News from December 23. Due to the lockout shorten season, the NBA reduced Andrew Bynum's (LAL) 5 game suspension to 4 games and Charlie Villanueva's (Det) 5 game suspension to 4 games. Bynum's suspension is from a flagrant foul on an airborn J.J. Barea (then with Dal) during Game 4 of the LAL-Dal series in the 2nd round of the playoffs. Villanueva's suspension is from an altercation with Ryan Hollins (Cle) and trying to go after Hollins in the lockerroom in the 4/11/11 Det-Cle regular season game. Villanueva served 1 game of the suspension at the end of last season and will serve the remaining 3 games at the start of the 11-12 season. Sacramento signed Chuck Hayes to a 4 year, $22.4 million contract after specialists in Cleveland cleared Hayes to play (after an earlier team physical found a heart condition and Sacramento then voided their original contract with Hayes). Memphis signed Charlotte restricted free agent Dante Cunningham to a 3 year, $6 million contract with the 3rd year at the team's option after Charlotte elected not to match the offer. New Orleans signed Gustavo Ayon to a 3 year contract with the 3rd year at the team's option. Atlanta released Keith Benson, Magnum Rolle, Pape Sy, and Brad Wanamaker. Charlotte released Taylor Griffin, Melvin Ely, and Durrell Summers. Denver released Cory Higgins and Michael Ruffin. The LA Clippers released Marcus Hubbard and Courtney Fortson. Memphis released Walter Sharpe and Hamed Haddadi. Miami released Derrick Byars. Minnesota released Bonzi Wells. New Jersey released Ime Udoka. New Orleans released Brian Butch. Phoenix released Marcus Landry. Brook Lopez (NJ) underwent surgery on a stress fracture of the 5th metatarsal of his right foot and is expected to be out 6 to 8 weeks. The 2011-12 (finally) starts tomorrow! Let the games begin! Schedule for Sunday, December 25 (All times Central) Boston at New York 11:00 am TNT Miami at Dallas 2:30 pm ABC Chicago at LA Lakers 4:00 pm ABC Orlando at Oklahoma City 7:00 pm ESPN LA Clippers at Golden State 9:30 pm ESPN Schedule for Monday, December 26 (All times Central) New Jersey at Washington 6:00 pm Milwaukee at Charlotte 6:00 pm Houston at Orlando 6:00 pm NBATV Toronto at Cleveland 6:00 pm Detroit at Indiana 6:00 pm Oklahoma City at Minnesota 7:00 pm Denver at Dallas 7:30 pm Memphis at San Antonio 7:30 pm New Orleans at Phoenix 8:00 pm LA Lakers at Sacramento 9:00 pm NBATV Philadelphia at Portland 9:00 pm Chicago at Golden State 9:30 pm To all who celebrate it, have a wonderful Christmas! ---- 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