Jan

31

Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad, Celtics Get Past Dallas 96-90

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Ray Allen and Paul Pierce each scored a?team high 26 points, and starting point guard Rajon Rondo recorded a double-double, as the Boston Celtics went to the Lone Star State?and defeated the Dallas Mavericks Thursday night 96-90. Boston won despite being without forward Kevin Garnett who has missed the last three games with a strained abdominal muscle. The “Big Ticket” was injured last week, as the Celtics defeated Garnett’s former team the Minnesota Timberwolves last week.

Allen had missed?Boston’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers earlier this week, as he was suffering from the flu. Pierce suffered through his worst game of the season, as he scored just 7 points. But they both came back with a vengeance as they faced the Mavericks. The Celtics jumped on top in the first quarter as they held a 27-20 lead at the end of the period,?Dallas came back to tie Boston as the two teams went to their respective locker rooms at the half deadlocked at 44-44. Boston took a razor thin lead at the end of the third quarter as they had a 71-70 advantage going into the final?quarter. The teams kept going back and forth, and the game was tied at 90-90 after Dirk Nowitzki hit two at the line with 58 seconds remaining in regulation. But that was all Dallas could muster, as the Celtics took the lead on a? Rajon Rondo? field goal, and then James Posey who was fouled twice in the contest’s last 10 seconds made all four of his shots at the charity stripe.

Allen shot 11-20 from the floor, 1-3 from outside the arc, 3-3 at the line, for his 26 points, he also had 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1? steal, 1 block. Pierce shot 8-19 from the floor, also 1-3? from three point range, and 9-10 at the line for his 26 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, Rajon Rondo scored 14 points, a career high 12 boards, 4 assists. Posey came off the bench scoring 13 points, 3 steals, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, Leon Powe also came off the bench with a nice game for Boston, 10 points, ?4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal.

?Dirk Nowitzki led all scorers as he shot 10-21 from the floor, 1-3 from outside the arc, 10-10 from the line, for 31 points, 11 boards,? 6 assists, 3 blocks. Josh Howard scored?19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, Jason Terry scored 13 points, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block. Brandon Bass came off the bench scoring 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal. Boston is now leading the Association with a 36-8? mark, Dallas is now 31-14.

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Jan

31

Prince’s Clutch Trey Boosts Pistons Past Lakers 90-89

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????????????????????????????????????? Detroit Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince pumps his fists after making a three-point basket with 4.4 seconds remaining to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 90-89 on Thursday night.?

On most nights, 39 points from Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant would be sufficient for a victory; but 22 turnovers committed by Los Angeles and a 3-pointer by Detroit Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince with 4.4 seconds left in the game enabled the Pistons to leave the Palace of Auburn Hills with a well-earned, 90-89 win over the Lakers.

Los Angeles?had a rough first quarter, matching their season high with 9 turnovers - Bryant with 3 - as they fell behind 29-22.? Detroit built a big lead in the second quarter only to see it shrink to what would be a Pistons’ 7-point edge at halftime.? But the Lakers’ Bryant scored 10 straight points to put Los Angeles ahead 62-58 with 4:18 left in the third period; the Lakers led 72-67 going into the fourth quarter, and it was see-saw for the vast majority of the period until the Pistons’ Prince sank the game-winning 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left in the game.

Detroit’s high scorer was Prince with 22 points, while Chauncey Billups added 16 with 3 rebounds, 7 assists and a pair of steals; Richard Hamilton chipped in with a quiet 14.? Los Angeles was led by the aforementioned Bryant with an unusual triple-double, scoring 39 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and turning the ball over 11 times.? Derek Fisher added 15 in a losing effort.? Detroit (33-13) continues their homestand by hosting the Dallas Mavericks Sunday afternoon, while Los Angeles (28-16) flies to Canada to face the Toronto Raptors Friday night.

Jan

31

Danny You Still Have Time To Pull The Trigger to Get Kidd For Cavaliers

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The NBA a lot of times is just like the military, there is a lot of time to hurry up and wait. It seems to get more and more frequent the closer that teams get down to that magic date of February 21, which is the final day for trades in the NBA. Monday we revealed to you here at Slam Dunk Central, that New Jersey Nets point guard Jason Kidd had authorized his agent Jeff Schwartz to talk to New Jersey about working out a possible trade that would get Kidd on a contending team, while the Nets would be fairly compensated.

New Jersey will never be able to replace Jason Kidd, he is a man who will one day end up in Springfield, Mass. in the Basketball Hall Of Fame.?No less an authority on elite NBA talent, than the “Big O” Oscar Robertson believes Kidd does not get the recognition that he should, in the Association. If you are a regular reader of mine, you know?that?I have said for years, that I believe Jason Kidd is the platinum standard at the point guard position at the NBA. And age has not decreased his skills at all, he has just become a smarter player, able to use the skills that he still excels in to their fullest. About a month ago I wrote a column showing you my NBA All-Star teams, I said then if I am looking?to win the NBA Finals this year my point guard would be Jason Kidd, now in about three years it would be Chris Paul. But for a? team looking for the elite NBA QB for now Kidd? would be my number once?choice.

The Nets are being bombarded by offers, the latest being an alleged three team deal involving Portland,?Dallas, and New Jersey. In the this scenario the Mavericks would end up with Kidd, why Portland?a team that seems to have the perfect chemistry would want to change their personnel is frankly beyond me.?Devin Harris is a nice point guard but if I’m a NBA General Manager, I am not? going to risk messing up the continuity of a winning team to get him. Dallas of course being involved, and acquiring Kidd is a no brainer. It would change the?balance of? power in the Western Conference, putting ?the Mavericks if not at the top, then near the top of the West.

When Kidd first announced his intentions to be traded, the Cleveland Cavaliers were named as one of the teams that would be in the hunt for him. Strangely we have heard of no offers emanating from Cleveland, even though the acquisition of Kidd could catapult the Cavaliers back in the NBA Finals this spring. As we have seen Damon Stoudamire go to the San Antonio Spurs, and Earl Boykins go the Charlotte Bobcats this week, Cavaliers General Manager? Danny Ferry has been silent. Even though the major need that his team has is for a point guard, he has done nothing to solve the problem. Even though the closest thing his team has to a starting point guard is the Jurassic-Era Eric Snow, Ferry has stayed pat. Danny now is your chance.

Jason Kidd, and LeBron James playing on the same starting five, would turn Cleveland into instant contenders, along with Boston, Orlando, and Detroit as one of the teams to win the Eastern Conference. A Jason Kidd LeBron James? team would not be swept in the NBA Finals by the San Antonio Spurs as Cleveland was last year. In fact they would actually have a chance to win it all.

Danny,?opportunities like these are rare, in Sports, and in Life, you have to take advantage of it. Nobody other than LBJ should be considered untouchable on the team. Whatever you have?to give up to get J-Kidd, you just have to bite the bullet and do it. Making this trade, would not only show the fans of Cleveland you are willing to pull out all the stops to win, more importantly it would show?your star player that. Remember Danny LBJ is only under contract for another couple of seasons. If he sees?that you and team owner?Dan Gilbert are willing to roll?the dice to win it all, it will make him that much more willing to re-sign with Cleveland when the time comes. It is time for Cleveland to take that next step, the acquisition of J-Kidd could get the Cavaliers where? they want to go.

? Copyright 2008 thesackattack.com?
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Jan

31

NBA Names All-Star Reserves

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The NBA Thursday announced the Reserve Squads for the NBA All-Star Game which will be held in New Orleans on February 17. The Association named fourteen players seven each from the Eastern and Western Conferences. Named to the Western Conference team were New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul, and Hornets forward David West, Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns. Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, Brandon Roy of the Portland Trail Blazers, and?Carlos Boozer of? the Utah Jazz complete the Western team.

The Eastern Conference will be represented by Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison of the Washington Wizards, Chauncey Billups, and Richard Hamilton of the Detroit Pistons. Toronto Raptors Chris Bosh, Boston Celtic Paul Pierce, and Joe Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks round out the Eastern Conference roster.

The Eastern Conference team will be coached by Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who has his team in first place in the East. The Western Conference coach was named Thursday night it will be New Orleans Hornets coach Byron Scott.

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Jan

31

Bobcats To Sign Boykins

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It appears that the Charlotte Bobcats have addressed a pressing need - a backup point guard - by reaching a contract agreement with free agent guard Earl Boykins, according to ESPN on Thursday.? Because the Bobcats haven’t been able to rest starting point guard Raymond Felton as much as they’d like, the Boykins signing will make this possible.

Boykins, prior to the signing by the Bobcats, had been working out on his own all season and had been looking for a team to sign with since last summer, when he opted out of?the fiinal year of his contract with the Milwaukee Bucks; Boykins averaged 14.0 PPG and 4.5 APG while with the Bucks, following a trade from the Denver Nuggets.? Boykins, for his career, is averaging 9.8 PPG and 3.4 APG.

Jan

31

LBJ Scores Winning Bucket Cavaliers Beat Blazers In Thriller 84-83

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LeBron James recorded a double-double, 37 points, 14 rebounds, including 17 points, in the fourth quarter and the game winning basket with less than one second left as the Cleveland Cavaliers squeezed by the Portland Trail Blazers 84-83. LBJ?scored 2 more points, in the fourth then the entire Blazers team, as the Cavaliers rallied from a? first half deficit.

Portland came out of the starting blocks strong, leading the Cavaliers 29-20 at the end of the first quarter. Cleveland was able to shave 2 points off the lead by the end of the second quarter 48-42. Portland maintained a 68-62 edge at the end of the third quarter,?but James powered Cleveland past the Blazers in the fourth as he scored 17 of the teams 22 points, while Portland succumbed to Cleveland’s increased defensive intensity.

James shot 13-29 from the floor, 3-6? from outside the arc,?8-12 from the line, for his 37 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks. He was the only Cleveland player to score in double figures. Cleveland shot only 39.2% from the floor for the game but the team did hit 50% from three point range as they shot 7-14 from outside the arc.

Portland was led?by Brandon Roy, and LaMarcus Aldridge,?both scored 16 points each. Both players were named Wednesday to the Sophomore team of the NBA All-Star Rookie Challenge. Roy had 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, Aldridge grabbed 9 rebounds, 2 assists. Travis Outlaw came off the bench to score 13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, Steve Blake scored 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal in the loss. Cleveland is now 25-19, Portland is 26-19.

? Copyright 2008 thesackattack.com??

Jan

31

Stoudamire To Become A Spur

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Well so much for the rumors of former Memphis Grizzlies point guard Damon Stoudamire going to the Boston Celtics or Phoenix Suns; ESPN reports Wednesday that Stoudamire informed the San Antonio Spurs that he will sign with them this week.? Last weekend, Stoudamire and the Grizzlies reportedly reached a verbal deal on a contract buyout, with ESPN saying that he will clear waivers Thursday night and then join the Spurs for the amount of $545,000 for the balance of the season.

With the imminent signing, Stoudamire will get the chance to start at point guard for the Spurs in place of Tony Parker, who is out indefinitely with a heel injury.? In 29 games this season, Stoudamire has averaged 7.5 PPG and 4.3 APG.? The Stoudamire signing may now hasten the Celtics’ need to sign a point guard as a backup to Rajon Rondo; perhaps now the Celtics’ periscope has its sights set on Los Angeles Clippers point guard Sam Cassell.

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