The AP reports: Dwight Howard led the way for Orlando with 29 points and 14 rebounds, but he had plenty of help. Rashard Lewis scored 26 points, Hedo Turkoglu had 21 and Mickael Pietrus added 20 as the Magic shot 55 percent from the field in their best offensive game of the season… Sacramento, which has lost three straight games to start the season for the second year in a row, did have one thing to celebrate. Kevin Martin, who was just 7-of-29 from the field in the first two games, broke out of the slump with 31 points on 11-of-20 shooting. Martin drilled three 3-pointers, almost single-handedly keeping his team close for the first three quarters. Hawes contributed 14 points, and John Salmons and Thompson added 12 apiece for Sacramento.
Month: November 2008
Sean Williams asked Nets to skip option
The New York Post (Fred Kerber) reports: The Nets’ Sean Williams admitted yesterday he asked team president Rod Thorn not to pick up his option, which would have helped him get a new contract quicker and become a free agent. But he insisted he still wants to be a Net. “I told Rod I didn’t want him to pick up my option,” said Williams, whose third year – 2009-2010 at $1.629 million – was picked up on Thursday. “It had nothing to do with me not wanting to be here as part of this team because I love this team. “It’s part of the business. I want to get to my second deal as fast as possible.”
InsideHoops.com editor (Jeff) says: Williams is super-athletic and can apply it in ways that can help a team, but for the next few seasons will have to keep refining his game. Right now he’s more of a good 8th-10th man who can show flashes of being a good 6th man.
Wade getting lit up
The Palm Beach Post (Chris Perkins) reports: Guard Dwyane Wade (19 points on 5-for-15 shooting) stayed in foul trouble the entire night. And his defense has to be eyed suspiciously. In his last four games he’s allowed Memphis’ O.J. Mayo 28 points, New York’s Jamal Crawford 29 points, held Sacarmento’s Kevin Martin to nine points and allowed Charlotte’s Jason Richardson 23. Coach Erik Spoelstra won’t be happy with his team’s effort. It appeared Udonis Haslem (16 points, seven rebounds) was upset with his teammates the entire night.
Jerry Sloan out tonight
Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan is not with the team for tonight’s home game vs. the Los Angeles Clippers due to flu-like symptoms. Assistant coach Phil Johnson will coach the team tonight in Sloan’s absence.
Sloan is expected to accompany the team to Los Angeles on Sunday as the Jazz prepares to play the Clippers again Monday night in L.A.
Marcus Williams reflects on Nets
Marcus Williams was a backup point guard on the Nets and didn’t play tons of minutes because extremely good players were always ahead of him. Now he’s barely playing for the Warriors and the point guards ahead of him are lucky to even be in the league. Here’s the New York Daily News (Julian Garcia):
As for what went wrong in Jersey, Williams said playing behind a legend after being drafted in the first round of the ‘06 draft made it tough for him to get anything going personally. “I played behind Jason,” Williams said. “Obviously that prevented me from playing as much as I wanted to. And then they brought in Devin, and Devin was having a career year. You can’t really stop a guy from playing who’s having a career year. So I think situations and opportunities weren’t here.” Williams had a reputation for being out of shape while with the Nets, and not necessarily working hard enough to get into shape. He also suffered several injuries along the way that prevented him from earning steady playing time.
I don’t see Williams falling out of the league anytime soon. He’ll have a few more seasons to prove himself worthy of a job before that would happen.
Dalembert not himself yet
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Kate Fagan) reports: Through two games, Samuel Dalembert has looked slightly … off. He has rebounded very well (12.5 average), scored decently (8.5 average), but struggled with some close-range shots. Remember, Sam missed a decent amount of the preseason with a knee sprain. Said Dalembert: “I’m not quite back. The [knee] is uncomfortable still. I’m not quite myself. I’ve been missing a lot of stuff I usually don’t miss. I’m catching the ball and just something is off, not quite on balance. It’s all part of it, and as games go by and I keep playing more, it will get better. I’m one little bit away from a big game.”
Sean May is out of shape
The AP reports: Bobcats forward Sean May was on the inactive list for Saturday’s game against Miami, two days after coach Larry Brown criticized his fitness following a sluggish performance in the season opener. May started in Charlotte’s 96-79 loss to Cleveland on Thursday night, but was 0-for-6 from the field and played only three minutes in the second half.
InsideHoops.com editor (Jeff) says: I hope he didn’t try to eat the bench while sitting on it. Because then the bench would disappear. And everyone sitting on it would fall down. Someone could get hurt.
Rockets-Thunder team connections
Rockets Assistant Coach Jack Sikma joined Houston after spending four seasons on the coaching staff in Seattle … Sikma, who was selected by the Sonics with the eighth overall pick of the 1977 NBA Draft, had his jersey #43 retired by Seattle-Oklahoma City franchise on Nov. 21, 1992 … Houston Assistant Coach R.J. Adelman worked as an NBA advance scout for the former Sonics before coming to Houston … Gerald Madkins, Houston’s as Director of Scouting, joined the Rockets after serving as the Director of West Coast College Scouting for Seattle in 2007-08 … Brent Barry still ranks fifth all-time in Seattle-Oklahoma City franchise history with 669 3-pointers made … originally chosen by Seattle in the second round (31st overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft, Houston obtained the draft rights to forward Carl Landry on June 28, 2007 … Scott Brooks, an assistant coach with the Thunder, played three seasons with the Rockets (1992-95) … Oklahoma City Assistant Coach Mark Bryant also played one season with Houston (1995-96) … Thunder guard John Lucas III played two season with the Rockets (2005-07).
Meet agent for coaches Warren LeGarie
The New York Post (Marc Berman) reports: Warren LeGarie is one of the most important movers and shakers of the NBA you’ve never heard of. Best known for founding the wildly successful NBA Las Vegas Summer League five years ago that has knocked out all competitors, LeGarie is also coach Mike D’Antoni’s agent and a key reason he wound up in New York and not Chicago… LeGarie is the agent for five other NBA head coaches – Rick Carlisle, George Karl, Mike Dunleavy, Mike Iavarone and Mike Brown, plus Nets GM Kiki Vandeweghe.
Oct 31: Nuggets 113, Clippers 103 OT
The AP reports: Allen Iverson scored nine of his 25 points in the final 3:35 of overtime and the Denver Nuggets overcame an 18-point halftime deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 113-103 on Friday night. Nene added 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets before fouling out for the second time in two games. Kenyon Martin missed nine of his first 10 shots and finished with 13 points. But he also grabbed 13 rebounds, made a key defensive stop to send the game into OT and made a 3-pointer in the final minute of the game to secure the victory. Al Thornton had 30 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers. Tim Thomas added 20 points and Chris Kaman had 15 points and 15 rebounds.