News from February 14. West All-Star coach Steve Kerr (GS) announced that LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) will start in the All-Star game in place of the injured Anthony Davis (NO). 2015 Hall of Fame nominees Players Tim Hardaway played 13 seasons, 5 time NBA All-Star, won 2000 Olympic Gold Medal Spencer Haywood played 12 seasons in the NBA and 1 season in the ABA, won 1980 NBA Championship, won 1968 Gold Medal, 1970 ABA MVP and Rookie of the Year Kevin Johnson played 12 seasons (most with Phoenix), averaged 17.9 points and 9.1 assists Lisa Leslie won WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002, won Olympic Gold Medals 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 Dikembe Mutombo played 18 seasons, 4 time NBA Defensive Player of the year, 8 time NBA All-Star Jo Jo White played 12 seasons, won NBA Championships in 1974 and 1976, won Olympic Gold Medal in 1968 Coaches Leta Andrews 52 years coaching girls high school basketball, 1,416 wins John Calipari won 2012 NCAA tournament with Kentucky Bill Fitch won 1981 NBA championship with Boston, NBA Coach of the Year 1976 and 1980 Robert Hughes won 5 boys high school state championships (Texas), 1,333 wins Bo Ryan over 40 years high school and college coaching, won 4 NCAA Division III championships Referees Dick Bavetta 39 years officiating NBA A nominee needs at least 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee to be inducted. In addition, the American Basketball Association Committee selected Louis Dampier, the Early African-American Pioneers of the Game Committee selected John Isaacs, the International Committee selected Lindsay Gaze (as a coach), the Veterans Committee selected Tom Heinsohn (as a coach), and the Contributors Direct Election Committee selected George Raveling - those people are directly inducted (no further voting need). The announcement for the new inductees will take place April 6. The enshrinement ceremony will take place September 11. All-Star Saturday night results Shooting Stars (must make shot from 4 spots on court in shortest time) 1st round (top 2 advance) 30.8 Chris Bosh (Mia), Dominique Wilkins, Swin Cash 35.2 Russell Westbrook (OKC), Anfernee Hardaway, Tamika Catchings 47.0 Stephen Curry (GS), Dell Curry, Sue Bird 51.4 Paul Millsap (Atl), Scottie Pippen, Elena Delle Donne Finals Team Bosh 0:57.6 Team Westbrook 1:30 [time expired] Skills Competition (obstacle course dribbling, shooting, passing) [change: new course, head-to-head competition] 1st round (head-to-head winner advances) Patrick Beverley (Hou) defeated Isaiah Thomas (Pho) Jeff Teague (Atl) defeated Elfrid Payton (Orl) Brandon Knight (Mil) defeated Trey Burke (Uta) Kyle Lowry (Tor) defeated Dennis Schroeder (Atl) 2nd round Beverley defeated Teague Knight defeated Lowry Finals Beverley defeated Knight 3-point Shootout (4 racks of 5 balls - 4 worth 1 point, 1 worth 2 points; 5th rack of 5 2 point balls) 1st Round (top 3 advance) 24 Klay Thompson (GS) 23 Stephen Curry (GS) 23 Kyrie Irving (Cle) 22 Wesley Matthews (Por) 18 Marco Belinelli (SA) 18 Kyle Korver (Atl) 17 J.J. Redick (LAC) 15 James Harden (Hou) Finals Curry 27 Irving 17 Thompson 14 Slam Dunk Contest [2 dunks each round, maximum 3 attempts, 5 former players judge dunks] 1st Round (top 2 advance) Zach LaVine (Min) 50a 50b = 100 pts Victor Oladipo (Orl) 50c 39 = 89 pts Miles Plumlee (Bro) 40 36 = 76 pts Giannis Antetokounmpo (Mil) 30# 35 = 65 pts Finals LaVine 45 49d = 94 pts Oladipo 31# 41 = 72 pts # = missed all 3 dunks a = lob through leg, one-hand dunk b = lob, move ball under rear, one-hand dunk [best dunk] c = 540 degree, over-the-head, two-hand dunk [2nd best dunk] d = lob off stanchion, through leg one-hand dunk 2015 All-Star Weekend - at New York City February 13-15 Schedule (All times Central) Sunday, February 15 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Legends Brunch NBATV 1:30 - 4:00 pm NBADL All-Star Game NBATV 7:30 - 10:00 pm All-Star Game TNT Monday, February 16 - Wednesday, February 18 No games scheduled [full week off for All-Star break] Schedule for Thursday, February 19 (All times Central) Dallas @ Oklahoma City 7:00 pm TNT San Antonio @ LA Clippers 9:30 pm TNT ---- Patricia Bender pbender@eskimo.com For Trianglons puzzles: http://www.trianglons.com For NBA stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/index.html For Mavs stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/mavs.html