Doc Rivers in favor of Hack-a-DJ rule under proper circumstances

DeAndre Jordan

DeAndre Jordan/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

 

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said this week that a new rule could be instituted this summer to combat the Hack-a-DJ strategy used against the Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan and some other poor free-throw shooters.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers said he was in favor of a change, under the proper circumstances.

“Yeah, I just think you’ve gotta give it a lot of thought,” Rivers said at the morning shootaround before Game 3 of his team’s playoff series against Portland; the Clippers lead 2-0. “You have to do it the right way. … I think when it does change, it will change the right way; I don’t think it’ll bail guys out completely. We’ll see.”

Rivers was asked if he had an idea as to what the rule should entail.

“I do, but I’m not going to talk about it today,” he said. “We’re still discussing. There is just a lot of stuff on the plate.”

Rivers is on the league’s competition committee.

There could be a ‘Hack-a-Shaq’ rule in place before next season

DeAndre Jordan

DeAndre Jordan shot just 43 percent from the free-throw line this season/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

 

NBA commissioner Adam Silver is trying to get something on paper that could make him the most popular commissioner in the history of the league.

Silver spoke with reporters on Thursday in New York City. According to a story published by Sports Illustrated, Silver is going to do what he can to get a rule in place that will combat the more-than-awful Hack-a-Shaq strategy that is instituted regularly against the Clippers and their poor free-throw shooting center DeAndre Jordan.

“It’s not unanimous, but there is clearly an emerging consensus, both among the members of the competition committee and the owners, who we made a presentation to at last week’s meetings, that we need to address the situation,” Silver said. “I think, as Kiki (VanDeWeghe) said, exactly what the new rule should be is still open for debate. At least I’m hoping that between now and when the owners next meet in July we can create and form a consensus as to what a change in the rule should be.”

(VanDeWeghe is vice-president of basketball operations for the NBA).

Silver offered up a statistic that showed it takes only three or more Hack-a-Shaq fouls to add 11 minutes to a given game.

Doc Rivers calls yet another DeAndre Jordan All-Star snub ‘a travesty’

DeAndre Jordan

DeAndre Jordan/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers, NBA.com

 

When Anthony Davis (shoulder sprain) of New Orleans on Wednesday pulled out of the Feb. 15 All-Star game in New York City, chances looked good that NBA commissioner Adam Silver would select DeAndre Jordan to replace him. Instead, Silver picked Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki.

Jordan on Wednesday had his third 20-20 game in nine days, coming away with 24 points and 20 rebounds in a 110-95 victory over the Houston Rockets. It was his sixth game of the season with at least 20 rebounds. Rivers was not one bit happy with Silver’s decision. But he didn’t blame Nowitzki.
“Well, I don’t look at it as Dirk being selected over him, I just think D.J. should be on the All-Star team,” said Rivers, whose 35-19 team takes a two-game winning streak into the All-Star break. “I think it’s a travesty, I really do.
“Dirk deserves to be on the All-Star team every year, as far as I’m concerned. So you can never have anything against him. He’s been a great player throughout his career. I just think a guy that’s getting 27 and 22 and 20s and 20s and is not on the team …”
Jordan had 27 points and 22 rebounds in Monday’s win at Dallas. Rivers paused for a moment, and continued.
“What I keep saying about D.J. that I don’t like is, you play both sides of the floor and just the one side of the floor keeps getting all the credit, and not the other side of the floor,” Rivers said. “And the other side is more important. There has never been a team that won a championship without being a decent defensive team or a great defensive team.
“Yet that side keeps getting forgotten about in the All-Star game. I think every year they should put the best defender on. They put the best offensive player on, every year. They should think about putting the best defensive player on every year on both sides – East and the West. Then that would be solved.”

Jordan was just 12th in fan voting for frontcourt players and was not picked as a reserve by Western Conference coaches. Nowitzki was ninth in fan voting.

Jordan, in his seventh season, has never made an All-Star team. But he suggested he’s not going to lose any sleep over this latest snub.

“No,” he said, when asked if he was frustrated. “Next year I just have to average 20 points a game. I’m happy for Dirk. At this point, there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ve moved on. It’s cool.”

Jordan is averaging a league-high 13.8 rebounds and 2.35 blocks, second to Davis’ 2.74. But Jordan averages just 10.7 points and is a terrible free-throw shooter (41.4 percent). Nowitzki averages 18.3 points and 6.0 rebounds.

Full copy of Donald Sterling’s civil lawsuit against NBA, Shelly Sterling

Embattled Clippers owner Donald Sterling filed a civil lawsuit against the NBA and his wife Shelly on Tuesday, alleging fraud and asserting himself as the sole shareholder in the team he has owned since 1981.

Donald had already filed a federal lawsuit against the league in June seeking antitrust damages, and is currently embroiled in a probate trial with Shelly Sterling that could decide whether or not she had the right to sell the team for $2 billion.

Below is a full copy of the latest lawsuit:

Donald Sterling's civil lawsuit against the NBA and Shelly Sterling by thejackwang

Donald Sterling will sue the NBA for $1 billion

Even as his franchise steps toward a new regime, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling plans to sue the NBA for $1 billion in damages.

Attorney Maxwell Blecher confirmed that his client intends to file suit against the league, as first reported by NBC News. Sterling’s wife, Shelly, agreed Thursday to sell the franchise to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion after reportedly having her husband declared mentally incapacitated. She in turn claimed full control of the Sterling Family Trust, which owns the Clippers.

The league has not yet approved the sale of the Clippers, and is proceeding with a June 3 hearing to oust Donald Sterling. Commissioner Adam Silver has maintained that the preferred outcome is a voluntary sale.

Sterling is seeking damages for the lifetime ban the NBA handed him last month and his termination charges.

Donald Sterling scandal: NBA names Dick Parsons as Clippers’ interim CEO

The Clippers’ hierarchy continues to remain in flux.

The NBA just announced it has instilled former Citigroup and Time Warner chairman Dick Parsons as the Clippers’ interim CEO a little more than a week the league stripped Donald Sterling of his ownership amid making racially disparaging comments on an audio tape. Parson, who is currently a senior advisor for Providence Equity Partners, also arrives with the Clippers the same week president Andy Roeser took an indefinite leave of absence.

“I believe the hiring of Dick Parsons will bring extraordinary leadership and immediate stability to the Clippers organization,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. “Dick’s credentials as a proven chief executive speak for themselves and I am extremely grateful he accepted this responsibility.”

The first item on the agenda could entail establishing clarity on Shelly Sterling’s role on the team. She maintains the title as Clippers co-owner and has a split ownership stake with her husband, Donald. But both the Clippers and players union are against any of Sterling’s family members having any involvement with the team.

Shelly also has received criticism because court documents accused her of denigrating African Americans, Latinos and once posing as a health inspector. Shelly was also listed in numerous housing discrimination lawsuits against Donald’s real estate properties. But Shelly’s attorney, Pierce O’Donnell, noted in a statement on Thursday that testimony came in cases that were settled, which does not admit guilt.

“Like most Americans, I have been deeply troubled by the pain the Clippers’ team, fans and partners have endured,” Parsons said in a statement. “A lifelong fan of the NBA, I am firmly committed to the values and principles it is defending, and I completely support Adam’s leadership in navigating the challenges facing the team and the league. The Clippers are a resilient organization with a brilliant coach and equally talented and dedicated athletes and staff who have demonstrated great strength of character during a time of adversity. I am honored to be asked to work with them, build on their values and accomplishments, and help them open a new, inspiring era for their team.”
Continue reading “Donald Sterling scandal: NBA names Dick Parsons as Clippers’ interim CEO” »