Full-Court Press

What's next for Seattle and its NBA bid?

DALLAS – The folks in Seattle will get another NBA team one day.

It just won’t happen under commissioner David Stern’s watch.

The NBA owners voted 22-8 on Wednesday to keep the Kings in Sacramento during a meeting
held at the Hilton Anatole. The vote came despite the fact that the Seattle group led by Chris Hansen put up a higher bid than a Sacramento group, which is led by Silicon Valley billionaire Vivek Ranadive and Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson.

So, despite a higher and NBA-record bid of $625 million, a promise to build a new arena and an offer to kick in an additional relocation payout fee of over $4 million for each of the 30 owners, somehow the  Seattle group failed to prusuade the owners to vote in its favor?

“I mean, Chris Hansen did everything he said he would do plus more,’’ said Stern, who plans to retire
in February. “Steve Ballmer (part of Hansen’s group) couldn't have been more supportive, and in a good way, just all‑in in the effort.

 “We have and retain a very good relationship with both of them, and we anticipate a continued relationship of some type.’’

Stern all but said that once the group from Sacramento went full-bore and was all-in into keeping the Kings in Sacramento, it was going to be difficult for anyone to pry the Kings away from Sacramento. Especially when money was put into escrow and property was secured to build a new arena in
downtown Sacramento.

“I think that once Sacramento got engaged in doing this and being able to deliver on the promise, which didn't really exist when the original deal was made in Seattle, that the principal advantage to the incumbent was going to prevail, looking back with hindsight,’’ Stern said. “Nobody really thought that the property could be acquired, that the second site could be acquired, that the money could
be put into escrow, all kinds of things, or that the size and strength of the group that ultimately was in Sacramento, would likely emerge.

“So kudos to Vivek Ranadive and actually to all of the owners who were here. . .So it was advantage incumbent. Nobody had any doubt that the same or similar thing could happen in Seattle. It was just do you give the edge to a city that has a 28‑year history of support?’’

That’s certainly no consolation prize to Seattle, who failed five years ago in preventing the Sonics from leaving Seattle and moving to Oklahoma City.

With Adam Silver set to replace Stern next season, the current commissioner has no doubts basketball will return to the Emerald City.

“This was very difficult because the board and the committee was presented with a very strong Seattle bid from a very strong Seattle group, and they were faced with something else of a similar nature from Sacramento which are detailed,’’ Stern said. “ And that just was a lot of to and fro', lot of ex‑spouts from experts, a lot of legal analysis, a lot of document analysis.

“This was just a lot of work over a longer period of time than I hope ever happens again for Adam's sake.’’

So how does Seattle attract an NBA franchise after almost opening the bank to the NBA this time around?

“Well, I guess that's an ongoing conversation that I think would best be had by Commissioner‑elect Silver, and then Commissioner Silver and the powers that be in Seattle and interested purchasers,’’ Stern said. “There have been, from time to time, several interested purchasers.’’

Silver chimed in by saying: “The only thing I’d add is we've never wavered in our desire to return to the Seattle market at some point, as Chris Hansen made clear in his presentation to the Board of Governors today.  The league continues to enjoy strong support in the Seattle market.

“We have strong support for our telecast, our national telecast in Seattle, and expansion was discussed at least as a possibility down the road.  We want to wait and see what happens in our
next national television negotiation, but we're very appreciative of the fans in Seattle, and we've regretted having to leave the market the last time and we fully expect we'll return there one day.’’

-- Dwain Price

Follow me on Twitter

@dwainprice

Nash believes Mavs had too many players with one-year deals

SAN ANTONIO -– Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash believes he knows why the Dallas Mavericks missed the playoffs this year for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.

“Obviously, it turned into a pretty tough situation to succeed when they had to sign all those guys to one-year deals,’’ Nash told the Star-Telegram following Monday’s practice at the Texas Military Institute. “You’re not only putting a bunch of new guys on the team.

“But you’re also trying to put a bunch that don’t know what their future is together. So that’s a difficult situation.”

-- Dwain Price

Follow me on Twitter

@dwainprice

Nash said Nowitzki will be a great dad

SAN ANTONIO – Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash is very happy that his friend -- Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki -– is about to become a father for the first time.

Nowitzki said his wife, Jessica, is slated to give birth to the couple's first child in the latter part of this summer.

“I’m thrilled for him,’’ Nash told the Star-Telegram after Monday’s practice at the Texas Military Institute. “I told him how pumped I am for him and how excited I am.

“It’s going to be such a thrill for him and Jessica. He’s going to be a great dad.’’

Nash, who became fast friends with Nowitzki when the two were Mavs teammates from 1998-2004, believes Nowitzki and fatherhood go hand-in-hand.

“He’s got a big heart, so he’ll be a great dad,’’ Nash said. “The only advice I have to him is to know that it’s the hardest thing he’ll ever do, so it’s something you really have to work hard at.’’

-- Dwain Price

Follow me on Twitter

@dwainprice

 

 

Nash said Nowitzki will be a great dad

SAN ANTONIO – Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash is very happy that his friend -- Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki -– is about to become a father for the first time.

Nowitzki said his wife, Jessica, is slated to give birth to the couple's first child in the latter part of this summer.

“I’m thrilled for him,’’ Nash told the Star-Telegram after Monday’s practice at the Texas Military Institute. “I told him how pumped I am for him and how excited I am.

“It’s going to be such a thrill for him and Jessica. He’s going to be a great dad.’’

Nash, who became fast friends with Nowitzki when the two were Mavs teammates from 1998-2004, believes Nowitzki and fatherhood go hand-in-hand.

“He’s got a big heart, so he’ll be a great dad,’’ Nash said. “The only advice I have to him is to know that it’s the hardest thing he’ll ever do, so it’s something you really have to work hard at.’’

-- Dwain Price

Follow me on Twitter

@dwainprice

 

 

Spurs got to clean up some things

SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs opened the playoffs Sunday by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers, 91-79, at the AT&T Center.

But despite the victory, the Spurs were far from perfect. Far from pefect.

The Spurs shot a miserable 37.6 percent from the field, which was their lowest shooting percentage in the playoffs since 2003. The Spurs also got outrebounded by the Lakers, 44-43, lost two quarters to LA, and also were outscored by the Lakers in the paint, 40-32.

Probably the most egregious error the Spurs made was their inability to -- for the better part of three quarters -- put away a Laker team that was without the injured Kobe Bryant. The Spurs know they must clean up a lot of these mistakes before they host the Lakers in Game 2 of this best-of-seven series Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.

"We'll look at the film, but it's basketball," Gregg Popovich said. "Every coach, every team thinks that their team can do everything better.

"We'll look at what we think the most important things are, the things that we did the poorest and work on that.''

Since there are two off days between games, the Spurs hope it's a situation they can take advantage of.

"It's a lucky break for us to have that schedule without a doubt,'' Popovich said. "But you still have to take advantage of it.

"It's easy to react to a loss, so they'll come back and play even better. I want to see how we react to a win.''

-- Dwain Price

Follow me on Twitter

@dwainprice

Spurs don't want to talk about turning on a switch

SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs limped into the playoffs losers in seven of their last 10 games. The natives were, naturally, restless.

Sunday afternoon at the AT&T Center, the Spurs got back to form by opening the Western Conference playoffs with a 91-79 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. But don't go talking about flipping switches on around the Spurs.

"I hate to say the term "switch on,' '' forward Tim Duncan said. "We don't want to do that.

"We want to stay consistent throughout. We know what the playoffs are about and it's good to see us show up in the first game.''

-- Dwain Price

Follow me on Twitter

@dwainprice

Spurs take the opener over the Lakers, 91-79

SAN ANTONIO -- Tony Parker scored 18 points and handed out eight assists as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 91-79, in Game 1 of the opening round of the playoffs Sunday afternoon at the AT&T Center.

Game 2 will be back here at the AT&T Center on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.

Parker was aided by Manu Ginobili (18 points), Tim Duncan (17 points, 10 rebounds), Matt Bonner and Kawki Leonard (eight points, 11 boards).

Dwight Howard (20 points, 14 rebounds), Steve Nash (16 points), Pau Gasol (16 points, 16 rebounds) and Steve Blake (12 points).

The game was basically played at the Lakers' slow pace. But the Spurs still were able to grind it out and beat the Lakers at their own game, despite shooting just 37.6 percent from the field.

Duncan scored eight points and grabbed three rebounds and the Spurs took a 24-15 lead after the first quarter. San Antonio led at the halftime (45-37) and after three quarters (70-57).

With Kobe Bryant out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon, the Lakers were at a huge disadvantage. But the Lakers stayed within striking distance of the Spurs until the lights went dark on LA when three-pointers by Danny Green and Bonner padded San Antonio's lead to 84-68 with 4:04 left in the game.

-- Dwain Price

Follow me on Twitter

@dwainprice

Jamison knows Cuban has something up his sleeves

SAN ANTONIO -– The Dallas Mavericks missed the playoffs this season for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.

But add Los Angeles Lakers forward Antawn Jamison to the list of people who believe owner Mark Cuban will fix the Mavs and have them back on top again.

“I don’t ever count Mark out,’’ said Jamison, who played the 2003-’04 season for Cuban and the Mavs. “That little rascal’s got something up his sleeves.

“You know him. He’s sitting there watching the playoffs like, ‘OK, they think I’m done.’ ‘’

Jamison believes the law of averages finally caught up with the Mavs.

“I just think this is just one of those years,’’ said Jamison before Sunday's playoff opener against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center. “You had Dirk (Nowitzki) who wasn’t healthy, and they made a transition with a lot of new players.

“Anybody who knows Mark Cuban, this is not one of those situations where they’re going to continue to not make the playoffs. I just think it’s one of those seasons where his star was hurt and the transition of different of players.’’

The Mavs won the NBA title two years ago, were swept in four games by Oklahoma City in the first round of the playoffs last year, and finished this non-playoff season with a 41-41 record.

Jamison knows Cuban is holed up in a room somewhere mapping out a new strategy for success.

“Two years ago they were the champs and now they didn’t make the playoffs,’’ Jamison said. “But that’s not doing anything but adding fuel to the fire with Mark.

“He’s going to figure it out, he’s going to get them even tougher next year. In the next couple of years they’re going to be another powerhouse -- like always.’’

-- Dwain Price

Follow me on Twitter

@dwainprice

 

Jamison knows Cuban has something up his sleeves

SAN ANTONIO -– The Dallas Mavericks missed the playoffs this season for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.

But add Los Angeles Lakers forward Antawn Jamison to the list of people who believe owner Mark Cuban will fix the Mavs and have them back on top again.

“I don’t ever count Mark out,’’ said Jamison, who played the 2003-’04 season for Cuban and the Mavs. “That little rascal’s got something up his sleeves.

“You know him. He’s sitting there watching the playoffs like, ‘OK, they think I’m done.’ ‘’

Jamison believes the law of averages finally caught up with the Mavs.

“I just think this is just one of those years,’’ said Jamison before Sunday's playoff opener against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center. “You had Dirk (Nowitzki) who wasn’t healthy, and they made a transition with a lot of new players.

“Anybody who knows Mark Cuban, this is not one of those situations where they’re going to continue to not make the playoffs. I just think it’s one of those seasons where his star was hurt and the transition of different of players.’’

The Mavs won the NBA title two years ago, were swept in four games by Oklahoma City in the first round of the playoffs last year, and finished this non-playoff season with a 41-41 record.

Jamison knows Cuban is holed up in a room somewhere mapping out a new strategy for success.

“Two years ago they were the champs and now they didn’t make the playoffs,’’ Jamison said. “But that’s not doing anything but adding fuel to the fire with Mark.

“He’s going to figure it out, he’s going to get them even tougher next year. In the next couple of years they’re going to be another powerhouse -- like always.’’

-- Dwain Price

Follow me on Twitter

@dwainprice

 

From Carlisle, daughter knows best

DALLAS -- After he met with his players for their season-ending exit interviews Thursday, Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle told a story that sort of put this year's disappointing season in perspective.

It was one of those straight out of the mouths of babes type of story. Carlisle started the story off by saying:

"I think it's just so important, coaching, because it's so intensed and it's so emotional. And when you get a team with challenges like we had this year, sometimes there are things that happen along the way that put things in perspective.

"For example, back in early January we had a very, very difficult loss at home and it reall'y upset me. So I went home that night and my daughter (Abby), who is eight years old, knew that this was really upsetitng to me."

Carlisle went on to say: "So there's a room downstairs in our house where I keep all my suits so I don't have to schlep them up and down the stairs. It's one of the guest bedrooms. So I went in there and I took my stuff with me to kind of empty my suit out in the closet.

"So she came in and closed the door behind her, and she sat on the bed, and I turned around and I saw her and I said, "Hey, Abby, what's up?' She goes, "Dad, you know in life there's always going to be bumps along the road.''

That drew laughter from the assembled media.

"Now that's a true story. And at that moment it was clear to me that my focus had to shift to doing everything possible to engage our staff to figure out exactly what the strengths and weaknesses of our players were, and to move forward and find a way to make every day a little bit better if we could.''

-- Dwain Price

Follow me on Twitter

@dwainprice