NBA s Top Referee Suspended For Improper Behavior
Referee Joey Crawford will no longer be ejecting players and coaches this season. He was suspended indefinitely by commissioner David Stern for his behavior towards Tim Duncan. Duncan said that Crawford challenged him to a fight during the game against Mavericks and with Duncan gone, the Mavs beat the Spurs, ending their chance of getting the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Crawford has officiated more postseason games than any other active referee and his suspension is bound to last till the NBA final gets over. After that he would have to meet Stern to discuss about his reinstatement. Since Rodney Mott got suspended for three games on January 12, 2007 for making an obscene gesture at a fan and using inappropriate language in Portland, Crawford is the first referee to get suspended.
Mavericks Rest Top Players For Game Against The Warriors
The Dallas Mavericks are the best team in the NBA and during the game against the Golden State Warriors, they decided to rest three of their top players. The Mavs decided to rest Dirk Nowitzki, Jerry Stackhouse and Josh Howard from the lineup. Nowitzki and Stackhouse were deactivated while Howard was not expected to dress for the game. Center Erick Dampier was also sitting out with a strained right shoulder. The fact that coach Avery Johnson decided to rest two of his All Stars and his top reserve would greatly benefit the Warriors who have already beaten the Mavericks four times this season. If the Warriors manage to win their fifth straight game against Dallas, it will help their cause for securing a playoff spot and a possible first round matchup with the Mavericks again.
Sonics Likely To Leave Seattle After Next Season
Clay Bennett, SuperSonics majority owner, said that it was most likely that the Sonics would not play in Seattle beyond the 2007-08 season. He made this announcement as Gov Chris Gregoire refuses to call a special session of lawmakers so that the Sonics could continue to push for taxpayers" money for a new arena worth $500 million. Bennett said that the Sonics would honor their lease of Key Arena but only through a legal route. The lease runs through 2010. However, he said that the team might or might play in the arena. Sonics have been Seattle"s NBA team for the last 40 years and are obligated to stay in the city for just one for season. Bennett said that it not make sense to play in Seattle if relocation was the only possible answer.
Jerry West Gives Up On Trying To Transform The Grizzlies
Jerry West came out of retirement to see whether he could transform the Memphis Grizzlies and five years later he has decided to stop trying. West announced that he will be leaving as the director of basketball operations for the Grizzlies on July 1, 2007 after his contract comes to end. West decided that the injuries, losses, tiredness and the uncertainty was just too much for him to handle. West will be turning 69 in May 2007 and said that he was not young anymore for this sort of work. West was there to see the Grizzlies reach the playoffs three times but has never tasted a postseason victory. This season the Grizzlies not only had the worst record in the NBA but were also up for sale.
Allen Iverson Earns Kudos From Team
While Allen Iverson was with Philadelphia, he carried the team alone in the playoffs. Now that he is with Denver, he does not have to do that. Ever since Iverson was traded from the Sixers, he has been comfortable sharing his superstardom. When the Nuggets take on the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs, he has no intention of toning down his intensity. The fact that he is sharing the limelight with Carmelo Anthony does not bother Iverson. He says that he has better mind set now as it is easier for him. He further added that he was not taking it easy but playing just as hard as he has always played. Iverson thinks that having Anthony at his side is a great help.
Jamison Set To Carry Wizards Alone With Butler And Arenas Injured
The entire load of upsetting the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs now rests solely on Antawn Jamison. The reason behind is out of the Big Three in Washington Wizards, two are injured and these days Jamison is the key player for the team. Forward Jarvis Hayes said that Jamison is the leading scorer for the Wizards now and he would have to be a lot more aggressive in the offense. The other players" main job to now is to make things as easy as possible for Jamison on the court. Hayes expects things to get difficult as teams would now be targeting Jamison more than before. Every player on the Wizards" team has had his role changed ever since Gilbert Arenas injured his knee and Caron Butler his hand.
NBA Forms Committee To Study Las Vegas Franchise Proposal
Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman had submitted a proposal to NBA commissioner David Stern on how his city can handle and manage an NBA team. It looks like Las Vegas" goal for getting an NBA franchise is still alive because Stern appointed a committee of owners to submit the proposal submitted by Goodman. It is quite well know that Stern is opposed to playing in Las Vegas as long as there is gambling in the city on the basketball league. Although, he invited Goodman during the All Star weekend to submit a proposal and he said that he would include it in the agenda when the NBA has its board meeting for two days. Although the proposal submitted by Goodman did not contain any offer that would block betting on a potential Las Vegas franchise, it looks like the lack of one did not ruin the chances of Las Vegas getting an NBA franchise.
Nets Are No. 6 Seed - Warriors Make It To Playoffs While Bulls Fall To No. 5 Seed
The Golden State Warriors grabbed their first playoff spot since 1994 when they beat the Portland Trail Blazers 120-98. With this win, the Warriors beat the Clippers to take the No. 8 seed. Guard Jason Richardson said that he was happy that the fight for the playoff spot was finally over. However, the Warriors cannot rest as yet as they have to open the playoffs against the best team in the league, the Dallas Mavericks, which is seen as a matchup between coach Don Nelson and his former team. In another game, the New Jersey Nets beat the Chicago Bulls 106-97, to take the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and this win also ensured that the Bulls do not finish second.
How to Stay Cool on the Court - Choose a Light-Weight Basketball Uniform
One of the more interesting changes in basketball uniform design in recent years involves the use of lighter-weight, more comfortable fabrics and subsequently, lighter-weight uniform decoration as well. Not so long ago basketball coaches subscribed to the "heavier is better" theory when ordering basketball uniforms and lettering/numbering. The typical basketball uniform might have been constructed of heavyweight "Dazzle" or a similar fabric with heavy screen-printed plastisol inks or even sewn-on tackletwill letters and numbers. It was thought that the only way to ensure longevity was to use the heaviest, most durable fabrics and graphics available. With the 21st century comes the advent of lighter-weight materials as well as a new, state of the art decoration method called sublimation.
This Season Will You Be Ready To Make Your March Madness Picks?
March is a month that has much significance in history. Beginning from the Ides of March and Julius Caesar, the spring season, ending of a financial year in many countries, spring fever, and the topic of today - March Madness Tournament! The Big Dance in basketball and the March Madness Tournament are synonymous with big game betting and basketball picks are a much sought after tips with ardent fans. Even women sport lovers spend a great deal of time in following these tournaments and enjoying the lucrative (well - almost! ) pastime of sportive betting. The NCAA Basketball games provide entertainment in many forms to the American public. One wonders as to how many games other than basketball would be so popular and have an impact on the life of so many!