nba.914vpoznanovic,
KNEE SURGERY SHOULDN'T KEEP SABONIS OUT OF OLYMPICS
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland center Arvydas Sabonis had knee surgery and
is expected to recover in time to play for his native Lithuania in this
summer's Olympic Games at Atlanta, the Trail Blazers announced Tuesday.
Trail Blazers team physician Dr. Don Roberts used an arthroscopic
technique that reduces recovery time to repair the torn medial
meniscus, or cartilage, in the 31-year-old's right knee.
In his rookie NBA season, Sabonis averaged 14.5 points and 8.1
rebounds per game. Sabonis became a starter late in the season and led
the team to a sixth-place finish in the Western Conference.
He finished second to winner Toni Kukoc in voting for the Sixth Man
award.
Portland lost to Utah in the first round of the playoffs.
nba.915vpoznanovic,
MAGIC ONE OF ALL-TIME BEST ... AT QUITTING
By Howard Blatt
Even though the Magic Johnson of the '90s is carrying around more
weight between his shoulders and knees than Liz Taylor, when it comes
to pulling off a stutter-step, misdirection move, the man is still
nimble enough to leave a whole world flat-footted and open-mouthed.
On Tuesday, after just a few short months back following four years
away, Johnson retired from the NBA -- a move that would've been
shocking if he hadn't done it so many times before. In fact, if you
are scoring at home, counting that false-start comeback that started
and ended before the 1992-93 season began, this is the third time
Magic has retired from the Lakers. He is 36.
For those of you without an abacus, this retirement marks the fourth
time Magic has left the Lakers, if you count his skid-mark-producing
exit as their coach, following one disastrous month, in the stretch
run of 1993-94.
Hey, Magic, Amtrack doesn't log this many departures.
Hate to spoil his fun, but it's starting to look like Magic is saying
good-bye because he thinks it is so much fun to say hello again. Magic
seems determined to break Larry Holmes' record for retirements and
Billy Martin's record for comebacks. Obviously, Magic feels about
playing basketball the same way Ross Perot fells about running for
president -- strongly both ways. Laker GM Jerry West better learn how
to lock the door behind him, because how many times can the same team
retire a guy's number, anyway?
How long will it be before Johnson starts hinting about the fact that
he has been working out and that he misses the rush of competition too
much to stay away? Will he be back in uniform before the next training
camp?
Magic now moves form active to inactive the way he once shifted gears
in the lane. Let us count the jukes.
Johnson first retired in 1991, after he was diagnosed as HIV positive,
and he reconsidered in less time than it took to hoist his jersey to
the rafters.
He came back for the All-Star Game in February 1992. He played in the
Olympics with Dream Team I that summer.
Then, he decided to unretire the first time, rejoining the Lakers for
the preseason until Karl Malone displayed the cajones to say what
other players were thinking at the time -- that they would rather not
have Magic bleed on him.
Hey, Magic, Amtrack doesn't log this many departures.
Then, Magic coached the Lakers for just long enough to learn that
even retirement is preferable to begging a bench of Generation X
snotnosers to break a sweat.
Then he owned the Lakers.
Then he came back as a player Jan. 29 of this season, figuring he
could be the world's first power point forward.
Within days, Magic hinted there must be a Dream Team III spot for an
old playmaker with a smile to rival Christie Brinkleyĺs, then took
himself out of consideration.
As a prospective free agent, he noted that it might be nice to play
his swan song in New York, or for his old greased-back friend Pat
Riley in Miami or alongside Shaq wherever he might be in 1996-97. He
thought out loud about playing everywhere other than L.A. -- except
Michigan State.
In the meantime, Magic said he planned on doing lots of dirty work and
showing Cedric Ceballos and Nick Van Exel how to win an NBA title. The
old timer thought they and the other Lakers burned with the same
desire to win a ring that had always motivated him.
Foolish, Magic. Doesn't he know they can afford to buy any ring they
want?
A funny thing happened before the Lakers went out in the first round
of the playoffs, to the Rockets. The half-his-age kiddies who rule the
Lakers day-care center wound up rubbing off on Magic instead of vice
versa. Who would have thunk it?
From Van Exel, Johnson learned the art of ref-roughing and he got
suspended for three games. From Ceballos, who reminded us that
sometimes a man just has to water ski, Johnson learned the art of the
self-serving sulk and sniped at Del Harris for not carving him a more
central role in the postseason.
Now Johnson has bowed out again. Until the next time he canĺt stand
being plain old Earvin and not Magic anymore.
nba.916vpoznanovic,
Navijači New Yorka, stvarno ste bili preveliki optimisti. ;)
New York (81) At Chicago (94)
New York
Rebounds
Player Pos Min Fgm-Fga Ftm-Fta Off-Def-Tot AST PF St To PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
Oakley F 41 5-8 4-7 3 10 13 2 4 1 3 14
Mason F 41 6-8 4-7 1 5 6 2 3 0 4 16
Ewing C 38 7-14 8-11 1 6 7 1 4 0 5 22
Starks G 32 3-10 3-5 0 1 1 0 3 0 2 10
Harper G 33 3-9 0-0 0 2 2 6 4 0 3 6
Anderson 22 3-9 0-0 1 4 5 1 3 2 1 6
Davis 17 2-4 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4
Ward 15 1-4 0-0 0 2 2 3 1 4 0 3
Grandison 1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Grant Dnp - Coach'S Decision
Reid Dnp - Coach'S Decision
Williams Dnp - Coach'S Decision
Totals 240 30-67 19-30 6 30 36 15 23 7 19 81
(.448) (.633) Team Rebs: 15 Total To: 20(17 PTS)
Chicago
Rebounds
Player Pos Min Fgm-Fga Ftm-Fta Off-Def-Tot AST PF St To PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
Pippen F 42 5-12 3-4 3 8 11 2 4 5 1 15
Rodman F 31 5-9 1-2 4 8 12 3 6 0 1 11
Longley C 23 1-7 2-2 1 2 3 1 6 0 3 4
Harper G 36 4-7 3-4 1 4 5 5 1 2 0 12
Jordan G 43 13-29 8-9 1 1 2 5 5 2 2 35
Wennington 24 2-7 0-0 1 3 4 3 3 0 1 4
Kerr 17 1-1 2-2 0 1 1 2 0 0 1 4
Buechler 5 2-4 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5
Brown 13 1-2 2-2 2 3 5 1 1 0 2 4
Salley 6 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0
Edwards Dnp - Coach'S Decision
Kukoc Dnp - Back Injury
Totals 240 34-78 21-25 13 30 43 23 28 9 12 94
(.436) (.840) Team Rebs: 2 Total To: 12(6 PTS)
New York 18 18 23 22 - 81
Chicago 18 24 26 26 - 94
Blocked Shots: New York - Ewing 3. Chicago - Longley, Wennington.
3-Pt. Field Goals: New York 2-13 (.154), Starks 1-4, Harper 0-3, Anderson
0-1, Davis 0-1, Ward 1-3, Grandison 0-1. Chicago 5-11 (.455), Pippen 2-4,
Harper 1-2, Jordan 1-2, Wennington 0-1, Buechler 1-2.
Technicals: New York - Ewing, Harper, Chicago - Rodman 2 (Ejected).
Officials: Dick Bavetta, Steve Javie, Ronnie Nunn.
A - 24,396. T - 2:30.
nba.917vpoznanovic,
ENRAGING BULLS STAMPEDE OVER KNICKS, AGAIN
CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bulls continued their march toward the title
Tuesday as Michael Jordan scored 35 points in a 94-81 victory over
the New York Knicks that closed out the Eastern Conference semifinals
in five games.
If history is any indicator, knocking the Knicks out of the playoffs
again will mean the fourth NBA title in the 1990s for Chicago.
"I fully expect them to win the championship," New York coach Jeff Van
Gundy said Tuesday night after the game.
The last three times the Bulls beat New York -- 1991, 1992 and 1993 --
they went on to win titles. This series win marked the fifth time
Chicago has eliminated the Knicks in the past eight years.
Jordan, who scored 35 points and is 5-0 in series against the Knicks,
expects to get another shot at the Orlando Magic. The Magic, who beat
the Bulls in the second round last season, lead Atlanta 3-1 and can
wrap up that series Wednesday night.
"Orlando is a speed team, a quick team," Bulls coach Phil Jackson
said. "They will not be as physical as New York but they have the
ability to score a lot of points."
"Now I have a chance to redeem myself," said Jordan, who came out of
retirement last year but couldn't lead the Bulls past Orlando. "What
we all realize after this series is that we've got to play a lot
better to even come close to beating Orlando."
Tuesday's game was a typical Knicks-Bulls battle, with shoving
matches, trash talk, ragged play and 51 fouls.
"I hate series like that because it's not even a series, or a
basketball game. It's more like who can beat each other up first,"
said Chicago's Dennis Rodman, who had 12 rebounds and 11 points before
fouling out and was ejected after drawing his second technical foul
with 1:29 to play.
"Who can get last punch? That's not the way it should be, we should
play basketball," Rodman said. "You get a team like that they're
supposed to be professional, but they're paid a lot of money to play
football and rugby."
Chicago, which won an NBA record 72 games in the regular season,
improved to 7-1 in the postseason.
It marked the first time a best-of-seven series between the teams went
less than six games.
"They were short on offense," Jordan said. "They only had a couple
guys who could put the ball in the hoop. That's why they needed to
play a perfect game defensively every time. They gave us a good
series, even though it only went five games. They played us as hard as
anybody in the league."
New York had pulled within 76-70 with 5:42 to play on a basket by
Ewing before the Bulls put the game and the series away with a 7-0
run. Ron Harper hit a 3-pointer with 5:17 to play and Scottie Pippen
had a pair of free throws before Luc Longley took a pass from Dennis
Rodman on the break and threw down a dunk to make it 83-70 with 4:11
remaining.
Pippen added 15 points and Harper 12 for Chicago, which played without
forward Toni Kukoc, who missed the final three games of the series
with a back injury. Kukoc was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year earlier
on Tuesday.
Ewing scored 22 points and Anthony Mason added 16 for the Knicks, who
scored only 36 points in the first half and were not in contention in
the final five minutes for the first time in the series.
Asked if he felt sorry for Ewing, a close friend, Jordan said: "You
have sympathy for him, but not to the point where you'll sacrifice
your happiness. He had his chance when I was gone."
"It's frustrating to lose a game like this to end a series," Ewing
said. "I'm very disappointed about the outcome. I still think we're a
better team than they are but we didn't prove it."
Chicago closed the first half with a 12-2 run. Mason had given New
York a 34-30 lead with 3:36 to play in the first half but Rodman hit a
layup before Pippen hit a 10-footer to tie the game, 34-34.
Ewing hit a jumper before Pippen answered with a three-pointer to give
the Bulls the lead, 37-36. Jordan had a dunk and three free throws to
give Chicago a 42-36 halftime lead.
New York came no closer than five points in the second half, pulling
within 44-39 just 71 seconds into the third quarter.
Chicago shot 44 percent (34-of-78) from the field and outrebounded the
Knicks, 43-36, 13-6 in the offensive end. Rodman and Longley both
fouled out and the Bulls committed 28 turnovers.
John Starks added 10 points for the Knicks, who shot 45 percent (30 of
67) from the floor. New York committed 20 turnovers, leading to 17
Bulls points. The Knicks committed 20 or more turnovers in the final
four games and 98 in the series.
"It's a tough loss. It was a tough series," said Starks, who
anticipated a breakup of the current Knicks squad. "I'm sure they'll
be some changes here with the Knicks. We'll have to wait and see. I
would love to come back."
nba.918vpoznanovic,
Utah (87) At San Antonio (98)
Utah
Rebounds
Player Pos Min Fgm-Fga Ftm-Fta Off-Def-Tot AST PF St To PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
Malone F 42 8-21 8-14 2 10 12 4 5 0 1 24
Morris F 30 3-11 2-2 6 5 11 1 3 2 0 8
Spencer C 16 2-3 0-0 1 1 2 0 3 0 2 4
Hornacek G 37 5-10 4-4 0 2 2 4 3 2 3 16
Stockton G 36 7-10 0-0 1 2 3 8 1 1 6 14
Ostertag 13 0-0 2-2 0 2 2 0 1 0 0 2
Eisley 12 0-3 1-2 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 1
Russell 17 3-6 2-3 0 2 2 1 2 1 1 9
Keefe 4 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Carr 18 0-2 1-2 1 0 1 2 4 0 1 1
Benoit 14 3-4 1-3 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 8
Foster 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 240 31-70 21-32 12 25 37 23 25 6 14 87
(.443) (.656) Team Rebs: 13 Total To: 14(25 PTS)
San Antonio
Rebounds
Player Pos Min Fgm-Fga Ftm-Fta Off-Def-Tot AST PF St To PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
W Perdue F 38 4-4 1-2 4 8 12 0 4 0 0 9
Elliott F 41 2-11 0-0 2 3 5 8 2 2 5 4
Robinson C 38 7-21 10-15 8 7 15 1 5 3 1 24
Del Negro G 33 8-14 3-5 0 1 1 2 4 1 0 21
Johnson G 36 8-14 5-6 1 0 1 1 1 3 2 21
Smith 13 1-1 1-2 1 2 3 2 3 1 0 3
C Person 24 4-7 2-2 1 2 3 1 4 0 0 14
Alexander 12 0-2 1-2 0 0 0 3 1 1 1 1
Anderson 4 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0
Williams 1 0-0 1-2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1
Herrera Dnp - Coach'S Decision
Rivers Dnp - Back Spasms
Totals 240 34-74 24-36 17 25 42 18 25 11 10 98
(.459) (.667) Team Rebs: 10 Total To: 10(6 PTS)
Utah 16 19 18 34 - 87
San Antonio 26 19 23 30 - 98
Blocked Shots: Utah - Malone 2, Spencer 2, Morris, Ostertag. San Antonio
- Elliott, Robinson, Smith.
3-Pt. Field Goals: Utah 4-14 (.286), Morris 0-2, Hornacek 2-4, Stockton
0-1, Eisley 0-2, Russell 1-3, Benoit 1-2. San Antonio 6-14 (.429), Elliott
0-5, Del Negro 2-2, C Person 4-7.
Technicals: Utah - Malone.
Officials: Ron Garretson, Joe Crawford, Bill Oakes.
A - 34,215. T - 2:22.
nba.919vpoznanovic,
ADMIRAL KEEPS SPURS AFLOAT
SAN ANTONIO -- David Robinson scored 24 points -- two better than his
two-game output at Utah -- as the San Antonio Spurs staved off
elimination with a 98-87 victory over the Jazz in Game 5 of their
Western Conference semifinal series.
The series shifts back to Utah for Game 6 on Thursday. If the Jazz
win, they will play the Seattle SuperSonics in the conference final.
If the Spurs win, a deciding Game 7 will be Saturday at San Antonio.
Robinson, who scored 11 points apiece in losses in Games 3 and 4 at
Utah while being guarded by Karl Malone, capped a 14-0 third-quarter
run with a basket to give the Spurs a 61-45 lead with 3:35 to play.
The Jazz never came within double digits in the final quarter.
"I haven't been shooting a lot of jump shots in the series," said
Robinson. "But the guys just kept telling me to keep shooting. You
know they're going to make their run at you, so we wanted to get them
out of that is soon as possible."
Malone scored 24 points and Jeff Hornacek added 18 for Utah, which is
trying to advance to the conference finals for the second time in
three seasons.
San Antonio is trying to advance to the conference finals for the
second straight season.
After Utah pulled within 47-45 on a jumper by Hornacek, the Spurs
reeled off 14 consecutive points. Avery Johnson hit a 10-footer and a
layup before Will Perdue, who started at power forward in favor of
Charles Smith, had a follow shot to make it 53-45 with 7:20 remaining.
Robinson made two free throws before Sean Elliott and Purdue canned
jumpers. Robinson then capped the run to make it 61-45.
Robinson also pulled down 15 rebounds for San Antonio, which committed
only 10 turnovers. Johnson and Vinny Del Negro scored 21 points apiece
on 16-of-28 shooting, outplaying counterparts Hornacek and John
Stockton, who combined for 30 points.
"I think the pressure is still on us and I hope we look at it that
way," said Johnson. "It's when we relax and think we've got it made
when we get ourselves in trouble."
Elliott made just 2 of 11 shots from the field but had eight assists
for the Spurs, who shot 46 percent (34-of-74) from the floor and
outrebounded Utah, 42-37. Perdue contributed nine points and 12
rebounds while Smith had only three points in 13 minutes.
"We played Spurs basketball for the first time in this series," said
Spurs coach Bob Hill. "Our pick-and-roll defense has been as good as
it has been. Starting Will Perdue helps us pressure-wise and he is a
good defender as well."
Chuck Person added 14 points off the bench for the Spurs, who took a
26-16 lead after one quarter, led by nine points from Del Negro.
Stockton had 14 points, eight assists and six turnovers for Utah,
which shot 44 percent (31 of 70) from the floor. Stockton left the
game with 1:10 to play re-aggravating a hamstring injury. The Jazz
committed 14 turnovers, leading to 25 San Antonio points.
"I thought they were the aggressors all night long," said Utah coach
Jerry Sloan. "Our bench struggled and we're not going to beat anybody
without them competing. We got in a little bit of a hurry tonight,
that's what pressure will to do to you."
nba.920vpoznanovic,
NBA PLAYOFF SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
Second round
(Best-of-7; all times Eastern; * - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Chicago defeats New York 4-1
Sunday May 5 Chicago 91, New York 84
Tuesday May 7 Chicago 91, New York 80
Saturday May 11 New York 102, Chicago 99 (OT)
Sunday May 12 Chicago 94, New York 91
Tuesday May 14 Chicago 94, New York 81
Orlando leads Atlanta 3-1
Wednesday May 8 Orlando 117, Atlanta 105
Friday May 10 Orlando 120, Atlanta 94
Sunday May 12 Orlando 103, Atlanta 96
Monday May 13 Atlanta 104, Orlando 99
Wednesday May 15 at Orlando 8 p.m. TNT
Friday May 17 *at Atlanta 8 p.m. TNT
Sunday May 19 *at Orlando TBA NBC
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Seattle defeats Houston 4-0
Saturday May 4 Seattle 108, Houston 75
Monday May 6 Seattle 105, Houston 101
Friday May 10 Seattle 115, Houston 112
Sunday May 12 Seattle 114, Houston 107 (OT)
Utah leads San Antonio 3-2
Tuesday May 7 Utah 95, San Antonio 75
Thursday May 9 San Antonio 88, Utah 77
Saturday May 11 Utah 105, San Antonio 75
Sunday May 12 Utah 101, San Antonio 86
Tuesday May 14 San Antonio 98, Utah 87
Thursday May 16 at Utah TBA TNT or TBS
Saturday May 18 *at San Antonio TBA NBC
nba.921junior,
-> #907, vitez.koja> Onaj Sejli (ex-Detroit iz "onog" Bed Bojsi doba) je napravio
John Spider Salley? Tip je genije ... :)
> Od sve muke moraću da navijam za Čikago, za Orlando nikako ne mogu...
E to je čovek ;) Volim ljude koji ne vole Šejkila. BTW, 4:2 za Čikago.
Slažeš se?
nba.922dizel,
-> #896, imangovski>
> Ja od celog tima Chicaga (kojeg mrzim) jedino volim Kukoca.
Pa da, Kukoc je stvarno super igrac, i zao mi je sto se jos uvek
nije pokazai u pravom svetlu...(popnajvise zbog Pipena).
Njegova lucidnost i atraktivne asistencije su mnogo redje nego
dok je igrao u Evropi...Steta, mozda bi tako zaigrao kad bi dobio
vise slobode!
nba.923vpoznanovic,
STOUDAMIRE NAMED NBA ROOKIE OF YEAR
NEW YORK -- Damon Stoudamire of the Toronto Raptors was named NBA
Rookie of the Year on Wednesday.
Stoudamire received 76 of a possible 113 votes from a panel of
leaguewide sports writers and broadcasters. Portland's Arvydas Sabonis
was second with 17 votes, followed by Golden State's Joe Smith in
third with 15 votes.
"This is a great honor," said Stoudamire, a 5-foot-11 point guard from
the University of Arizona. "It's something I worked very hard for.
It's very meaningful for me that a lot of voters saw the importance of
me to this team."
"Damon has given us a lot of joy and he's brought a lot to this
franchise, a lot to this city," said Raptors general manager Isiah
Thomas, who knows a thing or two about playing point guard in the NBA.
"He really put us on the map in terms of an expansion team, in terms
of credibility and respectability."
Other players who received votes were Jerry Stackhouse of Philadelphia
(two), Michael Finley of Phoenix (two) and Kevin Garnett of Minnesota
(one).
Stoudamire, selected seventh in last June's draft, became the sixth
lowest selection to win the rookie award. The lowest ever was Mark
Jackson, who won after being the 18th pick of the New York Knicks in
the 1987 draft.
Last year's rookie award was shared by Grant Hill of Detroit and Jason
Kidd of Dallas.
Stoudamire averaged 19 points, 9.3 assists and four rebounds for the
expansion Raptors. He led all rookies in assists and steals and
averaged 40.9 minutes per game, seventh most for a rookie in NBA
history.
Stoudamire set a rookie record for 3-point field goals by hitting on
133 of his 337 attempts. He was also MVP of the rookie game during the
All-Star weekend.
nba.924vpoznanovic,
PHOENIX WILL BE LAND OF COTTON AGAIN NEXT SEASON
PHOENIX -- Cotton Fitzsimmons, who failed to rally the Suns in his
third stint as head coach, on Wednesday announced he would return to
coach the club for the 1996-97 season.
Fitzsimmons, who has 832 victories in 21 seasons, guided the Suns to a
27-22 record after replacing the fired Paul Westphal 33 games into the
season. Phoenix was eliminated in four games by the San Antonio Spurs
in the Western Conference quarterfinals.
"It's always been a handshake deal with Cotton," Suns president Jerry
Colangelo said. "He's my coach, not my interim coach."
Fitzsimmons, who began the season as the team's executive vice
president, coached the Suns in 1970-71 and 1971-72 and returned for
four more seasons from 1988 to 1992. He also has four seasons of 50 or
more wins.
In addition to his role as executive vice president, Fitzsimmons had
served as color analyst for Suns radio broadcasts.
nba.925vpoznanovic,
LAKERS' STRONG HAS FOOT SURGERY
INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Los Angeles Lakers forward Derek Strong underwent
surgery on his right foot at Centinela Hospital Medical Center on
Wednesday.
The surgery included a reconstruction of a bone in the foot also known
as a first metatarsal osteotomy, a capsulorraphy to rebuild the tendon
around the bone and the removal of a bunion.
Strong should be released Thursday and will be on crutches for
approximately five to six weeks. He can begin workouts in about three
months.
Strong, who spent parts of the previous four seasons with Washington,
Milwaukee and Boston, appeared in 63 games with the Lakers this past
season, averaging 3.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11.8 minutes per
game.
Strong becomes a free agent on July 1.
nba.926vpoznanovic,
Uz sve ono što je juče rečeno, evo još nekih podataka o slučaju "Magic"...
MAGIC DOESN'T LEAVE DOOR OPEN FOR RETURN
LOS ANGELES -- Proclaiming that "the final chapter was written in my
book," Los Angeles Lakers legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson confirmed
Wednesday that he will no longer play in the NBA.
"This is not a sad day or a bad day, it's a good day," said Johnson at
a news conference at the Great Western Forum. "God blessed me to come
back and I was happy I came back. I proved to myself I could do it. I
set out to do what I could. But it's over now and I'm not coming
back."
Johnson, 36, announced his retirement from the NBA in a news release
Tuesday, four months after his publicized return. But the retirement
was met with some skepticism since Johnson said after the Lakers were
eliminated by the Houston Rockets in the playoffs that he would
probably play in 1996-97.
Johnson made his retirement official Wednesday, stating numerous times
that his NBA career is over.
"When it's time to go, it's time to go, and it's time to move on,"
said Johnson. "The final chapter was written in my book. I'm happy I
came back to end it the way I wanted it. Now it's over. Don't worry
about another one of these news conferences, because this is it."
Johnson said he will return full-time to his business interests.
"If I was just a basketball player, I would probably still play, "said
Johnson. "But I'm a businessman as well, and I've got so many things
going on."
Johnson also said he would like to regain the small percentage of
ownership he had in the Lakers. He was forced to relinquish his share
when he returned to the team as a player in January.
Johnson returned to the Lakers on Jan. 30 after a 4Ż-year hiatus. In
1991, he announced his retirement after contracting HIV, the virus
that causes AIDS. The next year, he halted a comeback following
backlash from rivals -- most notably Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone --
who feared taking the court with an HIV-positive player.
"I am going out on my terms, something I couldn't say when I aborted a
comeback in 1992," Johnson said Wednesday.
Los Angeles went 29-11 after Johnson returned and finished this past
regular season 53-29. Johnson played forward as well as guard and
averaged 14.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists. In the playoffs,
he averaged 15.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists as the Lakers
lost to the Rockets in four games in a first-round series.
Johnson earned $2.5 million this season and was to become a free agent
on July 1. He became disenchanted with the attitudes of today's
players and was very outspoken about it, especially when teammates
Cedric Ceballos and Nick Van Exel drew suspensions for separate
incidents.
Just five days after criticizing Van Exel, Johnson himself drew a
three-game suspension for doing the same thing Van Exel did -- bumping
an official. During the playoffs, Johnson questioned coach Del Harris'
strategy and demanded to handle the ball more.
After being eliminated from the playoffs, Johnson indicated he wanted
to return to playing point guard and said if the Lakers did not want
him, there were "five, six, 10 teams" that did. It was a far cry from
what was being said early in his comeback, when his presence was hoped
to be strong enough to lure Orlando center Shaquille O'Neal -- also a
free agent -- to the Lakers.
"From the time he came to this team almost 17 years ago, Earvin
Johnson has been a special part of our lives," said Lakers vice
president of basketball operations Jerry West. "While this is a sad
day, it's one we always knew would come, and I would rather look at it
remembering all the great moments he brought to this team and our
fans.
"Obviously, we wish him the best in his future endeavors, and will
look forward to having him around as he was the past 4Ż years before
his comeback."
While the events of the past five years may have somewhat dimmed
Johnson's star, there is no denying his greatness prior to his first
retirement. Johnson not only lifted the Lakers to the top of the NBA,
he -- along with Larry Bird and later Michael Jordan -- lifted the
league itself to unprecedented heights.
Johnson led the Lakers to five NBA championships in the 1980s before
finding out he had contracted HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. That
forced his early retirement. After flirting with the idea of returning
many times, he finally came back as a power forward and sixth man with
30 extra pounds of bulk.
The Lakers drafted Johnson first overall in 1979 after he led Michigan
State to the NCAA championship. His trademark smile and enthusiasm
rejuvenated center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the pair became an awesome
force, winning five titles in the next nine years.
As a rookie, Johnson played center for the injured Abdul-Jabbar in
Game 6 of the 1980 Finals against Philadelphia and had 42 points, 15
rebounds and seven assists in the clinching win. He was named Most
Valuable Player of the Finals.
Johnson suffered a knee injury the following season and missed 45
games. He returned for the playoffs, but the Lakers were eliminated in
the first round by Houston. At the start of the 1981-82 season,
Johnson threatened to retire, saying the game wasn't fun anymore. The
Lakers responded by firing coach Paul Westhead and giving Johnson a
25-year, $25 million deal.
New coach Pat Riley installed "Showtime," a brand of running
basketball that took advantage of Johnson's dribbling ability, height,
passing skills and court awareness. The Lakers again won the title in
1982 and Johnson was again named Finals MVP.
Johnson was one of the only players who could grab a rebound, dribble
the length of the court and either score or pass for an easy basket.
The Lakers' statistical crew eventually created the "triple-double" --
double figures in three categories in the same game. Johnson is the
unofficial all-time leader with 138.
The Lakers reached the Finals in 1983 and 1984 but lost both times.
The 1984 loss was in seven games to the Boston Celtics and triggered
an argument that raged for years -- was Johnson better than Bird, or
vice versa?
The Lakers beat the Celtics in six games in 1985 to reclaim the title,
but were again upset by Houston in 1986. They returned to the Finals
in 1987 behind Johnson -- who won his first league MVP award -- and
again defeated the Celtics in six games for the title. Johnson
captured his third Finals MVP award.
In 1988, the Lakers became the first repeat champion in 19 years as
they beat the Detroit Pistons in seven games. They returned to the
Finals the following year as Johnson again was named MVP, but a
hamstring injury sidelined him and the Lakers were swept by the
Pistons.
Abdul-Jabbar retired and Johnson couldn't get the Lakers back to the
Finals in 1990, despite winning his third MVP trophy. In 1991 -- under
new coach Mike Dunleavy -- Johnson surpassed the all-time mark
established by Oscar Robertson and guided the team back to the Finals
for the ninth time in 12 years, where he met a new challenger --
Jordan, who assumed the title of NBA's best player when his Chicago
Bulls beat the Lakers in five games.
On Nov. 7, 1991, Johnson stunned the world with his retirement
announcement. He had learned he was HIV-positive from a blood test
required by an insurance plan and became the first prominent active
athlete to publicly declare he had the virus.
Johnson said he would be an active voice in the AIDS community and was
selected by President George Bush to head a committee. However, he
grew frustrated with bureaucracy and resigned from the post a short
time later.
Only 32, Johnson played in the 1992 All-Star Game and was named MVP
with an emotionally stirring 25-point performance. He was part of the
Dream Team that won a gold medal in the Barcelona Olympics that summer
and began pondering a comeback.
He returned in October and played in five preseason games for the
Lakers. However, some players expressed concern about competing
against someone who had HIV and Johnson scuttled the comeback. Johnson
was more warmly received this time around as many top players --
including Malone -- supported his return.
Johnson never left the Lakers family. He attended many games as a fan
and was given a small percentage of ownership in the club by majority
owner and friend Dr. Jerry Buss. There were many rumors regarding his
return as a player, but all were unfounded until this year.
Johnson did return as coach for a brief period at the end of the
1993-94 season. After guiding the team to victories in his first five
games, he became disenchanted with the attitudes of some of the
players and resigned, effective at the end of the season. The team
lost its last 11 games, the longest losing streak in franchise
history.
Johnson averaged 19.6 points, 11.2 assists and 7.3 rebounds in his
career. He led the league in assists four times, in steals twice and
in free-throw percentage once. He was named to the All-NBA first team
nine times and appeared in 11 All-Star games, winning MVPs in 1990 and
1992.
nba.927vpoznanovic,
Atlanta (88) At Orlando (96)
Atlanta
Rebounds
Player Pos Min Fgm-Fga Ftm-Fta Off-Def-Tot AST PF St To PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
Augmon F 38 6-8 5-5 0 3 3 4 2 0 0 17
Long F 42 10-16 2-2 4 9 13 2 3 0 3 24
Laettner C 33 5-11 1-4 3 5 8 3 4 1 1 11
Smith G 44 6-19 3-3 0 2 2 1 3 1 2 16
Blaylock G 43 5-15 1-4 2 2 4 7 0 1 3 14
Ehlo 14 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 2 1 1 0 0
Rooks 15 0-0 2-2 2 3 5 1 5 1 1 2
Jordan 5 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2
Henderson 6 0-1 2-2 2 0 2 1 0 0 1 2
Boyce Dnp - Coach'S Decision
Bullard Dnp - Coach'S Decision
Norman Dnp - Coach'S Decision
Totals 240 33-74 16-22 13 25 38 22 19 5 11 88
(.446) (.727) Team Rebs: 6 Total To: 11(16 PTS)
Orlando
Rebounds
Player Pos Min Fgm-Fga Ftm-Fta Off-Def-Tot AST PF St To PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
Scott F 32 2-8 1-1 1 3 4 4 3 0 0 7
Grant F 37 5-8 0-0 3 3 6 2 2 1 2 10
Oneal C 42 11-14 5-15 7 8 15 4 1 0 3 27
Anderson G 42 7-15 0-2 0 5 5 1 2 3 1 16
Hardaway G 42 9-23 4-6 7 4 11 3 2 1 3 24
Koncak 6 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 0 3 0 0 0
Shaw 22 3-7 0-0 0 1 1 3 2 0 2 6
Wolf 11 2-4 0-0 1 0 1 1 3 0 0 4
Bowie 6 1-1 0-0 0 2 2 1 1 1 0 2
Bonner Dnp - Coach'S Decision
Royal Dnp - Coach'S Decision
Thompson Dnp - Coach'S Decision
Totals 240 40-80 10-24 20 27 47 19 19 6 11 96
(.500) (.417) Team Rebs: 10 Total To: 11(15 PTS)
Atlanta 20 27 26 15 - 88
Orlando 22 30 25 19 - 96
Blocked Shots: Atlanta - Laettner 2, Augmon, Blaylock. Orlando - Oneal,
Anderson.
3-Pt. Field Goals: Atlanta 6-25 (.240), Long 2-5, Smith 1-9, Blaylock 3-9,
Ehlo 0-2. Orlando 6-20 (.300), Scott 2-6, Anderson 2-8, Hardaway 2-5, Shaw
0-1.
Technicals: Atlanta - Illegal Defense, Long, Orlando - Illegal Defense.
Officials: Hue Hollins, Mike Mathis, Bob Delaney.
A - 17,248. T - 2:09.
nba.928vpoznanovic,
BRING ON THE BULLS! MAGICALLY, HAWKS DISAPPEAR
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Shaquille O'Neal had 27 points and 15 rebounds as the
Orlando Magic returned to the Eastern Conference finals with a 96-88
victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
The Magic captured the conference semifinal series in five games and
will face the record-setting Chicago Bulls in a showdown of the top
teams in the East. Orlando knocked off Chicago in the conference
semifinals last year.
"There's no pressure on us, we're the underdogs going in, so we're
going in relaxed and ready to play," said Orlando coach Brian Hill on
the upcoming series with the Bulls. "We're playing a team with 72
wins, what do they call them, unbeatable? We're going in to see what
we can do."
Penny Hardaway added 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, who used
a 14-3 fourth-quarter run to break open the game.
"We knew coming into this game that if it went back to Atlanta, it
was going to be a long series," said Hardaway. "I don't think you want
to give a team like Atlanta a lot of confidence. We did in Game 4 and
they came in here and showed what we could do."
O'Neal also accepted responsibility for the team's five-point loss in
Game 4, saying he was experiencing chest pains when he had a
disappointing 19-point, eight-rebound outing.
A team physican examined the 7-foot-1, 325-pound center before he
played in the second half of the 104-99 loss, then O'Neal visited a
cardiologist on Tuesday. All tests were negative, Magic spokesman Joel
Glass said.
"The other day, I had some funny heartbeats. So the only thing I could
think about in the game was falling out or something," O'Neal said.
"I went to the doctor yesterday and he said it was only stress. I
said, 'Yes.' Now I'm back. I climbed in my truck, which is my stress
reliever, and now I'm fine."
O'Neal, who didn't score in the fourth quarter Wednesday night, made
11 of 14 shots from the field and went 5-for-15 from the foul line to
key a 96-88 victory that sends the Magic into the Eastern Conference
finals against the Chicago Bulls.
Grant Long scored a career playoff-high 24 points and Stacey Augmon
added 17 for Atlanta, which scored only 15 points in the fourth
quarter.
Long had pulled the Hawks within 79-78 at the 10:34 mark when he
followed a miss with a dunk, but he was called for a technical foul
for hanging on the rim, triggering Orlando's run.
Hardaway hit the technical free throw and Joe Wolf hit a jumper to
push the lead to 82-78. Steve Smith countered with a jumper to make it
82-80 with 9:25 left, but Nick Anderson, who finished with 16 points,
scored inside and Hardaway followed with a dunk and was fouled.
Hardaway missed the free throw and Mookie Blaylock made one of two
foul shots to make it 86-81. The Magic capped the run with seven
straight points as Brian Shaw made a jumper and a layup around a
three-pointer by Anderson for a 93-81 lead with 5:35 to go.
"In the fourth quarter, I just tried to take over," Hardaway added.
"Dennis (Scott) wasn't making shots, Horace wasn't making a lot of
shots and Shaquille was kind of quiet in the fourth quarter, so I just
took it upon myself to try and shoot the ball and be aggressive."
Atlanta had pulled within 77-73 at the end of three quarters on a
35-footer by Blaylock at the buzzer. Blaylock drew the Hawks within
one on a three-pointer to open the fourth period before Hardaway and
Long traded baskets.
O'Neal scored 13 of his 27 points in the third quarter, when the
Magic used an 13-7 burst to take a 70-60 lead with 3:20 left.
O'Neal was 11 of 14 from the field but only 5 of 15 from the foul
line. In the series, O'Neal shot 63 percent (57 of 90) from the field
but just 39 percent (25 of 64) from the foul line.
Smith, who scored a career playoff-high 35 points in Game Four to
help Atlanta stave off elimination, had 16 points. Blaylock added 14
points and Christian Laettner 11.
"They kept it together and they get a lot of credit," said Smith
about the Magic. "They kept it together and went down to the big fella
and kicked it back out and hit some three's."
nba.929vpoznanovic,
STOUDAMIRE UNANIMOUS PICK ON NBA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
NEW YORK -- One day after being named Rookie of the Year, Damon
Stoudamire was announced as a unanimous selection on the 1995-96
NBA all-rookie team Thursday.
Joining Toronto's Stoudamire were Joe Smith of Golden State, Jerry
Stackhouse of Philadelphia, Antonio McDyess of Denver, Arvydas Sabonis
of Portland and Michael Finley of Phoenix.
Stoudamire picked up 56 points in the voting by the NBA's 29 head
coaches. Each coach picked 10 players, regardless of position, and was
not allowed to vote for his own players. The Raptors' 5-foot-11
standout, selected seventh in last June's draft, received the maximum
28 first-team votes.
Smith received 54 points, followed by Stackhouse (52) and McDyess
(50). Finley and Sabonis each finished with 41 points.
This is only the third time in NBA history that six players made the
first team. Utah's Thurl Bailey tied with New York's Darrell Walker in
1983-84, and Wally Jones and Joe Caldwell tied in 1964-65.
The second team consisted of Kevin Garnett of Minnesota (35 points),
Bryant Reeves of Vancouver (28), Brent Barry of the Los Angeles
Clippers (21), Rasheed Wallace of Washington (15) and Tyus Edney of
Sacramento (15).
Others receiving votes were Kurt Thomas of Miami (14), Eric Williams
of Boston (nine), Alan Henderson of Atlanta (one), Theo Ratliff of
Detroit (one), Don Reid of Detroit (one) and Bob Sura of Cleveland
(one).
nba.930vpoznanovic,
KUKOC PRACTICES WELL, SHOULD BE READY FOR MAGIC
DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Toni Kukoc practiced Thursday for the first time
since spraining his lower back and felt so good that Chicago Bulls
coach Phil Jackson had to tell him to leave the court.
``Toni ran through the first 45 minutes of practice, most of it light,
and five minutes of transition basketball,'' Jackson said. ``He wanted
to go longer, but we felt it was enough.''
Kukoc, who missed the last three games of the Bulls' second-round
series against the New York Knicks, should be ready for Sunday's
Eastern Conference championship opener against the Orlando Magic.
Kukoc, named the NBA's top sixth man earlier this week, averaged 20.3
points on 59 percent shooting, including 63 percent of his 3-pointers,
in four games against the Magic this season.
nba.931vpoznanovic,
CAVS, SUNS, MAVS AND JAZZ TO COMPETE IN MEXICO
The National Basketball Association today announced that the Cleveland
Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz will compete
in a preseason tournament in Mexico City next fall.
The games will be held Saturday, October 26th and Sunday, October 27th
at Mexico City's Palacio de los Deportes.
On October 26th, Cleveland will play Phoenix at 7 p.m. ET followed by
Dallas against Utah at 10 p.m. The winners will meet the following day
at 7 p.m. The third place game is scheduled for 4 p.m.
nba.932vpoznanovic,
13 TEAMS' FINGERS CROSSED FOR SUNDAY'S DRAFT LOTTERY
NEW YORK -- Representatives of 13 teams will assemble Sunday for the
12th annual NBA draft lottery, each hoping to secure the No. 1 pick.
The lottery, held at halftime (approximately 4:30 p.m. ET) of Game 1
of the Eastern Conference finals between Chicago and Orlando on
Sunday, features the 12 teams that did not qualify for the playoffs,
plus the Cleveland Cavaliers, who acquired the Washington Bullets'
pick in the 1995 trade for Mark Price.
The Vancouver Grizzlies, who owned the worst record this season at
15-67, will have the best odds for the first pick, followed by the
Philadelphia 76ers (18-64) and Toronto Raptors (21-61).
However, according to their expansion agreements, Vancouver and
Toronto cannot select No. 1 until 1999. If either team should win the
lottery, it will automatically receive the second selection and the
team that was chosen second will get the No. 1 pick.
The order of selection for the teams that do not win one of the top
three picks will be determined by inverse order of their
regular-season record. Should Vancouver, Philadelphia and Toronto not
win one of the top three picks, the Grizzlies would pick no lower than
fourth, the 76ers no lower than fifth and the Raptors no lower than
sixth.
Players expected to be chosen early this year include Massachusetts
center Marcus Camby, Connecticut guard Ray Allen, Georgetown guard
Allen Iverson, Georgia Tech guard Stephon Marbury and Syracuse center
John Wallace.
Last year, the Golden State Warriors moved past four teams to win the
1995 lottery and drafted forward Joe Smith, who was named to the NBA
all-rookie first team Thursday.
nba.933vpoznanovic,
SONJU RETIRES AS MAVS PRESIDENT AND GM
DALLAS -- Norm Sonju, the only president and general manager in the
history of the Dallas Mavericks, announced Thursday he is retiring
after 16 years with the organization.
The announcement was not a surprise since the Mavericks were recently
sold by original owner Donald Carter to a group headed by Ross Perot
Jr., and David McDavid.
Dick Motta agreed to step down as head coach as part of the May 1 sale
of the team.
"New ownership absolutely must have complete freedom to manage their
investment as they see fit," said Sonju. "Prior to the sale, I felt I
should step aside, but I was asked to stay and help them get launched.
I am in complete support of our new owners."
Sonju was one of the driving forces in bringing an NBA expansion team
to Dallas in 1980.
nba.934vpoznanovic,
NBA RELEASES COMPLETE LIST OF EARLY ENTRY DRAFT CANDIDATES
Marcus Camby of Massachusetts, Ray Allen of Connecticut and Allen
Iverson of Georgetown headline the list of players who have filed as
early entry candidates for the 1996 National Basketball Association
draft.
The complete list of early entries was issued today by the NBA. A
total of 42 underclassmen have applied for the draft, including three
high school players.
The NBA draft will be held June 26th in New Jersey.
Underclassmen wishing to enter the draft were required to submit a
letter to the NBA postmarked no later than May 12th. Under NCAA rules,
a player can return to college within 30 days of being drafted
provided he has not yet retained the services of an agent.
Also filing for early entry were freshmen Stephon Marbury of Georgia
Tech and Shareef Abdur-Rahim of California, sophomores Lorenzen Wright
of Memphis and Antoine Walker of Kentucky and junior Erick Dampier of
Mississippi State.
Notable players currently competing outside the United States who
declared for the NBA draft include 7-2 Zydrunas Ilgauskas of Lithuania
and seven-footer Efthimis Retzias of Greece.
Three high school players applied for the draft one year after Kevin
Garnett applied for early entry and was selected with the fifth
overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Guard Kobe Bryant of Philadelphia, center Jermaine O'Neal of South
Carolina and forward Taj McDavid of South Carolina were the high
school players who entered the draft. Bryant is a potential lottery
pick.
Camby won the Naismith and Wooden Awards as the NCAA Player of the
Year after averaging 20.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.9 blocked shots
per game as a junior. He led Massachusetts to a 35-2 record and their
first-ever berth in the Final Four.
Allen averaged 23.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game as a
junior.
nba.935vpoznanovic,
BREAKDOWN: NO. 1 BULLS VS. NO. 2 MAGIC
DR. JACK RAMSAY'S SCORECARD
Guards: I believe Scottie Pippen will draw the assignment of
guarding Penny Hardaway, and that's a terrific matchup. I expect each
will defend the other, and both are good defenders. Pippen might give
Hardaway more trouble because he's taller, has long arms and will
harrass him as a passer; he can also defend him well if Penny posts
up. I give the slight edge to Chicago in that pairing because of
Pippen's defense.
At shooting guard, you'll have Nick Anderson against Michael Jordan --
another terrific matchup. Anderson is a very tough defender, not that
he'll be able to stop Michael. He'll be physical against Jordan, and
Anderson had a good experience against the Bulls in last year's
playoffs. Anderson can also take Jordan down low and post him up ...
it will make Michael work at both ends of the floor. Anderson won't
stop him, but over the span of 48 minutes, he should make Jordan less
effective.
Overall I rate the edge to the Bulls.
Forwards: At small forward, I look for Dennis Scott to be guarded by
Ron Harper. Against perimeter guys who put it on the floor, Harper is
a good defender. The Bulls veteran also is good at defending the
passing lanes and getting steals. He'll have trouble guarding Scott in
the post; Scott is a solid low-post player and on occasion, when the
Magic wants to move Shaq out to the edges, Scott can go down low. I
give Orlando the edge here, and Scott is obviously dangerous from
3-point range.
At power forward, I like Horace Grant over Dennis Rodman. While Rodman
is the better rebounder, Grant is the more effective overall player.
Grant is shooting the ball very well, and he should continue to do so.
The Magic gets the edge up front.
Centers: Shaq is the heavy favorite over Luc Longley and the other
guys Phil Jackson will throw at him. The Bulls will use their fouls
and try to put Shaq on the free throw line, where he has had very
limited success.
Bench/depth: That favors Chicago. Players like Steve Kerr, Bill
Wennington and Toni Kukoc -- pending his availability -- give the
Bulls a big edge. Orlando's bench has been very sketchy, and they need
good performances from Brian Shaw, Anthony Bowie and, probably, Joe
Wolf. I believe a team needs a rotation of eight players in a physical
series, and Chicago has that edge.
3-point shooting: I think Orlando is a better percentage 3-point
shooting team. You must guard them; Scott, Hardaway and Anderson all
can knock them down. Pippen has been erratic shooting the trey, and
teams have learned that you cannot give Kerr an open look out there.
Rebounding: Chicago is the best percentage rebounding team in the
league. That is not a strong feature of Orlando, so the Bulls have the
edge.
Coaching: Phil Jackson has his team -- he has honed them and he
was the Coach of the Year. Brian Hill deserves a lot of credit for
keeping the Magic going despite several injuries during the season.
Hill won last year's battle of the bench, so perhaps Jackson has
revenge in mind. It's an outstanding matchup of two men who deserve a
lot of credit.
Overall: I pick Chicago in seven games. This will be a very tough
series, physical and hard-fought.
nba.936vpoznanovic,
San Antonio (81) At Utah (108)
San Antonio
Rebounds
Player Pos Min Fgm-Fga Ftm-Fta Off-Def-Tot AST PF St To PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
Elliott F 41 5-13 5-7 1 3 4 2 3 0 1 16
W Perdue F 23 1-4 4-4 3 4 7 0 2 1 3 6
Robinson C 29 7-14 3-7 3 5 8 1 4 3 3 17
Del Negro G 45 6-12 0-1 1 1 2 0 3 2 0 17
Johnson G 40 3-13 3-4 1 4 5 8 3 1 1 9
Smith 6 1-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 2
C Person 31 1-5 0-0 0 3 3 1 5 0 2 3
Herrera 3 0-0 2-2 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 2
Alexander 8 2-6 1-1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 6
Anderson 10 0-1 1-2 1 2 3 0 2 1 1 1
Williams 4 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2
Rivers Dnp - Did Not Travel
Totals 240 27-70 19-28 12 23 35 13 27 8 12 81
(.386) (.679) Team Rebs: 7 Total To: 12(23 PTS)
Utah
Rebounds
Player Pos Min Fgm-Fga Ftm-Fta Off-Def-Tot AST PF St To PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
Malone F 26 3-5 2-2 2 3 5 1 2 0 1 9
Morris F 40 9-24 7-10 5 8 13 6 4 0 1 25
Spencer C 19 1-3 0-0 3 3 6 0 4 0 0 2
Hornacek G 28 4-9 2-2 1 0 1 2 2 1 2 12
Stockton G 35 4-6 0-0 1 5 6 13 4 0 3 9
Eisley 14 2-4 3-4 0 2 2 1 3 0 0 7
Russell 30 5-7 3-3 1 3 4 2 1 2 0 15
Keefe 26 8-11 2-4 1 6 7 0 2 0 2 18
Carr 7 2-3 0-0 0 1 1 1 4 0 1 4
Benoit 11 3-5 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 7
Ostertag 2 0-1 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
Foster 2 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 240 41-79 19-25 15 32 47 29 26 3 10 108
(.519) (.760) Team Rebs: 7 Total To: 10(5 PTS)
San Antonio 17 21 23 20 - 81
Utah 22 29 27 30 - 108
Blocked Shots: San Antonio - W Perdue 2, Robinson 2, Herrera. Utah -
Spencer 2, Russell 2, Eisley, Ostertag, Stockton.
3-Pt. Field Goals: San Antonio 8-20 (.400), Elliott 1-4, Del Negro 5-7,
Johnson 0-2, C Person 1-4, Alexander 1-3. Utah 7-13 (.538), Malone 1-2,
Hornacek 2-3, Stockton 1-3, Russell 2-3, Keefe 0-1, Benoit 1-1.
Technicals: Utah - Illegal Defense.
Officials: Steve Javie, Ed T Rush, Jack Nies.
A - 19,911. T - 2:20.
nba.937vpoznanovic,
UTAH KNOCKS THE CRAP OUT OF SAN ANTONIO
SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Jazz reserves outscored the San Antonio
bench 50-16. Spurs center David Robinson, one of the best role models
in sports, said "crap" in the postgame news conference.
Do you really need us to tell you who won Thursday's game?
Utah advanced to the Western Conference finals for the third time in
five years with an 108-81 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, closing
out their semifinal series in six games.
Karl Malone led the way for Utah with 25 points and 13 rebounds.
"It was a scary thing that we played as well as we did," Utah coach
Jerry Sloan said. "We got off to a really good start. We were able to
go inside right off the bat."
Adam Keefe scored 18 points off the bench and reserve swingman Bryon
Russell had 15 for the Jazz, who will play the Seattle SuperSonics in
the best-of-7 conference finals. Seattle swept the two-time defending
champion Houston Rockets in the conference semifinals.
Utah lost to Houston in the 1994 conference finals and to Portland in
1992.
Robinson was held scoreless in the first half and finished with 17
points Thursday night. He was in foul trouble for most of the first
half, picking up his third foul 14 seconds into the second quarter.
"I thought the call by Steve Javie was garbage and I think it was
personal," Robinson said of his third foul, a charge drawn by Malone.
"I've been seeing it all year long and it has been crap all year long
and I don't appreciate him bringing that on the floor," Robinson said
of Javie. " But I don't blame him for losing the game."
Robinson's patience has been tested this postseason, perhaps
contributing to his postgame "outburst." The media has suggested he is
"soft," even though the seven-time All-Star and reigning NBA MVP led
the Spurs to the Western Conference finals last season.
San Antonio coach Bob Hill had a more diplomatic description of
Thursday's game.
"Obviously, when David plays seven minutes in a half this deep in the
playoffs, it's going to be tough to score many points," Hill said.
"The officiating was fine ... it's difficult when you get to this
level and they put a couple of fouls on your star player."
The Jazz broke the game open with a 20-6 tear bridging the first and
second quarters. Chris Morris capped the run with a 3-pointer, giving
Utah a 33-20 lead with 8:05 remaining in the first half.
San Antonio closed within six points at 42-36, but the Jazz finished
the first half with a 9-2 run, capped by Stockton's 3-pointer right
before the buzzer which gave Utah a 51-38 lead at intermission.
Keefe was eight for 11 from the floor and grabbed seven rebounds, and
Russell hit five of his seven shots from the field. San Antonio's top
bench production came from rookie Cory Alexander, who scored six
points in eight minutes.
"Those guys didn't get a lot of playing time down the stretch, but we
said that going into the playoffs they were going to make the
difference," Malone said of the Utah reserves. "I think our bench
turned it up a notch."
"Our bench was sensational," Sloan said. "No doubt about it. I don't
know if you can ask a bunch of guys to play any better or harder than
we did. They deserve a lot of credit."
Utah outrebounded San Antonio 47-35. Stockton had 13 assists, giving
him 142 in 11 playoff games this postseason.
San Antonio shot just 39 percent (27 for 70) from the field and Utah
scored 23 points off 12 Spurs' turnovers. The Spurs' starting
backcourt of Vinny Del Negro and Avery Johnson hit nine of 25 shots
from the field.
Del Negro scored 17 points and Sean Elliott added 16.
"In a sense, this is a setback, because you work to build something up
and then you have to take a step back. It's disappointing,
definitely," Johnson said. "The main thing for us is to stick
together, and stay focused and look forward and work toward the
future."
Utah took its largest lead of the game with 1:36 to play when Russell
completed a three-point play to make it 108-76.
nba.938vpoznanovic,
NBA PLAYOFF SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
Conference Finals
(Best-of-7; all times Eastern; * - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Orlando vs. Chicago
Sunday May 19 at Chicago 3:30 p.m. NBC
Tuesday May 21 at Chicago 8:30 p.m. TNT
Saturday May 25 at Orlando 3:30 p.m. NBC
Monday May 27 at Orlando 3:30 p.m. NBC
*Wednesday May 29 at Chicago 9 p.m. TNT
*Friday May 31 at Orlando 9 p.m. TNT
*Sunday June 2 at Chicago 7 p.m. NBC
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Seattle vs. Utah
Saturday May 18 at Seattle 3:30 p.m. NBC
Conference Semifinals
(Best-of-7; all times Eastern; * - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Chicago defeats New York 4-1
Sunday May 5 Chicago 91, New York 84
Tuesday May 7 Chicago 91, New York 80
Saturday May 11 New York 102, Chicago 99 (OT)
Sunday May 12 Chicago 94, New York 91
Tuesday May 14 Chicago 94, New York 81
Orlando defeats Atlanta 4-1
Wednesday May 8 Orlando 117, Atlanta 105
Friday May 10 Orlando 120, Atlanta 94
Sunday May 12 Orlando 103, Atlanta 96
Monday May 13 Atlanta 104, Orlando 99
Wednesday May 15 Orlando 96, Atlanta 88
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Seattle defeats Houston 4-0
Saturday May 4 Seattle 108, Houston 75
Monday May 6 Seattle 105, Houston 101
Friday May 10 Seattle 115, Houston 112
Sunday May 12 Seattle 114, Houston 107 (OT)
Utah defeats San Antonio 4-2
Tuesday May 7 Utah 95, San Antonio 75
Thursday May 9 San Antonio 88, Utah 77
Saturday May 11 Utah 105, San Antonio 75
Sunday May 12 Utah 101, San Antonio 86
Tuesday May 14 San Antonio 98, Utah 87
Thursday May 16 Utah 108, San Antonio 81
nba.939vpoznanovic,
SPURS C DAVID ROBINSON LASHES OUT AT REF AT NEWS CONFERENCE
San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson, whose team was eliminated
from the playoffs by the Utah Jazz tonight, blasted official Steve
Javie at the post-game news conference.
Robinson did not score in the first half after picking up his third
foul 14 seconds into the second quarter. He finished with 17 points in
San Antonio's season-ending 108-81 loss at Utah.
"I thought the call by Steve Javie was garbage and I think it was
personal," Robinson said of his third foul, a charge drawn by Karl
Malone. "I've been seeing it all year long and it has been crap all
year long and I don't appreciate him bringing that on the floor. But I
don't blame him for losing the game."
Robinson is one of the most well-behaved and mild-mannered players in
the game, making his outburst all the more surprising. Some people
have labeled him "soft" despite averaging double figures in points and
rebounds in all seven of his NBA seasons.
Robinson, who averaged 25 points and 12.2 rebounds in the regular
season, was frustrated over the final four games of the series after
Utah made a defensive switch to have Malone, a smaller but more
physical power forward, guard Robinson.
The 7-foot center had only 11 points in Games Three and Four, both
losses. Robinson recovered to score 24 points in Game Five as San
Antonio staved off elimination, but the 1995 regular-season was not a
factor tonight.
"Let's just say that every time I've seen him, things have been the
same," he said, continuing his attack on Javie. "I'll just leave it at
that. That's as plain as I can put it. I think it was personal. You
can't bring that crap on the court. If you are going to make good
calls, that's fine, but that was just garbage."
nba.940vpoznanovic,
NO. 1 SONICS VS. NO. 3 JAZZ
DR. JACK RAMSAY'S SCORECARD
Payton going up against John Stockton. Payton is a buzzsaw type of a
defender who will make Stockton work hard. The Sonic star will
probably take away some of Stockton's effectiveness, though the Jazz
veteran is a master passer and he will find opportunities to get his
teammates involved. Stockton will have trouble defending against
Payton, who is very versatile; he can shoot from outside, can put it
on the floor taking it to the basket and he can post up very well.
He's surprising as a post-up performer. While I value Stockton's
ability, I see this matchup as a wash.
At the two guard slot, Hersey Hawkins and Jeff Hornacek are two very
similar players. They both are good shooters and pretty good passers
with limited running speed; both are effective players in their
offensive schemes. I'd call this matchup even as well.
Forwards: At the small forward, Utah has a few options for starter,
though Chris Morris is likely. He'll match up against Detlef Schrempf,
and there's a big edge for the Sonics there. Schrempf is having a
terrific playoff and he's had an outstanding season...he's lifted his
game, he can post you up, put it on the floor and drive, shoot from
long range and he's an excellent passer for a man his size. Bryon
Russell, Adam Keefe, David Benoit and Morris could all see time against
Schrempf, but none of them match up so it's a clear advantage to
Seattle here.
At the big forward, you have a great matchup as Karl Malone and Shawn
Kemp square off. These are two very active players. Malone is a much
better passer than Kemp; Shawn has trouble passing off the dribble.
Kemp is extremely athletic and he runs the floor like a deer. It will
be a hard matchup and I'll call it even.
So the overall forward edge goes to Seattle.
Centers: Felton Spencer and Greg Ostertag match up against Ervin
Johnson and Frank Brickowski. None of these four guys are significant
players, though they do a good job in the team scheme of things.
Johnson is only going to play around 12 minutes a game, though he
starts each time out. He blocks some shots and he can score around the
basket. Spencer is a slower, bigger guy who takes up a lot of room.
This is also a pretty even category.
Bench/depth: Even though Utah has been getting solid bench play in
the playoffs, as shown by Keefe's efforts in the last game against the
Spurs, I don't feel the Jazz has the same cohesiveness as the Sonics
bench. Seattle's defensive effort off the bench is better.
3-point shooting: Both of these teams shoot well from long distance.
When Seattle goes with a smaller lineup, pulling Johnson and inserting
Sam Perkins, they can put five capable three-point shooters on the
floor at the same time. Look at what happened when they hit 20 of them
against Houston! I give the Sonics a little edge here.
Overall: I give the slight edge to Seattle, which is well-rested, in
six or seven games.
nba.941vpoznanovic,
NBA PLAYOFF SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
Conference Finals
(Best-of-7; all times Eastern; * - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Orlando vs. Chicago
Sunday May 19 at Chicago 3:30 p.m. NBC
Tuesday May 21 at Chicago 8:30 p.m. TNT
Saturday May 25 at Orlando 3:30 p.m. NBC
Monday May 27 at Orlando 3:30 p.m. NBC
*Wednesday May 29 at Chicago 9 p.m. NBC
*Friday May 31 at Orlando 9 p.m. NBC
*Sunday June 2 at Chicago 7 p.m. NBC
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Seattle vs. Utah
Saturday May 18 at Seattle 3:30 p.m. NBC
Monday May 20 at Seattle 9 p.m. TNT
Friday May 24 at Utah 8:30 p.m. TNT
Sunday May 26 at Utah 3:30 p.m. NBC
*Tuesday May 28 at Seattle 9 p.m. NBC
*Thursday May 30 at Utah 9 p.m. NBC
*Saturday June 1 at Seattle TBD NBC
Note: If the Eastern Conference series is completed in less than six
games, a possible Game 7 in the Seattle-Utah series would be played
Sunday, June 2.
nba.942vpoznanovic,
JAZZ PINING FOR SHOT AT NBA FINALS
SEATTLE -- Utah coach Jerry Sloan doesn't have to look far to see the
key to his team's chances against powerful Seattle.
He simply looks down the bench. And every face he sees must contribute
if the Jazz are going to reach the NBA Finals for the first time.
In advancing to the Western Conference final for the third time in
five years, the Utah Jazz got a tremendous boost from their bench.
They probably are going to need a bigger one against the Seattle
SuperSonics.
While most teams shorten their bench in the playoffs, Sloan has used
his about as much as he did in the regular season. Players such as
Bryon Russell, Howard Eisley, Adam Keefe and Chris Morris made key
contributions during the six games it took to eliminate the overrated
San Antonio Spurs.
Utah's four wins were by an average of 23 points, and a bench player
stepped up in each one, offering some needed support to perennial
All-Stars Karl Malone and John Stockton and shooting guard Jeff
Hornacek.
In Game 1, Morris and Russell combined for 24 points in the absence of
injured starter David Benoit. In Game 3, Eisley had 14 points, making
all six of his shots. In Game 4, it was Morris again with 25 points.
And in Game 6, Keefe scored 18 points and Russell added 15.
But if the Jazz are going to take out the SuperSonics and move into
the NBA Finals for the first time, these contributions cannot be a
bonus. They are required, because the Sonics are the deepest playoff
team.
Where the Jazz start three All-Star caliber players, the Sonics start
four. Where Utah's bench has nice complementary players, Seattle's
bench has defensive stoppers and 3-point shooters that can change a
game. And although the Jazz are unbeaten at home, the Sonics are the
only playoff team perfect on the road.
Seattle kept its road record spotless with a pair of wins over the
two-time defending champion Houston Rockets, finishing off a four-game
sweep that surprised more than a few observers and has the team
believing it can win its first NBA title since 1979.
Seattle All-Star guard Gary Payton continued his excellent play at
both ends of the floor. The Defensive Player of the Year averaged 24.5
points per game and made a handful of big shots in the late stages to
seal the last three wins over Houston.
Seattle forward Shawn Kemp emerged from a playoff semi-funk in Game 4
with 32 points and 15 rebounds, and a three-point play in overtime
that clinched the win.
Payton and Kemp play the same positions as Stockton and Malone and
should neutralize each other. That leaves Hornacek and the rest of the
Jazz to deal with Hersey Hawkins, Detlef Schrempf, Sam Perkins, Frank
Brickowski and defensive demons Nate McMillan and Vincent Askew.
"We have a lot of weapons," Hornacek said. "Karl and Shawn and John
and Gary will pretty much cancel each other out. So if our other guys
can step up against Seattle the way they did against the Spurs, we
have a real chance of slipping into Seattle and coming away with a win
or two."
Considering that the Sacramento Kings stole a game at the Key Arena in
the first round, Hornacek could be right. However, that was a Seattle
team still feeling its way around after two consecutive first-round
exits and the current version bears no resemblance.
If the Jazz are going to beat the Sonics, they will have to win at
least once at Seattle. Their best chance for that will be Saturday,
when the series opens. The first game traditionally is the easiest for
the road team to win and the Sonics will be playing for the first time
in six days.
"It is going to be a tough series, but I think that we deserve to be
there," Malone said. "We are not going to show up there and not expect
to win."
The Sonics are known for their defense, but they averaged 110.5 points
per game in their sweep of the Rockets. Utah, meanwhile, has picked up
the defense mantel, allowing just 81 points a night in its last seven
games. In the regular season, Utah won the first meeting by 18 points.
Seattle captured the next three by a combined 12.
The Jazz can expect to see the Sonics double-team Malone and rotate to
the perimeter shooters as they did do effectively to Houston center
Hakeem Olajuwon. Utah, however, might not use Malone in the low post
as much as they do against other teams and could use the pick-and-roll
with Stockton and Malone even more than they did against the Spurs. If
anything, it will move Kemp further from the defensive boards than he
likes to be.
The Sonics will use the 6-foot-10 Schrempf and his height advantage
over Benoit, Russell and Morris, none of whom are more than 6-8.
Schrempf also is an excellent passer and can help Payton run the
offense if Stockton becomes a pest. Utah has no one like that to help
out Stockton, so look for Payton to play him tight and jam the
pick-and-roll as much as possible.
Hornacek and Hawkins also are important. Both teams run these guys
around a maze of picks and screens to free them for jump shots. If
they are off, the entire offense breaks down.
Utah can force a seven-game series if it can steal the opener.
Otherwise it should be a short series, with Seattle returning to the
Finals for the first time in 17 years.
nba.943vpoznanovic,
BULLS, MAGIC PLAY NAME GAME IN 'AMERICA'S SERIES'
CHICAGO -- Air will be there, and so will Shaq. Penny and Pip will be
on hand, too. And expect a visit from The Worm. You know, the guy with
the tattoos and colored hair.
This is the Eastern Conference final between the Chicago Bulls and the
Orlando Magic. If you don't have a nickname, you're not invited.
"It's going to be a great matchup," said Atlanta guard Steve Smith,
who doesn't have a nickname and was bounced in five games by the Magic
in the conference semifinals. "I'm going to watch it."
So will millions of others. The series opens Sunday and all but one
game will be carried by NBC as the playoffs move into network prime
time. It is the most anticipated playoff matchup since the 1993 NBA
Finals.
"I guess this is what America wants," said Magic forward Dennis Scott,
also known as 3D. "America is about to get what they have been asking
for six months."
For those who think Jordan is a country in the Middle East, here is
the scenario. Michael "Air" Jordan ended his retirement in March 1995,
and everybody thought his return would boost Scottie Pippen and the
rest of the Bulls back on top, where they were from 1991 to 1993.
Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway, however, had other ideas and the
Magic beat the Bulls in six games in the conference semifinals.
To battle the Magic, the Bulls acquired the combustible Dennis Rodman
-- a.k.a. "The Worm." Rodman's antics have lent a new meaning to the
phrase "rebounding fool," but he blended well with Jordan and Pippen
and the Bulls won an NBA-record 72 games.
The Magic won a franchise-record 60 games, even though they were
without O'Neal for 25 games. However, those gaudy numbers don't mean a
thing. Both teams are just interested in winning four of the next
seven.
The Bulls clearly have the edge. They won three of four games between
the clubs during the season and have the extra game at home, where
they went 39-2 this season. They also have Jordan, the greatest scorer
in the playoff history.
The Bulls clearly have all the pressure, though. No one will remember
the 72 wins if Chicago doesn't cap its season with a title. It is hard
to imagine a team that won 60 games as an underdog, but that's exactly
what the Magic are.
"We don't have any pressure because you guys don't expect us to win
anyway," said O'Neal, averaging 25.3 points in the postseason. "So
we're just going to go out there and play loose."
Said Magic guard Nick Anderson: "There's no pressure on us. We're the
underdogs going in, so we're going in relaxed and ready to play. We're
playing against a team with 72 wins. What do they call them --
unbeatable?"
Chicago can be beat, but not with anything less than Orlando's best.
When the Magic are at their best, though, they are pretty unbeatable
themselves.
The Bulls will have their hands full with O'Neal in the middle and may
resort to "Hack-a-Shaq" -- the strategy of fouling him as much as
possible. Chicago has four centers on its roster, and O'Neal is an
awful (40 percent) foul shooter.
"They're going to run fresh bodies at Shaquille," Orlando coach Brian
Hill said. "They're going to use all their fouls with four centers and
Rodman. They have 30 fouls to use per game."
"That's OK," O'Neal said. "I'll be ready. I worry about nothing. It
didn't bother me last year, so it isn't going to bother me this year."
The Magic sets up O'Neal on the low post and spread the floor with
excellent perimeter shooters like Hardaway, Anderson and Scott, who
might be the key. In the last two losses to Chicago, Scott shot a
combined one of 14 from the field.
The Bulls will run their triple-post offense, which the New York
Knicks were able to slow somewhat before falling in five games in the
conference semifinals. The Knicks used massive forward Anthony Mason
to jam Pippen whenever he tried to cut or drive to the basket. Pippen
settled for long jumpers and missed nearly 12 shots per game during
the series.
"Orlando is a speed team, a quick team," Bulls coach Phil Jackson
said. "They will not be as physical as New York, but they have the
ability to score a lot of points."
Jordan presents Orlando a bigger problem. Anderson had some success
against him last year, but Jordan still was a bit rusty from his March
comeback. He showed no rust this season, leading the league in scoring
for the eighth time.
Jordan also is the ultimate bail-out player, the one you want with the
ball when the offense breaks down and the shot clock is ticking away.
Hardaway has become Orlando's version of that player, but he has not
reached Jordan's level.
The Bulls also expect to get a boost from the return of forward Toni
Kukoc, who missed the final three games against the Knicks with a back
injury. He averaged nearly 22 points per game in three wins over
Orlando.
Rodman remains the one player who can affect the Bulls' fortunes. He
led the league in rebounding for the fifth consecutive season but
picked up four technical fouls in the final three games against New
York and could be on the verge of one of his trademark explosions.
Chicago can't afford any funny stuff from Rodman. Without him last
year, former Bull Horace Grant ran wild at power forward and was the
key to Orlando's victory. Grant is averaging 16.9 points and 11.6
rebounds in the playoffs and will be the key again this year if the
Bulls let him.
Nickname or no nickname.
nba.944vpoznanovic,
Bulls weigh options against 300-pound Shaq attack
DEERFIELD, Ill. (May 17, 1996 - 16:29 EST) -- Foul him. Double him.
Surround him.
All these strategies have been used against Shaquille O'Neal.
Chicago Bulls backup center Bill Wennington, the team's resident
prankster, offers yet another option for stopping the Orlando center
when the Eastern Conference finals begin Sunday.
"Tie an anvil to his ankle," Wennington said.
Even though the Bulls have four centers and 24 fouls to give, coach
Phil Jackson says he won't subscribe to the "Hack-A-Shaq" philosophy
against O'Neal, who helped Orlando beat Chicago in the playoffs last
year.
"They called fouls indiscriminately against our centers (last year)
and we don't want that to happen this year," Jackson said. "We don't
want to foul anybody."
Shaq shot 48.7 percent from the free-throw line this season and has
made only 40.4 percent of his shots from the line in eight playoff
games.
Luc Longley will have the main assignment of guarding O'Neal.
Wennington, John Salley and James Edwards could also get their turns.
"And Dennis (Rodman) will have a shot or two," Jackson said. "I
imagine that it's going to be a lot of eenie-meenie-minie-mo to see
who's going to go out and play Shaq. In the course of the game, a lot
of guys are going to get the opportunity."
O'Neal missed the first two regular-season games against the Bulls
with a broken thumb. In the two he played, the Magic lost. In one
game, his shorts started to fall down and he suggested later that a
Bulls player may have given his draw string a yank.
But it's at the free throw line where Shaq's game is really undressed.
"I'm not worried. It ain't nothing new. I'm a bad free throw shooter.
Everybody knows it anyway," he said. "I don't mind being fouled as
long as I get my free throws. Send me to the line. I've earned the
free throws."
The Bulls insist they're not going to constantly double team O'Neal
when he gets the ball, a defensive strategy that often forces him to
make passes back out to the perimeter.
Chicago doesn't want players like Horace Grant or Dennis Scott to get
wide-open shots when one of its defenders goes to help out on O'Neal.
"We are not going to send multiple defenders to defend Shaq. We're
going to make our centers have to play him on their own," Jackson
said.
"We don't want to leave their shooters out there on that 3-point range
alone. There may be other guys we have to double-team, (Penny)
Hardaway or somebody else, but with Shaq we're going to try to stay
home."
The 7-foot-2, 290-pound Longley said if there's one plus to guarding
O'Neal it's that he doesn't have to go out and contest jump shots as
he did against New York's Patrick Ewing in the previous round.
O'Neal's offensive repertoire is pretty much confined to the lane area
and around the basket.
"Shaq's just more physically overwhelming," Longley said. "Even with
Patrick, you can push him into a spot. Shaq, his game is to take his
ground."
Wennington admitted that when the 7-foot-1, 300-pound O'Neal barrels
to the basket, it's pretty much impossible to stop him.
"He's just a big, strong man," Wennington said. "You have to make him
bump and grind, pretty much wear him out."
nba.945vpoznanovic,
Retired dairy farmer wants to show Shaq the way
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 17, 1996 - 16:23 EST) -- Give Ted St. Martin a
basketball, a rim and one hour with Shaquille O'Neal, and he says he
can turn the Orlando Magic's bricklaying center into a 90 percent
shooter from the free throw line.
"I know I can do it," said St. Martin, a 61-year-old retired dairy
farmer who speaks with polite confidence. "I'm willing to stake my
reputation on it."
He didn't make a name for himself milking cows, either.
In his book, "The Art of Shooting Baskets," the foreword is written by
two of the best -- Bill Sharman and Rick Barry. St. Martin spent years
putting on free throw exhibitions at NBA games around the country, and
he recently broke his own record for consecutive free throws.
On a concrete court in the back of his Jacksonville home, he charges
$100 for a one-hour lesson and guarantees he can make a 90-percent
shooter out of anyone -- or the next lesson is free.
"No one has ever come back," says his wife, Barbara.
If this sounds hard to believe, consider what happened at the end of
one of St. Martin's clinics a couple of weeks ago, when a group of
teen-agers challenged him to shoot free throws until he missed.
Pull up a chair, boys.
St. Martin made the first free throw a little after 1 p.m. As darkness
fell seven hours and 20 minutes later, he had made 5,221 in a row
before one scooped out off the back of the rim.
Five thousand!
"It's easy to break when it's my own record," said St. Martin, who was
raised in the Yakima Valley area of Washington state, working a dairy
farm there and later in the San Joaquin Valley of California.
He first got his name in the Guiness Book of World Records in Fresno,
Calif., in 1972, by making 200 in a row. He has lost track how many
times he has set new marks.
Which brings us back to the Shaq.
In 54 games this season, O'Neal went to free throw line 1,033 times
and made only 592 for a 57 percent average. In eight playoff games, he
has made 40 percent from the free throw line, including 5-for-17 in
Wednesday's night win over Atlanta.
St. Martin watched that game. The only thing that kept him from
keeling over was that he had seen it before.
"I hear these announcers say someone is an excellent free throw
shooter and they're shooting 75 percent. Man, that gets me," said St.
Martin, who draws the line of excellence at 86 percent.
"It's so teachable. That's what I want to get across," he said. "You
can be at 90 percent after one session with me. If I can teach a kid
that, I know I can teach a pro."
Even Shaq?
"He would be THE major project," he said.
St. Martin won't say exactly what O'Neal needs to improve. After all,
he hopes an NBA team will ask for his help someday, and he doesn't
want to work for free.
His secret of success is nothing magical, and it rarely requires an
overhaul. Most of it is attitude, concentration and fundamentals. For
example, if you shoot with the right hand, he believes your right foot
should be lined up with the center of the rim.
Your eyes should be focused on the back -- not the front -- of the
rim, and they should stay there until the ball falls through the net.
Leave your arms extended. Don't put a death grip on the ball.
And enough of teammates coming over to slap fists with the shooter,
especially after a free throws bangs off the rim.
"They ought to kick him in the butt for missing," he said.
St. Martin put his words into practice out in his yard, draining 15
straight with a two-handed shot that rotates slightly sideways. It's
not the silkiest stroke, and he doesn't insist that anyone shoots it
like him -- as long as they get the same results.
"I look funny shooting it," he conceded. "Maybe that's why coaches
don't want to use me."
He said he has written letters to the Magic offering his services, but
is told only that his letter is on file.
For now, his clients are mostly high school players whose parents see
the value in free throwing shooting and don't mind plunking down $100.
He doubts he'll ever have Shaq in school, but he already has
considered how it would go.
"If I could confer with him for an hour, the first thing I would tell
him is he's a young man who can play this game for 20 years," St.
Martin said. "If he could just make 90 percent of his free throws, he
could break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record."
St. Martin would be willing to guarantee it.
nba.946vpoznanovic,
Will Perkins be with the Sonics next season?
SEATTLE (May 16, 1996 - 21:54 EST) -- Sam Perkins wonders if there
will be a 13th NBA season for him.
Because of his age and salary -- 35 next month, $3.8 million this
season -- Perkins is uncertain if he has a future with the Seattle
SuperSonics.
In pro basketball's new era of exorbitant superstar contracts, where
teams shuffle players to meet the salary cap, will any team be willing
to pay an aging veteran that kind of money?
"I don't know what's going to take place," says the free-agent-to-be.
If the Sonics are thinking of letting Perkins go, they may want to do
some re-thinking.
He hasn't slowed, or at least didn't look like he had in the Sonics'
playoff series against the two-time defending champion Houston
Rockets.
In Seattle's four-game sweep, Perkins was sensational, hitting 19 of
30 shots (63 percent), including 8 of 15 3-pointers (53 percent).
His accurate outside shooting as a reserve was a key reason the Sonics
reached the Western Conference finals. The Rockets couldn't figure out
a way stop him.
"Name me the person in this league who can guard Sam Perkins," Houston
coach Rudy Tomjanovich said.
At 6-foot-9, he is a forward-center who spends time in the low post,
but also on the perimeter like a shooting guard. He has that kind of
shooting touch. And he was a key defender holding Hakeem Olajuwon in
check.
"Mainly, I'm defensive-minded when I go out there," he said. "I play
hard. I may look like I'm in slow motion, but my mind is going and I'm
intense."
Shawn Kemp, Seattle's all-star forward, has grown to appreciate the
subtleties of his teammate's game.
"He brings you a lot of character," Kemp said. "You know Sam's a
smooth guy. He's the kind of guy who can play and doesn't sweat that
much."
Perkins grew up in Brooklyn, teamed with Michael Jordan and James
Worthy to win an NCAA championship as a sophomore at North Carolina
and was the fourth player chosen in the 1984 draft, by Dallas.
Perkins spent his first six pro years with the Mavericks, 2 1/2
seasons in Los Angeles after signing with the Lakers as a free agent
and came to Seattle in a Feb. 22, 1993, trade for Benoit Benjamin and
Doug Christie.
It's been a good trade for the Sonics, who have utilized Perkins'
3-point shooting and long arms on defense.
He averaged 14.3 points in the Rockets' series after averaging 11.8
points this season.
Asked if he wanted to play as long as Robert Parish, who played his
20th NBA season at 42 with Charlotte this season, he shook his head.
"I'm not going to be like that," he said. "When I can't help a team
any more, I'm out of here."
nba.947vpoznanovic,
Utah (72) At Seattle (102)
Utah
Rebounds
Player Pos Min Fgm-Fga Ftm-Fta Off-Def-Tot AST PF St To PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
Malone F 33 10-19 1-6 1 7 8 5 1 2 4 21
Morris F 18 3-7 1-2 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 7
Spencer C 17 2-5 2-2 2 1 3 0 3 0 2 6
Hornacek G 29 5-12 3-3 3 0 3 0 0 0 2 13
Stockton G 32 2-10 0-1 1 1 2 7 2 1 0 4
Eisley 16 1-4 0-0 0 2 2 5 3 0 3 3
Carr 19 1-3 1-2 1 2 3 2 3 1 0 3
Keefe 14 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
Russell 28 2-5 2-2 2 2 4 0 2 2 0 6
Ostertag 19 3-7 0-0 1 6 7 0 3 0 1 6
Benoit 12 1-4 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3
Foster 3 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Totals 240 30-76 10-18 12 22 34 20 21 8 16 72
(.395) (.556) Team Rebs: 15 Total To: 17(28 PTS)
Seattle
Rebounds
Player Pos Min Fgm-Fga Ftm-Fta Off-Def-Tot AST PF St To PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===
Kemp F 33 10-11 1-3 3 8 11 0 2 1 2 21
D Schrempf F 28 4-8 4-6 0 2 2 5 1 1 1 14
Johnson C 20 5-8 0-1 3 4 7 0 5 0 1 10
Hawkins G 29 6-8 0-0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 13
Payton G 35 8-16 3-6 1 3 4 7 3 3 2 21
Mcmillan 27 1-3 0-0 1 3 4 5 3 2 2 3
Perkins 23 4-10 2-2 2 2 4 3 2 1 1 13
Brickowski 15 1-3 0-0 0 1 1 1 3 1 1 3
Askew 15 1-2 0-0 0 2 2 3 1 0 3 2
S Scheffler 5 0-2 0-2 1 2 3 1 0 0 0 0
Snow 5 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 2
Wingate 5 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 240 41-75 10-20 11 28 39 27 22 11 14 102
(.547) (.500) Team Rebs: 10 Total To: 14(10 PTS)
Utah 23 16 21 12 - 72
Seattle 24 30 23 25 - 102
Blocked Shots: Utah - Ostertag 2, Morris, Spencer. Seattle - Johnson 2,
Kemp, Mcmillan, Perkins, Askew.
3-Pt. Field Goals: Utah 2-14 (.143), Morris 0-1, Hornacek 0-1, Stockton
0-4, Eisley 1-3, Russell 0-2, Benoit 1-3. Seattle 10-20 (.500), D Schrempf
2-4, Hawkins 1-1, Payton 2-4, Mcmillan 1-2, Perkins 3-5, Brickowski 1-3,
Snow 0-1.
Technicals: Seattle - Illegal Defense 2.
Officials: Dick Bavetta, Ed Crawford, Ed F Rush.
A - 17,072. T - 2:12.
nba.948vpoznanovic,
KEMP'S REIGN DAY IN GAME 1 LEADS SONICS ROUT
SEATTLE -- It was, without a doubt, a definite reign day in Seattle.
And the local king of Reign in the Pacific Northwest is Shawn Kemp.
Kemp scored 21 points and fueled a 25-6 second-quarter burst, as the
SuperSonics overwhelmed the Utah Jazz 102-72 on Saturday in Game 1 of
the Western Conference finals, sending the Jazz to its worst-ever
playoff defeat.
Kemp's final point total may not have been spectacular, but the power
forward -- matched up against Utah's Karl Malone in a battle of
All-stars -- was steady and solid, making all nine of his first-half
shots and 10 of 11 in the game and grabbing 11 rebounds.
"It was a shocking game to me because it's very difficult to beat them
by a lot of points," Sonics coach George Karl said. "By far, this game
is an exception to what this series is going to be like."
After the first quarter, it was total domination for the Sonics, who
outrebounded Utah by 16 in the first half and shot 55 percent,
becoming the first team to reach 50 percent against the Jazz in the
playoffs. The Sonics extended their playoff winning streak to seven
games, the longest since Chicago won eight in a row from 1992 to 1993.
The game was symbolized by a five-point possession in the second
quarter, when the Sonics grabbed two offensive rebounds off missed
free throws.
"They had it all today and I don't think we did," Malone said. "It's
never good to get a butt-kicking like this, but if anything it'll wake
you up."
Gary Payton scored 21 points and held John Stockton to four -- and
only two after Utah's first possession of the game -- in a showdown of
All-star point guards.
The Jazz never recovered from Seattle's second-quarter outburst. Utah
led 33-29 with 7:14 left in the quarter when the Sonics, who hadn't
played since last Sunday after sweeping Houston, scored 10 straight
points.
Hersey Hawkins made a pair of jumpers around a free throw by Kemp to
give the Sonics the lead for good at 34-33 with 5:35 remaining. Kemp
then scored inside and Hawkins hit a 3-pointer to cap the run.
After a timeout, Malone, who scored 21 points, hit a hook shot, but
Sam Perkins made a 3-pointer and Kemp had a layup to boost the lead to
44-35. Seattle then closed the half with an 10-4 run for a 54-39 lead.
Kemp had 19 points and eight rebounds in the first half.
"Our All-Stars, Gary and Shawn, were special," Karl said. "When we
start rebounding like we did today, it seems to fuel out running game.
And when we can run, it leads to easy baskets."
Any chance Utah had of getting back into the game was thwarted when
Seattle opened the second half with a 10-2 burst in the first 2 &189#;
minutes. Schrempf made consecutive 3-pointers to boost the lead to
64-41 with 9:38 left in the third quarter.
It was garbage time thereafter, as Seattle maintained a 77-60 lead
after three quarters and the stars for both teams sat for most of the
fourth quarter. The margin got no lower than 15 points in the first
minute of the final period and as large as 32 points in the last
minute.
"It looked like they had 10 guys guarding us out there," Jazz coach
Jerry Sloan said. "They beat us every way you can in a game. They kept
playing and putting gasoline on the fire and just burned us up."
Playing in its third conference final in five years, the Jazz are now
0-7 in conference final road games. Utah is 1-5 on the road in this
year's playoffs.
"We had a lot of rest and needed to jump ourselves because we've been
sitting a long time," Payton said. "All our shooters are clicking
right now."
nba.949vpoznanovic,
Malone says this game was indeed foul
SEATTLE (May 18, 1996 - 20:47 EST) -- Karl Malone took a lot of the
blame.
"I guess I was due," the Utah Jazz's nine-time All-Star said Saturday.
"Sometimes you have it and sometimes you don't."
Malone, coming off a sensational series in which he outplayed San
Antonio's David Robinson, was a victim -- not a victimizer -- against
Shawn Kemp in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, a 102-72
victory by Seattle.
He led the Jazz with 21 points, but Kemp had 21 points, too, and
missed only one shot. Kemp shot only 37 percent in four regular-season
games against Utah.
"We didn't play, they played," Malone said. "They played tremendous."
With the Key Arena crowd of 17,072 chanting the seconds it took him to
take a foul shot, Malone was 1-for-6 from the line in the third
quarter when the Sonics wouldn't let Utah back in the game after
taking a 15-point halftime lead.
All of Malone's foul shots for the game came during a five-minute span
in the third period.
Sonics coach George Karl complained Friday that Malone was guilty of
sometimes taking 17 seconds to shoot a free throw. The NBA rule is 10
seconds.
Malone said the fans didn't have anything to do with his poor foul
shooting.
"They can say anything with the way I've been shooting them," said
Malone, who was 32 of 46 from the line in the Spurs' series. "I
haven't been shooting that well in the playoffs. Hopefully, I can
start shooting them better."
Malone downplayed his matchup with Kemp. Malone guarded the Seattle
power forward, but Ervin Johnson drew Malone on defense as the Sonics
tried to keep Kemp out of foul trouble.
Kemp refused to talk to reporters after being interviewed briefly by
NBC.
"I was just being patient, letting the game come to myself, not being
too aggressive on Karl," Kemp told the network. "Don't let him rip the
ball down low and just take the ball up strong. "
Gary Payton put some pressure on his teammate.
"For us to be successful, Shawn has to continue to play like that,"
Payton said. "He was tremendous."
Malone, who averaged 25 points in the San Antonio series, said this
wasn't a pure matchup between Kemp and himself because Kemp didn't
guard him.
"Too bad you guys can't make that comparison," he said.
The Sonics didn't double up on Malone after using double teams to stop
Hakeem Olajuwon in their series sweep over defending champion Houston.
Karl said they don't intend to do it in the series.
"Everybody at this point in the season has their little mind games
they like to play," Malone said of Karl's strategy. "I'm not even
getting into that."
Malone said the Sonics won in the second quarter when they
outrebounded the Jazz 13-2. Kemp had seven of his 11 rebounds and 11
points in the period.
"It was rather shocking," Malone said. "You can't allow yourself to
get beat on the boards like that. If we don't rebound, we don't have a
chance."
Added Kemp: "In the second quarter we came out much looser, got a lot
of easy points, rebounded the ball very well and got it started."
Malone said he didn't intend to watch videotape of Utah's worst
playoff defeat ever.
"It's not going to tell us anything besides we got our butts kicked,"
he said. "That was an old-fashioned one right there."
nba.950dizel,
-> #947, vpoznanovic> Utah (72) At Seattle (102)
Ubise ih!!!
E, samo da tako bude i u finalu protiv Chicaga!
nba.951mileusna,
-> #910, vpoznanovic>> NBA Sixth Man award voting
>> 45 -- Toni Kukoc, Chicago Bulls
>> 1 -- Steve Kerr, Chicago Bulls
Može li malo obaveštenja kako idu te nominacije pošto su
iz jednog kluba u izbor ušla dva igrača za najboljeg šestog
čoveka?
nba.952vpoznanovic,
-> #857, junior>> A koji su to standardni termini ? Nikako da uhvatim NBA Action ;(
Standardan termin je onaj Koloseum, u 10 i nešto. NBA Action se, ako se
ne varam, emituje petkom u tom terminu. Ponekad ide i repriza subotom.
nba.953vpoznanovic,
-> #867, kant>> U svakom slučaju, "ako te se sete na Dan bezbednosti, sete se", ako ne,
>> još jednom hvala u ime par ljudi kojima zaista mnogo znače tvoji prilozi.
Nema na čemu, bilo mi je zadovoljstvo da te informacije podijelim s vama.
>> Srećno na ispitima.
Hvala. :)
nba.954vpoznanovic,
-> #886, schef>> Lično mislim da će Seattle da prođe u finale mnogo lakše nego Chicago
>> na istoku te će mu to olakšati posao protiv Chicaga... Bar' se nadam.
>> :) Ne volim kad pobeđuje ekipa sa Hrvatom u njoj... :)
Eh, kakav si ti ljubitelj košarke kad ovako razmišljaš... sad si me baš
razočarao... Pogotovo u vezi Tonija, koji sa negativnom konotacijom pojma
'Hrvat', na koju u ovom slučaju očigledno misliš, niti je kada imao niti
će kada imati veze. Igrač sa najvećim potencijalom koji je ikada otišao
sa ovih košarkaških prostora...
nba.955vpoznanovic,
Ok, došao je trenutak da vas napustim na neko vrijeme. Znam da je bez
veze što moram da se povučem baš sad, pred najbolje okršaje u plejofu,
ali šta da se radi, akademske obaveze zovu. ;) Nadam se da se ova tema
neće ugasiti do mog povratka, bar sad imate o čemu da diskutujete. :)
Ja ću naravno i dalje pratiti sve što se bude dešavalo u ligi, tako da
ako nekome bude trebala neka informacija, može da me kontaktira mailom
na Galebu (vladep) ili na Afroditi (pvlade). Trudiću se da odgovorim u
nekom razumnom roku. :)
Eto, uživajte u završnici takmičenja, sve vas pozdravljam do narednog
susreta. :)
nba.956lexus,
-> #954, vpoznanovic=> će kada imati veze. Igrač sa najvećim potencijalom koji je ikada
=> otišao sa ovih košarkaških prostora...
Po mom mišljenju, najtalentovaniji igrač sa ovih prostora je bio
pokojni Dražen Petrović. On je bio Đorđević i Danilović zajedno.
nba.957pifat,
Ako sam dobro upamtio, Čikago je razvalio Orlando kao dete zvečku -
122:83.
nba.958vitez.koja,
-> #951, mileusna#=> Može li malo obaveštenja kako idu te nominacije pošto su
#=> iz jednog kluba u izbor ušla dva igrača za najboljeg šestog
#=> čoveka?
Nikako, sastane se neko društvo, valjda svi treneri klubova i
možda još po neko i onda glasaju, bez predložene liste (ne smeju za
svoje). E to je sve.
sk
nba.959junior,
-> #957, pifat> Ako sam dobro upamtio, Čikago je razvalio Orlando kao dete
> zvečku - 122:83.
121 : 83. Decu im je napravio ...
nba.960mileusna,
-> #957, pifat>> Ako sam dobro upamtio, Čikago je razvalio Orlando kao dete zvečku -
>> 122:83.
121:83 ako se ne varam, a i Sietl je pobedio Jutu takođe
sa solidnih dvadesetak koševa prednosti. :)
P.S. Čikago-Sietl 4:2 :)
nba.961vitez.koja,
-> #956, lexus#=> Po mom mišljenju, najtalentovaniji igrač sa ovih prostora je bio
#=> pokojni Dražen Petrović. On je bio Đorđević i Danilović zajedno.
Dražen Petrović je bio najmanje talentovan igrač od tih "velikih"
igrača. Sve je uradio isključivo zahvaljujući svom radu. Pa čuvene su
priče kako i koliko je trenirao (šut, sve priče koje sam čuo sam čuo
vezane su za vežbanje šuta). Kasnije u NBA je opet pokazao koliko je
radio na odbrani tamo... Brat mu je bio 20 puta talentovaniji, ali
džaba...
Đorđević jeste prosečno talentovan dečko. Isto je strašno naučen,
ali on je dugo, dugo vremena igrao "za statistiku" - nije bio ključni
čovek, koji će u zadnjih 5 min. preuzeti odgovornost, a pogledaš,
odličan šut, dosta asistencija, malo izgubljenih lopti. Tek u
poslednjoj Obradovićevoj sezoni je savladao tu psihološku barijeru i
postao pravi.
Danilović, Kukoč, Divac, Paspalj, Dalipagić, Ćosić, pa i Kićanović
su (bili) najtalentovaniji igrači sa ovih prostora. Za Rađu ne znam.
Poenta priče je da se pojam najtalentovaniji bitno razlikuje od
pojma najbolji.
sk
nba.962superhik,
-> #961, vitez.koja=:> priče kako i koliko je trenirao (šut, sve priče koje sam čuo
=:> sam čuo vezane su za vežbanje šuta). Kasnije u NBA je opet
Da li bi ih podelio sa nama?
nba.963dizel,
-> #962, superhik> =:> price kako i koliko je trenirao (sut, sve price koje sam
> cuo =:> sam cuo vezane su za vezbanje suta). Kasnije u NBA je
> opet
>
> Da li bi ih podelio sa nama?
Ja znam price u vezi sa njegovim treniranjem u Realu!
Iako je bio najbolji (ubedljivo) igrac Evrope, on je dolazio
po 3 sata pre treninga za ostale prvotimce, i samo sutirao!
Desavalo se da i posle treninga ostaje i da radi...
Spanci su se tome cudili, ali svaka mu cast.
nba.964vitez.koja,
-> #962, superhik#=> =:> priče kako i koliko je trenirao (šut, sve priče koje sam čuo
#=> =:> sam čuo vezane su za vežbanje šuta). Kasnije u NBA je opet
#=> Da li bi ih podelio sa nama?
E sad, detalji... Pa ništa posebno ne znam, tj. nemam neki njegov
plan i program treninga ili tako nešto, ako si na to mislio. Pričalo
se o treninzima po 6h dnevno ekstra (preko normalne doze treninga, dok
je ugrao u Šibenci) i tako to... Onda čuvena pričica o takmičenju sa
bratom i 29 od 30 trica u doba Univerzijade i tako te priče...
sk
nba.965lexus,
Seattle poveo sa 2:0 u finalu zapadne konferencije.
Seattle-Utah 91:87
nba.966dizel,
Chicago je poveo sa 2:0 protiv Orlanda pobedom od 93:89(ili 87).
Izgleda da nam se priblizava finale Chicago - Seattle.
nba.967kum.djole,
-> #964, vitez.koja>> je ugrao u Šibenci) i tako to... Onda čuvena pričica o takmičenju sa
>> bratom i 29 od 30 trica u doba Univerzijade i tako te priče...
..neko pomenu pre par godina da je zbog treninga propustio matursko. %)
nba.968kum.djole,
Oće l' mu dati 35 milki ? ;)
nba.969mango,
-> #966, dizel> Chicago je poveo sa 2:0 protiv Orlanda pobedom od 93:89(ili 87).
> Izgleda da nam se priblizava finale Chicago - Seattle.
Hm, ne bih rekao; nadam se da ce Orlando dobiti 4:3 (mada i njih
ne volim, ali ih manje mrzim od Chicaga, koji opet mrzim najvise od
svih timova) Ako 'rogonje' i prodju u finale bice 4:2 za Seattle (moje
favorite).
nba.970nenad,
-> #967, kum.djole> ..neko pomenu pre par godina da je zbog treninga propustio matursko. %)
Nije to ništa, znam slučaj jednog Sezamovca koji je zbog
rođendana Sezamovke takođe propusio matursko...
(Naravno, u pitanju je bila MG)
nba.972mpedja,
-> #969, mango#$%&*-> Hm, ne bih rekao; nadam se da ce Orlando dobiti 4:3 (mada i njih
#$%&*-> ne volim, ali ih manje mrzim od Chicaga, koji opet mrzim najvise od
#$%&*-> svih timova) Ako 'rogonje' i prodju u finale bice 4:2 za Seattle
#$%&*-> (moje favorite).
Jeste, al kad na vrbi zasvrbi!
Po meni Chicago je favorit jer ima strava igrace na svim pozicijama.
Ne mogu oni protiv Jordana,Pippena,Horryja,nazalost Kukoca!
nba.973seki,
-> #972, mpedjaSE> Ne mogu oni protiv Jordana,Pippena,Horryja,nazalost Kukoca!
Horryja?
Ognjen
nba.974lexus,
-> #972, mpedja=> Ne mogu oni protiv Jordana,Pippena,Horryja,nazalost Kukoca!
Horry?!?
Možda si mislio na Rodmana :>
Inače, Bulls-i bez Jordana su niko i ništa.
nba.975dizel,
-> #974, lexus> => Ne mogu oni protiv Jordana,Pippena,Horryja,nazalost Kukoca!
>
> Horry?!?
> Mozda si mislio na Rodmana :>
> Inace, Bulls-i bez Jordana su niko i nista.
Ma i sa njim ce da izgube...
Samo da ih Orlando (koji ne molim, ali ipak ih manje mrzim od Chicaga),ili
bar Seattle razbije...
Ipak, bice tesko!
nba.976vitez.koja,
-> #968, kum.djole#=> Oće l' mu dati 35 milki ? ;)
oće.
nba.977boshko,
Jel moze neko da mi nabroji tri petorke prvensta. Promaklo mi je a
bas me interesuje.
nba.978mpedja,
-> #974, lexus#$%&*-> Inace, Bulls-i bez Jordana su niko i nista.
I bez Jordana oni su se prilicno dobro odrzali!
Tu je jos bio Pippen!
nba.979mpedja,
-> #975, dizel#$%&*-> Ma i sa njim ce da izgube...
#$%&*-> Samo da ih Orlando (koji ne molim, ali ipak ih manje mrzim od
#$%&*-> Chicaga),ili bar Seattle razbije...
#$%&*->
#$%&*->
#$%&*-> Ipak, bice tesko!
Koga ti volis u NBA?
A da ce vam biti tesko, bice! Chikago po meni ima najbolji tim od
ostalih!
nba.980mileusna,
-> #974, lexus>> Inače, Bulls-i bez Jordana su niko i ništa.
E da, ponudu iz New Yorka, Džordan okarakterisao na sledeći
način: "Ponudao New Yorka je vredna pažnje. Nakon što uzmemo
titulu ove godine ozbiljno ću razmisliti o prelasku u drugi
klub." :)
nba.981junior,
-> #968, kum.djole> Oće l' mu dati 35 milki ? ;)
Que?
nba.982kum.djole,
-> #981, junior>> Que?
Ma je l' moguće da ti ne pratiš..? ;)
Ćelavi traži 35 miliona $ za nastavak punjenja protivnika.
U protivnom menja klub.
nba.983mileusna,
Čikago - Orlando 86:67 (3:0) :) Inače, Sietl je izgubio
zadnju tekmu, tako da je sada rezultat na zapadu 2:1.
nba.984vitez.koja,
-> #979, mpedja#=> A da ce vam biti tesko, bice! Chikago po meni ima najbolji tim od
#=> ostalih!
Ok, videćemo ih prvi put u finalu plej ofa protiv ekipe koja
takođe nema dominantnog centra... Zanimljiva teza, zar ne?
Dakle, u glavnim ulogama defanzivac godine protiv igrača godine i još
po neko :).
sk
nba.985kum.djole,
-> #983, mileusna> Čikago - Orlando 86:67 (3:0) :) Inače, Sietl je izgubio
> zadnju tekmu, tako da je sada rezultat na zapadu 2:1.
Slabo nešto stižu vesti do Kragujevca.. ? ;)
Juta - Sietl 86:88 i 1:3.. dakle, gotova stvar.
nba.986mileusna,
Sietl - Juta (88:86) (3:1)
nba.987dizel,
-> #979, mpedja># $%&*-> Ipak, bice tesko!
>
> Koga ti volis u NBA?
> A da ce vam biti tesko, bice! Chikago po meni ima najbolji tim
> od ostalih!
Ma svi moji omiljeni su vec ispali (Lakers, Knicks, Suns...)
Od preostalih, najdrazi mi je Seattle, tako da se nadam da
ce oni zaustaviti siloviti Chicago, koji vodi 3:0...
Utah je inace smanjila vodstvo Seattle-a na 2:1.
nba.988seki,
Zar ovde neko sumnja da ce Cikago uzeti titulu?
Ognjen
nba.989dizel,
-> #986, mileusna> Sietl - Juta (88:86) (3:1)
Orlando - Chicago 101:106
Dakle , Cikago je u finalu NBA i to maksimalnom pobedom od 4:0.
Sra*je!
nba.990junior,
-> #982, kum.djole> Ćelavi traži 35 miliona $ za nastavak punjenja protivnika.
Ma kaži 18 po sezoni ;) Tako razumem ...
Inače, mislim da neće - biće suviše dosadna sledeća sezona, ako
Čikago ostane u ovakvom sastavu. Opet, ako bi dobili neki novi
tim sa Jordanom, recimo Toronto O:), bilo bi zanimljivo.
nba.991lexus,
-> #988, seki=> Zar ovde neko sumnja da ce Cikago uzeti titulu?
Ja sumnjam!
Seattle će biti šampion!
Pobediće sa 4:3, zato što imaju više igrača.
nba.992mpedja,
-> #989, dizel#$%&*-> Dakle , Cikago je u finalu NBA i to maksimalnom pobedom od 4:0.
#$%&*-> Sra*je!
STRAVA! Jos samo da dobiju sijetl... :>>>>
nba.993mpedja,
-> #987, dizel#$%&*-> Od preostalih, najdrazi mi je Seattle, tako da se nadam da
#$%&*-> ce oni zaustaviti siloviti Chicago, koji vodi 3:0...
Da je silovit, silovit je i ne verujem da Seattle moze da ga zaustavi!
Sada je vec 4:0 i Chicago je vec u finalu!
nba.994mpedja,
-> #991, lexus#$%&*-> Ja sumnjam!
#$%&*-> Seattle ce biti sampion!
#$%&*-> Pobedice sa 4:3, zato sto imaju vise igraca.
DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! KAKO DA NEEEEEEEE!
Ja ne sumnjam!
Chicago ce biti sampion!
Pobedice sa 4:2 zato sto imaju bolji tim. :)))
nba.995mpedja,
-> #990, junior#$%&*-> tim sa Jordanom, recimo Toronto O:), bilo bi zanimljivo.
Ja se ne zalim. Svidjaju mi se njihovi dresovi!
nba.996mileusna,
-> #985, kum.djole>> Slabo nešto stižu vesti do Kragujevca.. ? ;)
Nije, nego se slabo uključuje informativna sprava zvana
TV. :) Inače, poslednji rezultat Jute i Sietla sam poslao samo
jedan čas nakon tebe, što i nije tako loše, zar ne? ;)
nba.997kum.djole,
-> #996, mileusna> Nije, nego se slabo uključuje informativna sprava zvana
> TV. :) Inače, poslednji rezultat Jute i Sietla sam poslao samo
> jedan čas nakon tebe, što i nije tako loše, zar ne? ;)
Pa i nije, znači da Beograd ide sat vremena napred u odnosu
na Kragujevac kad se radi o NBA, a beskrajno zaostaje kad se
prenosi finalna utakmica KEŠ.. ;)
nba.998giovanni,
-> #989, dizelĘ? Dakle , Cikago je u finalu NBA i to maksimalnom pobedom od 4:0.
Ę? Sra*je!
Pravo da ti rečem, meni je draže da igra Čikago u velikom finalu nego
Orlando sa onim majmunom O'Nilom. Inače, navijam za Čikago ali u ovom
finalu sigurno neću navijati za njih jer je moj omiljeni tim Sijetl u
velikoj prednosti (čuj velikoj, skoro gotovo u finalu). Jedino što me
brine je što imam neki nezgodan osećaj da će Čikago i njih da razbije. :(((
nba.999mpedja,
-> #998, giovanni#$%&*-> velikoj prednosti (cuj velikoj, skoro gotovo u finalu). Jedino sto me
#$%&*-> brine je sto imam neki nezgodan osecaj da ce Cikago i njih da
Mislim da to nie samo osecaj. Chicago ce sigurno da ih razbije!
nba.1000dizel,
-> #998, giovanni> Ę? Dakle , Cikago je u finalu NBA i to maksimalnom pobedom od
> 4:0. Ę? Sra*je!
>
> moj omiljeni tim Sijetl u velikoj prednosti (cuj velikoj, skoro
> gotovo u finalu). Jedino sto me brine je sto imam neki nezgodan
> osecaj da ce Cikago i njih da razbije. :(((
Settle - Utah 85:88 (ili tako nesto, u produzetku)
tj. sada je 3:2 za Seattle...
Ko zna sta ce jos biti...
nba.1001lexus,
Utah - Seattle 118:83
Ukupan rezultat: 3:3
Majstorica - nedelja ujutru u sijetlu.
Ovo je najteži poraz koji je Seattle ikada
doživeo u Play-Offu
nba.1002vitez.koja,
Sietl - Juta 4:3
nba.1003budim,
-> #1002, vitez.koja(:) Sietl - Juta 4:3
A, lexe?... :>>>>
no comment? :>
poz,
budimir
nba.1004mpedja,
-> #1002, vitez.koja#$%&*-> Sietl - Juta 4:3
To je to.Znaci duel Chicago:Seattle! Jedva cekam da vidim tu 'borbu'.
Ubice ih Chicago ko malu decu.
nba.1005giovanni,
-> #1002, vitez.kojaĘ? Sietl - Juta 4:3
YES! :))) Nego, koliki je rezultat bio na kraju i jel' zna neko raspored
finalnih tekmi i da li će neka domaća TV prenositi taj događaj?
nba.1006lexus,
-> #1005, giovanni=> YES! :))) Nego, koliki je rezultat bio na kraju i jel' zna neko
=> raspored finalnih tekmi i da li će neka domaća TV prenositi taj
=> događaj?
90:86 za Seattle... :(
Što se rasporeda tiče, neka neko pronađe vpoznanovic-a i natera
ga da se još jednom javi na Sezam ;)
nba.1008vitez.koja,
-> #1005, giovanni#=> YES! :))) Nego, koliki je rezultat bio na kraju i jel' zna neko
#=> raspored finalnih tekmi i da li će neka domaća TV prenositi taj
#=> događaj?
90:86 za Sietl... Utakmice se igraju u ritmu sredu, petak,
nedelja. Prva se igra u tri noću, druga u jedan, treća (valjda) opet u
tri, posle ne znam (znači prva u noći sreda na četvrtak). Ako sam
dobro razumeo prenosiće HRT, ako ti je to dovoljno domaće :) -
probajte da uhvatite kad imate neke smetnje na drugim programima...
Inače, poslah ovaj rezultat rizikujući bes sezamove populacije,
naime sve bilo super, gledao ja utakmicu na hrtu, kad 13 sec pre kraja
na 3 razlike za Sietl i tajm aut za Jutu nestade slike, sa sve
tonom... I pošto kasnije je odmah bio kraj programa, tj. nisu bili
produžeci, ja zaključih da je Sietl pobedio :)
sk
ps. Upravo javiše na BK da će da daju direktne prenose, en-bi-ej
fajnals on bi-kej :)
nba.1009seki,
-> #1008, vitez.koja> ps. Upravo javise na BK da ce da daju direktne prenose, en-bi-ej
> fajnals on bi-kej :)
Jel' istina da ce Vlada Olic prenositi utakmice?
Ognjen
nba.1010guta,
-> #1005, giovanni#> YES! :))) Nego, koliki je rezultat bio na kraju i jel' zna
#> neko raspored finalnih tekmi i da li će neka domaća TV
#> prenositi taj događaj?
BK TV
1. utakmica - Četvrtak, 6. jun, 03:00 direktan prenos, snimak 22:00
2. utakmica - Subota, 8. jun, 03:00 direktan prenos, snimak 22:00
3. utakmica - Ponedeljak, 10. jun, 01:30 direktan prenos, snimak 22:00
4. utakmica - Četvrtak, 13. jun, 03:00 direktan prenos, snimak 22:00
* 5. utakmica - Subota, 15. jun, 03:00 direktan prenos, snimak 22:00
* 6. utakmica - Ponedeljak, 17. jun, 01:30 direktan prenos, snimak 23:10
* 7. utakmica - Četvrtak, 20. jun, 03:00 direktan prenos, snimak 22:00
* - ako je potrebno ;)
nba.1011mpavlo,
-> #1005, giovanni> YES! :))) Nego, koliki je rezultat bio na kraju i jel' zna neko raspored
> finalnih tekmi i da li ce neka domaca TV prenositi taj dogadaj?
U danasnjoj Politici je na sportskoj strani izaslo da ce BK prenositi sve
utakmice finala izmedju Bulls-a i Supersonics-a.
datum vreme prenosa vreme reprize domacin
-- ----- ------------- ------------- -------
1 cetvrtak, 6. jun 03:00 22:02 Chicago
2 subota, 8.jun 03:00 22:02 Chicago
3 ponedeljak, 10.jun 01:30 22:02 Seattle
4 cetvrtak, 13.jun 03:00 22:02 Seattle
*5 subota, 17. jun 03:30 22:02 Seattle
*6 ponedeljak, 17.jun 01:30 23:10 Chicago
*7 cetvrtak, 20. jun 03:00 22:02 Chicago
* - Ako budu potrebne
nba.1012seki,
Chicago - Seattle 107:90, u prvoj utakmici!!!
Ognjen
nba.1013dizel,
Danas u Chicagu u prvom mecu playoffa
Chicago - Seattle 107:90
Prva pobeda Chicaga, sigurno nije i poslednja, ali se nadam
da ce Seattle dobiti 4 meca i postati sampion(sve manje nade!)
nba.1014cosmo,
ukoliko se ovo vec nije pojavilo.. sve o finalnoj seriji na
internetu.. http://www.finals.com
nba.1015mpedja,
-> #1013, dizel#$%&*-> Prva pobeda Chicaga, sigurno nije i poslednja, ali se nadam
#$%&*-> da ce Seattle dobiti 4 meca i postati sampion(sve manje nade!)
Samo se ti nadaj...