nba.905vpoznanovic,
1997 NBA Preseason
Sunday, October 19
Houston at Phoenix 121:110
Minnesota at Charlotte 106:102
Toronto at New York 98:91
NBA AT TUCSON AZ
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 30 34 27 30 121
PHOENIX 26 30 32 22 110 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: HOU - SAM MACK 28, CHARLES BARKLEY 21, BRENT PRICE 20
PHO - ANTONIO MCDYESS 32, REX CHAPMAN 24, DANNY MANNING 18
HIGH REBOUND: HOU - CHARLES BARKLEY 11, THREE PLAYERS WITH 4
PHO - DANNY MANNING 8, TWO PLAYERS WITH 6
HIGH ASSISTS: HOU - CHARLES BARKLEY 6, MATT MALONEY 5
PHO - JASON KIDD 18, REX CHAPMAN 6
NBA AT ROANOKE VA
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 33 13 26 34 106
CHARLOTTE 31 22 27 22 102 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: MIN - STEPHON MARBURY 21, CHEROKEE PARKS 17, SAM MITCHELL
14
CHA - GLEN RICE 27, BOBBY PHILLS 18, VLADE DIVAC 14
HIGH REBOUND: MIN - CHEROKEE PARKS 11, TOM GUGLIOTTA 9
CHA - VLADE DIVAC 8, J.R. REID 7
HIGH ASSISTS: MIN - STEPHON MARBURY 7, THREE PLAYERS WITH 3
CHA - DAVID WESLEY 12, TYRONE BOGUES 6
ATT: 9,546
NBA AT HARTFORD CT
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TORONTO 26 28 17 27 98
NEW YORK 24 18 22 27 91 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: TOR - DOUG CHRISTIE 22, DAMON STOUDAMIRE 17, MARCUS CAMBY
16
NYK - ALLAN HOUSTON 22, PATRICK EWING 21, WALTER MCCARTY 12
HIGH REBOUND: TOR - MARCUS CAMBY 6, WALT WILLIAMS 6
NYK - CHARLES OAKLEY 10, PATRICK EWING 9
HIGH ASSISTS: TOR - DAMON STOUDAMIRE 10, MARCUS CAMBY 3
NYK - CHARLES OAKLEY 9, CHARLIE WARD 6
ATT: 10,562
Monday, October 20
Vancouver vs. Toronto at Halifax, Nova Scotia, 5:00 p.m.
Utah vs. New Jersey at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Washington vs. Denver at Boise, Idaho, 9:00 p.m.
nba.906nba.news,
HOUSTON (121) AT PHOENIX (110)
HOUSTON
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
BARKLEY F 31 8-10 5-5 4 7 11 6 2 2 5 21
RHODES F 27 5-14 2-2 0 2 2 2 1 0 2 12
OLAJUWON C 29 7-11 3-4 1 3 4 1 4 1 1 17
LIVINGSTON G 19 0-4 0-0 0 1 1 4 0 2 1 0
PRICE G 32 5-9 9-10 1 3 4 3 2 2 0 20
MACK 38 9-16 2-3 0 2 2 1 4 2 0 28
MALONEY 19 3-6 0-0 0 1 1 5 1 0 3 8
WILLIS 24 5-7 2-2 1 3 4 4 2 1 4 12
STEPHENS 9 1-3 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 3
HARRINGTON 12 0-1 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
TOTALS 240 43-81 23-26 8 22 30 26 17 10 18 121
(.531) (.885) TEAM REBS: 9 TOTAL TO: 18(0 PTS)
PHOENIX
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
MCDYESS F 34 14-18 4-4 2 4 6 1 2 2 2 32
ROBINSON F 39 3-8 0-0 1 2 3 1 5 1 0 7
WILLIAMS C 18 0-0 0-0 1 3 4 2 2 0 2 0
CHAPMAN G 36 9-18 4-5 0 0 0 6 4 1 6 24
KIDD G 39 4-18 0-0 1 5 6 18 2 2 5 8
CEBALLOS 27 6-8 3-5 2 1 3 1 4 1 2 15
MANNING 28 8-9 2-3 1 7 8 5 4 1 3 18
DIRDEN 6 1-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
JACKSON 13 2-6 0-0 0 0 0 3 1 1 1 4
TOTALS 240 47-86 13-17 8 22 30 37 24 9 23 110
(.547) (.765) TEAM REBS: 13 TOTAL TO: 23(0 PTS)
HOUSTON 30 34 27 30 - 121
PHOENIX 26 30 32 22 - 110
BLOCKED SHOTS: HOUSTON - OLAJUWON, WILLIS. PHOENIX - ROBINSON 2,
MCDYESS, KIDD, CHAPMAN.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: HOUSTON 12-29 (.414), RHODES 0-4, PRICE 1-5, MACK 8-13,
MALONEY 2-5, STEPHENS 1-2. PHOENIX 3-15 (.200), ROBINSON 1-4, CHAPMAN 2-3,
KIDD 0-4, CEBALLOS 0-2, JACKSON 0-2.
TECHNICALS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: STEVE JAVIE, DEREK RICHARDSON, RON OLESIAK.
A - 0. T - 0:00.
HOUSTON (121) AT PHOENIX (110)
Sam Mack hit eight straight three-pointers in the first half and
scored 26 points and the Houston Rockets used a 16-0 run in the
fourth quarter for a 121-110 victory over the Phoenix Suns at
Tucson, Arizona.
Mack came off the bench in the first quarter and missed his
first two three-pointers before making one before the quarter
ended. He then hit all seven shots from behind the arc in the
second period, helping Houston to a 64-56 halftime lead.
Phoenix rallied to take a 104-101 lead on Rex Chapman's
three-pointer with 5:25 left to play, but Hakeem Olajuwon
converted a three-point play to tie the game and he, Matt
Maloney and Brent Price each had five points in the 16-0 burst
as the Rockets took control at 117-104 with 1:17 to play.
Price finished with 20 points and former Sun Charles Barkley
added 19 for the Rockets (3-2).
Antonio McDyess scored 32 points and Chapman contributed 24 for
Phoenix (3-2).
nba.907nba.news,
MINNESOTA (106) AT CHARLOTTE (102)
MINNESOTA
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
GUGLIOTTA F 24 4-11 2-2 2 7 9 3 2 1 1 10
MITCHELL F 27 5-8 4-5 1 2 3 1 2 2 3 14
PARKS C 42 6-14 4-6 5 6 11 3 2 0 3 17
MARBURY G 31 7-11 6-8 0 2 2 7 3 2 5 21
CARR G 30 4-11 0-0 0 3 3 2 2 0 0 8
ROZIER 12 1-3 1-2 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 3
PORTER 12 2-6 0-0 2 0 2 1 2 1 2 4
OSBORNE 10 1-5 0-0 3 2 5 0 0 0 1 2
WILLIAMS 17 5-8 0-0 0 2 2 3 4 1 1 10
MOORE 6 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2
JORDAN 17 1-5 6-10 2 2 4 0 3 1 1 8
FISH 12 3-5 1-2 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 7
TOTALS 240 40-88 24-35 16 28 44 21 23 9 17 106
(.455) (.686) TEAM REBS: 13 TOTAL TO: 17(22 PTS)
CHARLOTTE
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
REID F 34 2-7 4-6 1 6 7 0 5 0 1 8
RICE F 33 13-22 0-0 0 1 1 2 2 0 2 27
DIVAC C 34 5-8 4-5 0 8 8 5 2 1 4 14
WESLEY G 29 2-2 1-1 0 1 1 12 6 3 5 5
PHILLS G 23 8-13 2-2 0 1 1 4 2 3 1 18
GEIGER 22 4-10 1-4 1 4 5 0 2 0 4 9
CURRY 25 5-9 0-0 0 2 2 3 1 1 0 11
FARMER 16 2-3 2-3 0 3 3 1 2 1 1 6
BOGUES 17 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 6 1 2 2 2
DELK 7 1-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 2
TOTALS 240 43-76 14-21 2 27 29 33 26 11 20 102
(.566) (.667) TEAM REBS: 13 TOTAL TO: 20(19 PTS)
MINNESOTA 33 13 26 34 - 106
CHARLOTTE 31 22 27 22 - 102
BLOCKED SHOTS: MINNESOTA - GUGLIOTTA, MITCHELL, PARKS. CHARLOTTE - RICE,
DIVAC, GEIGER.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: MINNESOTA 2-7 (.286), PARKS 1-1, MARBURY 1-2, CARR 0-2,
PORTER 0-2. CHARLOTTE 2-6 (.333), RICE 1-2, DIVAC 0-1, CURRY 1-3.
TECHNICALS: MINNESOTA - PORTER, CHARLOTTE - FARMER.
OFFICIALS: DON VADEN, BLANE REICHELT, TONY BROTHERS.
A - 9,546. T - 2:12.
MINNESOTA (106) AT CHARLOTTE (102)
Reggie Jordan scored the final six points of the game and
Stephon Marbury had 21 points and seven assists as the Minnesota
Timberwolves rallied for a 106-102 victory over the Charlotte
Hornets at Roanoke, Virginia.
Minnesota (2-3) trailed throughout the second half until Micheal
Williams hit a jumper for a 101-100 lead with 1:02 to play. Glen
Rice, who finished with 27 points, answered with a jumper to put
Charlotte (2-2) back on top.
Jordan sank a pair of free throws to put Minnesota ahead for
good with 33 seconds remaining. Rice missed a jumper on the
other end and Jordan grabbed the rebound. After hitting 1-of-2
from the foul line, Jordan stripped Charlotte's David Wesley on
his drive to the basket. Jordan, who scored six of his eight
points in the final period, hit two more free throws with 13
seconds left to seal the win.
Marbury scored 11 points in the first quarter, helping Minnesota
to a 33-31 edge. But the Hornets opened the second period with
a 16-5 run, and Vlade Divac had 11 of his 14 points in the
quarter as Charlotte grabbed a 53-46 halftime lead.
Cherokee Parks had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Sam Mitchell
scored 14 points and Tom Gugliotta added 10 and nine boards for
the Timberwolves. Minnesota played without All-Star forward
Kevin Garnett, who has a bruised foot.
Bobby Phills contributed 18 points for the Hornets.
nba.908nba.news,
TORONTO (98) AT NEW YORK (91)
TORONTO
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
CAMBY F 28 7-13 2-4 3 3 6 3 5 2 1 16
W WILLIAMS F 36 3-13 4-4 2 4 6 2 4 0 2 12
TABAK C 23 1-7 0-0 2 3 5 1 1 1 4 2
CHRISTIE G 38 8-14 2-2 1 3 4 0 2 2 1 22
STOUDAMIRE G 40 7-13 1-2 0 2 2 10 1 5 6 17
WALLACE 30 5-8 4-4 1 4 5 0 3 0 0 14
JONES 22 3-5 2-2 1 4 5 2 6 0 0 8
MCGRADY 12 1-5 1-2 0 1 1 2 0 1 1 3
ROGERS 11 1-1 2-2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 4
WRIGHT DNP - NOT WITH TEAM
GARNER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
B WILLIAMS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
SLATER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
RESPERT DNP - COACH'S DECISION
LONG DNP - DID NOT DRESS
TOTALS 240 36-79 18-22 10 25 35 20 22 11 15 98
(.456) (.818) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 16(0 PTS)
NEW YORK
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
JOHNSON F 36 4-10 1-4 1 4 5 2 1 2 0 9
OAKLEY F 39 1-5 3-4 3 7 10 9 3 0 4 5
EWING C 30 6-14 9-12 2 7 9 1 1 0 5 21
HOUSTON G 38 10-18 0-0 0 2 2 1 4 0 3 22
WARD G 37 3-5 0-0 0 5 5 6 4 2 6 6
STARKS 6 2-4 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
DUDLEY 8 0-1 0-0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
MCCARTY 19 4-9 3-4 2 3 5 2 3 2 0 12
JONES 8 2-4 2-2 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 7
MYERS 19 2-2 0-0 0 1 1 1 1 5 0 4
CHILDS DNP - EYE INJURY
BROOKS DNP - SORE RIGHT HAMSTRING
THOMAS DNP - STRAINED LEFT GROIN
B WILLIAMS DNP - LEFT HAMSTRING INJURY
H WILLIAMS DNP - LEFT HAMSTRING INJURY
TOTALS 240 34-72 18-26 9 31 40 22 19 11 18 91
(.472) (.692) TEAM REBS: 9 TOTAL TO: 19(0 PTS)
TORONTO 26 28 17 27 - 98
NEW YORK 24 18 22 27 - 91
BLOCKED SHOTS: TORONTO - CAMBY, WALLACE. NEW YORK - EWING 3, OAKLEY,
JOHNSON, WARD, MCCARTY.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: TORONTO 8-20 (.400), W WILLIAMS 2-8, CHRISTIE 4-7,
STOUDAMIRE 2-4, MCGRADY 0-1. NEW YORK 5-12 (.417), JOHNSON 0-1, HOUSTON
2-4, WARD 0-1, STARKS 1-2, MCCARTY 1-2, JONES 1-2.
TECHNICALS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JOE CRAWFORD, JOE BORGIA, SCOTT WALL.
A - 10,562. T - 2:15.
TORONTO (98) AT NEW YORK (91)
Doug Christie scored 22 points and John Wallace, another
ex-Knick, chipped in with 14 as the Toronto Raptors held on for
a 98-91 victory over New York at Hartford, Connecticut.
After dominating the second quarter, 28-18, to take a 12-point
hafltime lead, Toronto appeared to put the game away midway
through the third when Christie hit an off-balance three-pointer
with the shot clock winding down for a 65-48 lead.
The Knicks fought back and tied the game, 85-85, late in the
fourth quarter. But Damon Stoudamire intercepted a Charles
Oakley pass and raced for the breakaway layup to put the Raptors
ahead for good.
New York guard John Starks suffered a sprained right ankle early
in the second quarter and left the game for X-rays.
Allan Houston led the Knicks with 22 points while Patrick Ewing
added 21 and Walter McCarty 12.
nba.909nba.news,
Rodman unhappy with incentives in contract, probably won't sign
CHICAGO (Oct 20, 1997 - 01:28 EDT) -- Dennis Rodman, who agreed to a
one-year contract with the Chicago Bulls, now says he won't sign the
deal as planned Monday because he doesn't like the incentive clauses
in it.
Rodman told the Chicago Tribune in an article published Monday that
injuries to Scottie Pippen and Toni Kukoc could lower the number of
games the Bulls win -- and consequently hurt Rodman's bottom line
because the incentives are tied to Chicago victories.
"It's very unfair, and before I sign anything, I'll make sure those
things are out of the contract," Rodman said. "If I sign that contract
(Monday), I'm going to have a very vindictive attitude toward (general
manager) Jerry Krause and the organization."
Rodman had been waiting to sign the contract because of pneumonia that
forced him to delay a team physical. He passed the physical while the
Bulls were in Paris over the weekend and had been likely to join the
team this week.
Rodman, the league's six-time rebounding leader, told the paper he
planned to talk with Krause on Monday to settle the dispute. If it
can't be resolved, Rodman might miss the start of the regular season,
he said.
nba.910nba.news,
Starks sprains ankle in exhibition game with Raptors
HARTFORD, Conn. (Oct 19, 1997 - 22:05 EDT) -- John Starks, the winner
of the Sixth Man of the Year award last season, sprained his ankle
early in the second quarter of the New York Knicks' exhibition loss to
the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
Starks was driving to his left against Walt Williams when he stepped
on Williams' foot and turned his left ankle. He lay on the court in
obvious pain clutching his leg for more than a minute before being
helped off the floor.
Starks was taken to a local hospital for X-rays, which came back
negative. He will not be able to practice for several days.
"The swelling's not too bad," general manager Ernie Grunfeld said.
"With sprained ankles, you really don't know a whole lot until the
next day."
Making matters worse for New York, third-string shooting guard Pete
Myers pulled a hamstring late in the fourth quarter of the 98-91 loss.
Myers will not be able to practice Monday either.
The absence of Starks and Myers leaves New York, which is 1-4 in the
preseason, with just eight healthy players. Also injured are Chris
Childs (fractured eye socket), Buck Williams, Herb Williams and Scott
Brooks (strained hamstrings) and rookie John Thomas (strained groin).
The only nominally uninjured guards on New York's roster are Charlie
Ward, who has played only two games since coming back from a slight
leg fracture, and Allan Houston, who had surgery on his right
(shooting) wrist in the offseason.
"Our main focus right now is getting healthy," Grunfeld said, adding
that the Knicks will keep an eye on the waiver wire for backcourt
help.
Grunfeld also said the Knicks are not close to making a trade. New
York and Phoenix have talked in recent weeks about a deal that would
send small forward Cedric Ceballos -- who can also play off-guard --
from the Suns to the Knicks.
nba.911nba.news,
Report: Tarpley failed drug tests while at Michigan
DETROIT -- Roy Tarpley, banned from the NBA for drug and alcohol use,
repeatedly failed drug tests while he was at the University of
Michigan, a former teammate charges.
Leslie Rockymore, who played at Michigan from 1981-85, told The
Detroit News in a story for Sunday that despite his drug use, Tarpley
was allowed to play by coach Bill Frieder.
"There was a statement made by Coach Frieder that if any of his guys'
urine came up positive for drugs, that they would be suspended,"
Rockymore said. "Fact of the matter is, Roy Tarpley never passed a
drug test. Never. And he never was suspended for that.
"If that problem would have been dealt with at that particular time,
Roy might be in the NBA. He never was disciplined about it. Nothing
was ever said."
In a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, Frieder
denied Rockymore's accusations, but declined to elaborate on specifics
of the newspaper report.
"I'm shocked and stunned by these (assertions) and they are absolutely
not true," he said of allegations regarding Tarpley.
Rockymore called Frieder a good recruiter. But he said Frieder's
inattention to players once they arrived at Michigan may have led to
Tarpley's downfall. The former Dallas Mavericks forward was banned
from the NBA in December 1995 because of drug and alcohol problems.
Other athletic department officials never learned of the failed tests
because "there's a lot of ways of hiding it," Rockymore said.
Rockymore also told the newspaper that the booster at the center of an
NCAA investigation into the Michigan program first surfaced during
Frieder's tenure, about a year before Steve Fisher was hired.
"A lot of people think Fisher brought Ed (Martin) into the program.
No, he did not," Rockymore said. "My opinion of Frieder is that he
didn't really care for his players."
Martin, a retired autoworker from Detroit, became the focal point of
the investigation after published reports said he had given cash and
gifts to several Wolverines players.
Rockymore, 34, said he spoke with the News about Martin and Frieder
because of the way the university dealt with Fisher.
Fisher took over for Frieder in 1989 and led Michigan to six straight
tournament wins and the NCAA championship.
Fisher was fired a day after a report by a Kansas law firm
investigating the school questioned the coach's role in arranging
complimentary tickets for Martin.
Frieder, who left Michigan for the head coaching job at Arizona State
on the eve of the 1989 NCAA tournament, stepped down from that job
this year amid allegations of point shaving in games during the 1994
season.
Frieder, who said he remembers Rockymore well, refused to say whether
he knew Martin or of his dealings with team members.
"I already dealt with that a long time ago," he said.
Rockymore earned his degree from Michigan and now is chief counselor
of a halfway house for boys who were serving sentences at maximum- or
minimum-security prisons.
nba.912nba.news,
Big gap still exists between NBA, Europe
PARIS (Oct 19, 1997 - 12:52 EDT) -- Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson
knows the way to exploit the difference between NBA and European teams
is to get them in one-on-one situations.
And he has the ultimate weapon to do that in Michael Jordan.
The Bulls, despite being without injured Scottie Pippen and ailing
Dennis Rodman, beat European champion Olympiakos of Greece 104-78 in
the final of the McDonald's Championship Saturday.
In another two years, another team likely will represent the NBA as
the league champion, because by that time the Bulls probably will be
without Jordan, Jackson and Rodman.
Still, the NBA team probably will continue to show its superiority
over European teams.
Jackson explained why.
"The speed of our second unit showed," Jackson said. "The trapping in
the backcourt by the guards is one of the NBA features that is missing
here.
"Michael Hawkins of Olympiakos, although he's quick, is small and we
were able to smother him with big guards to start the game, then come
back with quickness when he got a little tired."
The 5-foot-11 Hawkins played 29 games in the NBA last season. Now, he
is just a standout player in Europe and not battling for a spot on an
NBA team.
Jackson also noted differences on the front line.
"I think the defense of our big guys to cover the lane is a noticeable
aspect to our game and the NBA," Jackson said.
And then there was one more thing.
"It is the one-on-one capabilities of our players," Jackson said. "We
demonstrated the advantage of the outstanding offensive play by
individuals."
Some of Jordan's opponents were anxious to see if they could measure
up to him.
They couldn't.
"If they were dreaming of playing Michael Jordan all alone, this was
their opportunity," Jordan said, after scoring 55 points in two games.
"This is not television. They couldn't change the channel."
He knew the opposing players were looking to challenge him.
"I think I could sense the competition in their eyes as a challenge,"
Jordan said. "A couple of times I gave a head and shoulder fake and I
felt like they were anticipating the worst.
"I gave one guy (Milan Tomic) a fake and I thought he lost his shoes.
He was laughing about it, so I laughed."
Now the Bulls go back to Chicao with a 3-2 preseason record and still
trying to work out what to do when they battle NBA teams without
Pippen and Rodman.
And maybe Toni Kukoc.
Jackson said Kukoc might need surgery on a foot that he rested all
summer.
The next international showing of NBA superiority should come next
summer when the U.S. team at the World Championships in Greece will
feature an NBA-dominated lineup.
nba.913nba.news,
Bon marche
Chicago Bulls' No. 23 jerseys, which sold for 400 francs (about $80)
during the McDonald's Championship in Paris this weekend, were sold
out before tipoff on Saturday.
Instead, fans hoping to purchase a replica NBA jersey had to settle
for a John Starks New York Knicks jersey, which was selling for 290
francs.
"John Starks?" one young Parisian lad asked a U.S. reporter. "Isn't he
wacko?"
More basketball in Paris
The NBA credentialed more than 1,000 media members for the tournament
-- more than the number given out for the NBA Finals.
The European media weren't so interested in the intricacies of the
game, as they were more obscure details about Michael Jordan.
One French journalist demanded to know specifically what Jordan ate
for breakfast. Jordan dutifully described the details of his morning
omelet.
Then there was this exchange between Jordan and a Spanish reporter,
reports the Chicago Tribune:
Reporter: "Do you know Ronaldo?"
Jordan: "Ronaldo? No, I don't."
Reporter: "He's the best soccer player in the world."
Jordan: "Sorry I don't know him. I do know Pele."
The reporter then ran over to his TV cameras and told all of Spain
that Jordan didn't know Ronaldo, but he very much was hoping to meet
him someday and watch him play.
Hmmm ...
Detroit Piston Joe Dumars has recently developed a rash while wearing
his team's new practice shirts and game uniforms, which are designed
by Nike.
"I think I'm allergic to the swoosh," said Dumars.
Funny -- Dumars has long endorsed adidas.
Pssst ...
The Detroit Pistons' Grant Hill, along with actors Tom Cruise and
David Duchovny, appears on the cover of GQ's November "Men of the
Year" issue.
nba.914vpoznanovic,
1997 NBA Preseason
Monday, October 20
Utah at New Jersey 104:92
Vancouver at Toronto 98:107
Washington at Denver 105:96
NBA AT CINCINNATI OH
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
UTAH 20 18 36 30 104
NEW JERSEY 21 26 25 20 92 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: UTH - KARL MALONE 19, BRYON RUSSELL 16, GREG FOSTER 14
NJN - CHRIS GATLING 19, THREE PLAYERS WITH 15
HIGH REBOUND: UTH - SHANDON ANDERSON 8, BRYON RUSSELL 6
NJN - JAYSON WILLIAMS 20, CHRIS GATLING 7
HIGH ASSISTS: UTH - HOWARD EISLEY 8, SHANDON ANDERSON 5
NJN - SAM CASSELL 8, THREE PLAYERS WITH 4
ATT: 8,976
NBA AT HALIFAX NS
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
VANCOUVER 20 19 27 32 98
TORONTO 26 29 25 27 107 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: VAN - SHAREEF ABDUR-RAHIM 26, BLUE EDWARDS 17, BRYANT
REEVES 15
TOR - POPEYE JONES 19, ZAN TABAK 15, SHAWN RESPERT 14
HIGH REBOUND: VAN - OTIS THORPE 11, BRYANT REEVES 9
TOR - POPEYE JONES 11, WALT WILLIAMS 6
HIGH ASSISTS: VAN - LEE MAYBERRY 6, ANTONIO DANIELS 4
TOR - DAMON STOUDAMIRE 9, DOUG CHRISTIE 7
ATT: 8,190
NBA AT NAMPA ID
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 28 35 16 26 105
DENVER 31 31 18 16 96 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: WAS - CHRIS WEBBER 32, CALBERT CHEANEY 19, ROD STRICKLAND
18
DEN - JOHNNY NEWMAN 20, BOBBY JACKSON 12, THREE PLAYERS
WITH 11
HIGH REBOUND: WAS - CHRIS WEBBER 11, CALBERT CHEANEY 6
DEN - TONY BATTIE 9, DANNY FORTSON 8
HIGH ASSISTS: WAS - CHRIS WHITNEY 5, THREE PLAYERS WITH 4
DEN - BOBBY JACKSON 4, ANTHONY GOLDWIRE 3
ATT: 5,400
Tuesday, October 21
Boston at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana vs. Charlotte at Nashville, Tenn., 8:30 p.m.
Minnesota vs. Milwaukee at Des Moines, Iowa, 8:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Denver, 9:00 p.m.
Dallas vs. Houston at Albuquerque, N.M., 9:00 p.m.
Atlanta at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Golden State vs. Portland at Spokane, Wash., 10:30 p.m.
nba.915nba.news,
UTAH (104) AT NEW JERSEY (92)
UTAH
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
RUSSELL F 29 2-6 11-12 0 6 6 1 2 1 1 16
MALONE F 24 4-7 11-11 0 2 2 1 1 3 2 19
OSTERTAG C 19 0-1 0-0 0 3 3 0 1 1 2 0
EISLEY G 27 2-4 3-3 0 2 2 8 3 2 2 7
HORNACEK G 22 3-7 6-7 0 1 1 2 2 1 1 12
VAUGHN 12 3-3 0-0 1 1 2 0 2 0 3 6
HUDSON 13 2-8 0-0 0 0 0 4 1 0 1 4
KEEFE 24 4-6 0-0 2 3 5 3 4 0 1 8
ANDERSON 27 4-8 3-4 3 5 8 5 2 2 2 11
FOSTER 16 5-6 2-2 0 2 2 2 3 0 1 14
DREILING 3 0-1 0-0 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0
CARR 24 3-8 1-2 1 2 3 1 4 0 3 7
TOTALS 240 32-65 37-41 8 27 35 27 27 10 19 104
(.492) (.902) TEAM REBS: 3 TOTAL TO: 19(0 PTS)
NEW JERSEY
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
HARRIS F 29 5-8 4-4 0 0 0 1 2 2 3 15
VAN HORN F 32 5-13 3-3 1 3 4 1 6 1 2 15
J WILLIAMS C 34 5-10 5-5 9 11 20 4 3 0 5 15
CASSELL G 33 4-10 2-2 1 2 3 8 4 0 6 11
GILL G 34 4-11 2-4 1 1 2 4 5 3 4 10
BENOIT 21 1-5 0-0 0 1 1 0 3 0 1 3
SMITH 16 1-3 0-0 0 1 1 4 0 0 2 3
GATLING 27 6-13 7-11 3 4 7 2 5 0 3 19
DARE 14 0-1 1-2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
TOTALS 240 31-74 24-31 15 23 38 24 28 6 26 92
(.419) (.774) TEAM REBS: 4 TOTAL TO: 26(0 PTS)
UTAH 20 18 36 30 - 104
NEW JERSEY 21 26 25 20 - 92
BLOCKED SHOTS: UTAH - OSTERTAG, KEEFE, ANDERSON. NEW JERSEY - VAN HORN,
BENOIT, DARE.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: UTAH 3-9 (.333), RUSSELL 1-3, EISLEY 0-1, HORNACEK 0-2,
HUDSON 0-1, FOSTER 2-2. NEW JERSEY 6-14 (.429), HARRIS 1-2, VAN HORN 2-5,
CASSELL 1-2, GILL 0-1, BENOIT 1-2, SMITH 1-2.
TECHNICALS: UTAH - FOSTER, MALONE, HEAD COACH SLOAN, NEW JERSEY - CASSELL,
ILLEGAL DEFENSE 7, GATLING, J WILLIAMS.
OFFICIALS: BOB DELANEY, ANTHONY JORDAN, BILL SPOONER.
A - 8,976. T - 0:00.
UTAH (104) AT NEW JERSEY (92)
Greg Foster scored all 14 of his points in the second half as the
Utah Jazz overcame an injury to rookie point guard Jacque Vaughn
and rallied for a 104-92 exhibition victory over the New Jersey
Nets in Cincinnati.
Karl Malone scored 19 points and Bryon Russell added 16 for the
Jazz (3-2), who scored 66 points in the second half. Foster had
six points in the third quarter, which the Jazz closed with a
13-0 burst to take a 74-72 lead. He had eight more in the final
period, when Utah pulled away.
Vaughn, Utah's first-round pick in the 1997 draft, suffered a
sprained ankle early in the fourth quarter. He was carried from
the court and did not return. He is expected to back up Howard
Eisley at point guard while All-Star John Stockton is sidelined
until December.
Chris Gatling scored 19 points and Jayson Williams and rookie
Keith Van Horn added 15 apiece for the Nets (2-3), who led 47-38
at halftime. New Jersey was called for seven illegal defenses.
nba.916nba.news,
VANCOUVER (98) AT TORONTO (107)
VANCOUVER
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
ABDUR-RAHIM F 34 10-19 6-10 3 4 7 3 2 1 4 26
THORPE F 33 2-4 2-6 3 8 11 3 3 0 5 6
REEVES C 27 7-14 1-3 5 4 9 2 4 1 5 15
PEELER G 24 2-6 0-0 1 1 2 3 1 2 3 4
DANIELS G 30 5-7 1-2 0 1 1 4 2 3 5 11
MAYBERRY 24 1-2 1-2 0 0 0 6 2 1 1 4
ROGERS 19 3-4 2-4 2 1 3 0 1 1 1 8
B EDWARDS 24 6-10 5-5 1 6 7 2 6 1 2 17
LYNCH 12 2-5 0-0 0 2 2 0 4 0 4 4
CHILCUTT 13 1-4 1-2 1 3 4 3 3 0 0 3
TOTALS 240 39-75 19-34 16 30 46 26 28 10 30 98
(.520) (.559) TEAM REBS: 15 TOTAL TO: 31(29 PTS)
TORONTO
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
W WILLIAMS F 29 4-12 2-2 3 3 6 3 4 4 1 10
CAMBY F 12 2-4 0-0 2 2 4 4 2 2 2 4
TABAK C 22 7-10 1-2 1 1 2 2 3 0 1 15
CHRISTIE G 25 3-8 2-4 0 1 1 7 6 1 0 8
STOUDAMIRE G 35 2-9 1-4 0 2 2 9 1 2 3 5
JONES 29 7-14 5-6 7 4 11 2 3 0 2 19
RESPERT 19 4-8 6-6 2 2 4 4 0 2 2 14
WALLACE 29 3-6 2-2 2 1 3 2 5 3 2 8
ROGERS 17 5-7 2-6 2 1 3 0 1 0 2 12
SLATER 6 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
MCGRADY 17 5-10 2-4 2 3 5 0 0 3 1 12
TOTALS 240 42-90 23-36 21 21 42 33 26 17 16 107
(.467) (.639) TEAM REBS: 9 TOTAL TO: 17(16 PTS)
VANCOUVER 20 19 27 32 - 98
TORONTO 26 29 25 27 - 107
BLOCKED SHOTS: VANCOUVER - ROGERS 2, PEELER, DANIELS. TORONTO - ROGERS
4, W WILLIAMS 3, TABAK, MCGRADY.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: VANCOUVER 1-4 (.250), PEELER 0-1, MAYBERRY 1-2, B
EDWARDS 0-1. TORONTO 0-5 (.000), W WILLIAMS 0-1, CHRISTIE 0-2, STOUDAMIRE
0-1, RESPERT 0-1.
TECHNICALS: TORONTO - ILLEGAL DEFENSE, ROGERS, MCGRADY.
OFFICIALS: ED T RUSH, SCOTT FOSTER, BILL KENNEDY.
A - 8,190. T - 2:21.
VANCOUVER (98) AT TORONTO (107)
Popeye Jones and Zan Tabak combined for 22 points in the first
half as the Toronto Raptors overcame an injury to Marcus Camby
and defeated the Vancouver Grizzlies, 107-98, in an exhibition
game in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Jones scored 10 of his 19 points and Tabak 12 of his 15 in the
first half, when the Raptors built a 55-39 lead. Jones grabbed
11 rebounds, Shawn Respert scored 14 points and Carlos Rogers
and Tracy McGrady added 12 apiece for Toronto (4-2). McGrady
was selected directly out of high school with the ninth pick in
the 1997 draft.
Camby suffered a sprained right ankle with 3:47 remaining in the
first half when he was fouled hard by Blue Edwards on a drive.
Edwards was given a flagrant foul as Camby stayed on the floor
for almost two minutes.
Camby was helped from the court to the locker room, where he was
diagnosed with the sprain. The second overall pick in the 1996
draft did not return to the game, but Raptors coach Darrell
Walker said he expected his forward to be OK.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 26 points and Edwards added 17 for
the Grizzlies (2-4), who shot 53 percent from the field. Rookie
point guard Antonio Daniels, the fourth overall pick in the 1997
draft, had 11 points, four assists and five turnovers in 30
minutes.
nba.917nba.news,
WASHINGTON (105) AT DENVER (96)
WASHINGTON
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
WEBBER F 41 13-16 5-6 3 8 11 4 3 2 4 32
GRANT F 35 2-9 5-7 2 1 3 4 5 1 1 9
WILLIAMS C 12 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0
STRICKLAND G 18 4-6 10-11 0 3 3 2 1 1 3 18
CHEANEY G 42 8-19 3-4 1 5 6 4 3 3 0 19
SHAMMGOD 6 0-0 0-2 1 2 3 0 0 0 2 0
WHITNEY 26 1-7 9-9 0 2 2 5 3 0 1 12
WALLACE 3 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
HAM 25 1-5 3-4 2 1 3 0 3 3 2 5
OLIVER 5 1-3 2-2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
T MURRAY 18 3-6 0-0 1 1 2 1 3 1 0 6
LECKNER 3 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0
MCCASKILL 6 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TOTALS 240 33-73 37-45 11 25 36 20 23 12 14 105
(.452) (.822) TEAM REBS: 4 TOTAL TO: 14(0 PTS)
DENVER
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
BATTIE F 25 4-8 2-4 2 7 9 0 6 0 4 10
WILLIAMS F 32 2-7 2-2 1 1 2 2 1 0 2 6
GARRETT C 20 1-2 2-2 0 7 7 0 1 0 3 4
JACKSON G 28 5-10 2-2 1 5 6 4 5 3 1 12
STITH G 27 4-9 3-4 0 0 0 1 5 1 1 11
GOLDWIRE 20 2-6 0-0 0 1 1 3 0 0 1 4
WASHINGTON 17 5-8 0-0 1 4 5 0 4 2 0 11
FORTSON 24 3-6 5-5 6 2 8 0 5 1 6 11
WOLF 7 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 2 3 0 0 2
NEWMAN 27 6-15 7-7 3 0 3 2 1 1 1 20
ZIDEK 6 1-4 0-0 2 0 2 0 1 0 0 2
LAUDERDALE 7 1-3 1-2 0 2 2 2 2 0 3 3
TOTALS 240 35-79 24-28 16 30 46 16 34 8 22 96
(.443) (.857) TEAM REBS: 3 TOTAL TO: 22(0 PTS)
WASHINGTON 28 35 16 26 - 105
DENVER 31 31 18 16 - 96
BLOCKED SHOTS: WASHINGTON - CHEANEY 3, HAM 2, WEBBER 2, GRANT. DENVER -
GARRETT 3, BATTIE.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: WASHINGTON 2-6 (.333), WEBBER 1-1, WHITNEY 1-3, OLIVER
0-1, T MURRAY 0-1. DENVER 2-7 (.286), JACKSON 0-1, STITH 0-1, GOLDWIRE
0-1, WASHINGTON 1-3, NEWMAN 1-1.
TECHNICALS: DENVER - FORTSON, ILLEGAL DEFENSE.
OFFICIALS: RON GARRETSON, DEE KANTNER, JOE DEROSA.
A - 5,400. T - 0:00.
WASHINGTON (105) AT DENVER (96)
Chris Webber collected 32 points and 11 rebounds as the
Washington Wizards held on for a 105-96 victory over the Denver
Nuggets in Nampa, Idaho.
Washington (2-2) trailed through most of the first half but
Webber scored 16 points in the second quarter to help the
Wizards to a 63-62 halftime lead.
He scored eight more in the third but Denver took an 80-79 edge
going into the final frame. Webber added six points in the
fourth and found Chris Whitney for a crucial three-pointer in
the final minute as Washington held on for the win.
Wizards All-Star point guard Rod Strickland scored 18 points but
left the game after the first half with leg cramps.
Veteran Johnny Newman led Denver (2-3) with 20 points. Rookie
Bobby Jackson added 12 points, six rebounds and four assists.
The game was delayed for an hour due to scoreboard problems and
because of a slippery floor. The game finally started at the
recently-opened Idaho Center after the floor was rewaxed.
nba.918nba.news,
Say it ain't toe: Jordan has foot surgery
DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Michael Jordan will miss the Chicago Bulls' final
three exhibition games after having ingrown toenails removed.
But he should be ready for the regular-season opener Oct. 31, the team
said Monday.
"It was decided that it was better for me to have the toenails removed
now and thus be ready for the opening of the season," Jordan said in a
statement released by the club. "I'm looking forward to being back on
the court next week and starting defense of our championship."
Jordan, the NBA's nine-time scoring leader, will miss preseason games
Wednesday against Philadelphia, Friday against Philadelphia at Chapel
Hill, N.C., and Saturday against Sacramento.
Jordan, who starred at the University of North Carolina, said he was
disappointed to miss the game there.
"I love the school and the people of North Carolina," he said. "I
won't be accompanying the team because I will be in Chicago receiving
daily treatment."
The Bulls already are without All-Star Scottie Pippen, expected to be
out until at least January after undergoing foot surgery.
In addition, six-time league rebounding leader Dennis Rodman has yet
to sign the contract he agreed to earlier in the month. In addition,
Toni Kukoc is still bothered by a sore foot that didn't heal over the
summer after hampering him last season. It will not require surgery,
but Kukoc says he is more concerned about his lack of conditioning due
to a long period of inactivity while the foot healed.
nba.919nba.news,
Rodman calls off deal
DEERFIELD, Ill. (Oct 20, 1997 - 18:34 EDT) -- Dennis Rodman is unhappy
with the contract agreement he reached more than a week ago and still
isn't officially a member of the Chicago Bulls.
Rodman and his agent, Dwight Manley, had separate meetings with Bulls
general manager Jerry Krause on Monday, but there was no word that the
NBA's six-time rebounding leader had signed a contract.
Rodman, who is threatening to sit out the start of the regular season
if certain incentive clauses aren't rewritten or eliminated, wasn't
available for comment Monday. Krause and Manley refused to talk to
reporters.
"Someway or other, it's going to be resolved. He's either going to be
here practicing or he's not. When the Bulls have something to report,
you'll hear about it," said coach Phil Jackson, whose two-time
defending NBA champions open the season Oct. 31 at Boston.
"We'd like to have him out on the floor but it doesn't frustrate us.
We just have to be patient. In due time, we'll all get it together on
the floor."
Krause and Manley announced Oct. 10 that Rodman had agreed to terms on
a one-year contract. But Rodman had bronchitis and slight pneumonia
and wasn't able to complete his physical examination, and it was
announced that he would sign when the team returned from playing two
exhibition games in France.
Upon returning, however, the Bulls learned that Rodman was unhappy
with several incentive clauses in the deal, which reportedly includes
a base salary of about $4.5 million.
"It's very unfair, and before I sign anything I'll make sure those
things are out of the contract," Rodman told the Chicago Tribune on
Sunday. "I don't have a contract, and the contract they're trying to
give me -- I don't like it."
Rodman was especially upset with incentives tied to team performance.
He claimed he was misled about the condition of Scottie Pippen, who is
expected to be out until at least January after undergoing foot
surgery.
"Now I hear Toni could be out for the season," Rodman said, referring
to Toni Kukoc. "How many games are we going to win without Scottie and
Toni?"
Jackson said reports that Kukoc would need foot surgery were erroneous
and said the forward has been struggling this preseason only because
he is out of shape. Kukoc has said his foot is at least 90 percent
healthy.
But there are concerns about Kukoc's ability to last the season. Ron
Harper and Luc Longley have chronic knee problems. And even Michael
Jordan, an ironman most of his career, will miss the team's final
three exhibition games after having some ingrown toenails removed
Sunday.
Jackson was asked what he would say to Rodman about the victory-total
issue.
"I think Dennis is misrepresenting himself to that regard," Jackson
said. "What I think is important is that Dennis wants to play with a
full unit of guys. Everybody wants to play with the whole team
healthy, but that's not always possible. So we have to do the best we
can with what we've got."
The Bulls insisted that Rodman's contract include plenty of incentives
because of his unpredictable behavior. Last season, he was suspended
for 14 games total for three incidents: kicking a courtside cameraman,
using expletives during a live postgame television interview and
striking an opponent in the groin.
Rodman, known as much for his dyed hair, tattooed torso, nose ring and
foul mouth as for his rebounding ability, doesn't mind incentives that
reward him for good behavior. But he said he won't sign a deal with
incentives that pay him per win.
"It would be different if I was a guy who hadn't accomplished anything
in this league," Rodman said. "Now you're trying to tell me you're
putting restrictions on my contract? There are, like, 25 different
incentive clauses in there. I'm 36 years old. I can't do it."
His teammates are a little concerned, but not overly so.
"You wake up this morning and there's a lot of unrest about Dennis,"
Bill Wennington said. "But we feel that Dennis will be back here. We
feel comfortable with that. We want him back."
nba.920nba.news,
Cavs send Douglas to Denver for Graham
CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets traded newly
acquired guards Monday night -- Sherman Douglas goes to Denver and
Greg Graham heads to Cleveland.
The trade, announced by Wayne Embry, Cleveland's president and chief
operating officer, also will provide Cleveland with a second-round
draft pick in 2000 and other undisclosed considerations.
The 6-foot-4 Graham, a four-year NBA veteran, went to Denver in the
offseason from Seattle, where he averaged 3.3 points in 28 games.
The 6-1 Douglas was acquired by the Cavs from Milwaukee on Sept. 25 in
the three-way deal that sent All-Star forward Shawn Kemp from Seattle
to Cleveland. Douglas averaged 5.8 points in four exhibition games
with the Cavs.
nba.924nba.news,
Former Celtics guard Dennis Johnson charged with assault
ORLANDO, Fla. (Oct 20, 1997 - 19:22 EDT) -- Former Boston Celtics
guard and assistant coach Dennis Johnson was arrested Monday and
charged with aggravated assault on his wife, police said.
Johnson, who played on three NBA championship teams during his 14-year
career, was arrested at his home about 4 p.m. after someone there
called 911.
"Apparently he had an argument with his wife. He grabbed her by the
throat and held a kitchen knife to her," said Cmdr. Steve Jones of the
Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Jones said the couple's teen-age son was in the house during the
altercation.
Johnson, 43, also was charged with domestic violence and was being
held at the Orange County Corrections Center. His wife was not
injured.
The 6-foot-4 Johnson spent his playing career with Seattle, Phoenix
and Boston, the last seven alongside Larry Bird on the great Celtics
teams of the 1980s.
He was named MVP of the NBA Finals when he helped Seattle win the 1979
championship, and later helped Boston to championships in 1984 and
'86. During his career he averaged 14.1 points per game, and 17.3
points in playoffs.
His other accomplishments included playing in five All-Star Games and
being named to NBA all-defensive teams six times.
Johnson retired after 1989-90 season with Celtics and returned as an
assistant coach in 1994. He lost his job this year when the Celtics
fired their entire coaching staff at the end of the worst season in
franchise history.
nba.923nba.news,
NCAA opens own inquiry into Camby affair
AMHERST, Mass. -- The NCAA will conduct its own interviews as it
continues to review the University of Massachusetts' investigation
into whether Marcus Camby received gifts from an agent during his
sophomore year.
Camby, now with the Toronto Raptors, is refusing to cooperate and the
NCAA lacks the legal authority to compel him to talk.
"Right now, he's a professional athlete," said Rick Kaplan, a Raptors
spokesman. "At what point do any of these investigations end?"
Camby has admitted accepting gifts as a junior but denied doing so as
a sophomore. Massachusetts, which has already been stripped of its
1996 NCAA semifinal title for playing with Camby as a junior, could
face more penalties if Camby violations are found in the previous
year.
Camby, who was picked No. 2 in the 1996 NBA draft, averaged 15 points
and six rebounds a game as a rookie for Toronto. But he has said that
the agent scandal distracted him and hurt his play.
Camby has paid back to Massachusetts the $151,000 in NCAA tournament
money it was ordered to return for his junior-year violations.
"He has the duty to speak to us," Bill Saum, who oversees agent rules
for the NCAA, said Monday. "I would just like to think he would feel
the need to do this to bring this to closure.
"We need to interview the key individuals in this case. Then the
school and the NCAA can figure out what it is people said and what can
be proven or not proven. We need to find the truth."
The school said Monday that its own inquiry into Camby's sophomore
year turned up no additional violations. However, spokeswoman Kay
Scanlan acknowledged that both Camby and the sports agent in question
refused to speak to campus investigators.
John Lounsbury, the agent making the accusations, confirmed Monday he
has agreed to speak to the NCAA, though he refused to cooperate with
the campus inquiry.
He has said he showered Camby with $40,000 worth of gifts over his
junior and sophomore years.
Saum said the NCAA will interview "a couple" people in its
investigation. But he refused to name them, other than Lounsbury.
Scanlan said the university had been able to interview former coach
John Calipari, who now coaches the NBA's New Jersey Nets, and his
former assistant, Bill Bayno, who left to coach UNLV. She said both
contradicted Lounsbury's account.
nba.922nba.news,
Rider gets car towed for not having valid driver's license
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Isaiah Rider apparently forgot to stop by the DMV
office.
The Trail Blazers guard, suspended by the NBA for the first two games
of the regular season for off-court problems, had his vehicle towed
last week when he couldn't produce an Oregon driver's license for a
Portland police officer who pulled him over for speeding.
Rider, driving a 1997 Land Rover, was stopped for doing 73 mph in a 50
mph zone shortly after midnight last Tuesday, following the Blazers'
91-87 exhibition victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Rider, an Oakland, Calif. native who was traded to Portland from
Minnesota last year, told the officer he had licenses from Minnesota
and California, but not one from Oregon.
Rider was cited for speeding and driving without a license. State law
allows a vehicle to be towed for the latter violation, and Rider and
his two female passengers were dropped off at a 7-Eleven.
The Blazers say they will now make sure their players and coaches each
carry a valid driver's license.
Rider was suspended for two games after he was convicted of marijuana
possession and carrying an unregistered cellular phone in separate
incidents last year. The NBA Players Association is appealing the
suspension.
nba.921nba.news,
Cavaliers-Nuggets trade statistics
(Oct 20, 1997 - 22:58 EDT) -- The career statistics of the players
involved in Monday's trade between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the
Denver Nuggets:
TO CLEVELAND
GREG GRAHAM
Regular season
Year Team G FG FT Ast Stl Pts
1993-94 Phil 70 .400 .836 66 61 4.8
1994-95 Phil 50 .426 .753 66 29 5.0
1995-96 Phil-NJ 53 .404 .765 52 25 4.5
1996-97 Sea 28 .363 .650 11 12 3.3
Totals 201 .404 .773 195 127 4.6
TO DENVER
SHERMAN DOUGLAS
Regular season
Year Team G FG FT Ast Stl Pts
1989-90 Mia 81 .494 .687 619 145 14.3
1990-91 Mia 73 .504 .686 624 121 18.5
1991-92 Mia-Bost 42 .462 .682 172 25 7.3
1992-93 Bost 79 .498 .560 508 49 7.8
1993-94 Bost 78 .462 .641 683 89 13.3
1994-95 Bost 65 .475 .689 446 80 14.7
1995-96 Bost-Milw 79 .504 .731 436 63 11.3
1996-97 Milw 79 .502 .667 427 78 9.7
Totals 576 .489 .674 3915 650 12.3
Playoffs
Year Team G FG FT Ast Stl Pts
1991-92 Bost 6 .360 .500 10 0 3.2
1992-93 Bost 4 .378 .667 38 4 11.0
1994-95 Bost 4 .353 .727 33 4 15.0
Totals 14 .362 .679 81 8 8.8
nba.925nba.news,
Wallace gives Knicks glimpse of what might have been
HARTFORD, Conn. (Oct 20, 1997 - 16:10 EDT) -- The New York Knicks got
a glimpse of what was supposed to be their future. For 31 minutes,
they saw their former best young player doing very nicely, thank you,
in his new surroundings.
John Wallace, traded to Toronto two weeks ago in a deal openly
questioned in the Knicks' locker room, had his fifth straight
double-digit scoring output of the exhibition season Sunday night as
the Raptors beat New York 98-91.
"I love it up there. I love being in Toronto and I love the
organization," Wallace said. "It's a chance for me to be part of an
up-and-coming team, and I'm up to the challenge.
"This team is going to be very, very good."
Wallace drove around Charles Oakley and unleashed an emphatic,
two-handed stuff the first time he touched the ball. He made his next
three shots -- all jumpers with defenders in his face -- and finished
with 14 points and five rebounds as the Raptors handed the Knicks
their fourth loss in five exhibition games.
"That's basically the way he's played the whole preseason, hopefully
he can keep that up when the regular season starts," coach Darrell
Walker said. "He's just been playing solid basketball for us.
"If I can get 13, 14, 15 points from John Wallace off the bench, we're
going to be a much better basketball team. Right now he's been
producing for us offensively."
Wallace's 14-point night dropped his average to 16.0 in five
exhibition games. His best night was a 24-point output Oct. 15 against
Philadelphia.
Walker said he plans to use Wallace for about 30 minutes a game off
the bench, which would be about 20 minutes more than Wallace averaged
last season in his rookie year with New York.
The Knicks, in need of a backup center behind Patrick Ewing,
sacrificed Wallace in a three-way trade with Toronto and Portland -- a
deal that Wallace was unhappy about when it happened.
Now that some time has passed, Wallace says he is happy.
"No need to knock them (the Knicks), they gave me a good opportunity
by trading me," Wallace said. "If it wasn't for them trading me, I'd
still me there and still wouldn't be playing as much as I am."
New York has a history of being impatient with its younger players,
and the Wallace trade as just the latest in a long line of deals (see
Rod Strickland for Maurice Cheeks, Doug Christie and Hubert Davis for
draft picks) that have left the Knicks one of the oldest teams in the
league.
In February of 1996, they sent Christie to the Raptors. He responded
with a phenomenal season in 1996-97, posted career highs in all
categories and finished second to Isaac Austin in voting for the
league's Most Improved Player.
On Sunday night, Christie scored 22 points with four 3-pointers, four
rebounds and two steals.
And Christie was on the court along with Toronto's other four starters
in the final two minutes as the Raptors thoroughly outplayed the
Knicks and closed the game with a 13-6 run.
A bad pass by Oakley led to a fast break layup by Damon Stoudamire
that made it 89-85, and New York followed with a 24-second violation
and an offensive foul on its next two possessions.
While New York was botching its chances, Walt Williams and Christie
hit 3-pointers that wrapped up the victory.
When the final buzzer sounded, Wallace had his right fist raised in
the air. Dudley, by the way, finished 0-for-1 from the field with no
points and two rebounds in eight minutes.
The backup center is averaging 4.3 points and 6.3 rebounds while
shooting 30 percent from the foul line during the preseason.
"I want to prove to Toronto that I'm glad they wanted me on their
team," said Wallace, who has said nothing negative about the Knicks
since the trade. "I'm not into vendettas and all that stuff. That's
kind of childish. I'm a grown man and this is a business, and I look
forward to the opportunity of going to a team that will give me
playing time."
nba.926nba.news,
Lakers, Clippers tell two different L.A. stories
Jerry West turns 60 in May, but he sounds like a youngster when he
talks about, well, that big youngster in the middle for his Los
Angeles Lakers.
"The thing you notice when you look at Shaquille ... this is one great
kid, OK?" West, the Lakers' general manager, says in reference to
young Mr. O'Neal.
"I'm just amazed sometimes he is only 25 years of age. He is awfully
good. He has played with a lot of success to this point. You look to
the future and say, 'My goodness, what is he going to be?'
"I don't know, but it is kind of interesting to watch him grow. The
one thing that doesn't change is his effort. His consistency is
absolutely great -- just remarkable. He is much more than a guy who
just dunks. He has great feet, so quick and powerful ... any little
side move he makes is so quick. He is better on his jump hook and jump
shot than when he came to us last year. He can make those shots. He
has improved, no question, and I think ..."
West knows the question is coming: What about those free throws? The
career percentage is .537, and it has gone down in each of O'Neal's
five NBA seasons, to an ungainly .484 last year. In the Lakers'
weekend exhibition victories over the Clippers and Cleveland, though,
Shaq was not only 24 of 31 from the field, he was an acceptable 14 of
20 from the line.
"Obviously, it's important he improve," West says. "He knows it is
important. It is something he works on every day in practice. He has
made improvement in that area. You can see it in the results. We're
hopeful it transforms over into real games."
The Lakers are going to be very, very good this season, even though
they are very young. None of the rotation players are even 30: Elden
Campbell (29), Rick Fox (28), Sean Rooks (28), Robert Horry (27), Nick
Van Exel (26 next month), Eddie Jones (26), O'Neal (25) and Kobe
Bryant (20). West says the age thing is not necessarily by design,
implying he wouldn't mind having an older player or two to lend some
leadership.
"Anyone who is a good player, you don't care what age they are," West
says. "There are a lot of players in our league who are in their 30's
and have had wonderful careers and are still very competitive. We all
need players of every age to be successful. The bottom line is
experience -- and then talent."
Recently, Van Exel -- who missed two exhibitions with what seems to be
a chronic knee injury -- said the pain is so persistent, he is
considering retiring after his current contract is fulfilled in 1999.
"Because of what I've been through," he said. "Because you get tired.
Because of the knee. ... I wouldn't mind playing out my contract and
just playing golf."
That's an amazing statement from a guy who is on a short leash,
anyway, because of a running problem with coach Del Harris and the
league's referees.
Maybe Van Exel is posturing for a new contract, and West should be
trying to position himself to acquire a new point guard.
For now, though, the Lakers are stuck with Van Exel, Shaq, Jones,
Bryant and a cast that stands a good chance to come out of the West
and make the NBA Finals. Right, Jerry West?
"I'd like to think so," he says. "The only reason any of us work in
this business is to try to win a title. We know that's not realistic
every year, but it's something you've done all your life. I wouldn't
know what to else to do."
On the other side of town ...
Across town, Brent Barry enters his third NBA season as the starting
off-guard for the Clippers, though his tenure with the club seems
destined to end next summer.
While most NBA clubs were busy trying to tie up their members of the
draft class of '95 with long-term deals, the Clips never rang the
number of Barry's agent, Arn Tellum.
"I didn't have any talks with the organization this summer," Barry
says. "The ball was in the Clippers' court and they decided not to
serve anything up. So when the season is over, I'll have some options
left. I'm fully committed to doing the best I can and giving us
another playoff drive. We'll wait and see what the options are next
summer."
Translation: Chances are slim as a beggar's wallet that Barry will be
back with coach Bill Fitch and general manager Elgin Baylor next year.
For now, though, Barry will play his butt off for the Clips. That's
the kind of guy he is. Sure, he didn't like being jacked around the
past two seasons by Fitch, who belittled Barry's defense and failed to
take advantage of the combination guard's versatile offensive skills.
But Brent is keeping a stiff upper lip about the whole thing.
"Coach and I had a long meeting after summer league," Barry says. "We
sat down for about four hours, and he talked about exactly why he did
what he did in terms of not playing me. He explained he played me more
in the playoffs because he wanted his best players on the floor. He
wanted to be on the same page as me in terms of working out this
summer, so when I came back to training camp, we were ready to go.
We're getting along fine."
Barry, 25, has added about 15 pounds and now carries 210 over his
6-foot-6 frame. How did he do it?
"Steroids?" he says, grinning. "I took two weeks off after last
season, then started working out six days a week in the weight room. I
was committed."
Barry had a poor season last year after a promising rookie campaign.
He knows this will be a big season for him in the eyes of executives
of other NBA clubs.
"Last year was like role reversal," he says. "I had my first year last
year. But I know I can play at this level. I would expect the more I
play, the more comfortable I'll get out on the court. I'm ready to
come out and show people what I can do."
Where might Barry wind up? Keep Phoenix in mind. Coach Danny Ainge
likes Barry and will have plenty of salary-cap room to work with.
Baseline to baseline
Speaking of Del Harris, he is now coaching sons of two of his former
players -- Kobe Bryant (Joe "Jellybean") and Jon Barry (Rick). "That's
the way it should be," Harris says. "Coaches should stay around long
enough to do that." ... Nice little dig at Vin Baker's coaches in
Milwaukee, Mike Dunleavy and Chris Ford, by Baker's new coach in
Seattle, George Karl, in a comment to Milwaukee media: "How did you
guys lose up there? Is he good? He's a great basketball player." ...
Was that really Shawn Bradley stepping out to hit three of four from
3-point range for Dallas the other night? Shades of Manute Bol. ...
The Sporting News' official NBA register has a section for "All-Time
Great Players." Isn't including Brian "Flash" Frank, Sleepy Floyd,
Larry Foust, Buddy Jeannette, Caldwell Jones and Max Zaslofsky
stretching things a bit?
nba.927vpoznanovic,
1997 NBA Preseason
Tuesday, October 21
Atlanta at L.A. Clippers 79:90
Boston at Orlando 99:96
Dallas at Houston 97:106
Golden State at Portland 88:107
Indiana at Charlotte 95:83
L.A. Lakers at Denver 92:101
Minnesota at Milwaukee 90:101
NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ATLANTA 25 18 26 10 79
LA CLIPPERS 9 28 29 24 90 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: ATL - STEVE SMITH 18, TYRONE CORBIN 17, CHRISTIAN
LAETTNER 11
LAC - LORENZEN WRIGHT 16, BRENT BARRY 15, ERIC PIATKOWSKI
14
HIGH REBOUND: ATL - DIKEMBE MUTOMBO 10, TYRONE CORBIN 8
LAC - LORENZEN WRIGHT 14, LAMOND MURRAY 10
HIGH ASSISTS: ATL - MOOKIE BLAYLOCK 9, STEVE SMITH 4
LAC - BRENT BARRY 4, TWO PLAYERS WITH 3
ATT: 4,625
NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
BOSTON 23 23 28 25 99
ORLANDO 23 24 21 28 96 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: BOS - ANTOINE WALKER 31, CHRIS MILLS 19, RON MERCER 17
ORL - ANFERNEE HARDAWAY 25, HORACE GRANT 16, DEREK HARPER
10
HIGH REBOUND: BOS - ANTOINE WALKER 15, CHRIS MILLS 5
ORL - FOUR PLAYERS WITH 5
HIGH ASSISTS: BOS - THREE PLAYERS WITH 5
ORL - ANFERNEE HARDAWAY 5, HORACE GRANT 4
ATT: 16,342
NBA AT ALBUQUERQUE NM
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DALLAS 24 20 25 28 97
HOUSTON 24 23 26 33 106 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: DAL - SHAWN BRADLEY 27, KHALID REEVES 19, AC GREEN 16
HOU - MATT MALONEY 14, THREE PLAYERS WITH 12
HIGH REBOUND: DAL - AC GREEN 11, SHAWN BRADLEY 7
HOU - CHARLES BARKLEY 11, HAKEEM OLAJUWON 7
HIGH ASSISTS: DAL - MICHAEL FINLEY 5, HUBERT DAVIS 4
HOU - RODRICK RHODES 5, THREE PLAYERS WITH 4
ATT: 6,089
NBA AT SPOKANE WA
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
GOLDEN STATE 17 15 28 28 88
PORTLAND 29 32 29 17 107 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: GSW - LATRELL SPREWELL 24, DONYELL MARSHALL 19, TWO
PLAYERS WITH 11
POR - RASHEED WALLACE 17, BRIAN GRANT 14, JERMAINE ONEAL
14
HIGH REBOUND: GSW - ERIC DAMPIER 10
POR - ARVYDAS SABONIS 11
HIGH ASSISTS: GSW - MARK PRICE 4, B.J. ARMSTRONG 4
POR - JOHN CROTTY 5
ATT: 3,802
NBA AT NASHVILLE TN
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
INDIANA 27 20 22 26 95
CHARLOTTE 24 12 22 25 83 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: IND - FRED HOIBERG 18, ANTONIO DAVIS 16, CHRIS MULLIN 15
CHA - GLEN RICE 19, MATT GEIGER 13, TRAVIS WILLIAMS 10
HIGH REBOUND: IND - ANTONIO DAVIS 6, JALEN ROSE 6
CHA - ANTHONY MASON 9, MATT GEIGER 7
HIGH ASSISTS: IND - MARK JACKSON 6, ANTONIO DAVIS 5
CHA - DAVID WESLEY 7, GLEN RICE 4
ATT: 9,338
NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
LA LAKERS 19 24 11 38 92
DENVER 34 18 25 24 101 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: LAL - ELDEN CAMPBELL 15, KOBE BRYANT 15, CORIE BLOUNT 11
DEN - ERIC WILLIAMS 18, BOBBY JACKSON 18, JOHNNY NEWMAN 17
HIGH REBOUND: LAL - MARIO BENNETT 11, ROBERT HORRY 8
DEN - TONY BATTIE 13, BOBBY JACKSON 10
HIGH ASSISTS: LAL - KOBE BRYANT 4, TWO PLAYERS WITH 2
DEN - BOBBY JACKSON 4, FOUR PLAYERS WITH 2
ATT: 7,121
NBA AT DES MOINES IA
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 33 22 20 15 90
MILWAUKEE 25 31 24 21 101 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: MIN - CHRIS CARR 18, STEPHON MARBURY 17, SAM MITCHELL 15
MIL - TERRELL BRANDON 17, ERVIN JOHNSON 15, TYRONE HILL 13
HIGH REBOUND: MIN - REGGIE JORDAN 7, TOM GUGLIOTTA 5
MIL - ERVIN JOHNSON 10, ACIE EARL 7
HIGH ASSISTS: MIN - STEPHON MARBURY 5, THREE PLAYERS WITH 3
MIL - ELLIOT PERRY 4, GLENN ROBINSON 4
ATT: 5,514
Wednesday, October 22
New York at Boston, 7:00 p.m.
Utah at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Sacramento at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Dallas at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Cleveland vs. Minnesota at Minot, N.D., 8:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Golden State vs. Seattle at Billings, Mont., 9:00 p.m.
Phoenix at Vancouver, 10:00 p.m.
Washington vs. L.A. Lakers at Las Vegas, 10:30 p.m.
nba.928nba.news,
ATLANTA (79) AT LA CLIPPERS (90)
ATLANTA
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
CORBIN F 29 7-13 3-3 4 4 8 1 3 0 2 17
LAETTNER F 27 5-13 1-2 2 5 7 1 4 2 6 11
MUTOMBO C 27 2-4 3-4 3 7 10 2 3 0 2 7
BLAYLOCK G 28 3-7 0-0 1 4 5 9 2 2 2 7
SMITH G 34 6-13 5-5 0 1 1 4 1 3 0 18
GRAY 18 4-11 0-2 2 1 3 0 0 0 2 8
BROWN 24 0-5 4-4 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 4
STEIGENGA 19 2-5 1-2 1 2 3 1 0 0 2 5
ANDERSON 9 1-2 0-0 0 5 5 0 5 0 0 2
RECASNER 16 0-4 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0
MILLER 9 0-0 0-2 1 4 5 0 1 1 1 0
TOTALS 240 30-77 17-24 14 34 48 18 20 9 21 79
(.390) (.708) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 21(29 PTS)
LA CLIPPERS
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
ROGERS F 24 1-5 1-4 1 0 1 2 0 2 2 3
WRIGHT F 35 7-16 2-5 10 4 14 0 5 1 1 16
VRANKOVIC C 21 1-3 1-4 3 6 9 1 4 0 2 3
BARRY G 20 5-11 3-4 1 2 3 4 3 1 2 15
MARTIN G 20 2-8 0-0 0 2 2 3 0 3 3 4
PIATKOWSKI 27 6-11 0-0 2 0 2 1 3 2 1 14
VAUGHT 18 4-9 0-0 1 5 6 0 3 0 1 8
RICHARDSON 25 5-10 1-3 1 1 2 3 2 0 1 11
MURRAY 32 6-17 0-1 4 6 10 2 1 4 1 13
TAYLOR 8 0-2 0-0 0 4 4 0 1 0 0 0
MANNING 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
MCCRAY 4 0-0 1-2 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 1
GARRIS 3 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
HUFFMAN 1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
COLLINS 1 0-2 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
TOTALS 240 38-97 9-23 24 32 56 16 23 13 16 90
(.392) (.391) TEAM REBS: 13 TOTAL TO: 17(14 PTS)
ATLANTA 25 18 26 10 - 79
LA CLIPPERS 9 28 29 24 - 90
BLOCKED SHOTS: ATLANTA - MUTOMBO 2, ANDERSON 2, BROWN. LA CLIPPERS -
ROGERS 2, VRANKOVIC 2, WRIGHT, PIATKOWSKI, VAUGHT.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: ATLANTA 2-5 (.400), BLAYLOCK 1-3, SMITH 1-1, RECASNER
0-1. LA CLIPPERS 5-18 (.278), BARRY 2-4, MARTIN 0-3, PIATKOWSKI 2-4,
MURRAY 1-5, GARRIS 0-1, COLLINS 0-1.
TECHNICALS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: HUE HOLLINS, TOMMIE WOOD, MIKE CALLAHAN.
A - 4,625. T - 2:05.
ATLANTA (79) AT LA CLIPPERS (90)
Brent Barry scored all 15 of his points in the third quarter and
Eric Piatkowski keyed a pivotal fourth-quarter run with six
points as the Los Angeles Clippers rallied to defeat the Atlanta
Hawks, 90-79.
Barry, who was scoreless in the first half, broke loose in the
third quarter as the Clippers (2-4) battled back from a 16-point
first-quarter deficit. Piatkowski, who finished with 14, sparked
a 20-3 run that opened the fourth and turned a three-point
deficit into an 90-72 Clippers' lead.
Steve Smith had 20 points and Tyrone Corbin added 17 for the
Hawks (4-2), who closed the first quarter with 16 straight
points to open a 25-9 advantage.
nba.929nba.news,
BOSTON (99) AT ORLANDO (96)
BOSTON
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
MILLS F 36 7-9 3-4 1 4 5 4 4 4 2 19
WALKER F 39 15-24 0-0 2 13 15 5 3 1 5 31
KNIGHT C 24 3-5 0-0 1 3 4 3 4 2 3 6
MERCER G 28 8-13 1-2 2 2 4 3 1 2 4 17
BILLUPS G 18 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 5 2 0 2 0
DECLERCQ 8 0-0 2-2 0 1 1 1 5 0 0 2
BARROS 19 4-9 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 9
BROWN 29 1-7 0-2 0 2 2 5 4 4 2 3
MINOR 10 1-3 0-0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 2
ELLISON 16 1-3 1-1 0 2 2 2 5 3 2 3
CUNNINGHAM 1 0-2 0-0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
MASSENBURG 8 3-3 1-2 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 7
EDNEY 4 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
TOTALS 240 43-79 8-13 9 30 39 31 28 16 23 99
(.544) (.615) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 23(37 PTS)
ORLANDO
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
ANDERSON F 16 3-7 0-0 0 0 0 2 3 0 1 6
OUTLAW F 16 2-2 3-6 3 2 5 3 1 1 1 7
GRANT C 36 6-10 4-4 2 3 5 4 2 1 3 16
A HARDAWAY G 42 8-19 8-10 2 3 5 5 4 2 4 25
D HARPER G 32 4-11 1-2 0 4 4 3 2 0 4 10
EVANS 9 0-4 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0
STRONG 22 2-6 0-2 2 2 4 2 1 0 1 4
ARMSTRONG 22 1-4 3-4 1 4 5 2 2 3 2 5
WILKINS 17 4-10 1-1 1 1 2 2 0 0 3 9
TAYLOR 5 0-2 0-0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
SHAW 5 3-4 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 6
VAUGHN 6 2-3 0-0 2 1 3 0 1 0 0 4
SCHAYES 12 2-3 0-0 1 3 4 1 1 0 0 4
TOTALS 240 37-85 20-29 15 24 39 25 18 9 21 96
(.435) (.690) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 21(23 PTS)
BOSTON 23 23 28 25 - 99
ORLANDO 23 24 21 28 - 96
BLOCKED SHOTS: BOSTON - KNIGHT 2, DECLERCQ 2, ELLISON 2, MERCER. ORLANDO
- GRANT, STRONG.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: BOSTON 5-14 (.357), MILLS 2-2, WALKER 1-2, MERCER 0-1,
BILLUPS 0-1, BARROS 1-3, BROWN 1-5. ORLANDO 2-13 (.154), A HARDAWAY 1-6, D
HARPER 1-3, ARMSTRONG 0-2, WILKINS 0-2.
TECHNICALS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JOE CRAWFORD, NOLAN FINE, ROBBY ROBINSON.
A - 16,342. T - 2:13.
BOSTON (99) AT ORLANDO (96)
Antoine Walker scored 21 of his 31 points in the second half and
Chris Mills added 19 as the Boston Celtics held off the Orlando
Magic, 99-96, for their first preseason victory.
Walker, who had 13 of his points in the third quarter, pulled
down a game-high 15 rebounds. He has led the club in both
scoring and rebounding in all but one game this season.
Fellow University of Kentucky alumnus Ron Mercer, a rookie,
added 17 points for the Celtics (1-5).
Boston enjoyed a 14-point lead with 2:10 left in the third
quarter until Penny Hardaway got hot for the Magic. He hit a
three-pointer to cut the deficit to 11, then converted on a pair
of three-point plays to pull Orlando within 74-68 after three
quarters.
The Magic tied it 80-80 early in the final period but were
unable to take the lead before Boston pulled away again.
Hardaway finished with 25 points and Horace Grant added 16 for
Orlando (2-4), which led 47-46 at halftime. The Magic shot 43
percent (37-of-85) from the field.
nba.930nba.news,
DALLAS (97) AT HOUSTON (106)
DALLAS
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
FINLEY F 38 7-17 1-2 1 3 4 5 4 1 3 15
GREEN F 39 7-8 2-3 2 9 11 1 3 3 2 16
BRADLEY C 35 12-19 3-5 1 6 7 0 3 2 2 27
DAVIS G 38 2-9 4-4 0 2 2 4 4 3 2 9
REEVES G 34 8-19 2-2 1 3 4 2 1 1 3 19
WELLS 15 0-2 0-0 0 2 2 0 1 1 2 0
NWANKWO 13 2-5 0-0 3 0 3 0 0 2 0 4
OLLIE 20 2-8 3-4 1 1 2 3 2 0 0 7
MACKEY 8 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 3 0 1 0
TOTALS 240 40-88 15-20 9 27 36 15 21 13 15 97
(.455) (.750) TEAM REBS: 13 TOTAL TO: 15(23 PTS)
HOUSTON
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
ELIE F 20 4-8 0-0 0 0 0 4 2 3 1 9
BARKLEY F 28 5-9 1-2 3 8 11 4 1 0 3 11
OLAJUWON C 25 3-7 2-2 1 6 7 0 3 1 2 8
DREXLER G 30 4-12 0-0 1 1 2 3 2 1 3 9
MALONEY G 19 5-8 0-0 0 0 0 3 3 2 3 14
DAVIS 9 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0
BULLARD 16 3-5 2-2 0 6 6 0 1 0 1 9
RHODES 24 4-8 4-6 1 0 1 5 0 3 1 12
HARRINGTON 24 4-5 2-3 2 3 5 0 1 0 1 10
JOHNSON 22 5-11 1-2 1 2 3 1 2 0 1 12
PRICE 20 2-6 8-8 0 0 0 4 2 0 2 12
ZWIKKER 3 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TOTALS 240 39-79 20-25 9 27 36 25 17 10 19 106
(.494) (.800) TEAM REBS: 13 TOTAL TO: 19(21 PTS)
DALLAS 24 20 25 28 - 97
HOUSTON 24 23 26 33 - 106
BLOCKED SHOTS: DALLAS - BRADLEY, WELLS, MACKEY. HOUSTON - BARKLEY 2,
OLAJUWON, DREXLER, HARRINGTON.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: DALLAS 2-9 (.222), FINLEY 0-1, DAVIS 1-1, REEVES 1-6,
WELLS 0-1. HOUSTON 8-18 (.444), ELIE 1-3, DREXLER 1-3, MALONEY 4-6,
BULLARD 1-2, JOHNSON 1-3, PRICE 0-1.
TECHNICALS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: RON GARRETSON, ED MIDDLETON, LEON WOOD.
A - 6,089. T - 2:13.
DALLAS (97) AT HOUSTON (106)
Matt Maloney scored 14 points to lead six players in double
figures as the Houston Rockets got a big boost from their bench
in a 106-97 preseason victory over the Dallas Mavericks in
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Rookie Rodrick Rhodes, Eddie Johnson and Brent Price scored 12
points apiece, Charles Barkley had 11 and 11 rebounds and
Othella Harrington contributed 10 points for the Rockets (4-2),
who shot 49 percent (39-of-79) from the field.
Houston's bench outscored Dallas' substitutes, 55-11. Guard
Clyde Drexler was the only Rockets starter to play more than 28
minutes.
Shawn Bradley scored 27 points and Khalid Reeves added 19 for
the Mavericks (1-4), who shot 45.5 percent (40-of-88). A.C.
Green added 16 points and 11 rebounds as every Dallas starter
played at least 34 minutes.
nba.931nba.news,
GOLDEN STATE (88) AT PORTLAND (107)
GOLDEN STATE (88)
Price 1-7 4-4 6, Marshall 9-12 1-1 19, Thomas 1-2 2-3 5, Dampier 4-7 3-4
11, Smith 5-15 1-2 11, Ferrell 1-6 0-0 2, Fuller 2-3 2-2 6, Lang 0-0 0-0
0, Sprewell 10-17 3-4 24, Simpkins 0-2 2-2 2, Armstrong 0-6 0-0 0,
Spencer 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 34-81 18-22 88.
PORTLAND (107)
Wallace 7-13 2-5 17, Grant 4-8 6-9 14, Sabonis 3-5 0-0 6, Augmon 3-6 6-6
12, Crotty 3-5 2-2 10, Cato 3-5 0-0 6, Higgins 3-6 0-0 6, Lister 0-0 2-2
2, O'Neal 6-12 0-2 14, Rider 1-3 4-5 6, Bell 0-1 0-0 0, Williams 3-4 1-1
8, Wingfield 2-6 2-4 6. Totals 38-74 25-36 107.
Golden State 17 15 28 28-- 88
Portland 29 32 29 17--107
3-Point goals--Golden State 2-12 (Thomas 1-2, Sprewell 1-6, Marshall 0-1,
Ferrell 0-1, Price 0-2), Portland 6-11 (Crotty 2-2, O'Neal 2-2, Williams
1-1, Wallace 1-3, Higgins 0-1, Rider 0-1, Wingfield 0-1).
Fouled out--None.
Rebounds--Golden State 36 (Dampier 10), Portland 49 (Sabonis 11).
Assists--Golden State 11 (Price, Armstrong 4), Portland 17 (Crotty 5).
Total fouls--Golden State 25, Portland 25.
A--3,802.
GOLDEN STATE (88) AT PORTLAND (107)
Rasheed Wallace scored 14 of his 17 points in the first half as
the Portland Trailblazers cruised to a 29-point halftime lead en
route to a 107-88 victory over the winless Golden State Warriors
at Spokane, Washington.
The Trailblazers (4-2), who led 61-32 at halftime, broke the
100-point mark for the second time this preseason. Brian Grant
and Jermaine O'Neal added 14 points apiece for Portland and
Stacy Augmon scored 12.
Latrell Sprewell had 24 points and Donyell Marhsall chipped
in 19 for the Warriors (0-6), who suffered their biggest loss of
the preseason.
nba.932nba.news,
INDIANA (95) AT CHARLOTTE (83)
INDIANA
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
MULLIN F 26 6-9 3-4 1 1 2 2 4 1 2 15
A DAVIS F 26 4-5 8-12 2 4 6 5 4 1 3 16
SMITS C 27 5-13 2-3 0 5 5 2 2 0 3 12
JACKSON G 24 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 6 2 1 1 2
MILLER G 27 5-13 3-3 2 3 5 3 1 0 2 14
D DAVIS 27 3-4 0-0 0 5 5 2 3 1 2 6
ROSE 24 3-4 3-5 0 6 6 3 2 0 4 9
HOIBERG 31 8-11 0-0 1 2 3 1 4 3 1 18
WEST 11 1-3 1-2 1 2 3 0 3 0 3 3
POPE 11 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
RILEY 2 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
BOHANNON 2 0-0 0-1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LINDEMAN 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
TOTALS 240 36-67 20-30 7 30 37 24 27 7 24 95
(.537) (.667) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 24(22 PTS)
CHARLOTTE
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
MASON F 26 2-6 2-2 3 6 9 1 2 0 4 6
RICE F 35 6-22 6-6 2 2 4 4 3 4 1 19
DIVAC C 18 3-4 1-2 1 5 6 1 3 1 2 7
WESLEY G 31 4-9 0-0 0 2 2 7 5 2 3 8
PHILLS G 12 1-3 2-6 0 1 1 2 1 0 2 4
GEIGER 30 6-10 1-1 3 4 7 1 5 1 3 13
DELK 19 0-3 1-2 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 1
BECK 17 2-5 1-2 0 2 2 1 4 0 1 5
REID 21 1-7 0-0 2 2 4 1 2 3 2 2
WILLIAMS 13 4-6 2-2 1 1 2 2 5 1 2 10
CURRY 18 4-7 0-0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 8
TOTALS 240 33-82 16-23 12 25 37 25 31 12 22 83
(.402) (.696) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 22(26 PTS)
INDIANA 27 20 22 26 - 95
CHARLOTTE 24 12 22 25 - 83
BLOCKED SHOTS: INDIANA - A DAVIS 2, D DAVIS, POPE. CHARLOTTE - DIVAC.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: INDIANA 3-8 (.375), JACKSON 0-1, MILLER 1-4, ROSE 0-1,
HOIBERG 2-2. CHARLOTTE 1-6 (.167), RICE 1-4, CURRY 0-2.
TECHNICALS: INDIANA - MILLER, CHARLOTTE - ILLEGAL DEFENSE, GEIGER, REID.
OFFICIALS: BILL OAKES, KEN MAUER, VIOLET PALMER.
A - 9,338. T - 2:14.
INDIANA (95) AT CHARLOTTE (83)
Fred Hoiberg scored 18 points to lead a balanced attack as the
hot-shooting Indiana Pacers cruised to a 97-85 victory over the
Charlotte Hornets in a preseason game in Nashville, Tennessee.
Antonio Davis added 16 points and Chris Mullin 15 for Indiana
(4-2), which shot 54 percent (36-of-67) from the field and had
five players in double figures. Reggie Miller scored 14 points
and Rik Smits had 12.
Glen Rice scored 19 points but shot just 6-of-22 from the field
for the Hornets (2-3), who shot just 40 percent (33-of-82). Matt
Geiger added 13 points for Charlotte.
The Pacers held the Hornets to 12 points in the second quarter
and opened a 47-36 halftime lead. With 2:50 left in the third
quarter, a flagrant foul against Indiana's Mark Jackson led to a
scuffle between Miller and Geiger as both players were given
technical fouls.
Violet Palmer, one of two female referees vying for a full-time
position on the NBA's officiating staff, worked the game.
nba.933nba.news,
LA LAKERS (92) AT DENVER (101)
LA LAKERS
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
HORRY F 30 3-6 3-3 1 7 8 2 4 4 4 10
CAMPBELL F 31 7-16 1-2 3 4 7 1 2 1 3 15
ONEAL C 4 2-3 0-0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 4
JONES G 23 0-5 2-2 0 2 2 0 1 0 2 2
VAN EXEL G 22 0-4 2-2 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 2
FOX 21 2-9 0-0 2 2 4 0 5 1 1 4
FISHER 17 1-5 4-4 0 2 2 2 2 1 1 6
BRYANT 23 6-10 1-2 0 3 3 4 5 1 4 15
ROOKS 17 3-8 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 6
BLOUNT 19 5-8 1-2 2 2 4 1 1 1 1 11
BENNETT 12 0-4 1-2 5 6 11 0 3 0 4 1
BARRY 12 3-7 2-4 0 1 1 1 2 3 0 10
FORREST 5 0-0 1-2 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1
SEALS 4 1-1 2-2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
TOTALS 240 33-86 20-27 15 32 47 12 26 13 25 92
(.384) (.741) TEAM REBS: 9 TOTAL TO: 25(32 PTS)
DENVER
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
BATTIE F 28 3-11 3-5 5 8 13 1 0 1 1 9
WILLIAMS F 37 7-17 4-4 1 5 6 1 2 3 2 18
GARRETT C 33 5-11 4-6 2 6 8 1 2 0 5 14
JACKSON G 35 5-13 8-10 3 7 10 4 1 3 4 18
STITH G 25 3-9 2-2 0 1 1 2 2 1 2 9
NEWMAN 24 6-10 4-6 2 1 3 0 4 2 2 17
FORTSON 19 0-1 1-2 1 2 3 0 4 1 1 1
GOLDWIRE 13 2-4 0-0 0 3 3 2 2 0 2 4
WOLF 13 1-1 2-2 1 1 2 2 3 0 2 5
WASHINGTON 10 1-4 4-6 1 0 1 2 1 1 1 6
LAUDERDALE 3 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0
TOTALS 240 33-81 32-43 16 35 51 15 23 12 22 101
(.407) (.744) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 22(28 PTS)
LA LAKERS 19 24 11 38 - 92
DENVER 34 18 25 24 - 101
BLOCKED SHOTS: LA LAKERS - CAMPBELL 3, JONES, ROOKS, BENNETT. DENVER -
GARRETT 3, BATTIE 2, FORTSON.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: LA LAKERS 6-18 (.333), HORRY 1-2, JONES 0-2, VAN EXEL
0-2, FOX 0-3, FISHER 0-2, BRYANT 2-3, BARRY 2-3, SEALS 1-1. DENVER 3-6
(.500), JACKSON 0-1, STITH 1-2, NEWMAN 1-1, WOLF 1-1, WASHINGTON 0-1.
TECHNICALS: LA LAKERS - BARRY, ILLEGAL DEFENSE.
OFFICIALS: STEVE JAVIE, RON OLESIAK, DEREK RICHARDSON.
A - 7,121. T - 2:13.
LA LAKERS (92) AT DENVER (101)
Eric Williams and rookie Bobby Jackson scored 18 points apiece
and the Denver Nuggets held the Los Angeles Lakers scoreless for
a 4 1/2-minute stretch of the third quarter en route to a 101-92
victory.
Denver (3-3), which outscored the Lakers, 25-11, in the third
quarter to take a 77-54 lead. The Nuggets put the game away
with a 15-0 run midway through the period.
Johnny Newman added 17 points and Dean Garrett contributed 14
for the Nuggets, who held Los Angeles to 38 percent (33-of-86)
shooting from the field.
Elden Campbell and Kobe Bryant scored 15 points apiece for the
Lakers (3-2), who committed 25 turnovers. Los Angeles never led
and trailed as many as 18 points in the first quarter.
Lakers All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal left in the first
quarter with a strained abdominal muscle.
nba.934nba.news,
MINNESOTA (90) AT MILWAUKEE (101)
MINNESOTA
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
GUGLIOTTA F 26 4-7 0-1 0 5 5 3 4 1 1 8
JORDAN F 40 2-4 2-4 0 7 7 3 1 1 6 7
MITCHELL C 32 6-12 3-4 0 0 0 3 2 2 3 15
CARR G 25 7-11 2-2 1 0 1 2 5 0 1 18
MARBURY G 30 7-14 3-5 2 1 3 5 0 1 5 17
FISH 26 4-6 0-5 1 1 2 0 3 0 1 8
PORTER 19 0-4 4-4 1 2 3 2 2 0 0 4
WILLIAMS 13 1-4 3-3 0 2 2 2 1 0 3 6
MOORE 12 2-4 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 4
OSBORNE 12 1-3 1-2 1 2 3 1 0 0 2 3
COLLINS 5 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0
TOTALS 240 34-70 18-30 6 22 28 21 19 6 22 90
(.486) (.600) TEAM REBS: 13 TOTAL TO: 22(22 PTS)
MILWAUKEE
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
HILL F 25 3-5 7-7 0 5 5 3 2 0 2 13
ROBINSON F 25 3-11 4-5 2 2 4 4 1 3 5 10
JOHNSON C 23 7-10 1-1 4 6 10 1 4 1 2 15
ALLEN G 25 5-9 0-0 0 6 6 2 2 0 3 10
BRANDON G 23 8-11 0-0 0 0 0 3 2 4 1 17
GILLIAM 25 4-13 3-6 1 3 4 3 1 0 1 11
PERRY 25 3-9 0-0 0 0 0 4 3 3 0 6
MCDONALD 5 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 0 3 0 0 2
CURRY 12 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 0 1 2
FEICK 5 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0
EARL 13 3-5 0-0 2 5 7 0 4 0 0 6
BREAUX 16 1-6 2-2 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 4
HONEYCUTT 11 1-2 1-2 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 3
NORDGAARD 7 1-2 0-0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 2
TOTALS 240 41-86 18-23 12 33 45 22 24 11 17 101
(.477) (.783) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 17(8 PTS)
MINNESOTA 33 22 20 15 - 90
MILWAUKEE 25 31 24 21 - 101
BLOCKED SHOTS: MINNESOTA - MOORE 2. MILWAUKEE - JOHNSON 3, GILLIAM 2,
EARL, BREAUX.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: MINNESOTA 4-7 (.571), JORDAN 1-1, MITCHELL 0-1, CARR
2-2, MARBURY 0-1, WILLIAMS 1-1, OSBORNE 0-1. MILWAUKEE 1-5 (.200), HILL
0-2, BRANDON 1-2, BREAUX 0-1.
TECHNICALS: MILWAUKEE - ILLEGAL DEFENSE 4.
OFFICIALS: ED F RUSH, JIM CAPERS, MARK WUNDERLICH.
A - 5,514. T - 2:06.
MINNESOTA (90) AT MILWAUKEE (101)
Terrell Brandon scored 17 points and Ervin Johnson added 15 to
lead a balanced attack as the Milwaukee Bucks held the Minnesota
Timberwolves to 15 points in the final quarter en route to a
101-90 victory at Des Moines, Iowa.
Johnson added 10 rebounds and Tyrone Hill contributed 13 points
for the Bucks, who shot 48 percent (34-of-70) while improving
to 5-0 in the preseason.
Minnesota (2-4) pulled within 82-79 early in the final quarter
on Mikki Moore's baseline jumper. But Armon Gilliam caught fire
for Milwaukee, scoring seven of his 11 points in a 13-4 burst
that broke the game open.
Chris Carr scored 18 points and Stephon Marbury added 17 for the
Wolves, who were outrebounded, 45-29. Minnesota has lost four
of its last five games.
nba.935nba.news,
Worm turns on Bulls: 'Sign me by Thursday or else'
CHICAGO (Oct 21, 1997 - 1997 EDT) -- Dennis Rodman has given the
Chicago Bulls an ultimatum: No acceptable contract by noon Thursday,
no Worm in 1997-98.
"Noon Thursday ... just do it, get it out of the way," Rodman said
Tuesday. "If it's going to be, let's do it. If it's not going to be,
move on.
"There's always a chance I won't be here. If it doesn't happen, we go
on with our lives. I go home, they stay here and we'll resolve it that
way. Life seems to work itself out."
Rodman said both he and Bulls general manager Jerry Krause agreed to
the deadline. Krause, seeming stunned that Rodman met with the media
outside the team's headquarters in suburban Deerfield, declined
comment.
Rodman, the NBA's six-time rebounding leader who is famous for dyeing
his hair, cursing in public and playing dirty on the court, is unhappy
with incentive clauses in the one-year contract he approved two weeks
ago.
The team said he didn't sign the deal Oct. 10 because bronchitis
prevented him from completing his physical examination. And Rodman
decided not to sign it when the Bulls returned Sunday from France,
where they played two exhibition games.
The contract reportedly has a base salary of $4.5 million with
incentives that could make it surpass the $9 million deal he had in
1996-97. But Rodman doesn't like incentive clauses based on victories
because All-Star forward Scottie Pippen underwent foot surgery and
will be out until January.
Several times last season, while helping the Bulls win their fifth NBA
title in seven years, Rodman said he would play for free just to stay
in Chicago. That, obviously, is no longer true.
"I guess I'm being (a jerk) about it," he said. "It's just little
things. I've just got to be happy with the situation. ... I want to be
happy. Everybody's got to understand ... negotiating is a business."
Before coming to Chicago, the "Worm" made life miserable for the San
Antonio Spurs because he was unhappy with his contract. Few other
teams are likely to be interested in a 36-year-old rebounder who was
suspended three times last season, and no other club has the kind of
money under the salary cap that Rodman is seeking.
Rodman and his agent, Dwight Manley, met with Krause on Monday and
Tuesday without resolving the situation.
"I'm hoping that something good comes out of Thursday, that everybody
will be happy," Rodman said. "I know people would love to see Dennis
Rodman in Chicago. Hopefully, we can make everybody happy."
Coach Phil Jackson still expects Rodman to play for the Bulls.
"I don't think we have a plan without Dennis. I haven't really put
that into my head as a possibility yet," Jackson said. "I think Dennis
is going to be on the court come the start of the season (Oct. 31). I
have a feeling that Dennis wants to be here. They came to an agreement
two weeks ago."
In addition to being without Pippen, the Bulls won't have Michael
Jordan for the final three exhibition games. Jordan had several
ingrown toenails removed Sunday, but he should be ready for the
opener.
"The exhibition season really doesn't matter much, so I'm not so
concerned now," backup guard Steve Kerr said. "If this were the case
two weeks from now, I'd be very concerned. We're not very good without
those three guys. We've got 12 role players out there right now."
nba.936nba.news,
Wizards' Strickland pulls hamstring in exhibition
BOISE, Idaho (Oct 21, 1997 - 1997 EDT) -- Washington Wizards guard Rod
Strickland pulled his left hamstring in the first half of an
exhibition game, and one of his teammates blamed conditions on the
court at Idaho Center for the injury.
The game against the Denver Nuggets was delayed nearly 90 minutes
Monday night because a cleaning solution used on the floor had not
dried.
"I think it was the cause of Rod's injury, coming on the fast break,"
forward Chris Webber said. "It's unfortunate because you want to give
the people a good show."
Coach Bernie Bickerstaff did not blame the floor for the injury, and
Strickland would not say what caused it.
"I don't know if it was the floor or what," Strickland said. "I know
it wasn't in good condition. I don't think we should have played
tonight."
Strickland said the injury happened when he wasn't feeling his best.
It is uncertain how long he will be out.
"I've been struggling physically, with the flu and a cold," he said.
"I was finally getting into a groove. Obviously, the injury came at
the wrong time."
nba.937nba.news,
Shaq aggravates abdominal injury
Denver, CO (TSN) - Los Angeles Lakers star center Shaquille O'Neal
aggravated a strained abdominal muscle during an exhibition game
against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night. He will return to Los
Angeles to be examined by team doctors on Wednesday, and is expected
to miss that night's exhibition game in Las Vegas against the
Washington Wizards.
O'Neal strained the muscle on October 3rd on the first day of
preseason drills. He aggravated the injury with 7:48 left in the
first quarter of the game against Denver, and was out of the contest
with four points and a pair of rebounds in four minutes of playing
time.
nba.938nba.news,
Mavericks sign veteran forward Caldwell
DALLAS (Oct 21, 1997 - 1997 EDT) -- The injury-plagued Dallas
Mavericks signed forward Adrian Caldwell to a one-year, non-guaranteed
contract Tuesday.
"With all the injuries, we are in need of a big guy who can play
some," Mavericks general manager Don Nelson said. "We feel we've been
playing A.C. Green too many minutes in the preseason. Caldwell gives
us another big body."
Caldwell, 31, has played five seasons in the NBA, including 45 games
last season with New Jersey and Philadelphia. He has career averages
of 2.0 points and 2.5 rebounds.
nba.939nba.news,
NBA fines, suspends Five players for Cavaliers-Timberwolves fight
NEW YORK (Oct 21, 1997 - 15:58 EDT) -- Clifford Rozier of the
Minnesota Timberwolves, and Vitaly Potapenko of the Cleveland
Cavaliers were among five players fined and suspended Tuesday by the
NBA for fighting during a preseason game.
Rozier was fined $10,000 and suspended without pay for two games, and
Potapenko was fined $5,000 and suspended without pay for one game for
their part in the Oct. 12 altercation. Rozier was penalized for
punching Potapenko with 3:26 remaining in Cleveland's 119-99 victory
at St. Louis. Potapenko was fined and suspended for elbowing and
throwing a punch.
In addition, Minnesota's Doug West and Cleveland's Henry James and
Shawn Kemp each were suspended without pay for one game and fined
$2,500 for leaving the bench area during the fight.
The suspensions will be served during the regular season, with Rozier
missing the first two games on which he is on the active roster, and
James, Kemp, Potapenko and West missing the first games in which they
are on the active roster.
nba.940nba.news,
NBA roundup
Heat: American Airlines paid $42 million to be the corporate sponsor
for the Heat's new home, and don't you forget it. The American
Airlines Arena will have the carrier's logo on the roof, playing
floor, scoreboard, seats and refreshment stand counters.
Ground-breaking is planned later this year.
Warriors: First-round pick Adonal Foyle, out all preseason with a
broken foot, scrimmaged for the first time Monday.
nba.941nba.news,
National Basketball Association Transactions
Oct 20 1997
Los Angeles Lakers: Released guard DeJuan Wheat.
Orlando Magic: Released guard Rick Brunson.
nba.943nba.news,
L.A. tentatively approves new arena
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday tentatively
approved development of a $300 million sports and entertainment arena.
The 22,000-seat arena, to be built downtown by the owners of the Los
Angeles Kings, will be the home of the NHL team and the NBA's Los
Angeles Lakers.
It is expected to open in October 1999.
Kings president Tim Leiweke said preliminary construction is expected
to begin next month, and demolition of the Los Angeles Convention
Center's North Hall, where the arena will be built, is expected to
begin in January.
nba.944nba.news,
Brown unhappy with 76ers' practice facility
SPRINGFIELD, Pa. (Oct 21, 1997 - 20:28 EDT) -- With the start of the
upcoming NBA season less than 10 days away, first-year Philadelphia
76ers coach Larry Brown already has a major concern.
And it has nothing to do with the players he'll be putting out on the
court this season. Instead the problem is the team's practice facility
at the Springfield Healthplex in suburban Philadelphia.
Brown said he has a difficult time communicating with his team and
there are constant distractions from health club members working out
within sight and earshot of them.
Also, Philadelphia has found it impossible to schedule two-a-day
workouts since court time is simply unavailable.
Consequently, Brown said Tuesday, he has noticed a dropoff since the
Sixers returned from training camp at Chapel Hill, N.C.
"We came out of North Carolina, I thought, in terrific shape," Brown
said Tuesday.
"This environment's not nearly as good as the one we had in Chapel
Hill. We had two-a-days and it was all basketball and since we've come
back here we've had a lot of slippage. It's just not having the
opportunity to practice in the kind of environment we need."
Brown said he had spoken with 76ers president Pat Croce about the
situation and he was attempting to rectify the problem.
"I've told you I'm going to do whatever it takes to make Larry Brown
happy," said Croce, who admitted he has looked into alternative sites,
including the Philadelphia Navy Yard, as well as local colleges sites
at St. Joseph's, Villanova and Cabrini. "We have a contract here.
We'll honor our contract.
"But the issue is making sure Larry and the team have the capability
so he can conduct practice the way he wants to. I want this
environment conducive to a winning team."
For the present, though Brown is hopeful the Healthplex can be
modified to suit their needs.
"I don't know what we can do," said Brown, who said he did not notice
the problems last season when his Indiana Pacers worked out there.
"This is what we've got.
"I didn't expect you couldn't hear. I thought we'd have nets where we
could close things off and we could go two-a-days. But I shouldn't be
complaining. This is a great facility. We've just got to make it work
better for us."
nba.942nba.news,
Ex-Celtic D.J. ordered to stay away from wife
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Dennis Johnson was ordered to leave his home Tuesday
and stay away from his wife after she accused him of grabbing her
throat and holding a knife to her face.
Orange County Judge Stan Strickland set a $5,000 bond for Johnson and
told him he could return home only to collect clothes and personal
items.
"You are to have no contact with the victim until this is all sorted
out," the judge said.
Johnson posted bonded and left jail Tuesday afternoon. No arraignment
date was set.
Johnson, 43, who played on three NBA championship teams during his
14-year career, was arrested Monday and charged with aggravated
assault and domestic violence. His wife was not injured.
Police said that Johnson grabbed Donna Johnson, his wife of 21 years,
and held a knife to her face during an argument at their home near
Orlando.
"What are you going to do, kill me? Go ahead," she told her husband,
according to the police report.
Johnson, according to the report, replied: "You don't think anybody
will hurt you?"
Police said that when his son tried to intervene, Johnson warned,
"I'll knock you out."
The son then ran next door to a neighbor's house, and police were
summoned.
The 6-foot-4 guard played with Seattle, Phoenix and Boston, the last
seven alongside Larry Bird on the great Celtics teams of the 1980s.
He was the Most Valuable Player in helping Seattle win the 1979
championship, and later was part of Boston's championship teams in
1984 and 1986. During his career he averaged 14.1 points a game, and
17.3 points in playoffs.
Johnson also played in five All-Star games, and was named to NBA
all-defensive teams six times.
He retired as a Celtics player after the 1989-90 season, and returned
as an assistant coach in 1994. He lost his job this year when the
Celtics fired their entire coaching staff after the worst season in
franchise history.
nba.945nba.news,
Seattle needs to make tough roster reductions
SEATTLE (Oct 21, 1997 - 05:22 EDT) -- With just 10 days left in the
preseason and an overabundance of guaranteed contracts on his roster,
Seattle SuperSonics general manager Wally Walker said Monday that a
player from the backcourt will have to be cut or traded.
Walker got himself into this not-so-dreadful predicament when he
signed point guard Greg Anthony to a free-agent contract a few weeks
ago, creating a logjam among the teams' guards.
"Eight guards is too many to keep on one team," said Walker, who said
that he signed Anthony because he didn't want to "leave any stone
unturned and I thought it could possibly help our team."
However, Anthony's signing brought the number of guaranteed contracts
the Sonics must honor to 16. They can keep 12 players on their active
roster and, under league rules, a maximum of three players on the
injured list.
It seems likely that rookie James Cotton (knee) and veteran Nate
McMillan (knee) will begin the season on the injured list, as well as
one yet-to-be-determined player. Gary Payton, David Wingate and Hersey
Hawkins all have job security, so unless Craig Ehlo is released
outright -- which seems unlikely, given Walker's affinity for Ehlo, as
well as the two years left on his contract -- the decision will be
between Anthony and Eric Snow.
When asked who he was leaning toward keeping or when a decision would
be made, Sonics coach George Karl said: "You'll have to talk to Wally.
That's his job."
The most desirable scenario for the Sonics would be to trade Snow, who
signed a new two-year contract in the off-season. Walker said he has
had minimal discussions in recent weeks about trade possibilities, but
with the regular season approaching quickly and more teams recognizing
what they have and what they need, Walker said that his talks might
begin in earnest this week.
Walker said he most likely would try to pull off a two-for-one trade
so that he could keep the Sonics roster at 15, or simply trade a
player for a future draft pick to eliminate the additional spot.
"I would say there is a 50-50 chance that (Snow) is not on the team,"
said Snow's Los Angeles-based agent, Steve Kauffman. "Of the guys that
the Sonics are willing to move, I would say he is the most
attractive."
As for Snow, Kauffman said he would happily go elsewhere if he is not
expected to see much playing time this season.
"Obviously, he would not have come back on board had he known another
point guard would be brought in," Kauffman said. "That's not a
criticism. It's just a fact. If he is not going to play, he would
rather be traded."
Kauffman said 11 teams showed varying degrees of interest in Snow in
the off-season, and that Snow came close to signing a contract for the
NBA minimum with several teams in the hopes of getting more playing
time before ultimately deciding to return to Seattle.
Kauffman said that Detroit, Miami, Milwaukee and Orlando showed the
most interest in Snow during the summer, but one strong trade
possibility now would be with the Dallas Mavericks, who have suffered
injuries to both Robert Pack and Erick Strickland after trading Derek
Harper earlier this year. Miami, which lost backup John Crotty to
Portland, might also still be interested.
"He's a very tradeable player," Kauffman said.
Walker could also try to move Anthony, but because no other team
signed him in the off-season, it seems unlikely that any would covet
him now. Anthony's most redeeming quality as trade bait is that he is
a veteran.
If Walker is not able to move any players, he is not required to make
a decision to release a player until Oct. 30, a day before the regular
season begins. However, he said, he likely would make the decision
before that, presumably after the Sonics complete their preseason
schedule in Los Angeles next weekend.
If that is the case, the decision will be made more difficult because
Karl is planning on playing his regulars about 30 minutes each in the
final three exhibition games, meaning there will be limited playing
time for the reserves.
"I think now the evaluation comes in practice a little bit more rather
than the games," Karl said.
* * *
NOTES: Ehlo missed practice Monday with the flu. ...
Stephen Howard has missed the past three practices with a bruised
foot. ...
Karl said the two-a-day practices he has been conducting the past four
days will conclude Wednesday.
nba.946nba.news,
Fortson's scoring potential hindered by his fouls
(Oct 21, 1997 - 1997 EDT) -- Danny Fortson just can't seem to help
himself. With his chiseled, 6-foot-7, 260-pound frame, the Denver
Nuggets' rookie power forward does whatever is required to get
position under the basket.
Sometimes that includes throwing elbows, shoving defenders and
throwing something strangely reminiscent of a leg whip -- all of which
result in foul calls.
If Fortson can stay in the games long enough, he might just be the
Nuggets' leading scorer, a possibility that leaves coach Bill Hanzlik
chuckling.
"Yeah, well like my dad used to say, 'If the dog would have caught the
rabbit, you'd have had some lunch "'
OK, so maybe Fortson isn't likely to get over the habit of fouling for
quite a while. Some referees already seem to have labeled him a pet
project, and taken it upon themselves to whistle him for every minor
indiscretion. So goes life for an NBA rookie.
But imagine what Fortson might become once he gets his game under
control.
Going into Monday night's game against Washington, Fortson is the
Nuggets' second-leading scorer in the preseason, averaging 14.8 points
to go with 7.3 rebounds in 21.8 minutes.
The problem is Fortson's team-leading 20 fouls (five per game), which
have left him watching much of the action from the sideline.
"I do the stupidest things a basketball player could ever do on the
basketball court," Fortson admits. "I reach, I put my leg or butt out
on picks. It's street ball. Sometimes I'm out there and I'll be
thinking street ball and lose sense of what I'm doing. I need to play
smarter."
Fortunately for Hanzlik, the Nuggets have another capable power
forward in rookie Tony Battie to cover for Fortson when he's sitting
on the bench. Battie is taller (6-11, 240 pounds), more athletic and
more of a shot-blocking threat (1.75 average). His style complements
that of Fortson, and they provide the Nuggets a nice one-two punch.
Hanzlik said he intends to mix and match the pair all season.
"I love throwing speed lineups in there," Hanzlik said. "A speed
lineup would be giving Tony some minutes at center and maybe still use
Danny (at power forward). Or maybe we play a big lineup and put Danny
at (small forward). I have confidence in Danny. He can hit that 15- to
18-foot perimeter shot and that gives us a lot of size. The two really
complement one another and (that) allows us to do a lot of things."
Fortson's only other shortcoming might be his turnovers. In trying to
adapt to the NBA generally -- and the Nuggets' up-tempo offense
specifically -- he sometimes tries to force the play too quickly.
"The first thing in my mind when I get the ball is to hurry up and
swing it. Get the ball and get it out of your hands as fast as you can
before you get trapped," Fortson said. "But sometimes I throw it and
somebody gets a hand on it and it's a turnover. I realize I have
things to work on, but I'm confident I'm going to keep finding ways to
get better and contribute more to the team."
nba.947nba.news,
Eisley takes over
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Howard Eisley was the skinny, quiet kid sitting in
the bleachers at a Detroit gym called The Saint, waiting for his
chance to run. Now, he's got his chance to show the world a thing or
two.
Eisley has suddenly become the starting point guard for the Utah Jazz,
filling in for perennial All-Star John Stockton, who is expected to
miss at least the first six weeks of the season because of knee
surgery.
"All I can do is play my game," he says. ``That's all I've ever done.
"I don't think I've been blessed with great natural talent. If I ever
stop working hard and improving, that's when I'm done."
The 24-year-old Eisley and the Jazz sensed that they fit together even
before Stockton's injury. He made a name for himself during Utah's run
to the NBA Finals last summer and many expected the free-agent backup
would leave the Jazz and become a starter on another team.
But Eisley rejected offers from the Clippers, Magic, Pistons and Heat
and signed a new three-year, $4 million contract with the Jazz two
months ago.
Now, Eisley will start his first NBA game for the defending Western
Conference champions in the Oct. 31 season opener, subbing for the
all-time assists and steals leader. Stockton hadn't missed a game in
seven seasons.
"This extra responsibility means I have to work harder," Eisley says.
"It's more important than ever that I keep my focus."
Eisley has kept that focus since he was a youth playing at Detroit's
St. Cecilia's Church, a dingy and sad place on the outside and full of
basketball talent inside.
Any ballplayer from Michigan who's any good eventually must lace `em
up in The Saint's storied gym. George Gervin, Campy Russell, Derrick
Coleman, Roy Tarpley, Kevin Willis, Antoine Joubert and Chris Webber
all ran the floor at The Saint. So did Eisley, who called it "most
definitely the place to be."
It was at St. Cecilia's that Eisley caught the eye of Perry Watson,
coach at Detroit's Southwestern High. Watson's Prospectors were
perennially one of the nation's top prep teams.
"Coach Watson was a great father figure to me," Eisley says. ``He
taught me the fundamentals I needed, and he also taught me to take
care of my off-court business."
Eisley was soon Watson's starting point guard as well as a good
student, but he was overshadowed by star Prospectors Jalen Rose and
Voshon Lenard, now NBA players. His shyness didn't help matters,
either.
"I've just always been quiet," Eisley shrugs. ``Some people think that
means I'm not working hard, but I am."
The Prospectors won 78 games in Eisley's final three years, but Boston
College was the only major school to offer him a spot.
"When he came here, he was a very marginal shooter at best," recalls
Jim O'Brien, the former Boston College coach who is now at Ohio State.
"He realized that, and he committed himself from day one to working
harder than anyone. He was in the gym when nobody else was around,
just working on his shot."
The Eagles gradually improved from a 1-15 conference season in 1991.
As a junior, Eisley hit a 23-foot shot with six-tenths of a second
left to beat No. 12 Syracuse 94-93, a moment he calls his greatest in
college.
In the 1994 NCAA tournament, the Eagles made an emotional run to the
quarterfinals that included upsets of North Carolina and Indiana.
"I saw Howard grow from a boy to a man at Boston College," O'Brien
says. "That's one of the things I'm proudest of as a coach."
And then the NBA came calling. Eisley was drafted in the second round
by Minnesota in 1994, but the Timberwolves cut him after 34 games. He
scored seven points in two months with the San Antonio Spurs before
they let him go when Dennis Rodman came off the injured list.
Eisley was invited to Jazz training camp in 1995 and stuck around
until the final cut. He played seven games with the CBA's Rockford
Lightning before the Jazz called again. He's played in 147 straight
games since.
"Howard is a perfect fit for what we like to do," Utah coach Jerry
Sloan says. "He's a smart ballplayer that doesn't turn the ball over
and never stops working hard."
Calling Eisley soft-spoken is like calling Karl Malone well-built, but
Eisley has always been quietly focused on what he feels is important.
He has been involved in two lawsuits against the NBA during his three
years in the league.
The first suit, which he filed with former player David Wood to
protest a salary cap adjustment, was pushed by his agent at the time.
Eisley also joined Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing and several other
players in an attempt to decertify the players' union in 1995.
"That was about being fair to all players, not just the stars," Eisley
says of the second suit. "I know those things are important, but I
just want to play."
That's all he's ever wanted, from the first day he sat in the
bleachers at The Saint and watched the big kids run the floor. Now he
has his chance - and he'll run with it.
nba.948nba.news,
Dunkin' Duncan
SAN ANTONIO (AP) When Hurricane Hugo tore apart the pool where
13-year-old Tim Duncan trained, he was told he'd have to practice his
swimming in the ocean.
No way, Duncan said, not with all those sharks around the Virgin
Islands. And with that, his basketball career began.
Now 21, he's already made a splash: from high school standout to
college star to No. 1 pick in the 1997 NBA draft. While he won't have
to worry about sharks any more, he will have to battle the likes of
Charles Barkley and Karl Malone as the San Antonio Spurs starting
power forward.
Still pretty much a kid who loves video games, action movies and can
quote extensively from the flick "Revenge of the Surf Nazis," Duncan
is flabbergasted by all the attention.
"The people in the Virgin Islands have accepted me as somewhat of a
hero, beyond what I asked for, but they've treated me great," said
Duncan, who grew up on St. Croix. "They named a gymnasium after me,
and that's something I never would have imagined in all of my life."
Duncan had been expected to follow in the path of his older sister,
Tricia, who swam for the Virgin Islands national team in the 1988
Summer Olympics in Seoul. But then Hugo roared across the islands in
1989, wrecking the pool.
"Tim was not happy about swimming in the ocean," said his father,
William, who has a deep Caribbean accent, unlike his son. "He was
afraid of the sharks. He did what I would do and got out."
And when he got out of the water he ended up on the hardwood and
eventually at Wake Forest, where he became the first repeat national
player of the year in five years. Duncan turned down the chance to
become the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft after his junior year, choosing
to finish college and get his degree in psychology.
"It's funny how, where one door closes, another one opens," Wake
Forest coach David Odom said. "No one knows how good he could have
been as a swimmer. He may have been world class. But there's no
question about his skill in basketball."
The 6-foot-11 Duncan has led the Spurs in scoring in the preseason,
about 16 points a game. Teammate David Robinson says he wouldn't be
surprised if Duncan becomes an All-Star as a rookie.
"There's no question with his demeanor and ability on the court that
he is going to be a special player," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
"He told us that he thought he was playing like a dog. We thought he
was playing pretty good."
Arnold Jeffers, a high school teammate on St. Croix, said Duncan has
been unaffected by stardom.
"We used to joke and say, `We want to be like Tim,' just like the
Michael Jordan commercials," Jeffers said. "But he hasn't changed. ...
He has done a lot for the Virgin Islands and everyone here is proud of
him."
Duncan first learned basketball from his sister Cheryl's husband,
Ricky Lowery, a former Division III guard. He later caught the
attention of former Wake Forest player Chris King, who was among
several NBA draft picks sent to the Virgin Islands by the league for
competition as part of a goodwill excursion.
When King returned, Odom asked if there were any players he should be
recruiting out of the islands. King recalled a 16-year-old, about 6-9
at the time, with some pretty good moves who stood his ground against
Alonzo Mourning. He couldn't remember his name, but Odom soon found
out and signed him.
Odom said Duncan was raw as a freshman but also was "a learning
sponge."
"The first drills he did, I thought, `This guy needs work,"' Odom
said. "But he learned faster than anyone I've ever coached.
"A lot of kids don't like college, and they are looking for a way to
get out of it," he said. "The converse was true with Tim. He enjoyed
college, throwing the Frisbee, being with his fellow students and
studying psychology.
"He was very aware that his family and, in particular, his mother, had
encouraged him to get his education."
Duncan's mother, Ione, his biggest supporter, died of breast cancer
just before his 14th birthday. It's a subject he doesn't talk about.
"Tim never had much of a reaction to anything, including the death of
his mother," his father said. "He never rebelled. I often wonder about
him because he never showed any regrets or sorrows in my presence.
"Different people have different ways of showing griefs or joy. Tim
just moves on gracefully. He doesn't make a big deal out of too many
things."
Besides his two sisters, Cheryl and Tricia, Duncan has a brother,
Scott. They are all close to their father, who raised them in a
middle-class household while working for an exterminator and delivery
service, and as a waiter and greeter at a hotel.
Now 66 and retired, he plans to buy a satellite dish to watch his
millionaire son on television.
"My dad supports me in whatever I do and he's always there for me,"
Duncan said. "He always tells me, `Do your best and let it rest.'
That's how he pushes me, and I think it helps a lot."
Duncan will earn $10 million over three years but has been more
concerned about earning the respect of teammates and coaches.
"Money's money. You take it in stride," Duncan said, shrugging his
shoulders.
Duncan did express some excitement at buying a new car and a house in
San Antonio during a recent conversation with Odom.
"He told me the house had a pool, and I thought about the pool that
had been wiped out by the hurricane," Odom said. "Now, he can swim
whenever he wants."
nba.949nba.news,
Tattooed NBA
Greg Ostertag sports a dunking Fred Flintstone. Cherokee Parks wears a
green apple core carved into a skeleton face. Michael Cage shows off a
pair of praying hands. And then there's Dennis Rodman, the human
tattoo.
Tattoos have always been popular among inmates, sailors, bikers and
gang members. Now they're showing up in ever-increasing numbers in the
NBA, especially among younger players.
An Associated Press survey of all 29 NBA teams during training camp
found that 35.1 percent of the players have tattoos. Some are goofy,
some are sad and almost all are unique.
Marcus Brown of the Vancouver Grizzlies has a tattoo of his nickname
"Doo-doo" over a basketball on his arm; Doug Christie of the Toronto
Raptors wears a tattoo of a face that is half-daughter, half-wife; and
rookie Antonio Daniels of Vancouver has a tattoo of his brother's
birth date and death date.
"When I first came into the league in 1984 ... I don't think I ever
saw a tattoo," said Cage, a much-traveled forward now playing for the
New Jersey Nets. "Now, it's like who doesn't have one?"
Cage had the praying hands tattooed on his left biceps. His other
tattoo is private: He and his wife have roses on their rear ends.
"Guys wear them for fashion, to make a statement, to depict an image
or a personality, and in my case to express a religion," Cage said.
"Baggy clothes became popular, and now you see oversized pants and
shirts. It's kind of a trendy thing in that regard, except with
clothes you can always change them."
With tattoos, you can't.
Laser surgery can remove some tattoos, but the process involves many
painful trips to a plastic surgeon. Even then, a scar remains and the
tattoo never completely disappears.
"You put tattoos on your body that you want to stay there forever, or
else you don't do it," said Carlos Rogers of Toronto, whose four
tattoos include a set of praying hands like Cage's. "I ain't going to
put a skull that says `Death Becomes You' on me. Some guys walk around
with (tattoos of) knives, guns, bullet holes through people's heads.
My praying hands ain't going nowhere."
The Raptors are one of the most tattooed teams in the league. Of the
17 players on the training-camp roster, nine have tattoos.
The Miami Heat are even more tattooed - 12 of the 18 on their camp
roster had one. It's the same story with many of the league's younger
teams - the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves and Portland Trail
Blazers all have tattooed players in the majority.
So do the Denver Nuggets, whose four rookies - Bobby Jackson, Danny
Fortson, Tony Battie and Eric Washington - all have tattoos.
"If you look at the age group between 18-30, you're going to see a lot
of tattoos - and that age group is abundant in the NBA," said New
Jersey center Yinka Dare, whose tattoo of an African tribal mask is
topped by one word - "Incognito."
The Chicago Bull's Rodman, of course, is a virtual body ink billboard
with tattoos covering both arms, his legs, chest and back. His devil
woman on one arm and sunburst on the other may be the most recognized
tattoos anywhere.
Damon Stoudamire of Toronto has "Damon" written on one arm and Mighty
Mouse on the other.
"There's no significance to it at all," Stoudamire said. ``But when I
got to Canada, people fell in love with it and then it became
synonymous with my name."
Stoudamire claims he helped start the fad when he was a junior on an
Arizona team that went to the Final Four.
"I was the only guy out there that had one, and then the next year
cats were cutting their sleeves off and they all had tattoos right
there. I'm not saying I started the fad, I'm just saying what I've
seen. Am I right or wrong?"
Getting a tattoo is a life-altering decision, revolting to some people
yet enticing to many.
Ostertag's tattoo of Fred Flintstone on his calf is an image that fits
well with the self-described "goofball" persona of the Utah Jazz
center.
Parks of the Timberwolves has a pair of tattoos that might not rival
Ostertag's but are goofy nonetheless. On his calf is the green
apple-skeleton face; on his back is a tattoo of a face whose mouth
appears to open when he bends over.
Nicknames, family names and slogans are popular, too.
Kevin Garnett, who already had a "K.G." tattoo, added another this
summer of an arm holding a basketball with the words "Blood, Sweat and
Tears."
Glen Rice of the Charlotte Hornets has "G-Money." Jim Jackson of
Philadelphia has "JJ" with Chinese writing that translates into: ``He
who knows about another man is wise, he who knows about himself is
enlightened."
Antonio Davis of the Indiana Pacers and Rodney Rogers of the Los
Angeles Clippers have tattoos of their children's names. Rick Mahorn
of the Detroit Pistons has a "Mother" tattoo and his children's names
- but not his wife's.
"You may get remarried, but you always have your mother and children,"
he said.
Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal has a Superman "S", as does
Loy Vaught of the Clippers - although it's smaller than Shaq's. Rodney
Rogers, Karl Malone of Utah, Matt Bullard (and his wife) of the
Houston Rockets - all sport tattoos of bulls.
Tom Gugliotta of the Timberwolves has a wedding band tattooed on his
ring finger and barbed wire tattooed around his biceps. Tim Duncan of
the San Antonio Spurs has tattoos of a magician and a wizard.
Australian guard Shane Heal of Minnesota wears a tattoo of half a
safety pin that appears to be piercing his pectoral muscle. Reggie
Miller has a star around his belly button.
Even Lakers coach Del Harris has one - a basketball going through a
hoop that was tattooed on his arm before last season.
"It's on my unicep, I don't have biceps anymore," Harris said. ``It
was just something we decided to do. I would do it again."
nba.950nba.news,
New generation lacks common sense
Imagine if you took a dozen or so of the best, most knowledgeable
players in the NBA out of the game. Say they all contracted a rare
disease that forced their early retirement. Or, perhaps, that they
were charged with crimes and the NBA booted them out of the league --
and never mind due process of law.
Would the overall quality of play in the league suffer?
Silly question, no? Consider, then, the quality of refereeing in the
NBA in the aftermath of the removal of some of the league's best, most
experienced referees for alleged federal tax code improprieties.
Two veteran NBA officials, Jess Kersey and George Tolliver, have been
removed from their jobs after entering guilty pleas to charges of tax
evasion, a result of what NBA officials call "ticket-gate.'' Hank
Armstrong and Mike Mathis, one of the league's very best refs,
continue to fight similar charges, suspended from working games
pending the outcome of their legal battles.
Combine their absence with the medical retirement of veteran Paul
Mihalak - forced to the sideline late last season by a chronic leg
injury -- and you have diluted the NBA's pool of experienced,
competent referees by too large a percentage as to pass unnoticed.
In short: It's going to be a season long on bad calls and short
tempers.
For adults who made their living making judgment calls, the referees
banished by the league were guilty of gross poor judgment for allowing
themselves to get in trouble with the IRS in the first place.
Knowing the rigors of a long season spent traveling from one NBA city
to another, the league paid for first-class air travel for the men
with the whistles. Some of the referees, the IRS claimed, were
downgrading their tickets to coach class, pocketing thousands of
dollars for the difference in fares, and intentionally neglecting to
report the extra money as additional income.
While it might seem a harmless little scam, some of the refs
reportedly made hundreds of thousands in extra, unreported income over
the course of several seasons. At any rate, the IRS did not regard it
as a hand-slap type of violation, and neither did the NBA. Four proven
whistle-tooters were given double technicals and tossed from the game,
with a fifth out for good with a career-ending injury.
And who are the referees replacing them?
Some are the same young refs who filled in as strike-breakers when the
referees' union went on strike two seasons back and the exhibition
season became a comedy of refereeing errors.
The league's referees, under the iron hand of supervisor of officials
Darrell Garretson, have been moving in the wrong direction for the
better part of the past decade. Garretson wants clones on the court,
devoid of personality and concerned more with proper mechanics than
making the proper, sensible call.
Gone are the days when the Earl Stroms and Jack Maddens and Jake
O'Donnells -- and, yes, the Jess Kerseys -- of the gray-shirted world
of NBA refs could actually make the reffing a fun part of the NBA
show, while at the same time getting a remarkable percentage of the
calls right.
Remember when NBA games used to have a flow to them? It's not just the
lack of perimeter-shooting skill and an emphasis on aggressive defense
that has stultified the NBA game to the point the league's competition
committee has to tinker with the rules each summer.
Too many of the old-time referees -- those who remember a day when two
teams could play a 186-184 triple overtime game -- are passing from
the game, replaced by know-it-all young tooters out to prove they are
in control of the game.
"No harm-no foul" is being replaced by "I saw that -- you're busted."
In an exhibition game in Denver last weekend, veterans Hue Hollins and
Greg Willard worked with one of the youngsters who may get the nod to
replace Kersey, Tolliver, Armstrong or Mathis. This Generation Next
ref blew an obvious goal-tending call that cost Denver a basket, then
zapped rookie Nuggets coach Bill Hanzlik with a technical foul when he
protested the call.
Back in the day, referees like Strom and Madden and Mathis and Kersey
would have let Hanzlik scream, quietly acknowledged they had missed
the call, shrugged their shoulders, and let the game move on.
I wonder if the league's new generation of refs will ever develop that
kind of common sense.
In the meantime, know that the all-important excellence of officiating
in the NBA has been diminished, no matter what the NBA might try to
tell us.
nba.951nba.news,
Crystal ball
The prediction business is a dangerous one. It's easy to look stupid
and nobody ever remembers if you were right.
Here are 10 predictions for the 1997-98 NBA season. Don't bet money on
them, just enjoy:
1. The Chicago Bulls will not win the championship.
Not with Scottie Pippen out at the start of the season recuperating
from foot surgery, not with Toni Kukoc still hobbled by foot pain, not
with Dennis Rodman already upset, not with the atmosphere of
self-loathing and mistrust of the front office.
The guess here is that the Bulls will lose in the finals in Game 6 or
7 at Utah, Seattle or Los Angeles.
2. The Boston Celtics will not match last season's victory total of
15.
Last year's Celtics were abysmal, but at least they had a few decent
players in Rick Fox, David Wesley and Eric Williams. Those three are
gone and inferior players have replaced them. Rick Pitino's magic
won't work immediately. If Boston wins 24 games, he should get Coach
of the Year.
3. The Phoenix Suns will be the surprise of the West.
You could see this coming at the end of last season when Phoenix very
nearly eliminated Seattle in the first round of the playoffs with
Danny Ainge's "small-ball" lineup of four guards. The Suns have added
Antonio McDyess at power forward and Ainge and has been using a
three-point guard alignment of Jason Kidd, Kevin Johnson and Steve
Nash on the floor at the same time.
4. The Minnesota Timberwolves will revert to form and show that last
year's success was an aberration.
Yes, they gave Kevin Garnett a $126 million contract. Yes, they have
Stephon Marbury and Tom Gugliotta. But they no longer have center Dean
Garrett, whose sudden rise last season coincided with Minnesota's
late-season push to .500. With Stanley Roberts and rookie Paul Grant
in the middle, the Wolves won't match last season's 40 victories.
5. The New York Knicks will start slow, stay slow and bow out for a
fourth straight year without getting past the second round of the
playoffs.
The team has been dreadful in the preseason, looking older, slower and
more disinterested than ever. Look for this year's Stupid Knick Trick
to be 12 losses to sub-.500 teams, costing themselves the homecourt
advantage somewhere down the line.
6. Tim Duncan will be Rookie of the Year.
OK, this one isn't even going out on a limb. This guy is so good that
no one else should come close to winning the award. Look for the San
Antonio Spurs to come close to reversing their 20-62 record of last
year.
7. The Denver Nuggets will be the worst team in the NBA.
Mark the date - Dec. 18. The Nuggets play host to Vancouver and will
become the first team ever to be an underdog at home to the Grizzlies.
Loaded with rookies and without their two best players from last year,
McDyess and LaPhonso Ellis, Denver will win even fewer games than
Boston.
8. Darvin Ham will win the slam dunk contest.
Never has a player been so unfairly treated as Ham was at the dunk
contest last February in Cleveland. The only player to make all his
dunks in the first round - and Ham's dunks were tough ones - he
nonetheless received an inexplicable score of 36 (out of 50) and
didn't advance. Now with the Washington Wizards, here's hoping Ham
gets another chance at Madison Square Garden.
9. Jim Cleamons will be fired. Poor Jim, he worked many years as a
loyal Bulls assistant, got his big chance in Dallas and saw it all
crumble so quickly as Jason Kidd, Jim Jackson and Jamal Mashburn were
traded, and Shawn Bradley and Don Nelson were brought aboard. Nellie
takes over the Mad Mavs by mid-January at the latest.
10. Alonzo Mourning will shoot an airball from the free throw line
during the playoffs.
He does it every year, usually against the Bulls, while he's playing
so poorly everyone wonders why he got $100 million. Zo is a big Zero
when it comes to playoff games.
nba.952nba.news,
Atlanta Hawks Team Report
October 21, 1997
Lenny Wilkens says, despite popular belief, he expects his team to
"surprise a few people" this year.
At this point his team's 4-1 record in preseason is a bit of a
surprise but not all too unexpected.
The Hawks are not trying to blend eight new faces into a cohesive unit
this preseason. Their first unit has been remarkably crisp over the
first five exhibition games and the offensive execution has been near
midseason form. Wilkens' practices traditionally center around the
motion offense, hoping to produce balance scoring.
"This year we aren't trying to blend eight new faces in training
camp," Wilkens says. "Our nucleus is in tact and players know what to
expect and all we have to do is get the new players in sync. Contrary
to what you read in the papers or hear on the radio I think we're
going to surprise a lot of people this year." . . .
After their latest cuts it appears the Hawks will carry four guards
and five forwards to open the season. The team released guards Drew
Barry and Walter Bond after practice Sunday. Bond shot just 3 of 16 in
his limited playing time. Barry, whose brother Jon was released after
a disappointing season, only played 12 minutes in their five games.
The Hawks will carry five true forwards going into the season.
Already etched in stone are Tyrone Corbin, Cadillac Anderson, Chucky
Brown, and Alan Henderson. Rookie Chris Crawford and free agent Matt
Steigenga appear to be locked in a battle for the final spot on the
roster unless there is an injury to one of their guards.
Without a prolific scorer at small forward Wilkens has had to tinker
with his rotation. Steve Smith will see a lot more time at small
forward, particularly when the Hawks employ their small lineup
featuring rookie Ed Gray. When the Hawks go to the small lineup with
Eldridge Recasner running the point and Gray at the shooting guard
Smith with give them a second playmaker on the floor at small forward.
Until tipoff
The Hawks head to the West Coast for the conclusion of their
exhibition schedule with three games in Los Angeles. Tuesday they open
the trip against the L.A. Clippers before participating in the Lakers
Shootout over the weekend, where they will face either Seattle,
Washington, or the Lakers.
Players have grown weary of the preseason travel schedule and the team
is hoping to correct that next season. The Hawks don't play a home
game before the start of the season and team vice president Lee
Douglas is hoping to schedule at least two games at Georgia Tech next
season.
Atlanta has been forced to play on the road because of the
construction of their new building and scheduling conflicts with the
Georgia Dome and Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
nba.953nba.news,
Boston Celtics Team Report
October 21, 1997
Two weeks into training camp, the Celtics still look more and more
like a team searching for itself, searching for an identity,
searching, searching, searching.
A win? Right now, that's not even on Rick Pitino's screen. The team
was wasted over the weekend in Green Bay by the Bucks, dropping them
to 0-4 in the exhibition season. They flew home Sunday and then were
treated to a three-hour workout at Brandeis University. Whew!
It was big-time regression. Pitino liked a lot of things he saw in
Boston's previous exhibition game, a loss in Kentucky to the Nets. He
saw nothing of the sort on Saturday and rightly called the 48-minute
slaughter (118-96) a "debacle." Offense, defense, special teams
(whoops, wrong sport) you name it. The coach sees lots and lots of
work ahead and nine days until an opening night encounter with the
Bulls.
"Our defense is not at an NBA level right now," Pitino said.
"We've got young players who don't defend at this level right now. Our
halfcourt defense is extremely soft and we've got to toughen up
because everyone is abusing us, one-on-one."
In particular, Pitino singled out his two draft picks, Ron Mercer and
Chauncey Billups, his "dream backcourt" of the future, for criticism.
The coach has dropped bombs here and there in the past week to the
effect that neither player can play NBA defense, or college defense
for that matter.
"They are getting abused by backup players in the NBA because they
didn't have their junior or senior years of college," Pitino said.
Pitino said his troops appear fatigued from all the pressure and
trapping that his system demands. That inevitably leads to
concentration lapses and the Bucks were more than happy to take
advantage. Milwaukee made 44-of-72 field goal attempts while at the
same time the Celtics managed only 14 assists and forced only 10
turnovers. That, clearly, is not Pitino Ball.
"I said there are going to be nights like that and we've got to work
through it," the coach said.
"We can't get disorganized or disappointed. Guys right now are getting
too disappointed by the losses. I'd rather have the focus on learning
and teaching."
He has nine days left before the losses start to count.
Until tipoff
The Celtics added another body, signing 6-11 center William Cunningham
to a one-year, make-good minimum deal on Thursday. While Cunningham
doesn't fit the "scoring big forward" that the coach said he wants, he
is a big man who likes to bang and Boston has few, if any, of those.
Cunningham was released last week by the Suns, although Phoenix GM
Bryan Colangelo said it wasn't an easy decision.
"He improved dramatically in the time he was here," Colangelo said.
"He just wasn't going to make our team."
Cunningham played at Temple, finishing up in 1996. He spent last
season playing in the IBL for the Minneapolis franchise. Boston has 15
players on its roster. . . .
Although Pitino's training camp has produced no apparent casualties,
the game against the Bucks did. Newcomer Bruce Bowen, who has been
singled out by Pitino as one of the few to be in shape and grasping
his system, suffered a concussion in a collision. He is not expected
to play Tuesday night in Orlando. . . .
The Celtics' play four games in five days this week to close out the
exhibition schedule. After the Magic game, they host the Knicks on
Wednesday and the Bucks on Friday before traveling to Philadelphia to
play the Sixers on Saturday. . . .
After putting up big numbers in the first three exhibition games,
Antoine Walker ran into Tyrone Hill on Saturday and scored 4 points,
making 1-of-4 field goals. In his first three games, Walker had
averaged 30.7 points a game while hoisting an average of 25.3 shots a
game. . . .
The Celtics did not sell out Rupp Arena when Pitino & Co. played there
last Wednesday. But more than 15,000 showed up to pay homage to the
former coach, who received a standing ovation when he walked onto the
court.
nba.955nba.news,
Chicago Bulls Team Report
October 21, 1997
In essence, the Bulls had nothing to gain and everything to lose over
the weekend as the NBA representative in the McDonald's Championship
in Paris. But the Bulls still returned home winners following a
surprisingly competitive win over PSG Racing of France and a
dominating performance over Olmpiakos of Greece.
"It's good to get this first stop out of the way, even though there
were a lot of doubts early," Michael Jordan said. "We came in and
played good enough basketball to win."
"Once we get healthy, we feel very confident that we could win a sixth
(NBA) championship."
Without Scottie Pippen (foot surgery) and Dennis Rodman (pneumonia),
more of the spotlight shone on Jordan and His Airness didn't
disappoint. He scored 28 and 27 points in the two games and was named
the tournament's most valuable player award, which is named after the
late Drazen Petrovic.
The Croatian Petrovic was one of the first European stars to come play
in the NBA, first with the Portland Trail Blazers and then with the
New Jersey Nets. He was just adjusting to the new league and becoming
a star when he was killed in a car accident in Germany in 1993.
"It was a thrill playing against Drazen," Jordan said.
"Every time we competed, he competed with an aggressive attitude. He
didn't seem nervous and he certainly came at me as hard as I did
against him. We battled in the past and unfortunately, it was a short
battle. It's a great pleasure to receive that award in his honor for
the short time he had to play in the states. I think he was one of the
pioneers of European players coming over to play basketball in the
states and other players have tried to follow in his footsteps. We
have a guy on our team who played worship to Drazen and that's Boris
Gorenc. He has a very similar style to Drazen." . . .
In the first game, against PSG Racing, the Bulls had a 19-point lead
evaporated to five points early in the fourth quarter. However, they
were never in danger of losing the game and rallied for an 89-82 win.
"I was a little concerned when they started banking threes and getting
fouls. Anything can happen in these scenarios," Jordan said. "I felt
we had an opportunity to put them away, a 19-point lead and then we
started fouling, giving them offensive rebounds.
"In these circumstances the last thing you want to do is give them any
confidence. When you're playing on their turf, you never know what
kind of calls you may get.
"It's very smart to play smart, make sure you don't give them an
opportunity to feel like they're still in a basketball game and I felt
we were letting that slip away."
But in the championship game against Olympiakos, the Bulls never let
the opponent get comfortable and rolled to a 104-78 win against the
team considered the second-best in the tournament.
"We enjoyed the nature of the game," Bulls coach Phil Jackson said.
"It was a physical game, it was a kind of game played with a lot of
intensity." . . .
The game with Olympiakos also was a chance for the Bulls to get a look
at Dragan Tarlac, whom they selected with a second-round pick in 1995.
Tarlac, who plays center in Greece but is projected as a power forward
in the NBA, had a strong game with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
"We went out to play him hard even though he's a part of our family,
even though he hasn't come and joined the Chicago Bulls as of yet,"
Jackson said.
"I told the players before the game to remember what happened to Toni
Kukoc in the Olympic Games when the United States team played the
Yugoslavia team in '92. They (Jordan and Pippen) went out and played
hard against Toni to let him know the difficulty he would have coming
to play for us.
"The same goes true for Dragan, that we had to play him real physical
and real hard and be very attentive to him and try and cut him down
and stop him from scoring. And he still proved well, that he could
score in the post and had the physical composition to play for us."
Until tipoff
Kukoc has played in every game this preseason and says his foot --
which troubled him throughout last season -- is about 90 percent. But
there was a report on NBC at halftime of the McDonald's Championship
final that he is considering surgery.
"There is something to do, but I don't think it is going to be a
necessity," Jackson said.
"We anticipate that if he still had some problems with his plantar
fasciatis and wasn't moving like he wanted to move with the lateral
speed he has had and the jumping ability he has shown in the past that
we may have to consider it as a stop-gap measure. At this time, I
don't think it will be a necessity."
nba.954nba.news,
Charlotte Hornets Team Report
October 21, 1997
Maybe J.R. Reid's second stint with the Hornets will end as
unceremoniously as the others before him who left and came back --
Kendall Gill, Tim Kempton, Tom Tolbert, Pete Myers, Eric Leckner, Earl
Cureton.
But two weeks into training camp, that doesn't appear to be the case.
And maybe, just maybe, that's because Reid chooses not to look at his
presence in a Hornets uniform again as a "return" trip to Charlotte as
much as he looks at it as being reunited with coach Dave Cowens and
Bob Bass, the Hornets' executive vice president of basketball.
Reid, the team's top draft pick in 1989, spent parts of four seasons
with Bass and two with Cowens in San Antonio after being traded from
the Hornets to the Spurs in 1992.
When Reid agreed to a two-year contract with the Hornets this summer,
after spending last season in France, those relationships -- not his
often-stormy relationship with Hornets fans and past management --
were foremost in his mind.
"When we started talking, I really didn't want to come back to
Charlotte," Reid said. "I came back for one reason -- B.B. and Dave. I
know those two guys, I respect those two guys, and if they didn't want
me, I wouldn't have been back in Charlotte."
Reid, a 6-9 power forward now in his ninth professional season, is
ticketed for backup duty behind Anthony Mason this season and
occasionally might play some center if Cowens chooses to go with a
small lineup.
He's the prototype for what Cowens wants in a backup power player -- a
veteran who understands and accepts his role, knowing that he won't
command huge minutes behind Mason, and beyond that, a physical
presence who'll rough it up inside, take a hard foul or three rather
than give up an easy basket, who'll rebound some and knock down the
open shot when it's there.
It's far different than the burden he was given when he was taken with
the fifth pick of the 1989 draft and ordained by owner George Shinn to
be one of the team's cornerstones along with Rex Chapman.
"I'm a little older and wiser," Reid said. "Once I left here, I went
down to San Antonio and I got the opportunity to play with some really
good people. A lot of times, you get traded, you get traded from a bad
team to a worse team. But in San Antonio, we had terrific teams, with
terrific players and terrific coaches.
"The Charlotte experience helped me mature as a player, because I
realized to a degree, you've got to do it on your own. You can't
depend on guys to help you out. That's the lesson I learned. But what
really helped my career was going to a place where I was able to play
on a good team and work on my game and really improve."
Cowens, an assistant under Bob Hill in San Antonio during part of
Reid's time there, figures Reid has improved even more in the time
since Reid left San Antonio, too.
Reid was traded to the Knicks for the last half of the 1995-96 season
as part of a deal for Charles Smith and Monty Williams, then played
for PSG Racing of Paris in the French A League last season.
With PSG Racing, he averaged 17.9 points -- far and away the highest
scoring average of his pro career -- to go with 8.3 rebounds. He shot
59.7 percent from the field in Paris and 82.8 percent from the line,
also pro highs.
"He was really good for us in San Antonio and compared to the last
time I coached him, he's better," Cowens said. "When he's hitting his
shot, he's a tough guy to deal with. I think his experience in France
and the fact that they won (the French League championship) made him
more confident as a player.
"And I think he got to play a lot over there. I don't know how much he
played here the first time, but he never got to play as much in San
Antonio as he got to play in France last year."
Actually, Reid got as much playing time as he could handle in his
early days in Charlotte, but it was a bitter experience from early on.
His best season with the Hornets was his rookie season, when he
averaged 11.1 points and 8.4 rebounds. The numbers began to dip
progressively from there, to the point that he was dealt to San
Antonio for a draft pick (which turned out to be Scott Burrell) midway
through the 92-93 season.
"I was young, and we were pitiful," Reid said. "We weren't a very good
team back then. We didn't have go-to guys, we didn't have anyone to
build around, and we were a young organization. So it was a tough
situation for everyone all around.
"They thought I was going to bring wins with me from Carolina and it
just doesn't work like that. They wanted me to be their franchise
center, and I knew I wasn't. For whatever reason, they just didn't
want to get a center in there at that time. So it didn't work out."
You get the impression he'll never quite be over the way it played
out, either. Gene Littles, his second coach, criticized Reid openly
and often in the media at the time, and that in part led to the public
getting down on Reid quickly.
"It was tough for me," Reid said. "I had to play against centers and
try to get my shots against bigger players, and I caught a lot of flak
for that. I didn't think it was deserved, either. I thought Gene
Littles put a lot of that on me when he should have been putting it on
some other players we had, like Kelly Tripucka, Stuart Gray, Dave
Hoppen. Not to badmouth those guys, but we just weren't very good.
"I remember one time we're playing in New York and I'm guarding
Patrick Ewing, and they're telling guys not to double. But we're all
busting our butts to double Kelly Tripucka's man in the post.
"So I played out of position back then and I took my lumps. You don't
have to sugar coat it, those weren't the best years of my life. But I
don't mind. It's my turn now, and I'll do my thing, and I'm going to
have fun on this team."
Until tipoff
Last season, Cowens let the Hornets choose their captain. Their pick:
Glen Rice.
This season, Cowens sees no need for elections.
So Rice will continue as captain, with Cowens naming Mason as the
team's new co-captain and Dell Curry serving as alternate.
It's the first time since the early days of the franchise that Muggsy
Bogues has not served as captain or co-captain -- he was co-captain to
Rice last year -- and it marks another significant step in the team's
transformation from the "old days" to the new "Hardball" teams under
Cowens.
The selection of Rice as captain was a no-brainer in one sense, based
on the Hornets' success last season in winning a franchise-record 54
games. There's no sense messing with success.
But it's amazing in another sense.
Rice wouldn't appear to be the prototype for a captain; he's
easy-going and not the forceful personality that other teams have in
the captain's role. However, Rice openly campaigned for the job with
his teammates before last year's vote, and it is clear that he
relishes the role of being team captain.
It might not be a coincidence that Rice, assuming more of a leadership
role last season, elevated his game to a completely new level and
wound up finishing third in the NBA in scoring, behind only Michael
Jordan and MVP Karl Malone.
"I don't know if he had the big year because of that -- I wouldn't say
it's that simple or that cut and dried," Cowens said. "But for some
people, it is important for them, they want to be captain, they aspire
to it, and they feel good about it. That's what happen with Glen. And
if you feel good about yourself, it probably improves your play."
Mason might not have gotten a vote and might not have wanted to be
captain anyway a year ago, when he was new to the team after being
acquired from the Knicks.
This year, however, he made it known that he was looking to accept
more of a leadership role on this team -- and he was a natural choice
to serve as co-captain.
Cowens has already told Mason that he'll expect Mason to ACT like a
co-captain, with everything that means.
"He's just sort of asserted himself over the last year, so it seemed
like a logical progression to me, as long as he understands the role
of the captain," Cowens said of Mason. "We've already explained that
to him. He has to understand that with being captain comes the
responsibility of keeping your cool and being objective and being more
of a leader and taking more leadership responsibility."
The best news for the Hornets, perhaps, is that Rice and Mason aren't
the only two "captain" types on the roster. Curry has been a quiet
leader throughout his career; Bogues has more experience than anyone
as a captain; and newcomers Bobby Phills and David Wesley also possess
outstanding leadership skills.
"It's no big deal in some ways," Cowens said. "Somebody's got to
represent your team when you go talk to the refs. But if you have
people on your team with those kind of leadership qualities, all the
better. The more players like that you have, the better off you are."
nba.956nba.news,
Cleveland Cavaliers Team Report
October 21, 1997
Cavs point guard Sherman Douglas knew his days were numbered.
He voiced his displeasure with his reduced role after practice Monday
at Gund Arena. Four hours later, he was gone.
The Cavs sent Douglas, a second-round draft pick in 2000 and an
undisclosed amount of cash to the Denver Nuggets for guard Greg
Graham.
The 6-1, 195-pound Douglas knew something was up when he was held out
of Saturday's 117-107 preseason loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in
Kansas City, Mo.
"That's (Coach Mike Fratello's) decision," Douglas said after practice
Monday. "That's the direction management wants to go. There's nothing
I can do about it. "Obviously, I'd rather be playing. If that's
somewhere else, then that's somewhere else."
Well, he got his wish. With the Nuggets expected to be one of the
worst teams in the league, the Syracuse product will battle journeyman
Anthony Goldwire and rookie Bobby Jackson for the starting job.
In Cleveland, Bob Sura had a stranglehold on the starting job and
first-round pick Brevin Knight -- when healthy -- will be the backup.
That left Douglas as a $4 million insurance policy on the bench.
"We wanted to stay committed to our youth," Cavs general manager Wayne
Embry said. "Sherman is a proven point guard in the NBA. This will
give him an opportunity to be the starting point guard in Denver."
When Douglas came to the Cavs September 25 as a throw-in in the Shawn
Kemp trade, the Milwaukee Bucks -- who acquired Terrell Brandon and
Tyrone Hill -- insisted the Cavs take Douglas and his hefty salary.
And, on the surface, it made sense. The 31-year-old could bridge the
gap until Knight was ready for full-time action. Douglas averaged 12.3
points and 6.8 assists over his eight-year career.
But along the way, Sura has emerged at the position. And that, coupled
with Knight's star potential, made Douglas expendable. Another factor
is that both Derek Anderson and Mitchell Butler, the team's shooting
guards, could play the point guard position in an emergency.
"Right now I'm the third (point) guard on the team and I have to
adjust accordingly," Douglas said. "I can handle that role. But when
you're used to playing and you have to go to the bench, it's hard to
deal with.
"It's a long season. It's 82 games and sometimes you have to fight
through things. You have to be mentally ready to go when called upon."
He was asked about trade rumors circulating Monday.
"You guys (the media) seem to know before anybody else," he said.
Graham, 27, has played for Philadelphia, New Jersey and Seattle in his
four-year career. The Indiana product averaged 4.6 points, 1.1
rebounds and 1.0 assists. The 6-4, 182-pounder can play both point
guard and shooting guard.
Ironically, this is the fifth time Graham has been traded since he was
selected by Charlotte in the first round of the 1993 draft. He
recently was dealt to the Nuggets from Seattle in the Dale Ellis
trade.
"He has a chance to make our team," Embry said.
By trading Douglas, the Cavs freed up about $2.5 million under the
salary cap. Graham makes an estimated $1.5 million.
This is the Cavs' third trade since September 25, as they've acquired
Kemp, Wesley Person and Graham in three separate deals.
nba.957nba.news,
Dallas Mavericks Team Report
October 21, 1997
Injuries continue to turn training camp into one big hospital ward.
Starting point guard Robert Pack was the latest casualty when he
fractured the ring finger on his left hand in Friday night's 99-86
exhibition victory over Phoenix.
Pack will be out for an estimated four weeks. The Mavericks also lost
sixth man Erick Strickland to a severe ankle sprain (out for a minimum
of six weeks) in an exhibition game in Rapid City, S.D. last Wednesday
night.
Pack and Strickland will start the season on the injured list, as will
rookie forward Ace Custis. Rehabbing forwards Kurt Thomas and Martin
Muursepp won't be ready to start the season, but there's no room for
them on the injured list since league rules say each team can carry a
maximum of three players on that list.
Custis was the most pleasant surprise of camp until he went down with
a torn ACL in his right knee on Friday night. With all the injuries,
Custis had a good chance of making the team. Custis will still get
paid, but it will be for rehabbing his knee.
"We'd better get a priest or a holy man to exorcize this building,"
coach Jim Cleamons said. "It's pretty tough. It's bizarre. How many
can you put on the injured list? We've obviously got to bring some
players in."
What are Dallas' options? Spud Webb wants to return to the NBA, and he
lives in the Dallas area. Gary Grant, who played for GM Don Nelson
when Nelson coached the Knicks, is also available after being waived
by Sacramento. Sedale Threatt is another veteran point on the market.
Pack was going for a fourth-quarter rebound when his hand became
entangled in the uniform of Phoenix's Tom Chambers. Pack, who has
missed significant parts of the last three seasons due to an
assortment of injuries, said he heard a pop, but continued to play
until the pain told him to stop.
"It's frustrating, but I'll handle it," said Pack, who had been
working on repairing a deteriorating relationship with Cleamons. "All
the injuries, it's a big blow to this team. I heard the snap and I
could feel the bone moving."
Strickland's loss was another blow to an already fragile backcourt
rotation. He was set to open the season as the sixth man, backing up
at both shooting and point guard. Khalid Reeves becomes the starting
point guard, with rookie free agent Kevin Ollie currently the only
reserve.
Probably the most impressive player of camp, Strickland fell awkwardly
in an exhibition game after taking a baseline jumper, landing on the
foot of Vancouver forward Pete Chilcutt. X-rays showed no fracture,
but an MRI revealed a Grade 2 sprain of ligaments in his right ankle.
Strickland signed a six-year, $14 million contract during off-season,
also was the Mavs best player in two summer leagues, and averaged 12.5
points in two preseason games.
"When it happened, I heard a pop and then it went numb, so I thought
it was broken," Strickland said. "It's upsetting because things were
going so well for me. I'm in great shape and I thought I was ready for
a great season. So this is a big setback."
The exit of Strickland and Pack also opens more playing time for free
agent shooting guard Hubert Davis, who put on a long-range clinic
against the Suns. Davis scored 12 of his 19 points in the fourth
quarter as the Mavericks rallied for their first exhibition victory
following losses in the first three.
"I've never seen so many injuries," said Davis, who'll back up starter
Michael Finley. "We were just starting to jell, just finding out who
we are. Since so many of us were new, the preseason was especially
important as far as finding out who can do what, who likes to shoot
where, all those things."
Clemaons said, "All we can do is ask whoever put this curse on us to
please take it off. There are those who would argue that the franchise
has been cursed throughout the '90s, cursed by bad drafts, lousy
trades, poor decisions and poor coaching.
The Mavericks also will be without forward Dennis Scott for another
week as Scott recovers from a right quad injury.
Davis, Finley, second-round pick Bubba Wells, and last season's
first-rounder, Samaki Walker, have also missed time, and this year's
first-round pick, power forward Chris Anstey, won't be in camp at all
as he completes the Australian pro season. . . .
According to a reader poll conducted by The Dallas Morning News, 51
percent of Dallas voters approve of the city's plan to invest $125
million in a new downtown arena. The proposal will be voted upon in a
January 17 referendum.
According to the poll, 39 percent are opposed and 10 percent said they
didn't know or didn't answer.
However, a total of 60 percent of respondents are against tearing down
Reunion Arena, the 18-year-old facility that would be replaced by the
new arena. The city still owes $28 million on Reunion Arena, but it
would be demolished one year after the new building opens in the year
2001, according to the proposal.
The majority of those who say they'll vote against the arena project
cite the vast wealth of Mavericks owner Ross Perot Jr. and Stars owner
Tom Hicks.
This is going to be an ugly campaign and a close vote. If the proposal
is turned down, the Mavs and Stars will immediately look to the
suburbs. . . .
Leslie Rockymore, a former teammate at the University of Michigan,
told The Detroit News that ex-Maverick Roy Tarpley repeatedly failed
drug tests while playing for the Wolverines from 1981-85 but was still
allowed to play by then-coach Bill Frieder. Who is surpised by this
story? Tarpley, potentially the best player in Mavericks history, was
finally banned for good by the league in December of 1995 for repeated
violations of the NBA's substance abuse policy.
Until tipoff
Cleamons needed a smooth training camp as he installed the triangle
offense and tried to hammer home his defensive principles. With more
players wearing suits than uniforms, that's not happening.
A bumpy training camp points toward another slow regular-season start,
not what Cleamons needed in his bid to turn around a team that won 24
games last season.
Dallas hasn't won a playoff game since the 1987-88 season. GM Don
Nelson had said he expects the Mavericks to contend for a post-season
spot, but injuries caused Nelson to back away from that statement over
the weekend.
The Mavericks hardly had the look of a contender before the injury
epidemic. Now they'll spend the first month with key backcourt
performers Pack and Strickland in street clothes.
"We're not on schedule because my hands are tied," Cleamons said.
"There are so many guys not on the floor. A lot of the guys who are
playing, they're kids. We'll try to do our best to keep the team
together until the injured guys are back. There's never a dull moment
around here, that's something I can say."
At least now Cleamons has an excuse if the Mavericks limp out of the
gate. But will Nelson buy it?
nba.958nba.news,
Denver Nuggets Team Report
October 21, 1997
Denver Nuggets small forward and local hero LaPhonso Ellis has been
participating in full-contact workouts for a week and expects to play
in the team's exhibition games later this week.
Of course, once Ellis has fully recovered from his torn Achilles
tendon injury, it presents an interesting dilemma for coach Bill
Hanzlik.
Eric Williams, the former Boston Celtics forward whom the Nuggets
traded for and then signed to a six-year, $26 million package this
past August, is currently occupying Fonz's spot at small forward. He's
doing extremely well, leading the team with 21.3 points per game --
plus an average six rebounds, three assists and 1.25 blocks.
Hanzlik is hesitant to mess with a good thing. In the meanwhile, he
knows that a healthy Fonz will give him another 20 points and more
speed and quickness in his motion offense.
What to do?
"Obviously, there's only so many minutes on the floor, but as a coach
you always like to feel you have something to go to on the bench,"
Hanzlik said. "There might be 7,000 fans here that want to see Fonz
play, but if you really get it going, there will be 17,500 when the
Nuggets are winning consistently that want to see the Nuggets win --
the Nuggets. This isn't about Fonz, this is about the Nuggets.
"So let's be patient. Let's let (Fonz) get his game back and then see
how it fits in. I can't sit here and be fair to Fonz and say when
you're healthy, you're starting right here and you're playing 38
minutes and forget how everything else is going. Because it's not
that. It's a team game.
"I look at it like, Eric's been going pretty good -- he'll play. When
Fonz comes back, if he's going pretty good -- he'll play. We'll find
minutes for him." . . .
Rookie first-round draft picks Tony Battie and Danny Fortson are
battling for minutes at the power forward position.
Through the first four exhibition games, Battie averaged 10.3 points
and 6.8 boards, while Fortson averaged 14.8 points and 7.3 rebounds.
Battie has the edge because of his height (6-11, compared to Fortson's
6-foot-7) and quickness in the paint, but that might not last long.
Fortson is a bull in the lane, has shown some touch around the basket
and gets to the line.
His problem is stupid reaching and blocking fouls that have plagued
him since the start of camp. Given the NBA's tendency to keep a
closer-than-usual eye on rookies, it's probable the foul thing isn't
going away any time soon, so he better put an end to it.
If he could keep himself in the game, his potential is limitless.
Consider: In four preseason games, Fortson has scored 59 points in 87
minutes. That's a point about every minute and a half -- highest on
the team.
And his 14.8 points-per-game average is second-highest on the team
behind small forward Eric Williams.
"It's just stupid stuff," Fortson said. "There's no good reason for
it. I didn't do it last year at Cincinnati and I shouldn't be doing it
here. It's something I know I have to get a handle on."
Hanzlik likes both Battie and Fortson and would like to keep both of
them in the game. He's given some thought to a speed lineup that would
move Battie to center and keep Fortson and Williams at the forwards. .
. .
If center Dean Garrett were to get hurt this season . . . oh, brother!
The Nuggets signed Garrett as a free agent out of Minnesota to replace
Ervin Johnson, who was traded to Milwaukee the day of the draft.
Garrett has performed well during camp, and seems to be picking up the
new offense as well as anyone. He's averaging 6.8 points, 10 rebounds
and 2.25 blocks in 30 minutes. Hanzlik would like to see a little more
scoring, but with what he's getting out of his forwards and point
guard, he's OK with Garrett as long as he continues to defend and
rebound.
The problem is that the Nuggets don't have anyone to backup their
starter.
Priest Lauderdale, a 7-foot-4, 335-pound mammoth the Nuggets acquired
from Atlanta provides the team with the size to go toe-to-toe with
some of the league's bigger centers. But Lauderdale is not athletic
and tires quickly. He's great in a pinch (5.0 ppg. 3.3 rpg. in four
games) but he couldn't move into the starting lineup.
Behind Lauderdale, you have George Zidek, whose best days were spent
playing for UCLA, and journeyman Joe Wolf, who also plays both forward
positions.
The sad part is just two years ago the Nuggets refused to pay an
overrated All-Star named Dikembe Mutombo $55 million for five years.
In hindsight, it would have been a steal. Now, all the Nuggets can
hope for is that Garrett stays healthy. . . .
A story to be remembered: Point guard Bobby Jackson had just completed
a difficult workout during the team's rookie camp this past summer,
and was heading toward the whirlpool when trainer Jim Gillen
approached him with a lifejacket.
Keeping a straight face, Gillen told the rookie that it was an OSHA
rule (Occupational, Safety and Health Administration) that he had to
wear the life vest whenever he went into the three-foot deep
whirlpool.
Without questioning Gillen, Jackson strapped on the flotation device
and got in the whirlpool.
When assistant trainer Max Benton entered the training room moments
later, he doubled over in laughter.
There was Jackson, hands pushing against the sides of the whirlpool,
struggling to submerge himself in the water, all the while the
flotation devise was trying to save him from drowning.
Jackson, who won the starting point guard job from Anthony Goldwire in
the first week of training camp, vows to get even with Gillen. . . .
The Nuggets waived rookie Alvin Sims on Saturday. The former
Louisville guard didn't play in any of the Nuggets four preseason
games.
nba.959nba.news,
Detroit Pistons Team Report
October 21, 1997
For a moment, Doug Collins sounded like Sparky Anderson, putting the
preseason kiss of death on his favorite prospect.
"If Jerome Williams played 35 minutes a game, he might lead the NBA in
rebounding. He'd be right up there at the top," Collins said.
Williams gave him good reason for that statement, understand. In two
preseason games against Orlando, Williams combined for 21 rebounds in
energetic relief performances. Even assigning the appropriate grains
of salt to exhibition stats, they were remarkable games by a 6-9
forward who barely could get off Collins' bench last season.
"He is a natural rebounder," Collins said. "He drives our guys crazy
in practice; they can't keep him off the boards. Orlando couldn't
either.
"The guy is relentless, he is strong and he has good hands. He has
skill, and now it's up to me to utilize it. If he gives us 20 minutes
and seven or eight rebounds, that's a bonus. That's a lot of
possessions."
To penetrate Collins' rotation, Williams knows he must play defense,
crash the boards and limit his turnovers.
"I just give them what they need," the wiry 210-pounder said. "I know
I have to rebound to get on the court and not hurt us. Rebounding's
the easiest job there is. The starters go in and wear everybody down
so when I come in -- I've got endurance -- all I have to do is
endure."
Though Williams scored 10 points in the second Orlando game, he has
mostly struggled on put-backs because he rushes things.
"If we can just get him slowed down . . .," Collins said. "I don't
want to slow down his pursuit for the ball. I want to make sure when
he corrals it, he either gets something good or we kick it back out
and get another possession. Don't do something that might be an
adventure."
Williams agrees: "I need to slow down. I've got to play in fifth gear
to rebound and second gear to shoot. If I learn to downshift, I'll be
OK." . . .
Rather than worry about winning preseason games, Collins has stayed
with unconventional lineups in the fourth quarter to see how they play
in tight situations. The mixed results have let them with a 3-2
record.
In Saturday's 83-77 loss to Orlando at Memphis, the Pistons played the
final minutes with Grant Long and backups Aaron McKie, Don Reid,
Williams and Rumeal Robinson. In Tuesday's 98-96 victory over Seattle,
Collins used Joe Dumars, Reid, McKie, Malik Sealy and rookie Charles
O'Bannon for much of the stretch run. Even after a 17-1 Seattle spurt,
Collins didn't re-insert Grant Hill or Lindsey Hunter.
"It was a perfect scenario for us," Collins said. "We went dead in the
water and lost the lead. I basically told that group of guys it was
their game to win or lose. I wasn't going to run anyone in there to
win it."
"We didn't need anybody to come in and pull out the game. Seattle put
their starters in, we didn't," said Reid, who had seven points and
seven rebounds in 17 minutes, keeping his name in the power forward
hat. . . .
While conceding that adding three new players to the rotation has led
to a lack of crispness, Collins is warning against concentration
lapses in practice during the dog days of camp.
"I don't want us to think we can turn the switch on October 31 (in the
season opener). I don't want us going out West (November 9-13) still
trying to get it together," he said.
Dumars did not seem concerned that it would be a lingering problem.
"That's what training camp is for -- smoothing out all of the mistakes
you always have. That's what we're going through right now," he said.
"It's mostly offense. Defensively, it doesn't take six months of
playing together to know that if a guy gets beat, you step up and help
him. But on offense, because of new players and systems, it takes
longer." . . .
Hill says he'll keeping an eye on the Pistons' mental toughness as the
season progresses.
"Because we weren't as talented before, we had to be mentally tough or
we wouldn't have survived," he said. "The question is, now that we
have more talent, will the toughness stay? Will we still be a team
that can buckle down, play hard defense and pull games out? I think we
can. It remains to be seen if we will." . . .
Dumars, a longtime adidas player, says he's allergic to the Pistons'
new Nike uniforms and practice jerseys, claiming they make his face
get puffy and broken out. He is wearing an older jersey in practice.
"I don't know what it is, whether it's the coloring or the fabric or
from something in the wash," he said. "I think I'm allergic to the
Swoosh." . . .
Collins has cut practice to once a day, though that could change early
next week as the opener approaches.
"If I feel we are struggling, then we'll go back to two," he said.
nba.960nba.news,
Golden State Warriors Team Report
October 21, 1997
The Warriors' first five preseason games -- all losses -- made
abundantly clear one thing: Latrell Sprewell is giving them their only
chance at staying close, much less winning.
On Saturday in Norfolk, Sprewell scored 23 points against the 76ers,
but the team managed just 86 and lost 89-86. Against the Hornets in
Charlotte two nights earlier, he scored 26, and the Warriors lost
97-91. Two nights before that, in San Jose against the Nuggets, he
scored 33, including 5-of-6 three-pointers, from the new, longer
distance. Yes, the team lost 98-97.
The team fell short of 100 points in each of their first five
preseason games, averaging 92.0. But Sprewell is on top of his game,
averaging 22.6 in the preseason. The knee-jerk reaction by long-time
Sprewell-watchers would be: he's hogging the ball, juicing his own
numbers at the expense of the team.
In reality, the only time the offense goes anywhere is when Sprewell
breaks off a play, isolates, gets into transition or simply
free-lances for his own shot. So far, the attempts to run have been a
failure (for several reasons, among them the Warriors' inability to
rebound). The low-post game has been brutal: Joe Smith is still
struggling in the nether world between a small-man's game and a
big-man's, and other attempts to post up big men (Erick Dampier,
Felton Spencer, Dickey Simpkins among them) have produced awful
results.
And Donyell Marshall shot 5-for-23 in the Warriors' three games last
week, starting with an 0-for-7 against Denver. He remains the
incumbent starter at small forward; Duane Ferrell has not done much to
dislodge him, and Smith has gotten virtually no work in preseason
games at that position.
Sprewell, as has been his policy this season, is not talking. Coach
P.J. Carlesimo insists he is not worried: "Ideally, we'd want all five
guys averaging 15 points a game, moving and sharing the ball,
achieving balance. That's in an ideal world . . . But there's always a
guy you go to in difficult situations, a guy you go to when you're
struggling. And we're lucky that for us, that guy is Sprewell."
The Warriors' rebounding numbers look decent -- Smith has had three
double-digit rebound games, Erick Dampier two. But they were
outrebounded by their first four opponents in the preseason, getting
beaten particularly bad on the offensive glass. Their boardwork will
be put to the test even more severely in their next two preseason
games -- in Spokane against the Trail Blazers Tuesday, and in
Billings, Mont., against the Sonics the next night. They finish their
preseason Friday in Vancouver against the Grizzlies.
Until tipoff
Bimbo Coles traveled east with the team, but did not play in Charlotte
or Norfolk because of a sprained left ankle suffered in the second
preseason game. The injury is not considered serious, and he likely
will play in at least one of the final three games. . . .
Adonal Foyle update: He's still not expected to be back until the
season opener at the earliest, but he does hope to participate in
full-scale practices this week. . . .
Monday, however, is likely the only time Foyle will be able to run
full practice, with the three-games-in-four-nights trip coming up. So
far, because of last-minute delays in construction and because of
their heavy travel schedule, the Warriors have practiced in their
brand-new facility four times. . . .
The Warriors seem to be very fond of the three-point line, even at the
new distance: they took 62 treys in those games, making 20 (32.3
percent). Toss out Sprewell's 10-for-22 accuracy, and the team drops
to 25 percent. That contributed mightily to their 39.1 percent overall
shooting in those games; they were below 40 percent in each of their
first three. Their opponents took just 32 three-pointers, making seven
. . .
Dampier did little in Saturday's game, but grabbed 10 rebounds in each
of the previous two games, and had games of three and two blocked
shots. His performance was one of the few the home fans were able to
cheer. . . .
Speaking of home "crowds," the Warriors in two preseason dates barely
outdrew the ABL's San Jose Lasers in their regular-season opener at
San Jose Arena. The Warriors drew a combined 11,454; the Lasers drew
10,809. . . .
The team ate at the home of Joe Smith's mother, Letha, in Norfolk
Friday night. Ex-general manager Dave Twardzik, who has deep Norfolk
ties and who made Smith his very first draft pick in 1995, scheduled
three preseason games in the area, in Norfolk twice and Hampton once.
nba.961nba.news,
Houston Rockets Team Report
October 21, 1997
Brent Price started Sunday's exhibition game against Phoenix and there
were two plays in particular that provided another indication his
knees are getting closer to 100 percent healthy.
Twice in the first half Price -- who is only seven months removed from
ACL surgery -- made it to the basket on fast breaks and both times he
went up strong and came down hard.
The second play featured Price taking the ball the length of the
floor. When he got the ball, he had a couple feet head start on Jason
Kidd and he kept that advantage all the way down the court.
"That speed is something I've depended on a lot all the way through my
career," Price said. "Just straight-on foot speed has always been an
asset for me. But after knee operations, you never know how it's going
to come back.
"But there were a couple times in this game that I felt I was back to
normal in terms of speed, getting to the basket and finishing plays.
It's another building block." . . .
Don't be fooled by the good job Matt Maloney did last season. Maloney
may be the starter again, but the Rockets aren't paying Price $18
million over seven seasons to be a hood ornament.
Coach Rudy Tomjanovich has a clear view on his crowded point-guard
situation. Clear as mud, that is.
One day, he says Matt Maloney is the starter. The next day, it's that
nothing is set in stone. This three-man battle royale for playing time
is making for some hard coaching decisions. Maloney, Brent Price and
Emanual Davis have all looked sharp in the preseason.
After saying last week that Maloney would start, Tomjanovich
backtracked the following day. He stopped short of saying the
starter's position is open. But he reiterated that playing time has
yet to be determined.
"When I made that statement (about Maloney being the starter), my
thinking was probably wrong because I think this is the time to look
at different combinations," Tomjanovich said. "This is not because one
guy's better, but just looking at the chemistry of this five-man unit
and another five-man unit is important.
"Sometimes, it can help a player become more effective and it can help
the team. So I have to look at those things. There's no way anything
is in stone."
Maloney started every game last season, when Davis and Price went down
with knee injuries. All three are healthy this season, and it remains
to be seen how the playing time will be divided in the regular season.
. . .
Charles Barkley skewered his Rockets' teammates last week for not
working hard enough.
But after a pair of exhibition games in which he thought the team
worked its tail off, he felt better.
"You have to play hard every night and we don't understand that,"
Barkley said after the Rockets were crushed 111-100 by Phoenix.
"They just ran us out of the building. It was a layup drill for them.
A fast-break drill. And that team out there (Phoenix) isn't even the
best team in the West. And for them to come in and embarrass us, it's
disgraceful.
"It's all about effort. We got a long way to go and if we don't start
addressing it, we're going to do like we did last year and get 55
wins, then lose in the playoffs.
"We've just got to re-dedicate ourselves and get in better shape.
Period. I'm disappointed our starters didn't get the job done. We were
horrible."
The Rockets' starters were outscored 80-38 by Phoenix's first unit.
As far as being in shape, it's Barkley who came into camp 20 pounds
overweight. He since has lost a little more than half of that extra
baggage.
Meanwhile, Barkley says it's not only his team that has to be
concerned with intensity as the years go by. He believes his good
friend Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls will experience some
similar problems this season.
"They (the Bulls) are vulnerable because they've lost something," he
said, alluding to youthful talent, not Scottie Pippen's injury. "You
lose it every year. Anybody who tells you Michael is as good before he
went to play baseball is lying. He'll tell you that.
"Nobody is as good at 35 as they were at 30. That's a lie if they tell
you that. Michael works out extremely hard. But he says all the time
you have to raise the level of your mental game. Not picking your
spots, necessarily, but being even more mentally tough than you were."
That's the way it is with the Rockets, too, he said.
"Our skill level is down even more than it was last year so you have
to work twice as hard," he said. "You lose something every year. If
you don't compensate for that by working harder and having more
discipline, you'll regress even more." . . .
The NBA is going to be more competitive this season than ever, says
Charles Barkley. And the big winners will be the fans.
"Man, it's a great year for basketball fans," he says. "Any team that
wins 55 games is going to have to be a really good team. I think the
team that wins the championship this year won't win 60 games.
"Anybody who likes basketball, this is as good as it gets. This is
parity and a lot of good teams. It's going to be great. I like the
competition. I think it's good for basketball fans -- and that's who
the game is for. I know we think it's for us, but it's not."
Barkley said he believes the Western Conference has eight excellent
teams: Utah, Houston, Seattle, the Lakers, San Antonio, Phoenix,
Portland and Minnesota.
"We got to develop the attitude that this is going to be a long year
and a war," he said. "There are eight really good teams out here.
Obviously San Antonio is better, Portland is better and Phoenix is
better. And then you got the big four.
"It's going to be a hard, difficult, mentally tough year. And we got
to have what I call a bonker mentality, where you're backed against
the wall and all you can do is fight. "And I think it's going to be a
great year for basketball fans because the East is unbelievable, too.
That's the thing that's scary. There's been this thing that the West
has been better. I don't think the West is better anymore. You got New
York, Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte, Detroit, Indiana, Washington.
"You just got to expect a war every night."
nba.962nba.news,
Indiana Pacers Team Report
October 21, 1997
The Pacers won two of three games last week and defeated Utah on
consecutive nights. But coach Larry Bird, who knows a thing or two
about effort, wasn't overwhelmed by his team's performances.
"You've got to give it every night in this league," he said after
Indiana's 89-88 victory over the Jazz in Evansville Saturday night.
"I'm just asking them for 25 or 30 minutes a night. It can't be that
hard.
"I've never done it, but it just can't be that hard," he added with a
smile.
Bird found it easier to maintain his sense of humor because his team
at least has a winning record for the first time in preseason play.
Saturday's victory followed a nine-point victory over Utah the
previous night in Indianapolis and a loss to Cleveland earlier in the
week.
Friday's win appeared to soften some of the Pacers. They trailed by 10
points after the first quarter, by 14 early in the second and by 11 in
the fourth. Reggie Miller who scored 22 points, was the difference
down the stretch. He scored the game's final seven points, including
the game-winning points on two foul shots with 21 seconds remaining,
and defended Utah's final possession well enough to force an
off-balance jumper by rookie Troy Hudson.
"Reggie's Reggie," Bird said.
But some of the other Pacers weren't.
"We stole one, there's no question about it," he said. I'm happy we
won, but we had some guys who didn't come to play tonight."
Bird has been pleased with his team's effort overall, largely because
he's made them work. They've practiced twice most days since the start
of training camp, and have worked out the morning of some of their
exhibition games.
Fatigue has been a factor, but the rookie coach is making it clear he
won't permit excuses. This preseason has undoubtedly been the most
demanding of any the Pacers have had in several years, but the players
have responded well -- except in a few cases Saturday night.
"Everybody goes through the same thing," said newly acquired forward
Chris Mullin. "They played last night, we played last night, we both
traveled. Somehow you've got to block it out for 2 1/2 hours. If
you're not making shots, that's OK, but the hustle has to be there.
Whatever is going on, you have to take a 2 1/2 hour period and just
block everything out and give it all you've got."
Until tipoff
Mullin has been his usual self during the preseason, hitting virtually
every open jumper that comes his way and rarely committing a turnover.
He's hitting nearly 60 percent from the field and has 14 assists
against just two turnovers. . . .
Center Rik Smits is surviving the preseason with relatively healthy
feet. After missing the first 30 games last season while recovering
from surgery on both feet, he has missed very little practice time.
He's wearing black shoes while a shoemaker in Vincennes, Ind. works on
his white ones to make them fit him better. They are stretched in
certain areas and fit with custom orthotics to help ease the soreness
that has become routine for the 10th-year veteran. . . .
Backup guard Fred Hoiberg had reached double figures in the first four
preseason games before scoring just three points Saturday. He did add
four assists and two steals, and made some key plays in the final two
minutes.
nba.963nba.news,
Los Angeles Clippers Team Report
October 21, 1997
Bill Fitch did not return to the Clippers' La Jolla training site
nearly as upset as he could have been.
The Clippers lost four straight road exhibition games, including a
116-85 pounding by the Lakers in St. Louis on Friday. Outscored 43-18
in the third quarter, the Clippers had to score 33 in the fourth just
to draw within 35.
Exhibition games don't count, of course, but losing so bad to their
rivals could not have made Fitch happy. He wasn't, but he held in his
disappointment and put the team to work the night after the Lakers'
fiasco.
The club did play four road games in five nights, including Portland,
Sacramento, LaCrosse, Wisc. and finally St. Louis. Fitch attributed
the troubles to fatigue and missing forward Loy Vaught, who sat out
the final three games with back spasms.
"The guys were tired and we did play the Lakers even with our nine
against their nine," Fitch said. "We're trying to work on some things
and I think everybody found out what the season is going to be like on
the road. I think the rookies were tired the most.
"I'm not all that upset. We have to learn to play together and some
new guys have to learn their roles. That's what the preseason is for."
Fitch worked the team on Saturday, Sunday and Monday before they broke
La Jolla camp and returned to Los Angeles. Fitch is in a rather
pleasant mood, because, despite losing, the team is in better physical
condition and nobody is visibly unhappy.
"We haven't even started working on plays and defenses past the basic
stuff," guard Brent Barry said. "We're just trying to execute and get
to know each other. Right now, the job of the veterans is to stay in
shape and for the rookies to learn the offense and others to try to
make the team."
Right now, the team is way ahead of last year's pace. Several players
reported to camp in shape and are just working on mechanics, like
Darrick Martin, Barry and Rodney Rogers. Others have renewed
attitudes, like Pooh Richardson, who said he's happy with his role off
the bench so far.
The club has two more exhibition games left, Tuesday with Atlanta and
Friday's finale with Portland. Fitch said he will not play nine-man
rotations to try to win the games, but stick to the plan to develop
the bench and get some players experience.
Fitch has been playing starters 20-plus minutes and giving the rookies
and reserves time in the second half.
"If we started the season on Tuesday," Fitch said, "I'd be like Don
Knotts (Barney Fife). But two weeks is a long time. That's a lot of
work to be done and progress to be made."
One player being thrown into the fire is center Keith Closs, who
responded nicely on the road. He did get backed in the key and dunked
on by Shaquille O'Neal, who outweighs him by almost 100 pounds. But
Closs did score 14 points and added four rebounds in 23 minutes.
So far, his athleticism is allowing him to get rebounds. Closs had
five blocks last Monday against Portland and four a night later
against Sacramento.
If nothing else, Closs is making a bid for more playing time. Fitch is
still fixated on Stojko Vrankovic, who's been inconsistent.
"Keith is getting better," Fitch said. "But Shaq is going to do that
to everybody. Shoot, if playing in the NBA every night was like
playing against Shaq, I'd tell Keith to take up insurance."
So the center position might be more productive than anticipated.
Fitch said he would resort to Lorenzen Wright at center if all else
failed. Fitch is hoping Vrankovic can do the job. . . .
The team has 17 players in camp and Fitch said he will not make cuts
until the October 30 deadline. The players most likely to get released
are centers Rich Manning and rookie Nate Huffman, who has made a nice
impression but not enough to take the remaining open spot.
That spot could go to either Rodney McCray, a Fitch favorite, or
guards James Collins or Kiwane Garris. . . .
James Robinson's foot injury is more serious than expected and he was
scheduled for an MRI on Monday. X-rays did not reveal a broken bone,
meaning it could be a stress fracture. Robinson did not work out
during the weekend and was walking around gingerly on Sunday with his
shoes untied.
Fitch is frustrated because Robinson has not had a chance to work into
the rotation or learn the offense. Richardson is taking Robinson's
minutes.
"I told him that he might not ever play pain-free," Fitch said. "With
those foot injuries, you always have some type of pain, unless you
start playing the game on your hands."
It's disappointing that their primary free agent signing has yet to
show his skills, especially since his role is so crucial. Robinson's
absence means Collins or Garris could make the opening day squad with
Robinson starting the season on the injured list.
Until tipoff
Vaught's back is sore and he's practicing with a harness around his
torso. The games missed last week provided much-needed rest for the
veteran, who admits he dreads training camp and is tired.
He attributes it to fatigue and the Clippers are not upset he took
some games off.
"The season is much easier than camp," Vaught said. "I'd much rather
play in games. I have to get through this and when the season starts,
I'll feel fine."
Fitch was pleased that Vaught worked out 100 percent on Saturday and
will play him in Tuesday's game with Atlanta, although his minutes
will be limited.
Vaught's impending free agency is encouraging him to have his best
season. That's a definite reason he's taking it easy now.
nba.964nba.news,
Los Angeles Lakers Team Report
October 21, 1997
Shaquille O'Neal has sent regrets to USA Basketball, telling them he
won't play in the world championships after this summer, but to check
back later about the 2000 Olympics.
Rick Fox will probably be in Athens representing his native Canada,
unless the free-agent-to-be has not yet signed and is concerned about
injury. Coach Del Harris will definitely be there, as one of the three
assistants to Rudy Tomjanovich.
Another Laker, Eddie Jones, hopes they have additional company.
Himself.
"I really want to be there," the all-star shooting guard says.
The 11-man selection committee for USA Basketball -- 10 voting members
from the college and pro coaching ranks and front offices and an NBA
player, plus a league executive as the non-voting chairmen -- will not
comment on their possible choices.
But several insiders confirm that Jones was discussed as a possibility
for the original 10 before being passed over and left to wait until
the spring to see if he's chosen for one of the final two available
spots.
The bad news for Jones is that the backcourt is already filling up,
assuming Gary Payton, Terrell Brandon and Allan Houston accept their
invitations, especially since Grant Hill can also be used as a
ballhandler and Glen Rice can play shooting guard.
"I think the guards are pretty well down," said one member of the
selection committee.
Until tipoff
Nick Van Exel played 23 and 27 minutes the last two exhibition games
as Harris began the delicate task of balancing the need to play his
starting point guard with the need to protect the injured left knee.
"That's kind of the way we've got to do it," the coach said. "We've
got to do enough so he stays in shape, but not over do it. That
shouldn't be a big problem because he's always been in good shape."
Indeed, even after he missed five consecutive days earlier in camp for
rest and follow-up examinations on the bruised bone, Van Exel appeared
in good condition upon his return to practice, although his timing was
off. When the knee began to bother him again, he sat out last
Thursday's workout, before starting exhibition games the next two
nights against the Clippers in St. Louis and the Cleveland Cavaliers
in Kansas City, Mo.
The good news for the Lakers is that the schedule will allow for
continued rest, even after the exhibition season. The season starts
October 31 and with Van Exel's knee apparently destined to become a
constant concern, it is fortunate they play only four times in the
first 11 days. . . .
Wondering why Fox picked an unusual jersey, No. 17, with the Lakers?
He wore 44 with the Celtics, but that's retired around the Forum in
honor of Jerry West. He thought about cutting that in half, but that's
also on the wall, to commemorate Elgin Baylor. He thought about
cutting it in half another way, to a single 4, but decided against
that out of respect to Byron Scott. He even thought about doubling it
to 88, especially since Fox is a big fan of fellow Canadian Eric
Lindros, before concluding it was too much like a football number.
So he took 17 with the Celtics in mind -- but not exactly because of
John Havlicek. "Every year, I went to training camp with the goal of
helping the Celtics win their 17th championship," Fox said. "This has
become my reminder. Now, the race is on in my mind, to see if they can
get their championship before I get mine. A reminder." . . .
The Utah Jazz, not on the preseason schedule, are nowhere to be seen
around the Lakers in training camp -- and everywhere. You know, the
team that eliminated the Lakers from the playoffs last spring. The
team whose center, Greg Ostertag, ripped Shaquille O'Neal soon after,
noting that "Hakeem (Olajuwon) is a classier guy" and that "Nobody
thinks I've done anything all year. Especially Shaq. But I guess
that's why he's playing golf right now and I'm in the Western
Conference finals."
The Jazz are the opponent for the regular-season opener, as if that's
not plenty anyway.
"That's the way I like it as a player," said Eddie Jones, disappointed
only in that the Jazz will be shorthanded because of the knee injury
to John Stockton. "The team that beats you, you want to face them
fast." Especially for some centers.
"I'm not worried about Ostertag," O'Neal said. "He can't hold me.
Ostertag is a scrub. My knee was bothering me (during the playoffs). I
had that big brace. But that's OK. He blocked some shots. That ain't
real life. Real life is here . . . If he's so tough, I dare him and
(Coach) Jerry Sloan not to double team me. I dare them." . . .
Legendary announcer Chick Hearn remains in a temporary holding
pattern, awaiting his date with destiny with more than a little
anticipation and having no plans to stand it up. He has called 2,961
consecutive regular-season and playoffs games, a run that started
November 21, 1965, and will hit 3,000 in a January 19 matinee against
the Orlando Magic at the Forum.
Get sick before then? "Then I'll operate on myself." Get really sick?
There must be a limit, after all, as to how bad he'd be feeling before
sitting one out. "How dead is dead?" he said. In other words, he'll be
there. The Lakers will mark the occasion with a ceremony, either at
half-time or before the game. Hearn will appreciate it. Then he'll
start eyeing 4,000.
nba.965nba.news,
Miami Heat Team Report
October 21, 1997
Even during a relatively meaningless exhibition schedule, point guard
Tim Hardaway makes it clear he's not about to rest on his laurels.
After re-emerging as an elite point guard last season, joining Michael
Jordan on first-team All-NBA, Hardaway continues to lead by example.
In the Heat's first four exhibitions, Hardaway has scored 20 or more
points three times in limited minutes.
"That's what makes him special," coach Pat Riley said. "That's why
he's a great leader. He's there every day. He sets the example. Tim
has really been right in it."
At a time it would be easy to put it on cruise control, Hardaway has
set an early tone that he intends to win in the absence of injured
center Alonzo Mourning.
"Coach won't let us slip up and fall off," he said. . . .
Hardaway was credited with playing 19 minutes at halftime of Friday
night's exhibition in Orlando and 32 by the end of the third quarter -
an impressive feat considering NBA quarters are 12 minutes. . . .
Riley has confirmed that the Heat made a run at Derek Harper before
Harper was dealt from Dallas to Orlando.
"We inquired about Derek a number of times," he said of the point
guard he coached in New York.
"It would have been a significant trade on our part, to give up a
young player."
One permutation for Harper was rookie guard Charles Smith and forward
Keith Askins for Harper. . . .
Mourning, who last season regularly was put in the position of having
to defend his $105 million free-agent contract, said Minnesota forward
Kevin Garnett does not deserve excessive scrutiny because of his $126
million extension.
"Kevin Garnett didn't create the market," Mourning said.
"I didn't create the market. Shaquille (O'Neal) didn't create the
market. Juwan Howard. None of those guys created the market. We just
happened to be born at the right time. We can thank our moms that we
were born at the right time, that we were able to profit from the
league's success."
Mourning said the last thing a player should do is try to live up to
the dollar signs.
"If Garnett lets the pressure of the expectations affect him,"
Mourning said, "he's going to go out every night, thinking, 'Hey, I
signed this big contract and I've got to play like a super hero now.'
As long as he helps that ballclub win, then all the expectations will
be secondary."
Until tipoff
Mourning, known for exceeding expectations in his recovery from
injuries, shot before Saturday's exhibition against New Jersey.
Riley has expressed concern that Mourning will try to push his
rehabilitation too hard after having the cast on his surgical left
knee removed a week ago.
Riley said he would demand Mourning follow the team's rehab schedule,
which has the center missing the first 12 to 25 games of the season. .
. .
Forward Terry Mills (knee) was coy about Riley's comments that he
could be ready for the final two exhibitions, in Detroit and
Milwaukee.
"I've had some good practices the last couple of weeks, but I don't
know," Mills said. . . .
Forward Dan Majerle (back) said he would welcome the opportunity to
play next weekend. "I'm ready to go whenever he wants me to go,"
Majerle said.
nba.966nba.news,
Milwaukee Bucks Team Report
October 21, 1997
The Bucks' guard combo of Terrell Brandon and Ray Allen has been
getting some rave previews around the country before the players have
even set foot on the court for a regular season game.
"Brandon joins Ray Allen to give Milwaukee one of the league's best
young backcourts," wrote David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. An
ESPN report on the trade that brought Brandon to the Bucks also
heralded the combo.
Allen and Brandon can only hope they live up to those previews.
"It will take a while for the two of us to get to know each other well
enough to really blend our games," Allen said. "But, I know what
Terrell can do from playing against him.
"We've worked together in camp so far. I think he can help get us in
the open court more, which helps my game." . . .
Brandon shares Allen's optimistic view of their combination.
"Ray is one of the real talented, young shooting guards in the
league," he said. "Our games can complement each other real well over
time. It will take some time in game situations."
Allen averaged 13.4 points a game as a rookie last season. Some felt
his offense was held down by the fact the Bucks often slipped into a
stagnant half-court offense.
"My game is more geared to running and the open court," Allen said.
"We fell into some lapses last year where we didn't do much of that."
Some people feel Vin Baker, who was traded to Seattle in the big
three-way deal that brought Brandon and Tyrone Hill to Milwaukee,
slowed the Bucks down. Allen refused to lay any blame on his former
teammate.
"Vin is a great player," Allen said. "When I first heard about a
trade, I thought at first maybe I had been dealt. Then, when I heard
it was Vin, I felt kind of bad. Later, I felt good for him because I
think Seattle will be a good place for him.
"Bringing Terrell and Tyrone in here also could help us out a lot." .
. .
Allen hopes some previews of another kind are as favorable in a couple
months. He spent part of his summer making a Spike Lee movie called
"He Got Game." It's due out near the end of the NBA season.
"It was a great experience," Allen said. "It's behind me now though,
and I want to concentrate strictly on basketball and helping this team
win." . . .
When asked what he expected of Allen this season, coach Chris Ford
said, "free movie passes."
Until tipoff
Allen bruised his hip in that first exhibition game but was moving
well in practice and subsequent exhibition games. . . .
Center Ervin Johnson was hit in the head during a scrimmage that was
open to season ticket holders October 14. Johnson went down on the
court but was OK later in the week. . . .
Guards Reggie Freeman and Melvin Booker were cut by the Bucks on
October 15. Freeman had played on the Bucks' summer league team and at
one time had been given a shot at making the team. Booker had been
invited to the regular camp.
nba.967nba.news,
Minnesota Timberwolves Team Report
October 21, 1997
Was that Reggie or Michael? Turns out, it was Reggie Jordan who sank
six of eight free throws in the final 90 seconds to help pull the
Timberwolves from a 100-98 deficit to their 106-102 victory over the
Charlotte Hornets Sunday night at the Roanoke (Va.) Civic Center.
The Wolves (2-3 in preseason) had trailed from the second quarter,
when they scored just one field goal in the first seven minutes of the
period and fell behind 45-36.
With Charlotte big men Vlade Divac and Matt Geiger simultaneously
clogging up the middle, the pivot-challenged Wolves resorted to jump
shots and missed most of them (14-of-44 in the two middle quarters).
But Cherokee Parks and newcomer Matt Fish provided better defense down
the stretch, while the Hornets committed five turnovers and missed
5-of-10 free throws in the fourth quarter.
"I liked the way we played," Saunders said. "We didn't give up. We
were more aggressive."
Said Jordan, a fringe player last season fighting for a roster spot:
"My legs felt like they weighed 100 pounds each early in the game. But
my thing at the end was, everything that happened before didn't
matter."
Guard Stephon Marbury led the Wolves with 21 points and seven assists.
Micheal Williams scored eight of his 10 points in the fourth-quarter
rally.
But it was Parks who had one of his most satisfying outings since
joining Minnesota prior to last season. The former Dallas Mavericks'
first-round pick finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds in 42 minutes
against the Hornets. By contrast, he never played more than 29 minutes
or had more than 14 points or 10 rebounds in any game last season.
Now, though, he figures to be the Wolves' starting center when the
regular season opens due to injuries (Stanley Roberts, rookie Paul
Grant) and Clifford Rozier's likely suspension (for his October 12
fight).
"I always keep in mind the situation, and whether it's beating someone
out or capitalizing on injuries, I've got to make the most of it,"
Parks said.
Parks had the highlight of the night against Charlotte as well as one
of the lowlights. Right before halftime, he beat the buzzer with a
shot just across midcourt that banked in for three points. Later, the
6-11 Parks went up for a layup but got stripped of the ball by 5-3
Muggsy Bogues.
The biggest losers of the evening, though, might have been the fans
who came with curiosity over what $126 million can buy these days.
Kevin Garnett, one of the NBA's rising marquee names, sat out the
game in street clothes due to a bruised lower left leg.
"I was real, real mad that I couldn't play," said Garnett, who got
kicked on the outside of his leg, just below his knee, by Milwaukee's
Ray Allen Friday night. "I look forward to the small towns, because I
came from a small town."
Garnett -- whose injury isn't considered serious and, according to
trainer Chris Palmer, has shown steady improvement since Saturday --
grew up in Mauldin, S.C., a town adjacent to Greenville. No pro games
ever came close enough for him to attend; in fact, he didn't see his
first NBA game until he was a senior in high school, living in
Chicago. A year later, he was in the league.
"That's why I came on the trip. I'm here to support the Timberwolves
and the city of Roanoke. I'll do a little cheerleading," Garnett said.
The 7-foot forward clapped from the bench and signed some autographs
before the start of each half.
Feeling some obligation as one of the NBA's new gate attractions,
Garnett chose not to stay back in the Twin Cities with five other
injured Wolves: Doug West (groin), Stanley Roberts (ankle), Paul Grant
(foot), Shane Heal (calf) and Bill Curley (thigh).
"He was able to get treatment twice," Wolves coach Flip Saunders said.
"And, being one of our leaders, I think it's a positive for him to be
with us."
The Wolves, who play their final three exhibition games this week,
picked up center Matt Fish in time for the Charlotte game. Fish
doesn't just define the term "journeyman"; he re-defines it. The
Wolves are his 10th NBA stop, and he's only been in the league (sort
of) since 1992. That's the year he was drafted 50th by Golden State.
Fish's longest NBA stint was 26 games with the Clippers in 1994-95,
when he averaged 4.7 points and 3.2 rebounds. Somehow he also managed
to squeeze in 146 games with five different CBA clubs in the last five
seasons.
Until tipoff
At the moment, the Timberwolves have some of the leanest bodies in
basketball in their camp. Garnett (7-0, 220), Jason Osborne (6-8, 200)
and Mikki Moore (6-11, 216) are the slimmest. But Rozier, a 6-11,
235-pound center, is giving up 50 pounds to many foes. Parks is hardly
a specimen at 6-11, 240. Tom Gugliotta gets bounced around at 6-10,
240. And six of the 17 players in camp weigh less than 200 pounds.
The myth that basketball is a non-contact sport long ago was
shattered. In fact, strength -- and indirectly size -- affects
everything, from a player's ability to give and withstand fouls to
enduring an 82-game regular season to holding his favorite spots on
the floor without getting pushed out.
Training camp, with its emphasis on running, double workouts and
shedding fat, only highlights the need.
"KG has the body type, being so slender, to be the target of every
opposing player's chucks and bumps and picks," said Sol Brandys, the
Wolves' strength and conditioning coach. "He's going to have to get
stronger."
He's not alone, either. After a recent practice, veteran Sam Mitchell
tried to impress on long shots Moore and Osborne the need for brawn in
the NBA, no matter how sleek and swift the players seem.
"You learn," guard Doug West said. "Any chance you get to get into the
weight room, you have to take advantage of it. When Shawn Kemp came
into the league, he looked like Kevin does now. Now look at Shawn
Kemp."
This fall, even Stephon Marbury -- a formerly wiry 6-2 point guard --
is showing the benefits of adding 12 pounds of prime weight. "Last
year, he came in as a virgin," Brandys said. "He got beat up every
night. John Stockton even beat him up."
Now Marbury has the strength, and the confidence that comes with it,
to absorb more of the contact and to drive to the basket without
fearing injuries. He's willing to stay later after a game, lifting
weights. Also, Brandys helped Garnett install a gym in his basement
over the summer.
"During the season, it's tough," Brandys said. "The goal, especially
with guys who are so slender, is just to maintain their level of
strength and their weight." Most of the gains, he said, come in the
offseason.
nba.968nba.news,
New Jersey Nets Team Report
October 21, 1997
Rookie Keith Van Horn looks ready to start the NBA regular season.
So, too, do Sam Cassell, Kerry Kittles, Jayson Williams, and Kendall
Gill, the other likely starters when the Nets meet Indiana in the
opener on Oct. 31.
So halfway through the preseason, what's left for the Nets to do?
Get back on the winning track, for one thing. The Nets followed up
wins over the Knicks and over Boston in Lexington, Ky. with losses at
Cleveland in overtime on Thursday and at Miami on Saturday.
Get Chris Gatling back, for another. The 6-foot-10 forward has not
played in any of the first four exhibition games due to a sore knee,
and he was questionable for Monday's game at Cincinnati against the
Utah Jazz. The Nets want to see Gatling play in at least two preseason
games so he can work his way into the offense after injuries limited
him to just three Nets games last season.
Coach John Calipari also wants to take a long look at backup center
Yinka Dare, who might finally be able to contribute a few decent
minutes a night; get a better feel for whether Lucious Harris or Kevin
Edwards deserves more time at shooting guard behind Kittles; make sure
that Michael Cage's 35-year-old body is up to another season; and
decide if Kenny Smith is the answer as a backup point guard behind
Cassell.
The Nets' starters, however, have been quite effective. A rundown:
Cassell (19.0 pppg) had a spectacular 32-point, 15-assist outing
against Boston on Wednesday, then followed up with 22 and 10 against
Cleveland. Cassell says he loves having the multiple threats of
Kittles, Van Horn, and Gill as he works upcourt, and his play has
shown it. . . .
Kittles (15.7 ppg) led the team with 100 minutes played in the first
three games, and he was shooting an eye-popping .611 (18-29) from the
field before being knocked out of action with a strained groin late in
the loss at Cleveland. Kittles may return on Thursday against Orlando
at Hershey, Pa., with Gatling also a possible participant in that
game. . . .
Gill (15.0 ppg), after a pair of modest outings to start the
preseason, had 30 points and six rebounds against the Cavaliers and
clearly is in the same kind of peak physical condition he was during
his brilliant 1996-97 season. . . .
Van Horn (16.8 ppg) made his preseason debut with a 22-point effort on
9-for-13 against the Knicks a week ago, and he has continued to prove
himself unstoppable offensively. His latest effort was a 26-point game
against Miami on Saturday.
"The thing I like about him is he isn't afraid of anything," says
Gill.
"Some people you get around have an aura. Michael Jordan has an aura,
and Keith has that same kind of aura," says Williams. . . .
Williams (10.8 ppg), who shot a woeful .409 from the field last season
-- an absurd figure for a 6-foot-10 offensive rebounding machine -- is
shooting a crisp .543 from the field through four preseason games
while averaging 11.0 rebounds. He also has kept himself out of trouble
so far with Calipari. . . .
Until tipoff
"Nets threaten to leave New Jersey," blared the headline on page A-1
of the Star-Ledger of Newark, the state's biggest newspaper, on
Sunday.
But it turned out that no one in the Nets organization went on record
in the article as saying anything of the sort, aside from one
anonymous quote.
The gist of the story was accurate, however, in that the Nets and the
New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority -- which runs Continental
Arena and the rest of the Meadowlands Sports Complex -- are about a
month away from kicking off potentially contentious negotiations over
an extension of the current lease which runs out after the 1999-2000
NBA season.
Club ownership privately is steamed that the National Hockey League's
Devils received an additional $5.5 million in guaranteed revenues
after threatening to move to Nashville, Tennessee. two years ago. Now
it's the Nets' turn, and they want even more money because of the
extra expense of operating an NBA.
Look for some sort of settlement by early 1998 which soothes the Nets'
owners' hurt feelings -- and for the Nets to stay put a while longer.
All seven owners have strong New Jersey ties, and they aren't likely
to sell out just when the franchise might be turning the corner on the
court.
Center Robert Werdann, guard Steve Henson, and forward Jack Haley all
have seen fewer than 20 minutes of action so far, and all three may
not be around when the Nets start the regular season. They are Nos.
14, 15, and 16 on the depth chart. . . .
The Nets' lone home preseason game is on Friday against the Cavaliers.
. . .
Wednesday's 123-115 win over the Celtics allowed Calipari to record a
win over old friend Rick Pitino, who was the Nets' first choice to
take over control of basketball operations in the summer of 1996.
"If you're playing one of his teams, they're gonna be in shape,
they're gonna play fearless, they're gonna bomb away, and they're
gonna foul you about 180 times," said Calipari of Pitino's clubs.
nba.969nba.news,
New York Knicks Team Report
October 21, 1997
Though the Knicks' injury situation isn't as dire as the ones in
Chicago and Miami -- two teams who will start the season without star
players -- a variety of smaller injuries are depleting the Knicks at
guard.
John Starks became the latest Knick to go down when he sprained his
ankle early in the second quarter of the Knicks preseason loss to the
Raptors on Sunday. Though x-rays came up negative, the team won't know
until the swelling goes down in a few days how long they will be
without the energetic shooting guard.
The Knicks were already painfully thin at guard before Starks' injury
as starting point-guard Chris Childs has not been able to practice
since colliding with David Robinson on the previous Sunday.
Childs had been diagnosed with a fractured orbit of the left eye. The
team will find out sometime this week whether Childs will have to
undergo surgery to repair the damage. Though no timetable has been set
for Childs' return, it is safe to say that he would miss the start of
the season if surgery is needed.
When he does return, Childs will need to wear a plastic mask to
protect the fractured area. Knicks forward Charles Oakley suffered an
almost identical injury two years ago, and had troubles playing with
the mask when he returned two weeks late. Oakley said it might be even
harder for Childs to play with it, because it limits the peripheral
vision that is so important to a point guard.
Childs, however, said he will have no problem playing with a mask.
"A mask?" Childs said. "We need another black super hero." . . .
The only good news on the guard front is that backup point guard
Charlie Ward has returned from the broken leg he suffered this summer
and is playing well. In his first game back, Ward started in place of
the injured Childs and held the 76ers Allen Iverson to just eight
points. Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said he isn't surprised by Ward's
ability to step into a big role.
"He didn't show me anything different," Van Gundy said.
"I think Charlie is a good player. I always have. He makes the guys
around him better. He makes good plays."
Until tipoff
A plan to preserve Patrick Ewing's knees took a new twist this week
when Van Gundy revealed that he would ask the All-Star center to sit
out a practice periodically during the course of the season.
"I won't do it often, but it's something I'm going to look into this
year," Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said yesterday before the Knicks
88-83 preseason victory over Philadelphia here.
Though the Knicks say Ewing is completely healthy, it's clear that
keeping the 35-year-old center that way has become a prime directive
in the organization.
It started in the offseason, when shortly after re-signing Ewing the
Knicks began searching for a quality backup. The need here was so
strong that the Knicks were willing to trade John Wallace, their most
exciting young player, in order to get land Chris Dudley, a journeyman
backup.
Then, Ewing did not play in the Knicks' preseason home opener on
Monday in order to save him the wear-and-tear of playing back-to-backs
in the preseason. And now, Van Gundy indicates that he will get more
rest in practices as the season goes on.
Ewing, you may recall, barely practiced in the final two months of
last season. After getting upended by Dennis Rodman in a March 9
victory over the Bulls at Madison Square Garden, Ewing was never fully
pain-free.
Van Gundy is hoping to avoid all that by giving Ewing some time off
earlier to avoid the wear and tear.
"At the end of last season, he was hurting so bad that he was at the
point where he couldn't practice," Van Gundy said.
"This will be different in that he may sit even if he feels like he
can go. He likes to practice, but I think this will (work out)."
"I got no problem with it. If there's times when I need to sit down
and rest, then I'm going to sit down and rest," said Ewing.
nba.970nba.news,
Orlando Magic Team Report
October 21, 1997
If you want a positive sign from the Orlando Magic midway though the
exhibition season, look no further than the first quarter of their
recent games.
Anything beyond that and you risk seeing the bottle as half-empty.
The Magic have given their fans something to cheer about in the first
quarter of each of the last three games. They averaged 31 points, led
by four, 16 and 18 respectively and shot over 50 percent each time.
Then the bottom fell out. They per period scoring average dips to 19.3
points, the shooting percentage drops below 40 and the final score
reads one loss, one win, one great comeback late in the fourth to get
another win.
"Anytime you run guys in and out the way we have, you're going to go
down," Penny Hardaway explained.
"The starters get on a roll and then they come out and the next group
isn't warmed up and ready to keep up that pace. Then you start mixing
everybody in and out trying to see what lineups work and you lose all
your momentum.
"That won't happen during the regular season. We'll have a fixed
rotation by then." . . .
The aptly named Rich DeVos, billionaire owner of the Magic and new
heart after receiving a transplant five months ago, attended the
Magic-Heat game last at the O-Rena last week.
He got a nice ovation from the fans when introduced just before the
game. He said he wasn't doing much with Amway, the company he
co-founded and the one that made him a rich man, but that he was
keeping himself involved with the Magic team.
"Having a ball team is a great thing for an old guy like me," the
71-year-old said.
"Coming to ballgames makes me feel like I did when I was a kid going
to Friday night football games."
DeVos said he followed the turbulent year the Magic had while he
awaited a heart transplant in London, but doesn't think he'd have done
anything differently had he been healthy and in the United States.
"Some of the biggest mistakes I've made came when I failed to remove a
person promptly enough in my business because they were out of their
depth. I'm not saying that about Brian . . . but sometimes the best
favor you can do for a guy is to move him on and help him move on. I
know Brian is happy where he is (Vancouver) and we're happy for him,"
said DeVos. . . .
Until tipoff
Gerald Wilkins missed the first three Magic games with an aggravated
knee, but is back full speed. He got off a team-high 14 shots in 22
minutes his first game back, prompting Chuck Daly to say: "Well, you
can tell he's a Wilkins. He has no problem getting himself some
shots."
Wilkins was four-of-14 that night and one of five in the victory over
Detroit last Saturday.
"I'm missing a lot of shots because my timing is off and I'm not in
shape yet," Wilkins said.
"I'm not concerned with that. Long as I'm getting the shots I want, I
don't worry. I'll be in shape and start making them when the regular
season starts." . . .
Nick Anderson stands to make as much as $2 million in incentive money
for free throw shooting, but he won't collect a dime at the rate he's
going. Anderson hasn't taken a free throw in five exhibition games.
He's shooting - of - from the field and averaging - points. His play
at both ends of the floor has caused some consternation in the mind of
his head coach.
"I don't know what it's all about," Daly said.
"Either you're a basketball player or your not a basketball player.
He's getting every opportunity to perform. I don't care what he does
offensively. The defense is what bothers me. If you can't do something
offensively, do something at the defensive end." . . .
Hardaway isn't seeing much time at point guard and he doesn't miss it.
"I guess I'm playing there about four minutes a game," he said. "And
that's plenty." . . .
Rookie Johnny Taylor drew the loudest applause of the exhibition
season with a hang-glide dunk off a steal. Taylor took off from what
looked like a half-step inside the free throw line.
"I can't fly," he said, "but I can jump pretty good." . . .
Brian Evans is getting the opportunity to play himself into the
rotation, but results are mixed. . . .
"I'll say this, he's not afraid to work," Daly said.
"He can shoot and his defense is getting better. I'm hopeful he can
come along and give us a lift because we need a shooter right now."
nba.971nba.news,
Philadelphia 76ers Team Report
October 21, 1997
If the new-look Philadelphia 76ers stumble through another poor
season, Coach Larry Brown's management team will have plenty of
chances to shakeup the roster next year. As many as seven players,
many of whom are expected to be key figures on the team, could become
free agents next summer.
Brown, the head coach in charge of personnel decisions and Billy King,
the vice-president of basketball administration, elected to give
preseason contract extension consideration only to Jerry Stackhouse.
After some preliminary discussions, it was decided it would be better
to put those talks aside for the time being.
"This team has lost an averaged of 60 games a year for five years,"
Brown said. "We have to try to find out who can play."
Aside from Stackhouse, upcoming free agents include Jim Jackson,
Clarence Weatherspoon, Mark Davis and Doug Overton. Additionally,
both Derrick Coleman and Rex Walters are playing on contracts that can
only be renewed next season at the Sixers' option.
Players in their final season as Sixers:
Clarence Weatherspoon: He remains bitter about the fact that the
Sixers traded him once, only to see the deal fall through when Dino
Radja failed a physical for Boston. He has made it known that he's
here strictly to do his job this year. He's indicated his emotional
ties with the team already have been severed.
Jerry Stackhouse: Once he was looked on as a potential savior for a
team that celebrated the fact they were able to obtain him with the
No. 3 pick of the 1995 draft. But now Stackhouse could well be
considered expendable. For one thing, he almost certainly will be
looking for a long-term deal. Extremely early indications are,
Stackhouse will be looking for a six-year contract and he's mentioned
$80 million as a target salary.
Derrick Coleman: Coleman seems to have settled in a bit with the
Sixers. At least he and Brown have called a cease fire from a summer
that was marked by a never-ending war of words. But it is early.
Miracles can always happen, but unless Coleman returns to his All-Star
form, there is every reason to expect the Sixers will use their $5
million buyout option to save the $13.1 million he would earn next
season.
Jim Jackson: He is going to be asked to provide a more consistent
outside threat that Stackhouse did from the 2-guard position in his
first two years with the team. Like Stackhouse, he's probably also
going to play some small forward this year, so essentially the two
provide a team with the same services.
Doug Overton: He has no delusion about taking time away from starting
point guard Allen Iverson. As long as he's willing to play a fill-in
role for a relatively small salary, he can probably stay with the
Sixers for a long time.
Mark Davis: He opted to sign with the Sixers for the minimum because
he wanted to play for Larry Brown and he felt he owed the Sixers
something for giving him a chance to chance to establish himself in
the league last season. His feelings could change if he has another
good year.
Rex Walters: Though he may be limited in some areas, Walters has
proven himself as someone who can hit the spot-up jumper and he is one
of the team's lone 3-point threats now that the line has been moved
back this year.
Until tipoff
When the Sixers played a preseason game in Miami last week, Heat Coach
Pat Riley seemed interested in rekindling talks about acquiring
Derrick Coleman.
"I've said many times that when I see him, I see 18 points and 10
rebounds a game," Riley said, "He can do so many things well . . . I
just think he has to be put in the right situation to excel."
There had been a lot of talk over the summer that Riley may want to
make a move for Coleman but nothing materialized.
Coleman's $8.1 million salary is a problem for most teams to handle,
and the Heat would have to put a package of players together to make
the deal work from a salary cap standpoint. The Sixers also have
suggested they would want P.J. Brown as part of the deal, and the Heat
may not want to give him up.
Meanwhile, Miami fans seemed to make their feelings known when they
booed Coleman virtually every time he touched the ball. . . .
In a game against New York last week, Allen Iverson played under
control for one of the few times in his career, taking only six shots
in 37 minutes. He also scored only eight points and the Sixers lost
the preseason matchup 88-83, but Larry Brown could not have been
happier with what he saw.
"I was thrilled," the coach said.
"I'm just so happy about Allen, the way he gave the ball up and didn't
take a lot of shots. I told him before the game, 'get everybody
involved,' and he did."
The question lingering on the minds of some skeptics, however, is what
happens during the season if Iverson is taking six shots and averaging
13 points a game and the Sixers are 1-7?
There can be little doubt the bond between Iverson and Brown would be
severely tested in that case. . . .
Upon meeting his new teammates with the Sixers, 15-year veteran
forward Terry Cummings explained that, even though he had never won
and NBA championship, he still had hopes of accomplishing that feat
before the end of his career.
When he was asked why he would come to a team that won 22 games last
season, Cummings told the young players he felt that, within two
years, he'd have a chance to win one with the Sixers.
"I'm here for Allen Iverson, for Jerry Stackhouse for Derrick
Coleman," Cummings said.
"Everybody deserves a chance to get a feeling for what it's like to
win in this league. I'm here to try to help give them that chance."
nba.972nba.news,
Phoenix Suns Team Report
October 21, 1997
The Suns have been playing pinball-style basketball during the
preseason and they finally tilted after three impressive victories.
Losses at Dallas and to Houston have tempered expectations somewhat,
but the Suns are headed toward the regular season fairly healthy and
with a lot of options.
Coach Danny Ainge unveiled his newest look last week in Houston,
putting a three-headed point guard on the floor against the aging
Rockets.
During the 24 minutes Ainge had Kevin Johnson, Jason Kidd and Steve
Nash on the floor together, the Suns outscored Houston by 28 points.
Nash had 25 points in the first half and finished with 35, making 13
of 19 shots and hitting four of eight from the three-point arc.
"It was nothing extraordinary," KJ said of Nash's performance. "We see
that in practice every day. I'm telling you, he's one of the top point
guards in the league. And I'm talking about right now."
Ainge claims that he rates Nash among the top dozen playmakers in the
league, and also has KJ and Kidd in that group.
"That little sucker can play," Ainge said of Nash. "Everybody is
starting to believe me now. I think everyone was skeptical about that.
I've always been excited about the combination of Jason and Steve
together. Steve is our most energetic defender, and Jason is our best
defender. And those two young guys get Kevin excited."
However, KJ missed the next two preseason games and Nash missed
another as Ainge rested some of the players in his regular rotation to
get them ready for the season opener on Halloween. The results were
losses to Dallas and Houston.
"The preseason isn't that important to me," Ainge said. "Kevin wants
to practice and play right now, but I told him, 'no.'
The biggest problem Ainge faces is keeping a loaded roster happy. He
may play three guards almost the full game at times because he
believes Nash has earned some minutes.
"I've yet to figure out who's going to get all the playing time for
us," Ainge said. "There are going to be two or three very good NBA
players on our roster who probably aren't going to get a lot of time.
That's going to be the toughest thing."
Until tipoff
While it might figure that forward Cedric Ceballos would be unhappy
because he's not likely to get much playing time in Ainge's rotation,
apparently he not only has accepted the role but hopes he isn't
traded. Ceballos will be a free agent at the end of the season.
"I asked him where he wants to play next year," KJ said. "He said,
'Right here.' For a guy who's been in the league that long to have an
attitude like that, man. Ced can be a great weapon for us, and to have
a player like that to bring off the bench . . . it's exciting." . . .
Center Horacio Llamas started in Dallas and played well. He probably
will win a roster spot, which will go over well South of the border.
Llamas is the first Mexican-born player in league history, and has
become a hero in his native Mexico. When Llamas returned home this
summer to El Rosario, near the resort city of Mazatlan, he was mobbed
by young fans. They followed him on his one-hour ride to his parents'
home and then held vigil outside.
"They stayed outside the house all day, and I couldn't even sleep,"
Llamas said. "I was the same guy they used to know. I'm just on TV
more."
A 6-11, 285-pounder, Llamas has been followed regularly by the Mexican
media since joining the Suns last season out of the CBA. Despite
little playing time and modest statistics, he has a shoe deal with
Fila to have his shoes distributed in Mexico and other Latin American
markets; plus corporate endorsement deals with automobile and long
distance companies in his homeland. He even does a television
commercial for a juice company.
But Llamas expects more from himself on the court this season, and he
trimmed fat and got stronger in an off-season conditioning program. He
gave up a lot of his beloved Mexican food for whole wheat pancakes.
"If I wasn't confident, I wouldn't be here," he said. "I'm going to
try to get more minutes. I'm not just going to make the team, but make
it and get better and help the team."
nba.973nba.news,
Portland Trail Blazers Team Report
October 21, 1997
It has been an elevator ride thus far through the preseason for the
Portland Trail Blazers. Two floors up, three floors down. Two floors
up, one floor down.
There were two early wins against Sacramento and the LA Clippers, an
abominable loss in Vancouver, an encouraging win in Seattle and a
running-on-empty 20-point home loss to the Kings as Portland played
its fourth game in five nights.
The only thing consistent so far has been the apparent romance between
owner Paul Allen and tennis star Monica Seles. The only game Seles has
missed thus far has been the game in Vancouver. She was even there
sitting alongside Allen at an intrasquad scrimmage in McMinnville,
Ore. This is getting serious.
"We're behind," said new coach Mike Dunleavy about the point his team
is at five games into the preseason. "Injuries have put us behind. But
it's not totally unexpected to be where we are, because when you play
four games in five nights, it's hard to get practice time on
execution.
"We played well in the Seattle game (a 92-90 win) and poorly against
Sacramento (a 94-74 loss). The tape was very revealing. We gave up 17
points on the offensive glass, and we can't have that. We just didn't
box out, and we'll work on that every day in practice until we get to
the point where we're better at it." . . .
Dunleavy knew when he lost Chris Dudley the Blazers -- who have been
among the NBA's top five rebounding teams for 10 straight seasons --
would suffer some on the boards.
"Dudley's specialty was his work on the defensive glass," Dunleavy
says. "Jermaine (O'Neal), Rasheed (Wallace) and (Kelvin) Cato are all
kind of light. But you have to do your work early. You have to put
your body on the other guys before they put their bodies on you."
Cato is 6-11 and 255, so he is not all that light -- just not ready
for prime time yet. He is a decent shot-blocker but not even close to
being ready to be an NBA player offensively.
Until tipoff
Here's a quote that will make Kevin McHale chuckle: Isaiah "J.R."
Rider, on Dunleavy's assertion he will be one of the Blazers' team
leaders this season: "I've always been a leader, in some way, on every
team. This year, I have to be extremely vocal and take my leadership
role to another level." During his three seasons in Minnesota, the
only destination to which Rider led his teammates was the toilet. . .
.
Dunleavy says he has been pleased with Rider's play through the first
five preseason games.
"He has led by example on the court -- he has done all the dirty
work," the coach said. "He has the respect of others because of his
talent." . . .
Dunleavy said he will rest Arvydas Sabonis periodically through the
season, limiting his playing time in games and sitting him out of
practice to preserve the veteran center's ailing back, knees and
ankles. . . .
Brian Grant's playing time thus far has been minimal because of a
strained hamstring, but he should be back to full strength by
Tuesday's game against Golden State in Spokane, Wash. . . .
Backup forward Dontonio Wingfield isn't happy he didn't play in the
last two games and had an animated discussion with Dunleavy after the
last game, one that carried from the bench all the way to the locker
room. Asked if things were okay between he and the coach, Wingfield
told The Oregonian's Steve Brandon: "Everything is fine from the
sidelines." . . .
Blazer coaches like 6-5 rookie Alvin Williams out of Villanova, a
steal at the 48th pick in the June draft. But with veteran guards
Rider, Kenny Anderson, John Crotty, Stacey Augmon and Vincent Askew on
the roster, Williams might end up with a little injury that puts him
on the injured list when the regular season begins.
nba.974nba.news,
Sacramento Kings Team Report
October 21, 1997
After missing the first three exhibition games with a sore right
Achilles tendon, Mitch Richmond made his exhibition debut last Friday
night in the Kings' victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Richmond, who agreed to attend camp despite his unhappiness with his
contract, has taken training slow and was in no hurry to jump into
last season's routine while he recovered from the nagging setback.
But Richmond, the league's fourth-leading scorer last year, scored a
game-high 20 points in a reserve role, including 13 in the fourth
quarter, against the Trail Blazers.
While playing nearly 39 minutes per game last season, Richmond
provided the Kings' only consistent offense and was the team's best
defender, too.
As a consequence, he ended his sixth season in Northern California
tired as the team failed to provide a complementary scorer to divert
opponents' double teams.
With Brian Grant departing to the Portland Trail Blazers, Richmond is
hoping someone will provide the missing offense help or the Kings may
average 96.4 points per game again. Last year's season average was the
league's 16th lowest and the team's lowest since the 1956-57 season
when the franchise was the Rochester Royals . . . .
Rookie Lawrence Funderburke and free-agent Derek Grimm continue to
impress.
Funderburke, a 27-year-old rookie who's listed at 6-9, 230 pounds but
looks thinner, started for the first time last Tuesday night. He
tallied a game-high 24 points in a game-high 35 minutes as the Kings
defeated the Los Angeles Clippers for their first exhibition win of
the season.
Funderburke, originally selected as a second-rounder in the 1994 NBA
Draft, played the last three seasons in Europe rather than sign with
the Kings. Sacramento, however, retained the rights to the former Ohio
State and Indiana College standout. And while monitoring the progress
of 1996 No. 1 pick Pedrag Stojakovic, the team was impressed with
Funderburke, who also played with PAOK of the Greek League, and
eventually signed him to a two-year contract in July.
Albeit just a Summer League, Funderburke was leading scorer in the
Rocky Mountain Review, averaging 24.6 points and 9.0 rebounds in five
games.
Grimm, a forward who has thought just to be filling out the Kings'
training camp roster, hit a couple of key shots in the victory over
the Trail Blazers and was the catalyst for a key moment of levity
between coach Eddie Jordan a heckling fan.
During the Portland game, a fan screamed at a quiet moment, "Hey,
Grimm. Who are you? Did you just get out of college?"
Seconds later, Grimm rebounded a missed shot and scored on a lay-in.
Jordan then turned to the vocal fan and responded, "You'll know who he
is soon, won't you?"
Until tipoff
There's still no update on forward Lionel Simmons. The team's senior
member with seven years in Sacramento, the veteran swingman has not
been cleared to practice after his physical examination prior to
training camp. If Simmons doesn't recover and doesn't make the team,
then Richmond, who's beginning his seventh season with the team, would
have the most seniority, followed in seniority by Bobby Hurley, who's
beginning his fifth season. . . .
Rick Adelman, the former Golden State and Portland coach, attended the
Kings' victory over the Clippers and also three practices last week.
Adelman and Sacramento coach Geoff Petrie have been friends for more
than 30 years. Petrie denied any suggestions Adelman might soon be
employed by the Kings. . . .
Jordan has touted his wishes for the team this season: to force more
turnovers and commit fewer turnovers. In this regard, repeatedly poor
ballhandling subjects a player to Jordan's stern ways and one of his
sure bets of the NBA: "There is one thing for sure, and that is that
player don't like to run," said Jordan.
As such, the poor ballhandlers will be "punished" with one of two
kinds of wind sprints -- "suicides" and "17s." Suicides are
quarter-court line drills and suicides are baseline-to-baseline
sprints. . . .
nba.975nba.news,
San Antonio Spurs Team Report
October 21, 1997
When the Spurs won the NBA Draft Lottery last May and it was apparent
they would select Wake Forest center Tim Duncan with that top pick,
Houston Rockets' Charles Barkley, a.k.a. "The Mouth That Roared",
offered an opinion.
Shocked, aren't you?
Barkley questioned the Spurs' plan to pair Duncan with David Robinson,
saying, "No, David needs somebody with fire next to him . . . and
that's not Duncan."
Barkley found out about Duncan's fire Saturday night when the rookie
scored 17 points and yanked down 17 rebounds in the first meeting
between the Spurs and their Interstate 10 rivals.
Now, while I understand it is only the exhibition season, it was at
least enough of a statement to cause Barkley to pause.
"I've seen the future and he wears a No. 21 Spurs jersey," the
Rockets' veteran said of Duncan.
"He (Duncan) was quite impressive," Barkley continued. "I didn't know
he had that type of game. He was much better than I expected."
So, Charles, what kind of wine goes better with crow, red or white? .
. .
Said VP/coach Gregg Popovich of Duncan's performance against the
Rockets, "I'm just frustrated it didn't count." . . .
Again, what has been most impressive about Duncan this fall is his
presence on the court. His demeanor and disposition are nothing like a
rookie.
Case in point: Referee Eddie Middleton, apparently having a rush of
testosterone, hit Duncan with a pair of ticky-tack fouls in the Spurs'
October 16 game against Washington, Duncan's Dome opener.
Instead of overreacting to the official, Duncan quietly accepted his
fate. A look at Middleton showed he was almost caught by surprise at
the non-reaction . . .
The Spurs, who are 5-0 in the exhibition season, wrap up practice with
three games this week -- Dallas October 22, Houston (there) October 23
and New York October 25. . . .
Spurs' faithful did receive a scare during that game with Washington
October 16 as Chuck Person flipped over Wizards' Eric Leckner, landing
hard on his head and back. Person did not return to the game.
Person, you'll recall, had back surgery last October which sidelined
him for the entire 1996-97 season.
"I was so dazed," Person said of the fall, "I thought I was under the
knife again." . . .
Although Popovich remains coy, it appears Malik Rose, who hit the
game-winning shot to defeat Orlando October 14, and Jaren Jackson will
earn spots on this year's team, assuming there are two spots
available.
Oft-injured Charles Smith still hasn't made an announcement regarding
retirement for medical reasons. Although he has missed training camp,
he has insisted that he'll be with the team when the regular season
begins October 31.
If that's the case, only one roster spot would be available . . .
While Popovich is trying to remain low key with regard to fans'
expectations of the '97-98 Spurs, members of the team have their
sights set high.
Following a team prayer the other day, Avery Johnson ended by saying,
"What's our goal?"
The players responded: "Finals." . . .
They won't be making the Finals if they keep shooting free throws
poorly. The Spurs were only 19-for-35 against the Rockets October 18.
. . .
Monty Williams, who has been sidelined with a fractured left thumb,
will be re-evaluated this week. . . .
No word on a contract extension for veteran starting shooting guard
Vinny Del Negro, who becomes a free agent at the end of this season.
Jack Marin, Del Negro's representative, has sent a proposal to
Popovich, but there has been no reply. This is going to be ticklish
because Popovich is not a huge Del Negro fan.
nba.976nba.news,
Seattle SuperSonics Team Report
October 21, 1997
It looks strange to see the Sonics near the bottom in any type of
standings, even if it is only the preseason.
But there the Sonics are at 1-4 after the first full week of
exhibition games, a record that means a lot to some people, and
nothing to others.
One theory says winning a few games this exhibition is more important
than ever for the Sonics since they are trying to mold so many new
players together and need some confidence.
Sonics coach George Karl admits that he will be angry if his team
doesn't win at least one or two of the team's remaining three
exhibition games -- Seattle next plays Wednesday in Billings, Mont.,
against the Golden State Warriors.
The other theory is that wins and losses in this preseason are less
meaningful than ever for the same reason -- the fact that the Sonics
are breaking in so many new players makes it inevitable that the team
would struggle.
"It's still the preseason and we're just learning each other," said
Seattle forward Dale Ellis after the Sonics lost to Portland at home
on Thursday, 92-90. While the Sonics were without Hersey Hawkins, the
Blazers played without Kenny Anderson and Gary Trent.
That game was also the Sonics' fifth game in seven days, four of which
were on the road. Karl said that had a lot to do with the won-loss
record.
"The combination of injuries and playing on the road a lot has slowed
down the progress," Karl said. "The last game we played we were pretty
good offensively. So, I'm just excited about getting on the court and
getting things done. But we're close on a lot of stuff." . . .
The Sonics have 16 players with guaranteed contracts and only 15 spots
-- 12 on the active roster and three on injured reserve.
Sonics GM Wally Walker has said that the team will probably have to
cut or try to trade a guard.
Most tradeable would seem to be third-year point guard Eric Snow, who
some teams courted during the summer when he was a free agent before
re-signing with the Sonics.
Snow seems expendable now that the Sonics have signed former Knick and
Vancouver point guard Greg Anthony, who is a much better shooter than
Snow.
If the Sonics are forced to cut a guard, the most likley candidate
would seem to be 36-year-old Craig Ehlo, who is in the second year of
a three-year deal but has struggled throughout his time in Seattle and
is unpopular with fans.
Walker and Ehlo go back to the early '80s, when each played with
Houston, and Walker has always been Ehlo's biggest fan with the
Sonics. Walker has said recently that Ehlo has had a good training
camp.
But Ehlo hardly played against the Blazers Thursday, scoring two
points and making only one of three field goal attempts.
The Sonics will likely put Nate McMillan and rookie James Cotton on
the injured reserve list to start the season.
Seattle might also have to make a decision between power forwards
Stephen Howard and Aaron Williams -- the most obvious move would be to
put one or the other on the injured reserve list.
The Sonics have been pleased with the play of both, but Williams --
who played for Vancouver last season -- would seem to have the edge.
He sparked a comeback against Detroit last week with some fine
rebounding and defense, then scored 12 points against Portland,
hitting six of 12 shots. Howard didn't score against Portland in
seeing limited action.
Until tipoff
The Sonics' No. 1 goal this preseason is breaking in Vin Baker,
acquired in the Shawn Kemp deal.
Baker played okay in his first game at KeyArena, scoring 11 points,
but making only four of 14 shots and having two shots blocked in the
fourth quarter.
Baker admitted to being nervous and said he was glad to get the game
out of the way.
Karl says figuring out where Baker fits in and what the personality of
the team is going to be is the key to the final two weeks of practice
before the regular season begins October 31 at Portland.
"The only thing that is pretty definitive is Gary (Payton) and (Detlef
Schrempf)," Karl said. "What chunk of territory will Vin Baker take?
What kind of personality is that? Do we become a better passing team?
There's all types of things that can only be defined in the heat of
competition."
nba.977nba.news,
Toronto Raptors Team Report
October 14, 1997
John Wallace caught a 7:15 a.m. flight from New York last Saturday,
and 12 hours later he was wearing a Raptors' uniform and preparing to
face the Indiana Pacers in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
"It's been a long day, but a good day," he said after his trade from
the Knicks, held in limbo for more than a month while the NBA
challenged its legality, finally became a reality. Wallace was second
man off the bench Saturday, and looked confident and comfortable while
scoring 13 points, doing so despite not knowing his new team's
offensive sets.
"Everybody has made me feel real comfortable," he said after the
Raptors had lost to the Pacers 104-100.
"I like this team. I like the up-tempo game this team plays. We have
the personnel that we can run all day. We're going to create a lot of
matchup problems. We're not going to be in the bottom half (of the
NBA) much longer."
"John Wallace is a basketball player," said Raptors' coach Darrell
Walker.
"He fit in like he belongs with us."
Saturday's game was also the professional debut of teenaged
guard/forward Tracy McGrady. Things did not go quite as smoothly for
him as for Wallace. McGrady, who saw quite a few minutes at the point
position, was at times uncertain, hesitant, and will need more minutes
in order to get his feet under him.
"When I first got out there I was a little nervous," admitted McGrady,
who scored two on the night.
"(But) I didn't turn the ball over. I handled the ball well. I'd sum
it up like this: I was OK; I could have been better." . . .
Playing at Fort Wayne's Memorial Coliseum brought back memories -- but
not exactly fond ones -- for Raptors' GM Isiah Thomas.
"This was where I played my first exhibition game for the Pistons,"
Thomas said, gazing out at the empty seats pre-game.
"I'll never forget it -- we got beat by 30." . . .
Forward Walt Williams and guard Doug Christie are nursing hamstring
pulls, but neither is considered serious. Center Sharone Wright showed
up at practice the other day, but he is expected to miss the entire
season while he rehabs an arm injured in a car crash this summer.
Until tipoff
Raptors coach Darrell Walker after losing to the Pacers by four in the
team's first exhibition contest: "Hey, we haven't really worked on our
offense yet and we scored 100 points and we didn't even have (forward)
Walt Williams in the lineup. The triple post looked good. Defensively
we've got some things to work out yet, but overall, I'll take it."
nba.978nba.news,
Utah Jazz Team Report
October 21, 1997
So far, the preseason hasn't offered much insight into what the Jazz
can expect from the point guard position this season, in light of an
injury that will keep John Stockton out until about the first of the
year.
The Jazz are 2-2 in exhibition games without Stockton, and their point
guards have been at least adequate.
In the most recent contest, a victory over New Jersey, starter Howard
Eisley had a solid seven points, eight assists and just two turnovers
in 27 minutes.
Coming into that game, however, only rookie Jacque Vaughn had more
assists than Karl Malone, and the Mailman hasn't even played that many
minutes.
Vaughn has shown some flashes of real ability. In one game, he clearly
was the best Jazz point guard, totaling 15 points and five rebounds.
What makes for an interesting comparison is a projection of Eisley's
numbers from last season to what they might have been if he'd played
the same number of minutes as Stockton.
Eisley's projected numbers: 6.5 assists and 12.0 points. Stockton's
actual numbers: 10.5 assists, 14.4 points. . . .
The Jazz director of basketball operations was asked if he'd felt
clairvoyant in re-signing free agent Eisley and drafting Vaughn, when
just about everyone expected the team to select a big man in the first
round.
"Will all due respect, that's crap," Layden said. "The draft, it just
seemed to fall into place. It was just dumb luck. We had every
intention to trade our pick, but when Jacque (Vaughn) fell that far,
it was a no-brainer. I mean, c'mon. It's just one of those things that
worked out" . . .
The injury to Stockton has left three players battling for the team's
final roster spot (unless the brass make a late free-agent signing, as
they did three years ago with Antoine Carr).
At this point, the three contenders are 10-year veteran center Greg
Dreiling; second-round pick Nate Erdmann, a shooting guard; and rookie
point guard Troy Hudson.
Erdmann has potential, though he hasn't shown much in the preseason.
Jeff Hornacek and Shandon Anderson figure to see most of the minutes
at the two-guard, so Erdmann seems destined for the CBA at some point.
Hudson is a shoot-first, pass-last type point guard (perhaps because
he played a lot of shooting guard in college), not exactly in the Jazz
mold. With two point guards (Howard Eisley, Jacque Vaughn) still on
the roster and Hornacek also able to play some there, Hudson seems
like a serious longshot to be around for the season-opener October 31.
Dreiling is at least a known quantity. He isn't going to play so well
that the Jazz would find it impossible to cut him when Stockton
returns around the first of the year. Besides, the Jazz's one
personnel loss from last season was a big guy (power forward Stephen
Howard), and with starting center Greg Ostertag somewhat foul-prone,
it seems likely there will be more nights when they are shorthanded on
the frontline than in the backcourt. . . .
Chris Morris has played very little in the preseason thus far, while
hampered by a hamstring injury . . .
Vaughn was carried off the court after suffering a twisted ankle in
the fourth quarter against New Jersey. He expects to be back for the
next game. . . .
Sloan on Stockton's injury: "I feel bad for John, but it gives some of
our other guys a chance to see what they can do. Everybody knows how
important John has been to this franchise and knows what he's done for
us, but life goes on."
Sloan after the Jazz had lost back-to-back games to Indiana: "We've
got to give our point guards a chance to compete. Guys got real
comfortable with John (Stockton). Now we've got to get out of our
rockin' chair."
More on the same topic: "You can't put a point guard in a situation
where you just sit and watch him. That's not execution."
On Vaughn's play: "It's exciting to see someone play with enthusiasm."
nba.979nba.news,
Vancouver Grizzlies Team Report
October 14, 1997
The state of Country has never looked better. As the 1997-98 Vancouver
Grizzlies prepare to embark on their third NBA season, one of the most
encouraging pieces of news to come out of the off-season is the
physical condition of center Bryant "Big Country" Reeves.
"This is the best shape I've ever been in coming into camp," Reeves
declared at training camp. Grizzlies strength and conditioning coach
Robert Hackett took it a step further.
"Right now he's in the best shape he's ever been in his life," smiled
Hackett. "He's stronger. He's faster. He's quicker."
Added GM Stu Jackson: "I don't think his body is ever going to be
blessed with Charles Atlas-like definition. But at the same time it's
very clear that his torso looks a lot better. He looks more built up.
His body fat is down and his aerobic conditioning far exceeds where he
was at any of the points prior to the first two seasons."
Jackson is definitely correct about Country the past two training
camps. Coming into his rookie season as the No. 6 overall pick out of
Oklahoma State, Reeves was simply overwhelmed by the physical demands
of his first pro camp.
Then last season, he abandoned his workout program three weeks before
the start of camp and paid for it dearly. Reeves' lack of shape caused
him to get injured just prior to the start of the season, and it took
him until well into January before he was able to build on the things
he had accomplished in his rookie season.
Last season, he averaged 19.3 points and 8.4 rebounds after the
February all-star break but only 14.2 and 7.9 before. Now, although a
seemingly lofty goal, a 20 point-10 rebound average for the season is
not out of the question.
With so much potential yet to be tapped, Reeves' workouts were
strictly monitored by Hackett, who spent large portions of the summer
with the Grizzlies new $65 million man. Hackett worked out Reeves for
three-day stretches every three weeks from June through mid-August.
Then, Hackett packed up his bags and spent three and a half weeks with
Reeves in Oklahoma.
"We trained every day, twice a day," said Hackett. "Agility work.
Intervals. Shooting baskets. Things of that sort. Then we'd do cardio
work. We'd also lift every other day during that time span.
Said Reeves: "I think I'm a lot stronger than I was last year. I
really got stronger in the upper body and in the legs. Quickness is
something that we really worked on and I can start to tell a
difference in the moves and the way that they're going that they feel
very well."
When those workouts were complete, both returned to Vancouver where
Reeves has continued to maintain that level. The workouts in Oklahoma
were demanding. In fact it was like having training camp two-a-days in
the middle of summer.
"Every time we'd do something, he was bickering at me," laughed
Hackett. "I said 'You can cuss at me, you can do whatever you want,
but we're going to do the workouts.'"
Hackett holed up in a Fort Smith, Arkansas hotel for the duration of
summer boot camp, and made the 20-minute drive into Reeves' hometown
of Gans for the conditioning. Hackett said there was no problem
finding places to conduct the workouts.
"He has a facility that he's built in his home," Hackett said. "And
that's where we did the cardio and the lifting. He has treadmills. He
has bikes."
And the rest of the workouts?
"For the agility drills and the shooting drills, well, he has the key
to his high school gym," Hackett laughed.
"The gym is named after him so he has access at any time of the day."
Some guys just need to get pushed in the right direction, and Hackett
says that's the case with Reeves: "He's great to work with because he
will work. He just needs a little guidance on what to do. That's all
he's ever needed. Some guys are just gifted. They can not work out and
come in here and look like they're in great shape. (Reeves) is a guy,
if he sits around, he loses what he's had. So he can't afford to take
two weeks off and then come into two-a-days."
Big Country is going to be a Big Daddy in December. Bryant Reeves and
his wife April are expecting the birth of their first child on
December 15. The couple had been planning on starting a family for
some time, but as the happy Reeves admitted Wednesday, the timing
didn't go like clockwork.
"Thankfully, we looked at the schedule and in December we're here most
of the time," Big Country said. "We have like four games away. But
it's due when we're on like a four-day road trip. When that comes
along, if there's a game or something, I'll definitely miss a couple
of games because of that. To me, that's something very important
that's going to happen in my life. I think I definitely have to put
that above basketball." . . .
As training camp ended Thursday, Hill was talking very favorably about
one longshot who turned heads with his natural feel for the game. Free
agent forward David Booth, a 1992 graduate of the DePaul Blue Demons
who spent last season playing in Europe, scored 16 points in an
intrasquad scrimmage, showcasing a solid jumper and a flair to put the
ball on the floor against the the likes of Shareef Abdur-Rahim.
"David's kind of a throwback," smiled Hill. "We've been talking as a
coaching staff, and it's almost like watching a guy from the 50s play.
He's just got a real fundamental type of game. He's a little bit
herky-jerky with the way he plays and he keeps people off balance.
They talk about guys that have a knack for scoring the basketball,
whether it's just running or beating people down the floor or his
moves inside. And he's got a good perimetre shot. He's just a kind of
a different player."
Booth needs more bulk. He's vulnerable on post ups against more
muscular players like George Lynch. And he needs to shore up his
defense. But with last week's release of power forward/center Eric
Mobley, Booth has a shot since players like Lynch and Abdur-Rahim can
play the power spot when the Grizzlies go to a smaller, quicker
lineup. . . .
The sudden resignation of the most successful college basketball coach
in NCAA history also came as a shock to two of the program's more
famous alums.
Grizzlies George Lynch and Pete Chilcutt both talked about the
profound impact that now-former North Carolina head coach Dean Smith
has had on their lives both professionally and personally.
"He's handing it over to the next man and I think he had a great run,"
said Lynch, who as a senior was one of the most vital members of the
school's last NCAA championship team (1993). "He did a great job.
Every player that played for him has nothing but good things to say
about him. He accomplished what he set out to do, to bring good people
out of the university, on and off the basketball floor.
Said Chilcutt: "He's a father figure to me." Chilcutt was a 1991 Tar
Heels grad who never missed a game in his four years at the school.
"He molded me into a player. It's kind of surprising. Shocking
actually, that he would do it this close to the season. I still
consult him on the big decisions in my life. He was at my wedding two
years ago. He's an important figure in the lives of everybody that
went there."
nba.980nba.news,
Washington Wizards Team Report
October 21, 1997
While the Washington Wizards finally found a team they could compete
with in the preseason, coming away with a 112-107 win over the Denver
Nuggets on Saturday, they still donĺt look anything like a team thatĺs
ready to pick up where they left off from last season when they made
the playoffs on the final day of the season.
Without Juwan Howard and Gheorghe Muresan (both are out with sore
ankles), the team has had no low post play to speak of. Chris Webber
did have 23 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Denver, but the
Nuggets have very little on their front line. In two games against San
Antonio, Webber has struggled.
"When we get those two guys back, weĺll be OK," Webber said.
"Weĺre just trying to work things out, and by October 31 (the season
opener) weĺll be fine."
That season opener may have Webber playing a position that he despises
-- center. Muresanĺs ankle injury makes it doubtful that he will
return by the season opener. And with Lorenzo Williams likely to start
at center at least until Muresan returns, it appears Webber will be
getting a significant amount of minutes at the position.
"Iĺll do whatever it takes to help the team win, regardless of where I
play," said Webber, who has been tested already with battles against
Tim Duncan and David Robinson.
There was some thought that Muresan might need surgery to correct the
problem with his foot, but further tests last week revealed rest and
rehabilitation would be beneficial. Muresan did not make the current
road trip with the team.
With so many losses (Tim Legler is also out with an injured right
knee), this is a time where the Wizards can find out who will step
forward. Two such players have been Tracy Murray and Calbert Cheaney,
who each shot the ball well in the win over Denver.
Murray, recovering from surgery on his right wrist that has affected
his shooting during some of training camp, scored a team high 27
points including three of seven three-pointers. Murray has also
demonstrated an ability to get to the basket, where he has been either
finishing plays or drawing fouls.
And Cheaney scored 25 points for the Wizards, hitting 11-of-19 shots
in 41 minutes. Cheaney has led the team in scoring in two of the three
pre-season games.
"This could be his coming-out year," coach Bernie Bickerstaff said of
Cheaney.
"He's a very good post-up player and probably one of the better
defensive transition players that I've been around. We've got to get
him shots."
Until tipoff
Bickerstaff had promised a week ago that he would start getting the
players who figure to fit into his rotation more minutes as the
preseason went on. By Saturday God Shammgod, trying to grab the final
roster spot, had been reduced to four minutes of time (he was
scoreless and had one assist in those four minutes.
The same for second-year forward Ben Wallace (no points in four
minutes against Denver on Saturday, after a two-point, three rebound
effort against San Antonio the previous night).
While Wallace is guaranteed for this season (he signed a one-year,
$326,000 contract over the summer), he is expendable. And he could
lose his job to free-agent forward Darvin Ham, who had six points,
five rebounds, two steals and two blocks in the win over Denver on
Saturday.
nba.981vpoznanovic,
1997 NBA Preseason
Wednesday, October 22
Cleveland at Minnesota 95:89
Dallas at San Antonio 69:112
Golden State at Seattle 87:122
New York at Boston 89:84
Philadelphia at Chicago 95:87
Phoenix at Vancouver 113:83
Sacramento at Detroit 84:104
Utah at Charlotte 99:109
Washington at L.A. Lakers 113:124
NBA AT MINOT ND
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CLEVELAND 30 28 16 21 95
MINNESOTA 22 21 23 23 89 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: CLE - DEREK ANDERSON 21, VITALY POTAPENKO 15, SHAWN KEMP 11
MIN - CHRIS CARR 23, TOM GUGLIOTTA 18, KEVIN GARNETT 18
HIGH REBOUND: CLE - SHAWN KEMP 8, TWO PLAYERS WITH 5
MIN - KEVIN GARNETT 9, TOM GUGLIOTTA 8
HIGH ASSISTS: CLE - BOB SURA 6, SHAWN KEMP 4
MIN - KEVIN GARNETT 6, TOM GUGLIOTTA 6
ATT: 10,002
NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DALLAS 21 16 18 14 69
SAN ANTONIO 25 32 22 33 112 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: DAL - MICHAEL FINLEY 12, HUBERT DAVIS 12, TWO PLAYERS WITH
10
SAS - DAVID ROBINSON 22, SEAN ELLIOTT 17, MONTY WILLIAMS 14
HIGH REBOUND: DAL - SHAWN BRADLEY 6, AC GREEN 6
SAS - TIM DUNCAN 9, THREE PLAYERS WITH 8
HIGH ASSISTS: DAL - KHALID REEVES 6, KEVIN OLLIE 5
SAS - AVERY JOHNSON 9, VINNY DEL NEGRO 4
ATT: 14,269
NBA AT BILLINGS MT
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
GOLDEN STATE 19 12 25 31 87
SEATTLE 35 25 30 32 122 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: GSW - LATRELL SPREWELL 26, DONYELL MARSHALL 13, LARRY
STEWART 9
SEA - DETLEF SCHREMPF 20, VIN BAKER 20, SAM PERKINS 16
HIGH REBOUND: GSW - TODD FULLER 6
SEA - VIN BAKER 8
HIGH ASSISTS: GSW - BIMBO COLES 10
SEA - GARY PAYTON 13
ATT: 9,905
NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW YORK 22 13 32 22 89
BOSTON 23 24 22 15 84 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: NYK - PATRICK EWING 22, LARRY JOHNSON 16, CHARLES OAKLEY 13
BOS - DANA BARROS 23, ANTOINE WALKER 21, RON MERCER 12
HIGH REBOUND: NYK - PATRICK EWING 13, CHARLIE WARD 10
BOS - TRAVIS KNIGHT 7, BRUCE BOWEN 6
HIGH ASSISTS: NYK - CHRIS DUDLEY 4, CHRIS CHILDS 4
BOS - RON MERCER 7, TWO PLAYERS WITH 4
ATT: 16,071
NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHILADELPHIA 24 21 24 26 95
CHICAGO 18 22 23 24 87 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: PHI - TERRY CUMMINGS 16, CLARENCE WEATHERSPOON 16, MARK
DAVIS 10
CHI - RON HARPER 16, JASON CAFFEY 15, KEITH BOOTH 11
HIGH REBOUND: PHI - CLARENCE WEATHERSPOON 11, TERRY CUMMINGS 10
CHI - BILL WENNINGTON 7, KEITH BOOTH 6
HIGH ASSISTS: PHI - ALLEN IVERSON 4, DOUG OVERTON 3
CHI - RANDY BROWN 8, JUD BUECHLER 5
ATT: 23,481
NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 30 32 29 22 113
VANCOUVER 21 25 17 20 83 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: PHO - ANTONIO MCDYESS 27, JASON KIDD 19, CLIFF ROBINSON 15
VAN - DAVID BOOTH 13, BRYANT REEVES 12, SHAREEF
ABDUR-RAHIM 12
HIGH REBOUND: PHO - ANTONIO MCDYESS 9, JASON KIDD 8
VAN - OTIS THORPE 10, SHAREEF ABDUR-RAHIM 9
HIGH ASSISTS: PHO - JASON KIDD 12, DANNY MANNING 6
VAN - OTIS THORPE 5, ANTONIO DANIELS 4
NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
SACRAMENTO 22 16 23 23 84
DETROIT 31 21 27 25 104 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: SAC - TERRY DEHERE 15, OLDEN POLYNICE 12, BILLY OWENS 12
DET - MALIK SEALY 19, GRANT HILL 17, LINDSEY HUNTER 16
HIGH REBOUND: SAC - MICHAEL SMITH 8, BILLY OWENS 7
DET - BRIAN WILLIAMS 7, THREE PLAYERS WITH 6
HIGH ASSISTS: SAC - ANTHONY JOHNSON 4, BOBBY HURLEY 4
DET - GRANT HILL 7, LINDSEY HUNTER 6
ATT: 11,388
NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
UTAH 20 29 23 27 99
CHARLOTTE 27 24 27 31 109 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: UTH - KARL MALONE 21, HOWARD EISLEY 19, SHANDON ANDERSON 17
CHA - GLEN RICE 23, ANTHONY MASON 17, BOBBY PHILLS 15
HIGH REBOUND: UTH - GREG OSTERTAG 8, KARL MALONE 6
CHA - ANTHONY MASON 11, VLADE DIVAC 7
HIGH ASSISTS: UTH - JACQUE VAUGHN 7, ANTOINE CARR 5
CHA - DAVID WESLEY 7, ANTHONY MASON 6
ATT: 21,401
NBA AT LAS VEGAS NV
FINAL IN OT 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH OT TOTAL
--- --- --- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 27 24 24 32 6 113
LA LAKERS 33 20 17 37 17 124 FINAL IN 1ST OT
HIGH SCORERS: WAS - CHRIS WEBBER 18, CALBERT CHEANEY 18, TWO PLAYERS
WITH 17
LAL - ELDEN CAMPBELL 33, NICK VAN EXEL 23, JON BARRY 14
HIGH REBOUND: WAS - CHRIS WEBBER 13, JIMMY OLIVER 5
LAL - ELDEN CAMPBELL 13, SEAN ROOKS 7
HIGH ASSISTS: WAS - CHRIS WHITNEY 8, GOD SHAMMGOD 8
LAL - ROBERT HORRY 4, JON BARRY 4
ATT: 10,771
Thursday, October 23
Orlando vs. New Jersey at Hershey, Pa., 7:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
nba.982nba.news,
CLEVELAND (95) AT MINNESOTA (89)
CLEVELAND
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
FERRY F 28 3-8 1-2 1 3 4 1 2 2 1 7
PERSON F 28 4-15 0-0 0 1 1 3 0 0 1 10
KEMP C 30 2-8 7-8 2 6 8 4 3 0 4 11
ANDERSON G 31 8-10 3-4 1 2 3 1 4 1 3 21
SURA G 32 3-8 2-4 0 5 5 6 0 3 3 9
BUTLER 19 1-3 2-3 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 4
POTAPENKO 19 7-10 1-2 2 2 4 1 2 0 0 15
KNIGHT 14 1-6 0-0 1 3 4 2 3 0 2 2
ILGAUSKAS 15 2-5 0-0 1 4 5 1 3 0 1 4
MARSHALL 9 4-4 2-2 1 3 4 3 1 1 1 10
HENDERSON 11 1-4 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 3 1 2
SCOTT 4 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 2 0 1 0
DUMAS DNP - INJURED RIGHT KNEE
JAMES DNP - COACH'S DECISION
GRAHAM DNP - NOT WITH TEAM
TOTALS 240 36-81 18-25 10 31 41 23 23 11 20 95
(.444) (.720) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 21(16 PTS)
MINNESOTA
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
K GARNETT F 38 8-16 2-4 6 3 9 6 5 0 2 18
MITCHELL F 36 2-10 2-2 1 3 4 2 3 0 1 6
GUGLIOTTA C 32 6-13 6-7 1 7 8 6 2 2 5 18
CARR G 38 8-15 7-9 2 5 7 4 4 1 1 23
MARBURY G 33 3-16 0-0 0 4 4 3 0 1 2 7
JORDAN 10 0-0 1-2 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 1
FISH 19 1-4 3-3 3 0 3 0 5 1 1 5
PORTER 21 2-9 3-4 0 3 3 3 2 0 4 7
MOORE 10 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 4 1 1 0
OSBORNE 3 2-2 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 4
COLLINS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
CURLEY DNP - RIGHT THIGH INJURY
GRANT DNP - INJURED RIGHT FOOT
HEAL DNP - SORE RIGHT ACHILLES
PARKS DNP - MILD SPRAIN RIGHT MCL
ROBERTS DNP - SPRAINED LEFT ANKLE
ROZIER DNP - STOMACH VIRUS
WEST DNP - GROIN INJURY
TOTALS 240 32-85 24-31 13 27 40 26 26 7 18 89
(.376) (.774) TEAM REBS: 19 TOTAL TO: 18(18 PTS)
CLEVELAND 30 28 16 21 - 95
MINNESOTA 22 21 23 23 - 89
BLOCKED SHOTS: CLEVELAND - KEMP 4, SURA 2, SCOTT. MINNESOTA - K GARNETT
6, GUGLIOTTA, MARBURY.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: CLEVELAND 5-14 (.357), FERRY 0-1, PERSON 2-8, ANDERSON
2-3, SURA 1-2. MINNESOTA 1-14 (.071), MITCHELL 0-1, CARR 0-1, MARBURY 1-7,
PORTER 0-5.
TECHNICALS: CLEVELAND - SURA.
OFFICIALS: BERNIE FRYER, GREG WILLARD, TIM DONAGHY.
A - 10,002. T - 2:10.
CLEVELAND (95) AT MINNESOTA (89)
Rookie Derek Anderson scored 10 of his 19 points in the third
quarter as the Cleveland Cavaliers held on for a 95-89 victory
over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Minot, North Dakota.
Anderson's three-pointer gave Cleveland its biggest lead, 56-35,
with 3:10 left in the second quarter. He had all but six of
Cleveland's third-quarter points as Minnesota (2-4) pulled
within 74-66 heading into the fourth.
After the teams traded baskets to open the game, the Cavaliers
went in front to stay with a 14-4 run. Wesley Person scored all
10 of his points in the opening quarter as Cleveland built a
30-22 lead.
Vitaly Potapenko chipped in 15 points for the Cavs (4-1).
Chris Carr had 23 points and Tom Gugliotta contributed 18 for
the Timberwolves.
In a matchup of $100 million superstars, Wolves forward Kevin
Garnett finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, six blocks and
six assists, while Cleveland forward Shawn Kemp had 11 points
and eight boards.
nba.983nba.news,
DALLAS (69) AT SAN ANTONIO (112)
DALLAS
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
GREEN F 32 3-7 0-0 1 5 6 0 0 0 1 6
FINLEY F 33 3-13 5-6 3 2 5 3 3 1 2 12
BRADLEY C 20 3-7 2-2 1 5 6 0 0 0 1 8
REEVES G 27 1-6 1-2 0 2 2 6 1 1 2 4
DAVIS G 34 5-9 2-2 1 2 3 0 3 3 2 12
NWANKWO 21 0-6 1-4 0 3 3 0 4 0 1 1
OLLIE 28 0-5 10-12 0 2 2 5 3 1 1 10
WELLS 23 4-12 2-2 0 2 2 1 5 1 4 10
CALDWELL 7 2-2 2-3 1 2 3 0 0 0 1 6
WHITTED 15 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 0
STRICKLAND DNP - LIGAMENT STRAIN RIGHT ANKLE
STRONG DNP - COACH'S DECISION
THOMAS DNP - INJURED RIGHT ANKLE
WALKER DNP - RIGHT KNEE
TOTALS 240 21-69 25-33 7 25 32 15 22 7 17 69
(.304) (.758) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 20(30 PTS)
SAN ANTONIO
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
DUNCAN F 25 5-7 0-0 3 6 9 2 2 0 2 10
ELLIOTT F 23 7-12 2-2 2 6 8 1 3 0 0 17
ROBINSON C 20 9-14 4-6 2 6 8 0 0 1 0 22
JOHNSON G 21 1-4 2-2 0 1 1 9 0 0 2 4
DEL NEGRO G 23 2-6 2-2 1 2 3 4 0 1 0 6
HERRERA 18 3-9 1-3 2 3 5 0 4 0 3 7
W PERDUE 16 2-2 0-0 2 6 8 0 5 0 0 4
M WILLIAMS 21 3-6 8-11 1 2 3 3 3 2 5 14
GEARY 21 4-6 1-2 0 4 4 1 2 3 2 9
ALEXANDER 21 4-8 0-0 1 1 2 3 2 1 0 10
JACKSON 14 2-2 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 5
ROSE 9 1-2 1-2 0 1 1 1 3 1 2 3
IGO 8 0-3 1-2 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1
C PERSON DNP - COACH'S DECISION
SMITH DNP - INJURED RIGHT KNEE
TOTALS 240 43-81 22-32 15 39 54 26 25 10 16 112
(.531) (.688) TEAM REBS: 9 TOTAL TO: 16(18 PTS)
DALLAS 21 16 18 14 - 69
SAN ANTONIO 25 32 22 33 - 112
BLOCKED SHOTS: DALLAS - GREEN, BRADLEY, NWANKWO. SAN ANTONIO - DUNCAN 3,
HERRERA 3, ROBINSON 2, W PERDUE.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: DALLAS 2-9 (.222), FINLEY 1-1, REEVES 1-3, DAVIS 0-2,
WELLS 0-2, WHITTED 0-1. SAN ANTONIO 4-9 (.444), ELLIOTT 1-4, ALEXANDER
2-4, JACKSON 1-1.
TECHNICALS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: VIOLET PALMER, BILL OAKES, TOMMY NUNEZ.
A - 14,269. T - 2:06.
DALLAS (69) AT SAN ANTONIO (112)
David Robinson scored 22 points and Sean Elliott added 17 --
both in just three quarters -- as the San Antonio Spurs remained
unbeaten by destroying the Dallas Mavericks, 112-69.
Monty Williams added 14 points for the Spurs (6-0), who
outscored Dallas, 32-16, in the second quarter to turn a
four-point lead into a 57-37 halftime bulge. Robinson had seven
points and Elliott eight in the period.
Michael Finley and Hubert Davis had 12 points apiece for the
Mavericks (1-5). Kevin Ollie chipped in with 10.
nba.984nba.news,
GOLDEN STATE (87) AT SEATTLE (122)
GOLDEN STATE (87)
Fuller 1-7 2-4 4, Marshall 6-10 0-0 13, Dampier 3-5 0-0 6, Sprewell 9-16
4-5 26, Coles 0-6 0-0 0, Armstrong 1-4 2-2 4, Demps 0-6 2-2 2, Foyle 2-4
2-2 6, Lang 2-3 3-4 7, Price 1-1 2-2 4, Spencer 1-3 4-6 6, Stewart 4-5
1-2 9. Totals 30-70 22-29 87.
SEATTLE (122)
Schrempf 8-11 2-2 20, Williams 5-10 1-1 11, Baker 8-15 4-7 20, Hawkins
4-7 0-1 9, Payton 3-8 4-4 11, Anthony 1-4 2-2 4, Ellis 2-4 0-0 5, Kersey
2-5 2-2 6, McIlvaine 3-5 4-4 10, Perkins 4-8 6-6 16, Snow 1-1 2-2 4,
Wingate 2-3 2-2 6. Totals 43-81 29-33 122.
Golden State 19 12 25 31-- 87
Seattle 35 25 30 32--122
3-Point goals--Golden State 5-14 (Sprewell 4-6, Marshall 1-3, Armstrong
0-1, Demps 0-1, Coles 0-3), Seattle 7-12 (Schrempf 2-2, Perkins 2-3,
Hawkins 1-1, Ellis 1-1, Payton 1-3, Anthony 0-1, Kersey 0-1).
Fouled out--None.
Rebounds--Golden State 44 (Fuller 6), Seattle 40 (Baker 8).
Assists--Golden State 29 (Coles 10), Seattle 45 (Payton 13).
Total fouls--Golden State 28, Seattle 22.
Technical--Hawkins. A--9,905.
GOLDEN STATE (87) AT SEATTLE (122)
Detlef Schrempf scored 13 of his 19 points in the first half as
the Seattle SuperSonics continued their tradition of blowing out
the Golden State Warriors with a 122-87 victory at Billings,
Montana.
The Sonics raced to a 35-19 lead after the first quarter en
route to a 60-31 halftime advantage. Vin Baker had 12 points at
halftime.
Seattle swept four meetings with the Warriors last year in
convincing fashion, winning by an average of 30.1 points per
game. The average score of the games was 120-90.
Latrell Sprewell scored 26 points for the winless Warriors
(0-7).
nba.985nba.news,
NEW YORK (89) AT BOSTON (84)
NEW YORK
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
JOHNSON F 39 7-12 2-2 2 6 8 2 0 1 3 16
OAKLEY F 33 5-7 3-3 2 3 5 3 4 5 3 13
EWING C 31 7-14 8-12 5 8 13 3 1 0 7 22
HOUSTON G 33 4-10 3-3 0 1 1 1 2 1 8 12
WARD G 41 4-10 1-2 1 9 10 2 4 1 6 10
B WILLIAMS 14 2-5 4-4 2 3 5 0 1 1 0 8
CHILDS 32 1-6 4-4 0 2 2 4 0 1 4 6
DUDLEY 17 1-4 0-0 2 7 9 4 1 0 0 2
MILLS DNP - NOT WITH TEAM FOLLOWING TRADE
MYERS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
STARKS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
H WILLIAMS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
TOTALS 240 31-68 25-30 14 39 53 19 13 10 31 89
(.456) (.833) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 31(30 PTS)
BOSTON
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
WALKER F 34 9-25 3-3 1 1 2 0 4 2 4 21
MINOR F 15 2-5 0-0 1 0 1 2 2 0 1 5
KNIGHT C 22 4-10 0-0 3 4 7 2 4 5 0 8
BILLUPS G 22 1-10 0-0 0 2 2 2 0 1 2 2
MERCER G 29 6-13 0-0 1 2 3 7 0 3 2 12
BOWEN 37 3-6 0-0 0 6 6 4 1 4 3 6
D BROWN 18 2-4 0-0 0 2 2 4 1 2 0 5
ELLISON 18 0-2 0-0 3 2 5 0 6 1 1 0
DECLERCQ 12 0-3 0-0 1 0 1 0 5 0 1 0
BARROS 23 8-12 2-2 0 3 3 3 0 2 1 23
CUNNINGHAM 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MASSENBURG 8 1-4 0-0 2 2 4 1 1 0 0 2
S BROOKS DNP - NOT WITH TEAM FOLLOWING TRADE
JONES DNP - NOT WITH TEAM FOLLOWING TRADE
MCCARTY DNP - NOT WITH TEAM FOLLOWING TRADE
THOMAS DNP - NOT WITH TEAM FOLLOWING TRADE
EDNEY DNP - COACH'S DECISION
TOTALS 240 36-94 5-5 12 24 36 25 24 20 15 84
(.383) (1.000) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 16(13 PTS)
NEW YORK 22 13 32 22 - 89
BOSTON 23 24 22 15 - 84
BLOCKED SHOTS: NEW YORK - EWING 6, CHILDS, DUDLEY. BOSTON - KNIGHT 2,
BOWEN, CUNNINGHAM.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: NEW YORK 2-10 (.200), JOHNSON 0-1, HOUSTON 1-3, WARD
1-5, CHILDS 0-1. BOSTON 7-21 (.333), WALKER 0-2, MINOR 1-1, KNIGHT 0-2,
BILLUPS 0-3, MERCER 0-1, BOWEN 0-2, D BROWN 1-3, BARROS 5-7.
TECHNICALS: BOSTON - WALKER.
OFFICIALS: BLANE REICHELT, ED T RUSH, JIM CAPERS.
A - 16,071. T - 2:16.
NEW YORK (89) AT BOSTON (84)
Patrick Ewing scored eight of his 22 points during a 13-0
fourth-quarter run and Larry Johnson added 16 as the New York
Knicks edged the Boston Celtics, 89-84.
The teams were playing hours after pulling off a five-player
trade that sent Dontae' Jones, Walter McCarty, John Thomas and
Scott Brooks to Boston for Chris Mills.
With the Knicks (2-4) trailing, 77-73, with 6:48 left, Ewing
sparked the decisive run that gave New York a nine-point
advantage with just under three minutes remaining. Ewing added
13 rebounds in 31 minutes.
Dana Barros led Boston (1-5) with 23 points, including 16 in the
second quarter, when the Celtics took a 47-35 lead. Antoine
Walker continued his strong preseason play with 21 points for
the Celtics, who were playing in Boston for the first time under
new head coach Rick Pitino.
nba.986nba.news,
PHILADELPHIA (95) AT CHICAGO (87)
PHILADELPHIA
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
CUMMINGS F 25 6-13 4-4 6 4 10 2 2 2 1 16
STACKHOUSE F 20 3-9 2-4 1 2 3 2 1 0 6 8
MONTROSS C 21 2-4 0-0 2 2 4 0 3 1 1 4
JACKSON G 31 3-9 0-0 2 3 5 2 3 1 0 6
IVERSON G 28 4-9 0-0 0 4 4 4 2 2 3 8
DAVIS 19 3-5 4-6 0 2 2 2 2 2 1 10
OVERTON 14 3-3 2-3 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 8
THOMAS 17 3-7 0-0 1 3 4 0 5 0 2 6
WILLIAMS 17 1-6 4-4 2 1 3 0 2 1 2 6
WEATHERSPOON 27 6-11 4-4 7 4 11 1 5 0 2 16
PARKER 9 0-3 0-0 1 1 2 1 1 0 2 0
WALTERS 11 3-3 1-1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 7
MILIC 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TOTALS 240 37-82 21-26 22 27 49 18 27 10 21 95
(.451) (.808) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 22(26 PTS)
CHICAGO
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
BURRELL F 21 0-7 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 4 1 0
CAFFEY F 30 5-10 5-8 2 3 5 3 3 1 4 15
LONGLEY C 12 1-2 0-1 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 2
BROWN G 22 3-7 0-0 0 4 4 8 4 1 0 6
HARPER G 22 7-11 2-3 1 1 2 0 1 1 0 16
BUECHLER 23 1-5 1-2 1 1 2 5 0 2 1 3
KERR 26 3-11 2-2 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 9
KUKOC 22 2-6 4-4 1 1 2 4 1 2 6 9
BOOTH 14 2-4 7-11 3 3 6 1 3 0 1 11
WENNINGTON 16 1-3 0-0 2 5 7 2 3 0 3 2
GORENC 7 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 2
KLEINE 15 2-2 0-0 0 2 2 0 3 0 0 4
CALABRIA 2 1-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2
LARUE 8 2-2 2-2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 6
JORDAN DNP - INGROWN TOE NAILS
TOTALS 240 31-73 23-33 12 23 35 25 22 11 20 87
(.425) (.697) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 21(27 PTS)
PHILADELPHIA 24 21 24 26 - 95
CHICAGO 18 22 23 24 - 87
BLOCKED SHOTS: PHILADELPHIA - MONTROSS 2, STACKHOUSE. CHICAGO - KLEINE,
HARPER.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: PHILADELPHIA 0-4 (.000), JACKSON 0-2, WILLIAMS 0-1,
PARKER 0-1. CHICAGO 2-10 (.200), BURRELL 0-1, HARPER 0-1, BUECHLER 0-1,
KERR 1-5, KUKOC 1-2.
TECHNICALS: CHICAGO - BOOTH.
OFFICIALS: SCOTT FOSTER, BILL KENNEDY, ED F RUSH.
A - 23,481. T - 2:09.
PHILADELPHIA (95) AT CHICAGO (87)
Clarence Weatherspoon had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Terry
Cummings added 15 points as the Philadelphia 76ers posted their
second straight win, 95-87 over the Chicago Bulls, who played
without Michael Jordan.
Philadelphia (3-3), which has played all six of its preseason
games away from home, outscored the Bulls, 15-9, over the final
5:30 of the third quarter to break a 54-54 tie.
Ron Harper had 16 points and Jason Caffey added 15 points and
five rebounds in extended minutes due to the absence of Jordan,
Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. Keith Booth, the Bulls'
first-round draft pick in June, added 11 points and six
rebounds.
Chicago fell to 0-3 at home in its first game without Jordan,
who had toe surgery earlier this week. Jordan, who was on the
bench, led the team in scoring in each of its first five
exhibition games.
nba.987nba.news,
PHOENIX (113) AT VANCOUVER (83)
PHOENIX
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
MANNING F 32 4-5 0-0 2 3 5 6 3 1 3 8
MCDYESS F 30 13-19 1-2 2 7 9 1 5 2 7 27
ROBINSON C 30 6-9 1-2 2 5 7 4 1 1 1 15
CHAPMAN G 30 5-8 0-0 0 1 1 3 3 1 1 12
KIDD G 38 6-10 5-7 1 7 8 12 3 7 3 19
BRYANT 16 1-2 2-2 1 3 4 1 2 0 1 4
CEBALLOS 25 5-11 3-4 1 3 4 1 2 0 2 13
WILLIAMS 19 0-1 0-0 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 0
LLAMAS 8 0-1 0-0 0 2 2 3 3 1 3 0
JACKSON 8 4-6 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 8
CHAMBERS 2 0-1 2-2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2
MEYER 2 2-3 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 5
MCCLOUD DNP - NOT WITH TEAM
JOHNSON DNP - NOT WITH TEAM
NASH DNP - BRUISED THIGH
TOTALS 240 46-76 14-19 11 33 44 31 22 15 23 113
(.605) (.737) TEAM REBS: 4 TOTAL TO: 23(19 PTS)
VANCOUVER
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
ABDUR-RAHIM F 32 6-10 0-2 7 2 9 3 3 1 3 12
THORPE F 29 3-7 0-0 4 6 10 5 1 1 4 6
REEVES C 26 5-9 2-2 4 3 7 1 3 0 2 12
B EDWARDS G 16 4-11 2-3 1 1 2 2 3 0 1 10
DANIELS G 24 3-9 0-0 0 1 1 4 0 1 2 6
MAYBERRY 24 1-4 0-0 0 1 1 3 2 2 0 3
CHILCUTT 30 3-7 2-4 1 1 2 0 0 0 3 9
NEWBILL 7 0-2 0-1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
BOOTH 18 4-10 5-6 2 1 3 1 4 1 1 13
LYNCH 13 1-4 3-4 0 1 1 3 1 3 2 5
ROGERS 15 1-3 1-2 2 0 2 0 1 1 1 3
GREEN 3 2-3 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4
OGG 3 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
BROWN DNP - SHOULDER INJURY
ROBINSON DNP - ANKLE INJURY
TOTALS 240 33-79 15-24 22 18 40 22 20 10 21 83
(.418) (.625) TEAM REBS: 2 TOTAL TO: 21(22 PTS)
PHOENIX 30 32 29 22 - 113
VANCOUVER 21 25 17 20 - 83
BLOCKED SHOTS: PHOENIX - WILLIAMS 2, MCDYESS 2, ROBINSON. VANCOUVER -
OGG, ROGERS, NEWBILL, MAYBERRY, B EDWARDS, THORPE.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: PHOENIX 7-13 (.538), ROBINSON 2-3, CHAPMAN 2-2, KIDD
2-4, CEBALLOS 0-3, MEYER 1-1. VANCOUVER 2-9 (.222), B EDWARDS 0-1,
MAYBERRY 1-3, CHILCUTT 1-3, BOOTH 0-2.
TECHNICALS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: TOMMIE WOOD, MIKE CALLAHAN, HUE HOLLINS.
A - 0. T - 2:06.
PHOENIX (113) AT VANCOUVER (83)
Antonio McDyess scored 13 of his 27 points in the third quarter,
helping the Phoenix Suns pull away for a 113-83 pasting of the
Vancouver Grizzlies.
The Suns (4-2) led throughout and owned a 71-60 lead midway
through the third when they closed the period on a 20-3 run.
McDyess, who grabbed nine rebounds, had nine points during the
spurt, which gave Phoenix a 91-63 cushion heading into the
fourth.
Jason Kidd, who also scored nine in the run, finished with 19
points, 12 assists and eight rebounds. Cliff Robinson chipped
in with 15 points and seven rebounds and Cedric Ceballos scored
13 points off the bench for the Suns.
Phoenix was without guards Kevin Johnson, who has missed much of
the preseason with a groin problem, and Steve Nash, who sat out
the second straight game with a bruised thigh.
Rookie David Booth had 13 points while Shareef Abdur-Rahim and
Bryant Reeves added 12 apiece for the Grizzlies (2-5).
nba.988nba.news,
SACRAMENTO (84) AT DETROIT (104)
SACRAMENTO
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
FUNDERBURKE F 15 1-5 2-4 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 4
OWENS F 26 5-8 0-0 0 7 7 2 4 1 2 12
POLYNICE C 27 5-9 2-3 0 3 3 2 3 1 1 12
RICHMOND G 26 4-10 2-2 0 2 2 2 3 0 1 11
HURLEY G 19 2-3 0-0 0 1 1 4 0 0 2 4
JOHNSON 29 4-8 2-2 0 3 3 4 1 0 4 10
SMITH 21 3-4 3-7 4 4 8 1 2 0 0 9
C WILLIAMSON 22 1-10 3-4 1 3 4 3 3 1 4 5
STEWART 11 0-0 0-4 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0
DEHERE 22 5-12 4-5 1 1 2 1 3 0 0 15
SALVADORI 10 0-1 0-0 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 0
GRIMM 12 1-2 0-0 0 2 2 0 4 0 0 2
TOTALS 240 31-72 18-31 6 29 35 20 25 3 16 84
(.431) (.581) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 17(28 PTS)
DETROIT
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
HILL F 30 5-10 7-8 0 6 6 7 6 1 1 17
G LONG F 22 4-6 0-0 2 2 4 3 3 0 1 8
B WILLIAMS C 32 4-13 3-3 1 6 7 4 1 3 2 11
DUMARS G 26 2-5 0-0 0 1 1 4 1 2 0 4
HUNTER G 29 7-10 0-2 1 5 6 6 1 2 1 16
RATLIFF 19 2-6 3-4 3 3 6 2 4 0 0 7
J WILLIAMS 17 3-6 0-0 2 3 5 0 2 1 3 6
SEALY 24 6-8 7-11 0 2 2 0 4 1 0 19
MCKIE 25 4-9 2-2 0 5 5 3 1 2 2 10
REID 5 2-3 0-0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 4
OBANNON 6 1-3 0-1 1 1 2 0 3 0 0 2
ROBINSON 3 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
AMAYA 2 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TOTALS 240 40-80 22-31 10 34 44 30 28 12 11 104
(.500) (.710) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 12(8 PTS)
SACRAMENTO 22 16 23 23 - 84
DETROIT 31 21 27 25 - 104
BLOCKED SHOTS: SACRAMENTO - SMITH, STEWART. DETROIT - RATLIFF 3, J
WILLIAMS, SEALY.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: SACRAMENTO 4-11 (.364), OWENS 2-3, RICHMOND 1-1,
JOHNSON 0-3, DEHERE 1-3, GRIMM 0-1. DETROIT 2-6 (.333), DUMARS 0-3, HUNTER
2-2, OBANNON 0-1.
TECHNICALS: SACRAMENTO - RICHMOND 2 (EJECTED), SMITH.
OFFICIALS: HUGH EVANS, TOM WASHINGTON, DOUG SHOWS.
A - 11,388. T - 2:06.
SACRAMENTO (84) AT DETROIT (104)
Malik Sealy scored seven of his 19 points during a late
third-quarter run and Grant Hill chipped in 17 as the Detroit
Pistons routed the Sacramento Kings, 104-84.
Detroit (4-2) led 68-59 with 3:07 to play in the third quarter
before going on an 11-2 run to take a 79-61 lead into the fourth
period. Four of Sealy's seven points during the spurt came from
the free-throw line.
The Pistons' biggest lead was 93-68 with 6:05 to play.
Terry Dehere led the Kings with 13 points and Billy Owens and
Olden Polynice added 12 apiece.
Sacramento's Mitch Richmond was ejected with 2:25 to go in the
third quarter when he threw the ball and hit referee Doug Shows
after being whistled for a foul.
nba.989nba.news,
UTAH (99) AT CHARLOTTE (109)
UTAH
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
MALONE F 27 8-14 5-6 2 4 6 1 1 0 1 21
RUSSELL F 24 1-5 2-2 0 1 1 0 3 4 1 5
OSTERTAG C 29 4-6 1-2 1 7 8 1 5 0 0 9
EISLEY G 31 7-12 5-5 0 1 1 3 5 2 5 19
HORNACEK G 27 1-8 1-1 1 1 2 4 1 0 2 3
VAUGHN 17 4-6 0-0 0 0 0 7 2 0 4 8
ANDERSON 24 6-8 5-5 1 2 3 0 3 1 1 17
CARR 25 3-8 4-4 1 2 3 5 3 0 0 10
FOSTER 13 1-4 0-0 0 3 3 1 4 1 0 2
KEEFE 21 1-2 3-5 1 1 2 4 5 0 1 5
DREILING 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ERDMANN DNP - COACH'S DECISION
HUDSON DNP - COACH'S DECISION
MORRIS DNP - STRAINED RIGHT HAMSTRING
STOCKTON DNP - LEFT KNEE INJURY
TOTALS 240 36-73 26-30 7 22 29 26 32 8 15 99
(.493) (.867) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 15(19 PTS)
CHARLOTTE
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
MASON F 41 6-10 5-6 3 8 11 6 2 0 1 17
RICE F 39 5-11 12-15 0 5 5 2 5 2 5 23
DIVAC C 35 4-6 6-10 2 5 7 3 5 2 3 14
WESLEY G 21 2-5 0-0 0 0 0 7 3 1 4 4
PHILLS G 24 6-11 3-4 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 15
CURRY 21 5-8 0-0 2 1 3 2 0 2 0 12
BOGUES 8 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
GEIGER 10 2-5 2-2 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 6
REID 10 0-1 2-2 1 1 2 0 4 1 0 2
DELK 19 2-3 5-5 0 3 3 2 1 2 0 10
FARMER 12 1-2 4-4 0 1 1 0 2 0 1 6
BECK DNP - COACH'S DECISION
MEE DNP - COACH'S DECISION
WILLIAMS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
TOTALS 240 33-64 39-48 10 24 34 23 24 11 16 109
(.516) (.813) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 17(17 PTS)
UTAH 20 29 23 27 - 99
CHARLOTTE 27 24 27 31 - 109
BLOCKED SHOTS: UTAH - OSTERTAG, FOSTER. CHARLOTTE - DIVAC 2, CURRY.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: UTAH 1-9 (.111), RUSSELL 1-3, EISLEY 0-3, VAUGHN 0-1,
ANDERSON 0-1, FOSTER 0-1. CHARLOTTE 4-10 (.400), RICE 1-3, PHILLS 0-2,
CURRY 2-3, GEIGER 0-1, DELK 1-1.
TECHNICALS: UTAH - ILLEGAL DEFENSE 3, CHARLOTTE - MASON.
OFFICIALS: JIM CLARK, TED BERNHARDT, WOODY MAYFIELD.
A - 21,401. T - 2:18.
UTAH (99) AT CHARLOTTE (109)
Glen Rice scored 23 points and the Charlotte Hornets used a huge
edge at the free-throw line to post a 109-99 victory over the
Utah Jazz.
Charlotte was 39-of-48 (81 percent) from the line, led by Rice's
12-of-15 effort. Anthony Mason added 17 points and 11 rebounds
and Vlade Divac had 14 and seven.
A jumper by Mason gave the Hornets a 75-68 lead with 2:02 left
in the third quarter. Charlotte went nine minutes until its
next field goal, but the Hornets protected the lead by scoring
their next 18 points from the line, going 18-of-24. Tony Delk
converted a three-point play with 5:13 remaining to end the
spell and give Charlotte a 96-88 advantage.
Dell Curry had 12 points and Delk added 10 for the Hornets
(3-3).
Karl Malone scored 21 points in 27 minutes and Howard Eisley
contributed 19 for Utah (3-3).
nba.990nba.news,
WASHINGTON (113) AT LA LAKERS (124) - FINAL IN OT
WASHINGTON
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
GRANT F 17 1-4 0-0 1 3 4 2 2 0 2 2
WEBBER F 34 8-12 0-0 2 11 13 3 1 3 7 18
WILLIAMS C 10 0-0 0-2 0 2 2 1 3 0 0 0
CHEANEY G 32 7-12 4-5 0 4 4 1 4 2 0 18
WHITNEY G 33 5-13 4-4 1 2 3 8 6 2 7 17
SHAMMGOD 21 2-2 0-0 0 1 1 8 4 1 9 4
LECKNER 7 1-1 0-1 0 1 1 1 6 0 1 2
T MURRAY 31 4-14 8-8 0 0 0 1 2 2 1 16
HAM 29 5-8 3-6 3 1 4 1 6 1 1 13
WALLACE 23 2-3 0-0 2 2 4 1 4 1 0 4
OLIVER 22 7-14 0-0 1 4 5 1 2 0 1 17
MCCASKILL 5 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 2
KORNEGAY 1 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0
TOTALS 265 43-85 19-26 11 32 43 28 46 12 29 113
(.506) (.731) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 29(32 PTS)
LA LAKERS
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
FOX F 21 3-3 1-2 1 0 1 1 4 1 2 8
HORRY F 33 1-6 2-2 1 3 4 4 1 2 1 4
CAMPBELL C 37 10-18 13-20 3 10 13 1 2 2 2 33
VAN EXEL G 37 6-16 10-11 1 3 4 3 1 1 3 23
JONES G 31 3-10 7-10 2 1 3 3 4 2 4 13
BLOUNT 15 0-1 0-0 1 3 4 0 0 2 0 0
FISHER 16 1-6 5-6 1 2 3 0 2 2 2 7
ROOKS 15 1-5 0-0 5 2 7 2 4 1 1 2
BRYANT 17 5-8 2-4 1 5 6 0 2 0 2 12
BARRY 22 4-8 6-8 0 0 0 4 0 1 1 14
BENNETT 8 1-3 1-2 1 1 2 0 1 0 1 3
SEALS 13 2-5 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 5
TOTALS 265 37-89 47-65 17 31 48 18 22 15 19 124
(.416) (.723) TEAM REBS: 22 TOTAL TO: 19(22 PTS)
WASHINGTON 27 24 24 32 6 - 113
LA LAKERS 33 20 17 37 17 - 124
BLOCKED SHOTS: WASHINGTON - WEBBER 4, HAM 2. LA LAKERS - HORRY 3, ROOKS
2, CAMPBELL, BRYANT, BARRY, BENNETT.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: WASHINGTON 8-20 (.400), WEBBER 2-2, WHITNEY 3-6, T
MURRAY 0-5, OLIVER 3-7. LA LAKERS 3-15 (.200), FOX 1-1, HORRY 0-2, VAN
EXEL 1-3, JONES 0-2, FISHER 0-1, BRYANT 0-1, BARRY 0-3, SEALS 1-2.
TECHNICALS: WASHINGTON - HAM, LA LAKERS - HEAD COACH HARRIS, CAMPBELL.
OFFICIALS: GARY BENSON, RONNIE NUNN, DAVID JONES.
A - 10,771. T - 2:42.
WASHINGTON (113) AT LA LAKERS (124) - FINAL IN OT
Elden Campbell racked up 33 points and 13 rebounds and Nick Van
Exel added 23 points as the Los Angeles Lakers came back to beat
the Washington Wizards, 124-113, in overtime.
Los Angeles trailed 107-97 with 1:12 to play, but scored the
final 10 points of regulation to send the game to overtime.
Campbell had six points during that stretch and Eddie Jones, who
finished with 13 points, hit the game-tying layup with nine
seconds left.
The Lakers (4-2) dominated the extra session, scoring the same
number of points they posted in the third quarter.
Newly-acquired Jon Barry had 14 points and Kobe Bryant chipped
in 12 for the Lakers, who learned that superstar center
Shaquille O'Neal will be out for the next week with an abdominal
strain.
Chris Webber and Calbert Cheaney had 18 points apiece for the
Wizards (2-3), with Webber also grabbing 13 rebounds. Chris
Whitney and Jimmy Oliver each added 17 points and Tracy Murray
contributed 16.
Washington was without more than half of its starting lineup.
Forward Juwan Howard missed the game due to a sprained ankle,
center Gheorghe Muresan sat out with a strained tendon in his
right ankle and guard Rod Strickland did not dress because of a
pulled left hamstring.
nba.991nba.news,
NBA Top Individual Performances
(Through Wednesday, October 22nd)
POINTS
PLAYER OPPONENT TOTAL DATE
Steve Nash, PHO at Houston 35 10-15-97
Shaquille Oneal, LAL vs. Cleveland 34 10-18-97
Olden Polynice, SAC vs. Portland 33 10-10-97
Latrell Sprewell, GSW vs. Denver 33 10-14-97
Shareef Abdur-rahim, VAN at La Clippers 32 10-11-97
Antoine Walker, BOS at Atlanta 32 10-11-97
Sam Cassell, NJN at Boston 32 10-15-97
Antonio Mcdyess, PHO vs. Houston 32 10-19-97
Chris Webber, WAS at Denver 32 10-20-97
Kobe Bryant, LAL at Denver 31 10-09-97
Antoine Walker, BOS at Orlando 31 10-21-97
REBOUNDS
PLAYER OPPONENT TOTAL DATE
Eric Struelens, PSG vs. Chicago 20 10-17-97
Jayson Williams, NJN vs. Utah 20 10-20-97
Greg Ostertag, UTH vs. Charlotte 19 10-11-97
Shawn Bradley, DAL vs. Houston 17 10-11-97
Shawn Bradley, DAL vs. Vancouver 17 10-15-97
Ac Green, DAL vs. Phoenix 17 10-17-97
Tim Duncan, SAS vs. Houston 17 10-18-97
Antoine Walker, BOS vs. Atlanta 16 10-10-97
Shaquille Oneal, LAL at Phoenix 15 10-10-97
Tony Battie, DEN vs. Golden State 15 10-12-97
Jayson Williams, NJN at Boston 15 10-15-97
Shareef Abdur-rahim, VAN at Dallas 15 10-15-97
Alfonso Reyes, PSG vs. Fc Barcelona 15 10-16-97
Antoine Walker, BOS at Orlando 15 10-21-97
ASSISTS
PLAYER OPPONENT TOTAL DATE
Jason Kidd, PHO vs. Houston 18 10-19-97
Sam Cassell, NJN at Boston 15 10-15-97
Rod Strickland, WAS at San Antonio 13 10-16-97
Riccardo Pittis, BEN at Fc Barcelona 13 10-18-97
Bob Sura, CLE vs. New Jersey 12 10-16-97
David Wesley, CHA vs. Minnesota 12 10-19-97
Jason Kidd, PHO vs. La Lakers 10 10-10-97
Jason Kidd, PHO vs. Vancouver 10 10-12-97
Damon Stoudamire, TOR vs. Seattle 10 10-13-97
Sam Cassell, NJN at Cleveland 10 10-16-97
Damon Stoudamire, TOR at New York 10 10-19-97
nba.992nba.news,
Knicks ship four players to Celtics for Mills
BOSTON -- The New York Knicks accelerated their quest for a
championship on Wednesday, trading four players -- including their
three youngest -- to the Boston Celtics for forward Chris Mills.
New York dealt second-year forwards Walter McCarty and Dontae' Jones,
rookie forward John Thomas and veteran guard Scott Brooks to the
Celtics. The Knicks also will have the option of choosing from any of
Boston's six second-round picks over the next four years.
The youngest player on New York's roster is shooting guard Allan
Houston, 26.
"We're playing for right now," New York coach Jeff Van Gundy said
before Wednesday night's 89-84 exhibition victory against the Celtics.
"I think people get too concerned with youth. You want players who are
good and who are in their prime."
"Our dream is a lot further along down the road than the Knicks',"
Celtics coach Rick Pitino said, adding that more moves will be
necessary before the Oct. 31 season opener. "The Knicks feel like
they're on a championship drive right now."
Mills, 27, signed a seven-year, $33.6 million contract with Boston
just two months ago after he left the Cleveland Cavaliers as a free
agent.
He figures to have his playing time greatly reduced by going from the
Celtics' starting lineup to a backup role behind small forward Larry
Johnson. That's why, Mills said, Pitino gave him veto power over the
trade.
"If I didn't feel like I was comfortable with it, he wouldn't do the
deal," Mills said. "... (But) I'm going to a team that can contend
right away. My main objective is to help the team win. If they feel
like they need me down there to do that, I'm very happy."
General manager Ernie Grunfeld said Mills can also help out at
off-guard.
"He said that whatever the team wants him to do he will do. He's only
concerned about winning," Grunfeld said, adding that the team is not
completely devoid of youth. "Chris Mills is only 27 years old, so he
has his future ahead of him. He's just hitting his prime."
McCarty becomes the third member of the Celtics' current roster to
have played for Pitino at Kentucky, joining Antoine Walker and Ron
Mercer.
None of the players involved in the deal played in Wednesday night's
exhibition game, but McCarty and Thomas arrived in the middle and sat
in the stands. They are required to pass physicals for the deal to be
final.
By acquiring Mills, it seems the Knicks apparently were unwilling to
go into the season with the unproven McCarty and Jones as their only
backups to Johnson.
John Wallace, the backup small forward from last year, was traded to
Toronto in a three-way deal completed two weeks ago that brought
backup center Chris Dudley to New York.
The two trades have left the Knicks without any of the three No. 1
draft choices they selected in 1996, when they picked 18th, 19th and
21st overall to get Wallace, McCarty and Jones. Thomas was New York's
only pick from the 1997 draft.
"We were intrigued and encouraged with the prospects of our young
players, however the chances were that they were not going to see the
amount of substantial minutes that Chris will," Grunfeld said.
Mills is a four-year veteran whose scoring average increased every
year until dipping from 15.1 to 13.4 last season when he played for
the low-scoring Cavs. A career 38 percent shooter from 3-point range,
he will give the Knicks another scoring option off the bench other
than John Starks.
McCarty played sparingly last season and Jones spent his rookie year
on the injured list after recovering from foot surgery.
Thomas, the No. 25 overall pick, averaged 9.0 points and 6.3 rebounds
in his senior season at Minnesota. He played 18 minutes in three
exhibition games for the Knicks, averaging six minutes, 3.0 points and
1.3 rebounds.
nba.993nba.news,
Chris Mills' career statistics
(Oct 22, 1997 - 22:58 EDT) -- The career statistics of Chris Mills,
who was traded to the New York Knicks on Wednesday:
Regular season
Year, Team G FG FT Reb Ast Pts
1993-94, Cle 79 .420 .778 5.1 1.6 9.4
1994-95, Cle 80 .420 .817 4.6 1.9 12.3
1995-96, Cle 80 .468 .829 5.5 2.4 15.1
1996-97, Cle 80 .453 .842 6.2 2.5 13.4
Totals 319 .442 .819 5.4 2.1 12.6
Playoffs
Year, Team G FG FT Reb Ast Pts
1993-94, Cle 3 .500 .818 7.7 2.7 17.0
1994-95, Cle 4 .541 1.000 4.0 2.8 13.3
1995-96, Cle 3 .333 1.000 5.3 1.7 7.7
Totals 10 .463 .882 5.5 2.4 12.7
nba.994nba.news,
Mavericks sign Freeman, Allen; release Mackey
DALLAS (Oct 22, 1997 - 21:10 EDT) -- The Dallas Mavericks signed
6-foot-6 guard Reggie Freeman to a non-guaranteed, one-year contract
on Wednesday after he was cut by the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bucks had signed the former Texas star and consensus All-Big 12
player as a free agent after he went unclaimed in the 1997 NBA draft.
Freeman played in a school-record 212 consecutive games for the
Longhorns and was the first Texas player to play in four NCAA
tournaments in a row.
He averaged 21.8 points a game last season after a 22.4 average as a
junior.
Also Wednesday, the Mavericks signed free-agent guard Jerome Allen, a
third-year player who was cut this preseason. He averaged 2.6 points
per game in 41 games as a rookie with Minnesota and 3.0 points per
game in 76 games with Denver and Indiana last season.
The Mavericks also waived forward Malcolm Mackey on Wednesday.
nba.995nba.news,
Shaq out a week due to abdominal strain
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Oct 22, 1997 - 1997 EDT) -- Los Angeles Lakers
center Shaquille O'Neal, injured in Tuesday night's exhibition game at
Denver, was diagnosed Wednesday with an abdominal strain.
O'Neal is expected to be out a minimum of one week, the team said.
He has begun treatments, including physical therapy and
anti-inflammatory medication, and will be re-evaluated by Dr. Steve
Lombardo next Monday.
O'Neal, who strained his abdominal muscle Oct. 3 in the first day of
preseason drills, had four points and two rebounds in four minutes
before aggravating the muscle early in the first quarter Tuesday.
nba.996nba.news,
National Basketball Association Transactions
Oct 22 1997
Miami Heat: Waived guard Ruben Nembhard and forward Muntrelle Dobbins.
Toronto Raptors: Signed forward Ed Stokes.
Oct 21 1997
Chicago Bulls: Released center Thomas Hamilton.
Denver Nuggets: Released guard Elmer Bennett.
Phoenix Suns: Waived forward Russ Millard.
Oct 19 1997
Atlanta Hawks: Released Drew Barry and Walter Bond.
Boston Celtics: Waived rookie center Lorenzo Coleman.
Oct 18 1997
Denver Nuggets: Waived guard Alvin Sims.
nba.997nba.news,
Bird, Parish to reunite in Boston
BOSTON - Nostalgia will compete with basketball in Boston when the
Celtics combine Larry Bird's return with a ceremony to retire Robert
Parish's No. 00 jersey.
Bird brings his Indiana Pacers to Boston on Jan. 18. At halftime,
Parish, who earned his fourth championship with the Chicago Bulls last
season, will become the 21st player in Boston history to have his
jersey number retired. He retired in August after 21 seasons.
nba.998nba.news,
Jordan hits the bowling lanes
CHICAGO (Oct 22, 1997 - 10:40 EDT) -- You've seen him on the
basketball court, in the baseball field and on the golf course.
But Michael Jordan at the bowling lanes?
Mechanicsville, Va.-based AMF Bowling Worldwide has hired the Chicago
Bulls superstar to endorse its company in a five-year deal announced
Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
AMF, which announced plans to go public in August, owns 353 bowling
centers. It also has agreed to buy Jordan's fledgling Michael Jordan
Golf Co.
"The value of Michael Jordan is simply popularity and how recognizable
he is," said Jed Pearsall, head of Performace Research, which
evaluates sponsorship deals for companies. "He has a proven track
record. And who knows, maybe he's a great bowler."
nba.999nba.news,
Jackson says Bulls need Rodman
DEERFIELD, Ill. (Oct 22, 1997 - 21:10 EDT) -- Dennis Rodman must
decide if he really wants to play for the Bulls, says coach Phil
Jackson, who isn't sure Chicago can win another NBA title without the
tattooed rebounding machine.
"My message to management was if we couldn't sign Brian Williams, we
had to have Dennis -- and we didn't sign Williams. We need Dennis'
fire. We need that player who can instill some fear," Jackson told The
Associated Press on Wednesday, a day before Rodman was to announce
whether he will return.
"We need the desire, intensity, full-out play ... all the capabilities
Dennis brings to the floor. That goes some distance when the team is
trying to defend, rebound, get after the ball. Just that energy level
that's a fueling source to the rest of the players, we need that.
"I don't know if we can or can't win without him. All I know is it
would be a lot easier with him."
Rodman, who has led the league in rebounding -- and suspensions -- the
last six seasons, said he would decide by noon Thursday if he'll come
back to the team he helped win the last two NBA championships.
"If it's going to be, let's do it. If it's not going to be, move on,"
he said Tuesday. "There's always a chance I won't be here. If it
doesn't happen, we go on with our lives. I go home, they stay here and
we'll resolve it that way. Life seems to work itself out."
He initially had expressed displeasure with incentive clauses in a
one-year contract he has yet to sign. But Jackson and Rodman's agent,
Dwight Manley, both said the contract is no longer the issue.
"I think Dennis put the onus on himself as to whether he needs or
wants to play," Jackson said. "I don't think Dennis has to play,
financially.
"I think he's got a lot of things that have happened for him over the
last two years, and right now I think he's got to really want to come
back and play with this team and want to be with his teammates ... to
come back on Thursday and give us the word that, 'Hey, it's a go, and
the season's on.'
"It's all come down to the fact that negotiations and contract and
everything else are OK. It's just now whether it's in his heart to
play or not."
The team said Rodman didn't sign his contract Oct. 10 because
bronchitis prevented him from completing his physical examination. And
Rodman elected not to sign when the Bulls returned Sunday from France,
where they played two exhibition games.
The deal reportedly has a base salary of $4.5 million with incentives
that could push it past the $9 million deal he had in 1996-97.
Manley has said his 36-year-old client is mulling retirement because
Rodman isn't sure he still wants to play. Rodman, who was suspended
three times last season, has become as famous for dyeing his hair and
wearing women's clothing as he is for rebounding. He also has gotten
rich through endorsements, book deals and other off-the-court
endeavors.
Michael Jordan, who will miss the rest of the preseason after having
ingrown toenails removed, said the team is better with Rodman but can
win its sixth title in eight years without the "Worm."
"If he wants to play, he can come play for us," Jordan said Wednesday.
"If he don't want to play, ...."
Jason Caffey, who has started at power forward in Rodman's absence,
was asked if life would be easier without the flamboyant forward.
"How could it be easier when that's a guy grabbing 20 boards a night
for us? We need him," Caffey said. "He's the best at what he does.
Rebounding is something this team needs because we have guys who can
score."
As for Rodman's foul mouth, dirty play and erratic behavior, Jackson
said the Bulls have become used to all of it.
"If Dennis did things by the routine methodology that most people work
under, I would be surprised," he said. "That's the only thing that
would surprise me, if he did something you could count on."
nba.1000nba.news,
Olajuwon can't shake his awful Albuquerque memory
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Oct 22, 1997 - 09:28 EDT) -- "Do you remember the
last time you were in Albuquerque?" a fan asked Hakeem Olajuwon at a
Muslim speaking engagement Monday night.
Olajuwon was silent. You could tell by the stare on Olajuwon's face
that he remembered. And as he considered the question, the key
sequence of that visit played out in his head:
It's April 1983 -- the NCAA championship basketball game, pitting the
seemingly invincible University of Houston against a team of dreamers
from North Carolina State University.
The score is tied at 52 apiece with three seconds to go.
Houston's 20-year-old center from Nigeria, Akeem Olajuwon, is told to
stand underneath the basket at the north end of The Pit. As the final
seconds tick, he follows the ball as it leaves the hands of North
Carolina State guard Dereck Whittenburg.
"An air ball," Olajuwon thinks. "All right; overtime."
But he's wrong. N.C. State's Lorenzo Charles leaps up in front of
Olajuwon, grabs the air ball and slam-dunks Olajuwon's dreams of an
NCAA championship.
Final score: N.C. State 54, Houston 52.
For Olajuwon, that was Albuquerque.
"Even when I try to forget about that game, people remind me," said
Olajuwon, who was back in Albuquerque for Tuesday night's NBA
exhibition game matching the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks at
The Pit.
"That wasn't too good an experience for me."
But the loss was just a small moment in time. He had to look forward
and couldn't let it spoil his spirits, he said.
"Today, looking back on it, I have a much more relaxed feeling," said
Olajuwon, who's entering his 14th season with the Rockets.
"You move on. After winning a championship in the pros, college seems
so small. I've won a championship on a level bigger than college."
Olajuwon and the Rockets won NBA championships in 1994 and 1995.
Today, he is no longer the same wide-eyed, eager 20-year-old.
For one thing, he asked in 1991 for his first name to be spelled with
an H. The 7-foot center walks at a slow pace, commanding respect and
attention. With more than 23,000 points and nearly 12,000 rebounds
under his belt, Olajuwon is a seasoned veteran who has watched the
game evolve.
"I'm from the old school where the league was tougher," he said. "Now,
the NBA makes so many rules that you can barely touch another player."
Olajuwon has three years left on his contract and says he wants to
play them out and try for a third championship ring.
Winning is still important to Olajuwon, but so is teaching. He spent
Monday evening at Woodward Hall on the University of New Mexico campus
speaking on behalf of the Muslim Student Association.
He told those in attendance about the importance of health, faith and
goals. He talked about accepting things and moving on.
"When people talk about Albuquerque, I always flash back to the game
we lost," he said following his lecture.
"Now when I think about Albuquerque, I'll think about my visit here
(at the Muslim speaking engagement) because it's so refreshing to me."
The audience clapped loudly because his testimonial is strong.
Olajuwon overcame defeat and went on to win.
The name "Olajuwon" is translated as "always being on top."
And now he has come back to a city linked with loss and adversity with
a new frame of mind. The past is gone, and Hakeem Olajuwon is focused
on staying on top.
nba.1001nba.news,
Nuggets brass tries to drum up fan support for woeful team
DENVER (Oct 22, 1997 - 07:05 EDT) -- As the Denver Nuggets' 1996-97
season came to its horrendous 21-61 conclusion, the organization had
reached a low point.
The fans were staying away. The Pepsi Center seemed a distant dream.
And that is just the kind of environment marketing executives often
dream of -- one rife with opportunity and nowhere to go but up.
Ellen Robinson was hired by the team's parent company on June 10, 1996
as president of Ascent Sports, and a large part of her job was to
begin the resurrection of the Nuggets. In the past 14 months she has
hired four people, promoted nine, created a customer service
department for season ticket holders and revamped game-day operations
to include new music and videos.
Robinson says she thinks that with a new coach and several changes
toward more fan-friendly service, the Nuggets' ship has begun to right
itself.
Ultimately, though, the fans will be the judge.
Keeping the old fans:
It's the most basic tenet of marketing. Forget the giveaways and
flashy television advertisements; marketing is about giving consumers
what they want.
To that end, Robinson created a customer service department devoted to
the team's 8,500 season ticket holders.
Robinson said that in the past year, the department has made more than
10,000 calls to season ticket holders, giving each client a personal
representative to hear their complaints and suggestions and act on
them..
Next came locker-room chats with Robinson, vice president of
basketball operations Allan Bristow and coach Bill Hanzlik, during
which season ticket holders were asked, "What will make your
experience better?" They were candid, and the discussions led to
changes.
"One of the biggest changes will be that our music will be different,
a little less hip-hop, and more that is suited to our audience,"
Robinson said.
Other changes include:
The creation of a Kids Club with membership cards, pennants, buttons,
etc.
A newsletter to keep fans updated on team news and events.
"Ticket Redemption Night," which will allow season ticket holders to
exchange unused tickets for tickets to future games.
A sweepstakes in November or December to give four to six people an
opportunity to fly on the team plane to a road game.
Five luncheons, each for 50-75 season ticket holders, at which they
can eat with Hanzlik, Bristow and certain players.
Searching for new fans:
Ascent purchased database lists from marketing companies to identify
potential customers for Nuggets games.
"Thousands of calls were made to new businesses in town and
individuals we thought would be candidates for season tickets,"
Robinson said.
It paid off.
After one direct mailing that invited potential customers to an open
house, 500 people who were not season ticket holders turned out to
meet Hanzlik, Bristow and Robinson and hear the team's pitch.
The Nuggets finished 21-61 last season, and without Antonio McDyess,
their prospects aren't much better for this season.
Robinson needs something to sell, a reason to make people believe.
Without a great array of talent, the answer is Hanzlik.
"The Nose" has a history with the team. He's liked in the community,
he's energetic, animated, and he hasn't lost a game.
Hanzlik also is the one person Robinson knew would be sticking around.
So she coupled Hanzlik's enthusiasm with his up-tempo offensive
philosophy and came up with the motto: "Every Game, Every Quarter,
Every Minute."
The team's new motto was perfect for the advertising agencies, too,
which created television and radio advertisements for the season.
The ads focus on Hanzlik's coaching philosophy: Hustle creates
excitement.
In one spot, rookie forward Danny Fortson can't even go to the
bathroom without a time clock being put on his, er, movements. In
another, team captain Bryant Stith hustles to cook and clean the house
at top speed.
"It's been fun creating some new ideas to try and get the power back
in Nuggets basketball," said rookie center Tony Battie, whom the
Nuggets selected fifth overall in this year's draft. "I try not to
look over the history of the Nuggets. This is my era, coach Hanzlik's
era, Bobby's (Jackson) era, Danny's (Fortson) era, a whole new
coaching staff, a whole new core of players.
"This is a whole new team, if you ask me."
Now that the Nuggets have new players, new coaches, a new customer
service department and new music, Robinson figures they need a new
opening act. Her efforts evolved into a new player introduction
sequence on the Diamond Vision based on the team's 30th anniversary.
This season the team is increasing the number of handouts for adults
and older children (ages 12-20) and is starting a "Kids Corner" so
younger children can get handouts at all 41 home games.
The Nuggets also plan at least two theme-oriented promotions. Much
like the NBA's Top 50, the Nuggets are organizing an event to honor
some of the greatest players in Nuggets history. The group might be
smaller, perhaps 15 to 20, but it will give fans a chance to pay
tribute to former stars Alex English, David Thompson and others.
If all turns out as Robinson hopes, the Nuggets will sell out six to
eight games this season, up from last year's lone sellout, for a game
against the Chicago Bulls. More important, fans will regard the
experience as entertaining.
"We're working our butts off to make this a better experience, and
there's a lot of new things all aimed at bringing fans back and
keeping them," she said. "We have to open ourselves up to the
community so they can see that and learn what we're about.
"Ultimately, though, the critical point is going to be delivering. On
opening night, the team has to be working hard to live up to the
commitment that Bill (Hanzlik) has made. And the fans have to feel the
energy and enjoyment is back in Nuggets basketball."
nba.1002nba.news,
Bird pondering rotation at point guard
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) With his official coaching debut a week awy, Larry
Bird is still pondering his options at point guard.
Mark Jackson, who led the NBA while splitting the season between
Denver and Indiana, is one option. Travis Best is another, and Bird is
still considering Jalen Rose, heading into the weekend's final two
exhibition games against Sacramento and Charlotte.
"I haven't really figured that out," Bird said Wednesday. ``At times
Jalen has looked real well there. Mark Jackson is just coming on. He
won't tell me, but I still feel his ankle is bothering him a little
bit.
"But after watching him the last two games, he's really picked it up
and is starting to look like the Mark Jackson of old."
Best was going to get an opportunity on Tuesday, but he was suspended
for the game by Bird after missing the team's flight for its
exhibition game in Nashville, Tenn.
"It's unfortunate what happened," Bird said of Best. ``I wanted to see
him play, to get a better feel of how he does in certain situations.
But we've got two games left. We'll have all three of them out, and
we'll just see who gets the job done."
Bird will also be considering moves to reach next week's league
deadline for a 12-man active roster. There are 17 players on the
preseason roster, but first-round draft pick Austin Croshere and
veterans Derrick McKey and Haywoode Workman are likely headed to the
injured list.
The Pacers are 4-2 in the preseason following Tuesday night's 95-83
triumph over Charlotte in Nashville.
"The guys came out and really gave an effort," Bird said. ``That was
nice to see. We finally put it together. I tell these guys, if we can
get seven or eight guys playing well, we can win every game."
Five players finished in double figures as the Pacers shot 54 percent
from the field. Fred Hoiberg led the way with 18 points, followed by
Antonio Davis (16), Chris Mullin (15), Reggie Miller (14) and Rik
Smits (12).
"We had a number of guys who came out and did what they had to do,
play the good defense. They were fun to watch," Bird said. "The effort
was there, the defense was there. I think they're starting to learn
the system."
Bird is still trying to determine how to divide the minutes as the
team prepares for Friday's game with Sacramento and a visit by
Charlotte on Saturday.
"We've got to get into some kind of rotation with how we're going to
try and do it during the season," Bird said, adding that he didn't
plan to make his roster decisions until after the final two
exhibitions.
Center Todd Lindeman and swingman Ron Riley are two who figure to be
on the bubble, and rookie forward Eldrick Bohannon may have a tough
time making the cut.
Unlike most coaches, Bird doesn't anticipate going with the same basic
starting five every night.
"To me, it really doesn't matter who starts," Bird said. ``Some guys
who don't start will probably play more minutes than the starters.
When you start guys, sometimes you don't start the same guys because
you might want the matchups to be different when they make their
substitutions."
The starting unit will likely feature Dale Davis at power forward,
Smits at center, Mullin at small forward and Miller with either
Jackson or Best in the backcourt.
Antonio Davis, the only Pacers player to appear in all 82 games last
season including a career-high of 28 starts, will apparently start the
season on the bench.
"Tony is used to coming off the bench, that doesn't mean he isn't a
better player than Dale," Bird said. "That means he'll probably play
more minutes, because when Rik and Dale are in there together, Tony is
going to come in for one of them. ... It's probably better to start
him on the bench and work him around."
nba.1003nba.news,
Here's hoping Bird's fairytale with Pacers doesn't have bad ending
(Oct 22, 1997 - 1997 EDT) -- The basketball won't even be in his
hands, but all around the NBA, they will come to see Larry Bird. In
his shirt and tie, coaching the Indiana Pacers, trying to make them
over in his own Larry Legend image.
The so-called Hick from French Lick is taking on a large task for
which he has had no formal training. No time as an assistant coach, no
duty on a college bench, no nothing.
Even successful NBA coaches have learned their lessons the hard way.
That happened with Jerry Sloan in Chicago, who had only playing and
scouting experience when he became head coach of the Bulls. And then
he got a second chance in Utah, where he was an assistant first, and
now ranks as the NBA coach with the longest consecutive tenure with
one team.
We hope the Pacers spare Larry Bird a rookie coach's trial. We want
this season to be special. We're afraid it could be a disaster.
But we don't want to think about that now. Maybe, just maybe, this is
a year that has a very happy ending. For the moment, no one can take
such innocent anticipation away from us.
Already, though, the players take Larry's innocence from him. They
made a fourth-quarter comeback in a preseason game against Utah the
other night and, as Bird said, "stole" it.
But this only left the coach feeling miserable, unable to smile even a
little bit.
"I'm happy we won," he said, looking unhappy, minutes after the game.
"But actually, some of the guys took the night off. I'm only asking
them for 25 or 30 minutes a night. It just can't be that hard."
But it is.
So the bigger story unfolds slowly. And at the heart of that story
lies our fear: Over the long term, Bird won't be able to live with
short-attention-span players.
"He doesn't have Larry playing for him," says Washington Wizards coach
Bernie Bickerstaff, voicing the main concern since Bird accepted the
job. "When you're talking about being a perfect player, like Larry
Bird was, your patience will be (tested)."
Bird's partner in recreating the NBA, Magic Johnson, tried coaching
but quit in frustration. It's the example often thrown in Bird's face.
"When Magic coached, he was still good enough to play," says Bird, 40.
"I always felt he got into it too early."
We'll accept that. But what, if anything, did Larry Bird gain from
puttering around the Boston front office after his retirement five
years ago?
"A lot of people want to know what I've been doing the last five
years," he says. "I took my handicap from a nine to a four."
Nice line. Nice honesty, too. Meantime, Bird may need his sense of
humor more than ever before: Like when Rik Smits's feet hurt. Like
when Reggie Miller's 3-pointers find the rim, but not the net. Like
when nobody plays any defense.
Even if the Pacers are good, there will be nights like that. If
they're not so good, there will be many nights like that. This is the
stress of coaching, and there's no easy way to relieve it.
"Players get to air it out, hit people, dive," says Dave Cowens,
another former Celtic and now coach of the Charlotte Hornets. "When
you're coaching, you don't have that.
"You just have to have confidence in your guys, that they'll continue
to have good attitudes."
How much will Bird tolerate from today's NBA players, when he already
seems amazed at the way they pick their spots for hard play in
preseason games?
"When I was a player, I didn't expect my teammates to play the way I
did," Bird says. "I did expect them to work hard every day and get
better. And I never learned anything by losing."
He means that. Of course, Bird didn't lose much.
"I can remember him getting a shot off in my face and telling me I'm
too slow," says Pacers guard Mark Jackson, able to laugh about it now.
"And I can remember seeing him in the gym an hour and a half before
anyone else was there."
New Pacers forward Chris Mullin recalls Bird beating up his Golden
State Warriors, and pounding on him in particular.
"Larry was as tough on you physically as he was mentally," says
Mullin. "I think that's the characteristic we'll take on -- run people
into the ground in the fourth quarter."
Bird promised this team would be ruthlessly well-conditioned, still
his demeanor isn't as tense, or as obsessively intense, as predecessor
Larry Brown's.
According to the guys in the baggy shorts, this is a good change.
"It's definitely a more relaxed atmosphere," Miller says. "The
coaching staff's more approachable, there's more one-on-one, more pats
on the back.
"It's fresh, new, a honeymoon right now."
Honeymoons are traditionally short. Larry Bird, in his native Indiana,
is certainly allowed a longer honeymoon than the typical new coach.
But he is not allowed forever.
Soon, everything Pacer becomes part of his permanent record. Larry
Bird is ultimately responsible. And he will have less control over the
outcome of his team's games than ever before.
"It's a player's league," Bird says. "I've always said that. I'm happy
and honored to have this opportunity. And I want to show people I know
what I'm doing."
Most of the folks who fill the seats around the NBA want to believe
that he will.
It's too early, and too painful, to believe that he won't.
nba.1004nba.news,
Jordan has Kings on an even keel
Mitch Richmond spent two weeks doing nothing. No practices, no games,
not even a plane trip to accompany his team on the road. His rationale
was simple: "I'm just trying to get ready for the season," he said. "I
can't give it to them during the season if I'm hurt from the
preseason."
Funny, but you'd think a guy so used to playing only 82 games every
year wouldn't feel a need to pace himself.
Actually, Sacramento's meal ticket seemed destined to follow that path
established so indelibly by Shawn Kemp, who proved that sulking and
refusing to work are two good ways to expedite a trade. The only
difference is, Richmond issued a statement before camp that gave the
Kings hope.
It was all insincere rubbish, in retrospect, something about how he'd
be a professional despite his earlier trade request and the perpetual
injustice he's endured (and he is grossly underpaid, at $3 million
this season and $2.5 million next).
When camp began, Richmond claimed to have acquired an Achilles'
injury. Of course, the fact that he was seen blowing by people in
one-on-one games after practices merely was coincidental.
But Kings head coach Eddie Jordan, who is running his first camp,
handled it beautifully. He didn't blast Richmond, he refused to call
him a distraction, and he didn't panic, mindful that the Kings will
not get out of the Pacific cellar without their best player.
Jordan did, however, deliver some wise remarks pertaining to
Richmond's professional responsibility and, in effect, made it clear
that his great scorer was shooting airballs in his attempt to get
action.
"We would be a better team if he were playing games," Jordan said. "We
would be a better team if he would take the leadership role and really
take charge. And I've sat Mitch down and told him this. I said, 'Your
numbers and your career speak well of yourself. But to achieve
greatness, you have to be a leader, and you have to take another team
to that level.' Now, does he want to do that?"
In the interim -- mindful that the Kings couldn't get equal value for
Richmond in a trade and that they are prevented from reworking his
contract -- Jordan went about his business. He's put in a wire-to-wire
trapping style -- yes, with Bobby Hurley starting at the point -- and
he thinks the Kings will make a run at the last playoff spot.
Don't laugh: It may take only 35 wins to reach the postseason out West
this year. But getting there is infinitely easier with a player such
as Richmond on your side.
"Mitch knows how I feel, what's at stake," Jordan said. "Reputation is
what people perceive you to be. Character is who you really are."
Here's the upshot: Richmond blinked. He finally showed up last Friday,
ready for work. He played -- and played well -- and the Kings are
having a surprisingly good preseason under Jordan. And whether
Richmond keeps his head together or not, the other Kings have learned
that Jordan is not the kind of coach you want to disappoint.
Injury of the week
We've often heard that Doug Collins makes some players sick, but this
is ridiculous: Throughout the last few weeks, Joe Dumars has been
breaking out in rashes, and somebody finally traced it to the new Nike
jerseys the Pistons have been wearing. "My face gets all puffed up,
and I break out all over," Dumars said. "I don't know if it's the dye
they used or if it's the soap they wash it with."
It also could be that Dumars' allergic reaction is psychological: He
is, after all, an adidas guy.
"Must be the swoosh," he said.
Scattershooting
Robert Parish's retirement ceremony will coincide with Bird's first
appearance at Boston: Jan. 18. . . . Trade rumor of the week: Mark
Price for Brian Shaw, which figures. Any team willing to give Nick
Anderson $40 million probably doesn't flinch at the notion of paying
Price $9 million over the next two years. . . .
The Knicks still are interested in bringing Cedric Ceballos to the
Garden, and they've found a third party (Toronto) willing to give
Phoenix the draft picks required to get it done. The Raptors like
Walter McCarty in the three-way deal. . . .
Two classic rookie mistakes: Atlanta's Ed Gray stayed home from a trip
to Toronto because he didn't know he needed a passport for the team's
visit to Canada; and Toronto teen Tracy McGrady realized something was
wrong when his shorts began slipping down as he tried to guard Gary
Payton. "I guess I forgot to tie the string," he said. . . .
Brent Barry's first impressions of the Blazers: "They have 65
forwards, and every guy is 6-10." . . .
From the Get a Grip File: The front page of last Wednesday's
France-Soir -- that's the Paris daily -- included a full-length color
shot of Michael Jordan, accompanied by this lead paragraph: "Michael
Jordan is in Paris. That's better than the Pope. It's God in person.
The god of basketball. The star of stars. The world's most popular
athlete, its highest-paid, its most idolized. . . . " And you wonder
why they have a paparazzi problem.
Oh, God, Part II: As his son, Bryan Colangelo, was completing the
trade for Antonio McDyess, Suns owner Jerry Colangelo couldn't be
reached. "I was in the Pope's private chambers at the Vatican,"
Colangelo said. "He (the Pope) wasn't there, but I showed some respect
and turned off my cell phone. We had arranged a private tour of the
Vatican, and I was in the Pope's chambers at the exact moment the
trade happened."
So, does this mean the trade is blessed?
"In a sense, yes," Colangelo said.