1 BLACK E11 DAILY 04-15-07 MD BD E11 BLACK The Washington Post B Sunday, April 15, 2007 E11 NBASunday By Michael Lee THE FOURCAST ON THE CUSP Deron Williams 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 Utah 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, John Stockton, LETHAL WEAPON Williams also had to deal with a Chris MAVERICKS AT WARRIORS Kobe 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 point 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 Dallas 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 Kyle Korver. out Stockton over the summer, asking 10 games with preferred starting lineup the future Hall of Famer about what it of Baron Davis, Jason took to play under Coach Jerry Sloan. “He Richardson, Stephen Jackson, 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 Steve Nash and has helped lead BULLS AT NETS the Jazz to its first division title since Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Stockton and Karl Malone 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: Chicago 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 Dallas Mavericks. Vladimir Radmanovic, Lakers. Shaun Livingston, Los Angeles 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 the first team in NBA history to all-star 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 FOUL games. that he had violated the terms of his contract and ligament tears and a dislocated patella. JOSH SMITH, ATLANTA 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 Dwane Casey, Minnesota Timberwolves. league, but he made a Wednesday, 8 p.m. Tyrus Thomas, Chicago Bulls. Lindsey Hunter, 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: San Antonio has the best OUT OF THE MOUTHS our house — if I’ve got a head cold, I might grab that Casey’s replacement, Randy Wittman, Coach Mike Woodson late in an overtime 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 Philadelphia. Smith was angry that and won nine straight at SBC Center. Shavlik Randolph, Philadelphia 76ers. direction.” The Wolves are 12-25 under Woodson wouldn’t call the final play for After John Amaechi 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 upset this prospect of having a gay teammate. “As long Carmelo Anthony, Denver 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’ Mardy Collins. 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, Toronto Raptors Head Coach. Square Garden lost a combined $593,000 in 24-SECOND CLOCK The Raptors started the season 2-8, but salary. New York Knicks’ Posturing After finishing second in the most General Manager Bryan Colangelo 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. Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics. The Blowups upset of the Detroit 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. Michael Ruffin, Wizards. family after sitting next to Texas freshman Problem was, it took James almost Instead of killing the clock on March 30, Kevin Durant’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 Oklahoma City. the fake tough guy machismo. During a play at that level. to Toronto’s Morris Peterson 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 Bonzi Wells, Rockets. THE THE NOT-SO the Indiana Pacers — 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 Houston. After a miserable season, he refused Gilbert Arenas, 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 Seattle Washington Wizards. Washington Wizards. chances plummeted. After the game, Nate Robinson, Steve rebounds and 6.4 assists in 24 because he no longer wanted to be a After guaranteeing that After guaranteeing that Francis and Jerome James 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 Chris Webber, Detroit Pistons. 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 Allen Iverson. 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.