San Antonio Spurs Announce Home Preseason Schedule
Via Spurs Press Release
[Via Spurs Press Release]
The San Antonio Spurs released their 2010-11 home preseason schedule today. The Spurs will play four preseason games at the AT&T Center highlighted by a match-up with the new-look Miami Heat.
Spurs fans will get their first chance to see Tiago Splitter, James Anderson and the rest of the Silver and Black in action when Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh and the Heat visit the Alamo City on Saturday, Oct. 9. As part of the Euroleague American Tour 2010, the Spurs will host Caja Laboral of Spain on Saturday, Oct. 16. On Monday, Oct. 18, Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder will make a stop in San Antonio before the team closes out their home preseason schedule with a visit from their I-10 rival Houston Rockets on Thursday, Oct. 21.
Preseason tickets range in price from $10 – $175 and will go on sale this Saturday, July 24 at 10 a.m. Preseason tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster Ticket Center locations, charge by phone at (210) 225-TEAM, at the AT&T Center Southeast Box Office, or online at ticketmaster.com or spurs.com. The AT&T Center Box Office is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. on weekend event days.
All preseason games will be aired live on WOAI-AM 1200 AM with Bill Schoening calling the action and in Spanish on KCOR-AM 1300 with Paul Castro handling the play-by-play.
The Spurs preseason road games will be announced at a later date.
2010 NBA Finals Most Viewed Since 2001
Est. 1946
ABC averaged a 10.6 rating and 18.1 million viewers for the 2010 NBA Finals, up 26% in ratings and viewership from Los Angeles Lakers/Orlando Magic last year (8.4, 14.3 mil, five games), up 14% and 21% from Boston Celtics/Los Angeles Lakers in 2008 (9.3, 14.9 mil, six games), and up 71% and 95% from San Antonio Spurs/Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007 (6.2, 9.3 mil, four games).
This marks the most-viewed NBA Finals since Los Angeles Lakers/Philadelphia 76ers on NBC in 2001 (19.0 mil), and the second most-viewed since Chicago Bulls/Utah Jazz in 1998 (29.0 mil), Michael Jordan’s last NBA Finals.
This is only the second time since 1998 that the NBA Finals has averaged at least 18 million viewers. This only the second time in the past eight years that the NBA Finals has averaged a double-digit rating.
Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics outdrew the last two seven-game NBA Finals San Antonio Spurs/Detroit Pistons in 2005 (12.5 mil) and Houston Rockets/New York Knicks in 1994 (17.3 mil).
Of the 15 NBA Finals since 1990 that did not involve Jordan and the Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics is the third-most viewed, behind the Los Angeles Lakers/Philadelphia 76ers series in 2001 (19.0 mil) and Houston Rockets/Orlando Magic in 1995 (20.1 mil).
However the Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics ranks as the fifth-lowest rated NBA Finals to involve the Los Angeles Lakers in the past thirty years (15 series). It’s ahead of only Los Angeles Lakers/New Jersey Nets in 2002 (10.2), Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics in 2008 (9.3), Los Angeles Lakers/Orlando Magic in 2009 (8.4) and Los Angeles Lakers/Philadelphia 76ers in 1980 (8.0).
For perspective, the 2010 NBA Finals finished behind the 2009 World Series, which averaged an 14.7 rating and 23.4 million viewers for six games.
The final game of the 2010 NBA Finals saw its largest audience and it was its largest for an NBA game since the end of the Chicago Bulls dynasty.
The Los Angeles Lakers Game 7 win over the Celtics drew a 15.6/27 final rating and 28.2 million viewers on ABC.
This marks the highest rated, most-viewed NBA game on any network since Chicago Bulls/Utah Jazz Game 6 in 1998, topping the previous highs of 14.7 Indiana Pacers/Los Angeles Lakers Game 6 in 2000 and 23.8 million viewers Los Angeles Lakers/Sacramento Kings Game 7 in 2002.
Additionally, this is easily the highest rated, most-viewed NBA game ever on ABC, topping the previous high of 13.8 and 21.8 million viewers for Los Angeles Lakers/Detroit Pistons Game 5 in 2004. This is the first time since that 2004 series that any NBA game has surpassed 20 million viewers.
Despite the big numbers Boston Celtics/Los Angeles Lakers finished behind previous Game 7s in the NBA Finals. New York Knicks/Houston Rockets Game 7 drew a 17.9 on NBC in 1994, Detroit Pistons/Los Angeles Lakers Game 7 drew a 21.2 on CBS in 1988, and Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics Game 7 drew a 19.3 rating on CBS in 1984.
NBA Finals Game 6 Overnight Ratings
Est. 1946
For the first time in the 2010 NBA Finals, overnight ratings declined from the previous game.
The Los Angeles Lakers uncompetitive Game 6 win over the Boston Celtics drew a 12.3 overnight rating on ABC Tuesday night, down 4% from Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics Game 6 in 2008 (12.8), up 11% from Miami Heat/Dallas Mavericks Game 6 in 2006 (11.1), and up 17% from Detroit Pistons/San Antonio Spurs Game 6 in 2005 (10.5).
The 12.3 overnight is the second-highest of the series, behind Sunday’s Game 5 (12.8), and is tied as the 7th-highest for an NBA game on ABC since the network acquired the rights in 2002. Additionally, this is the second-highest overnight for Game 6 of the NBA Finals since 2000 (five games).
Tuesday’s game was only the fourth non-clinching Game 6 since 1984. The Detroit Pistons/San Antonio Spurs Game 6 in 2005 drew a 10.5 overnight,New York Knicks/Houston Rockets Game 6 in 1994 drew a 14.1 on NBC, and Detroit Pistons/Los Angeles Lakers Game 6 in 1988 drew a 15.4 on CBS.
Once again, the NBA Finals helped ABC win the night in primetime.
Boston Celtics Kevin Garnett Leaving Adidas
Punched The Ticket Out
Boston Celtics Kevin Garnett is ditching adidas for Chinese brand ANTA. The deal was set to be officially announced later this summer in China, as Garnett’s contract with adidas allows for an opt-out at the end of the current NBA season next month. Garnett’s new endorsement deal with ANTA, while still unofficially announced, is reported to be for a huge sum and enough to leave adidas where he had signed a lifetime endorsement contract back in 2003.
While Garnett’s switch to ANTA from adidas seems sudden, Garnett has bounced around in the footwear game throughout his career. He signed with Nike out of high school staying for five years, then departed to AND1 for two years before calling home with adidas. Now, the 34-year-old forward has left the adidas for ANTA, one of the emerging Chinese sportswear companies along with Li-Ning and PEAK who all have plans to make a run at the U.S. market in this coming decade.
Fujian-based ANTA Sports Products Limited was established in 1994 and in recent years has signed official sports contracts with the NBA’s Houston Rockets in 2007 along with its first NBA endorser, Steve Francis. One of the company’s previously used slogans: Keep Moving.
Garnett continues to wear adidas for the time being
NBA Hall Of Famer Says LeBron James Mom Had Sex With Teammate
That's My Momma
Rumors spread last week that LeBron James mom, Gloria, had sex with her son’s teammate Delonte West. The bizarre story claimed to explain the Cleveland Cavaliers poor play and unexpected collapse in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. While an attorney for LeBron has denied the “idiotic and off the wall’” speculation, an NBA Hall of Famer is speaking out to the contrary.
Basketball Hall of Famer and former Houston Rocket Calvin Murphy took to the airwaves Wednesday night and became the most high-profile person to date to back the rumors. “It ain’t no rumor,” he told a Houston ESPN Radio station, calling the claims “absolutely true” and “absolutely horrifying.” He went on
“Unfortunately, my sources in the NBA tell me that it’s absolutely true. My sources, and they’re legit, tell me that the only people that didn’t know it was happening was LeBron and me.”
Murphy says James “may take time off” but also makes claims that “there was another party and that West wasn’t the only” man involved in the alleged affair.
Just like that scene in “Four Christmases”, so I guess Hollywood does imitate life.
PEAK Shoes Signs Another NBA Superstar
Gotta be honest when I stumbled upon Phoenix Suns Jason Richardson Twitter account and saw his tweet about his new line of shoes with PEAK, I had no idea who PEAK was.
Turns out PEAK is a Chinese shoe company that has within the last year signed up NBA superstars like Dallas Mavericks Jason Kidd, Houston Rockets Shane Battier,Los Angeles Lakers Sasha Vujacic and Ron Artest. Richardson is just the latest superstar to jump Nike’s ship for PEAK.
Is PEAK the 2010 version of FILA or And 1, I have no idea. What I do know is that I’m know longer 13 and the power of having someone attached to a shoe line doesn’t drive me when it comes to buying shoes it all comes down to looks and PEAK misses it on Richardson’s pair.
Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player: Manu Ginobili
Manu Ginobili
Every Tuesday Sports Grind Entertainment presents you with the Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player of the Week. This week the recipient of this prestigious honor goes to San Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobili who has been simply BLAZIN.
Pretty much you could pick any week during this NBA season and give this award to Ginobili with the season he is having. But Ginobili’s worth to the Spurs this season was never more evident than this past week when he sat out against the New Jersey Nets due to back spasms. The Spurs would go on to lose to a team that night who was trying to avoid tying the 1972-1973 Philadelphia 76ers for the worst team in the history of the NBA.
The Spurs very next opponent was the Houston Rockets which saw Ginobili back in the lineup where he would go on to score 18 points and dish out 10 assists. His return against the Rockets was impressive but not BLAZIN, he however would show that in the next two games at home against the Orlando Magic and on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers. He torched the Magic for 43 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and once again showed how dominating he has been this season with his performance against the Lakers in the fourth quarter, a game in which he finished with 32 points. Ginobili has always been a solid performer but the timing of his deadliness couldn’t be more valuable for the Spurs right now as gear up for the playoffs.
Congratulations Manu Ginobili you are this weeks Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player.
Basketball Hall Of Fame Will Allow Fans To Vote For Members
We Voted, Did You?
The Basketball Hall of Fame is making a bold, bold move. In an effort to raise the hoops Hall’s profile, fan voting will be factored into the voting for inductees, perhaps as soon as next year.
It begs the quuestion is this a wise move and many will say no and point to a system already in place that has it’s faults, the NBA All-Star voting.
Yao Ming has been voted an All-Star starter in all seven of his seasons even though he has taken the Houston Rockets past the first round of the playoffs only once and has missed significant time to injuries for five straight seasons. Due to a lot of votes coming from China and people who enjoy enjoy clicking Yao’s name in a show of national pride. China’s love for Yao’s team also led to huge numbers for an undeserving Tracy McGrady.
American fans are capable of making some lousy choices as well when they elected Allen Iverson a starter this year in just 13 game appearances.
If you open up the Hall of Fame ballots to the fans can you really restrict where those votes come from and if you do is it really fan voting?
Can The San Antonio Spurs Sign Tiago Splitter?
Not Only Is The Spurs Logo Looking Distant So Are Their Chances Of Signing
When will Tiago Splitter come to San Antonio and play for the Spurs is one of those questions Sports Grind Entertainment has heard in the streets and from its callers since 2007. A question that is surrounded by mystery and uncertainty, it’s not like we have a pipeline of inside sources in Spain.
Splitter who was the Spurs first-round pick back in 2007 has an opt-out clause in his contract with his Spanish League team Tau Ceramica, whom he has played since he was a teenager. The Spurs had been only able to offer Europe’s best player $970,000 for the first year of his rookie scale contract. However in the league’s collective bargaining agreement it does state that players who play for non NBA teams for a total of three years can be offered more money than the rookie scale allows.
That’s sounds great for the Spurs right? Well San Antonio Express News Mike Monroe lets us know that the Spurs wills still be limited in those negotiations. The most they can offer Splitter is the mid-level cap exception, thought to be around $5 million.
Monroe wasn’t done dropping the bomb on Splitters NBA future. The threat of an NBA lockout during the 2011-12 season is enough to make any player making mega-Euros question the decision about coming to America. Splitters deal reportedly is worth more than $5 million.
“That’s why they’re probably not going to get him, even for the full mid-level,” said one NBA executive. “If you’ve got a nice, guaranteed deal over in Europe, why would you sign over here and face a lockout? I’m telling you, the full mid-level probably isn’t going to get it done.”
With that kind of news the likelihood the Spurs are able to sign Splitter seem to have dropped below 10 percent. San Antonio still holds the draft rights to him but if signability looks to be in the red then the Spurs might be force to revisit the Luis Scola situation all over again. Lets just hope if they do cut their loses with Splitter and traded those rights away to a team with a significant more amount of cap room, they will not send him to someone in their own division again.
San Antonio Spurs Sign Garrett Temple
Via Spurs Press Release
[Via Spurs Press Release]
The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard Garrett Temple from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League to a 10-day contract. Temple is the 23rd call-up of the 2009-10 D-League season.
The 6-6, 190-pound Temple has seen time this season with the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the D-League. Signed as an undrafted free agent by Houston on 9/22, he averaged 2.5 points and 0.3 assists in four preseason games with the Rockets before being waived on 10/21. Temple was allocated to Rio Grande Valley on 11/4 and averaged 14.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 30 games with the Vipers. He signed his first of two 10-day contracts with Houston on 2/8. In nine games with the Rockets he averaged 5.0 points and 1.6 rebounds in 13.1 minutes. On 3/3 Temple signed a 10-day contract with Sacramento. He averaged 2.2 points and 0.6 rebounds in 4.6 minutes with the Kings.
Temple averaged 6.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists over his four seasons at LSU. He left school as the Tigers all-time leader in games played (134), starts (131) and minutes played (4,432). Temple also ranked fourth in career assists (482), seventh in steals (191) and fourth in blocks (113) in school history.
Temple will wear uniform #2.
Michael Jordan Will Buy The Charlotte Bobcats
got my hands up, they playin my song
As we told you on February 16 Michael Jordan wanted to buy the Charlotte Bobcats from team owner and BET founder Bob Johnson, whom he named the team after, is getting his wish.
Jordan will still have to get the owners approval but commissioner David “The Goon” Stern sees the process being an expedited approval process to be completed by the end of this month. Jordan and MJ Basketball Holdings LLC. have reached a deal to buy the Charlotte franchise beating out former Houston Rockets executive George Postolos.
Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but the sale price is based on a franchise value of less than $300 million, in the mid to high twos. In the past two years, the team has attempted to save money by doing everything from shedding at least 40 front-office jobs to saving as much as $15,000 a night by hiring cheap halftime entertainment acts. The club has struggled at the turnstiles for years, currently ranking 22nd in the 30-team league in attendance, averaging 15,193 per game, which is roughly 80% of its arena’s capacity.
Michael Jordan “Badly” Wants To Buy The Charlotte Bobcats
got my hands up, they playin my song
Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown said Monday night that Michael Jordan has told him he’s doing all he can to buy majority control of the Bobcats from owner Bob Johnson.
“He said he’s doing his best to put himself in a position to get the team,” Brown said after practice. “He wants it badly.”
Johnson is eager to sell the unprofitable club, and NBA commissioner David “The Goon” Stern said Saturday he expects a deal to be completed within two months.
Jordan may have some competition from former Houston Rockets executive George Postolos who has made inquiries, and it’s possible if Postolos gets control Jordan would no longer have a role with the team. Postolos has been in talks with Johnson for months.
What’s clear is Johnson is looking to unload the Bobcats. After paying $300 million for the expansion franchise that began play in 2004-05, Johnson has lost tens of millions of dollars each season as the Bobcats have struggled to draw fans and find sponsorships.
Is Yao Ming Preparing For Retirement?
Retirement Looming?
One thing everyone knows about is Houston Rockets center Yao Ming history with injuries. Since 2005 he has missed 132 out of 369 games and the number is set to increase as he isn’t expected to play at all this season. He had surgery in May to repair a hairline fracture in his left foot and has said he wants to allow enough time for his bones to fully heal.
Even a healthy Yao, no one would really expect him to play more than 12 years in the NBA due to the nature of the game but imagine the kind of stress it puts on a body that meassures in at 7-foot-6 and 310 pounds, would you reconsider and think 10 tens years?
With Yao’s aching feet being very well publicized, the other side of his life isn’t nearly so and that’s his role as owner of the Shanghai Sharks in China. Yao bought out the financially troubled team’s former owners in July for an undisclosed sum in a bid to revive its fortunes. The club currently is in fourth in the 17-team Chinese league and just two points out of first place. Yao saved the team after the loss of their main sponsor threatened to keep them out of the league in 2009-2010.
Add to the mix that earlier this month the announcement that Yao will be expecting his first child with his wife Ye Li sometime in July. The couple will be allowed to give birth to two children under China’s recently relaxed “one-child” family planning policy.
Naturally Yao will give his body rest and try to make a come back in the NBA but could another injury signal the end for him now that everything outside of professional basketball is taking shape in his life? Would the long distance separation from his family play a factor if those aching feet never heal correctly? Would you be surprised if that press release from China came during the summer announcing his retirement because rehab was not going accordingly?
I’m just saying.
Stephon Marbury To Play Basketball In China
Coming To China
Stephon Marbury has decided that his training of climbing mountains in Coney Island shouldn’t go to waste and is taking his game to the people of China.
Marbury will play for the Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association just a year after making $21 million in the NBA and splitting time with the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics.
Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons are currently 15th in the 17-team CBA league with a 3-9 record. China Basketball Association rules state that a team can carry only two foreign born players on it’s roster at once. Shanxi roster already has former Houston Rockets Maurice Taylor and former college player Lee Benson and one will be cut when Marbury’s is signed according to Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons general manager Zhang Beihai.
Tracy McGrady Wants Out Of Houston
What Happened To All The Rings?
Tracy McGrady’s tenure with the Houston Rockets, which began in 2004 with predictions of multiple championships is likely over after six seasons of highlights, more than a 100 games missed, controversies and great but largely unrealized potential.
With McGrady coming off the bench in his return from knee surgery it seems that reduce minutes on his transition back into the lineup has bruised McGrady up a little and his representatives have asked that the Rockets trade the highest paid player in the league. McGrady is in the final year of his contract, earning $23 million salary this season.
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has agreed to try to trade McGrady according to McGrady’s representatives.
McGrady, 30, was granted an indefinite leave of absence while the Rockets seek a trade.
Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki Plays Dentist
Who got it worse Carl Landry or Dirk Nowitzki?
BLOCK CITY: Your Victim-David Andersen
King-Father-Thursday Born-Three-Whale, you have been charged with the crime of Representin.
And the verdict is Guilty.
Former Spur King-Father-Thursday Born-Three-Whale Signs With The Toronto Raptors
King Whale Killer
Former San Antonio Spur has been claimed off waivers from the Toronto Raptors.
Pops Mensah-Bonsu was let go by the Houston Rockets last Friday, the 6-foot-9 forward finished last season with the Raptors, averaging 5.1 points in 19 games.
In February 2009, Mensah-Bonsu began playing with the Austin Toros, the San Antonio Spurs NBA D-League affiliate. In his eight games with the Toros, Mensah-Bonsu averaged 26.6 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. On 25 February, he signed with the San Antonio Spurs but latered release in March.
Mensah-Bonsu has played three NBA seasons, including this one. While also having played for Dallas and San Antonio, he’s averaged 3.8 points and 3.6 rebounds.
Ron Artest Throws Trevor Ariza Shoe Into Stands
Ron Artest is a personal favorite of the Sports Grind Entertainment family as he is never a dull moment, everything from Afghan women to the Malice in the Palace (we know where we where when that went down, do you). Now his latest involves former Los Angeles Laker now current Houston Rocket Trevor Ariza shoe.
I’m half way down now help me Lord.
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% |
BLOCK CITY: Your Victim-Rudy Gay
Carl Landry, you have been charged with the crime of Representin.
And the verdict is Guilty.
Happy Birthday NBA 3 Pointer
30 Years Old
On October 12, 1979 at the Boston Garden, Celtics guard Chris Ford drilled a straightaway three-pointer, the first in NBA history. The headlines that evening from the Garden wasn’t about Ford’s feat, they where about Larry Bird’s first NBA game in the 114-106 win over the Houston Rockets.
The American Basketball League, played its only full season in 1961-62 and whose champion Cleveland Pipers were owned by George Steinbrenner, was the first league to use the three-pointer. The three-point shot became a staple of the ABA, which was in business from 1967-76.
Nobody ever really thought about the three-pointer back then like they do today
“I think it certainly strategy-wise has changed the game, and the fans love it,” Ford said of the 30 years of the NBA having the three-pointer. “The bad thing about it is kids start shooting it at too early of an age, and we’ve lost the mid-range jumper. It’s been somewhat lost in the NBA that (Detroit’s) Rip Hamilton makes a living off the mid-range shot. It’s either dunks or three-point shots that make the highlights.”
Ford, shot 70-of-164, his three-point percentage of 42.7 trailing only Seattle guard Freddie “Downtown” Brown’s 44.3 for best in the NBA. Ford went on to be an NBA head coach for 10 seasons, including five years with the Celtics, two coaching Bird. But he’ll go down known in history for hitting that initial three.
Rockets Add New Uniforms
2009-10 New Uniforms
The Houston Rockets on reached a non-guaranteed contract with free-agent guard Rashad McCants. The spot with the Rockets would offer McCants a chance to revive a stalled career and the Rockets a no-risk look.
He was traded to the Sacramento Kings last season but the Kings declined to make a qualifying offer. The Rockets will have 18 players under contract, including Brent Barry, who is expected to be traded or released in a buyout agreement before the start of camp.
McCants, 25, has shown his scoring ability in his four-year NBA career but also gained a reputation for being a locker-room malcontent in Minnesota, especially after he was benched when Kevin McHale, the general manager who drafted him 14th overall, became coach.
The 2005 NBA draft boasted very well for the national champion Tar Heels after having four players drafted within the first fifteen picks. However, entering the 2009-10 NBA season only Marvin Williams, drafted number 2 overall, has shown any real chance of playing past the guaranteed rookie contracts. He was recently signed a five year deal worth $37.5 million dollars but hasn’t really been a standout number 2 pick. As for his teammates the NBA game hasn’t been as kind. Raymond Felton drafted 5th is still with Charlotte Bobcats only after they decided to give him a one year deal of $5.5 million. Sean May is with his second team the Sacramento Kings after being taken 13th and the Rockets being McCants third team.
In related Houston Rockets news, they unveiled new alternative jerseys for the 2009-10 NBA season that unfortunately Yao Ming will be unable to wear.
Former San Antonio Spur Brent Barry Retiring?
Good No Call Joey Crawford
Former San Antonio Spur Brent Barry doesn’t expect to be playing with the Houston Rockets this upcoming season. He more than likely will have his last year of his contract bought out if the Rockets are unable to find a taker in the trade market.
The 37-year-old Barry might end up retiring of the NBA a career that has spanned 14 years since being drafted 15th overall by the Denver Nuggets. In San Antonio Barry was a winner, winning the 1996 Slam Dunk contest when he was with the Los Angeles Clippers and two NBA titles with the Spurs.
If Barry does retire it will allow him to join everybody whose gone surfin, ‘surfin u.s.a.’
