BUT PAT, YOU ALWAYS KNEW WHAT YOU WERE DOING.Byline: Quick hits by Howard Beck and Steve Dilbeck Pat Riley For the American guitarist, see . Patrick James "Pat" Riley (born March 20, 1945) is an American National Basketball Association head coach and team president of the Miami Heat. was the mastermind with the Lakers and later took the Knicks to the Finals, but life has been a different adventure in Miami. A very humbling one. Last season he embarked on an overhaul that was supposed to mold the team for years. By the end of the season, he was said it was time to go in a ``another direction.'' The only guy left from this ongoing makeover is center Alonzo Mourning Alonzo Harding Mourning, Jr. (born February 8 1970, in Chesapeake, Virginia) is an American professional basketball player currently with the NBA's Miami Heat. He is also known simply as "Zo". Playing at center, he is tall, and weighs 261 lb (0 kg). , and no one is certain how far he can come back from his kidney ailment ail·ment n. A physical or mental disorder, especially a mild illness. . Riley added so-so veterans LaPonso Ellis and Kendall Gill Kendall Cedric Gill (born May 25, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American former professional basketball player. Early life Gill attended Rich Central High School in Olympia Fields, Illinois. , and then in a true act of desperation, signed well-traveled point guard Rod Strickland Rodney "Rod" Strickland (born July 11 1966, in the Bronx, New York) is a former American professional basketball player most notably in the NBA. Early career A native of the South Bronx, who played for the nationally known New York Gauchos, while a junior he led Truman . Not exactly building for the future. Last year the Heat was swept in the playoffs by the Hornets, and they look worse off this year. It's hard to bet against Riley, but his aura has faded and you have to wonder if his fire still burns. HE'S A TRAVELING MAN Center Kevin Willis Kevin Alvin Willis (born September 6, 1962 in Los Angeles, California) is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA. He is a 7-foot power forward/center. At age 44, he is the oldest active player in the league. has become the left-handed reliever of the NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= . In a league desperate for big men, seems there's always room for a 7-footer who can still move. Willis, 39, spent his first 10 years in the league with the Atlanta Hawks. Such a secure life. Now in the last six years, he's been on eight teams - the Hawks, Heat, Warriors, Rockets, Raptors, Nuggets Nuggets can refer to several branches of interest:
HAVEN'T WE BEEN HERE BEFORE? Center Jim McIllvaine and the oh-so desperate Sonics became a running joke when Seattle signed McIllvaine, who had been a little-used backup in Washington to a seven-year, $30-million contract back in 1997. The unproductive McIlvaine was waived by the Nets this preseason. The Nets didn't need the big washout washout to disperse or empty by flooding with water or other solvent. medullary solute washout a syndrome in which the relative hyperosmolarity of the renal medulla is reduced due to an excessive loss of sodium and chloride from , because they had spent $34 million in the offseason to sign 7-0 Todd MacCulloch Todd Carlyle MacCulloch (born January 27 1976 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian former professional basketball player in the NBA. A Winnipeg, Manitoba native, the 7'0", 280 lb (2. . Not ringing any bells? He played for the Sixers last year, averaging 9.5 minutes per game and barely got off the bench against the Lakers in the Finals. SOMEBODY FIGURE THIS OUT Corliss Williamson Corliss Mondari Williamson (born on December 4, 1973 in Russellville, Arkansas) is a retired American professional basketball player, who played for four teams during his 12-year NBA career. His nickname is "Big Nasty", a moniker he received from his cousin when he was 13. is a tweener Tweener can refer to:
Michael Edward Curry (born August 22, 1968 in Anniston, Alabama) is an American former professional basketball player. was starting at the end of the preseason and rookie Rodney White Rodney Charles White (born June 28 1980 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where he was named National Freshman of the Year by ESPN, and was selected by the was first off the bench. This would be the same guy who disappeared against UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX in the '95 NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association title game YES, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE Jason Williams Jason Williams can refer to any of the following people:
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. . White Chocolate white chocolate n. Cocoa butter combined with milk and a sweetener, often flavored with vanilla. Noun 1. white chocolate was first given a contract extension, given a free hand at running the offense, and was named team co-captain. This from the ``Whatta Ya Mean, Defense?'' Kid, who last season got into trouble for failing to adhere to adhere to verb 1. follow, keep, maintain, respect, observe, be true, fulfil, obey, heed, keep to, abide by, be loyal, mind, be constant, be faithful 2. the league drug policy, entered into a verbal confrontation with fans and threw verbal shots at the Kings minutes after their season ended. ON THE DECLINE Teams whose fortunes are about to take a tumble 1. New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Knicks: Too many point guards (Ward, Jackson and Eisley), too many shooting guards (Spree and Houston), a soft and oft-injured center (Marcus Camby Marcus D. Camby (born March 22, 1974 in Hartford, Connecticut) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays center for the Denver Nuggets of the NBA. He won the 2006-07 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award[1] ) and no interior game to speak of. Could miss playoffs for first time since '87. 2. Utah Jazz Karl Malone and John Stockton have this nice Peter Pan thing going, but it can't last forever, the surrounding cast is not appreciably better and the West keeps getting tougher. 3. Phoenix Suns The Kidd-for-Marbury swap looks nice on paper, but not on the court. Marbury has never made his teammates better. Suns dumped Clifford Robinson for spare parts and will miss his versatility. String of 13 consecutive playoff appearances is in jeopardy. 4. Portland Trail Blazers The Portland Trail Blazers are a professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The franchise, based in Portland throughout its existence, entered the league in 1970 and has won the NBA Championship once, in 1977. Slipped from 59-23 to 50-32 and must now overcome loss of retired Arvydas Sabonis. Too many knuckleheads for one team, not enough playing time for any of them. 5. Philadelphia 76ers They'll still be a force, but injuries to Iverson, McKie and Snow will put them in early hole. Plus, East got much stronger. FORGET FAST START The Sixers became the early rage in the NBA last season, by getting off to an impressive 10-0 start. They may be doing well to win 10 in their first 20 this year. The 76ers, who continually moaned about their injuries during the postseason, are hobbling even before the first game this time out. Guard Eric Snow is out for three months following thumb surgery, Aaron McKie is coming off shoulder surgery, George Lynch is recovering from foot surgery and Allen Iverson - last seen storming out of the NBA postgame press conference because Kobe Bryant walked in with the championship trophy and was taken to the head table ahead of him - is coming off elbow surgery. AND SPEAKING OF INJURIES Seven players whose teams will suffer while they heal from injuries: 1. Chris Webber, Sacramento: sprained ankle, out until at least mid- November. 2. Antonio McDyess, Denver: knee surgery, out until February. 3. Eric Snow, Philadelphia: broken thumb, out until February. 4. Aaron McKie, Philadelphia: shoulder surgery, out until mid-November. 5. Mike Miller, Orlando: broken bone in foot, out until early December. 6. Maurice Taylor, Houston: torn Achilles, expected to miss season. 7. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland: recovering from latest foot problems, status unclear. ON THE RISE Teams whose fortunes look brighter this season: 1. L.A. Clippers Don't wait until April to buy your Darius Miles headband. The shelves will be empty. Clips bandwagon will fill quickly as young stars seize the moment. Decline of Phoenix, Seattle means Sterling's kids have a shot at the No. 8 seed. 2. Atlanta Hawks Between February and July, completely rebuilt through trades for Shareef Abdur-Rahim (from Memphis), Theo Ratliff and Toni Kukoc (from Philly). Toss in talented young guard Jason Terry, and Hawks have makings of a playoff team. 3. New Jersey Nets (OK, so they've disappointed two years running. We'll put them on the list every year until we're right.) Jason Kidd got the most out of Suns teammates and he'll bring the best out of Keith Van Horn For the American football player, see . Keith Adam Van Horn (born October 23 1975, in Fullerton, California) is an American basketball player who last played for the Dallas Mavericks. Van Horn graduated from Diamond Bar High School and played for the University of Utah. , Kerry Kittles and Kenyon Martin. 4. Boston Celtics Might not be playoff-ready just yet, but they're hovering in that range. Celts The following pages provide lists of nations or people of Celtic origin, arranged by branch of Celtic ethnicity or language grouping: Goidelic Celts
JUST TO BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY The Boston Celtics, who ruled the NBA for more years than the Lakers would like to recognize, have finally come screaming back to Earth. The Celtics, who won 11 league titles in 14 years (beating the Lakers in the Finals six times), haven't been to the playoffs for the past six years. 5. Washington Wizards Bet against Michael at your own risk. Playoff berth is highly unlikely, but Jordan's will, plus young talent of Rip Hamilton and Courtney Alexander, make Wiz competitive and entertaining. TOO YOUNG TO DRINK, TO YOUNG TO PLAY The young and the restless has shaken up not only who's in the NBA Draft, but what kind of immediate impact teams can expect (read: not much). Of the first 10 players taken in last year's draft, only one is expected to open the season as a starter. That would be the guy who actually stayed in college for four years, Duke forward Shane Battier. The rest are going to be doing a lot of watching from the bench. No. 1 pick Kwame Brown is backing up Christian Laettner for the Wizards. No. 2 Tyson Chandler is playing behind Eddie Robinson for the Bulls. No. 3 Pau Gasol is behind Stromile Swift with the almost-Orange County Grizzlies The name Grizzlies may refer to:
No. 4 Eddie Curry backs up Brad Miller with the Bulls. No. 5 Jason Richardson is behind Larry Hughes with the Warriors. No. 6 Battier starts for the Hawks. No. 7 Eddie Griffin warms the bench for Richard Williams in Houston. No. 8 DeSagana Diop and his sore foot watches Michael Doleac in Cleveland. No. 9 Rodney White is looking lost behind Michael Curry for the Pistons. No. 10 Joe Johnson backs up Eric Williams with the Celtics. HOT DATES: Traditionally, this is your guide to all the NBA's nasty grudge matches, bitter homecomings and budding rivalries. Forgive us for a sudden case of myopia myopia: see nearsightedness. , but the entire NBA season boils down to just two storylines this year: His Airness, and the Lakers. Everything else is hopelessly uninteresting by comparison. Herewith here·with adv. 1. Along with this. 2. By this means; hereby. herewith Adverb Formal together with this: , the must-sees for 2001-02: 1. Oct. 30, Washington at New York: Michael Jordan, Madison Square Garden Current arenas in the National Hockey League Western Conference Eastern Conference , opening night, New York, and a Sept. 11 memorial to boot. There may not be a more captivating cap·ti·vate tr.v. cap·ti·vat·ed, cap·ti·vat·ing, cap·ti·vates 1. To attract and hold by charm, beauty, or excellence. See Synonyms at charm. 2. Archaic To capture. night all season. 2. Nov. 11, Orlando at Lakers: By some accounts, a Finals preview. Shaq and Kobe vs. T-Mac and Grant Hill, plus Patrick Ewing and defector Horace Grant. 3. Dec. 5, Dallas at Lakers: Shaq's free throws are looking sickly again. Think Don Nelson hasn't noticed? Think Shaq will call Nellie ``a clown'' again? 4. Dec. 7, Lakers at Sacramento: Kings kept Webber, defying Shaq's prediction they'd return to ``expansionism ex·pan·sion·ism n. A nation's practice or policy of territorial or economic expansion. ex·pan  sion·ist adj. & n. ,''
now appear stronger and deeper than team Lakers swept at Arco in May.
5. Dec. 16, Washington at Toronto: Vince Carter has Jordan's old moves, and motive to show up his role model - Jordan dissed Carter's defense and proclaimed Kobe the more worthy heir. (Also, Toronto at Wash., Feb. 5) 6. Dec. 25, Philadelphia at Lakers: A Finals reunion - Dikembe's nose reacquaints itself with Shaq's elbow. Iverson, giddy over Ty Lue's departure, shoots 50 times. (Also, Lakers at Philly, Jan. 27) 7. Jan. 19, Washington at Chicago: MJ tortures Jerry Krause and the unrecogniza-Bulls while playing 200 feet below his own retired No. 23. Chilling. 8. Feb. 12, Washington at Lakers: Jordan vs. Kobe. Jordan vs. Phil. Jordan's first game at Staples. Jordan vs. the only team with star power to equal his own. (Also, Lakers at Wash., April 2) 9. March 6, New Jersey at Phoenix: Jason Kidd, banished to Meadowlands, returns to Valley of the Suns. Replacement Stephon Marbury, having trashed trashed adj. Slang Drunk or intoxicated. Our Living Language Expressions for intoxication are among those that best showcase the creativity of slang. everything Nets-related, has his homecoming Dec. 5. 10. March 21, Washington at Utah: MJ returns to Delta Center for first time since the night he stole the ball from Karl Malone, pushed off of Bryon Russell and hit the jumpshot that clinched the Bulls' sixth title - the image that for three years stood as The Perfect Ending. TRANSACTIONS WITH TREMORS Seven offseason moves that jolted the NBA landscape: 1. Phoenix trades All-Star Jason Kidd to New Jersey for All-Star Stephon Marbury: Suns, tired of first-round playoff fades and Kidd's domestic issues, reshuffle the deck. 2. Philadelphia obtains Derrick Coleman from Charlotte: Sixers finally get inside scorer they lacked, taking pressure off Allen Iverson. But volatile Coleman-Iverson combo could send Larry Brown into early retirement. 3. Milwaukee signs Anthony Mason: Bucks finally get an inside force to complement fab perimeter trio of Cassell, Allen and Robinson. 4. Sacramento re-signs Chris Webber: Kings lock up their MVP (Multimedia Video Processor) A high-speed DSP chip from Texas Instruments, introduced in 1994. Officially introduced as the TMS320C80, it combines RISC technology with the functionality of four DSPs on one chip. , guaranteeing an enduring and raucous North-South rivalry with Lakers. 5. Orlando signs Patrick Ewing, Horace Grant: So the big guys are old. Big deal. Ewing's still better than most East centers, Grant's defense still ranks with the best at his position. Their muscle, combined with Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady, could lift Magic into Finals. 6. Miami signs Rod Strickland, gets Alonzo Mourning back: If 'Zo is 'Zo again, Heat could quickly rejoin elite in East. If Strickland is same old Strickland, he could drag Miami into the abyss. 7. Clippers obtain Elton Brand from Chicago for rookie Tyson Chandler: Baylor might have put the Clips in the playoffs with this draft-day trade. MOVERS AND SHAKERS Six players who could be traded by the Feb. 21 deadline, or at least dangled frequently: 1. Gary Payton, Seattle: Sonics' moody scoring leader was offered around this summer, and ownership is more than ready for a locker-room makeover. 2. Charles Oakley, Chicago: Bulls brought back Oak to teach the youngsters, but he's otherwise wasted on this hopeless team, a free agent next summer, and a contender could make a play for him. 3. Bonzi Wells, Portland: Itched to be the starter, had breakout season before knee injury last spring, now stuck behind Derek Anderson, and none too pleased with it. 4. Charlie Ward, New York Ward is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 390 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Hamilton Ward. The Town of Ward is in the southeast quadrant of the county, north of the Village of Wellsville. : Only because the Knicks are always trying to move him, and they've got a logjam log·jam n. 1. An immovable mass of floating logs crowded together. 2. A deadlock, as in negotiations; an impasse. Noun 1. with Mark Jackson and Howard Eisley also at point guard. 5. Marc Jackson, Golden State: Peeved peeve tr.v. peeved, peev·ing, peeves To cause to be annoyed or resentful. See Synonyms at annoy. n. 1. A vexation; a grievance. 2. with Warriors after being forced to re-sign. A restricted free agent, he tried to sign with Houston, but Golden State, after lowballing all summer, matched offer and kept him. 6. Chris Gatling, unsigned: A free agent, first he needs a team - and then it's anyone's guess where he'll end up after that. Gatling's been traded seven times in the last six years. HOMELESS The threat of the luxury tax, combined with bad reps and bad decisions, has left several moderate talents out in the cold much longer than they should be. Here are six serviceable free agents still available as of Oct. 24 (last year's team in parentheses See parenthesis. parentheses - See left parenthesis, right parenthesis. ): 1. Jimmy Jackson (Cleveland): Too good a scorer (16.8 ppg career average) to sit around for long. 2. Olden Polynice (Utah): 14-year vet has worn out a lot of welcomes, but he's 7 feet tall, plays hard and gives great quotes. 3. Jim McIlvaine (New Jersey): a multimillion-dollar bust with Sonics and Nets, but he's tall (7-foot-1), so he's valuable. 4. Billy Owens (Detroit): Traded eight times in last 10 years, a solid bench guy. 5. A.C. Green (Miami): His NBA-record consecutive games streak (1,192) is in jeopardy. 6. Ron Harper (Lakers): Wants to play one more season, but Laker roster is full. If he doesn't hook up elsewhere, could retire and join L.A. front office or coaching staff. BIG FIVE FIVE THINGS TO EXPECT FROM MICHAEL JORDAN 1. He will dunk. 2. He will get hurt. 3. He will stick his tongue out on a drive to the basket. 4. He will compete for the scoring title. 5. He will still be like Mike. FIVE THINGS GUARANTEED TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE SEASON ENDS 1. Larry Brown will talk about retiring. 2. Three-second defensive lane violations will be more confusing than the old illegal defensive calls. 3. For the eighth time in the past 13 years, the Nets will finish last or next to last in shooting. 4. Elden Campbell will finally fall asleep in the middle of a game. 5. Patrick Ewing will still look really old. FIVE THINGS WE WISH WOULD HAPPEN 1. The Bulls go the whole season without a win. 2. Grant Hill and Alonzo Mourning come all the way back. 3. No one puts out another bad rap record. 4. Reggie Miller gets traded to the Knicks. 5. Somebody steps up to push the Lakers. MALCONTENT mal·con·tent adj. Dissatisfied with existing conditions. n. 1. A chronically dissatisfied person. 2. One who rebels against the established system: UPDATE -- Isaiah Rider and his alarm clock are now in Denver. -- Anthony Mason and his attitude are now in Milwaukee. -- Rod Strickland and his DUIs are in Miami. -- Jason Williams and his minority friends are in Memphis. -- Stephon Marbury and his ball are in Phoenix. -- Rasheed Wallace and his hot-button temper and Shawn Kemp and his extra poundage POUNDAGE, practice. The amount allowed to the sheriff, or other officer, for commissions on, the money made by virtue of an execution. This allowance varies in different states, and to different officers. , are still in Portland. JUST ASKING -- Exactly how many grizzlies are there in Memphis? -- How much jazz in Salt Lake City? -- How many bulls in Chicago? -- How many lakes in Los Angeles? -- How many babes in Jerry Buss' suite? CAPTION(S): 18 photos, 8 boxes Photo: (1) no caption (Pat Riley) (2) no caption (Kevin Willis) (3) no caption (Marcus Camby) (4) no caption (John Stockton) (5) no caption (Stephen Marbury) (6) no caption (Rasheed Wallace) (7) no caption (Allen Iverson) (8) no caption (Darius Miles) (9) no caption (Shareef Abdur-Rahim) (10) no caption (Jason Kidd) (11) no caption (Paul Pierce) (12) no caption (Michael Jordan) (13) no caption (Shane Battier) (14) no caption (Kobe Bryant) (15) no caption (Shaquille O'Neal) (16) no caption (Michael Jordan) (17) no caption (Elden Campbell) (18) no caption (a Shaquille O'Neal logo) Box: (1) ON THE DECLINE (see text) (2) ON THE RISE (see text) (3) TOO YOUNG TO DRINK, TOO YOUNG TO PLAY (see text) (4) HOT DATES (see text) (5) TRANSACTIONS WITH TREMORS (see text) (6) BIG FIVE (see text) (7) MALCONTENT UPDATE (see text) (8) JUST ASKING (see text) |
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