Vardan Posted May 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2005 Updated: May 21, 2005, 10:35 PM ET Shaq's status for Monday's game still unsettled Associated Press MIAMI -- Shaquille O'Neal's availability for the start of the Eastern Conference finals was shrouded in mystery Saturday, his bruised right thigh still a source of concern. 2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT% 73 22.9 10.4 2.7 .601 .461 The Detroit Pistons aren't necessarily believing the story, however. O'Neal practiced with the Miami Heat on Saturday, participating in some 5-on-5, full-contact, full-court basketball for the first time in 11 days. He was held out of some later portions of the workout, a move designed so that he wouldn't overtax the sore muscle that has bothered him for five weeks. Still, he was noncommittal about being ready for Monday's Game 1 with the Pistons, saying he "hopefully" would be in the Heat starting lineup against the defending NBA champions. "We just have to keep playing well," said O'Neal, who hasn't played since Game 2 of the East semis with Washington. "I don't want this to be about me. I haven't been out there for a couple games, and the team has been playing well. If I play, we're going to do the same thing. If I don't, we're going to do the same thing." Odds are that O'Neal will play Monday. The Heat will practice lightly Sunday, and O'Neal is expected to participate again -- unless he wakes up to find the injury has worsened. "We'll anxiously await [sunday] and see how he feels," Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said. Meanwhile, the Pistons -- who ended Shaq's quest for a fourth NBA title last season, beating the Los Angeles Lakers in five games for the league championship -- steadfastly believe the 7-foot-1, 327-pound force will be raring to go when the series opens. "That's what Shaq wants y'all to think, that he's hurting," Pistons forward Ben Wallace said. "Shaq is going to be ready to play. Don't keep feeding into that. There's nothing wrong with Shaq." Added Detroit forward Rasheed Wallace: "It doesn't matter if he's 100 percent, 55 percent, he's still going to demand that double team and special attention. To me, he's the greatest player on earth." O'Neal was injured April 17 when he was inadvertently kneed by Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal while defending a drive to the basket. He hasn't been the same since, yet still averaged 18 points and 8.2 rebounds in Miami's first six playoff games. The two games he missed against Washington were the first playoff contests he sat out in his career, and being a spectator left him feeling a bit depressed -- even though Miami won both games to remain the lone unbeaten team in this year's NBA playoffs. "This is the time when I try to raise my game a little and I've been limited because of a freak injury," said O'Neal, who has career playoff averages of 26.8 points and 12.7 rebounds. "I've been kind of down because this is new to me." Teammates gave his return to the practice floor solid marks, saying he looked rested and ready. "He looks fine. He did everything that we did out there," Heat forward Eddie Jones said. "He looks good. ... This is one of those series where you've got to have your dominant player against a great defensive team." The series is one of those clash-of-styles matchups, with Detroit excelling on the defensive end and Miami finding success turning Dwyane Wade loose and outscoring opponents. Miami is averaging 106.5 points on 51.1 percent shooting so far in the playoffs, with Wade averaging 28.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 8.4 assists in the eight games. Detroit yielded its first two playoff opponents, Philadelphia and Indiana, just 84.4 points per game on 41.5 percent shooting. If O'Neal isn't healthy and on the floor, then all of Detroit's defensive energies will be focused on Wade. Tayshaun Prince, who's earned a reputation as one of the NBA's best defenders with his long arms, excellent instincts, relentlessness and solid track record against stars, will match up with Wade. "That's the enjoyment about basketball, taking on challenges and having fun with it," Prince said Saturday. At least four players -- Prince, Richard Hamilton, Chauncey Billups and reserve Lindsey Hunter -- will take turns guarding Wade. But in key situations, Prince is expected to draw the assignment. "He's our best perimeter defender," said Billups, also a second-team all-defensive player. "His length bothers a lot of people and he's more athletic than some people give him credit for. "He'll play Wade a lot, but we'll play him with so many people and in so many ways. We can't let him get in a comfort zone." On April 10, with O'Neal sidelined by a stomach virus, the Pistons held Wade to five points in 21 frustration-filled minutes and beat the host Heat 80-72. That Pistons win -- Miami's lone home defeat in its last 25 games -- proves how critical having O'Neal on the floor is to Miami's championship chances. "The true test will be how I feel tomorrow," O'Neal said. "But today was a good day. Guys were playing hard. Guys were focused. And we'll be ready, one way or another." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted May 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2005 108 players file for early entry into NBA Draft 2005 Early Entry Candidates Announced NEW YORK, May 19 – The National Basketball Association announced today that 108 players, including 73 college and high school players and 35 international players, have filed as early entry candidates for NBA Draft 2005. Underclassmen and international players wishing to renounce their remaining intercollegiate eligibility and enter NBA Draft 2005 were required to submit a letter to the NBA postmarked no later than Saturday, May 14. Players who have applied for early entry have the right to withdraw their names from consideration for the Draft by notifying the NBA of their decision in writing no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21. The following is the list of college and high school players who have applied for early entry into NBA Draft 2005, which will be held Tuesday, June 28, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City: Player School Height Status Alex Acker Pepperdine 6-5 Junior Deji Akindele Chicago State 7-1 Sophomore Kelenna Azubuike Kentucky 6-5 Junior Sean Banks Memphis 6-8 Sophomore Jose Juan Barea Northeastern 6-0 Junior Brandon Bass LSU 6-8 Sophomore Jermaine Bell Indian Hills CC (IA) 6-11 Freshman Martellus Bennett Taylor HS (TX) 6-7 HS Senior Andray Blatche South Kent Prep (CT) 6-11 HS Senior Andrew Bogut Utah 7-0 Sophomore Brandon Bowman Georgetown 6-8 Junior Curtis Brown Jr. Beach HS (GA) 6-9 HS Senior Dee Brown Illinois 5-11 Junior Keith Brumbaugh DeLand HS (FL) 6-8 HS Senior Andrew Bynum St. Joseph’s HS (NJ) 6-11 HS Senior Jermareo Davidson Alabama 6-11 Sophomore Ike Diogu Arizona State 6-8 Junior Toney Douglas Auburn 6-1 Freshman Monta Ellis Lanier HS (MS) 6-3 HS Senior Olu Famutimi Arkansas 6-5 Sophomore Raymond Felton North Carolina 6-1 Junior Anderson Ferreira Chipola JC (FL) 6-8 Sophomore Torin Francis Notre Dame 6-11 Junior Francisco Garcia Louisville 6-7 Junior John Gilchrist Maryland 6-3 Junior Gerald Green Gulf Shores Academy (TX) 6-8 HS Senior Mike Hall George Washington 6-8 Junior Chris Hernandez Stanford 6-2 Junior Jibril Hodges Long Beach State 6-2 Junior Jarrett Jack Georgia Tech 6-3 Junior Amir Johnson Westchester HS (CA) 6-10 HS Senior Dwayne Jones St. Joseph’s 6-11 Junior Brian Kim Vanguard University (CA) 6-5 Junior Armein Kirkland Cincinnati 6-8 Junior Linas Kleiza Missouri 6-8 Sophomore Carl Krauser Pittsburgh 6-2 Junior Julius Lamptey Garden City CC (KS) 7-0 Freshman Darshan Luckey St. Francis (PA) 6-5 Junior Sean May North Carolina 6-8 Junior Rashad McCants North Carolina 6-4 Junior Pops Mensah-Bonsu George Washington 6-9 Junior C.J. Miles Skyline HS (TX) 6-6 HS Senior J.R. Morris Seton Hall 6-5 Junior Randolph Morris Kentucky 6-10 Freshman Tim Parham Maryland-Eastern Shore 6-9 Junior T.J. Parker Northwestern 6-2 Junior Chris Paul Wake Forest 6-0 Sophomore Pierre Pierce Iowa 6-4 Junior Kevin Pittsnogle West Virginia 6-10 Junior Shavlik Randolph Duke 6-10 Junior Anthony Roberson Florida 6-1 Junior Nate Robinson Washington 5-9 Junior Chris Rodgers Arizona 6-4 Junior Ray Rose Olivet Nazarene (IL) 6-0 Junior Brandon Rush Mt. Zion Academy (NC) 6-6 HS Senior Marcus Slaughter San Diego State 6-8 Sophomore Steven Smith LaSalle 6-8 Junior Tim Smith East Tennessee State 5-9 Junior B.J. Spencer Jacksonville State 6-4 Junior Chris Taft Pittsburgh 6-10 Sophomore Charlie Villanueva Connecticut 6-10 Sophomore Tiras Wade Louisiana-Lafayette 6-6 Junior Von Wafer Florida State 6-5 Sophomore Matt Walsh Florida 6-6 Junior Martell Webster Seattle Prep 6-7 HS Senior James White Cincinnati 6-6 Junior Deron Williams Illinois 6-4 Junior Eric Williams Wake Forest 6-9 Junior Louis Williams South Gwinnett HS (GA) 6-3 HS Senior Marvin Williams North Carolina 6-9 Freshman Kennedy Winston Alabama 6-6 Junior Antoine Wright Texas A&M 6-7 Junior Bracey Wright Indiana 6-4 Junior The following is the list of international players who have applied for early entry into NBA Draft 2005 Player Team/Country Height Status Cenk Akyol Efes Pilsen (Turkey) 6-4 1987 DOB Nemanja Aleksandrov Reflex (Serbia-Montenegro) 7-0 1987 DOB Martynas Andriuskevicius Zalgiris (Lithuania) 7-2 1986 DOB Luka Bogdanovic Partizan (Serbia-Montenegro) 6-8 1985 DOB Ivan Chiriaev Dynamo Moscow (Russia) 7-1 1984 DOB Rudy Fernandez DKV Joventut (Spain) 6-5 1985 DOB Marcin Gortat RheinEnergie Koln (Germany) 7-0 1984 DOB Mile Ilic Reflex (Serbia-Montenegro) 7-0 1984 DOB Ersan Ilyasova Ulker (Turkey) 6-9 1987 DOB Paulius Jankunas Zalgiris (Lithuania) 6-8 1984 DOB Viktor Keirou Unics Kazan (Russia) 6-6 1984 DOB Tomasz Kesicki Pamesa Castellon (Spain) 6-10 1986 DOB Yaroslav Korolev CSKA Moscow (Russia) 6-9 1987 DOB Marko Lekic Atlas (Serbia-Montenegro) 6-10 1985 DOB Erazem Lorbek Climamio Bologna (Italy) 6-10 1984 DOB Ian Mahinmi Le Havre (France) 6-9 1986 DOB Steven Markovic West Sydney (Australia) 6-3 1985 DOB Miguel Marriaga Gaiteros (Venezuela) 6-9 1984 DOB Drago Pasalic Split (Croatia) 6-10 1984 DOB Kosta Perovic Partizan (Serbia-Montenegro) 7-1 1985 DOB Johan Petro Pau Orthez (France) 7-0 1986 DOB Alexandr Rindin Gala Baku (Azerbaijan) 7-5 1985 DOB Dusan Sakota Panathinaikos (Greece) 6-10 1986 DOB Predrag Samardziski Partizan (Serbia-Montenegro) 6-11 1986 DOB Cheick Samb Tenerife (Spain) 7-0 1984 DOB Carlos Matias Sandes Boca Juniors (Argentina) 6-7 1984 DOB Thabo Sefolosha Chalon (France) 6-6 1984 DOB Tiago Splitter Tau Ceramica (Spain) 6-11 1985 DOB Tang Zhengdong Jiangsu (China) 7-1 1984 DOB Marko Tomas Zagreb (Croatia) 6-6 1985 DOB Caio Torres Rayet Guadalajara (Spain) 6-11 1987 DOB Roko Leni Ukic Split (Croatia) 6-5 1984 DOB Konstantinos Vasileiadis PAOK (Greece) 6-6 1984 DOB Panagiotis Vasilopoulos PAOK (Greece) 6-8 1984 DOB Marcus Vieira de Souza Premiata Montegranaro (Italy) 6-9 1984 DOB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted May 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 CONFERENCE FINALS PHOENIX (1) vs. SAN ANTONIO (2) Gm 1: SAN 121, PHO 114 | 300k | Post. Gm 2: at PHO, Tue., May 24, 9:00, ESPN Gm 3: at SAN, Sat., May 28, 9:00, ESPN Gm 4: at SAN, Mon., May 30, 8:30, ABC *Gm 5: at PHO, Wed., June 1, 9:00, ESPN *Gm 6: at SAN, Fri., June 3, 9:00, ESPN *Gm 7: at PHO, Sun., June 5, 8:30, ABC MIAMI (1) vs. DETROIT (2) Gm 1: at MIA, Mon., May 23, 8:00, TNT Gm 2: at MIA, Wed., May 25, 8:00, TNT Gm 3: at DET, Sun., May 29, 8:00, TNT Gm 4: at DET, Tue., May 31, 8:00, TNT *Gm 5: at MIA, Thu., June 2, 8:00, TNT *Gm 6: at DET, Sat., June 4, 8:00, TNT *Gm 7: at MIA, Mon., June 6, 8:00, TNT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted May 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 May 22: San Antonio's Tim Duncan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
.:Armen:. Posted May 23, 2005 Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 Uh ti kakaya tut temka zavalyalas.. Vardan, a ti sam ne igraesh sluchayno? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted May 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2005 Я играю, но не в НБА конечно Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted May 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2005 May 23: Detroit's Carlos Arroyo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted May 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2005 CONFERENCE FINALS PHOENIX (1) vs. SAN ANTONIO (2) Gm 1: SAN 121, PHO 114 | 300k | Post. Gm 2: at PHO, Tue., May 24, 9:00, ESPN Gm 3: at SAN, Sat., May 28, 9:00, ESPN Gm 4: at SAN, Mon., May 30, 8:30, ABC *Gm 5: at PHO, Wed., June 1, 9:00, ESPN *Gm 6: at SAN, Fri., June 3, 9:00, ESPN *Gm 7: at PHO, Sun., June 5, 8:30, ABC MIAMI (1) vs. DETROIT (2) Gm 1: DET 90, MIA 81 | 300k Gm 2: at MIA, Wed., May 25, 8:00, TNT Gm 3: at DET, Sun., May 29, 8:00, TNT Gm 4: at DET, Tue., May 31, 8:00, TNT *Gm 5: at MIA, Thu., June 2, 8:00, TNT *Gm 6: at DET, Sat., June 4, 8:00, TNT *Gm 7: at MIA, Mon., June 6, 8:00, TNT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted May 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2005 CONFERENCE FINALS PHOENIX (1) vs. SAN ANTONIO (2) Gm 1: SAN 121, PHO 114 | 300k | Post. Gm 2: SAN 111, PHO 108 | 300k | Post. Gm 3: at SAN, Sat., May 28, 9:00, ESPN Gm 4: at SAN, Mon., May 30, 8:30, ABC *Gm 5: at PHO, Wed., June 1, 9:00, ESPN *Gm 6: at SAN, Fri., June 3, 9:00, ESPN *Gm 7: at PHO, Sun., June 5, 8:30, ABC MIAMI (1) vs. DETROIT (2) Gm 1: DET 90, MIA 81 | 300k | Post. Gm 2: MIA 92, DET 86 | 300k | Post. Gm 3: at DET, Sun., May 29, 8:00, TNT Gm 4: at DET, Tue., May 31, 8:00, TNT Gm 5: at MIA, Thu., June 2, 8:00, TNT *Gm 6: at DET, Sat., June 4, 8:00, TNT *Gm 7: at MIA, Mon., June 6, 8:00, TNT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted May 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2005 May 24: San Antonio's Tim Duncan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted May 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2005 May 25: Miami's Alonzo Mourning Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted May 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2005 Miami 1 Detroit 1 Phoenix 0 San Antonio 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted May 29, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2005 PHOENIX (1) vs. SAN ANTONIO (2) Gm 1: SAS 121, PHO 114 | 300k | Post. Gm 2: SAS 111, PHO 108 | 300k | Post. Gm 3: SAS 102, PHO 92 | 300k | Post. Gm 4: at SAS, Mon., May 30, 8:30, ABC *Gm 5: at PHO, Wed., June 1, 9:00, ESPN *Gm 6: at SAS, Fri., June 3, 9:00, ESPN *Gm 7: at PHO, Sun., June 5, 8:30, ABC MIAMI (1) vs. DETROIT (2) Gm 1: DET 90, MIA 81 | 300k | Postgame Gm 2: MIA 92, DET 86 | 300k | Postgame Gm 3: at DET, Sun., May 29, 8:00, TNT Gm 4: at DET, Tue., May 31, 8:00, TNT Gm 5: at MIA, Thu., June 2, 8:00, TNT *Gm 6: at DET, Sat., June 4, 8:00, TNT *Gm 7: at MIA, Mon., June 6, 8:00, TNT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted May 29, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2005 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted May 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2005 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted May 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2005 CONFERENCE FINALS PHOENIX (1) vs. SAN ANTONIO (2) Gm 1: SAS 121, PHO 114 | 300k | Post. Gm 2: SAS 111, PHO 108 | 300k | Post. Gm 3: SAS 102, PHO 92 | 300k | Post. Gm 4: at SAS, Mon., May 30, 8:30, ABC *Gm 5: at PHO, Wed., June 1, 9:00, ESPN *Gm 6: at SAS, Fri., June 3, 9:00, ESPN *Gm 7: at PHO, Sun., June 5, 8:30, ABC MIAMI (1) vs. DETROIT (2) Gm 1: DET 90, MIA 81 | 300k | Postgame Gm 2: MIA 92, DET 86 | 300k | Postgame Gm 3: MIA 113, DET 104 | 300k | Post. Gm 4: at DET, Tue., May 31, 8:00, TNT Gm 5: at MIA, Thu., June 2, 8:00, TNT *Gm 6: at DET, Sat., June 4, 8:00, TNT *Gm 7: at MIA, Mon., June 6, 8:00, TNT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
.:Armen:. Posted May 30, 2005 Report Share Posted May 30, 2005 Vardan jan, ya ponimayu chto ne v NBA Priezjay v Moskvu, poigraem Posmotrish kak nado igrat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted May 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2005 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted May 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2005 CONFERENCE FINALS PHOENIX (1) vs. SAN ANTONIO (2) Gm 1: SAS 121, PHO 114 | 300k | Post. Gm 2: SAS 111, PHO 108 | 300k | Post. Gm 3: SAS 102, PHO 92 | 300k | Post. Gm 4: PHO 111, SAS 106 | 300k | Post. Gm 5: at PHO, Wed., June 1, 9:00, ESPN *Gm 6: at SAS, Fri., June 3, 9:00, ESPN *Gm 7: at PHO, Sun., June 5, 8:30, ABC MIAMI (1) vs. DETROIT (2) Gm 1: DET 90, MIA 81 | 300k | Postgame Gm 2: MIA 92, DET 86 | 300k | Postgame Gm 3: MIA 113, DET 104 | 300k | Post. Gm 4: at DET, Tue., May 31, 8:00, TNT Gm 5: at MIA, Thu., June 2, 8:00, TNT *Gm 6: at DET, Sat., June 4, 8:00, TNT *Gm 7: at MIA, Mon., June 6, 8:00, TNT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted June 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted June 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted June 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 CONFERENCE FINALS PHOENIX (1) vs. SAN ANTONIO (2) Gm 1: SAS 121, PHO 114 | 300k | Post. Gm 2: SAS 111, PHO 108 | 300k | Post. Gm 3: SAS 102, PHO 92 | 300k | Post. Gm 4: PHO 111, SAS 106 | 300k | Post. Gm 5: SAS 101, PHO 95 | 300k | Post. MIAMI (1) vs. DETROIT (2) Gm 1: DET 90, MIA 81 | 300k | Postgame Gm 2: MIA 92, DET 86 | 300k | Postgame Gm 3: MIA 113, DET 104 | 300k | Post. Gm 4: DET 106, MIA 96 | 300k | Post. Gm 5: at MIA, Thu., June 2, 8:00, TNT Gm 6: at DET, Sat., June 4, 8:00, TNT *Gm 7: at MIA, Mon., June 6, 8:00, TNT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted June 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2005 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted June 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2005 Slam Dunk Winner Josh Smith Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vardan Posted June 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2005 (edited) 3 Points Shooter Winner Edited June 4, 2005 by Vardan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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