Posts Tagged ‘Portland Trail Blazers’

< Older Entries
Newer Entries >

Morning Shootaround — Feb. 13

February 13, 2013  ·  7:33AM

Missed a game last night? Wondering what the latest news around the NBA is this morning? The Morning Shootaround is here to try to meet those needs and keep you up on what’s happened around the league since the day turned.

The one recap to watch: The kind of stat work that LeBron James is putting in of late is nothing short of amazing — to both NBA fans and to his contemporaries, too (see below).  That’s one game you have to watch again just to soak in all the ways James is dominating the field during his run. But once you’re done with that, we’ll direct your attention to the Nuggets-Raptors game, which was solid in its own right. Neither team had a real solid grip on this one until the final seconds, when Rudy Gay nailed a baseline jumper over Corey Brewer to salt away the victory. Don’t look now, but Toronto is 4-2 in its Gay era and is 6 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for No. 8 in the East.

.

News of the morning

LeBron’s run wows ‘Melo | Randolph makes most of chance | Westbrook, Thunder steamed after loss | Fox questions Howard’s championship drive | Lillard bounces back nicely

LeBron’s stats run amazes ‘Melo – LeBron James has been simply dominant of late, scoring 30-plus points in his last six games while shooting 71.7 percent during that stretch. His fellow Olympic teammate, Carmelo Anthony of the Knicks, has been nothing short of wowed by James’ run, writes Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com. Apparently, Anthony is keeping tabs on what LeBron does each night:

“That’s crazy,” Melo said after the New York Knicks practiced on Tuesday. “What he’s doing right now is unbelievable. I mean, he’s scoring 30-something, 40 points in 11 shots, 10 for 12 and things like that. He’s on an incredible run right now.”

How has James been doing it? Primarily inside. In his five games before Tuesday, he was shooting a blistering 84.1 percent (37 for 44) from inside 10 feet, where 44 of his 77 shots have come. From 10 feet or beyond, he’s shooting 54.5 percent (18-for-33).

Melo said that when the opportunity presents itself, he tries to watch his buddies around the league, notably James, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade, to see how they’re performing.

“I don’t really watch too much TV, but when my friends are playing, I want to see what they’re doing, I want to see their games,” Anthony said. “Most of the time, they’re playing when we’re playing, so it’s kind of hard to watch. But when there are games like (this past) Sunday, when there are a lot of games on at one time, of course we’re watching.”

So what does Anthony think about James’ MVP chances?

“It’s early. It’s the All-Star break right now,” he said. “He’s definitely playing like a Most Valuable Player, so we’ll see what happens.”

Anthony himself is in the MVP conversation. His Knicks have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference (32-17) — behind the Heat (34-14) — and he’s averaging a career-high 29.0 points per game. He scored 20 or more points in 31 straight games and has two 45-point outings. He’s also single-handedly carried the team a couple of times down the stretch, such as Feb. 8 against the Minnesota Timberwolves when he put up 12 points in the fourth quarter en route to a game-high 36 points.

Anthony and James will team up Sunday in Houston for the Eastern Conference All-Star team.

Nuggets’ Randolph shines in opportunity — It wasn’t all that long ago that Anthony Randolph was viewed as a player destined for stardom in the NBA. He’s shown moments of on-court promise from his rookie days with Golden State to his time spent with the Knicks and Timberwolves. But Randolph can never seem to lock down consistent playing time and has yet to deliver on the stardom so many saw in him as a rookie. He’s getting minimal time in Denver this season, too, but stepped up pretty big last night in the Nuggets’ loss to the Raptors, writes Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post:

The forgotten Nugget. That’s what Anthony Randolph had seemed to be. He had played 122 minutes all season. But in Tuesday’s game, with four key players out, Randolph played 27. And there he was at the foul line with 42.6 seconds left and his team down one. On the road.

He made them both.

Yes, Denver lost 109-108 at Toronto, but Randolph’s efforts were valiant — 16 points, seven boards, a game-high three steals and a team-high plus-10.

“Anthony was the surprise,” coach George Karl said. “He played a game I thought we could win with him playing.”

The 6-foot-11 forward was on the court in crunch time. Yes, he made some mistakes. His defense was shaky at times. But he made a positive impact.

“We’ve seen it in practice all year, and today he got a chance to show it,” teammate Ty Lawson said. “He’s just versatile. … He can handle the ball, rebound, and does all the little things. (With injuries), there’s a lot of minutes out there, and he’s definitely hungry to get some. He can be a big-time player with an opportunity.”

Indeed, numerous Nuggets are questionable for Wednesday’s game at Brooklyn.

As for Randolph’s explosion, Kenneth Faried can relate. The second-year forward seldom played a season ago until Nene got hurt. “The Manimal” came to be. No, I don’t expect Randolph to have a Faried-like impact, but for Karl, it’s all about who he’s comfortable throwing out there, and Randolph gave the coach some confidence going forward.

Asked about his teammate, Faried said: “He wanted to come out and prove he could play, and he did that tonight. He just has to get more selective with some of his shots, (I say) respectfully. Coming from a teammate, I know how Coach is. As a guy who didn’t play (and then) started playing, he’s just got to come out with energy and enthusiasm and pick his spots sometimes.”

Westbrook, Thunder show their frustration after loss – After storming off the court during a win over the Grizzlies a dozen days ago, Russell Westbrook drew some flak for both that action as well as his postgame interview with TNT’s Craig Sager. Famously, when Sager asked Westbrook a question he didn’t like, Westbrook responded with an “If that’s what you say, bruh,” that made its rounds on the internet as much as his on-court actions did. Westbrook was at it again after last night’s blowout loss in Salt Lake City to the Jazz which snapped OKC’s four-game win streak. The Oklahoman’s Darnell Mayberry has plenty of juicy tidbits to share (see video here):

The postgame locker room was more lively than anything in the last eleven minutes of the 109-94 loss the Thunder took on the chin. Scott Brooks was brutally honest. Russell Westbrook lost his patience with the media. And Kevin Durant even tried to not be nice. It was all part of a strange night inside Energy Solutions Arena, where the Thunder’s four-game winning streak came to a sudden stop and the recent road woes reared their ugly head once again.

…

Westbrook simply walked off. The temperamental team captain got fed up with a reporter’s question and suddenly turned his back and ended the interview before walking away. The exchange was as follows. “Russell, did you guys lose this game, or did the Jazz win this one?” Westbrook: “Whaaaaat? Bro, what are you talking about, man? I’m out man. Y’all n***** trippin’.”

…

Westbrook’s sound bite was good for a quick laugh and easily makes his top three all-time interview quotes. But what was sad about the exchange is that everyone on the team, players and staffers included, simply supported him. They came to his defense even after he lost his patience, snapped on a reporter, prematurely ended an interview and used offensive language. It’s one of the reasons Westbrook will always be Westbrook. Nobody seems to hold him accountable, on the court or in front of the cameras. A pretty generic question, one that players get asked all the time in every sport, caused him to erupt. But by now, that behavior is just what you expect out of Westbrook.

…

Westbrook’s top three sound bites:

“No more questions for you, bro.”

“Whaaaaat? Bro, what are you talking about, man? I’m out man.”

“If that’s what you say, bruh.”

…

Durant picked up his 10th technical foul of the season tonight. It was pretty petty. But whatever. It happened with 6:06 left to play. Durant delivered a (sort of) hard foul on Alec Burks as he raced down the left sideline. It was enough to send Alec Burks “flying” into the first row of baseline seats. Durant received a flagrant 1 foul for the play and got hit with a technical for pushing Carroll when he walked in his direction and spouted off a few words. A light shoving match ensued and Durant and DeMarre Carroll picked up double technicals.

Durant moved into a tie for second place with his technical fouls, two behind leader DeMarcus Cousins. It puts KD six away from an automatic one-game suspension and prompted me to ask Durant if he will now be more mindful of his growing temper in the final 30 games. “I’m just going to keep being me,” Durant said. “I don’t give a damn. I’m going to just keep being me.”

Ex-Laker Fox questions Howard’s commitment — NBA TV analyst and Hang Time podcast regular Rick Fox, who, oh yeah, also was a key part of the Lakers’ three-peat teams of the early 2000s, had some harsh criticism for big man Dwight Howard on the radio. According to Janis Carr of the Orange County Register, Fox took to the airwaves to not only question Howard’s dedication to the Lakers, but also whether or not Howard wants to win a title or not:

The Lakers were back in town for about 24 hours after their two-week Grammy trip before their season was interrupted again by more negative comments, this time by former Laker Rick Fox.

Fox is the latest to single out Dwight Howard for much of the Lakers’ troubles. During a radio interview, he not only questioned Howard’s long-term commitment to the Lakers, but also the center’s dedication to winning.

“I would like to see more of the actions that tell me that winning is the most important thing to him, and him being a Laker and I don’t get that yet. I haven’t gotten that,” Fox said.

“Maybe in another city he could fool people with that, but unfortunately being in Los Angeles, you have got a legacy of great players who have shown the city what it looks like, what commitment looks like, what championship play looks like, what championship talk looks like.”

Fox said Howard feels entitled and wants to be the No. 1 option in the offense, much like it was when he was in Orlando.

“At the end of the day, he’s had teams where he has been No. 1 for a number of years and it’s led him to exactly what he has — which is no championships,” Fox said.

“He’s in a situation with guys who have won championships, who are pointing out to him that the way you are behaving is not championship behavior. Therefore you can either get in line and we can successfully accomplish something as a group, or try to prove the point that your way might be better.”

Lillard keeps getting the job done — Blazers rookie Damian Lillard is the odds-on favorite to take home the Kia Rookie of the Year Award and games like the one he had last night in Miami only bolster his overall case. Lillard struggled through a 1-for-16 night in Portland’s last game, a loss to Orlando, but as he’s done all season, rebounded from that performance with a solid night. He put up 33 points and was 10-for-18 from the field as the Blazers gave the Heat all they could handle before folding down the stretch. The Oregonian’s Jason Quick has more on the bounce-back performance of Portland’s burgeoning star:

After the worst shooting night of his career Sunday in Orlando – when he made 1-of-16 shots – the Trail Blazers rookie sensation on Tuesday stifled any discussion, any drama, any doubts about his rookie legacy. He made 10 shots. And 10 free throws. And scored 33 points against the defending NBA champion Miami Heat.

In other words, he did exactly what everyone in this organization expected.

“I wasn’t worried,’’ LaMarcus Aldridge said while pulling on his socks, which were no doubt bored off his feet. “He doesn’t lack any confidence. I knew he would come back tonight. When his first two or three went in, I was like, ‘He’s back.’’’

Where’s the fun in that, Kid?

How about some juicy shooting slump? Some defense you can’t figure out? Some chink in your armor? Something to get the locals riled up and talking.

No? All we get is this same steely demeanor? This composure befitting of a veteran? The same steady stare, which makes it impossible to determine whether you are having a good game or bad game? Whether the Blazers are winning or losing?

Surely there has to be a time, when the cameras aren’t around, and the doors are closed when you have lost it. When you have broken down. Gotten angry. Lost your composure. Tell us you are human. Tell us you are not unflappable. Tell us when the last time it happened.

“I really can’t remember,’’ Lillard said after taking time to think about it. “It was probably at my little sister or something. Of course you have little arguments with people about sports, and stuff, but I can’t remember I was legitimately upset or angry at somebody.’’

That’s it?

Yawn.

“I don’t know what you want me to say,’’ Lillard said, a hint of a smile emerging. “I’m not putting on a show. This is me. This is me all the time. I probably laugh a little more when you guys aren’t around, but that’s about it. J.J. (Hickson) here is always asking me what I’m laughing about.’’

Well, none of your rookie colleagues are laughing with you. You have never allowed there to be a Rookie of the Year discussion. Never. Not since that brilliant 23-point, 11-assist debut against the Lakers. How about inviting Bradley Beal to the table by having a bad week? Allow Andre Drummond to get some publicity. And why don’t you allow that poor Kia representative visit another city – perhaps New Orleans and Anthony Davis – to present the Rookie of the Month trophy?

This excellence of yours has become so … so … normal.

There has been no chance to poke holes in your game. No chance to analyze what teams are doing to stop you. And don’t you know you are supposed to be rattled by a bad shooting night? Doubt yourself? Show at least a hint of fear?

“After a game like the game in Orlando, I couldn’t wait to play again,’’ Lillard said. “I let that game go on the plane the night we left Orlando. Everything was normal. It’s not like I could go back and shoot those shots over again. All I could do was get to the gym the next day.’’

ICYMI of the night: Just when Timofey Mozgov thought it was safe to get some minutes again in the Denver frontcourt, DeMar DeRozan takes some of the wind out if his sails …:

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in HT News, Morning Shootaround / Comments (22) /

Hickson’s Sacrifice Has Him Well-Positioned For July

February 7, 2013  ·  1:31PM

.

DALLAS – Portland’s energetic J.J. Hickson has played himself into a great position even while playing out of position.

At 6-foot-9, Hickson is the Blazers’ undersized center who’s putting up double-doubles at a higher rate than even his All-Star teammate LaMarcus Aldridge. Hickson’s 14 points and 10 rebounds in Wednesday’s loss at Dallas was his 27th double-double, tied for third-most in the league.

It’s the kind of production that will put Hickson, 24, atop many teams’ offseason shopping lists when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in July.

“I’d be lying if I wasn’t looking forward to it, but that’s something I’ll get more excited about when that period hits,” Hickson said. “It’s something that me and my agent will talk about, but right now I’m just worried about playing basketball and trying to make these playoffs.”

Hickson is averaging nearly 30 minutes a game, 12.9 ppg and a career-best 10.7 rpg to help a Blazers team with little depth to stay in playoff contention.

He’s been a steal for Portland at $4 million this season. The Blazers signed him off the waiver wire last March after Sacramento released him. The Kings acquired Hickson in a trade earlier in the season from Cleveland, the team that drafted him 19th overall in 2008 out of North Carolina State, but moved him out to make room for rookie Tristan Thompson.

Portland attempted to go the more traditional route at center last offseason, making an offer to restricted free agent Roy Hibbert, but Indiana matched to hold onto the promising big man. The Blazers also eyed Chris Kaman, who chose to sign with Dallas. Portland signed Hickson to a one-year deal.

“Nah,” Hickson said when asked if he imagined himself playing center on a daily basis. “But, you know, it’s what my team needs me to do and it’s what my teammates and coaches have asked me to do, so it’s something I’m willing to sacrifice for the team.

“I’ve just been strong mentally, I think, all season. I’m a physical player so that’s not a problem, but mentally I think I’ve been locked in and I’ve just been consistent with my play.”

He and Aldridge complement each other well. In first-year coach Terry Stotts‘ offense, Aldridge is extended out of the low block more often with Hickson occupying the weakside.

“L.A.’s the kind of player that can mix it up so I’m just playing off him,” Hickson said. “He knows my situation and we all know he hates to be called a ’5,’ so we make it work and we’re doing a good at it.”

At 6-11 and equipped with a solid post game, Aldridge is closer to a traditional 5 than Hickson will ever be.

“Sometimes we get too concerned in pigeon-holing players in what he is or what he isn’t,” Stotts said. “I think [Hickson] is a frontline player, whether you want to say he’s a 4 or a 5, he’s an effective frontline player. He can score, he can run, he can rebound and I’m a little reluctant to pigeon-hole him as he’s this or that.”

Even if Hickson does feel pigeon-holed as a pseudo-center.

“Yeah, I do,” Hickson said, frankly. “But like I say, that’s something I sacrifice for the team. The NBA world knows what my true position is and they know I’m sacrificing for my team and I think that helps us even more knowing that I’m willing to play the 5 to help us get wins.”

So what’s next for Hickson? Aldridge isn’t going anywhere, so big minutes at the 4 wouldn’t seem to exist in Portland, which drafted 7-foot center Meyers Leonard last June and could make a run in free agency (or through trades) at legit centers that potentially will hit the market such as Al Jefferson, Nikola Pekovic, perhaps Andrew Bynum or even Kaman again.

Suitors and a handsome payday won’t be in short supply come July, and Hickson certainly sounded as if he’d look long and hard at a starting power forward gig elsewhere. Which could make it difficult for Portland to retain him.

“Well,” Stotts said, “we’ll worry about that later.”

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in HT News / Comment (1) /

Trade Winds Aside, Carter Happy in Dallas

February 7, 2013  ·  1:50AM

.

DALLAS – Vince Carter threw down a spectacular two-handed reverse jam launched from a baseline drive, a series of  improbable, gravity-defying maneuvers that seemed to unfold in slow motion and even astonished the 36-year-old who made it happen.

“It was an out-of-body experience I guess. It surprised me,” Carter said, smiling. “I can’t remember the last time I dunked a ball backwards. I think the last time J-Kidd threw me a lob in New Jersey.”

It was one of two highlight reel dunks for Carter, who crafted another sensational outing with 17 points, three assists and three rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench. His efficient scoring included three 3-pointers — one that finally provided some separation at 88-84 with 6:19 to go — and a 22-foot dagger with 26.9 seconds left that sealed a 106-99 win for the Dallas Mavericks over the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday night.

Carter, who celebrated his birthday on Jan. 26, is in the midst of a majestic run that should — but likely won’t — put him in the conversation as a top sixth man, and will continue to remind contenders that Vinsanity is turning back the clock on a near-nightly basis.

This performance came while he still battled an illness that had him so congested that he struggled to breathe and left him shivering on the bench. It had knocked him totally out of Monday’s blowout loss at Oklahoma City and dragged him to the doctor on Tuesday.

Over his last eight games, Carter has averaged 17.6 points on 49.0 percent field-goal shooting and 45.0 percent from beyond the arc. At the start of this run he poured in a season-high 29 points in a heartbreak, overtime loss to Oklahoma City. After that game, coach Rick Carlisle bristled at a question about rising demand for the veteran.

“A couple days later he pulled me aside and said all the trade rumors, because I didn’t know much about it, he said it’s not going to happen,” Carter told NBA.com after Wednesday’s win that pushed Dallas’ record to to 21-28 as it began a massively important run of seven of its next eight games at home.

“I’m happy where I am. I feel like my role here is needed,” Carter continued. “It’s a perfect position as a mentor, as a player, as a spark. I’m OK with that. I feel like for me, if they need me to start I’ll do it. If they need me to come off the bench, I’ll do it. I’m still going to play my same game and be effective. I’m a team guy and I want to see our team have success.”

There’s no doubt that teams are and will inquire about Carter’s availability. Dallas reportedly didn’t get involved as a third team in the Memphis-Toronto trade that sent Rudy Gay to the Raptors because it wouldn’t part with Carter. Detroit took the role and acquired point guard Jose Calderon from Toronto.

A league source Wednesday characterized the odds of Dallas moving Carter by the Feb. 21 as a “long shot.”

Which Carter said suits him just fine, despite the Mavs needing a significant run just to get into playoff contention.

Carter signed a three-year contract with the Mavs prior to the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season as part of the franchise’s retooling following the 2011 championship. His hopes of helping Dallas repeat didn’t materialize, but he had found a good fit. When the club decided to bring him back this season at $3.1 million, it fully guaranteed his final season next year at $3.2 million.

Carter’s contract is certainly attractive, but with Dallas uninterested in taking back salary and unlikely to net a major asset, there’s little reason to trade him when the club still believes it can make a push into playoff contention.

“There’s a reason he’s such an important guy to us,” Carlisle said following Wednesday’s win. “People key on his offensive stuff, but he’s just a big team guy. He’s one of our leaders.”

Two seasons ago with Phoenix, Carter’s career seemed to be closing quickly as his production continually dropped.

“Sometimes you get on a team where your talent isn’t needed, utilized,” Carter said. “This is a different type of offense here. I don’t know, I felt pretty good then and I will say I do feel even better. I put my work in after that summer because it kind of bothered me to even hear somebody think that or say it at that point in time because I still felt at that point physically able to contribute, to be effective for any team.”

And now as the rumors might fly, Carter reiterated that chasing a title at this stage in his career is not his top priority.

“If it [a trade] happens, it happens, I mean it’s nothing you can control, but I leave that for them [the Mavs' front office],” Carter said. “And they know, I’ve talked to them, they know, I’ve said to them before, I’m satisfied here. They’ve accepted me with open arms, given me an opportunity to be who I am, do what I do and kind of help our team, our players grow while being the player I am.”

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in HT News / Comments (19) /

Blazers’ Batum Battling Ailing Wrist

February 6, 2013  ·  2:24PM

DALLAS – Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum is clearly battling pain in his ailing right wrist.

It has recently hampered the all-around solid play he’s delivered this season to a Blazers team that lacks depth and desperately needs his versatility to remain in playoff contention. He’s averaging just 9.8 ppg since he hurt his wrist going for a dunk during a Jan. 19 practice, and in the three games since an MRI revealed no structural damage, the forward has averaged just 7.0 ppg and he’s taken just 18 total shots.

In the days after the initial injury, Batum posted a pair of triple-doubles in the span of three games and he fell one assist shy of a third triple-double last Saturday night at Utah. However, in the two games sandwiched around it, he’s managed nine points and nine rebounds.

After scoring in single digits in just six of the first 38 games, he’s done it now four times in the last nine games, three times in the last five and in two of the last three.

At Minnesota on Monday, he had just four points, three rebounds and two assists in 35 grimacing minutes. Afterward he told the The Oregonian:

“It doesn’t always really bother me, but today it was really painful. I was really scared about every contact.”

Tonight, the Blazers, who at 25-23 are one game back of Houston for the eighth and final playoff spot, play at Dallas (8:30 ET, League Pass).

“I’ll use him the same way as we usually do and if the ball swings to him and he doesn’t feel comfortable shooting, he can still make plays off the dribble,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said of Batum after the team’s Tuesday practice in Dallas. “It’s just a matter of time before it starts feeling better, but he needs to be productive in other ways and that’s as much as he can do. I may or may not run the same type of things for him, but he still needs to do what he can do.”

Batum, 24, has delivered on his big payday during the offseason. Portland matched Minnesota’s four-year offer sheet and signed Batum to a deal worth more than $43 million. He’s increased his production in several areas to career highs. His scoring average (15.7 ppg) is up nearly two points a game and his assists have risen from 1.4 last season to 4.9 this season, second behind rookie point guard Damian Lillard. His 6.1 rpg are up 1.5 over last season and he’s also averaging career highs in steals (1.4) and blocks (1.8).

Illustrating just how thin the Blazers’ bench is, Batum is on the high end (38.8 mpg) among three Blazers, including Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge, who average more than 38 minutes. Going without their third-leading scorer and most versatile player for any extended period of time would diminish Portland’s playoffs hopes.

For now, Batum is expected to continue to play, and Stotts will look for small contributions from others to pick up the slack.

“I think everybody has to do a little bit more,” Stotts said. “I don’t think one guy has to do a lot more, just everybody has to do a little bit more.”

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in HT News / Comments (4) /

NBA: Refs Blew Critical Call In Mavs-Blazers Game

January 30, 2013  ·  8:19PM

HANG TIME SOUTHWEST – All Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban asks for when it comes to NBA officiating is transparency. Well, he got it on Wednesday.

The league released a statement admitting that refs blew a crucial call in the final seconds of the Mavs’ 106-104 loss at Portland. Dallas guard O.J. Mayo was called for a charging foul that gave the ball back to the Trail Blazers with 1.5 seconds left. After a timeout, Portland inbounded the ball in the frontcourt and LaMarcus Aldridge made a game-winning, turnaround jumper.

Instead, the league said, Mayo should have been awarded two free throws with the game tied at 104-104.

“After review at the league office, the video replay confirmed the play should have been ruled a blocking foul as Portland’s Ronnie Price did not get his body directly in Mayo’s path prior to him starting his upward shooting motion,” the statement read. “Mayo should have been granted two free throws.”

The play in question started with 4.5 seconds left in the game. Mayo caught the inbounds pass along the baseline and made a quick move to the basket. As he leaped to the basket, Price slid across the lane, just outside the restricted area and the players collided.

“You really can’t [say] too much without getting a big fine,” Mayo told reporters after the team practiced in San Francisco on Wednesday in preparation for Thursday night’s game at Golden State.  ”Can we play that 3.3 [seconds] over again?”

It was a critical loss for the Mavs, who started a four-game road trip at Portland as they desperately try to climb the Western Conference standings and get back in playoff contention. Dallas, which dropped to 19-26, led the Blazers by 21 points early in the third quarter before Portland began to chip away.

Dallas committed eight of its 16 turnovers in the fourth quarter and Mayo committed three in the period, including the offensive charge.

The league also acknowledged a blown call in Denver’s close win Sunday against Indiana, saying that video replay showed Nuggets guard Andre Iguodala reached in and fouled the Pacers’ Paul George with 2.2 seconds left in the game and the score tied. However, Iguodala was credited with a steal.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in HT News / Comments (51) /

Yes, LaMarcus Aldridge Is An All-Star

January 30, 2013  ·  1:18PM

 

HANG TIME SOUTHWEST – Can we please finally put to rest this lingering and nonsensical talk that LaMarcus Aldridge is not a worthy All-Star? What planet are you living on anyway?

Yeah, so, the Portland Trail Blazers power forward’s shooting percentage has been down this season from the lofty 50 percent mark of the last three seasons, but even that excuse is flimsy. After Tuesday’s heroics in a 106-104 comeback win over the Dallas Mavericks in which Aldridge buried his first 3-pointer of the season with 4.9 seconds left to tie and then canned a turnaround jumper on a play that started with 1.5 seconds to go to win it, capping a 12-for-20 shooting night for 29 points, Aldridge’s rising shooting percentage is now up to 47.3 percent.

Yes, it is still a career-low and he’s a lousy 1-for-10 from beyond the arc. You haters just won’t stop.

That shooting percentage puts him just outside the top 20 among all forwards, yet his 20.7 scoring average is tops among power forwards, unless you consider Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James to be power forwards. It’s a full point higher than Golden State All-Star representative David Lee, yet a full point lower than when Aldridge was unjustly left off the 2011 All-Star team.

Maybe Aldridge’s 8.9 rpg, good for eighth among all forwards and a mark that will be a career-best if he maintains it, is what should keep him off the All-Star team. So he’s not one of two forwards — Lee and Zach Randolph — currently averaging a double-double. Fine, toss his All-Star credentials.

At 38.1 mpg, maybe the 6-foot-11 Aldridge just isn’t logging enough heavy minutes. After all, Durant, Luol Deng, LeBron and even Aldridge’s own teammate Nicolas Batum average at least a half-minute more per game. What a slouch.

So what to make of games like Tuesday night when Aldridge played 42 minutes, scored 29 points — including five points on two huge shots in the final five seconds — grabbed 13 rebounds, four offensive boards, dished out three assists, made a steal and blocked two shots?

“We needed those two shots,” Batum said. “They show people that he really is an All-Star. He is an All-Star. He’s a go-to guy.”

He really, really is.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in HT News / Comments (13) /

Morning Shootaround — Jan. 30

January 30, 2013  ·  7:31AM

Missed a game last night? Wondering what the latest news around the NBA is this morning? The Morning Shootaround is here to try to meet those needs and keep you up on what’s happened around the league since the day turned.

The one recap to watch: If you missed Mavs-Blazers last night … well … go get that League Pass fired up and watch it again! Aside from LaMarcus Aldridge‘s heroics at the buzzer, there were some great clutch shots down the stretch by Darren Collison, Dirk Nowitzki and, heck, even Sasha Pavlovic. It’s a must-see highlight if nothing else.

.

News of the morning

Rondo wants second opinion | Pau not happy after win | Aldridge loves seeing the Mavs | Will Oden end up with Cavs? | Frank, Stuckey patch things up | Jazz corner market on youth? | Walton a mentor to Cavs

Rondo seeking second opinion on ACL — A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com reports that Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, who was found to have a torn ACL on Sunday, will meet with several other doctors — including the famed Dr. James Andrews — as well as players from other sports to get a second opinion on the severity and recovery process from his injury:

“He (Dr. Andrews) is one that we’re definitely considering,” Rondo’s agent Bill Duffy, told CSNNE.com. “If he’s No. 1, there’s a couple 1As and 1Bs we’re looking at as well.”

Duffy said the second opinion on Rondo’s knee will not be made for at least another four or five days in order to allow the swelling to go down.

In addition, Duffy said they are in the process of setting up meetings with other athletes who have had similar injuries.

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is among those that Rondo’s camp hopes to speak with very soon.

Peterson suffered a torn left ACL and MCL injury on Christmas Eve in 2011, and was back on the field for the season opener in September – less than nine months after the injury.

…

Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose suffered a torn left ACL injury during the first round of the playoffs against Philadelphia on April 28th last year, with  his return likely to be shortly after the all-star break next month.

Duffy said Rondo’s trying to be as positive as he can about his injury.

“He’s distraught but he understands what he has to do,” Duffy said. “We have to have him channel all that energy into getting stronger and healthy as soon as possible.”

Pau Gasol unhappy about role? — A day after telling CBSSports.com’s Ken Berger that he’d accept — but not be pleased with — a bench role this season, Gasol told ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Dave McMenamin that he wasn’t pleased to sit out the entire fourth quarter of last night’s victory against the Hornets:

“I’m a competitor, I’m a guy that thinks I bring a lot to the table, and not being on the floor is something that I don’t like, I don’t appreciate,” Gasol said.

Gasol had seven points, seven rebounds and seven assists in 21 minutes as the Lakers built an 83-73 lead through the first three quarters.

“It’s a challenge,” Gasol said when asked about toeing the line and accepting D’Antoni’s decision so that he doesn’t take away from the team while still defending his personal ability. “We’re challenged every day, and I’m challenged every day to keep my calm and keep my peace and not let my emotions take over my words.”

…

Speaking out after a win against the Hornets might seem like poor timing from Gasol, but even while begrudgingly accepting a bench role, he stated his desire to continue to play in crunch time.

“I think the finishing is more important (than starting),” Gasol said recently. “I think the best players should finish off games. That’s just the way it’s got to be. When the game is on the line, you want to be on the floor. That’s more important.”

It was the same sentiment that led Gasol to be upset Tuesday.

“It’s fun to win but when a team comes back on you the way the Hornets did tonight and you are not there as a high-quality player and as a competitor, it’s frustrating,” Gasol said.

Aldridge always happy to see Dallas — Not surprisingly, LaMarcus Aldridge‘s phone was blowing up after his game-winning turnaround shot to sink the Mavs last night. What’s interesting, as The Columbian’s Candace Buckner points out, is that the former prep and college standout from Texas seems to particularly enjoy tormenting his hometown team:

LaMarcus Aldridge, a Dallas native, saved his best to down his hometown team, hitting the game-winning jump shot as time expired for the Trail Blazers’ 106-104 victory.

With a well-executed inbounds play, a flick of the wrist and a perfect jump shot, the Blazers (23-22) shook off a large second-half deficit after the Mavericks pulled ahead by 21 points. So by the time Aldridge returned to the Blazers locker room, his phone had over 20 messages on it. Just a glance and he could tell that his mother, Georgia, was about to make his cell phone battery die.

“She’s watching (the game),” said Aldridge, who finished with a game-high 29 points and also contributed 13 rebounds. “She texted me like five or six times.”

The family celebrated, the 18,888 in the Rose Garden rejoiced and even Aldridge – who so often just describes this whole NBA thing as a “job” – beamed broadly as teammates bum rushed him near the Dallas bench.

“He was smiling like a rookie after his first NBA game,” Nicolas Batum said, describing Aldridge.

He seems to be happiest devastating the hometown team.

Last April at the American Airlines Arena, Aldridge carried the Blazers to the 99-97 victory over the Mavericks with a step-back jumper at the buzzer. Then, Terry Stotts watched from the other sideline as a Dallas assistant coach. Surely, from Stotts’ perspective, this Aldridge game-winner felt a bit better.

“People can think what they want to think, but LaMarcus, there’s no question in my mind that he’s an All-Star,” Stotts said. “He didn’t have to make that shot to prove he’s an All-Star. He proves it every night.”

He also happens to prove it whenever he plays against Dallas.

Aldridge scores 21.2 points per game against the Mavericks, according to basketball-reference.com and the figure ranks as second highest in his career against any NBA team. Through the last four games versus Dallas, Aldridge has averaged 26.7 points and 11 rebounds.

Oden wants back in NBA; Cavs next? — Former No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden is readying himself for an NBA return and the Heat and Cavs are reportedly on the top of his destination list. How likely is it he’ll be a Cav? Doug Lesmerises of The Plain Dealer digs in:

Former Ohio State star Greg Oden is confident he will return to the NBA after his many knee injuries, but he would not venture a guess about whether he’ll wind up in Cleveland.

“I’m worried about the knee,” he told The Plain Dealer when asked if the Cavs could be a destination for him. “That’s it.”

Oden was in Columbus to take in the Buckeyes’ 58-49 victory over Wisconsin. He has been living in Columbus and taking classes, but he said now that he’s working out in his hometown of Indianapolis and splitting time between the cities.

Asked if he was playing at all, Oden said, “I’m just getting my knee ready so when things do happen I’ll be ready to play next year.

“I’m still in the rehab process, but I’m it taking slow. I could possibly be playing at this point, but I’ve done that before and I got injured before, so I’d rather take everything I am doing slow. Right now I’m just doing strength stuff with my knees.”

He said he was confident he would return to the NBA.

“I like how my knee is going, the way it’s going,” he said. “I still like the time I’m taking, just to make sure nothing happens. You can’t predict the future. But if it doesn’t happen, I’m happy.”

Stuckey, Frank mend fences — Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey and coach Lawrence Frank have had a touch-and-go relationship the last few days. But Terry Foster of the Detroit News reports that’s all behind both men now:

There’s peace again at The Palace. That’s if you believe Pistons coach Lawrence Frank and reserve guard Rodney Stuckey.

Frank ended the one-game benching of Stuckey in time for Tuesday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Palace. But Stuckey was a non-factor during the Pistons’ 117-90 blowout loss to the Bucks at The Palace. He played 27 minutes and finished with just seven points.

Stuckey admitted the men clashed before the Pistons’ game Sunday in Orlando. Frank punished Stuckey by benching him for that game and refused to tell the media why. Frank was mostly close-mouthed again but he equated to a family squabble.

“Things happen every single day,” Frank said. “You deal with it and you move on. There are no grudges. Made a decision and we move on today. During the course of the season you are going to have a bunch of disagreements.”

Neither man would say what happened but it is believed they had a disagreement during practice.

Jazz corner market on youth? – The West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder often get a lot of credit for the way their youthful, lottery-picked duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook has helped them develop into a contender. But you’d likely be surprised to learn that the Thunder don’t have the most under-25 ex-lottery picks on their roster. According to Mike Sorensen of the Deseret News, that honor belongs to Utah:

Remember the NBA list of the 50 greatest players ever that came out about 15 years ago? Of those 50 players, all but a handful were top-10 selections and 32 of them were top-5 picks. Of the players who have played since that list came out, those that would be considered among the all-time greats — James, Duncan, Kevin Durant — most have been high draft picks.

That brings us to the Utah Jazz.

…

While five teams have more total lottery picks on their rosters (New York has the most with nine, but four are 38 years or older), no team has more under the age of 25. And the Jazz has the most under the age of 22 with Gordon Hayward (22), Derrick Favors (21), Alec Burks (21) and Enes Kanter (20).

…

One of the teams closest to the Jazz in terms of young, high lottery picks is Wednesday night’s opponent, New Orleans, which has three under the age of 22 in 19-year-old Anthony Davis, 20-year-old Austin Rivers and 22-year-old Al-Farouq Aminu.

Other teams with three lottery picks under age 22 include Washington (John Wall, Bradley Beal, Jan Vesely), Charlotte (Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kemba Walker, Bismarck Biyombo) and Cleveland (Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson).

Walton takes on mentoring role — Ex-Laker Luke Walton wasn’t sure what his role would be when he was traded to the Cavs at last season’s trade deadline. But it’s become clear that the one-time starter in L.A. is embracing his role as a coach of sorts for Cleveland’s young big men Tristan Thompson and Tyler Zeller, writes Stephen Brotherson of HoopsWorld.com:

“At the beginning of the year, the coaches [told] me, you got to [help Thompson and Zeller],” Walton said. “So I knew that was going to be part of my role this year whether it was while I was playing or while I was not playing. I had a lot of good vets that had taught me a lot about this game, so when I am out there playing with these young talented big guys, if I see something that they are doing or I see something that would be more effective for them during a timeout, I will let them know or if we are in the game together, I will try to point it out so we can do it because if we do it in a game, it will reinforce it. They are both such great kids. They want to learn. They want to get better. It has been a lot of fun doing that.”

Thompson and Zeller have enjoyed playing with Walton this season. The veteran has been showing them how to be a facilitator and setting them up when they get open.

“[Walton is] fun,” Zeller said. “You know he is going to find you if you are open and he can make a lot of great plays. We have a lot of confidence in him that he can score, pass and defend. He is really a great all-around player.”

“He is a great passer,” Thompson said. “He keeps the offense flowing. He sees the court. He might not be the most athletic big guy or the tallest guy, but he is so smart that he knows where the ball needs to go, what works and what doesn’t work. We are blessed to have him on our team.”

…
“It’s awesome,” Walton said. “Obviously losing is very hard, but just being back out there on the court and being able to help some younger players, now having the opportunity to play again and play the way basketball is meant to be played with sharing the ball and passing, I am having a blast right now.”

ICYMI of the night: Before we all get a little too excited over the Lakers’ three-game win streak, let’s not forget there are still more kinks to work out … as this play below illustrates:

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in HT News, Morning Shootaround / Comments (55) /

L.A. Recovery Wouldn’t Be Unprecedented

January 24, 2013  ·  11:30AM




HANG TIME NEW JERSEY – The ditch is just a little bit deeper this morning.

The Los Angeles Lakers lost their fourth straight game on Wednesday. They’re now 12-20 under Mike D’Antoni, 5-11 since Steve Nash‘s return, and a brutal 2-10 in January.

The Lakers are just four games out of eighth place, but they’re eight games under .500. If you assume that it will take 45 wins to make the playoffs in the Western Conference, the Lakers would need to finish the season 28-12 to get there.

The good news is that neither the 21-21 Portland Trail Blazers (who had lost six straight before beating the Pacers on Wednesday) nor the 22-22 Houston Rockets (who have lost eight of their last nine) are playing well, so it might not take 45 wins to get in.

The other good news is that it’s not unprecedented for a 17-25 team to turn its season around and make the postseason, even in the Western Conference.

The last team to do it in the West was the 2004-05 Denver Nuggets, who were 17-25 under Jeff Bzdelik and interim coach Michael Cooper. Then they brought in George Karl, who led them to a 32-8 record over their last 40 games.

At 49-33, those Nuggets were the No. 7 seed in the West, and they got knocked out in the first round (4-1) by the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs.

According to Elias, here are the last five teams to make the playoffs in the West after a 17-25 start or worse…

Season Team First 42 Last 40 Total Seed Playoffs
2004-05 Denver 17-25 32-8 49-33 7 Lost in 1st round, 4-1
1996-97 Phoenix 15-27 25-15 40-42 7 Lost in 1st round, 3-2
1996-97 L.A. Clippers 17-25 19-21 36-46 8 Lost in 1st round, 3-0
1985-86 Sacramento 16-26 21-19 37-45 7 Lost in 1st round, 3-0
1983-84 Kansas City 17-25 21-19 38-44 8 Lost in 1st round, 3-0

The ’04-05 Nuggets are the only team above that finished with a winning record. The other four benefited from a weaker conference and/or a league with fewer teams. And really, the Lakers’ chances of making the playoffs depend a lot on how well the Rockets and Blazers finish the season.

Portland’s record is already inflated. They’re 21-21, but have the point differential of an 18-24 team. And they also have the hardest remaining schedule of the three.

Remaining schedules

Team Home Away B2B OppW OppL PCT Avg. NetRtg
Houston 19 19 8 802 791 0.503 -.4
L.A. Lakers 19 21 7 837 834 0.501 -.2
Portland 19 21 7 907 767 0.542 +1.2

NetRtg = Point differential per 100 possessions

The Lakers’ schedule and Rockets’ schedule are about even. And get this: They play each other in L.A. on the final night of the regular season.

Before we get there, though, the Lakers need to turn their season around. And we’ve yet to see any evidence that they can.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in HT News, NBA.com/Stats / Comments (79) /

Aldridge Skepticism Starting To Fade

January 11, 2013  ·  4:37PM

HANG TIME SOUTHWEST – The early season controversy that swirled around LaMarcus Aldridge and his shot selection has cooled over the last six weeks, to no coincidence, as the Portland Trail Blazers have reversed a rough start into a 14-5 record since Dec. 1.

Terry Stotts imported his “flow” offense from his Dallas assistant days and it requires Aldridge to often begin offensive sets at the elbow, a la Dirk Nowitzki, and to shoot a lot of mid-range jumpers. 

In previous seasons under former Blazers coach Nate McMillan, Aldridge was the primary post man and McMillan ran loads of isolation sets through him, the kind that grinded away at Nowitzki when Avery Johnson called the plays, and eventually led Dallas to trade for point guard Jason Kidd and fire Johnson and hire Rick Carlisle.

J.J. Hickson or Meyers Leonard serve as the primary post man in Stotts’ scheme, giving Aldridge more freedom to roam and and pull his defender out and, yes, take far more shots from outside of the paint, where Aldridge does possess one of the prettier fadeaways.

Still, initially, the result was a drastically lowered shooting percentage and plenty of skepticism.

“In some ways they’re similar, obviously their size, they both have a great touch, they’re unique for their position,” Stotts said earlier this season, comparing Aldridge to Nowitzki. “LaMarcus is a great block player, but if I can get him on the elbow a little bit more — it will probably take time to get him as comfortable as Dirk is up there — but that’s one way, utilizing him in spacing the floor a little bit, not necessarily to the 3-point line, but he’s a good 18- to 20-foot shooter.

“So LaMarcus is his own player and he’s his own man, but I think there are some similarities that we can take advantage of.”

Through 33 games, according to NBA.com advanced stats, Aldridge has attempted 352 mid-range shots. In 55 games last season, he took 494 and in 81 games in 2010-11, he shot 564. On pace to put up 875 in 82 games this season, it is obviously a steep rise and a significant change to his game that has required time to adjust.

Overall, Aldridge’s shooting percentage continues to rise from the lower 40s of the early season. He’s still at a career-low 46.4 percent (he was at 50 percent or better the last two seasons and never below 48.4 percent), but Aldridge actually is making the mid-range jumper at the same rate he has the last two seasons, right at about 41 percent.  This season, he’s down a few percentage points on shots in the restricted area under the rim and in the paint, contributing to his lower overall shooting percentage.

And, the Blazers just keep winning, their latest conquest being Thursday’s come-from-behind victory over Miami.

With point guard Damian Lillard putting a stranglehold on the Rookie of the Year Award, the Blazers have put together a four-game win streak, including road wins over the Knicks and Grizzlies, to improve to a season-best five games over .500 at 20-15.

They’re doing it primarily with a starting five that all averages double-digit scoring and with little help from arguably the lightest bench in the league.

Aldridge is on an All-Star pace once again, leading the Blazers in scoring at 20.6 points a game, about a one-point dropoff from the past two seasons, and is second in rebounding at 8.6.

Portland’s schedule isn’t terribly unmanageable moving through January, but things get trickier starting tonight with another road game at Golden State followed by Oklahoma City at home and Denver on the road. Two games against the Clippers come later this month.

For now, skepticism has cooled as Aldridge and the Blazers have grown more comfortable in Stotts’ system.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in HT News / Comments (6) /

Report: Oden Eyeing Comeback With Heat?

January 10, 2013  ·  1:23PM

NBA.com staff reports

Another year, another Greg Oden rumor.

The last we heard of Oden in this space, the former No. 1 overall pick of the 2007 Draft was drawing interest from the Miami Heat. Keep in mind, this was shortly after the lockout ended and Oden had just a qualifiying offer on the table from Portland. Oden ended up restructuring his deal in December of 2011 after having another setback with his gimpy knees — a setback that eventually turned into another lost season after doctors determined he needed another microfracture surgery in February.

Now comes word from ESPN.com Brian Windhorst (who reported the first Heat-Oden dalliance) that the ex-Blazers big man is eyeing a return, but not until the 2013-14 season:

Sources told ESPN.com that multiple teams have already expressed interest in signing Oden to a multi-year deal before the end of this season that would allow him to continue his rehab until he can get back on the court in training camp next fall.

The Miami Heat are at the front of the line in pursuing Oden, two sources said, and have been keeping tabs as he recovers while also taking classes at Ohio State.

Sources say that the Heat, though, are not alone in their pursuit of the former No. 1 overall pick.

The Heat potentially could have two roster spots available this season, one of which Oden could slide into as he continues to rehab. Team president Pat Riley is known to like gambling on long shots, especially when it comes to big men.

Don’t get too excited yet, though, Miami fans. There are some cap-related hurdles which could keep Oden from joining Miami’s star-studded (and defending-champion) cast of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in the near future.

One concern for the Heat, though, is they already are committed to more than $80 million in salaries for next season and very likely will have a final payroll coming close to $90 million in a year when the new, more harsh luxury tax kicks in. Oden would potentially be a costly gamble even on a minimum-level contract. The Heat are also currently about $14 million over the luxury-tax line for this season.

…

In attempting another comeback, Oden’s camp is planning to take a very conservative approach. So the plan is for him to sit out the rest of this season and summer league to make sure he allows himself the best chance of finally getting healthy.

The Heat, who have been on the lookout for a center for three years, were interested in Oden before the start of last season when he was a restricted free agent. But he ended up taking a one-year, $8.9 million deal with the Blazers. After a setback in his recovery, the contract was reduced to $1.5 million and he later had the microfracture procedure.

It’s a gamble for the Heat if this all works out, given that Oden has never played in a full season (his healthiest campaign was a 61-game effort in 2008-09). Still, if Oden is fully recovered — and given the talent he showed in his collegiate days at Ohio State — his landing in Miami (or elsewhere) could be the steal of the offseason.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in HT News / Comments (142) /

< Older Entries
Newer Entries >