Small Dustup, Serious Consequences?

A incident between Delonte West and Von Wafer. Alex Kennedy (Hoopsworld) reports

Less than one week after tempers flared during a two-on-two game in practice, Delonte West and Von Wafer had another altercation earlier this afternoon. 

During a three-on-three game with Avery Bradley, Luke Harangody, Semih Erden and assistant coach Tyronn Lue, West began fouling Wafer each time the reserve guard touched the ball. West was increasingly physical to the point that Wafer exited to the locker room midway through the game. As he walked away, West barked obscenities and taunted Wafer.

After Wafer had showered and sat down at his locker, West approached from behind and threw a punch. Wafer didn’t see the punch coming but quickly got off of the ground and connected on two punches of his own. He then wrestled West to the ground before being separated by the team’s veterans.

2010/11 Boston Celtics

The Roster

• PG – Rajon Rondo, Nate Robinson, Avery Bradley
• SG – Ray Allen, Delonte West, Von Wafer
• SF – Paul Pierce, Marquis Daniels
• PF – Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O’Neal, Glen Davis, Luke Harangody
• C – Kendrick Perkins, Shaquille O’Neal, Semih Erden

Strengths

• Power, size, length and strength on the interior. A formidable amount of size with Garnett, Perk, Jermaine and Shaq. A lot of quality rebounding and defensive contributions. Low post options offensively. Very difficult to matchup against.
• The all round brilliance of the emerging Rajon Rondo
• Spectacular shooting and quality two way basketball from their starting wings Paul Pierce (All-Star) and Ray Allen.
• Exceptional depth with Nate, Delonte, Marquis, Jermaine, Shaq and BBD. 

Lakers Fourth Straight Finals Appearance?

Interesting note

The Lakers are trying for their fourth straight Finals appearance this season.

Only three teams in the history of the league have done that before. The 1984-87 Celtics, the 1982-85 Lakers and the Celtics of the late 1950s and 1960s.

That would be quite the achievement. To put themselves amongst that group of teams.

2010/11 Cleveland Cavaliers

The Roster

• PG – Mo Williams, Ramon Sessions and Daniel Gibson
• SG – Anthony Parker, Manny Harris, Christina Eyenga
• SF – Jamario Moon, Joey Graham, Jawad Williams
• PF – Antawn Jamison, JJ Hickson, Leon Powe
• C – Anderson Varejao, Ryan Hollins

Strengths

• Quality players at the point with Mo Williams (scorer) and Ramon Sessions (playmaker)
• Best player is Anderson Varejao. Provides a defensive anchor and solid rebounder. Solid passer with a limited skill-set as a scorer but a very effective finisher off pick and rolls and around the rim.

Bobcats Top Defensive Combination

Good article in the Charlotte Observer about the Bobcats defensive attributes

The overtime against New Orleans revealed the possibilities – just how good the Charlotte Bobcats defense could be with all those long arms and quick feet.

The Bobcats closed out the Hornets by holding them to 2-of-8 shooting, forcing two turnovers and outrebounding New Orleans 7-1.

The group on the floor – Stephen Jackson, Gerald Wallace, Tyrus Thomas and Boris Diaw (plus either D.J. Augustin or Matt Carroll) – constantly switched defensively, cutting off driving and passing lanes. Those four guys are all roughly the same size and virtually interchangeable.

Blazers Trade Bayless

ESPN reports

The Portland Trail Blazers have found a trade to create some extra roster room, agreeing Saturday to deal guard Jerryd Bayless to the New Orleans Hornets for a conditional future first-round pick.

The Portland Oregonian reported that the 2011 first-round pick that the Blazers will receive from New Orleans is protected 1-to-7 in the 2011 draft and 1-to-8 in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The Blazers will thus take ownership of the pick in the June draft as long as it is No. 8 or lower.

Mike Miller Thumb Injury

The Sun Sentinel reports

Miami Heat swingman Mike Miller sustained what appears to be a serious thumb injury on his right, shooting hand during Wednesday’s practice at AmericanAirlines Arena, a source close to the situation told the Sun Sentinel today.

He is scheduled to be examined by a hand specialist in South Florida later in the day.

“Obviously, he’s disappointed,” said teammate Udonis Haslem, who spoke Thursday with Miller. “He was so excited to be here and be a part of this. The good thing is it’s not season-ending, from what I’m hearing. So that’s a good sign.

Slimmed Down Blair

Some interesting reading in the San Antonio Express on Blair

Blair’s first two baskets came on quick teardrop jump hooks, which only looked like they’d been lifted from Parker’s bag of tricks.Blair, who finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, later threw in a 12-foot baseline jumper, then hit a spinning jump-hook on Richard Jefferson. 

“I just worked hard to try and be a little quicker,” Blair said. “Try and expand my game a little bit.”

Bogut To Be Limited By Injury?

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports

After sitting out the Milwaukee Bucks’ first three exhibition games with soreness and swelling in his surgically repaired right hand, center Andrew Bogut is dealing with his physical situation.

“I might not be 100% the whole year,” said Bogut.

“I’m just trying to be a little careful before the real season starts,” he said. “I’d like to start practicing probably this week, but I think it’ll probably be another . . . they said it would be about seven to 10 days from when it first happened.

“The elbow, finger, everything . . . I won’t be 100%, so I’ll have to play through the pain through the season. Even once it gets better, I’m still going to be 90% for the year or 85%.

“I don’t have my mobility and flexibility like I should, but I just have to adjust to it.”

Game Time: Oklahoma vs Miami

Some thoughts over the course of the game

• Chris Bosh does not look fully healthy. He doesn’t have the explosion or the quickness that he normally has. He is playing and moving tentatively out there. Not finishing as well around the rim, not creating as much separation from his defenders.
• Scott Brooks has been praising James Harden’s defensive improvement
• Oklahoma’s offense looks very good when Westbrook and Durant are on the floor together but it fell apart as soon as Westbrook went to the bench.
• Not convinced by Maynor as their backup PG. He doesn’t contribute enough. A defensive liability, a non-rebounder, a solid but unexceptional passer and a weak shooter/scorer.