National Basketball Association Betting
Butch van Breda Kolff, who coached the Los Angeles Lakers to two NBA finals appearances and won 482 games as a college coach, has died after a long illness. Van Breda Kolff, 84, died Wednesday afternoon at a nursing home in Spokane, his daughter, Kristina van Breda Kolff, said. His son, Jan, also played professionally and coached at Cornell, Vanderbilt, Pepperdine and St.
Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa scored 30 points, and Brazil held off Canada 75-67 Wednesday night in the FIBA Americas tournament opener for both teams. Barbosa, the NBA’s top sixth man last season, helped Brazil finally shake free by hitting two free throws and adding a floater, pushing the lead to 69-62 with 2:26 left.
New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury defended Michael Vick, calling dogfighting a sport and comparing it to hunting. Marbury spoke Monday about the federal dogfighting conspiracy charges against Vick while promoting his basketball shoe in Albany, N.Y. “I think it’s tough,” Marbury said, according to Albany TV station Capital News 9.
The Atlanta Hawks shook up their coaching staff on Wednesday, hiring Alton Lister as an assistant coach and giving two assistants new duties. Herb Brown and Greg Ballard, who had been on the bench with coach Mike Woodson, will work as a consultant and a scout, respectively. Lister, who had a 16-year career as a center in the NBA, will work with inside players.
Basketball always came easily to Eddie Griffin. It was life off the court that he had trouble handling. The former Minnesota Timberwolves forward died last week when his sport utility vehicle collided with a freight train in a fiery crash, the Harris County medical examiner’s office said Tuesday. Investigators used dental records to identify Griffin, 25, who began his pro career with the Houston…
Reggie Miller is still debating whether to make a comeback at age 42. The NBA’s career leader in 3-pointers tried to dodge reporters’ questions about his possible return on Tuesday as he attended Peyton Manning’s charity bowling tournament, saying he wanted to talk about the Super Bowl MVP and his event.
The NBA on Tuesday chose former federal prosecutor Lawrence B. Pedowitz to oversee a review of its policies regarding gambling and its referees in the wake of the Tim Donaghy scandal. Pedowitz and his partners at the New York law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz will study the NBA’s antigambling efforts, as well as the processes the league uses to hire, train and monitor its officials.
The Washington Wizards hired former Charlotte Bobcats president Ed Tapscott as director of player development on Wednesday. The team also hired Dave Hopla as an assistant coach for player development. “Ed and Dave have an extensive coaching background and have proven to be very successful in working with and developing players throughout their careers,” Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said.
New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury defended Michael Vick, calling dogfighting a sport and comparing it to hunting. Marbury spoke Monday about the federal dogfighting conspiracy charges against Vick while promoting his basketball shoe in Albany, N.Y. “I think it’s tough,” Marbury said, according to Albany TV station Capital News 9.
The Atlanta Hawks shook up their coaching staff on Wednesday, hiring Alton Lister as an assistant coach and giving two assistants new duties. Herb Brown and Greg Ballard, who had been on the bench with coach Mike Woodson, will work as a consultant and a scout, respectively. Lister, who had a 16-year career as a center in the NBA, will work with inside players.
