From Deseret News archives:
Trail Blazers cut Cheeks loose
Cheeks was fired Wednesday, after the Blazers had lost seven of their last nine and tumbled to 22-33.
"It's a sad day for me because I've got guys on my team that I really," said Cheeks, his voice trailing off in disappointment during an emotional news conference a few hours after he was let go. "I didn't do as well a job as I could have, as I did in previous years," he concluded.
With Portland's chances of making the playoffs dwindling, the Blazers appointed Kevin Pritchard, the team's director of player personnel, as interim coach.
"Our players liked Mo a great deal, but sometimes a fresh voice might ignite them to go in a different direction," Blazers general manager John Nash said.
While the Blazers are not entirely giving up on the playoffs, Pritchard's appointment shows the team is going to focus on evaluating younger players.
"I'm not going to mislead anybody. It's a long uphill battle to get to the playoffs from where we're at — 11 games under .500," Blazers president Steve Patterson said.
The Blazers are in 12th place in the Western Conference, six games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the eighth and final playoff spot. Portland went 41-41 last season and missed the playoffs for the first time in 22 years.
ARENAS FINED: Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas was fined $7,500 by the NBA for criticizing the referees following his team's loss to Sacramento.
Arenas was called for a foul as Cuttino Mobley drove the lane with 1.5 seconds to play, resulting in two free throws that decided the game, a 110-108 victory by the Kings on Sunday. Arenas scored 43 points but was upset he had just seven free throws.
"I don't understand it sometimes," Arenas said. "I probably drive the lane as strong as anybody in the league, and I don't get the same calls anybody gets, like an (Allen) Iverson, who can shoot 26 free throws a night."
WALKER WEARS NO. 8 AGAIN: Antoine Walker returned to the Boston parquet Wednesday night and got a welcome back gift from one of his new teammates: The No. 8 he wore in his first go-round with the Celtics.
Al Jefferson, a rookie who has worn the number this season, agreed to give it up to the team's former captain — no charge. Players frequently extract gifts or cash for trading numbers, but Jefferson said he was more interested in a basketball tutorial.
"I said, 'Take me under your wing,' " Jefferson said. "I'm a good person. It's not all about the money."
NASH RETURNS: Steve Nash will be back in the Phoenix Suns' lineup against the Detroit Pistons tonight after missing three games with a sore hamstring.
