Nov

28

Team Dysfunctional The Next Generation: Knicks Suspend Marbury

Filed Under NBA Analysis, NBA Fines, NBA Off The Court Issues | 2 Comments

There has to be something in Madison Square Garden that has a toxic effect on formerly respected NBA personnel. Maybe it’s Radon, but what ever it is it seems to take hold quickly and completely, making the victim an incompetent version of what he once was. Dave Checketts was it’s victim a man who came in to run the New York Knickerbockers with a pretty good reputation, and resume. He was fired a few years later, the team in shambles, his reputation in tatters. Larry Brown has felt it’s wrath. Whether you love the “Nomad of the NBA” or despise him you have to admit the man know how to win. Not with the New York Knicks, fired after an abysmal season one year into a multi-year contract.

Isiah Thomas had a checkered past by the time he came to New York. Not successful in his stint as an executive with the Toronto Raptors, and he bought and then destroyed the Continental Basketball Association. He did do a good job as head coach of the Indiana Pacers, but was fired when the team brought in Larry Bird to run Basketball Operations. Bird replaced him with sidekick Rick Carlisle. Knickerbockers Team Owner James Dolan, then handed over the keys to Zeke and gave him complete control of the club. Thomas proceeded to turn the team into one of the Association’s bottom dwellers, first as Team President, and then taking on the duties of head coach. Dolan signed Isiah to an extension in March of 2007, a move he would regret the next season when he decided Zeke had to go.

Dolan brought in a new regime at the end of last season, the first move was to bring in Donnie Walsh as Team President. Walsh then had to make the decision whether to keep Thomas as head coach. Although there was plenty of public posturing before hand, Walsh felt it was time to put a new bench boss in charge. There was still the matter of the money owed  Zeke from the ill-thought out contract extension.

Walsh offered Thomas a buy-out at a reduced rate. Zeke, held firm that he wanted all the money owed to him contractually. They reached a compromise, Thomas would be in purgatory. He was still an employee of the team, but had no duties, no responsibilities, no powers, no office. He was to have no contact with anyone on the team except for Walsh and Dolan.

As a businessman, I realize Walsh did what was best for the company. He was trying to protect his owner from a bad decision Dolan had previously made. Walsh’s loyalty is to Dolan and the team, not to Thomas. If Walsh was president of a sprockets company, it would be considered a brilliant move. As Team President of an NBA Franchise, it looks petty, cheap, and vindictive.

Walsh brought in former Phoenix Suns coach Mike D’Antoni to be the bench boss. D’Antoni was available due to a difference in philosophy with Phoenix management. D’Antoni was a winning coach from a winning team, and it looked like things were finally starting to turn around for New York.

Walsh decided this Summer that he was ready to draw another line in the sand, this time with a player. Before traning camp started their were reports in the NYC Tabloids, that the Knicks wanted to buyout perennial “Problem Child” Stephon Marbury. The reports said that Walsh would offer “Starbury” a reduced rate buy-out for this the last year of his contract for his freedom.

Marbury told reporters “There wouldn’t be no negotiation. They’re going to give me all my money. If they want to waive me and give me all my money, fine. If not, I’ll try to help this organization win the championship. They told me to come to camp in the best shape of my life and I did that. But I don’t want to be in a place I’m not wanted.”

Marbury had come into camp in the best shape he had been in years. He said all the right things during the exhibition season. He told reporters that he wanted to win more than to be a starting point guard. If it meant that the team was better off with him coming in off the bench, no problem. Whether the same conversations were had with D’Antoni and Walsh or not Marbury was told just before the season he would not be activated. He would sit on the bench in street clothes every game.

The Knicks got off to a good start at the beginning of the season above .500 at 6-4  in ten games. One of the team’s other “Problem Children” (they have a few)  Zach Randolph was playing as if he was on a mission. Through 10 games he averaged 20.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, per game. In the last five games  during that streak Randolph averaged 22.8 points, 14.8 rebounds per game, scoring 29 points in a win over Oklahoma City, 27 points, 18 rebounds, in an overtime loss to Dallas.

That Friday Walsh completed two trades, sending their most consistent player Jamal Crawford to Golden State for disgruntled veteran forward Al Harrington. Hours later he sent Randolph and guard Mardy Collins  to the L.A. Clippers for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas. The reason behind the deals? Freeing up salary  cap space in 2010. So what Walsh did was break up a successful team for possible success in 2010. With    the Knicks finally a team that looked like it could possibly do some damage in the Eastern Conference this season, he blew that up for a chance to land a big name free agent in 2010. For Knicks fans that must have been like taking a cupcake out of a starving persons hands with the promise that they would do their best to get you cake and ice cream in two years!

Because of the loss of guards due to the trades and injuries D’Antoni has had to go hat in hand to “Starbury” twice in the last week, asking him to play. According to D’Antoni the veteran out right refused to play. Marbury says he would never do that, that would be insubordination. Instead he indirectly questioned the team’s motives by asking D’Antoni about the team not wanting his services earlier. Marbury says D’Antoni told the guard that he understood where he was coming from, and walked away.

Friday the “New York Post” reported that the team had suspended Marbury for a game without pay, and fined for another game’s wages for refusing to play Wednesday night as the Knicks were pummeled by  the Detroit Pistons. Walsh told reporters “A player’s central obligation is to provide professional services when called upon. Because he refused the coach’s request to play in the team’s last game, we had no choice but to impose disciplinary action.” The NBA Players Association is appealing the action.

Marbury told the Post that he did not refuse an order to play. He said that it was time for the parties to separate, and he has no trust what so ever in D’Antoni. He told the paper he would not trust the coach to walk his dog.

Every action has ramifications, both long term and short. The Knicks are doing this to one of their players is not the way to attract D-Wade or Amare Stoudemire in 2010 (Sorry Knicks fan, you are not getting LeBron James. There is no way he will ever allow himself to be part of this joke of a franchise. The only reason he is not saying it publicly is he is far too savvy to ever block any option. The more teams that want him, the harder Cavaliers G.M. Danny Ferry will work to get him a Championship cast.) These guys will remember this, and could be the difference in your getting them or not.

James Dolan made a lot of bad moves over the last few years.  Dolan and Walsh can be men and accept responsibility for the mistakes and move on. Or they can remain petty and vindictive and be stuck in their morass for a long time. The choice is theirs.

© Copyright 2008 thesackattack.net

Nov

17

Cuban Charged By S.E.C. With Insider Training

Filed Under NBA Off The Court Issues, SDC COMMENTARY | Leave a Comment

Here is a life lesson, I think we can all agree on; It is never a good thing to be charged with insider trading by the Securities and Exchange Commission. However, when the economy of the USA is in the greatest free fall since the Great Depression, and  millions of Americans are watching their future dissolve as they read their monthly 401K statement, it’s a real bad time to be dealing in stock market irregularities! The “Associated Press” reported Monday that the S.E.C. filed a civil lawsuit in a Dallas courtroom against Dallas Mavericks team owner Mark Cuban. The agency contends that Cuban uside inside information to avoid suffering $750 thousand in losses. All the S.E.C. is doing is looking to fine the Mavericks team owner, and to take away any earnings that he would have made in the transaction. Cuban as of this writing has not been charged with any crime, that would fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Attorney in Dallas. So far there has been no comment from the U.S. Attorney’s office on the matter.

The suit alleges that Cuban informed his broker to get rid of all shares of a company name Mamma.com, after being given confidential information that the price was about to drop. Scott Friestad, who is deputy director of the Commission’s Division of Enforcement issued a statement Monday. In his statement Friestad wrote “As we allege in the complaint, Mamma.com entrusted Mr. Cuban with nonpublic information after he promised to keep the information confidential. Less than four hours later, Mr. Cuban betrayed that trust by placing an order to sell all of his shares. It is fundamentally unfair for someone to use access to nonpublic information to improperly gain an edge on the market.”

An attorney for Cuban decided to use the best defense is offense routine. A statement by Cuban on his blog Monday said he would challenge the suit. The “Wall Street Journal” reports that  they spoke with Cuban’s lawyer Christopher Clark. Clark told the paper “We’re shocked. We find it incredible that given all the important issues that the SEC has to address with regard to today’s economy they’ve sought to bring a $750,000 case relating to a he-said she-said about one trade against a person whose integrity has never been questioned before with regard to the securities markets.”

Mr. Clark, I don’t know a whole lot about economics, but I know this much your statement is garbage. It is exactly cases like this that put our economy in the dire straights it is in. Mark Cuban is a billionaire!  Losing $750,000 is like losing fifty bucks for you and me! It stinks, but I am not about to trash my reputation for fifty bucks! Yet if these allegations prove to be true, that is essentially what Mark Cuban has done.

When Mark Cuban first took over the Dallas Mavericks and came into the Association, I thought he was a breath of fresh air. However his act has gotten old over the years, and this certainly will not help his reputation. Mark if this is true, you truly should be ashamed. At one time we all thought you were better than that.

© Copyright 2008 thesackattack.net

Nov

17

Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban Charged With Insider Trading

Filed Under ESPN Reports, NBA Off The Court Issues | Leave a Comment

Nov

12

Dunleavy: Kaman Not On The Block

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Leave it to a New York newspaper to post a trade rumor about a player from a team that isn’t based in their fair city; according to the New York Post, the Los Angeles Clippers were actively seeking to trade starting center Chris Kaman; according to the report, with the return of Marcus Camby, the team was receptive to possibly trading Kaman.

Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said, however, that the team had turned down the Charlotte Bobcats’ overtures to acquire Kaman, adding, “They got the rejection. But they threw it out there that I almost had a dance with somebody.”  If there is any truth to the Kaman trade rumors (I doubt that there will be, but with the NBA you never know), Slam Dunk Central will have them for you, along with the most up-to-date NBA news.

Nov

10

James, Stoudemire Honored By NBA

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Players of the Week were announced by the NBA on Monday and the winner for the Eastern Conference was LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers while Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns took the honors for the Western Conference.  Other nominees for the award were: Joe Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks, Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic while LaMarcus Aldridge of the Portland Trail Blazers, Carlos Boozer of the Utah Jazz and Andris Biedrins of the Golden State Warriors were nominated, as well.

James averaged a league-high 34.5 PPG - including a pair of 41-point games in two wins over the Chicago Bulls; James also became the youngest player in league history to record 10,000 points, 2,500 rebounds, 2,500 assists, 700 steals and 300 blocks.  Stoudemire for the week averaged 28.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG and 3.0 APG, with a high game of 49 points in a 113-103 win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

Nov

5

Knicks Up To Their Old Tricks With Starbury

Filed Under NBA Off The Court Issues | Leave a Comment

Truth be known, I am not a fan of Stephon Marbury. “Starbury” has never been a particularly good post game interview. He also has garnered himself the reputation with franchises of not being a team player. How ever I have been supporting the veteran guard as the New York Knicks have been trying to play mind games with him. “ESPN.com” has reported that the Knicks new “brain trust” Team President Donnie Walsh and team coach Mike D’Antoni have basically banished Marbury to limbo. Marbury has been put on the inactive list indefinitely. D’Antoni told reporters “It is resolved. It is. Pretty soon that story is not going to be fun to read because it is going to be the same old story. You are going to be beating a dead horse.”

Marbury has stated that he would be receptive to a buy out, but not a reduced rate. The veteran told reporters “I don’t know what the future holds. All I can do is sit still, be obedient and watch and learn from the situation.” Hang tough Stephon!

© Copyright 2008 thesackattack.net

Nov

5

Former NBA Star Kevin Johnson New Mayor Of Sacramento

Filed Under NBA Off The Court Issues | 1 Comment

Point guards are the equivalent to a quarterback in football. The point guard (the good ones)  initiates the offense, they are like having a coach on the floor. In fact many NBA point guards have gone on to be NBA coaches (not always successfully unfortunately. Just look at Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas.) One former NBA All-Star point guard decided to take his career after retiring from the Association in a different direction. The “Associated Press” reported that former Phoenix Suns star Kevin Johnson is the new mayor of Sacramento, California.  Mayor-Elect Johnson defeated the incumbent Republican Heather Fargo in a run off election Tuesday. Mayor Fargo had served two terms. Johnson told reporters “Sacramento also made history today in electing its first black mayor. Both Obama and myself, we ran on a promise and the theme of change. No more business as usual.” Johnson is a 42 year old member of the Democratic Party.

© Copyright 2008 thesackattack.net

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