New Album & The Beginning of Basketball Season

[Steve williams]

Report: Jackson, Dolan clashing over moves? — New Knicks GM Phil Jackson has already made one personnel move since taking over in New York a month ago — the firing of coach Mike Woodson and his staff on Monday. According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News in a lengthy story, Jackson has other personnel moves in mind … and he’s finding himself clashing with team owner James Dolan on some of those moves already:
Just one month into his role as Knicks president, Jackson has already clashed with Dolan, the chairman of Madison Square Garden, over personnel decisions, the Daily News has learned. According to a team source, Jackson is looking to remove several staff members, which is commonplace when a new administration takes over, but Dolan opposes removing certain employees.
According to the source, Dolan’s reaction to Jackson’s request was to tell the 11-time NBA championship coach to simply focus his attention on building a winning team. To say that “minor friction,” as one Garden source called it, can be classified as Jackson’s honeymoon with Dolan being over may be stretching it a bit.
But at the very least it proves that Dolan — surprise, surprise wasn’t being entirely truthful last month when he claimed he was “willingly and gratefully” giving up control of the basketball decisions to Jackson, the Hall of Fame coach.
…
With Jackson, Dolan has not tried to meddle in player moves. At least not yet. Instead, Dolan’s interest is to retain several staff members in their current positions, which raises an obvious question: Why?
…
It is unclear which employees Jackson wants to remove, but with the entire coaching staff fired on Monday, it is most likely personnel with the medical staff, front office and/or the media relations staff. Bleacher Report reported that Steve Mills, Allan Houston and Mark Warkentien could all be reassigned or possibly dismissed.
Among the coaches fired on Monday was long-time assistant Herb Williams, who is well-liked in the organization. Within one hour, there was a report that the organization would “encourage” the next head coach to keep Williams. It was an odd story, which read like it was planted by someone other than Jackson, because why would Jackson fire Williams and then encourage the next coach to rehire him?
Dolan’s interest in keeping certain employees could be something as innocent as wanting to remain loyal to workers with whom he has grown close. The more plausible theory is that Dolan doesn’t want to fully cede control of the team and that certain employees who serve as pseudo organizational spies are too valuable to lose.
…
Last month, Jackson admitted that he would not have taken the job without the guarantee that he had complete control of the basketball operations. But in less than six weeks, it appears that Dolan has shattered his own world record for meddling.

 

[Steve williams]

Pop wins his third Coach of the Year award. Deservedly so

 

[rblnr]

Report: Jackson, Dolan clashing over moves? — New Knicks GM Phil Jackson has already made one personnel move since taking over in New York a month ago — the firing of coach Mike Woodson and his staff on Monday. According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News in a lengthy story, Jackson has other personnel moves in mind … and he’s finding himself clashing with team owner James Dolan on some of those moves already:
Just one month into his role as Knicks president, Jackson has already clashed with Dolan, the chairman of Madison Square Garden, over personnel decisions, the Daily News has learned. According to a team source, Jackson is looking to remove several staff members, which is commonplace when a new administration takes over, but Dolan opposes removing certain employees.
According to the source, Dolan’s reaction to Jackson’s request was to tell the 11-time NBA championship coach to simply focus his attention on building a winning team. To say that “minor friction,” as one Garden source called it, can be classified as Jackson’s honeymoon with Dolan being over may be stretching it a bit.
But at the very least it proves that Dolan — surprise, surprise wasn’t being entirely truthful last month when he claimed he was “willingly and gratefully” giving up control of the basketball decisions to Jackson, the Hall of Fame coach.
…
With Jackson, Dolan has not tried to meddle in player moves. At least not yet. Instead, Dolan’s interest is to retain several staff members in their current positions, which raises an obvious question: Why?
…
It is unclear which employees Jackson wants to remove, but with the entire coaching staff fired on Monday, it is most likely personnel with the medical staff, front office and/or the media relations staff. Bleacher Report reported that Steve Mills, Allan Houston and Mark Warkentien could all be reassigned or possibly dismissed.
Among the coaches fired on Monday was long-time assistant Herb Williams, who is well-liked in the organization. Within one hour, there was a report that the organization would “encourage” the next head coach to keep Williams. It was an odd story, which read like it was planted by someone other than Jackson, because why would Jackson fire Williams and then encourage the next coach to rehire him?
Dolan’s interest in keeping certain employees could be something as innocent as wanting to remain loyal to workers with whom he has grown close. The more plausible theory is that Dolan doesn’t want to fully cede control of the team and that certain employees who serve as pseudo organizational spies are too valuable to lose.
…
Last month, Jackson admitted that he would not have taken the job without the guarantee that he had complete control of the basketball operations. But in less than six weeks, it appears that Dolan has shattered his own world record for meddling.

Sounds like typical NY press nonsense.

 

[MylesBAstor]

Report: Jackson, Dolan clashing over moves? — New Knicks GM Phil Jackson has already made one personnel move since taking over in New York a month ago — the firing of coach Mike Woodson and his staff on Monday. According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News in a lengthy story, Jackson has other personnel moves in mind … and he’s finding himself clashing with team owner James Dolan on some of those moves already:
Just one month into his role as Knicks president, Jackson has already clashed with Dolan, the chairman of Madison Square Garden, over personnel decisions, the Daily News has learned. According to a team source, Jackson is looking to remove several staff members, which is commonplace when a new administration takes over, but Dolan opposes removing certain employees.
According to the source, Dolan’s reaction to Jackson’s request was to tell the 11-time NBA championship coach to simply focus his attention on building a winning team. To say that “minor friction,” as one Garden source called it, can be classified as Jackson’s honeymoon with Dolan being over may be stretching it a bit.
But at the very least it proves that Dolan — surprise, surprise wasn’t being entirely truthful last month when he claimed he was “willingly and gratefully” giving up control of the basketball decisions to Jackson, the Hall of Fame coach.
…
With Jackson, Dolan has not tried to meddle in player moves. At least not yet. Instead, Dolan’s interest is to retain several staff members in their current positions, which raises an obvious question: Why?
…
It is unclear which employees Jackson wants to remove, but with the entire coaching staff fired on Monday, it is most likely personnel with the medical staff, front office and/or the media relations staff. Bleacher Report reported that Steve Mills, Allan Houston and Mark Warkentien could all be reassigned or possibly dismissed.
Among the coaches fired on Monday was long-time assistant Herb Williams, who is well-liked in the organization. Within one hour, there was a report that the organization would “encourage” the next head coach to keep Williams. It was an odd story, which read like it was planted by someone other than Jackson, because why would Jackson fire Williams and then encourage the next coach to rehire him?
Dolan’s interest in keeping certain employees could be something as innocent as wanting to remain loyal to workers with whom he has grown close. The more plausible theory is that Dolan doesn’t want to fully cede control of the team and that certain employees who serve as pseudo organizational spies are too valuable to lose.
…
Last month, Jackson admitted that he would not have taken the job without the guarantee that he had complete control of the basketball operations. But in less than six weeks, it appears that Dolan has shattered his own world record for meddling.

The answer is pretty clear. Jackson wants to eliminate all of Dolan's snitches from the organization. Just like Jeff Torborg was Steinbrenner's snitch when Billy Martin was the manager. Ever notice that when Martin got fired, Torborg got sent down to AAA? And when Martin was hired again, Torborg moved back up to the majors?

 

[Steve williams]

The answer is pretty clear. Jackson wants to eliminate all of Dolan's snitches from the organization. Just like Jeff Torborg was Steinbrenner's snitch when Billy Martin was the manager. Ever notice that when Martin got fired, Torborg got sent down to AAA? And when Martin was hired again, Torborg moved back up to the majors?

interesting thought Myles

 

[rblnr]

I'd be shocked if these hirings/firings weren't discussed before PJ was hired. I'm sure he only took the job with it clear that had the authority on all coaching, staff and personnel decisions.

 

[Steve williams]

Lakers Rumors: D’Antoni Won’t Take Marshall Job, Returning To Lakers?


The speculation continues to swirl about the immediate future of head coach Mike D’Antoni. The fans are livid about the result of this season and want change immediately, but D’Antoni has one more year guaranteed in his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Once the exit meetings came to a close last week, GM Mitch Kupchak let it be known that D’Antoni has two more years left on his deal (last year team option). Kupchak said he and Jim Buss will take some time off and will talk about D’Antoni’s future in a few weeks.

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Apparently, D’Antoni’s future may not be as uncertain as once thought. A report surfaced on Tuesday night about Marshall University moving on in their search for a head coach because D’Antoni is remaining with the Lakers according to the Charleston Daily Mail:

Sources told the Charleston Daily Mail on Tuesday afternoon that D’Antoni will remain the head coach of the Lakers and, thus, will not be in position to accept the vacant Herd hoops job.

D’Antoni is staying put. Hamrick is moving on.

After the season mercifully came to an end for the Lakers, the consensus was that few could do a better job than D’Antoni given the circumstances. The Lakers were ripped apart by injuries over the last two years with this season being worse than the last.

Along with dealing with nonstop criticism for enforcing his style of play, D’Antoni had to deal with losing Dwight Howard in free agency, Steve Nash playing in only a handful of games and Kobe Bryant suffering another season-ending injury only six games after returning from a torn Achilles tendon.

Although the fans have not been fond of D’Antoni ever since he was hired over Phil Jackson last season, the Lakers brass may have been sympathetic and willing to let him return for at least one more season. Nothing is confirmed as of yet, but signs appear to be pointing to D’Antoni returning.

 

[FrantzM]

One more year of ineptitude...

 

[Steve williams]

Another great game in Houston as the Rockets fall again to the Blazers and down 0-2

Final 112-105

 

[WLVCA]

Looks like LaMarcus Aldridge has recovered from his injury and the Trailblazers are playing like they did earlier this season.

Darn shame that Dwight Howard's Rockets are struggling. James Harden is not playing well at all.

 

[jadis]

Looks like LaMarcus Aldridge has recovered from his injury and the Trailblazers are playing like they did earlier this season.

Darn shame that Dwight Howard's Rockets are struggling. James Harden is not playing well at all.

Double wow on Aldridge. Defense of the Rockets has to improve. And Harden has to reappear. He seems to disappear in come playoff time.

And Dallas surprised SAS. Could be dangerous.

While he is not exactly the lovable kind, Mark Cuban shows a lot of love for the game and his team by sitting courtside at cheering on his team in a lot of games, home or road. I'm thinking if I ever saw Michael Jordan sit at courtside. Maybe once. Or maybe mostly he's in his suite/box.

 

[Steve williams]

Grizz is really sockin' it to the Thunder up 77-64 with 9:00 left in the 4th

 

[JackD201]

Pacers fall one game back once again with a whole flock of Hawks scoring in double figures.

 

[Steve williams]

Big win for the Grizz in OT tonight to go up 2-1 vs OKC

 

[WLVCA]

Clippers hold off a late rally by the Warriors to win by 2 points, 98 - 96. LA leads the series 2 - 1.

 

[jadis]

the west is interesting.

 

[jadis]

Big win for the Grizz in OT tonight to go up 2-1 vs OKC

Saw the highlights and this is turning out to be an epic series of sorts. Conley is cool and confident and are a few Grizzlies playing real good basketball. High energy. Great to watch.

 

[Steve williams]

Personally I think all of the playoff series have been exciting.

 

[Steve williams]

I was always under the impression that nba.com is owned by the NBA but I just saw this......

NBA.com is part of Turner Sports Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network.

 

[Steve williams]

Report: Clippers owner Donald Sterling caught on tape telling his girlfriend to not bring African-Americans to 'my games'

By Kelly Dwyer

TMZ revealed a recording early Saturday morning of what it says is Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling pathetically admonishing his girlfriend for “associating” with African-Americans – apparently she made the major mistake, in Sterling’s eyes, of posing for a photo with Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, a photo she later uploaded to her Instagram account.

It's a shocking and infuriating 9½-minute bit of tape that should embarrass the NBA and force new commissioner Adam Silver into action.

According to TMZ's recording, Sterling went on to chide his girlfriend, who is half-African-American and half-Mexican, for bringing African-Americans to Clippers games, even if those guests in question were of exalted status as Magic is, and even if she’s never done as much.

The recording is an absolutely depressing listen, to say the least. Here are some of the snippets, according to TMZ, from Sterling, who told his girlfriend V. Stiviano that he feels “very strongly” about her “broadcasting” the fact she briefly spoke to and posed with a very famous black man:

-- "It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?" (3:30)

-- "You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that ... and not to bring them to my games." (5:15)

-- "...Don't put him [Magic] on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don't bring him to my games." (9:13)
Donald Sterling is the NBA’s great shame, and now a major media outlet apparently has him on record as telling a woman – one that he obscenely disrespects throughout the entire exchange – that he doesn’t want African-Americans coming to his basketball games. Whether Sterling is sadly mixing up his words or only referring to Magic Johnson personally, or jealous of the brief attention his much younger girlfriend (Sterling is still married to another woman, mind you) received isn’t the point – the point is that the NBA has to do something about its biggest problem.

This is indefensible. Sterling’s treatment of this woman is execrable enough, but the clear intent of his message and what’s simmering just underneath what he actually lets out should be enough to force what has previously been a spineless league (regarding the Clippers' owner) into action. The Clippers could boast a lily-white roster and coaching staff, that part barely matters in relation to Donald Sterling – owner of an NBA team – being taped telling someone he doesn’t want African-Americans at his basketball games.

Fight with his girl, heat of the moment, jealous as hell – it does not matter.

This is Silver’s first great task. He’ll have to balance the interests of a small team-owning few versus the respect of hundreds of millions. This, like Donald Sterling, is a no-brainer.