New 2010-2011 NBA Uniforms
Golden State
If you haven’t seen the new uniforms the NBA is rolling out for the upcoming 2010-2011 season here is a quick look. Cleveland Cavaliers,Dallas Mavericks,Golden State Warriors,Los Angeles Clippers,Minnesota Timberwolves and the Utah Jazz new jerseys can be purchased at NBA.com.
Which do you like best?
R.I.P. Manute Bol
R.I.P.
Manute Bol, the former pro basketball center who spent ten years in the NBA died in Charlottesville, Virginia at the age of 47.
Bol was born in Sudan in 1962 and in 1985, he was drafted by the Washington Bullets. At seven feet, six inches tall, Bol was one of the tallest men to ever play in the NBA. In addition to the Bullets, Bol played for the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat during his NBA career. He was known for his height and prolific shot-blocking ability and making 43 NBA three pointers for his career.
Since retiring from professional basketball, Bol was involved with numerous charitable causes in Sudan. Bol became gravely ill in May after contracting Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, a rare skin disease, while in Sudan. He was in his home country to combat corruption.
Don Nelson Becomes NBA All-Time Winningest Coach
1,333
Golden State Warriors Don Nelson is now your NBA’s most winningest coach with a 116-107 win last night over the Minnesota Timberwolves, passing Lenny Wilkens.
Nelson can extend the number of wins since he has every intention on finishing out the one year left on his contract at $6 million remaining. Nelson has zero number of NBA titles he has as a coach, perhaps the glaring reason he has been passed over by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame three times.
In 31 seasons on the bench, Nelson is 1,333-1,061 in a career that has made stops in Milwaukee, Golden State (twice), New York and Dallas. He won five titles as a player, has been named coach of the year three times. Nelson got his first head coaching job with Milwaukee in 1976 when he replaced Larry Costello 19 games into the season and didn’t even have an assistant.
Through it all, Nelson has always done it his way. He’s clashed with players, management and ownership at various stops along the way and is the only coach with at least 1,000 career victories who has yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Nelson has built a reputation as a “mad scientist,” experimenting with lineups and offensive sets to cater to teams that were not always the biggest, strongest or most talented. In his first stint with Golden State in the late 1980s, he employed the famous “Run T-M-C” lineup of guards Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin to make the Warriors one of the more entertaining teams in the league. And now “Nelly Ball” has its own place in history.
This has been a long season for the Warriors (24-54), who have been ravaged by injuries and are a lock to finish with their fewest wins since 2001-02. The Warriors played their sixth straight game without Monta Ellis (flu) and also were again without Anthony Randolph (ankle) and Kelenna Azubuike (knee) Andris Biedrins (sports hernia) and Brandan Wright (shoulder) have missed big chunks of time this season too. The Warriors have called up five players from the Development League this season, which is tied with the 2007-08 Spurs for the most in one season.
Rookie Stephen Curry last night scored 27 points and dished out 14 assists and finished just two rebounds and three steals from a quadruple-double while the other hero in helping Nelson achieve the honor was last night was Anthony Tolliver. He led Golden State with a career-high 34 points and has been averaging 14.8 points and 7.9 rebounds since being signed back in January.
- NBA ALL-TIME COACHING VICTORIES
- Don Nelson 1,333
- Lenny Wilkens 1,332
- Pat Riley 1,210
- Jerry Sloan 1,188
- Phil Jackson 1,095
Anthony Tolliver Forever Linked To Amare Stoudemire
That’s a million dollar moment! Especially when you consider you just saw this past week Golden State Warriors Anthony Tolliver go up and palm San Antonio Spurs Coach George Hill’s shot in mid air.
Was that karma that made Tolliver the victim of this power ball moment?
Tom Chambers is impressed.
BLOCK CITY: Your Victim-George Hill
Former San Antonio Spur Anthony Tolliver, you have been charged with the crime of Representin.
And the verdict is Guilty.
BLOCK CITY: Your Victim-Corey Maggette
Amir Johnson, you have been charged with the crime of Representin.
And the verdict is Guilty.
Kevin Love Stuffs NBA Jam Ballot Box For Kevin Love
Excited?
NBA Jam officials are excited on their decision to return franchise later this year to the Nintendo Wii and NBA players are no different in this regard. Minnesota Timberwolves Kevin Love expressed his love for the game so much that he went online to stuff the ballots for his inclusion,
“I went online and kept refreshing my computer and voting myself into ‘Jam,’ I’m not going to lie,” said Love. “‘NBA Jam’ was my favorite game growing up, so I was on there all day voting for myself. I used to play as Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton or Karl Malone and John Stockton. I never even imagined that I could be in ‘Jam.’ I just want to get that team fire, get that blue ball … it’s going to be cool.”
Other players like Carmelo Anthony said he used to always use the New York Knicks with John Starks and Patrick Ewing. Anthony also can’t wait to see himself in the game saying that he’s not a high flyer, but they’ll have to have the ball on fire when he shoots.
To Golden State Warriors rookie Stephen Curry, just the mention of “NBA Jam” brings back special memories of playing as his sharpshooting dad, Dell, in the game. “I remember in ‘NBA Jam’ and ‘NBA Live 95,’ those were the two games where my dad just couldn’t miss.”
NBA Announces Three Point Contestants
Most Important Shot Is The Money Ball
Everyone talks about the Slam Dunk contest when the NBA All-Star game approaches and I understand but I haven’t seen a new dunk since Kenny “Sky” Walker lifted off in Houston.
The NBA appeased my All-Star weekend appetite by announcing it’s contestants for it’s three-point contest today:
Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
Chauncey Billups, Denver Nuggets
Daequan Cook, Miami Heat (my pick to win)
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Channing Frye, New York Knicks
Danilo Gallinari, New York Knicks
BLOCK CITY: Your Victim-Kobe Bryant
Ronny Turiaf, you have been charged with the crime of Representin.
And the verdict is Guilty.
Monta Ellis To Be The Next Golden State Warrior To Go?
Stay or Go?
Is Monta Ellis the next Golden State Warrior to go? This franchise might have easily moved aheaad of other laughing stocks in the league like the Los Angeles Clippers or the New York Knicks in their dysfunction.
The Warriors have gone through numerous coaches since Don Nelson last stint with the team that lasted from 1988-95 , no on has matched any length in tenure expect for Nelsons second go around which is now entering it’s fourth year. List goes from Bob Lanier, Rick Adelman, P.J. Carlesimo, Garry St. Jean, Dave Cowens, Brian Winters, Eric Musselman, Mike Montgomery in between that time.
The players also seem be in a revolving door situation as well now that Stephen Jackson is the latest marquee franchcise player to leave. Prior to Jackson’s demands to leave the Bay it was Al Harrington and now Raja Bell must think its so bad that is electing to have season ending surgery on his wrist, surgery he had put off in Charlotte, rather than play with the Warriors. Then there is the whole Baron Davis contract fiasco that lead him eventually to the Clippers.
Ellis could be the latest to leave as multiple NBA sources have confirmed that his agent is scheduled to meet with team management Thursday to decide his future. Several sources indicate they are seeking the approval of the possibility of the Warrriors giving Ellis and his agent permission to talk to other teams to quicken the pace of trade talks.
Two sources say that Nelson embarrassed Ellis when Ellis tried to step into a leadership role in the aftermath of the 28-point home loss to the Clippers on Nov. 6. The scene was in post-game locker room and Ellis, as a co-captain, began loudly addressing to his teammates, telling them that this performance could not be tolerated. But then Nelson told Ellis to be quiet. Then came a public verbal altercation between the two after a practice in New York last week.
In front of reporters, Ellis accused Nelson of blaming him for everything. When Nelson denied it and then walked away, waving his hands, Ellis said:
“See, that’s why I won’t do it. I just won’t do it.”
Ellis has not been perfect to say the least as when he lied to his employers about an injury in a low-speed moped accident that limited him only to 25 games and then vocalizing he couldn’t play with Stephen Curry. Ellis has four years and $44M owed to him after this season, but should be less difficult to trade than either Jackson or Harrington was.
If Ellis leaves who’s next Anthony Randolph, Andris Biedrins?
NBA Attendance Only Down 2% Despite Economy
Est. 1946
It’s fairly earlier so don’t shoot the messenger but the numbers are out for early attendance in the NBA and despite the economy and the earliness of the season they are only down 2% from this point last year. Also the statistic is skewed by two teams, the Philadelphia 76ers and Memphis Grizzlies, who are drawing less than 70 percent.
The 76ers averaged 15,802 in 2008-’09, in five home games this season they’ve averaged 11,377, and are down more than 20 percent of capacity from last year. The Memphis Grizzlies ranked 29th in attendance last year only filling 70 percent of their arena are now only filling 66 percent, only outdrawing the 76ers. The Detroit Pistons have cause for concern, dropping from first in average attendance to 16th, falling 19.6 percent. The Spurs, a team retooled and trying to avenge their first round playoff exit rank 12th but are down 8%
Not all is doom and gloom as the Chicago Bulls are up over 100 percent of capacity after filling 97.7 percent of the United Center last season. The Cleveland Cavilers are in a similar boat, selling out each home game so far after drawing 97.3 percent last season. The Atlanta Hawks have seen significant gains, rising from 89.4 to 95.4 percent. Even the Minnesota Timberwolves fans are showing support no that Kevin McHale is ruining their team by filling their stadium by 8% more than last season.
Source: SportsBusiness Journal
Average attendances and percentage for each team:
| Rank | Team | Average Attendance | % (+/-) from year prior |
| 1 | Chicago | 21,111 | +3.3% |
| 2 | Cleveland | 20,562 | +2.7% |
| 3 | Portland | 20,350 | -.8% |
| 4 | Dallas | 19,823 | -1.4% |
| 5 | New York | 19,625 | +1.7% |
| 6 | Utah | 19,611 | -1.5% |
| 7 | LA Lakers | 18,997 | (no chg) |
| 8 | Boston | 18,624 | (no chg) |
| 9 | Toronto | 18,131 | -3.2% |
| 10 | Denver | 18,039 | +4.3% |
| 11 | Washington | 17,975 | +6.7% |
| 12 | San Antonio | 17,957 | -.8% |
| 13 | Oklahoma City | 17,882 | +.5% |
| 14 | Atlanta | 17,862 | +6% |
| 15 | Golden State | 17,827 | -5.7% |
| 16 | Detroit | 17,541 | -19.6% |
| 17 | Orlando | 17,541 | +2.4% |
| 18 | Miami | 17,421 | -4.1% |
| 19 | Houston | 17,130 | -2% |
| 20 | Phoenix | 16,771 | -9% |
| 21 | Minnesota | 16,088 | +8.2% |
| 22 | New Orleans | 15,156 | -10.5% |
| 23 | New Jersey | 14,919 | -1.4% |
| 24 | LA Clippers | 14,748 | -7.4% |
| 25 | Milwaukee | 14,636 | -4% |
| 26 | Charlotte | 14,633 | +.4% |
| 27 | Indiana | 14,439 | +1.4% |
| 28 | Sacramento | 12,422 | -.9% |
| 29 | Memphis | 12,095 | -3.5% |
| 30 | Philadelphia | 11,377 | -23.7% |
Stephen Jackson’s Agent Slams Don Nelson
Nothing Says NBA Like Praying Hands & A Glock
The NBA season is under way and one thing remains the same in Oakland and that’s disgruntled swingman Stephen Jackson is still a Golden State Warrior.
That doesn’t sit to well with Jackson’s agent, Mark Stevens, who has gone on the offensive, attacking the credibility and character of Warriors coach Don Nelson. Stevens bashed Nelson, in everything from his trustworthiness to his coaching ability.
“No one trusts Don Nelson,” Stevens said. “When Nelson was in Milwaukee, Wayne Embry trusted him and brought him in, and he betrayed Embry. In Dallas, Mark Cuban took damn good care of him and his son [Donnie Nelson Jr.], and he betrayed Cuban. In Golden State, Chris Mullin hired him and trusted him and Nelson backstabbed him by reaching out to president Robert Rowell and blaming Mullin for everything that was going wrong with the Warriors.”
With the urging from his client Stevens is tired of waiting and says anywhere will do instead of Jackson’s demand in August of wanting to be traded to Cleveland, New York or any of the three Texas teams.
“We’re trying to accommodate him,” Nelson said. “If we can get a good deal, we’ll do it. I said that over a month, month and a half ago.”
Stevens said his anger over his client’s situation grew while he was watching the Warriors lose 120-107 to the Kings on Sunday.
“I’m disgusted with the quality of Nelson’s coaching and with the lack of trust his players have in him,” he said. “Nelson is the winningest coach in NBA history to never have coached in the NBA Finals, let alone won a championship. Yet he keeps getting jobs despite being 69 years old.”
Someone did their homework.
Tim Hardaway’s Heat Jersey Retired
He Got Skeeels
Last night Tim Hardaway had his No. 10 jersey retired and raised to the rafters by the Miami Heat. This news may mean nothing to you unless you are a Heat fan or like myself a huge Hardaway fan. I remember growing up in Washington D.C. and seeing him play for UTEP in 1989 NCAA Basketball Tournament and thinking this guy could really hoop, so much so I had to look up on map to find where El Paso was.
The UTEP Two-step, what later became the killer crossover dribble, or how Hardaway could do no wrong on the court in my eyes those first couple of years in Oakland is what instantly sparks my memories.
With about 50 family and friends looking on, including the other two parts of the famed “Run TMC” trio Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin, Hardaway’s jersey was hoisted before Miami opened its season against the New York Knicks.
“Tonight, I stand before you truly humble and grateful,” Hardaway said.
“Obviously, well deserved,” Mullin said. “Tim is one of the best players of his time.”
His is the second Heat jersey to be retired: Alonzo Mourning’s No. 33 was hoisted last season.
“It’s another great moment,” Heat president Pat Riley said. “I would say from the year 2006 until now, we’ve had a couple of incredible moments. Both of them are hanging from the rafters, our world championship banner that we’re so proud of — and there’s more of those in store for the future — and of course Alonzo Mourning last year, one of the anchors of this franchise.”
Hardaway is still the Heat career leader in 3-point field goals and assists, ranks fifth in points and steals, and is 10th in regular-season games played.
“His contributions helped build a successful championship franchise,” Mourning said.
Hardaway was the true definition of a hoopster, oh and the shoes, they where my Jordan’s.
Stephen Curry Sends Out Thank You Notes
No, Thank You
Stephen Curry the ex-Davidson star and now a member of the Golden State Warriors, sent out 2,000 thank you notes to Wildcat fans and faculty.
“I started thinking about this while I was taking a summer school class at Davidson,” Curry said. “It hit me that I wasn’t going to be able to say goodbye to everyone I wanted to, and that they might have a hard time keeping up with me now that I’m on the West Coast. I want people to know that even though I’m here, I’m still deeply tied into Charlotte and Davidson. I still bleed Carolina blood.”
The Thank You cards sent out had this to say:
“Before I begin the next chapter in my life, I wanted to take this opportunity to personally thank all of the loyal alumni, students and fans of Davidson College who have so passionately supported me over the past three years.” The card ends with his favorite Bible verse Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
While the postcard was designed by the agency that also negotiated his pro contract, Curry said he paid all of the costs for it, and that the words and idea were his. Davidson also helped out by supplying some mailing lists.
“I’ve been around the Charlotte area so long – some people have been watching me play since middle school,” said Curry, the son of former 16-year NBA veteran and current Charlotte Bobcats broadcaster Dell Curry. “And so many people have been so great to me and helped me along the way.”
It’s rare to hear positive things coming from athletes and to hear a unique situation like this I just felt compelled to pass it along. It kinda of reminds me of something I would hear from another first class human being named David Robinson.
Good for you Stephen.
Get Out Of My Face I Don’t Wanna Be Your Captain Anymore
I Spit On Your C
Stephen Jackson walked into the offices of Golden State Warriors general manager Larry Riley and with coach Don Nelson in person told them he didn’t want to be their team captain anymore. Not all that shocking since Jackson has publicly asked to out of the bay area.
This comes after Fridays two game suspension for cussing out Don Nelson in front of the Staple Center’s crowd. Jackson has maintained he’ll play hard as long as he’s a Warrior, but is that possible if he’s in the locker room being permantly benched for a game.
As for giving up his captaincy, Jackson said: “That’s just the way I feel. That’s just the way I feel. Don’t try to dig into it. That’s just the way I feel.”
When Jackson was asked if he thought there would be more issues down the line with Nelson and the Warriors, he responded
“I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see. I can’t predict the future.”
Does Jackson risk being exiled like Jamaal Tinsley or Stephon Marbury were from their former teams, who neither has jobs right now, I don’t know I can’t predict the future either?
Hoops Under The Stars
Shooting For The Stars
The league’s first outdoor game was played in September 1972 at a baseball stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Phoenix Suns, featuring Connie Hawkins and Dick Van Arsdale, scored a 116-103 preseason victory over a Milwaukee Bucks team featuring Kareem Adbul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson.
Last year’s inaugural outdoor game at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden was hampered by winds that impacted shooting and cold temperatures that had players complaining they couldn’t stay warm on the bench. That was the case last year as the Phoenix Suns beat the Denver Nuggets 77-72. The weather dropped into the 60s and the wind picked up late in the game. Both teams were cold from the field, combining for 34 percent shooting, including 3-for-27 from 3-point range.
This year 14,979 saw the Golden State Warriors beat the Suns 104 to 101 in the desert. This years temperatures were mostly in the 70s after sundown and the idea to push tip off up to 6:40 help. The game estimates to be worth $3 million for the local economy in everything from hotels and restaurant spending for visitors to stadium use.
As for the players taking it in for the first time it was very different.
Warriors guard Monta Ellis hasn’t played basketball outside since he was a kid playing pickup games at Mary C. Jones Park in Jackson, Mississippi. Guard Anthony Morrow said he’s only played once outside and that was when the gym to Georgia Tech was locked.
On the other hand Warriors rookie Stephen Curry said he can’t even remember ever playing outside.
“I always played in the gym,” Curry said. “I grew up in the suburbs. We really didn’t do the blacktop thing.”
In related Warrior news Golden State played without Stephen Jackson, who is suspended for two games for cursing at coach Don Nelson during the previous preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Warriors Monta Ellis Say He Can’t Play With Stephen Curry
Grow Up
With NBA camps getting under way or about to most team are gearing up for photos and interviews across NBA cities with media days. That was the case in Oakland as everyone came to hear what forward Stephen Jackson was going to say about that trade demand he made.
But it was Monta Ellis who stole the show with what he had to say. Ellis was asked what he thought off playing alongside rookie Stephen Curry, and he responded that the two guards weren’t going to be able to play together.
“Us together? No,” Ellis said. “Can’t. We just can’t. … Just can’t.”
Someone then jumped in and said to Ellis that coach Don Nelson say you can.
“They say you can?” Ellis repeated. “They say you can … but you can’t. I just want to win and you’re not going to win that way.”
Nelson had said on that he envisioned Ellis and Curry playing together despite their collective lack of size. Nelson said that the team planned to do a lot of scheming to help Ellis and Curry at the defensive end.
“You can’t put two small guys out there and play the one and the two. You’ve got big two-guards in the league. You just can’t do it. Yes, you’re going to move up and down but eventually the game is going to slow down. You can’t do it.”
Its upsetting to hear such comments before Ellis has actually seen what Nelson has come up with. Just three years ago the Warriors made the playoffs, two years they missed the playoffs however they where for fighting for the last playoff spot right up until the last week of the NBA season.
Last year was a different story when not even a month after Ellis signed a six-year, 67 million contract extension, he lied to his employers that he had torn a ligament working out. It was later revealed . Now he has audacity to call out Nelson coaching philosophy through the media. The Warriors have more than one storm brewing without one single ounce of sweat dropped in training camp.
Don Nelson Will Work For Free
Where's The Scotch Don?
Warriors coach Don Nelson’s got two more years worth $12 million remaining on his contract but Nelson wants to be with the Warriors longer than that and he says he’s willing to do it for free. Nelson said that he’s made an offer to Warriors president Robert Rowell that he will work for free for the Warriors in 2011-12, in whatever capacity the Warriors decide, as a way of giving back to the organization he’s worked for two different times during the course of his career.
“I told Bobby a week ago that after this contract is up, I would like to give the Warriors one more year,” Nelson said. “It will cost the team nothing. Whatever they want me to do, for one more year, and not take a salary. Whatever it is. If it’s coaching, I’d do that. Carrying bags, whatever. But I would give them one year at the end of this to say ‘Thanks.’ I appreciate that extension they gave me. They didn’t have to do that.”
I wonder if Nelson, who needs 24 more wins to surpass Lenny Wilkens as the all-time winningest NBA coach, made this statement “dressed in khakis, no shirt, no shoes, with a scotch in his hand.”
Stephen Jackson Says He’s Done, Get Him Outta There
Spit On Your C
Golden State Warriors captain Stephen Jackson has confirmed that he has requested to be traded to a playoff contending team pronto and has provided a list of such clubs.
“Um…I don’t think I’ll be a Warrior next year. I’m looking to leave…at this point, I’m 31 years old. I have four or five years left, I want to be in a situation where I can continually be in the playoffs and get another ring. So that’s where my mind is at now.”
Jackson specifically mentioned Cleveland Cavaliers, any of the three teams in Texas and the New York Knicks as the teams he’d like to play for. I personally didn’t get the memo that the Knicks where a playoff team. It’s a good thing he chose to sign a $28 million dollar extension in November guaranteeing him: $8.4 million in 2010/11; $9.2 million in 2011/12; $10 million in 2012/13
In nine seasons he’s played with the New Jersey Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers and the Warriors. But in the past five years Jackson has been charged with felony criminal recklessness and a number of other misdemeanors, including assault, disorderly conduct, and two counts of battery.
Glad to hear just three years removed from the playoffs, two years of missing the eighth seed but two games and nine months after signing your $28 million dollar extension you want to leave.
Cheapskate Cuban
Cuban's Trying To Give Nellie The Same Face....O
The Dallas Morning News acquired transcripts from a two-day arbitration hearing between Mark Cuban and Don Nelson that took place in June of 2008. Cuban withheld a substantial sum of wages owed to his former coach and GM on the accusation that Nelson used “insiders info” about the Mavericks he collected during his one-year as an adviser to beat the Mavericks in the 2007 playoff series as coach of the Golden State Warriors.
Two years ago Cuban sued Nelson on those accusations. The pair went to arbitration last year. Nelson won. Cuban still hasn’t paid the $6 million.
You can read all 800 pages of the transcripts (condensed into a 200-page PDF) here, credit to the Dallas Morning News. In the transcript, you’ll find:
*An attorney quotes Nelson from a deposition saying he didn’t want to sign an amendment to his contract in 2003, but his friends got him drunk and told him he should.
*Nelson talks about when he was upset that Cuban sat in on one of his pre-game
coach’s meetings.
*Nelson calls Erick Dampier “a very doggy player” and “totally overpaid.”
*A Mavericks attorney points out that Nelson has been paid a total of more than $50 million for coaching the Mavericks and Warriors. “That’s correct, God bless the NBA,” Nelson responded
*Nelson admits he discussed the NBA draft with the Warriors in June of 2006 while he was still a consultant for the Mavericks. “Is that confidential information? I probably broke a rule,” Nelson said
*Asked if Nelson had been grooming Avery Johnson to become head coach, Cuban answers, “No, sir.”
*Cuban says Nelson wasn’t showing up for practices and Johnson was coming to him regularly saying, “I am ready, boss. Put me in.”
*Cuban calls Dennis Rodman’s tenure with the Mavericks a “failed experiment.”
*Cuban calls the 2003-04 season, Steve Nash’s last with the Mavericks,“probably the worst of my tenure.” He says Antoine Walker “just was a cancer.”
*Nelson answered his door and was dressed in khakis, no shirt, no shoes, with a scotch in his hand, and he was very celebratory,”
The classic of it all had to be when Cuban described there hugging,
*Cuban is asked if he and Nelson hugged each other at the press conference announcing that Nelson would step down as coach and become a consultant. “I hugged him,” Cuban answered. “He didn’t hug me back. I know a Nellie hug, and that was not a Nellie hug.”
