The Dish: Boozer's out, but the Jazz aren't
Boozer, averaging 22.1 points and 11.8 rebounds, is a huge loss. There's no doubt about it. But it's no fluke that Utah has been as good as it has. It's no one-man wrecking crew. The Jazz will be fine. When Boozer returns in March, expect Utah to still be hanging on to its division lead.
He really is Superman
The police report came back on Shaquille O'Neal's latest run-in as the law. Apparently, the Diesel scared the driver who allegedly tried to hit-and-run his Escalade so badly by chasing him that the 18-year old kid just sat there terrified while he fetched the cops.
The passenger, a 20-year-old named Junior Rondon, told the Miami Herald his thoughts on the encounter.
"He (driver Emmuneio Cibrin) was going to stop, but then we saw the Escalade chasing us," Rondon said. "We got scared and kept driving, you know?"
"He told us to shut up," Rondon said of O'Neal's message once he finally ran down the kids at a gas station. He said, 'I don't want to talk to you right now.'"
Two questions ran through my mind on this.
First, what is O'Neal, despite following proper police protocol, doing risking his hide chasing down cars in Miami? Even though the accident happened in Coconut Grove, and not one of the city's riskier areas, O'Neal couldn't have been sure who the driver was. He's in Miami, not Idaho. It wasn't smart, no matter who he is. He said he just wanted to trade insurance with the driver who did it so he wouldn't have to pay for it. What, can't afford it, Shaq? It really wasn't worth it.
Getting beyond that, how awesome must it be to just hop out of the car and be like, "Surprise, look who you just hit? A 7-foot-1, 320-pound giant who everyone knows. Joke's on you. Now spread 'em, cuz I'm a cop, too."
Rookie Game snubs
The first guys left home for All-Star weekend learned their fate Wednesday, when rosters for the Rookies and Sophomores teams were announced by the NBA.
Toronto forwards Andrea Bargnani and Jorge Garbajosa, Utah's Millsap, Charlotte's Adam Morrison, L.A. Lakers guard Jordan Farmar, Minnesota's Randy Foye, Memphis' Rudy Gay, Portland's Brandon Roy and the New Jersey Nets' Marcus Williams will make up the Rookie team.
The sophomores will be led by Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut, the L.A. Lakers' Andrew Bynum, Golden State's Monta Ellis, Charlotte's Raymond Felton, Indiana's Danny Granger, Houston's Luther Head, Knicks forward David Lee, Hornets guard Chris Paul, and Utah's Williams, who could also play in Sunday's All-Star Game.
So who got left out? Try Portland's big man LaMarcus Aldridge and point guard Sergio Rodriguez, Atlanta's Shelden Williams, Philadelphia's Rodney Carney, Orlando's J.J. Redick, and Chicago's Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha. Of this bunch, fans would've really gotten a kick out of either of Portland's crowd-pleasing subs, as well as the super athletic Thomas, who will sit home despite being the No. 2 pick in the draft.
Sophomores left out include New York's Channing Frye, Milwaukee's Charlie Villanueva, Boston's Ryan Gomes and Charlotte' Sean May.
Quote of the week
Baron Davis isn't happy, but he speaks the truth. Following Tuesday night's loss at Cleveland, the Golden State Warriors let his team have it regarding their chase of a playoff berth.
"We've got the worst road record of any team in the NBA, so who are we fooling, man? Who are we fooling?" Davis said of his Warriors, who are 4-16 away from the Bay. "How are we going to be a playoff team (when) we can't win on the road?
"We're fooling ourselves."
With Minnesota and the L.A. Clippers seemingly getting stronger and the Hornets welcoming Chris Paul back, the race for the final spot in the Western Conference is filled with sharks. Despite their recent move, the Warriors don't appear to have enough teeth for this battle.
At least it would appear that's what team captain B-Diddy thinks.
