Allen Iverson retiring after 14 seasons

Former MVP, scoring champ and 10-time All-Star Allen Iverson is reportedly retiring from the game he loves. He initially played 3 games with the Memphis Grizzlies this season before taking a leave of absence for personal matters. Soon after he and the team agreed to part ways. Now today according to Stephen A. Smith Iverson is hanging up the high tops.

For last season, Iverson was part of a Detroit Pistons team considered to be NBA title contenders. Iverson was upset at the role he was given as a reserve for the team. The Knicks considered signing the guard after he was waived this season, but decided against it because they felt Iverson would take time away from younger players they wanted to develop.

According to a statement that Stephen A. Smith published on his website, Iverson said "I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level." and that he still has tremendous love for the game. Iverson's former coach George Karl of the Denver Nuggets was shocked at the news, offering the following:

"I think he still has something left to give some team out there. If that's his decision, he'll go down in history, I think, as the greatest little guard ever to play the game of basketball," Karl said.

"I was happy to have him for a couple years and hopefully our paths will cross. But I have a sneaky feeling that somewhere along the way an injury or a circumstance with a team will open that window back up."

(Story Source: The Associated Press)

2009 NBA Playoffs - Top Teams hurt by Injuries?

For the most part the teams with the higher seeds were on the winning end this past weekend, with the exception of two Eastern Conference squads. First off, the Boston Celtics lost a tough opening game in Boston to the Chicago Bulls in Overtime. Derrick Rose was considered the big hero, as he lead the team in scoring, and Ben Gordon also added some firepower. The Bulls have been a team full of talent which hadn't truly materialized. This could be their chance to get some playoff experience and maybe be the team to eventually test the Cleveland Cavs, who won their opener over Detroit easily.

The other high seed to get shocked at home was the Orlando Magic. They were in control of the Philadelphia 76ers by double digits heading into the 4th, but Philly stayed strong and battled back to overcome an 18 point deficit. With the game tied, it was an Andre Iguaduola jumper that gave the Sixers the edge, and put the Magic into a 0-1 situation, taking away home court advantage. I'll be the first to admit, I didn't give the Sixers much chance to win, and quite possibly they enjoyed being in that situation, as the Davids who rise to the challenge and overcome the Goliath. Andre Iguoduola is increasing his star presence that much more with each winning shot he delivers.

You can never make excuses in sports, but understand that both the Celtics and Magic are currently without two stars from their rotation. The Celtics are very hurt without the services of one Kevin Garnett, who was an inspirational and motivational floor leader who does just about everything. The Magic are missing point guard Jameer Nelson, who was an All-star this past season like KG, but was unable to participate in the game. Again, both these teams have plenty of other stars, but you could make a case that their absences played a part in helping to motivate the opposing teams to victory. It's still early in the playoffs, and both the Magic and Celtics are quite capable of stealing victories on the road, so let's not jump to foregone conclusions that either team is going to fold. Both teams lost very closely contested games, and these are the playoffs. You adapt, re-adjust and reload for the next game.

One thing the playoffs always tend to bring is the unsung heroes, as players who seem lost in the shuffle, too young to be known, or over-the-hill are elevated in status or reborn and rejuvenated. Some cases in point include the Sixers' Donyell Marshall who nailed plenty of key threes against Orlando, helping the Sixers to come back and win, and the Rockets' Dikembe Mutombo, the oldest guy in the league who showed against Portland you still don't want to bring shots into the House of Mutombo. Let's hope for more great surprises as these 2009 Playoffs continue!

Iverson's $25,000 Fine & Coach Firings

On Tuesday the NBA fined Detroit Pistons guard Allen Iverson $25,000 for comments he made toward a fan in Charlotte. The comments came with just 6.2 seconds left in the third quarter. Detroit ended up winning the game 90-86. No report on exactly what was said by Iverson or the fan. According to Washington Post this is the second fine for Iverson since being dealt to the Pistons. His previous fine involved skipping practice on Thanksgiving day, which also resulted in him being benched for the start of the next game.

Happy trails to two former players turned NBA coaches, Sacramento's Reggie Theus and the Sixers Maurice Cheeks. At SportingNews.com two NBA "gurus" discussed the firing of Theus which took place on Monday.

BS: Are people blaming Theus for this, and if so, why shouldn't they?

TZ: Theus is taking blame, and he should. The local beat writer reported this morning that Theus had been habitually late for practices and the team bus. Theus admitted to being late for the bus. His reasoning? He didn't want to catch anyone else showing up late, for fear disciplining them would ruin the team chemistry. I find it hard to absolve Reggie, considering the biggest knock on the team has been a lack of on-court focus and discipline.

BS: Who did less coaching this year, Theus or Vinnie Del Negro? Or am I mistaken in assuming that Theus' mixed signals canceled themselves out?

TZ: Theus remained a stoic presence on the sideline; Del Negro tinkers with his rotations endlessly, it seems. At this point, I feel comfortable in stating that Theus is a better coach (makes better decisions), but Del Negro actually, um, cares.

Cheeks took full responsibility for his team's 9-14 start to the season. Cheeks was quoted as saying "Things don't always work out the way you expect them to," Cheeks said. "I take solace in the fact I did the best I could." The Sixers had high hopes for the season in which they acquired consistent star player, Elton Brand from the Clippers.

Free Agents Move East?

A New Sixers Brand

The Philadelphia 76ers made one of the biggest moves so far in the young free agency period of the NBA. Philly added the services of 10 year NBA veteran and perennial All-star, Elton Brand. It had originally appeared like Brand would re-sign with his longtime Clippers, and align himself with their latest acquisition, PG Baron Davis. But the Sixers gave up enough cash to add the big man to their front court mix, and are now ready to compete in the East.

As noted on ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike show, more players are likely headed to the East because they have a better chance at competing there. In the West, talent is stacked and several teams are leaps and bounds above the rest. Right now the NBA Finals runner-ups, the Lakers, may lose Ronny Turiaf to the Warriors, as they need to match an offer made to him.
The Lakers basically steamrolled through the Western side of the playoffs, before being dismantled by Boston in the Finals. That said, Boston didn't have an easy route in the East. They were taken to the limit by both Atlanta and Cleveland. Meanwhile, Philly took the Pistons six games in the East, and with the addition of a solid upfront player like Elton Brand, the Sixers only increase their chances at making it deep into the playoffs.

The case was also made that teams like the Bulls and Nets made great draft night moves to position themselves. But that positioning might not pay off until a year or two down the road. The Bulls are young and able, but the Nets may be more of a rebuild as Vince Carter isn't getting younger and may decide to leave town for a title contender. Watch for more teams to attempt to sign key players in the coming weeks in order to compete in 2008-09.

Pistons Push Forward

Playing in Philadelphia, the Pistons made the statement that they still should be considered one of the potential NBA champs from the Eastern Conference. Detroit had a commanding double digit lead 79-51 as they headed into the 4th quarter against the Sixers Thursday night. Mr. Big Shot, Chauncey Billups hit a 3 with about 3 seconds left on the clock in the 3rd. Detroit finished off the Sixers 100-77 to advance to the next round. Orlando will be awaiting the Pistons this coming Saturday. An intriguing matchup now comes between big man Dwight Howard & the Magic against the veteran Pistons. During the regular season the two teams split with 2 wins each and last postseason Detroit swept Orlando from the playoffs. According to Inside the NBA on TNT, Dwight Howard averaged 17 points, 11 rebounds. Lucky for Detroit, they are able to hit outside shots, so driving to the lane won't be too "big" a problem. Even so, Prince and Rasheed do have the size to take it to D-Howard.

It's starting to look like the 4 teams that should be here in the next round, will be, with Orlando, Detroit, Cleveland and Boston. These are the best of the best and should provide some interesting matchups. Unless Washington and Atlanta pull of miracles, that should be your Eastern Conference final 4. ...A Celtics versus Pistons matchup in the Eastern finals could rival their playoff series of yesteryear with tough defense, hard fouls and intense basketball. Once the second round arrives, let the big battles begin...

Recent Love & Basketball posts:

Dennis Rodman Jailed!

Wizards & Celtics Win, Avery Gets Axe

Goodbye Suns & Mavs!

The Sixers Surprise

The Philadelphia 76ers were a team that many (self included) hadn't even considered as a team to be part of this season's NBA playoff picture. The Sixers surged when they needed to and captured the 7th spot, with the fate of facing Detroit, a team which many expected to dominate. Philly pulled off a surprise win in Game 1 in Detroit, after some huddle antics by Rasheed Wallace. The Pistons evened things up in Game 2 and headed to Philly for the 3rd game looking to win again. However, Philadelphia had an impressive showing on their homecourt.

In Game 3, Philadelphia held the lead through the 3rd quarter and finished with a 95-75 victory to go up 2 games to 1. Samuel Dalembert had the stat line of the night with 21 points and 16 boards. Andre Miller also added 21. For Detroit, Rip Hamilton led the way with 23, but they lost the services of Antonio McDyess in the 3rd due to a broken nose. So what's really wrong with the Pistons? According to ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, Detroit may have an arrogant mentality thinking they can handle business over the lower seed, and Philadelphia has simply been out-hustling them,

The Sixers are an enigma in that they don't have a ton of playoff experience or all-stars. They have the services of Andre Miller, a veteran point guard, and the All-star caliber player in Andre Iguadola. Dalembert lends somewhat of a defensive presence. One would think Detroit would have the edge in terms of bench and experience here. Flip Saunders also has a lot more coaching experience than Mo Cheeks. So it is very possible in this series that the younger, hungrier Sixers have the chance to pull off the shocker of this year's playoffs and take out one of the tougher teams from the East.

So it's a great time to be a Sixers fan, not only because of the recent victories but also because of the 76 cent a gallon gas sale held in Philadelphia on Friday.

The Eastern Conference 8 Spot

In the NBA's Eastern Conference, 7 of the 8 playoff spots have been claimed already, with several teams clinching last night. The Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers were among those who will be heading to the playoffs. I'll be the 1st to admit, I just didn't see this Sixers team being worthy of a playoff spot, but then again the East is nowhere near as tough and competitive as the Western Conference.

Here's how things look as of right now:

1 - Boston Celtics (60-15)
2 - Detroit Pistons (54-21)
3 - Orlando Magic (47-28)
4 - Cleveland (42-34)
5 - Philadelphia (39-37)
6 - Washington (39-37)
7 - Toronto (38-38)
8 - Atlanta Hawks (35-41)
-----------------------
(9) Indiana (32-44)
Games remaining: 6 (4 Home, 2 Away)

(10) New Jersey (31-45)
Games remaining: 6 (2 Home, 4 Away)

(11) Chicago (30-45)
Games remaining: 7 (4 Home, 3 Away)

Right now the Atlanta Hawks are perched at the 8 spot in the East. The New Jersey Nets seem to be falling out of contention despite having the talent of Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter. Losing a player the caliber of Jason Kidd obviously hurts quite a bit, as he ran the show and basically got the stats needed to help win games. They weren't exactly dominating with Kidd there though. So the Pacers, Bulls and Nets all have a legit shot at the final spot should Atlanta falter along the way. Atlanta, should they make that 8 spot, would be playing Boston first round of the playoffs. A possible preview of that will come April 12th in a regular season contest, in Atlanta. See more about the NBA Playoff picture at ESPN.com

Also in the East, the Milwauke Bucks have lost the services of their rookie Yi for the remainder of this NBA season. The Bucks along with Charlotte, the Knicks and Heat are all lottery bound.

Heat Hit Low, Sixers Surging

On Wednesday night the Miami Heat continued their 2007-08 dry spell, as the team reached a new low. The Heat scored just 54 points in their game against the Toronto Raptors, and that is the 3rd lowest point total scored since the shot clock was introduced. Luckily, the Chicago Bulls have the lowest point total, 49, and it came against the Heat many years ago. So the Heat are now on two sides of that record, the winning and losing sides. Unfortunately, this year is a losing effort overall. Dwayne Wade is done for the season and undergoing treatment for injury rehab. Shaq exited thanks to a trade with Phoenix, leaving Shawn Marion "The Matrix" to be "The One" for the team.

The bright spot is the Heat will be eligible for a top draft pick thanks to their poor record. Best guess is the Heat will be hoping to get a big man out of the 2008 draft, such as Roy Hibbert from Georgetown or Brook Lopez from Stanford, if either is available. First the Heat need to finish out a miserable 2007-08 season. Then they really need the luck of the draw in the lottery to get the #1 pick. If the Heat get a pick below #5 it would be more icing on a really bad cake. Check out Fox Sports' article on NCAA tournament scouting. See NBADraft.net's projected 2008 picks.

In other news, New Jersey took over the 8 spot thanks to a tie breaker with the Sixers. Philly may be surprising many fans that they are even in the chase this year, or it's a good indication of how bad the lower tier of East Playoff teams is. They had a familiar face back in town for their latest game, as Allen Iverson returned to fan appreciation in Philadelphia. However, the Sixers continued surging and defeated the Nuggets 115-113. Andre Miller had a nice game with 28 points and 12 assists. Read more on the game here.

Expect teams such as Atlanta, Philly, New Jersey and the Bulls to be jockeying for those 7-8 spots as the season draws to a close.

Four Breakout NBA Stars

NBA Inside Access with Ahmad Rashad took a look at 4 NBA players who've been having breakout seasons this year. David West, Louis Williams, Al Jefferson and Hedo Turkoglu.

David West of the New Orleans Hornets has had one of the best breakout seasons in the NBA, as he achieved All-Star status this season. It's his first selection and probably not his last. The forward was described by his coach Byron Scott as shy and quiet, but forceful when it comes to his play on the court. His teammate Chris Paul, fellow All-star, says West isn't concerned with being an All-star as much as just playing the game. West himself said he doesn't mind if people don't know who he is when he's out and about, because basketball is a game and entertainment. David West continues to play great the forward spot for New Orleans as they are one of the top teams in the NBA's West.

Hedo Turkoglu isn't really an unknown star, as he's shown his brilliance previously for the Sacramento Kings. This season he's been making Magic in Orlando, as they are one of the Top 4 teams of the Eastern Conference. Hedo was groomed early in his career by teammates in Sacramento, Peja Stoyakovic and Vlade Divac. Hedo's currently enjoying the coaching style and system of Stan Van Gundy, which gives him more opportunities to excel. Now a confident Turkoglu is scoring 20 ppg, and hitting game winners and helping the Magic to be one of the top teams in the East. Although Hedo didn't make the All-star team this season, he may be a lead candidate for the Most Improved Player award.

Al Jefferson is considered the man filling the shoes of KG in Minnesota, the new face of the TWolves. Jefferson was taken by the Celtics in the 2004 draft, after he played basketball growing up since age 5. Jefferson admitted in his second season he just didn't prepare like he should have, then he injured his leg and ankle twice. After a serious commitment to rehab, Jefferson was back to take over for the Celtics, emerging as a top star. Big Al said the trade from Boston to Minnesota for KG was more of a sign of respect to him. Now Al learns from an all-time great forward in Kevin McHale of Minnesota. Al says if he takes care of his game, "his game will take care of him" and his goal is to be remembered in this league. Al Jefferson is currently a 20/10 man with points and rebounds.

Louis Williams of the Philadelphia Sixers is not only a baller, but a radio DJ. The guard has been a part of this season's resurgence in Philly, as the Sixers are part of the playoff chase again. His weekly radio show for 100.3 the Beat features R&B and Hip Hop. Williams wants to broaden his horizons, and is definitely giving basketball and music his all. He's averaging a career high 11 points as a reserve to help spark the Sixers. Teammate Andre Iguodola says Louis has a "street mentality" from music to the hardwood courts. Early in his career he received rookie lessons and pranks courtesy of Allen Iverson. Louis may be a bench player for the Sixers but he gets plenty of play time when it comes to DJing. One guests he'd like to have on his show is rapper Lil' Wayne.

Note: ABC will be featuring a doubleheader starting at 12:30 PM on Sunday. New Orleans heads to Detroit, with the second game featuring the 20 game win-streak Rockets against the Lakers.

Buy an NBA Team for $350 Mill

For a cool 350 million dollars you could be the proud owner of the Orlando Magic. It seems a bit cheap if you think about it, adding up the ticket sales, merchandising and salaries of all their players, staff, dancers, employees and executives.

Sports Business Radio has an August 2006 article which lists 5 teams out you can buy each for under 350 million. They include the Portland Trailblazers, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers and Memphis Grizzlies. Not too bad at all. Particularly appealing, and probably now selling for a much higher price, are the Trailblazers with future prodigy, Greg Oden, considered a franchise/cornerstone player.

In related news a website called Make Money with Super Affiliate Zac Johnson discusses how a woman sold the rights to the internet domain name "bobcats.com" to the Bobcats for $50,000 which just might be nice for most of us, but could have been a bargain sale for the Bobcats.

NBA Preseason Schedules

Several NBA teams have posted 2007-08 NBA Preseason schedules, including the Lakers, Blazers, Sonics, and Sixers. Here's a look at the Lakers' preseason schedule:

EL SEGUNDO – The Los Angeles Lakers have announced the preseason schedule for the 2007-08 season along with ticket purchase information. The Lakers will play host to two games at STAPLES Center, as well as games in Hawaii, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Las Vegas and San Diego. The schedule is as follows:

Tue, October 9th - 7pm Honolulu (Stan Sheriff Center) vs. Golden State Warriors

Thu, October 11th - 7pm Honolulu (Stan Sheriff Center) vs. Golden State Warriors

Thur, October 18th - 7pm Bakersfield (Bakersfield Rabobank Arena) vs. Seattle Supersonics

Pre-Season Shootout Doubleheader, October 20 &21
Sat, October 20th - 4:30pm Phoenix Suns vs. LA Clippers (STAPLES Center)
Sat, October 20th - 7:30pm Charlotte Bobcats vs. LA Lakers (STAPLES Center)
Sun, October 21st - 4:30pm Phoenix or LA Clippers vs. Charlotte Bobcats (STAPLES Center)
Sun, October 21st - 7:30pm Phoenix or LA Clippers vs. LA Lakers (STAPLES Center)

Tue, October 23rd - 7pm Anaheim (Honda Center) vs. Utah Jazz

Thu, October 25th - 7pm San Diego (San Diego Sports Arena) vs. Utah Jazz

Fri, October 26th - 7pm Las Vegas (Thomas and Mack Center) vs. Sacramento Kings

All Times Local

To check out the other schedules use the links below:
Trailblazers Preseason Schedule

Seattle Supersonics Preseason Schedule

Lakers Preseason Schedule

Philadelphia Sixers Preseason Schedule

Raptors Game Oddities

The speculations about games affected and points shaved as well as bad calls made will probably be ongoing until the NBA presents more definitive evidence to the general public. MSNBC has a recent story presenting two "oddities" involving the final score in Toronto Raptors games, months apart. Alleged crooked ref Tim Donaghy was involved in both contests.

From MSNBC.com:

"There were strange circumstances regarding two Toronto Raptors games officiated by Tim Donaghy, the former referee who allegedly bet on NBA games for the past two seasons, the Toronto Sun reported.

On Nov. 24, the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Raptors 97-93 to cover the three-point spread. However, a two-point basket by the Raptors' T.J. Ford was not recorded. Had it been, the final score would have been 97-95 and the Hawks thus would not have covered the spread.

On Jan. 15, the Philadelphia 76ers were favoured to beat the Raptors. However, according to the New York Times, wagering on the Raptors was so heavy that Toronto eventually became a one-point favorite by game time. The Raptors went on to win 104-86.

After the Raptors-Hawks game, Toronto assistant coach Jay Triano told the scorer's table that the final score was incorrect, but the situation didn't get resolved, the Sun reported."