WASHINGTON – It’s bad enough that the Wizards have lost four straight games, dropping to 2-5 at the start of a season that began with such high expectations. When your coach and best player can’t even agree on what’s wrong, that’s a sure sign of more losses to come.
Yes, it’s early, and the Wizards are without two key players, Antawn Jamison and Mike Miller. And yes, Sunday’s 102-90 loss to the Phoenix Suns came in a game that tipped off at 1 p.m. ET, an anomaly that elicited a smile and guffaw from the suddenly talkative Gilbert Arenas after the game. One thing you don’t want to do in the NBA is roll out of bed and start chasing Steve Nash and the Suns around.
The Wizards are too talented to be scuffling like this for long, and when they get healthy, they’ll be right about where people expected them to be – a team in the mid-40s in wins seeded somewhere in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference playoffs. But not if they don’t erase some bad habits that simply have no place in an offense constructed by Flip Saunders. And not until everyone understands what the problem is.
The good news is that defensively, the Wizards are no longer a pushover. I wasn’t as impressed with their defensive performance against Phoenix on Sunday as Saunders was, but maybe he was trying to mix in a little positive in his post-game analysis of an effort that produced only 15 assists – five of them by Fabricio Oberto. That was two fewer assists than Nash dished out all by himself.
Saunders was right when he described the Wizards’ offense as “stagnant.” Arenas was right when he said the team is still “trying to find out where we are, what we are.” The common ground ended there.
“We’re just trying to figure out how we can put the ball in the basket, what coach wants from each player,” Arenas said. “That’s what we’re struggling with.”
Once again on Sunday, the ball wasn’t moving, the cuts weren’t crisp enough, and there was little trust in the system that Saunders brought here. The typical offensive set consisted of someone getting the ball on the wing, dribbling toward the basket, and shooting. Yet listen to Arenas’ assessment: He thinks the Wizards aren’t shooting fast enough.
“I say it’s when we have shots open, we’re not taking them,” Arenas said. “We’re trying to do the extra dribble, or get closer to the rim, or pass the ball an extra time when we could just take the first shot. If you look at a team like Phoenix, the reason they don’t have turnovers is they’re launching ‘em. They’re letting it fly so they don’t have a chance to turn the ball over.”
Contrary to Arenas’ assessment, the Wizards’ brass knows the opposite is true. The Wiz need to play more structured offense and pass the ball more, not less. Under previous regimes, bad habits ruled. Saunders’ efforts to eradicate those bad habits have been met with the kind of resistance that results in a team with three 20-point scorers (when healthy) hitting the 100-point plateau only twice in seven games.
“We’ve just got to get better acquainted with one another and believe in one another,” said Caron Butler, who needed 20 field-goal attempts to score 19 points against the Suns. “But it’s early.”
It is, but the Wizards already are exhibiting some tell-tale signs of a team with fragile chemistry. After a deplorable 102-86 loss at Indiana Friday night, Jamison unleashed a profane tirade in the locker room. It was first reported that Jamison overturned a fruit tray in the process, but there were indications on Sunday that the perpetrator might’ve been Saunders, who wouldn’t fess up. Either way, somebody had better nail the postgame spreads to the table if the Wizards don’t get on the same page soon.
Jamison and Miller will be back in another week or so from their respective shoulder injuries, and things will get better. Until then, it doesn’t get any easier Tuesday night in Miami against Dwyane Wade. At least that game tips off after the sun goes down.
Category: NBA
A.I. in Memphis was never going to end well
Allen Iverson has left the Memphis Grizzlies amid conflicting reports about whether it is for personal reasons or unhappiness with his role.
The accelerated news cycle demands immediate reaction, opinion, and conclusions. Sometimes these conclusions are drawn when athletes' personal lives are involved. Sometimes, those conclusions are dead wrong.
We don't know if anything serious is wrong in Iverson's life, other than the fact that he's not starting for the Grizzlies and has made his opinion about that abundantly clear. (Hint: He feels the same way about coming off the bench in Memphis as he did in Detroit.) We do know that, given Iverson's history, his incessant griping about coming off the bench, and his vow last season that he'd retire before doing that again, there's ample evidence for you to assume the worst.
Either way, Iverson flew to his home in Atlanta on Saturday afternoon, hours before the Grizzlies were scheduled to play the Clippers in Los Angeles. This came after meeting with team owner Michael Heisley on Friday night and again Saturday morning, the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reported. The team described his return as "undetermined." That's an ominous word, but this has been an ominous and awkward union from the beginning.
It was never a good idea for the Grizzlies, who are 1-5 to no one's surprise and going nowhere, to hook up with Iverson at this point in his career. The warning signs were there in Detroit last season, even though Iverson was by no means the only one in the wrong there. I still believe Iverson could've helped a serious title contender if he was able to swallow his pride and accept a sixth-man role. He does not want to accept such a role, even if it meant getting the championship that has eluded him during an otherwise brilliant career. Why would anyone think he'd accept that role in Memphis, where the Grizzlies aren't even the best basketball team in their own city?
The point is, even if Iverson's excused absence from the Grizzlies is for a legitimate reason, how is anything going to change when he returns? It's not. You knew this wasn't going to end well, and now it appears to have careened into a ditch only six games into the season. Hate to say it, but both sides should've seen it coming.
The accelerated news cycle demands immediate reaction, opinion, and conclusions. Sometimes these conclusions are drawn when athletes' personal lives are involved. Sometimes, those conclusions are dead wrong.
We don't know if anything serious is wrong in Iverson's life, other than the fact that he's not starting for the Grizzlies and has made his opinion about that abundantly clear. (Hint: He feels the same way about coming off the bench in Memphis as he did in Detroit.) We do know that, given Iverson's history, his incessant griping about coming off the bench, and his vow last season that he'd retire before doing that again, there's ample evidence for you to assume the worst.
Either way, Iverson flew to his home in Atlanta on Saturday afternoon, hours before the Grizzlies were scheduled to play the Clippers in Los Angeles. This came after meeting with team owner Michael Heisley on Friday night and again Saturday morning, the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reported. The team described his return as "undetermined." That's an ominous word, but this has been an ominous and awkward union from the beginning.
It was never a good idea for the Grizzlies, who are 1-5 to no one's surprise and going nowhere, to hook up with Iverson at this point in his career. The warning signs were there in Detroit last season, even though Iverson was by no means the only one in the wrong there. I still believe Iverson could've helped a serious title contender if he was able to swallow his pride and accept a sixth-man role. He does not want to accept such a role, even if it meant getting the championship that has eluded him during an otherwise brilliant career. Why would anyone think he'd accept that role in Memphis, where the Grizzlies aren't even the best basketball team in their own city?
The point is, even if Iverson's excused absence from the Grizzlies is for a legitimate reason, how is anything going to change when he returns? It's not. You knew this wasn't going to end well, and now it appears to have careened into a ditch only six games into the season. Hate to say it, but both sides should've seen it coming.
Category: NBA
LeBron hurts shooting hand; X-rays negative
NEW YORK -- LeBron James had everything he wanted Friday night: A star-studded packed house at his favorite arena, handshakes with his favorite Yankees after the game, and a win. What he could've done without was an injury to his shooting hand.
James, who scored 33 points -- 19 in the first quarter -- as the Cavs beat the Knicks 100-91, had his right hand in a bucket of ice in the Cavs' locker room afterward. He appeared to be in some pain, and a member of the Knicks' training staff examined him. After his postgame news conference in a crowded interview room, James walked to the Knicks' training room for a precautionary X-ray, which was negative, according to a source. It was a huge sigh of relief to the Cavs, as James appeared to be in some pain after the game and spent his entire postgame news conference clutching the injured hand. He didn't know how he hurt it.
The part of the hand that concerned James was the bone leading from the knuckle of the ring finger to his wrist. Though it was painful, James was in good spirits after the game, joking with teammates and performing his usual singing routine. His good mood was justified when the X-ray results came back. Just another night at the office known as Madison Square Garden.
James, who scored 33 points -- 19 in the first quarter -- as the Cavs beat the Knicks 100-91, had his right hand in a bucket of ice in the Cavs' locker room afterward. He appeared to be in some pain, and a member of the Knicks' training staff examined him. After his postgame news conference in a crowded interview room, James walked to the Knicks' training room for a precautionary X-ray, which was negative, according to a source. It was a huge sigh of relief to the Cavs, as James appeared to be in some pain after the game and spent his entire postgame news conference clutching the injured hand. He didn't know how he hurt it.
The part of the hand that concerned James was the bone leading from the knuckle of the ring finger to his wrist. Though it was painful, James was in good spirits after the game, joking with teammates and performing his usual singing routine. His good mood was justified when the X-ray results came back. Just another night at the office known as Madison Square Garden.
Category: NBA
No punishment for Rondo, Paul
After reviewing the altercation between Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul during and after Sunday's game in Boston between the Celtics and Hornets, the NBA decided not to take disciplinary action against either player.
Neither point guard will receive any type of fine or suspension for the fracas, which boiled over after Rondo incensed Paul by reportedly chiding him that he's won a championship and Paul never will. Earlier in the game, won by the Celtics 97-87, each player received a technical foul for a confrontation under the basket. After the final buzzer, the players exchanged words and had to be separated as the teams left the floor. Paul unsuccessfully tried to enter the Celtics' locker room to continue the discussion, and Hornets coach Byron Scott said he overheard Paul saying, "He's going to respect me as a man."
The Celtics are off to a 6-0 start, while the Hornets are struggling out of the gate with a 2-3 record that has only intensified Paul's frustration.
Category: NBA
NBA reviewing Rondo-Paul incident (UPDATE)
NEW YORK -- The NBA is reviewing a confrontation between point guards Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul after Sunday night's game between the Celtics and Hornets, CBSSports.com has learned.
Each player got a technical foul after a tussle under the basket, then they exchanged words after the final buzzer and had to be separated. Paul made an unsuccessful attempt to finish the discussion with Rondo in the Celtics' locker room afterward. Boston won 97-87.
Hornets coach Byron Scott said before his team faced the Knicks Monday night that he hadn't addressed the matter with Paul and didn't believe he was out of line.
"The only thing I heard Chris say after the game as we were walking off was, 'He's going to respect me as a man,'" Scott said. "I don't know what Rondo said, but obviously Chris took exception to it. But I didn't ask him about it or really think much about it after that."
Each player could be subject to a fine, depending on the league office's ruling.
UPDATE: After the Hornets lost to the Knicks 117-111, Paul wouldn't discuss what Rondo said to him that made him so irate. "That’s over and done with," he said. As for the league's decision to review the matter, Paul said, "I’ll wait until somebody says something to me. First I heard of that."
There's a chance Paul could be the subject of a league disciplinary review for the second straight game. During a scramble for a loose ball Monday night, Paul got tangled up with the Knicks' Al Harrington, who got up rubbing his head as though Paul had punched him. Replays showed Paul at one point flailing his arms, but Paul said afterward he didn't throw any punches. Harrington said his head had collided with Paul's knee.
“He didn’t punch," Harrington said. "When I dove, his knee . . . my head hit his knee. He might have slipped a couple of jabs in there, but it didn’t affect me. I fight in the summer so it’s all good. ... It was nothing. It’s nothing anybody should review or anything like that.”
Each player got a technical foul after a tussle under the basket, then they exchanged words after the final buzzer and had to be separated. Paul made an unsuccessful attempt to finish the discussion with Rondo in the Celtics' locker room afterward. Boston won 97-87.
Hornets coach Byron Scott said before his team faced the Knicks Monday night that he hadn't addressed the matter with Paul and didn't believe he was out of line.
"The only thing I heard Chris say after the game as we were walking off was, 'He's going to respect me as a man,'" Scott said. "I don't know what Rondo said, but obviously Chris took exception to it. But I didn't ask him about it or really think much about it after that."
Each player could be subject to a fine, depending on the league office's ruling.
UPDATE: After the Hornets lost to the Knicks 117-111, Paul wouldn't discuss what Rondo said to him that made him so irate. "That’s over and done with," he said. As for the league's decision to review the matter, Paul said, "I’ll wait until somebody says something to me. First I heard of that."
There's a chance Paul could be the subject of a league disciplinary review for the second straight game. During a scramble for a loose ball Monday night, Paul got tangled up with the Knicks' Al Harrington, who got up rubbing his head as though Paul had punched him. Replays showed Paul at one point flailing his arms, but Paul said afterward he didn't throw any punches. Harrington said his head had collided with Paul's knee.
“He didn’t punch," Harrington said. "When I dove, his knee . . . my head hit his knee. He might have slipped a couple of jabs in there, but it didn’t affect me. I fight in the summer so it’s all good. ... It was nothing. It’s nothing anybody should review or anything like that.”
Category: NBA
Celtics, Rondo agree to extension (UPDATE)
The Celtics' $55 million game of poker with Rajon Rondo is over. After two weeks of posturing, the two sides have agreed to a five-year extension that will keep the point guard from becoming a restricted free agent next summer, a person familiar with the situation told CBSSports.com on Monday.
The $55 million extension came hours before a midnight Tuesday deadline for 2006 draft picks to sign extensions with their current teams. The lone high-profile holdout is Rudy Gay, whose representatives have continued to work with GM Chris Wallace on getting a deal done.
UPDATE: Only a week ago, it seemed that Celtics president Danny Ainge and Rondo's agent, Bill Duffy, were too far apart to get a deal in place before the league-imposed deadline. As a matter of procedure, the Oct. 31 deadline was extended through Monday, the next official business day.
Ainge and Duffy met at halftime of the Celtics' opener at Cleveland on Oct. 27, and things seemed bleak. Ainge told Duffy he was interested in completing a deal, but wanted Duffy to move off his desire for a contract averaging north of $10 million annually.
"And I said, 'Danny, I don’t know if we’re gonna move,'" Duffy said in a telephone interview Monday. "'I respect where you're coming from. If you have any other thoughts or ideas, I'm open to it.'" You have to give him credit. He stuck with it."
Still, no substantive talks took place until Sunday, when Duffy called Ainge to let him know Rondo was prepared to play out the scenario and hit the restricted market next July. According to Duffy, Ainge told him he'd ask owner Wyc Grousbeck to sign off on the five-year, $55 million deal, which was being finalized Monday afternoon.
Rondo, who will turn 24 in February, has the Celtics off to a 4-0 start marked by the return of Kevin Garnett from knee surgery and the addition of free agent Rasheed Wallace. But for all the firepower presented by Wallace and the Big Three, Rondo makes the Celtics go. But some issues had to be resolved first. Ainge and coach Doc Rivers had publicly and privately challenged Rondo to become more of a leader during the offseason. The remarks prompted widespread speculation that Rondo would be traded rather than given an extension offer.
Before the Celtics' season opener in Cleveland last week, Rondo admitted that the extension deadline was "crazy timing," but vowed to push the distraction out of his mind as the Celtics opened their pursuit of an 18th NBA championship. "It'll take care of itself," Rondo said. "I've just got to worry about doing my job."
UPDATE: Duffy said it would've been human nature for Rondo to let the contract situation affect his play.
"As much as a player would say that it’s not an issue, he’s a human being, so it’d have to be in the back of his mind," Duffy said. "But that being said, more than most athletes I've worked with, I don’t think it would’ve affected him much at all because he’s so focused and so competitive. I think he would've used it as a motivator as opposed to feeling insecure about his future."
With Ray Allen becoming an unrestricted free agent after the season and Paul Pierce possessing a player option, the Rondo signing removes some of the uncertainty about how the Celtics will move forward after they finish chasing their second title in three years. Garnett and Wallace are both signed for two more seasons after this one.
And after the upheaval surrounding Rondo this past summer, the extension is all the proof you need that the Celtics have decided that Rondo has grown up enough to lead them into the post-Big Three era. Whether Rondo, who plays best with a grudge, will continue that trend with his future decided is an open question. When he's playing with abandon and chippiness -- as he did Sunday night in a 97-87 victory over the Hornets -- Rondo is at his best. When his hopes of getting an extension withered about a week ago, I thought there was the potential for that to be positive for both sides. Rondo would play with even more nastiness, and that would only benefit the Celtics, who have a veteran team that needs to win another title before the window of opportunity closes.
My answer seemed to come from Rondo's contentious battle with New Orleans counterpart Chris Paul on Sunday night. After Duffy and Ainge agreed in principle before the game, Rondo went into full agitator mode against Paul. Both players got technicals after a tussle under the basket, and they exchanged words and had to be separated after the final buzzer. Paul won the battle of the box score with 22 points, eight assists, and two steals. Rondo had six points, 10 assists, and three steals -- but his team won the game.
That pretty much defines Rondo, one of the rising point guards in the NBA. It defines his team, too. No organization has won more championships than the Celtics, who know a winner when they see one.
The $55 million extension came hours before a midnight Tuesday deadline for 2006 draft picks to sign extensions with their current teams. The lone high-profile holdout is Rudy Gay, whose representatives have continued to work with GM Chris Wallace on getting a deal done.
UPDATE: Only a week ago, it seemed that Celtics president Danny Ainge and Rondo's agent, Bill Duffy, were too far apart to get a deal in place before the league-imposed deadline. As a matter of procedure, the Oct. 31 deadline was extended through Monday, the next official business day.
Ainge and Duffy met at halftime of the Celtics' opener at Cleveland on Oct. 27, and things seemed bleak. Ainge told Duffy he was interested in completing a deal, but wanted Duffy to move off his desire for a contract averaging north of $10 million annually.
"And I said, 'Danny, I don’t know if we’re gonna move,'" Duffy said in a telephone interview Monday. "'I respect where you're coming from. If you have any other thoughts or ideas, I'm open to it.'" You have to give him credit. He stuck with it."
Still, no substantive talks took place until Sunday, when Duffy called Ainge to let him know Rondo was prepared to play out the scenario and hit the restricted market next July. According to Duffy, Ainge told him he'd ask owner Wyc Grousbeck to sign off on the five-year, $55 million deal, which was being finalized Monday afternoon.
Rondo, who will turn 24 in February, has the Celtics off to a 4-0 start marked by the return of Kevin Garnett from knee surgery and the addition of free agent Rasheed Wallace. But for all the firepower presented by Wallace and the Big Three, Rondo makes the Celtics go. But some issues had to be resolved first. Ainge and coach Doc Rivers had publicly and privately challenged Rondo to become more of a leader during the offseason. The remarks prompted widespread speculation that Rondo would be traded rather than given an extension offer.
Before the Celtics' season opener in Cleveland last week, Rondo admitted that the extension deadline was "crazy timing," but vowed to push the distraction out of his mind as the Celtics opened their pursuit of an 18th NBA championship. "It'll take care of itself," Rondo said. "I've just got to worry about doing my job."
UPDATE: Duffy said it would've been human nature for Rondo to let the contract situation affect his play.
"As much as a player would say that it’s not an issue, he’s a human being, so it’d have to be in the back of his mind," Duffy said. "But that being said, more than most athletes I've worked with, I don’t think it would’ve affected him much at all because he’s so focused and so competitive. I think he would've used it as a motivator as opposed to feeling insecure about his future."
With Ray Allen becoming an unrestricted free agent after the season and Paul Pierce possessing a player option, the Rondo signing removes some of the uncertainty about how the Celtics will move forward after they finish chasing their second title in three years. Garnett and Wallace are both signed for two more seasons after this one.
And after the upheaval surrounding Rondo this past summer, the extension is all the proof you need that the Celtics have decided that Rondo has grown up enough to lead them into the post-Big Three era. Whether Rondo, who plays best with a grudge, will continue that trend with his future decided is an open question. When he's playing with abandon and chippiness -- as he did Sunday night in a 97-87 victory over the Hornets -- Rondo is at his best. When his hopes of getting an extension withered about a week ago, I thought there was the potential for that to be positive for both sides. Rondo would play with even more nastiness, and that would only benefit the Celtics, who have a veteran team that needs to win another title before the window of opportunity closes.
My answer seemed to come from Rondo's contentious battle with New Orleans counterpart Chris Paul on Sunday night. After Duffy and Ainge agreed in principle before the game, Rondo went into full agitator mode against Paul. Both players got technicals after a tussle under the basket, and they exchanged words and had to be separated after the final buzzer. Paul won the battle of the box score with 22 points, eight assists, and two steals. Rondo had six points, 10 assists, and three steals -- but his team won the game.
That pretty much defines Rondo, one of the rising point guards in the NBA. It defines his team, too. No organization has won more championships than the Celtics, who know a winner when they see one.
Category: NBA
Gallinari gets start in Knicks' home opener
NEW YORK -- In the second-most significant athletic event between teams from New York and Philadelphia, Danilo Gallinari was inserted into the starting lineup Friday night for the Knicks' home opener against the 76ers.
Coach Mike D'Antoni hopes that pairing Gallinari with a more athletic lineup -- and bringing Al Harrington off the bench -- will help the Knicks shake off the slow starts that have plagued them during their 0-2 start. The Knicks have allowed 59 first-quarter points in their first two games and 107 in the first half.
Harrington, who only 10 days ago proclaimed that he's a starter and urged reporters to "write it," softened his stance considerably after D'Antoni announced the shakeup during his pre-game media session.
"I think I'm a starter, but on this team if Coach needs me to come off the bench, I'm gonna come off the bench," Harrington said. "And I'm gonna be the best bench player, too. So I'm looking forward to it."
It'll be the third career start for the 21-year-old Gallinari, who was limited to 28 games during his rookie season due to a back injury. In the Knicks' first two losses, he scored 22 and 16 points and made 10-of-20 from 3-point range.
Coach Mike D'Antoni hopes that pairing Gallinari with a more athletic lineup -- and bringing Al Harrington off the bench -- will help the Knicks shake off the slow starts that have plagued them during their 0-2 start. The Knicks have allowed 59 first-quarter points in their first two games and 107 in the first half.
Harrington, who only 10 days ago proclaimed that he's a starter and urged reporters to "write it," softened his stance considerably after D'Antoni announced the shakeup during his pre-game media session.
"I think I'm a starter, but on this team if Coach needs me to come off the bench, I'm gonna come off the bench," Harrington said. "And I'm gonna be the best bench player, too. So I'm looking forward to it."
It'll be the third career start for the 21-year-old Gallinari, who was limited to 28 games during his rookie season due to a back injury. In the Knicks' first two losses, he scored 22 and 16 points and made 10-of-20 from 3-point range.
Category: NBA
To Rondo or not to Rondo
The looming deadline for extending the contracts of 2006 draft picks presents an intriguing dilemma for the Celtics -- and for Rajon Rondo.
The deadline, which originally was Oct. 31 but was extended to Monday, the next business day, is in place to force teams to either commit to draft picks after three seasons or play the risky restricted free-agent game with them after the fourth. It's a balancing act for Celtics president Danny Ainge, who joined coach Doc Rivers in chastising Rondo during the summer, urging him to become more of a leader.
Let the deadline pass without an extension, and the Celtics are taking a big risk. As important as the Big Three are to their success, the Big Three soon will become the Geriatric Three. Rondo is the future. I would argue he's as much a part of the present as any of the Hall of Famers to whom he passes the ball. Rondo makes the Celtics' engine run, and with a little experience and knowledge, his on-ball defense will be right up there with any guard in the league.
Two factors work in Boston's favor. First, restricted free agency is a tough way to live. Just ask Paul Millsap, Raymond Felton, David Lee, and Nate Robinson. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, the home team holds all the cards in the restricted market. And second, Rondo and his fellow '06 picks who've yet to sign extensions -- such as Rudy Gay in Memphis -- have extra incentive to get their money now. Why? Negotiations are under way on a new CBA that is expected to be more favorable to the owners.
So if you're Rondo's agent, Billy Duffy, you play it out in your mind this way: If there's no extension, Rondo can get paid under the current salary structure by signing a lucrative offer sheet next summer. The Celtics can either match, or not. But who knows what the RFA market will be like in the final year of the CBA? Wouldn't owners want to wait until a more favorable one is ratified before going on a spending spree? LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and a few others will get max deals. But will Rondo be in that group? If the Celtics win another title and Rondo is a big part of their success, then yes. If not, then maybe not.
The worst-case scenario for Rondo would be no extension, followed by a one-year deal with Boston for next season. Then, his long-term deal would come under the new CBA. Translation: Less money.
But that's only part of the risk-reward game Rondo is playing. It sounds cool to be part of this vaunted 2010 free-agent class. But when teams survey the landscape, I believe they'll view restricted free agents with even more suspicion than they did this past summer. With so much unrestricted talent available, teams will be very careful not to get bogged down in the seven-day waiting period for an RFA. Imagine losing out on Bosh, Amar'e Stoudemire, or Dirk Nowitzki while waiting to see if Boston will match your offer sheet for Rondo. Some of the impediments that make restricted free agency so restricted are expected to be loosened in the new CBA. But for Rondo, the rules are what they are.
Speaking about the looming deadline earlier this week in Cleveland, Rondo said, "It'll take care of itself. I just need to worry about doing my job." As a player, that's the smart way to play this. The hard part is up to Ainge and Duffy, whose staring contest will end one way or another by Monday.
Category: NBA
NBA to investigate Donaghy's latest claims
The NBA will investigate additional allegations by disgraced former referee Tim Donaghy that were scheduled for publication in a book that has been spiked by its publisher.
In the book excerpts, which have been published online, Donaghy offered more details of alleged game manipulation by other referees. The NBA and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York investigated Donaghy's initial claims and did not find anyone else culpable.
Elizabeth Ventura, the NBA's senior vice president of communications, issued the following statement to CBSSports.com and other news outlets:
"In 2008 Mr. Donaghy's allegations were thoroughly investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office. We are reassured that the U.S. Government completed its investigation finding that the only criminal conduct was that of Mr. Donaghy.
"We take any question regarding the integrity of our game extremely seriously. At the time Mr. Donaghy’s crimes came to light, we appointed Lawrence B. Pedowitz, a former Chief of the Criminal Division in the U.S. Attorney's office of the Southern District of New York, to lead a comprehensive independent review of the NBA's officiating program. Mr. Pedowitz's review revealed that the NBA’s core values of neutrality and accountability were not compromised by anyone other than Mr. Donaghy.
"As with all allegations concerning the integrity of our officiating program, these latest assertions by Mr. Donaghy will be turned over to Mr. Pedowitz for a complete review."
Donaghy was sentenced to prison time in 2008 after pleading guilty to federal wire fraud charges. Donaghy was accused of betting on NBA games, including those he worked, and tipping off high-stakes gamblers with inside information.
UPDATE: Robert Nardoza, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, declined to comment on whether federal authorities were re-opening their investigation. No criminal charges have been filed against any NBA employee other than Donaghy. "We saw the article," Nardoza said, referring to news that Donaghy's publisher had pulled the book amid fears of legal action. "Beyond that, I'm not going to comment."
Donaghy's tell-all, "Blowing the Whistle: The Culture of Fraud in the NBA," was scheduled for publication later this month by Triumph, a division of Random House. Despite news reports to the contrary, NBA spokesman Tim Frank said the league "never threatened a lawsuit or anything else."
In the excerpts, Donaghy cut a wide swath through the ranks of his former colleagues, naming names and offering details on how other officials allegedly manipulated games. Many of the details mirrored those he gave to federal prosecutors as part of his plea negotiation.
According to a person directly involved in the NBA's probe conducted by Pedowitz, all the referees named in the excerpts from Donaghy's manuscript were interviewed during the initial investigation -- in some cases, numerous times.
“The National Basketball Referees Association is disappointed, but not surprised, with the actions taken by Tim Donaghy," referee spokesman Lloyd Pierson said in a statement. "This continues to be the Tim that we know. He repeatedly attempts to highlight himself in the media, but the 59 NBA referees will continue to officiate games with the utmost integrity and the focus will remain on the 2009-2010 NBA Season.”
The story isn't over; it never is with Donaghy. No doubt he will find another publisher, or self-publish the book, and the storm will gather again.
I don't know how thoroughly Donaghy's claims were investigated at the time, or whether these new allegations will draw the attention of federal authorities. I don't know whether Donaghy is telling the truth or not. I wasn't there; Donaghy himself wasn't present for some of the improprieties he alleges.
What I do know is that this sad chapter in NBA history will have more postscripts.
In the book excerpts, which have been published online, Donaghy offered more details of alleged game manipulation by other referees. The NBA and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York investigated Donaghy's initial claims and did not find anyone else culpable.
Elizabeth Ventura, the NBA's senior vice president of communications, issued the following statement to CBSSports.com and other news outlets:
"In 2008 Mr. Donaghy's allegations were thoroughly investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office. We are reassured that the U.S. Government completed its investigation finding that the only criminal conduct was that of Mr. Donaghy.
"We take any question regarding the integrity of our game extremely seriously. At the time Mr. Donaghy’s crimes came to light, we appointed Lawrence B. Pedowitz, a former Chief of the Criminal Division in the U.S. Attorney's office of the Southern District of New York, to lead a comprehensive independent review of the NBA's officiating program. Mr. Pedowitz's review revealed that the NBA’s core values of neutrality and accountability were not compromised by anyone other than Mr. Donaghy.
"As with all allegations concerning the integrity of our officiating program, these latest assertions by Mr. Donaghy will be turned over to Mr. Pedowitz for a complete review."
Donaghy was sentenced to prison time in 2008 after pleading guilty to federal wire fraud charges. Donaghy was accused of betting on NBA games, including those he worked, and tipping off high-stakes gamblers with inside information.
UPDATE: Robert Nardoza, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, declined to comment on whether federal authorities were re-opening their investigation. No criminal charges have been filed against any NBA employee other than Donaghy. "We saw the article," Nardoza said, referring to news that Donaghy's publisher had pulled the book amid fears of legal action. "Beyond that, I'm not going to comment."
Donaghy's tell-all, "Blowing the Whistle: The Culture of Fraud in the NBA," was scheduled for publication later this month by Triumph, a division of Random House. Despite news reports to the contrary, NBA spokesman Tim Frank said the league "never threatened a lawsuit or anything else."
In the excerpts, Donaghy cut a wide swath through the ranks of his former colleagues, naming names and offering details on how other officials allegedly manipulated games. Many of the details mirrored those he gave to federal prosecutors as part of his plea negotiation.
According to a person directly involved in the NBA's probe conducted by Pedowitz, all the referees named in the excerpts from Donaghy's manuscript were interviewed during the initial investigation -- in some cases, numerous times.
“The National Basketball Referees Association is disappointed, but not surprised, with the actions taken by Tim Donaghy," referee spokesman Lloyd Pierson said in a statement. "This continues to be the Tim that we know. He repeatedly attempts to highlight himself in the media, but the 59 NBA referees will continue to officiate games with the utmost integrity and the focus will remain on the 2009-2010 NBA Season.”
The story isn't over; it never is with Donaghy. No doubt he will find another publisher, or self-publish the book, and the storm will gather again.
I don't know how thoroughly Donaghy's claims were investigated at the time, or whether these new allegations will draw the attention of federal authorities. I don't know whether Donaghy is telling the truth or not. I wasn't there; Donaghy himself wasn't present for some of the improprieties he alleges.
What I do know is that this sad chapter in NBA history will have more postscripts.
Category: NBA
Tags: Tim Donaghy
What we know so far
After the first two nights of the NBA season, here's what we know so far:
* The Celtics are loaded. Kevin Garnett has restored their defensive swagger, and Rasheed Wallace has made them more potent on the offensive end. Big Brawler ... I mean, Big Baby ... needs to chill.
* It's too early to panic about the Cavs' 0-2 record. But with their offense reverting once again to LeBron Against the World, and with coach Mike Brown searching desperately for the right combinations, you can definitely see how things could unravel pretty quickly. The Cavs miss John Kuester, who left his post as Brown's de factor offensive coordinator to coach the Pistons. The Cavs have zero identity as an offensive team, and they're not digging in defensively, either -- especially when Brown goes big with Shaq and Zydrunas Ilgauskas on the floor together. Let's scrap that look, shall we?
* More on the Cavs: As the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Brian Windhorst pointed out, the most alarming stat from Wednesday night's loss in Toronto: Shaq's plus-minus was minus-25.
*And one more thing: Kuester's role of drawing up offensive sets has fallen to assistant Mike Malone, the son of Magic assistant Brendan Malone. The Cavs believe the younger Malone is going to be an excellent tactician, but the Cavs are going to need strong leadership to get through the early part of the season. That has to come from the head coach.
* Vince Carter will fit in just fine with the Magic.
* The Nuggets and Jazz came out of the gate Wednesday night with playoff-like intensity, with Denver outlasting Utah 114-105 behind 30 points from Carmelo Anthony, 25 from Chauncey Billups, and 17 points, six assists, and four rebounds from rookie Ty Lawson. The Nuggets didn't make any offseason moves? Whatever. Trading into the draft to snag Lawson looks like a pretty good move to me.
* The Nuggets A) Don't need Stephen Jackson, and B) Haven't been in the discussion with Golden State beyond a brief exploratory talk between respective GMs Mark Warkentien and Larry Riley. The reason? Jackson's $7.65 million salary isn't a match with the Nuggets' $7,404,385 trade exception. Case closed.
* The Sixers are going to need some time to adjust to Eddie Jordan's Princeton offense. More importantly, after giving up 100 points to Orlando through three quarters and allowing 16 3-pointers in Wednesday night's 120-106 loss, they need a defense to go with it. Elton Brand (2-for-7, eight points) struggled in his debut under Jordan, but he wasn't the only one. If players don't trust Jordan's ball-movement offense, the tendency is to revert to an endless flurry of isolations, which is what the Sixers did on most trips when things broke down after 10-12 seconds on the shot clock.
* With 25 points from Richard Hamilton and 22 from Ben Gordon, the Pistons took an important step toward dispelling the belief that there won't be enough shots for Hamilton, Gordon, and Rodney Stuckey. Then again, it was only Memphis. Of more concern to the Grizzlies is the fact that Iverson already is dropping hints that he won't accept a reserve role once he returns from a hamstring injury. Gee, who could've seen that coming?
* DeJuan Blair (14 points, 11 rebounds in his Spurs debut) is as good as advertised.
* The Bobcats (59 points in their opener against Boston) are as bad as advertised.
* This blog is better than advertised.
* The Celtics are loaded. Kevin Garnett has restored their defensive swagger, and Rasheed Wallace has made them more potent on the offensive end. Big Brawler ... I mean, Big Baby ... needs to chill.
* It's too early to panic about the Cavs' 0-2 record. But with their offense reverting once again to LeBron Against the World, and with coach Mike Brown searching desperately for the right combinations, you can definitely see how things could unravel pretty quickly. The Cavs miss John Kuester, who left his post as Brown's de factor offensive coordinator to coach the Pistons. The Cavs have zero identity as an offensive team, and they're not digging in defensively, either -- especially when Brown goes big with Shaq and Zydrunas Ilgauskas on the floor together. Let's scrap that look, shall we?
* More on the Cavs: As the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Brian Windhorst pointed out, the most alarming stat from Wednesday night's loss in Toronto: Shaq's plus-minus was minus-25.
*And one more thing: Kuester's role of drawing up offensive sets has fallen to assistant Mike Malone, the son of Magic assistant Brendan Malone. The Cavs believe the younger Malone is going to be an excellent tactician, but the Cavs are going to need strong leadership to get through the early part of the season. That has to come from the head coach.
* Vince Carter will fit in just fine with the Magic.
* The Nuggets and Jazz came out of the gate Wednesday night with playoff-like intensity, with Denver outlasting Utah 114-105 behind 30 points from Carmelo Anthony, 25 from Chauncey Billups, and 17 points, six assists, and four rebounds from rookie Ty Lawson. The Nuggets didn't make any offseason moves? Whatever. Trading into the draft to snag Lawson looks like a pretty good move to me.
* The Nuggets A) Don't need Stephen Jackson, and B) Haven't been in the discussion with Golden State beyond a brief exploratory talk between respective GMs Mark Warkentien and Larry Riley. The reason? Jackson's $7.65 million salary isn't a match with the Nuggets' $7,404,385 trade exception. Case closed.
* The Sixers are going to need some time to adjust to Eddie Jordan's Princeton offense. More importantly, after giving up 100 points to Orlando through three quarters and allowing 16 3-pointers in Wednesday night's 120-106 loss, they need a defense to go with it. Elton Brand (2-for-7, eight points) struggled in his debut under Jordan, but he wasn't the only one. If players don't trust Jordan's ball-movement offense, the tendency is to revert to an endless flurry of isolations, which is what the Sixers did on most trips when things broke down after 10-12 seconds on the shot clock.
* With 25 points from Richard Hamilton and 22 from Ben Gordon, the Pistons took an important step toward dispelling the belief that there won't be enough shots for Hamilton, Gordon, and Rodney Stuckey. Then again, it was only Memphis. Of more concern to the Grizzlies is the fact that Iverson already is dropping hints that he won't accept a reserve role once he returns from a hamstring injury. Gee, who could've seen that coming?
* DeJuan Blair (14 points, 11 rebounds in his Spurs debut) is as good as advertised.
* The Bobcats (59 points in their opener against Boston) are as bad as advertised.
* This blog is better than advertised.
Category: NBA
Big Baby let his teammates down (UPDATE)
CLEVELAND -- That sound you heard was Kevin Garnett's head exploding upon hearing the news that Glen "Big Baby" Davis put himself on the shelf for 6-8 weeks with a thumb injury incurred in a fight with a friend.
All together now ... with friends like that ...
Davis underwent surgery in Boston Tuesday to repair the damage -- to his thumb, but not to the Celtics. In a Yahoo! Sports story in which Davis explains that he hurt himself retaliating after the driver of a moving car Davis was riding in slugged him early Sunday morning, Davis mentioned that he received concerned text messages from teammates Eddie House, Rasheed Wallace, Tony Allen and J.R. Giddens. No mention of Garnett, who probably let out so many four-letter words upon hearing the news that the late, great George Carlin lost his train of thought in the middle of a heavenly standup routine.
UPDATE: "I'm supportive of Baby, but very disappointed, obviously," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday night, addressing the issue publicly for the first time before Boston's opener against the Cavs. "It just puts everybody in a bad way. ... When we got the results back, we were hoping that it was going to be a bad lesson, but not a lesson that was going to hurt our team as well. It turned out to be both."
Rivers said he's spent very little time in organizational meetings surrounding the team's plans to suspend Davis. The basis for it would be that he suffered a non-basketball injury, which is grounds for a suspension without pay.
Of more concern for Rivers is who gets Davis' minutes. He's hopeful that Shelden Williams -- who was marveling at the fact that he hasn't played on national TV since he was at Duke -- would be able to step in on the fly. A contribution from Williams would limit the worst-case scenario -- overextending Garnett or Wallace this early in the season.
"The one thing we didn’t want to do early in the year is to extend minutes to Kevin or Rasheed," Rivers said. "And that’s where, if this injury did anything, it may throw some of those plans out a little bit. We may have to lean on some other guys to just burn some minutes for us."
There are holes in Davis' story, important details to be filled in -- as usually is the case when an athlete gets involved in something this stupid. Those details could become the concern of an arbitrator, as the Celtics are considering suspending Davis to recoup some of the two-year, $6.3 million contract they signed him to this past summer.
All of this went down in the precious hours before the Celtics tip off the 2009-10 season Tuesday night in Cleveland against LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, and the Cavaliers. Delonte West should be the one texting Big Baby, to thank him for the headlines.
"I’ll make this point: Baby’s not a bad person," Rivers said. "He made a bad mistake and he made a bad judgment. Unfortunately, it only takes one second or five seconds to make a mistake and then you have to live with it at times. Right now he has to live with that mistake. But he's not a bad kid. He’s growing, he’s maturing. Obviously, he’s got a ways to go."
The short-term loss of Davis isn't as much of a loss for the Celtics as it would've been had they not added Wallace as a free agent this past summer. The Celtics will still win 60-plus games and be the favorites entering the postseason. But it only underscores how elite teams in any sport are always one senseless escapade away from having their championship hopes dashed. If I were Big Baby, I'd use some of my down time to read my contract, as well as the collective bargaining agreement language on "non-basketball injuries." Then, I'd call Monta Ellis and ask how all that worked out for him. (Hint: Ellis was suspended 30 games without pay, which seems like a good starting point for the discussion on Davis' punishment.)
All together now ... with friends like that ...
Davis underwent surgery in Boston Tuesday to repair the damage -- to his thumb, but not to the Celtics. In a Yahoo! Sports story in which Davis explains that he hurt himself retaliating after the driver of a moving car Davis was riding in slugged him early Sunday morning, Davis mentioned that he received concerned text messages from teammates Eddie House, Rasheed Wallace, Tony Allen and J.R. Giddens. No mention of Garnett, who probably let out so many four-letter words upon hearing the news that the late, great George Carlin lost his train of thought in the middle of a heavenly standup routine.
UPDATE: "I'm supportive of Baby, but very disappointed, obviously," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday night, addressing the issue publicly for the first time before Boston's opener against the Cavs. "It just puts everybody in a bad way. ... When we got the results back, we were hoping that it was going to be a bad lesson, but not a lesson that was going to hurt our team as well. It turned out to be both."
Rivers said he's spent very little time in organizational meetings surrounding the team's plans to suspend Davis. The basis for it would be that he suffered a non-basketball injury, which is grounds for a suspension without pay.
Of more concern for Rivers is who gets Davis' minutes. He's hopeful that Shelden Williams -- who was marveling at the fact that he hasn't played on national TV since he was at Duke -- would be able to step in on the fly. A contribution from Williams would limit the worst-case scenario -- overextending Garnett or Wallace this early in the season.
"The one thing we didn’t want to do early in the year is to extend minutes to Kevin or Rasheed," Rivers said. "And that’s where, if this injury did anything, it may throw some of those plans out a little bit. We may have to lean on some other guys to just burn some minutes for us."
There are holes in Davis' story, important details to be filled in -- as usually is the case when an athlete gets involved in something this stupid. Those details could become the concern of an arbitrator, as the Celtics are considering suspending Davis to recoup some of the two-year, $6.3 million contract they signed him to this past summer.
All of this went down in the precious hours before the Celtics tip off the 2009-10 season Tuesday night in Cleveland against LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, and the Cavaliers. Delonte West should be the one texting Big Baby, to thank him for the headlines.
"I’ll make this point: Baby’s not a bad person," Rivers said. "He made a bad mistake and he made a bad judgment. Unfortunately, it only takes one second or five seconds to make a mistake and then you have to live with it at times. Right now he has to live with that mistake. But he's not a bad kid. He’s growing, he’s maturing. Obviously, he’s got a ways to go."
The short-term loss of Davis isn't as much of a loss for the Celtics as it would've been had they not added Wallace as a free agent this past summer. The Celtics will still win 60-plus games and be the favorites entering the postseason. But it only underscores how elite teams in any sport are always one senseless escapade away from having their championship hopes dashed. If I were Big Baby, I'd use some of my down time to read my contract, as well as the collective bargaining agreement language on "non-basketball injuries." Then, I'd call Monta Ellis and ask how all that worked out for him. (Hint: Ellis was suspended 30 games without pay, which seems like a good starting point for the discussion on Davis' punishment.)
Category: NBA
No extension for Rondo (UPDATE)
CLEVELAND -- It appears that Rajon Rondo will take the floor for the season opener in Cleveland Tuesday night with the knowledge that he won't get the contract extension from the Celtics that he's been seeking.
A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to CBSSports.com that the Celtics and Rondo's agent, Bill Duffy, were not able to come to terms on a five-year extension that would've forestalled the point guard's foray into restricted free agency next season.
Technically, the two sides have until Saturday to finalize such an agreement. But they appear to be too far apart to make that a realistic possibility.
"It'll take care of itself," Rondo said Tuesday night before the season opener against Cleveland. "I'm just focused on doing my job (Tuesday night). It's crazy timing, though."
Is this bad for the Celtics? Under normal circumstances, I'd say yes. But an offseason of soul searching is still fresh in Rondo's mind after coach Doc Rivers and team president Danny Ainge directly challenged him to be more of a leader. It's a risk for the Celtics, who could very well face the possibility of another title contender stealing Rondo with an offer sheet next summer. But the Celtics no doubt are emboldened by the difficulty several marquee RFAs had in their attempts to change teams this past summer -- the Knicks' David Lee and Utah's Paul Millsap chief among them -- and believe it's worth the risk. I believe they're right.
Also, don't underestimate the motivation Rondo will feel to perform this season and earn a lucrative offer sheet, which the Celtics almost certainly will match anyway. Few players in the league carry a chip on their shoulders as well as Rondo, who could use this perceived snub to propel him -- and the Celtics -- back to the NBA Finals.
It's a risk that could very well pay off for both sides.
Category: NBA
Griffin injury brings more misery to Clippers
The NBA season tips off Tuesday night, but already something quite normal and expected has happened.
Something bad has happened to the Clippers.
The news that No. 1 overall pick Blake Griffin will miss up to six weeks with a broken left kneecap seriously dampens all the optimism that has surrounded the league's most star-crossed franchise. When the Clippers take the court Tuesday night against the Lakers, they'll not only have to watch their co-tenants in Staples Center receive their championship rings, but they'll have to do so without the player who has come to symbolize their potential resurgence.
Besides putting the brakes on the Clippers potential resurgence behind Griffin, the injury seriously opens up the rookie of the year race -- before a ball has even been dribbled yet. Going into the season, I predicted that Griffin would hold off a formidable challenge from Sacramento's Tyreke Evans to win the award for the league's best rookie. Now, all bets are off.
The question is, will the injury create a longer-term problem for the Clips? if you're wondering you someone misses only six weeks with a broken knee cap, it's apparently only a stress fracture; the Clippers have promised more info later Tuesday. But any way you look at it, this is a bad break for the Clips and a significant development in the race for rookie honors.
On my way to Cleveland, folks. Time to get the ball in the air.
Something bad has happened to the Clippers.
The news that No. 1 overall pick Blake Griffin will miss up to six weeks with a broken left kneecap seriously dampens all the optimism that has surrounded the league's most star-crossed franchise. When the Clippers take the court Tuesday night against the Lakers, they'll not only have to watch their co-tenants in Staples Center receive their championship rings, but they'll have to do so without the player who has come to symbolize their potential resurgence.
Besides putting the brakes on the Clippers potential resurgence behind Griffin, the injury seriously opens up the rookie of the year race -- before a ball has even been dribbled yet. Going into the season, I predicted that Griffin would hold off a formidable challenge from Sacramento's Tyreke Evans to win the award for the league's best rookie. Now, all bets are off.
The question is, will the injury create a longer-term problem for the Clips? if you're wondering you someone misses only six weeks with a broken knee cap, it's apparently only a stress fracture; the Clippers have promised more info later Tuesday. But any way you look at it, this is a bad break for the Clips and a significant development in the race for rookie honors.
On my way to Cleveland, folks. Time to get the ball in the air.
Category: NBA
Posted on: October 23, 2009 10:33 pm
Edited on: October 23, 2009 10:59 pm
Score: 130
NBA referees ratify contract, set to return
The refs you love to hate are back.
Locked-out referees approved a new contract agreement with the NBA Friday night, clearing the way for them to return to work in time for the start of the regular season Tuesday night, a person with knowledge of the situation told CBSSports.com.
UPDATE: Shortly after the vote, the NBA released a statement confirming that the two-year contract was ratified by a majority of the 57 referees, who were locked out Sept. 18 after multiple breakdowns in contract talks. Details of the vote were not immediately available, but it needed to be approved by a majority -- 29 -- of the referees.
“We are pleased to reach this agreement,” NBA Commissioner David Stern said in the league statement. “The negotiations extended further than either side had hoped, but when our regular season tips off on Tuesday we’ll have the best referees in the world officiating our games. We appreciate the job done by our replacement officials during the preseason.”
The refs will open a three-day training camp Saturday in Jersey City, N.J., to prepare for the season, which had been set to begin with replacement referees for the first time since 1995. In his annual preseason conference call with national media earlier Friday, Stern praised the replacement refs -- culled mostly from the D-League and WNBA ranks -- but welcomed the return of the regular staff referees.
UPDATE: Stern also acknowledged on the call that the referees' negotiators had invited him back to the negotiating table earlier in the week after the two sides had engaged quietly in an encouraging resumption in talks last week. Stern agreed, according to sources, only due to the stipulation that the referees' executive board -- comprised of five veterans refs -- would get behind any agreement that was reached. Earlier in the process, negotiators for the NBA and the referees' union had agreed to a deal, only to have it rejected overwhelmingly in a vote by the refs.
UPDATE: The replacement refs were thoroughly evaluated by the NBA's officiating department throughout the preseason, Stern said Friday. Despite what Stern characterized as satisfactory performance, it was never a viable option to enter the season with referees who'd mostly never officiating NBA games before. The league endures controversy on almost a weekly basis with regard to officiating by its regular staff -- mostly generated by coaches' criticism, which is sometimes valid and other times not -- and using replacement refs would've resulted in open season on the officials. With the NBA affected by the economic downturn -- Stern said season-ticket renewals are down 3 percent this year and overall revenue will decline between 2.5 and 5 percent -- the last thing the NBA needed was the perception that fans are paying scarce disposable income to see games that are not officiated by the most qualified refs.
UPDATE: League officials claimed that teams had given positive feedback on the replacement refs throughout the preseason. But despite official reminders from the league office that fines would be issued for criticizing the officials, several high-profile coaches -- including Larry Brown and Stan Van Gundy -- were fined for expressing their opinions about the quality of the officiating.
Earlier this month, Lakers coach Phil Jackson -- a serial referee agitator -- walked a fine line between poking fun at the replacement refs and violating the NBA's policy on criticizing them. "They're interesting to look at," Jackson said after a recent game. "I always kind of wonder what their profession is -- dog catchers, office managers. They're moonlighting."
In a few short days, such punchlines will be directed at the real refs. As the real ones and replacements can attest, it sort of goes with the territory.
Locked-out referees approved a new contract agreement with the NBA Friday night, clearing the way for them to return to work in time for the start of the regular season Tuesday night, a person with knowledge of the situation told CBSSports.com.
UPDATE: Shortly after the vote, the NBA released a statement confirming that the two-year contract was ratified by a majority of the 57 referees, who were locked out Sept. 18 after multiple breakdowns in contract talks. Details of the vote were not immediately available, but it needed to be approved by a majority -- 29 -- of the referees.
“We are pleased to reach this agreement,” NBA Commissioner David Stern said in the league statement. “The negotiations extended further than either side had hoped, but when our regular season tips off on Tuesday we’ll have the best referees in the world officiating our games. We appreciate the job done by our replacement officials during the preseason.”
The refs will open a three-day training camp Saturday in Jersey City, N.J., to prepare for the season, which had been set to begin with replacement referees for the first time since 1995. In his annual preseason conference call with national media earlier Friday, Stern praised the replacement refs -- culled mostly from the D-League and WNBA ranks -- but welcomed the return of the regular staff referees.
UPDATE: Stern also acknowledged on the call that the referees' negotiators had invited him back to the negotiating table earlier in the week after the two sides had engaged quietly in an encouraging resumption in talks last week. Stern agreed, according to sources, only due to the stipulation that the referees' executive board -- comprised of five veterans refs -- would get behind any agreement that was reached. Earlier in the process, negotiators for the NBA and the referees' union had agreed to a deal, only to have it rejected overwhelmingly in a vote by the refs.
UPDATE: The replacement refs were thoroughly evaluated by the NBA's officiating department throughout the preseason, Stern said Friday. Despite what Stern characterized as satisfactory performance, it was never a viable option to enter the season with referees who'd mostly never officiating NBA games before. The league endures controversy on almost a weekly basis with regard to officiating by its regular staff -- mostly generated by coaches' criticism, which is sometimes valid and other times not -- and using replacement refs would've resulted in open season on the officials. With the NBA affected by the economic downturn -- Stern said season-ticket renewals are down 3 percent this year and overall revenue will decline between 2.5 and 5 percent -- the last thing the NBA needed was the perception that fans are paying scarce disposable income to see games that are not officiated by the most qualified refs.
UPDATE: League officials claimed that teams had given positive feedback on the replacement refs throughout the preseason. But despite official reminders from the league office that fines would be issued for criticizing the officials, several high-profile coaches -- including Larry Brown and Stan Van Gundy -- were fined for expressing their opinions about the quality of the officiating.
Earlier this month, Lakers coach Phil Jackson -- a serial referee agitator -- walked a fine line between poking fun at the replacement refs and violating the NBA's policy on criticizing them. "They're interesting to look at," Jackson said after a recent game. "I always kind of wonder what their profession is -- dog catchers, office managers. They're moonlighting."
In a few short days, such punchlines will be directed at the real refs. As the real ones and replacements can attest, it sort of goes with the territory.
NBA wants Prokhorov, but what about other owners?
NEW YORK -- It's not often that a group of reporters assembles around a table in a ritzy hotel conference room and hears NBA commissioner David Stern discussing prostitutes. Such is the brave new world the NBA is entering by giving tacit approval to a bid by Russian playboy/billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov to buy a controlling stake in the Nets and their long-delayed Brooklyn arena.
Stern said Thursday that Prokhorov made a positive impression on NBA owners over the past two days, when he was introduced to them as part of a Board of Governors meeting at the St. Regis Hotel in Manhattan. Prokhorov, a Russian oligarch with an estimated net worth of $9.5 billion and a taste for the finer things in life, introduced himself to his prospective business partners as "Mike."
Cue the "Be Like Mike" jingle. Barring a Steve Phillips-like revelation, Prokhorov's bid to rescue the Nets appears to be a slam dunk in the making -- with an assist from Stern.
"I would say that his application is under review, because the review process is incomplete and the documents are not finalized," Stern said. "That said, we haven’t surfaced anything that would cause us to have a negative opinion of him. But we’re not finished."
Stern was queried on accusations against Prokhorov in 2007 that he supplied prostitutes to business partners at a French ski resort, saying the matter never came up during the "robust and lively discussion of his background." Prokhorov has requested an apology from those who detained him, which Stern said "may or may not be coming."
"If you were applying for work at the NBA – despite your sordid past – we would not ask you about arrests," Stern said to the reporter who asked about the incident. "And he wasn’t even arrested. ... There weren't any charges pressed. It made for a lot of good copy and caused you to ask that question."
If Prokhorov is approved -- and Stern said he expects a vote by the owners by the end of the year -- then expect a lot more good copy. Prokhorov may have tried to portray himself as a working-class stiff-turned self-made billionaire, but the NBA will never be the same with him involved in it.
Prokhorov will make Mark Cuban seem like Bambi.
All indications Thursday were that Stern and his lieutenants, Adam Silver and Joel Litvin, are buying what Prokhorov is selling, and that's no surprise. Silver, the deputy commissioner, went so far as to describe Prokhorov's ascent from Russian serf to successful businessman as a "classic American rags-to-riches story." Welcome to the club, Mike.
Stern himself said the most noteworthy aspects of Prokhorov's bid are his "high net worth" and the ability to finance the Brooklyn project and field a successful team. The ever globally minded Stern also noted that Prokhorov could help the NBA expand operations in Russia, given Prokhorov's success as a part-owner of European power CSKA Moscow. A lot is riding on all the moving parts in this equation. Prokhorov, Stern said, is interested in owning "the Brooklyn Nets, and nothing else." Clearly, Mike isn't a Newark or East Rutherford kind of guy.
The Nets face one final lawsuit before the proposed Brooklyn arena can finally move forward. The current owner, Bruce Ratner, has won every legal and political challenge so far. But if he doesn't win this one, he won't beat a Dec. 31 deadline to break ground on the project in order to secure the tax-free bonds that are supposed to pay for construction costs.
"That puts a pretty direct deadline on both the Ratner group and the Prokhorov group to get it done," Stern said.
The real question is whether Stern can sell the controversial Prokhorov to enough owners to get him approved before Dec. 31. The commissioner will be doing this at a time when he's going to bat for low-revenue owners to achieve a revamped revenue sharing model in a new collective bargaining agreement with the players. Though Stern stopped short of saying he endorses Prokhorov, it is clear that he views the Russian as the best chance to keep two teams in the league's largest media market.
Everyone knows the Nets are hoarding cap space for a run at LeBron James and other top free agents next summer. A rich, flamboyant owner and new arena within shouting distance of Madison Square Garden could be the tipping points. If you're the Knicks, what's your incentive to back Prokhorov's bid? If you're the Cavaliers, how much revenue sharing dough would it take for you to approve an owner who's poised to steal the best player in the NBA from under your nose?
Interesting questions to think about, which most assuredly will generate more robust and lively discussion.
Category: NBA
