February 2010 – Page 4 – NBA Blog

Eddie House gets standing ovation in Boston

Julian Benbow of the Boston Globe reports:

At times last night, Eddie House found himself joking around with Rajon Rondo on the court, and at others he was making plays against him. Back at TD Garden almost instantly after being traded from the Celtics to the Knicks last week at the deadline, House got a standing ovation from the crowd of 18,624 fans.

“It was hard to stay serious at times, but it was a lot of fun,’’ House said. “I was glad to see those guys. I wish the best of luck to those guys, best of luck to Nate [Robinson, who came to Boston in the deal], and best of success to those guys.’’

In the first quarter, a video tribute to House was played, flashing moments from the Celtics’ 2008 championship run, and House did his best not to look before finally coming onto the parquet and giving a nod to the fans and his former teammates.

Rockets recall Jermaine Taylor from D-League

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has recalled guard Jermaine Taylor from Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley. Taylor was re-assigned to the Vipers on Feb. 19.

Taylor (6-4, 210, Central Florida) has averaged 19.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.00 steals in six games (two starts) with the Vipers. In his first stint with Rio Grande Valley, Taylor posted back-to-back 30-point outings at Albuquerque (30 points on 2/2/10 and 32 points on 2/3/10). A rookie out of Central Florida, Taylor has averaged 2.6 points and 0.2 assists in 17 games with the Rockets this season.

Kings waive Larry Hughes

The Sacramento Kings today waived guard Larry Hughes. Hughes was acquired from the New York Knicks as part of a three-team trade on February 18, 2010, and did not appear in any contests with Sacramento.

Overall this season Hughes, when playing for the New York Knicks before coming to Sacramento, averaged 9.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 26.5 minutes per game.

For his career, Hughes averages 14.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 31.2 minutes per game.

The Kings roster now stands at 14.

Cavs investor buys into Chinese basketball league

The AP reports:

After becoming part-owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jianhua ‘Kenny’ Huang’s next goal is to transform pro basketball in his homeland of China.

As an investor in China’s National Basketball League, Huang says he’ll introduce cutting-edge management practices adopted from England’s Premier League and the NFL.

“This is the first time private enterprise has been given the chance to reform a Chinese league,” Huang told The Associated Press Tuesday by telephone from Cleveland.

The new NBL also plans to promote homegrown talent, distinguishing itself from the dominant Chinese Basketball Association, where 19 of the 20 top scorers last year were foreigners.

Andrew Bogut dominates in Bucks win over Knicks

The New York Knicks recently made some changes, but their losing ways continued in dramatic fashion Monday night in Madison Square Garden as the visiting Milwaukee Bucks enjoyed a convincing 83-67 victory.

Monday’s matchup marked the second game for new Knicks Tracy McGrady, Sergio Rodriguez and Eddie House. And after showing some entertaining and effective flashes in his first game for New York, this time Rodriguez got the start, over generally ineffective point guard Chris Duhon.

But while Rodriguez continued to show his great quickness and creativity, aside from the ridiculous eight steals he managed to grab, his first start was a struggle as he shot 2-of-8 for four points, just one assist and three turnovers in 29 minutes of play.

For the winning Bucks, center Andrew Bogut was unstoppable, shooting 12-of-15 for 24 points, 20 rebounds and five blocks. John Salmons added 15 (but just 7-of-18 shooting). Luc Richard Mbah a Moute added 11.

Rookie point guard Brandon Jennings struggled with his shot, hitting just 1-of-9 for four points, though he added eight rebounds and seven assists.

Against Bogut, Knicks center David Lee had a quiet double-double, hitting 6-of-12 for 12 points and 13 assists.

The Knicks were led by Tracy McGrady’s 15 points, though he shot just 5-of-14 and didn’t contribute much else. He also came up limping. A close eye will be kept on his knees over the next week and beyond.

The Knicks as a team shot just 33.8% and only hit 5-for-24 from three-point range. The Bucks dominated in the rebounding department 61-35. The Bucks also dished 20 assists, while the Knicks only had 10.

Josh Howard out for season with torn ACL

Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that guard/forward Josh Howard has a torn ACL in his left knee and will miss the remainder of the 2010-11 season.

Howard suffered the injury in last night’s game vs. Chicago at the 4:23 mark of the first quarter.

In four games (three starts) for Washington this season, Howard averaged 14.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

No timetable has been announced for Howard’s recovery.

Sergio Rodriguez struggles in first start for Knicks

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

The Chris Duhon Era may be over as the Knicks named a new starting point guard for now and perhaps the distant future.

The flashy Sergio Rodriguez, the Spanish bonus in Thursday’s Tracy McGrady blockbuster trade, made his first start last night vs. the Bucks, but it turned out to be a big dud.

Rodriguez, who had eight steals, was 2 of 8 for four points and once passed with 1 second on the shot clock. Duhon recorded his first DNP as a Knick as Eddie House backed up Rodriguez in their awful, boo-infested 81-67 loss at the Garden.

Rodriguez, 23, will be a work in progress, but Duhon made it easy for coach Mike D’Antoni by playing horribly again Saturday, going scoreless. Duhon is not expected to be re-signed when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Thunder sign Antonio Anderson to 10-day contract, waive Matt Harpring

Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced that the team has signed Antonio Anderson to a 10-day contract.

Anderson, 24, is a free agent call-up from the NBA Development League’s Rio Valley Grande Vipers where he has averaged 15.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 39.6 minutes in 32 games (32 starts). A 6-6, 215 pound guard who went undrafted out of Memphis in 2009, Anderson went to training camp with the Charlotte Bobcats. He appeared in five games, averaging 3.4 points, 1.8 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 14.2 minutes before being waived on October 22.

With his signing, Anderson becomes the 14th Call-Up from the D-League this season. He will wear uniform #8.

In order to accommodate Anderson, Oklahoma City has waived forward Matt Harpring who was acquired along with Eric Maynor in a trade with the Utah Jazz on December 22.

Allen Iverson away from Sixers indefinitely for personal reasons

Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson will not be with the team for the remaining three games of the current road trip and is out indefinitely for personal reasons related to a family matter.

“At this time, we feel that it is in the best interest of the Sixers, Allen and his family that he be allowed to deal with a very serious issue that is far greater than the game of basketball,” said President and General Manager Ed Stefanski.

The Iverson family kindly requests that their privacy be respected during this time.

The team will release any additional updates on Iverson’s status as they become available.

Timberwolves recall Nathan Jawai from D-League

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the club has recalled second-year forward Nathan Jawai from the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League. Jawai appeared in two games for the Skyforce, averaging 6.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 25.0 minutes per game.

Jawai has appeared in 36 games for the Wolves this season, averaging 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in 10.8 minutes per game.

The Wolves obtained Jawai from the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 20, 2009 in exchange for a conditional second-round draft pick in 2012. The native of Australia played in six games for the Toronto Raptors in 2008-09.

Per NBA rules, a first- or second-year player can be assigned to the team’s D-League affiliate a maximum of three times in a season.