There's always a danger in reading too much into one pro basketball game. Then again, sometimes one game can be so telling that it's tough not to read something into it.
Warriors 118, Jazz 108.
Let's start reading ...
One of the conclusions you can draw from Saturday night's game -- and the six previous Jazz games -- is that Utah is in trouble.
There's no way around it. Utah is playing its worst basketball of the season right now.
Is it me or has Jason Richardson not quite had the career everyone expected from him? I guess I'm not exactly going out on a limb by saying that, especially this season when his minutes have been cut from 38 to 32 and his scoring has dropped from 23.2 to 14.6, but still.
In this day and age when the ability to slice through the lane and get to the basket is at a premium, Richardson is oddly available -- at least if you believe the Chicago Tribune's ever-reliable Sam Smith:
Jason Richardson is leaving hints that given their infatuation with Monta Ellis Richardson will be the one traded by the Warriors after the season. Richardson is telling friends he's hoping for a trade to the Pistons or Bulls.
Monta Ellis is for real, but he makes me nervous -- the kid can score from all angles, but his frail-ish stature (6-3, 191 pounds) makes me wonder if he can be a true starting two-guard in this league. Richardson, on the other hand, has legit size (6-6, 225) and can hit the boards when needed.
Does he have a chance to actually land with the Bulls or Pistons? Well, if he did, he wouldn't be improving his situation, at least in terms of getting out of someone else's shadow and returning to being the No. 1 scoring option. But hey, now that he's paid (he's due $11.11 million next year, and his contract increases by $1.11 million every year thereafter through 2011), maybe that's not a huge priority for him.
Anyway, Kobe only got 43 points against Golden State tonight. He was absolutely ablaze to start the game, with 19 in the first quarter alone. But then the Warriors started denying him the ball, some Odom guy decided to score 24, and Ronny Turiaf took several key shots in the paint down the stretch. Ones that, technically, could have been kicked out to Bryant. By the way, the Lakers prevailed 115-113, making that five straight for the team.
The evening's two great ironies: Kobe spent several quarters overshadowed by Monta Ellis's own offensive show. The explosive Warriors guard ended up tying his career-high of 31, which was arguably more entertaining than Bryant's higher total. Also, if the Warriors had hit a two at the buzzer, there would have been more basketball and likely another 50 point outing for KB24 (instead, Al Harrington missed a three). But what's done is done, and I guess now Kobe Bryant is just another perennial All-Star who can drop 40 without blinking.
Back in the day, international players-–we called them "Euros"--were supposed to be all sweetness and light for the league. They knew their fundamentals, didn't talk back, and were just glad to be away from all the ethnic cleansing. If the NBA was going to hell, these guys were going to save its honor.
Few of these players were as prized as Sarunas Jasikevicius. The hard-nosed, sharpshooting Lithuanian point guard was pursued by nearly every team in the league, before finally deciding to sign with the Pacers in 2005. He was expected to immediately make an impact, and possibly change the culture of that team.
Fast forward to today, where Jasikevicius is stuck on the Warriors bench and sulking about his role. He did a long interview with Mundo Deportivo that voices his discontent. I'm relying on the translation of some choice quote on Hoops Hype:
"I wanted to play in the NBA, I had to try. But I made a bad decision. It was a big mistake to sign with the Pacers."
"I have a good relationship with Don Nelson but he has the star, Baron Davis, and the future starting point guard, Monta Ellis. I understand that. What I don't understand is why they didn't trade me when they could."
Now it's possible this isn't meant to be as harsh as it sounds; I'm not sure how to take "I'm not happy. If I was, I would have to retire." Don't forget about that time Pau Gasol supposedly spit on Memphis in foreign language interview. But the important thing here is that the Cabbage Man is pissed. And not making a secret of it. This may be standard-issue NBA behavior, but aren't these imported dudes supposed to be above it? Aren't they?
I'm assuming I'm not the only avowed NBA fan who just watched Durant. I'm also guessing many of you watched him during the Big 12 Tournament, when a certain red-headed gentleman was seated next to Mr. and Mrs. Durant.
Apparently, the league was watching, too. And they didn't approve. From Sports Illustrated:
The Boston Celtics were fined $30,000 as a result of contact that took place between executive director Danny Ainge and Durant's family members at a Big 12 tournament game on March 10...
Ainge was seen sitting with Durant's mother at the Big 12 tournament. He was later quoted as saying that he was seated next to her by accident and that he had no control over his ticket location.
But that argument holds no water with the NBA.
In case you're worried that the Celtics are getting discriminated against, know that the Bobcats and Warriors also felt the sting. Apparently, Jordan said a few things about the Texas phenom in a Charlotte Observer interview, and Don Nelson touched on Durant and Greg Oden in an SI piece. Nelson also mentioned the two in this New York Times piece.
Ainge, whatever. He should've sensed that wasn't a kosher situation. With Nelson and MJ, though, you've got to wonder: is there any conversation about basketball this season that doesn't lead back to Oden/Durant?
When Stephen Jackson and a couple of Pacers teammates were involved in an incident outside of a nightclub on October 6th, it became known as the incident where Stephen Jackson fired a gun into the air. Maybe it should be known instead as the incident where Deon Willford tried to hit Stephen Jackson with his car.
Willford was sentenced to two years in prison today. He claimed that Stephen Jackson was charing towards his car with a gun ... eyewitnesses said that Jackson was walking in the other direction. He'll do two years, and the judge also ordered him to help pay for some of Jack's dental work. That could be pricey ... I don't think Jackson was wearing his mouthpiece at the time.
Just to give a little background, it all started when some of Jackson's friends got into an argument with Willford's friends ... and things escalated. To try to break up a fight, Jackson fired a few gunshots into the air (that's always a good way to calm a situation down), and he was then hit by a car.
Anyway, there's more than enough boneheadedness to go around in this situation, but given today's verdict ... Stephen Jackson might not be the worst offender in the situation.
Eight weeks, five teams, two playoff seeds up for grabs. Today I'll arbitrarily lay odds on the teams with the best chance of locking up the seventh and eighth Western Conference playoff spots:
New Orleans/OKC Hornets, 3:1 The Hornets have their two stars back (Paul and D. West); Tyson Chandler has turned into a machine (12.7 ppg and 16.9 rpg in February); and there's even talk of Peja Stojakovic making an April return from lower back surgery. I know it's a cliché saying, but I definitely wouldn't want to play this re-energized team in the first round of the playoffs.
Los Angeles Clippers, 5:1 According to Bill Simmons, the Clippers are unhappy, pointing fingers and have quit on coach Dunleavy. With that said, I fail to believe a team with this much talent and experience can't pull it together and play two solid months of ball. With five of their next six against borderline-sub-.500 teams, now is the perfect time to get it going. Denver Nuggets, 6:1 Why are the Nuggets only 12-19 since acquiring Iverson and 2-7 with Iverson and Carmelo Anthony in the lineup together? I have no idea. Why do I feel the Nuggets have a better shot at making the playoffs than the Warriors or Wolves? I have no idea. You probably should've skipped this one.
Golden State Warriors, 12:1 Sad, but true, part 1: this Warriors team would be a 60-win team if they never had to leave the comfy confines of Oracle Arena. Unfortunately, they have 16 games left as visitors, with an abysmal road record of 6-20. Sad, but true, part 2: it's been 12 years since the Warriors have made the playoffs, and it's about to be 13. Sorry, GSoM faithful, you truly deserve better. Minnesota Timberwolves, 25:1 Please. The Wolves only chance of getting Garnett back to the dance depends on whether Ricky Davis, Mark Blount and Randy Foye can consistently start carrying the load. So, yeah... their season lies in the hands of a streaky shooter, an outside big man and a rookie point guard. Doesn't look good.
I Believe That Was All-Business Pavlovic. The Cavs-Warriors AP report killed me this morning: LeBron James rested his smarting toe, and Sasha Pavlovic made sure the Cleveland Cavaliers didn't stub theirs. Ba-doom-boom-ching! Pavlovic scored a career-high 24 points, and seven others reached double-digits, as the Cavs rolled-- no... sashayed their way to a 124-97 victory over the Warriors. Interestingly, the Cavs improved to 8-2 in games sans LeBron. They really ought to hurry up and waive the bum...
... So The Lakers Could Pick Him Up. With Kobe out serving his one-game suspension for poppin' Ginobili in the face, the Lakers were forced to lay heavy minutes in the hands of Ronny Turiaf, Maurice Evans and Sasha Vujacic. (Jeez. What's with everyone naming their kids Sasha these days?) The result: a 99-94 loss to Knicks. Eddy Curry had 27 points and nine rebounds for New York.
I've Got Good News And Bad News. What do you want first? OK, the good news: For the second time in five business days the Wizards defeated the Pistons, 104-99. With the win, Washington stretched their conference lead over Detroit to 1.5 games. As for the bad news? The Wiz lost Antawn Jamison to a knee injury after he collided with teammate DeShawn Stevenson in the first quarter. The All-star forward will undergo an MRI on Thursday. He's expected to be out between two-to-eight -- to-forever? -- weeks.
My, That Was Quick. Nowitzki was struggling and Josh Howard was off making babies, so Austin Croshere stepped up his game and scored a career-high 34 points in the Mavs 122-102 win over the Sonics. Of course he did! Croshere, who began the night averaging less than 3 points per game, bolted immediately after the game so he could get home to update his Wikipedia page.
Warriors guard Stephen Jackson violated his probation in Michigan when Indiana prosecutors charged him with firing a gun outside a strip club, a judge ruled today. Not. Good.
Jackson was serving probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor assault and battery charges in September 2005 for his role in a 2004 brawl between Indiana Pacers players and fans at The Palace of Auburn Hills. He is charged in Indiana with criminal recklessness, which is a felony, and misdemeanor counts of battery and disorderly conduct.
Police said Jackson fired a gun in the air at least five times during an Oct. 6 fight outside an Indianapolis strip club. Jackson originally told police that he fired the gun in self-defense, but Marion County (Ind.) Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said Jackson retrieved his gun from his car and fired it before he was struck and injured by another car.
Jackson could spend a maximum of 93 days in prison if found guilty, though his lawyer, James Burdick, believes it's unlikely his client will ever see bars. (I mean, what else is he going to say?) The trial could be set as early as February.
Here's a question that immediately comes to mind: Where does this leave the team that just traded for him? Your answer: A lot richer. San Francisco Chronicle's Jenny Hu explains:
The NBA issues a minimum 10-game suspension for those found guilty of committing a violent felony. While the Warriors wouldn't be responsible for Jackson's salary for any games missed, they could also move to void the rest of his deal. He is due about $6 million this season and $21.5 million over the following three years.
The standard players' contract contains a morality clause that gives teams an out if the player shall "at any time, fail, refuse, or neglect to conform his personal conduct to standards of good citizenship, good moral character (defined here to mean not engaging in acts of moral turpitude, whether or not such acts would constitute a crime), and good sportsmanship, to keep himself in first class physical condition, or to obey the team's training rules."
So to recap here: S-Jax could go to jail, and lose over $20 million for an incident outside a strip club in Indy. Um, yeah, something tells me the Pacers don't have to worry about Dunleavy Jr. doing this. (Boobies make him feel funny "down there".)
Over the next few weeks, I'll bring you up to speed regarding all the latest parties and events planned during NBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas (Feb 15-19).
Event: "How The West Was One" -- All-Star VIP Event Player's Arrival Party
Date: Thursday, February 15.
Location: Empire Ballroom, formerly called Club Utopia. Apparently it's Las Vegas' newest and fastest growing music venue and nightclub. (Sure...)
Is There A Western Theme Dress Code?: No. But there should be. In fact, I highly suggest you wear a cowboy hat and boots, tight jeans, and bring a white friend with straw hanging out of his/her mouth anyway.
Celebrity Guest Hosts: Jason Richardson, Baron Davis and teammates from the Golden State Warriors; Drew Gooden, his calculator watch and teammates from the Cleveland Cavaliers; and Gary Payton and teammates from the Miami Heat.
Whoa Whoa, Damon Jones Is Going?: Hopefully not.
Antoine Walker?: Told him we were closed for the weekend.
Extra: Live musical performances by DJ Unk ("Walk It Out") and Rich Boy ("Throw Some D's"). Playboy's Vixen cover model Lisa Mackay, and video vixens' Nadia Dawn (Snoop Dogg) and Veronica Rodriguez (Kayne West) will also be in attendance.
Pictures Please?: Oh, sorry. Um, slightly safe for work: Lisa, Nadia, and Veronica.
Tickets: $35 for general admission, and $99 for VIP, which includes access to the 2nd -- much more awesome -- level. In addition, 10 VIP booths will be sold in advance at the discounted price of $1000. (Did someone just say "discount?" Man, I love a good deal. I'll take two!)
There's always a danger in reading too much into one pro basketball game. Then again, sometimes one game can be so telling that it's tough not to read something into it.
Is it me or has Jason Richardson not quite had the career everyone expected from him? I guess I'm not exactly going out on a limb by saying that, especially this season when his minutes have been cut from 38 to 32 and his scoring has dropped from 23.2 to 14.6, but still. 
Back in the day, international players-–we called them "Euros"--were supposed to be all sweetness and light for the league. They knew their fundamentals, didn't talk back, and were just glad to be away from all the ethnic cleansing. If the NBA was going to hell, these guys were going to save its honor. 
I'm assuming I'm not the only avowed NBA fan who just watched Durant. I'm also guessing many of you watched him during the Big 12 Tournament, when a certain red-headed gentleman was seated next to Mr. and Mrs. Durant. 
When Stephen Jackson and a couple of Pacers teammates were involved in an incident outside of a nightclub on October 6th, it became known as the incident where Stephen Jackson fired a gun into the air. Maybe it should be known instead as the incident where Deon Willford tried to hit Stephen Jackson with his car.
Eight weeks, five teams, two playoff seeds up for grabs. Today I'll arbitrarily lay odds on the teams with the best chance of locking up the seventh and eighth Western Conference playoff spots: 
A quick look back at Tuesday night's action... 
Warriors guard Stephen Jackson violated his probation in Michigan when Indiana prosecutors charged him with firing a gun outside a strip club, a judge ruled today. Not. Good.
Over the next few weeks, I'll bring you up to speed regarding all the latest parties and events planned during NBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas (Feb 15-19).
