Month: April 2008

Heat sign Kasib Powell for rest of season

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed forward Kasib Powell for the remainder of the season. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Powell, a 6’7”, 215-pound forward, has appeared in six games (three starts) for the Heat averaging 6.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.33 steals in 25.7 minutes of action. He scored a career-high 15 points at Indiana on Mar. 31 surpassing his previous career-high of 14 points which he set earlier this season at New York on Mar. 26. Additionally, in his three starts with the Heat, Powell has averaged 7.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.67 steals and 2.3 assists in 35.7 minutes of action.

Powell, the 2007-08 NBA Development League MVP, was re-signed after the Heat was granted an injury exemption from the NBA for forward Shawn Marion. Powell was originally signed to a 10-day contract with the Heat on Mar. 22.

The Heat roster currently stands at 17.

Boozer says Kobe is MVP favorite

The Deseret Morning News (Tim Buckley) reports: Carlos Boozer was asked Monday about the NBA MVP candidacy of New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul, whom the Jazz will see tonight. The Jazz’s All-Star power forward opted instead to endorse another Western Conference guard, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant. “For what (Paul) does for that team, and the way he affects it, I think (he’s a deserving candidate),” Boozer said. “I think Kobe’s the favorite. If I had to give it to somebody I’d give it to Kobe, or Kevin Garnett because of what he did for Boston. “But I’m not taking anything away from Chris Paul,” he added. “Those are my two. Maybe even (Cleveland’s) LeBron (James) may be ahead of (Paul) a little bit, even though (James’) team has lost a little (too much) for me. Great player, though.”

Sam Dalembert can see the future

The Philadelphia Daily News (Phil Jasner) reports: He said the 76ers would make the playoffs. He said they would be in the top five in the East. He said they would finish the regular season with the No. 4 seed. Samuel Dalembert swears he said all of those things. As it turns out, he was closer to the truth than virtually anyone who predicted anything about the Sixers. Dead last? Struggling to win 20 to 25 games? Preparing for one more lonely ride up the New Jersey Turnpike to the lottery? None of the above. Going into tomorrow night’s game against the Detroit Pistons, the Sixers are already holding 39 victories, four more than all of last season. Instead of playing for pride or incentive bonuses or new contracts, they are battling for postseason positioning.

Jobs Kevin Garnett had as a kid

The Boston Globe (Marc Spears) reports: Kevin Garnett’s résumé has a lot more than pro basketball player on it. Garnett worked at Burger King, manned a cash register at a restaurant called Cheers, worked at an Ingles Markets grocery store, and mowed lawns while growing up in South Carolina. He mopped gym floors at a Boys’ and Girls’ Club his senior year in high school in Chicago. But of all the jobs he has held – including playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves – he says his current gig with the Celtics is the least taxing. “Since I’ve been 14, I’ve probably had seven jobs, and since I’ve been working, this is the most rest I’ve ever had in my life,” said the Celtics forward yesterday. “It’s so much that I don’t know what to do with myself. It’s coming at a great time. “You put your heart and soul in this. I’m staying afloat being a vet, being a leader. It’s been good. It’s coming at the right time for this team.”

Jeff Green recently living up to expectations

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Gary Washburn) reports: Without question Jeff Green entered the league with an NBA body, lofty résumé from Georgetown University and the tag of the Sonics’ small forward of the future. Just recently has Green lived up to those high expectations, and the pinnacle occurred Sunday night when he dropped 35 points on the defenseless Denver Nuggets in a 151-147 double-overtime win. Green’s numbers have improved exponentially since the All-Star Break. He is averaging 13.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and nearly 39 percent 3-point shooting in the past 26 games compared with 8.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 15 percent shooting from the 3-point line in the first 49.

Avery Johnson wants Kidd to penetrate more

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Jeff Caplan) reports: Avery Johnson continues to emphasize the importance for Jason Kidd using dribble penetration to break down defenses. “He’s not programmed necessarily to do those things,” Johnson said. “But we keep prodding him, and we keep talking to him.” After Kidd failed to get off a shot in the second half of Friday’s 112-108 loss to the Lakers, he continued to attack in the decisive fourth quarter against the Suns. Twice he drove past Steve Nash, missing the first layup, but he finished a critical driving layup with 2:51 to play to put the Mavs up by six. Kidd, who Dirk Nowitzki called too unselfish at times, said Kidd’s getting more comfortable with creating for himself.

Isiah Thomas delivers funny Ewing comments

On Sunday, after the Knicks, playing at home in New York, upset the Orlando Magic, Isiah Thomas was pretty funny in the post-game press conference.

Not during regular game and team discussion, but at the very end of the conference. A reporter asked about Isiah’s memories of playing against Patrick Ewing, a Magic assistant coach and soon-to-be member of the Hall of Fame.

Isiah thought about it, and with a big grin revealed that the prominent thought that comes to mind when reflecting on Ewing’s basketball career is sweat. Reporters were amused.

I was tempted to ask if Isiah ever remembered slipping and falling due to pools of Ewing’s sweat on the floor, but held back.

Shaun Livingston medical update

Los Angeles Clippers guard Shaun Livingston had his left knee re-examined on Monday, April 7 by Dr. James Andrews of the Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Alabama.

Dr. Andrews examination revealed that Livingston still has some tendinitis that is showing improvement. He will be allowed to pick up the intensity of his on-court workouts by the end of the season. Livingston will continue to maintain strength work and progress with his workouts.

Livingston was originally injured during the first quarter of the Clippers win over the Charlotte Bobcats on February 26, 2007 at STAPLES Center, when he suffered tears to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral meniscus.  Livingston also suffered a patella dislocation, in addition to a tibia/femoral dislocation.  Andrews performed the surgery to repair the injuries on March 13, 2007 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham.

Player of week are Kobe Bryant and Joe Johnson

The Atlanta Hawks’ Joe Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, March 31, through Sunday, April 6.

Johnson led the Hawks to a 3-1 week, which included wins over two playoff-bound Eastern Conference foes, Philadelphia and Toronto. Johnson averaged 25.3 points on .556 shooting from the field, 8.3 assists and 5.5 rebounds. Johnson also shot .455 from distance. For the season, Johnson is Atlanta’s leader in scoring, assists, free-throw percentage, three-point percentage and three-point field goals made.

Bryant helped the Lakers to a 3-0 week, which included wins over the Trail Blazers, Mavericks and Kings. For the week, Bryant averaged 30.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists while shooting a scorching .688 from three-point range (11-of-17). The Lakers are tied with San Antonio for the second best record in the Western Conference (53-24).

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, Detroit’s Rodney Stuckey, New Orleans’ Chris Paul, Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala, Sacramento’s Kevin Martin, Toronto’s Rasho Nesterovic and Utah’s Deron Williams.

Quick notes on Okafor, Moon and Powell

Wednesday’s Washington-Boston matchup marks the fourth and final meeting the two teams this season. Having won two of the previous three meetings, the Wizards can win the season-series with Boston for the third consecutive season. The Wizards, Cavaliers and Magic are the only teams that have defeated the Celtics twice this season.

Toronto’s Jamario Moon is one start away from passing Damon Stoudamire’s Raptors record of 70 starts by a first-year player, which was set during the team’s inaugural season in 1995-96.

Charlotte’s Emeka Okafor is averaging 19.2 points on .686 shooting over the last six games. With season averages of 13.5 points and 10.6 rebounds, Okafor is one of 18 players averaging a double-double. Okafor has 38 double-doubles on the season, tied for the 10th in the league.

Sioux Falls’ Kasib Powell was named the NBA Development League’s Most Valuable Player for the 2007-08 season. Prior to his Call-Up to Miami, Powell was leading the Skyforce with 22.3 points per game, shooting 50 percent from the field and 43 percent from three-point territory, to go with 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

– NBA News