NBA Twilight Zone

subota, 31.03.2007.

PROLJEĆE STIGLO: Probuđeni Grizzliesi feat. Tarence Kinsey...NLB MAJSTORICA: Partizan @ Cibona (20.00)


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MAKING BIG TIME NOISE: Memphis Grizlies rookie Tarence Kinsey averaging 38min/19.2p/54%šuta in the last 5 games, making many of the Memphis fans think that Logo has find another "diamond in the rough"...


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PAKRACOLOGIJA


LeBron takes Cavs to topless bar?

LeBron James cheered up his teammates after their loss to the Knicks Wednesday night by taking them to Scores West for some topless entertainment, according to NEW YORK POST. The Cleveland Cavalier forward brought 15 pals to the mammary Mecca, where he had the champagne flowing and a stunning squad of strippers doing table dances for three solid hours. "He tipped in cash and was very generous," said blond knockout Lindsay. James and Co. finally called it a night at 4 a.m.



DJEDICA OPET U LIGI?

Kevin Willis, 44, went through a 45-minute workout with Mavs coach Avery Johnson on Thursday. He'll be back today for another workout and could be signed to a 10-day contract and possibly be in uniform for tonight's game against New York, Mavs president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said. "He was impressive for what we're looking for," said Nelson, who added that no deal has been struck. "It's potentially a fit." Willis said he sees the Mavs as a team on a mission and believes his experience can be an asset.



RASHEED WALLACE I TEHNIČKE POGREŠKE:

A nema se tu što reći. Ako Rasheed želi i dalje trošiti lovu na kazne nek samo izvoli. Zaradio je i više nego dovoljno u dosadašnjoj karijeri. Ali s obzirom koliko love je pokupio nije niti približno opravdao očekivanja. Mogao je puno više pružiti.


TARENCE KINSEY DUNKS ON KIRILENKO..


NESRETNI JORGE GARBAJOSA

Toronto Raptorsi su najugodnije iznenađenje lige ove sezone. Ali stvarno nemaju sreće s ozljedama. Andrea Bargnani je prošlog tjedna operirao slijepo crijevo i neće ga biti do kraja sezone, a sad im se još teško ozlijedio i korisni Španjolac Jorge Garbajosa. Njega neće biti šest mjeseci, tako da je španjolska reprezentacija izgubila važnog igrača za nadolazeće Europsko prvenstvo.


ŠTO JE MENI OVO TREBALO:

Vrijeđao je Židove, a i komesar David Stern je kako i sami znate Židov:
Taman kad se smirio, novi incident Michaela Raya Richardsona. Stvarno šteta jer da nije bilo tog incidenta sigurno bi dobio priliku u NBA.

Evo i jednog zanimljivog intervjua s njim. Stvarno je odličan intervju, najžalosniji je dio kad komesar David Stern kaže:

By 1986 things had gotten so bad that NBA commissioner David Stern, in what he has referred to as "the hardest thing I've ever had to do as commissioner," made Micheal Ray the first player in NBA history to be banned for life.


A da ne zaboravimo Michael Ray je u "ratnoj" sezoni 1991/92 igrao i za KK Split Croatia osiguranje.


KRATKI TEČAJ KINESKOG: LAKERS vs. GRIZZLIES 28/03/07 86-88..


Fantastična naslovnica s igračem koji nije preporodio Nuggetse na način koji su željeli navijači Nuggetsa. Naslovnica je stvarno zakon!

OPŠIRNIJI KOMENTAR ZBIVANJA U COLORADU: Denver igra stvarno slabo, ovaj tjedan su izgubili u gostima kod Detroita, iako su imali dvije sekunde prije kraja tri razlike i loptu sa strane. Kod dodavanja su izgubili loptu i onda im je Rasheed Wallace pogodio nešto što se pogađa jednom (ili možda dvaput) u sto godina. A osim toga Detroitu nisu igrala dva člana početne petorke (Richard Hamilton i Chris Webber). Utakmicu kasnije Denver je na domaćem terenu izgubio od slabašnog Seattlea (kojem nije igrao Ray Allen zbog ozljede). Mislim da George Karl nema što tražiti u NBA. Jedan je od najgorih trenera lige (i nažalost jedan od najbolje plaćenih). Kad je Iverson došao u Denver rekao je da će uživati igrati za trenera Karla jer je on 'rođeni pobjednik.' A evo vam dokaza kakav je Karl rođeni pobjednik: na Svjetskom prvenstvu 2002 u domaćem Indianapolisu, pred domaćim navijačima (a Indiana je osim toga i najkošarkaškija savezna država u Americi), Geoge Karl vodi svoju momčad do 'briljantnog' šestog mjesta izgubivši prvo od Argentine, a onda ih je Jugoslavija dotukla u četvrtfinalu (81:78), a onda ih je na kraju dobila i Španjolska u utakmici za peto mjesto. I sva tri poraza doživjeli pod palicom Georgea Karla, 'rođenog pobjednika.' Ovdje se postavlja samo jedno pitanje: kakav je to rođeni pobjednik koji na domaćem terenu ne može osvojiti zlatnu medalju s ovim igračima: Paul Pierce, Michael Finley, Andre Miller, Baron Davis, Shawn Marion, Jermaine O'Neal, Elton Brand, Antonio Davis, Ben Wallace, Reggie Miller, Raef LaFrentz i Jay Williams.


Najnovija naslovnica SLAM-a, najuglednijeg košarkaškog časopisa na planeti.


CLYDE PLESAČ

Prije par mjeseci mogli smo vidjeti na HRT-u plesni show Ples sa zvijezdama. Iako nije nastupao nijedan košarkaš, bilo je tu dosta poznatih lica: od sportaša tu je bio dvometraški vaterpolist Dubravko Šimenc, meteorolog Zoran Vakula, glumica Zrinka Cvitešić (koja je na kraju i pobijedila), pjevačica Maja Šuput…. E zašto vam ovo sve pišem: zato jer u američkoj inačici tog plesnog showa nastupa nekadašnji Draženov suigrač iz Portlanda Clyde Drexler:

Drexler i njegova prekrasna plesna partnerica Elena nisu ispali u prvom krugu već su se plasirali u drugi krug. Sada im je želja da uđu u treći krug.


SRETNE VIJESTI ZA WAYMANA TISDALEA

Tisdale, a 6-foot-9 Tulsa native who played 12 seasons in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, disclosed the cancer earlier this week on his Web site. He said the prognosis for his recovery is excellent.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (31/03/07)..


IZJAVA TJEDNA - PAUL PIERCE, BOSTON CELTICS:

"I'm the classic case of a great player on a bad team, and it stinks."


Samo bih dodao: veliki igrači, kako se Pierce nazvao često zabijaju preko 30, ali Pierce definitivno nije veliki igrač. On jest vrlo dobar igrač, ali nije great player kako se nazvao. Nažalost nije. I to je činjenica.


A evo vrlo zanimljivog prijedloga trenera Houstona Jeffa Van Gundyja.

Vrlo zanimljiva ideja, ali nažalost neće proći: According to The Chronicle, Van Gundy presented his proposal to the NBA, but wasn't taken seriously.

NBA liga je upozorila Arenasa neka se ne kladi!!


Tomislav Pakrac
SuperKošarka


31.03.2007. u 09:22 • 2 KomentaraPrint#

petak, 30.03.2007.

YAHOO.COM: David Beckham najbolje odjeveni sportaš današnjice?? No comment..


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DAMON JONES, CAVS - SELF PROCLAIMED BEST DRESSER IN THE NBA (By Greg Ruffing/USA TODAY)..


Jones adds plenty of flash to his fashion


Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Damon Jones has no shame in his game when it comes to shooting or fashion.
Jones' specializes in three-pointers —214 of his 328 field goal attempts have come from behind the arc — and dressing stylishly.

The nine-year veteran is shooting 39.7% on threes, and with a wardrobe that he says includes 450 suits and 150 pairs of shoes, he is the self-proclaimed best-dressed player in the NBA.

"I'm so exotic with my looks," Jones says. "I try to be different than all the other guys."

Jones succeeds at dressing differently on a nightly basis. Last spring he sported a leopard print sports coat during the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Washington Wizards. Earlier this season, he wore a tiger print jacket when Cleveland played at Washington. When he played for Miami three seasons ago, he donned a bright red sports coat for a playoff game with Detroit.

"When you consider yourself the best dressed, you're going to go out there sometimes," Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas says. "You're going to try things nobody is else is going to try and wear things no one else is going to wear. It works for him."

Jones says he selects his game-night attire based on the magnitude of the contest.

"It depends on where we are, the importance of the game and the amount of media attention surrounding the game," Jones says. "If it's a TNT or ESPN game, I would wear a suit and tie with my customary Gucci or Louis Vuitton slippers. If it's just a regular TV game, I would go with jeans and slippers."

Jones says he has become a fashion adviser for players throughout league who call him for tips. He also says that his style is beginning to influence how his peers dress.

"You're starting to see a trend," Jones says, adding that NBA Finals MVP Dwyane Wade— named the best-dressed player in the NBA by GQ magazine — benefited from Jones' good taste in clothes when they were teammates on the Heat two seasons ago.

"D-Wade was a sweat suit and jeans type of guy," Jones says. "I think my flair kind of propelled him to what he is off the basketball floor. A lot of guys say they don't like it. It doesn't look good. Now I'm starting to see a lot of guys taking on my style."


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (30/03/2007)..


Confident in pink or red

Jones says others are able to emulate his style, but he is not concerned that someone will surpass him as the league's No. 1 clotheshorse because the combination of his personality and sartorial splendor are unbeatable.

"You can hang on my style, but you'll never have my personality," he says. "That's not a problem.

"For a guy who says he's the best-looking thing you've ever seen, it's not hard to put on a pink blazer or a bright red (sports coat). I'm OK with who I am."

Jones says he has been fashion conscious since his high school years, adding that his penchant for dressing comes from his mother, who he says "was a fashion icon."

"She would take four skirts and nine or 10 blouses and make different combinations," Jones says. "She was awesome. The way she dressed inspired me."

Jones says while his high school classmates were wearing baggy pants hanging off their waists, no belts and oversized shirts with the tail out, he wore jeans on his waist with a belt and always had his shirt tucked in.

"It made me feel good about myself, being clean-cut and being able to look good every day," he says.

Once in the NBA, he took his flair for dressing to another level.

"He does very well," Houston center Dikembe Mutombo says. "But I have a few questions about some of the colors he brings. He reminds me more of (former NBA player) Charles Oakley. He must be from Milwaukee or Cleveland."

Mutombo refers to Jones as "a Hollywood man," but he questions Jones' status as the best-dressed player in the NBA.

"Who voted for him?" Mutombo says. "I need to see that vote."


MICHAEL JORDAN SCORED 53, 50, 61 (3 GAMES)..


A throwback to the 1970s

Jones says the league has yet to see his 'A' game this season in terms of dress. He plans to unveil a new look in the upcoming weeks.

"You are in for a treat the rest of this season," he says. "I have a look that's just going to kill them. Nobody has ever done it. Nobody has ever seen it. When they see it, they're going to be like 'Wow, he's doing it again.' "

Jones also plans to make a big splash during All-Star weekend. He's competing in the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout on All-Star Saturday.

He says he already has the four outfits that he will wear for the weekend, lined up in his closet.

"Damon is quite a character," says Cary Mitchell, owner of Charlotte-based Cary Mitchell Designs. "He tries to take it to another level. He's almost like a throwback player in the '70s in the way he dresses.

"He's flashy like Earl the Pearl (Monroe), Clyde (Walt Frazier) and Gus Johnson. He reminds me of that first generation of black NBA players who were really flashy.

"He likes to have fun with his stuff. He's not like Alonzo Mourning or Michael Jordan, mainstream neat dressers. Zo is always neat and coordinated. He always fits the occasion. MJ is like that, too. Damon is flashy, but he's still classified as a good dresser."


Roscoe Nance
USA TODAY


30.03.2007. u 07:18 • 6 KomentaraPrint#

četvrtak, 29.03.2007.

WALTER HERMANN(Charlotte Bobcats): averages 16p/6s/FGs56% in last 5 games...


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Kustos - menadžer (m/ž) u Muzeju Dražena Petrovića
Kategorija: Administrativna zanimanja
Druga kategorija: Ekonomija (opće)
Managerska pozicija
Mjesto obavljanja posla: Zagreb, HRV
Promjene: 28.03.2007
Rok prijave: 04.04.2007
Županija: Zagreb i zagrebačka


WALTER HERMANN: ARGENTINSKI KOŠARKAŠKI JUNAK PROIGRAO U IŠČEKIVANJU LeBROWNEA..

Poslodavac: Zaklada Dražen Petrović
Kontakt adresa: Trg Dražena Petrovića 3
Mjesto: Zagreb
Osoba za kontakt: Biserka Petrović
Format za životopise: FAX. DOC.
Kontakt telefon: 01 4843 146
Telefaks: 01 4844 004
Kontakt e-mail adresa:
Vaša osobna web stranica: www.drazenpetrovic.net



NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (29/03/07)..

Opis posla: Zaklada Dražen Petrović traži osobu za rad na radnom mjestu kustos - menadžer (m/ž) u Muzeju Dražena Petrovića, Zagreb.

Početak rada:
Prilikom javljanja na oglas obavezno navedite sljedeću oznaku: MojPosao - 7C3A
Ključne riječi: manager, menadžer, kustos



NAJBOLJE AKCIJE XXI TJEDNA NBA SEZONE 2006/07..

Što očekujemo:
Vrsta posla: Stalno. Određeno.
Potrebna stručna sprema: Visoka stručna sprema
Potrebne godine iskustva:
Strani jezici (aktivno):

Strani jezici (pasivno):

Vozačka dozvola: B.
Osnove rada na računalu: Da
Ostali uvjeti:
- VSS
- napredno poznavanje MS Office paketa
- menadžerske i organizacijske sposobnosti
- poželjno iskustvo na sličnim poslovima



KEVIN WILLIS(44) U MAVSIMA?? AKO MOŽE ROCKY, MOGU I JA..

Što nudimo:
Plaća: Od Do
Mogućnosti za posloprimce:

www.moj-posao.net via A.



29.03.2007. u 17:46 • 0 KomentaraPrint#

srijeda, 28.03.2007.

KOBE O'LADIO vs. GRIZZLIES: 23 poena u 44 minute, šut 7-26...


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OK, prognozirali smo i bili polovično uspješni. Događa se i najboljima pa kako neće naj blogu u Hrvata i šire... Četiri susreta Elite Eighta, jedan u kojem se pobjednik iskristalizirao znatno prije kraja i tri trilera – bio bi kratak pregled vikend događanja. Što se dogodilo u susretima? Krenimo redom.


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Kansas Jayhawks – UCLA Bruins 55-68

Ne znam je li se to samo čini ili Kansas gotovo uvijek zezne stvar kad je najvažnije? To je bila odlika vrhunskih ekipa u kojima su igrali Vaughn, LaFrentz, Pierce, Hinrich, Gooden pa i ovi novi dečki koji imaju potencijala za velike stvari. Snove Jayhawksa o prvom pojavljivanju na Final Fouru nakon 2002. prekinuo je nemogućim šutevima jedna od tragičara lanjskog final Arron Afflalo s 24 p i tri trice preko igrača a play Darren Collison je imao 14p i 5ol, uz nemali doprinos kamerunskog princa Luca Mbah A Moute s 8p/6s/4ol. Brandon Rush je s dok su podbacili Mario Chalmers i Julian Wright. Sva trojica bi trebala izaći na draft, iako velike šanse za izbor u prvoj rundi ima samo Rush zahvaljujući konzistetnosti.

Zanimljivo je da su oba sastava imala kombiniranih 32 ol i 46 pogrešaka i izgubljenih lopti. Sudar dviju dobrih obrana je na kraju pripao prošlogodišnjem finalistu koji će nastojati vratiti milo za drago Gatorsima iz Gainesvillea na Floridi.


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Florida Gators – Oregon Ducks 85-77

Prvak sigurno brodi prema obrani naslova i ne zamara se pojedinačnom statistikom igrača. Sve im je na dlanu – gotovo isti sastav od prošle godine koji je u međuvremeno dodatno sazrio, a mentalno su bili jaki već prošle godine te im se razdoblja dekoncetracije vrlo rijetko događaju – u prijevodu, teško im se može dogoditi slučaj North Carolina (opisan u produžetku). Tako je bilo i ovaj put - Joakim Noah s 14p/14s te Lee Humphrey s 23 p (7 trica) predvodili su izjednačeno ekipu Gatorsa protv Oregona koji je pružio dostojan otpor ali ukoliko je i mogao parirati izvana, to nipošto nije bio slučaj u reketu. Pitanje je: ima li protiv Floride uopće rješenja budući su snažni na svim pozicijama, uz odličnu klupu? Aaron Brooks je za poražene postigao 27p/4a, još jednom pokazujući NBA potencijal.

U reprizi lanjskog finala Florida će igrati protiv UCLA. Stara je istina u NCAA da prvenstva dobivaju obrane i bekovi, ali to u ovom slučaju teško može vrijediti.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (28/03/07)..


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Ohio State Buckeyes – Memphis Tigers 92-76

Fab Five 2K7 je opravdao svoju reputaciju. Baš kao i prethodnici s Michigana 1992 došli su do kruga 4 završna sastava, sad ostaje za vidjeti hoće li učiniti koji korak više. Iako su svi analitičari ovu utakmicu titulirali epitetom visok rizik, Buckeyesi su od starta krenuli čvrsto, svjesni da nimalo bezazleni Memphis ipak ima veliku rupu pod košem i sve susrete do sada su dobivali na račun dobre vanjske linije. Nakon izjednačenog prvog poluvremena, stvari je preokrenuo Greg Oden koji je pokupio treći prekršaj odmah na početku drugog dijela pri vodstvu Buckeyesa 5 razlike. Nakon nepunih 5 minuta hlađenja i zaostatka –5 Ohio Statea u međuvremenu, u prvom idućem napadu Tigersa uspješno je blokirao gostujućeg igrača te uspješno ubacio 2 poena uz namjeran prekršaj protivnika. Iskusni bek šuter i vođa mlade ekipe Ron Lewis postigao je 22p/6s/2 st a Oden je dodao 17p/9s te Mike Conley Jr 19p/4s/2ol, dok je za goste odlično odigrao iznenađenje turnira Jeremy Hunt s 26p.

Ohio State je bio državni prvak s ekipom koji su pedvodili mladići po imenu John Havlicek i Jerry Lucas. Ljubimac zagrebačke publike Scoonie Penn ih je u suradnji s Michaelom Reddom doveo na FF 1999. godine. Koliko daleko mogu protiv Georgetowna u subotu uvečer?


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North Carolina Tar Heels- Georgetown Hoyas 84-96 (produžetak)

Što se dogodilo s Tar Heelsima nakon što su imali 75-65 cijelih 6 minuta prije kraja? Pa, ništa posebno osim što su pogodili samo 1 od slijedeća 23 šuta na koš. Ni Hoyasi iz elitnog predgrađa američke metropole nisi vjerovali da se protiv ovako snažne ekipe mogu vratiti ali su pokušali i uspjeli doći do 81-81 i izboriti dodatnih 5 minuta u kojima su postigli 15 poena a gostima dopustili samo jednu tricu kad je sve bilo praktički riješeno. U redovima pobjednika bnajbolji su bili Jeff Green s 22p/9s, 218 cm visoki centar Roy Hibbert s 13p/11s/6bl te play Jonathan Wallace s 19p/7a uz preciznog freshmana JaJuan Summersa koji je ubacio 20 lakih komada, dok je tužne dečke u baby blue dresovima predvodio Tyler Hansbrough s 26/11s. Georgetown je susret dobio obranom, pogotovo na vanjskoj liniji Tar Heelsa u kojoj su bekovi Ellington i Lawton bili neprepoznatljivi.

Posebnost susreta odigranog u dvorani NJ Netsa u East Rutherfordu je što mu je bio nazočan legendarni Pat Ewing prateći nastup svog istoimenog juniora koji nastupa za tatino sveučilište. Kao komentator je utakmicu pratio veliki trener John Thompson, koji je sa svojim bivšim igračem izgubio utakmicu za naslov na Final Fouru 1982 od North Caroline zahvaljujući košu tada nepoznatog Michaela Jeffreya Jordana. Pobjedu Hoyasa su obojica doživjela kao veliku osvetu, a bivši centar Knicksa istaknuo je kako je Najveći bio ovaj put nedostupan za sve telefonske pozive...

U polufinalu se susreću dva prva i dva druga nositelja po regijama. Snage su tu negdje, a posebno zanimljiv je matchup kod polufinala Ohio State – Georgetown gdje će se suočiti dva izvjesna kandidata za ovogodišnji draft – Greg Oden protiv Roya Hibberta.

Ivica Žuro a.k.a. Yazid
Nba.blog.hr


28.03.2007. u 13:17 • 6 KomentaraPrint#

utorak, 27.03.2007.

ADRIATIC LEAGUE: Cibona vs. Partizan @ 20.00...KOBE vs. GRIZZLIES: Another 50PT occasion??


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RANDOLPH MORRIS, NY KNICKS: NOĆAS JE ZABILJEŽIO SVOJ PRVI DNP NBA KARIJERE(Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)



ADRIATIC LEAGUE: The fight for the title begins


Now, it starts for real! On Tuesday and Wednesday the first semi-finals of the 2006/07 NLB play-off will be played in the Croatian capital and in Belgrade with FMP, Cibona, Partizan and Hemofarm guaranteeing a spot in the final part of the season.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (27/03/07)..

After a five-year period during which the Final Four was organizer three times being replaced by the Final Eight Tournament in the previous two seasons, now it is a turn to come out with the play-off of the best four teams which will meet in the best-of three games.


RASHEED WALLACE 60-FOOT BUZZER BEATER..

Two among the four semi-finalists already won the regional title, Hemofarm took in it in 2004/05 while FMP (ex-Reflex) won it twice, first in 2003/04 and for the second time in 2005/06. Both semi-finals will not be played on the same day, FMP and Hemofarm will meet a day later then Cibona and Partizan.

Adriatic League


27.03.2007. u 08:20 • 3 KomentaraPrint#

ponedjeljak, 26.03.2007.

WARRIORSI "LIMITIRALI" NAJBOLJEG NBA IGRAČA NA 43: 5W in a row Lakersa, Kobe avg. 55.6PTS in last 5


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KOBE BRYANT MAKING HISTORY (Copyright 2007 NBAE/Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)


Shot at Redemption


Through the sandbox spats with Shaquille O'Neal and criminal charges in Colorado, through the flailing arms and suspensions, Kobe Bryant keeps the innate gift that turns everyone back to the unassailable truth of his mystique: Salvation is forever in his shot.

Whatever grief he brings on himself, whatever trouble comes his way, Bryant finds his forgiveness in shooting the basketball. He keeps shooting, keeps scoring – four consecutive 50-point games and counting now – and Bryant bullies back his detractors, his demons, basket after basket. Whatever you want to say about him, he demands this to be included: Best player on the planet.

"Do you remember there was a suspension about two weeks ago?" Phil Jackson asked Friday night in New Orleans. "I think this has motivated him."

Jackson is the grand wizard master of all mind games, and it's easy to see him marveling over the one that Bryant is playing with himself and with everyone.

Fifty points on the Hornets on Friday night seemed so improbable, what with the exertion of dropping 60 points on Memphis, 50 on Minnesota and 65 on Portland in the several days. The resilience of Bryant is the way that he wears everyone else to a nub – his opponents, his public, his teammates. One by one, they tend to bow to his relentless resolve.

He isn't just scoring out of his mind, but he's winning these games, too. This is a binge with the blessing of Jackson, a holy alliance with the blessed triangle offense.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (26/03/07)..

To call his stunning four-game run of reaching 50 points Jordan-esque would be unfair to Bryant because Michael Jordan never did it. Only Wilt and Kobe now. Yes, this is Chamberlain's stratosphere, a stunning achievement considering that the 7-footer destroyed people with finger rolls and dunks. Kobe has done it as guard, done it with 55 percent shooting, and with the porous Warriors and Grizzlies on the way into Staples Center, it seems only a loss of stamina can stop this streak.

For now, Bryant has restored control of his public persona. "The thing that was frustrating for me is that people were talking about me as a dirty player, which to me was pretty insulting," he said.

Besides the PlayStation scoring runs, here's a solution for Bryant: Stop hitting people in the face. Besides that, Bryant will get past the smacks upside the heads of Manu Ginobili and Marko Jaric because he has the talent to bring it back to his greatness.

Early in the season, Bryant had been in the MVP conversation for transforming himself into a steward of the Los Angeles Lakers' system. In his personal campaign to change his public image post-arrest and post-Shaq, No. 8 had turned to No. 24 and Bryant had been driven to reshape himself in the public eye as a good teammate and good citizen.

As Kobe's learned, people are forever mistaking virtue with victory. As an Eastern Conference scout said then, "Last year, he was so ball hungry in the triangle, he would literally chase it down on offense. It was Kobe vs. everyone. This year, he's much more accepting of his teammates, of his role in the triangle."


KK SV.PETAR (CRO/C-1) feat. GUARD COMBO HLUPIĆ/CVETKO..

Until this past week, when the Lakers' losing gave him license to let loose. When everyone was debating Nowitzki vs. Nash for MVP, Kobe pushed himself back into the discussion. Unlike them, he's a defensive force as well.

Kobe has never won the award, which isn't fair considering that he's been the best player in the sport for several seasons. Circumstances have conspired against him – Shaq as a teammate, to the rape case, to the rebuilding of the roster – but with the Lakers on the cusp of contention in the Western Conference, Bryant could be setting himself up for an MVP breakthrough next season.

What's more, Bryant plans to return to Team USA this summer, where he ought to be the reason Mike Krzyzewski won't lose another game between now and the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games. With Bryant on the floor in Beijing, the Americans are done losing.

So, the plan is laid out, shot by shot, and Bryant is executing it to perfection. What has so impressed Jackson is the way that Kobe has gone on this scoring spree without going to the basket, with jump shots arching high and true. Jordan did so much more of his scoring near the rim, something Bryant hasn't had to do.

Bryant has killed them softly with that treacherous touch, pushing himself onto his own private Basketball Rushmore with Wilt. No one can take their eyes off him now, and this is where Kobe controls the message, dictates terms of engagement.

Yes, salvation is forever in the shot.

Adrian Wojnarowski
Yahoo! Sports


26.03.2007. u 08:07 • 1 KomentaraPrint#

nedjelja, 25.03.2007.

NCAA UPDATE by Yazid...NY POJAČANJE IZ VEDRA NEBA: Randolph Morris u Knicksima!



NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (25/03/07) - march madness evidentiran kod: Josha Boonea (Nets), Paula Millsapa (Jazz), i rookie Grizzliea Tarencea Kinseya..


NCAA UPDATE by YAZID

Što je nova u NCAA? Ništa posebno osim što su prošla 3 uvodna kola i došli smo do Elite Eight ili skupine od 8 sastava koji su više-manje očekivano došli na korak do odlaska na Final Four u Atlanti.

A da u prvim kolima – posebno prvi dan uopće – nije bilo iznenađenja, bilo je bez daljnjega. Kako se osjeća čovjek koji skine pobjedu Virginia Commonwealth Universityja nad Dukeom i pogodi koeficijent 2,80 ali ga zezne jedino hendikep na Louisvilla protiv Stanforda i to za 5.400 kn a ulog je bio 5 na 10 parova? Vjerujte, ne baš najsjajnije...

Ali sve je to igra. Nego, počeli smo o iznenađenjima, a to su u prvom kolu definitivno bile utakmice prvog kola (u zagradama je ranking ekipe) Duke(6)–VCU(11) 77-79, Notre Dame(6)–Winthrop(11) 64-74 i Arizona(8)–Purdue(9) 63-72 te u drugom kolu Wisconsin(2) – UNLV(7) 72-77. Momčadi su ispale, a neki dečki koji su sanjali o izboru na draftu i ranijem odlasku u profesionalne vode (u prvome redu društvo iz Arizone) nažalost će morati odgoditi njihovo ostvarenje do idućeg proljeća.


Na kraju, u bitku za nastup na završnom turniru idu po regijama:

West: Kansas(1)-UCLA(2)
Prošlogodišnji finalist ide na noge Top 3 sastavu ove sezone. Kansas se namučio protiv neugodnog Souther Illinoisa, a UCLA je nakon niza poraza pred kraj sezone ipak zaigrala kako priliči tradiciji a i snazi sastava. Od Jayhawksa na čelu s Brandonom Rushom su talentiraniji jedino dečki iz North Caroline a iskusniji prvaci iz Floride, što ukratko znači da je Kansas vrlo izvjestan za nastup u polufinalu 31.03. u glavnom gradu savezne države Georgije...

Midwest: Florida(1)-Oregon(3)
... protiv Florida Gatorsa koji suvereno brode prema obrani naslova, što su i pokazali na dosadašnjem nastupu na turniru. Skoro isti sastav od prošle godine, prva postava u kojoj su 3 sigurna izbora prve runde drafta kad god izađu na izbor – Horford, Noah i Brewer - i dobra klupa su ipak malo previše za vrlo dobar ali ne i odličan sastav Oregona kojeg predvodi Aaron Brooks.


NAJBOLJE JUČERAŠNJE AKCIJE (24/03/07)..

South: Ohio State(1)-Memphis(2)
Tough call. Fab Five 2006 poznatiji kao Ohio State Buckeyes provukao se zahvaljujući iskusnom beku Lewisu u drugom i trećem kolu potiv Xaviera 78-71 u produžetku te s pola koša prednosti protiv Tennesseeja 85-84. Memphis je dobio također nezgodne Texas A&M i u stanju je svakom zapapriti. Budući je evidentno da ima lijeka za super-freshmana Gerga Odena, otvoreno je pitanje tko će na ogled...

Ej Muraja,

Evo naletio sam na clanak na sportnet-u pa ti saljem LINK

BTW, jesi vidio da imam 7 timova u BRACKET-U od final 8! Who the man!!!

pozdrav,
Zeljko, UNC Ashville


South: North Carolina(1)-Georgetown(2)
... Tar Heelsima za koje je nekoć i Najveći nastupao. Hoyasi iz washingtonskog elitnog predgrađa su imali velike muke protiv svih borbenih ekipa pa tako i protiv Vanderbilta, što potvrđuje rezultat 66-65, i dobili su ih isključivo na račun dobre igre 217 cm visokog Roya Hibberta. North Carolina lomi ultrabrzim ritmom a i dečki unutra obavljaju svoj posao toliko dobro da recimo rookie Brandan Wright kotira kao Top 5 izbor ovogodišnjeg drafta a Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington i Tywon Lawson kao sigurni izbori prve runde.

Općenito je riječ o vrlo jakom turniru, za razliku od prošle godine, što je još jedan dokaz koliko je NCAA profitirala od uvođenja NBA restrikcije za igrače iz srednje škole. Da je ostalo po starome, Oden, Durant i Young bi grijali klupu – OK, Durant bi možda i igrao – a ovako se kroz sezonu pokazalo koliko je tko od njih sposoban i koliko dominirati nad vršnjacima i nešto starijim kolegama.


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Randolph Morris u Knicksima

Uz natjecanja i utakmice koje su u pravilu neizvjesne, priča dana pa i mjeseca dolazi s linije New York – Lexington (Kentucky) i to nakon višemjesečnih nagađanja hoće li se stvar dogoditi ili ne.

Naime, Knicksi su potpisali dvogodišnji ugovor vrijedan 1,6 milijuna $ s centromWildcatsa Randolphom Morrisom – igračem koji se nakon prve studentske sezone prijavio na draft 2005. na kojem nije uopće bio izabran i samim time stekao pravo u budućnosti potpisati za bilo koji profesionalni sastav već prema svojoj volji.

Budućnost je izgleda došla: 210 cm visok i 118 kg težak centar koji je odigrao sasvim dobru sezonu s prosjecima 16.1p/7.8s/2.1bl (da nije žurio) mogao je već lani a da ne govorimo ove godine računati na sredinu prve runde ali je ishitrenim potezom sebi iz džepa izbacio minimalnih milijun zelenih novčanica.

U nedjelju navečer Morris ima prvi trening kao član Knicksa s vrlo vjerojatnom mogućnošću da u ponedjeljak navečer zaigra protiv Orlando Magica.

Što reći na kraju? Isiah Thomas defintivno ne prestaje iznenađivati svojim potezima kao predsjednik/trener Knicksa koji su unatoč velikim pretumbavanjim u posljednjih godinu dana od statusa drugog imena za nered (u BiH kažu za ovakav klub: frtutma) do sastava koji je legitiman kandidat za sedmu ili osmu poziciju na Istoku zahavaljujući stjecaju okolnosti i lošijoj konkurenciji u konferenciji. Što se sve nije dogodilo:

- draftiranje anonimca Balkmana i Collinsa
- rastanak s Larryjem Brownom (kojeg je objektivno pregazilo vrijeme i nije ga trebalo ni potpisivati)
- favoriziranje Jeffrisa na štetu objektivno boljeg Leeja
- makljaža protiv Denvera
- povratak iz mrtvih Francisa
- sva sila ozljeda
- potpis Morrisa...


MJ 1989.: 50PTS vs. MILWAUKEE BUCKS..

Thomas sada ima priliku za iduću sezonu dobiti dva dobra studentska igrača – jednog je već potpisao a drugog bi možda mogao dobiti na ovogodišnjem draftu prekrcanom talentom jer će Knicksi sudeći prema sadašnjem omjeru 33-38 i tradeu s Bullsima te zamjeni pickova birati negdje između 21. i 24. picka što se dobrim manevriranjem oko tradeova može povisiti za pokoje mjesto.

A imena koja će se birati u donjoj trećini prve runde su internacionalci Tiago Splitter, Rudy Fernandez, Marco Belinelli i Marc Gasol te studentarija Brandon Rush (Kansas), Jared Dudley (Boston College), Dominick McGuire (Fresno State), Nick Young (USC), Marcus Williams (Arizona), Aaron Gray (Pittsburgh), Alando Tucker (Wisconsin), Morris Almond (Rice) i Kyle Wisser (Wake Forrest).

Uglavnom, bitno da nije dosadno. To je očigledno geslo bivšeg vođe Bad Boysa.

Ivica Žuro a.k.a. Yazid
Nba.blog.hr


25.03.2007. u 09:33 • 3 KomentaraPrint#

subota, 24.03.2007.

KOBE SCORING SURGE: Prestigao Jordana & Baylora na 3 uzastopne 50+ tekme, u lovu na Chamberlainovih SEDAM...


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PAKRACOLOGIJA: Kobe Bryant, Gilbertologija i Litvanski div


Svi navijači Bullsa bit će zaintrigirani ovim člankom. Kao velikom navijaču Bullsa stvarno žalim što Kobe nije došao u Bullse i što danas ne igra u Bullsima. Kobe je istinski nasljednik Michaela Jordana i to je činjenica. Igra koju on pokazuje ove sezone stvarno je fantastična i po meni bi on trebao biti MVP lige.

Kobe je puno bolji igrač od Nasha, ono što Nash radi zadnje tri sezone za Phoenix je zaista nevjerojatno i svaka mu čast. Pod njegovim vodstvom Sunsi igraju najljepšu košarku u NBA, a Nash je uvjerljivo najbolji asistent lige (prosječno 11.5 asistencija po utakmici – ima dvije asistencije više od drugoplasiranog Derona Williamsa iz Utah Jazza: 9.4 asista po utakmica).

Međutim, jedna činjenica posebno upada u oči: način na koji se danas broje asistencije. Zato Nash i ima tako mnogo asista po utakmici. O tome sam pisao u Superkošarci broj 12 kada sam napisao životnu priču o fantastičnom Oscaru Robertsonu, jednom od najboljih asistenata u povijesti košarke. Tada sam napisao:

OSCAR O DANAŠNJEM NAČINU BROJENJA ASISTENCIJA

Robertsonu se uopće ne sviđa današnji način brojenja asistencija. Štoviše, uvjeren je da bi u današnje vrijeme sigurno mogao imati triple-double prosjek cijele sezone. Rekao je da bi u današnje vrijeme imao više asistencija zato jer su statističari u njegovo vrijeme bili puno škrtiji kada je u pitanju bilo brojenje asistencija.

Oscar je to potvrdio ovom izjavom: danas ako igrač dodaje loptu suigraču, i on je dribla nekih petnaestak metara i zabije koš, velike su šanse da će igrač koji mu je dodao loptu dobiti asistenciju.

Dakle, danas su statističari puno blaži u brojenju asistencija nego u Oscarovo vrijeme. I to je činjenica od koje se ne može pobjeći.

Oscar će nam reći i zašto je to tako: Ako sam ti dodao loptu, i ti si s njom driblao (pa makar i samo jedanput) i zabio koš, to nije bila asistencija. Ali danas se sve računa kao asistencija. Nema veze ako driblaš loptu osam ili devet puta, to se broji kao asistencija. Kada sam ja igrao nije bilo tako.

I zato se neki danas čude što najbolji asistent Eurolige ima u prosjeku samo 5 asistencija. To je zato jer se asistencije broje isto kao u Oscarovo vrijeme. Da se danas u NBA ligi asistencije broje onako kako su se brojile prije četrdesetak godina (tj. u Oscarovo vrijeme) Oscar bi gotovo sigurno i danas bio najbolji asistent svih vremena.



KOBE BRYANT SCORED 65, 50, 60 HIGHLIGHTS..

Vezano za priču tko je najkorisniji NBA igrač jedna zanimljiva analiza s jednog genijalnog košarkaškog bloga.

Gilbert Arenas se voli zezati. To je sa Gilbertovog bloga koji on piše na nba.com. Inače, blog morate obavezno čitati jer je Arenas totalno otkačen. A ovo je ludo..

Nema se tu što posebno dodati ili reći. Vidi se da je ovaj Gilbert još uvijek jedno veliko dijete kojem su na pameti samo budalaštine. Pa tko bi razuman išao govorit da će Portlandu zabiti 50 koševa zato da se osveti treneru Portlanda Nateu McMillanu. Pa nije ga McMillan izbacio (ili D'Antoni) nego Jerry Colangelo. Da se podsjetimo, 31. kolovoza prošle godine Arenas je izjavio sljedeće:

"Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas is frustrated about not being on the U.S. national team playing in the FIBA World Championship and said he believes he was not given a fair tryout. When Arenas left the squad on Aug. 14, national team managing director Jerry Colangelo said it was because Arenas had an injured groin. But in his first comments since then, Arenas, the Wizards' leading scorer and a two-time all-star, said he didn't think he was going to make the 12-man roster and that the injury became an excuse to part ways." Washington Post


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Jedna tužna priča. Vjerojatno ste čuli potresnu priču o Martynasu Andriuskevičiusu. Zaista je nevjerojatno da jedan udarac može biti tako razoran. Sjetite se događaja iz 1977. kada je igrač Lakersa Kermit Washington na utakmici protiv Houston Rocketsa tako snažno udario 'našeg' Rudyja Tomjanovicha (koji je tada igrao za Houston) da su se Tomjanovichu pomaknule kosti na licu. O tom tragičnom događaju koji je na svu sreću imao sretan završetak ću pisati u jednom od sljedećih brojeva Superkošarke.

Nažalost, Martynas Andriuskevičius nije odigrao još nijednu minutu za Bullse, ali potencijal svakako postoji. Pa ipak je on tek 1986 godište. Treba raditi s njim i dati mu priliku i tada bi moglo biti nešto od njega. Naravno, pod uvjetom ako će mu to zdravlje dopustiti. Jer čak postoji i mogućnost da više nikada neće igrati košarku.

Ovu sezonu Bullsi su ga poslali na kaljenje u NBADL. Neko vrijeme je bio u Dakota Wizardsima u NBADL ligi i odigrao je tri utakmice za njih (prosječno 18 minuta, 5 koševa i 2.3 skoka), ali nakon tog nesretnog incidenta Bullsi su ga povukli u Chicago i dali mu najbolju moguću medicinsku skrb. Vidjet ćemo što će biti s njim.


KOBE @ DENVER: LINAS KLEIZA MAKING CASE (MARCH: 12.9p/5.9s/25min)..

I za kraj, jedna zanimljivost vezana za Paula Piercea. Možemo reći kako je on zaista medicinski fenomen..

Tomislav Pakrac
Superkošarka


24.03.2007. u 09:05 • 4 KomentaraPrint#

petak, 23.03.2007.

BRYANT BREAKS 50 FOR 3rd STRAIGTH TIME: 20-37 from the field, 17-18 from free throw line


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KOBE GOES FOR SIXTY: ŠTO STE SE ZAMRZNULI, GRIZZLIESI??


Memphis 119, LA Lakers 121


MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Kobe Bryant became the fourth player in NBA history to score at least 50 points in three straight games Thursday night.

Bryant said the most important thing was that it happened in another win.

"It's special because it's coming off three straight wins," Bryant said. "This is a stretch where we really need to make up some ground."

Bryant scored 60 points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 121-119 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Bryant was 20-for-37 from the field, including 3-for-7 from 3s, and 17 of 18 from the free-throw line.

The last Laker with three consecutive 50-point games was Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor in December 1962. Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain are the only other players with three straight 50-point games. Chamberlain has the record with seven consecutive 50-point games, which he did in December 1961.

"It just feels great," Bryant said of joining Baylor, Jordan and Chamberlain. "Growing up I idolized all of them, from Wilt, to M.J. to Elgin. It's a tremendous honor to be in that same class with those guys and in the history books."

It was the fourth 60-point game of Bryant's career, tying him with Jordan for the second-most 60-point games in a career. Chamberlain holds the record with 32. Jordan was the last NBA player to score at least 50 points in three straight games, accomplishing the feat during the 1986-87 season.

Bryant will try to extend the run when the Lakers face the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night. Bryant scored 65 points against Portland on March 16 and 50 against Minnesota on March 18.

"I just feel like guys are finding me," Bryant said. "It's not like I'm taking difficult shots outside of a couple of them, and I'm in rhythm when I'm taking those.

"To get in a rhythm, I have to get great picks, great looks and great passes. You can't do that without the help of your teammates, particularly because they're sending double and triple teams. It makes it even more important that I get good passes and good screens."


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (23/03/07)..

Memphis had won seven of the past 10 against the Lakers and had split two earlier meetings this season. But with Bryant scoring from every spot on the floor, the Grizzlies couldn't keep pace.

Memphis took an 85-80 lead, its biggest of the game, late in the third quarter after consecutive 3-pointers by Mike Miller. But the Lakers battled back behind Bryant, who scored nine straight points during a 90-second stretch to put Los Angeles up 95-93. The Lakers never trailed again.

Bryant had 24 points at the half and 43 after three quarters against the Grizzlies.

"When he gets going like that there's not a whole lot you can do," Miller said. "That's why Kobe is who he is. He doesn't get tired. He's in great shape. He's got his foot on the accelerator the whole game."

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Bryant's aggressive nature was evident throughout the game.

"At one point, we got the offensive rebound and (had) a whole new 24-second (shot clock) left," Jackson said. "Lamar (Odom) gave the ball right back to him and Kobe went right back at them. He just smells blood in the water and he's going to go after you."

Pau Gasol led Memphis with 35 points and 15 rebounds. Miller added 33 points and seven assists.

Odom was one of only two other Lakers to reach double figures. He finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds, but spent the postgame talking about Bryant's feat.

"It's a blessing to be on the court with him," Odom said.

The Lakers grabbed a 34-25 lead in the first quarter behind Bryant, who had 13 points.

Memphis fought back to tie the game at 53 in the final minutes of the second quarter as Gasol, Rudy Gay and Hakim Warrick combined for 14 points during a 14-6 Grizzlies run.


BASKETBALL MIXTAPE: NOW THIS IS TALENT..

Notes

Gasol extended his streak of having at least one block to 28 straight games... With the University of Memphis playing in the round of 16 of the NCAA tournament in San Antonio, the Grizzlies public address announcer gave periodic updates and the overhead video board showed stretches of the NCAA game. In the second half, the NCAA game was shown in its closing minutes before officials asked that it not be shown because the crowd's reaction was distracting play on the court.

Sports/Yahoo.com

23.03.2007. u 07:44 • 1 KomentaraPrint#

četvrtak, 22.03.2007.

BUCKSI(25-42): Bogut & Villanueva na godišnji, Markota na posao...KOBE24: @ MEMPHIS


SKRIVENA KAMERA NA DIVCU


Vlade Divac za neovisno Kosovo


Proslavljeni srpski košarkaš Vlade Divac bio je žrtva skrivene kamere u kojoj mu je podvaljena naslovna strana "Kurira" na kojoj piše da se zalaže za nezavisnost Kosova.

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Skrivenu kameru za Divca organizirala je ekipa "Nemoguće misije" i beogradskog dnevnika „Kurir“, a malo su pripomogli i njegovi prijatelji Predrag Danilović i Duško Vujošević.

Redakcija "Kurira" je za tu priliku specijalno štampala primjerak lista, u kojem su na naslovnoj i posljednjoj strani objavljene fotografije na kojima košarkaška legenda nosi odijelo sa grbom OVK, a u ruci albanski dres. Sve uz naslove "Divac zakucao Srbiju" i "Divac podržao nezavisno Kosovo", prenosi u ponedeljak „Kurir“.

Elem, Danilović je u subotu uvečer pozvao Divca da se nađu u kafiću "Blu vejv", kako bi se posavjetovali u vezi sa zajedničkim poslom. I dok su njih dvojica razgovarali, trener Partizana Duško Vujošević, koji je sve vrijeme bio u kombiju "Nemoguće misije", pozvao je telefonom Danilovića i ispričao mu kako se na naslovnoj strani Kurira nalazi Vladina slika, na odijelu nosi grb OVK, a sve prati tekst u kojem podržava samostalnost Kosova.

„Izašao je tekst u Kuriru sa naslovom "Divac zakucao Srbiju", izjavioje Danilović Divcu i, dok dok mu je prepričavao, Divac je nazvao jednog novinara da provjeri da li je to točno, a ovaj mu je odgovorio da nema pojma o čemu se radi.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (22/03/07): na broju 10 donedavni Šveđin suigrač iz Tulse, Alan Anderson..

Iznenađenje tek sljedi kada se pojavi kolporter. Divac čita tekst i ne može da vjeruje. „Pa ovo nije točno, ne mogu da vjerujem. Treba otići u Kurir i tamo im baciti bombu“, kuka Divac i telefonira prijateljima da kupe novine. Ubrzo mu "slučajno" prilaze momci sa susjednog stola, kaskaderi "Nemoguće misije", i počinju da ga prozivaju.

„Voljeli smo te, bio si nam idol, a pogledaj sada, prodao si nas“, urlaju na sav glas, a Divac iznerviran počinje da se pravda i situacija postaje neugodna, pa mora da reagira i menadžer kluba i izbaci momke, koji nastavljaju sa zadatkom van kafića.

Momci koji su ga maloprije prozivali sprejem šaraju Danilovićev džip i polivaju ga benzinom. Šokiran ovom situacijom, Divac pokušava da smiri momke, jedan od njih vadi pištolj, ali i Danilović je naoružan i "ubija" kaskadera.

Tada istrčavaju momci iz ekipe "Nemoguća misija", kao i nasmijani Dule Vujošević, i Divac, koji je te večeri mjenjao boju lica od zelene do crne, mogao je odahnuti, ali dugo nakon toga nije mogao da se nasmije.


NAJBOLJIH 10 AKCIJA XX TJEDNA 2006/07..

Jedan od suvlasnika "Nemoguće misije“ Predrag Marković izjavio je da će epizoda sa Divcem biti emitirana 18. marta, kao prva u novom serijalu ove emisije.

MONDO

22.03.2007. u 07:25 • 3 KomentaraPrint#

srijeda, 21.03.2007.

CRO HOOPS: Cibona merciless u S.Vrelima, Split feat. Larry Ayuso @ 3-0, Aco debitirao pobjedom


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NISAM NAŠAO MANCEOVU SLIKU DA OBJAVIM VAŽNU OBAVIJEST, PA SAM PRIBJEGAO POMOĆNIM RJEŠENJIMA..


Košarkaši Cibone i Split Croatia osiguranja nastavili su pobjednički niz i u susretima trećeg kola Lige za prvaka prvenstva Hrvatske. Obje momčadi upisale su gostujuće pobjede - Cibona je protiv gradskog suparnika Cedevite u dvorani Sutinska vrela pobijedila 90:66, dok je Split slavio protiv Svjetlosti 82:77.

Cibonu su do pobjede predvodili Davor Kus i Marijan Mance sa po 15 koševa, te Christopher Wright sa 14 koševa, dok su najefikasniji igrači u redovima Cedevite bili Dujmović sa 14 i Adam Harrington sa 11 koševa.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (21/03/07)..

U pobjedi Splita najefikasniji su bili Larry Ayuso sa 29 koševa i Hrvoje Perić sa 15 koševa. U redovima Svjetlosti prvi strijelac je bio Ljubo Šamadan sa 24 koša, dok je Darko Pezer ubacio 21 koš.

Nakon tri kola Cibona i Split CO imaju po tri pobjede, Cedevita ima pobjedu i dva poraza, a zatim slijede Zagreb, Zadar i Borik Puntamika sa po jednom pobjedom i porazom. Na začelju su Kvarner Novi Resort sa dva poraza, te Svjetlost sa tri poraza.

(HINA)



__________________________________


I ne samo to, nego su na "Dobro Jutro Hrvatska" spomenuli da je Ayuso zabilježio 10 asistencija/5 skokova. Velika TV-promidžba za probuđeni klub Dina Rađe čija je glavna okosnica pod košem u iznimno kratkom periodu postao 2D Andrija Stipanović (9.3 poena+9.3skokova). Nije li i The Warm bio na sličnim prosjecima u svojim počecima? A Andrija baš ima to nešto, rodmanovsko, na terenu..

U Trnsko nažalost nisam stigao, propustio sam cro-game of the week. No comment, rekao sam glasnogovorniku KK Zagreba H.K.:

"Klara je malo prehlađena, nažalost ne mogu doći."


Što se tiče one strane cijele priče Starbury is about to leave for NY and to propably buy some real merchendize.


LANCE STEPHENSON HIGHLIGHTS..

Knicksi (30-36) definitivno nisu jedina stvar u gradu. Iako je srednjoškolska utakmica Lincolna i Brooklyna u hrvatske medije došla zbog nepopularnih razloga (kojima se nećemo baviti na ovim blog širinama i dužinama), neki malo konstuktivniji mediji zamijetili su da Lincoln HS u svojim redovima ima legitimnog nasljednika Starburya i Telfairea. I nije point guard, nego je point...ukratko:

L-A-N-C-E S-T-E-P-H-E-N-S-O-N


Kolega T.P. (magazin "Košarka") je bio u gradu, ali se nismo vidjeli, odgodili smo to za petak.

Kud koji, Mili moji!!

Muraya
Nba.blog.hr

21.03.2007. u 08:17 • 4 KomentaraPrint#

utorak, 20.03.2007.

SUTINSKA VRELA: Cedevita vs. Cibona...ARENAS @ McMILLAN: Gilbert strikes back??


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The European dream

DALLAS – Here was Dirk Nowitzki, eyes tired, voice soft, sitting at a table in the Dallas Mavericks' offices with his mind running through the way that Steve Nash had again broken his heart. Hours earlier, a sleepless night had been born out of the disgust of a double-overtime loss to the Suns, one of those games that rustled the spirits of playoffs past, that fed into the fury of Dwyane Wade's resounding rip on his NBA finals failure.

For a moment here, though, the Mavericks star allowed himself to rewind three years to when Nash, his best friend, left Dallas for the desert. Nash's fleeing for free agency has been played out so many times, with all the reasons and regrets, but Nowitzki is forever left with, "What if?"

"We both love the teams we play with, but sometimes you think of what could've been if we stayed together," he said. "Would we have won a championship or not? Sometimes, I go through it in my mind …"

It wouldn't be long the other day until he snapped back that faraway gaze, because even without Nash running these Mavs, Nowitzki is still lording over the deepest, most versatile roster in the league. He's still in the midst of an MVP season, a greatness that has sculpted a prototype for the European basketball player in the NBA.

Here in the quiet of American Airlines Center, Nowitzki reflected on growing from a lost teen, fresh out of Germany whom in much of the league's eyes had arrived in the 1998 NBA draft as something of a science project in Don Nelson's laboratory.

Across his nine seasons, he has done everything a player must do for to reach a superstar's standing in this league – everything short of winning a championship. That's the threshold for him now, and he has himself and the Mavs on the cusp. Maybe most of all, Nowitzki has made America see that a European could be a franchise player, the cornerstone of a championship contender.

As much as anyone in the NBA today, in his own way, Nowitzki changed the game.

"You have to give Nellie a lot of credit: I don't think there were a lot of coaches then who would've let a 7-footer just dribble up the ball and jack up a three," he said. "He helped me find my game and develop it into something that really hasn't been done before.

"If I would've gone somewhere else, they would've made me a back-to-the-basket power forward and tried to punch it into the paint with me. Nellie didn't think that was my game and gave me all the freedom. I owe him a lot."


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (20/03/07)..

Without Nowitzki, there's no Andrea Bargnani of Italy getting drafted No. 1 in Toronto and getting to play beyond the three-point line at 7-foot without a disparaging word. Nowitzki gave Bargnani, gave the next wave, legitimacy.

Now, he makes his bid for the final frontier for the European star. At 28 years old, he has averaged 25.2 points and 9.7 rebounds a game this season. As long as the Mavericks, 54-11 now, hold off the Suns and Nash for the No. 1 seed in the West, Nowitzki deserves to finally earn his first Most Valuable Player award.

"What has changed is that they do believe that guy can come over and be franchise players," he said. "That wasn't the case before, but now, they know we're good enough to carry teams over here."

After hearing Nowitzki lament letting those 2006 finals to the Heat slip away, Wade left everyone stunned with such a pointed, personal response to Nowitzki this season. The Mavs star raised his hand, took the blame, but somehow Wade decided this was a slight of the Heat. Of course, Dallas had Miami down two games to nothing, had them down double figures late in Game 3, before everything collapsed.

"… Dirk says they gave us the championship last year, but he's the reason they lost the championship," Wade said, "because he wasn't the leader that he's supposed to be in the closing moments."

Even now, Nowitzki sounds confused on how the mild-mannered Wade turned something so benign into something nastily personal.

"I thought he reacted really, really sensitive to what I said," Nowitzki said. "Everybody knows we had the series in control. … I thought I said something that we all felt.

"I wasn't going to go back at him again. That's not me."


NBA on ABC 1969 NBA FINALS GAME 7 FINISH (9 MIN)

Of course, Nowitzki rolled his eyes and laughed when it was suggested that his boss, Mark Cuban, couldn't so easily let Wade's words go. The owner of the Mavericks hustled to Dirk's defense, blasting Wade in his blog. It was classic, combative Cuban – over the top and endlessly entertaining.

"(Cuban) probably shouldn't have said what he said," Nowitzki said. "Even by responding to that, it looks like (Wade) really got to us."

Beneath it all, you wonder if Wade himself still clings to those lingering stereotypes that a Euro is too soft, that he isn't cut out to burden an NBA championship. Wade wouldn't be alone in that thinking, and Nowitzki understands that none of that goes away until he's holding that trophy over his head this June, until Dirk Nowitzki goes the complete distance.

Adrian Wojnarowski
Yahoo! Sports



20.03.2007. u 07:43 • 2 KomentaraPrint#

ponedjeljak, 19.03.2007.

FIFTY POINTS: Kobe vs. T-wolves, Rocketsi nakantali 76erse - u Philadelphiji!!...MARKOTA @ DAKOTA: 30min/13p/5a/2s


TIME OUT


Cirkus ponovno u našem i vašem gradu

Prije mjesec dana nudio se Ciboni za dugoročnu suradnju i mjesto sportskog direktora, nesebično dijeleći ideje s javnošću; u subotu je sjeo na klupu njezina najvećeg rivala. Da se ne radi o Aci, rekli bismo da je to nemoguće...


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (19/03/07)..

Ovako, sto posto sam siguran, dijelimo istu viziju: Zadar osvaja titulu, po mogućnosti u dvorani koja nosi ime njegova tragično poginulog brata, a Aco dostojanstveno odšeta s parketa u svlačionicu, gdje ispušta emotivni urlik oduševljenja i popravlja kravatu da bi dostojanstveno, od nekoga iz HKS-a, s kojim je godinama u ratu, primio zlatnu medalju oko vrata. Realno ili ne, nije bitno; čovjek mora imati uzvišeni cilj kojem će težiti. A svima nam je jedan od ciljeva “jednim udarcem poubijati cijelo jato dosadnih muha”. Aco može samo dobiti, ionako ga velik dio javnosti smatra “bivšim trenerom” još od EP-a u Turskoj.


DIVAC PUNKED NISAM PRONAŠAO, PA EVO JINGLA SHAQ'S SONG..

Postoji stotinu opravdanja za neuspjeh, a uspjehom će se iz “najomraženijeg djelatnika koji je promolio nos u Jazine” prometnuti u najomiljenijeg. Usput će domaću ligu pretvoriti u cirkus, siguran sam da će naći načina, i upustiti se sa Subotićem u borbu za “najelegantnijeg trenera na tlu Hrvatske”. Dva jaka ega, njegov i Giergin, koegzistirat će tri mjeseca na zajedničkoj duševnoj hrani: dokazati da se Cibona i Božo mogu “skinuti”. Dan prije nego što je ustoličen za trenera Zadra, rekao mi je u šali: “Ako se to dogodi, nadam se da ćeš me štititi kao što štitiš Zulu”. Da ga nema, trebalo bi ga izmisliti!

Zoran Čutura
Jutarnji list


19.03.2007. u 08:24 • 8 KomentaraPrint#

nedjelja, 18.03.2007.

ACO PETROVIĆ, KK ZADAR: "Zanima me samo naslov Prvaka!" (SN)...NBA @ OBN: Detroit vs. Dallas (20.30)


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ACIN REKET, VEČERNJI LIST, PETAK


Split se napokon osovio na noge


Nakon prvih dvaju kola hrvatskog košarkaškog prvenstva, Split je sigurno najugodnije iznenađenje. Pobjede u Zadru protiv Borika i doma nad Zagrebom možda su malo iznenađenje, no uprava Splićana napravila je odličan posao dovođenjem Stipanovića i razigravača Barkleya.

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To se najviše vidi po učinku Ayusa, koji je šuter svjetske klase i koji je znao iskoristiti lopte što mu je servirao Barkley. Split je s tom dvojicom novih igrača svakako zaokružio jednu dobru momčad, koja bi s Ayusom, Perićem, Kedžom, Rudežom i ostalima mogla do dobrih rezultata.

S druge strane, Zadar je najugodnije iznenađenje. No najveći je problem momčadi iz Zadra obrana. Zadrani imaju individualnu kvalitetu, pogotovo napadački, svakoj momčadi mogu ubaciti 90 poena, no bez prepoznatljivije defanzive nema ni laganih koševa, a ni pobjeda.

Ostavka Petra Popovića logična je, pogotovo stoga što u ožujku sigurno ne možete promijeniti pola momčadi.

Aco Petrović
Večernji list



NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (18/03/07) - ON THE RISE: Bucks by Krystkowiak (2-0), Trevor Ariza, Tyrus Thomas..baš su čudni ovi Bullsi u zelenom..


ALEKSANDAR PETROVIĆ, NOVI TRENER ZADRA, NEDJELJNI JUTARNJI


Tri razloga u korist Zadra


Aco Petrović objasnio nam je zašto je prihvatio ponudu Zadra:

"Tri su ključna razloga zbog kojih se nisam dvoumio oko preuzimanja klupe Zadra:

Prvo, tri mjeseca prije kraja sezone situacija je takva da se borimo za trofej, što je puno kvalitetnije nego da dolazim na klupu momčadi koja strahuje od ispadanja, a u takvim sam situacijama prije bio.

Drugo, nominalna kvaliteta igrača nije upitna, iako je ekipa lošije igrala u posljednje vrijeme.



KRULE SRETAN TI 18. ROĐENDAN: 11 mjeseci, 11338 posjetitelja, 22 comments, 22 times favorited..

Treće, ljudi unutar kluba bili su jednoglasni oko izbora novog trenera, što je dodatna motivacija za mene, a ujedno poruka igračima i navijačima Zadra.

Zoran Čutura
Jutarnji list


18.03.2007. u 08:52 • 6 KomentaraPrint#

subota, 17.03.2007.

ST.PATRICK'S DAY: Kobe zabio 65 T-Blazersima (OT)...ZG-DERBI: Cibona vs. Zagreb @ 20.00


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Katelyn Kristine Faber

Born: 1985
Birthplace: Colorado

Gender: Female
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Victim

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Kobe Bryant's accuser

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Piano player, also an aspiring singer - she tried out for American Idol, with Forgive by Rebecca Lynn Howard. She failed to advance past the first round.

As of 2005, Faber's name appears more than 14,000 times on the Internet. The nationwide tabloid Globe published her name on its front page, and featured her uncensored photo multiple times. She filed a civil suit against Kobe Bryant, under the plaintiff pseudonym Jane Doe, on 10 August 2004.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (17/03/07): Monta Show sudionik u prve dvije akcije, te čak 3/10 ukupno. Ako niste znali Monta je u NBA došao kao srednjoškolska zvijezda i trenutno broji 21 godinu. Sky is the limit at this point, Warriorsi drže 8. poziciju na Zapadu..

Caused an immense stir by appearing in public rather pregnant.

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At the insistence of Faber, Eagle County Colorado District Attorney Mark Hurlbert dropped charges against Bryant on 1 September 2004 after a public expense of over $200,000 on the case. Faber has agreed not to refile charges against Bryant, but is pursuing the aforementioned civil suit against the basketball player.

Father: Paul Louis Faber (telephone company employee, b. 1950)
Mother: Kristine Ann Faber (school district employee)
Husband: (m. 2005, met husband in rehab, child on the way)
Slept with: Kobe Bryant (30-Jun-2003)

High School: Eagle Valley Senior High, Gypsum, CO
University: University of Northern Colorado (attending)

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unknown detox facility
Drug Overdose 30-May-2003
Suicide Attempt 30-May-2003
Raped (by Kobe Bryant 30-Jun-2003, according to her, lawsuit settled)
Suicide Attempt 2004
Risk Factors: Marijuana, Cocaine, Smoking, Bipolar Disorder

NNDB/Globe via Tomislav Pakrac


17.03.2007. u 08:30 • 5 KomentaraPrint#

petak, 16.03.2007.

POBJEDNIK: Novi coach Bucksa Krystkowiak startao pobjedom nad Spursima...LUZERI: Duke ispao, Lakersi 7, Pacersi 11 u nizu


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Markota gaining confidence


THIS WEEK scouting report on Markota

Markota seems to be gaining confidence as of late, and his play has certainly improved over the past couple games. The best game of his short D-League career came on Friday, where he finished with 18 points and 8 rebounds on 8/13 from the field. Markota has legitimate 3 point range at this point, but he must continue to take shots within the flow of the offense, rather than forcing things off the dribble.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (16/03/07)..

He has also displayed the limited ability to drive to the hoop, but he needs to work on finishes more aggressively inside. At this point, it’s tough to project Markota’s future, but he certainly has a lot of assets to work with on the court.


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LAST WEEK scouting report on Markota

Ovo su stvarno super vijesti, jer prije tjedan dana analiza je bila puno lošija, nešto poput "ne gine mu još koja sezona u Tulsi": Markota is faced with the challenge of learning to play a new type of game in addition to adjusting to receiving playing time again. At this point in time, he seems to lack confidence in his shot even though he was known as a good three point shooter overseas.


JEDAN OD DAMIROVIH OMILJENIH PURE SHOOTERA: RAY ALLEN..

In the flow of the game Markota has passed up numerous open looks that his teammates encourage him to take, and instead tries to create jumpers off the dribble. He looks to be comfortable facing the basket on the offensive end, but he will need to work on playing within the flow of the game. At this point, Markota looks to be a long term project, and he could benefit from a couple seasons in the D-League.

Iggypop via DraftExpress

16.03.2007. u 07:53 • 1 KomentaraPrint#

četvrtak, 15.03.2007.

VEČERNJI/GLOBUS: Kukoč i Rađa na oproštaju Divca?...ZADAR: Popova ostavka...SPLIT: stradali "Mravi", Stipanović 28min/5p/8s


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POZIV PRIJATELJIMA Srpski košarkaš na svom oproštaju od aktivnog igranja želi imati i hrvatske velikane


Kukoč i Rađa na oproštaju Divca

Na svom oproštaju od aktivnog igranja koji neće biti u formi oproštajne utakmice legenda srpske košarke želi imati i dvojicu hrvatskih velikana. Potkraj rujna u njegovu rodnom Prijepolju bit će otvorena izložba posvećena Vladi Divcu, a među ekskluzivnih 100-tinjak uzvanika trebale bi biti i dvije hrvatske košarkaške legende Toni Kukoč i Dino Rađa.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (15/03/07)..

I Magic u Prijepolju

Poruka je izložbe "I iz Prijepolja je moguće u Los Angeles", pa bi u taj gradić trebale doći i najveće legende Lakersa poput Magica i Jabbara, a putem videolinka javit će se Jack Nicholson i Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Ne znam ništa o tome, nismo se odavna čuli, no budem li pozvan, rado ću se odazvati. Vlade i ja smo dobri kao prije, kao i kad smo igrali zajedno u reprezentaciji bivše države i često bili cimeri. - Dino Rađa.



NAJBOLJE AKCIJA XIX TJEDNA SEZONE..


Tajni susreti s Hrvatima

S obzirom na iskustva s beogradskog oproštaja Saše Đorđevića, kada je kao i Rađa doživio ovacije, poziv će vjerojatno prihvatiti i Toni Kukoč. Divac je nedavno kazao da se nakon 1990., za vrijeme Domovinskog rata, s Rađom i Kukočem nastavio potajno družiti. Pristao je na to, kaže, na njihovo inzistiranje jer oni su se bojali reakcije hrvatske javnosti na svoje kontakte sa srpskim nacionalistom.

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MURAYIN NCAA BRACKET!!

Dražen Brajdić
Večernji list


15.03.2007. u 07:46 • 2 KomentaraPrint#

srijeda, 14.03.2007.

BRACKETOLOGY by NBA.BLOG.HR...MARKOTA @ Forth Worth (TX): 34min/10p/4s/3a


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE NBA AKCIJE (14/03/2007): Boki Nachbar nastavlja s kontinuitetom zakucavanja u kontrama Netsa. Ovaj mjesec je na izvanrednih 13.4p/4.3s u 25 minuta igre prosječno...


Florida, North Carolina, Ohio State i Kansas. Riječ je o regionalnim nositeljima skupina unutar studentskog prvenstva u NCAA, a ujedno se radi o favoritima za naslov, s tim da tu posebno izdvojiti branitelje Florida Gatorse koji su u gotovo neokrnjenom sastavu u odnosu na prošlogodišnju momčad krenuli u obranu trofeja.

No, zadatak će biti težak jer je uz navedeni trojac koji je suvereno osvojio prvenstvo vlastite konferencije realne šanse za odlazak do kraja ima bar još 5 do 10 supersnažnih ekipa - koje je neosvajanje konferencijskog turnira koštao boljeg rankinga u glavnom ždrijebu – kao što su primjerice UCLA, Arizona, Texas, Duke, Texas A&M, Maryland, Pittsburgh.

Prvi dio March Madnessa je ostao za nama, odigrani su konferencijski turniri u 30 konferencija čiji pobjednici su automatski upali u bubanj satavljen od 65 kuglica s imenima sudionika košarkaškog ludila koje će se okončati u Atlanti 02. travnja.

Pobjednici po konferencijama
America East: Albany
Atlantic 10: George Washington
ACC: North Carolina
Atlantic Sun: Belmont
Big 12: Kansas
Big East: Georgetown
Big Sky: Weber State
Big South: Winthrop
Big Ten: Ohio State
Big West: Long Beach State
Colonial Athletic: VCU
Conference USA: Memphis
Horizon: Wright State
Ivy League: Penn
Metro Atlantic: Niagara
MAC: Miami of Ohio
Mid Continent: Oral Roberts
Mid-Eastern: Florida A&M
Missouri Valley: Creighton
Mountain West: UNLV
Northeast Conference: Central Connecticut State
Ohio Valley: Eastern Kentucky
Pac-10: Oregon
Patriot League: Holy Cross
SEC: Florida
Southern: Davidson
Southland: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
SWAC: Jackson State
Sun Belt: North Texas
West Coast: Gonzaga
Western Athletic: New Mexico State


NCAA Comitee je imao težak zadatak odabrati 65 sastava od kojih su dvojica – a tu čast ove godine imaju Florida A&M i Niagara (Nikad čuli?) – sinoć odigrati pretkolo u Daytonu i nakon toga pobjednik Niagara ide Kansasu. Većina sastava je tu s pravom, iako je mnogo polemike izazavalo neuvrštenje Syracusea (favorita mnogih zbog vrlo dobre forme u posljednjih mjesec dana), Kansas Statea i Air Forcea te izbor samo dvije momčadi iz konferencije Missouri Valley za razliku od prošlogodišnja 4 sastava.

Poseban kuriozitet ovogodišnjeg izbora je što iz Kentuckya u turniru sudjeluju 4 sastava.

No, kako već odavno znamo, nitko nije savršen i svake godine se vuku repovi oko ovog izbora jer je od više od 300 sastava te bar 100 njih s pozitivnim omjerom teško idealno izabrati njih 65.

Bracket izgleda ovako:


Evo ga Muraya.

Tu ti je ESPN bracket za ispunjavanje čiji link možeš stavit na svoj blog, a predlažem i organiziraš malo natjecanje gdje svi napišu i predaju bracket tebi i da vidimo tko ima najviše pickova. Prvi krug jedan bod, drugi dva boda itd!


NCAA 2007 MEN B-BALL BRACKET

Možemo dogovorit pravila ako hoceć nešto tako organizirat i ima zainteresiranih pa ću ti ja reći kako smo mi to u USA igrali!

Good luck,

Željko




BRACKETOLOGY: Confused with your brackets? Jason Horowitz and Gary Parrish give you helpful pointers and tips in UPS Bracketology, exclusively on CBS SportsLine.

Sada slijedi ono zbog čega je NCAA košarka popularna, a to su moguća iznenađenja kojih u svakom turniru zna biti već u prvom kolu. jedna je utakmica i ulog je golem, pa se počesto znaju opeći i najveći, kao primjerice Kansas lani protiv Bradleya te predlani protiv Bucknella ili tadašnji branitelj naslova UCLA protiv Princetona 1996.

Po tom pitanju ove godine iskače nekoliko parova već u prvom kolu u kojem bi ekipa slabija po rangu mogla lako dobiti: Virginia Tech (5) – Illinois (12), Indiana (7) – Gonzaga (10), USC (5) – Arkansas (12), Marquette (8) – Michigan State (9), UNLV (7) – Georgia Tech (10), Nevada (7) – Creighton (10), Tennessee (5) – Long Beach State (12).

Naš pick? U finalu Florida protiv North Caroline pa ko koga... Mislimo nadjača.

I to bi bilo to. Prva runda se igra u četvrtak i petak. Navalite na torrent već u petak ujutro!

Pozdrav,

Nba blog team

14.03.2007. u 17:17 • 15 KomentaraPrint#

utorak, 13.03.2007.

NCAA TOP SEEDED TEAMS: Ohio State, Kansas, Florida & North Carolina...


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RECAP: Warriors 117, Mavericks 100 - Steamrolled!


Best team in the NBA? Hah! 17 game win streak? Hah! Get out of our house! This is the Bay, don't bring that weak game here. The Mavs weren't even close tonight. I was skeptical before the game, but now I'm a believer, We own the Mavs!

The Dubs were up 13 at the half but it kept growing in the 3rd. Everyone was waiting for a big run from the Mavs but it never came. Even Barnett said something along the lines of keeping a 24 to 28 point lead at the end of the 3rd. It was like he expected the Warriors to let the Mavs back in the game, but that just never happened. The Warriors controlled the game from the start of the 2nd quarter until the end. The lead even reached 31 points in the 4th. They put their foot on the accelerator and never let go.

This was a near perfect game for the Warriors. Check that, it was a near perfect 3 quarters for the Warriors because that's all they really needed to put the "best team in the NBA" in their place. The Warriors shots 57% from the field vs 42% for the Mavs. They forced a ridiculous 23 Maverick turnovers and had just 14 themselves. The most impressive feat of this game is not as noticeable in the boxscore, the defense. They were everywhere tonight. It was organized chaos. At times it felt like the Warriors had 6 guys on the court because they were in every passing lane, contesting every shot, and basically were everywhere. They had 13 steals but that doesn't tell the whole story.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (13/03/07)..

Stephen Jackson gave Dirk Nowitzki fits all night. He's so long that he contested his shots and didn't let Dirk get a clean look. Notice the numbers on Dirk, 3-11 from the field, 7 turnovers. How about Josh Howard, 5-15 from the field. It was like he didn't exist this game. Their two big scorers got absolutely shut down after the first quarter. Dirk had 10 in the first and finished with 13 overall and I don't think Howard scored in the 2nd half. It was an absolutely wonderful job by the Warriors on defense, something I haven't seen all season.

All of the starters came up big as four of them scored exactly 16 points. Baron with 9 points was the only starter not in double digits. But he contributed so much more. In just 23 minutes he really ran the show setting up players to the tune of 7 assists and scrambling on D. Then there was Al Harrington shooting a perfect 5-5 from the field. Andris Biedrins said he could do better, so he went and shot 8-8 from the field.

Stephen Jackson was huge tonight. His D was amazing and he also shot 6-10 from the field. JRich was the man though. His whole floor game was stellar and it looks like we're seeing a new and improved JRich. He shot just 6-15, but had 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals and a block. In other words, he was all over the place. The bench was ridiculous too. Monta, Barnes, and especially Pietrus. Each of those guys made hustle plays and made sure that when the starters left the game, the team didn't drop off.


THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR: MONTA ELLIS..

The only thing that troubled me tonight was the rebounding, 50 for the Mavericks, 28 for the Warriors. It wasn't a big deal because the Warriors were hitting everything and scoring so many points off of turnovers. I'm not sure how often this happens, but the Warriors had more assists than rebounds, 31-28.

Just like the every game, we have to take it one game at a time. There's still a long way to go, but we're now tied with the Kings for 9th in the West, just 1 game out of the 8th playoff spot. Go Warriors!

And finally, my favorite highlight of the game was the Monta Ellis "And 1." It was sick. We'll try to find a video of it, but for those who missed the shot, here's a quick recap. Monta cut baseline and got a caught a nice bounce pass from Baron. He took a hard dribble towards the rim, elevated just outside the key and the rest was pure magic. It was one of those plays where you don't know how he did it, but damn it sure was pretty.

After launching himself in the air, Monta glided towards the rim only to be met by former lazy Warrior, Erick Dampier. Monta absorbed the hit, stayed in the air as Damp came back down and somehow, somehow ended up on the other side of the rim to lay the ball up off the glass with some serious English on it. Bucket good plus the foul! The crowd exploded and the arena was going absolutely nuts. I still have no idea how he hung in the air long enough to get knocked by Damp, and lay the ball off the glass like he meant to do it. Monta's 06-07 highlight reel just got another entry.


CROATIAN B-LEAGUE: MLADOST vs. CIBONA feat. Warren G..

We're breaking in the new Warrior Wonder logo tonight courtesy of RonG. I think the entire Warrior team knew that tonight's winner would be the inaugural winner with the new logo so everyone played hard trying to get the top honors. That's why it's so difficult to choose the winner. I have to give it to JRich for his overall floor game tonight. He was everywhere. He was all over the ball handlers, crashing the boards, stepping in passing lanes, and providing 16 points. Is he back? I wasn't sure at first, but after he keeps putting up solid games back to back to back, you have to think that the JRich we all loved last year is going to be here for the rest of the season.

Fantasy Junkie
GoldenStateofMind

13.03.2007. u 18:04 • 0 KomentaraPrint#

ponedjeljak, 12.03.2007.

NA KIOSCIMA: "Hrvatska Košarka", br.2...@ STAPLES: Lakers 72, Mavericks 108...


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"Hrvatska Košarka" broj 2. - Sadržaj:

1. Kup K. Ćosića (Zadar ima recept)
2. Roko Ukić i Mario Kasun (Neka nas se svi čuvaju)
3. HR prvenstvo (Kreće borba za NLB)
4. Navijačka tribina (Sinjski Maligani)
5. A-1 lider (Ante Bilobrk, Ive Ivanov)
6. Ivan Kovač (Jedan od najboljih mladih HR košarkaša)
7. A-1 Powerade (Krenule utrke za prvaka i o(p)stanak)
8. WABA liga (Uoči završnog turnira)
9. Jolly JBS Šibenik (Sandra Mandir i Luca Ivanković)
10. NLB liga (Cibona brani čast ostatka lige)
11. Ante Tomić (Dijamant vrijedan brušenja)
12. Nikša Bavčević (Strpljivost i kontinuitet za uspijeh)
13. HR Gastarbajteri (Hrvati u Turskoj)
14. Euroliga TOP 16 (Šest hrvatskih košarkaša u elitnom razredu)
15. Copa Del Rey (Više od kupa)
16. Bruno Šundov („Stojim na raspolaganju reprezentaciji“)


CROATIAN B-LEAGUE: Cibona II vs. Mladost (4MIN/40MB)...croatian B-league showcase enforced with Franko Kaštropil. Music score by Dolapdere Big Gang (Turkey).


17. NBA (All star u Las Vegasu)
18. NBA report (Giriček „porastao“ 50%)
19. NCAA (Super brucoši prijetnja Floridi)
20. Popularne priče (Patuljci i divovi)
21. Rasadnici talenata (Hercegovački dream team)
22. Robert Troha (MVP slovenskog kupa)
23. Ulična košarka (Split – epicentar basketa)
24. A-2 (Ciljna ravnina sve bliže)
25. Predstavljamo (Vrijednosnice OS Darda, Međimurje, Crikvenica)
26. Bolje razumijevanje igre (Isključujuća pogreška)
27. Košarka i internet (Hrvatski košarkaški savez, www.hks-cbf.hr)
28. Rikard Rubio (Sa 16 godina do fantastičnih dosega)
29. Savjet liječnika (Gripa)
30. Košarkaška tehnika (Vođenje lopte)
31. Niže lige (Poredak u donjem domu)
32. Mlađe dobne kategorije (Škola košarke KK Zagreb)
33. Mladi i košarka


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (12/03/07)..

...
...
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Muraya
Nba.blog.hr


12.03.2007. u 08:11 • 8 KomentaraPrint#

nedjelja, 11.03.2007.

MARCH MADNESS: Gira 16p/34min Hornetsima, Markota 11p/7s/3a Arkansasu...NBA @ OBN: Denver @ Sacto @ 21.25



ALL TIME NCAA CLASSIC MOMENT: 1979 FINALS..


Počinje ‘ludilo’ u NCAA ligi

Kalendarski je “march madness” već poprilično odmakao, a pravo će ludilo početi sutra.

Konferencijski NCAA turniri su pri kraju, i kad svi završe, bit će određeno 65 sveučilinih momčadi koje ulaze na turnir ili “veliki ples”.

Pobjednici 31. konferencije automatski ulaze na turnir, a još će 34 momčadi dobiti pozivnice. “Ples” će početi “play-in” utakmicom kojom će se doći do 64 momčadi za nokaut sustav.

Unutra su već momčadi koje su osvojile manje i slabije konferencije, čije su šanse za napredovanje na turniru male. No, standardno će se pojaviti “Pepeljuga” koja će izbaciti neku od škola s jakim košarkaškim programom.



NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (11/03/07)..

Najveće konferencije tek trebaju dati svoje predstavnike za završni turnir, a izbor komisije bit će temeljen upravo na ishodima konferencijskih turnira. ACC, Big East, Pac-10, Big 10... standardno će dati najviše škola.

Na ulasku u protekli tjedan prvorangirana škola bio je Ohio State, slijedio ga je Kansas, no redoslijed ove godine ne znači mnogo.

To najbolje potvrđuje poraz četvrtorangirane UCLA-e od Californije Barkeley u prvoj rundi Pac-10 turnira. Dakle, izrazitih favorita za osvajanje naslova nema.

Prošlosezonski prvak, Florida, bila je prvorangirana na ulasku u sezonu, ali u posljednji je tjedan ušla kao šesta, s pet poraza.



thumbupCHECK THIS OUT: CLYDE DREXLER & RON HARPER HIGHLIGHTS..eeknono

Škole su tijekom sezone mijenjale pozicije na rankingu prema rezultatima, a u širokom krugu kandidata za Final Four nema ni jedne s manje od tri poraza.

Final Four se igra od 31. ožujka do 2. travnja u Atlanti.


Zoran Čutura
Jutarnji list


11.03.2007. u 17:01 • 10 KomentaraPrint#

subota, 10.03.2007.

MARKOTA vs. AUSTIN: 29min/18p/8s/FGs:8-13...CIBONA II @ MLADOST: Trnsko, 20.30



KOBE FOLLOW THROUGH: UNNATURAL BASKETBALL MOVE?

This time I had much better evidence. Before, I was wearing kobe glasses because I was so furious. I also misinterpreted Phil's words. This time, I can see more straight.

"I think I'm going to have to put about 50 clips of Kobe shooting his shot and his arms going out like that so the judger of this deed of Kobe's sees that he does this a lot," Jackson said. "It's not an unnatural basketball motion."

These are videos in which Kobe flails his arms around, yet he didn't get suspended for that. I could've made this video longer, but don't have the memory space.



NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (10/03/07): Josh Smith 3. najbolji bloker..

If you are wondering what happened to the other video, it's because I misinterpreted Phil.

LakersRule24
Youtube.com


10.03.2007. u 09:14 • 10 KomentaraPrint#

petak, 09.03.2007.

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT: Michael Jordan On Bobcats Insider...


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WHERE IS THE BALANCE? JORDAN EXPLAINS BICKERSTAFF..


Michael Jordan On Bobcats Insider



On Wednesday, March 7, Bobcats Insider aired a special edition with Bobcats Managing Member of Basketball Operations Michael Jordan on WMYT MyTV 12. Jordan talked openly with Bobcats Television play-by-play announcer Matt Devlin about his decision to invest in the Bobcats, his role in Charlotte and his vision for the future. Watch the interview with Jordan right here.

The following is the transcript of the interview with Michael Jordan:

Matt Devlin: Welcome to Bobcats Insider, I’m Matt Devlin. Over the next half hour, I’ll go one-on-one with an owner of the Charlotte Bobcats who also happens to be a North Carolina native and a Tar Heel legend by bringing the University of North Carolina the 1982 national title. He dominated the NBA for over a decade, guiding his Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships while capturing six NBA Finals MVP’s. He was a five-time NBA MVP, a 14-time All Star and the greatest player who ever played the game. Michael Jordan is an iconic figure whose drive and determination has led him to the pinnacle of his profession and the entire sports world.

Now he takes on a new challenge in his home state to build a winner and eventually bring an NBA championship to the Carolinas. This time as an owner...

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First of all Michael, thank you very much for taking the time to join us. What led to your decision to get involved with the Charlotte Bobcats?

Michael Jordan: It was a lot of components. (Bobcats Majority Owner) Bob (Johnson) was on me for a couple of years actually, trying to get me involved. In the mix of that, I was still trying to find my own team and evaluate all of the different opportunities that were coming up. I felt like it would be somewhat of a compliment if I was looking for a team, then at the same time, trying to become a minority owner. Actually, I didn’t want to become a minority owner of a team because of what I just came out of with Washington, so I was looking for more of a control situation where I could give myself some time to develop the whole program that I felt like could benefit the franchise. You saw obviously what happened in D.C. and Bob came to me at the last minute saying that he would at least give me the opportunity to become a minority owner and still take a control aspect of the basketball portion.

Bob Johnson: It’s always been my dream to be partners with Michael in ownership of a basketball team. Michael’s dream on the contrary, was to be his own owner of a basketball team so our discussions have always been on “Bob, you want to be an owner, I want to be like you.” Instead of, “I want to be like Mike, I want to be like Bob.” I sort of constantly badgered him is the best way to describe it, about why we would make a great team.

Jordan: It was all of those components that kind of fell in place. In his other ventures, I looked at some of the things he was involved in at the time. I felt like it was a great opportunity to try to help him out if I was getting in some of those other ventures, help him out in the basketball portion and see if I could add some value to it.

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Devlin: With your legacy as the greatest player in the game, how important is it to you to become an owner of an NBA franchise?

Jordan: Well, I felt like I still love the game of basketball. I wanted to be connected to basketball for a long time. I felt like I could influence the game positively, and hopefully my whole competitive nature was to try it, win and build a winning franchise, and that hasn’t diminished at all. I still feel like that’s my way of staying connected to the game of basketball, so ownership became a possibility. Once I got a taste of in D.C., it became part of my bloodline.

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Devlin: You mentioned bloodlines. You’re from Wilmington, N.C. You won a title at North Carolina. It’s been 25 years. It’s hard to believe.

Jordan: I know time has flown by. Now you’re telling me my age. North Carolina has always been my home. Even though I lived in Chicago for 25 years, this is where my family is. This is where most of my friends are. Before I was Michael Jordan, I was known as Mike Jordan and everybody knew that. It gave me the opportunity to come home and be a part of this. I felt like I could add something to this franchise. A lot of things Bob may not understand about the South, I can probably understand about the South and help out. So far it’s been working out great.

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Devlin: You mentioned earlier conversations with Bob, what is your specific role with the Bobcats?

Jordan: I’m an investor. I’m the operating manager of the basketball portion of the business, and what I do with that is I oversee all of the basketball decisions. I more or less have the final say-so of the basketball decisions.

Johnson: Our whole business approach is to find very talented people to work with and give them all of the authority that they deserve based on their ability, their skill and their commitment. Michael is the quintessential in that in terms of the basketball operations. So for me, to have a chance to have him as an owner (was great). He’s aligned with me financially in terms of his commitment. It’s not like he’s just working for me. He’s an owner working for himself, matter of fact. So to have him saying “I want to be responsible for all of basketball,” it’s like saying, “I want Michelangelo to be responsible for all of the painting of the Sistine Chapel.” It’s the easiest decision in the world.

Jordan: I stay in tune with the coaching and with the general manger and everything that happens with the basketball side of things. I’m involved in the drafting and the hiring of players and the signing of contracts and things of that nature, so I’m right into the basketball meat of the business. Even though I understand the marketing aspect, that’s not my expertise. I didn’t want that to be my expertise. I didn’t want to be part of the business. I have my own insight, but that’s not my strong point. My strong points are the basketball portion of the business so I control all of that.

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Devlin: What is your vision when you sit back and you look at this franchise? What is your vision for the Bobcats?

Jordan: Well, the focus that I’m trying to initiate here is that what’s been transpiring over the last couple of years, I felt like, was done backwards. With this city in Charlotte – they had just gone through the divorce with (Hornets owner George) Shinn and the way they dedicated themselves to the team. For them to come here and try and build around the business aspect with not having the team to support it was not the correct approach from my standpoint. And this has been the things that I’ve had conversations with Bob and Fred Whitfield on this issue – that I want to build a basketball team that can sustain the marketing aspect. When we go to this consumer here in Charlotte, we’re not selling them a bill of goods. We’re selling a product that’s going to continue to do better and better and you’re best to invest in it because you’ll be there when it all erupts. So I wanted to make sure that with this team, we have a good solid nucleus of basketball players and built around the nucleus are good people and great effort from the basketball team. Then the marketing aspect is easy. Because when you win, it’s easy to sell a winning team. When you’re losing it’s tough. It’s just harder from the marketing aspect to go out and try to sell the team. So I felt like initially how it was done here in Charlotte was a little bit backwards for how we want to do things.

I wanted to come in and make a sound basketball program that people could see the guys are working hard. Young guys each and every day that can come out and do whatever they can to entertain the fans. Then, you bring in a situation that’s going to put all of that together. Different players that you’ll continue to add and keep making that progress in the right direction. And I feel like we’re really sitting in a great position right now. We have a great young nucleus of players we drafted. (Adam) Morrison, who I felt like, if he evolves, he can be that key kind of player. But then you look at buying into free agency with the cap room that we have. The table’s set. It’s now applying the talent within the organization and getting every component from the coaching staff all the way down to the scouting and to the players, where they all are on the same unit so we can be successful.

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Devlin: You touched upon it right there. You won a title at North Carolina. You won six in the NBA. How do you build now a championship caliber team?

Jordan: Well I mean, it’s exactly what I said. You find the right pieces that you build around and you start and plug in systemically these components that are going to make the overall picture a lot better. It happened in Chicago. Once I got into Chicago, then they starting plugging different people around me with Scottie Pippen and all of these other guys. Once you’ve got the nucleus of the team together, it doesn’t matter who you plug in after that. And then the coaching staff came through a situation where they applied individual talents and personalities and placed them into certain roles where everybody flourishes. I think that’s what needs to be done. It’s the same program. Obviously the problem in Charlotte is they don’t have a Michael Jordan.

Devlin: That’s hard to do. (Laughing) That’s hard to come by.

Jordan: It’s hard to find a player that in the fourth quarter that can take over a game. That’s one thing that this team is missing is that go-to player. If they had a go-to player, I think a lot of the games that they’ve played this year would have a different outcome. But those skills are hard to find. Vying through free agency to try to find that or going into the draft to try to find that, that would be a beneficial acquisition. As I said, what’s happening in Chicago and in North Carolina, it’s set. The stage is set here with a good nucleus of players. We’re missing a couple of components and the next thing you know, we’ll be winning. We’re really fortunate.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (09/03/07)..

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Devlin: I know you talk to (Bobcats General Manager & Head Coach) Bernie (Bickerstaff) on a daily basis. You’re at shootarounds. You’re at practices. You’re at games. You touched on this core of the team. What are your thoughts on the core right now? You look at them and there’s a strong nucleus?

Jordan: Yeah, there’s a strong nucleus. They’re still in a learning process. You can still see a lot of mistakes being made, and that’s going to happen. How Bernie’s coached has been a big help to understanding and evaluating what we have. He’s allowed everyone to openly compete for a job - see who really wants it and who doesn’t want it. At then at the end of the day, we have to either make trades or try and take that into what the concept is with this franchise.

Raymond (Felton) is an exceptionally good point guard. I think he’s going to continue to learn about his turnover-to-assist ratio. Those type of things, his decision making. You can see his heart and his desire is really strong. Gerald Wallace was a product that came over from Sacramento who’s shown he’s got the workman-like attitude. He’s going to do everything. He gets injured a bit, but I think that’s only because he’s trying so hard. (Sean) May is another big guy who can shoot and play inside/outside, has an unbelievable body, but he has to take care of his body because of the physical things he’s had to deal with. (Emeka) Okafor is the centerpiece. How often can you find a versatile center who can block shots, get up and down the court and play an up tempo style of game? Matt (Carroll) has proven to be the sunshine of what’s happened with this team because in a lot of situations, he’s proven to be our go-to guy on the court. He can shoot the basketball, get to the free throw line – he really tries hard to be a part of this whole franchise. When you look at Morrison, he’s going to learn. He’s getting an eyeful about what it feels like to have the target on your back. Every night, you’re going against someone who was a star player on their college team too, and either you compete with it or you don’t compete. He’s shown he can compete with it, and he’s going to continue to get better and better. Those are some good pieces right there that you can kind of build around. They’re going to grow. They’re going to get better, get better coaching, get a total understanding of what it feels like to be an NBA player. And then we’ll see where it takes us from that point.

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Devlin: Michael, you look at third-year expansion teams going back to 1980. This team is on track to be one of the most successful third-year expansion teams. The Orlando Magic won 31 games. They’re the most successful team. What are your thoughts on the season to date?

Jordan: Well, I think that barring from all of the injuries that may have occurred over this time of the season, I think they’re ahead of the game. We got on a nice little streak without Brevin Knight and even when Wallace wasn’t playing. We went out and somehow sucked it up and found ways to win. (February), I think has been a .500 month for us. The guys are finding ways to overcome a lot of the injury situations, so I think the team with that aspect is ahead of the game. Will we get to 31 games? I think so. I think the way that the guys are playing and getting healthy, with the guys coming back, I think we can definitely do that. Staying healthy and being about to complement each other when someone goes down and I think Bernie has done a tremendous job of rearranging the roster to where he gets that effort every single night. With me, if the effort is there, then you’re going to be able to get your chance to win ball games. This team has put forth the effort every night. They’ve had their nights when they just haven’t played well, but it wasn’t because the effort wasn’t there. It was just because the talent of the team they were facing was a lot better or whatever, but you’re going to have nights like that. But the team that plays hard is always going to end up winning games people don’t expect them to win. We’ve beaten a lot of good teams. We beat L.A. (Lakers) twice. We beat San Antonio. We’ve beaten teams that are some of the elite in the league so we can see the effort. We can see the capabilities of what this team can do.

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Devlin: You mentioned Matt Carroll and it’s interesting because I had a great conversation with Matt.

Carroll: (Prior to the November 22 game against Boston) was sort of the first time when he came up to me and kind of said something directed to me rather than just saying, “How are you doing, what’s up?” or something like that.

Jordan: I remember thinking because up to that point, I honestly had some conversations with Bernie. I kept saying, “Bernie, you keep telling me this kid can shoot,” yet he had been shooting almost 35 percent. I said, “I’ve yet to see him hit a jump shot.” And he said, “He’s the shooter on the team.” I asked (Matt), “When are you going to wake up so I can see?”

Carroll: He kind of said to me, “C’mon M.C. You’re a shooter man. I’ve never seen you hit any shots. What’s going on?”

Jordan: I joked with him that day and told him, “They tell me you can shoot, but I’ve yet to see you make any jump shots.” From that point on, I think he had the attitude to prove me wrong.

Carroll: And I then kind of said, “Okay, we’ll see then.” And it was like a natural reaction to for me to say back to him, but coming from him it meant a lot more than if someone else kind of just said, “Hey man, hit some shots.” When he said it to me, since we hadn’t had that much dialogue, that much discussion between each other… when he did say something, even if it was just a few words, that meant something to me. I kind of took that to heart and said, “Alright, I’m going to show you then Mike.”

Jordan: Ever since then, he’s made a believer out of me. Whenever he gets his feet set, he’s one of the best shooters in the game.

Carroll: That night, I was thinking about that and went to the game and just said, “Hey, I’m going to knock some shots down. I’m going to be aggressive.” And I remembered that. I remembered what he said. And something that little that took a few words really kind of got to me and triggered me to start playing well.

Jordan: All he needed was someone to say, “You’re doing a great job and it will come around. It will happen for you. Just keep working hard, keep working hard and keep working hard.” I think that catapulted him into believing that he belonged. He’s received well. His efforts don’t go unnoticed.

Carroll: He came up to me, slapped me five, gave me a little hug and said, “Now that’s how you’re supposed to play. Like that.” And that made me feel pretty good.

Jordan: As long as he has that confidence, it will be a really big aid for this franchise long-term. His accuracy is something that every championship team needs. We had Steve Kerr. We had John Paxson. To me, he’s more like that. I did it at North Carolina and did it in Chicago. I’ve learned in the process too because some people can take it in different ways. You can be harder on people and they don’t know how to receive that. With that learning, I’ve applied those type of talents very gingerly so that I don’t ruin someone’s confidence, but instead give them a sense of confidence. I did it the same with Raymond. I’ve done it the same with Sean and even with Okafor.

Okafor: His word’s as good as gold. It’s the source and where it’s coming from that means so much. You know what he’s done, so you feel good about what he sees – he must be right. You just take it to heart and try to improve.

Felton: He had a little joke one time – told me (former UNC) coach Dean Smith told me to tell you to cut down on those turnovers. Little things like that, which I know he did say that because Dean Smith used to get on me all the time about that. Cut down on those turnovers. Mainly, he just told me to use what you got. Use your speed, use your strength and use quickness and just go with the ball.

Jordan: I hope I can instill that. That’s one of the reasons that I’m here, that I can give someone that type of confidence. They’re good players and they can become better just by believing in themselves. If you don’t believe in yourself, then you’re obviously wasting a lot of people’s time, not just yours.

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Devlin: With the foundation set for the franchise, this is a big summer for the Bobcats. The NBA draft will quite possibly be the deepest in years and the Bobcats will have cap room to be active in the marketplace. You mentioned Adam Morrison. I know you were heavily involved in the draft last year. Take us through that process of what you saw in Adam Morrison as a young player.

Jordan: Well, I think what we really want here in Charlotte is we want people who are willing to take that effort of being a better basketball player. The thing that I saw about him is you can see a lot of skillful people coming out of college and some kids that are not as skillful. I think he’s very skillful, but his heart and his desire to become the best was something you can’t give kids. It’s hard to give people that type of attitude and he has it. Now can that translate into being a successful NBA player? We think he can. That’s one of the things that we saw in him. He’s a gym rat. He loves being around the game of basketball. He’s tough. He can learn. He listens. His demeanor, his attitude about failure is something you can’t really find. He wants and accepts what failure is and wants to turn it around into something successful. That’s hard to find in kids today.

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Devlin: You look at this draft. I know you can’t specifically comment on underclassmen at this time, but there are a lot of people who believe that this draft could even be deeper than the 2003 NBA Draft, and that included LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh. The last player chosen in the first round was Josh Howard by the Dallas Mavericks. Your thoughts on the upcoming draft? Does it have that sort of potential?

Jordan: It has potential. Obviously, you’ve got to wait and see who’s going to be in the draft of the underclassmen, international players – things of that nature. All of those will come into play in the scouting aspect of what we’re trying to do, but it has the potential to be a really, really deep draft. We’re in a good situation. Hopefully we can continue to get more draft picks. We can buy into that and feel comfortable getting in that environment. But this could very well be a very deep draft. Right now, where we’re sitting, we’re sitting in the lottery area, which you can look at it in two different ways. It can be a good thing because you can get a good pick, but obviously I would like to make the playoffs. I don’t like to sit around and throw games just so you can get more balls in the hopper. If it’s meant to be, its going to happen. I think what’s important is to show a winning attitude here to Charlotte. If we can go out and win games, compete and play hard, that’s what we do and let the chips fall where they may. If we have a No. 1 pick wherever it is, we’re going to utilize our education about the draft and get a sound player. If we feel like we can’t get anything within the draft and can trade that pick to get some established veteran, then that’s what we’ll do. We’re going to explore all of the options. We’re not going in with a closed mind. We’re going in with an open mind. We’ve got money. We’ve got a lot of situations where we can better this franchise.


ORLANDO MAGIC - NAJBOLJE AKCIJE FEBRUARY 2007.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Devlin: Another thing you touched upon earlier was cap space – an absorbent amount of cap space for this franchise. Do you see the Bobcats being active in the free agent market? And then there’s obviously the ability to do a sign and trade?

Jordan: There’s flexibility we’re going to have. I like to have that flexibility because it gives us a lot of options. If a marquee player comes on the market that I think can fit this program, then we’re going to get him. If there’s something out there that we think is not worth it, then we’re not going to waste money just make a move. I know the franchise. I know everybody wants to win, but you’ve got to make sound decisions for this franchise too. To go out and spend money and not with the education of knowing what you’re going to get, it doesn’t make any sense. I can look at a lot of teams in the league that are making moves and soon they have no flexibility. They’re stuck with the same team for five to six years. What we did in Washington was we were able to unload contracts, build flexibility with our cap. The next thing you know, they walked into a great situation where they can build their franchise in getting a marquee player. We’re kind of in the same situation. We have a good nucleus of players. We’ve got great cap room. Now we’ve got to look and see what’s out there to see what’s going to fit with our franchise.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Devlin: It’s an exciting time for the Charlotte Bobcats. The core of players is in place. The organization is poised to make an impact in the offseason and they are currently on pace to have the most successful third year in expansion history. We would like to take a moment to thank Michael Jordan for joining us here on Bobcats Insider. I’m Matt Devlin, and thank you for watching.

www.nba.com/bobcats (via Tomislav Pakrac)

09.03.2007. u 07:46 • 2 KomentaraPrint#

četvrtak, 08.03.2007.

DAN ŽENA: Kobe24 suspended for elbowing T-wolf Marko Jarić, Lindsay Hunter dopingiran..



CARL ENGLISH USUAL SHOOTING EXIBITION (81MB!!)..


LIGA ZA PRVAKA: I kolo

Košarkaši Cedevite imali su Zadar na konopcima, ali ga nisu znali nokautirati. Favorit se na koncu pridigao i iskoristio domaćinove slabosti pobijedivši u produžetku (100:92).

S obzirom na neuvjerljive goste, domaćini su na veliki odmor otišli s premalom prednošću (48:41). Nakon što je u prvom poluvremenu ubacio samo dva koša, English je četvrtoj četvrtni Cedeviti utrpao čak 16, sveukupno 28. Zagrepčani su izborili produžetak tricom Milačića od ploče, sekundu i pol prije zvuka sirene. U produžetku su, minutu i pol prije kraja, domaćini vodili 92:88, da bi u ostatku vremena Zadar napravio niz 12:0.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (08/03/07)..

- Omjer slobodnih bacanja (43-15) dobar je pokazatelj Zadrove nadmoći u reketu - priznao je trener domaćina Jakša Vulić. Zagrebaši su Svjetlosti ugasili svjetlo (115:73). Već nakon četiri minute bilo je 24:4, a nakon prve četvrtine, uz 17 koševa Sesara, mravi su vodili s 39:14. Na poluvremenu je bilo čak plus 35 (62:27). Kod mrava je čak 11 igrača postiglo koš, Josip Sesar je bio izvrstan s 24 koša u samo 19 minuta, uz preciznost 9-9.

- Moja je momčad u izvrsnoj formi. Preostale tri utakmice u NLB ligi će nam poslužiti da još poboljšamo igru za završnicu hrvatskog prvenstva - rekao je trener mrava Zdravko Radulović. Uz 29 koševa Ayusa Splićani su se domogli pobjede u Jazinama, na teškom gostovanju kod Borika (91:82, Andrija Stipanović 14p+10s).


KOBE ELBOWING JARIĆ..

Damir Brajdic
Vecernji List


08.03.2007. u 07:18 • 7 KomentaraPrint#

srijeda, 07.03.2007.

ONLY IN CROATIA: trener Čakovečke Vajde, Ivan Stanišak otpušten nakon 18 pobjeda, koš razlike +717!!



72 HOURS AGO: KUKIJEVO NEDJELJNO GOSTOVANJE U HRT "ARENI" (9MIN/99MB)..

Livingston je potrgao koljeno tako gadno da ga zasad ne mogu niti operirati dok ne splasne otok. Sreća u nesreći doskok nije oštetio živce niti prekinuo krvne žile, što ostavlja nadu u oporavak. Zabilježen je slučaj u sveučilišnom američkom nogometu koji je kod slične ozljede doveo do amputacije noge, nažalost nemam link na priču.

Sa druge strane klub ga želi na parketu što prije i rade pritisak da operiraju sva tri ligamenta odjednom. To mu je jedina šansa da bude spreman do negdje nove godine. Manje riskantna odluka je krpiti jedan po jedan, ali onda je i sljedeća sezona izgubljena. Šanse da se uopće vrati na parket su 50-50% u sporijoj varijanti, brzu varijantu klupski doktor priznaje da ne zna sprovesti i da traže stručnjaka po USA koji bi to mogao napraviti.



NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (07/03/07)..

Na drugoj strani vage je da li će uopće hodati bez šepanja. Mi imamo Janicu koja je strgala u St. Morritzu tri ligamenta, Bernard King u NBA osamdesetih je isto strgao dobar dio koljena. Sa druge strane imate i Ralpha Sampsona koji je građom puno sličniji Livingstonu i sa kojim bih prije povukao paralelu nego sa Janicom.

Kod Livingstona možda postoji defekt građe tijela i da je sklon ozlijedi zglobova ili što se isto priča po forumima ima nepravilan i previše riskantan doskok pri polaganju/zakucavanju što ga dovodi na kraju do ozljeda.


Cocktail Bridge
Blog.hr


07.03.2007. u 07:45 • 8 KomentaraPrint#

utorak, 06.03.2007.

MARCH MADNESS: Happy 35th B-Day SHAQ...GIRA IN LOVE: 15p/28min Bobcatsima..


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Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)


ZALJUBLJENI GIRA USKRSNUO, U KLUBU ODUŠEVLJENI

Gordan Giriček ove sezone dugo nije uspijevao naći konstantnu minutažu kod trenera Jerrya Sloana, koji u Hrvata i nije pokazivao veliko povjerenje. U petoj po redu NBA sezoni Giriček trenutačno ima najslabiji prosjek u minutama, poenima i asistencijama u svojoj cijeloj NBA karijeri.

Činjenica da nikad nije znao koliko će igrati nekadašnjem članu Cibone i moskovskog CSKA sigurno nije donijela toliko potrebnu mirnoću, a kako se bližio zadnji rok (22.2.) do kojeg su se u NBA ligi smjeli prodavati (mijenjati) igrači napetost je postajala sve veća. Kružile su glasine da su u Salt Lake Cityu voljni razmisliti o eventualnim ponudama za Giričeka, no rok je prošao, a on i dalje stanuje u gradu u kojem je nekad navijače u trans bacao legendarni dvojac Karl Malone – John Stockton.

Prodavati Giričeka u trenucima kad je njegova vrijednost u NBA ligi vjerojatno bila najniža otkad je stigao u Ameriku sigurno ne bi bio pametan potez, iako se to ne tako davno i nije moglo sa sigurnošću reći. No, danas se definitivno može, a razlog je sasvim jednostavan. U posljednje vrijeme Giriček se preporodio, prometnuo se u opasno oružje u napadu s klupe, u igrača koji može ući kad zapne i svojim koševima podignuti momčad, a ujedno u igrača koji je spreman koliko god je moguće u obrani otežati posao svojem suparniku.


HAPPY 35TH BIRTHDAY SHAQ-ATTACK:Povodom identične rođendanske prigode želim sve najbolje u privatnom i poslovnom životu svom šogoru Zdravku a.k.a. Divljem Kestenu.

Ako je i imala kakve ponude na stolu, Utah danas zbog svega nabrojenog sigurno ne žali što je zadržala Hrvata. Iako, u klubu tvrde da ga ni nisu željeli prodati. “Nismo ga pokušavali prodati. To su samo glasine. Mislim da nema jedne momčadi kojoj ga je naš GM Kevin O’Connor nudio”, rekao je trener Sloan, čiju izjavu prenosi Salt Lake Tribune.


S ovakvom igrom Gira bi repki bio zlata vrijedan

U nizu vrlo dobrih predstava koje pruža u zadnje vrijeme Giriček je nedavno u susretu s Minnesotom u noći s petka na subotu po našem vremenu ostvario i svoj rekord sezone, ubacivši 20 koševa, a koliko se njegova igra u zadnje vrijeme podigla zorno govore njegov prosjek iz zadnjih 10 utakmica (11.1 p., 2.7 sk. i 1.3 as.) te prosjek iz zadnjih pet utakmica (14 p., 2.6 sk. i 1 as.). Za usporedbu, prosjek sezone mu iznosi 6.9 poena, 2 skoka i 1.2 asistencije.

“Uvijek sam govorio da ima mnogo talenta, da ima sjajan talent”, riječi su Sloana nakon što je Giriček Wolvesima ubacio 20 koševa. “Čini mi se da se osjeća komotnije otkad je prošao trade deadline. Mislim da se bojao da ćemo ga prodati, ali otad igra s mnogo samopouzdanja i zbilja obavlja dobar posao u obrani. Doveo se također i u bolju kondiciju.”

Giriček je s druge strane opovrgnuo kako njegove kvalitetne partije u zadnje vrijeme imaju nešto s prolaskom trade deadlinea: “To nije povezano. Dobivam više minuta na parketu, u tome je stvar. Prije deadlinea sam igrao normalno, ali sam dobivao u prosjeku 16 minuta. Tri minute u igri, pa četiri ili pet vani, nisam mogao ući u ritam.”

Da doista može vrlo dobro odigrati i u obrani Hrvat je pokazao kad je u susretu protiv Clevelanda LeBrona Jamesa u zadnjoj četvrtini limitirao na šut 1/5, što je bio jedan od ključnih faktora u tijesnoj pobjedi Jazza. “Može lako poentirati, krenuti prema košu, raširiti obranu. Ali ono gdje me je u zadnje vrijeme najviše impresionirao je njegova obrana. Mislim da je zbilja iskoračio u tom segmentu igre i to je ono zbog čega dobiva veću minutažu,” izjava je playmakera Utaha Derona Williamsa.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (06/03/07): akcija na bro9ju 1 nije tamo slučajno, snimite naslov današnjeg posta..

I dok trener misli kako je razlog Giričekovoj dobroj igri u zadnje vrijeme njegovo poboljšanje kondicije, Giriček vjeruje kako je razlog to što dobiva više minuta, a Williams kaže kako više minuta dobiva zbog svoje igri u obrani, najzanimljivije objašnjenje Giričekovog “uskrsnuća” možda je ponudio Matt Harpring:

“Reći ću vam zašto. Zaljubljen je.”


“Istina je”, kaže na to nasmiješeni Giriček. “Pa proljeće je, zar ne?”


Na kraju svega, možemo još samo reći, bez obzira u čemu je tajna "novog" Giričeka sigurno je da bi takav igrač i više nego dobro došao našoj reprezentaciji.

Nenad Gejšak
Košarka.hr

06.03.2007. u 07:31 • 8 KomentaraPrint#

ponedjeljak, 05.03.2007.

GIRICEK ON FIRE: 13.6p/FGs61%/3FGs56% in last 6...MARKOTA ON NBDL RISE:24.8min/8.2p/4.6s

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Cleveland Cavaliers: Construction zone


DALLAS – In the final two minutes of Thursday's 95-92 loss to the Mavericks, the Cleveland Cavaliers gave NBA fans a glimpse of what's keeping them from taking the next step to the elite level.

The Cavs had battled and hung in against the league's best club for 46 minutes, riding the spectacular LeBron James' 39 points to stay close. When Avery Johnson decided to take the ball out of LeBron's hands in those final two minutes, sending three defenders at him, this is what happened on consecutive possessions: a missed three-pointer by Donyell Marshall, another Marshall missed three and a missed three by Sasha Pavlovic. All wide open looks, and nothing to show for them.

Finally, in the closing seconds and his team down three points, James was fouled on a hard drive to the hoop. The 68-percent foul shooter bricked both shots, and after Cleveland rebounded the second miss, LeBron clanged two potential game-tying three-point attempts in the closing seconds. Game over.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (05/03/07)..

That two-minute sequence pretty much summed it up for the Cavaliers. LeBron is an amazing talent – a guy who can carry his team for long stretches of a game – but he doesn't have enough help around him. And he's not quite ready to close games out by himself.

That's why Danny Ferry tried so hard to deal for Mike Bibby at the trading deadline. Bibby would have taken plenty of pressure off James with his point guard skills and his ability to make big shots. Without a true playmaker on the roster, James is the one who constantly has to create offense for Cleveland. James is so talented that he needs to be on the receiving end of plays.

Despite all their deficiencies, the Cavs are the second-best team in the East at 33-25. (Maybe that's an indictment of the Eastern Conference more than anything). But what's important to note is how young this franchise is.

Dan Gilbert is a new owner. Ferry is a young general manager. James is still just 22 years old. Daniel Gibson, the starting point guard, is a rookie. And Mike Brown is in his second season as coach. If you know NBA history, you know that it takes time to build a franchise. Dallas is one win away from its seventh consecutive 50-win season, but it wasn't until last year that it became a true title contender. The normal progression for a team to advance to a championship level takes many years.


NAJBOLJE JUČERAŠNJE AKCIJE (04/03/07)..

Internal growth is critical for Cleveland – particularly James' late-game shooting, which has been a problem. As gifted as he is, he hasn't shown the ability to close games like Dwyane Wade or Kobe Bryant. But more importantly, James will need better personnel around him.

Aging veterans like David Wesley, Damon Jones, Marshall and Eric Snow will have to be phased out. Zydrunas Ilgauskas can still be effective at times, and Larry Hughes, when healthy, can add depth and defense. But a vast overhaul needs to take place in the next few years.

A playmaking point guard must be added, along with better shooters and another big man. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, this summer will not be an easy time to start the process – they don't have a pick in the upcoming draft.

Eventually the change will occur, and Cleveland will become an elite team. James is too good a player for that not to happen. Ferry is very bright, and he works for an owner who is willing to spend money to build a good team. The problem is that, with James, the expectations are enormous.

But as those last two minutes of the Dallas game showed, things aren't going to change overnight for the Cavaliers. This is a work in progress.


By Steve Kerr
Yahoo! Sports



05.03.2007. u 12:59 • 2 KomentaraPrint#

nedjelja, 04.03.2007.

NBA on OBN: L.A. Lakers @ Phoenix @ 21.35...NIZ DALLASA @ 15...

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CIBONA II vs. ZRINJEVAC: KATURA vs. KEŽMAN..

Inače Bojan Kežman je najbolji pure shooter Cvjetnog Naselja u zadnjih 20 godina. Često sam početkom kolovoza gost na njegovim shooting seansama, a tu i tamo odigramo 2-2 i ispadne humiliating s distance..za mene, naravno.

Jučerašnju tekmu nažalost nisam snimao unatoč odličnom položaju tik uz teren, između gospodina Mirka Novosela i ozlijeđenog PF Tomislava Zubčića.

Da, razgovarao sam sa SF Željkom Šakićem koji je izrazio želju za daljnim napretkom u svojem pristupu igri, suigračima i coaching staffu. Igranje na parketu Draženovog doma je itekakva priviligija..


NAJBOLJE AKCIJE MJESECA VELJAČE (2006/07)..

Ne zaboravite pogledati gostovanje FA Tonija Kukoča u "Areni" (HRT2 @ 18.30).

Svi Van na Ples, a ja na čuvanje djeteta!!

Muraya
Nba.blog.hr

04.03.2007. u 08:25 • 13 KomentaraPrint#

subota, 03.03.2007.

SKUPI SNOWBOARDING: V-Rad dužan Lakersima POLA MILIJUNA US$...HOOPS SUMMIT: Ugrinoski na rosteru Worlda!



NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (03/03/07)..

Dakle, nakon utakmice Cibone i Splita u 18.00 sati, košarkaške snage će oko 20.15 sučeliti Cibona II featuring Franko Kaštropil i nekadašnji ZG košarkaški div - Zrinjevac.

Looking forward to see 2/3 punches Krušlin/Šakić & Kežman/Barbir in action!

Kud koji, Mili moji!!

Muraya
Nba.blog.hr

03.03.2007. u 16:15 • 3 KomentaraPrint#

petak, 02.03.2007.

WHAT GOES DOWN MUST COME UP: NBA comeback Micheala Raya Richardsona?


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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO MICHAEL RAY?


Continental divide

ALBANY, N.Y. – Across his basement office in the Washington Avenue Armory, Micheal Ray Richardson is trying to understand the crisis his assistant has brought him on the morning of a game. Tell me again, the coach of the Albany Patroons asks, why the general manager is telling us we have to wear our home yellow tops with our away green shorts tonight?

"That don't match," Richardson tells Derrick Rowland, and his assistant is giving him that please, please, please don't kill the messenger look.

"You're telling me we don't have yellow shorts? From here out, we've got to wear green shorts every game?"

"Until we find another pair," Rowland says. "I'm just telling you what [general manager Jim Coyne] tells me."

Richardson throws up his hands. "Crazy," he says, and then he looks across his desk and gives you that look, as though this is what he's been trying to tell you for 20 minutes now.

Ex-Patroons took the gear with them, and ownership isn't replacing them because, well, this is the reality of the never-so-fledgling Continental Basketball Association. This is where Richardson, 51, had to come to be a pro coach two years ago.

All these years later, he still is impatient – a flurry of tics and stuttering and animation. All the way back when people declared him a worthy peer to Magic Johnson, when he gave the New York tabloids one of the great back pages upon declaring "The ship be sinkin' " about the 1981-82 New York Knicks, no one would've seen his Albany incarnation coming.

He drove coaches crazy, and broke hearts, and when he was delivered a lifetime ban for his drug addiction four years later, he was about the last character ever expected to return to pro ball with a clipboard and wingtips on the sidelines.

The Patroons gave him a shot to coach here, when no one else was offering, but Richardson isn't so flushed with gratitude on Wednesday morning. This day, it was the uniforms. Earlier in the season, ownership stopped letting his assistant, Rowland, travel with the team on the road – unless Richardson wanted to leave a player home.


1984 NBA PLAYOFFS: PHILADELPHIA 76ERS vs. NEW JERSEY NETS..

"Unheard of!" Richardson barks in his office.

Twenty-one years past NBA commissioner David Stern's banishment, Richardson, the four-time All-Star who snorted away his Hall of Fame talent and whom they still call "Sugar," is getting worked up about life in the bush leagues.

"Everybody looking in on the outside thinks everything's rosy," he says. "Everything here is not rosy.

"When I took this job, I had two assistant coaches and 10 players. At the beginning of the year we were 12-3 and able to carry my coach around. Then all of a sudden, things changed. 'Either carry an assistant coach, or carry nine players.'

"This year, we're the only team – even Pittsburgh (5-32) is carrying an assistant coach on the road. Here he we are, fighting for the top position of our division and I can't have an assistant coach?"

At this point, the sign protecting the cold drinks in his office – "Take Notice: No one is allowed in this refrigerator except Micheal Ray Richardson," – has the feel of a last line of defense for him. Richardson stops himself and takes a deep breath. He has tried to make his stand in the minor leagues, but sometimes that can feel like the biggest losing cause of all.

Everyone told him to calm down this year, to ease back on his temper, and he thinks about it. The passing of his old buddy, Dennis Johnson, hit him hard, too. He's trying to keep all of that in mind, he swears.

"I'll do my job," Richardson says. "When it's over, it's over. I'll move on.

"I'm a survivor."

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Richardson doesn't see himself returning to the Patroons next season. "Hard to see that," he confesses, adding that he hopes instead to rejoin his wife and two children in the south of France as some NBA team's European scout.

Between then and now, though, the Patroons are destined for the playoffs, a 21-14 record that trails first-place Minot by four points in the CBA's scoring system. There's been progress this season after a 20-28 debut, especially when too much of Richardson's rookie season found him storming past winning coaches without shaking hands, relentlessly berating his ball club and creating enough uncomfortable sideline circumstances that league and team officials had to talk to him in the offseason.

"I thought he was a little shaky the first year, but this year he's improved quite a bit," Coyne says.

Even so, you still get the idea that management wouldn't mind if Richardson moved on at season's end. It's a shame, too, because Coyne has had one of the great hiring touches in the history of basketball. The G.M.'s run in the 1980s included Phil Jackson, Bill Musselman and George Karl. And you wonder, if the greatest living pro coach, Jackson, ever would have been a basketball coach if Coyne hadn't been so persistent to hire him with the Patroons in 1982.

In the beginning, the plan was for this job to be Richardson's lottery ticket as well. After a decade and a half in Europe, playing ball into his mid-forties in Croatia, France and Italy, he cleaned himself up and came back.

Through it all, Stern has never lost track of Richardson's life. He always called the Richardson suspension the toughest thing he ever had to do in basketball, and he wanted to see him get his life together and get a second chance. Often, they still connect by phone.

"The commissioner's a compassionate man," Richardson says. "But I put him in that position, and he did what had to be done with me. At that time, it was the right choice for me because it saved my life. I did that to me – not him. But he has never turned his back on me."


Stern helped arrange for Richardson to get a community relations position with his hometown Denver Nuggets in 2003. Two years later, the Patroons were brought back as an expansion franchise in a post-Isiah-Thomas-destroyed CBA. Coyne remembered Richardson from when he played for Musselman in the Patroons' second championship season of 1987-88 and brought him back to coach the franchise.

Mostly, the big-name coaches and players are gone from the CBA now. Nevertheless, this is where Richardson had come for his shot, and this season, he hurt his standing with the franchise when he left the team for two games to work a fantasy camp in Las Vegas during the NBA's All-Star weekend (with – who else? – Darryl Dawkins). He had been the CBA's Coach of the Month in December, but that suddenly didn't mean much when, in his second straight season, he left his team to his assistant in February.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (02/03/07)..

And shortly after, while Coyne was away on vacation, Richardson traded forward Eric Williams to Pittsburgh for Marvin Phillips.

"We talked about [that trade], and he pretty much assured me that it wasn't going to happen," Coyne says. "I went to the Bahamas for a week, and it happened."

He manages a laugh. "Now, only one person is authorized to make trades here."

And it's not Sugar. At the time, Coyne let everyone know that he didn't like getting undercut on a trade by his coach. In response, Richardson barked back to the Albany Times-Union, "This isn't the YMCA. Are you kidding me?"

Now, Coyne says, "It is the CBA and not the NBA. Micheal's got to focus more on that. All he has to do is ask Phil Jackson and George Karl. They've been through it all."

So Wednesday night at the Armory, Richardson has his newly hand-picked point guard, Kareem Reid, on the floor, and Reid is shredding those Indiana Alley Cats with lob dunk passes and deft drives to the basket. What's more, Reid kept finding that ill-gotten forward, Phillips, for basket after basket. At halftime, Coyne sensed the irony and laughed that crazy minor-league basketball laugh. This night had been a measure of vindication for his coach, and he knew it.

"Hey, looks like the old days here tonight," he says.

After the game, the first in weeks that Richardson had 10 players active, he bellows to the team's beat writer, "They still want to criticize my moves?"

And soon, Richardson has the last laugh on his way into a cold, upstate night. The Patroons are creeping closer to first place, and maybe the coach still is figuring out a way to make this job work for him, the way it did for those big names on his G.M.'s past watch.

"I'm a survivor," he says, and truth be told, there always seems to be one more run left in Micheal Ray Richardson.


Adrian Wojnarowski
Yahoo! Sports


02.03.2007. u 08:04 • 2 KomentaraPrint#

četvrtak, 01.03.2007.

FEBRUARY - Month of injuries



NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (01/03/07)..


NBA Injury list 01-03-07

* - new information since last transmission.


ATLANTA HAWKS - *Guard Tyronn Lue (2/28, sore left hamstring) missed Wednesday's game against New Orleans/Oklahoma City.

BOSTON CELTICS - *Forward Wally Szczerbiak (2/28, surgery on left ankle) is expected to miss the remainder of the year. Guard Tony Allen (1/13, left knee surgery) will miss the remainder of the season. Center Theo Ratliff (1/23, back surgery) will miss the remainder of the season.

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS - *Forward Emeka Okafor (2/28, strained left calf) missed Wednesday's game against Sacramento. Forward Othella Harrington (2/22, left knee surgery) is expected to miss at least another 1-3 weeks. *Forward Sean May (2/28, sore right knee) is out indefinitely.

CHICAGO BULLS - *Forward Andres Nocioni (2/28, plantar fasciitis in right foot) is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Center Martynas Andriuskevicius (1/6, concussion/minor skull fracture) will miss the remainder of the season.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS - *Guard Sasha Pavlovic (2/28, right ankle) is questionable for Thursday's game against Dallas.

DALLAS MAVERICKS - *Guard Greg Buckner (2/28, bruised left knee) is questionable for Thursday's game against Cleveland. Guard Devean George (2/22, sprained MCL in right knee) is expected to return in one week. Center Didier Ilunga-Mbenga (2/20, right knee surgery) will miss the remainder of the season.

DENVER NUGGETS - Guard J.R. Smith (2/22, left knee surgery) is expected to miss 3-4 weeks. Forward Kenyon Martin (11/15, right knee surgery) will miss the remainder of the season.

DETROIT PISTONS - Forward Rasheed Wallace (2/26, sprained left ankle) is probable for Friday's game against Miami.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS - *Forward Matt Barnes (2/28, knee) missed Wednesday's game against Chicago. *Guard Josh Powell (2/28, neck) missed Wednesday's game against Chicago. Forward Zarko Cabarkapa (12/26, back surgery) is out indefinitely. *Guard Stephen Jackson (2/28, small fracture in left big toe) missed Wednesday's game Chicago. Guard Baron Davis (2/23, arthroscopic left knee surgery) is expected to miss at least another 2-3 weeks.

HOUSTON ROCKETS - *Guard Tracy McGrady (2/28, flu-like symptoms) played Wednesday against Toronto. Center Yao Ming (2/26, fractured bone under right knee) is out indefinitely. Guard Bob Sura (11/10, right knee/back) is out indefinitely.

INDIANA PACERS - *Guard Jamaal Tinsley (2/28, sore left leg/foot) is questionable for Friday's game against Phoenix.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS - *Guard Sam Cassell (2/28, strained right groin) is questionable for Thursday's game against Seattle. Guard Shaun Livingston (2/27, torn ligaments in left knee) will miss the remainder of the season. *Center Paul Davis (2/28, flu-like symptoms) missed Wednesday's game against Seattle. Center Zeljko Rebraca (1/30, back surgery) will miss the remainder of the season.


SHAUN LIVINGSTON (NBA CARRER ENDING??) INJURY 26/02/07..

LOS ANGELES LAKERS - *Forward Andrew Bynum (2/28, flu) is probable for Friday's game against Sacramento. Center Chris Mihm (11/10, right ankle surgery) will miss the remainder of the season. Forward Vladimir Radmanovic (2/20, separated right shoulder) is expected to miss eight weeks. Forward Luke Walton (2/27, sprained right ankle) is questionable for Friday's game against Sacramento. Center Kwame Brown (2/27, bone bruise/severely sprained left ankle) is questionable for Friday's game against Sacramento.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES - Forward Brian Cardinal (2/27, arthroscopic left knee surgery) will miss the remainder of the season. Guard Kyle Lowry (2/26, broken left wrist) will miss the remainder of the season.

MIAMI HEAT - Guard Dwyane Wade (2/22, dislocated left shoulder) is out indefinitely. Forward Wayne Simien (11/30, salmonella infection) is out indefinitely.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS - *Guard Earl Boykins (2/28, torn ligaments in right thumb) is questionable for Friday's game against Toronto. Center Dan Gadzuric (2/6, dislocated left shoulder) is expected to miss six weeks. Forward Bobby Simmons (1/13, right foot surgery) will miss the remainder of the season.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES - Forward Mark Madsen (2/24, sprained left ankle) is expected to miss at least another 1-2 weeks.

NEW JERSEY NETS - *Guard Antoine Wright (2/28, bruised right elbow) is questionable for Saturday's game against Boston. Forward Richard Jefferson (2/24, right ankle surgery) is expected to miss another two weeks. Center Nenad Krstic (12/23, left knee surgery) will miss the remainder of the season.

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS - Guard Peja Stojakovic (12/18, lower back surgery) is out indefinitely.

NEW YORK KNICKS - Guard Jamal Crawford (2/27, stress fracture in right ankle) is out indefinitely. *Forward David Lee (2/28, high right ankle sprain) missed Wednesday's game against Boston. Guard Steve Francis (2/27, right knee tendinitis) is out indefinitely.

ORLANDO MAGIC - Forward Tony Battie (2/23, fractured right thumb) is expected to miss at least another week.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS - *Guard Rodney Carney (2/28, right shoulder strain) missed Wednesday's game against Phoenix. Forward Shavlik Randolph (2/15, left ankle surgery) is expected to return within 3-5 weeks.

PHOENIX SUNS - *Forward Boris Diaw (2/28, back spasms) missed Wednesday's game against Philadelphia. *Forward Shawn Marion (2/28, bruised right hand and bruised left quadricep) missed Wednesday's game against Philadelphia.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS - Center Joel Przybilla (2/27, sore left knee) is doubtful for Thursday's game against Charlotte. Forward Raef LaFrentz (2/21, left heel) is out indefinitely. Forward Darius Miles (11/14, right knee surgery) will miss the remainder of the season.

SACRAMENTO KINGS - No significant injuries.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS - No significant injuries.

SEATTLE SUPERSONICS - Center Danny Fortson (2/27, sore left knee) is out indefinitely. Center Robert Swift (10/27, torn ACL in right knee) will miss the entire season.


ANTHONY PARKER INJURY (vs. SPURS) 26/02/07..

TORONTO RAPTORS - *Forward Jorge Garbajosa (2/27, right knee) played in Wednesday's game against Houston. *Guard Anthony Parker (2/28, sprained right ankle) missed Wednesday's game against Houston.

UTAH JAZZ - *Guard Deron Williams (2/28, sore right wrist/strained groin) played Wednesday against Memphis.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS - *Forward Caron Butler (2/28, lower back spasms) missed Wednesday's game against Miami. *Forward Antawn Jamison (2/28, sprained left knee) missed Wednesday's game against Miami.

03/01 01:49:39 ET


01.03.2007. u 08:19 • 0 KomentaraPrint#

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1972 Kresimir Cosic C Portland 10 144
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1986 Drazen Petrovic SG Portland 3 60
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1989 Dino Radja PF Boston 2 40
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1998 Bruno Sundov C Dallas 2 35
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