The Links: Casey, Mutombo, Magic and Suns
News and notes from around the NBA…
Got something else big coming later today. Links first…
QUOTES OF THE DAY
“I can’t find anything wrong. I wouldn’t trade my job for anything in the world.” — Mike D’Antoni.
“I was mad at him. He’s played like four (crappy) games in a row. I just wanted to slap him and figured that was the way to do it — just not play him in a game.” — Don Nelson, on Matt Barnes.
“Why are we having these questions? My guys are fine. There’s nothing to talk about if you guys aren’t (starting it). T.J. doesn’t have a problem. Jose understands his role. I’m not going to talk about that.” — Sam Mitchell.
“Dwane was doing a great job there.” — Mike Woodson, upon hearing of Dwane Casey being fired in Minnesota. Does this mean there’s another Dwane coaching a team in Minnesota that we don’t know about?
THE LINKS…
• Why was Dwane Casey fired? The T-Wolves were the the 8th playoff seed, after all. The Sonics players wonder if he didn’t get along with someone in the Minnesota front office.
• I like this story because the headline says “Bulls Win Tenth In A Row Over Hawks,” while the top of the web browser reads “Bulls win ninth in a row over Hawks.” So apparently my web browser is just a little more optimistic about the Hawks than the truth. And that’s fine with me.
(I do like that someone in the Hawks locker room suggested writing “Keep Your Middle Finger In Your Pockets” on the dry erase board.)
• For the first time in my life, last night I received three text messages all at the exact same moment. Why? Dikembe Mutombo was on the State of the Union address. I think it was something about senior citizens and healthcare. I didn’t see it — was watching Howard Stern On Demand.
• You guys can all keep talking about the Suns, but how about the Mavs? They played Dirk at point guard last night(!) and busted the Magic. Dirk nearly finished with a triple-double.
• Then again, it’s pretty easy to go on and on about the Suns when they play like they did last night. I watched most of this one and they were perfect in the first quarter. Nash finished with as many assists as the Wizards.
• LeBron has signed up to shill for Microsoft. And the rich get richer.
• Carlos Arroyo says even though he’s riding the pine, he doesn’t want Orlando to trade him. The story also says Carlos “discounted a rumor that he had gome on a local TV or radio station and asked the Magic to trade him.” Wait — either he did or didn’t go somewhere where they record your words and ask for a trade. That seems like it would be pretty easy to prove, doesn’t it?
• Everyone in Memphis is all shaky about the Gasol trade. This story carefully points out that Gasol didn’t demand a trade, but he did ask to be traded. Is there really a difference?
• One of my favorite columnists in the world, Jerry Green, is upset that the Magic aren’t talking about the Arena Football Team during their arena negotiations. I could look at his picture all day. The second page of his column is even better, when Jerry lectures us about comedy.
• Sam Mitchell snaps before a reporter can finish his question. We love you, Sam.
• Bulls GM John Paxson says they need someone who can score in the post. OH, YOU THINK?
• I watched a bunch of this Clippers/Bucks game last night for some reason. Yes, it was exactly as boring as it sounds.
• Looks like Chris Paul is about two weeks from returning.
• Wayne Embry has kissed and made up with the Cavs. Hopefully he can teach Drew Gooden how to throw some outlet passes while he’s back in Cleveland.
18 Responses to “The Links: Casey, Mutombo, Magic and Suns”
Jan.24 at 3:13 pm
chiqo says:
first. whatever that’s supposed to be worth.
Jan.24 at 3:34 pm
Vitor says:
On a related note, Dwane Casey thinks Mike Woodson is doing a great job in Atlanta. Apparently that’s some kind of lousy coach simpathy, developed in honor of Terry Stotts.
Jan.24 at 3:47 pm
Topher Kantrud says:
Doesn’t it seem like too many LeBron stories these days are not about basketball? What happened to the guy who used to make noise on the court, not in the boardroom?
Jan.24 at 3:54 pm
Toney B says:
Lang, yeah, I sent you one of those texts. Was driving to pick up Chinese food and listening to the speech on the radio. Had to pull over and catch my breath just picturing him and Laura.
Jan.24 at 5:04 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
I thought that was you. I knew the area code was N’awlins. So I figured it was either you or Chris Paul. But I didn’t think CP3 would know about my deep and abiding love for all thing Mutombo.
Jan.24 at 5:11 pm
William says:
Doesn’t it seem like too many LeBron stories these days are not about basketball? What happened to the guy who used to make noise on the court, not in the boardroom? Re: perhaps great consistent stats every night just seems a little bit boring to most of us .. 28-6-6 bla bla bla ..
Jan.24 at 5:32 pm
1Ozzy says:
Bigups and Props to mount Mutombo - well deserved for a long time now. Too bad it came from “W”.
Jan.24 at 5:50 pm
allenp says:
Was Casey really a crappy coach? I mean the Wolves struggled at times, but they looked good too. When you look at their talent, they would have had some issues with Phil Jackson.
Jan.24 at 6:20 pm
JB21 says:
Lebron isn’t averaging 28-6-6. 26 ppg actually. Those are consistent stats, but when he averaged 31.4 7 & 6.6 last year it looks as if something is up w/ Bron Bron. Especially when you draft him first overall in a Fantasy League and you figure him to win you a week or two by himself. Bron has been very good, but I expected him to improve on his numbers from last year, or at least status quo at worst.
Jan.24 at 6:23 pm
J G says:
I agree. Casey was not that bad of a coach. Just because the Wolves were creamed by Lang’s God awful hawks doesn’t make casey a bad coach. The team played hard most of the time and most importantly were in the playoff hunt despite their lack of talent and even got Mark Blount to start playing consistently. Casey did a solid job.
Jan.24 at 7:51 pm
abed says:
Lang I hope you’re just joking about Mutombo, Because it seems today you and Sam have just been cracking on Mutombo instead of celebrating him for being a great Humanitarian and using his millions for the good of his poverty stricken country, instead of using his millions on birthday parties and strippers like some of these athletes do. You guys normally do a good job of covering the good things NBA players do in the community and I hope you guys could give Mutombo the same due.
Jan.24 at 8:11 pm
Reggie Evans says:
How old is that Mutombo guy anyway?
Jan.24 at 8:11 pm
William says:
chill abed, one thing I know about Mutombo, he always got unconditional love from everyone. Excluding his million dollar elbows of course.
Jan.24 at 10:46 pm
Alphabet says:
I dont really know what it is, but not just the games like Clips/Bucks that boing, it’s been ALOT of games thats been zzzzzzzzzzzzzz status this year. Maybe it’s heat up in the play-off, but besides eh suns scoring 200 points a game, and Agent 0 play every night like he;s going for 100
Jan.25 at 7:11 am
Slobodan Chutzpah says:
Mutombo is hands down the greatest, not to mention the funniest, guy in the NBA. And Reggie, according to my inside source, Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean Jacque Wamutombo, as he was known to his mother, will be exactly 118 years old the day after tomorrow.
Jan.25 at 12:22 pm
Tony Parker says:
err…nah Mutombo was born on the 27th of january 1888!!! he’ll be 119, not 118
Jan.25 at 2:18 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
WHO WANT TO HONOR MUTOMBO???
Jan.25 at 4:41 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
We love Mutombo, Abed. We make fun of him, but Deke has always dished the jokes out it as well as he takes them.