October 5, 2010 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Detroit officials optimistic Pistons will move downtown after sale

Darren A. Nichols of the Detroit News reports:

Detroit officials say they’re hopeful the Detroit Pistons will relocate to downtown following the sale of the franchise to pizza and sports mogul Mike Ilitch.“We continue to be excited about the possibility of the Detroit Pistons returning to Detroit, which is nationally recognized as a destination for professional sports,” Karen Dumas, a spokeswoman for Mayor Dave Bing, said in a released statement. “The deal is not done, but we remain optimistic.”

Crain’s Detroit Business and other media outlets today are reporting that Ilitch is in negotiations to buy the Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment Inc.

Ilitch, who already owns the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers and Little Caesars Pizza, could work out the deal with Pistons ownership in the next 30 days, according to the reports.

Talk about the team on the Detroit Pistons forum.

No plans for Doc Rivers to rotate starting centers while Perkins is out

Rob Bradford of WEEI reports:

Speaking after the Celtics’ practice Tuesday, Doc Rivers said that he doesn’t plan on rotating Jermaine O’Neal and Shaquille O’Neal in the starting lineup depending on match-ups, instead going with one consistent starter until Kendrick Perkins returns from his knee injury.

“I doubt it. I don’t usually do that,” said Rivers when asked if he was going to alternate between two big men. “I usually just go with one, and that’s what we’ll do. I’m going to wait until the end of camp and the best big wins.”

Regarding if he feels it makes a big difference which of the two get the starting nod, Rivers said, “It doesn’t. I think it’s going to come down to who we feel is going to give us the best chance to get off to a good start.” The Celtics’ coach also noted that he doesn’t expect to play both Jermaine and Shaquille on the floor at the same time.

What’s your take? Share it on the Boston Celtics forum.

Hornets release Jannero Pargo

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have released guard Jannero Pargo. The training camp roster now stands at 16.

“We want to thank Jannero for his effort and time here in New Orleans during camp,” General Manager Dell Demps said. “Unfortunately, he is not operating at full speed due to a pre-existing injury. To his credit, Jannero tried to come back ahead of schedule, but after talking with him and our medical staff, we feel that it is in Jannero’s best interest that he completes his rehab.”

Share your opinion on the New Orleans Hornets forum.

Lance Stephenson needs to improve his defense

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star reports:

Stephenson’s biggest problem has been off-the-ball defense.

He’s sticking to the true meaning of man-to-man defense. He stays on his man and doesn’t pay attention to where the ball is on the court.

That was the case during a recent scrimmage when Stephenson stood and watched as fellow rookie Paul George caught the ball, squared his body to the basket and took an uncontested 3-point shot in the corner.

“I’ve got to be at the right spot on the court and see the where the ball is at when my man doesn’t have it,” Stephenson said. “The ball will be across court and I’ll still be on my man. I’ll get better at it.”

The 6-5, 210-pound Stephenson is also having difficulty defending the pick-and-roll. He gets screened instead of fighting through the pick, or going around it when the opportunity is there.

O’Brien wants him to pressure the ball so it would be harder for Stephenson to get picked.

Nuggets hire Melvin Hunt as assistant coach

The Denver Nuggets announced Monday that they have added Melvin Hunt as an assistant coach.

Hunt, 40, brings a winning pedigree and 11 years of NBA coaching and scouting experience to Denver, most recently serving as an assistant for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005-10.

“That’s a very good hire this late in the season,” Nuggets head coach George Karl said. “I’m very excited about it. I’ve got John Welch, Adrian Dantley and Chad Iske, who I have tremendous confidence in. Melvin will fit into that group very well. We have Stacey Augmon backing us up. We’re one of the top-five scouting teams, led by advance scout Jesse Mermuys. You’re going to see us continue to try to be one of the best staffs in basketball.”

While in Cleveland, Hunt helped lead the Cavaliers to one of the most successful stretches in franchise history. In 2008-09, the Cavs won a franchise and NBA-best 66 games, while Hunt and the coaching staff earned the honor of coaching the Eastern Conference in the 2009 NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix.

Cleveland also enjoyed great postseason success during Hunt’s tenure, reaching the 2007 NBA Finals, the 2009 Eastern Conference finals and four consecutive appearances in the Eastern Conference semifinals from 2007-10.

Before joining the Cavaliers staff, Hunt spent one season (2004-05) as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers and five seasons with the Houston Rockets (1999-2004). While with the Rockets, he served two years as a video coordinator/scout and two years as an assistant coach before spending his final year as the team’s college and international scout.

Hunt was a four-year letterman at Baylor University from 1987-91 and played professionally in the Caribbean and Mexico before beginning his coaching as an assistant coach at Temple High School (TX). He later moved to the college ranks, where he was the lead assistant coach at University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.