Some moving thoughts on Sonics situation
While three NBA team representatives are all for the SuperSonics moving from Seattle to Oklahoma City, the Celtics aren't ready to make a public stand.
New Jersey Nets owner Lewis Katz, Indiana Pacers owner Herb Simon, and Los Angeles Lakers vice president Jeanie Buss said in Oklahoma City Tuesday that they would recommend that the league's relocation committee approve the move.
Commissioner David Stern was on hand, too. The Board of Governors will vote April 18 on the proposal.
Managing partner Wyc Grousbeck, the Celtics' representative on the Board of Governors, said via e-mail: "This right now is a matter for the commissioner and the Relocation Committee. They are doing their due diligence and trying to assess the situation as best they can. I have high confidence in their judgment and effort level. They will report to the rest of the team owners in April."
Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine grew up about 40 minutes from Seattle in Enumclaw, Wash. As a youngster, he watched Sonics games on television regularly and skipped school once to attend the annual Green and Gold Scrimmage.
Scalabrine believes the Sonics will depart and eventually an expansion franchise will take their place.
"It would be hard for me to understand this business if I was not in the league," he said. "But since I am in the league, I understand the business. Seattle will have a team again. It's such a big market. It's not an LA, Chicago, or New York. But it's a big enough place to have a team.
"Here's my speculation, which means nothing. [Las] Vegas and Seattle will try to bring two teams in. Those two teams will go to the [Western Conference], and maybe two other teams will get pushed to the East."
Scalabrine recently purchased a home in Enumclaw and plans to move there after retiring.
If an expansion franchise does come to Seattle, he hopes to become a minority partner.
Riley responds
Heat coach Pat Riley responded to Suns center Shaquille O'Neal's criticisms of his former Miami teammates and trainers in yesterday's Globe."It's sad that he says those things. We shared so much here together for three years, good and bad, 3 1/2 years," Riley told the Associated Press. "I just think it's sad that he's got to do that."
Riley added he doesn't have "anything but good feelings for Shaq" and didn't take his comments personally. But Riley also said O'Neal shouldn't have blamed the organization for things he was unhappy with.
"When you're 9-40, we're all frustrated," Riley said. "I mean, everybody's at fault - we all were. Everybody was feeling bad, and nobody wants that. [O'Neal] didn't want to be there, he didn't want to play for that kind of situation, 35 years old.
"He wanted to go to a contender and we sent him there. We sent him to Utopia and we're left here with the carnage and I don't know why he's not happy."
O'Neal fired back after the Celtics' 117-97 win over Phoenix last night: "I don't give a [expletive] what Riley is disappointed in. Sue me."
A baby for Posey
James Posey is the proud father of a baby girl, Sai Aleke Posey, born Monday in the Washington area. Posey also has a young son."Seven pounds, 12 ounces, 28¼ inches," Posey said proudly. "I had to text it to so many people that I know it by heart now.
"It was sudden for the most part. We were expecting Thursday. You know it's probably going to come early, and that's what it was."
Posey said he was getting ready to come to the Garden for a game against the 76ers Monday when his girlfriend called around 4 p.m. and told him doctors were going to induce labor. Posey called coach Doc Rivers and explained the situation.
"He told me it was the best thing to go," said Posey, who had 6 points and six rebounds against Phoenix.
A standoff
Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (14 points, six assists) and his Suns counterpart, Steve Nash (12 points, nine assists), finished about even. "I just wanted to make Steve play defense on the opposite end," said Rondo. "I made a couple shots early, then I missed a couple, but I went back to it and still made my shots." . . . Stern is scheduled to hold a media teleconference today to discuss which teams will have training camp in Europe next season. The Celtics won't be one of them after having training camp in Rome and London last October . . . A month after its debut, the Celtics andMarc J. Spears can be reached at mspears@globe.com.
