Friday News and Notes

Friday, November 03, 2006

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NBA

Bucks-Raptors

Associated Press

The Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks meet for the first time since swapping promising young players in the offseason in a Friday night matchup at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto acquired point guard T.J. Ford from Milwaukee on June 30 for forward Charlie Villanueva and cash. Ford was a first-round draft pick by the Bucks in 2003 before he missed the 2004-05 season due to a spinal-cord injury. He returned last season, though, and averaged 12.2 points and 6.6 assists with Milwaukee. Villanueva was drafted seventh by the Raptors in 2005, a selection widely panned at the time. The forward proved those critics wrong by averaging 13.0 points and 6.4 rebounds - the second-highest marks in both categories among rookies last season.

Sixers-Magic

Delaware County Times

Overall, the Magic shot 59.3 percent in their opener—and it’s not exactly as though this team is coming out of nowhere. They missed the playoffs last year by two games but finished the season on a 16-6 tear. The Sixers took steps to address lack of defense during the preseason. Against the Hawks, they were fairly successful, limiting Atlanta to 33 percent shooting. Until the fourth quarter, however, the Hawks were outrebounding the Sixers, and that should be a concern.

Pistons-Celtics

Tuscaloosa Times

The Celtics are also looking to rebound after an emotional 91-87 season-opening loss to New Orleans on Wednesday. Before the game, the Celtics honored former coach and front office executive Red Auerbach, who died of a heart attack Saturday near his Washington home at the age of 89. The Pistons have dominated the Celtics recently, winning nine of the last 10 meetings, including all three last season.

Knicks-Hawks

NY Times

The Knicks’ new coach continued to accentuate the positives in the aftermath of his team blowing a 19-point fourth-quarter lead to a Memphis squad that was playing without Pau Gasol. Rather than address the Knicks’ inability to play with poise and smarts in the final 9:14 of regulation, Thomas took a unique approach by pointing out that in order to blow a 19-point lead you have to have a 19-point lead. The Knicks played 63 minutes to secure their first win.

Bobcats-Grizzlies

Charlotte Observer

Extract Pau Gasol from this team, and you don’t have much. Gasol is out for months with a broken foot suffered in the world championships. Memphis lost in triple overtime Wednesday to the New York Knicks.