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Having coached high school basketball for the last two seasons, I have gained a true appreciation for the quality of officiating by NBA referees.
Until this week.
This was a bad week for the league and its referees, as the NBA admitted there were blown calls that changed the outcome of two games.
All season long, the relevant topic in hand for the New York Knicks has been this:
Can the pairing of Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony still be successful?
Also, will the power forward really be okay with coming off the bench, long-term?
These questions – though perhaps not immediately as the players become re-acclimated with each other – will soon be answered with Stoudemire reportedly ready to play his first game of the season on Tuesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers at home in Madison Square Garden, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:
The New York Knicks are off to an overwhelmingly positive start, and it would be hard to say anybody saw this coming.
New York has the oldest roster in NBA history combined with Amar’e Stoudemire, the $20 million per year power forward who is supposed to be the second-most offensively potent player on the team, out for an extended period of time. The team came into this season with an aged roster and skepticism looming over them from the outside.
Dallas Mavericks guard Delonte West has been suspended indefinitely by the team for the second time this preseason. He was first suspended indefinitely early last week by coach Rick Carlisle for “conduct detrimental to the team”, but was reinstated the following day and did not miss any games. That may not be the case the second time around. Here is the report from Mavericks press release:
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have indefinitely suspended guard Delonte West.
“We have suspended Delonte for conduct detrimental to the team,” President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson said. ”The suspension is effective immediately and no other statements will be issued.”
West has played in all seven games for the Mavericks this preseason and is averaging 5.0 points, 2.0 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per game.
West is known to have bipolar disorder and it is unclear what exactly he did or said to be suspended again. The explanation from him isn’t any clearer, but he did provide an emotional response to the situation, via twitter:
All my family friends fans…who been right der wit methisuphillbattle over the last 4years to get to this point….already know
— Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) October 25, 2012
That my name showin up in any fashion in a negative light is the worst thing that can happen.everything Ived worked towards out d window
— Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) October 25, 2012
Just ask u to talk with me….I’m a grown man…that’s not above logic and reason…Before u go to the papers wit false information.
— Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) October 25, 2012
If I’m not what u lookin 4 ….That’s fine…just dont kick me in my ass on the way out the door….I didn’t do anything to deserve that…
— Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) October 25, 2012
I love the city of Dallas..I love playin in the NBA…no I’m not off my meds…no I ain’t on no bipolar trip…this real people lives..
— Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) October 25, 2012
And it just ain’t right..imma leave it at that..no ill will towards no one…I’m just sittin here across from the arena wit tear in my eyes
— Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) October 25, 2012
It appears to be an unfortunate situation for all parties involved, and West appears as though he may be mentally preparing himself to move on from his stint as a Maverick.
