Decision on Waived Players Could Benefit Lin, Knicks
Last summer's lockout compressed the season to just 66 games, delayed opening night by six weeks and generated no end of animosity between players, management and fans. But the endless negotiations failed to settle a couple of minor issues - one of which could really benefit both Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks.
At issue is the question of whether or not a player's "Larry Bird" rights remain intact when he is claimed off waivers.
Under current rules, a player's service time under his contract is transmitted to his new team when he's traded. For example: Player X is traded during the second-year of a two-year contract. When his contract expires, Player X is eligible to be re-signed using the "early Bird" cap exception, which teams can use to re-sign players that have been under contract for two seasons.
Now... if Player X is waived and claimed before waivers expire, he is still bound to the terms of his original contract. But when that contract expires, the new team cannot use the Bird Exception to re-sign. Or, at least that's the current interpretation of the rules... they're a bit fuzzy on the point, which is why this will go to an arbitrator.
Why does this matter to the Knicks?
As is so often the case, it all comes back to Jeremy Lin.
Lin will be a restricted free agent this summer. Teams will be able to offer him contracts topping out at approximately $5 million per year, which the Knicks will have the option of matching using their mid level exception. If they had the option of using the Bird exception to re-sign Lin, general manager Glen Grunwald might be able to use the mid-level exception on another free agent or two... maybe a badly-needed backup point guard or shooter that can play the two.
As an added bonus for Grunwald - Steve Novak's status is the same as Lin's. So if the NBPA wins this arbitration case, the Knicks may have an easier time retaining both of this season's big waiver-claim finds.
This issue has never really come up before; most of the time, players claimed off waivers are marginal performers at best. (Otherwise, they wouldn't have been on waivers.) I think we can safely say that Lin is the first NBA player to be claimed off waivers twice and appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated - also twice - in the same season.
Playoff Updates: Lakers, Clippers advance, Bosh hurt in Miami's win
The Lakers and Clippers finally closed out their first-round series with wins over the Nuggets and Grizzlies, respectively.
The Laker win sets up a highly intriguing "revenge" subplot for the conference semifinals against Oklahoma City. The last time the Lakers played the Thunder, Metta World Peace elbowed James Harden in the head, leaving the sixth man of the year with a concussion and earning a six-game suspension. The enforcer with the ironic name returned to the court for the Lakers' game seven win over Denver, and will be available for the next round.
Of course, the whole Kobe Bryant/Kevin Durant thing is pretty compelling too.
The Clippers mounted a late charge to finish off the Memphis Grizzlies, but got very little from Blake Griffin, who is clearly still bothered by a knee injury. They'll face San Antonio in the second round. San Antonio is well-rested and healthy; the Clippers are a M*A*S*H unit, with Griffin (knee), Chris Paul (hip), Mo Williams (hand) and Caron Butler (hand) all nursing injuries.
Miami opened their Eastern Conference Semifinal series with a win over the Pacers, but lost Chris Bosh to an abdominal strain in the first half. It's not clear if Bosh will be available for game two on Tuesday - or the rest of the series.
Bosh is probably the member of the "Big Three" that Miami can least-afford to lose, as the Heat are very thin in the frontcourt. Look for Erik Spoelstra to use smaller lineups featuring Shane Battier or Mike Miller in Bosh's place whenever possible... but that'll create a major size advantage for Indiana's David West and Roy Hibbert.
The Celtics got a triple-double from Rajon Rondo and a season-high in scoring from Kevin Garnett, taking a 1-0 series lead over the Sixers.
Today's games:
The 76ers will try to even their series with the Celtics in Boston at 7:00 ET. The Lakers tip-off their series in Oklahoma City at 9:30 ET.
Birdman of Alcatraz? Nuggets' Andersen Under Investigation
Denver Nuggets reserve Chris "Birdman" Andersen is under investigation - reportedly for child pornography. Anderson's attorney has a very different explanation.
Colin Breese tells the Denver Post that Andersen's legal troubles stem from a female fan that sent a number of photographs - some in various stages of undress - and claimed to be 21.
When Anderson spurned her advances, she allegedly threatened blackmail.
Anderson has not appeared in a game for the Nuggets during the postseason, and is on indefinite leave from the team while the investigation continues. Denver will play the Lakers on Saturday night, with the winner advancing to face Oklahoma City in the Western Conference semifinals.
Report: LeBron Wins Third MVP
2011-12 Postmortem: New York Knicks
The Knicks hadn't won a playoff game in over a decade, so a seven seed in the Eastern Conference and a 3-1 series loss to the Miami Heat should probably be regarded as progress.
Slight progress.
I think the Knicks will be back more or less intact next season... but they'll fare much better in the Atlantic Division standings and the postseason.
Most Embarassing High School Photos of NBA Stars
Playoff Updates, Starring Rajon Rondo's Jacket
The Celtics had a chance to close out their series with the Atlanta Hawks last night, but the game ended with the Celtics trailing by one and Rajon Rondo coughing up the ball.
After the game, the fiery point guard wasn't much interested in dealing with reporters. But Rondo's choice of attire has lots of people talking.
What do you think of that jacket? I'm hearing a lot of "Morris Day and the Time" references on Twitter this morning, but I think the look is more "Theo Huxtable."
The series resumes in Boston on Thursday night, with the Celtics leading 3-2.
In other playoff action:
- Indiana finished off the Orlando Magic with a dominant fourth quarter and advance to the second round for the first time in seven years.
- The Bulls are one game from elimination and playing without Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah... but they managed to hold off the Sixers and force a game six in one of the ugliest playoff games in recent memory.
- Kobe Bryant's 43 points weren't enough, as Denver's bench keyed a Nugget victory and extended that series to a sixth game.
The Knicks and Heat and the Clippers and Grizzlies will resume their hostilities tonight, with both New York and Memphis trying to stave off elimination.
New York's guard rotation is looking exceptionally thin; the Knicks are playing without Jeremy Lin and have lost both Iman Shumpert (torn ACL) and Baron Davis (torn ACL/MCL/PCL) to severe knee injuries during the series. Can they manage another win over Miami with Mike Bibby and Toney Douglas at point guard?
The Clippers lead their series 3-1, but the series has been much closer than that would indicate. Two games were decided by one point and a third went into overtime. And Memphis is very tough at home; don't be surprised if this one needs six games - or more - to settle.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks
The Oklahoma City Thunder became the first time to advance to the semifinal round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs, closing out their sweep of the defending champion Dallas Mavericks with a 103-97 win.
Sixth man James Harden - recently named to the preliminary roster for the 2012 Olympic basketball team - scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter to close out the defending champs.
The Thunder will face the winner of the Lakers/Nuggets series in the semifinals. Los Angeles leads that series, 2-1.
2012 NBA Most Improved Player: Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic
Ryan Anderson led the NBA in three-pointers made and attempted this year and posted career-bests in scoring, rebounds and shooting percentage. So he's a fine choice for most improved player honors, right?
Depends who you ask.
Critics will point out that the only category where Anderson showed a major improvement is minutes; he went from an average of about 22 mpg off the bench last season to 32 mpg as a starter this year, and that otherwise, his numbers are right in line with his 2010-11 performance.
Of course, there's something to be said for moving from a bench role to a starting job without any drop-off in productivity. Lots of players get a similar opportunity and have all the weaknesses in their games exposed
New York's Toney Douglas, for example, was pressed into service as the Knicks' starting point guard this season. By February, he was out of the Knick rotation entirely.
Injuries and Team USA
USA Basketball released a preliminary 20-man roster for this year's Olympic men's basketball team back in January. They planned to cut the list down to 12 in time for Team USA's training camp in July, but injuries have done much of the work for them. Four players from the initial list - including center Dwight Howard and guard Derrick Rose - have sustained injuries that will make it impossible for them to play in London this summer.
Howard's absence, in particular, could make life difficult for USA Basketball. His injury leaves Tyson Chandler as the only true center on the initial roster. That won't be a problem against most of the teams in the Olympic tournament, but Team Spain should have both Gasol brothers and Serge Ibaka in their frontcourt, and that trio will present major problems.
On the other hand, Team USA is crazy-deep in the backcourt (Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade) and on the wing (LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay) which could make it a lot easier to get by with, say, Chris Bosh or Kevin Love manning the middle.