darthska
Staff member
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So... Dwight Howard, Jason Richardson, Gilbert Arenas, Hedo Turkoglu, on the same team? If this were maybe 2006...
OFFICIAL 2010-2011 NBA PLAYOFFS THREAD : VOL. MOST. ANTICIPATED. PLAYOFFS. EVER?
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by bigmike23,
- Start date
darthska
Staff member
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So... Dwight Howard, Jason Richardson, Gilbert Arenas, Hedo Turkoglu, on the same team? If this were maybe 2006...
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How was Dunleavy's tip not offensive basket interference
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How was Dunleavy's tip not offensive basket interference
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Who??
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Who??
darthska
Staff member
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^
darthska
Staff member
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^
D
Deleted member 38182
Guest
They said on NBAtv that it's basket interference if the rim is supporting the ball. If the ball is touching the rim but the rim is no longer supporting the ball, you can touch it, like Dunleavy did.Originally Posted by 23ska909red02
rck2sactown:
How was Dunleavy's tip not offensive basket interference
Ahh makes sense. After a few more looks at the play it does look like the ball was ever so slightly off the rim. Amazing that the refs didn't blow the whistle there, good job NBA.
D
Deleted member 38182
Guest
They said on NBAtv that it's basket interference if the rim is supporting the ball. If the ball is touching the rim but the rim is no longer supporting the ball, you can touch it, like Dunleavy did.Originally Posted by 23ska909red02
rck2sactown:
How was Dunleavy's tip not offensive basket interference
Ahh makes sense. After a few more looks at the play it does look like the ball was ever so slightly off the rim. Amazing that the refs didn't blow the whistle there, good job NBA.
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To answer some of the problems with the Bobcats:
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To answer some of the problems with the Bobcats:
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Im not oging to get caught up in the Melo to NJ rumors again... But I will say we can put together 1 of the best realistic packages to send to Denver. The only thing that concerns me is putting a team around Melo to win soon.
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Im not oging to get caught up in the Melo to NJ rumors again... But I will say we can put together 1 of the best realistic packages to send to Denver. The only thing that concerns me is putting a team around Melo to win soon.
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yeeupp
Banned
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Yes, it really would.. i was thinking about that the other day
yeeupp
Banned
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Yes, it really would.. i was thinking about that the other day
Despite their losing records, don't count the Rockets and Sixers out of the playoff hunt just yet.
It's that time again: Time to alert the masses to a finding that flies in the face of conventional wisdom.
No longer is the controversy at the top of my Power Rankings, which look fairly straightforward these days: Streaking Boston and Miami teams own the top two spots, a 24-3 San Antonio teams sits third, and the Lakers, Mavs, Bulls and Jazz are right behind.
Rather, the mystery lies a bit further down, at the eighth and ninth spots. One can't help noticing that both squads there have losing records and are seen by many as likely lottery fodder.
Houston is eighth in the Power Rankings despite standing only 10th in its conference, with a record of just 13-15 putting the Rockets 1.5 games behind Portland for the West's final playoff spot. On a national level, the club's lone newsworthy moment this season came with the recent announcement that All-Star center Yao Ming would miss the rest of the season.
Then there's the No. 9 team, Philadelphia. They Sixers are 11-16, and beyond that is the fact that, well, they're the Sixers. Most people went into the season with the assumption that the Sixers would be a horrible team, so when they confirmed those suspicions by playing horribly to start the year, the masses filed the club under "lottery" and moved on. Considering the team's record, most have seen little reason to review that choice.
Here's the thing: Philly isn't horrible. Far from it. And neither are the Rockets for that matter. What's happening is that the Power Rankings are telling us something that we can't see in their records -- in part because they've turned their seasons around after slow starts and in part because they're been unfortunate in close games.
For starters, both teams are better than their records. Despite a combined mark of 24-31, both the Rocket and 76ers have outscored their opponents over the course of the season. As long-time readers can recite verbatim by now, point differential is a better predictor of true success than win-loss record, which means we should remain optimistic about the final 50-odd games for both teams.
Additionally, both have played their best basketball of late. Each has a plus-7 per-game scoring margin in its past 10 games, and both have moved into range of the No. 8 seed in their conference despite very rocky starts -- Philly limped out of the gate 3-13, while Houston began the season 3-10.
In both cases, personnel shifts were key.
Philadelphia's recent revival is a story of Doug Collins figuring out how to use his roster 16 games into the season. He began the year starting Jason Kapono at small forward and then flailed around with various other combinations -- including an ill-fated attempt to start struggling rookie Evan Turner -- before settling on playing second-year pro Jodie Meeks at shooting guard.
Meeks has provided a huge benefit with his long-range shooting, at 41.6 percent from downtown, answering the team's multiyear search for somebody who can make an outside shot consistently while still competently executing other phases of the game. Meeks, amazingly, was a DNP the first six games, but the club is 1-7 when he doesn't play and 10-9 when he does. They've won six of their past eight with him as a starter, with one of the defeats at the buzzer against Boston and the other after holding a fourth-quarter lead against the Lakers.
The reason is that with his addition, suddenly, the entire rotation works. Jrue Holiday and Andre Iguodala have seams to attack the basket; the Sixers can bring two potent scorers of the bench in Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young; they don't need to play Andres Nocioni or Kapono unless absolutely necessary; and Turner isn't being force-fed touches before his time.
All of this seems incredibly obvious now, but it wasn't at the start of the season. (Well, except the part about playing Young instead of Nocioni or Kapono. That was a little weird.)
And as my colleague Kevin Pelton pointed out Monday, it's had as strong a benefit on the defensive end as on offense. Meeks is a good shooter but is also no slouch defensively; because the other Sixers are average-to-good defenders and Collins is a strong defensive coach, Philly has soared into the league's top 10 in Defensive Efficiency. The reverse-field explanation for this is that Meeks has given Collins the luxury to play his better defenders, like Holiday, more minutes, and leave less capable ones like Williams and Marreese Speights in more limited roles. As this outfit was just 23rd in defense a year ago, this impressive shift explains a lot of how they Sixers are challenging for a playoff spot.
That's not the only change, of course: Elton Brand has recovered enough that his contract no longer seems that ridiculous, Holiday has emerged as a quality point guard in his second pro season, and Young has quietly been among the league's best sixth men. If they keep this up, it might quell all those Iguodala trade rumors and instead focus attention on the amazing fact that the Sixers may improve by 15 wins with nearly entirely the same team, despite the one high-profile newcomer (Turner) being brutally awful. (Yes, 15 wins. Philly won 27 a year ago. Today's Playoff Odds peg the Sixers for 42.)
As for the Rockets, their reemergence as a playoff factor is less surprising in light of the fact that they won 42 games a year ago. And while losing Yao for the season certainly removes some of the team's upside, Houston's real issue in the first few weeks was its wobbly point guard play. With Aaron Brooks sidelined and Kyle Lowry out of shape, the Rockets struggled to generate offense aside from Luis Scola's post-up game.
That's all changed in recent weeks, as Lowry has put together several dominant games (including two savage dismantlings of the man he formerly backed up in Memphis, Mike Conley). For the month of December, he's averaging 14.7 points, 8.4 assists and 2.7 steals and, most shockingly, he's made more than half his 3-pointers. As an added plus, Brooks' return over the weekend finally gives the Rockets the one-two punch they'd used so effectively a year ago at point guard.
The main beneficiary has been shooting guard Kevin Martin, who has taken his usually high-efficiency output to another level. Recently he has put up a 20-point first quarter twice in the same week and has averaged a jaw-dropping 33.4 points per 40 minutes in his past 10 games. The fact this hasn't gained more prominent mention has to do with to his bizarrely light usage in that time span, as he's played only 29 minutes per game on the month and averages just 32 for the season.
Martin's full-season numbers are fairly ridiculous too. At full strength after two injury-riddled seasons, he's hitting a torrid 44.0 percent of his 3s, nearing a career high in scoring average despite the low minutes and posting a career-best PER. Among shooting guards, only Kobe Bryant averages more points per minute, and Martin is again doing it with shocking efficiency. His 63.5 True Shooting Percentage ranks third among shooting guards, and among all players with a Usage Rate over 20 (basically anyone who shoots reasonably often), his TS percentage is the league's best.
Sum it all up, and chances are good that we'll see both Houston and Philadelphia among the eight teams left standing in each conference when the regular season ends. We won't see them for long, perhaps -- each projects as No. 7 or No. 8 seed, which doesn't bode well for their playoff longevity. But the fact that they've recovered so strongly from such shabby beginnings to their respective seasons deserves more attention than it's been getting.
[h3][/h3][h3]An early return for Perkins?[/h3]
2:53PM ET
[h5]Kendrick Perkins | Celtics[/h5]
When discussing Kendrick Perkins' return date from knee surgery, most estimates have had him back in February -- perhaps right after the All-Star break.
But after running through some skeleton offensive work with Boston's first unit Tuesday, Carolyn Manno of Comcast SportsNet New England tweeted he may be back earlier than expected.
"Perkins says he's surprised by how good he feels physically, and doctors are actually putting him ahead of schedule ... thinking late Jan. or early Feb.," she tweeted.
Manno also tweeted Perkins has another MRI scheduled right after Jan. 1, so if that goes well, it's possible he may be able to increase his workload.
With both Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal dealing with injuries this season and Semih Erden dealing with a shoulder issue that may require surgery eventually, Perkins would add some more depth to a center position that could use it.
An earlier return would also give Perkins more time to work into playing shape before the playoffs begin.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Smith's back at issue[/h3]
1:57PM ET
[h5]Craig Smith | Clippers[/h5]
Craig Smith sat out Monday's Clippers game against the Timberwolves due to a bad back, one that's been bothering Smith for a bit this season and was an issue last season for him, too.
Coach Vinny Del Negro indicated to the Los Angeles Times that Smith is scheduled to have an MRI.
While the power forward is only averaging 13.8 minutes off the bench in a reserve frontcourt role, Brian Cook, another reserve PF, has missed the last two Clippers' games due to a sprained right ankle.
With Chris Kaman also out due to injury, if both Smith and Cook continue to miss time, the Clippers will be thin up front with the threesome of rookie Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Jarron Collins carrying the frontcourt load.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Gibson's concussion[/h3]
1:13PM ET
[h5]Taj Gibson | Bulls[/h5]
UPDATE: Thomas will draw the start Tuesday night against the Sixers, according to Johnson.
Johnson also tweeted that Gibson's status will be determined Wednesday.
The Bulls play the Wizards on Wednesday night, so Gibson won't get any additional days of rest before their next game. If he's still unable to go Wednesday, look for him to possibly return for the Bulls' game Christmas day at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks -- their next bout after Wednesday.
---
After suffering a concussion in the third quarter of Saturday night's loss to the Clippers, Taj Gibson sat out practice Monday and is listed as doubtful for Tuesday's game against the 76ers, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.
With Joakim Noah also out due to injury, the Bulls will either turn to rookie Omer Asik or veteran Kurt Thomas to start in up front alongside Carlos Boozer.
If Gibson ends up missing extended time or another Bulls frontcourt player gets injured, it's possible the team could sign a player to shore up depth concerns.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Bynum's role[/h3]
12:50PM ET
[h5]Andrew Bynum | Lakers[/h5]
Andrew Bynum is back playing for the Lakers after his recovery from knee surgery kept him out of the team's first 24 games this season.
But according to the Los Angeles Times, coach Phil Jackson has indicated he's not close to re-gaining his starting spot after playing four games so far.
"I just can't tell you until he's got that bounce in his step that says he can now play 30, 35 minutes," Jackson said, according to the paper. "Right now we're content with how we're doing it."
Bynum is also dealing with some pain in his right knee now, but he told the paper "they tell me it's just something I'm going to have to deal with."
Add it all up, and it appears Bynum could continue in a limited bench role for a while -- he's averaging 16-plus minutes so far -- meaning Lamar Odom will continue to get solid burn as a frontcourt starter.
If Bynum can prove to play more minutes once the playoffs hit, his ability to protect the basket on D will be a plus in the starting lineup. Odom, who's played very well this season, could come off the bench in a sixth-man role and be a tough matchup for an opponent's second unit.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Babbitt could return to D-League[/h3]
12:07PM ET
[h5]Luke Babbitt | Trail Blazers[/h5]
Upon being sent down to the Idaho Stampede, Luke Babbitt was set to play in six games with the D-League squad.
But because the injury-prone Blazers were short-handed over the weekend, the team recalled him after only four games with the Stampede.
In Saturday's win over the Warriors, Babbitt played just over 11 minutes. On Monday's win over the Bucks, Babbitt played 17.75 minutes. Respectively, both were season highs.
But according to Wendell Maxey, despite Babbitt's increased playing time for Portland upon return, he's likely to head back down once Marcus Camby and Joel Przybilla are healthy again.
"Teams can send down a player(s) to the D-League for three stints, and the Blazers have already discussed Babbitt getting some more run in Boise," he added.
The Blazers are one team that may be active at the trade deadline, so if they deal any wings and get none back in return, Babbitt may need to give the team more minutes again after the trade deadline.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Bobcats recall Collins[/h3]
11:47AM ET
[h5]Sherron Collins | Bobcats[/h5]
UPDATE: According to a tweet from Scott Schroeder of FanHouse on Monday, the Bobcats have recalled Collins from Maine.
"He wasn't impressive in the D-League," he wrote.
As the third PG on Charlotte's roster, Collins wasn't seeing much playing time before being sent down, and it's likely that will continue now that he's back up.
However, if backup PG Shaun Livingston -- who's had injury issues in his career -- misses any time, Collins will likely slot in behind starter .J. Augustin as the main backup.
---
According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports on Dec. 9, the Bobcats have sent rookie PG Sherron Collins to the D-League's Maine Red Claws.
As Charlotte's third PG, Collins hasn't gotten much playing time this season. So his stint in the D-League should see him getting more run and experience on the court.
According to Sham Sports, Collins' non-guaranteed contract becomes fully guaranteed on Dec. 14 this season. So while it's still possible he could be waived by then, a trip to the D-League would seem to suggest he'll cross that threshold and stick with the team for the season.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Chicago's interest in Smith[/h3]
11:21AM ET
[h5]J.R. Smith | Nuggets[/h5]
[h5]Shooting guards for Chicago[/h5]
- J.R. Smith. He's reportedly available and they've inquired.
- O.J. Mayo. There have been rumblings he could get traded since he's moved back to a sixth-man role.
- Daniel Gibson and Anthony Parker. The Cavs could do a lot of dealing at the deadline, and one of these two could potentially be had.
UPDATE: Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports adds more to this on Tuesday.
"Smith is making $6 million in the final year of his contract, and would love to end up with the Bulls, sources said," he wrote. "So far, Denver has resisted Chicago's overtures on Smith because it may need to include him in a larger deal with Anthony. Bulls GM Gar Forman has been calling league personnel to do more research on the temperamental Smith, sources said."
The Bulls could use an upgrade at shooting guard, and we've listed a few other names they could target in the box to the right.
-- Ryan Corazza
---
The Nuggets could look a lot different, if they decide to trade Carmelo Anthony. There is a very good chance the team will look to deal Chauncey Billups and J.R. Smith, too.
In fact, ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan reported on Dec. 14 a source told him the Nuggets have had discussions about sending Smith to Chicago.
Smith and Nuggets head coach George Karl have conflicts each season and the team may decide to finally part with the shooting guard. He is in the final season of his three-year contract, so it's not impossible to find a new home for Smith.
A trade of Smith for Keith Bogans and Ronnie Brewer does work in the ESPN Trade Machine.
-- Nick Borges
[h5]ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard[/h5]
Smith a good fit for Bulls
http://[h3]Nuggets-Nets talking Melo, again[/h3]
10:30AM ET
[h5]Carmelo Anthony | Nuggets[/h5]
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Nets and Nuggets are once again trying to construct a multi-team trade that will land Carmelo Anthony in New Jersey.
Everyone on the Nets is available to be moved, except Brook Lopez.
"The way this is structured now, the Nets will significantly upgrade their team," said one NBA executive.
"Melo wants something similar to the Orlando deal, where he won't have to go into New Jersey -- or anywhere he's going -- without some help right away," said another NBA executive.
Wojnarowski reports some of the scenarios include Al Harrington going to the Nets, too. The Nets' Devin Harris could also be shipped to another team.
The Nets are willing to send rookie Derrick Favors, Troy Murphy, two or three future first-round draft picks and $3 million to Denver for Anthony and Harrington.
The Nets would have to include another player, or two, to make it work within the rules of the salary cap.
The trade, if it occurs, won't happen this week, but it could be consummated in early January. According to Chris Tomasson of FanHouse, the Nuggets roster is almost at full strength and the team won't trade Anthony until they see how the team plays with its full complement of players.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Wallace doesn't regret drafting Thabeet[/h3]
10:29AM ET
[h5]Hasheem Thabeet | Grizzlies[/h5]
Even though Hasheem Thabeet is only averaging 8.7 minutes, 1.4 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.57 blocks in his second season in the NBA, Memphis general manager Chris Wallace says the team doesn't regret selecting him with the No. 2 pick in the 2009 NBA draft.
"I'm not a regrets guy," Wallace tells FanHouse. "I don't think he should be put in a dead-letter file. That's extremely premature for that."
The Grizzlies sent the center to the D-League last season and he says it would be OK if it happened this season.
"I wouldn't have a problem," Thabeet said. "I just want to play ... I don't want to be the guy that's hanging around. I want to play. So if they call me out there, I'll go out there. Now, I'm here so I've just got to do my work."
Wallace said he has no plans at this time to send Thabeet to the Dakota Wizards.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Has Hamilton quit on the Pistons?[/h3]
10:29AM ET
[h5]Richard Hamilton | Pistons[/h5]
The Detroit Pistons have tried to trade Richard "Rip" Hamilton for the last few years, but have not been able to find a taker due to his contract. Hamilton is not happy with his situation with the Pistons and now The Detroit News reports the shooting guard has become a distraction and some within the organization think he has quit on the team.
He was replaced in the starting lineup by Ben Gordon over the weekend and decided he could not play Sunday due to an "upset stomach." Hamilton has also questioned how the offense is being run on several occasions this season.
It has also been difficult to move Hamilton because the team is for sale and president Joe Dumars may have been told he can't do anything until a buyer is found.
"If I need to have a long talk with him, I will," Dumars said Monday on WDFN. "I'll see how Rip is doing tomorrow when he gets in here. Rip's been good for me."
Last week there was a report that Charlotte might have some interest in Hamilton.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]NBA officially owns the Hornets[/h3]
10:00AM ET
[h5]New Orleans Hornets[/h5]
The NBA Board of Governors on Monday approved the NBA's purchase of the New Orleans Hornets.
Jac Sperling will serve as the team's chairman and representative on the league's Board of Governors and president Hugh Weber will continue directing the day-to-day operation of the team.
The NBA is hoping to find a local buyer for the Hornets.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Rockets seek injury exception for Yao[/h3]
9:43AM ET
[h5]Yao Ming | Rockets[/h5]
According to the Houston Chronicle, general manager Daryl Morey confirmed that he has petitioned the league for a disabled player exception for Yao Ming. It would be worth $5,765,000 million if it is granted.
The Rockets would have 45 days to use the exception from the time they knew he would miss the duration of the season. That would have been last Thursday.
The Rockets can use it to acquire a player via free agency or a trade. They already have a full 15-man roster, so someone would have to be moved, if Morey uses the exception.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Carter may need arthroscopic surgery[/h3]
9:27AM ET
[h5]Vince Carter | Suns[/h5]
The Suns just acquired Vince Carter as part of a six-player trade with Orlando, but they may not be able to play him for a month.
According to The Arizona Republic, Carter is having issues with his left knee and may need to have arthroscopic surgery to fix the problem.
The surgery would sideline him for about four weeks.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Another injury for Okur[/h3]
8:57AM ET
[h5]Mehmet Okur | Jazz[/h5]
Jazz center Mehmet Okur just returned from left Achilles tendon surgery and now he has an issue with a mildly sprained right foot. He missed Monday's game in Cleveland and is day-to-day.
"I was driving right (and) just tweaked it," Okur told the Deseret News. "It's not bad."
"We don't want to make it swell," Okur added. "It should be OK, though. ... It happens, right? I've got to look forward now."
Utah's next game is Wednesday in Minnesota.
http://[h3]Wright to return on Christmas[/h3]
8:18AM ET
[h5]Brandan Wright | Warriors[/h5]
According to The Oakland Tribune, power forward Brandan Wright said he will return to the active roster on Saturday against Portland.
Wright didn't give any details, but he has been out since Nov. 13 with a lower back strain.
Wright has only played in eight games so far this season for Golden State.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]West hopes for January return[/h3]
7:44AM ET
[h5]Delonte West | Celtics[/h5]
Delonte West was expected to be out until just before the playoffs following surgery to repair a fractured right wrist, but he may return a lot earlier than the initial timeline. West thinks it's possible he can return in mid-to-late January.
"It's possible I might not be patient right now," West tells the Boston Herald. "Only time will tell. If I get these X-rays and the MRI and see how the bone growth has gone, and how everything had bonded together, or whatever it is that happens, then we'll see."
The cast on his wrist will be removed on Dec. 30. West and the team should get a better idea of when he'll return at that point.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Krstic could return tonight[/h3]
7:33AM ET
[h5]Nenad Krstic | Thunder[/h5]
Thunder center Nenad Krstic may play against Charlotte on Tuesday. Krstic has missed five games after he hurt his back on Dec. 8.
According to the The Oklahoman, head coach Scott Brooks said Krstic's workouts have increased over the last few days.
Brooks will make a decision about activating him after the team's shootaround Tuesday.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Nuggets trio may play vs. Spurs[/h3]
5:55AM ET
[h5]Denver Nuggets[/h5]
Nuggets head coach George Karl told The Denver Post on Monday that Chauncey Billups (torn ligaments in his wrist), Chris Andersen (back injury) and Kenyon Martin (knee surgery) could all be available for Wednesday's game against San Antonio.
"Our team's very confident that we can be really good, but I don't know if we can be really good until we get everybody out there," Karl said after practice.
Martin won't make a decision until after shootaround on Wednesday morning.
"That would be the best gift for me, to be able to play soon," Martin said. "I'm looking forward to doing it, but I'm not going to risk anything. I've made a lot of progress up to this point, so why risk a setback?"
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Sy may go to Utah[/h3]
4:49AM ET
[h5]Pape Sy | Hawks[/h5]
Rookie Pape Sy is not getting any time with the Hawks so the team is considering sending him to the D-League for some game action at the beginning of the new year.
"I think it would suit him better to play than to sit around and practice all the time," head coach Larry Drew told the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "He needs some playing experience."
Atlanta's D-League affiliate, the Utah Flash, don't play again until Jan. 1 and the Hawks will make a final decision regarding Sy around that time.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Crawford still out[/h3]
4:42AM ET
[h5]Jamal Crawford | Hawks[/h5]
UPDATE: Crawford missed Monday's game against Orlando and he's questionable for Wednesday against Cleveland.
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Crawford said he's "still not comfortable with explosive movements."
-- Nick Borges
----
Hawks sixth-man Jamal Crawford has missed three consecutive games due to a sore back. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Crawford said he hopes to play on Monday.
That's good news for the Hawks. Their bench has been not contributed that much while Crawford has been out. During Sunday's 89-82 loss the Nets, the Hawks' bench only scored 11 points and just two after halftime.
Despite their losing records, don't count the Rockets and Sixers out of the playoff hunt just yet.
It's that time again: Time to alert the masses to a finding that flies in the face of conventional wisdom.
No longer is the controversy at the top of my Power Rankings, which look fairly straightforward these days: Streaking Boston and Miami teams own the top two spots, a 24-3 San Antonio teams sits third, and the Lakers, Mavs, Bulls and Jazz are right behind.
Rather, the mystery lies a bit further down, at the eighth and ninth spots. One can't help noticing that both squads there have losing records and are seen by many as likely lottery fodder.
Houston is eighth in the Power Rankings despite standing only 10th in its conference, with a record of just 13-15 putting the Rockets 1.5 games behind Portland for the West's final playoff spot. On a national level, the club's lone newsworthy moment this season came with the recent announcement that All-Star center Yao Ming would miss the rest of the season.
Then there's the No. 9 team, Philadelphia. They Sixers are 11-16, and beyond that is the fact that, well, they're the Sixers. Most people went into the season with the assumption that the Sixers would be a horrible team, so when they confirmed those suspicions by playing horribly to start the year, the masses filed the club under "lottery" and moved on. Considering the team's record, most have seen little reason to review that choice.
Here's the thing: Philly isn't horrible. Far from it. And neither are the Rockets for that matter. What's happening is that the Power Rankings are telling us something that we can't see in their records -- in part because they've turned their seasons around after slow starts and in part because they're been unfortunate in close games.
For starters, both teams are better than their records. Despite a combined mark of 24-31, both the Rocket and 76ers have outscored their opponents over the course of the season. As long-time readers can recite verbatim by now, point differential is a better predictor of true success than win-loss record, which means we should remain optimistic about the final 50-odd games for both teams.
Additionally, both have played their best basketball of late. Each has a plus-7 per-game scoring margin in its past 10 games, and both have moved into range of the No. 8 seed in their conference despite very rocky starts -- Philly limped out of the gate 3-13, while Houston began the season 3-10.
In both cases, personnel shifts were key.
Philadelphia's recent revival is a story of Doug Collins figuring out how to use his roster 16 games into the season. He began the year starting Jason Kapono at small forward and then flailed around with various other combinations -- including an ill-fated attempt to start struggling rookie Evan Turner -- before settling on playing second-year pro Jodie Meeks at shooting guard.
Meeks has provided a huge benefit with his long-range shooting, at 41.6 percent from downtown, answering the team's multiyear search for somebody who can make an outside shot consistently while still competently executing other phases of the game. Meeks, amazingly, was a DNP the first six games, but the club is 1-7 when he doesn't play and 10-9 when he does. They've won six of their past eight with him as a starter, with one of the defeats at the buzzer against Boston and the other after holding a fourth-quarter lead against the Lakers.
The reason is that with his addition, suddenly, the entire rotation works. Jrue Holiday and Andre Iguodala have seams to attack the basket; the Sixers can bring two potent scorers of the bench in Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young; they don't need to play Andres Nocioni or Kapono unless absolutely necessary; and Turner isn't being force-fed touches before his time.
All of this seems incredibly obvious now, but it wasn't at the start of the season. (Well, except the part about playing Young instead of Nocioni or Kapono. That was a little weird.)
And as my colleague Kevin Pelton pointed out Monday, it's had as strong a benefit on the defensive end as on offense. Meeks is a good shooter but is also no slouch defensively; because the other Sixers are average-to-good defenders and Collins is a strong defensive coach, Philly has soared into the league's top 10 in Defensive Efficiency. The reverse-field explanation for this is that Meeks has given Collins the luxury to play his better defenders, like Holiday, more minutes, and leave less capable ones like Williams and Marreese Speights in more limited roles. As this outfit was just 23rd in defense a year ago, this impressive shift explains a lot of how they Sixers are challenging for a playoff spot.
That's not the only change, of course: Elton Brand has recovered enough that his contract no longer seems that ridiculous, Holiday has emerged as a quality point guard in his second pro season, and Young has quietly been among the league's best sixth men. If they keep this up, it might quell all those Iguodala trade rumors and instead focus attention on the amazing fact that the Sixers may improve by 15 wins with nearly entirely the same team, despite the one high-profile newcomer (Turner) being brutally awful. (Yes, 15 wins. Philly won 27 a year ago. Today's Playoff Odds peg the Sixers for 42.)
As for the Rockets, their reemergence as a playoff factor is less surprising in light of the fact that they won 42 games a year ago. And while losing Yao for the season certainly removes some of the team's upside, Houston's real issue in the first few weeks was its wobbly point guard play. With Aaron Brooks sidelined and Kyle Lowry out of shape, the Rockets struggled to generate offense aside from Luis Scola's post-up game.
That's all changed in recent weeks, as Lowry has put together several dominant games (including two savage dismantlings of the man he formerly backed up in Memphis, Mike Conley). For the month of December, he's averaging 14.7 points, 8.4 assists and 2.7 steals and, most shockingly, he's made more than half his 3-pointers. As an added plus, Brooks' return over the weekend finally gives the Rockets the one-two punch they'd used so effectively a year ago at point guard.
The main beneficiary has been shooting guard Kevin Martin, who has taken his usually high-efficiency output to another level. Recently he has put up a 20-point first quarter twice in the same week and has averaged a jaw-dropping 33.4 points per 40 minutes in his past 10 games. The fact this hasn't gained more prominent mention has to do with to his bizarrely light usage in that time span, as he's played only 29 minutes per game on the month and averages just 32 for the season.
Martin's full-season numbers are fairly ridiculous too. At full strength after two injury-riddled seasons, he's hitting a torrid 44.0 percent of his 3s, nearing a career high in scoring average despite the low minutes and posting a career-best PER. Among shooting guards, only Kobe Bryant averages more points per minute, and Martin is again doing it with shocking efficiency. His 63.5 True Shooting Percentage ranks third among shooting guards, and among all players with a Usage Rate over 20 (basically anyone who shoots reasonably often), his TS percentage is the league's best.
Sum it all up, and chances are good that we'll see both Houston and Philadelphia among the eight teams left standing in each conference when the regular season ends. We won't see them for long, perhaps -- each projects as No. 7 or No. 8 seed, which doesn't bode well for their playoff longevity. But the fact that they've recovered so strongly from such shabby beginnings to their respective seasons deserves more attention than it's been getting.
[h3][/h3][h3]An early return for Perkins?[/h3]
2:53PM ET
[h5]Kendrick Perkins | Celtics[/h5]
When discussing Kendrick Perkins' return date from knee surgery, most estimates have had him back in February -- perhaps right after the All-Star break.
But after running through some skeleton offensive work with Boston's first unit Tuesday, Carolyn Manno of Comcast SportsNet New England tweeted he may be back earlier than expected.
"Perkins says he's surprised by how good he feels physically, and doctors are actually putting him ahead of schedule ... thinking late Jan. or early Feb.," she tweeted.
Manno also tweeted Perkins has another MRI scheduled right after Jan. 1, so if that goes well, it's possible he may be able to increase his workload.
With both Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal dealing with injuries this season and Semih Erden dealing with a shoulder issue that may require surgery eventually, Perkins would add some more depth to a center position that could use it.
An earlier return would also give Perkins more time to work into playing shape before the playoffs begin.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Smith's back at issue[/h3]
1:57PM ET
[h5]Craig Smith | Clippers[/h5]
Craig Smith sat out Monday's Clippers game against the Timberwolves due to a bad back, one that's been bothering Smith for a bit this season and was an issue last season for him, too.
Coach Vinny Del Negro indicated to the Los Angeles Times that Smith is scheduled to have an MRI.
While the power forward is only averaging 13.8 minutes off the bench in a reserve frontcourt role, Brian Cook, another reserve PF, has missed the last two Clippers' games due to a sprained right ankle.
With Chris Kaman also out due to injury, if both Smith and Cook continue to miss time, the Clippers will be thin up front with the threesome of rookie Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Jarron Collins carrying the frontcourt load.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Gibson's concussion[/h3]
1:13PM ET
[h5]Taj Gibson | Bulls[/h5]
UPDATE: Thomas will draw the start Tuesday night against the Sixers, according to Johnson.
Johnson also tweeted that Gibson's status will be determined Wednesday.
The Bulls play the Wizards on Wednesday night, so Gibson won't get any additional days of rest before their next game. If he's still unable to go Wednesday, look for him to possibly return for the Bulls' game Christmas day at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks -- their next bout after Wednesday.
---
After suffering a concussion in the third quarter of Saturday night's loss to the Clippers, Taj Gibson sat out practice Monday and is listed as doubtful for Tuesday's game against the 76ers, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.
With Joakim Noah also out due to injury, the Bulls will either turn to rookie Omer Asik or veteran Kurt Thomas to start in up front alongside Carlos Boozer.
If Gibson ends up missing extended time or another Bulls frontcourt player gets injured, it's possible the team could sign a player to shore up depth concerns.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Bynum's role[/h3]
12:50PM ET
[h5]Andrew Bynum | Lakers[/h5]
Andrew Bynum is back playing for the Lakers after his recovery from knee surgery kept him out of the team's first 24 games this season.
But according to the Los Angeles Times, coach Phil Jackson has indicated he's not close to re-gaining his starting spot after playing four games so far.
"I just can't tell you until he's got that bounce in his step that says he can now play 30, 35 minutes," Jackson said, according to the paper. "Right now we're content with how we're doing it."
Bynum is also dealing with some pain in his right knee now, but he told the paper "they tell me it's just something I'm going to have to deal with."
Add it all up, and it appears Bynum could continue in a limited bench role for a while -- he's averaging 16-plus minutes so far -- meaning Lamar Odom will continue to get solid burn as a frontcourt starter.
If Bynum can prove to play more minutes once the playoffs hit, his ability to protect the basket on D will be a plus in the starting lineup. Odom, who's played very well this season, could come off the bench in a sixth-man role and be a tough matchup for an opponent's second unit.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Babbitt could return to D-League[/h3]
12:07PM ET
[h5]Luke Babbitt | Trail Blazers[/h5]
Upon being sent down to the Idaho Stampede, Luke Babbitt was set to play in six games with the D-League squad.
But because the injury-prone Blazers were short-handed over the weekend, the team recalled him after only four games with the Stampede.
In Saturday's win over the Warriors, Babbitt played just over 11 minutes. On Monday's win over the Bucks, Babbitt played 17.75 minutes. Respectively, both were season highs.
But according to Wendell Maxey, despite Babbitt's increased playing time for Portland upon return, he's likely to head back down once Marcus Camby and Joel Przybilla are healthy again.
"Teams can send down a player(s) to the D-League for three stints, and the Blazers have already discussed Babbitt getting some more run in Boise," he added.
The Blazers are one team that may be active at the trade deadline, so if they deal any wings and get none back in return, Babbitt may need to give the team more minutes again after the trade deadline.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Bobcats recall Collins[/h3]
11:47AM ET
[h5]Sherron Collins | Bobcats[/h5]
UPDATE: According to a tweet from Scott Schroeder of FanHouse on Monday, the Bobcats have recalled Collins from Maine.
"He wasn't impressive in the D-League," he wrote.
As the third PG on Charlotte's roster, Collins wasn't seeing much playing time before being sent down, and it's likely that will continue now that he's back up.
However, if backup PG Shaun Livingston -- who's had injury issues in his career -- misses any time, Collins will likely slot in behind starter .J. Augustin as the main backup.
---
According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports on Dec. 9, the Bobcats have sent rookie PG Sherron Collins to the D-League's Maine Red Claws.
As Charlotte's third PG, Collins hasn't gotten much playing time this season. So his stint in the D-League should see him getting more run and experience on the court.
According to Sham Sports, Collins' non-guaranteed contract becomes fully guaranteed on Dec. 14 this season. So while it's still possible he could be waived by then, a trip to the D-League would seem to suggest he'll cross that threshold and stick with the team for the season.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Chicago's interest in Smith[/h3]
11:21AM ET
[h5]J.R. Smith | Nuggets[/h5]
[h5]Shooting guards for Chicago[/h5]
- J.R. Smith. He's reportedly available and they've inquired.
- O.J. Mayo. There have been rumblings he could get traded since he's moved back to a sixth-man role.
- Daniel Gibson and Anthony Parker. The Cavs could do a lot of dealing at the deadline, and one of these two could potentially be had.
UPDATE: Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports adds more to this on Tuesday.
"Smith is making $6 million in the final year of his contract, and would love to end up with the Bulls, sources said," he wrote. "So far, Denver has resisted Chicago's overtures on Smith because it may need to include him in a larger deal with Anthony. Bulls GM Gar Forman has been calling league personnel to do more research on the temperamental Smith, sources said."
The Bulls could use an upgrade at shooting guard, and we've listed a few other names they could target in the box to the right.
-- Ryan Corazza
---
The Nuggets could look a lot different, if they decide to trade Carmelo Anthony. There is a very good chance the team will look to deal Chauncey Billups and J.R. Smith, too.
In fact, ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan reported on Dec. 14 a source told him the Nuggets have had discussions about sending Smith to Chicago.
Smith and Nuggets head coach George Karl have conflicts each season and the team may decide to finally part with the shooting guard. He is in the final season of his three-year contract, so it's not impossible to find a new home for Smith.
A trade of Smith for Keith Bogans and Ronnie Brewer does work in the ESPN Trade Machine.
-- Nick Borges
[h5]ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard[/h5]
Smith a good fit for Bulls
http://[h3]Nuggets-Nets talking Melo, again[/h3]
10:30AM ET
[h5]Carmelo Anthony | Nuggets[/h5]
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Nets and Nuggets are once again trying to construct a multi-team trade that will land Carmelo Anthony in New Jersey.
Everyone on the Nets is available to be moved, except Brook Lopez.
"The way this is structured now, the Nets will significantly upgrade their team," said one NBA executive.
"Melo wants something similar to the Orlando deal, where he won't have to go into New Jersey -- or anywhere he's going -- without some help right away," said another NBA executive.
Wojnarowski reports some of the scenarios include Al Harrington going to the Nets, too. The Nets' Devin Harris could also be shipped to another team.
The Nets are willing to send rookie Derrick Favors, Troy Murphy, two or three future first-round draft picks and $3 million to Denver for Anthony and Harrington.
The Nets would have to include another player, or two, to make it work within the rules of the salary cap.
The trade, if it occurs, won't happen this week, but it could be consummated in early January. According to Chris Tomasson of FanHouse, the Nuggets roster is almost at full strength and the team won't trade Anthony until they see how the team plays with its full complement of players.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Wallace doesn't regret drafting Thabeet[/h3]
10:29AM ET
[h5]Hasheem Thabeet | Grizzlies[/h5]
Even though Hasheem Thabeet is only averaging 8.7 minutes, 1.4 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.57 blocks in his second season in the NBA, Memphis general manager Chris Wallace says the team doesn't regret selecting him with the No. 2 pick in the 2009 NBA draft.
"I'm not a regrets guy," Wallace tells FanHouse. "I don't think he should be put in a dead-letter file. That's extremely premature for that."
The Grizzlies sent the center to the D-League last season and he says it would be OK if it happened this season.
"I wouldn't have a problem," Thabeet said. "I just want to play ... I don't want to be the guy that's hanging around. I want to play. So if they call me out there, I'll go out there. Now, I'm here so I've just got to do my work."
Wallace said he has no plans at this time to send Thabeet to the Dakota Wizards.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Has Hamilton quit on the Pistons?[/h3]
10:29AM ET
[h5]Richard Hamilton | Pistons[/h5]
The Detroit Pistons have tried to trade Richard "Rip" Hamilton for the last few years, but have not been able to find a taker due to his contract. Hamilton is not happy with his situation with the Pistons and now The Detroit News reports the shooting guard has become a distraction and some within the organization think he has quit on the team.
He was replaced in the starting lineup by Ben Gordon over the weekend and decided he could not play Sunday due to an "upset stomach." Hamilton has also questioned how the offense is being run on several occasions this season.
It has also been difficult to move Hamilton because the team is for sale and president Joe Dumars may have been told he can't do anything until a buyer is found.
"If I need to have a long talk with him, I will," Dumars said Monday on WDFN. "I'll see how Rip is doing tomorrow when he gets in here. Rip's been good for me."
Last week there was a report that Charlotte might have some interest in Hamilton.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]NBA officially owns the Hornets[/h3]
10:00AM ET
[h5]New Orleans Hornets[/h5]
The NBA Board of Governors on Monday approved the NBA's purchase of the New Orleans Hornets.
Jac Sperling will serve as the team's chairman and representative on the league's Board of Governors and president Hugh Weber will continue directing the day-to-day operation of the team.
The NBA is hoping to find a local buyer for the Hornets.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Rockets seek injury exception for Yao[/h3]
9:43AM ET
[h5]Yao Ming | Rockets[/h5]
According to the Houston Chronicle, general manager Daryl Morey confirmed that he has petitioned the league for a disabled player exception for Yao Ming. It would be worth $5,765,000 million if it is granted.
The Rockets would have 45 days to use the exception from the time they knew he would miss the duration of the season. That would have been last Thursday.
The Rockets can use it to acquire a player via free agency or a trade. They already have a full 15-man roster, so someone would have to be moved, if Morey uses the exception.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Carter may need arthroscopic surgery[/h3]
9:27AM ET
[h5]Vince Carter | Suns[/h5]
The Suns just acquired Vince Carter as part of a six-player trade with Orlando, but they may not be able to play him for a month.
According to The Arizona Republic, Carter is having issues with his left knee and may need to have arthroscopic surgery to fix the problem.
The surgery would sideline him for about four weeks.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Another injury for Okur[/h3]
8:57AM ET
[h5]Mehmet Okur | Jazz[/h5]
Jazz center Mehmet Okur just returned from left Achilles tendon surgery and now he has an issue with a mildly sprained right foot. He missed Monday's game in Cleveland and is day-to-day.
"I was driving right (and) just tweaked it," Okur told the Deseret News. "It's not bad."
"We don't want to make it swell," Okur added. "It should be OK, though. ... It happens, right? I've got to look forward now."
Utah's next game is Wednesday in Minnesota.
http://[h3]Wright to return on Christmas[/h3]
8:18AM ET
[h5]Brandan Wright | Warriors[/h5]
According to The Oakland Tribune, power forward Brandan Wright said he will return to the active roster on Saturday against Portland.
Wright didn't give any details, but he has been out since Nov. 13 with a lower back strain.
Wright has only played in eight games so far this season for Golden State.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]West hopes for January return[/h3]
7:44AM ET
[h5]Delonte West | Celtics[/h5]
Delonte West was expected to be out until just before the playoffs following surgery to repair a fractured right wrist, but he may return a lot earlier than the initial timeline. West thinks it's possible he can return in mid-to-late January.
"It's possible I might not be patient right now," West tells the Boston Herald. "Only time will tell. If I get these X-rays and the MRI and see how the bone growth has gone, and how everything had bonded together, or whatever it is that happens, then we'll see."
The cast on his wrist will be removed on Dec. 30. West and the team should get a better idea of when he'll return at that point.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Krstic could return tonight[/h3]
7:33AM ET
[h5]Nenad Krstic | Thunder[/h5]
Thunder center Nenad Krstic may play against Charlotte on Tuesday. Krstic has missed five games after he hurt his back on Dec. 8.
According to the The Oklahoman, head coach Scott Brooks said Krstic's workouts have increased over the last few days.
Brooks will make a decision about activating him after the team's shootaround Tuesday.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Nuggets trio may play vs. Spurs[/h3]
5:55AM ET
[h5]Denver Nuggets[/h5]
Nuggets head coach George Karl told The Denver Post on Monday that Chauncey Billups (torn ligaments in his wrist), Chris Andersen (back injury) and Kenyon Martin (knee surgery) could all be available for Wednesday's game against San Antonio.
"Our team's very confident that we can be really good, but I don't know if we can be really good until we get everybody out there," Karl said after practice.
Martin won't make a decision until after shootaround on Wednesday morning.
"That would be the best gift for me, to be able to play soon," Martin said. "I'm looking forward to doing it, but I'm not going to risk anything. I've made a lot of progress up to this point, so why risk a setback?"
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Sy may go to Utah[/h3]
4:49AM ET
[h5]Pape Sy | Hawks[/h5]
Rookie Pape Sy is not getting any time with the Hawks so the team is considering sending him to the D-League for some game action at the beginning of the new year.
"I think it would suit him better to play than to sit around and practice all the time," head coach Larry Drew told the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "He needs some playing experience."
Atlanta's D-League affiliate, the Utah Flash, don't play again until Jan. 1 and the Hawks will make a final decision regarding Sy around that time.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Crawford still out[/h3]
4:42AM ET
[h5]Jamal Crawford | Hawks[/h5]
UPDATE: Crawford missed Monday's game against Orlando and he's questionable for Wednesday against Cleveland.
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Crawford said he's "still not comfortable with explosive movements."
-- Nick Borges
----
Hawks sixth-man Jamal Crawford has missed three consecutive games due to a sore back. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Crawford said he hopes to play on Monday.
That's good news for the Hawks. Their bench has been not contributed that much while Crawford has been out. During Sunday's 89-82 loss the Nets, the Hawks' bench only scored 11 points and just two after halftime.
D
Deleted member 38182
Guest
Haywood was like "Get me the hecka outta here... Wheres DJ when ya need him"Originally Posted by HOOD17
Why do teams do this to their players? Just have some little kids do it. Haywood wanted no part in that
Is Deshawn on some meds or something???? Seems way mellowed out
D
Deleted member 38182
Guest
Haywood was like "Get me the hecka outta here... Wheres DJ when ya need him"Originally Posted by HOOD17
Why do teams do this to their players? Just have some little kids do it. Haywood wanted no part in that
Is Deshawn on some meds or something???? Seems way mellowed out
- 21,800
- 3,553
How JET and Matrix gonna throw they set up one day and go ham on jingles the next.
This is what happens when Mark Cuban owns people.
