NBA.com reports: Shaquille O’Neal, Suns, scored 29 points as Phoenix wrapped up a six-game East Coast swing with a 103-87 win over Washington. O’Neal went 10-for-14 from the field and 9-for-10 from the free throw line… Dwyane Wade, Heat, finished with 35 points and Miami held Atlanta without a field goal for nearly 131/2 minutes during one first-half stretch in a 95-79 victory… Chris Paul, Hornets, had 27 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds and seven steals for his fifth triple-double of the season, and the Hornets defeated Philadelphia 101-86… Brandon Roy, Trail Blazers, scored 33 points on 11-of-15 shooting to lead Portland to a 113-88 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers… Al Jefferson, Timberwolves, had 23 points and 10 rebounds, lifting Minnesota over short-handed Milwaukee 90-83.
Month: January 2009
Jannero Pargo signs in Greece
Euroleague.net reports: Olympiacos Pireaus has made up for the loss of an injured starter by signing more offensive firepower in the person of guard Jannero Pargo, last with Dynamo Moscow. Pargo (188, 30) posted 13.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists in five Eurocup games in this, his first season in Europe, for Dynamo. Pargo had played the previous six seaons with four NBA teams: New Orleans, Chicago, Toronto and the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged 8.1 points last season with New Orleans. Olympiacos needs help after its third-best scorer, Josh Childress, was lost for at least a month more due to a sports hernia that was operated on last week.
James White rocking the D-League
NBA.com (Matthew Brennan) reports: James White is unstoppable on offense at the NBA D-League level, averaging 29.8 points in January including a D-League season high 47 last week. He has come a long way in developing his all-around game since his assignment to Austin two seasons ago, and has to be at the top of the list regarding any call-up discussion. I am looking forward to seeing him play at All-Star Weekend (both in the D-League game and maybe the Dunk Contest), but will be surprised if he is not on an NBA roster by then.
Questioning the Pistons rotation
The Detroit Pistons have been a losing team lately, dropping 7 of the 9 games they’ve played since January 10: They lost big in Utah, lost a close home game against Charlotte, lost a close game in Indiana, lost in Oklahoma City, lost at home against New Olreans, won at Memphis, won big at home against Toronto, lost big at home against Dallas, and lost a close game at home against Houston.
It’s not Michael Curry’s “fault,” necessarily, but he has yet to come up with a solution to the problem of a roster with plenty of talent but with too many good players at the small spots and not enough good big guys.
The Pistons now start Rodney Stuckey and Allen Iverson in the backcourt, Tayshaun Prince and Amir Johnson at forward, and Rasheed Wallace at center. The key guys off the bench are Richard Hamilton, Jason Maxiell and Antonio McDyess.
I question the decision to start Iverson while using Hamilton as a bench reserve. The reverse makes more sense. Hamilton clearly has chemistry with Prince, Wallace, McDyess and the other key Pistons. Iverson is the newcomer. He’s the guy that has to keep learning to fit in.
A scorer who is better at putting the ball in the basket than in the hands of teammates, if I was coaching Detroit, I’d use Iverson as instant points off the bench.
And if Iverson doesn’t want to come off the bench? Tough. Deal with it. If it works, great. If it doesn’t, obviously another change would be made.
–Jeff
Kenny Adeleke signs in Germany
Euroleague.net reports: With center Patrick Femerling sidelined for the whole Top 16, Alba Berlin signed rebounding ace Kenny Adeleke (25, 205) on Tuesday. The American power forward with Nigerian origin started the season for Lukoil Academic Sofia, but was released in December, after the Bulgarian champion had lost all options to reach the Last 16 of the Eurocup.
Grizzlies reassign Kevin O`Neill to new Special assistant to GM position
The Memphis Grizzlies have reassigned Kevin O’Neill to the new role of special assistant to the general manager, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.
“Kevin O’Neill was instrumental in our draft preparations last year, which resulted in bringing O.J. Mayo and Darrell Arthur to the Grizzlies,” Wallace said. “Kevin is a very valuable resource for us. He has the rare combination of college coaching experience, as he was recently a head collegiate coach for a NCAA Tournament-caliber team, and he has a perspective of a NBA coach. We are eager to have Kevin’s input in our draft evaluation process again this year.”
O’Neill, a 29-year coaching veteran in the college and pro ranks, was named an assistant coach on June 17, 2008 after serving as the interim head coach at the University of Arizona last season, where he guided the Wildcats to a 19-15 record (.559) and the school’s 24th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
A seven-year veteran in the NBA coaching circles with the New York Knicks (2000-01, assistant), Detroit Pistons (2001-03, assistant), Toronto Raptors (2003-04, head coach), Indiana Pacers (2004-06, assistant) and Memphis (2008-09, assistant), O’Neill was a well-known figure on the college scene as the head coach at Marquette University (1989-94), Tennessee (1994-97) and Northwestern University (1997-2000). The Great Midwest Conference Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1994 (Marquette) has also seen duty as an assistant coach at Arizona (1986-89) under Hall of Famer Lute Olson, the University of Tulsa (1985-86) and the University of Delaware (1983-85).
Roy leads Trail Blazers past Clippers
The AP reports: Brandon Roy scored 33 points on 11-of-15 shooting to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 113-88 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night… Travis Outlaw scored 16 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and keyed the run that gave the Trail Blazers breathing room. Greg Oden went 7-of-7 from the floor and 2-of-4 from the line for 16 points and had six rebounds. Al Thornton scored 23 for Los Angeles, which lost for the 16th time in 18 games. Steve Novak added 21 points, and Fred Jones had 19 points and seven assists. Brian Skinner, back after missing two games with flulike symptoms, had eight points and 10 rebounds in the loss.
Thunder beat Nets 94-85
The AP reports: Kevin Durant scored nine of his 18 points in the decisive third quarter, and the Thunder enjoyed big advantages at the free throw line and on the boards to beat the New Jersey Nets 94-85 Monday night in front of just 5,000 fans. Russell Westbrook had 13 points and eight rebounds, and Jeff Green scored 13 for the Thunder. Oklahoma City took 38 free throws, 20 more than the Nets, and outrebounded the opponent for the eighth time in nine games… Rookie Brook Lopez, who had a career-high 31 points in the first meeting, scored 18 for the Nets. Carter, averaging 21.6 points per game, had just eight on 2-of-12 shooting. Devin Harris (21.8) scored 10 and was 4-of-17.
Jefferson’s double-double leads Wolves over Bucks
The AP reports: Al Jefferson had 23 points and 10 rebounds as he roamed the paint freely and Ryan Gomes added 22 points, lifting the Timberwolves over the short-handed Bucks 90-83. Minnesota improved to an NBA-best 10-2 in 2009 and Jefferson thwarted the Bucks when it counted in the fourth quarter with Milwaukee also missing center Andrew Bogut for the seventh straight game with back spasms… Richard Jefferson, who finished 3-of-15 from the field, hit a jumper, but Al Jefferson answered when he kicked out a pass to Gomes for a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired with 1:46 left… Milwaukee’s Ramon Sessions, who had 18 points replacing Redd, said Gomes’ shot was deflating.
CP3 rocks as Hornets defeat Sixers 101-86
The AP reports: Chris Paul had 27 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds and seven steals for his league-leading fifth triple-double of the season, and the New Orleans Hornets defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 101-86 on Monday night… New Orleans, badly outscored inside while missing center Tyson Chandler (ankle) and David West (back), made up for it with 14 3s as a team… James Posey and Rasual Butler had 13 points apiece, including three 3-pointers each for the Hornets. Thaddeus Young had 22 points and Andre Miller 19 for the Sixers, who lost for only the second time in their past 10 games. Andre Iguodala scored 17 points for Philadelphia, and Louis Williams added 11 points.