Bucks looking good
If the NBA season lasted only a week, Milwaukee would be the league’s most improved franchise. As it is, it’s hard not to be impressed with how this 30-win team has been transformed.
The Bucks took nearly a third of the season – until Dec. 29 – to get two victories on the road last season. Now, after coming out of the gate with impressive wins at Philadelphia and New Jersey, Milwaukee looks like a team that could go somewhere.
“They’re under the radar, and those kind of teams are dangerous,” Jason Kidd said after being badly outplayed by T.J. Ford on Wednesday. “They’re deep and they have a great coach. They’re going to be there at the end of the season in the playoffs.”
The 2-0 opening was enough to get general manager Larry Harris off the hot seat; on Thursday, the team announced his contract has been extended through the 2007-08 season. Harris had a very aggressive off-season, and right now the decisions he made are paying off.
Michael Redd is looking worthy of the maximum contract Harris gave him to keep him from going to Cleveland. Andrew Bogut, who was not a consensus No. 1 pick, is averaging a double-double after two games. Bobby Simmons, a free-agent pickup from the Clippers, is adding some scoring. And recent addition Jamaal Magloire is giving them a veteran presence inside.
But none of it would be working without Ford, a player whom Harris helped scout but was drafted by Harris’ predecessor, Ernie Grunfeld. After missing all of last season with a back injury, the speedy Ford is playing like a man on a mission.
“It’s unbelievable to be on the court with a guy that quick,” Bogut said. “He can do so many things for you. He can get to the bucket anytime, he can shoot the ball and he finds you when you’re open. He creates a lot of problems for the opposing point guard and center, because a lot of times they think ‘he’s not going to shoot over me’ and he puts the layup in. He’s very confident, and with his speed, who wouldn’t be?”
Pacers to retire Miller’s jersey
The Pacers announced this past week that they plan to retire Reggie Miller’s jersey. Some of Miller’s former teammates probably wouldn’t mind retiring his mouth after hearing what he had to say on TNT last Tuesday.
Miller said he favors Detroit in the Eastern Conference because of concerns with the Pacers’ chemistry. Said Miller, who spent the past few years babysitting the Pacers, “Any little thing can set Indiana off.”
Responded Stephen Jackson: “I respect Reggie too much to degrade his statement, but I don’t agree with it. We’re the best team in the league. We know it. We know what we can do. It’s not about what people think.”
On the court
Jason Richardson scored 24 points to lead the Golden State Warriors over host New York 83-81, keeping Larry Brown and the Knicks winless.
Golden State guard Baron Davis returned to the starting lineup after missing Friday’s loss to Utah with a strained hamstring. He had 16 points and nine assists. Troy Murphy added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Warriors.
Stephon Marbury led New York with 15 points and six assists. Channing Frye added 12 points and Eddy Curry and Trevor Ariza each had 11.
With Golden State trailing 74-73 with 5:46 left in the game, Richardson hit a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired to give the Warriors the lead for good. Davis added a layup to give Golden State a 78-74 lead.
Kings 118, Suns 117: Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored Sacramento’s final six points and sealed the victory with a blocked shot in the final seconds as the Kings won at Phoenix.
Abdur-Rahim broke a 114-114 tie when he made an 8-footer in the lane with 30 seconds left. Leandro Barbosa answered with a 3-pointer to put the Suns up 117-116. Abdur-Rahim then hit two free throws with 13.3 seconds left for the final margin.
Peja Stojakovic had 33 points to lead the Kings. Abdur-Rahim had 23 points and 12 rebounds. Mike Bibby had his best game of the young season with 19 points and Bonzi Wells scored 16.
Lakers 112, Nuggets 92: Kobe Bryant scored 12 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter and Los Angeles pulled away to beat visiting Denver.
Lamar Odom added 20 and eight rebounds for the Lakers. Chris Mihm had 20 points and 13 rebounds and Bryant also had eight rebounds and five assists.
Carmelo Anthony led Denver with 21 points and six rebounds. Andre Miller added 20 points and six assists and Kenyon Martin scored 17 points for the Nuggets.
The Lakers shot 51.2 percent and outrebounded the Nuggets 46-32.