- Marty solid as Stars start big 3 game Western Canada trip. Pretty much the last brutal road portion of the season. With the early season schedule front loaded with road games and still holding on to 1st in the Pacific, the Stars have a chance to really take control of the division down the stretch with a ton of home games.
Focused Turco nets a victory for Dallas Stars
02:56 AM CST on Wednesday, January 30, 2008
By MIKE HEIKA / The Dallas Morning News
mheika@dallasnews.com
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Stars goalie Marty Turco made a simple decision over the All-Star break, but it's one that will be interesting to gauge in the coming weeks and months.
Turco said he is going to stop worrying so much about his team's play and his leadership role and focus more on goaltending. It's a fine line he said he will try to walk, but one that he believes is significant.
"There's nobody who cares about the team more than I do," Turco said, "but at the end of the day, the thing that I can do to help the team most is stop the puck."
Turco had 29 saves Tuesday and was a huge key to a 4-3 Dallas victory over the Vancouver Canucks.
Turco is a significant leader in the Stars' locker room - arranging the prank to repaint Matt Niskanen's car, organizing parties and serving as an important liaison to the NHL Players Association and to the NHL competition committees. He also took it upon himself to criticize the team publicly when it went through a recent stretch of bad play.
But Turco ruminated over the impact of that criticism and had a discussion with Stars coach Dave Tippett about where that fit in the Stars' locker room.
"Without going too deep, it was just letting him know that I know that what I say in here and what I've said to you guys, especially most recently, I'm smart enough to know that anything that isn't about stopping the puck can take away from your focus a little bit," Turco said.
Tippett said he felt Turco was very focused against the Canucks and basically handed the Stars two points in the standings they might not have otherwise deserved.
"I thought he was our best player," Tippett said. "It's not about how many saves, it's about winning. I could tell when he came in this morning he was really focused on winning."
Turco said he thought long and hard about the past few weeks, and decided he simply needs to concentrate on stopping the puck. He said he doesn't regret the criticism of his teammates and said he might still have a few things to say down the road, but he just wanted to acknowledge the fact that worrying too much about the team game was not helping him be the best goalie he can be.
"We were at a position where I thought it was a necessity for me to say some things," Turco said. "I don't think anyone was happy, and I think it was a case of I felt I needed to say some things. But while I think you would like to think you can do everything, there's a knowledge that you can't do everything, and that things are better served for my game if most of my preparation goes into what I need to do in goal."
On Tuesday, Turco was outstanding early when the Canucks had two first-period power plays. Turco had a series of saves on Taylor Pyatt and stacked the pads when Mattias Ohlud seemingly had an open net.
That allowed Trevor Daley to give Dallas the lead with his second goal of the season, and allowed the Stars to continue to push the game with goals by Mike Modano (his 15th), Stephane Robidas (on the power play) and Steve Ott (short-handed).
The Stars wavered in the third as Vancouver scored on two open one-timers, but Turco closed the door and gave Dallas a win that pushed its record to 29-20-5 (63 points).
Vancouver, which was without goalie Roberto Luongo, falls to 26-20-5 (57 points). Luongo was given a personal day off to be with his pregnant wife in Florida.
Turco said he believes every game is important the rest of the season as the Stars attempt to get in solid playoff position.
"We understand where we sit might not be as true (in the standings) as it appears because of those games in hand, so we understand how important each point is," Turco said of Dallas' perch atop the Pacific Division. "And what's just going to make everybody better is if I'm intense and ready to do my job. That's the most important thing I can do."
- JJ Barea now gets his chance to become a permanent NBA player.
More minutes, responsibility for Dallas Mavericks' J.J. Barea
09:08 PM CST on Tuesday, January 29, 2008
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
esefko@dallasnews.com
As what often happens after a mental foul-up, J.J. Barea took some needling after he launched what passed for a desperation 3-point heave against Memphis on Monday, when there was still plenty of time to get a legitimate shot.
His coach couldn't help but bring it up in a postgame interview.
"He needs to learn not to shoot half-court shots with seven seconds on the shot clock," Avery Johnson said, barely able to suppress a grin.
That it happened in a blowout victory meant everybody could laugh about it. But it was one of those things that reminds everybody that Barea is a young player who will make mistakes.
"I should have looked up at the clock," he said of his unanswered prayer. "I could have driven. I had lots of time."
He just got confused. It happens.
But doing so against the woeful Grizzlies is one thing.
Starting Thursday, the stakes for Barea and the Dallas Mavericks rise significantly. They play the Eastern Conference's three divisional leaders in a row on the road, starting with Boston, which owns the NBA's best record.
It also will be a homecoming of sorts for Barea, the Puerto Rican who went to college at Northeastern in Boston.
These are intriguing times for the backup point guard, who is generously listed at 6-foot. With Devin Harris on the shelf, Jason Terry is the starter at the point. Barea is the backup, and the Mavericks are eager to give him a chance to keep the job, which is why at this point they don't expect to be players in the Jason Kidd sweepstakes, in spite of rumors sweeping across the NBA.
Unless New Jersey plans on a fire sale of Kidd – unlikely given Nets president Rod Thorn's reputation as one of the league's saltiest personnel bosses – the price for Kidd will be prohibitive.
Plus, the thought of paying Kidd's $21 million salary next season, in addition to another $21 million in luxury tax to the league, is not palatable, even for an aggressive owner like Mark Cuban.
For now, a couple more weeks of Barea getting 15 to 20 minutes per game is the plan.
"He's a confident guy," Dirk Nowitzki said. "He's played internationally for his country for a lot of years, and he knows how to handle big games. He's actually a great finisher in the lane for as little as he is."
And Barea is not afraid to launch his shot, the gaffe in Memphis notwithstanding. He had nine points against the Grizzlies, and he's hit 11 of 27 3-pointer attempts this season (40.7 percent).
He's also been getting hands-on mentoring from Johnson during practice sessions.
"The chances that I got lately have helped me out," Barea said. "I understand Coach a little more. He's helped me out big-time. He knows what I do best, and he helps me out calling the right plays. So I just try to get better, do what he wants me to do and keep it simple.
"When I come in, I just got to keep running the team, not turn the ball over and play good defense."
Utility infielder: Terry has often been called a combo guard, meaning he is neither a point guard, nor a shooting guard, but a hybrid of both.
That's often been construed as a negative, but this season is illustrating his immense value to the Mavericks. He's mostly been a sixth man off the bench who is brought in for his scoring.
But with Harris out until the All-Star break, Terry is starting at point guard and showing his versatility.
"Jason's been in there before Devin was even ready," Johnson said. "I don't know if any of us would be here if Jason hadn't gotten hot in a couple situations."
Terry said he's just happy that the Mavericks have the depth to cope with injuries.
"It will take game experience with different lineups," he said. But for guys who usually get no minutes, getting them some good quality minutes, there's nothing that compares to that. We've got one of the deepest teams in the league, and at times like this, it shows."
- The Mets upgrade an aging, mediocre starting rotation. With Pedro healthy and the #2 behind Santana, and with that lineup, this team could be scary.
Twins agree to send ace Santana to Mets
05:53 PM CST on Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Associated Press
NEW YORK – Johan Santana is a contract extension and physical from going to the New York Mets.
After months of deliberation, the Twins reached a tentative agreement Tuesday to part with the two-time Cy Young Award winner for outfielder Carlos Gomez, and pitchers Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey, two people familiar with the deal said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.
"If it's true, obviously, you're getting arguably the best pitcher in the game," Mets third baseman David Wright said.
The next step is for the Mets to negotiate a contract extension with Santana, who is eligible for free agency after this season. The three-time All-Star is owed $13.25 million this year and likely will seek an extension of five-to-seven years worth at least $20 million annually.
New York and Santana have until 5 p.m. EST Friday to reach an agreement, a baseball official told The Associated Press, also on condition of anonymity. If the Mets and Santana strike a deal, the players would have to pass physicals and the pitcher would have to formally waive his no-trade clause.
The Mets emerged as the top candidate for a trade after the winter meetings, when the New York Yankees withdrew their offer, which included pitchers Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, and the Red Sox refused to improve their proposals, which would have sent pitcher Jon Lester or outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury to the Twins along with prospects.
Minnesota general manager Bill Smith called teams last weekend and asked them to make their best offers. Smith informed the Mets on Tuesday that he was accepting their proposal, which included their Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 7 prospects, according to Baseball America's ranking. New York did not include its top farmhand, outfielder Fernando Martinez.
A left-hander who turns 29 in March, Santana gives the Mets a replacement for Tom Glavine, who left New York to return to the Atlanta Braves. New York, trying to bounce back from a record-setting September collapse last season, has a projected rotation that also includes Pedro Martinez, John Maine, Orlando Hernandez and Oliver Perez.
Santana is 93-44 with a 3.22 ERA in eight major league seasons, winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2004 and 2006. He has been less successful in the playoffs, going 1-3 with a 3.97 ERA.
"For our younger pitchers to develop under a guy like Pedro, a guy like Johan, you can't ask for any better situation," Wright said. "He's going to go out there and he's going to give you seven or eight innings every five days and he's going to get you a win. That's just what it comes down to. I've gotten a chance to get to know him a little bit the past couple years. He seems like a great clubhouse guy. He's going to fit in perfectly with the chemistry that we have."
With Santana gone, there is a big opening in the Twins' rotation. Francisco Liriano is on track to return after missing last season following elbow surgery, but Carlos Silva signed with Seattle as a free agent, leaving youngsters Scott Baker, Boof Bonser and Kevin Slowey as the starters with the most experience.
Humber, a 25-year-old right-hander, has made one start and four relief appearances for the Mets during the past two years, and went 11-9 with a 4.27 ERA last season for Triple-A New Orleans. The 22-year-old Gomez batted .232 in 125 at-bats with New York last year and .275 with 19 steals in the minors.
Guerra, who turns 19 in April, was 2-6 with a 4.01 ERA at Class A St. Lucie, and Mulvey, who will be 23 in May, was 12-10 with a 3.20 ERA in 26 starts at Double-A Binghamton and one at New Orleans.
- Wow.
Sonics shock champion Spurs, finally snap dismal 14-game slump
SEATTLE (AP) -- Put away the paper bags. Those sad sack SuperSonics can show their faces again.
Kevin Durant scored 26 points, including the go-ahead jump shot with 32.6 seconds remaining and Seattle stunned defending NBA champion San Antonio 88-85 on Tuesday night to finally end its team-record losing streak at 14 games.
"Fourteen games? That's a big number. You kind of don't want to show your face when you're losing like that," said Chris Wilcox, who had 16 points including the basket before Durant's thriller.
After Seattle's Luke Ridnour dribbled away the final seconds, he fired the ball high in the air toward a crowd that was roaring for one of the few times in this dreadful, potentially final season in town for the Sonics. Wally Szczerbiak thrust both arms skyward, like Rocky.
"It was like we won the championship," said Durant, the 19-year-old rookie who was trying to win an NCAA one for Texas this time last year. "It was a big-time win for us."
The Sonics (10-35) won for the first time since Dec. 29, over Minnesota, and for just the second time this season against a team with a winning record.
Durant swished an open shot created by a thudding screen from Kurt Thomas, whose consecutive open jumpers had given Seattle an unlikely lead with 90 seconds to go. Ridnour hit a free throw with 12 seconds left before Manu Ginobili, who had 29 points, missed a leaning 3-pointer with 4.9 seconds remaining that would have tied it.
So ended the season-high third consecutive loss for the Spurs, who were playing without Tony Parker. Coach Gregg Popovich surprised the star point guard by making him inactive about an hour before the game. Then he announced Parker will be out indefinitely to rest a bone spur in his left heel.
Parker was to fly back to San Antonio late Tuesday and get an MRI on Wednesday or Thursday, the team announced.
Since starting 17-3, San Antonio has gone 11-13 while enduring other injuries to Tim Duncan and Ginobili. The Spurs are now 9-9 without any of their Big Three.
"The worst part is ... I don't see that we're playing with a sense of urgency," said Ginobili, who was playing his second game since taking off the protective device he'd been wearing this month over his sprained left index finger.
Duncan seemed more annoyed than urgent. He scored 27 points but was frustrated for much of the night while missing 11 of 21 shots.
The Spurs are 0-2 on a nine-game trip to both coasts, San Antonio's annual trek while the city's stock show and rodeo take over its home court.
Popovich said this week that his teams have often used the "rodeo trip" to improve focus. The Spurs went 8-1 on it in 2003 before lassoing the NBA title. They went 5-2 on the rodeo trip en route to winning it all in '05.
Then again, the Spurs were only 4-4 on their trek last year -- then went 23-6 after the All-Star break and won another league title.
Now, they will have to get along without Parker, their catalyst who is averaging 19.2 points and 6.1 assists per game this season.
"That's irrelevant. That had nothing to do with it. Teams lose guys and have nicks all the time," Popovich said after another loss.
A visibly agitated Duncan got a frustration foul and went to the bench in the final minute of the third quarter after a turnover that he thought was a slap across his wrist by Thomas. While Duncan sat and stewed, Seattle turned a 64-59 deficit into a 69-66 lead.
Normal NBA hierarchy was soon restored -- the Spurs seized back the lead. But only briefly.
Thomas took advantage of Duncan leaving him alone to make consecutive flat-footed shots from 16 feet and 17 feet and give Seattle an 82-81 lead with 90 seconds left. Duncan just grimaced while arriving late to watch Thomas' second, go-ahead basket.
A free throw by Ginobili tied it before Wilcox gave Seattle the lead again with a turnaround shot in the lane with 55.8 seconds left. Then Ginobili shook off a near steal in the open court by Durant and coldly swished a 24-foot 3-pointer far beyond the top of the key to give San Antonio an 85-84 lead with 43.5 seconds remaining.
Ginobili then fed Fabricio Oberto for a layup attempt, but Oberto rushed and banged that off the glass without hitting the rim with 15 seconds to go. Seattle rebounded and Ridnour made two free throws to put the Sonics ahead 88-85 with 12 seconds remaining.
Ginobili stepped back to try a leaning 3-pointer after pump-faking Earl Watson out of position, but the shot missed off the right side of the rim.
- Jason Kidd update from Chris Sheridan, ESPN.com
Hit Or Miss: Kidd Deal Could Be Last-Second Deadline Shot
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- "Strike two," Jason Kidd said from the interview podium, shooting down attempt No. 2 to get him to answer a question about his future.
A small grin crept across Kidd's face as he congratulated himself for his humorous ingenuity before he scanned the room as though he owned it and practically dared another reporter to allow him to end the interview session with a "Yer Out."
A New Jersey Nets official had begun Kidd's postgame news conference by declaring that Kidd would only field questions regarding the game, a 87-80 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks that snapped New Jersey's nine-game losing streak.
And when Kidd's inquisition ended peacefully (he had made his point with "strike two"), he stood up and walked away a winner for the first time since Jan. 9 when New Jersey beat Seattle -- back when Kidd's desire to break free of the Nets was merely simmering instead of being on full tilt, a rolling boil, as it is now.
A sense of relief permeated the Meadowlands after the game, an unmistakable collective exhale as strong as the air of impending finality that wafted through the corridors of the building in the two hours leading up to tip-off.
Nets coach Lawrence Frank had seemed unusually candid beforehand, speaking with the tone of someone in on the secret, as he spoke of Kidd's professionalism in giving his all to the Nets until there's a resolution to his trade request.
"He's a Net until he or anyone else is wearing another uniform. So until he's wearing that uniform, we all have to put in a lot of hard work," Frank said, adding that Kidd's status was not going to be "awkward" in the locker room because the core of the team has been through similar situations before.
Frank went on to compare the current crisis -- amped up Monday when Kidd told ESPN's Ric Bucher he indeed wants out of New Jersey -- to the situation last season when Kidd was nearly traded to the Lakers, as well as the situation five years ago when the Nets had just been sold to Bruce Ratner and had lost Kerry Kittles and Kenyon Martin through free agency after the team had made consecutive trips to the NBA Finals.
"We were in USA Today after media day, and the story was all about Alonzo [Mourning] and Jason didn't want to be here," Frank said. "We've been through waters similar to this."
This time, however, the aura surrounding the Nets is different. The roster remains fundamentally flawed from the duplication Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter bring to the roster, and the nine-game losing streak has left New Jersey with a goal for this season that really boils down to striving to secure the seventh or eighth playoff seed in the East, which brings with it a daunting postseason matchup against the clearly superior Celtics or Pistons.
Kidd wants to be with a legitimate contender, preferably immediately, especially given the Nets' reluctance to extend his contract past its current expiration date in June, 2009.
But what's good for Kidd is not necessarily what's good for the Nets.
If, at the end of the day, the best the Nets could do was to get Mike Bibby for him, would they do it? (The guess here is that the Maloofs of Sacramento would go for that).
Kidd would prefer a trade to one of four teams -- the Lakers, Mavericks, Nuggets or Cavaliers -- with legitimate championship aspirations, but Kidd also is well aware that none of those teams has the goods or is willing to give up the goods to make a straight-up swap possible.
Kidd, too, knows Nets president Rod Thorn well enough to understand that Thorn is 95 percent likely to take things right down to the 11th hour at the trade deadline to make the right deal, which means Kidd is facing three more weeks of limbo in New Jersey before there's either a resolution or not. Hence the "no questions about my future" rule, which we should expect to remain in effect right up until 3 p.m. on Feb. 22.
A source with intimate knowledge of the Kidd-Nets dynamic insisted all trade talks were still in the "exploratory" stage.
Another source, this one close to Nets owner Bruce Ratner, described him as increasingly frustrated and disappointed with the state of the franchise, whose move to Brooklyn has now been put off until 2010-11 while Ratner continues to wait for the first shovel to go into the ground at the team's future home.
Once upon a time, the Nets expected to make that move to Brooklyn with Kidd as the centerpiece of the roster, though aging.
Now, they seem resigned to a future without him -- even though that future might not begin until Feb. 22, or even later (think draft night) if Thorn can't find a deal that brings in something approaching 90 cents on the dollar.
Still, from the sound of the Nets' voices Tuesday night, you couldn't help but walk away with the sense that the franchise is three weeks away from doing something of significance with Kidd.
As Marcus Williams put it: "I don't focus on him leaving, because he's still here, and I've enjoyed every moment playing with him, and I'll continue to do so as long as he's here. If he stays, it'll be great for us. If he leaves, we have to progress from there."
- Kige has been AWOL.
- All your Super Bowl information needs are covered.
- Cougar.
- It's the fastest who gets paid.
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