Cavs Know Bucks Will Be a Dangerous Playoff Opponent

Filed under: Bucks, Cavaliers

CLEVELAND — The Milwaukee Bucks didn’t say a lot, but they didn’t have to. The final stats from the Bucks‘ 101-98 loss to Cleveland said plenty.

In the game, the Cavs shot 45 free throws, the Bucks nine. It was a disparity that almost seems impossible.

But despite that disparity — which is unheard of in most NBA games — the Bucks still were able to wipe out a 10-point third-quarter deficit, still were able to lead the Cavs in the final minutes and still were able to take the team with the league’s best record to the final seconds.

Impressive? Yes. Something to build on? Not for these Bucks, who came to Quicken Loans Arena having won seven-of-10 games.

“We should have won that game,” Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. “We gave them that game.”

 

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Cavs Know Bucks Will Be a Dangerous Playoff Opponent

Filed under: Bucks, Cavaliers

CLEVELAND — The Milwaukee Bucks didn’t say a lot, but they didn’t have to. The final stats from the Bucks‘ 101-98 loss to Cleveland said plenty.

In the game, the Cavs shot 45 free throws, the Bucks nine. It was a disparity that almost seems impossible.

But despite that disparity — which is unheard of in most NBA games — the Bucks still were able to wipe out a 10-point third-quarter deficit, still were able to lead the Cavs in the final minutes and still were able to take the team with the league’s best record to the final seconds.

Impressive? Yes. Something to build on? Not for these Bucks, who came to Quicken Loans Arena having won seven-of-10 games.

“We should have won that game,” Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. “We gave them that game.”

 

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Andrew Bynum Very, Very Important to Lakers’ Hopes

Filed under: Hawks, Lakers

ATLANTA — At least Phil Jackson didn’t remove another “very” from Pau Gasol.

Before Wednesday’s game at Atlanta, the Lakers coach was asked if he agreed with his big man having described himself as “very, very tough.”

“Well, I think two verys is too many,” Jackson said. “He’s very tough. He’s not two verys.”

Judging by the effort of Gasol and the Lakers in a 109-92 loss to the Hawks at Philips Arena, one might have thought Sgt. Jackson would have been pulling stripes off the uniforms of Lakers as well as a “very” from Gasol. But Jackson tried to show some restraint.

Gasol was beaten up by Hawks reserve center Zaza Pachulia, whose play at least should have earned him another “Za.” And the Lakers overall were flattened by the Hawks.

The Lakers sure miss center Andrew Bynum, who has been out since suffering a strained left Achilles tendon March 19 at Minnesota. With Bynum out, Gasol has had to move from power forward to center, where he looks a lot less tough than when he has Bynum alongside him.

 

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Andrew Bynum Very, Very Important to Lakers’ Hopes

Filed under: Hawks, Lakers

ATLANTA — At least Phil Jackson didn’t remove another “very” from Pau Gasol.

Before Wednesday’s game at Atlanta, the Lakers coach was asked if he agreed with his big man having described himself as “very, very tough.”

“Well, I think two verys is too many,” Jackson said. “He’s very tough. He’s not two verys.”

Judging by the effort of Gasol and the Lakers in a 109-92 loss to the Hawks at Philips Arena, one might have thought Sgt. Jackson would have been pulling stripes off the uniforms of Lakers as well as a “very” from Gasol. But Jackson tried to show some restraint.

Gasol was beaten up by Hawks reserve center Zaza Pachulia, whose play at least should have earned him another “Za.” And the Lakers overall were flattened by the Hawks.

The Lakers sure miss center Andrew Bynum, who has been out since suffering a strained left Achilles tendon March 19 at Minnesota. With Bynum out, Gasol has had to move from power forward to center, where he looks a lot less tough than when he has Bynum alongside him.

 

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Tazawa to Have Tommy John Surgery

Filed under: Red Sox, MLB Injuries

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox prospect Junichi Tazawa has been scheduled for Tommy John surgery, confirming what the club feared. Tazawa, who was not expected to break camp with the big-league club, will have surgery on Tuesday. It will be performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmigham, Ala.

The Red Sox are expecting a normal “10-to-12 month” rehab for Tazawa, leaving him ready to throw next spring, general manager Theo Epstein said.

Tazawa, 23, spent most of last season starting in the minors, compiling a 9-7 record and a 2.55 ERA. He went 2-3 with a 7.46 ERA in six games with the Red Sox, including four starts. He was projected to start the season in the rotation at Triple-A Pawtucket.

 

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Kevin Garnett Swears the Officials Treated Kevin Durant Like Michael Jordan

Filed under: Celtics, NBA Videos, Thunder

The Celtics dropped a close one to the Thunder on Wednesday, and, in a game that was fairly close statistically, one might point to the free throw shooting as the key statistical differential.

Oklahoma City shot twice as many free throws as Boston did, with the majority of those attempts going to Kevin Durant.

Durant went 15-for-15 from the stripe, and this was not something that went unnoticed by the Celtics’ vocal leader, Kevin Garnett, who used an expletive during a live post-game presser to describe how he felt Durant was being treated by the officials. Take a (NSFW) gander.

 

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Reports: Surprise Candidate James Dickey to Be Named Houston Coach

Filed under: Conference USA, Coaches

HOUSTON — After a week of interesting names being thrown out to take over the University of Houston men’s basketball coaching job, former Texas Tech coach James Dickey appears to be the choice of athletic director Mack Rhoades to lead the Cougars, according to media reports.

The Houston Chronicle reported Wednesday night that Dickey will be introduced as the Cougars’ new coach Thursday.

The hire comes as a surprise as Dickey was fired from Texas Tech in 2001 after four losing seasons. It’s an even bigger surprise as former Kentucky and Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie and former USC coach Tim Floyd appeared to be the front runners as recent as Tuesday.

Floyd, however, accepted the same position at UTEP. Gillispie’s plans remain unknown, but some close to the situation believe hiring Dickey instead of Gillispie came down to money and a lack of commitment to improve Houston’s poor facilities.

 

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Fred Couples to Take Part in Practice Round With Tiger at Augusta

Filed under: PGA, Masters

HUMBLE, Texas (AP) — Fred Couples said Wednesday that he’ll play a practice round for the Masters with Tiger Woods at Augusta National on Monday.

Woods is making his return to competitive golf next week at the Masters after months of seclusion following revelations that he cheated on his wife.

Couples said he’ll avoid asking Woods about his personal life.

“This is not going to be questions and answers,” said Couples, playing in the Houston Open this week. “It’s going to be strictly golf. I play a lot with him at Augusta, so this is not unusual.”

Couples said he would be playing in a foursome with Woods, though he did not know who the other two golfers would be. Couples said he’s curious to see how fans will react to seeing Woods on the course again.

 

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No Charges Pressed Against Joey Porter

Filed under: Arizona Cardinals, NFL Police Blotter

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) — Kern County prosecutors say no charges will be filed against Arizona Cardinals linebacker Joey Porter in connection with his recent arrest on suspicion of DUI and resisting arrest.

Prosecutor Mark Pafford told The Bakersfield Californian that the district attorney’s office does not believe there’s a reasonable likelihood that a jury would find Porter guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Officials with the DA’s office could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday by The Associated Press.

Porter was arrested recently in a fast-food parking lot in Bakersfield.

The 11-year veteran recently signed with the Cardinals. He also has played for Pittsburgh and Miami.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

 

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John Andretti Will Drive for Cousin Michael, Richard Petty in Indy 500

by Bob ZellerCousins Michael and John Andretti and racing legend Richard Petty are joining forces to field an Indy Car for John in the Indianapolis 500 as well as the May 1 Indy Racing League race at Kansas Speedway.

Michael’s team, Andretti Autosport, made the announcement Wednesday and said that Window World, Inc., which has sponsored John’s cars in the past, including his entry in last year’s 500, will sponsor this effort as well.

After his debut run at Kansas, John will attempt to make his 11th Indianapolis 500 start behind the wheel of the #43 Team Window World car in the 94th running of the Memorial Day weekend classic on May 30.

“I feel like this is my best shot and I want to take full advantage of it,” John Andretti said Wednesday during a teleconference. “It’s something that can’t start soon enough and is going to end way too early, I’m sure.

“If I was to write out what I wanted as a wish list for this race, this is what I’d get,” he said. “Hopefully, I can make all my mistakes at Kansas, if I have any, and be ready for Indy and not to make any mistakes.”

John Andretti Will Drive for Cousin Michael, Richard Petty in Indy 500 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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