duncan228
11-15-2008, 10:55 PM
NBA week that was, will be: Nov. 16, 2008 (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/NBA_week_that_was_will_be_Nov_16_2008.html)
Mike Monroe - Express-News
It was a week when the NBA’s Czar of Discipline, Stu Jackson, emerged from his winter palace to hand down the first suspensions of the season, reminding one and all the league hasn’t forgotten about the “Malice in The Palace.” It also was a week when the season’s first blockbuster trade began to shake out favorably for both teams involved, while leaving title contenders in both conferences salivating while awaiting the dropping of another Nike sneaker.
THE WEEK THAT WAS
Keep your head
Eyewitnesses to the confrontation between Suns forward Matt Barnes and Rockets guard Rafer Alston didn’t know whether to describe it as a skirmish or a fracas. We’ll call it a kerfuffle. Whatever it was, it was enough for Stu Jackson to suspend Barnes, Alston and — horrors! — little Stevie Nash. Little Stevie was steamed, insisting he sprinted into the fray to act as peacemaker.
You know what the peacemakers are supposed to be, don’t you? Blessed, not cursed. This was all about the league sending a message at the earliest opportunity: Don’t be a troublemaker.
Family feud
You just knew the Clippers’ awful start was going to get to Baron Davis. He signed on with the NBA’s most dysfunctional family believing he was going to be Mr. Outside to Elton Brand’s Mr. Inside on a team headed to the playoffs. So it was no surprise when BD went public with complaints about lack of communication with coach Mike Dunleavy.
Pay little heed to the heart-to-heart meeting BD and MD had Friday. This feud isn’t over.
Trader vic-tories
Friday was a great night in the history of blockbuster trades. Hours after the new-look Nuggets handed the defending champion Celtics a loss on their TD Banknorth Garden court, the new-look Pistons handed the Lakers their first loss of the season. Truly, this trade may be the deal that helps both teams.
Limbo rock
One member of the Pistons-Nuggets trade, Antonio McDyess, hasn’t decided on his final destination. The smart money is on a return to Detroit, but we here on the NBA Beat page know McDyess better than most. We think he will turn up elsewhere. Don’t get too excited, Spurs fans. We think elsewhere will be Cleveland.
McDyess isn’t the only player in limbo, either. Stephon Marbury is awaiting a buyout from the Knicks and Al Harrington is hoping he will be traded so his aching back can start feeling better.
THE WEEK THAT WILL BE
These are the games that intrigue us this week:
Pistons at Celtics, 7 p.m. Thursday (TNT)
Last season’s Eastern Conference finalists match up for the first time since the big trade. Allen Iverson still has loads of Celtics antipathy left from all those years in Philly.
Hornets at Thunder, 8:30 p.m. Friday (ESPN)
This is a dog of a game, but it’s interesting because it matches the team Oklahomans wish had relocated permanently to Oklahoma City against the team they got. Wonder which team will draw the loudest cheers.
Trail Blazers at Suns, 8 p.m. Saturday
If Blazers rookie Greg Oden wants to know how closely he resembles a young Shaquille O’Neal, well, what better way to find out than going against an old, somewhat rejuvenated Shaq?
Mike Monroe - Express-News
It was a week when the NBA’s Czar of Discipline, Stu Jackson, emerged from his winter palace to hand down the first suspensions of the season, reminding one and all the league hasn’t forgotten about the “Malice in The Palace.” It also was a week when the season’s first blockbuster trade began to shake out favorably for both teams involved, while leaving title contenders in both conferences salivating while awaiting the dropping of another Nike sneaker.
THE WEEK THAT WAS
Keep your head
Eyewitnesses to the confrontation between Suns forward Matt Barnes and Rockets guard Rafer Alston didn’t know whether to describe it as a skirmish or a fracas. We’ll call it a kerfuffle. Whatever it was, it was enough for Stu Jackson to suspend Barnes, Alston and — horrors! — little Stevie Nash. Little Stevie was steamed, insisting he sprinted into the fray to act as peacemaker.
You know what the peacemakers are supposed to be, don’t you? Blessed, not cursed. This was all about the league sending a message at the earliest opportunity: Don’t be a troublemaker.
Family feud
You just knew the Clippers’ awful start was going to get to Baron Davis. He signed on with the NBA’s most dysfunctional family believing he was going to be Mr. Outside to Elton Brand’s Mr. Inside on a team headed to the playoffs. So it was no surprise when BD went public with complaints about lack of communication with coach Mike Dunleavy.
Pay little heed to the heart-to-heart meeting BD and MD had Friday. This feud isn’t over.
Trader vic-tories
Friday was a great night in the history of blockbuster trades. Hours after the new-look Nuggets handed the defending champion Celtics a loss on their TD Banknorth Garden court, the new-look Pistons handed the Lakers their first loss of the season. Truly, this trade may be the deal that helps both teams.
Limbo rock
One member of the Pistons-Nuggets trade, Antonio McDyess, hasn’t decided on his final destination. The smart money is on a return to Detroit, but we here on the NBA Beat page know McDyess better than most. We think he will turn up elsewhere. Don’t get too excited, Spurs fans. We think elsewhere will be Cleveland.
McDyess isn’t the only player in limbo, either. Stephon Marbury is awaiting a buyout from the Knicks and Al Harrington is hoping he will be traded so his aching back can start feeling better.
THE WEEK THAT WILL BE
These are the games that intrigue us this week:
Pistons at Celtics, 7 p.m. Thursday (TNT)
Last season’s Eastern Conference finalists match up for the first time since the big trade. Allen Iverson still has loads of Celtics antipathy left from all those years in Philly.
Hornets at Thunder, 8:30 p.m. Friday (ESPN)
This is a dog of a game, but it’s interesting because it matches the team Oklahomans wish had relocated permanently to Oklahoma City against the team they got. Wonder which team will draw the loudest cheers.
Trail Blazers at Suns, 8 p.m. Saturday
If Blazers rookie Greg Oden wants to know how closely he resembles a young Shaquille O’Neal, well, what better way to find out than going against an old, somewhat rejuvenated Shaq?