duncan228
01-17-2009, 11:49 PM
NBA week that was: Jan. 18, 2009 (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/NBA_week_that_was_Jan_18_2009.html)
Mike Monroe - Express-News
What happened behind the scenes last week was just as compelling as anything that took place between the lines, and the NBA’s offices in Olympic Tower in New York were at the heart of the intrigue.
One team owner was fined for voicing his displeasure at an opposing player’s actions during a game, while another team was let off the hook for trying to intimidate the rest of the league.
One player took a temporary leave of absence to get his body in condition to prove he remains a superstar, while another player accepted a temporary opportunity to prove he remains a player, period.
Meanwhile, on the court, a team that had been flying under the championship-contender radar proved conclusively it belonged in any and all 2009 title talk.
Another Cuban Brouhaha
And this time, we’re siding with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
Cuban had words with Nuggets guard J.R. Smith at the conclusion of the first half of Tuesday’s game in Denver after Smith threw an errant elbow at Mavericks guard Antoine Wright. Smith’s elbow didn’t connect with Wright’s head, but that didn’t stop Cuban from stepping on to the court to express his displeasure as the players headed to the locker rooms at halftime.
Anyone who reminds Smith about the lunacy of throwing wild elbows deserves a pat on the back, not a fine. Smith was one of the provocateurs of a brawl at Madison Square Garden two seasons ago. David Stern, though, reached into Cuban’s wallet for another $25,000, and Cuban promised to donate another $25,000 to a charity of Smith’s choosing.
A Portland pass
As in free pass. Maybe Stern figured the team had been penalized enough by having $18 million restored to its player payroll for salary cap and luxury tax purposes, but he ignored the brazen Blazers’ threat of legal action against any team that signed Darius Miles with the intent of harming Portland. If Cuban’s words were worth $25K, the Blazers’ cyber threats were worth at least 10 times that amount.
Miles ahead
By logging 14 minutes in the Grizzlies’ game against the Jazz, in which he made 5 of 8 shots and grabbed seven rebounds, Miles proved wrong the doctors who last year had declared his knee injury career ending. That means the remaining two years of the contract he signed with the Blazers in 2004 return to Portland’s player payroll. The next team that asks the league to declare a player’s injury career ending may have a tougher time of it.
Tracy takes off
While Miles made his return on a 10-day contract, Rockets guard Tracy McGrady made an exit that will last, oh, about 10 days. This is so he can go through the offseason-conditioning program he missed last summer.
There are some in the Rockets’ inner circle (not Yao Ming, but that is another story) who want McGrady to spend as much time away from the team as he possibly can.
Do you believe in Magic?
The Magic went into their Saturday night game against the Nuggets having won the first three games of a Western road trip, including victories over the Spurs and Lakers. Their 16-5 road record was the NBA’s best and they were in a virtual tie with Cleveland for the league’s best record. That race for Eastern Conference supremacy? It’s not a two-team affair.
Mike Monroe - Express-News
What happened behind the scenes last week was just as compelling as anything that took place between the lines, and the NBA’s offices in Olympic Tower in New York were at the heart of the intrigue.
One team owner was fined for voicing his displeasure at an opposing player’s actions during a game, while another team was let off the hook for trying to intimidate the rest of the league.
One player took a temporary leave of absence to get his body in condition to prove he remains a superstar, while another player accepted a temporary opportunity to prove he remains a player, period.
Meanwhile, on the court, a team that had been flying under the championship-contender radar proved conclusively it belonged in any and all 2009 title talk.
Another Cuban Brouhaha
And this time, we’re siding with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
Cuban had words with Nuggets guard J.R. Smith at the conclusion of the first half of Tuesday’s game in Denver after Smith threw an errant elbow at Mavericks guard Antoine Wright. Smith’s elbow didn’t connect with Wright’s head, but that didn’t stop Cuban from stepping on to the court to express his displeasure as the players headed to the locker rooms at halftime.
Anyone who reminds Smith about the lunacy of throwing wild elbows deserves a pat on the back, not a fine. Smith was one of the provocateurs of a brawl at Madison Square Garden two seasons ago. David Stern, though, reached into Cuban’s wallet for another $25,000, and Cuban promised to donate another $25,000 to a charity of Smith’s choosing.
A Portland pass
As in free pass. Maybe Stern figured the team had been penalized enough by having $18 million restored to its player payroll for salary cap and luxury tax purposes, but he ignored the brazen Blazers’ threat of legal action against any team that signed Darius Miles with the intent of harming Portland. If Cuban’s words were worth $25K, the Blazers’ cyber threats were worth at least 10 times that amount.
Miles ahead
By logging 14 minutes in the Grizzlies’ game against the Jazz, in which he made 5 of 8 shots and grabbed seven rebounds, Miles proved wrong the doctors who last year had declared his knee injury career ending. That means the remaining two years of the contract he signed with the Blazers in 2004 return to Portland’s player payroll. The next team that asks the league to declare a player’s injury career ending may have a tougher time of it.
Tracy takes off
While Miles made his return on a 10-day contract, Rockets guard Tracy McGrady made an exit that will last, oh, about 10 days. This is so he can go through the offseason-conditioning program he missed last summer.
There are some in the Rockets’ inner circle (not Yao Ming, but that is another story) who want McGrady to spend as much time away from the team as he possibly can.
Do you believe in Magic?
The Magic went into their Saturday night game against the Nuggets having won the first three games of a Western road trip, including victories over the Spurs and Lakers. Their 16-5 road record was the NBA’s best and they were in a virtual tie with Cleveland for the league’s best record. That race for Eastern Conference supremacy? It’s not a two-team affair.