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Home , Allen Iverson, Atlantic Division (NBA), Baron Davis, Bonzi Wells, Bryan Colangelo, Chris Webber

1 BLACK E11 DAILY 04-15-07 MD BD E11 BLACK

The Post B Sunday, April 15, 2007 E11

NBASunday By Michael Lee

THE FOURCAST ON THE CUSP And the Winners Are . . . SPURS AT MAVERICKS Today, 3:30 p.m., WJLA-7, WMAR-2 Why to watch: After losing the first Season-Ending Awards Salute the Noble and the Ignoble meeting, the Mavericks have won the G Jazz last two games this season Age: 22 Height: 6-3 Weight: 205 against the Spurs. 16.6 ppg, 9.5 apg Of note: The Mavericks wrapped up home-court advantage throughout the playoffs for the first time Deron Williams had the in franchise history last week. double-whammy of pressure his rookie year in Utah. In addition to constant comparisons to the NBA’s all-time leader in assists and steals, , LETHAL WEAPON Williams also had to deal with a Chris MAVERICKS AT WARRIORS Bryant’s Right Elbow. Paul infatuation that had people in Salt Tuesday, 10:30 p.m. Lake and beyond questioning whether He was either using it to score 50 points the Jazz had snagged the wrong Why to watch: The Warriors are nine times — including four consecutive looking to sweep the regular season guard with the No. 3 pick in 2005. series (3-0) against in a games in March — or to club unsuspecting Williams decided to attack his second potential first-round matchup. defenders such as Manu Ginobili, Marko Jaric season in the NBA head-on: He sought Of note: Golden State went 7-3 in first or . out Stockton over the summer, asking 10 games with preferred the future Hall of Famer about what it of , Jason took to play under Coach . “He Richardson, , Al just gave me a lot of pointers,” Williams Harrington and Andris Biedrins. said. “It was a good four days for me.” Williams is not nearly as flashy as Paul, but he’s fearless and is best fit for Sloan’s no-nonsense system. He ranks second in the league in assists (9.5) behind and has helped lead BULLS AT NETS the Jazz to its first division title since Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Stockton and won the Why to watch: The Bulls might need to Midwest Division in 2000. Williams, win to secure the No. 2 seed in the though, is far from satisfied. “I just want East. BY LISA BLUMENFELD — GETTY IMAGES to become a better all-around player and just work on a lot of aspects of my game Of note: has scored at least ‘WE’RE GOING STREAKING’ WORST EXCUSE, PART I LOOK AWAY 100 points in 39 games this season, the and try to improve and try to help my . Vladimir Radmanovic, Lakers. , Clippers. team,” he said. most since 1996-97. Phoenix had streaks of 15 and 17 games, but Radmanovic separated his shoulder during the In a season filled with freakish injuries, none Dallas become in NBA history to all- break. He originally said he slipped on ice was as ghastly as Livingston’s twisting knee post three win streaks of at least 12 or more while getting a cup of coffee but later came clean injury on Feb. 26, which included three FLAGRANT games. that he had violated the terms of his contract and ligament tears and a dislocated patella. , HAWKS went snowboarding. He was fined $500,000. Smith, 21, is one of the OUT OF THE MOUTHS MOST CONFUSING FIRING rising stars in the NUGGETS AT SPURS OF BABES, PART I WORST EXCUSE, PART II , . league, but he made a Wednesday, 8 p.m. , . , Pistons. Casey was fired after leading the costly mistake last Why to watch: These teams will likely Rookie said he was in the slam-dunk contest Hunter got suspended 10 games for Timberwolves to a 20-20 record. In a week when he directed meet again in the first round of the only to get the prize money. performance-enhancing drugs and claimed that he statement, Kevin McHale said the team didn’t an expletive-laced ti- playoffs. mistakenly took his wife’s diet pills. “We do that at meet “certain goals and expectations” and rade toward Hawks Of note: has the best OUT OF THE MOUTHS our house — if I’ve got a head cold, I might grab that Casey’s replacement, , Coach late in an record since the all-star break (24-3) OF BABES, PART II one of her pills,” he said. would get the team “going in the right loss in . Smith was angry that and won nine straight at SBC . , . direction.” The Wolves are 12-25 under Woodson wouldn’t call the final play for After became the first former Wittman. him, but he lost $40,000 in salary be- THE DISH NBA player to publicly admit that he is gay, cause of his subsequent two-game sus- the second-year forward was asked about the KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF pension and might be more this prospect of having a gay teammate. “As long , Nuggets. summer when he becomes eligible for a After Slow Start, as you don’t bring your gayness on me, I’m Anthony received a 15-game suspension for contract extension. Questions about his fine.” punching the Knicks’ . He lost maturity already had the Hawks skittish James Takes It to $640,000 in salary. The six other players about offering him a lucrative deal. A NOT-SO LAME DUCK suspended after Fight Night at Madison Another Level Sam Mitchell, Raptors . Square Garden lost a combined $593,000 in 24-SECOND CLOCK The Raptors started the season 2-8, but salary. ’ Posturing After finishing second in the most stuck with valuable player voting and nearly the lame-duck coach and Mitchell turned the COSTLIEST SEAT leading Cleveland to a second-round team into the Atlantic Division champion. , Celtics. The Blowups upset of the Pistons, LeBron The Celtics’ general manager was fined James was expected to run away BONEHEAD PLAY OF THE YEAR $30,000 for excessive contact with the In the Blowouts with MVP honors this season. , Wizards. family after sitting next to Texas freshman Problem was, it took James almost Instead of killing the clock on March 30, ’s mother, Wanda Pratt, at the The New York Knicks really need to stop half the season before he began to Ruffin killed his team when he heaved the ball Big 12 tournament in . the fake tough guy machismo. During a play at that level. to Toronto’s in the closing 98-69 loss to the Chicago Bulls last week, James was criticized for having seconds. Peterson nailed a three-pointer to WORST ADDITION BY SUBTRACTION the Knicks scored 10 points in the first regressed and was charged with force overtime. Washington went on to lose. Stephen Jackson. quarter but got infuriated with their coasting through the regular season. Desperately needing to rid themselves of a opponents’ pursuit of Big Macs. Needing to Others wondered if he was fatigued THE SELFLESS PLAYER AWARD troubled forward for the second year in a row, score 100 points to secure free from nagging injuries and his , Rockets. THE THE NOT-SO the — burned a year ago by hamburgers for paying customers at United participation with USA Basketball. Wells passed on $38.5 million contract from NOSTRADAMUS NOSTRADAMUS Ron Artest — traded Jackson to Golden State Center, the Bulls jacked up three-pointers Those concerns have dissipated as Sacramento to sign for a $4 million deal with AWARD AWARD and painfully watched him help the Warriors and tried alley-oop lobs in the final James has erupted since the all-star . After a miserable season, he refused , Gilbert Arenas, into playoff contention while their postseason minutes. break, averaging 30.1 points, 6.6 to join the team for a road game in . Washington Wizards. chances plummeted. After , , Steve rebounds and 6.4 assists in 24 because he no longer wanted to be a After guaranteeing that After guaranteeing that Francis and all exchanged games. What led to the rebirth? “I’m distraction. he would get payback he would get payback FROM ‘TIMEOUT!’ TO ‘I’M OUT!’ words with Tyrus Thomas. James had to be not quite sure,” said James, who won on USA Basketball by on USA Basketball by , . restrained in the locker room hallway. conference player of the month in BEST ADDITION BY SUBTRACTION scoring 50 points on scoring 50 points on Webber wanted to leave Philadelphia so badly Francis said he didn’t enjoy being March. “I’m just getting ready for the . Phoenix Coach Mike Portland Coach Nate that he gave up $6 million to leave in a buyout embarrassed, but where was this supposed playoffs.” For years, the 76ers were blamed for holding D’Antoni, the “Hibachi” McMillan, Arenas with the 76ers. He returned home to pride at the opening tip? Bulls Coach Scott James added that negative back Iverson. Was it the other way around? heated up for a heated up like two Michigan to sign with the Pistons and Skiles sat his starters after three quarters comments about his performance After Philadelphia traded Iverson to Denver, chest-thumping 54 sticks rubbing together rejuvenated his career. — when his team was up by 28. early in the season had no impact. the 76ers got better. They went (27-27) after against the Suns. and scored just nine. The angry posturing was reminiscent of “Criticism is going to happen, no starting the season 5-18. WHO NEEDS A WHOLE SEASON? the attitude that ignited that silly tiff with matter what. It comes with the Heat. the on Dec. 16. territory,” he said. “I don’t listen to it. PHOENIX RISING Shaquille O’Neal sat out half the season with a The Knicks needed to be more upset I just come out and play.” . . . with themselves for failing to show up Amare Stoudemire, . THE BIGGEST LOSERS knee injury, missed 30 games, The New Jersey Nets might be mostly with a dislocated shoulder, and Coach during a game that essentially killed their Stoudemire recovered from microfracture The . struggling to make the playoffs, but was on medical leave for 21 games playoff chances — and put the Bulls in surgery to return to all-star form and help the Memphis has the worst record, but in a season the that hasn’t diminished after hip replacement surgery, yet the better position for the lottery Suns win the Pacific Division with his team dedicated to franchise patriarch Red ’s opinion of his season. defending champions still won the Southeast (Chicago gets New York’s pick this fearsome above-the-rim antics. Auerbach, the Celtics set a franchise record with Kidd has recorded a career-high 12 Division title. summer). Next season, the Knicks should triple-doubles this season and is 18 consecutive losses. try a different approach: Instead of looking nearly averaging a triple-double for trouble with a showboating opponent, (13.2 points, 9.2 assists and a how about competing? career-high 8.1 rebounds). Asked last week if it was the best season of his career, Kidd said: “It’s up there. It THE STARTING FIVE: Michael Lee’s all-NBA team might be No. 2 [for] the whole package. Probably not as good as the LEBRON JAMES STEVE NASH first year I was here [in 2001-02]. Dallas Mavericks C Phoenix Suns That was probably my best season PF SF SG PG ever. And this one would rank The favorite to win the MVP, Nowitz- James is the only player in the NBA Duncan spends most Bryant is leading the league in The two-time MVP is leading the second.” ki has led the Mavericks to the averaging at least 27 points, 6 re- of his minutes at scoring for the second straight league in assists for the third sea- Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan, who league’s best record. bounds and 6 assists. center. With quiet season, is the youngest player in son in a row, has shot better than was an assistant in New Jersey efficiency, he is history to reach 50 percent from the floor and 45 during Kidd’s first two seasons with averaging 20.1 18,000 percent from be- the Nets, didn’t hold back on his points and ranks points yond the three- praise. “To me, he’s the best point in the top 10 in (28 point line. guard in the NBA,” Jordan said. “You rebounds years can put that down for history.” . . . (10.6) 156 Kidd and joined and days). extremely select company when they blocked both recorded triple-doubles against shots the Wizards on April 7. That feat (2.4) has only been accomplished by six other teammate pairs: Chicago’s and (1989), Boston’s and Robert Parrish (1987), the Los Angeles Lakers’ and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1982), Seattle’s and (1969), Detroit’s and Donnis Butcher (1964), and and

Arlen Bockhorn of the Cincinnati

Royals (1962). 1 BLACK E11