April 2008 Basketball Wiretap

Lopez Twins Turning Pro

Mar 31, 2008 7:50 PM

Brook and Robin Lopez will both leave Stanford to enter the NBA draft.

Brook was the 7th player selected in RealGM's most recent mock draft and is assured of being a lottery pick.  Robin is projected to be a late first round or second round selection.

"This has been a very difficult decision for me because I really enjoyed my two years at Stanford," Robin Lopez said in a statement released to the AP. "I have always hoped I would have an opportunity to play in the NBA and I feel now is the right time to make that dream a reality."

"After a great deal of thought and discussion with my family, I feel it is the appropriate time to enter the NBA Draft," Brook Lopez said. "It is the dream of every basketball player to play and succeed in the NBA and I feel I am ready to take on this new challenge."

Sportsline

Tags: NBA, NBA NBA Draft

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Miami Signs Ahearn And Lasme To Second 10-Day Deals

Mar 31, 2008 5:56 PM

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed guard Blake Ahearn and forward Stephane Lasme to second 10-day contracts. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Ahearn, a 6?2?, 190-pound guard, has appeared in six games for the Heat averaging 5.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 15.0 minutes of action. He scored a career-high 15 points at Detroit on 3/27, and his 94.7 percent (18-of-19) from the free throw line currently leads the team.

Lasme, a 6?8?, 215-pound forward, has appeared in six games for the Heat averaging 5.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.00 blocks, and 1.00 steals in 21.5 minutes of action. He blocked a career-high three shots on two occasions and has recorded 12 blocks in his six games with the Heat.

Press Release

Tags: Miami Heat, NBA

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Jermaine: I Have Nothing To Prove

Mar 31, 2008 4:22 PM

Jermaine O'Neal, who will return to the floor for the Pacers on Monday against the Heat after more than two months on the bench, doesn't think he has anything to prove, according to the Indianapolis Star.

"I don't feel I have to prove anything to my doubters. I feel I need to prove it to myself," O'Neal said,"that I can get back and dominate once again. At 29, I'm not ready to give that up."

"I'm going to get some things off my chest (on the court) next season, but it's going to start with me in the summertime," Jermaine added.

The Indianapolis Star

Tags: Indiana Pacers, NBA

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Redd: This Season Has Been A Failure

Mar 31, 2008 4:19 PM

Michael Redd thinks that this season has been a failure for the Bucks, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

"Last year wasn't as bad as this year," Redd said. "Last year we had severe injury problems, and we would have been much better. This year, you can't really put it on injuries."

When asked if he could find anything positive from the season, Redd said, "Nothing, nothing."

"The fact is that one day, when we're winning and contending for a championship, we'll appreciate these days. Other than that, character has been built; perseverance has been built up. I've grown in those areas, having patience with everything," Redd added.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Tags: Milwaukee Bucks, NBA

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Rivers: Future Is Now For Celtics

Mar 31, 2008 4:16 PM

Doc Rivers, the head coach of the Celtics, believes that the future is now for the team, according to the Boston Herald.

"We do have some nice young guys, as well," Rivers said on Sunday. "That?s the trick, and who knows? Do you stay with what you?ve got and keep churning it out, or do you make a move?"

"I don?t know. I mean, you can look at all the sports and teams have done it both ways. The Chicago Bulls, could they have won one more? Probably. So that?s the question. Hopefully, we can answer that question. That would be great," Rivers said.

The Boston Herald

Tags: Boston Celtics, NBA

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Magic's Cook Out 10-14 Days With Finger Fracture

Mar 31, 2008 3:41 PM

Magic forward Brian Cook could miss up to two weeks because he broke his right middle finger in practice, according to an Associated Press report.

The Magic said Monday that Cook would rest 10 to 14 days, then be re-evaluated. The Magic?s season ends with three games from April 13-16. They have eight games remaining.

AP

Tags: Orlando Magic, NBA

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RGM Rundown For March 30th: Toronto's Struggles

Mar 31, 2008 11:09 AM

The Toronto Raptors lost to the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday night, further sliding down in the weak Eastern Conference. The Raptors only have a half-game lead over the 76ers for the sixth seed with just a few weeks left in the regular season. Read about Toronto?s struggles and more in the RealGM Daily Rundown for March 30th?s games!

- SAS 109, HOU 88

The San Antonio Spurs knocked off the Houston Rockets in a big way on Sunday night. Tony Parker and Michael Finley both notched 22 points and 6 rebounds for the Spurs, who shot 53% from the floor and outrebounded Houston by five. Luis Scola starred with 24 points and 7 rebounds, and Tracy McGrady added 13 points, 6 assists, and 5 boards for the Rockets, who hit just 40% of their shots and turned the ball over just six times. Manu Ginobili tallied 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in the victory while Kurt Thomas added 10 points and 7 boards for the Spurs, who moved into a tie with the Hornets for first place in the Western Conference.

Game FIC Scores
Tony Parker, SAS ? 18.3
Manu Ginobili, SAS ? 16.0
Luis Scola, HOU ? 14.8
Fabricio Oberto, SAS ? 14.3

- MIN 110, UTA 103

The Minnesota Timberwolves outscored the Utah Jazz by eight points last night en route to a tough road win. Al Jefferson had 22 points and 8 rebounds, and Corey Brewer added 16 points and 7 boards for the Wolves, who shot 53% from the floor and scored 20 points off turnovers. Carlos Boozer starred for the Jazz with 25 points and 10 rebounds, and Deron Williams added 15 points and 13 assists in the loss. Utah still has a 2.5 game lead over the Nuggets for the lead in the Northwest Division, but they dropped to 16-22 on the road this season.

Game FIC Scores
Carlos Boozer, UTA ? 17.6
Ronnie Brewer, UTA ? 16.0
Corey Brewer, MIN ? 14.3
Deron Williams, UTA ? 14.0

- ATL 114, NYK 109

The Atlanta Hawks improved their playoff hopes with a tight win over the New York Knicks on Sunday night. Marvin Williams had 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Al Horford posted 18 points and 13 boards for the Hawks, who shot 51% on the night and outrebounded New York by ten. Jamal Crawford exploded with 39 points and 8 assists, and David Lee added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who scored 14 points off turnovers and fell to 20-53 on the year. Joe Johnson, Atlanta?s all-star representative, notched 25 points and 13 rebounds in the victory.

Game FIC Scores
Marvin Williams, ATL ? 24.4
Jamal Crawford, NYK ? 24.4
Joe Johnson, ATL ? 20.8
Al Horford, ATL ? 19.1

- BOS 88, MIA 62

The Boston Celtics used a 32-13 first quarter advantage to defeat the Miami Heat last night. Leon Powe had 17 points and 13 rebounds, and Kevin Garnett added 12 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for the Celtics, who outrebounded Miami by twenty-three and forced nineteen turnovers. Chris Quinn had 14 points and 8 assists for the Heat while Ricky Davis posted 14 points and 6 rebounds in the blowout loss. Miami shot just 26% from the field, including a 4-for-19 performance from behind the three-point line. Boston has a firm grasp on the league?s best record while Miami has been the NBA?s worst team for a majority of the season.

Game FIC Scores
Kevin Garnett, BOS ? 16.8
Chris Quinn, MIA ? 11.5
Leon Powe, BOS ? 11.3
Rajon Rondo, BOS ? 9.5

- CLE 91, PHI 88

LeBron James made a layup with twenty-four seconds left on Sunday afternoon to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers past the Philadelphia 76ers. James finished the game with 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists, and Delonte West added 18 points, 11 dimes, and 6 boards for the Cavs, who shot 45% and outrebounded Philly by seven. Andre Iguodala starred with 19 points and 5 rebounds, and Andre Miller tallied 16 points and 9 assists for the Sixers, who where 3-for-13 from behind the three-point line and are still a half-game behind Toronto for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Game FIC Scores
LeBron James, CLE ? 28.9
Delonte West, CLE ? 22.0
Andre Miller, PHI ? 19.8
Samuel Dalembert, PHI ? 13.5

- NOH 118, TOR 111

Despite a huge fourth-quarter run by the Toronto Raptors, the New Orleans Hornets came out victorious last night. David West had 32 points and 7 rebounds, and Chris Paul posted 20 points, 16 assists, and 6 boards for the Hornets, who hit 60% of their shots and took great care of the basketball. Chris Bosh led the Raptors with 21 points and 7 rebounds, and Jose Calderon contributed 10 points and 11 assists off the bench in the loss. Toronto, who shot 52% from the floor, has now lost eight of their last eleven.

Game FIC Scores
Chris Paul, NOH ? 27.9
David West, NOH ? 22.5
Jamario Moon, TOR ? 16.8
Chris Bosh, TOR ? 14.0

- GSW 114, DAL 104

The Golden State Warriors used a strong second quarter to defeat the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night. Monta Ellis led with 30 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds, and Andris Biedrins added 16 points and 10 boards of his own for the Warriors, who shot 47% from the floor and outrebounded Dallas by nine. Josh Howard led the Mavericks with 36 points and 9 rebounds while Jason Kidd tallied 13 points, 14 assists, and 9 boards in the loss. Golden State turned the ball over just eight times and grabbed six more offensive rebounds than Dallas. The Warriors and Mavericks have moved into a three-way tie with the Nuggets for the seventh seed in the Western Conference.

Game FIC Scores
Josh Howard, DAL ? 25.6
Jason Kidd, DAL ? 24.3
Andris Biedrins, GSW ? 20.8
Monta Ellis, GSW ? 18.0

- SAC 120, SEA 107

The Sacramento Kings used a big third quarter run to knock off the Seattle Supersonics last night. Ron Artest had 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 steals, and Kevin Martin notched 31 points for the Kings, who hit 55% of their shots and outrebounded Seattle by eleven on the road. Kevin Durant led the Sonics in defeat with 25 points while Earl Watson posted 20 points and 12 assists, and rookie Jeff Green added 21 points. Superb bench play from Francisco Garcia and John Salmons proved to be the difference for Sacramento.

Game FIC Scores
Ron Artest, SAC ? 28.1
Earl Watson, SEA ? 23.3
Francisco Garcia, SAC ? 16.5
Kevin Martin, SAC ? 15.0

- LAL 126, WSH 120 (OT)

The Los Angeles Lakers outlasted the Washington Wizards in overtime on Sunday night for their fiftieth win of the season. Kobe Bryant had 26 points and 13 assists, and Lamar Odom added 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 dimes for the Lakers, who hit 49% of their shots and took good care of the ball in the win. Caron Butler had 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists for the Wizards in the hard-fought loss while rookie Nick young added 27 points off the bench. Washington used a 39-28 third quarter run to get back in the game, and Butler hit a three-pointer with nine seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

Game FIC Scores
Caron Butler, WSH ? 23.0
Luke Walton, LAL ? 19.4
DeShawn Stevenson, WSH ? 18.3
Kobe Bryant, LAL ? 17.9

? RealGM calculates the Floor Impact Counter using the following formula: (Points + .75 Defensive Rebounds + Offensive Rebounds + Steals + Assists + Blocks - .75 Field Goal Attempts - .375 Free Throw Attempts - Turnovers - .5 Personal Fouls)

( )'s indicate a negative FIC score.

It is also used to rank players and to determine their `Reina Value.'
Click here to view the player rankings with the Reina Value for the current season

Andrew Perna/RealGM

Tags: New Orleans Pelicans, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Fisher's Foot Still A Mystery To Lakers

Mar 31, 2008 9:50 AM

Derek Fisher was in the lineup for the 74th time this season on Sunday, but the Lakers don't know what the near future holds for their veteran guard, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

An MRI revealed a partially torn tendon in his right foot, but Fisher aims to play through the discomfort. The common resting period for an injury of this caliber can range from six to eight weeks.

"We're still in a quandary about Derek, and what exactly is going to happen," Coach Phil Jackson said. "Can he play through this? Is he going to have to take a rest period or what? So, right now we're still in a quandary about how it's going to go."

The Los Angeles Daily News

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, NBA

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Davis Wants To Re-Sign With Heat

Mar 31, 2008 9:44 AM

Ricky Davis wants to re-sign with the Miami Heat despite their horrible season, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

He will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

"They will get the first look," Davis said after a loss to the Celtics Sunday night. "I know it will not be like this next year."

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Tags: Miami Heat, NBA

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Jermaine Will Return Monday, Off Bench

Mar 31, 2008 9:41 AM

Jermaine O'Neal will return for the Pacers on Monday night versus the Heat after more than two months on the sideline, according to the Indianapolis Star.

He will come off the bench and isn't expected to play more than twenty minutes a game for the time being.

"I haven't lost my defensive rhythm," O'Neal said. "Offensively it's going to take me a couple of games to get myself together, but we don't need me as much offensively now."

The Indianapolis Star

Tags: Indiana Pacers, NBA

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Doug Collins Turns Down Bucks?

New York Daily News

Arenas Would Take Pay Cut For Jamison

Washington Post

Mavericks' Coach Says Kidd Had Freedom

Dallas Morning News

Could Hinrich Be On The Move After Season?

Chicago Tribune

Celtics Limit Heat To Record-Low 17 FGs

ESPN

Cavs' Wallace Again Forced To Sit With Back Spasms

ESPN

Isiah Says Indiana Hasn't Contacted Him Yet

ESPN

Artest: Kings Need Moore To Win

The Sacramento Bee

Could Cassell Join Celtics' Coaching Staff?

The Boston Globe

Elton Brand Cleared To Play

The Los Angeles Daily News

Nuggets Down Warriors, Move Into Eighth

ESPN

Cavs Get Blown Out But Secure Playoff Berth

nba.com

Mavericks Hope Dirk May Return Later This Week

Dallas Morning News

Shaq Rips Net, Causes Delay

ESPN

Rockets Sign Harris For Remainder Of Season

AP

Dirk: Kobe Should Be MVP

ESPN

Former NBA Player Isaiah Rider Arrested

USA Today

Jazz Recall Almond And Fesenko From D-League

Press Release

McGrady Misses Practice With Sore Shoulder

The Houston Chronicle

Cook Earns Himself Time With Magic

Orlando Sentinel