Category — Tyreke Evans

It’s bad enough we can’t get the Pac-12 Network. Now this.
Taking a page out of the Phil Jackson playbook, this is like 2 bad-ass kids who can’t get along in the sandbox.
Less than a week before the NBA season tips off, Time Warner Cable and DirectTV continue their standoff. What it means for Laker fans is we can’t see games locally, unless they’re carried by TNT (hell, I wish TNT carried all of the Laker games), ABC or ESPN. So far, most of us haven’t been able to watch a preseason game because these 2 can’t work out a deal. It’s not only DirectTV subscribers being screwed by this. If you subscribe to the Dish Network, Charter, Cox, Verizon, AT&T and some of the other cable systems you’re not getting the games either. This blackout also includes many bars in the L.A. area.
Here’s where you can lodge complaints: At DirectTV, call or email Robert Mercer at (310) 964-4683 or RGMercer@directv.com. You can call Time Warner Cable at 888.488.3368. Ask for Mark Shuken.

With the Thunder playing in the NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Times is the latest publication to provide a platform for disgruntled Seattle NBA fans still whining over the loss of the SuperSonics. We realize it’s a touchy subject, but it always seemed to us that everyone saw this coming 2,000-miles away (distance between Seattle and Oklahoma City) a year before it happened. Everyone that is except Seattle fans. When a big shot like Howard Schultz couldn’t secure a new arena in the city, then sold the franchise to Clay Bennett and Co., you knew the Sonics were headed to OKC. Even Lil Wayne could have figured that out. The success of the Hornets, who relocated for 2 seasons to OKC from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, only paved the way.
The Thunder’s road to the NBA Finals has rejuvenated talk of the NBA returning to the Emerald City. The Sacramento Kings appear to be the frontrunner since arena problems (where have we heard this before?) between the Maloofs and the city have put the 2 parties at a stalemate. How about the irony of that?
L.A. Times

Billy Hunter is making the NBA players executive committee look like buffoons, particularly Mo Evans. Evans, once a teammate with Derek Fisher with the Lakers, has been the most vocal committee member about forcing Fisher out as president despite the union paying almost $5 million to Hunter’s family for union-related “work.” Please.
The committee went as far as dropping the name of Chris Paul, who also is a member of the committee and voted for Fisher’s ouster, as a possible successor to Fisher. Wonder where that came from?
Seriously, the stench is becoming unbearable.
Rick Fox was a guest on the “Petros & Money” show this afternoon on Fox Radio in L.A. Fox said the wackiness is just beginning. And though he didn’t elaborate, it’s a good guess more skeletons will be falling out of Hunter’s closet.
Bloomberg

Do the Clippers vote David Stern a share of playoff coin if they win it all?
In a poll of 30 ESPN writers and personalities, 25 of them picked the Heat to win this season’s NBA title. Three of them picked the Bulls and 2 predicted the Thunder would win it all.
Us? As much as Miami is the safe pick, we’re rolling with our homies (Thunder). Now beam us up Scottie.
ESPN.com

The NBA lockout has come to an end, with the players and the owners agreeing to a tentative deal early this morning. The season will tip off Christmas Day with a tripleheader, including Derrick Rose and the Bulls visiting the Lakers.
N.Y. Times

Eventually, we all knew it would come to this, NBA players caving before opening night. Or at least it sounds like there is some cracking inside the NBA Players’ Union, with the fussing and fighting intensifying. The superstars can afford to miss a few paychecks, but many of the rank-and-file members not so much. In addition, there has been talk of some players questioning the loyalty of Derek Fisher. Now, Billy Hunter is under the microscope.
The owners aren’t the picture of solidarity either, the comments by Heat owner Mickey Arison the latest example. But they’ve got money. And they’ve got the little dictator (David Stern) leading the charge.
A deal by the end of the week? We think so. The worst being next week, no?
If not, we’ve got college hoops tipping off. That will stop a little bleeding for us hoop junkies.
Yahoo Sports

“Go fuck yourself.”
This is going nowhere. Maybe saner heads like Mark Cuban will prevail? Didn’t think so.
N.Y.Times

An email sent out by Players Union Prez Derek Fisher is generating much interest. The reason? NBA owners are not on the same page about settling the lockout. No shit Sherlock?
We’d wager the farm that Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is 1 of the owners playing hardball.
SI.com

With NBA owners and players making little progress on the lockout, Impact Basketball is planning to start a league in Las Vegas next month.
Hoopsworld.com

NBA Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans visited the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on Monday night (5.3.10) and dined at N9NE Steakhouse with a party of 7, which included George Maloof, owner of the Palms and the Sacramento Kings along with his family.
Also in the house: Christopher Bridges, better known as Ludacris, stopped at the restaurant for a quick dinner.
Image of Evans and N9NE Executive Chef Barry S. Dakake courtesy of 9 Group