New Album & The Beginning of Basketball Season

[Steve williams]

Pacers looked great and were firing on all guns to win game one big time. Now they need to win the next one as well before I start feeling good about the Pacers taking out the Heat. They did look great today

 

[jadis]

I'd look for the Celtics to make a play. They have a multitude of 1st round draft picks over the next few years plus a number of players of interest - like Rondo and Sullinger.

And in the news/rumor mill today.

http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/celtics-willing-part-lottery-pick-love?p=ya5nbcs&ocid=yahoo

This can be the KG-7 Celtics deal Part II. Boston has a lot of 1st round picks in the short term plus, yes, Sullinger and Rondo. But they still need to built a good core around Love, if ever the deal happens. At that time, the C's still had Pierce, Rondo and Perkins to support KG, and added a renegade Allen.

 

[jadis]

Pacers looked great and were firing on all guns to win game one big time. Now they need to win the next one as well before I start feeling good about the Pacers taking out the Heat. They did look great today

It's a good start and good confidence builder but yes Steve, they have to be ready for Game 2. Miami will be pounding the door for a split which is their goal anyway. Hibbert up, Bosh down. Good formula. So look for Bosh to come back and shoot away in Game 2.

 

[jadis]

Chalmers does it again. Flagrant 1. Replay shows he just shoved Watson into the stands instead of going for the ball. And not too long ago, a flying elbow to Dirk's face.

http://nba.si.com/2014/05/18/mario-chalmers-shoves-cj-watson-heat-pacers-game-1/

 

[Steve williams]

Report: Rockets expected to pursue Love\

http://www.csnhouston.com/basketbal...ets-expected-pursue-love?p=ya5nbcs&ocid=yahoo

 

[WLVCA]

Chalmers does it again. Flagrant 1. Replay shows he just shoved Watson into the stands instead of going for the ball. And not too long ago, a flying elbow to Dirk's face.

I didn't realize Chalmers was the hatchet man for the Heat.

 

[WLVCA]

Good win for the Pacers. Hope they keep it up.

Problem is they've been so inconsistent last part of the season and the playoffs.

At least Hibbert showed up today.

 

[jadis]

Report: Rockets expected to pursue Love\

http://www.csnhouston.com/basketbal...ets-expected-pursue-love?p=ya5nbcs&ocid=yahoo

Everyone loves Love.

 

[WLVCA]

Everyone loves Love.

Love his offense. He doesn't play defense.

 

[jadis]

While the C's are not exactly championship contenders (yet), we are thrilled at the idea. We are tired of Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries after 1 season.


Celtics loom as intriguing destination for Kevin Love
Adrian Wojnarowski
By Adrian Wojnarowski 10 hours ago Yahoo Sports

The Boston Celtics have emerged as an increasingly intriguing destination for Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star forward Kevin Love, and the Celtics' draft position coming out of Tuesday night's lottery could be telltale in determining the feasibility of a trade, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

If the lottery percentages hold to form, Boston would draft in the No. 5 slot, which could hold appeal to Minnesota in this talent-rich draft. If Boston moves up and cracks one of the top three spots, general manager Danny Ainge would have a more difficult decision to make on using the pick in a deal for Love.

Love's representatives with Excel Sports are pushing Timberwolves president Flip Saunders to find a trade acceptable to them before the beginning of summer free agency in July – preferably by the June 26 NBA draft, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Love plans to opt out of his contract in the summer of 2015 and leave Minnesota as a free agent, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Love, 25, wants a chance to play for an immediate contender, but has an open mind about multiple destinations in the league, sources said. In six NBA seasons, Love has yet to reach the playoffs in Minnesota.

The Houston Rockets also plan to make a run at a trade for Love, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Officials believe Love's close relationship and respect for coach Kevin McHale could give the Rockets an edge. Golden State, Phoenix, the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago are among those also planning to pursue Love deals with an eye on signing him to a long-term extension.

Love has no veto power over a trade, but it is unlikely any team will unload significant assets for him without an assurance he'll re-sign a max contract.

Houston doesn't have the draft picks to offer Minnesota, but does have appealing young players in Chandler Parsons and Omer Asik to include in packages. McHale acquired Love for the T'wolves with a draft-night trade and coached him. Beyond McHale, Houston could offer Love an immediate chance to be part of a contender.

Still, Boston is the sleeper gathering momentum in a process that is still beginning to unfold. The three top prospects in the draft – Kansas' Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins and Duke's Jabari Parker – could become franchise cornerstone players in the NBA. Nevertheless, Boston has multiple picks to offer in the next several years as part of a total package for Love, as well as the salary-cap space to perhaps take back an unwanted contract from Minnesota.

Love's agent Jeff Schwartz and Ainge have a strong relationship and a good working history. Ainge helped another Schwartz client, Paul Pierce, get to a preferred trade destination in Brooklyn a year ago. The Celtics believe they can sell Love on becoming the next big Celtics star, and all the adulation that comes with that for a franchise that has won 17 NBA championships.

Love averaged 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds for Minnesota this season.

 

[Steve williams]

Report: Phil Jackson ‘plotting’ Kevin Love-Knicks trade, and Lakers ‘will make a monster push’

Dan Feldman, Pro Basketball Talk

Twenty-nine teams should be exploring trading for Kevin Love.

The other is the Minnesota Timberwolves, who already have Love.

Love is not only a star player, he’s young and has a skillset that works in any system. That makes him appealing everywhere.

The Warriors and Bulls have come up, and so have the Rockets and Celtics. It was only a matter of time until teams in the NBA’s biggest markets let everyone know they want a spot at the table.

Marc Berman of the New York Post:

According to an NBA source, Knicks president Phil Jackson has been plotting to be involved in making something happen with Love via a trade.

Another source said the Lakers also will make a monster push at trading for Love, who played at UCLA.

The Knicks believe they have the expiring contracts — Tyson Chandler and Iman Shumpert in particular — the Wolves might want so Minnesota can keep cap space to go after the star-studded 2015 free agent class.

The Knicks have practically no shot, but trying to convince their fans that every star is in play for New York is what they do. They can’t trade a first-round pick until 2018, and they’re short on promising young players with only Tim Hardaway Jr. and Iman Shumpert to offer.

Just cap room in 2015 won’t entice Minnesota at all. Know how else the Timberwolves can maximize cap room in 2015? Just keeping Love and letting him opt out. The Knicks need to offer something – likely much more – on top of that.

The Lakers are much better-positioned to trade for Love. They can’t deal their 2014 first-round pick until after the draft, but they could always pick on behalf of the Timberwolves and then officially complete the transaction later. Minnesota probably wouldn’t mind.

Like New York, Los Angeles doesn’t have many appealing tradable players, but a high lottery pick in a loaded draft is a much better starting point than what the Knicks can offer.

 

[Steve williams]

NBA formally charges Sterling, sets June 3 hearing


Posted May 19, 2014 3:47 PM - Updated May 19, 2014 7:31 PM
NEW YORK (AP) -- The NBA charged Donald Sterling on Monday with damaging the league and its teams with his racist comments, setting up a June 3 hearing after which owners could vote to terminate his ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers.

The league also said the banned owner has engaged in other conduct that has impaired its relationship with fans and merchandising partners.
"All of these acts provide grounds for termination under several provisions of the NBA constitution and related agreements," the league said in a statement.
Sterling was banned for life and fined $2.5 million by Commissioner Adam Silver after the release of a recording in which he made racist remarks. He has until May 27 to respond to the charge, and the right to appear at the hearing and make a presentation before the board of governors. He has the right to a lawyer at the hearing, but strict courtroom rules of evidence would not apply.

Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, the board chairman, will preside over the hearing, which is planned for two days before the start of the NBA Finals. If three-fourths of the other 29 owners vote to sustain the charge, Sterling will be forced to sell the team he has owned since 1981.
Silver has said he is confident he has the votes.

Sterling told a female friend, V. Stiviano, not to bring blacks to Clippers games during their conversation that was recorded. Sterling specifically mentioned Magic Johnson, then criticized the NBA Hall of Famer again as a poor role model during a recent interview with CNN.

"Among other things, Mr. Sterling disparaged African-Americans and `minorities'; directed a female acquaintance not to associate publicly with African-Americans or to bring African-Americans to Clippers games; and criticized African-Americans for not supporting their communities," the NBA said.

The league also charged Sterling with issuing a false and misleading media statement about the matter.
Article 13 of the NBA's constitution, which deals with termination of ownership, states that one of the conditions is if an owner fails or refuses "to fulfill its contractual obligations to the Association, its members, players, or any other third party in such a way as to affect the Association or its members adversely."

A number of sponsors suspended their deals with the Clippers in the wake of Sterling's remarks, potentially hurting league revenues, and players have said they would consider refusing to play next season.

"Mr. Sterling's actions and positions significantly undermine the NBA's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion; damage the NBA's relationship with its fans; harm NBA owners, players and Clippers team personnel; and impair the NBA's relationship with marketing and merchandising partners, as well as with government and community leaders," the league said.
If Sterling does not respond to the charge within five business days, or appear at the hearing, it would be deemed an admission of the "total validity of the charges as presented," according to the constitution.

But even the players who want him out believe Sterling will fight, and his attorney sent a letter to the league last week informing it that Sterling wouldn't be paying the fine.
A message on the office voicemail of Sterling's lawyer, Maxwell Blecher, said he would have no comment now.

Sterling's estranged wife, Shelly, has said she will fight to keep her 50 percent share of the team even if Donald Sterling is forced to sell, but the league said in its statement that "all ownership interests in the Clippers will be terminated" if the charge is upheld.

Shelly Sterling's attorney, Pierce O'Donnell, said he was reviewing the charges.
"Based on our initial assessment, we continue to believe there is no lawful basis for stripping Shelly Sterling of her 50 percent ownership interest in the Clippers," O'Donnell said in a statement Monday. "She is the innocent estranged spouse. We also continue to hope that we can resolve this dispute with the NBA for the good of all constituencies."

 

[jadis]

OKC giving a good fight on the road. Their dynamic duo carries the load as usual. Always dangerous with these 2 around for the Thunder.

 

[Steve williams]

OKC giving a good fight on the road. Their dynamic duo carries the load as usual. Always dangerous with these 2 around for the Thunder.

well since your post the Spurs are destroying the Thunder 99-85

 

[jadis]

well since your post the Spurs are destroying the Thunder 99-85

That's right Steve. May have spoken too soon. Manu was making good shots, and how bout Kawhi Leonard with the 360 penetration move and basket? What a kid.

 

[jadis]

Cleveland gets No. 1 pick AGAIN! How lucky can they get in the last few years.

 

[Ron Party]

The Pacers cannot beat the Heat so long as they keep that inept head coach.

 

[jadis]

Being at home, the Pacers had to keep a constant well oiled offense like they had in Game 1. Unfortunately, people cannot be that well oiled all the time. Lots of missed open shots by the Pacers, and Heat played a well planned and executed game. Heat defense also stepped up tonight. Time for the adjustments as the Pacers just lost their home court ad.

And, the Pacers have practically no bench support tonight and I don't see it changing soon.

 

[WLVCA]

Just saw that the Spurs crushed the Thunder tonight.

Starting to look like the Spurs are the team of destiny this year.

 

[jadis]

Just saw that the Spurs crushed the Thunder tonight.

Starting to look like the Spurs are the team of destiny this year.

We hope. A bunch of hard working players with lots de heart. And good mix of young and old players.