Finalement les Nets gardent un espoir d´aller encore en finale NBA ^^

Un article assez long, mais trés intéressant sur Darius Miles, je commence à penser que les Blazers vont faire peur l´an prochain !

=>"The Maturation Of Darius Miles"
By Jason Fleming
Apr 8, 2004,

When Portland traded Jeff McInnis for Darius Miles 38 games ago, the team thought they were getting a decent role player with great athleticism. What they didn´t know is that they were getting a superstar in the making.

The knock on Miles was that he was inconsistent, he couldn´t make a jump shot, and that he kept failing to meet the potential projected upon him when he was picked number three overall in the 2000 NBA Draft by the LA Clippers. Those comments weren´t fair to Miles - was it his fault the Clippers picked an extremely raw high school kid that high? Miles was expected to contribute in LA and when it didn´t happen as fast as they thought it would they sent him to Cleveland for Andre Miller. He never found his niche in Cleveland despite a good relationship with LeBron James and was excited when he got the chance to come to Portland.

Now? Portland Trail Blazer fans hope he never leaves. Wednesday night the team had all Blazer merchandise 50% off and guess what the hottest selling item was? Yep, the red #23 Miles jerseys. Who can resist a deal of a replica jersey on sale for $21? Fans young and old, male and female, have flocked to Miles´ fan club and his trademark headknock may become the latest rage all over the city.

Why is it? What about Darius Miles has drawn the fans to him? Is it his leaps, with legs like coiled springs? Is the defense that has rendered players like Kobe Bryant frustrated? Or is it the Blazer commercials of pure comedy that show him talking smack with director Gus Van Sant, unsure about the free beef at Les Schwab, or kayaking on the linoleum at GI Joe´s?

Probably all of the above, but what stands out most is his energy. For Miles, that stigma of being an " energy guy" may actually have hurt him to an extent. When he first got to Portland Coach Maurice Cheeks referred to Miles as a guy who could kick start an offense with his hustle and his athleticism in the open floor. He had no idea Miles could dominate a game. Over time Miles has gone from that energy guy to the player who in the last couple weeks has become a focal point of the offense alongside star Zach Randolph.

How has he done it? All of the preconceptions that came with him have been torn apart and thrown away. Many members of the media knocked his ability to shoot the ball - and most still do. Check this stat though: At 48.9% Miles is ranked 19th in the league in field-goal percentage. He´s shooting 53% as a Trail Blazer and is 47-77 - 61%! - in his last six games. He has taken on more offensive responsibility and with his effectiveness has seen his minutes steadily rise. Averaging 28 minutes a game as a Blazer, three out of the last five games Miles has played 40 or more.

Wednesday night was no different. Miles hit 9-16 shots for 21 points to lead the team in their 87-81 victory over the Golden State Warriors. He actually took more shots than anyone else on the team, even his close friend Zach Randolph. His play, along with the hustle of Ruben Patterson off the bench, have allowed Coach Cheeks to give Derek Anderson more of a rest as he continues to struggle with his shooting.

" Ruben was good for us, Darius was good for us," Cheeks said about the play of his wing players. " It´s a toss-up sometimes throwing both of those guys in the game."

It´s a toss up insofar they both can play defense and run like gazelles, but as far as an overall feel, we have to go with Miles.

So where has Miles improved? The biggest piece has been his confidence. When Miles first came over he wasn´t really sure how he fit in with the rest of the team and he admitted that multiple times, talking about how he was just trying to fill a role. Over time he has realized the role that needs to be filled is that of a starting small forward who can defend, score, rebound, and make some good passes - all things Miles has proven he can do well. He has added a bank shot to his arsenal, hitting one from 18 feet over Clifford Robinson that had many fans turning to their neighbor with the " I-didn´t-know-he-could-do-that!" look on their faces.

His free throw shooting has improved as well. A poor shooter from the line in Cleveland ( under 60%) Miles has raised that eleven percentage points in Portland - another reflection of a player playing with confidence. He has steadily become more and more aggressive with his play and that has been a key factor in Portland making its run for the eight seed in the Western Conference ( well, that and the fact Theo Ratliff is a vacuum cleaner - he has eight more blocks against Golden State).

Miles said earlier this week he was going to test the free agency waters, but what else is he going to say? Any offer sheet he signs Portland will match, if they don´t straight up give him an extension first. Paul Allen loves Miles, the fans love Miles, his teammates love Miles, and he has the potential to bring in a lot of money for this team in merchandise sales. The Blazers would have to be crazy to let that walk out the door and general manager John Nash is well aware of that.

It´s not often a team gets a a young superstar dropped in their laps. It happened to the Indiana Pacers when they traded for Jermaine O´Neal from Portland. Now it´s Portland´s turn to get a little back.

Sorry LA. Sorry Cleveland. Both teams made a big mistake giving up on Miles way too early. Portland thanks you.

new jersey en finales tu reves un peu!!:):non::non:

J´ai pas dit qu´ils allaient y aller mais qu´avec Kidd ils ont plus de chance d´y aller et peuvent en tout cas garder cet espoir ^^

Le pb avec Darius c qu´il a pas fait l´université et ça se voit il lui faut du temps ; j´espere pour Portland ( à moins qu´ils le transfert lui aussi) que Miles deviendra une grande star mais ça m´étonnerai meme si les joueurs qui arrivent direct du lycée à la Nba sont généralement talentueux ( Kobe, Garnett, Brown)
la question vraie est
Est ce que Portland aura de la patience avec ce joueur ?

Il est en train de devenir un joueur majeur pour Portland, presque plus important que Zach Randolph, donc...^^

ouais mais attendons la saison prochaine parce que peut etre qu´il va etre trade!

" Il est en train de devenir un joueur majeur pour Portland, presque plus important que Zach Randolph, donc.."

Tu abuses légerment...c´est pas parce qu´il s´est reveillé sur 5 match en tout fin de saison qu´il est plus important que Randolph qui tourne à 20 pts 10 rbds ( en gros j´ai pas les stats de tete) sur la saison! Si t´enlève Randolph...Portland hum hum même si y´a Reef qui glande en bout de banc et qui pourrait prendre le relais mais la n´est pas la question.
En tout cas c´est de bonne augure si monsieur Miles avec son caractère bien propre à lui même commence a enfin jouer pour l´équipe et sortir les stats qu´il devrait donner à la hauteur de son talent...Portland pourrait finalement ne pas manquer les P.O cette année Ca fera je crois 19 années qu´ils sont tous les ans en P.O c´est dire!

Lmarco 12
tu abuses tout court
" il est en train de devenir un joueur majeur pour Portland, presque plus important que Zach Randolph, donc..."
12 points par match 4éme meilleur scorer de Portland tu appelles ça un joueur majeur
ça me fait bien rigoler dès qu´un joueur enchaine 3 4 bon match ça y est c un futur all star " Une fois John Crotty il métait 10 pt par match avec les Jazz ou Seattle donc ^^" en plus Miles ça fait 5 ans qu´ils est en NBA et Zach seulement 3 et niveau talent y a pas photo
Compare le à Anderson deja avant de dire qu´il est presque au meme niveau que Zach

Au sujet des Bobcats, une rumeur de plus:

" Allen Iverson is the face of the Philadelphia 76ers, but with a highly public and dismal season in 2003-2004, talk surrounding his departure from Philadelphia has risen ten-fold. Will the Sixers do the unthinkable and trade the heart and soul of the team? And if they do, will they find an able and willing trade partner in the Charlotte Bobcats?"

Lmarco12
Où trouves tu toutes ces news ?

Je serais étonné de voir partir Iverson , ce n´est qu´une rumeur
Je vois pas pkoi Philadelphie transferait Iverson à Charlotte ; en echange de qui ?
Charlotte ne risque pas d´avoir un joueur avec le talent d´I V

Site de la NBA, journaux américains notamment...Le départ d´Iverson ne serait qu´à moitié étonnant selon certains spécialistes puisqu´il y a quelques saisons il devait partir mais le joueur de Philadelphie inclus également dans la transaction avait refusé.

Moi aussi ça me paraitrait surprenant, mais j´ai bien précisé que c´était juste une rumeur...

=>L´équipe US pour les JO prend forme ^^

Richard Jefferson is on the verge of being selected to the U.S. Olympic team, although Nets teammate Jason Kidd might not be joining him in Athens.

Jefferson, a member of the U.S. team that qualified for the Olympics at a tournament in Puerto Rico last summer, said Sunday he has been given every indication that he has been chosen to fill the slot originally slated for Vince Carter.

Jefferson got the news from Nets president Rod Thorn, a member of the USA Basketball selection committee.

" They had a meeting a couple days ago, and Rod told me, ´Richard, I´m pretty sure you´re going to be on the team,"´ Jefferson said.

USA Basketball spokesman Craig Miller said no roster announcements have been scheduled.

Kidd, one of nine players already guaranteed spots on the U.S. roster, said he is undecided about playing. Hampered by a bone bruise in his left knee, Kidd had missed 10 of 12 games before starting Sunday against Philadelphia.

" If I can´t play, I can´t go," said Kidd, whose withdrawal would leave Mike Bibby as the only true point guard on the roster.

Asked to list the best American point guards other than himself and Bibby, Kidd said Baron Davis and Steve Francis.

The USA Basketball selection committee already has extended invitations to Shaquille O´Neal and Kevin Garnett. The American roster includes Kidd, Bibby, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan, Jermaine O´Neal, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone and Ray Allen. Larry Brown is the coach.

Several players, including Kidd, Malone, Allen and Jermaine O´Neal, have expressed serious concerns about security at the Olympics, which begin in mid-August.

The American team will open training camp in late July before traveling to Germany, Serbia and Turkey for exhibitions. They will be housed aboard a cruise ship during the Aug. 13-29 Olympics.

" Terrorism hit here in New York. I was here on 9-11," said Jefferson, who witnessed the collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center from the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. " You´re really not safe anywhere, you just have to believe in the security and believe they´re going to have the best possible situation for us."

Another member of the Nets, All-Star Kenyon Martin, also played for the U.S. team that qualified last summer -- though Martin ( a last-minute addition to the team after Malone withdrew following the death of his mother) was not guaranteed a spot on the Athens roster. He left the room Sunday when reporters began questioning Jefferson about the Olympics.

Other players on the U.S. roster in Puerto Rico who were not guaranteed Olympic roster spots include Elton Brand and Carter.

Jefferson fills a hole for the U.S. team by providing a backup to McGrady at small forward. Jefferson, his role increased because of Kidd´s and Martin´s injuries, has averaged 23 points over the Nets´ last 10 games.

" You can really tell the past two months with the way I´ve been playing how valuable that experience was," Jefferson said of playing for the U.S. team last summer. " Being around those players, that kind of greatness, it helped my game a whole lot hanging around them, seeing their work ethic and seeing the things the way they see them."

" La surprise Morandais ? " ( L´équipe.fr)

On parle beaucoup en ce moment de la possibilité de voir évoluer un nouveau Français en NBA la saison prochaine, en l´occurrence le pivot de la faculté de Gonzaga Ronny Turiaf. Cependant, un autre Frenchie pourrait également être retenu lors de la Draft en juin prochain. Il s´agit de l´ex-espoir de Levallois Michael Morandais, qui vient de clore son cycle universitaire avec Colorado.

Morandais s´est illustré la semaine dernière lors du tournoi de Portsmouth, une compétition qui réunissait des étudiants en partance pour le circuit professionnel mais que les recruteurs voulaient revoir afin d´affiner leurs jugements. Les meilleurs d´entre eux, une douzaine sur plus de soixante, devraient bientôt participer à un autre tournoi sur invitations, plus relevé celui-là, à Chicago.

20,7 points de moyenne à Portsmouth

Morandais fera sans aucun doute partie du voyage dans l´Illinois, lui qui s´est affirmé sans coup férir comme le meilleur élément de l´équipe finaliste du « PIT ». Cet arrière-ailier puissant et adroit est monté en régime, inscrivant 17 points en quarts de finale, 20 en demi ( plus 7 rebonds) et 25 en finale, ce qui lui a valu le titre de meilleur scoreur du tournoi ( 20.7 points).

Actuellement pressenti pour être sélectionné au second tour de la Draft ( entre la 31e et la 62e place), Morandais pourrait grimper en fin de premier tour s´il se fait remarquer à Chicago. Cela lui assurerait un contrat de trois ans en NBA. Ce ne serait plus alors en équipe de France A´, comme l´été dernier, qu´il pourrait se faire remarquer, mais bien avec les Bleus lors de l´Euro 2005.

Ses statistiques lors de la saison NCAA 2003-2004 :
16.1 points à 41% ( 37% à 3 points), 4.4 rebonds et 3.1 passes décisives en 33 minutes ( 29 matches)

=>Je vois pas trop en quoi ce serait une surprise puisqu´il avait fait les summer camps l´an dernier et avait failli être drafté ^^

===>Les jeux sont faits à l’Est(sport24.com)

Boston arrache la huitième place de la Conférence Est et est désormais assuré de disputer les play-offs.

A deux matches du terme de la saison régulière, les huit qualifiés pour les play-offs sont connus dans la Conférence Est. Boston, qui restait sur 4 défaites consécutives, décroche le dernier ticket à la faveur de la défaite de Philadelphie ce dimanche.

Indiana est largement favori mais Detroit pourrait s’avérer un coriace rival. L’arrivée de Rasheed Wallace a offert aux Pistons une assise défensive sans faille. Les Milwaukee Bucks, 4e, sont la véritable surprise de la saison régulière. Ils se qualifient pour les play-offs sans aucune star dans leurs rangs.

Les 8 qualifiés pour les play-offs en Conférence Est :
1. Indiana
2. New Jersey
3. Detroit
4. Milwaukee
5. Miami
6. Nouvelle Orléans
7. New York
8. Boston

=>tant mieux pour morandais

===>Le sort en est jeté(sport24.com)

La Conférence Ouest a livré son verdict. Les huit formations qualifiées pour les play-offs sont désormais connues.

A un match du terme de la saison régulière, Denver a enfin décroché son ticket pour les play-offs. A la lutte avec Utah et Portland, les Nuggets arrachent ce précieux sésame en disposant des Kings de Sacramento. Depuis la saison 1994-1995, Denver n’avait plus connu les joies des play-offs.

A la surprise générale, Minnesota finit la saison en tête de la Conférence Ouest. Garnett, Sprewell et Cassell forme une triplette redoutable qui pourrait mettre fin à la domination des Spurs et des Lakers. Memphis est l’invité surprise des play-offs tandis que Dallas, incapable de défendre correctement, ne prend finalement qu’une modeste 6e place qui condamne les Mavericks à affronter Sacramento dès le premier tour.

Franchises qualifies pour les play-offs en Conférence Ouest :
1. Minnesota
2. Sacramento
3. San Antonio
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Memphis
6. Dallas
7. Houston
8. Denver

bon pas grand chose dallas reprend la 5eme place de la conference ouest.

=>Lmarco 12 a ton avis orlando aura le 1er choix de la draft??

D´aprés les prévision je crois pas, je vais vérifier quand même...

Mince je retire ce que j´ai dit, ils reprennent le premier choix aux Bulls d´aprés la plupart des prévisions, même si le tirage laisse encore une petite part de hasard.

Petite info: Arbitrairement, le premier choix recevra 10.800.900 dollars tandis que le dernier empochera 2.159.100 billets.

ok merci pour l´info!!