All News about NBA Seasons 2008-2009. Garank Semuaaaa

Re: Preview NBA Seasons 2008-2009. Semua Punya Banyak Senjata Ampuh..



NBA title contenders

Which team can go all the way and emerge as champions in the NBA? espnstar.com makes an early prediction.

The NBA kicks off a brand new season this week with the Boston Celtics looking to defend their title. Which team will be able to wrestle the title away from the fabulous Celtics?

Kelvin Leong gives his top three choices.

Houston Rockets

Next Tuesday will be a good day to gauge how good far the Rockets have come.

They face reigning champions, Boston Celtics in the first heavyweight clash of the season.

When Yao Ming arrived in Houston, everyone said that he and Tracy McGrady will elevate the Rockets into title contention but something was lacking.

No matter how many points T-Mac put on the boards and how Yao could rip easy baskets off the turn-around jumper, the team lacked a true leader.

One man who could change all that is forward, Ron Artest.

Notorious for his loud personality and sometimes brash decisions, this man can defend and hold the forte.

He also has an attacking game with a good mid-range jumper and is strong enough to post-up if need be.

With Artest thrown into the mix, the Rockets will not have a better squad than the current one to challenge for top honours.

San Antonio Spurs

Tim Duncan will surely not sit around for another season not being involved in the NBA finals.

In the Spurs, you have one of the most well-drilled and compact teams in the league.

Tony Parker has cemented his place as one of the best guards in the NBA while Michael Finley will complete the attacking triangle.

Bruce Bowen's defence and Kurt Thomas' low-post play makes this team a sure bet for a good run in the playoffs.

LA Lakers

After coming so close to winning it all last time out, a Kobe Bryant-led Los Angeles Lakers will be looking to go one better this season.

Big man, Pau Gasol joined the Lakers in the midst of proceedings last season and with a full pre-season under his belt, the Spanish giant will be seeking to play an even bigger role for the team now.

Lamar Odom will back the two superstars up with his all-action play while Sasha Vujacic and Derek Fisher will provide the perimeter option.

All said and done, it will be up to the ‘Big Three' of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett at Boston to continue playing awesome basketball and defend their throne.

[ Sabtu, 01 November 2008 ]
Houston Rockets Pamer Otot
DALLAS - Houston Rockets pamer otot di awal musim NBA 2008-2009, menunjukkan kelas sebagai salah satu kandidat juara. Bertanding melawan tim kuat Dallas Mavericks di kandang lawan, tim yang dilatih Rick Adelman meraih kemenangan dahsyat, 112-102.

Yao Ming mencetak 30 poin dan 13 rebound, memporak-porandakan pertahanan Mavericks. Rekan barunya, Ron Artest, menambahkan 29 poin, termasuk tujuh poin di penghujung kuarter empat yang menjadi pengunci kemenangan.

Yang lebih mengagumkan, pasangan ini sudah menunjukkan kekompakan tingkat tinggi. Ketika Yao Ming kena sikut Josh Howard, dan keduanya siap berantem, Artest langsung berlari untuk melerai dan melindungi center asal Tiongkok tersebut.

Wasit lantas justru memberi Artest technical foul, meski dia tidak menunjukkan niatan berantem. Artest merasa itu karena reputasi masa lalunya yang memang bandel, sehingga wasit mudah memberinya penalti. Tapi dia tidak marah berlebihan. "Hal seperti ini biasa terjadi" katanya.

Perbuatan Artest ini membuat Yao semakin kagum pada rekan barunya, yang musim lalu membela Sacramento Kings. "Ron adalah teammate yang baik. Ketika preseason (musim pemanasan, Red) ini juga terjadi, dan dia melakukan hal yang sama. Dia mencoba menolong rekan sendiri, mengorbankan diri sendiri," papar pemain bertinggi badan 224 cm tersebut.

Dengan kekompakan Yao Ming-Ron Artest ini, Rockets pun tak perlu bergantung lagi pada kemampuan Tracy McGrady. T-Mac, julukan McGrady, memang belum pulih betul dari cedera lutut dan bahu. Kemarin WIB, T-Mac pun hanya bermain 29 menit, sempat menyumbang 16 poin.

Kalau Rockets terus begini, T-Mac bisa tenang memulihkan diri, sehingga benar-benar sehat ketika penutup musim dan playoff nanti. Dan itu akan membuat Rockets sangat mengerikan bagi lawan-lawannya.

Sementara itu, bagi Mavericks, kekalahan ini adalah pertanda kurang mengenakkan. Sebab, pertandingan ini adalah debut pelatih baru Rick Carlisle, yang datang untuk menggantikan Avery Johnson.

Carlisle seharusnya datang untuk membuat Mavericks bergairah lagi. Kemarin WIB, tim ini sebenarnya tampil lumayan. Dirk Nowitzki mencetak 36 poin, Josh Howard menambah 28 poin. Jason Kidd juga efektif, mendistribusikan 12 assist.

Tapi, gairah Mavericks ini belum menempatkan mereka di barisan elite. Masih di bawah kelas Rockets. Meski demikian, Carlisle masih optimistis. "Kami akan menemukan jalan. Kita harus hati-hati, jangan bereaksi berlebihan hanya karena satu pertandingan," katanya.

[ Sabtu, 01 November 2008 ]
Lebih Bagus, Belum Puas
SURABAYA - Tren penampilan Nuvo CLS Knights semakin meningkat. Dalam pertandingan persahabatan melawan Pacific Caesar di GOR Pacific, Kenjeran, tadi malam (31/10), Agustinus Indrajaya dkk kembali memetik kemenangan telak 86-61. Itu berarti sudah kali keempat tim besutan Geraldo Vilalon Ramos tersebut mengandaskan Pacific dalam ajang uji coba.

Meski margin skor tampak jauh, keunggulan CLS tidak didapat dengan mudah. Sebab, mereka tidak sedang menghadapi Pacific yang biasanya. Mereka berhadapan dengan Pacific yang sudah belajar banyak dari tiga kali pertemuan mereka yang terakhir. Tim tersebut mengalami banyak peningkatan dan memberikan perlawanan sesuai dengan gaya permainan CLS.

Itu terlihat jelas pada awal kuarter pertama. Pacific yang memasang Arfiansyah, David, Gege, Irfan, dan Yusman sebagai starter langsung menggebrak. Melalui serangan dari sisi kiri pertahanan CLS, mereka berkali-kali mencetak tiga angka. CLS pun sempat tertinggal, hingga akhirnya membalikkan keadaan menjelang akhir kuarter pembuka tersebut.

"Ini lebih sulit. Dari tiga pertandingan terakhir, mereka sudah mempelajari permainan kami dan menyesuaikan perlawanan dengan gaya kami itu," ungkap Ramos setelah pertandingan. "Mereka tahu kami bermain cepat. Mereka pun berusaha memperlambat tempo permainan kami. Namun, mereka tidak berhasil," lanjut pria yang akrab disapa Coach Bong itu.

Pelatih asal Filipina tersebut melanjutkan, peningkatan yang dicapai Pacific itu juga mendatangkan keuntungan bagi timnya. Hal tersebut menguji kemampuan adaptasi para pemainnya. Benar saja, begitu barisan anak muda itu sudah menyesuaikan diri dengan pemain lawan, mereka mampu membalikkan keadaan, lalu melesat jauh meninggalkan sang lawan.

Buktinya, kuarter kedua mereka akhiri dengan skor 44-36. Di kuarter ketiga, saat shooting guard Andrie Ekayana masuk, agresivitas mereka kian tinggi. Babak itu pun mereka selesaikan dengan keunggulan 64-51. Pertandingan tersebut pun mereka tutup dengan 86-61.

"Memang masih banyak sekali kekurangan dalam tim ini. Tapi yang pasti, anak-anak sudah mengalami banyak kemajuan, baik sebagai tim maupun secara individual," ucap Coach Bong. "Belum bisa dibandingan dengan Satria Muda atau Aspac, tapi mereka sudah naik beberapa level," lanjutnya.

[ Sabtu, 01 November 2008 ]
Andrew Bynum Dapat Rp 580 Miliar
Andrew Bynum benar-benar disiapkan sebagai andalan masa depan Los Angeles Lakers. Kemarin WIB, big man berusia 21 tahun itu telah meneken perpanjangan kontrak selama lima tahun, dengan nilai mencapai USD 58 juta atau sekitar Rp 580 miliar.

Kontrak asli Bynum sebenarnya masih berlaku sampai akhir musim 2008-2009 ini, dengan gaji USD 2,8 juta atau Rp 28 miliar. Namun, Lakers tak mau memberi kesempatan kepada tim lain untuk mengajukan penawaran kepada pemain 213 cm tersebut.

Memang, Lakers masih punya opsi "aman." Tahun terakhir kontrak baru itu, yang disebut bernilai USD 16 juta, masih bisa mereka batalkan. Tapi, bagaimana pun juga, kontrak ini menunjukkan betapa pentingnya Bynum bagi tim tersebut.

"Andrew telah menunjukkan banyak kemampuan untuk pemain seukurannya. Kalau dia terus bekerja keras dan membaik, dia punya peluang besar untuk menjadi salah satu pemain terbaik di NBA," kata Mitch Kupchak, general manager Lakers, seperti dilansir Associated Press.

Lakers mencomot Bynum di urutan sepuluh pada NBA Draft 2005. Waktu itu dia masih berumur 17 tahun, baru lulus dari St. Joseph High School di Metuchen, New Jersey. Bynum adalah pemain termuda yang pernah di-draft dalam sejarah NBA.

Dengan Bynum, Lakers berharap bisa menjadi juara musim ini. Di awal musim ini, tim itu terlihat mantap. Dua kali menang jauh atas Portland Trail Blazers (96-76) dan Los Angeles Clippers (117-79).

Scoreboard

October 31

New York Knicks: 87
Philadelphia 76ers: 116

Golden State Warriors: 118
Toronto Raptors: 112
OT

Sacramento Kings: 77
Miami Heat: 103

Chicago Bulls: 80
Boston Celtics: 96

Orlando Magic: 84
Memphis Grizzlies: 86

Denver Nugetts: 113
Los Angeles Clippers: 103
OT

San Antonio Spurs: 99
Portland Trail Blazzers: 100

Scoreboard

November 1

Philadelphia 76ers: 88
Atlanta Hawks: 95

Miami Heat: 87
Charlotte Bobcats: 100

Boston Celtics: 79
Indiana Pacers: 95

Sacramento Kings: 103
Orlando Magic: 121

Washington Wizards: 100
Detroit Pistons: 117

Golden State Warriors: 105
New Jersey Nets: 97

Dallas Mavericks: 95
Minneasota Timberwolves: 85

Cleveland Cavaliers: 92
New Orleans Hornets: 104

Memphis Grizzlies: 86
Chicago Bulls: 96

Oklahoma City Thunder: 77
Houston Rockets: 89

Toronto Raptors: 91
Milwaukee Bucks: 87

Los Angeles Lakers: 104
Denver Nuggets: 97

Los Angeles Clippers: 79
Utah Jazz: 101

Portland Trail Blazzers: 96
Phoenix Suns: 107

[ Sabtu, 01 November 2008 ]
Houston Rockets Pamer Otot
DALLAS - Houston Rockets pamer otot di awal musim NBA 2008-2009, menunjukkan kelas sebagai salah satu kandidat juara. Bertanding melawan tim kuat Dallas Mavericks di kandang lawan, tim yang dilatih Rick Adelman meraih kemenangan dahsyat, 112-102.

Yao Ming mencetak 30 poin dan 13 rebound, memporak-porandakan pertahanan Mavericks. Rekan barunya, Ron Artest, menambahkan 29 poin, termasuk tujuh poin di penghujung kuarter empat yang menjadi pengunci kemenangan.

Yang lebih mengagumkan, pasangan ini sudah menunjukkan kekompakan tingkat tinggi. Ketika Yao Ming kena sikut Josh Howard, dan keduanya siap berantem, Artest langsung berlari untuk melerai dan melindungi center asal Tiongkok tersebut.

Wasit lantas justru memberi Artest technical foul, meski dia tidak menunjukkan niatan berantem. Artest merasa itu karena reputasi masa lalunya yang memang bandel, sehingga wasit mudah memberinya penalti. Tapi dia tidak marah berlebihan. "Hal seperti ini biasa terjadi" katanya.

Perbuatan Artest ini membuat Yao semakin kagum pada rekan barunya, yang musim lalu membela Sacramento Kings. "Ron adalah teammate yang baik. Ketika preseason (musim pemanasan, Red) ini juga terjadi, dan dia melakukan hal yang sama. Dia mencoba menolong rekan sendiri, mengorbankan diri sendiri," papar pemain bertinggi badan 224 cm tersebut.

Dengan kekompakan Yao Ming-Ron Artest ini, Rockets pun tak perlu bergantung lagi pada kemampuan Tracy McGrady. T-Mac, julukan McGrady, memang belum pulih betul dari cedera lutut dan bahu. Kemarin WIB, T-Mac pun hanya bermain 29 menit, sempat menyumbang 16 poin.

Kalau Rockets terus begini, T-Mac bisa tenang memulihkan diri, sehingga benar-benar sehat ketika penutup musim dan playoff nanti. Dan itu akan membuat Rockets sangat mengerikan bagi lawan-lawannya.

Sementara itu, bagi Mavericks, kekalahan ini adalah pertanda kurang mengenakkan. Sebab, pertandingan ini adalah debut pelatih baru Rick Carlisle, yang datang untuk menggantikan Avery Johnson.

Carlisle seharusnya datang untuk membuat Mavericks bergairah lagi. Kemarin WIB, tim ini sebenarnya tampil lumayan. Dirk Nowitzki mencetak 36 poin, Josh Howard menambah 28 poin. Jason Kidd juga efektif, mendistribusikan 12 assist.

Tapi, gairah Mavericks ini belum menempatkan mereka di barisan elite. Masih di bawah kelas Rockets. Meski demikian, Carlisle masih optimistis. "Kami akan menemukan jalan. Kita harus hati-hati, jangan bereaksi berlebihan hanya karena satu pertandingan," katanya.

[ Minggu, 02 November 2008 ]
Paling Muda Capai 1.000 Game
BOSTON - Kevin Garnett bukanlah pemain muda. Ketika bertanding melawan Chicago Bulls Jumat malam lalu (kemarin pagi WIB), usia bintang Boston Celtics itu sudah 32 tahun dan 165 hari.

Namun, pada hari itu juga, Garnett memecahkan rekor NBA. Dia menjadi pemain termuda yang mencapai pertandingan nomor 1.000 dalam karirnya di liga paling bergengsi tersebut. Rekor sebelumnya dipegang Shawn Kemp, yang pada akhir 2002 mencapai 1.000 pertandingan di usia 33 tahun dan 24 hari.

Dan malam itu, Garnett merayakan rekor dengan penampilan garang. Dia mencetak 18 poin dan meraup sepuluh rebound, membantu Celtics menang telak, 96-80.

''Rasanya gila. Berada di sini dan mencapai 1.000 pertandingan merupakan sebuah kebanggaan besar. Menunjukkan bagaimana saya menjaga kondisi badan dan mencoba menjadi pemain terbaik yang bisa saya capai,'' kata Garnett sebagaimana dilansir Associated Press.

Dalam beberapa hari ke depan, dia memang bisa merayakan pencapaian karir ini. Sebab, Senin besok (3/11), Garnett merayakan ulang tahun debutnya bersama Minnesota Timberwolves, 13 tahun lalu. Waktu itu dia masih remaja, mencetak delapan poin sebagai pemain cadangan.

Meski demikian, mungkin Garnett tidak akan terlalu lama memegang rekor ini. Ada dua orang yang punya peluang besar untuk menyalip rekor tersebut. Kobe Bryant, bintang Los Angeles Lakers, berusia dua tahun dan tiga bulan lebih muda, tapi sudah mencapai 868 pertandingan. LeBron James, superstar Cleveland Cavaliers, sekarang masih umur 23 tahun dan sudah mencapai 393 pertandingan.

Karena setiap musim sebuah tim NBA bertanding sampai 82 kali, rekor Garnett tersebut bisa disalip Bryant dalam dua tahun ke depan.

Meski demikian, segala pujian tetap layak diberikan kepada Garnett. ''Rekor itu luar biasa. Saya pikir Kobe dan LeBron bakal memecahkan rekor itu, tapi tetap saja rekor itu luar biasa,'' ujar Doc Rivers, pelatih Celtics.

Dengan kemenangan kemarin WIB, Celtics masih belum terkalahkan di awal musim 2008-2009 ini. Sebelumnya, pada malam pembukaan Selasa (28/10), Celtics mengalahkan Cleveland Cavaliers, 90-85.

[ Minggu, 02 November 2008 ]
Granger Teken Kontrak Rp 600 M
Resmi Jadi Superstar, Terus Bersama Pacers Sampai Tahun 2014

INDIANAPOLIS - Bintang Indiana Pacers, Danny Granger, telah menyepakati kontrak baru bernilai spektakuler. Forward berusia 25 tahun itu telah sepakat memperpanjang kontrak selama lima tahun, dengan nilai sedikitnya USD 60 juta atau sekitar Rp 600 miliar!

DraftExpress menyebutkan, nilai itu masih bisa bertambah lagi sebanyak USD 4 juta atau Rp 40 miliar seandainya Granger mencapai syarat-syarat prestasi khusus. Di NBA, angka setinggi itu tergolong angka seorang superstar.

Kontrak orisinal Granger, yang dia teken ketika terpilih masuk NBA pada 2005 lalu, berakhir di penghujung musim 2008-2009 ini. Dan musim ini, dia dijadwalkan mendapat bayaran "hanya" USD 2,3 juta (Rp 23 miliar).

Performa Granger yang belakangan terus meningkat, termasuk menjadi top scorer Pacers musim lalu, menjadikannya sebagai bagian utama dari masa depan tim. Sejak beberapa bulan lalu, sudah muncul pembicaraan bahwa Granger bakal meneken kontrak perpanjangan superbesar.

Granger sendiri sudah mengungkapkan kontrak barunya itu ketika mengunjungi Surabaya, sebagai bintang tamu di even resmi pertama NBA di Indonesia (yang diselenggarakan oleh DetEksi Basketball League) akhir Agustus lalu. Dalam wawancara khusus bersama Azrul Ananda dari Jawa Pos, Granger mengaku akan meneken kontrak lima tahun bernilai antara USD 50 juta hingga USD 70 juta.

Namun, hingga beberapa hari terakhir, kepastian kontrak itu tak kunjung muncul. Padahal, deadline perpanjangan kontrak itu (berdasarkan aturan NBA) jatuh pada Jumat, 31 Oktober. Kalau sampai tanggal itu tidak ada kesepakatan, maka Granger berhak berbicara dengan tim lain begitu musim 2008-2009 ini berakhir.

Rupanya, Pacers tak mau kehilangan pemain 208 cm tersebut. Pada menit-menit akhir (kemarin WIB), kesepakatan pun tercapai. Dengan kontrak barunya, Granger akan terus membela Pacers hingga akhir musim 2013-2014.

"Saya benar-benar menghargai betapa kerasnya Pacers bekerja untuk (mencapai kesepakatan) ini," kata Mark Bartelstein, agen Granger di Priority Sports, kepada Jonathan Givony dari DraftExpress. "Perpanjangan kontrak ini sulit untuk disepakati, karena tidak bergantung pada harga pasar," tambahnya.

Bartelstein menambahkan, biasanya kalau sudah sulit negosiasi, tim memilih untuk membiarkan pemain itu hingga musim berakhir. Lalu melihat seperti apa situasi pasar saat itu. Tapi, Pacers memutuskan untuk segera "mengunci" masa depan Granger. "Saya pikir hasil ini adalah win-win untuk semua pihak. Ini deal yang luar biasa untuk Danny, karena dia tak akan perlu lagi memusingkan kontrak tahun depan. Di sisi lain, saya tahu ini sangat penting untuk Indiana," papar Bartelstein.

Sebenarnya, andai tahun depan Granger berbicara dengan tim lain pun, statusnya adalah restricted free agent. Berapa pun tawaran yang dia terima, Pacers boleh menyamai. Tapi, sekali lagi, Pacers (bos tim Larry Bird) tak mau itu terjadi. Karena harga Granger bisa melonjak lebih tinggi lagi. Kalau selesai sekarang, Pacers bisa fokus ke masa depan.

"Kalau ada tim lain yang memburu Danny tahun depan, perencanaan masa depan tim ini bisa terganggu. Bahkan bisa memundurkan tim ini. Dengan sepakat sekarang, kedua pihak bisa mendapat banyak keuntungan," tandas Bartelstein.

Granger sendiri mengaku lega dengan kesepakatan ini. Masa depannya aman, dan kontrak itu mengukuhkan statusnya sebagai superstar baru NBA. "Beban besar telah lepas dari pundak saya. Sekarang, saya bisa fokus membantu tim ini masuk playoff. Saya ingin membantu tim ini kembali ke sukses masa lalu. Saya lega bisa menemukan kesepakatan. Saya lega bisa lima tahun lebih lama menjadi pemain Pacers," katanya kepada Indianapolis Star.

[ Senin, 03 November 2008 ]
Danny Granger Korbankan Gigi, Kalahkan Celtics
Habis-habisan setelah Teken Kontrak Baru Rp 600 Miliar

INDIANAPOLIS - Danny Granger merayakan kontrak Rp 600 miliarnya dengan pertandingan mengesankan. Dia mengorbankan dua gigi depan saat bertanding melawan Boston Celtics kemarin WIB. Tapi tidak apa-apa, karena Indiana Pacers berhasil membekuk tim juara bertahan itu, 95-79.

Dalam pertandingan di Conseco Fieldhouse itu, Granger memang sedang menjadi pusat perhatian. Sehari sebelumnya, dia baru saja meneken kontrak perpanjangan lima tahun bernilai minimal USD 60 juta atau Rp 600 miliar.

Sebelum pertandingan dimulai, Larry Bird, presiden Pacers, menghujani pemain 25 tahun itu dengan pujian. Bird menegaskan, Granger mendapat kontrak itu karena punya dedikasi dan tanggung jawab tinggi, baik di dalam maupun luar lapangan.

"Dia salah satu pemain kami yang paling kerja keras. Dia terus membaik setiap tahun sejak kami merekrutnya (2005, Red). Menurut saya, sangatlah penting untuk menghadiahi mereka yang bekerja secara profesional," kata mantan pemain legendaris Celtics, yang dulu tampil dengan jersey nomor 33, sama dengan Granger.

Tidak lama kemudian Granger membuktikan lagi segala pujian itu. Tampil melawan juara bertahan, Granger berhadapan langsung dengan kapten Celtics, Paul Pierce.

Granger, yang Agustus lalu menjadi bintang di even pertama NBA di Indonesia, mampu mencetak 20 poin, terbanyak untuk Pacers. Tapi, bukan perolehan poin itu yang membuat orang kagum. Semangatnya untuk mengejar bola dan menjaga pertahananlah yang mendapat sorakan terbesar.

Pada kuarter keempat, saat Pacers sudah unggul 16 poin, Granger masih belum berhenti menghantui Pierce. Ketika bola lepas dari tangan pemain Celtics itu, Granger pun menjatuhkan diri ke lantai untuk merebutnya. Pierce tidak mau kalah, dan kemudian menindih badan Granger.

Akibatnya, mulut Granger menghantam lapangan, dan dua gigi depannya lepas. "Saya melontarkan pujian kepadanya. Dia hanya tersenyum, dan dia tidak lagi punya gigi!" ungkap Jim O'Brien, pelatih Pacers.

O'Brien menambahkan, upaya itu menunjukkan bahwa Granger benar-benar ingin tim ini meraih sukses. "Perbuatan itu adalah pernyataan bahwa dia ingin membantu klub ini kembali ke playoff, ke level yang lebih tinggi," ujar sang pelatih.

Bagi Granger, kengototan itu adalah bukti bahwa dia benar-benar ingin menjadi pemain komplet, menjadi seorang All-Star. Bukan hanya jago poin, juga jago bertahan. "Tidak banyak pemain bintang di liga ini yang juga bisa bermain defense," tandasnya.

Catatan: Berkat penjagaan Granger, Pierce kemarin hanya mencetak 15 poin. Most valuable player (MVP) pada final NBA 2008 itu hanya mampu memasukkan tiga dari 15 tembakan. Kebanyakan poinnya dari free throw.

Celtics menerima kekalahan ini dengan jantan. Mereka memuji permainan Pacers. Musim lalu Kevin Garnett dkk hanya kalah 16 kali sepanjang musim (66-16). Dan dari 16 kekalahan itu, hanya tiga yang lebih dari sepuluh poin. Pacers, kata Garnett, mampu menyulitkan timnya karena bermain dengan tempo begitu tinggi.

"Mereka berlari luar biasa. Saya merasa kami merupakan tim bertahan terbaik di liga ini. Tapi malam ini, kami benar-benar mendapat tantangan hebat," kata Garnett, yang mencetak 18 poin dan 14 rebound.

[ Selasa, 04 November 2008 ]
Marbury Terancam Di Bench Semusim
Knicks Masih Cari Solusi Kompromi

NEW YORK - New York Knicks sudah melakoni tiga pertandingan NBA musim ini. Namun, tidak sekali pun Stephon Marbury diturunkan. Itu menjadi sinyal bahwa posisi sang bintang tersebut tengah terancam.

Dalam laga kemarin WIB melawan Milwaukee Bucks, Knicks menyerah 86-94 di kandangnya, Madison Square Garden. Sepanjang pertandingan, pendukung Knicks meneriakkan agar pemain berjuluk Starbury itu diturunkan. Namun, semua sia-sia karena Marbury memang tidak dimasukkan dalam daftar skuad Knicks dalam laga tersebut (inactive). Dia tidak masuk dalam kerangka tim pelatih Mike D'Antoni.

Dengan kondisi yang tidak kondusif tersebut, Presiden Knicks Donnie Walsh menyatakan akan mengajak bicara kedua pihak, baik Marbury maupun D'Antoni. ''Saya belum bicara dan mengungkapkannya kepada siap pun. Saya ingin bicara kepada Mike, lihat bagaimana situasinya. Sebab, saya tak memiliki pandangan yang jelas untuk masalah ini, seperti orang lain,'' ungkap Walsh sebagaimana dikutip Associated Press.

Marbury bergabung dengan Knicks, tim kota kelahirannya, sejak 2003-2004. Kontraknya bersama Knicks akan berakhir musim ini dengan bayaran USD 21,9 juta (sekitar Rp 220 miliar). Dengan bayaran setinggi itu dan track record-nya yang buruk terhadap pelatih, akan sulit bagi Knicks melegonya.

Walsh tidak mau Marbury terus di Knicks sepanjang musim ini dengan status inactive. Untuk mempermudah transfer ke tim lain, skenario pemotongan kontrak bisa dilakukan. Masalahnya, Marbury hanya mau pindah ke tim lain dengan bayaran yang sama dengan di Knicks.

Marbury sebenarnya masih memiliki harapan masuk tim. Yaitu, jika ada pemain yang cedera. Namun, kesempatan itu sangat kecil karena D'Antoni lebih memaksakan pemain lain untuk tampil daripada memilih Marbury. Kemarin misalnya, dia lebih memilih Jerome James untuk menggantikan Eddy Curry yang cedera.

''Saya tidak akan ragu memasukkan dia kembali ke tim, jika terjadi masalah cedera. Namun, jika hal itu tidak terjadi, saya rasa dia akan tetap inactive,'' tegas D'Antoni.

Scoreboard

November 2

Milwaukee Bucks: 94
New York Knicks: 86

Minneasota Timberwolves: 85
Oklahoma City Thunder: 88

November 3

Chicago Bulls: 93
Orlando Magic: 96

Sacramento Kings: 91
Philadelpia 76ers: 125

Detroit Pistons: 101
Charlotte Bobcats: 93

Golden State Warriors: 79
Memphis Grizzlies: 90

Cleveland Cavaliers: 100
Dallas Mavericks: 81

Utah Jazz: 89
Los Angeles Clippers: 73

Next Game:

Phoenix Suns
New Jersey

Boston Celtics
Houston Rockets

Dallas Mavericks
San Antonio Spurs

Nuggets, Pistons swap Iverson for Billups, McDyess

By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer 1 hour, 12 minutes ago

DETROIT (AP)—The Detroit Pistons almost acquired Allen Iverson from Philadelphia entering the 2000-01 season.

Then, they watched Iverson lead the 76ers to the NBA finals and be named league MVP.

Eight years later, Detroit is hoping The Answer was worth the wait.

The Pistons acquired Iverson on Monday in a blockbuster trade for All-Star point guard and former finals MVP Chauncey Billups, top reserve Antonio McDyess and project Cheikh Samb.

Detroit is desperate for another shot at an NBA title after winning its third in 2004, falling just short of repeating and getting eliminated in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals the past three years.

The 33-year-old Iverson has done it all in the league—other than win a title.

“I like acquiring guys who come in and it’s kind of on the table that they’re coming in with something to prove,” Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said. “You know he wants to win. This is going to present what we feel like is his best opportunity to do so.”

Iverson is expected to start at point guard, perhaps Wednesday in Toronto, alongside All-Stars Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace, Olympian Tayshaun Prince and 21-year-old Amir Johnson.

Barring injury, Iverson will make his home debut Sunday night against the Boston Celtics.

The Pistons have reached six straight Eastern Conference finals—the longest such streak since the Los Angeles Lakers’ dominant run in the 1980s— and won the 2004 title without a player expected to be in the Hall of Fame.

Their lack of a superstar seemed to hurt them the past three seasons, exiting the playoffs against Boston’s Kevin Garnett, Cleveland’s LeBron James and Miami’s Dwyane Wade.

Iverson brings plenty of star power to Detroit.

“It’s a different way for us to try to win games, other than the same predictable way we’ve been doing it for quite some time,” Dumars said.

The deal clears a lot of salary-cap space for the Pistons because Iverson is making $20.8 million in the final year of his contract while Billups is in the second season of a four-year contract worth a guaranteed $46 million with a $14 million team option for a fifth year.

“When a situation like this presents itself,” Dumars said, “where you can cover yourself on both sides—the immediate impact player and the long-term flexibility—you have to push the button.”

Iverson said during training camp he wanted to finish his career in Denver and was disappointed he wasn’t offered a contract extension. But, he acknowledged being excited about being a first-time free agent next summer.

“I think the best part of this as far as my career goes is I’ll be a free agent this summer and I’ll be able to do what makes me happy,” Iverson said during training camp. “That’s the most important thing at the end of my career is to be in a situation where I’m happy and my family is situated and they’re happy.”

Iverson’s agent, Leon Rose, told The Associated Press he is not negotiating a contract extension with the Pistons for his client.

The addition of Billups might placate Nuggets fans who have watched the once free-spending franchise trade defensive standout Marcus Camby to the Los Angeles Clippers in the offseason and recently decline to extend Linas Kleiza’s contract.

Billups is a Denver native, former Colorado star, former Nugget and one of the most popular players among his peers in the league because of his likable personality.

“We fortunately fall into a guy that’s an All-Star caliber point guard,” Denver coach George Karl said, after saying he was sad to see Iverson go. “The connection with Denver and Colorado is fun to be a part of and enthusiastic to our owners.”

McDyess also will be enjoying a homecoming of sorts, landing on the Nuggets’ roster for the third time.

The Pistons kept McDyess off the free-agent market last summer by giving him a $13.5 million, two-year extension. Detroit would love to have him back if the cost-cutting Nuggets buy out his contract.

“I’ll be talking with Antonio and his representative directly,” Nuggets executive Mark Warkentien said. “But we think he’s a heck of a player and know he’s a quality guy. One step at a time.”

The 34-year-old McDyess revived his career with the Pistons, playing 321 games over four seasons after serious knee operations pushed him toward possibly retiring. The former Olympian and All-Star has averaged 13.4 points and 7.7 rebounds for his career.

Detroit acquired the 7-foot-1 Samb for Maurice Evans from the Lakers during the 2006 draft. The 24-year-old center played in just four NBA games last season, spending much of his year in the NBADL, where he led the minor league with four blocks a game.

AP Sports Writer Arnie Stapleton in Denver and Mike Cranston in Charlotte, N.C., contributed to this report.

Official: Pistons & Hamilton agree to 3-year deal

By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer 5 hours, 51 minutes ago

DETROIT (AP)—The Detroit Pistons kept one All-Star guard under contract for years to come on the same day they sent one packing.

Richard Hamilton and the Pistons have agreed to a three-year contract extension worth about $34 million, a basketball official told The Associated Press on Monday night.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced, said two years of the contract are guaranteed and the third is partially guaranteed.

Detroit dealt All-Star Chauncey Billups, key reserve Antonio McDyess and project Cheikh Samb to the Denver Nuggets for 2001 NBA MVP Allen Iverson earlier in the day.

Hamilton’s current $62 million, seven-year contract was signed five years ago.

Hamilton, who led Detroit with 19 points Monday night in the Pistons’ 101-83 victory at Charlotte, declined to speak to reporters after the game.

“We definitely wanted Rip in the fold as we continue to make this run,” coach Michael Curry said. “He’s a valuable piece to this puzzle.”

The three-time All-Star helped the Pistons win the 2004 NBA title and advance to the Eastern Conference finals last season for the sixth straight year.

Washington drafted the shooting guard No. 7 overall in 1999 after the junior led Connecticut to a national title, earning Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four honors.

The Wizards traded him to Detroit three years later for Jerry Stackhouse.

Hamilton has averaged nearly 18 points in the regular season and has increased his scoring to nearly 21 points per game in the postseason.

Hamilton broke Isiah Thomas’ franchise record for playoff scoring last season and finished with 2,414 points and played in his 116 postseason game, surpassing Bill Laimbeer’s team mark. He has scored at least 20 points in 58 playoff games since 2003, giving him a two-game lead over San Antonio’s Tim Duncan in that category and a double-digit lead over any other superstar, according to STATS.

The player known as Rip has an edge against opponents because he can run tireless around screens, curling open for mid-range shots. He has improved his overall game with the Pistons, playing stronger defense, making better passes and connecting on more 3-point shots.

AP Sports Writer Mike Cranston in Charlotte, N.C., contributed to this report.

LeBron, Mo Williams lead Cavs past Mavs

By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer 4 hours, 6 minutes ago

DALLAS (AP)—How’s this for a stretch of possessions to open the fourth quarter of a close game: Long jump shot, longer jump shot. Feed a teammate for a layup, then swish another jumper. Get another assist, then nail a 3-pointer from so deep that your defender walks away saying, “Whooo.”

One of the Cleveland Cavaliers did exactly that Monday night—and it wasn’t LeBron James.

With James watching from the bench, Mo Williams powered that 13-0 run, sending the Cavaliers well on their way to a 100-81 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

“That’s what they expect,” said Williams, acquired in August to ease the load off James. “Tonight was a great sign. It was a long summer for me, two surgeries. I expected to get going kind of slow, but it was frustrating when you’re used to making shots, making plays.”

James still made his share of plays, including a key stretch in the third quarter after Dallas wiped out a 16-point deficit and tied the game at 63.

When Daniel Gibson missed a shot from the corner, James zoomed in, grabbed the rebound and banked it in, all in one motion. He followed with a three-point play and a pair of free throws. The Cavs ended the quarter up by six, then Williams put away the game, giving Cleveland its first road win after two losses.

“It’s a nice win, a good way to close out the road trip,” said James, who finished with a season-high 29 points despite shooting only 8-of-20. He also had a season-low three assists; he came in averaging 9.3.

“It’s all about defense,” he added. “We took a stand. When they tied it up, we buckled down and worked defensively. Then we made some shots. I didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, like I know I can. I was in attack mode all night, but I missed some shots I know I can make.”

Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki used almost the same words to describe his poor shooting.

After making his first shot, putting the Mavericks up 2-0, he missed his next seven tries. He didn’t have another basket until late in the third quarter, and Dallas never led again.

“You’re not going to totally stop Dirk Nowitzki, but the combination of Ben Wallace and Anderson Varejao did about as good a job on Dirk as I’ve seen since he’s been in the league,” Cleveland coach Mike Brown said.

Nowitzki finished with eight points on 3-of-11 shooting, his worst performance since scoring seven against New Orleans last December. The Mavericks also fell to 0-2 at home.

“It just wasn’t one of my nights,” Nowitzki said. “We just never really got going. We looked slow, we looked sluggish.”

Josh Howard led the Mavs with 18 points. Antoine Wright and Gerald Green were the only other players to hit double figures, each scoring 10. Jason Kidd had nine points and six assists.

Zydrunas Ilgausakas had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Cleveland. Delonte West added 14 points and Wally Szczerbiak had 10. Wallace didn’t score, but had 13 rebounds.

Cleveland led 28-12 late in the first quarter. Other than the stretch that culminated in the third-quarter tie, the Cavaliers were hardly challenged. Fans began streaming out after Williams’ big roll, while those who stayed seemingly stuck around just to boo.

New Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said his guys weren’t aggressive enough in going after Cleveland’s misses. It was that way from the start, he noted, recalling that the Cavs grabbed four offensive rebounds the first 3 1/2 minutes.

“You’ve got to be pursuing the ball or making contact,” Carlisle said. “We were doing neither.”

Dallas goes to San Antonio on Tuesday night. The Spurs are 0-2.

“They’re desperate for a win,” Carlisle said. “There’s no time for us to mope.”

Notes

Dallas’ Jerry Stackhouse did not play. Carlisle said Stackhouse is battling a foot problem. … Brown was an assistant to Carlisle in Indiana. “I learned a lot from him,” Brown said. “I’ll always be indebted to him. Great coach. Brilliant mind.” … Wright returned to the starting lineup despite having been benched the entire previous game. His reward was covering James. He covered Tracy McGrady in the opener, his other start.

Magic ride Howard dominance past Bulls 96-93

By MARK WANGRIN, Associated Press Writer 5 hours, 33 minutes ago

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)—Late in games, Orlando lives on the pick-and-roll. Monday, it was nearly the pick-and-rollover.

The Magic’s go-to play fizzled as they nearly blew a 17-point, fourth-quarter lead in a 96-93 victory over Chicago. The Magic instead depended on one of their shortcomings, free throws, and defense in the final minute.

Dwight Howard had 22 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Magic, but he was a non-factor in the fourth quarter with only two points and one rebound. Instead, the Magic went to a two-man game with point guard Jameer Nelson and forward Hedo Turkoglu.

Nelson and Turkoglu each had four of the Magic’s 19 turnovers, four coming in the final quarter.

“I guess we have to find somebody else to go to who will not turn the ball over,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. “Those two guys are not taking care of the ball. It’s tough to go to post-ups late, because they’re going to send Dwight to the line.”

Howard was 4-of-11 on free throws.

Chicago’s Ben Gordon missed a fall-away jumper with 15 seconds left that would have tied the game and the ball was batted out of bounds off Chicago. Rashard Lewis made two of four free throws in the final 23 seconds before Andres Nocioni missed a leaning 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime.

Lewis finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Drew Gooden led Chicago with 21 points. Nocioni added 20 and Gordon 17.

Howard had a double-double in the first half as the Magic wiped out an early nine-point Bulls lead.

Van Gundy questioned whether Turkoglu, in the final year of his contract, is in shape.

“His conditioning’s not great,” Van Gundy said. “When he gets a little tired he doesn’t want to do anything except jack up a jump shot.”

Said Turkoglu, “Sometimes during the game, when I’ve gone up and down, I feel like my shots kind of short. I get tired during the game running up and down but that doesn’t mean I’m out of shape.”

The Bulls, not expecting to match up with Howard and Lewis up front, often went with three point guards in the lineup—Gordon, Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich.

“(The Magic) are at a disadvantage trying to guard Rashard Lewis and Turkoglu trying to roll them into the post, but at the same time I think they have the advantage offensively,” Gooden said.

Rose, the No. 1 pick overall out of Memphis, had 14 points and just one assist. He led the Bulls in scoring in the first three games at 18.3 points a game, topped by a 26-point outing Saturday in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

“He’s going to have some bumps in the road because all rookie point guards do, but we’ll just keep working with him and he’ll mature every game,” Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said.

Magic backup Keith Bogans, who’s had 13 points off the bench after play sparingly in the preseason, continued to take minutes away from J.J. Redick at the shooting guard. Bogans’ outside shooting keyed a 12-0 run late in the first quarter as the Magic took a 31-21 lead.

“Bogans’ been the only guy on the entire team we were plus with with him on the floor in the first three games,” Van Gundy said. “That decision was easy.”

Redick, who had his option for next season picked up in the preseason and has been a fan favorite, has seen his minutes dwindle from 19 in the opener to only nine in the victory over Sacramento on Saturday. He didn’t play Monday.

Chicago’s bench outscored the Magic’s 47-20.

The Bulls had won two of their first three games, losing only to the NBA champion Celtics, despite shooting only 38.9 percent from the field, 29th in the league.

The Bulls outshot the Magic, hitting 44 percent.

Notes

Bulls guard Larry Hughes missed his fourth straight game with a dislocated shoulder. Michael Ruffin sat out with an ankle sprain. … Tiger Woods watched from a courtside seat. … Orlando used only a three-player rotation at the bigs, with Lewis, Howard and Tony Battie.

Pistons beat Bobcats 101-83 ahead of Iverson

By MIKE CRANSTON, AP Sports Writer 6 hours, 7 minutes ago

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)—The Detroit Pistons overcame a wild, emotional day to crush their old coach’s new team. It didn’t mean they were easily coming to grips with the blockbuster deal that shook the foundation of their core.

It was clear after their 101-83 rout of the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday night that it’s going to take the Pistons time to warm to the idea that Allen Iverson is now their teammate—and Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess are headed to Denver.

“Do we like the trade? Maybe not. Ain’t no telling,” forward Rasheed Wallace said.

Added Tayshaun Prince: “When you have six straight years with somebody, you’ve got that bond, that connection. Now all of a sudden it’s gone.”

Richard Hamilton scored 19 points and the Pistons toyed with Larry Brown’s Bobcats, improving to 3-0 and perhaps showing Iverson that he’ll have plenty of scoring options when he takes over at point guard.

But from the tone of the subdued locker room, Iverson will have to win over his new teammates as he joins a team used to being among the Eastern Conference powers.

“Obviously we’re all shocked by the situation,” Prince said. “We’re going to go out and play. Under the circumstances I thought it was a good win. No matter who you play, when something happens like this it’s tough for the team to go out and play. We were able to come out with a win.”

Wallace added 15 points and four other players scored in double figures. Rodney Stuckey replaced the departed Billups at point guard and had nine points and three assists as Detroit shot 50 percent.

“It was a tough game,” coach Michael Curry said. “When your captain gets traded and Dice, who’s not a captain, but is one of the emotional leaders of this team, it’s a tough day for the guys.”

Shannon Brown came off the bench to score 16 points, and Gerald Wallace had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Charlotte, which couldn’t build off Saturday’s win over Miami in the beginning of a week of reunions for the well-traveled Brown, who has his own problems.

Brown, who has lamented managing partner Michael Jordan’s inability to bring in more depth up front, was clearly frustrated after being overmatched by the team Brown led to the NBA title in 2004.

“I’ve known our problems since May. We’ve got to address them somehow,” Brown said.

The beginning of Brown’s reunion week—he visits New York on Wednesday, where he spent one ugly 23-win season in 2005-06—was overshadowed by Detroit’s makeover.

The Pistons arrived in Charlotte on Sunday while president of basketball operations Joe Dumars worked into the night on a trade he felt would give his team a different way to win games “other than the same predictable way we’ve been doing it for quite some time.”

Informed they were headed to Denver early Monday, Billups, McDyess and project Cheikh Samb left town before the morning shootaround. It left Detroit with 12 players—and Stuckey starting at point guard—against their former coach.

Stuckey, wearing No. 3 in perhaps a precursor to the Iverson era, had only one turnover and Detroit showed its depth, inside play, rebounding prowess and steady outside shooting to overwhelm Browns’ ninth NBA team.

Hamilton, who agreed to a three-year contract extension Monday in the midst of the Iverson trade, scored 11 points in the third quarter when the Pistons pulled away. His 3-pointer and mid-range jumper on consecutive possessions made it 76-60.

Playing again without forward Sean May, who is struggling with his weight and conditioning following knee surgery, the Bobcats couldn’t recover with their undersized lineup that included 6-foot-7 Jared Dudley at power forward. Held most of the time to one shot, the Bobcats were outrebounded 42-31.

“You can get away with it against Miami,” Brown said of Saturday’s win against the undersized Heat. “You’re not going to get away with it against 6-10, 6-11, 6-10 frontline, all athletic. It just doesn’t happen.”

Charlotte did recover from a 12-point first-half deficit, but faded in the second half as Jason Richardson was held to four points on 2-of-10 shooting.

The Pistons were headed to Toronto for Wednesday’s game, where Iverson was expected to join them.

“I can’t talk about it until we see it happen,” Rasheed Wallace said. “Who knows?”

Notes

Stuckey wouldn’t say whether he’ll give up his No. 3 jersey to Iverson. “We’re going to have to talk about that, I guess,” Stuckey said. … More than 2 1/2 hours before tipoff, May was on the floor doing conditioning drills. Brown said May will remain on the inactive list until he gets into game shape following microfracture knee surgery. “It’s not any punishment,” Brown said. “It’s what’s best for him right now.” … Referee Bennett Salvatore hit Rasheed Wallace with a technical foul in the third quarter.

Millsap sparks Jazz past Clippers

By JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer 2 hours, 47 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES (AP)—Paul Millsap was playing reasonably well and the Utah Jazz had a narrow lead over the Los Angeles Clippers early in the fourth quarter when suddenly, without warning, the third-year forward from Louisiana Tech took over the game.

And when it was finished, Millsap seemed surprised by what he had just accomplished.

“Is that what it was?” Millsap responded with a smile when told he had scored 15 straight Utah points in a span of 4 minutes, 10 seconds. “I don’t know what to say about it. Once you get in that zone, things start going your way.”

Millsap’s outburst was part of a 17-3 run that lifted the unbeaten Jazz to an 89-73 victory over the winless Clippers on Monday night.

A 3-pointer by Cuttino Mobley had cut Utah’s lead to 67-64 before Millsap began his tear by making a pair of foul shots with 8:47 remaining. He finished it with a dunk with 4:37 left, giving the Jazz an 84-67 advantage.

Millsap finished with 24 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and one blocked shot.

“Paul just took the game over, that’s what it comes down to,” said teammate Carlos Boozer, who had 13 points and eight rebounds.

“He has that ability if things go his way,” Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. “He is really quick for as big as he is. I did not feel like the rest of us wore down the Clippers tonight, but Paul Millsap did. He appreciated playing more minutes, he took advantage of it, and those aspects that make him better should make our team better.”

Mehmet Okur scored 16 points and Andrei Kirilenko had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Jazz (3-0), who outrebounded the Clippers 44-38 and went 25-of-31 from the foul line while the Clippers were just 9-of-20.

Los Angeles was 6-of-19 from 3-point range while the Jazz missed all 10 of their attempts from beyond the arc, but it hardly mattered.

The Jazz played without star point guard Deron Williams, sidelined with a sprained left ankle. He hopes to play for the first time this season Wednesday night against Portland or Friday night against Oklahoma City.

“We play as a team,” Millsap said. “That’s going to win us games with or without (Williams).”

Chris Kaman led the Clippers (0-4) with 19 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. Baron Davis, returning to action after missing two games because of a sore left hip, had 14 points and nine assists. He shot just 5-of-15, including 1-of-8 in the first half.

“I didn’t really feel like myself,” Davis said. “They were able to make the run, and we didn’t. We’re a work in progress. It’s going to take some patience.”

Davis is one of 10 newcomers on the team this season. Another is Marcus Camby, who had five points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots in 27 minutes in his debut with the Clippers. Camby, acquired from Denver during the offseason, sat out the preseason and the first three games of the regular season with a bruised right heel.

“We need to start building from here, getting guys minutes and getting guys playing together for really the first time,” Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. “We haven’t really played together since the beginning of training camp.”

Regarding Camby, Dunleavy said: “I was ecstatic from the standpoint that even thought he has been out a while, he was able to come in and make some good passes and play good defensively.”

The game was the second in three nights between the teams. The Jazz won 101-79 Saturday night in Utah for their 11th straight home-court victory over the Clippers, setting a franchise record with just five turnovers. They committed their sixth with 4:20 left in the second quarter of this game and finished with 10. Los Angeles committed 19 turnovers.

Sloan, whose 1,192 victories rank fourth on the NBA coaching list, was back on the bench after missing Saturday night’s game because of flu-like symptoms.

Neither team led by more than seven points before Okur’s basket triggered Utah’s big run.

Notes

Sloan’s teams in Utah have won 998 games since he became head coach early in the 1988-89 season. No NBA coach has ever won 1,000 games with one team. Sloan also coached the Chicago Bulls for 2 1/2 seasons. … Mike Taylor, a rookie from Iowa State, had two points, two rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes in his first start for the Clippers. Portland took Taylor with the 55th overall selection in the NBA draft last June and traded him to Los Angeles. … The Jazz also played without Matt Harpring (recovering from ankle surgery) and Jarron Collins (inflamed right elbow). … The Clippers lost an NBA-high 321 games to injury/illness last season, and didn’t have a single player appear in all 82 regular-season games. … The Clippers missed their first five free throws before Kaman finally connected with 13 1/2 seconds left in the third quarter. By that time, the Jazz were 17-of-22 from the foul line.

76ers use 3s to knock off winless Kings

By DAN GELSTON, AP Sports Writer 6 hours, 16 minutes ago

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—The solution to the Philadelphia 76ers’ 3-point shooting woes might be at the end of their bench.

Kareem Rush and Donyell Marshall have to hope the way they almost flawlessly buried all those open looks earns them a second look at a bigger role in the rotation.

Thaddeus Young scored 18 points, Lou Williams had 17 and the 76ers led by as many as 40 points in a 125-91 rout of the winless Sacramento Kings on Monday night.

Marshall and Rush went a combined 6-for-7 from 3-point range and each played their season-high in minutes, even though most of their playing time came when the game was put away.

The 76ers were last in the NBA last season in 3-point percentage and 3s made. So they signed Rush as a free agent and hoped he would boost those numbers.

Instead, Rush earned a DNP-CD the last game and had attempted only one 3-pointer this season.

“It’s very discouraging,” Rush said. “I didn’t plan on this when I signed here, but it’s the way it is. A lot of these guys have been here for a number of years and played with (coach Maurice) Cheeks a number of years, so I think it’s a familiarity thing that he has with these guys.”

Willie Green scored 16 points and Elton Brand had 15 for the Sixers, who were up 20 points at halftime and were able to stretch the lead in the second half instead of blowing it like they did Saturday at Atlanta.

In that one, the Hawks rallied from a 23-point deficit to stun the Sixers. This time, role players like Green and Williams kept making shots in the third quarter and to keep the road-weary Kings from rallying.

“We talked about coming out in the second half and being more aggressive than we were,” Green said. “We weren’t going to let that happen again.”

No need to worry about blowing this one against the Kings.

Jason Thompson scored 17 points and Spencer Hawes had 15 for the Kings (0-4), who can’t wait to head home after a dreary season-opening road trip.

The Kings, off to their worst start since 1997-98, open a four-game homestand on Wednesday against Memphis.

“You can’t win in the NBA if you give up 120 points a game,” coach Reggie Theus said. “I told them that is not acceptable, from the leaders all the way down. In order to win, you have to be tough-minded, and right now we’re not tough-minded.”

The Sixers shot only 32 percent (13-for-41) on 3s in their first three games, but seemed to discover their long-range form against the Kings, finishing 10-of-13.

“This is what I do,” Rush said. “That’s what they brought me here for. That’s what I can bring to this team. Hopefully I can find a way to get some regular time, crunch time, instead of blowout games.”

Cheeks said he learned a lesson after blowing the big lead over the weekend and would try and play a deeper rotation late in the game.

He used 10 players in the third quarter and all but Samuel Dalembert scored. Rush scored 10 points and hit a 3 for a 92-65 lead.

Philadelphia blew the game open early with a 12-2 run early in the third. Brand converted a three-point play and Young hit a 3 during the spurt that gave the Sixers a 29-point lead.

Marshall, who didn’t play the last two games, sank a 3 to make it 122-83. Exhibition games are usually more exciting than the final 12 minutes of this one, and the Sixers turned it into a 3-point contest.

Marshall, who went 4-for-5 on 3s, knows he’s not going to be counted on for heavy minutes. Marshall, a Reading, Pa., native who grew up rooting for the 76ers, had some family members at the game and wanted to play well for them.

“For me to get a chance to go in there and play and finally put some points up for the Sixers, it was good,” he said. “My little brother was here so it was all good.”

Four Kings played at least 30 minutes and Hawes, the starting center, was in there until the end.

Notes

Many of the 76ers who played with Allen Iverson were surprised to see their former teammate traded from Denver to Detroit on Monday. “Yeah, I’m surprised because of the caliber of player that he is,” Williams said. “Sometimes things don’t work out like people planned and you have to move on.” Cheeks wasn’t looking forward to facing Iverson on a more regular basis. “It’s not being traded again, it’s just that he was traded to the East,” Cheeks said. … The Sixers hit 10 or more 3s in a game only twice last season.