The Golden State Warriors have prepared one hell of a shootout. If a fan makes a three-quarter court shot, they will win $1 million (!). Details here, from the team: “During the second half of Friday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls at Oracle Arena, one lucky Warriors fan will have the chance to take and make a shot for ONE MILLION DOLLARS as part of the Warriors Shootout, an on-going fan shooting contest. Up until Friday, fans have had the opportunity to win $500 for a free-throw, $2,000 for a three-pointer and $10,000 or $25,000 for a half-court shot. As part of the team’s season ticket renewal campaign, all Warriors Season Ticket Holders who have renewed their tickets for next season before halftime of Friday night’s game will be automatically entered into the drawing to decide who takes the Million Dollar Shot.”
- Basically, here is what you have to do to win that sucker.
Here is a must-read from Henry Abbott of ESPN about the league’s lack of action to protect the superstars: “The problem is, NBA rules provide such weak penalties that this is essentially like the speed limit on the highway — something most drivers ignore. But it is cheating according to the spirit of the rules. Bryant was playing basketball, while Jones was trying to stop basketball from being played. Yet it’s what the NBA rules essentially encourage — every night, teams foul intentionally and often, and it works. When a superstar beats his man off the dribble, look out.”
Shaun Livingston admits that being in Washington was not the best time for him, from Jason Lloyd of Akron Beacon Journal: “It’s clear Livingston didn’t enjoy his time in Washington. He had been there once before, but when the Rockets released him at the end of training camp, the Wizards again inquired early in the season. With few other options available, Livingston agreed to return to the Wizards. “Probably one of the worst spots I’ve been in my career,” Livingston said of his time in Washington. “At the same time, it’s been a godsend here.” Livingston said he’s a cerebral player who didn’t have the right pieces around him in Washington, and the lack of structure within the Wizards didn’t help him. It’s why he never thought his career was over after the Wizards released him in December. “I knew it wasn’t necessarily the best fit for me,” he said. “Sometimes it’s just about the fit. … I’m not a guy who goes out and gets 30 a game. I’m trying to make guys better and it just wasn’t bonding.”
Kevin Love still isn’t ready to return any time soon, according to The AP: “Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love met with a specialist on Wednesday to examine his surgically repaired right hand, and it doesn’t appear the former All-Star will be ready to hit the court anytime soon. The team says Love’s hand is “healing properly.” But the team also says Love has not been cleared for contact or full practice yet and that his next evaluation by doctors won’t come for another two to three weeks. That timeline would seem to push any potential return to game action much closer to April rather than the middle of March, which is what some hoped for when he broke his hand for the second time on Jan. 8.”
Chris Kaman has not been happy sitting on the bench, from Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News: “Center Chris Kaman started Tuesday night, but was pulled from the game after just 2:14 had elapsed off the clock. Coach Rick Carlisle took blame for putting Kaman in that situation, but it didn’t make it any easier for Kaman to understand. He was clearly not happy to get yanked that quickly. He never re-entered the game. “It’s obvious disappointing that he feels that way, that I shouldn’t even be playing,” Kaman said. “But we’ve been playing well. And I’m happy (for the team). But from a personal standpoint, it’s frustrating because you got a guy who’s played in this league for 10 years and I’m a pretty solid basketball player. “For me to not even be able to get into a game is pretty disappointing. But it is what it is. He’s going to make his decisions. They’re paying him big bucks to be in charge of the Mavericks. And that’s his decision.”
Carmelo Anthony had his knee drained and said he was being naive about the situation, from Howard Beck of The New York Times: “Anthony is heading back to New York to have his troublesome right knee drained. He will miss Thursday night’s game in Portland. Beyond that, his status is unclear. He could conceivably miss the final two games of this five-game trip as well. Anthony has been dealing with stiffness and soreness in the knee for three weeks but until now had declined to have it drained. He took three games off last week in the hope that rest would be enough. “I was just kind of being naïve to myself, just trying to psyche myself out and say, ‘I can do it, I can do it,’ ” said Anthony, who left the game in the third quarter. “But you just come to a point where you just got to figure it out and get to the bottom of it and move on.”
