--After the NBA fined Dallas owner Mark Cuban $25,000 for his behavior last Tuesday against the Nuggets, he was ready to fork over another $25,000. And the Nuggets are willing to take him up on his offer.
Shortly after Cuban was fined for what the NBA dubbed improper interactions with Nuggets players at halftime and for conduct following a game Tuesday, he put up a post on his blog (www.blogmaverick.com). Addressing a letter to J.R. Smith, the Nuggets guard whom Cuban believes should have been suspended five games for throwing an elbow that didn't connect, he began in a sarcastic tone before making an offer to donate $25,000 to a charity of Smith's choice. "Im (sic) sorry I didnt (sic) accept your generous offer of a signed pair of shoes," Cuban wrote about Smith having sent him shoes after the game in an apparent goodwill gesture but Cuban returning them. "I think they were even my size."
Cuban later wrote that "in the spirit of the job of my getting fined and your not getting (a technical), have the Nuggets PR folks contact the Mavs PR folks and I will donate 25k to the charity of your choice."
The Nuggets are willing to take Cuban up on the offer. Director of media relations Eric Sebastian wrote in an e-mail that the Nuggets "appreciate Mr. Cuban's generous offer, and we will speak with J.R. soon to find a worthy cause."
Cuban took exception to a Smith elbow late in the first half of Denver's 99-97 win that came close to the head of Dallas' Antoine Wright. He told Smith at halftime he expected him to be suspended, but Smith wasn't even fined.
After a controversial call, Denver's Chauncey Billups hit two game-winning foul shots with 2.2 seconds left. After the game, Cuban went onto the court yelling, although he has claimed his anger was directed at an unnamed Nuggets supporter, not the officials.
--Nene leads the NBA with a 60.5 field-goal percentage.
But there's a far more important percentage the Nuggets center has had this season: 97.6.
That's the percentage of games Nene has played, only missing one because of a stiff neck.
In the previous three seasons, Nene made it to the starting line for just 81 of 246 games. He played in just 16 last season, missing half the campaign due to testicular cancer.
"A lot of people thought at the beginning of the season me and Kenyon (Martin) would not be able to hold down the post," Nene said. "They've bit their tongue. We've surprised everyone."
Martin, the power forward, also had ample injury problems, having played in just 129 games the previous three seasons. He's missed just four games this season, giving him a showing-up percentage of 90.2.
But Martin displayed signs last season of finally getting healthy. The big surprise has been Nene, averaging 14.7 points and 7.9 rebounds.
"I play fine," Nene said.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't think there's any question we're ahead of the curve where we thought we'd be. I think we have an opportunity to play pretty serious basketball in April to win the division." -- Nuggets coach George Karl, on his team being 27-14 at the season's midpoint.
