Rider Gets Fined $1,000 for Absence

Problem-plagued Isaiah Rider was fined $1,000 Tuesday by the Portland Trail Blazers for missing a practice after a two-game suspension.

He said he didn’t realize the team had changed the site for Monday’s practice, but Coach Mike Dunleavy said Rider had been told.

“It’s not good for our team,” Dunleavy said in Portland, Ore. “I’m not going to make anything more out of it than it is, as far as it being a slap in the face or something personal.”

The 6-foot-5 guard was to start his first game of the season Tuesday night in Portland against his former team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. NBA Commissioner David Stern suspended him for the first two games for a marijuana conviction and a no-contest plea on illegal possession of cellular phones.

P.J. Carlesimo, Portland’s coach last season, generally made players who missed a practice or a game-day shootaround sit out the first quarter of the next game. Based on that, Carlesimo kept Rider out of the starting lineup four times last season.

But once, after Rider had walked out of a practice, Carlesimo suspended him for a game.

“You don’t suspend guys for missing practice; I’ve never heard of that,” Dunleavy said. “Multiple offenses, maybe.”

George Glymph, director of player development for the Blazers, said Rider was eager to get back into action after working out Saturday.

“He worked hard and was so positive,” Glymph said.

Rider failed to show for one exhibition game and four shootarounds last season, and he was late for other workouts.