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Nov

30

Bosh And LBJ Sit Out Raptors Stomp Cavaliers 91-82

Andrea Bargnani scored a career high 26 point and teammate Carlos Delfino scored a career high 24 as the Toronto Raptors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday night 91-82. Cleveland was without LeBron James out with a sprained finger, and the Raptors were without Chris Bosh who was out with a strained groin.The Cavaliers were already without starter Larry Hughes, veteran power forward Donyell Marshall, as well as Cedric Simmons.

James?sprained his left index finger Wednesday night?and left the game in the second quarter as Cleveland lost to the Detroit Pistons.?Without LBJ the team battled but did not have enough weapons to last the game. Both Bosh and Bargnani were injured Wednesday night as well as the Raptors beat the Memphis Grizzlies. Bargnani collided with Stromile Swift, and injured his right knee which was swollen after the game. It certainly had no visible effect on his game Friday night.

Cleveland’s high point came at the end of the first quarter as they led 28-27, but fallen behind by the half as the Raptors led 54-49. Cleveland was led by Daniel?Gibson with 24 points, and a team high 7 assists, Drew Gooden and Sasha Pavlovic each scored 15, Gooden with a game high 14 rebounds.?Veteran guard Devin Brown in the starting lineup added 10 for the Cavaliers. Raptors guard Jose Calderon added 11 points for Toronto, and a game high 10 assists. The win gives Toronto a record of 9-7, while the Cavaliers having lost two in a row fall to 9-8. The Raptors head to?Washington to take on the Wizards Saturday night. Cleveland will next play Sunday when they travel to Boston to take on the Celtics. Cleveland defeated Boston earlier this week, one of only two teams to accomplish that this season.

Nov

30

Smush Not To Make The Trip With Heat

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There are three sides to every story, Your side, My side, and the Truth, which usually falls somewhere between Your side and?My side. Unfortunately perceptions also come into play, even though the old bromide exists “You can’t judge a book by its cover” most people unfortunately still do. Racial, Ethnic, and all sorts of other profiling affect us on a personal, and on?a professional level. Throw in a litigious society, where many people are “sue happy” and looking to make that easy money, and you have all the recipes for a crisis. Something unfortunately that Miami Heat backup point guard Smush Parker is going through as I write this article.

Thursday reports surfaced that Parker had been put on the inactive list by the Miami Heat, following an altercation that allegedly took place Tuesday morning. Parker according to reports got into an argument with a parking lot attendant over whether Parker had paid his parking fee the night before.?Parker said he had, the attendant said there was no record of payment. Police were called to the scene, although no charges were or have been filed. Parker was not present for the game Tuesday night, nor was he at shoot around on Thursday. After the shoot around, the Miami Heat issued a statement by head coach Pat Riley: “We are currently investigating the reported incident. Until we have concluded it, Smush will not be with the team. He has not been suspended and is currently on our inactive list. This is a legal matter and we will have no further comment until the legal process runs its course”

Friday the Miami Herald reported that Parker would not play in the game against Boston Friday night. The report also said that Smush would not accompany the team Saturday as they embark on a six game, eleven day road trip. Parker’s agent Billy Ceisler told the paper that his client would do what ever the Heat wanted until the situation is rectified.

The Herald also gave more information about what allegedly took place on Tuesday morning. According to the paper Parker tried to get his keys to his vehicle Tuesday morning. The attendant on duty, a woman named Yamaira McKenzie said she would not give him the keys until he paid the 12 dollar parking fee at the condominium complex located on Biscayne?Boulevard. Parker told the woman he had paid the fee the night before, she said there was no record of payment. He demanded his keys, she demanded?the money. According to the police report Parker then pushed a podium, and grabbed the woman’s arm in an attempt to get his keys. Parker told police that he had paid the fee the night before but there was no record of payment according to the officers report.?Parker was not arrested or charged with any crime. The attendant’s attorney says that McKenzie will file charges with the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office, which will then conduct an investigation into the allegations.

Friday after shoot around when Parker was still not in attendance, Riley told reporters that Parker would not play against the Celtics. He also told them that Parker would not rejoin the team until the situation is rectified. According to reports, Riley said “We don’t have a time frame ourselves until we get all of the facts as to what is going to happen. There’s an accusation of assault, OK. From there, we have to continue to investigate until either formal charges are going to be brought. But still, it’s conduct detrimental to the team. That’s all there is to it. It isn’t just cut and dry. We want to make sure the facts are correct. That’s all. But from what I understand, there’s a police report and we’re continuing to collect evidence and the facts.”

I have been around professional coaches for over a dozen years, and I think I can read between the lines pretty well. But it does not take great detective skills to figure out that Riley is distancing himself, and the team from Parker. There has been no mention of support or sticking up for the player at all. Now as I said, at the top, there are three sides to every story and perhaps Riley is privy to information that he has not made?public. But on the other hand there have been no charges filed or arrest made. If?Miami-Dade County?police thought that an assault on a woman took place by a professional athlete, do you think there would have been any chance that he would not have been at least brought to the station for questioning?

As I also said at the top, we live?in a very litigious society. Unfortunately, there are many people that would look to make money on a suit whether valid or not. Now I do not know this woman, in fact was not aware of her name until just moments before I started writing this article. I am certainly not saying that this woman is filing these charges, in order to get them on record so she can proceed with a civil suit. But it certainly would not be the first?time that something like this took place. Again three sides to every story, your side, my side, and the truth. Only two people know what went on in the incident.?

I just wrote that I have never met this woman, I do however know Smush Parker, having covered him his rookie year with Cleveland. Remember what I wrote about perceptions, and not “judging a book by it’s cover”? Smush has braids, but he’s about as “gangsta” and I’m a 51 year old Caucasian Sports reporter who’s been married 24 years next month, and lives in the boondocks of central New York! As I wrote on my piece on Thursday, Parker is a articulate, bright, soft spoken, well mannered, young man. You can fool me for a week, but not for a year, Smush Parker is a good man! Unfortunately Riley is starting to talk about Parker in the same vein he talked about Antoine Walker days before he was traded to Minnesota. I would say that Parker’s days in Miami are numbered, I just hope he is given a second chance some where else in this league.

Nov

30

NBA Office Rejects Mavericks Protest

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The Dallas Mavericks protest of their loss to the Indiana Pacers last Friday has been rejected by the league office. Dallas lost to Indiana in a game held at the Canseco Field House 111-107. Dallas filed the protest because a shot by Pacers veteran forward Troy Murphy was recorded as a three point shot, when it actually was only a two point field goal. The shot occured?with?9:59 remaining in the second quarter.?The NBA ruled Friday that the official scorer did make a mistake but it did not effect the outcome of the game. The differential would still make it a 3 point loss, and Dallas had plenty of time remaining in the game to overcome, the 1 point mistake. Dallas apparently did not realize the discrepancy until the game was over. If it had been brought to the officials attention during the game the score would have changed. Face it Mavericks, you lost the game whether it was by three points or four!

Nov

30

Busy Friday Night For The NBA

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Friday night will be chock full of action, in addition, to some intrigue as 11 games are being played in the NBA. Let’s start by traveling north of the border, where the Toronto Raptors take on the Cleveland Cavaliers a contest in which both teams have banged up go to guys. In the Raptors case it’s their forward tandem, Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani who both made early exits from the Raptors win over Memphis Wednesday night. Bosh left the contest in the second quarter, with a strained groin, he told reporters Thursday he expected to play Friday night. Bargnani, collided with Stromille Swift in the fourth quarter, and he injured his knee which immediately swelled up after the game. He is listed as day to day, and is expected to be a game time decision as to whether he will play. Cleveland, already playing without Donyell Marshall, and Larry Hughes who are down with injuries lost their leader in the second quarter of their loss to Detroit. LeBron James was injured by Detroit center Nazr Mohammed, and sprained his left index finger. He is also listed as day to day, but my instinct tells me James will be on the court Friday night with his fingers taped, bringing back memories to us old timers of Bernard King.

During Thursday night’s telecast of the Knicks basically quitting during their game against the Celtics, Charles Barkley talked out New York coach Isiah Thomas. Barkley believes that Thomas is about as safe in his job, as a plate full of cookies would be in front of Sir Charles. In other words he is a goner according to Barkley, and despite Thomas telling New York media members last Friday he was assured by management he would survive the seasaon, Thursday’s game must have?hurt?his status. New York hosts the Milwaukee Bucks at MSG, and Thomas may need around the clock security at the game, due to the venom of irate fans. If Milwaukee who has lost 2 in a row dominates this game, I would have to agree with Barkley and presume Thomas could be gone by the end of the weekend.

The Boston Celtics have lost 2 games this season. Both times they lost were to teams that out performed Kendrick Perkins their starting center and weakest link. If Shaq-Diesel shows up Friday night instead of Old Man O’Neal, Miami will have a shot in this game. D-Wade will get his 30, and Ricky Davis will jack up 40 shots, and get 22 points, but the key to this game for Miami, will be Shaquille. Not one Celtics starter broke the 29 minute mark Thursday night, so they will be well rested in pursuit of their thirteenth win.

Two power houses take each other on Friday as the Orlando Magic with a record of 14-3, and leading the Southeast Division take on the Phoenix Suns who lead the Pacific Division with an 11-4 record. Talk about a contrast in styles! Phoenix dominated by a fast break Steve Nash run offense, complimented by Shawn Marion, and Damon Stoudemire, and former Magic player Grant Hill. Orlando does it with their big men led by Dwight Howard, and his two wing-men Rashad Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu, with Jameer Nelson a major part of the mix. This clash of the titans could be the best contest of the night.

So far this season Utah Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer has played his best basketball of his NBA career, averaging a double-double almost every night. They will jump ball against Kobe and company as the Lakers come to Salt Lake City. In addition to Boozer the other member of the team that has been indispensable has been guard Deron Williams, as Andrei Kirilenko has not been the steady offensive presence at small forward as he has been in the past. Lakers may have found a “diamond in the rough” Thursday night as they went to their bench, and a little used guard may have been a one night wonder,or embarking on a new path. Lakers fourth year player Serbian guard Sasha Vujacic, scored 22 points Thursday a career high against the Denver Nuggets, 19 of which came in the fourth quarter. It will be interesting to see how much action he sees against the Jazz.

Nov

30

Lakers Score 46 Points In Fourth QTR To Blow Out Nuggets 127-99

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The Los Angeles Lakers Thursday night rallied back from a 33-21 first quarter deficit to beat the Denver Nuggets in a romp 127-99. Los Angeles scored an amazing 46 points in the fourth quarter to win the game in such convincing fashion, as they put on a show for the fans at the Staple Center.

Denver who started the season with a 7-1 mark, had lost their two previous games coming into their matchup against Los Angeles. However it appeared that their losing streak might come to an end Thursday as they led after the first quarter by 12 points. But the prosperity did not remain for long, as the Lakers cut the lead to just two points in the second quarter trailing 57-55 at the half. The Nuggets then went cold from the field as they scored only 18 points, in the third, and 24 points in the final quarter for a second half total of 42 points. Los Angeles out scored them in the fourth quarter alone!

Kobe Bryant as usual led the way for the Lakers with 24 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal. But it was reserve guard Sasha Vujacic, who stole the show! Vujacic who had played in 10 games previously this season, and had accumulated a total of 50 points had a career high 22 points, 19 coming in the fourth quarter. The 23 year old Serbian, is in his fourth year in the NBA all with the Lakers. Thursday night was his coming out party as he shot 6-14 from the field, 2-6 from outside the arc, and 8-9 from the line, with 3 assists, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. Luke Walton came off the bench to score 14 points, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum each scored 12 points, with Bynum grabbing a game high 13 rebounds. And Derek Fisher, and Jordan Farmar each scored 10 points in the win.

Carmelo Anthony was the leading scorer for the Nuggets?shooting 11-15 from the field and 1-1 from the line for 23 points, Allen Iverson scored 21, with 6 assists, and 4 boards. Linas Kleiza came off the bench to score 15 points for Denver,?while J.R. Smith, and Marcus Camby each had 11 , Camby with a team high 9 rebounds. Los Angeles is now 9-6, while Denver drops to 9-7.

Nov

30

Warriors win 5th straight, destroy Rockets 113-94

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Golden State Warriors guard Baron Davis (5), scores past Houston Rockets guard Mike James (7) during the second half of the Houston Rockets-Golden State Warriors game, played Thursday night. Golden State beat Houston 113-94.

The Golden State Warriors, ever since forward Stephen Jackson returned from his NBA-mandated suspension, have enjoyed a renaissance on the court. Tonight’s game against the Houston Rockets was a continuation of the excellent team play the Warriors utilize to their advantage. Golden State shot 51% from the floor while holding Houston Rockets center Yao Ming and swingman Tracy McGrady to a combined 21 points, enabling the Warriors to soundly defeat the Rockets 113-94 at Oakland.Golden State scored the first eight points of the game and led 18-3 midway through the opening quarter; the Rockets came back with a 14-2 run of their own and trailed by only 5 after one quarter. Houston scored 9 straight points early in the 2nd quarter to take its first lead before Golden State responded with a 14-2 run to help take a 59-50 lead at halftime.

Golden State would open up the 3rd quarter with a 15-2 run thta wpould give the Warriors a 74-55 lead midway through the 3rd period. Houston could never get teir deficit into double-digits after that. Golden State’s high scorer was guard Baron Davis with 27 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists - a strong game, indeed. Stephen Jackson added 19 with 6 boards and 7 assists, while G Monta Ellis and forward-center Al Harrington 18 each.

Houston was led by G Mike James with 19 from off the bench; swingman Bonzi Wells added 13. Both Ming and McGrady had awful performances tonight - Ming with only 10 while McGrady scored only 11. Golden State (8-7), winners of 8 of their past 9 games, flies north to Seattle to take on the SuperSonics on Sunday, while Houston (9-8) travels to California’s state capital to challenge the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night.

Nov

29

Knicks Embarass Themselves In Humiliating Loss To Boston 104-59

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New York Knicks owner James Dolan has one of two choices, trade 12 players, or fire his coach. In one the most embarrassing games in NBA history, the New York Knicks flat out quit in their “contest” Thursday against the Boston Celtics losing the game 104-59. Yes, Boston is a far better team, with a far better record than New York, but the disparity is not this great. This game virtually was extended garbage time from the mid point of the second quarter, on national TV. Although Knicks coach Isiah Thomas told New York media members last that he was safe, a lack of effort from a team certainly can not give him a feeling of security. With the catcalls Dolan has heard at Knicks games at MSG, followed by a less than auspicious start?of 4-9 already gave “Zeke” two strikes. One wonders if a loss of this magnitude could be the third??

This slaughter could not be dignified with the word contest, in any way, shape, or form. To have a contest two sides must compete,?need I say more? Boston led 27-16 at the end of one, 54-31 at the half, and the Celtics were just getting warmed up. With none of the Boston starters breaking the 29 minute mark, the Celts outscored the Knickerbockers 50-28. In fact New York was in danger of scoring the lowest point total in team history, until a three point shot beat the buzzer. Boston led the game by as much as 50 points for most of the fourth quarter.

New York shot 30.3% from the field for the game 23-76, 2-10 from behind the arc, and a decent 11-17 from the line. New York’s high scorer was reserve guard Nate Robinson with 11 points, the only Knicks player in double figures. Last week’s starting point guard Mardy Collins, was the only New York player not to see action in the game.

Boston was led by Paul Pierce and Ray Allen each with 21 points. Pierce had 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, Allen had 5 boards, 3 assists. Eddie House and “Big Baby” Glen Davis each had big nights off the bench, House scored 15 points, going 5-8 from the field 5-6 from outside the arc. Davis had his Garden coming out party scoring 13 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 blocked shot. Rajon Rondo scored 10 for Boston, a game high 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal.? K.G. was able to take it easy only taking 5 shots scoring 8 points, but he did have a game high 11 rebounds. He also provided the highlight of the night chastising Craig Sager’s?sports jacket. Boston is now 12-2, New York is now 4-10.

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Categories

Nov

30

Bosh And LBJ Sit Out Raptors Stomp Cavaliers 91-82

Nov

30

Smush Not To Make The Trip With Heat

Nov

30

NBA Office Rejects Mavericks Protest

Nov

30

Busy Friday Night For The NBA

Nov

30

Lakers Score 46 Points In Fourth QTR To Blow Out Nuggets 127-99

Nov

30

Warriors win 5th straight, destroy Rockets 113-94

Nov

29

Knicks Embarass Themselves In Humiliating Loss To Boston 104-59

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