Replies to post #6338 on Lets Talk Basketball (NBA)

[ONEBGG]

.<font color=red>Blazers:</font> Road reversal for the Blazers

Note: About Wedensday's Game Agaist Golden State!

Rasheed Wallace's defense and double double, plus a late 16-2 run, earn Portland another "big win" (And this guy hates Sheed and Blazers! JMO!!!)

01/29/04
JASON QUICK

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Five days ago, the Trail Blazers' season looked dead.

Coach Maurice Cheeks was categorizing his team as "bad," the players were pointing fingers, and the team was virtually as close to a playoff spot as they were to having the worst record in the league.

But after Wednesday's 88-76 win over Memphis, the Blazers' pulse has returned, and so has their hopes for postseason play.

"Sometimes a sense of urgency changes people's attitudes," guard Derek Anderson said.

Or maybe it's the trade that brought Darius Miles to the starting lineup. . . . or the sudden resurgence of Rasheed Wallace . . . or the return of Anderson from injury. Whatever, the Blazers are playing defense, winning on the road and finishing games in the fourth quarter -- abilities missing in the first half of the season.

"We are playing better," Cheeks said. "And I think we are feeling a little more confident, a little better about ourselves. Because this . . . this is a big win."

It's big because it came against a Memphis team that had won eight in a row. Big because it marked the third consecutive road victory. Big because the Blazers blew away the Grizzlies in the fourth quarter, turning a tie game into a rout by going on a 16-2 run early in the fourth quarter.

And big because the Blazers picked up ground on a team they are chasing for the eighth and final playoff spot. The Blazers (19-24) trail Memphis and Denver by 51/2 games for the final spot and took a 2-1 lead in the season series with Memphis.

What might be most encouraging about the apparent turnaround is that the charge is being led by Wallace. The most talented and influential player on the Blazers, Wallace has often held this team captive, wondering which player would show up game by game -- the one who can dominate, or the one who disappears.

On Wednesday, they got the $17 million full-meal deal. In perhaps his most dominant all-around game of the season, Wallace finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and two steals, and he played back-alley-tough defense against Pau Gasol and Lorenzen Wright. Gasol finished 4 for 15 and Wright 1 for 5 as Wallace banged, shoved and scratched.

Down the stretch, when Wallace so often has vanished, he flourished, igniting the Blazers' decisive 16-2 fourth-quarter run by scoring seven points in a row.

"He scored only 16, but that wasn't all he brought to this game," guard Damon Stoudamire said. "His biggest impact came on the defensive end."

Wallace declined to comment.

Meanwhile, the Blazers seem to be invigorated with Miles starting at small forward, which has pushed Wallace to center. It has made them quicker and more athletic, and as Stoudamire said, allowed Wallace to guard players more his size. Miles struggled with his shot Wednesday, but finished with six points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

"I don't know what it is, but he seems to give us a little more energy," Cheeks said.

The Blazers also got a lift from Qyntel Woods, who either maintained or increased the Blazers' lead while playing 17 minutes at backup point guard against a Memphis team that leads the NBA in steals. In Monday's game at Washington, Cheeks said he was so afraid he would embarrass Woods against the pressure of the Wizards' guards, that he played Stoudamire for 44 of 48 minutes.

But with today's game in Atlanta looming, Cheeks said he knew he would have to play Woods against Memphis, regardless of the outcome.

Woods finished 3 for 10 from the field with eight points, three assists and zero turnovers.

Jason Quick: 503-221-4372; [e-mail]

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/

GO BLAZERS!!!!!!

[ablazerfan]

NBA RUMOR MILL - Making The Trade? The West

WHAT’S ACTIVE – The West
With the NBA trade deadline still just 4 weeks away teams are starting to get serious in their pursuits to shed contracts, add role guys and make their push for the playoffs. Here are the happenings in the West by teams:

Dallas Mavericks: The Mavs are turning things around as of late, and maybe the panic will bring reason but the Mavs have been linked to heavy pursuit of Rasheed Wallace, and there is talk that Antawn Jamison could still be had with the right combination of front court players. Who’s Interested? The Blazers and Mavs have broken off talks, but in 4 weeks anything can and often does happen. The Knicks were rumored to be talking with Dallas, possibly involving the Mavs in a three-way transaction that nets the Knicks Rasheed Wallace. The Mavs were rumored to have eyes for Kurt Thomas.

Denver Nuggets: The Nuggets have been quiet, but recent speculation that Quentin Richardson may end up in Denver via trade, has sparked at least some rumblings from Denver. Marcus Camby’s name has surfaced a few dozen times in connection with the Knicks, and there is still the uncertainty around Rodney White who is rumored to be available. Who’s Interested? The Nuggets have not exactly turned away talks, but it said they are not “eager” to make a deal. New York is making eyes at Marcus Camby, the media is speculating Q Rich ends up in Denver, and Rodney White is telling media he doesn’t think he’ll be traded. At the end of the day the Nuggets are not likely players in the trade market.

Golden State Warriors: The Warriors have been surprisingly quiet, despite their own struggles. The popular name in regards to Golden State is Erick Dampier, with his ending deal and aggressiveness on the glass, many teams see him as a win-win player, he’d give help now, and cap relief later. The Warriors are not eager to move him. Nick Van Exel is staying mum on his situation, it’s believed the Warriors will cash Nick out after this season, and that has been a source of frustration on Van Exel’s part. Nick waived the guarantee on the final year of his deal to make the trade to Dallas happen, now he’s scrambling to be a “team” guy so the Warriors won’t exercise their option. Who’s Interested? There are limited suitors for the Warriors Dallas is rumored to have made a run at Erick Dampier as have the Pacers, but neither team is rumored to have offered much. Don’t expect miracles from the Warriors on the trade front, they are clearing out their cap space.

Houston Rockets: There has been on again, off again talk that Cuttino Mobley was available… depends on who you listen to. The Rockets are more concerned with bringing in veteran guys to anchor a playoff push. The recently added ark Jackson, and Charles Oakley told media the Rockets called him in November when all the Eddie Griffin issues came to a head. Who’s Interested? There are no pending offers and the Rockets have not made any calls of substance looking for deals. They hold a hefty trade exception from the Glen Rice deal, which could make them a trading partner in a three-way deal, or simply taking on a player without sending one back. Don’t rule Houston out of the trade picture, but they are not looking to ship anyone out just yet.

Los Angeles Clippers: Melvin Ely and Keyon Dooling are both odd men out, put bluntly by Coach Mike Dunleavy guys would have to play terribly bad, for either to get minutes in his system. The Clippers have made it clear both players could be had in a package deal, but neither has done enough to warrant anyone coveting them. Quentin Richardson’s name has come up in trade circles, partly because of his frustrations with head coach Mike Dunleavy, but Clippers sources say they are not looking to move Q Rich. Who’s Interested? The Magic had expressed some interest in Melvin Ely, and were not willing to offer much - (protected draft picks). The Nuggets are rumored to have inquired about Quentin Richardson, he may also be a prime target with their capspace this summer as well.

Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers will go down with this team… Phil Jackson has wavered on whether the club would bring in a free agent to stop the bleeding, but Lakers sources say no trades are on deck and no free agents are coming, they will go down with the ship. In the “look at the bright side” chapter of the season, The Lakers are pleased with the continued development of the young players getting minutes. One assistant coach said he thought the young guys were making the most of their minutes and would help them later in the season and playoffs as they’d understand the offense better. Who’s Interested? The Lakers did check the availability of Brian Shaw, who claimed he was not in shape enough to contribute, but beyond that the Lakers are holding firm. The Lakers did scout Dennis Rodman’s opening game with the ABA Jam, but it’s rumored Tex Winters just had morbid curiosity.

Memphis Grizzlies: The Grizz are not being active, but with their roster there is always room to tinker. The Grizz have eyes for Zydrunas Ilgauskas and are rumored to be at least passingly interested in Antawn Jamison, if Dallas is serious about dealing him. The return may not be major, but if Dallas wants out from under his deal, I hear Jerry West is willing. Who’s Interested? The Grizz have been talking, nothing more. Its rumored the price tag on Big Z, is almost as big as his deal, if Cleveland comes off their price, Memphis may be the prime suitor. Memphis has made runs at Dallas and the Knicks, but nothing has come from it.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Wally Szczerbiak is not for sale. At least according to Wolves owner Glen Taylor, it’s been rumored that with Wally almost ready to be a swing man again that he’d be aggressively shopped. The Wolves say it’s not true. The Wolves have made runs at Orlando, regarding Juwan Howard and it’s believed if the Magic make a deal, it would be with the Wolves. Who’s Interested? With the major roles filled, Minnesota is talking pieces at this point, and they want to address their issues in the paint. The Wolves only serious offer was to Orlando and it was said to include Troy Hudson and a draft pick, there was talk that Juwan and Gordan Giricek were offered for Wally Szczerbiak, and turned away.

Phoenix Suns: The Suns are looking to part ways with Jahidi White, his contract needs to be moved in order for the Suns to make a serious run at Kobe Bryant this summer. It’s not believed Kobe will take them serious, but the Suns will make an offer. Who’s Interested? There is limited interest in Jahidi’s contract, but given the desire to liquidate, a team in need of beef in the paint may find a deal in the Valley of the Sun

Portland Trail Blazers: The Rasheed Wallace sag continues… Rasheed has basically killed contract talks with the Blazers, he’s made it clear he’ll seek life elsewhere. Rasheed is rumored to have told friends if he were traded, he would want the Knicks or the Cavs, not the Mavericks. The Knicks have made several offers, as have the Mavericks. It’s unclear where the Cavs fall into place, but the Blazers are rumored to covet Zydrunas Ilgauskas. There are minor things in play with the Blazers, such as Ruben Patterson being shopped heavily, but few teams have interest in his deal or his ego. Who’s Interested? The key players for the Blazers are the Knicks, Mavericks and cavalier, although there is talk of Atlanta having interest in Rasheed if only t trim his $14 million off the books this summer, in swapping Shareef Abdur-Rahim

Sacramento Kings: The Kings have been quiet, likely because they are clicking well together, and still have not seen Chris Webber in the lineup. It is unlikely they trigger anything that disrupts their rhythm. Who’s Interested? There are o significant deals in play.

San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs have cooled on their trade talks, it was believed that Ron Mercer would be dealt, but that has calmed in recent weeks. The Spurs seem set to run with what they have, and beyond a ten-day contract tinker, do not expect much. Who’s Interested? The last team to “talk” was the Pistons, and that deal died on the table. Nothing is pending according to Spurs sources.

Seattle SuperSonics: There is continued talk that Brent Barry could be had, but that talk seems to be way outside the organization. The Sonics say they are not seriously looking at changes, although it was said news that Shareef Abdur-Rahim could be had, got Nate McMillan’s attention. Who’s Interested? The Sonics are keeping a low profile on the trade front, there was talk they’d trade Jerome James or Brent Barry, but talks have died off. The Sonics are not very active.



THE PLAYOFF PICTURE
If the Playoffs started today, here would be your matchups:

EAST WEST  
 #8 - New York Knicks @ #1- Indiana Pacers #8 - Memphis Grizzlies @ #1- Sacramento Kings  
 #7 - Toronto Raptors @ #2 - New Jersey Nets #7 - Denver Nuggets @ #2 - Minnesota Timberwolves  
 #6 - Boston Celtics @ #3- Detroit Pistons #6 - Houston Rockets @ #3- San Antonio Spurs  
 #5 - Milwaukee Bucks @ #4- New Orleans Hornets #5 - Dallas Mavericks @ #4- LA Lakers  
 ON THE BUBBLE: Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Seattle Sonics 

HIRING DOC?
This isn’t “breaking news” but insiders around the new Hawks ownership group say they may already have a plan in place to resurrect the ailing Hawks, and part of that plan may include hiring Glen “Doc” Rivers to be the coach and general manager this summer… While this is not news, it is gaining popularity around the media. The biggest question has to be, why? Obviously, Doc Rivers is a good, possible great NBA coach. However, as far as personnel decisions and being GM goes, this plan doesn’t make much sense. For those not watching the Orlando Magic pummel to the earth with a resounding thud, keep in mind it was Doc Rivers who wanted Juwan Howard, Donnell Harvey, and Ty Lue… it was Doc Rivers who said Darrell Armstrong had to go, it was Doc Rivers who said Britton Johnsen was a starter, it was Doc Rivers who said let’s draft Reece Gaines. Not the best track record for wins and losses, true all of these decisions were seconded by Magic GM John Gabriel, but the bulk of the roster changes in Orlando were the brainchild of Doc Rivers. Is this really the right way to “improve” the franchise. I applaud the idea of River’s taking over the Hawks… great move, but hiring him to a dual role is not a smart decision, and hopefully someone explains that to the new Hawks owners before the drive their new team in the ground.

IS BLOCKING INTERNATIONAL PLAY COMING?
When you go down the list of players who have had early injuries or had slow starts, a large majority of the stars are saying it was extended summer play with International teams as a cause. Tracy McGrady hints that his banged up body likely has something to do with playing for the Olympic Team, while both Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash have struggled to get going in Dallas, and Mark Cuban points towards Summer tournament play. In a conference call with NBA reporters, both Mark Cuban and Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof voiced their opinions. Joe Maloof claims it’s simply too dangerous saying "The more I think about it – Gavin and I – we’re against it. It’s too dangerous. We pay these guys tremendous salaries and to have one of them injured in one of those games would be devastating to our fans, would be devastating to the league and to us. I don’t think it’s a good move. " While Mark Cuban explained, he has seen the impacts and wants to see change, saying "With the exception of Peja really, with our guys and other guys around the league, it’s been detrimental. I know Dirk and Steve both got off to tougher starts this year. They both needed breaks and wanted more breaks. It takes a toll on their bodies because these guys are so competitive and plus they have to carry so much more load on their respective teams. It’s not like you’ve got – like Steve Nash had a whole lot of help around him or Dirk Nowitzki had a whole lot of help around him. And at the end of the day, even Pop said in an interview that he saw it was taking a toll on the Tony Parkers and that impacts the quality of our product. Why in the world would we give our most valuable asset to another tournament knowing that when we have to offer our product it could potentially have a negative impact? That’s just dumb business." Of the 12 players that participated in the Puerto Rico Qualifiers for Team USA- Ray Allen, Elton Brand, Vince Carter, Nick Collison, Kenyon Martin, and Allen Iverson have missed significant time to injury this season. Tracy McGrady and Jermaine O'Neal have both commented that Olympic Qualifiers have affected their bodies, and both may bow out of the Athens Olympic team for 2004. The remaining TEAM USA players in 2003 that have not missed meaningful time were Richard Jefferson, Jason Kidd, Mike Bibby and Tim Duncan.

SOME SHOTS
Here are some of the random stories from the week…

SIMPLY FRUSTRATED: At 19-25, the Philadelphia 76ers are not happy with their place in the NBA. Sixers point guard Eric Snow vented his frustrations to the media, and hinted that maybe a trade was in order for Management saying "What do you do? Do you just sit and throw in the towel for the whole year? Their job is to make this team better. If they feel the team isn't getting better than what we have, then you change it. If any player is against that, that's not right… We either need to go get an offensive team and get rid of guys like me and get guys that are going to come in and score and make up for the defensive end or we can go get a defensive team and play a 70-70 game, because what we're doing now isn't working. We say we're a defensive team, but we don't show it. We haven't shown it all season. Injuries and all that other stuff have given us reasons and excuses to get to this point." The Sixers are currently 3 ½ games out of first place in the woeful Atlantic, so their season is not doomed, simply misguided.


WILL TAKE A WHILE: ESPN’s Marc Stein offers that a NBA scout observing Dennis Rodman’s bid with the ABA’s Long Beach Jam will take some time. The unnamed scout, in speaking with Stein said "It's going to take Rodman at least four weeks to see if his legs can cut it. Because he's not going to get away with all the clutching and grabbing that made him so effective in the past. He runs from free-throw line to free-throw line -- that's it. He doesn't have much lift anymore, either. He's relying on strength to get position and he's hoping the rebound comes to him, because he can't chase them down or tap the ball to himself like he used to. To me he looked tired almost from the start, and he doesn't even participate in the offense. Plus a lot of the stuff he does is fouling and that might not go over anymore." NBA scouts have attended all of the Rodman ABA games. Rodman is currently playing on a team featuring former NBA players Derrick Dial and DerMarr Johnson.


“It’s Not The Coach”: Sixers GM Billy King told the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Steven A. Smith, that despite the notion that randy Ayers was in trouble, the club did not view their issues as coaching issues, rather injury issues saying "Randy Ayers is not in trouble… Absolutely not. Injuries have been our problem. It's definitely not the coach… We've played 10 games with nine players, 11 games with 10 players and seven games with 12 players. We've had 35 games with 11 players or less. I think the biggest problem is there's been no consistency all year with our lineup." It’s believed Ayers will get a pass this season, but should the club continue to struggle, he may be released during the summer, or allowed to start the season fresh, and evaluated along the way.


FROM THE LEAGUE: Including the playoffs, New Jersey has won 11 of its last 12 games against Boston. The Nets are 12-8 at home this season. Last year, New Jersey was 33-8 at the Continental Airlines Arena ... Sam Cassell has sparked Minnesota's NBA-best 20-4 run since Dec. 1 by scoring at least 24 points on 14 occasions. He's averaging 23.2 points and 7.7 assists in that 24-game span, shooting 52 percent from the floor and 44 percent from three-point range ... The Grizzlies are 9-1 in January. Jason Williams has four double-doubles in his last six games. Mike Miller is averaging 21.7 points over his last three games. Memphis is four victories away from tying the franchise record of 28 ... Houston is 6-2 over its last eight games, averaging 91.8 points on 47 percent shooting and limiting opponents to 80.6 points on 39 percent shooting. The Rockets have also registered five 30-point quarters over the past eight games after doing this a total of five times in the first 34 games of the season.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_6937.shtml