News from June 15.

Sam Cassell (Min) underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage in his hip.
His recovery time is expected to be 2 months.

Bruce Bowen (SA) elected to opt-out of the final year of his contract, 
making him a free agent.

San Antonio elected not to pick up the 04-05 option year for Robert 
Horry, making him a free agent.

LaMarcus Aldridge (high school senior, Seagoville HS (TX), forward),
Ryan Gomes (junior, Providence, forward), Marco Killingsworth (junior, 
Auburn, forward), and David Simon (junior, Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne, 
forward) withdrew their names from the NBA draft.  [thanks to Jed Tai]


Det 100, LAL 87  at Det
Tayshaun Prince (Det) had 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Rasheed Wallace (Det) had 11 points.
Ben Wallace (Det) had 18 points, 22 rebounds including 10 offensive, and 3
steals.
Richard Hamilton (Det) had 21 points on 6-18 FG and 9-11 FT.
Chauncey Billups (Det) had 14 points and 6 assists.
Stanislav Medvedenko (LAL) had 10 points and 5 rebounds.
Shaquille O'Neal (LAL) had 20 points including 6-16 FT and 8 rebounds.
Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 24 points on 7-21 FG and 10-11 FT.
Derek Fisher (LAL) had 10 points.
Karl Malone (LAL, sprained ligament right knee) did not play.
Det out-scored LAL 57-35 in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.
Detroit takes the series 4-1 and are the 2004 NBA Champions!
Chauncey Billups (Det) was named as Finals MVP.


Playoff Standings
  1st Round            2nd Round            3rd Round            Finals
  (Best of 7)          (Best of 7)          (Best of 7)          (Best of 7)
1 Minnesota (4) ____
8 Denver (1)        |_ 1 Minnesota (4) __
                     _ 4 Sacramento (3)  |
4 Sacramento (4) ___|                    |_ 1 Minnesota (2) _
5 Dallas (1)                              _ 2 LA Lakers (4)  |
                                         |                   |
2 LA Lakers (4) ____                     |                   |
7 Houston (1)       |_ 2 LA Lakers (4)  _|                   |
                     _ 3 San Antonio (2)                     |
3 San Antonio (4) __|                                        |
6 Memphis (0)                                                |_ 2 LA Lakers (1)
                                                              _ 3 Detroit (4)
                                                             |
1 Indiana (4) ______                                         |
8 Boston (0)        |_ 1 Indiana (4) ____                    |
                     _ 4 Miami (2)       |                   |
4 Miami (4) ________|                    |                   |
5 New Orleans (3)                        |_ 1 Indiana (2) ___|
                                          _ 3 Detroit (4)
2 New Jersey (4) ___                     |
7 New York (0)      |_ 2 New Jersey (3) _|
                     _ 3 Detroit (4)
3 Detroit (4) ______|
6 Milwaukee (1)
 

Thus ends the 03-04 season.  With the off-season, these reports will
become not so daily.  I'll send out reports when news occurs (except when
I'm vacation, where I'll catch up when I return).  [note: I may not cover
the Olympics this year as I'll be on vacation for some of them.]  The 
expansion draft is June 22.  The NBA draft is June 24.  The free agency 
date is July 1 (all 03-04 contracts end, teams may start negotiating with
free agents but can not sign them).  Teams may start signing free agents 
to new contracts July 14.  The Summer Olympics take place August 13-29.

Have a great summer!

patricia