Apr 28, 2005 11:33 PM EST
The New Jersey Nets lost a tough one last night to the Miami Heat in doulbe overtime 108-105. They are now down 3-0 in this best of seven series. More than the impending doom of that fact, though, is that the Nets showed their fans some signs of life. They came out and wanted this game.
They pushed the Heat to the limits. Jason Kidd and Vince Carter both nearly ended up with triple-doubles, which would have been the first time such an event happened in the playoffs. Richard Jefferson showed you what you have missed over the past four months and why he is a star in this league. Nenad Krstic has shown that with a good strength training regimen where he adds twenty pounds to his frame he can be a major difference maker. With a reshuffling of the role players around those four players the Nets will be an upper echelon team again.
The encouraging aspect of game 3 against the Heat is that the will to win has not left the core guys. As long as you combine that will to win with this kind of talent, the next couple of years will be fine for New Jersey.
Via Matthew McQueeny/RealGM
New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat
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Bobby Simmons of the Los Angeles Clippers was named the winner of the 2004-05 NBA Most Improved Player Award, the NBA announced today. The annual award is presented to a player who has made a dramatic improvement from the previous season or seasons.
Simmons is the first Clipper to be honored with the Most Improved Player award since its inception. He also becomes the first player with NBDL (2002-03) experience to be honored with one of the NBA’s annual awards.
Simmons received a total of 384 points, including 59 first-pace votes, from a panel of 123 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Miami’s Dwyane Wade finished second with 129 points (15 first-place votes) followed by Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince with 107 points (14 first-place votes). Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third place vote received.
“Bobby plays the game with toughness,” said TNT analyst Doug Collins. “He plays hard. He gives you his best effort all the time. He’s smart. He shoots the ball well and he’s an all-around player.”
A former member of the NBDL’s Mobile Revelers, Simmons is in his fourth NBA season and averaged 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists over 37.3 minutes per game this season. He improved his scoring average from last season by 8.6 points, his rebounding average by 1.2 rpg. Simmons also increased his field goal percentage to .466 (up from .394 in 2003-04) and three-point field goal percentage to .435 (up from .167 in 2003-04).
He started 74 of the 75 games in which he played for the Clippers this season, leading the team in scoring on 12 occasions, rebounds five times, assists six times and steals 21 times.
A second round selection in the 2001 NBA Draft (42nd pick overall) by the Seattle SuperSonics, Simmons spent two seasons with the Washington Wizards (2001-02 and 2002-03) before signing with the Clippers prior to the 2003-04 season.
Via NBA PR
Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons
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The Miami Heat have not won a postseason game on the road since May 12, 2000. Tonight in New Jersey the Heat will have a pretty good shot to change their 'away' misfortune.
After all, none of those past teams had the NBA’s most dominant center in Shaquille O’Neal.
"It's going to be a whole lot different," coach Stan Van Gundy warned of what's to come at the Meadowlands. "I don't have any doubts that we have an understanding of that."
Via The Sun Sentinel
Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets
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Heat Apr 2005 Archive
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Vogue | Apr 27, 2005
Dwyane Wade must be another 'Handsome Boy Graduate.
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RealGM | Apr 26, 2005
Alonzo Mourning and the Heat have completely dominated the series, taking a 2-0 lead with them to New Jersey.
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The News Herald | Apr 26, 2005
In a recent polling of 20 beat writers who cover the NBA, Phoenix point guard Steve Nash narrowly edged out Miami’s Shaquille O’Neal for the MVP title.
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Star-Ledger | Apr 26, 2005
Forget about all the teams he disappointed and left behind, collecting checks along the way, Alonzo Mourning is happy about the situation he is in and doesn’t care about what the New Jersey Nets have to say.
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AP | Apr 25, 2005
Postgame X-rays taken on Nets F Nenad Krstic's back Sunday were negative, revealing only a bruise.
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RealGM | Apr 24, 2005
Damon Jones shot 10-12 from the field, finishing with 30 points as the Heat defeated the Nets 116-98.
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New York Daily News | Apr 24, 2005
The most valuable thigh in the world is reportedly at around 80-85% healthy, according to its owner Shaquille O’Neal.
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ESPN | Apr 23, 2005
Shaquille O'Neal returned to practice on Saturday and was noncomittal about his status for Game 1 of the playoffs.
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NBC Sports | Apr 22, 2005
Richard Jefferson returned to practice with the Nets for the first time in four months. He expects to play in Game 1 at Miami.
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Yahoo! | Apr 22, 2005
Shaquille O'Neal watched Friday's practice from the sidelines. He is healing from a bruised thigh, which he suffered when he collided with Jermaine O'Neal.
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FoxSports.com | Apr 22, 2005
Newly acquired Miami Heat backup center Alonzo Mourning is donating nearly $300,000 to organizations that promote literacy and education for poor youth in Miami.
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Newsday.com | Apr 22, 2005
Richard Jefferson will be evaluated by Lawrence Frank following the Nets' practice on Friday to determine whether he will be able to compete in the playoffs.
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Press Release | Apr 19, 2005
The Miami HEAT announced today that they have activated Dorell Wright from the injured list and placed Shaquille O’Neal on the injured list with a right quad contusion.
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Yahoo! | Apr 19, 2005
Shaquille O'Neal was unable to practice on Monday because of his bruised right thigh, and his availability for Miami's final two regular-season games is uncertain.
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Indiana Pacers PR | Apr 18, 2005
Indiana Pacers guard Anthony Johnson has been suspended one game without pay for throwing a punch at Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Senior Vice President Basketball Operations.
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Seattle Times | Apr 18, 2005
Shaquille O'Neal bruised his right thigh yesterday just before halftime against the Indiana Pacers and missed the remainder of the game.
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Yahoo! | Apr 17, 2005
Jermaine O'Neal was activated from the IL and scored 17 points for the Pacers in an 84-80 loss to Miami.
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Yahoo! | Apr 15, 2005
Alle Iverson scored 38 points and had 16 assists, helping the Sixers get a 126-119 overtime win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night.
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Miami Heat PR | Apr 14, 2005
The Miami HEAT announced today that they have activated Rasual Butler and Christian Laettner from the injured list and placed Qyntel Woods (left ankle sprain) and Wang Zhi-Zhi (low back strain) on the injured list.
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Yahoo! | Apr 10, 2005
Miami center Shaquille O'Neal wasn't in the starting lineup Sunday against the Detroit Pistons, marking the third straight game he's missed because of a stomach ailment and viral infection.
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Yahoo! | Apr 9, 2005
The Memphis Grizzlies have been struggling lately, seeing the playoffs slip out from under them, but they received a gift on Friday, as Shaquille O'Neal was unavailable for the contest.
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USA Today | Apr 6, 2005
Shaq's absence this Friday versus the Grizzlies will have a tremendous impact on the Western Conference playoff race.
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ESPN | Apr 6, 2005
Dwyane Wade's 39 points ensured that the Bulls' 9-game winning streak came to an end and it also ensured that the Miami Heat would have homecourt advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs, winning 104-86 despite playing without Shaquille O'Neal.
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USA Today | Apr 5, 2005
Shaquille O'Neal will not get his vowed revenge on Bulls' forward Othello Harrington tonight as he is sitting out with a stomach ailment.
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RealGM | Apr 1, 2005
It has become a three-team race for the 8th and final spot in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Either the Sixers, Nets or Magic will play the Heat in the first round.
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NBA PR | Apr 1, 2005
The Miami HEAT’s Shaquille O’Neal and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett today were named Eastern Conference and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played during the month of March.
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Denver Nuggets PR | Apr 1, 2005
Denver Nuggets Head Coach George Karl was named Western Conference Coach of the Month for March, the NBA announced today.
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RealGM | Apr 1, 2005
Stephen Jackson's 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds left sent the Pacers into overtime, where they ultimately prevailed over the Heat 114-108.
