

Weiter so!
Moderatoren: Tim, ACZ-Mod-Team
Coach-Legende Auerbach gestorben
Boston/München - Noch ein letztes Mal am Spielfeldrand zu sitzen, wenn seine geliebten Boston Celtics spielen - das war Red Auerbach nicht mehr vergönnt gewesen.
Vorschau Red Auerbach mit Zigarre im Jahr 1996 in seiner Lieblingspose
Nur wenige Tage vor dem Saisonstart in der NBA starb der legendäre Ex-Coach der Celtics am Samstag mit 89 Jahren an einem Herzinfarkt.
Auerbach war das, was die Amerikaner als "a true legend" bezeichnen. Wenn einer Geschichte in der besten Basketball-Liga der Welt geschrieben hat dann er.
Die Celtics heimsten unter seiner Amtszeit insgesamt 16 NBA-Titel ein und sind damit immer noch Rekordmeister.
Unter dem Coach Red Auerbach gewann Boston neun Meisterschaften. Später lenkte er die Geschicke des Klubs in den 70er und 80er Jahren als General Manager. Er holte den jungen Larry Bird 1979 zu den Celtics - der Beginn einer weiteren erfolgreichen Celtics-Ära. Unvergessen die Duelle von Birds Celtics mit den Los Angeles Lakers und Magic Johnson.
Motivationskünstler am Spielfeldrand
"Red hat wie kaum ein anderer Mensch mein Leben beeinflusst", so Bird. "Es gab und wird auch immer nur einen Red Auerbach geben. Und ich bin dankbar, sein Genie und seine Überzeugung, dass man nur mit dem Team gewinnen kann, miterlebt zu haben."
Ein Erfolgsbesessener war Auerbach, ein großer Motivator. Und er war bekannt dafür, das, was er denkt, direkt und unverblümt auszusprechen.
Warten auf den nächsten Titel
So wurde er kurz vor Beginn der letzten Saison im Krankenhaus wegen Herzproblemen behandelt. Beim Eröffnungsspiel seiner Celtics saß er, der bis zuletzt als Team-Präsident fungierte, auf seinem Ehrenplatz.
Angeschlagen vom Krankenhausaufenthalt antwortete er auf die Frage, was ihn in jenen Stunden beschäftige: "Was einem durch den Kopf geht, ist: Wann, zum Teufel, werden wir wieder Meister?"
Querdenker und Erfolgsmensch
Auerbach war auch ein Querdenker, einer, der bereit war, für den Erfolg immer wieder neue Wege einzuschlagen. Auerbach war einer der ersten Coaches, der dunkelhäutige Spieler in sein Team holte. In den 50er Jahren in der fast ausschließlich "weißen" NBA ein Politikum.
Obwohl er bereits mit 48 Jahren seine Karriere als Coach beendet hatte, rangiert er noch heute in den Statistiken unter den erfolgreichsten NBA-Trainern. Erst in der Spielzeit 1994/1995 wurde sein Rekord von 938 Saison-Siegen als Coach von Lenny Wilkens gebrochen.
Vom "Zen-Meister" eingeholt
Im Jahr 2002 war es dann Phil Jackson, ehemaliger Coach der Chicago Bulls und wegen seiner Nähe zum Buddhismus auch "Zen-Meister" genannt, der mit den Lakers seinen neunten Titel holte und mit Auerbach gleichzog.
Wie die Celtics in ihrer Stellungnahme verlauten lassen, soll die kommende Saison Red Auerbach gewidmet werden.
Der erste NBA-Titel nach über 20 Jahren dürfte Auerbach wohl besser gefallen.
QuelleAnd The Answer Is ... a Nugget
After more than a week of shopping, the Denver Nuggets bought themselves a last-minute holiday gift: the league's second-leading scorer and 2001 NBA MVP, Allen Iverson.
The Nuggets have agreed to a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, sending Iverson out west in exchange for point guard Andre Miller, forward Joe Smith and two first round picks in the 2007 NBA Draft. The Nuggets also receive forward Ivan McFarlin in the trade.
Iverson, who has not suited up for the Sixers since requesting a trade from the team that drafted him No. 1 overall in 1996, is averaging 31.2 points and 7.3 assists in 15 games this season.
The move leaves many wondering if there are enough basketballs to go around in Denver now that the Nuggets have the top two scorers in the league. Iverson (31.2 ppg), however, would be in action without Carmelo Anthony (31.5 ppg) until at least Jan. 20. Anthony was suspended on Monday for 15 games for his role in Saturday's altercation in New York.
"We need another scorer," Denver's Marcus Camby told the Denver Post earlier this week. "We need a guy that can complement 'Melo. That would be crazy to have them two here, the one and two scorers in the league. (Iverson's) a guy that can fit into our offense running up and down the court."
When both finally suit up as teammates, they should find their share of shots in George Karl's high-octane offense. The Nuggets rank first overall in the league in field goals attempted per game (85.2) and put more points on the board (108.8 ) than any team outside of the Phoenix (110.6).
In 23 games as a starter for the Nuggets, Miller is averaging 13.0 points and 9.1 assists, ranking third-best in the NBA this season. In 11 games off the bench for Denver, Smith is averaging 5.1 points and 3.6 rebounds.
The teams meet for the first time since the trade when the Sixers travel to Denver on Jan. 2, 2007.
Der isr im Moment so krass drauf - unglaublich. Beeindruckende Serie des Teams.McGrady kann Dallas nicht stoppen
Der Siegeszug der Dallas Mavericks in der NBA geht weiter. Trotz einer starken Leistung von Tracy McGrady (45 Punkte) verloren die Houston Rockets im texanischen Duell gegen Dirk Nowitzki und seine "Mavs" mit 96:109. Mit 30 Punkten, zehn Rebounds und sechs Assists war der Würzburger einmal mehr bester Akteur seines Teams. Mit einer Bilanz von 32:8 Siegen führt Dallas die Liga weiter an.
Zur Pause hatte Dallas in eigener Halle noch mit 47:53 zurückgelegen. Auch sechs verschiedene Verteidiger konnten McGrady, der in der ersten Hälfte 21 Punkte erzielte, zunächst nicht stoppen. Im zweiten Durchgang drehten die "Mavs" dann jedoch auf, verteidigten gegen McGrady besser und fuhren einen letztlich ungefährdeten 109:96-Erfolg ein. Am Ende war die Solovorstellung von Houstons McGrady, der es neben 45 Punkten auch auf sieben Assists und fünf Rebounds brachte, zu wenig gegen die geballte Kraft der Mavericks, bei denen neben Nowitzki einmal mehr Josh Howard mit 28 Punkten auftrumpfte.
[...]
Zum einen kürte die italienische "La Gazzetta dello Sport" den Würzburger zum fünften Mal in Folge zu "Europas Basketballer des Jahres". Zum anderen wurde Nowitzki zum siebten Mal in seiner Karriere zum "Spieler der Woche" in der Western Conference gewählt.
[...]
Tja, ich hatte schon gleich ein ungutes gefühl, weil die Warriors waren in den letzten Saisons schon die Angstgegner der Mavs ! Wenn die sich nicht endlich steigern ist der Weg zum Titel für die Suns sogut wie Frei!sin tsu hat geschrieben:Dallas verliert erneut deutlich.Nach so einer tollen Runde gleich in Runde 1 der Play-Offs auszuscheiden wäre schon extrem bitter.
ich denke gegen die Clippers oder Lakers hätten sich die Mavs sogar leichter getan , aber die Warriors waren seit monaten der Angstgegner der MAvs , deshalb haben die Mavs in der regulären Saison auch alle 3 Spiele verloren.SPA hat geschrieben:schade Mavs!
Aber in den paar Minuten im 3.Viertel die ich heute gesehen hab waren die grotten schlecht! Also wenn die die gaze Serie so gespielt haben, dann wundert mich nicht das die rausgeflogen sind!
Die waren nach der super Saison wohl davon überzeugt das das Golden State im Schongang besiegt wird![]()
QuellePhoenix Duo Highlights All-NBA First Team
NEW YORK, May 10, 2007 – Phoenix guard and two-time defending NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash and Suns center Amaré Stoudemire are the first teammates since the L.A. Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in 2003-04 to be named to the First Team, as the NBA announced the 2006-07 All-NBA Teams today.
Joining Nash at guard on the First Team is Bryant, the NBA’s leading scorer during the regular season. San Antonio’s Tim Duncan and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki join Stoudemire in the frontcourt.
A unanimous selection, Nash, who earns First Team honors for the third straight season, led the NBA in assists during the regular season with a career-high 11.6 per game. He became the first NBA player to average at least 18 points (18.6) and 11 assists since Magic Johnson in 1990-91. Nash recorded 15 or more assists 16 times during the regular season.
Stoudemire averaged 20.4 points and a career-high 9.6 rebounds for the Pacific Division champion Suns. He ranked second among NBA centers in scoring behind only Houston’s Yao Ming and was one of only three NBA players (Utah’s Carlos Boozer, the L.A. Clippers Elton Brand) ranked in the top 20 in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage (.575).
Nowitzki, who also makes his third straight First Team appearance, led the Mavericks to an NBA-best 67-15 regular-season record. He averaged 24.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, a career-high 3.4 assists, and set a new personal best for three-point percentage (.416). He finished the regular season as the only player in the NBA to shoot 50 percent from the field (.502), 40 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the free throw line (.904).
For the second straight season, Bryant led the NBA in scoring with 31.6 points per contest, while posting 5.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game to earn his fifth All-NBA First Team selection. He became just the second player in NBA history to score 50 or more points in four straight games when he tallied 65 vs. Portland on March 16, 50 vs. Minnesota on March 18, 60 at Memphis on March 22, and 50 at New Orleans/Oklahoma City on March 23.
Duncan earns his ninth First Team selection, the most of any active player, with averages of 20.0 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists. His 1,599 points this season were the most since he scored 1,884 in 2002-03. He scored in double figures 78 times during the regular season.
The All-NBA Second Team consists of Washington’s Gilbert Arenas and Houston’s Tracy McGrady at guard; Cleveland’s LeBron James and Toronto’s Chris Bosh, who makes his first career All-NBA team, at forward; and Houston’s Yao at center.
The All-NBA Third Team includes Miami’s Dwyane Wade and Detroit’s Chauncey Billups at guard; Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett, the NBA’s leading rebounder with 12.8 per game, and Denver’s Carmelo Anthony, the NBA’s second-leading scorer (28.9 ppg), at forwards; and Orlando’s Dwight Howard at center.
The 129-member voting panel of writers and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada consisted of national media members and members from each of the league’s 30 teams who regularly cover the NBA. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis.
Below are the results of the voting for the 2006-07 All-NBA Teams, with First Team votes in parentheses:
2006-07 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM
Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points
Forward Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas (125) 634
Forward Tim Duncan, San Antonio (94) 573
Center Amaré Stoudemire, Phoenix (36) 494
Guard Steve Nash, Phoenix (129) 645
Guard Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers (128) 643
2006-07 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM
Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points
Forward LeBron James, Cleveland (64) 494
Forward Chris Bosh, Toronto (8 ) 234
Center Yao Ming, Houston (38 ) 333
Guard Gilbert Arenas, Washington 295
Guard Tracy McGrady, Houston (10) 278
2006-07 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM
Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points
Forward Kevin Garnett, Minnesota (5) 225
Forward Carmelo Anthony, Denver (1) 142
Center Dwight Howard, Orlando (1) 108
Guard Dwyane Wade, Miami (1) 241
Guard Chauncey Billups, Detroit 86
Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first team votes in parentheses): Carlos Boozer, Utah, 127; Shaquille O’Neal, Miami, 70 (3); Jason Kidd, New Jersey, 58; Marcus Camby, Denver, 42 (2); Shawn Marion, Phoenix, 41; Allen Iverson, Denver, 39; Tony Parker, San Antonio, 39; Vince Carter, New Jersey, 15; Deron Williams, Utah, 15; Josh Howard, Dallas, 11; Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers, 8; Mehmet Okur, Utah, 7; Baron Davis, Golden State, 6; Michael Redd, Milwaukee, 6; Ray Allen, Seattle, 5; Richard Hamilton, Detroit, 4; Joe Johnson, Atlanta, 3; Ben Gordon, Chicago, 3; Chris Paul, New Orleans/Oklahoma City, 3; Paul Pierce, Boston, 2; Ben Wallace, Chicago, 2; Jason Terry, Dallas, 2; Eddy Curry, New York, 2; Luol Deng, Chicago, 1; Chris Webber, Detroit, 1; Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana, 1; Pau Gasol, Memphis, 1; Tyson Chandler, New Orleans/Oklahoma City, 1; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 1. The 129-member voting panel of writers and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada consisted of national media members and members from each of the league’s 30 teams who regularly cover the NBA. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis.
QuelleDirk Nowitzki Wins 2006-07 MVP Award
NEW YORK, May 15, 2007 – Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks was named the winner of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the 2006-07 season, the NBA announced today.
The nine-year NBA veteran totaled 1,138 points, including 83 first place votes, from a panel of 129 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Players were awarded 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five for third, three for fourth and one for each fifth-place vote received.
Rounding out the top five in voting for MVP were Phoenix’s Steve Nash (1,013 points/44 first-place votes), the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (521 points/two first-place votes), San Antonio’s Tim Duncan (286 points) and Cleveland’s LeBron James (183 points).
Nowitzki is the first European-born player to win the NBA MVP Award and joins Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets (1993-94), Duncan (2001-02 and 2002-03) and Nash (2004-05 and 2005-06) on the list of international players that have captured the Podoloff Trophy.
The seven-foot forward led the Mavericks to the best-record (67-15, .817) in the NBA, tying for the sixth-best single-season winning percentage in NBA history. Nowitzki averaged team highs of 24.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and a career-best 3.4 assists while setting career-highs in field goal percentage (.502), three-point field goal percentage (.416) and free throw percentage (.904). The Mavericks were an impressive 18-1 when he scored 30 or more points.
This season marked his sixth straight NBA All-Star Game appearance and his first start in the Game, a first for a Maverick. Nowitzki was named to the All-NBA First Team for the third consecutive year.
Nowitzki was the team leader as the Mavericks became the first team in NBA history to record three streaks of 12 or more wins (12, 13 and 17) and just the fourth team ever to have three double-digit winning streaks in the same season. He was the only player in the league this season to shoot at least 50 percent from the field (.502), 40 percent from three-point range (.416) and 90 percent from the freethrow line (.904).
The NBA MVP trophy is named in honor of the late Maurice Podoloff, the first commissioner of the NBA who served from 1946 until his retirement in 1963.
Attached are the voting results for the 2006-07 NBA Most Valuable Player Award:
2006-07 MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD VOTING RESULTS
Player, Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Pts
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas 83 39 7 - - 1138
Steve Nash, Phoenix 44 74 11 - - 1013
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 2 11 65 30 9 521
Tim Duncan, San Antonio - 3 25 39 23 286
LeBron James, Cleveland - - 11 31 35 183
Tracy McGrady, Houston - 2 6 16 18 110
Chris Bosh, Toronto - - 3 4 16 43
Gilbert Arenas, Washington - - 1 4 14 31
Kevin Garnett, Minnesota - - - 2 1 7
Carlos Boozer, Utah - - - 1 4 7
Chauncey Billups, Detroit - - - 1 1 4
Dwyane Wade, Miami - - - - 3 3
Shaquille O’Neal, Miami - - - 1 0 3
Amaré Stoudemire, Phoenix - - - - 2 2
Carmelo Anthony, Denver - - - - 1 1
Baron Davis, Golden State - - - - 1 1
Tony Parker, San Antonio - - - - 1 1
ALL-TIME NBA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD WINNERS
1955-56: Bob Pettit, St. Louis
1956-57: Bob Cousy, Boston
1957-58: Bill Russell, Boston
1958-59: Bob Pettit, St. Louis
1959-60: Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia
1960-61: Bill Russell, Boston
1961-62: Bill Russell, Boston
1962-63: Bill Russell, Boston
1963-64: Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati
1964-65: Bill Russell, Boston
1965-66: Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia
1966-67: Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia
1967-68: Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia
1968-69: Wes Unseld, Baltimore
1969-70: Willis Reed, New York
1970-71: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee
1971-72: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee
1972-73: Dave Cowens, Boston
1973-74: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee
1974-75: Bob McAdoo, Buffalo
1975-76: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles
1976-77: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles
1977-78: Bill Walton, Portland
1978-79: Moses Malone, Houston
1979-80: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles
1980-81: Julius Erving, Philadelphia
1981-82: Moses Malone, Houston
1982-83: Moses Malone, Philadelphia
1983-84: Larry Bird, Boston
1984-85: Larry Bird, Boston
1985-86: Larry Bird, Boston
1986-87: Magic Johnson, LA Lakers
1987-88: Michael Jordan, Chicago
1988-89: Magic Johnson, LA Lakers
1989-90: Magic Johnson, LA Lakers
1990-91: Michael Jordan, Chicago
1991-92: Michael Jordan, Chicago
1992-93: Charles Barkley, Phoenix
1993-94: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston
1994-95: David Robinson, San Antonio
1995-96: Michael Jordan, Chicago
1996-97: Karl Malone, Utah
1997-98: Michael Jordan, Chicago
1998-99: Karl Malone, Utah
1999-00: Shaquille O'Neal, LA Lakers
2000-01: Allen Iverson, Philadelphia
2001-02: Tim Duncan, San Antonio
2002-03: Tim Duncan, San Antonio
2003-04: Kevin Garnett, Minnesota
2004-05: Steve Nash, Phoenix
2005-06: Steve Nash, Phoenix
2006-07: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas