NBA Thread

[Cory]

^

awesome.

[GM Franchise]

Jason Kidd fined 50K for Spillgate Incident

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/10050958/jason-kidd-brooklyn-nets-fined-50000-intentionally-dropping-cup-sidelines

NEW YORK -- Nets coach Jason Kidd has been fined $50,000 for appearing to intentionally drop a cup of soda on the court late in Wednesday night's loss to the Lakers, the league announced Thursday.

With 8.3 seconds left and his team out of timeouts, Kidd, who was holding a cup of soda, appeared to say "hit me" to point guard Tyshawn Taylor in order to stop the game so the team could draw up a last-second offensive play.

Reaction: Kidd Gets Spilly With It
Jason Kidd came up with a creative way to "ice" a free throw shooter late in the Nets' loss to the Lakers Wednesday, and social media reacted. The Moment

After Lakers guard Jodie Meeks made the first of a pair of free throws, giving his team a 96-94 lead, Taylor walked toward Kidd near the sideline and collided with his coach, who was holding a cup of soda at the time. The cup of soda spilled on to the court. While it was being cleaned up, the coaching staff drew up a last-second play. Taylor was subbed out of the game for forward Mirza Teletovic.

Adding to the chaos of the moment, while Nets assistant John Welch drew up the team's final play, two Lakers appeared to be in the middle of the huddle.

Meeks then made the second free throw, and on the ensuing Brooklyn possession, small forward Paul Pierce missed a 3-pointer that would've tied the game with 2.2 seconds remaining. The Nets ended up losing to the Lakers 99-94 at Barclays Center.

"Cup slipped out of my hand while I was getting Ty," Kidd said of "Cupgate." "Sweaty palms. I was never good with the ball.

"In the heat of the battle, you're trying to get guys in and out of the game, and the cup fell out of my hand."

Video replays appeared to show Kidd saying "Hit me," something Taylor flatly denied.

Said Taylor: "No [Kidd didn't say that]. I wasn't paying attention. I just kind of bumped him. I didn't even know he was holding [anything]. [But] coach was drinking a soda on the sideline. I was like, 'What's he doing?'

"It could ice a free throw shooter and be a timeout when you don't have one, but that wasn't the thought process. I was just coming out, and he was in my way. 'Coach, get out of my way, bro.' "

It isn't the first time Kidd has done something odd to create a stoppage in play.

Back when he was playing with the Dallas Mavericks, Kidd made contact with Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson as the point guard dribbled up the sideline. Kidd appeared to initiate the contact with Woodson, though he pointed at Woodson as if to show the coach impeded his progress down court.

Information from Mike Mazzeo, a regular contributor to ESPNNewYork.com, was used in this report.

[GM Franchise]

Heat seeking Backcourt Trade

http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/story/_/id/10088748/miami-heat-talk-trade-dwyane-wade-out

With Dwyane Wade missing numerous games as he manages knee issues, the Miami Heat have recently started trade talks looking for backcourt help, multiple league sources told ESPN.

Dwyane Wade missed his fifth game of the season Thursday night, this one due to illness, as the Heat lost 107-87 to the Bulls in Chicago.

Wade missed his fifth game of the season Thursday night, this one due to illness, as the visiting Heat lost 107-87 to the Chicago Bulls.

Coach Erik Spoelstra started Ray Allen in Wade's spot, the first start of Allen's tenure with Heat. Allen is the third player Spoelstra has tried in place of Wade this season.

The Heat (14-5) have a glut of big men and have been looking into trading one for a guard, or to clear a roster spot so they can sign a player later. Center-forward Joel Anthony, who has played in just five games this season, is one of the players who may be available.

Wade is still recovering from offseason procedures on his knees and is not currently playing in back-to-back games. Last month, after Wade did play in a back-to-back, knee soreness caused him to miss the next two games. Wade also missed Tuesday's game against the Detroit Pistons with knee soreness.

The Heat have six back-to-backs scheduled over the next six weeks.

The Heat, 2-3 without Wade this season, were 11-2 when he didn't play last season and 14-3 in 2011-12. Spoelstra has also tried James Jones and Roger Mason Jr. as starters when Wade has been out.

Last season, the Heat routinely started Mike Miller when Wade needed days off to deal with knee or other issues. Miller was effective, averaging 10 points, five rebounds and three assists while shooting 49 percent in his 17 starts. The Heat released Miller over the summer using the amnesty provision, a move that is projected to save them about $17 million in luxury taxes this season.

Miller is averaging 6.2 points and 3.5 assists as a reserve for the Memphis Grizzlies this season.

[GM Franchise]

Kobe Bryant to return to action Sunday

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/10091794/kobe-bryant-los-angeles-lakers-make-season-debut-sunday

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Kobe Bryant will make his season debut for the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors at Staples Center.

It will mark his first game since tearing his left Achilles nearly eight months ago.

Bryant announced the news by linking to a two-minute video on his Facebook page Friday afternoon. The video showed his No. 24 Lakers uniform floating in the middle of the screen and being battered by the elements -- wind, rain, snow, etc.

Eventually the jersey is torn down the middle of the chest, presumably representing the Achilles tear that Bryant suffered, before being repaired with a blinding beam of sunlight.

The video begins with the full-screen title "Seasons of Legend" and ends with "The Legend Continues ... December 8."

The 18-year veteran said Thursday he would "probably" have a reduced amount of playing time when he returns. He averaged 38.6 minutes per game last season.

"Getting your sea legs, it takes some time to do that," Bryant said. "That's why we have preseason games and it builds to the regular season. It just takes a while, no matter how much running and conditioning you do, to get out there and play is different. So I'm sure I'll be limited in some capacity."

[Black Death]

ESPN announcer had a great line about the video ... Either Kobe coming back as the Dark Knight or the Undertaker ... just busted out laughing with that line.  great to see the Black Mamba return

[GM Franchise]

Charles Barkley interview on CNN

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/sports/2013/12/13/charles-barkley-unplugged.cnn.html

[GM Franchise]

LeBron James Gets in Mario Chalmer's Face During Timeout



http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1894512-lebron-james-gets-in-mario-chalmers-face-during-timeout?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national

Members of the Miami Heat lost their cool on Wednesday night in a game against the Indiana Pacers. LeBron James and Mario Chalmers had to be separated during a timeout

This is usually a group that seems to have a lot of fun on and off the court, but James exploded off the bench at Chalmers. It happened during a big game, so emotions were already running high.

[The TeeJ of Philly]

Two things:

1) Haslem knew whatever it was that Chalmers said was going to piss off Lebron, an instant after Lebron gets up, Haslem already has him by the arm and is pulling him away.

2) The face on the bald guy behind Lebron.

[J-Reb]

Lebron would murder Chalmers.  Easy.

[Justin]

Chalmers will always be treated like the red-headed step child.

I believe Kobe might just be finished.

[Jon]

I believe Kobe might just be finished.

[Black Death]

I believe Kobe might just be finished.

I say no ... ain't over till it over

[Justin]

I say no ... ain't over till it over

I think it's going to be spiraling effect.  He is going to try and compensate one body part for another and his knees and ankles will in turn continue to give him problems.  I don't see him finishing his two year contract extension.

[¿PapaPancho?]

I think it's going to be spiraling effect.  He is going to try and compensate one body part for another and his knees and ankles will in turn continue to give him problems.  I don't see him finishing his two year contract extension.

Remember Fat Charles Barkley? Or Larry Bird with a broken back? When a star goes its ugly.

[Reya Serra]

Remember Fat Charles Barkley? Or Larry Bird with a broken back? When a star goes its ugly.

Michael Jordan.  Wizards.  Enough said.