Tag: Portland Trail Blazers

Parker bruised in France’s win

By Nesha Starcevic
Associated Press

SIAULIAI, Lithuania — Despite playing for stretches without Tony Parker, France rallied with a big fourth quarter to beat Italy 91-84 Sunday night to advance to the second round of the European basketball championship.

The Spurs guard was kneed in the left thigh by Andrea Bargnani on the second play of the game, struggled through the first half and part of the third quarter before leaving the game for good.

“I am going to have treatment on it tonight and see if I can play (Monday against Serbia),” Parker said. “The doctor said I should not take a risk in the fourth quarter.”

Italy fell to 1-3 despite leading by seven at the end of the third quarter. But France outscored Italy 31-17 in the fourth, with Boris Diaw of the Charlotte Bobcats getting 21 points.

Nicolas Batum of the Portland Trail Blazers added 20. France got 28 of its points from bench players.

In another game, Juan Carlos Navarro scored 22 points and defending champion Spain swept aside host Lithuania 91-79, an outcome that allowed Serbia and Germany to advance to the second round even before their later match.

Russia and Slovenia also advanced — the top three teams from each of the four groups do so.

Serbia, which lost in the final to Spain two years ago, joined France with a perfect 4-0 record in Group B by overcoming 25 points from Dirk Nowitzki to beat Germany 75-64. Germany is 2-2.

One word for $1 million? (UPDATE: Or maybe not)

It is the basic rule of thumb for NBA players and coaches when it comes to drawing technical fouls. If you’re going to get teed up, make sure to get your money’s worth.

A tech, after all, results in a fine of at least $2,000.

Then there’s Chad Buchanan, interim general manager of the Portland Trail Blazers, who nearly got his team fined $1 million for saying one word.

“Yeah.”

This, (via ):

Witness a recent interview with Trail Blazers acting General Manager Chad Buchanan. When it was observed that it’s too bad there is no summer league scheduled, Buchanan replied, “Yeah.”

Shortly thereafter, the league threatened Buchanan with a $1 million fine, according to one source.

While the NBA lockout is in effect, the league office has dictated that team employees refrain from publicly talking about any aspect of it. That, apparently, includes agreeing with someone else’s observation. No word yet on how high the fine might have been if Buchanan had simply nodded his head at the Portland Tribune reporter. Or winked. Or offered a pre-arranged series of elaborate hand gestures (“Three claps means, ‘Yeah.’ “)

In the end, it appears the Trail Blazers weren’t actually assessed the $1 million fine. It was just David Stern’s friendly way of reminding team employees to keep their traps shut.

All this is to explain why you won’t be hearing so much as a peep from the Spurs front office for as long as the league’s labor impasse lingers. Not exactly the most gregarious types when it comes to discussing their roster plans with the media, general manager R.C. Buford and his band of mystery men are probably happy to have Stern prohibit them from conducting press briefings for the time being.

As far as we can tell, however, TV analyst Sean Elliott is free to continue to complain about officiating while on the golf course.

THURSDAY UPDATE: Apparently, Buchanan had more to say about the loss of Summer League than just, “Yeah.”  , he is quoted three times. Buchanan’s comments are fairly innocuous, but they do amount to a bit more than one word. It appears this story, which made the Internet rounds Wednesday, might be an example of lockout boredom run amok.

One word for $1 million? When talk ain’t cheap

It is the basic rule of thumb for NBA players and coaches when it comes to drawing technical fouls. If you’re going to get teed up, make sure to get your money’s worth.

A tech, after all, results in a fine of at least $2,000.

Then there’s Chad Buchanan, the new general manager of the Portland Trail Blazers, who nearly got his team fined $1 million for saying one word.

“Yeah.”

This, (via ):

Witness a recent interview with Trail Blazers acting General Manager Chad Buchanan. When it was observed that it’s too bad there is no summer league scheduled, Buchanan replied, “Yeah.”

Shortly thereafter, the league threatened Buchanan with a $1 million fine, according to one source.

While the NBA lockout is in effect, the league office has dictated that team employees refrain from publicly talking about any aspect of it. That, apparently, includes agreeing with someone else’s observation. No word yet on how high the fine might have been if Buchanan had simply nodded his head at the Portland Tribune reporter. Or winked. Or offered a pre-arranged series of elaborate hand gestures (“Three claps means, ‘Yeah.’ “)

In the end, it appears the Trail Blazers weren’t actually assessed the $1 million fine. It was just David Stern’s friendly way of reminding team employees to keep their traps shut.

All this is to explain why you won’t be hearing so much as a peep from the Spurs front office for as long as the league’s labor impasse lingers. Not exactly the most gregarious types when it comes to discussing their roster plans with the media, general manager R.C. Buford and his band of mystery men are probably happy to have Stern prohibit them from conducting press briefings for the time being.

As far as we can tell, however, TV analyst Sean Elliott is free to continue to complain about officiating while on the golf course.