OCR Text |
Show DAILY HERALD Sunday. March 21, 2004 M C3 Star of the day DAY IN BASKETBALL Chicago's Jamal Crawford had 25 points, six rebounds and nine assists to lead the Bulls past the New York Knkks, Grizzlies stop slide vs. Paeers THE ASSOCIATED 87-8- 1. NBA STANDINGS Eastern Conference ATLANTIC DIVISION PRESS Hubie Brown called James Posey's number, and Posey didn't 5 drop the baQ. "I'm very happy coach had the confl uence io uui uic ill iiiai uwiiiuii, ruocy acuu after leading the Memphis Grizzlies to a 99- 95 victory Saturday night over the Indiana Pacers. In a 12-- fourth-quarte- r run that moved Memphis ahead Posey scored on two driving layups that included a three-poiplay with 129 remaining. A layup by Indiana's Ron Art est, and a steal by Al Harrington that led to a by Jamaal Tinsley made it ROUNDUP Indiana got a chance to go for a tie or the win after Jason Williams missed a jumper with 19 seconds left, but Reggie Miller missed a short running jumper with seven seconds to go. Posey drew a foul and ended the scoring by hitting two free throws. "I feel confident in the plays called toward the end," Posey said. "It was a total team effort tonight." Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said the Grizzlies, who are having the best season in franchise history, "are way ahead of what everybody expected." "They are sixth seed in the West right now and that's not an accident," Carlisle said. "They play 10 guys and they come at you with high energy." Pau Gasol and Stromile Swift had 17 points each for Memphis. Mike Miller, playing for the first time since hurting his back on Feb. 17, had 13 points in 25 minutes. Williams added 10 points and 10 assists. Miller said he was happy to be back and to have avoided surgery. "After the first couple of hits, I felt good. Once that happened, I was pretty confident," Miller said. "That was a lot better than worrying about your back every time you do something." The Pacers were led by Jermaine O'Neal with 28 points and Artest with 23. Jeff Foster had 17. I Spurs 103, Celtics 87: At San Antonio, Tim Duncan marked his return to San Antonio's starting lineup with 26 points and 15 rebounds, and the Spurs beat the Celtics for the 12th straight time. Manu Ginobili added 26 points in 24 minutes for San Antonio, which narrowed Minnesota's lead in the Midwest Division to 1 12 games. After missing nine games with a knee injury, Duncan came off the bench for the first time in his NBA career in the Spurs' victory over the Timberwohes on Thursday. I Bulls 87, Knkks 81: At Chicago, Jamal Crawford hit a baseline jumper with 3.6 seceffort and onds left, completing a sealing the Bulls' win. Crawford and Eddy Curry, who had 25 New Jersey MEMPHIS, Term. , if . 'Sr' f'TSO'r' L j. L 27 32 37 38 Wladelphia 28 42 Washington 22 46 19 52 ' .268 ' New Yak , V Odando. , 10 M .400 14 4--6 .324 19 ' 2312 W L Pet 50 19 .725 - 45 25 .643 New (Mem 36 Milwaukee 34 ' Cleveland GB 4--6 1812 2012 2812 .426 Atlanta 22 48 .314 Chicago 20 49 .290 W ' 30 ; Pet L 47" ' I . 15-3-0 Conf Away 26-- 1 2 W-- 8-- 29-1- 1 3 l 20-1- 4 l-- . 17,18 6 0 26-2-1 3 25-2-0 1 8 8 0 W-- 7 . " 22 L10 GB 1 '.681 46 24 .657 1.12 43 25 .632 312 Memphis, 43 26 .623 4 , 39 28 382 36 34 .514 11 12 36 34 .514 11 12 Antonio ' Utah ... , Str ' W;W Dallas Denver Home 5--5 2 24-1- 6 26-1- 6 W-- 26-- 6 W-- 1 30-- 5 0 W-- 27-- 64 7 7 . .16-17- 25-1- 1 26-1- 7 2 1 3 1 Home Away 2 6--4 Conf Away "22-1- 2510 W-- 1 2 W-- 2 PACIFIC DIVISION ALAN Press SPEARMAN Associated Indiana's Jeff Foster, center, goes down as Memphis' Earl Watson, left, and Theron Smith go for the ball The Grizzlies won, W L Pet 50 19 .725 6--4 W-- 1 30-- W-- 4 26-- W-- 1 23 18 23 .667 4 35 34 507 15 64 Seattle 31 38 .449 19 6 W-- 4 GoldenState 28 40 .412 7 W-- 3 3 LA. 27 42 .391 23 47 329 2712 7 W-- 1 1 Clippers Conf 28-1- 4 20-1-4 46 Lakers Phoenix 99-9- 4. Str L10 GB Portland LA. 2 ' 12 21 0 6 23 6 1 . playoff spot points on shooting to go with 14 rebounds, helped Chicago to its 20th victory. Kurt Thomas paced the Knkks with 17 points. New York, which dropped a half-- ; game behind Miami for sixth place in the Eastern Conference, played without injured guard Allan Houston and lost Tim Thomas to a groin strain after the first quarter. t Heat 101, 76ers 69: At Miami, Dwyane Wade and Eddie Jones scored 17 points apiece to lead the Miami Heat to their fourth consecutive victory and seventh in eight games. The 76ers have lost four in a row to fall further back in the race for the final playoff spot in the East. The Heat proved once again that when they are healthy, they are one of the Eastern Conference's best teams. They improved to 14-- 7 with a starting lineup of Wade, Jones, Caron Butler, Lamar Odom and Brian Grant. I Suns 123, Bucks 111: At Phoenix, Amare Stoudemire scored 27 points and the Phoenix Suns reached a season high in e home losing points and broke a streak. The victory was the Suns' 16th in a row at home over the slumping Bucks. Overall, the Suns have won only seven of their last 27 games, while Milwaukee has lost seven of eight. I Trail Blazers 92, Magic 73: At Portland, Ore., Derek Anderson scored 24 points and Theo Ratliff added 14 points and six blocked shots. e The win moved Portland within a of Denver and Utah in the race for the final Western Conference playoff spot. Juwan Howard led the Magic with 21 points, Drew Gooden had 14 and Keith who replaced Tracy McGrady, who missed the game to attend his grandmother's funeral, added 12. five-gam- half-gam- FRIDAY'S RESULTS Portland 92, Orlando 73 Chicago 96, Toronto 91 Washington 94, Atlanta 84 Utah 97, Cleveland 88 Sacramento 94, Indiana 92 New York 79, New Jersey 65 Detroit 94, Denver 75 Dallas 120, Boston 104 Seattle 91, New Orleans 80 Minnesota 93, Phoenix 80 Golden State 90, Houston 84 LA Lakers 106, LA. Clippers 100 TODAY'S GAMES Dallas at New Jersey, 1 1 :30 a.m. Denver at Minnesota, 1 :30 p.m. Golden State at LA Clippers, 1 :30 p.m. Miami at Washington, 2 p.m. Detroit at Cleveland, 2 p.m. Toronto at New Orleans, 5 p.m. Houston at Sacramento, 5:30 p.m. Orlando at Seattle, 7 p.m. Milwaukee at LA Lakers, 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY'S RESULTS MONDAY'S GAMES 101, Philadelphia 69 Utah 87, Atlanta 81 Memphis 99, Indiana 95 Chicago 87, New York 81 San Antonio 103, Boston 87 Phoenix 123, Milwaukee 111 Miami Chicago at Indiana, 5 p.m. Dallas at Philadelphia, 5 p.m. Atlanta at New York, 5:30 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Denver, 7 p.m. Houston at Portland, 8 p.m. Bo-gan-s, NBA SCOREBOARD 12. Arroyo 18. Pavtovic 6 Lopez Totals On the defensive Before the Detroit Pistons traded for Rasheed Wallace on Feb. 19, they were a good defensive team. But, Wallace has lifted them to a new level. The Pistons are allowing almost 10 - points less per game since the trade and are winning at a much higher percentage: Points allowed per game: 86.7 34-2- 2 (.607) 23 Green (Person Ruled out ). Atlanta 47 'f -8 J week, they became the first team in the era to hold every player on the opposite team under double-figure- s. shot-cloc- ON OFFENSE, TOO RAY STUBBLEBINEAssociated Press 4, Wallace 2. Wang 2 Totals Detroit forward Rasheed Wallace, center, and teammate Corliss WiHianson, left, enjoy the final minutes of a recent win. 2. sudden we've kind of figured it out," Pistons coach Larry Brown said. "Their com- ment to me was, we are a lot more aggressive." But it's the addition of Wallace that adds to the Pistons' aggressiveness. His competitive nature and willingness to help teammates at any cost haye become contagious. As a result, the Pistons' team defense has improved, which is saying a lot considering Ben Wallace is a pretty good all by himself. ALL FOR ONE "Our defense is getting to be so good be-- ; cause we are so confident in one another," guard Lindsey Hunter said. "Everybody feels like everybody has their back. Nobody is worried about getting beat. Ben and Rasheed aren't worried about leaving their men to go help because they know that we (the perimeter defenders) will be running back to help keep their guys off the boards. It's just a real good feeling when you have that kind of trust and confidence out there." With Wallace, the Pistons have allowed e the fewest points over a stretch e stretch (333) and e (264), stretch (427). And against the Nuggets last four-gam- five-gam- , r .S ' 18 9. 4. Dupree 21 31 87. Miami Butler Miami 21 Second 18 22 24 17 81 23 17 20 87 Goals New York Chicago None Hardaway Fouled out (T A A 21 ,465 BOSTON (87) Welsch 6. Blount 9. Banks Stewart 6. Mthm New (21 .71 1).. 2 Totals Milwaukee Phoenix 9, Duncan - Pohit Goals 5, Ginohili 4. 0, Ward 0. Hart 0. Willis Goals 26 27 Boston Bowen Fwdodout 18 16 25 21 Carroll. Mioonds Blount 111 123 A Redd (Kukoc Jones Phoenix Baroosa Manon Fouled out 18 422(18 Eisley Rebounds None 24 4221 8 12. Howard Bogans 8oston36 Welsch Milwaukee ORLANDO (73) ' 19.034 Stevenson 14 0 Hunter 0 Gaines 0 Totals (92) 8 Randolph -6 0. Pachuiia 8 14 AndersonS.17 0 0 8 Ratlltt D Davis 0 3, Cook 9 0 Totals 25 17 14 17 73 32 15 24 21 92 92 (95) 23. Artest 17. Tinsley 2 1. Jones O'Neal 6. 28. R Miter f 4. Johnson 95 MEMPHIS 2. Harrington ' Potato Croshere 0 4 Totals Goals Gooden (Anderson Rahim (99) Posey 2. Williams 16. Gasol 1. Swift 6, Foster Outlaw 4 10. M Miller 17. Watson 12 Totals 17. Tsakahdls 13. Battier 5. T Smith 99 Johnsen (Bogans'2-Portland Lue Orlando Stevenson Stoudamire FsuM out Woods None Adou- Rebounds Orlando 56 (Howard 9). Portland 56 (Randolph 91 Assorts 1), total uiwfwo w (Lue o). roruaiiu ju idrouuBmire Orlando 17. Portland 19 Technicals tot Howard Portland Defensive Three Second A 16 693 (19.980) wmv.cougorblue.com V.i. , Patterson 0 Woods 0 Dickau Gill 2 2 11 Stoudamire 10, 99, PACERS 95 DeClercQ 2 34 8. Rooks 73 PORTUUtO 14, 21 12 Lue Johnson Gooden Miles (18.500). GRIZZLIES 32 27 TRAIL BLAZERS 92, MAGIC 73 (Blount 12). San Antonio 54 (Duncan 15) Asttsta Boston 17 (Pierce 6). San Antonio 18 (Parker 51 Total louis Boston 16. San Antonio 19 TecMcate coach J 23 28 42 (Gadiunc 8) Phoerui 46 Manon 9) Assists Milwaukee 16 (Knight 41 Phoenix 21 Milwaukee 25 Phoenix U Johnson 6) Total touts Parker Hart Turkogki None 87 103 Atkins (McCarty San Antonio Davis Pierce 27 35 Mirwaukee A 103 Totals 27 4 0 Totals Van Horn (Jacoosen J Johnson 26. Nesterovic 15. Turkoglu 13. D Brown 30 27. ,; Johnson 10 J Jacoosen 17 29 33 Stnckland (103) Boston San Antonio Bartxsa 8 Lampe 9. Harvey Eisley 123 87. Parker 26, Hose 8 Haisiip 19, Stoudemire 21 3- Bowen Strickland (123) Manon 87 10 Knight 5 11 Kukocl-- 8 PHOENIX , 19 Skinner 6. Redd 7, Santiago Total Jones 2. Three 0. Totals 0. Hunter SAN ANTONIO 8 Odom None Detersive 13 Smith Gadzunc 12. McCarty 18. Daws 14. Pierce 15. Atkins INDIANA Buckner Jones Fouled out (111) Jones 0 Mason McDyess SPURS 103, CELTICS Boston 101 trverson'2-- Technical Philadelphia 16.500(19 600) Van Horn Crawford (Hinnch Rebounds New York 57 Three Second Defensive (Ginobili 69 SUNS 123. BUCKS 111 D.Johnson0-1- . (Hardaway 11. Chicago 51 (Curry 14). Assists York 24 (Maroury 9). Chicago 25 (Crawford 91 tours New York 22. Chicago 20 Technicals Jones 24 (Alston Butler C MILWAUKEE Thomas Norris Maroury 0 10 30 29 28 14 21. Miami 61 43 (Thomas Philadelphia 12 (Snow 6 (Haslem. Odom 101 Assists Philadelphia Miami 22 (Wade 8) Total touls Philadelphia 13 Gill 2. 27 Horry 12 Rebounds 11. Curry New York 5, - Philadelphia Green McKie Salmons Sweetney Chicago 5. 7 Allen Goals 1. 25. Hinnch 5, Chandler 4. Totals Chicago Subtler than his defensive contributions are the effects Wallace has had on the offensive end. Besides giving the Pistons another inside scorer and an outside shooter, Wallace has helped forward Corliss Williamson become more effective. In the five games in which the Pistons set the defensive record, Williamson averaged 13.4 points and shot 63 percent off the bench. "It has definitely opened things up for me," Williamson said. "It has given me an opportunity to do different things. Teams cant just say, 'OK, he's going to be down on the block.' I have the opportunity now to step out, to cut and to penetrate. It's been good for me." Heck, Wallace might even be saving the Pistons some money. By taking almost all of Mehmet Okur's minutes, Wallace's presence has effectively driven down the value of Okur, a restricted free agent at season's ' end. Ironically, the Pistons traded away some of their onerous contracts in the trade for Wallace with the intention of clearing cap space with which to sign Okur. Now they might not need it all. This acquisition could not have worked out much better. Wallace isn't known for generating good feelings anywhere, but Pistons president Joe Dumars said he has' done just that in Detroit. "What Rasheed has been able to provide us is a certain edge that we didn't have before," Dumars said. "I think his presence, especially on the defensive end, has made everybody around him a lot better." 6 17 Haslem Korver 2, Davis Anderson 14 Grant Jones t2. R Butler 19 (87) k 0 Anderson 11, Norris Johnson 4 25. Crawford Shirley 0 0 2 Buckner 17101. 81. L.Johnson Points allowed per game: 76.1 11-- 3 (.786) Jackson 23 Salmons 8 8. Odom 17. 17, 6, Maroury D Dalembert 12. Alston Wade Philadelphia 8. K.Thomas 69 69 MIAMI (101) C Butler BULLS 87, KNICKS 81 Hardaway -3 2. Totals WinLoss record: 0. Totals 16 23 5 0. Korver R - Posey Indiana 2. Iverson 4. Hamilton 2 Arroyo Jackson Sura Terry Utah 51 (Ostertag None. Rebounds Utah 22 (Kinlenko 7). (Daw. Jackson 8) Astasia Utah 25. Atlanta Atlanta 14 (Sura 7). Total fools Tadnicals Be A 14.950 (19.445). CHICAGO Memphis 0 Neal Rebounds (69) 4, Thomas McKie 81 Bell Atlanta Baker AFTER THE TRADE Croshere Miller HEAT 101, 76ERS PHILADELPHIA 87 Snow (Greek Mohammed WinLoss record: 23 14 17 Pavfcwc MCWY0RK(81) T Thomas BEFORE THE TRADE 25 24 Utan Kinlenko 99 (19.0001. 19. Bradley 6. N Oiaye 81. 22 20 Goals M Fouled out 10, Collier 3, Person Atlanta 95 41 (0 Neal 11). Memphis 43 (Swift Outlaw T Smith 61 Assists Indiana 22 (Tinsley 8). Memphis 26 (Williams Indiana 26. Memphis 22 A 16,808 10) Total touts 17, Diaw Sura Utah 16 18 Johnson Smith T 0. 23 29 (Tinsley Jones (Williams (81) 0, Vaughn 2. Totals Indiana F 1 Hamngton 4. 87. ATLANTA -4 Goals 7, Bell 8 4. Ostertag 0. Moore 20 27 36 25, Indiana Memphis 2. Collins 18. Gugliotta 12. Gincek 10. Williams 0 11, Terry ly - V Home 2 14 .456 Houston if span. "I was asking our coaches why all of a Str 3 1512 39 San Israel Gutierrez i L10 .500 37 Minnesota transform Detroit into the NBA's best defensive team five-gam- 4 Western Conference fewest Piston has helped eight-secon- M 34 29 Jackson And it's not just about adding a 1 player who can block the occasional shot, either. Wallace's length and athleticism allow the Pistons to trap teams as successfully as the SuperSonics of the 1990s did, forcing teams out of their game plans and shortening their shot clock. Wallace is capable of trapping a player and still getting back to his man once the ball is moved that is, if the Pistons don't force a turnover. Against the 76ers last week, the Pistons forced 22 turnovers, inviolations and an cluding four d backcourt violation. ' "We are getting teams to play at a frantic pace," guard Chauncey Billups said. "They are seeing the rim and they are firing up quick shots trying to get it out of their hand as quick as possible." The five teams tbe Pistons held under 70 Portland, Denver, Chicago, Seattle and shot a combined 34.6 perPhiladelphia cent, averaging 19 turnovers and 66.6 e during a points, an NBA record-lo- 8 6 MIDWEST DIVISION Wallace letting his play do the talking for once CAUGHT IN A TRAP 5 6 0 512 , JAZZ 87, HAWKS 81 single-handed- 9 U .522 33 - 31 UTAH (87) Kinlenko r 2 19-1- 1 m 9-- Toronto . MIAMI Perhaps it's because he has spent the past several years on an off en--' sively rich Portland team, or maybe it's be cause everyone conceniraiea on ms passion on the court and his grumpiness off it, but few have noticed how effective a defensive player Rasheed Wallace is. Now that he is with the Pistons, a team turned that Ben Wallace into a defensive unit, Wallace's defensive abilities are more apparent than ever. For all offensive versatility and fiery competitiveness, could Wallace's greatest asset be his defensive presence? The Pistons might say so. Wallace has transformed theLPistons. from an excellent defensive team to the most intimidating defense in basketball even more so than the Spurs with a healthy Tim Duncan. Before this season, no team had held opponents to fewer than 70 points three games in a row. The Pistons did it five straight times, and it would have been at least six straight had the Nets not committed a late intentional foul Thursday to avoid becoming the next victim. 28-1- 3 CENTRAL DIVISION 97-9- 5. r 7 m 912 .457 : 97-9- 0, MIAMI HERALD Away 0 ,m. . 0 THE Conf Home t--2 5 .464 , Str L10 GB m 32 Miami , Pet W 41 2 |