Adam Silver initially gave Masai Ujiri a warning for the curse job he did prior to Game 1 against the Brooklyn Nets. Silver then changed his mind and find the general manager, from Marc Stein of ESPN: “Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri was fined $25,000 by the NBA for the expletive he uttered Saturday at a pep rally before the Raptors’ home playoff opener. Earlier, sources told ESPN.com that Ujiri received a formal warning but would not be fined after separate conversations Monday with NBA commissioner Adam Silver and president of basketball operations Rod Thorn. Ujiri shouted “F— Brooklyn!” at a fan rally outside Air Canada Centre prior to Game 1 of his team’s first-round Eastern Conference playoff series Saturday against the Nets — a 94-87 Brooklyn victory. Ujiri’s use of the expletive was captured by a fan and posted on Instagram. Ujiri apologized later Saturday during a brief session with reporters at halftime.”
Tony Parker says Tim Duncan gave him the silent treatment in his rookie year, from Dave McMenamin of ESPN LA: “He didn’t talk to me for a whole year,” Parker said after practice Monday, reflecting on his rookie season in 2001-02 when it wasn’t just a French-English language barrier that wedged a gap between the two. “It was kind of weird coming from France and you have your superstar player that doesn’t talk to you as a point guard, it’s kind of tough, you know? Because you’re supposed to talk to everybody. “But as we grew together in the league and he trusted me more, I can really say it’s a special relationship because I feel close to him on the court. But even off the court, we’ve both been through a lot of stuff throughout our career so I think it got us closer.”… “I was very happy,” Parker said. “I remember I was very happy that he finally talked to me. I was like, ‘Maybe I can stay in this team.’ Because if Timmy doesn’t talk to you, it would be tough to stay with the Spurs. Because he’s the franchise. It would be tough.”… “I think you had to earn his respect, I guess,” Parker said. “That’s fair, when you’re 19. That’s how I felt, that I had to earn the respect of my teammates and my coaches. Especially Coach Pop (Gregg Popovich). For the first 3-4 years, it was like war with him.”
- Patrick Beverley hurt his knee in Game 1, but he didn’t make the existing injury any worse, and is expected to play in Game 2, from Mark Berman of Fox 26: NBA sources confirm MRI on Pat Beverley’s right knee did not reveal any new damage. He could play in game 2 against Portland.”
J.R. Smith praised Woodson for giving him the opportunity others didn’t, from Ian Begley of ESPN NY: “J.R. Smith knew this day was coming, but that didn’t make it any easier to digest. “It is sad,” Smith told ESPN’s Josina Anderson when asked about Mike Woodson’s firing. “He was great to me. I think I got a fair shake for the first time in awhile under him. He treated me how he wanted to be treated. It sucks, but there is nothing I can do about it. “I think he did a great job,” Smith added. “I think he did a good job with me. He responded to the players. It’s just a sad day for him, for me and my teammates.” “I don’t know what is fair or not. I’m not the person dealing with fair or not. It would’ve been nice to see him get another year at least, but Phil Jackson has won a lot of championships and knows basketball, so we have to trust in that,” Smith said… “I don’t know Steve that well. I have seen him in the airport a few times. I did some interviews with him. He seems like a cool guy. It would be interesting to see what he’s got,” Smith said.”
- Coach Rick Adelman has decided to retire, from NBA.com: “Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman has decided to retire after 23 seasons. Adelman announced his decision Monday at a morning news conference. Adelman’s career includes 1,042 victories, eighth on the NBA’s career list. He coached in Portland and Sacramento and also had stops in Golden State and Houston. Adelman just completed the third season of a four-year deal with Minnesota. There was a mutual option for the final year of the deal. After missing the playoffs for the third straight season, and with a wife who is being treated for seizure disorders, Adelman decided it was time to go. He will serve as a team adviser.”
Al Jefferson plans to suit up despite his foot injury, but it should be noted that the Heat are also aware of his hobbling situation, from Ken Berger of CBSSports: “Jefferson was in a walking boot Monday as he was being treated for plantar fasciitis after he felt something rip in his foot during Sunday’s 99-88 loss in Miami. As practice ended at Time Warner Cable Arena — the Bobcats went home with a two-day break between Games 1 and 2 of the first-round series — MRI results still weren’t available. The diagnosis, however, is obvious. Extreme pain. Jefferson had to receive two painkiller injections to continue playing Sunday, and he managed to hobble his way to 18 points and 10 rebounds in 35 minutes… “I’m suiting up,” Jefferson said. “It’ll take more than that to make me sit down.”… “You could tell he was out there playing on one leg,” Bosh said. “I don’t think that was a secret. Once we saw that, we wanted to go at him and challenge him a lot to see where he was pain-wise.”
- Roy Hibbert acknowledged after losing the Atlanta Hawks that he is the weak link on the defensive end in the series, from Dan Favale of Bleacher Report: “We just have to get certain guys under control as a team,” he said, according to the The Indianapolis Star (subscription required). “I’m sure we’ll look over film. I’m the main culprit in terms of being the weak link on defense because they have a spread-five lineup. I guess we’ll have to adjust.” He’s probably their weak link on the offensive end as well at this point, so it is very much a huge concern for the Indiana Pacers moving forward.
James Park is the chief blogger of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @SheridanBlog.
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