Friday’s Layup Drill
Rasheed Wallace was fined 25 large for his profanity-laced tirade. Over at FanHouse, I revealed what I think to be a pretty ingenious solution to future fines. Speaking of bleeps, Michael Rosenberg writes for the Free Press: As he stood in the Pistons locker room Wednesday night, after a painful…
May 30, 2008, 9:45 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Game 6: This is for everything
I’m at the Palace for FanHouse. Leave your thoughts in the comments.
May 30, 2008, 9:30 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Talking to CelticsBlog’s Steve Weinman
There’s no love lost between Celtics fans and Pistons fans, and it’s been that way for decades. That said, I’d buy the guys at CelticsBlog a beer any day. I made a cameo answering a few questions over there earlier today, and CelticBlog’s Steve Weinman returned the favor…
May 30, 2008, 8:30 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Paul Pierce: Game 5 is a “must-win”
The Pistons never use the phrase “must-win game” unless they’re literally at risk of being eliminated. A lot of fans don’t agree with it, but now I see why they do it. From the MetroWest Daily News (via CelticsBlog): While no one was particularly happy with the Game 4 effort…
May 30, 2008, 8:15 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
“It’s all (bleeping) entertainment”
Rasheed Wallace wasn’t impressed by the officiating last night: “All that bull(bleep)-ass calls they had out there. With Mike [Callahan] and Kenny [Mauer] — you’ve all seen that (bleep),” Wallace said. “You saw them calls. The cats are flopping all over the…
May 30, 2008, 7:45 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
NBA will enforce the No Ginobili Rule!
The NBA will fine egregious floppers starting next year. There really will be a No Ginobili rule!
May 30, 2008, 7:30 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Down, but not out
Wow. That game was … wow. As Henry Abbott pointed out on TrueHoop, Pistons fans are no strangers to suffering through heartbreaking Game 5 losses. But you know what? I’ll take this. This feels different. Believe me, there’s plenty of frustration and a tinge a regret for the…
May 30, 2008, 7:15 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Rip Hamilton has a strained elbow
The Boston Globe posted the entire transcript of Flip Saunders’ post-game presser — here’s his answer when asked about Rip Hamilton’s elbow: Q. Just give us an update on what you know what Richard did to his hand. COACH FLIP SAUNDERS: Rip strained a right elbow. It’s…
May 30, 2008, 7:00 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Minnesota will keep their second-rounder
From A. Sherrod Blakely of Booth Newspapers: The Pistons were hopeful that they would have the Minnesota Timberwolves’ second-round pick in next month’s NBA draft, which is at the top of the second round, and 31st overall. But Joe Dumars, Detroit’s president of basketball…
May 30, 2008, 6:45 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Walter Herrmann is a wanted man
Courtesy of PistonsForum comes the news that Pamesa Valencia, a team in Spain’s ACB league, wants to sign Walter Herrmann, who’s set to become an unrestricted free agent. Chris McCosky thinks Herrmann “will get the first crack” at being Tayshaun Prince’s backup if he…
May 30, 2008, 6:15 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Pre-order the FreeDarko book
“The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac: Styles, Stats and Stars in Today’s Game,” aka, the FreeDarko book, won’t technically be available until November, but you can get it cheap if you pre-order it now.
May 30, 2008, 6:00 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Hornets Off-Season: The Draft
I've poured over the various sites that give Draft information and put together the players I'd like to see the Hornets bring in for workouts and possibly snag in the Draft if they don't trade the pick. In accordance with the off-season priority I put up yesterday, I focused…
May 30, 2008, 6:00 PM ET from Hornets247.com Blog
Rip: “There’s no way in hell I’m not playing tonight”
From A. Sherrod Blakely of Booth Newspapers: Richard Hamilton’s strained right elbow is still not feeling great, but it won’t keep him out of the lineup tonight. As he was making his way off the practice floor to receive treatments, he told me “there’s no way in hell…
May 30, 2008, 5:45 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Embrace the “combo guard”
People say the phrase “combo guard” like it’s a dirty word, but guess what: most of the league’s elite point guards are in reality combo guards. Personally, I’d prefer this stay our little secret: it’s why guys like Rodney Stuckey fall out of the lottery and into…
May 30, 2008, 05:30 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Pistons try to put Celtics on the ropes
First, in case you missed it: yes, Boston’s locker room was sweltering on Monday. Were the Pistons playing tricks on the visitors? Probably not … but I’m curious to see if the ghost of Red Auerbach turns off the Pistons’ hot water after the game. With a win tonight the…
May 30, 2008, 05:15 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Stat geeks everywhere love Amir Johnson
Count the Basket compares and contrasts the results of several advanced player rating systems, (including some I’ve never even heard of) … I took a look at seven popular player ratings. Two basic linear weights metrics based on boxscore stats - John Hollinger’s Player Efficiency…
May 30, 2008, 05:00 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
The Microwave was patient
John Stoll of the Wall Street Journal got nostalgic about the way sports used to be. I’m not a huge fan of these “it was better back then” type of articles, but I’ll give him a pass for including this anecdote from when he was nine years old: “Vinnie!” I yelled…
May 30, 2008, 04:45 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Friday’s Layup Drill
Rasheed Wallace was fined 25 large for his profanity-laced tirade. Over at FanHouse, I revealed what I think to be a pretty ingenious solution to future fines. Speaking of bleeps, Michael Rosenberg writes for the Free Press: As he stood in the Pistons locker room Wednesday night, after a painful…
May 30, 2008, 04:30 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Trib: Doug Collins expected to be next Bulls coach
This report from KC Johnson was mentioned earlier today in a (since hidden) fanpost, but that was a first draft, with the idea that Collins could be coming in as either the head coach or an assistant. Now? Six weeks ago Thursday, shortly after firing interim coach Jim Boylan, general…
May 30, 2008, 04:15 AM ET from Blog a Bull
The Paxspeak Playbook
I'm not sure if we're at the point where Paxson's predictability is more sad than funny. I still find it funny. I guess the real test is if his team still sucks next year. First, some true draft-rumor craziness, from yet another blog that has more sources than me(even indirectly): I…
May 30, 2008, 04:00 AM ET from Blog a Bull
Comfortably dumbfounded
It's still very weird to imagine. Doug Collins? Doug? Collins? This was the "new vibe" Paxson was searching for all these weeks? It can be looked at least as a return to known competence. Any coach who isn't that last coach they had (and shall not be named) will get this team back to…
May 30, 2008, 03:45 AM ET from Blog a Bull
Game 4: Lakers 93, Spurs 91
SAN ANTONIO – It was either a mess of uncalled fouls or just the sort of intense scrum it naturally should be when one is trying to wrestle away another’s belt. When it was over, the young Lakers had a firm hand on what reigning NBA champion San Antonio is wearing and a 3-1 lead in the Western…
May 30, 2008, 02:45 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Halftime: Spurs 48, Lakers 42
It’s alive. After 23 minutes of stagnant offense and abysmal defense, the Lakers ended the second quarter on an 11-2 run to trim a 17-point deficit to six and trail, 48-42, at halftime. The Spurs took their biggest lead at 33-16 on a 3-pointer by Brent Barry at 10:15. The Lakers had gone 7…
May 30, 2008, 02:30 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
First quarter: Spurs 28, Lakers 15
So much for starting strong. The Lakers forgot to bring their offense while San Antonio couldn’t miss as it used a 7-0 run to take a 28-15 lead after the first quarter. The Lakers shot 29.2 percent (7-for-24) while the Spurs shot 63.2 percent (12 for 19). Kurt Thomas made back-to-back…
May 30, 2008, 02:15 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Jackson: “Always be closing”
LOS ANGELES - One look around Staples Center reveals that the Lakers are getting ready to take a Finals step. There are purple-and-gold balloons strung around the entrances, and horse-mounted police are roaming up and down Chick Hearn Court. Lakers legend and former general manager Jerry West was…
May 30, 2008, 02:15 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Lakers 100, Spurs 92
By CURTIS ZUPKE The Orange County Register LOS ANGELES - The heartbeat of a city flatlined, then came to life. Now it will beat in June for the first time in four years. The Lakers overcame an awful start and rode Kobe Bryant for a 100-92 victory to eliminate defending champion San Antonio,…
May 30, 2008, 02:00 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Game 4 halftime: Lakers lead, 53-47
SAN ANTONIO — Luke Walton started slow but finished the first half awfully strong. Walton’s aggressive post move against Manu Ginobili helped the Lakers to a 6-2 finishing run before halftime. Walton got an early run in Game 4 because of Lamar Odom’s two early fouls, but Walton…
May 30, 2008, 02:00 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Fisher-Barry last-play controversy is so not the point
Before we move completely on to Game 5 of the Spurs-Lakers series, it really needs to be said here that the Lakers are not getting their just due with regard to Game 4. All the talk about whether Derek Fisher fouled Brent Barry on the final play is fine to fill time and space, but it’s really…
May 30, 2008, 01:45 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Phil’s free-throw solution for Kobe
SAN ANTONIO — Kobe Bryant took 23 foul shots in a single game against Utah last round. He has six foul shots through three games against San Antonio this round. A big part of it is that San Antonio’s strategy is flat-out not to foul Bryant, but after studying some film Phil Jackson has…
May 30, 2008, 01:30 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Third quarter: Lakers 64, Spurs 63
The Lakers have climbed up the mountain and can see the summit. After trailing for most of the game, the Lakers take a 64-63 lead into the fourth quarter as they attempt to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2004. After Duncan missed a pair of free throws with San Antonio ahead, 56-48,…
May 30, 2008, 01:15 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Foul play, Pop’s blunder and Kobe’s free throws
Forgive this intrusion into my man Kevin Ding’s world, but I just wanted to bring your attention to some bonus Lakers material available elsewhere on OCRegister.com: ** Did Derek Fisher foul Brent Barry? You can make the call by clicking here. ** Lev’s leftover observations from…
May 30, 2008, 01:15 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Kickin’ back in the Whicker chair again
SAN ANTONIO — Just a heads-up that Spurs-picking Register columnist Mark Whicker and I had another cyber-chat about the Lakers-Spurs series today, if you want to check it out and hear a couple anecdotes about a certain former Laker and current Spur. The debut installment of the weekly Whicker…
May 30, 2008, 01:00 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Game 4: Lakers 93, Spurs 91
SAN ANTONIO – It was either a mess of uncalled fouls or just the sort of intense scrum it naturally should be when one is trying to wrestle away another’s belt. When it was over, the young Lakers had a firm hand on what reigning NBA champion San Antonio is wearing and a 3-1 lead in the Western…
May 30, 2008, 00:45 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Halftime: Spurs 48, Lakers 42
It’s alive. After 23 minutes of stagnant offense and abysmal defense, the Lakers ended the second quarter on an 11-2 run to trim a 17-point deficit to six and trail, 48-42, at halftime. The Spurs took their biggest lead at 33-16 on a 3-pointer by Brent Barry at 10:15. The Lakers had gone 7…
May 30, 2008, 00:30 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
NBA Finals set for June 5-19, “that girl” Gasol and contact time for Kobe
SAN ANTONIO — Detroit’s Game 4 victory over Boston ensures the NBA Finals will not be moved up on the calendar, so here is what it is set to be, according to the NBA master schedule: The NBA Finals will begin with games June 5 and 8 in Detroit or Boston. The next three games would be…
May 30, 2008, 00:15 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
First quarter: Spurs 28, Lakers 15
So much for starting strong. The Lakers forgot to bring their offense while San Antonio couldn’t miss as it used a 7-0 run to take a 28-15 lead after the first quarter. The Lakers shot 29.2 percent (7-for-24) while the Spurs shot 63.2 percent (12 for 19). Kurt Thomas made back-to-back…
May 30, 2008, 00:00 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
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