Hooped Up

The NBA told Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor on Thursday that his recent comments regarding Kevin Garnett were inappropriate, a league official said. Taylor was not fined. Taylor received the phone call from the league office after he said Tuesday that Garnett “tanked it” by removing himself from the lineup late last season.

St. Paul Pioneer Press

Sam Cassell said he was extremely serious about perhaps becoming a Maverick after he was bought out by the Los Angeles Clippers. Instead, he’s prospering as a Celtic. “There was a real good chance, a real good chance,” Cassell said of his flirtation with the Mavericks. “I’m close to some of the guys on the coaching staff. I know those guys personally. Definitely it was close, but I had a good relationship with guys on this team. They put it out there heavy. “It wasn’t a difficult decision.”

Dallas Morning News

Sen. Herb Kohl said Wednesday that Larry Harris’ contract will not be offered a new contract as general manager and is no longer with the club.

Harris had asked Kohl for an early decision so he can pursue other interests if he wasn’t going to be retained.

“Larry Harris has served the Milwaukee Bucks since 1990 with complete dedication and loyalty,” Kohl said. “I believe at this time it is in the best interest of the Bucks to proceed in another direction.”

After spending money on that jersey, of that player, that played for that team, that time. You can now wear it one last time in hopes of getting your picture on one of my new favorite sites Straight Cash Homey. Yinka Dare jerseys are only the tip of the ice berg.

straightcashhomey.net

The shots stopped falling, Boston’s stars took over and just like that, the Houston Rockets’ 22-game winning streak was history.Kevin Garnett scored 22 points and Paul Pierce added 20 as the Celtics beat the Rockets 94-74 on Tuesday night, stopping Houston’s remarkable victory run.

The Rockets hadn’t lost since a 97-89 defeat to Utah on Jan. 27 and put together the NBA’s second-longest winning streak. It ended 11 victories shy of the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, who won 33 in a row.

AP

The Raptors’ lawsuit against the Spanish basketball federation could end up being worth more than $14 million Canadian, the Toronto Star is reporting.

In the 19-page document filed Friday, MLSE seeks 6 million Euros ($9,440,000 Canadian) in damages for breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation and negligence if Jorge Garbajosa has suffered permanent disability or 1.5 million Euros ($2,517,000 Canadian) for temporary disability.

“He was a hard-working player and a solid defender and his absence from the starting lineup is a significant loss to the team,” the Raptors stated in their claim.

According to the report, MLSE is also asking for $5 million (Canadian) in punitive damages.

The Trail Blazers took the first steps Monday toward deciding the future of forward Darius Miles by asking the NBA to appoint an independent doctor to determine whether Miles’ right knee injuries are career-ending. Miles, who hasn’t played in nearly two years, said earlier this season that he was healed and ready to play. The team, however, has said it is concerned about Miles’ long-term health and his ability to play.

Oregonian

Not only is Glen Taylor an idiot, he’s an idiot. I had to get that out twice for effect.  After being criticized for tanking seasons in the past, Glen Taylor accused Kevin Garnett of taking nights off last season.  Maybe he needed a break from carrying your sorry franchise since his arrival.  I reckon a few extra sips of Gatorade would be warranted after running nowhere fast for so long. What a douche!

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been criticized in recent seasons for tanking down the stretch to try to improve their draft position. But owner Glen Taylor strongly disagrees, especially with what happened at the end of last season. “It was more like, I’d say, K.G. tanked it,” Taylor said today. Kevin Garnett took himself out of the lineup late last season, Taylor said.

St. Paul Pioneer Press

Maybe the field of 65 should be settled like this in the future?  Bad idea.

Dwight Howard believes that the Orlando Magic need to step up in order to put themselves in the same conversation as the best in the Eastern Conference, according to The Ledger.

“They say Detroit, the Celtics, and then Cleveland, and it’s like we’re a forgotten team in the East. So we’ve got to step it up when we play those guys,” Howard said.

“Nobody is looking at the Magic as any playoff or championship contender team, which is good. Every team that I’ve been on has always been looked at as a team that everybody could beat. But you know, we know how to play basketball, and one day we’re going to get the respect that we deserve from everybody,” Howard added.

The Ledger