<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">YAO RETURNS TO CHINA With Houston facing Sacramento in a two-game series in Shanghai and Beijing, Yao Ming received a hero's welcome as the NBA staged its inaugural China Games. The 7-5 Rockets center was greeted by an overflow crowd of 11,333 at Shanghai's city gymnasium Oct. 14, the arena he once called home as a member of the Shanghai Sharks, as Houston edged the Kings, 88-86, in the first ever NBA game in China. "The scenes of Yao and his giddy herd," wrote Tom Lowry in Business Week, "bring back images of Muhammad Ali being trailed by dozens of school kids on his training runs for the 'Rumble in the Jungle' prizefight in Zaire 30 years ago." THE INCIDENT AT THE PALACE On. Nov. 19, a game between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills was called off with 45.9 seconds remaining when what started as a brief on-court skirmish turned ugly as it spilled into the stands. A review of the incident by NBA Commissioner David Stern would eventually lead to unprecedented suspensions, fines and revised arena guidelines throughout the NBA. Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest, who charged into the stands after being hit by a cup thrown by a fan, was suspended for the regular season and the playoffs.</div> NBA.com
Wow this is a good article. One of the very few articles I've read about the NBA that doesn't act like Toronto isn't in the NBA. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">MAPLE LEAVE Despite a steady stream of trade rumblings out of Toronto all year long, some were still shocked when the Raptors dealt away the player many considered the face of the franchise, Vince Carter, on Dec. 17. In return, the Raptors received Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and a pair of first-round draft picks. Carter would flourish after crossing the border. Through 20 games with the Raptors, he averaged 15.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game; in 57 with the Nets he averaged 27.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 4.7 apg. </div> *sniff* Vince is gone. Damn, this sucks. They even had Donyell's record-tying 12 threes there.
Wow what a year it has been. The brawl, McGrady`s 3`s, Iverson`s 60, VC coming to jersey, and the Bulls "stampede" into the playoffs. Even the little things like Tabuse and Seung-Jin becoming the first Japanese and South Korean player in the league, left a pretty big mark on the game this year, expanding nationalitys. Its been a great season, one of the best in a couple years IMO.
