jersey G Devin Harris, Atlanta G Johnson, Cleveland G Mo Williams, Indiana F Danny Granger, Orlando F Rashard Lewis, Boston F Paul Pierce
West starters: Lakers G Kobe Bryant, New Orleans G Chris Paul, San Antonio F Tim Duncan, Phoenix F Amare Stoudemire, Houston C Yao Ming. West reserves: Denver G Chauncey Billups, San Antonio G Tony Parker, Portland G Brandon Roy, Lakers F Pau Gasol, Dallas F Dirk Nowitzki, N.O. F David West, Phoenix C Shaquille O'Neal.
Line: West by 4 1/2 .
Signs of the recession can be seen in the seats and even hanging on the walls at sports arenas in Michigan, where the economy is stuck in a long and brutal losing streak.
The Detroit Pistons failed to sell out a game this month for the first time in more than five years. A banner reading "Thanks, Fans!" now hangs inside the Palace of Auburn Hills in place of one that updated the sellout streak, snapped at a franchise record 259 games.
The Pistons' sellout streak, which began Jan. 19, 2004, ended when roughly 350 seats at the 22,076-seat Palace remained unsold against Miami on Feb. 4. Signs of declining attendance popped up before the streak ended. Some fans who bought tickets for low-profile games have stayed home and watched on TV rather than spend more money on gas, parking and concessions. It hasn't helped that the Pistons have stumbled to a 27-24 record, well below their recent standards.The Pistons had kept the sellout going this season by offering ticket specials and marketing deals. Some promotions tied gas and grocery store gift cards to ticket purchases; another during last year's playoffs offered four seats, four hot dogs and four sodas for $99. "I don't think you can do enough right now," Wilson said. "You've got to do all you can to add value."
In finalizing a much-anticipated deal that sent Jermaine O'Neal, Jamario Moon and a conditional first-round draft pick to the Miami Heat for Marion, guard Marcus Banks and cash, Raptors president and GM Bryan Colangelo said Marion provides a much-needed boost to the roster.
JORDAN A FINALIST: To no one's surprise, Michael Jordan led the field of 16 finalists for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In his first year of eligibility, Jordan has to get a minimum 18 of the 24 votes for election. "Is there going to be a dissenting vote?" Phil Jackson said. "That's what will be interesting." The Class of 2009 will be announced on April 6 at the Final Four in Detroit. Other first-time finalists include John Stockton and David Robinson.
With NBA teams shut down for All-Star Weekend, it will be up to Eddy Curry to voluntarily show up at the MSG Training Center during the break and continue his progress toward getting back on the court.
Earlier this week, Curry said he "might stay back in New York" to keep working on his sore right knee, which hasn't allowed him to even run since he pulled out of the Jan. 10 game in Houston.
Curry said he was "shooting for right after the All-Star break to be able to come back and start practicing with the team," which had Knicks brass curious to see if "might" stay back in New York becomes "will." By rule, the team cannot require him to come in for workouts and treatment, but a player can use the team's facilities all weekend if he so chooses.
Iverson ISO team ISO ‘his style’
“I love the fact that I have the opportunity to be wherever I want to be,” Iverson said. “At this point, all I want to be is happy. I want to be somewhere where I am happy and somewhere where a team is going to utilize me and get everything out of Allen Iverson.” This isn’t the first time Iverson has said he’s not signing back with Detroit without actually saying he’s not signing back with Detroit. Besides that, even if he wanted to what would have been the point of trading for him in the first place? His expiring contract is what suits this team, not him.
It’s not all his fault though. I believe he came here under a false pretenses, being that we were looking to compete for a championship by adding him to the bill. He’s tried. He’s said all the right things. But at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter because it won’t work here.Like Matt at DBB wonders; how many teams out there are going to A) pay Iverson, and B) retool their whole team to accommodate his brand of basketball? Especially now after seeing what kind of team you’ll get if you don’t cater to his skillset. Even though I don’t think Webber should be dogging former teammates there’s some credence to his statement that Iverson is best suited to take the court with robots. Potential suitors need to be willing be build their team to the specs of Philly’s early 00’s teams. Solid defensive role players who can occasionally hit an open shot when they’re passed to.
Iverson needs possessions. He needs shot total numbers north of 25. I’ve noticed through his time here as a Piston that he’s not that great of a finisher. He’s great at getting to the hole, but if he’s not fouled he puts up a lot of bad shots and commits turnovers. I don’t believe that the Pistons just need the remaining 31 games to figure this thing out. It’s a bad mix. Even if Curry game-planned putting the ball in Iverson’s hands more I doubt that everyone else would just roll with that. So I fear that as fans we’re going have to watch the Pistons, unwillingly or not, take a mulligan on the season and see who we can use some of this expiring money on in the offseason.
Stuckey’s respectable Sophomore showing
Min FG FT +/- Rbs Ast TO Stl Pts
10 5/6 2/2 +10 3 9 3 3 12
Our guy Stuck did us proud last night helping the Sophomore team comeback and beat the Rookies 122-116. It was the Kevin Durant show, but Stuckey held his own out there and got pretty good love from the announcing crew.
Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13. There’s time enough to be afraid, today I’m not in the fear business — I deal in hope, frivolity, and abundant trivia. So on this Friday the 13th, let’s take a tour of the number 13, NBA style.
According to Basketball-Reference, 139 players have worn the number 13 in NBA history. The best of this group is easily Wilt Chamberlain — the guy who once scored 100 points in a game, averaged 50 points and 25 rebounds for an entire season, who never fouled out of a pro game, won two NBA titles, and received four MVPs.
2002 — Marcus Haislip before Tayshaun Prince, Carlos Boozer and Luis Scola
Hard to believe last year the top 2 teams after the smoke cleared was, Celtics & Pistons, Hey Joe D, don't fix it if it ain't broken anymore, i would rather last years squad get another crack at the finals than to watch a team do a 360 and embarass the city with no shot except a 5 or 6 seed if they make it at all, come fans get angry you have a right, sheed, billups, Tay, Rip, Mcdyess, stuckey, were not that far from winning it all.
Hell yeah, facts don't lie do they Sheed? all this mess won't end until years from now, Joe D, you won't get lebron trust me cleveland GM are not like you, they'll pay him or end the franchise and sell before that happens, Amare you won't get without a complete overhaul ( years pistons fans years ) no megga superstars in this years draft, and old players are hard to unload, sheed, Mcdyess, AI, bottom line Joe, last years team was jus as good as this years Spurs, and you decided to play Guru of trade's and landed in quick sand.
We don't have a choice, Stuckey most of us can live wit cuz of potential and ability, but still not polished ( like i said years ) Tay, trade him and you should fire yourself, walter Sharpe Mad skills, but unpolished, and not ready for prime time, Amir, please trade him, he sucks and has no offensive game to speak on, none! Maxiell could be 6th man of the year if he learns to hit the short stuff more regularly, free throws TERRIBLE, Aflallo, jury is still out, but can shoot and make FT's. Well, it is what it is, YESSIRRR.
The Jermaine O'Neal trade ends speculation about a Heat bid for Suns power forward/center Amare Stoudemire. Heat president Pat Riley did not deny interest in Stoudemire but said Phoenix initiated talks with Miami.
Michael Beasley likely would have been included in any Stoudemire trade, but, ''I wasn't really interested in giving him up,'' Riley said. ``There was a conversation about that. I like our young kid. . . . He makes the game at times seem so easy and at times he makes it seem so hard. That's the beauty of it.''
• The trade leaves Miami with $70 million in salary commitments for 11 players next season, which means Miami likely will be only about $2 million below the luxury-tax threshold to supplement the roster this summer. The Heat, which will be over the salary cap this summer, could use some of its midlevel exception. One goal this summer likely will be addressing small forward -- either re-signing Jamario Moon or finding another player through free agency or trade.
Can't blog my anger out but it sure feels good to me Baby, Who's watching AI tonight HA HA HA, if i were him i would have played sick, let ramone sessions take my place after he smoked AI like a new brand of reefer, well as far as i'm concerned the season is just a long sitcom waiting to be canceled, ratings dropping fast like the use to be sell outs at the Palace, so what if last years team did'nt win it all, it sure was exciting watching them try, just ask the Spurs squad, they never give up and still have a chance a good one too wit no major trade needed. Suck on that Joe D, and when done, Remember this trade was not about the fans or billups, it was about you.
Kevin Durant put on a show. Scoring 46 points, the most in any NBA All-Star Game event, Durant led the sophomores to a 122-116 win over the rookies Friday night at U.S. Airways Center. "I approached this just like a regular game,” Durant said. "I just wanted to go out there, have fun and be myself.”
Draining 17 of 25 shots, including six rim-rattling dunks and four 3-pointers, Durant surpassed Amare Stoudemire (36 points) and LeBron James (33) for most points in the game’s 10-year history. "He’ll be playing on Sunday next year (in the All-Star game),” said TNT analyst Kenny Smith. "He’s like a guard. He’s a freak of nature. He has a lot of talent. Things come easy for him on the offensive end.”
Asked if he was disappointed not to be playing Sunday, Durant said: "I just came into the year wanting to work hard. If the All-Star comes up, it does. I’ll wait my turn.”