Can Stuckey be a star by next year?
I like Rodney Stuckey. In fact, you could say I like Rodney Stuckey a lot. But Michael Rosenberg really, really likes Rodney Stuckey: The key to the 2009 season – and really, the 10 seasons after that — is Rodney Stuckey. I don’t think people fully understand how good he can be, and how…
June 03, 2008, 10:30 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
NoNeed4FinalsTickets
This stings: Natalie from Need4Sheed posted scans of the NBA Finals tickets that were already mailed to season ticket holders.
June 03, 2008, 10:15 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Flip Saunders apparently won’t be fired
From Chris McCosky in the Detroit News: We were all wrong. All of us who speculated that the Pistons’ loss in Game 6 to Boston spelled the end of Flip Saunders’ coaching life in Detroit were wrong. Saunders met briefly with Pistons president Joe Dumars on Saturday and all indications…
June 03, 2008, 10:00 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Brief thoughts
The season ended much earlier than I thought it would, so I’m going to let this marinate a little bit and try to enjoy the rest of the weekend before posting some kind of grand finale. But first, some brief reactions: Congratulations to the Celtics, who convinced me they’re the better…
June 03, 2008, 9:45 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Will Lamar Odom cave against Kevin Garnett?
Two questions for you. Will Lamar Odom recoil from the human fire that is Kevin Garnett in the NBA Finals? The Lakers had better hope not. I delved into that specific issue in my So Cal Sports Now column on L.O. Do you have the writing wit and wisdom to be the Register’s fan blogger for the…
June 03, 2008, 9:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Joe Dumars speaks
June 03, 2008, 9:30 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Ariza ready to defend if called upon
EL SEGUNDO — One possible defensive matchup that the Lakers could employ against Boston is to use forward Trevor Ariza on Celtics All-Star forward Paul Pierce, who so far in the playoffs is averaging 19 points per game. Lakers coach Phil Jackson will begin with Vladimir Radmanovic guarding…
June 03, 2008, 9:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Tex Winter: Kobe’s defense will be key
EL SEGUNDO — Gotta love how Tex Winter is never one bit leery of saying a disparaging word about Kobe Bryant (or Michael Jordan), and Winter made abundantly clear that Bryant needs to have a good defensive NBA Finals in whatever capacity he works. Winter said at the Lakers’ first…
June 03, 2008, 9:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Brian Shaw not going to coach Shaq in Phoenix
EL SEGUNDO — One less thing for the Lakers to worry about next season, when they’ll only be expected to go 82-0 with Andrew Bynum on this team: Brian Shaw isn’t going to coach Shaquille O’Neal with the Phoenix Suns. Shaw told me after practice today that he got word from…
June 03, 2008, 9:00 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
All-time Lakers: Best center?
This NBA Finals between the Lakers and Celtics is stirring up all sorts of nostalgic feelings for the glory days of Magic, Bird, Kareem and McHale. With everyone reminiscing, we thought it would be the perfect time to dip deep into Lakers history and determine the franchise’s all-time…
June 03, 2008, 8:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Lakers-Celtics first look
Celtics player to watch: Point guard Rajon Rondo, 22, is in just his second NBA season and has been up and down in the postseason, misfiring often when opposing coaches have forced him to take jumpers. He does have 6.6-to-1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio in the postseason and must be stable in getting…
June 03, 2008, 8:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Kobe and Paul Pierce, from commiserating to the NBA Finals
EL SEGUNDO — Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce have reached the happy-ending part of their season story. If it were a movie about the two of them this season, the opening scene would’ve taken place over the summer after they both played some pickup ball at UCLA and were commiserating about…
June 03, 2008, 8:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Practice peek: Lakers work on catch-and-shoot
EL SEGUNDO — It resembles the old Pitch Back that I used to use for solo baseball practice when I was growing up in San Francisco. The modern version of the upright tool is used by basketball teams on all levels to simulate passing, receiving a pass and incorporating all the elements of a…
June 03, 2008, 7:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Kobe, Fisher voices of calm before storm
EL SEGUNDO - The Lakers spent their last day in the home confines of L.A. before they left Tuesday for the quite unfriendly venue of Boston, where hostile Celtics fans and a history of leprechauns await them. What do co-captains Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher, veterans of four NBA finals who have…
June 03, 2008, 7:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Game 6: This is for everything
I’m at the Palace for FanHouse. Leave your thoughts in the comments.
June 03, 2008, 7:00 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Newble has unique Finals viewpoint
EL SEGUNDO — Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and Luke Walton are the lone Lakers who were on the team when it last reached the NBA Finals in 2004. But forward Ira Newble, whom the Lakers initially signed to a 10-day contract March 21, is the only player on the team who has been in the NBA Finals…
June 03, 2008, 7:00 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Rasheed’s last days?
(Be wary of Sheed’s salty NSFW language) If these really were Rasheed Wallace’s last days in Detroit, they haven’t been pretty. Video via BallHype, Awful Announcing
June 03, 2008, 6:45 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Lakers 100, Spurs 92
By CURTIS ZUPKE The Orange County Register LOS ANGELES - The heartbeat of a city flatlined, then came back 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 to a 100-92 victory to eliminate defending champion San…
June 03, 2008, 6:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
In appreciation of Flip Saunders
Dumars said the “coaching search” won’t take very long (will he even interview anyone but Michael Curry?), but before we start talking about the new guy, I just wanted to recognize the old one. Flip Saunders had his faults, sure, but don’t forget that once upon a time he was…
June 03, 2008, 6:30 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Will Lamar Odom cave against Kevin Garnett?
Two questions for you. Will Lamar Odom recoil from the human fire that is Kevin Garnett in the NBA Finals? The Lakers had better hope not. I delved into that specific issue in my So Cal Sports Now column on L.O. Do you have the writing wit and wisdom to be the Register’s fan blogger for the…
June 03, 2008, 6:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Ariza ready to defend if called upon
EL SEGUNDO — One possible defensive matchup that the Lakers could employ against Boston is to use forward Trevor Ariza on Celtics All-Star forward Paul Pierce, who so far in the playoffs is averaging 19 points per game. Lakers coach Phil Jackson will begin with Vladimir Radmanovic guarding…
June 03, 2008, 6:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Joe Dumars: “Everybody’s in play”
Highlights from today’s presser from Keith Langlois’ blog: * Dumars saying significant change was his desire and that “everybody’s in play. There are no sacred cows here.” * Dumars saying the last 10 minutes of Game 6, when the Pistons squandered a 10-point lead and lost…
June 03, 2008, 5:45 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Orlando pre-draft measurements
DraftExpress.com just posted the measurements from the NBA pre-draft camp in Orlando this week, which you can check out here. Some players of note. Arizona’s Jerryd Bayless measured at 6-1 ¾ without shoes, and a 6-3 with shoes. He had a max vertical of 38 inches, benched 185 pounds…
June 03, 2008, 5:45 PM ET from Sonics Insider by Frank Hughes
Beasley/Rose Draft Measurements Posted
[From the FanPosts. -ed.] Looks like what many of us have been waiting for us finally posted at Draft Express . Here's what we want: Michael Beasley measured at 6-7 without shoes, and 6-8 ¼ with. His wingspan in 7-0 ¼ and his standing reach is 8-11. He did fairly well in…
June 03, 2008, 5:15 PM ET from Blog a Bull
Saunders out in Detroit
The Detroit Pistons, expected to get back to the NBA Finals this season, fired head coach Flip Saunders, shown here in this Associated Press photo, this morning. Read more about the move here. According to reports, Saunders did not have the full respect of his players, and his offensive-minded…
June 03, 2008, 2:00 PM ET from Sonics Insider by Frank Hughes
Flip Saunders is fired
From the Detroit Free Press: In a statement released this morning, president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said: “Decisions like this are difficult to make, especially with the success we have had throughout the last three regular-seasons. However, at this time, I feel it is necessary to…
June 03, 2008, 1:15 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
This is just weird
From Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee: As the continuing radio career of the Kings small forward continues, Artest is now hoping to interview the infamous John Green of the 2004 “Malice at the Palace” brawl. The Pistons fan is the one who hurled a plastic cup of beer at Artest as he…
June 03, 2008, 10:45 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Michael Curry will interview with Chicago
Flip Saunders didn’t speak to reporters after leaving the Pistons’ practice facility Saturday afternoon, but assistant coach Michael Curry did, addressing both the speculation that he might replace Saunders as well as where he’s at in regards to interviewing other jobs. From…
June 03, 2008, 07:45 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Blakely and Jahnke: Who said Flip’s job is secure?
A. Sherrod Blakely argues today that Saunders’ job is hardly secure: The future of Detroit Pistons coach Flip Saunders is still up in the air. However, multiple league sources said Monday he still is likely to be fired, and a decision should be made within days. Joe Dumars, Detroit’s…
June 03, 2008, 07:30 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Not everyone is convinced Flip is staying
Yesterday, Chris McCosky was confident that Flip Saunders would stay put: We were all wrong. All of us who speculated that the Pistons’ loss in Game 6 to Boston spelled the end of Flip Saunders’ coaching life in Detroit were wrong. Saunders met briefly with Pistons president Joe Dumars on…
June 03, 2008, 05:45 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
The Spurs beat the Hornets: The Hornets' Season ends
And that's the season. The Hornets fall to the Spurs, 91-82 after fighting back to within three from 15 down at the start of the fourth.Two things did us in tonight. Rebounding and a three point barrage. The rebounding, though a pronounced problem earlier in the game, got better in the…
June 03, 2008, 02:30 AM ET from Hornets247.com Blog
Hornets Offseason: I'd like this one . . . and this one . . . and that one . . .
The Hornets spent $66,079,546 in player payroll last season, and it looks like the Hornets will have some leeway to spend this year - assuming they are willing to spend the same amount they spent this year as they did last year. The dead contracts of Arvydas Macijauskas, Bernard…
June 03, 2008, 02:15 AM ET from Hornets247.com Blog
Waiting for the white smoke
That's for the pope, but this coaching search seems almost as important. Or at least as long. Or maybe the point is smoking must be involved: Contrary to a published report, Bulls general manager John Paxson never intended to talk to another former NBA coach about the job over the…
June 03, 2008, 00:45 AM ET from Blog a Bull
Buy shoes, meet Rasheed
Rasheed Wallace will apparently greet sneaker heads tomorrow. From the Freep: Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace is scheduled to make an appearance Tuesday at SNYX Sneaker Studio, 8961 Linwood in Detroit, to promote the new Nike Air Force 1’s that he designed. He’ll have a private Q&A…
June 03, 2008, 00:00 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
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