All NBA Talk
http://allnbatalk.com
Media Player
Syndicate
Visitors
All NBA Talk
2009 NBA Draft Grades
Grade:B+The Hawks may lose Mike Bibby in free agency. Adding Jeff Teague fills the void left by Bibby. Gladyr gives the Hawks another shooter besides Joe Johnson.
Grade:CLester Hudson is a decent guard who may have a hard time making the C's roster.
Grade:A-Charlotte added Gerald Henderson who will boost their offense from the wing and Derrick Brown who can play both forward positions.
Grade:B+My Chicago Bulls drafted James Johnson and Taj Gibson to compensate for the inconsistencies and injuries of Tyrus Thomas and Luol Deng. I like both players as insurance policies.
Grade:CCleveland got a fist full of wing players they may never step foot in Ohio.
Grade:B+Detroit picked up three versatile forwards in Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers and Jonas Jerebko. The post Rasheed era has begun.
Grade:A-Tyler Hansbrough is a Larry Bird kind of guy. In an up-tempo offense Hansbrough will do the dirty work for Indiana. A.J. Price can become a quality back up to T.J. Ford.
Grade:BMiami picked up Robert Dozier and Patrick Beverly in the second round. These are low paid guys who can make the roster and contribute from the wing for the Heat.
Grade:BMilwaukee came away with Brandon Jennings in the first round and Jodie Meeks in the second. I guess this means bye-bye to Ramon Sessions.
Grade:B+Terrence Williams should fit right into Vince Carter's old spot.
Grade:B+The Knicks got a competent big man in Jordan Hill and a guard in Toney Douglas. The Big Apple is movin' on up.
Grade:Inc.No picks meant no moves for the Magic. But they did make a draft day trade for Vince Carter!
Grade:AJrue Holiday may be a steal for Philly at the 17th pick. Andre Miller will likely not return to the City of Brotherly Love.
Grade:AThe Raptors picked up DeMar DeRozan who was much needed in Canada. Anthony Parker is a solid player but won't push the Raptors over the top. DeRozan may get the job done.
Grade:Inc.The Wiz traded the 5th overall pick before the draft for Mike Miller and Randy Foye.
Grade: BDallas picked up two point guards in Rodrigue Beaubois and Nick Calathes, and a power forward in Ahmad Nivins. Dallas is trying to fill the one spot in case Jason Kidd leaves Big D.
Grade:AWith no picks in the 2009 Draft the Nuggets traded next year's first round pick for Ty Lawson. Ty will be the perfect back up to Chauncey Billups.
Grade:AStephen Curry is the real deal, I just wonder how he'll fit in with Monta Ellis?
Grade:B+Houston had no picks and walked away with 3 second rounders. Chase Budinger, Jermaine Taylor, and Sergio Llull all have a shot at making the Rockets roster.
Grade:A+The Clippers got the best player in the draft in Blake Griffin. Now let's hope they don't blow it.
Grade:C-L.A. traded their first round pick for cash and took Chinemelu Elonu in the second round. What does the best team in the NBA really need though?
Grade: AThe Grizz walked away with the biggest player in the draft in Hasheem Thabeet in addition to Sam Young and DeMarre Carroll. They are slowly building a competitive team in Memphis.
Grade:BI thought Kevin McHale got released? Minnesota picked two point guards back to back. HUH? Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn better be prepared to guard the Kobe's, Durant's, and McGrady's of the west. Good luck. Wayne Ellington was a good pick at 28 and Henk Norel has a cool name.
Grade:BThe New Orleans Hornets picked up two guards to help out Chris Paul, good job.
Grade:A-Phoenix is in rebuilding mode. Steve Kerr drafted Earl Clark and Blake Griffin's brother. I think Griffin's brother should fit in nice with Brook Lopez's brother. Clark will be a very good player in Phoenix as Grant Hill calls it quits.
Grade:COnce again the Blazers picked a bunch of guys who may not even make their team. This was an underwhelming draft for Kevin Pritchard.
Grade:B-The Kings needed a point guard and walked away with 2 wing players and a big. Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi, and Jon Brockman are all good players who will contribute, but are repetitive on the current Kings roster.
Grade:B-With no first round picks the Spurs lucked into DeJuan Blair as well as Jack McClinton and Nando De Colo who like Henk Norel, also has a cool name.
Grade:AThe Jazz came away with the perfect back up for Deron Williams in Eric Maynor and Goran Suton is the prototype Jerry Sloan player.
Grade:A+The Thunder were the second biggest winner of draft night behind the Clippers. Oklahoma came away with James Harden, B.J. Mullens and Robert Vaden. They have two quality scorers and their center of the future to pair up with Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, and Kevin Durant.
2009 NBA Draft Recap
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
28
29
30
Round 2
54
60
Trades Galore!
Before the NBA Draft begins I'd like to update myself and the reader on who got traded where! This has been the busiest build up to the draft that I can ever recall. Here is the rundown:
The Suns traded Shaquille O'Neal to the Cavaliers for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, the 46 pick in the draft and $500,000.
The Nets traded Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson to the Magic for Rafer Alston, Courtney Lee, and Tony Battie.
The Bucks traded Richard Jefferson to the Spurs for Bruce Bowen, Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto.
The Bucks traded Fabricio Oberto to the Pistons for Amir Johnson.
The Timberwolves traded Randy Foye and Mike Miller to the Wizards for the number 5 overall pick, Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila and Oleksiy Pecherov.
The Warriors traded Jamal Crawford to the Hawks for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton.
The Blazers traded the 24th pick in 2009, the number 56 pick in 2009, and a second round pick in 10 to the Mavericks for the 22nd overall pick.
The Grizzlies traded Darko Milicic to the Knicks for Quentin Richardson.
Sherron Shabazz Appearing On BlogTalkRadio.Com
Listen to yours truly on BlogTalkRadio.com discussing the upcoming NBA Draft with Jon & Rich of 643 Sports.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/643sports/2009/06/23/643-Sports
All NBA Talk 2009 Mock Draft
1. 
Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
The first pick of the NBA Draft is a no-brainer. Blake Griffin all the way. Now if the Clippers could just find a way to get rid of Baron Davis and Zach Randolph they'd be in business!
2.
Ricky Rubio, Spain
The Grizzlies have to take Rubio with the second pick. There are rumblings that Rubio wants no part of Memphis, but that's his issue. Rubio could be an impressive trading chip to help the Grizzlies franchise.
3.
Hasheem Thabeet, UCONN
The Oklahoma City Thunder will take UCONN center Hasheem Thabeet. Their biggest need is rebounding and defense in the paint, Thabeet fills that need.
4.
Jonny Flynn, Syracuse
The Kings had the worst record in the NBA last season and wound up getting the fourth pick in the NBA Draft. Can the Kings catch a break? They won't get Blake Griffin but they will get a good player in the 2009 draft. I have the Kings selecting Syracuse point guard Jonny Flynn to make up for the mistake that is Beno Udrih.
5.
James Harden, Arizona State
The Wizards were also big losers in the Blake Griffin sweepstakes but that won't stop them from getting a quality lottery selection. I have the Wizards picking James Harden from Arizona State. Washington needs a quality shooting guard to play next to Gilbert Arenas.
6.
Tyreke Evans, Memphis
The Timberwolves need a shooting guard. Tyreke Evans is just that.
7.
Jordan Hill, Arizona
The Warriors are one of the worst drafting teams in the NBA. I don't know who they'll pick but my guess is Arizona power forward Jordan Hill. They need size but Nellie loves to play small ball, who knows?
8.
Stephen Curry, Davidson
The Knicks will get their guy as sharp shooter Stephen Curry falls to the Big Apple.
9.
DeMar DeRozan, USC
The Raptors need an upgrade at the 2. DeRozan could be the scoring option to make Chris Bosh want to stay north of the border.
10.
Jeff Teague, Wake Forest
The Bucks need a point guard, Teague is an Indiana guy like coach Skiles. Teague it is.
11.
DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh
New Jersey is a team with one big man, Brook Lopez. The Nets need size and toughness in the post, Blair brings both.
12.
Tyler Hansbrough, UNC
Hansbrough can sell tickets in North Carolina. He can also scrap and claw for rebounds while Emeka Okafor betters his offensive game. Tyler is also a Larry Brown type of guy.
13.
Gerald Henderson, Duke
Henderson gives the Pacers a wing player to take some of the burden off of Danny Granger.
14.
James Johnson, Wake Forest
The Suns missed the playoffs last season for the first time in a long time. They need more than a lottery pick to fix their problems. Wake Forest forward James Johnson is an insurance policy for the day when Grant Hill walks away.
15.
Earl Clark, Louisville
Earl Clark is a combo forward with a versatile game. The Pistons will likely lose Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyees to free agency. Clark is their guy.
16.
BJ Mullens, Ohio State
The Bulls have lacked a post scorer since they traded Eddy Curry in 2005. Mullens is a project but has the potential to be a good post scorer in the NBA.
17.
Brandon Jennings, Italy
With Andre Miller in limbo the 6ers need a point guard. Jennings has one year of pro experience and may be able to step in and lead this young Philly team.
18.Jrue Holiday, UCLA
The T-Wolves could use another point guard as Randy Foye is often missing in action. Holiday is more than a steal at 18.
19.
Ty Lawson, UNC
Lawson is a good pick for Atlanta. The Hawks are likely losing point guard Mike Bibby. Lawson is a cheaper, younger option at the 1.
20.
Terrence Williams, Louisville
The Jazz could use a little shooting and Williams provides that. Ronnie Brewer has yet to develop a consistent jumper while Kyle Korver couldn't guard the 67 year old Jerry Sloan at this point. Williams is an upgrade.
21.
Wayne Ellington, UNC
New Orleans has a hole at the 2 position. Sharp shooting Wayne Ellington could be the recipient of many drive and kicks from Chris Paul.
22.
Eric Maynor, VCU
What does a team that needs everything do with the 22nd pick? Take a point guard. Jason Kidd is a free agent this summer and even if he resigns with Dallas he's a little long in the tooth. It's time to find his replacement.
23.Chase Budinger, Arizona
The Kings have a lot of confidence in Andres Nocioni but he doesn't appear to have much confidence in them. It's time to fill the small forward spot with a guy who actually wants to play for Sacramento.
24.
Sam Young, Pittsburgh
The Blazers need help at the small forward position. Consistency is an issue. Sam Young is a player that can play the 3 and spell Brandon Roy at the 2.
25.Marcus Thornton, LSU
Thornton gives OKC the shooting they sorely need to compliment Kevin Durant.
26.Omri Casspi, Israel
Loul Deng can not be counted on to be healthy. The Bulls have a strong interest in Omri Casspi to play back up small forward.
27.Austin Daye, Gonzaga
Memphis needs size and versatility in their front court. Daye provides a shooting touch that's rare for players his size.
28.Nick Calathes, Florida
With their third first round pick the Minnesota Timberwolves should go with Nick Calathes. Calathes gives Minnesota size and ball handling in the back court. The current combo of Foye and Telfair just doesn't cut it.
29.
DaJuan Summers, Georgetown
What does the team with everything need? A small forward of course! Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza are free agents and likely to leave La La Land. Summers gives the Lakers a few buckets from the 3 spot. Besides, do you trust Adam Morrison to contribute anything?
30.
Taj Gibson, USC
The Cavaliers need size in the back court and youth in the front court. It's always safe to go with size. I have the Cavs taking Taj Gibson with the last pick in the first round of the NBA Draft.
Blake Griffin, OklahomaThe first pick of the NBA Draft is a no-brainer. Blake Griffin all the way. Now if the Clippers could just find a way to get rid of Baron Davis and Zach Randolph they'd be in business!
2.
Ricky Rubio, SpainThe Grizzlies have to take Rubio with the second pick. There are rumblings that Rubio wants no part of Memphis, but that's his issue. Rubio could be an impressive trading chip to help the Grizzlies franchise.
3.
Hasheem Thabeet, UCONNThe Oklahoma City Thunder will take UCONN center Hasheem Thabeet. Their biggest need is rebounding and defense in the paint, Thabeet fills that need.
4.
Jonny Flynn, SyracuseThe Kings had the worst record in the NBA last season and wound up getting the fourth pick in the NBA Draft. Can the Kings catch a break? They won't get Blake Griffin but they will get a good player in the 2009 draft. I have the Kings selecting Syracuse point guard Jonny Flynn to make up for the mistake that is Beno Udrih.
5.
James Harden, Arizona StateThe Wizards were also big losers in the Blake Griffin sweepstakes but that won't stop them from getting a quality lottery selection. I have the Wizards picking James Harden from Arizona State. Washington needs a quality shooting guard to play next to Gilbert Arenas.
6.
Tyreke Evans, MemphisThe Timberwolves need a shooting guard. Tyreke Evans is just that.
7.
Jordan Hill, ArizonaThe Warriors are one of the worst drafting teams in the NBA. I don't know who they'll pick but my guess is Arizona power forward Jordan Hill. They need size but Nellie loves to play small ball, who knows?
8.
Stephen Curry, DavidsonThe Knicks will get their guy as sharp shooter Stephen Curry falls to the Big Apple.
9.
DeMar DeRozan, USCThe Raptors need an upgrade at the 2. DeRozan could be the scoring option to make Chris Bosh want to stay north of the border.
10.
Jeff Teague, Wake ForestThe Bucks need a point guard, Teague is an Indiana guy like coach Skiles. Teague it is.
11.
DeJuan Blair, PittsburghNew Jersey is a team with one big man, Brook Lopez. The Nets need size and toughness in the post, Blair brings both.
12.
Tyler Hansbrough, UNCHansbrough can sell tickets in North Carolina. He can also scrap and claw for rebounds while Emeka Okafor betters his offensive game. Tyler is also a Larry Brown type of guy.
13.
Gerald Henderson, DukeHenderson gives the Pacers a wing player to take some of the burden off of Danny Granger.
14.
James Johnson, Wake ForestThe Suns missed the playoffs last season for the first time in a long time. They need more than a lottery pick to fix their problems. Wake Forest forward James Johnson is an insurance policy for the day when Grant Hill walks away.
15.
Earl Clark, LouisvilleEarl Clark is a combo forward with a versatile game. The Pistons will likely lose Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyees to free agency. Clark is their guy.
16.
BJ Mullens, Ohio StateThe Bulls have lacked a post scorer since they traded Eddy Curry in 2005. Mullens is a project but has the potential to be a good post scorer in the NBA.
17.
Brandon Jennings, ItalyWith Andre Miller in limbo the 6ers need a point guard. Jennings has one year of pro experience and may be able to step in and lead this young Philly team.
18.
Jrue Holiday, UCLAThe T-Wolves could use another point guard as Randy Foye is often missing in action. Holiday is more than a steal at 18.
19.
Ty Lawson, UNCLawson is a good pick for Atlanta. The Hawks are likely losing point guard Mike Bibby. Lawson is a cheaper, younger option at the 1.
20.
Terrence Williams, LouisvilleThe Jazz could use a little shooting and Williams provides that. Ronnie Brewer has yet to develop a consistent jumper while Kyle Korver couldn't guard the 67 year old Jerry Sloan at this point. Williams is an upgrade.
21.
Wayne Ellington, UNCNew Orleans has a hole at the 2 position. Sharp shooting Wayne Ellington could be the recipient of many drive and kicks from Chris Paul.
22.
Eric Maynor, VCUWhat does a team that needs everything do with the 22nd pick? Take a point guard. Jason Kidd is a free agent this summer and even if he resigns with Dallas he's a little long in the tooth. It's time to find his replacement.
23.
Chase Budinger, ArizonaThe Kings have a lot of confidence in Andres Nocioni but he doesn't appear to have much confidence in them. It's time to fill the small forward spot with a guy who actually wants to play for Sacramento.
24.
Sam Young, PittsburghThe Blazers need help at the small forward position. Consistency is an issue. Sam Young is a player that can play the 3 and spell Brandon Roy at the 2.
25.
Marcus Thornton, LSUThornton gives OKC the shooting they sorely need to compliment Kevin Durant.
26.
Omri Casspi, IsraelLoul Deng can not be counted on to be healthy. The Bulls have a strong interest in Omri Casspi to play back up small forward.
27.
Austin Daye, GonzagaMemphis needs size and versatility in their front court. Daye provides a shooting touch that's rare for players his size.
28.
Nick Calathes, FloridaWith their third first round pick the Minnesota Timberwolves should go with Nick Calathes. Calathes gives Minnesota size and ball handling in the back court. The current combo of Foye and Telfair just doesn't cut it.
29.
DaJuan Summers, GeorgetownWhat does the team with everything need? A small forward of course! Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza are free agents and likely to leave La La Land. Summers gives the Lakers a few buckets from the 3 spot. Besides, do you trust Adam Morrison to contribute anything?
30.
Taj Gibson, USCThe Cavaliers need size in the back court and youth in the front court. It's always safe to go with size. I have the Cavs taking Taj Gibson with the last pick in the first round of the NBA Draft.
Kevin McHale Out As Timberwolves Coach
After 16 seasons with the Timberwolves organization as VP of Basketball Operations and head coach Kevin McHale will not be asked back to the team.
"I would like to thank Kevin McHale for his many years of service to the Timberwolves organization," said Wolves owner Glen Taylor.
McHale drafted future Hall-of-Famer Kevin Garnett and led the Wolves to 8 straight playoff appearances, including the 2004 Western Conference Finals. The former Celtic was also embroiled in controversy after making a secret deal with free agent forward Joe Smith to circumvent the league's salary cap rules.
Smith agreed to sign three one-year contracts with the Timberwolves for less than his market value. In return, Smith received a promise that the Timberwolves would give him a multi-year contract down the line. Upon learning of the secret deal NBA Commissioner David Stern voided Smith's contract, took away three of the Timberwolves' next five first-round draft picks, and fined the team $3.5 million dollars.
Minnesota struggled to excel with no young talent coming in from the draft.
In the 2005 season McHale fired his longtime friend Flip Saunders and briefly coached the Timberwolves. McHale would return to a coaching role in 2008.
Newly hired Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn decided that McHale's time was up in Minnesota.
"I have the deepest respect for Kevin McHale and his many accomplishments as a player, basketball executive and basketball coach--especially those that have occurred in the State of Minnesota," said Kahn.
Kahn sure has a funny way of showing respect. McHale is disappointed in the decision of Kahn and the T-Wolves.
"I was willing to come back, but they never offered me a contract," McHale said. "They told me last week they were going in a different direction. I said, 'I think you're making a mistake, but that's up to you guys.'"
McHale was a much better coach than a general manager. Timberwolves fans will remember him for trading Brandon Roy for Randy Foye. Just last year McHale drafted O.J. Mayo and promptly traded him for Kevin Love. His legacy also includes turning down several superior offers for Kevin Garnett in favor of sending KG to Boston for Al Jefferson and spare parts.
The Timberwolves made the best move ever. I suppose they will begin their coaching search now. For the sake of the fans I hope that they hire a player friendly coach to ease the minds of disappointed Timberwolves players.
Timberwolves forward Kevin Love leaked word of McHale's departure with a Twitter posting that read, "Today is a sad day."
Lakers Win 2009 NBA Title
It's official, the Los Angeles Lakers are the 2009 NBA Champions. After making the NBA Finals one year ago and being embarrassed by the Boston Celtics, the Lakers returned to the Finals with a vengeance to be crowned champion.
The Lakers disposed of the Orlando Magic in game 5 of the Finals with a 99-86 win. The result was never in question after the first quarter. The Magic seemed shell shocked by the aggressiveness of L.A. and never seemed to pull it together.
"I thought our guys fought hard,'' Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "But they just had an answer for everything.''
"It hurts, it hurts a lot.'' Magic center Dwight Howard said.
You can't discuss the 2009 NBA Champions without discussing two men, Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson. Kobe Bryant led the way for the Lakers scoring 30 points and being named Finals MVP.
For Bryant, this was more than just his fourth championship. This NBA title was a message to the critics who said that Bryant could never win without Shaquille O'Neal.
"It was like Chinese water torture,'' Bryant said of the criticism. "I would cringe every time. I was just like, it's a challenge I'm just going to have to accept because there's no way I'm going to argue it. You can say it until you're blue in the face and rationalize it until you're blue in the face, but it's not going anywhere until you do something about it."
Bryant did something about it.
With the 2009 title win Phil Jackson won his 10th ring and has passed the late Red Auerbach as the head coach with the most NBA championships.
Like Kobe, Phil Jackson has also been the subject of criticism. The naysayers believe that Jackson was "given" 9 NBA Champions by having the likes of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, and Scottie Pippen at his disposal.
The beauty of Phil Jackson is his ability to bring men together for a common goal. The Jordan's and Bryant's of the world may not have needed the nurturing of Jackson, but the Paxson's, Fisher's, Kerr's, Longley's, and Fox's did.
The Bulls and Lakers were conference finals choke artists before Phil Jackson arrived on the scene. Somehow, this goes unnoticed.
Jackson was the only head coach besides the late Chuck Daly to harness the energy of Dennis Rodman and allow him to be one of the greatest defensive players of all time. Phil won three consecutive titles with Bryant and O'Neal constantly at each others throat. I imagine that was not easy to do.
Phil Jackson is a manager of men and the greatest NBA coach of all time--he has the rings to prove it. Debate over.
The Orlando Magic have nothing to be ashamed of. They did the unthinkable. Every NBA fan had the Cleveland Cavaliers penciled in as Eastern Conference Champions this season, yours truly included. The Magic beat the Cavaliers like a drum.
Orlando played with a sense of energy and togetherness that it takes to win an NBA title--they just ran into a better team. Stan Van Gundy is a very good coach and in a good position to duplicate this seasons success with Dwight Howard as his centerpiece.
Hedo Turkoglu will likely opt out of his contract for a bigger payday. The Magic would be wise to resign him. Rafer Alston should be traded in the off-season as Jameer Nelson returns to 100% health.
The fans in L.A. should be proud of their Lakers. This is not a team with a 3 headed monster like the Celtics of last season. This Laker team is the epitome of what a team should be. They are great on offense, good on defense, and selfless. It's the ultimate formula for success.
Many questions remain for Los Angeles. Will Phil Jackson return to coach the team? Can the Lakers afford to resign Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza? Only time will tell, for now just enjoy the ride.
Lakers Take 3-1 Series Lead In Finals
The Los Angeles Lakers have taken a 3-1 series lead on the Orlando Magic after a 99-91 overtime victory in game 4 of the NBA Finals. The hero of the game was Derek Fisher.
Fisher hit two key 3-pointers--one with 4.6 seconds left in regulation, the other with 31.3 seconds to go in overtime. Fisher was an unlikely go-to guy as he was 0-5 on 3-pointers until the fourth quarter of the game. Fisher looked every bit of his 34 years in the 2009 Playoffs, but the young Derek Fisher showed up when it counted.
"He's been there before,'' said Kobe Bryant. "He has been there and done that. That's Derek. He just has supreme confidence and I think those shots at the end of the game are actually easier for him than the other ones.''
The Lakers were down 3 points in regulation with possession of the ball and 11 seconds on the clock. Orlando's Jameer Nelson failed to guard Derek Fisher who stepped into an easy 3-pointer that tied the game and forced overtime. The Magic were pummelled in overtime only scoring 4 points while L.A. scored 12.
"I just sensed that was the dagger,'' Fisher said. "That was the one that would put us in a position to close out the game - even though the game wasn't over.''
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy regrets not fouling Fisher.
“It was my decision with 11 seconds not to foul,” he said. “Yes I regret it now. That one will haunt me forever."
None of this would be an issue if the Magic had made their free throws. The Magic missed 15 free throws in game 4. Dwight Howard and Hedo Turkoglu missed critical free throws that may have changed the outcome of the game.
"I just missed them,'' Howard said. "I've been working on my free throws. They just weren't falling tonight.''
Howard was awesome in game 4 scoring 16 points, grabbing 21 rebounds, and setting a Finals record with 9 blocked shots.
Orlando has to be mentally defeated. After playing a stellar first half they crumbled in the second half digging themselves a 1-3 hole.
"There's no reason for us to hold our heads down,'' Dwight Howard said. "We will believe until there's no more games to be played.''
Paul Westphal Named Kings Head Coach
The Sacramento Kings reached an agreement to hire Paul Westphal as their new head coach. Westphal is a former head coach of the Seattle Supersonics and Phoenix Suns. He has a career coaching record of 267-159. Westphal led the Suns to the 1993 NBA Finals.
The Kings chose Westphal over Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis, and Boston assistant Tom Thibodeau after weeks of negotiating.
"I have been looking for a good opportunity to get back and do what I like to do and I think that the Kings present an exciting challenge for me," Westphal said. "I'm really happy I got the job and whatever winding turns it had to take -- I don't even know all the winding turns that it took -- I'm just happy that they decided I'm the guy for them and I can't wait to get started."
Westphal agreed to a two-year deal worth $1.5 million per season, with an option for a third year at $2 million. This deal makes Westphal the lowest paid coach in the NBA. He inherits a team that finished with the league's worst record of 17-65, the worst in franchise history.
Kings president Geoff Petrie said, "We set some parameters at the start of this coaching search to look for a successful, experienced leader and Paul certainly meets those qualifications. He was very impressive during the interview process and in the subsequent conversations we have had since the interview. Paul also was greatly supported over the past few weeks by many of his former players and staff and others around the NBA game."
Kings co-owner Joe Maloof echoed the sentiment of Petrie, "I think he's terrific, he came highly recommended."
"He's an offensive genius, I think," Maloof said. "I think what he'll do is hire an assistant who's super on defense.
Defense is what the Kings need most. If Westphal can turn the selfish Kings into a defensive team he will surely be named Coach of the Year in addition to miracle worker.
"I'm really excited," Westphal said. "This is a great opportunity, and I really appreciate the confidence the Maloofs and Geoff Petrie are showing me. I can't wait to get to work."
NBA Examiner
NBA Examiner
Magic Win Game 3 Of Finals
A little home cooking was all the Orlando Magic needed as they shot a sizzling 63% from the field and defeated the Lakers 108-104 in game 3 of the Finals. The Magic set an NBA Finals record for shooting percentages and their formula was simple.
"Well, it was going in the basket. That always works,'' Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "That formula's always tried and true.''
"We lost this game on the defensive end,'' Kobe Bryant said. "We had been playing very good defense and the team tonight shoots 63 percent from the field.''
The Magic were the epitome of a team as 5 players scored 18 or more points. Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis scored 21 points a piece. Hedo Turkoglu and Mikael Pietrus contributed 18 points each while the previously absent Rafer Alston scored 20 points for Orlando.
Alston was 3 for 17 from the field in the first two games of the Finals. In game 3 he exploded to shoot 8-12 from the floor. Alston was the difference.
“Well, I was aggressive from start to finish,” Alston said after the game. “I was able to mix it up. That’s what I do best.”
The Lakers got 31 points from a fatigued Kobe Bryant. Bryant made critical turnovers and missed 5 free throws down the stretch of game 3 which is very UN-Kobe-Like.
"We're all frail as humans,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "Sometimes not as much as others.
The telling sign of game 3 is that the Magic shot lights out and still only won by four points. The final two points were free throws by Rashard Lewis with 0.2 seconds to go. Orlando technically shot 63% and won by 2 points.
Will Orlando be able to play at this level for three more games? I don't think so, but Orlando's best player is full of confidence.
"We lost two games, but there's no need to roll over,'' Dwight Howard said. "It's a seven-game series. A team has to beat you four times to end the series."
The Lakers recognize the challenge that's ahead.
"This is a tough team, not a cupcake team,'' Kobe Bryant said. "Extremely well coached, execute well and we've got our work cut out.''
Game 4 takes place Thursday on ABC.
NBA Examiner
