SL: Pistons 'earned' record; Reggie's not happy; No tear for Bynum



Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your pancetta.
Vincent Goodwill, Detroit News: "Leave it to Ben Wallace(notes) to put the Pistons' 11-game losing streak -- and disappointing season -- in perspective. 'We earned this early vacation,' Wallace said of the Pistons, who will not be in the playoffs for the first time since the 2000-01 season. 'We didn't get it done the way we we're supposed to. Nobody went out and played for us. Things will get better, though.' Wallace has been one of the team's few bright spots, averaging five points and nine rebounds. He is proud of his individual performance at age 35,world top 10 seal corps of death squads special forces combat boot goldenrod black, but takes responsibility for the team's 23-53 mark. He came back to Detroit expecting to be the fifth big man, but played well above expectations. 'They say losing builds character; I say losing (stinks),world top 10 seals corps of punisher special forces combat boot goldenrod black,' Wallace said. 'Nobody's exempt and I have to live with that.'"
Frank Zicarelli, Toronto Sun: "There is no love for the City of Brotherly Love and nor is there any hatred for the city he once called his hoops home. For Reggie Evans(notes), there is only pain and frustration. Saturday marks the fourth and final meeting between the Raptors and Sixers, who met twice in the pre-season. The teams orchestrated an off-season deal that seemed, at least at the time, to serve each well given their respective deficiencies. Philly couldn't shoot and it acquired a shooter in Jason Kapono(notes). The Raptors couldn't rebound, weren't tough and were mentally soft, points of emphasis that are right up Evans' alley. Kapono has been starting of late in the wake of injuries, his impact in Philly is next-to-nothing. A pre-season foot injury kept Evans out of the lineup until Feb. 17. The impact Evans has had in games since his return has been marginal and his role diminished. 'Rough,' began Evans when asked following Friday's practice to describe his year in Toronto. 'It has been rough, man. I ain't going to lie to you. I ain't ever been injured in my life and it ain't been fun. It ain't been all peaches and cream. It has been a tough year.'"
Michael Lee, Washington Post: "A league source said it is unlikely that the Wizards would retain Foye at the price of his qualifying offer, opening up the opportunity for him to walk without compensation. 'They really don't have to do nothing. It's up to them. Whatever management does, they are going to do, no matter what the outside thinks,' Foye said. 'I'm really not concerned. I think people have seen me enough in this league to know exactly what I can do and exactly what kind of player I am, if they acquire me, or whatever happens here. They know what they are getting. Being here would be important. This is somewhere I would like to be, but I understand that it's a business at the same time.'"
Dave McMenamin, ESPNLosAngeles.com: "Lakers center Andrew Bynum(notes), sidelined for the last two weeks with a strained left Achilles tendon, had another MRI on Monday that confirmed once again there is no tear in the tendon. Bynum has not been cleared to play and no timetable has been set for his return to action, according to the Lakers official Web site."

Ken Sugiura, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "The Hawks enter the final two weeks of the season in control of their fate for the third playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. From the outside, it doesn't appear the grip is so steady. All-Star guard Joe Johnson(notes) will not play in the Hawks' next two games, Tuesday at Charlotte and Wednesday at Detroit, in order to rest his sprained right thumb. Furthermore, the Hawks will play four of their next five games away from Philips Arena, which doesn't bode well since they have a 17-20 road record after losing their last four elsewhere. 'Diving on the floor for loose balls and things of that nature, a lot of that stuff we do here at Philips, we've got to take that on the road,russias alpha special forces combat boot brown black,' Johnson said. 'I just don't see a lot of that on the road, us diving for loose balls, taking charges. ... That's something we've really got to try to get to if we're trying to make it to the next level, which is winning a championship.'"
AP: "The Denver Nuggets know they'll have a better chance of going far in the playoffs if Kenyon Martin's(notes) physical and mental issues are straightened out. The Nuggets are hoping that Martin will return to practice Tuesday after being out for a month with patellar tendinitis in his left knee and they're also crossing their fingers that he's put aside his anger over an April Fool's popcorn prank involving J.R. Smith(notes). Martin declined to comment on either topic after shooting baskets and riding an exercise bike during practice Monday. He brushed past a reporter waiting outside the team's locker room, smiling and saying, 'Nope,' before fielding any questions or breaking stride as he sauntered down the hallway, his left knee wrapped in a brown bandage. Acting head coach Adrian Dantley said he wasn't sure what Martin would be able to do at practice Tuesday or even if he'll be able to withstand the pain enough to participate in drills. Martin had platelet-rich plasma injection therapy last month, choosing the procedure also known as 'blood spinning' over season-ending surgery in hopes he'll be back in time for the playoffs."
Mike Wells, Indianapolis Star: "Opens the season as a backup point guard. Now starting and having an impact late in the season. Free agent this summer. That was Jarrett Jack(notes) last season, and it will be Earl Watson(notes) this summer. The Indiana Pacers likely will have to compete with other teams if and when they try to re-sign Watson, who will be an unrestricted free agent. Watson, who hasn't been to the playoffs since 2005, said winning is more important than starting. He will sign with a team that has the best chance to win. The Pacers haven't been to the playoffs since 2006. 'Winning is always going to be an impact,' he said. 'Being here, I felt like I've built family ties with my teammates. That's important to me. I'm a loyal guy, sometimes to a fault. A lot of things can play a factor. You never know what can happen in free agency.'"
Marc Stein, ESPN.com: "The NBA has granted the New York Knicks' request for luxury-tax relief on the contract of retired guard Cuttino Mobley(notes), according to league sources. Sources told ESPN.com that the Knicks were notified last week that their request for Mobley's $9.5 million salary to be erased from their 2009-10 tax bill has been approved. The Knicks then waived Mobley on Monday, according to a league memorandum obtained by ESPN.com. Once Mobley clears waivers later this week, New York will see its luxury-tax bill for July drop from nearly $15 million to $5.1 million. That will also reduce the rebate that teams get for staying underneath the league's $69.9 million luxury-tax threshhold from just over $4 million to $3.7 million. Mobley retired last season because of a heart condition that has worsened, but New York was waiting for the league's ruling on the matter before waiving Mobley, which opens up a roster spot in case the Knicks want to sign anyone for the final week-plus of the season."
AP: "Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson has been fined $35,000 for criticizing game officials. The NBA announced the discipline on Monday. Jackson was fined for comments he made after the Lakers' 100-81 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday at the Staples Center."



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